A Historicist Interpretation of Revelation — Continued – Part 2

A Historicist Interpretation of Revelation — Continued – Part 2

Thomas Allen

Decline of the Papacy
    Chapter 14 describes the decline and fall of the Papacy and the entire Babylonian system and the establishment of the Kingdom.

    Revelation 14:1. “An hundred forty and four thousand” is not an actual number. It symbolizes completeness; Christ’s reign, his government, is complete. It also represents Israel, Protestant Europe in general and Britain in particular, coming out of the dark age into the light. The 144,000 are the ones who are completely in accord with God’s will (“Father’s name written in their foreheads”) and, therefore, who reign with Christ.

    Mount Sion, Zion, is associated with the kings of Israel and with Jesus Christ, King of kings. It is associated with God’s righteous Kingdom on earth (Isa. 62:1). It is the seat of administration for the law of the Israel Commonwealth.

    “Father’s name written in their foreheads” shows that they have surrendered their minds, intellect, and whole being to God. They understand and execute God’s will. Consequently, they are fit to rule with Christ.

    Revelation 14:2-3. These verses show that the restoration of the Kingdom has been accomplished with Jesus as King and Jehovah as God.

    “Harp” refers to David or the House of David (II Sam. 6:5). Thus, it represents the royal house of Great Britain, which is of the House of David. The lost kingdoms of Israel and Judah are restored. Moreover, via the Protestant Reformation, they are liberated from spiritual darkness. Thus, they sing “a new song before the throne.”

    Revelation 14:4-5. These verses refer to a people or nation that was not defiled by Papal Rome’s pagan idolatry, such as the worship of the Mother of God. This nation or people is Protestant Britain-Israel. Others hold that the virgin described here is the 144,000 or the true Church, whom the Papacy has not corrupted.

    Revelation 14:6-7. Great Britain opposes Rome. Having escaped from the power of Rome, Great Britain expands into a great empire and spreads the gospel throughout the world. The true Israel Church warns of God’s coming judgement.

    Revelation 14:8. God now judges Papal earth and destroys the Pope’s power, power acquired with the claim of Divine authority. “Babylon” symbolizes the political, economic, and religious world system that wars against God. “Wine of . . . fornication” refers to spiritual fornication, e.g., the worship of images, holy pictures, holy relics, and demons, through Biblical names, characters, and associations, such as Jesus, Mary, angels, and saints. The Great Depression was the beginning of the judgement against the Babylonian economic system.

    Revelation 14:9-11. Those who follow Papal Rome suffer along with Papal Rome in its destruction. They fall under the punishment of God’s judgement. This judgement starts with the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars.

    Revelation 14:12-13. Encouragement is given to the true Church and to Israel (not Jewry) — to everyone who has rejected at the mark of the beast, Romish rule.

    Revelation 14:14-20. Christ, the Son of Man, comes to bring God’s judgement on Papal Rome (Matt. 13:30) — the political, economic, and ecclesiastical Roman world.

    “Clusters” are the people of Israel who have obeyed God’s will and, therefore, who are “harvested” and protected from God’s wrath. The “vine” is most of Israel, who have disobeyed; they along with Judah are cast into the winepress where they are purified.

    The Soviet Union is the sickle used to punish much of Papal Europe.

    In verse 20, “city” could be Rome itself. If so, this verse is describing World War I and especially World War II. “City” could also refer to Papal Europe. If so, it suggests that God lead the European armies out of their own countries to destroy them. Such an event happens when the Soviet army defeats the Nazi army. If “city” refers to the holy city, it suggests that the destruction of the armies of Roman Europe take place outside Israel-Britain or the Anglo-Saxon nations.

Defeat of the Papacy
    Chapter 15 describes the victory over the Papacy (the beast). It shows Israel freeing itself from the Papacy and then the fall and defeat of the Papacy. It introduces pouring out of the seven vials in Chapter 16.

    Revelation 15:1-4. “Gotten the victory over the beast” depicts British Israel freeing herself from the Papacy (the beast). This liberation is completed by Queen Elizabeth’s reign.

    Two songs of Moses are given in the Bible. One is in Chapter 15 of Exodus, which was sung after Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. The second is in Chapter 32 of Deuteronomy, which was sung when Moses gave Israel the Law of Sinai.

    Revelation 15:5-8. These verses reveal the temple. “The temple of the tabernacle” (verse 8) symbolizes the center of God’s heavenly judgement and the reigning of the resurrected Church.

    In verse 6, “white linen” depicts God’s perfect righteousness in judgement. Unlike the normal position around the waist, here the girdle is around the heart (“breasts girded with golden girdles”). This shows loving restraint.

    The end of the age is reached with God pouring out his righteous judgement (verse 8). The seven plagues, seven vials, end with God’s Son establishing his Kingdom and the resurrection of the Church occurring (the first resurrection). The temple symbolizes Christ’s government with the Church (Body of Christ) ruling with him.

The Millennium and Beyond
    The last three chapters of Revelations describe the Millennium and Post-Millennium Age. Chapter 20 describes the Millennium. The “Little Season” occurs just before the Millennium begins. Chapter 21 describes the new heaven and new earth. Chapter 22 describes the Post-Millennium Age.

Little Season
    Revelation 20:1-3. The dragon, old serpent, devil, and Satan refer to the Roman System of Papal Europe (see Rev. 12:3, 9; Rev. 17:8) The dragon or the “revived fourth beast” has its origin from the “bottomless pit.” Here the Papal Roman System is relegated back to the bottomless pit from which it came. Most identify the “old serpent” as the serpent that beguiled Eve in the Garden of Eden.

    The present age ends in two 40-year cycles or generations. These cycles start with World War I in 1914-1918. They end in 1994-1998 when the millennial kingdom begins. The “Little season” may be the last 40 years of the Millennium.

    “Loosing of the ‘Adversary’ for a little season” may mean that the Roman earth (Roman Continental Europe) reverts to self-centered rule and shows manmade unrighteousness again. Or it may symbolically depict a final worldwide challenge to return to manmade rule. According to others, Satan is bound for a thousand years to give mankind the opportunity to receive the Gospel during Jesus’ Kingdom rule without interference from Satan.

The Millennium: The First Resurrection and the Kingdom Age
    Revelation 20:4. Jesus transforms those who have proved themselves sufficiently in love with him to be worthy to share his glory and to be transformed into his image at the first resurrection. They are the overcomers, who are the true Church. They “lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

    Revelation 20:5. All the rest of the dead, good or bad, Jew or Gentile, who failed to become chosen or elected by God for the “prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus,” i.e., the first resurrection, will not reappear until after the Millennium when the general resurrection of all mankind takes place (see John 5:28).

    Revelation 20:6. Those who are in the first resurrection are free from the second death.

End of the Millennium
    Revelation 20:7-9. At the end of the Millennium, Satan is released to test mankind. Through his temptations, he separates true born-again followers from those who have only been pretending to be followers. Thus, the adversary-system attacks the “beloved city.” God now comes to destroy and finally eradicate all opposition to His Son’s earthly rule of righteousness.

    “Gog and Magog” may symbolically refer to a general worldwide uprising at the end of the millennial age of all who have not given wholehearted allegiance to Jesus. Here Gog and Magog are not the Gog and Magog of Ezekiel 38 and 39, who fought in the Battle of Armageddon.

    Revelation 20:10. This final insurrection is judged as the “beast and the false prophet” were dealt with a thousand years earlier. Satan, the devil, is cast into the lake of fire. The lake of fire symbolizes destruction (Dan. 7:11).

    Revelation 20:11. The “great white throne” is the throne of Jesus. Jesus judges the world in righteousness for a period (see Acts 17:31, John 5:22). “White” represents purity and holiness.

Resurrection
    Revelation 20:12. The resurrection of all people who are not resurrected in the first resurrection occurs. It may take place in stages instead of all at once. They do not stand before God, but before the Throne (the KJV is a mistranslation). This is the great white throne of Christ.

    At the close of the Millennium the names and deeds of all men are found “written in the books.” One set of books contains all the good and bad deeds that each person has done. Another book, the “book of life,” is opened. This book contains the names of the saved.

    Revelation 20:13. All the dead are raised whether they lie in the earth or in the sea. Jesus has been ordained to restore all to life by resurrection (John 5:28). Christ judges all according to their works.

    Revelation 20:14-15. All that is contrary to God and to life is cast into the lake of fire. Even death and the grave are conquered and finally annihilated by God. 

    The second death cannot hurt these who have put on perfection in the first resurrection. They have already died unto sin and by perfect resurrection become clothed in Christ’s image; there is nothing left in them which the Spirit of God can oppose. 

    All others are imperfect and therefore come under God’s fire of righteousness and holiness (see Deut. 4:24, Heb 12:29). Anyone whose name is not written in the book of life is cast into the lake of fire. What happens to these people then is greatly disputed.

    According to the universalists, they are not tormented “forever and ever” but are tried “unto the ages of the ages” until all things are put under Christ’s feet, and he hands his perfected Kingdom to his Father (see I Cor. 15:24). During these ages, Christ corrects and perfects people who have opposed the building of his Kingdom (see Col. 1:19-20; Eph. 1:10).

