And is not.—Has not had even a vestige of temporal power since 1870. Since then it has been in oblivion, the “bottomless pit.”
And shall ascend out of the [bottomless pit], ABYSS.—“Private letters from the Vatican, received by Dr. A. Palmieri of the Library of Congress, a recognized writer on ecclesiastical subjects, announce that Pope Benedict XV is about to appoint a commission of four cardinals to renew a movement begun by Pope Leo XIII, and abandoned by Pope Pius X, looking to a reunion of Christianity and the cultivation of friendly relations with the Anglican Church. A public announcement on the subject from Rome is expected soon. Dr. Palmieri said that the new movement, as outlined in his advices, will be directed particularly toward an establishment of the reunion of the Russian church and the Papacy and to a thorough re-examination into the validity of Anglican or Episcopal ordinations, which was settled in the negative in a papal bull ‘Apostolica Sedis,’ by Pope Leo X. The interest of the Pope in the problem of Christian unity is said to have been intensified by the recent progress of the world congress, initiated by the American Episcopal Church.
“ ‘The new Pope,’ said Dr. Palmieri, summarizing the information received from Rome, ‘has taken a considerable part in the efforts of neutral nations to establish peace among nations. The Vatican's efforts have been suggested not only by a humanitarian spirit, but by a longing for Christian unity and to end the conflict which long since has divided Christian churches. Efforts of Leo XIII for carrying out the reunion of Christianity were abruptly stopped by Piux X, who aimed at an inner reform of the Catholic clergy and turned all his energies to the crushing of modernism [Higher Criticism and Evolution]. Benedict XV thinks it is time to renew the policy of Leo XIII, also that a re-establishment of a political peace would be the first step toward renewed attempts to stop the splitting of Christianity into a greater number of sects. It seems to the Vatican that the Orthodox Slavs will be very soon called to take a more active part in the life of western nations, either Protestant or Catholic, and that it is necessary to come to an understanding with them to avoid evils produced by religious intolerance. The newly planned commission of cardinals will pay attention to yearnings for unity, which from time to time manifest themselves in the Orthodox church, and to cultivate friendly relations with the Anglican church. One of the most important tasks of the new commission will be a thorough re-examination of the arguments pro and con on the validity of Anglican [pg 266] ordinations. The bull Apostolica Sedis by Leo X has settled in the negative the problem of that validity, but generally theological schools assume a more favorable attitude toward acknowledgment the validity of Anglican orders, and the new commission of cardinals will carefully ponder the reasons set forth by Russian and Anglican divines against the decision of Pope Leo X. The friendship of the Anglican church is appreciated by Rome, for she may be as a link of union between Roman Catholicism and Russian Orthodoxy.’ ” (Z. '17-52.) We assume that the foregoing plan of the pope will succeed. “This is the supreme chance for Christianity ‘to assert her authority and guide the world out of the darkness enshrouding it,’ observes The Northwestern Christian Advocate (Methodist, Chicago), and it wonders whether the organized Christianity that ‘failed—ingloriously failed’—in 1914 will again ‘miss her golden opportunity.’ ” (Literary Digest.) “An old writer has observed that the Beast reappears from the Abyss (see on ch. 11, 7) without his diadems, as though, in this last stage, he would symbolize rather the violence of popular rage than the prescriptive sanctity of monarchical supremacy.”—Cook.
And go into perdition.—Be utterly destroyed at the hands of the masses it has so persistently and outrageously deceived.—Rev. 17:11.
And they that dwell on the earth.—All independent Christians, not entangled in the systems of either the beast or the image. See Rev. 13:13, 14.
Shall wonder.—Be astounded, perplexed and dismayed, “At the reappearance of the beast.”—Cook.
Whose names.—As a class, not as individuals.
Were not written in the Book of Life.—But not necessarily in so-called Church books, kept here on earth, for collection purposes.
From the foundation of the world.—“The book or scroll covenanting life to an elect number was prepared from the foundation of the world. The names in it have been written as the individuals have made consecration of themselves, coming under the terms of the Divine call. In this view of the matter the book or scroll would represent the original Divine purpose—God's intention to have a Church, of which our Lord Jesus would be the Head.—(Rev. 3:5.)”—Z. '99-265.
When they behold the beast that was, and is not, and [yet is] SHALL AGAIN BE PRESENT.—The Papal Empire restored.