twelfth verse the Spirit of the Lord referred us to the
wonderful prophecy of Ezekiel: "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds
of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the
shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves!
should not the shepherds feed the flock? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you
with the wool, ye kill them that are fed; but ye feed not the flock. The
diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was
sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye
brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that
which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them." Ezek.
34:2-4.

These shepherds feed and clothe themselves. They are more concerned for
their own personal gain than for the souls of the people. If they do not
receive an ample salary they will leave the souls to perish. They are
unlike Paul, who labored with his own hands for his support while he fed
starving souls upon the words of life. He was a light in the world, and
the covetous, greedy shepherds are creators of darkness. These prophecies
are all true of the present day sectarian ministry. They are the hireling
shepherds that flee when they see the wolf coming. When poverty comes,
they flee to a place where they are better supported. The prophecies
concerning the apostasy are more particularly against the ministry than
the laity, because the ministers are the leaders, leading their followers
on in darkness.

The Revelation Of John.

The prophecies of the book of Revelation have long been a mystery to the
people. Occasionally some honest soul, laboring under the confusing mists
of sectish night, has attempted to reveal the secret things of this book.
His interpretations were so obscure and erroneous that he has only added
confusion to confusion and mystery to mystery. However in the past few
years as we are nearing the "time of the end," God by his Spirit has made
clear these prophecies unto his humble, devoted people. Trusting in God to
give the proper interpretation by his Spirit we will ask the reader to
consider with us some of the prophecies of this book.

_Chapter 13._

Ver. 1. "And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out
of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten
crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy."

"Beast" means a fleshly, human, or mannish po