    Like the universalists, the annihilationists claim that those cast into the lake of fire are not tormented forever and ever. They cease to exist. Thus, man is not innately immortal. He becomes immortal through faith in Christ.

    Most follow the Romanist teaching that those cast into the lake of fire are really tormented forever and ever. Although Catholicism offers away out of eternal torment through Purgatory, Protestantism denies this out. This belief is based on the pagan doctrine that man is innately immortal independent of God and Christ.

New Heaven and New Earth
    Revelation 21:1. The new heaven and new earth occur at the beginning of the Millennium. Therefore, the events described in Chapter 21 fall between Revelation 20:6 and 20:7.

    None remain to oppose God and His Son as symbolized by “no more waters (or seas).” Agitation, turmoil, and strife are absent from the new earth.

    Three “heavens” are mentioned in the Bible: the atmosphere, outer space, and God’s abode, which is beyond the first two. The new heaven of Revelation 21:1 deals with the first two.

    The world is not destroyed. It is cleansed and restored.

    Revelation 21:2. This verse depicts the new-glorified “Israel” with all nations. Here “bride” symbolizes Israel. New Jerusalem, the holy city, is the capital of the Kingdom over which Christ rules.

New People
    Revelation 21:3. God’s new covenant is announced to Israel. He will again “be their God” (Heb. 8:10). He also fulfills his promise and sets His sanctuary in their midst (Ezek. 37: 26-28).

    Revelation 21:4. Those in God’s Kingdom are immortal and without sorrow. This promise applies first to converted racial Israel and then to people of other nations who have entered the Kingdom through the new birth (Isa. 51:11, 65:19). This verse covers from the beginning of the Millennium to its end and beyond.

    Revelation 21:5-6. Jesus becomes not only the “Alpha,” the first, but also the “Omega,” the last: In the fulness of his resurrection and glory, Jesus is truly “the first-born of every creation” (Col. 1:5,18). This verse also affirms that Jesus gives life and makes all things anew.

    Revelation 21:7. “He that overcometh” refers to Israel (not Jewry). (In Revelation 3:21-22, it refers to the Church or first elect.) Overcoming means obedience to God. Jesus not only shares his glory with his true Church; he also shares it with overcoming Israel.

    Revelation 21:8. All sins are destroyed in the lake of fire as part of the second death. Some of the worst sins are listed. “Fearful” heads the list. It even surpasses unbelief, which is second. Thus, those who fear man more than God are the most despicable and are cast into the lake of fire (see Matt. 10:32-33).

New Jerusalem and New Light
    Revelation 21: 10-22. A description of new Jerusalem is given. “The holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God” (Rev. 21:10) symbolizes the rebirth of Israel as a nation. The description of the gates in Revelation 21:13 parallels Israel’s order around the tabernacle in Numbers 2 (see also Ezek. 48:30-35).

    Twelve is the number of completion and perfect rule or government. It also identifies New Jerusalem with Israel, “names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel” (Rev. 21:12).

    Revelation 21:23-26. These verses describe the new light, which is eternal. Saved nations will dwell in the light of the new Jerusalem (see Mic. 4:2 and Isa. 49:18).

    Revelation 21:27. God justifies His covenant to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Glory of the Post-Millennium Age: Paradise Restored
    Revelation 22:1-6. These verses describe the glory of the Post-Millennium Age. They illustrate that God has kept His promise. Through Israel (not Jewry), the gentile nations have been blessed. Like Israel (Amos 3:2, Hos. 1:10, John 10:34-46, and Rom. 8:29), they can become sons of God (1 John 2:2). The curse that Adam brought upon creation is forever removed (Rev. 22:3). Man is now immortal. He has obtained physical and spiritual perfection.

    (Others place Chapter 22 in the Millennium Age and as a continuation of Chapter 21. Things described in Chapter 22 are pertinent to the Millennium and not the Post-Millennium Age.)

    Revelation 22:7-11. These verses contain the last message of the Bible. God never compels anyone to love or obey Him. He offers His love to all. His door is open to all to come in.

Satisfied Savior
    Revelation 22:13. Jesus is the “first-born of the dead,” the “resurrection and the life,” and the “door” of the sheepfold. From the time of his resurrection, he is the perfect immortal “image of the invisible God,” the “first-born of every creature” (see Col. 1:15,18).

    Revelation 22:14. God blesses those who obey Him. His blessings are available to all.

    Revelation 22:15. Those who do not turn from their sinful ways remain outside the City. Thus, no pardon can be given without repentance.

    Revelation 22:16. Jesus declares himself to be both the root (ancestor) and offspring (descendant) of David.

    Revelation 22:17. “Bride” refers to Israel (not Jewry). God through His Spirit and Israel (not Jewry) invites all men to come into the Kingdom.

    Revelation 22:18-19. These verses declare the unchangeable nature of God (see also Isa. 66:22). They warn against following manmade systems and laws.

Closing Remarks
    One of the many problems of the historicist explanation of Fox, Neser, and Rand is that they focus on the Papacy. Babylon probably refers to Jerusalem instead of Rome.

    Although the Papacy is probably part of the beast, dragon, etc. that Revelation condemns and casts into the lake of fire, it is most likely a minor part. The major part is the descendants of Pharisaism. Judaism, Jewry, is the primary descendant of Pharisaism. Other descendants and close relatives of Pharisaism are Freemasonry, most new age religions, the occult, secular humanism, Marxism, communism, fascism, socialism, welfare-warfare statism, Zionism, etc.

    Historicism suffers from many of the flaws that futurist explanation suffers. So far, both have failed at predicting the Second Coming. Whereas futurists interpret Revelation based on newspaper headlines, historicists interpret Revelation based on history books. Moreover, historicists, like futurists, must continuously update their explanation as more time passes (history occurs) without the end of the age arriving.

    The historicists whose explanations given in this article are adherents of the British-Israel doctrine (the Anglo-Saxon and other Germanic people are the lost tribes of Israel). They claim that the royal house of Great Britain is the House of David, i.e., it is a line of kings and queens descended from David. It may be. However, history of the last 250 years strongly suggests that the royal house of Great Britain is anti-Christ and has been in the forefront of man’s war against God and His Christ. One cannot be steeped as deeply in Freemasonry and other descendants of the Mysteries as members of the royal house are and be part of God’s true Church.

    The royal family of Great Britain may or may not be the blood kindred of the ancient kings of Israel. One thing that is sure is that they are the spiritual kindred of Israel’s kings. Instead of being practitioners and followers of the religion that God revealed to and through Noah, Abraham, Moses, and the prophets, the kings of Israel were practitioners and followers of the Mysteries. Likewise, the religion that the royal family practices and follows is a descendant of the Mysteries.

Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Coley Allen. 

Part 1 

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A Historicist Interpretation of Revelation — Continued – Part 1

A Historicist Interpretation of Revelation — Continued – Part 1

 Thomas Allen

    This article goes into more detail on the chapters of Revelation that are briefly mentioned in the first article, “A Historicist Interpretation of Revelation.” Readers are referred to A Flood of Light Upon the Book of Revelation by John S. Fox, The Book of Revelation by F. W. C. Neser, and Study in Revelation by Howard B. Rand for a more detailed description of the events being described in Revelation and the symbolism.

    The following historicist explanation is from Fox’s, Neser’s, and Rand’s descriptions. Just as there are several futurist and praetorist interpretations, so there are several historicist interpretations. There is as much disagreement among the members of the historicist school over what events are being described as there is among members of the futurist school.

The Rise and Fall of the Papacy
    Chapters 10 describe the Reformation. Chapter 11 describes the decline of the Papacy to the end of the age. Chapter 12 describes the general movement of the lost tribes of Israel. Chapter 13 describes the rise of the papacy. Chapter 14 describes the decline of the papacy and the establishment of the Kingdom. Chapter 15 describes the victory over the beast, i.e., the defeat of the Papacy.

Reformation
    Chapter 10 of Revelation describes the early days of the Reformation from John Wycliffe in the middle of the fourteenth century to the end of the sixteenth century.

    Revelation 10:1-4. Jesus Christ is the mighty angel. “Mighty angel” is also associated with God’s protection and direction of His Kingdom throughout the Reformation.

    Opening the book is the beginning of the Reformation, which begins with John Wycliffe (1320-1384). About 200 years later Martin Luther, Zwingli, Melancthon, and others follow.

    In 1526 Tyndale translates and prints the New Testament in English. The printed Bible, which becomes available to the masses, is the “small book” as opposed to the large handwritten Bible in Latin hidden by the Roman Catholic Church and closed to the people. Thus, the Bible is brought to light.

    “Set his right foot upon the sea” denotes preventing Rome’s attempt to close the Book and capture Israel, Britain, as witnessed by the destruction of the Spanish Armada in 1588. “Set his left foot on the earth” depicts preventing Rome’s suppression of Protestantism on the Continent.

    “Cloud” is associated with Christ’s second coming. “Rainbow” represents God’s mercy or the everlasting covenant with Israel. “A lion roareth” is Christ.

