/73/ I WISH to make a few passing remarks before taking hold of this subject directly. It has been thought by some, and said by some, that a lecture is not profitable--does not amount to much. So much for the improvement we have made. Only about thirty years ago, it was thought that nothing else was so profitable as lecturing; and some persons think that talking on this last book of the New Testament is not in the common line of preaching. They have forgotten that Jesus had it given for the instruction of his disciples, and almost think it sacrilegious for a man to talk about it on the Lord's day; when John saw the Vision on the Lord's day, and seven times Jesus pronounces a blessing on those that hear what the Spirit said. That is one reason why I think it strange that persons are so prejudiced against this portion of the Lord's Word. "Blessed is he that readeth," it is said, "and those that hear the words of the prophecy of this book ;" and dare I say it is not so ? And certainly we would be blessed if we would remember all the time what Jesus has revealed--that he is in our midst; if we could remember all the time that he knows all we are doing for his cause, it would be a blessing; if we could remember all that he has said against certain errors and vices that have crept into the Church it would be a blessing to us; and if we could remember and understand all that is said in this book of Revelation, it would be a blessing to us. If we would remember that Jesus is to come again in the glory /74/ of his Father, and give to every man according as his works shall be, it would be a blessing to bear in mind.

We have called attention to Part First and Part Second of the Book of Revelation--what John saw--that is, the Lord in his glory, walking in the midst of the churches und holding their brightest stars in his hand; the most conspicuous men of the churches, and the condition that the churches were in at that time; and just what Jesus said concerning their poverty, their riches, their labors, and their errors; and it stands forth for our instruction as well as theirs.

We come now to notice the Third Division of this Book of Revelation; for you will remember that John was directed to write the three divisions--the things that he had seen, the things as they then were, and what should be in the future. (9th verse 1st chap.) At the commencement, then, of the fourth chapter, we have this reading:

"After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven; and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter." He takes up, in regular order, the Third Division, after noticing the First and Second. "And immediately I vas in the Spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was, to look upon, like a jasper and a sardine-stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings, and thunderings, and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God." At some future time I want to call attention to the seven Spirits of God. God has seven Spirits, /75/ or the Revelation is wrong. It looks a little dark, does it not ? But it will be plain when we understand the matter.

"And before the throne there was a sea of glass, like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a dying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory, and honor, and thanks to him, that sat on the throne who liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

One matter is clear at a single glance, as to who was on the throne. It was the Creator, John saw seated on the throne--the Maker of heaven and earth and all that in them is. But to understand what is meant by the four beasts that bowed and worshiped, and to understand what the Lord intended us to know by the wing), is a different matter. To show clearly what the twenty-four elders represent is, perhaps, to some, a little harder than to tell who was on the throne. I propose, by the Bible, to show what the Lord intended his people to know.

These four beasts I will notice first of all. I will say something about their wings, and what we are to understand by their forms and faces. There are various Opinions as to what these beasts represent. John, it is true,

/76/ looked in at the door that was opened in heaven and saw them, but they signify something more than merely four beasts or living creatures. I know the views of some great men; I might give some of them. One writer says that he supposed it might be that they represent the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. But as the Father, Son, an' Holy Ghost are only three, while the beasts, in number, are four, he made two of the Lord Jesus, and said that Jesus had a human nature and thus a divine nature; and thus he had the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, making the four beasts. But another writer differed with him, and said he thought perhaps it might have reference (and that is a strong argument, isn't it? ''Perhaps.'' If I can not do better, the Lord forgive me for ever trying!) to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. He had the four. If this one was right, the other was wrong. But another thought that probably the four boasts that John saw, were four angels up in glory, that crowned the Lord witch he ascended from Mount Olivet and took his seat on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven. And I think that almost all the brethren of all denominations arc falling into this view, at least in word if not in fact; for in their prayers I have often heard them say that, before the throne in Heaven the beasts and elders bow and worship

