A Brief Commentary on the Apocalypse

by Sylvester Bliss

Satan's most common work is to invent false accusations against those whose efforts tend to frustrate his designs. The Christians had endured false accusations and bitter persecutions, and therefore rejoiced the more over the defeat of the Pagans.

The Flight of the Woman.

“Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, and of the sea! for the devil is come to you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short season.”

“And when the dragon saw that he was cast out into the earth, he persecuted the woman, who brought forth the male child. And two wings of a great eagle were given to the woman, that she might fly into the desert, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water like a river, after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the river. And the earth helped the woman; and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river, which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged against the woman, and went away to make war with the remnant of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus.”—Rev. 12:12-17.

The rejoicing of Christians, according to this symbolization, is afterwards followed by renewed triumphs of the Pagans over them. The hatred of the Pagan worshippers to Christianity, is strikingly evinced; but it is manifested in a manner different from the former contest.

When the church sought only to overcome by “the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony,” it was owned of Christ; but as it became proud and worldly, and cared more for popular favor than for purity of faith and practice, the true church which the woman symbolized, was represented only by those who continued faithful to their profession. Historians inform us that with the success of Constantine, the visible church became speedily corrupt. As it became popular, unconverted men sought to be enrolled as members. The Pagans, instead of approaching as [pg 162] enemies, came as professed friends. As a profession of Christianity was alone necessary for admission to the church, multitudes sought connection with it. This caused a condition of things, of which Dr. Milner thus speaks:—“In the general appearance of the church, we cannot see much of the spirit of godliness. External piety flourished. But faith, love, heavenly-mindedness appear very rare. The doctrine of real conversion was very much lost, and external baptism placed in its stead: and the true doctrine of justification by faith, and true practical use of a crucified Saviour for troubled consciences were scarcely to be seen at this time. Superstition and self-righteousness were making vigorous shoots; and the real gospel of Christ was hidden from the men that professed it.”

To the same effect is the report of Mosheim:—Of the life and morals of the professing Christians of the fourth century, he says: “Good men were, as before, mixed with bad; but the bad were by degrees so multiplied, that men truly holy and devoted to God appeared more rarely; and the pious few were almost oppressed by the vicious multitude.” Of their doctrines he says: “Fictions, of early origin” (about saint veneration and relics, a purifying fire, celibacy, &c., &c.), “now so prevailed as in course of time almost to thrust true religion aside, or at least to exceedingly obscure and tarnish it.”

Says Mr Lord:—“Constantine and his successors introduced a flood of false doctrines, superstitions and idolatries, into the church, which were incompatible with a pure worship, and swept all who yielded to their impulse to the gulf of apostasy. Such were the veneration of the cross, and ascription to it of miraculous powers, the homage of relics, the invocation of saints, the conversion of religion into gorgeous ceremonies, the encouragement of celibacy, and the arrogation of the throne and prerogatives of God by civil and ecclesiastical rulers. These falsehoods, follies, and impieties, introduced or adopted by the emperors, encouraged by their example, sanctioned by their laws, and enforced by the penalties of excommunication, imprisonment, the forfeiture of civil rights, banishment, and death, came armed with an overpowering force to all who were not fortified against them by the special aids of the divine spirit, and like a resistless torrent bore away the great mass of the church.”—Exp. of Apoc., p. 350.

With the accession of multitudes of unworthy members, and the prevalence of false doctrines, the true church would have been speedily overwhelmed had not the people of God been sustained from such deleterious influences. To the woman, therefore, were given two wings of a great eagle that she might escape. Wings are symbolic of power of flight—for succor, or escape. The four-winged [pg 164] leopard of Daniel used his speed to approach and demolish the enemy; the woman, to escape hers. The church of old was sustained in like manner. Thus God said to Israel, “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you to myself.”—Ex. 19:4.

On the introduction of new rites and doctrines into the church, multitudes withdrew from the public assemblies, and worshipped apart. They retired from the observation of their rulers and lived secluded for a long period.