    “Thunder” refers to edicts and bulls of the Papacy against the Reformation. “Seven thunders” represents Rome, the home of the Pope. Others view the first four thunders as great events during the Reformation occurring 2520 years (7 x 360) after great events in Israel’s history and the last three thunders as dealing with the work of the Kingdom. The first thunder is the removal of images and rejection of transubstantiation in 1551-2. This is related to Rehoboam’s instituting the worship of the golden calves in Israel. The second thunder is the Puritan movement of 1607 to 1688. It is related to Israel’s loss of power between Ahab’s and Jehu’s reigns. The third thunder is the revival of spiritual religion in 1781. This is related to Tiglath-Pileser III carrying away the tribe of Manasseh in 740 B.C. The fourth thunder is Napoleon’s defeat in Egypt in 1800-2. It corresponds to the capture of Samaria in 721 B.C. The fifth thunder represents the worldwide missionary work of Great Britain and the United States (Isa. 49:6). The sixth thunder is the awakening of Israel (Anglo-Saxondom) to its true identity. The seventh thunder is Israel turning to God and living by His commandments and laws.

    Revelation 10:5-7. Jesus swears by God, the Eternal Creator, that judgement should no longer be delayed (“there should be time no longer”). The Book of Truth must be opened for all to read and the dark ages ended.

    “Time no longer” may also refer to some great event 360 years (one time) after another great event. Thus, 360 years after the defeat of the Spanish Armada is 1948, which marks the beginning of Israel’s spiritual awakening.

    Revelation 10:8-10. These verses describe people reading (“eat it up”) the Bible in their own language instead of Latin, which few understand. Reading the Bible brings light to their spiritual darkness — it is sweet. Consequently, it reveals the falsity of the Roman System, styling it as the “man of sin” and shows that the Roman System is an anti-Christ system. Thus, the Papacy begins burning Bibles and persecuting those who proclaim its truths — it becomes bitter within.

Two Witnesses
    Chapter 11 presents the two witnesses. The two witnesses are the Church (the candlestick) and Israel (the olive tree). The beast is Papal Rome and its false doctrine. This chapter describes events from the sixteenth century until the end of the twentieth century. (Many historicists who wrote before 1980 seem to believe that the end of the age would occur before the end of the twentieth century. In this respect, they hold a belief in common with many futurists who wrote before 1980.)

    Revelation 11:1-2. These two verses show the final crowing act of the Reformation.

    Jesus Christ is the angel. The “rod” is the measuring rod of truth. God’s true elect Church is the “temple.” The “temple” also symbolizes God’s presence among his people, Israel (not Jewry).

    John is not to measure any false system (Gentile court). Therefore, the Roman System is not to be reformed or reconstituted; it is to be rejected. Instead of the Pope, the Bible becomes the divinely authorized measuring rule of the Church.

    The “holy city” is the building that God is raising. It is the completed Israel Kingdom. The building begins with the 12 apostles and the true Church. Thus, what is being measured is the ultimate, complete organization of Israel according to God’s plan for a perfect Kingdom.

    The 42 months begins in 533 when Emperor Justinian declares the Bishop of Rome to be the head of all churches and priests of God. It ended in 1793 during the French Revolution (the execution of Louis XVI, adoption of the constitution, and the beginning of the Reign of Terror and the confiscation of church property).

    Alternatively, the 42 months could have begun in 606-607 when Emperor Phocas made the Bishop of Rome the head of all the churches in Christendom. It ended in 1867 when the Papacy fell and lost all its temporal power.

    Another reading of the 42 months deals with events related to Islam. One begins in 622 when Mohammed fled Mecca and ends in 1882 when Great Britain takes over Egypt. Another begins in 657 when Pope Vitalian commands that Latin be used in all divine services and ends in 1917 when General Allenby captures Jerusalem.

    Revelation 11:3-4. Two witnesses are identified. They are the olive tree (Israel, not Jewry) and the candlestick (the true Church). (See Zech. 4:11-14, Rom. 11: 17-27, and Isa. 43: 1, 10.)

    For 1260 years, the Papacy persecutes Israel, the Western Protestant Nations, and the true Church for preaching the true Gospel and exposing the falsity of the Papacy (see Zech. 4:11-14, Rom. 11:17-27, Isa. 43:1, 10, 12, Acts 1:8). “Clothed in sackcloth” symbolizes sorrow and persecution.

    In verse 4, the two olive trees are probably the two Houses of Israel. They may also be the Old and New Testaments.

    Revelation 11: 5-13. These verses provide more details about the candlestick. God sends retribution upon those who condemns His witnesses. His retribution is revealed in the seven vials, especially the seventh (Rev. 11:5-6).

    Verse 6 proclaims that the witnesses have power over spiritual darkness. They can prevent this darkness from obscuring the light of God’s Word.

    “Waters” in verse 6 represents the Roman Empire and Papal Rome. Consequently, the testimony of the witnesses results in wars — “have power over waters to turn them into blood.”

    In verse 7, the beast refers to the Roman Empire and its successor Papal Rome, whose origin is the bottomless pit, which symbolizes evil and darkness. Papal Rome wars against the witnesses and kills them for exposing the Papacy’s false teachings.

    Verses 8-10 describe the Papacy at the height of its power, which was reached between 1513 and 1516. The “three days and an half” occurs from 1514 to 1517 when all opposition to the Papacy seems to have ceased. In 1517, Luther ends the power of Rome with his “95 Thesis” (Rev. 11:11). Now the Reformation is unstoppable; the power of the witnesses is from God (Rev. 11:12).

    Others identify the beast coming out of the pit in verse 7 as false doctrines far more deceptive and insidious than those of the Papacy and far more effective than the sword. They make the testimony of the witnesses so ineffective that the witnesses appear dead. These false beliefs attack the Word itself. They appear as higher criticism and modernism.

    Under this interpretation, the three and a half days (three and a half years) occurs before the end of the twentieth century. At the end of this period, God intervenes on behalf of his witnesses and revives their power. Higher criticism, modernism, and their doctrinal kindred fall. The return of Jesus and the resurrection of the dead may accompany this revival.

    “Great city” in verse 8 refers to the European beast system of Papal Rome.

    “Heaven” in verse 12 does not refer to God’s abode. It means the political heavens, i.e., Christians openly worshiping God in truth with Bibles in their own language. It represents Protestant Europe.

    In Revelation 11:13, the earthquake is Great Britain separating from Papal rule, the “city,” in 1536. Others associate the earthquake with the resurrection of the dead; it is a real physical earthquake.

    The seven thousand slain men symbolizes the seven provinces of the Netherlands that seceded from Papal rule. Others connect the seven thousand to Elijah and the 7000 who remained faithful to God. The nations that become Protestant and break away from Rome are the descendants of the House of Israel, the Ten Tribes.

The Woman and the Dragon
    Chapter 12 of Revelation describes the woman and the dragon. The woman symbolizes Israel. The dragon, the serpent, and the beast are Satan usually revealing himself through Pagan Rome or Papal Rome. This chapter describes the general movement of the lost tribes of Israel.

    Revelation 12: 1-5. The woman represents Israel (not Jewry). Sun, moon, and stars symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel (Gen. 37:9-10). “Third part of the stars” refers to the Western European part of the Roman Empire, the Roman Empire having broken into three parts. Western Europe is also symbolized by the dragon’s tail. The man child represents the Reformation.

    Thus, these verses show Israel (the woman) escaping Pagan Roman rule and fleeing to the Isles. Pagan Roman transforms into Papal Rome (the dragon). Papal Rome pursues and overcomes Israel in the Isles. Israel remains in bondage until the Reformation (the man child). The dragon devouring the child of the woman symbolizes the burning of the Wycliffe and continues to this day. (See also Jer. 31.)

    Another interpretation identifies the man child as Christ and his Church. “Her child was caught up unto God” describes the ascension of Christ (John 20:17, Heb. 12:2, Luke 20:42-43, Acts 1:9, 3:21).

    “Red dragon” personifies Satan’s rebellion against God and symbolizes Pagan Rome. “Ten horns” are the 10 kingdoms into which the Roman Empire divides. “Seven heads” are the seven hills on which Rome is built. “Seven crowns” are the seven forms of governments through which Rome passes. These seven forms are kings, consuls, dictators, decemvirs, military tribunes, imperial caesars, and Diocletian.

    “Third part” refers to the Roman Empire in the Near East (Palestine, etc.). Thus, “her tail drew the third part of the stars from heaven” represents the Roman conquest of the Near East in 63 B.C.

    Alternatively, “her tail drew the third part of the stars from heaven” represents the last half of the rule of the four empires, the Roman Empire, as foretold in Daniel; that is, it represents Papal Rome. Papal Rome gains support of many in Israel to revive the Roman Empire ecclesiastically. Many in Israel follow the dragon and worship her power.

