Notes on the Apocalypse – Chapter 14

by Pastor David Steele Sr. in 1870

As the 13th chapter contains the most full and graphic description of the great apostacy, so in this chapter we have the other party described which protested against that apostacy. It is a concise history of the two witnesses in holy and happy fellowship with Christ, when he had rejected the heathenized church, because of her unholy league with the beast of the bottomless pit, (ch. xi. 2, 7.) The contrast between the “sealed” ones here, and those who bore the “mark of the beast,” is very noticeable. This fact suggests that the parties are cotemporary. Besides, it is evident that this company of 144,000 are the legitimate successors of those sealed in ch. vii. 4-8; or rather, from the perpetual identity of the covenant society as a moral person, we may view this company as the same with the sealed ones of the seventh chapter, the two witnesses of the eleventh chapter, and as in the wilderness in the 12th chapter. Political bias caused a learned expositor to interpret the third angel of this chapter as a symbol of the prelatic church of England! and a similar bias, or modern charity, induced another to distinguish between the “two witnesses” and the 144,000. To the unbiased and enlightened mind it is obvious that instead of the 144,000 symbolizing the “pious people,—in the different branches of the Christian church”—all true Christians; they are in fact distinguished from true Christians, as 144,000 from “a great multitude … who had washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,” (ch. vii. 9, 14.)

As the Antichrist, after his first development in the world, appeared in diverse forms of organization, thereby more effectually to deceive them that dwell on the earth, yet still preserved his moral identity, so the faithful servants of Christ are presented in corresponding attitudes and aspects, to oppose and counteract his diabolical policy and tyranny; yet always preserving their proper identity during the whole period of 1260 years.

The process of “sealing the servants of God in their foreheads,” (ch. vii. 4-8,) took place under the sixth seal before the opening of the seventh, (ch. viii. 1,) which introduced the trumpets,—the harbingers of the visible organization of Antichrist. For this purpose the “four winds,”—all winds, emblematical of popular commotions, were by four angels restrained from blowing upon the earth etc., during the peaceful reign of Constantine and his successors. Under the patronage of those nominally Christian emperors, as history informs us, multitudes flocked into the church; “the number of immoral and unworthy Christians began so to increase, that the examples of real piety and virtue became extremely rare…. The virtuous few were oppressed and overwhelmed with the superior numbers of the wicked and licentious.”6 Thus the way was prepared for the visible appearing of the “man of sin,”—the papacy. So soon as the confederate hosts of the dragon are completely organized, the two witnesses take their position with the Lamb.

1. And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

V. 1.—While “all the world wonders after the beast,” (xiii. 3,) and the gross senses of the multitude are preoccupied with that object; here is another presented more worthy of our contemplation. Often has the Lord Jesus appeared in vision to John while viewing the grand panorama passing before him in Patmos. Here he appears as the “captain of the Lord’s host” at the head of his army; not indeed in active military enterprise, but rather as leader in acts of solemn worship during a temporary recess from sanguinary warfare. He and his associates are on the “Mount Zion.” “In Zion is his seat.” … “The Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it. (Is. xiv. 32.) This select company maintain fellowship with Christ, being “really and inseparably united to him as their Head,” by the bond of the Spirit, on his part, and faith on theirs. Christ’s “Father’s name in their foreheads” indicates that they are the property and voluntary servants of God in Christ. Of this covenant relation baptism is the visible sign; but while Simon Magus may bear the sign, none but those who are “sealed unto the day of redemption,” are honored to “stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion.” To him their number is as accurately known, as one hundred and forty-four thousand is to us; and “truly their fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” The votaries of the beast may either glory in bearing his mark in their foreheads, or conceal the mark in their right hand; but the followers of the Lamb will “confess him and his word before men,” at the hazard of all that is dear to men,—even life itself. (Mark viii. 38.)

2. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice  

Apocalypse, Apocalyptic Symbols, Bible Prophecy, Notes on the Apocalypse 1870, Pastor David Steele Sr

Notes on the Apocalypse – Chapter 12

by Pastor David Steele Sr. in 1870

1. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars;

2. And she, being with child, cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

Vs. 1, 2.—The Apocalypse, besides the three parts into which it is divided by its divine Author, (noticed in ch. i. 19,) is also susceptible of division into two parts. With the eleventh chapter terminates the abridged prospective history of the church and of the world, emblematically represented under the seals and trumpets. The seventh seal, when opened, disclosed all the contents of the sealed book, and also introduced the seven trumpets. But we have followed the series of the trumpets in order, to the end of the world,—interrupted only by the isolated history of the “little book; which, treating of events which were matter of history under the first two woe-trumpets, could not be sealed. Now at the twelfth chapter, without regard to the seventh, or any other of the trumpets in particular, we are furnished with a second and enlarged edition, as it were, of the most important parts of the first edition. We have observed before, that this is the manner of the prophets on a large scale, especially in predicting “the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” So it is with John and Paul. What the latter only hints at, when writing to Timothy, (1 Tim. iv. 1-3,) he enlarges upon in addressing the Thessalonians. (2 Thess. ii. 3-12.) The theme is the same as treated by these two apostles; and this coincidence will in due time be more manifest. Next to Christ personal, the prophets have been interested in the destiny of Christ mystical.

Three different views of this twelfth chapter have been taken by the more sober and learned expositors. One considers it as referring to the Roman empire in its heathen state, prior to the time of Constantine. Another understands the first part of this chapter,—(vs. 1-6,)—as relating to Rome pagan, and the rest of the chapter to antichristian Rome. A third conceives that the whole of it applies to apostate imperial Rome only. The last is doubtless the correct view.

As the “sealed book” and the “little open book,” must be supposed to contain all the prophetical part of the Apocalypse; and as the whole of the little book is comprised in the eleventh chapter, (vs. 1—13,) this twelfth chapter must belong to the sealed book. Being a continuance of the history under the seventh seal, although it may agree in time with some of the trumpets, it cannot go back to a period prior to the seventh seal. But under the sixth seal, paganism was abolished in the Roman empire; therefore this chapter refers to the antichristian empire. Moreover, as the little book was introductory to the seventh trumpet, designating the object of the third woe, so this chapter and the next two, are wholly occupied in describing the object of the vials, (ch. 16.)

We ought to bear in mind continually, that the seals, trumpets and vials, are introduced as symbols, to delineate one character, the impenitent enemy of God and of his saints. But this enemy “beguiles through his subtlety,” changing his aspects and instruments, the more successfully to assail the city of the Lord. It is therefore the design of the Holy Spirit in these three chapters to present the foe in his most prominent features, that the two witnesses may be able to identify the enemy, be apprized of their danger, and intelligently choose their commander,—”the Captain of salvation.”

“There appeared a great wonder in heaven.” The word “wonder” in this verse, and also in verse third, simply means a sign or symbol; and the whole structure of the book requires that it be so translated.—”Woman” is here the true church of God. Here most expositors fail to explain the symbol “heaven.” Others say “heaven” symbolizes the church. Then we have two churches,—a church within a church! This is unquestionably the only correct view of the matter. During most, if not the whole period of the 1260 years, the witnesses are so blended with, or overshadowed by the church catholic or general, that few are able, and fewer still disposed, to distinguish the one from the other. All through the Bible the church is spoken of as a female. She is the “daughter of Zion,—the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” Any body politic is spoken of in the sacred writings in the same style. “The daughter of Babylon, of Tyre, or even of Egypt,”—These are familiar figures.

This woman is “clothed with the sun.” She has  

Apocalypse, Apocalyptic Symbols, Bible Prophecy, Notes on the Apocalypse 1870, Pastor David Steele Sr