Remarks on Revelations Thirteenth, Seventeenth and Eighteenth

CHAPTER EIGHTEENTH

1. And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. RRTSE 30.1

After John had seen the vision in the 17th chapter, in which the character and acts of the Roman kingdom had been minutely described, under both of its blasphemous heads, Pagan and Papal. He, in this chapter, has a view of the fall and final destruction of the Papal power, and the overthrow of the last Satanic kingdom on the earth. This first verse represents the coming of Christ from heaven, in his power and great glory, to take vengeance on those that obey not the gospel, who have worshipped the kingdoms of the earth, and obeyed only the laws of Papacy — the blasphemous power of the man of sin, the servant of Satan. Compare Psalm 149:3, 8, Isaiah 2:6 to 21, Matthew 24:20. RRTSE 30.2

2. 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. RRTSE 30.3

He comes with a strong voice, which is the final shout of victory, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, “saying, Babylon the Great is fallen, is fallen.” This shows me that the Papal Church is to have two overthrows — one “fall” under the power of the ten kings, as in the French Revolution, when she became a cage for every unclean and hateful bird, which is in agreement with Paul’s description of the same event, 2 Thessalonians 2:8. The other “fall” is the final destruction of all Satanic power on earth, when the shout of victory is given from all the heavenly host, as is given in Revelation 11:15, also 14:7, 8, when the battle is won and the victory completed. Then this voice will raise the righteous dead, and put the last enemy under his feet. The first “fall” was the loss of supreme power, and exposure of her abominations. It will show that the devil and Satan, and all foul spirits, dwelt in this kingdom; and it was a cage in which dwelt all manner of tyrants, wicked, proud and unclean men, from every nation under heaven. The second “fall” will be the final destruction of all, when it will be said to the saints, “God hath avenged you on her,” 21st verse. RRTSE 30.4

3. 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. RRTSE 31.1

The expression “her” in this text, must mean Babylon; and it must mean more than the nominal Church of Rome: for all men are not the visible members of her communion. Yet all nations have committed fornication with her, and will drink of the wrath of God, which he will pour out upon her and them. Babylon, then, must mean Church and State, and to unite them is fornication. Vesting the supreme power in both of these is Babylon, or confusion; for God has severed them, and says, My kingdom is not of this world. Then, when the church of Rome, or any other church or body of Christians, seek for and obtain the honors and emoluments of the political powers of the earth, they commit fornication with the nations and kings or kingdoms, as the case may be; and the kings or rulers of the Satanic kingdoms, when they seek to be defenders of the faith of the saints, and tyrannize over the minds and consciences of men, also, commit fornication with her; and both together form an alliance unnatural, and are Babylon in her robes of blood. All wicked, selfish and designing demagogues, bigots and sectarian leaders among men, are evidently intoxicated or drunken after or for this power of civil and ecclesiastical authority over their fellow-men. And it is a fact, that the great men, and rich men, the mighty and merchants of the earth, are waxing rich by means of the favors obtained, and privileges granted them by the civil and ecclesiastical powers in the countries where they reside. See the “corn laws” of England, the “tall laws” of Wales, and in many other countries; the “tithe taxes” of Ireland, and the “banking and company privileges” in our own and every other country — giving the rich and favored classes, lawful powers to take unlawful gain — making “the rich richer and the poor poorer” — as say your own statesmen. How literally has this verse been fulfilled in our day. See James 5:1, 8. RRTSE 32.1

4. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. RRTSE 33.1

This text is a warning voice from God to his people; — that when the governments of the world and the churches are seen thus engaged in wronging and enslaving the poor to favor the rich — when they are seen expending their thousands and millions to make a show and gratify their pride, while millions of human beings are suffering for their daily food and the bread of life, — to come out, and have no fellowship either with Church or State, lest when God comes out against them in his righteous judgments, we be found on the side of the enemy, and therefore be made partakers of the plagues God will send on the ungodly. For all these Satanic kingdoms and Anti-Christian churches will be carried away, and no place will be found for them. RRTSE 33.2

5. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. RRTSE 34.1

Surely the present moment is one in which the sins of the people are reaching to heaven. And God, remembering his oath, will not much longer delay his coming; and Babylon the Great will fall the second time, to rise no more forever. RRTSE 34.2

6. 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. RRTSE 34.3

This, with the following verses to the 19th verse, shows the situation and punishment the false Church will receive, between the first and second fall, when she will be utterly destroyed. She is now receiving her reward from the hands of the kings and nations of the earth. As she had made war against kings, and as they had depended on her for their political existence, so now they have made war against her, and have robbed her of her power and territory; and she is a dependant on kings for her existence, both political and ecclesiastical — being supported by Austrian bayonets. RRTSE 34.4

7. 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. RRTSE 35.1

She has glorified her earthly power, she has lived deliciously among the kings, — once commanding a revenue equal to any other kingdom in Europe, and is now a poor bankrupt, as to her national resources. She pretended to be the queen of heaven, the only Catholic Church, against which the gates of hell should never prevail; but behold her now, a desolate beggar at the feet of kings, — a fawning hypocrite among the political daughters. RRTSE 35.2