    Revelation 12:6. This verse refers to Israel’s journey through the wilderness, Europe, to the Isles. (See Hos. 2:14, II Sam. 7:10, Isa. 49:5-12.) This period is from c. 720 B.C. with the fall of Samaria to c. 500 A.D. with the Saxon invasion of Britain and then to c. 1800 A.D. when Great Britain begins her rise to becoming the world’s greatest empire.

    Revelation 12:7-13. War between Great Britain and Papal Europe is being described. Michael is Jesus Christ. The dragon represents Pagan Rome and later Papal Rome, both of which dominate Britain for a while. “Seven heads and ten horns” symbolizes Pagan or Papal Roman earth.

    Others place the events described in verse 7 in heaven, God’s abode. The ejection of Satan from heaven in verses 8 and 9 correspond with the withdrawal of Pagan Rome from England. This withdrawal allows mass migration of Israel to England between 500 and 1100. It also corresponds with Constantine the Great officially recognizing Christianity and his defeat of the pagan army led by Licinius, who headed the Eastern Empire, in 324, and Theodosius (reign 379-385) outlawing the worship of idols.

    Verse 11 reveals the secret of the Church’s greatness and how it defeats the Papal dragon. It does so not by might but by proclaiming the Word of God.

    Verse 12 refers to the defeat and fall of the Papacy. “Heavens” represents Israel. “Inhibitors of the earth” refers to the inhabitants of the old Roman world. Upon these people come the woes of the last three trumpets.

    Verse 13 describes Israel’s migration across Europe to the British Isles and then to North America.

    Revelation 12:14-17. These verses refer to the end of Israel’s (woman’s) sojourn through the wilderness. After 500 A.D., Israel arrived at its new home (Rev. 11:14). It is liberated from the domain of the Papal dragon or serpent via the Reformation (Rev. 11:15-16). Nevertheless, the Papal dragon continues to war against Israel plunging her into two world wars. The dragon continues to war against Israel (not Jewry) and the Church until the end of the age (Rev. 11:17).

    “Floods” in verses 15 and 16 represents peoples and nations sent against the two women, Israel (Protestant Europe) to destroy her. However, the serpent fails as the barbaric invasions brought down Pagan Rome. Likewise, Papal Rome’s persecution and religious wars also fail (see Isa. 43:1-2).

    The remnant in verse 17 is the people of Israel who reside in Europe that remain under the Pope’s control, e.g., France and Italy. The Pope seeks to eradicate them. Among these people are Huguenots.

Papal Rome Replaces Pagan Rome
    Chapter 13 describes Papal power replacing Pagan Rome. It describes the rise of the Papacy. The Papacy is the beast out of the sea and the man of sin. The beast of the earth, land, is the political Roman Catholic system of Continental Europe. Others believe that this chapter deals primarily with the world’s economic system, especially its financial system, which is modeled after Babylon’s economic and financial system.

    Revelation 13:1. “Seven heads and ten horns” symbolized Pagan Rome. “Seven” could refer to seven-hilled Rome itself or to seven phases of pagan rule before Papal Rome. Thus, “seven heads and ten horns” represent the political aspects of history during the fourth empire, Pagan Rome and Papal Rome. The ten crowned horns are ten individual kingdoms of Europe.

    “The name of blasphemy” depicts Papal Rome.

    Revelation 13:2-3. These verses describe Papal Rome replacing Pagan Rome. Pagan Rome dies with the fall of the Draconian system of government, the seventh head. Rome returns to life as the Papacy. In essence, Pagan Rome transforms itself into Papal Rome. Paganism is Christianized.

    The lion, bear, and leopard illustrate the Roman Empire. (In Daniel 7:4-6, these three animals symbolize three empires that precede the Roman Empire. Rome adopts the characteristics of these three empires: swiftness of conquest of Macedonia, tenacity of purpose of Persia, and voracity of Babylon.) Pagan Rome is the dragon, which passes its power to Papal Rome, the beast.

    The beast being described here, which rose “up out of the sea,” also represents the Babylonian economic system, which is now universal.

    Revelation 13:4. Religious Papal rule replaces Pagan Roman rule. The Pope becomes so powerful that no one can “make war with him.” The dragon is Satan that gives power to the beast, which is Pagan Rome and later Papal Rome.

    Revelation 13:5-6. These verses describe a blaspheming Papacy. The Popes utter blasphemies for 1260 prophetical years from 606 with the decree of Phocas to 1866 with the crowning of Italy’s first king (see Dan. 7:25). Others place these 1260 years as beginning in 533 with Emperor Justinian’s decree making the Bishop of Rome the head of all Churches and ending in 1793 during the French Revolution. Among these blasphemies are bulls declaring that the Pope has the authority of Christ and is in essences God (see II Thess. 2:4).

    “Tabernacle” represents Christ’s true Church. “Heaven” symbolizes God’s elect nation Israel (not Jewry).

    Revelation 13:7. The Papacy wars against the saints. Millions of Waldenses, Albigenses, Vaudois, Wycliffites, Hussites, Reformers, and others who see and teach that the Pope is the “man of sin” and the “anti-Christ” are killed during the Papacy’s supremacy.

    Revelation 13: 8-9. Except the true Church, people accept Papal rule and its false doctrines. “Whose names are not written in the book” refers to the non-Israel nations. The true Church is found where the descendants of Israel (not Jewry) live: the British Isles, Northwest Europe, and Frances as Huguenots, Albigenses, and Waldenses.

    Revelation 13:10. The Papacy is judged and sentenced accordingly. This punishment includes the Napoleonic Wars, World War I, and World War II.

    Revelation 13:11-13. These verses describe the growth and expansion of Papal Rome’s power. The Popes and their priests claim the power to inflict God’s judgment on the disobedient (Rev. 13:13).

    “Another beast coming up out of the earth” in verse 11 is the countries of Europe that submit to the Papal Rome System (the beast that comes out of the sea) and give it their political, economic, and military support. Others hold that this phrase symbolizes the Babylonian economic system, especially the modern banking and financial system.

    Revelation 13:14-15. These verses describe the councils of Papal Rome, especially those used to condemn true believers like Huss and Jerome to death.

    Revelation 13:16-18. These verses discuss the mark of the beast. The right hand represents manual labor. The forehead represents intellectual ability. In 1179 the Lateran Council enslaves all to Papal Rome’s rule (Rev. 13:16). No one can trade with anyone who rejects the Pope’s authority (Rev. 13:17). Only people who are baptized into the Roman Catholic Church (sprinkling on the forehead of babies and new converts could be the mark of the beast on the forehead) can buy or sell. All others are outcasts, and no one is permitted to buy from them or to sell to them.

    “Six” is the number of man (man [lateinos] equals 666). It symbolizes a kingdom or political, economic, and religious system that man has built in opposition to God’s Church and nation, Israel (not Jewry). The Pope’s title “Vicar of Christ” in Latin yields 666. Some identify 666 with gold (I Kings 10:14), which is the image of the Babylonian financial system.

Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Coley Allen. 

Part 2 

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A Historicist Interpretation of Revelations – Part 2

A Historicist Interpretation of Revelations – Part 2

Thomas Allen 

The Twentieth Century and the End of the Age
    Chapters 17, 18, and 19 of Revelations describe the downfall and judgement of the papacy. Alternatively, they describe the downfall and judgement of the world order. Chapter 17 deals with the ecclesiastical fall. Chapter 18 deals with the economic fall. Chapter 19 deals with the political fall.

Fall of Religious Babylon, the Papacy
    Revelation 17:1. The “great whore” is the false harlot woman who symbolizes Babylon. The waters on which the whore sits are peoples, multitudes, and nations (Rev. 17:15). They represent the various European nationalities that constitute the prophetical Roman earth.

    Revelation 17:2. Papal Rome has taken many of God’s sacred symbols and doctrines and has corrupted them with her false teachings. She has caused the European nations to “drink the wine of her fornication” (see also Jer. 51:5-10).

    Revelation 17:3. The false papal woman sits on a seven-headed ten-horned beast.

    Revelation 17:4. This verse describes the papal system with her priest in gorgeous robes. (This compares to the plain white robs of the saints.)

    Revelation 17:5. The papacy has taken the truth and has twisted and corrupted it and has made it a mystery to men and an abomination to God. (While the Reformers corrected many papal errors, their work was not complete. They failed to complete the job, and most Protestant churches today still contain errors.)

    Revelation 17:6. Having slain, directly or indirectly, 50 million saints, the papacy is drunk with blood.

    Revelation 17:7-8. Pagan Rome, which ended in 476 A.D., is the beast “that was.” The “seven heads” of the beast are the seven hills of Rome. The beast that “is not” foretells the temporary disappearance, or fall, of Rome. The beast that “yet is” foretells the reconstruction of Rome. Previously the beast had only one center of rule, the seven-hilled Rome. Now the new beast appears as 10 separate individual kings or kingdoms. (The crowns have moved from the seven heads onto ten horns. Out of the ten horns, one arises “another little horn” [Dan. 7:8], which is the papacy.)

    The papacy was not of God but from the bottomless pit.

    Israel’s, God’s covenant people, (not Jewry) name is written in God’s great Book from the beginning. “Whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the order [cosmos, age, order]”: They are the noncovenant nations.