These ideas are rather conflicting. Some one is wrong But another person that I was conversing with some time since, took a different view altogether. His idea was that these four beasts John saw in the Vision were the steam cars--he said so! And his proof was that they had eyes all around; he said they wore the windows in the passenger cars, through which the people were looking. It is said that they had six wings each of them, and he Said the wings were the six wheels that the cars roll on. But the old brother had not counted correctly. Sometimes coaches have twelve wheels, instead of six, and, I believe, /77/ none of them have fewer than eight; so it did not quite tally. I was certain that if this one was right, the others were wrong. It is not hard to find some fault, but I am investigating this matter. I was compelled to reject the idea that these four beasts were Father, Son and Holy Ghost, from the fact that it made the Father, Son and Holy Ghost bow down and worship themselves, and be yet in the future, and not eternal; for John was telling what was to come to pass in the future, after tho days of his exile. I was compelled, my brother, to reject the second view that I gave--that they were Matthew, Mark, Luke and John--because Matthew, Mark and Luke were not to come to pass hereafter, for they were dead already. I was bound to reject the third view--that they were angels up in glory--because they declared themselves to be saints on the earth, as we will see in the next chapter. I was very certain that the last view was wrong--that they had reference to the steam cars--when I heard the old brother give it, because I have no idea that steam cars ever get on their knees to worship the Lord, and say, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!" It is easy to find fault, but what do these four beasts mean? One thing is certain--they could talk. And they could sing, and did sing a song of praise to the Almighty. They could bow and worship, and they did bow and worship the Lord of hosts. They were rational creatures. They were worshiping beings.

I wish to make a remark at this point that I desire every person in the house to-remember, and that is, that the order of prophecy is to tell the last event first--to look down to the end from the beginning. I made that remark in the city of B-- , not long since, and an editor there-- and an elder of the church--said that the proof would be better than the assertion; they had never so understood it. I want to ask of each one, and every one of you that /78/ will give me his attention, if it is not the order of prophecies, when men that are uninspired predict future events? You say of the little boy, he will make a great man one day. If you could see the future, you would not presume to tell what the little boy would be next week. You would be more apt to tell what he would be when a grown man. You look around and see a state or county, and say it will be a great state or a rich county one day, and it is yet a wilderness. You do not tell w-hat it will be next week, do you ? In all our uninspired predictions we are apt to tell the last thing first; and then we tell how the little boy will become a great man, or what will make the state a great state, and fill up between the now and then. But while this is true of uninspired predictions, it is none the less true in the Bible of God. It is certainly true in the Book in which we are interested now, that the last event is the first prediction made. You would like to have the proof, would you? Let me read it to you, then.

"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him." Here he tells of the coming, of the Lord. In the first prediction that he makes of future events--the first one in the whole Book-- he tells us that the Lord will come in clouds. That is his first prediction of future things. I have proven that much, then. One good substantial proof from God's holy Book is worth more than an hour's gabbling.

Again, Ezekiel in his prophecy tells the last event first. The end of the matter is the first prediction Ezekiel makes in the first chapter of his prophecy. He had the same vision that John describes here of the four beasts, with /79/ their faces exactly as John names them, and winds up by saying it was the appearance of the glory of the Lord, and the whole earth was to be full of his glory. That time has not yet come. (We are for teaching, today, not exciting any one). Not only does Ezekiel tell the last event in the world's history in the first chapter, but Isaiah does the same thing. After introducing himself to Israel, and speaking of their sins and iniquities, he let them know the time was coming when nations should beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, and learn war no more. That is a little beyond our time, and it is the first prediction he makes. It is true he had previously rebuked Israel for their sins, but when he predicts future things, he tells the last event first. And that is not all. Again, after a brief digression from this glorious time he speaks of in the first prediction of future things, in the next prediction he brings up the subject again. In the sixth chapter he repeats John's Vision almost word for word, and declares there that it was a vision of the glory of the Lord, when the whole earth was to be full of his glory.

Now, why have I said so much in reference to the last event being named first in prophecy, whether inspired or uninspired ? To show that this Vision of the fourth chapter is yet in the future. Not, as some have concluded, that it was the first event to transpire after John saw the Vision in Patmos--but the last one, my brother, and I will prove it.

But these four beasts. We have not yet named what they are. I return now, and say that they could talk, and could sing; they knew the Lord, and bowed and worshiped God. They were rational creatures, and that is not all-- they were here on earth, as they themselves declare. I now make one declaration, and submit a proposition: that these four living creatures are four nations of men. Why /80/ do I say so ? From the fact that they could talk. They are not four individual men, but nations of men. Nations can talk, as individuals can; and the reason I think these four beasts are nations of men, is that the Lord's Book so instructs me. You do not know that, do you, brother? Listen. (We are for learning to-day).

In the seventh chapter of Daniel's prophecy, he tells us he saw some beasts in a vision, and he inquired of the Lord what they were; and the angel of the Lord told him the sum of the matter, and said: The fourth beast you saw is the fourth kingdom (or nation of men) on the earth. The third beast was then, of course, the third kingdom on the earth, in Daniel's vision. The second beast was the second kingdom on the earth, in Daniel's vision; and the first beast was the first kingdom on earth, in Daniel's vision, as the Bible of God teaches. Then we would read, with the Lord's definition, "I saw four nations or kingdoms bowing and worshiping." Not the kingdoms or nations that Daniel was speaking of. Daniel was telling of the four kingdoms that were to rise and fall in succession,, one after the other. But John was talking about four kingdoms or nations that were to bow and worship the Lord at the same time--all together--not one after the other.