8. 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. RRTSE 35.3

Then her next fall will come upon her suddenly, “in one day,” and death perhaps, in every shape; mourning, famine, and fire will be her eternal destruction, for it will be done — by the strong arm of the Almighty God she will be finally judged. RRTSE 35.4

9. And the kings of the earth who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning. RRTSE 36.1

Before she is burned, while the smoke is ascending, between the first and second fall, the kings of the earth political rulers, who have committed fornication with her, have been the means of favoring her claims, and have received help to power and office by her influence, will, when they see the smoke, or evidences of the loss of her influence, bewail and lament for her: for this is her torment and sorrow, to lose her influence over the minds and consciences of the common people. RRTSE 36.2

10. Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas! that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. RRTSE 36.3

The rulers will not dare to come out openly and boldly to favor the Church of Rome; but will stand afar off, for fear of the common people, and the loss of influence, which is her present torment; but will cry, Alas, alas! that great city of the union of Church and State — that mighty combination to obtain power over our fellows! For the hour is come, and is already manifest, when religion will no longer be used as a stepping stone to earthly power, and to enslave the minds of the freemen in Christ. RRTSE 36.4

11. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more. RRTSE 37.1

The merchants are the great men of the earth, see 23rd verse. These shall weep and mourn over this mighty engine to deceive men in morals as well as in politics, because of the loss of its power over their minds; for men will not be deceived by her sorceries any more, “For by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.” See last clause 22nd verse. RRTSE 37.2

12. The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyne wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble. RRTSE 37.3

13. And cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. RRTSE 37.4

14. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after, are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. RRTSE 37.5

These are a description of the merchandise in which this false church will be engaged, thus showing clearly that her treasures are on earth rather than in heaven. When we read over this catalogue of merchandise, and review the apparent condition of the Protestant churches at the present day, we cannot tell where to find the true church, — if these are the marks of a false church. It is no wonder our great men feel so anxious to get this book, (the Revelation) condemned as spurious, or to make it an enigma. That these texts are to be understood literally, as they read, I can have no doubt; for they are nowhere explained in the Bible as figures. They show that where a church is lusting after these earthly things, she has become false to her Lord, and may properly be called a harlot; and they go to show, that in the end all her earthly treasures will be taken from her, and the church will stand naked and ashamed before God in Judgment. RRTSE 37.6

15. The merchants of these things which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off, for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing. RRTSE 38.1

These merchants are the great men of the earth, who have made themselves, by fraud and deceit, rich in this world’s goods, who will stand off from this worldly and speculating church when they see the tokens of her fall, for fear of her torments. At the present day, many of the men of the world would be ashamed to be found in the feasts and fairs of some of our churches. Yet they weep and wail when any of the members come out of the rotten ship. RRTSE 38.2

16. And saying, Alas, alas! that great city that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! RRTSE 39.1

17. For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every ship master, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea stood afar off. RRTSE 39.2

The great men of the earth and the rich men, will mourn and lament for the downfall of the Church of Rome. In another place, Revelation 17:16, it says they will hate this same church, and make her desolate, etc. Why this contradiction? I answer: they hate her rule over them, and the degradation they suffer under her sway; but they only want her power to enslave others, and are only coveting the same rule which they hate in her. Yet in destroying her rule and power, the common people must be undeceived, which in the end operates against themselves; and when the people learn their rights in the one case, they will understand them in the other; and when the kings and great men were purposing to obtain the power of Papacy for themselves, the people discovered the mode of keeping it from both. Let me show a case in point. A few years since, our Protestant divines were loud and strong against the Papacy for suppressing the Bible from the common people, and compelling men to come to their Priests for an understanding of the Scriptures. The people learned their rights, and began to read and understand for themselves. And what do we hear from our Protestant Priests now? One says, “How dare Mr. Miller attempt to explain the Bible, seeing he understands neither Hebrew nor Greek?” Another, “We advise Mr. Miller to go home to his farm, and let alone the expounding the Scriptures unto them that understand Bible exegesis.” Still another, “If Mr. Miller had been brought up a sober Churchman, he would have gone to his Bishop to expound the Scripture for him.” Still another, “It is very impolite for ladies to study the Old or New Testament.” These are samples of the perfect inconsistencies of our would be great men. The great secret is, they covet power and worldly gain for themselves, deplore the loss of power, and hate the persons who possess it. Thus it is with all classes of worldly men. RRTSE 39.3

18. And cried, when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city? RRTSE 41.1

19. And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas! that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea, by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she also made desolate. RRTSE 41.2

Here is a continuation of the same mourning for the loss of the world’s honors and goods; and the present troubles in the Italian states prove, and show plainly that the hour of her dissolution is at hand. Therefore God calls upon his people to RRTSE 41.3

20. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. RRTSE 41.4

For the last and final fall of this false church, with all other Anti-Christian power, has now come; also the vengeance of God is extended, and the last plague and indignation poured out. RRTSE 41.5

21. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great mill-stone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon, be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. RRTSE 41.6

