his ten horns, as afterwards represented*, shewed that the whole power was as yet vested in the emperors and senate at Rome; and not, as subsequently, in the monarchs of the ten kingdoms: and this circumstance precisely fixes the date of the prophecy, and evidently proves that it related to the pagan emperors, and not to the antichristian power afterwards mentioned. The tail of the dragon, drawing the third part of the stars of heaven, denoted the power of the Romans, which had cast down a large proportion of the princes of the earth (represented by a third part), and reduced their countries to subjection. This monster appeared to watch the woman, and prepared himself to devour her offspring. As Pharaoh laid snares for the male children of the Hebrews, and Herod for the infant Christ the son of Mary; so the Roman dragon watched for the offspring of the Church. The emperor of Rome, with his subordinate magistrates, eyed with the utmost jealousy the progress of Christianity from the earliest times, and harassed the Church with constant persecutions.At length the woman was delivered of a male child, or a masculine son; a child of a vigorous constitution, and likely soon to advance to manhood. The child is not to be considered as an individual, but the woman's seed, the offspring of the Church, which was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. This seed of the Church may particularly refer to the dynasty of Christian emperors, of whom Constantine was the first; and who, with his suc

* Chap. xiii. 1.

+ This part of the prophecy is variously explained by different commentators; some of whose hypotheses are supported by considerable ability and plausible arguments. I have given the outline of Bishop Newton, as defended by Mr. Scott. Many subsequent commentators not only differ from the Bishop, but generally from one another; and their various interpretations seem to be liable to many objections. Among the numerous opinions of which this work will not admit the discussion, I am constrained, after considerable attention to the subject, to prefer the views of the learned Bishop.

N

cessors, under the immediate protection, and by the special favour of God, was exalted to the empire of the whole world. Paganism was subdued, and the Christian religion was received as the universal and established faith of the Roman empire. The predictions of the child ruling all nations with the rod of iron, may denote the restraint that should be put upon paganism, so that it should no longer have power to persecute the Christian Church. But this prophecy has been considered by some to have reference to future events, as the Greek term μ:λλa in ver. 5, may seem to imply. The child was about to rule hereafter, not at present. Undoubtedly the

time when the seed of the woman shall rule and possess permanent power, will be after the Church has been fed twelve hundred and sixty years in the wilderness. The prophecy, in this view, accords with Psalm ii. 9; Dan. vii. 27; Rev. xix. 15.--If this interpretation be admitted, the male child must be considered as the successive offspring of the Church, which, in its estate of manhood, should rule all nations; but which, during its infancy and minority, was taken under the immediate protection of God for its preservation, and lodged, as it were, before his throne in heaven. The man-child under Christ his head will ultimately break to pieces all the power of his enemies, and rule over all nations with invincible strength and firmness, as with a sceptre of iron; for such will be the government of Christ when he takes to himself his great power to reign.-After the birth of the man-child, the woman is represented as fleeing into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God. The termination of pagan persecution made way for those events which at length ended in the antichristian power, the continuance of which was fixed to twelve hundred and sixty years. God had provided a place where he

would sustain the woman when the time for her retreat arrived. But her flight is here mentioned by

way of prolepsis or anticipation. For the war in heaven between Michael and the dragon, and some other events mentioned subsequently, are prior in point of time to the flight of the woman into the wilderness. But before the sacred writer introduces a new subject, he gives a brief and general account of what happened to the woman afterwards. It is universally admitted that the period during which the typical woman is to continue in the wilderness in a desolate condition, supported and fed in the place prepared for her by God, is twelve hundred and sixty years; being so many prophetic days, representing years. This period is undoubtedly the same as the time and times and half a time, or the three years and a half afterwards mentioned, in which the woman was to be nourished in the wilderness; as the forty-two months during which the Gentiles were to occupy the holy city, and the power of the beast was to continue; and as the twelve hundred and sixty days of the prophesying of the witnesses.

All the spiritual members of the Christian Church, being of heavenly birth and expecting heavenly felicity, have put on Christ. They are clothed with his righteousness, irradiated by his light, and beautified by his image: they are taught to put earthly things beneath their feet, and to adorn and recommend the doctrine of the Apostles which they profess.-It is the duty and the privilege of all believers to pray fervently, and labour diligently, for the prosperity of the Church. The devil and his instruments are vigilant, unwearied, and bold, in attempting to destroy true religion. The adversary of God and man watches to devour all the spiritual seed of the Church as soon as they are born into the Gospel kingdom. Surely, then, Christians ought to be earnest and vigilant in opposing his designs, and arming themselves with the panoply of God, that they may be able to withstand these principalities, and powers, and spirits of wickedness in high places.-However

true believers may be persecuted and opposed by men or devils, they will be beloved and protected by God. They will be as secure in the hands of the Almighty, as if they were taken up to his throne in heaven. If they should be driven into a wilderness of solitude and affliction, they will find safety and refreshment there. And when the days of their warfare shall be accomplished, they will "come "off as conquerors, and more than conquerors," be "taken up to the throne of God," and receive from the hands of Jesus "the crown of life" and glory.

SECTION II.

The War between Michael and the Dragon.

Chap. xii. 7-12.

AND there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8. And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the Devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

The events foretold in these verses, preceded and made way for the flight of the Church into the wilderness. We here have an account of the dragon and his angels maintaining war in heaven against Michael and his angels; which seems to represent the strenuous efforts of pagan idolaters against the establishment of Christianity, and the destruction of idolatrous worship*. The imagery here used, undoubtedly has reference to the expulsion of Satan and his adherents from heaven on their original apostacy. Michael was the tutelary angel and protector of the Jewish church; and he may here be considered as typifying Christ. His name signifies, who is like God?-and how could an angel with a more suitable name represent Him who is "God over all, and blessed for ever?" Michael and his adherents, the holy angels, "who are sent forth "to minister to the heirs of salvation," were the invisible agents on one side; and the old serpent, the devil, or Satan, the murderer, liar, and adversary, and his angels, on the other. The former employed as his visible instruments, Christian magistrates, faithful ministers and believers; and the latter engaged on his part, persecuting emperors, idolatrous priests, and heathen philosophers. The contest was long and sharp; but it ended in the total defeat of Satan and his army. Pagan idolaters were deposed from all rule and authority; and the followers of Christ were advanced to dominion and empire in their stead. Thus, by the establishment of Christianity and the depression of paganism, the dragon and his angels were hurled from the imperial throne,

• After examining various expositions that have been given of this prophecy by several of the modern commentators, I am decidedly of opinion that none of their hypotheses have invalidated the explanation given by Bishop Newton, who has been followed by Mr. Scott and other judicious expositors.

+ See Jude, 6. 2 Pet. ii. 4.

Dan. x. 21; xii. 1.