It is positively stated in the Bible that the word beast, when it is used in a figurative sense, means a kingdom or nation. Here are four. I would like to know what four kingdoms or governments are to worship the Lord at the same time. Has that already taken place? No; it is in tho future. John is telling the last event in his history; he is speaking of the millennial age, as we sometimes call it-- the thousand years of peace on earth; and these four beasts that John saw bowing and worshiping, have, by the Lord himself, been four times, and more than that, designated the four quarters of the earth. Do you not think I will have a little difficulty to prove that ? John looked, and in /81/ the Vision saw the four quarters of the earth bowing and worshiping the Lord. The proof would be better than the assertion, would it not? The proof I offer for these four beasts that John saw being the four quarters of the earth, I would give circumstantially.

First their appearance to John. He said the first one was like a lion, and it answers very well to Asia, the first quarter of the world in point of age, settlement, and the reception of the gospel. Asia, the first quarter of the world, in point of numbers, strength, and age, lion-like crouches down in her mighty strength, and none ever dares to rouse her from her lair. The first beast, the first quarter of the world, is like a lion, and Asia is stronger than any; half-civilized, untamed, she has crouched down for many ages.

But John said the second beast or nation was like a calf. And the second quarter of the world settled by the human family, was Africa. The gospel went there in the second place, too, after it was preached in Asia, and we look and see the likeness complete. Africa has bowed her neck like an ox, has worn the yoke, and ploughed the field for the nations of the earth. (I am not a politician; O, no! but this is a literal truth). Africa is the most humble, workable, docile, ox-like nation on the earth. They have been; how long they will remain so is another question.

John said the third beast or nation, had the face of a man. I call your attention to the third quarter of the world, and we see a man's intellect developed as in no other quarter of the world; a man's face is seen there in Europe. How did John know ? It was a barbarous quarter of the world in his day, but it has been rising and man's intellect developing there as in no other quarter of the world, and the arts and sciences, since the dark ages, were born in that country. We do not like to yield the palm, and say they are wiser than we. We may be standing /82/ on their shoulders, but they were our fathers in the sciences and arts.

But he said the fourth beast or quarter of the world was like an eagle--in a cage? O, no! Like an eagle with its wings cropped'' O, no! The fourth beast was like a flying eagle; the fourth division of the human family like a flying eagle; the fourth quarter of the world, in point of age or time of settlement, was like a flying eagle, with its wings spread out. He looked at the whole continent a little beyond the day in which we live, and saw the broad wings of the free eagle there rising, the free bird uncaged, with wings spread, rising higher and higher, with her eye fixed with an unblanched gaze upon the glorious sun of liberty, the freest land beneath the sun. Lord, help us to realize our privileges! You need not be uneasy, friends; the eagle's wings are spread and she will rise. We may be chastised for our unworthiness, and whipped for our ingratitude, but the free land, the free eagle, will rise higher and higher; and the Lord grant that her wings may yet overshadow the ends of the earth! It makes me feel a little taller, while I think of being a citizen of the fourth quarter of the world, that is like the flying eagle. It is our national emblem. Have you not seen the likeness of the eagle upon our national currency, upon the half dime? You never saw our national ensign with wings folded. It is characteristic of the people in the fourth quarter of the world of this nation in which we live.

But this is only circumstantial proof. That is all, my brother. It would almost hang a man, if being tried for his life, would it not? Then, shall we bring in a little more proof that these four beasts that John saw are the four quarters of the earth--Asia, Africa, Europe and America?

My next argument is that the old prophet Ezekiel locates them, and tells just w here they are. In the first chapter of his prophecy, Ezekiel says that he was upon /83/ the banks of the river Chebar, in the land of the Chaldeans, and that is the site of Jerusalem directly. He says:

"And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof, as the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire: also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled like the color of burnished brass. And they had the hands of a man under their wings, on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies."

And he closes this glowing description of these living creatures, by saying: "This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord."

That is nearly positive proof, is it not ? Well, the positive proof I will read.

"And the Lamb came and took the book out of the hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for /84/ thou hast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."And we are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John--angels up in glory--steam cars? No. Every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. The four beasts, then, with the elders, bow and worship, declaring themselves to be of every kindred, tongue, people and nation--the four quarters of the earth. But the time has not yet come when every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, bow and worship the Lord. John looked down and saw that time, and he adds, immediately in the next verse, in speaking of these living creatures or beasts, that they said, "Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever."