    Revelation. 17:9. The seven mountains symbolize the seven-hilled city of Rome. (Some interpret this verse as depicting a complete sevenfold panorama of the leading pagan Empires of history, which were at the time of the prophecy being superseded by Roman papacy.)

    Revelation 17:10. Some interpret the “seven kings”as the pagan empires that opposed Israel. Others interpret the “seven kings” as the seven governments of Rome. Five — kings, consuls, dictators, decimviri, and military tribunes — had past when John wrote: the five that were. Rome was in its sixth stage — the caesars: the one that is. The next, the seventh, was the despotic emperors: the other “is not yet come.”

    Revelation 17:11. The “eighth,” which was “of the seven,” shows that this eighth ruling power would be practically the same as those preceding it. Pagan Rome reappears as papacy Rome. The papacy is the eighth.

    Revelation 17:12. (See also Dan. 7:8, 24-25.) After pagan Rome’s downfall in 476 A.D., Western Europe came under papal influence. It was composed of 10 kingdoms: Bavarians, Franks, Burgundians, Alemanni, Suevi, Visigoths, Alans, Vandals, Ostrogoths, and Lombards. The Vandals, Ostrogoths, and Lombards were the three of the first horns plucked up by the “little horn,” the papacy (Dan. 7: 8, 24).

    Revelation 17:13. All these kingdoms submitted to papal authority.

    Revelation 17:14. These kingdoms sided with papal Rome and martyred the Christians. Both the Church and the chosen nation (Israel, not Jewry) have gained the victory over the beast. Both the Church and the chosen nation are “called” and “chosen” in God’s covenants and promises. Those who make war on them “make war with the Lamb.”

    Revelation 17:15. The “waters” are the people, multitudes, nations, and tongues (see Luke 21:25).

    Revelation 17:16. The European nations will strip the papacy of its power and influence. (This is being fulfilled by the movement leftward to Nazism, now mostly defunct, and, more completely, to communism and atheism — a movement toward various types of socialism and human secularism.)

    Revelation 17:17. The 10 Kingdoms agree to submit to papal authority. However, in the last days they will rebel against papal authority — by that fulfilling God’s word.

    Revelation 17:18. The “great city” refers to the papal system. It reigns over the beast (nations). The doom of the papacy begins.

Fall of Economic Babylon
    Revelation 18:1-3. The angel proclaims the doom of Babylon. He proclaims that Babylon the great has fallen. Instead of bringing blessings and peace, it has brought chaos and turmoil.

    Revelation 18:4. Israel (not Jewry) is called to come out of Babylon. (See Jer. 50 and 51 for a picture of the fall of Babylon and the deliverance of Israel.)

    Revelation 18:5-10. (See also Jer. 50 and 51, Isa. 47) The destruction of the present economic system, i.e., fascism, socialism, crony capitalism, the welfare-warfare state, etc., is described.

    Revelation 18:11-14. These verses describe an economic or financial cataclysm accompanying the fall of Babylon. Economic cataclysms are seen in the Great Depression and the inflations and hyperinflations that have occurred throughout the world during much of the twentieth century. These events have been worst in Catholic countries than Protestant countries. Over the last 40 years, a decline in real income in the Western world has occurred. Fiat currency and using debt as the primary source of money have been the primary cause of  these catastrophes.

    Revelation 18:15-19. These verses reemphasize the previous four verses.

    Revelation 18:20-23. That which had made Babylon seem great disappears.

    Revelation 18:24. The “earth” refers to the papal European prophetical earth. God now judges Babylon and its false doctrines.

Fall of Political Babylon
    Revelation 19:1-3. “Heaven” symbolizes God’s chosen nation Israel (not Jewry), which the Great Whore had so bitterly opposed and sought to destroy. These verses may be describing the rejoicing of Israel when the military might and spiritual power of the papal European beast is finally broken. (They could also be describing the rejoicing of the angels, or perhaps the rejoicing of angels and Israel.)

    Revelation 19:4-6. Heaven and earth are joined together.

    Revelation 19:7. “Wife” refers to the elect “Body of Christ” or the true Church (see Eph. 5:22-32).

    Revelation 19:8. The resurrection garments are clean and bright. They are given only to the Church — not the nation, Israel — when Jesus returns. This perfection is not granted to Israel until the end of the millennium.

    Revelation 19:11-12. Jesus, who is coming to destroy the beast or dragon and to overthrow the harlot woman who rides the beast, is the rider of the white horse.

    Revelation 19:13-15. The “winepress of the wrath of God” depicts God’s judgement on earth. The “vesture dipped in blood” depicts bloodstains from the treading of the age-closing “winepress” of God’s judgment (see Isa. 63:1, 3). The iron rod or scepter of justice and truth is the scepter of righteousness, the scepter of the Kingdom.

    Revelation 19:16. Although the title of “Lord of lords and King of kings” intrinsically belongs to Jehovah alone, He has greatly exalted His Son, the slain Lamb, and permits him to take this title when the time comes to give him the throne of David.

    Revelation 19:17-19. These verses describe World War I and World War II, and possibly another great war not yet fought, in which the beast (papal Europe) and the kings of the (Roman prophetical) earth fight against his army (Israel).

    Revelation 19:20-21. “Mark of the beast” is the mark of the papal system. This is the end of God’s judgement on the papal system and the false prophet, the papacy itself. Casting the beast and false prophet into a lake of fire terminates God’s judgment of this age. The lake of fire is the European conflagration or conflict of the present generation.

    The last three chapters of Revelations describe the Millennium and Post-Millennium Age. Chapter 20 describes the Millennium. Chapter 21 describes the new heaven and new earth. Chapter 22 describes the Post-Millennium Age.

Appendix
    The following table compares the time lines of three historicists: Fox, Neser, and Rand.

Part 1

Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Coley Allen.

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A Historicist Interpretation of Revelation – Part 1

A Historicist Interpretation of Revelation – Part 1 

Thomas Allen

    This article presents an overview of a historicist school interpretation of Revelation. The historicist school interprets Revelation as revealing history in symbolic form from the time of Jesus until the Second Advent and beyond. Thus, according to the historicist school, Revelation reveals future history from the first century to the end of the age. This article deals primarily with the historic time line. The historicist interpretation was the primary interpretation used by the Reformers.

    Readers are referred to A Flood of Light Upon the Book of Revelation by John S. Fox, The Book of Revelation by F. W. C. Neser, and Study in Revelation by Howard B. Rand for a more detailed description of historical events being described in Revelation and the symbolism and time scales used in Revelation.

    Besides the historicist school of interpretation, three other basic schools of interpretation are used to interpret Revelation: praetorist, futurist, and apocalyptic. The praetorist school interprets Revelation as describing in symbolic form the events taking place during the lifetime of John and in his environment. Thus, the events described in Revelation have already occurred or have mostly occurred. The futurist school interprets Revelation as describing in symbolic form the future, primarily the time immediately preceding the Second Advent and the millennium. It is the most popular form of interpretation today. The apocalyptic school takes all figures as symbolic and interprets Revelation as a religious philosophy of life.

    The following historicist explanation is primarily from Fox’s and Neser’s descriptions with some additions from Rand. Just as there are several futurist and praetorist interpretations, so there are several historicist interpretations. There is as much disagreement among the members of the historicist school over what events are being described as there is among members of the futurist school.

History Revealed from the First to the Twentieth Century
    This Section contains a brief overview of the history as revealed from the first century through the nineteenth century.

The Seven Churches
    The letter to Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7) describes the early or primitive Church from 30 A.D. to about 96 or 100 A.D. Some authorities place the end of this period in 64 A.D. when state persecutions began under Nero.

    The letter to Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11) describes the Church during the era of pagan persecution. This era lasted from about 64 or 100 to 313. It began with the persecutions of Nero (64) and ended with the end of the persecutions of Diocletian.

    The letter to Pergamos (Rev. 2:12-17) describes the Church during the papal beginnings. This period began in 313 when Constantine succeeded Diocletian and declared Christianity the state religion. Some authorities place its end in 529 when Benedict founded the Benedict Order. Some place its end in 606 when Boniface III claimed the title of Universal Bishop. Others extend it to the Second Advent.

    The letter to Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-29) describes the Church during the era of papal supremacy. It lasted from 606 (or 529) to about 1866. Others place the end of this era in 1529.

    The letter to Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6) describes the Church during the era of the Reformation. Some authorities place the beginning of this era in 1365, the era of John Wycliffe. Others place the beginning in 1517 when Luther published his 95 Theses at Wurttemberg. Yet others place the beginning in 1529. It lasted, according to some, to 1600, or, according to others, 1789 when the French Revolution began.

    The letter to Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13) describes the Church during the era of liberation or the faithful church. Some authorities place the beginning of this era in 1789 with the beginning of the French Revolution. Others place the beginning in 1558 with the destruction of the Spanish Armada. This era ended, according to some, in 1800 when Philadelphia ceased being the capital of the United States. Others place the end in 1914 with the commencement of World War I. Yet some extend this era to the Second Advent.

