Graham guardian., 1912-11-08

Revelation xvi. 1917 The speaker said:
Armageddon In the Hebrew signifies
the Hill of Mcgiddo." or Mount OF tie
structiOn. 1t was famous al a battle
field In Old Testament times. ,
The Lord has seen ut to associate the
name Armagpddon. with the great con-
troversy between Truth and Error.
right and wrong. God and Mammon.
with which this Age will close, perish.
and the New Age of Messiah's glory
be ushered in. He has purpOsely used
highly symbolical figures Of speech In
the last book Of the Bible. evidently
with q view to hiding certain impor-
tant truths until the due time for their
revealment. But even In the due time,
the Bible assures US, None Of the
wicked shall understand" Daniel Xii,
8. 10)-none who are out Of heart har-
mouy with God-but only the wise of
His people-ths wise virgin class OF
the Masters parable.
have long avoided presenta ton Of
my understanding Of our text and It's
context. ! take 1t up now by request
and because I believe It is due time to
be understood. ] disclaim any special
inspiration. In some particulars my
views agree with those Of other Bible
students, and In other respects they
disagree. Each bearer must use his
own Judgment, do bis own Bible study.
and reach his own conclusions.
Kindly remember that l am not re-
sponsible for the figures Of speech used
by the Lord. My interpretations do fn-
deed constitute q terrible arraignment
Of institutions which we have all rever.
enced and which embrace good people.
of good words and good works. Gods
sanity people In these various instltu-
tions, being comparatively few. are
ignored when systems as . whole are
dealt with in prophecy.
Tho Dragon, Beast, False Prophet.
Our context tells us that three i'm,
pure spirits (teachings) Will go forth
from the mouths of the Dragon, the
Beast and the False Prophet. and these
three will be In accord. and symbolical.
ly the doctrines are represented by
frogs" These three doctrines TO
have a mighty influence throughout the
civilized earth. They are to gather
the kings aud their armies to the great
Battle Of Armageddon. .,.-
The ecclesiastical kings and princes.
and their rctInues Of clergy and faith
ful adhercnts. will be gathered in solid
phalanx-l'rotestant and Catholic. The
kings and captains Of industry. and as
many rs can be Influenced by them,
will be gathered to the same side. The
political kings and princes. with all
their henchmen and retainers, will fol-
low I'm line on the same side. The
financial kings and merchant princes.
md all whom they can Influence by the
most gigantic power ever yet exercis-
ed in he world. will Join the same
side. according to this prophecy.
These doctrines Of demons" repre-
spnted by the frogs" will lead many
noble people in this grent army to as
sume an attitude quite contrary to
their preference. For time the
wheels of liberty and progress will be
turned backward and medieval re-
strnlnts will he considered necessary
for self-preservation-fo the mainte-
nance Of the present order Of things.
In giving this Interpretation. 1t ia
necessary for us to indicate. what is
symbolized by the Dragon. the Beast.
and the False Prophet. Bible students
Of nearly all denominations agree with
us that tho Dragon" Of Revelation
represents the purely Civil Power.
Protestant Interpreters generally agree
that the "Beast Ike leopard" tRcve-
lutiOn xiii. 2, represents the Papacy.
nut fewer still. we fear Will be ready
to support our view that Professionalism
Ia the Image OF the Beast Otevelation !
Kill. 1J In our context given anOthrr
namP. 1.-THE False Prophet" We urge
no one to accept our Interpretation.
nor shall we think hard Of any who
refuse 1t. We will neither slander nor
otherwise injure them now. nor threat
Pm them with eternal torture. They
have the same right to their views that
have. and the same right to make
them known to Others And !. for !
me. will he very glad to consider any
thing which opponents may set forth
NJ their interpretations Of our text.
"Unciean Spirits Like Frossr
TIL. symhollsms Of Scripture. right.
" understood. are always forceful.
When the noly Spirit used q frog"
10 symb"IitaIly represent certain