Bro. Russell stated that he did not believe this short space could be interpreted in days, months, or years, but that it simply meant a short time. In the 12th verse, we read that "The ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet, but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.' This seems to set forth the Papal view respecting the various kings of Europe which at the present time have not received the official anointing by the Pope, and consequently have not as yet received their kingdom. If this is correct, it would then also mean that if the Pope should anoint these kings and declare them to be ruling by Divine right, they thereby would officially receive power as kings, and would rule with the Pope and together with the Pope would constitute the beast again in power.

"Bro. Russell was anxiously awaiting the settlement of the present world war for the reason that it seemed very probable that the Pope would be the leading figure in bringing about its settlement, and possibly the very basis of the settlement will be the recognition of the Pope as the Holy See. If the Pope receives such recognition, he could in return immediately grant an official anointing of the rulers of the various governments included in the settlement, and they then as stated in Verse 13, will be 'Of one mind and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.' If this is to be the fulfillment of this picture, then it will only be a question of time until these same governments will turn upon the Roman Church and 'Shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire.' (Rev. 17:16.) The foregoing briefly outlines what Bro. Russell seemed to think would be the outcome of the present war. He had certain articles in prospect which, if backed up by fulfilled prophecies, were to be the absolute and irrevocable proof to the world of all of the leading pictures given in the entire book of Revelation. Personally, I think everything seems to be shaping itself towards the fulfillment of the Chapter on the line above specified. If you are making any use of this letter, kindly specify or emphasize the fact that Bro. Russell considered the matter largely as a speculation, and that he positively stated that he would not go on record in the matter for the reason that when he treated the matter he would do so in the light of fulfilled prophecy as the last word and as the unsealing of the entire book, and that he would not at tempt to do this until such a time as the interpretation could not be refuted." That time has evidently now come. 17:8. The beast that thou sawest.-The Antichrist. Was.-Exercised actual dominion until 1799 A. D.

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 Christianty 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

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 atti tude toward acknowledgment of the validity of Anglican orders, and the new commission of cardinals will carefully ponder the reasons set forth by Russian and Anglican di vines 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 popu lar rage than the prescriptive sanctity of monarchical su premacy."-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 Chris. tians, 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 collec tion 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.

17:9. And here is the mind which hath wisdom.-A problem requiring the aid of the Lord.-Rev. 13:18.

The seven heads are seven mountains.-The kingdoms enumerated in Rev. 12:3.

On which the woman sitteth.-Over which she once reigned in plentitude of power. Much of Revelation is written in such a way that both a literal and a symbolical explanation can be made, designed by the Lord to make the understanding of the book impossible to any except the fully consecrated. The following shows the physical explanation of this text which would most appeal to the unconsecrated. But it shows that the Mother of Harlots has her headquarters at Rome. And when we know who the mother is, it is impossible not to recognize the daughters. Rome is called in history the "seven-hilled city." "The original settlement of Romulus is said to have been limited to the Palatine mount. With this were united before the end of his reign the Capitoline and the Quirinal; Tullus Hostilius added the Caelian, Ancus Martius the Aventine; and finally Servius Tullius included the Esqui line and Viminal, and enclosed the whole seven hills with a stone wall. The growth of the state closely followed that of the city." (Brit.) It would not be possible to limit this explanation to seven forms of government which have exercised sway over the city of Rome. There have been many such governments. There were seven of them during the nineteenth century alone-the Roman Republic of 1798, the Kingdom of 1805, the Annexation of 1810, the restoration of the temporal power in 1814, the Revolution of 1848, the restoration of the temporal power in 1849, and the Italian occupation in 1870.

17:10. And there are seven kings.-Seven forms of gov ernment of the HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, the devil's own particular pattern of government.

Five are fallen.-(1) The Regal period, from 753 B. C. to 510 B. C. The "Kings" of this period were "not simply either the hereditary and patriarchal chief of a clan, the priestly head of a community bound together by a common sacra, or the elected magistrate of a state, but a mixture of all three.”—Brit.

(2) The Republic, from 509 to 451 B. C. and from 448 to 60 B. C. "It is characteristic of Rome that the change from monarchy to republic should have been made with the least possible disturbance of existing forms. The title of king was retained, though only as that of a priestly officer (rex sacrorum) to whom some of the religious functions of the former kings were transferred. The two annually elected consuls or prætores were regarded as joint heirs of the full kingly authority, and as holding the imperium and the correlative right of taking the auspices,

by direct transmission from the founder of the city.” (Brit.) (3) The Decemvirate, a rule of ten men, from 451 to 449 B.. C. (4) The Triumvirate, a rule of three men, from 59 to 49 B. C. and from 43 to 28 B. C. (5) The Dictatorship of Cæsar, 48 to 44 B. C. All of these forms of the old Holy Roman Empire have completely passed away.

[And] one is. The Dragon, still represented in the warring powers of Europe. (See comments on Rev. 12:3, 4, 7, 9, 13, 16, 17; 13:2, 4, 11; 16:13.) The rulership of Papacy during the Dark Ages, both directly in its temporal power, and through the governments which it controlled or influenced, and still influences, was-as has been shownmerely another aspect of the government of Pagan Rome, generally styled the Empire, but in Revelation called the Dragon, and the Devil, and Satan.

And the other.-The final form, of Arbitrator (whatever be the official title).

Is not yet come.-But is due to make its appearance with the close of the war, probably early in the year 1918. (See comments on Rev. 16:17-21; Ex. 10:23.) Pastor Russell foretold the darkness would commence in 1914, and it did!! Egypt's plague of darkness lasted three days (years). And when he cometh, he must continue a short space.Probably from the fall of 1917 to the spring or summer of 1918. "The language is indefinite, the words 'must continue' alone being emphatic. It is a duration such that by means of it the Church should be exercised in patience." -Cook.

17:11. And the beast that was.-That once exercised temporal dominion and, through influence of the European governments, once actually ruled the world.

And is not.-Does not now have any temporal dominion. [Even] he is the eighth.-The eighth horn which took the place of the three plucked up (Rev. 12:3); also the final form of the HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE.

And is of the seven.-"Cometh of the seven," Greek.Grew up by the plucking of the three. The Papacy is either the seventh or the eighth form, depending upon how the matter is viewed. If it be viewed as having reigned separately from the Dragon during the Dark Ages (as it did, when it exercised temporal power), in its new guise it will be the eighth form, its separate rulership during the Dark Ages being counted as the seventh. But if it be viewed as having been a co-partner of the Dragon during the Dark Ages, then its forthcoming manifestation will be the seventh form. In any event the eighth form is one of the seven forms; and the regaining of the temporal power this time will be the cause of the Papacy's destruction.