    The letter to Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22) describes the Church during the era of the final state apostasy or the lukewarm church. Some place the beginning of this era in 1800 while others place in 1850 or 1914. This era lasts until the Second Advent or the end of the age.

The First Six Seals
    Chapter 6 of Revelation describes the first six seals.

    The first seal, the white horse, (Rev 6:1-2) depicts a triumphant Rome. According to some authorities, this era begins in 31 B.C. when Augustus established the Roman Empire with his victory at the Battle of Actium. Others place the beginning of this period in 96 A.D. This period lasted until 180 A.D. according to some. Others place the end in 64 A.D. when Rome was burned and Nero began persecuting the Christians.

    The second seal, the red horse, (Rev. 6:3-4) depicts civil war. According to some authorities, this period began in 185 and ended in 284. During this era there were 32 emperors, 27 pretenders, and numerous civil wars. Other authorities place this period between 64, the beginning of the Roman persecutions of Christians and 313, the end of the Roman persecutions.

    The third seal, the black horse (Rev. 6:5-6) depicts heavy taxation and a time of depression and gloom, and of despair and calamity. According to some authorities, this era began in 200 and lasted until 250. During this time Caracalla extended Roman citizenship to all freemen and imposed heavy taxation on them. Other authorities place this period from 313, the beginning of Constantine's reign to the beginning of the great barbarian invasion of the Roman Empire in 396. It was during this era that the creeds were established and substituted for the Word of God.

    The fourth seal, the pale horse (Rev. 6:7-8) depicts famine, disease, and death. According to some authorities, this era lasted from 250 to 300. Many people died during this time from wars, famine, and pestilence. A great plague occurred throughout the Roman Empire in 265. Other authorities place this era between 396 when Alaric the Goth invaded the Roman Empire and 536 when the Church Council at Constantinople compelled the state to execute its edicts.

    The fifth seal (Rev. 6:9-11) depicts Rome martyring the Christians. According to some authorities, this period lasted from 303 to 313; during this time Diocletian attempted to exterminate the Christians. Others place this period between 536, when church and state were united, and 1755-1796, when this union was effectively broken in most countries.

    The sixth seal (Rev. 6:12-17) depicts Rome divided. According to some authorities, this era falls between 313, when Constantine became emperor and recognized Christianity as the state religion, and 395, when the Roman Empire split in halve. During this era, paganism fell. Others place this era between 1755-1796 and probably the late 1940’s. According to these authorities this era opens with the godless French Revolution destroying the supremacy of the papacy over civil government and Napoleon’s invasion of Italy. The great earthquake that occurred on November 1, 1755, in Lisbon shook the entire territory of the old Roman Empire. The star shower was the meteoric shower of November 12 and 13, 1833.

    Chapter 7 of Revelation describes God’s love and care of Israel, the Ten Lost Tribes. This Chapter refers to physical Israel and not to the Church. Most of the Ten Lost Tribes are found in Europe, primarily Western Europe, and the countries in America settled by Europeans, as well as Australia. Most of today’s Jews are not descendants of Israel.

The Seventh Seal: the Seven Trumpets
    Chapter 8 of Revelation describes the beginning of the seventh seal, and the first four trumpets.

    The seventh seal contains the seven trumpets. The trumpets overlap the fourth through sixth seals. The first four trumpets are the Gothic trumpets and represent the conquest of the European third of the Roman Empire.

    The first trumpet (Rev. 8:7) depicts the Gothic invasion led by Alaric — “the third part of the trees was burnt.” It begins with Alaric and his Goths invading the Western Roman Empire in 396 (or according to some, in 400 just before the Visigoths overran Europe). It ends in 410 when Alaric sacked Rome. Others place the end of this period in 429.

    The second trumpet (Rev. 8:8-9) depicts the Vandals under Genseric invading the Roman Empire from the sea — “the third part of the ships destroyed.” This era began in 425 (or 429) and ended in 470 (or 476 when Odoacer, king of the Heruli took Rome).

    The third trumpet (Rev. 8:10-11) depicts Attila and his Huns invading the Roman Empire — “the third part of the rivers, and . . . fountains.” This era began in 451 with the Battle of Chalons, which resulted in Attila being driven back across the Rhine. Others place this era between 434 and 453.

    The fourth trumpet (Rev. 8:12) depicts the final blow to Rome and the resulting break up of the Roman Empire — “the third part of the sun . . . darkened.” This occurred in 476 when Odoacer, king of the Heruli, took Rome and brought to an end the Roman Empire. Others place this period between 476 and 622, the founding of Mohammedanism.

     Chapter 9 describes the fifth trumpet, the first woe, and sixth trumpet, the second woe.

    The fifth trumpet, the first woe, (Rev. 9:1-12) is the Saracen trumpet and depicts the conquest of the Southern third of the Roman Empire — the war against idolatry. According to some, this era began in 612 when Mohammed proclaimed his mission. Others place the beginning in 622, the opening of the Mohammedan calendar, the Hegira, Mohammed’s flight from Mecca to Medina. During this time the Saracens or Arabs overran the Middle East, North Africa, and Spain. Some authorities place the end of this era in 762 when Caliph Al-Mansur built Baghdad and made it his capital. Other place the end in 1299 when Osman established the Ottoman Empire.

    The sixth trumpet, the second woe, (Rev. 9:13-21) is the Turkish trumpet and depicts the conquest of the eastern third of the Roman Empire — horsemen slay the third part. Some authorities place the beginning of this period in 1062 when the Turks crossed the Euphrates River in their march westward. Others place the beginning in 1299 when the Ottoman Empire was established. The end of this period, according to some, occurred in 1453 with the Turkish conquest of Constantinople. Others place it in 1699 when the Ottoman power was broken with the Peace of Karlowitz. Others extend this era to the end of the twentieth century.

The Reformation and the Two Witnesses
    Chapter 10 of Revelation describes the early days of the Reformation from John Wycliffe in the middle of the fourteenth century to the end of the sixteenth century.

    Chapter 11 presents the two witnesses. The two witnesses are the Church (the candlestick) and Israel (the olive tree). The beast is papal Rome and its false doctrine. This chapter describes events from the sixteenth century until the end of the twentieth century.

The Seventh Trumpet and the Seven Vials
    Chapters 12 and 16 describe the seventh trumpet, the third woe, and the seven vials of the seventh trumpet. Chapter 12 through 14 reviews some previous events.

    The seventh trumpet (Rev. 11:15-19) is the third woe and depicts the rise of atheism, which began with the French Revolution and reaches its climax in communism.

    Chapter 12 of Revelation describes the woman and the dragon. The woman symbolizes Israel. The dragon, the serpent, and the beast are Satan usually revealing himself through pagan Rome or papal Rome. This chapter describes the general movement of the lost tribes of Israel.

    Chapter 13 describes papal power replacing pagan Rome. It describes the rise of the papacy. The papacy is the beast out of the sea and the man of sin.

    Chapter 14 describes the decline of the papacy and the establishment of the kingdom.

    Chapter 15 describes the victory over the beast.

    The first vial (Rev. 16:2) describes the beginning of the French Revolution — the earth. This is the period that France rejects papal sovereignty. It began in 1789 with the beginning of the French Revolution and ended in 1793 or 1794 with the Reign of Terror. Other authorities place this period between 1781 and 1799 when France came under Napoleon’s domination.

    The second vial (Rev. 16:3) describes the naval warfare of the Napoleonic Wars — the sea. This is the period of the British naval victories over France and Spain. It began in 1793 with Hood’s victory over the French at Toulon. It ended, according to some, in 1805 with the British victory at Trafalgar. Others place the end in 1813 while some extend this period to 1815, Napoleon’s final defeat.

    The third vial (Rev. 16:4-7) describes France’s invasion of Germany (or the Italian revolts) — “the rivers and fountains of water.” This is the period of divine judgement on the Rhine, Danube, and Po valleys. According to some authorities, it began in 1793 with France’s first war against the major powers of Europe and lasted until 1806 when Napoleon forbade European trade with Great Britain. Others place this period between 1820 when the Italian revolts first began and 1849 with the Austrian victory at Novara, which gave Austria control of much of Italy.

    The fourth vial (Rev. 16:8-9) describes the Napoleonic Wars (or the forming of the Kingdom of Italy) — the Sun. This is the period of tottering the Roman Catholic throne. According to some, it began in 1806 and lasted until 1815 when Napoleon was finally defeated. Others place this period between 1860 with the Sicilian revolt and 1870 when Rome became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

    The fifth vial (Rev. 16:10-11) describes the seat of the beast. This is the period of the French capture of the Papal States and the Pope being exiled. According to some, it began in 1798 when the French captured the Papal States and ended in 1870 when Rome became part of the Kingdom of Italy. Others place this period between 1872 and 1886.

