excludes the Pope from the eighth headship; for his power is not temporal, but spiritual, and altogether unlike the former seven; therefore cannot be of them. Besides, this vision points to the overthrow, to the utter destruction of the Woman or Papal power; which will be effected in a violent manner by these combined Kings. She had formerly ruled over them, and compelled them to do her will. But this latter part of the angel's explanation, indicates, that now they shall hate her, and burn her with fire. Of these ten Kings it is declared, “they have received no kingdom as yet, but receive power as Kings one hour with the beast." The solution of this passage has been found very difficult. In the connection in which the words stand, it seems that these kings do not yet exist; but when the eighth head is manifested, then they shall be raised up, and receive power at the same time, or during the same short season. But this manifestation will involve a most astounding change throughout the whole of Europe; and the overthrow of nearly all the present continental dynasties. And yet, it is no more than what the contemplation of the pouring out of the seventh vial has led us to expect. The "mighty earthquake," which is only one of its results, will shake to pieces the whole political fabric, rending Europe asunder, and causing the cities of the nations to fall. We may understand this more clearly by referring to the changes effected on the continent by the elder Napoleon, who pulled down one king and raised up another, according to his pleasure, and in a remarkably short space of time. There are many who believe, that the present Emperor of the French is destined to effect still greater changes, which will lead to mightier results; and that he is, in fact, the coming eighth head of the Beast; to whom the ten kings shall unanimously and voluntarily "give their power and strength." It is remarkable, that he even now rules in Rome, and maintains the Pope in his seven-hilled seat of power, by French bayonets. This, of itself, is a significant proof of his Headship. Ten horns or kingdoms has been the usual number into which the nations of the empire have been divided, ever since the establish ment of Popery as the dominant religion. Frequent changes have taken place, but the number has generally remained the same. The present existing ten Roman Catholic States are,-1, Belgium; 2, France; 3, Spain; 4, Portugal; 5, Austria; 6, Bavaria; 7, Sardinia; 8, Naples; 9, Tuscany; 10, The Papal States. How the coming ten may be named or divided, it is impossible to foretell. We know, however, that the elements of change and strife abound in every Continental state; and should the threatened hostilities commence in the East, the smouldering fires of Revolution may suddenly burst into a flame through the whole of western Europe; and divide it into new kingdoms, under other names; and then, perhaps, under the leadership of France, to whom, with one mind, they shall give their power and strength,' ,"* (as the last and final form of the Beast), they shall proceed to execute the wonderful purposes of the Almighty; to give unto "great Babylon the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath,”—(xvi. 19.) For the angel declares, that "God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will" concerning her--"and to agree, and give their power and strength unto the Beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled." 66 The overthrow of the Papacy is here declared; and the extinction of her power throughout the dominions of the ten kings. The language used is very emphatic-"they shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire:"-seize upon her wealth, and confiscate her *The events that are now taking place, render it highly probable that Napoleon III. will obtain supremacy over the Continental States, and thus become the predicted Eighth Head of the Beast; as in France he already combines in himself the whole power of the State, and the people are "transformed into cyphers with one figure at their head." France was the original kingdom of Charlemagne's empire, as well as of the empire of Napoleon I. and the prominent place she now occupies, and the temper and genius of her present ruler, plainly point to more vigorous efforts and a more widely extended policy, that may again raise her to sit as a queen among the nations. Her power apparently will be increased by the fatuity of the other Continental potentates, and the revolt of their subjects, rather than by their actual subjugation. possessions, desecrate her temples, and banish or destroy her priests;-similar to the treatment she experienced in France during the first Revolution. This was the great object which John was called into the wilderness to see. It was not merely the grandeur and power of the woman drunken with the blood of the saintsbut her fearful punishment, that was to be exhibited. "Come hither," said the angel, "I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters." The complete and final overthrow of the state and city of Rome, or the seat of the Papacy, is prefigured in another vision recorded in the next chapter, and seems designed to be effected by a distinct and altogether different agency. (See 2 Thess. ii. 8.) But these ten kings and the Beast, will afterwards attempt another work of a different nature-in which they shall not succeed. "They shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them." This will be the end of the Beast, and of the gathering together of the kings of the earth and of the whole world, "to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." This is set before us more distinctly, and in greater detail, in the vision recorded in the 19th chapter, and will come under our notice in the next Lecture. By this war with the Lamb, or attack upon those who worship the Lamb-we must conclude, that "men will still blaspheme God;" that the spirit animating the kings, however fiercely it may burn against Popery, will be equally hostile to Protestantism; that it will be the old spirit of the Dragon or Infidelity-ever opposed to the truth; and now rising with a mighty effort to crush it at a blow. But "the people imagine a vain thing," when "the kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed." For "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision. He shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." May we, who look for these things-we, who are watching, as it were, the shadows of the coming struggle-may we "be wise," and "serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling: kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and we perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." "Blessed Jesus, we implore thee, Let us, cleans'd and purified, Walk in grace and truth before thee, And in thee by faith abide; Sanctified Both in body and in mind." LECTURE XX. THE JUDGMENT OF BABYLON THE GREAT.-"COME OUT OF HER.”— LAMENTATION AND REJOICING OVER HER. THE BLOOD OF THE SAINTS. TRIUMPH OF THE CHURCH.-ONENESS OF JEWS AND GENTILES.-ST. JOHN AND THE ANGEL.-VISION OF THE FAITHFUL AND TRUE. THE WAR AGAINST HIM AND HIS FOLLOWERS.-DESTRUCTION OF THE BEAST, THE FALSE PROPHET, AND THEIR ARMIES, -(REVELATION XVIII. XIX.) be "AND after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. And the kings |