Why in the name of reason would a wise man say these beasts were angels up in heaven, while they declare they are to reign on the earth. "He has made us kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth." They are saints, they are of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation. But you do not believe that the greatness of the kingdom will be given to the saints, do you? It does not look much like it now, my brother, while we have nine hundred millions of pagans on earth, at the end of nearly seventeen hundred years of warfare. We have not advanced upon the enemy's outer pickets yet. Three hundred millions that have heard of the Lord, and nine hundred millions in darkness yet. It does not look as if the four quarters of the world would soon acknowledge Jesus, does it?

Let me offer a thought for your encouragement. This world has almost been made since I can remember. I can remember when there was not a match to light a candle with in this world. I can remember when my father used to send me a half mile to borrow some fire, on a cold morning. /85/ That is a small matter, however. I can remember when we heard the latest news from New York city in three weeks, where my father lived in Kentucky. I can remember when we had the last news from Europe in three months, by some fast-sailing vessel. I recollect when we got a message from St. Petersburg, in Russia, in six months, and it was late news! I recollect very well when it took me one whole week to come from Southern Indiana, near New AIbany, to the place where I now live, hard traveling; to come from my home to this county. How long does it take now? I recollect very well when we sent a man on a swift animal to learn the particulars of a disaster in a far off neighborhood, and got tile news in three or four days sometimes, even if the disaster happened fifty miles from where we lived!

I want to say a little more than that. The time 'has not long gone by, when a man would have to work a long lifetime to earn enough money to buy one copy of the Bible.

We want to look at the now. We do not have to go half a mile on a cold morning for fire, for a match is really. We do not have to wait three weeks to get a message from New York or Washington. How long does it take to get the news from New York, London, Paris, or St. Petersburg now? Start the news from New York city to Greencastle, Lafayette or Indianapolis at twelve o'clock noon, and we are reading it in some of the Western cities at half-past eleven, nearly half an hour before it starts! I am not exaggerating. They start the news from London or St. Petersburg on Monday morning a little after twelve o'clock, and we are reading it here in New York on Sun~lay evening at nine o'clock, three or four hours before it starts! I do not mean that we really get it before it starts from there, but that it outruns old Sol that much. It is a matter of fact.

I said it used to take me a whole week to come from /86/ Southern Indiana to this county. How long does it take now? We get on the cars after dinner and get here a good while before supper time the same day; and they say it is a slow road.

It took a long lifetime to earn money enough to buy a Bible a few centuries since. How long would it take now?

Not long at all. They will give it to any one that wants it; they are sending it to the benighted lands of the heathen as fast as they can take it there; it is flying by steam and running by lightning. In this land, if a man wants to buy a Bible, he can earn enough in a day to buy two; that is, if he is a good mechanic, and buys cheap books, he can get two copies of the whole Word of God for a day's work. What a difference! Do not tell me that we can not accomplish what the Lord has promised, when we are doing now more in a day than they could do in a century some three hundred years since; doing more in one hour than they could do in a hundred years any time in the twelfth, thirteenth or fourteenth centuries, in the sense in which I am speaking, especially Bible-making. And that is the great lever that is to turn the world over and get it right side up. They had to write their Bibles with a pen a few centuries since, and now we are throwing them off in the steam printing presses by tho million per day. And, bless you, if a man were to write out a Bible a few centuries since, or had enough money to buy one, they would not allow him to read it; but how is it now? They are begging, pleading with men, entreating them to take the Bible for naught, and urging with all their might that men should read it. The Word of the Lord is going to shake the heavens this time. It shook the earth once, but the heavens must tremble this time before the onward course of God's almighty Word. We can convert the nations, and we will, the Lord being our helper. We can bring about the glorious time when lion-like Asia shall bow and /87/ acknowledge Jesus instead of worshiping idols; when ox-like Africa shall join in with lion-like Asia in saying, Jesus is the Lord; when man-like Europe shall join with them in saying, Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords; and free America join in with the other three and say that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

John looked down and saw the time when the four quarters of the earth would acknowledge Jesus to be their rightful Ruler. He saw Asia in all its strength, Africa in all its docility, Europe in all its wisdom, and America with all her freedom, joining in one song of praise to him that sat on the throne and worshiping the Lord of hosts. A glorious time, my brother; it was well John said it. The churches were in a miserable condition in the day when he saw the Vision; but the gospel was yet to fill the whole earth with the glory of the Lord.

In my next discourse I will notice what the Lord has said to be the means used in bringing about this glorious time; how it is to be accomplished, bringing the whole earth to the feet of Jesus. May the Lord help us to work.