    The sixth vial (Rev. 16:12-16) describes the way being prepared for Russian communism — the Great River Euphrates. This is the period of the collapse of the Turks. It is the period of the three unclean spirits or ideologies: the dragon (fascism), the beast (Nazism), and the false prophet (the papacy or Islam and communism). There is much disagreement over the beginning and ending of this period. Various authorities place the beginning in 1917-1918 with the fall of the Turkish Empire, 1878 with the end of the Russo-Turkish War that freed most of the Balkans from Turkish rule, or 1844 when Great Britain compelled Turkey to grant religious freedom to minorities. Various authorities place the end in 1945 with the end of World War II, in 1918 with the end of World War I, or 1928 when Turkey ceased having a state religion. (Some place the battle of Armageddon outside this vial, believing that it occurs, at least in part, later.)

    The seventh vial (Rev. 16:17-21) closes this age and is discussed next.

Part 2

Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Coley Allen.

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Nationalism and Imperialism

Nationalism and Imperialism

 Thomas Allen

    Nationalism is often accused of being the cause of many wars. It has been accused of aggressive war-making. It has been accused of causing one nationality to impose its will on another nationality. Nationalism has been falsely maligned. Much of what is blamed on nationalism should be placed on imperialism.

    Before proceeding, a distinction needs to be made between a “nation” and a “country.” A “nation” is a community of people of the same race having a common origin and language and with common traditions, culture, economy, etc. that is capable of forming a nation-state, i.e., a politically organized relatively homogenous people inhabiting a sovereign state. A country is the territory that a political state governs. A nation is the people, and a country is the land.

    Much confusion exists between nationalism and imperialism. Nationalism seeks to preserve a nationality. It seeks to preserve a nation (not to be confused with a country, most of which today are empires) and its culture, language, race, laws, economy, etc. On the other hand, imperialism seeks to impose the culture, laws, economy, etc. of one nationality on another nationality. Nationalism is essentially the opposite of imperialism.

    Nationalism acquired its belligerent reputation in the nineteenth century when various nations attempted to secede from various European and American Empires. The Irish attempted to secede from the British Empire. Several nations of the Austrian Empire attempted to secede. They were unsuccessful. However, Hungry did manage to obtain parity with Austria; hence, Austria-Hungry was born. Secession from the Turkish Empire was more successful as Greeks, Serbians, Romanians, Bulgarians, and Albanians won their independence. In North America, the Southern States failed in their attempt to secede from the American Empire.

    Many historians agree that the fundamental cause of World War I was imperialistic in nature. Few blame nationalism for the war. As destructive as that war was, it did advance the cause of nationalism — at least in Europe.

    The Irish gained independence although the status of Ulster has yet to be satisfactorily resolved.

    The Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed into several nations. Although they lost part of their nation (part of Tirol) to Italy and were not united with the Bavarian provinces of Bavaria, the Bayuvar (or Austro-Bavarians) formed a new Austria. Although they lost part of their nation (Vojvodina) to Serbia, the Hungarians formed a new Hungary. The Czechs gained their independence although they held the Slovaks in subjection until 1992 when the Slovaks gained their independence and the Ruthenians until the end of World War II when they were transferred to the Soviet Union. In the south, the Croats, Dalmatians, Slovenes, Bosnians, and Herzegovinians were not so fortunate. They were merged into the Serbian Empire (commonly called Yugoslavia) along with the Montenegrins and Macedonians until the collapse of the Soviet Empire precipitated the collapse of the Serbian Empire. (However, the Montenegrins remained under Serbian rule, and the Dalmatians remained under Croat rule.)

    Out of the fall of the Russian Empire came homelands for nations of the Finns, Lithuanians, Latvians, Estonians, Kashubians in Gdansk, and Poles. The Byelorussians were divided between Poland and Russia.

    Germany’s African and Asian colonies were transferred to England, France, and Japan. The Alemanni of Alsace and the French of Lorraine were placed under French rule. Much of the German Empire that was Polish became part of Poland.

    The French replaced the Turks as the rulers of the Syrians, Druzes, and Christian Lebanese. The English replaced the Turks as the rulers of the Palestinians, the Arabs of Amman, and the Shiite Arabs of Baghdad and Basra.

    World War II is what really caused the undeserving reputation of nationalism as the cause of aggressive belligerence. The fascist movements in Italy and Germany claimed to be nationalistic, and the gullible, who included just about everyone in academia in the West, believed the fascists and still do. Hitler went so far in this deception that he named his movement National Socialism. Both Germany and Italy were imperialistic, not nationalistic. They sought to conquer other nations and to impose their values, ideology, economy, laws, etc. on these conquered nations.

    Germany and Italy could not have been acting in a nationalistic spirit because both were, and still are, an empire of nations. Germany consisted of at least eight nations: the Bayuvars, Alemanni (who were, and still are, divided among Germany, Switzerland, and France), Franconians (or Upper Germans), Germans (or Middle Germans), Brandenburgians, Plattdeutsch, Wends (a Slavonic people), and Prussians (who lost their homeland to the Poles as a result of World War II). Italy consisted of at least thirteen nations: the Piedmontese, Gallo-Italians, Venetians, Tuscans, Latins, Neapolitans, Sicilians, Sardinians, Friulians, Ladins, Bayuvars in Tirol, Savoyards in the northwest (the remainder of whom live under French rule) and Slovenes in Istria (who were reunited with their kindred after World War II in the Serbian Empire).

    Following World War II the map of Europe again changed. The Soviet Union absorbed the Lithuanians, Latvians, and Estonians. The eastern boundary of Poland was redrawn, and all of the Byelorussians and Volhynians (whom the Ukrainians now rule) were placed under Russian rule. The Ruthenians (whom the Ukrainians now rule) traded their Czech rulers for Russian rulers, and the Lemks and Boyks (whom the Ukrainians now rule) traded their Polish rulers for Russian rulers. The Rumanians of Bessarabia were also absorbed into the Soviet Union.

    The Prussian states (Prussian, Pomerelia, and Pomerania) were absorbed into Poland, and the Prussians for the most part were driven from their homeland. The eastern portion of Brandenburg also became part of Poland as did Gdansk (Danzig) with the resulting loss of autonomy for the Kashubians.

    At least in Europe, World War II was not nationalistic in nature but was imperialistic. Because of the war, several nations lost their countries, and no nation gained independence. However, in Asia and Africa, things were different. The European colonial empires collapsed. Many new countries were born. Unfortunately, for the most part, these new countries were not nations in the true sense but were a conglomeration of nations.

    One new country that was a nation born following World War II was the Jewish nation of Israel. However, this nation soon shifted from nationalism to imperialism as it conquered and imposed its rule on the Palestinians.

    Between the end of World War II and the collapse of the Soviet Empire, several nations have cried out for independence — some even to the point of armed insurrection. Some of these nations are the Punjabi in India, the Kurds in Iran, Iraq, and Turkey, the Palestinians in Israel, the Boers in South Africa, the Corsicans and Bretons in France, the Basque in France and Spain, the Welsh and Scotts in Great Britain, the Quebeckers in Canada, and the Southern Americans in the United States.

    The collapse of the Soviet Empire brought nationalism to the forefront and has caused imperialism to retreat. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the puppet governments in Eastern Europe, many new countries, most of which are true nations, came into being. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are again independent. Byelorussians now have an independent homeland for the first time in history. Ukraine is an independent country although it continues to contain several nations along with the Ukrainians. The Rumanians of Moldavia (Bessarabia) have gained independence. In the Caucasian region, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaidzhan are independent. Georgia still consists of four different nations. Armenia’s union with the Armenians of Erzenrum in Turkey remains. Also, remaining is the union of the Azeris of Azerbaidzhan with the Azeris of Iran. In Central Asia, the Tajik now have an independent homeland in Tajikistan. The Turanian countries of Kazakh, Turkmen, Uzbek, and Kirghiz have also gained independence.

    In Eastern Europe outside the old Soviet Union, several new countries, which for the most part consist predominately of one nation, have been born. Czechoslovakia has divided. The Czechs (Bohemians) have their homeland, and the Slovaks have theirs. Yugoslavia has divided. The Slovenes, Croats, and Macedonians have their independent homelands.

    Although the growth of modern-day nationalism began long before World War I, it really began to bear fruit with the collapse of Turkey’s European empire that began several decades before that war with the creation of several new countries that were true nations. Then nationalism was driven back as imperialism reared its ugly head as the Italian, German, Russian, and Japanese empires began expansion. Imperialism peaked with World War II. Since the conquests of the Soviet Union at the conclusion of World War II, imperialism has been retreating, and nationalism has been advancing. Empires have collapsed, and none have risen to take their place although the United States have been striving to establish an empire of puppet states throughout the world.


Copyright © 1994, 2010 by Thomas Coley Allen.

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Review of Daniel Carr’s “FDR’s 1933 Gold Confiscation was a Bailout of the Federal Reserve Bank”

Review of Daniel Carr’s “FDR’s 1933 Gold Confiscation was a Bailout of the Federal Reserve Bank”

Thomas Allen

    In his article, “FDR’s 1933 Gold Confiscation was a Bailout of the Federal Reserve Bank,” Mr. Daniel Carr argues that President Roosevelt stole the people’s gold primarily to bailout the Federal Reserve Banks. His article can be found at http://www.moonlightmint.com/bailout.htm. In presenting his argument, Mr. Carr makes some questionable assumptions. This article discusses errors in Mr. Carr’s article. Otherwise, Mr. Carr presents a good terse description of events leading up to the Great Depression and the cause of the Great Depression.

