nd seven diadems on his heads. And his tail dragged the
third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth: and
the dragon stood before the woman, who was about to be delivered,
to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth
a male child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron; and
her child was snatched up to God, and to his throne. And the woman
fled into the desert, where she hath a place there prepared of
God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and
sixty days."--Rev. 12:1-6.

With this chapter commences a new series of events, extending through the
entire gospel dispensation; the former series being terminated by the
events of the last trumpet.

The heaven, where these great "wonders" are exhibited, must symbolize the
theatre of their fulfilment--the station to be occupied by the agents
symbolized, which must be as conspicuous as heaven is relatively high
above the earth.

The woman, according to the use of the symbol in other places, must be a
representative of the church. As the harlot on a scarlet-colored beast
(17:3), is a symbol of a corrupt and apostate church, so a virtuous woman
is a chosen symbol of the true church.

The "Jerusalem which is above is the mother" of all true Christians (Gal.
4:26); she is also "the bride, the Lamb's wife" (21:9); and "the remnant
of _her seed_," are those "which keep the commandments of God, and have
the testimony of Jesus Christ," v. 17. Her robe of light, her position
above the moon, and her crown of stars, indicate her greatness and glory.

The epoch symbolized, as appears from the relative position of the woman
and dragon, is evidently just prior to the first advent of the Messiah,
when his coming was eagerly anticipated and ardently desired by the
church, and the Roman power had thereby been excited to jealousy.

The church is the same in all ages, comprising only the true people of
God; all of whom will have part in the first resurrection, 20:6. The
Jewish church was continued by the breaking off of unbelieving branches,
and the grafting in of believing Gentiles with believing Jews, who alike
partake of the root and fatness of the same olive-tree, Rom. 11:17.

Previous to the first advent, the Jewish church occupied a high political
position, above that of the inferior officers of state, and was in the
enjoyment of imperial favor. Patriarchs and prophets--the messengers o