Chapter XVI - The Apocalypse
Doom of the dragon
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field." In the Apocalypse, when nearing its doom, this
field." In the Apocalypse, when nearing its doom, this
evil increases and becomes the great red dragon, swollen
with sin, inflamed with war against spirituality, and ripe
for destruction. It is full of lust and hate, loathing the
brightness of divine glory.
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Revelation xii. 5. And she brought forth a man child,
Revelation xii. 5. And she brought forth a man child,
who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her
child was caught up unto God, and to His throne.
The conflict with purity
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Led on by the grossest element of mortal mind, Herod
Led on by the grossest element of mortal mind, Herod
decreed the death of every male child in order that the
man Jesus, the masculine representative of the
spiritual idea might never hold sway and de-
prive Herod of his crown. The impersonation of the
spiritual idea had a brief history in the earthly life of our
Master; but "of his kingdom there shall be no end,"
for Christ, God's idea, will eventually rule all nations
and peoples – imperatively, absolutely, finally – with di-
vine Science. This immaculate idea, represented first
by man and, according to the Revelator, last by woman,
will baptize with fire; and the fiery baptism will burn up
the chaff of error with the fervent heat of Truth and Love,
melting and purifying even the gold of human character.
After the stars sang together and all was primeval har-
mony, the material lie made war upon the spiritual idea;
but this only impelled the idea to rise to the zenith of
demonstration, destroying sin, sickness, and death, and
to be caught up unto God, – to be found in its divine
Principle.
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Revelation xii. 6. And the woman fled into the wilder-
Revelation xii. 6. And the woman fled into the wilder-
ness, where she hath a place prepared of God.
Spiritual guidance
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As the children of Israel were guided triumphantly
As the children of Israel were guided triumphantly
through the Red Sea, the dark ebbing and flowing tides
of human fear, – as they were led through the
wilderness, walking wearily through the great
desert of human hopes, and anticipating the promised
joy, – so shall the spiritual idea guide all right desires
in their passage from sense to Soul, from a material sense
of existence to the spiritual, up to the glory prepared for
them who love God. Stately Science pauses not, but
moves before them, a pillar of cloud by day and of fire
by night, leading to divine heights.
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If we remember the beautiful description which Sir
If we remember the beautiful description which Sir
Walter Scott puts into the mouth of Rebecca the Jewess
in the story of Ivanhoe, –
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When Israel, of the Lord beloved,
When Israel, of the Lord beloved,
Out of the land of bondage came,
Her fathers' God before her moved,
An awful guide, in smoke and flame, –
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we may also offer the prayer which concludes the same
we may also offer the prayer which concludes the same
hymn, –
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And oh, when stoops on Judah's path
And oh, when stoops on Judah's path
In shade and storm the frequent night,
Be Thou, longsuffering, slow to wrath,
A burning and a shining light!
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Revelation xii. 7, 8. And there was war in heaven:
Revelation xii. 7, 8. And there was war in heaven:
Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the
dragon fought, and his angels, and prevailed not; neither
was their place found any more in heaven.
Angelic offices
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The Old Testament assigns to the angels, God's divine
The Old Testament assigns to the angels, God's divine
messages, different offices. Michael's charac-
teristic is spiritual strength. He leads the
hosts of heaven against the power of sin, Satan, and