    Before discussing Mr. Carr’s article, three tables of monetary statistics are given. Data in these tables are used in analyzing Mr. Carr’s arguments and drawing different conclusions. These statistics are from Federal Reserve documents that can be found at http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/publications/bms.

    The monetary statistics presented below are from Banking and Monetary Statistics, 1914-1941. In Table 1, the monetary statistics are from Section 11, “Currency,” Table No. 110, “Currency in Circulation — By Kind, Monthly, 1860-1941,” page 412. The numbers in Table 1 are for currency outside the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Banks.

    Table 2 summaries the monetary gold. On page 506 of Section 13, “United States Government — Treasury Finance and Government Corporations and Credit Agencies,” the gold reserves for backing United States Notes are $156 million. Section 14, “Gold,” Table No. 156, “Analysis of Changes in Gold Stock of the United States, Monthly, 1914-1941,” page 537, gives a monthly average gold stock of $4,226 million for December 1932 and $4,093 for February 1933.  

    Part of the gold that the Federal Reserve Banks held was used to back federal reserve notes, and part was held for member banks as reserves. Section 10, “Member Bank Reserves, Reserve Bank Credit, and Related Items,” Table No. 102, “Member Bank Reserves, Reserve Bank Credit, and Related Items, End of Month Figures, 1914-1941,” page 376, shows that the Federal Reserve Banks held $2,509 million as member bank reserves on December 31, 1932 and $2,141 million on February 28, 1933.

    Table 3 gives the quantity of gold-clause paper currency.

     Although they were not gold-clause notes, the Gold Standard Act of 1900, which firmly placed it United States on the monometallic gold standard, made Treasury notes of 1890, silver dollars, silver certificates, and subsidiary silver redeemable in gold.

    For purposes of comparisons with Mr. Carr, the data for February 1933 are used except where February 1933 data are not available. Then December 1932 is used. February was the last full month before Roosevelt took office. He executed his great gold theft in March 1933.

    Mr. Carr estimates the quantity of gold-clause federal reserve notes in circulation in 1933 to be between $13,292 million (20,000 metric tons) and $26,916 million (40,500 metric tons). (He uses metric tons to weigh gold instead of dollars. At this time, a dollar was the weight of 23.22 grains of fine gold.) He uses The Standard Handbook of United States Paper Money by Chuck O’Donnell and The Comprehensive Catalog of U.S. Paper Money by Gene Hessler along with some assumptions that he explains to derive these numbers. As shown in the tables above, his estimate far exceeds the estimates of the Federal Reserve. Mr. Carr’s estimate for federal reserve notes in circulation is 3.9 to 7.9 times greater than the Federal Reserve’s estimate of $3,405 million. His estimate is 2.5 to 5.2 times greater than all gold-clause currency in circulation.

    Mr. Carr estimates the country’s monetary gold reserves in 1933 to be about $4,000 million, which he assumes that the U.S. government held to back gold certificates. As shown in Table 2, the Federal Reserve estimates $649 million were held to back gold certificates (assuming that the U.S. government fully backed its gold certificates). Its data show a total gold stock of $4,093 million, which is about the same as Mr. Carr’s estimate. However, unlike Mr. Carr’s assumption, the U.S. government did not hold all this gold. It was spread among the U.S. government ($805 million), the Federal Reserve Banks ($3,004 million), and the public ($284 million)

    By law, the Federal Reserve had to maintain a minimum of 40 percent in gold for outstanding federal reserve notes. Thus, it needed $1,362 million in gold to satisfy the statutory backing. It had $3,004 million in gold to back $3,405 in federal reserve notes.

    Mr. Carr estimates that between $13,292 million and $26,916 million in federal reserve notes were unbacked. He is correct in that the Federal Reserve lack enough gold to redeem all its notes. However, the shortage was not nearly as great as he estimates. Nevertheless, the situation was as dire as he declares.

    The $3,004 million in gold that the Federal Reserve held was not only for backing its notes. It was also for backing checkbook money issued by member banks. Moreover, member banks were liable for redeeming their bank notes in gold. Consequently, the problem was not a lack of gold held by the Federal Reserve to redeem federal reserve notes. The problem was that the Federal Reserve and commercial banks held insufficient gold to redeem the demand deposit accounts, checkbook money, held by the public.

    Most loans were in the form of demand deposits instead of paper money or coin. Funds in demand deposit accounts were available to the holder on demand and had to be redeemed in gold if so demanded. As the typical bank was using $1 in gold to back several dollars in demand deposits (it was allowing multiple parties to use the same gold simultaneously), it could not redeem all its deposits if a bank run occurred as happened in the early 1930s.

    Section 2, “Assets and Liabilities of all Member Banks,” Table No. 18, “All Member Banks — Principal Assets and Liabilities on Call Dates, 1914‒1941," gives $15,193 million in demand deposits (checking accounts or checkbook money) subject to reserves and vault cash of $423 million on December 31, 1932. Section 9, “Federal Reserve Banks,” Table No. 85, “Assets and Liabilities of Federal Reserve Banks, December 31, 1914-1915,” page 332, gives $2,509 million in reserves held by the Federal Reserve Banks for member banks on December 31, 1932.

    These statistics show that commercial banks that were members of the Federal Reserve System had $2,509 million in reserves plus $423 million in vault cash or $2,932 million that could be used to redeem $15,193 in checkbook money. Thus, on December 31, 1932, the Federal Reserve System held $3,288 million in gold to back $15,193 in demand deposits and $2,716 million in federal reserve notes. It was short $14,621 million in gold. Moreover, commercial banks were liable for $820 million in gold for redemption of national bank notes, which an equivalent amount of U.S. government bonds held by the U.S. Treasury secured. The problem was not too many unbacked federal reserve notes. It was too much unbacked checkbook money. This shortage of $14,621 million, plus an additional $820 million for national bank notes, falls within Mr. Carr’s estimate of $13,292 million to $26, 916 million.

    The above shows that the U.S. government held $805 million in gold to back gold certificates and U.S. notes. The Federal Reserve held $3,004 million in gold. Of the $4,093 million of the monetary gold, the U.S. government and Federal Reserve held 93 percent. The people held $284 million in gold coins or about 7 percent of the monetary gold. If the coins were roughly evenly distributed among the population, each person would have had between $2 and $3 in gold coins (c. 123 million population).

    As Roosevelt confiscation order allowed each person to keep $100 in gold coins, he did not have to steal any coins held by the public. Between the Treasury and the Federal Reserve, he already had nearly all the gold. All he needed to do, and what he did do, was to violate the U.S. government’s, the Federal Reserve’s, and national banks’ contracts with the people by voiding the redemption clauses in the law and on the paper money.

    Bailing out the Federal Reserve was not the primary reason that Roosevelt stole the people’s gold as Mr. Carr asserts. The primary reason was control. Roosevelt wanted to establish a fascist government. Gold prevented him from doing that. Gold protects the people from despotic governments and their central bank co-conspirators. Once he had stolen the people’s gold and outlawed their using it as money, he proceeded to convert the United States into a fascist state.

    However, Roosevelt did greatly aid the bankers to do what bankers like to do most — inflate. He did this in three ways. First, he stole the gold that the people had entrusted to the U.S. government and let the Federal Reserve use it as part of its official reserves. Second, he redefined the dollar from 23.22 grains of gold to 13.71 grains, i.e., he devalued the dollar about 41 percent. Third, and most important, he removed the restraint of gold redemption.

    Mr. Carr is correct about Roosevelt stealing the people’s gold to benefit the Federal Reserve by relieving it of its obligation to redeem its notes in gold. Roosevelt also relieved the U.S. government of its obligation to redeem its paper money. However, the biggest beneficiaries were the commercial banks, which were also relieved of their obligation to redeem their checkbook money in gold. They also received a slight benefit of not having to redeem their bank notes in gold.

    However, Mr. Carr’s claim that Roosevelt stole the people’s gold to bailout the Federal Reserve is questionable. At least, he fails to prove his point. The monetary data that he uses is highly questionable. He needs to reevaluate his claim or prove it using more reliable and acceptable data presented by the Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury. These data may be rigged as governments, and by extension their central banks, are notorious liars. (The post Federal Reserve statistics appear to be in line with pre Federal Reserve statistics.) Moreover, once banks were relieved of the obligation to redeem their money in gold, most, and certainly the Federal Reserve, did not need bailing out.

    Mr. Carr is correct in identifying bank money as a major problem that led, at least in part, to Roosevelt’s theft of the people’s gold. However, he focuses on bank notes, federal reserve notes, instead of checkbook money. The latter was much more significant as it was 5.6 times greater than federal reserve notes in circulation.

    Perhaps Mr. Carr or someone else may be able to sift through the voluminous data in Banking and Monetary Statistics, 1914-1941 and derive more accurate conclusions than I have.

Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Coley Allen.

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