The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-11-27
The Book.

right hand of him that sat upon. the throne,
in the vision, was a parchment roll written
ON both sides to indicate that it contained a
complete record of the things to be revealed
Seven parchments were rolled together and
severally sealed, another symbol of the COM
pleteness of the unfulflled contents. This
roll or book contained the record of "the
things which should shortly come to pass"
the unfolding of which and its disclosures
fort and encouragement of the afflicted and
distressed churches. The book is evidently
the same that is described by Ezekiel and
Daniel: "When 1 looked, behold, an hand
was put forth unto me; and, 10, roll of
book was therein; and he spread it before
me; and it was written within and without"
Ezekiel ii. 10); 80, Daniel, shut up the
words, and seal the book, even to the time of
the end. And he said, Go thy way,
Daniel: for the words are shut up and sealed
to the time of the end" Daniel xii. 4, 81.
The book which the prophets described con-
tanned their predictions concerning Judea
and Jerusalem, and the kingdom of the Mes
of the Jews and the destruction of the holy
city, and was commanded to seal the book
till the time of the fulflment. The sealing
of the book signifed that the predictions
were not to be Immediately fulfilled. The
book is a symbol of the divine purpose in
providence. Its unfolding denotes the ac-
complement of the provdential purposes.
IL Alok
must shortly come to pass, but it was through
him, and the influence of his truth and life
that they were accomplished, or at least they
were providential movements favoring the
advancement of his cause and kingdom in
the earth; COP through him doing His will
in the armies of heaven and among the in
habitants of the earth. JESUS had declared
that "the Gospel of the kingdom should be
preached in all the world, for witness unto
all nations; and then shall the end come"
He gave as a sign of the end of the age and
his coming in his kingdom to exalt his saints
and overthrow their enemies, "Ye shall hear
of wars and rumors of wars: for nation shall
rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom; and there shall be famine and pes
thence and earthquake; the sun shall be
darkened, and the moon shall not give her
light, and the stars shall fall from heaven.
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted,
and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of
all nations for my names sake. Then shall
be great tribulation, such as hath not been
from the beginning of the world until now,no,
nor ever shall be; but he that endureth unto
the end shall be saved" Matthew xiv. 3-31).
The description that was contained in Dan
iel's sealed book is, "There shall be time
of trouble such as never was since there was
nation" xii. -. In the book which Eek
lei saw, ''There was written therein lamenta-
tons and mourning and woe"(ii 10Y. This is
evidently the sealed book which is now to be
opened and its contents revealed, as the time
of fulflment is at hand. The opening of
the seals and description of the disclosures
of the book are recorded in chapters vi.-viii.
When the first seal was opened, one with a
bow and crown, seated on white horse,
symbol of the proclamation of the Gospel
wi l, p. When the second seal was broken,
another, seated on a red horse, with sword
went forth to slaughter-a symbol of war %,
d. After the opening of the third seal, one
seated ON black horse, with balance in his
hand, went forth selling grain at enormous
prioes-the symbol of famine 6, g.. When
the fourth seal was opened, one whose name
was Death, seated on pale horse, went
forth, followed by Hades, with authority to
kill and destroy-the symbol of pestilence
7,8). When the fifth seal was opened those
who had died for their faith were seen dressed
in white robes-a symbol of martyrdom and
its glory OLD. When the sixth and seventh
seals were broken, the phenomena described
by JESUS Matthew xiv. 29) and by the
prophets Isaiah and Joel, were seen-the
symbols of social and political revolutions,
especially the overthrow of the Jews and the
establishment of CHRIsT's kingdom (vii. 12
XII. The book was the book of the destiny
of the Church and of her fortunes as related
to her worst enemies, the rulers of the jew
ish commonwealth. 1t revealed the over
throw of Judaism, and the peace and pros
perity of the church, the triumph of CHRIsT's
kingdom. The Bible is our manifold book,
revealing the glorious destiny of mankind
through the victory of Christian faith and
obedience, and the attainment of holiness of
heart and life, and consequent blessedness.