Key to the 1843 Prophetic Chart
In this person upon the cloud we have a symbol of the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, in fulfillment of the promise made by the angels to the men of Galilee, when they said, "This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven " Acts i (1),11. Then will his elect be gathered with a great sound of a trumpet. Matt.xxiv (24),31.
This is, the next great event in this series, for which we are to look.
THE DRAGON AND BEASTS OF REV. XII (12) & XIII
In this lone of prophecy, brought to view in the chapters of Revelation above given, we have the fourth kingdom of Daniel's vision, that is, Rome, again presented; and again it is found necessary to vary the symbols, in order to bring out still other particulars, concerning this strange and complicated power, Satan's master-piece of earthly kingdoms. The three preceding kingdoms, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Grecia, having passed away when John lived, through whom the book of Revelation was given, he commences with ROME in its PAGAN FORM. Chap.xii,3,4. "And there appeared another wonder in heaven, and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads." It will be observed that this dragon has the same number of horns that the non-descript beast of Dan vii (7), does. The new feature that is here introduced is the seven heads, which are supposed to mean the seven forms of government that have existed in the Roman empire. These are commonly enumerated as follows; 1. The Kingly. 2. The Consular. 3. The Decemvirate. 4. The Dictatorial. 5. The Triumvirate. 6. The Imperial. 7. The Papal. (See Ency. Americana.) John lived under the 6th form. Five had fallen, and one was "not yet" in his day. "And the dragon [Rome Pagan] stood before the women [the church], to devour her child, [Christ] as soon as it was born." See Matt.ii (2).
NOTE.- The Devil is also called a dragon, in verse 9. His has been the master spirit, actuating more or less all the beasts of Daniel's and John's visions. Pre- eminently was this the case with Pagan Rome, hence the earthly power, as the outward medium, here takes the symbol of the who inspired its action.
In Rev.xiii (13), we have another symbol brought to view; namely, a beast with the body of a leopard, feet of a bear, and mouth of a lion, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns. Verse 12. To this beast the dragon gives his seat, his power, and great authority. To whom did Pagan Rome give its seat [the city of Rome], and power, and great authority? Ans. To the PAPACY.
This beast is further shown to represent the Papacy, from its being identical with the little horn of the fourth beast of Dan.vii (7). 1. The little horn was a blasphemous power. "He shall speak great words against the Most High." Dan.vii (7),25. So also does the beast of Rev.xiii (13),6, do the same. "He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God."
2. The little made war with the saints and prevailed against them. Dan.vii (7),21. This beast