In many instances, when a prophecy is given in symbol or figure, a solution or explanation of the symbol immediately follows. Thus Dan. vii. 1—7, the four great "beasts" seen by Daniel, are explained in Dan. vii. 17, 23, to mean four empires or "kings." Rev. i. 12. John saw seven golden candlesticks, and the explanation of the symbol is found in the 20th verse. "The seven candlesticks are the seven churches."-Rev. xi. 8. The two witnesses are killed in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, the explanation that Jerusalem is meant, is annexed by the words, “where also our Lord was crucified." Rev. xiii. John saw a "beast," having seven heads and ten horns, rise up out of the sea; and in Rev. xvii. 10, 12, we find that "the seven heads are seven kings," and "the ten horns are ten kings." One of the heads was "wounded to death," and the last verse of Rev. xiii. tells us, that this is the symbol of a man. Whence I conclude that the "beast" prefigures a wicked potentate, ruling over an empire, and having ten different kings or governments subordinate to him. The symbols of seven heads and ten horns are, therefore, explained, Rev. xvii. 10, 12; but as no interpretation or explanation of "the sea," as a symbol follows, the word should not be taken symbolically, but understood, as the real or natural sea.-Rev. xvi. 13, 14. John saw there unclean spirits like frogs, come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. (See Rev. xiii. 4, and 11.) These are explained to be "the spirits of devils working miracles, Rev. xiii. 13.

THE SECOND ADVENT OF THE LORD

JESUS.

To the Christian, most interesting of all the prophecies, are those which foretell the second and personal appearing of our Lord and Saviour; and to this glorious event he should look forward as to the consummation of all his hopes; for though trouble and darkness intervene between the present, and the time when the Lord Jesus will come with the clouds of heaven, (Dan. vii. 13. Matt. xxiv. 30. Rev. i. 7). and gather His elect from the uttermost parts of the earth, Mark xiii. 27, the Christian should look forward with happy confidence to his departure from this life to be with Christ; or should it be his lot to live in the latter days, to the bright prospect which lies beyond the dark time of unequalled tribulation;* knowing that whichever be the lot appointed for him, his warfare will be accomplished, and he will pass from earthly trouble to be for ever with his Lord. Eighteen centuries have elapsed since Jesus said, "Watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is,” Mark xiii. 32-37. If the Lord withheld this knowledge from His disciples and apostles, "the time" cannot be known to us in these days; we can only be certain that the night is far spent, and that the day is at hand.

The parable of a nobleman, who went into a far country to receive a kingdom, and to return, Luke xix., was spoken by Jesus of Himself: He is ascended into heaven, whence He will return to take possession of his kingdom, Dan. vii. 13, 14., to reward His servants, and punish them who rebelliously reject Him. John xiv. 3.

* See chapter on "The Secret Rapture of the Saints."

After the ascension of our Lord, the apostles often spoke and wrote of the hope of His return.

Acts iii. 19. Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, and He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you, whom the heaven must receive, until the times of restitution of all things."

Col. iii. 4. "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." Hebrews ix. 28. "Unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time, without sin unto salvation."

1 Peter v. 4. "And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory."

1 John ii. 28. "And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming."

1 Tim. vi. 13, 14. "I give thee charge that thou keep this commandment, without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ."

2 Tim. iv. 1. "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead, at His appearing and His kingdom.'

Titus ii. 13. "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ."

1 Cor. i. 7. So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Thes. iii. 13. "To the end ye may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His Saints."

1 Thes. iv. 15. "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive, and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep." (See also 2 Thes. ii. 8.)

James v. 7.

"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord."

The second appearing of the Lord is predicted in the Old Testament.

Job. xix. 25. "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth."

Zech. xii. 10. "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications, and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced."

Zech. xiv. 3, 4. "Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle. And His feet shall stand in that day, upon the Mount of Olives."*

The manner of the Lord's return is foretold.

Matt. xxiv. 30, Mark xiii. 26, Luke xxi. 27. “Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man, coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

Rev. i. 7. "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him."

Rev. xiv. 14. "And, behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud, one sat like unto the Son of Man."

Acts i. 9-11. "And when He had spoken these things; while they beheld He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight; and while they looked steadfastly towards heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven."

* The Mount of Olives overlooks the valley of Jehoshaphat, a word that signifies "Judgment of Jesus," and there He will smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked one. Isaiah xi. 4.

As our Lord ascended from the Mount of Olives, in like manner He will descend to the Mount of Olives.

Zech. xiv. 4. “His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east."

Dan. vii. 13. "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven."

1 Thes. iv. 16. "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God."

THE LORD WILL PERSONALLY REIGN ON THE EARTH.

Psalm xcvii. "The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice."