Lesson 5

2.When was the last of these overthrown?
3.What was the Papacy to do?
4.What was it to think to do?
5.How long was its oppressive work to continue?
6.What symbol is introduced in ? See note A.
7.What other sign was presented to the prophet? .
8.For what purpose did the dragon (persecuting power) wait before the woman? .
9.What became of the child? .
10.Who alone must be the child referred to? .
11.Who is the dragon? . See note B.
12.What is the next symbol presented by the prophet? .
13.How many elements of previous kingdoms were included in this beast, as shown by its composition? .
14.From whom did this beast receive his power and authority?
15.How long was this power to continue? . See note C.
16.In that time, what was this beast to do? .
17.How much of the beast was wounded to death? .
18.How was this wound to be given? .
19.What power alone has carried on such a work continuously for 1,260 years, and then been led into captivity? See note D.
20.How many has the Papacy had power to lead into captivity? .
21.When and how was the papal power wounded to death? See note E.

Notes

Note A.—In symbolic prophecy, a woman represents a church. ; .

Note B.—The original word from which "dragon" is derived, as used in the Old Testament, is applied to any savage beast which preys on other living creatures. See . It was applied to Pharaoh, because he, like a wild beast, tried to devour God's people. . This is the sense in which the word occurs in . While the two-horned beast appears to be a gentle, lamb-like creature, he has the spirit which finally causes him to speak and act like a dragon, or devouring beast. This symbol, then, has always fitly represented Satan, who, from the first, hated the Son of God, and was cast out from his presence, and who, finding himself shut away from Christ, persecuted, through his agents, the church, in all its stages of existence. The Roman power was his agent, at the opening of the Christian era. Others may do the work of the dragon in succeeding ages, as it is he who is said to make war with the remnant of the woman's seed.

Note C.—Forty-two months are three and one-half years, or, at thirty days to the month (compare and 8:4, also 8:3), 1,260 days (years), being the same as the time, times, and a half of and .

Note D. No power but the Papacy has ever existed which could fulfill the specifications of the prophecy. Other persecuting powers have existed, but none of these met the demands of the symbols used, either in the methods of their work or the time of their continuance.

Note E.—In February, 1798, the French army, under General Berthier, entered Rome, proclaimed it a republic, and carried Pope Pius VI. a captive to France, exhibiting him from place to place, until he died, in August of the following year.

Bible texts in this lesson

Revelation 12:1 · Revelation 12:3 · Revelation 12:4 · Revelation 12:5 · Hebrews 12:2 · Hebrews 1:3 · Revelation 12:9 · Revelation 13:1 · Revelation 13:2 · Revelation 13:5 · Revelation 13:6 · Revelation 13:7 · Revelation 13:3 · Revelation 13:10 · Ezekiel 23:2-4 · Revelation 17:3-6 · Jeremiah 14:6 · Jeremiah 9:11 · Ezekiel 29:3 · Revelation 13:11 · Genesis 7:11 · Daniel 7:25 · Revelation 12:14 · Revelation 12:6

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