This verse shows how it will be done; — like a great millstone sinking into the sea with violence — like a mighty earthquake — like the dashing in pieces of a potter’s vessel, Psalm 2:9 — like a stone breaking in pieces the image, Daniel 2:34 — see Revelation 16:18 to 21. RRTSE 41.7

22. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a mill-stone shall be heard no more at all in thee; RRTSE 42.1

23. And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of a bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee; for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. RRTSE 42.2

These verses show us the effect of God’s final judgment and indignation upon the earth; for the great city Babylon meaning the Church of Rome, had corrupted the whole earth, by her abominations, her fornications, her sorceries, and breach of God’s ordinances and laws, by her riches and power. Therefore the voice of music would no more be heard in her revels, nor in her palaces, nor in her idolatrous temples. No craftsman of any craft would ever be there to make her costly robes of purple or scarlet dye. The sound of her machinery would no more be heard. The light of the candle, nor the voice of the bridegroom and bride, all of merriment would cease forever. The reasons assigned are, “That her merchants are the great men of the earth,” and of course when the earth is renovated, none of the men of the earth, who have laid up their treasures on earth, will be there. The meek only will inherit the earth. When the wicked are cut off thou shalt see it, says the Psalmist, Psalm 37:34. David saw this same power, Psalm 37:35, 36. Compare this with 20th and 21st vs. in the chapter we are considering. “For by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.” It does not say all of all nations were deceived, but it must mean a part were deceived out of all nations. — And what may be considered as a corroborating fact, is, that the Roman church claims adherents and subjects in every known nation on the globe. This passage then, cannot apply to any other church under heaven; for there is no other church in one body that pretends to, or can claim converts among all nations. And if the character we have been trying to understand in these chapters we have thus far commented on, is not the Roman church, then there must be another exactly like it on this earthly ball. You may say that some of the Protestant churches are as fond of power as the Catholics, are as full of merchandise, and as fond of show, and love mind earthly things, and make slaves of bodies and souls of men, as do the Catholics. This may be all true, and for aught I can tell, they may be harlots, or daughters of the old mother, yet the marks given cannot all apply to any one Protestant church. Do not, you enquire, the Protestant churches break the laws of God by their traditions? Yes. Do they not worship their idols as well as Romans? Yes, if you please to have it so. Where then is the failure? you enquire. I answer: she rules over kings. But does not the Episcopal church rule over the king? No. The King or Queen rules over the church. Even the young Queen Victoria is now the head of that church. And no Protestant church has reigned over any king or kingdom. — Again, another mark: RRTSE 42.3

24. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. RRTSE 44.1

This then is a mark in which we cannot be mistaken. I defy the great men of the earth to show an instance in the history of the world, where any church, calling itself Christian, since the days of Christ, has had the power of life and death, even in civil authority, but the church of Rome; and in her may be found the blood of nearly or quite fifty millions of the human race, who died for their religion. — I have been truly astonished, of late, to hear and see our Protestant divines trying to prove that this Church of Rome is not the woman on the scarlet colored beast. — But to me it must be a certainty, that there can be no other; and if the Roman church is the woman spoken of in these chapters, we must be near the close of our world’s history. We must be within the first and second fall of Babylon. Every thing is fulfilled that is here prophesied of, except the last thing, the overthrow and the final fall and destruction of all her earthly power and possessions. The kings have hated her, they have taken away her power over themselves, they have spoiled her goods and burned her palaces, they have broken down her prisons and demolished her nunneries they have made her that made kings tremble at her nod, now become a crouching hypocrite at the feet of kings, pleading for her pretended birthright, which she acknowledges is wrested from her by the kings in the French Revolution. Where then are we in prophetic chronology? I abjure you, kind reader, answer the question for yourself. Let nothing hinder you. If time has nearly run out, as the writer verily believes, how is the case between God and your soul? Has not the cry gone forth from every Christian land, “Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him?” Did you ever see or hear such a cry before, such a searching of Scripture, such a moving of mind from every land, such fearful forebodings of the hypocrites in every sect, so little good sense used by our opponents in their arguments, so much skepticism and German Neology, ridicule and scoffing, as the opposers of this cry use? Yet what has been the effect? The editors of our religious periodicals have refused to give our reasons. Denunciation, falsehood, bombast and ridicule, have been their common weapons of attack. But they have fallen harmless at our feet. Nothing can be more evident than that God is on our side. What! a few ignorant fanatics raise such a cry, that scores of our great, learned, doctorated men of science, puffed and lauded by every penny paper in the land, with all their skill and tact in argument, have never been able to start a pillar or remove a landmark! Surely my friend, you will examine these things; and if they are so, you will not, you cannot, you dare not fall to sleep and let that come upon you unawares, for which all Second Advent brethren are looking, and waiting, and watching — the Day of the Lord. Oh fly! poor sinner, fly!! Stay not in all the plain! Awake, awake! your life and soul is all at stake. No harm to watch — all men acknowledge this. Be ready then. And may we all be watching when our Lord may come, and then receive him with the grand response: This is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us.” RRTSE 44.2

WM. MILLER.
July 12, 1844.