66 The next preparatory work of the ancient Church, as represented in the historical type by the faithful Rahab, after the confession of her belief in the power and justice of God, was to warn her kindred that the city was about to fall, and that destruction would inevitably come upon all the idolatrous inhabitants thereof; which induced them to separate themselves from them, and to seek a refuge under the divine protection.-So the second work of the believing Church on earth preparatory to the battle of Armageddon is described in Rey. xiv. under the symbol of the flight of a second angel, saying, in the language of prophecy, which speaks of things future as if they were present, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city," or otherwise is most assuredly about to fall, (see Isai. xxi. 9,) and the last preparatory labour of the Church is shewn under the symbolical representation of the flight of the third angel, saying, "If any man worship the beast and his image, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation." And these warnings are again described in a parallel portion of the Apocalypse, chap. xviii. 2, 4, by the angel who descends from heaven lightening the earth with his glory, and crying mightily with a strong voice, saying, " Babylon is fallen, is fallen," followed by the exhortation of Christ himself, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." We next find in the typical history, that Rahab having collected in her house all her kindred, protected by the token of the scarlet thread, which she had been directed by the spies to bind in her window, and which, like the blood of the Paschal Lamb upon the lintels and upon the door-posts, protecting the Israelites from the sword of the destroying Angel, must be considered to have been a representation of the atoning blood of Christ, the young men, according to the covenant they had made with her by oath, and at the command of Joshua, went and brought her out, "and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel;" and Joshua saved Rahab alive, and she dwelt in Israel. So in the fourteenth chapter of the Apocalypse, after the warning voices of the three angels have gone forth, our Lord Jesus Christ is next represented (ver. 14-16), as gathering in the harvest of the earth; in answer to the prayers of the Church for such divine interposition; or, as taking his people under his immediate protection previously to the great destruction of his enemies at the battle of Armageddon. Finally, it is said in the historical type that they utterly destroyed all that was in the city of Jericho, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword and they burned the city with fire, and all that was therein; and Joshua said "Cursed be the man before the Lord that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho."-So the fourteenth chapter of the Apocalypse concludes with the last great act of judgment upon the kingdoms of this world, or the battle of Armageddon, described under the figure of the treading of the wine-press of the wrath of God, and of the blood flowing throughout the whole extent of the field of this battle "even unto the horses' bridles." After which it is said that the beast and the False Prophet were taken and cast into the lake of fire, burning with brimstone. And the history chronologically closes with the declaration that the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever, (Rev. xiv. 11, xix. 3). The various particulars of the two histories may therefore be thus brought into comparison. THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. The glorious vision of Christ to Joshua in the plains of Jericho. Josh. v. 13-15. The sword drawn in the hand of Christ. v. 13. The declaration of Christ, that he was come 66 as captain of the hosts of the Lord." v. 14. The devoting Jericho to destruction. vi. 2. The armed men of Israel who precede the ark. vi. 7. The priests who preceded and accompanied the ark. vi. 6. The mercy-seat of the ark overshadowed by the Cherubim. vi. 4. The seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams'-horns. vi. 6. The six circuits of the first six days, during which Jericho was compassed about. vi. 3. The seven circuits of the seventh day. vi. 4. The earthquake of the seventh circuit of the seventh day by which the walls of Jericho fell. vi. 20. THE APOCALYPSE OF ST. JOHN. The glorious vision of Christ to St. John in the island of Patmos. Rev. i. 12-18. The sharp two-edged sword proceeding out of the mouth of Christ. i. 16. Our Lord as head of the Church holding the seven stars, or its ministers, in his right hand. i. 16, 20. ii. 1. The command to St. John to write the judgments "which should be hereafter." i. 19. The twenty-four elders who ascribe power to Christ. iv, 4. 11. The four Cherubim who are in the throne, and round about the throne, and ascribe holiness to Christ. iv. 6, 8. The mediatorial throne encompassed by the Cherubim. iv. 2—6. The seven angels "which stood before God" in their priestly office, to whom are given seven trumpets. viii. 2-6. The periods of the first six seals; otherwise called, of the first six trumpets. vi. viii. ix. The periods of the seven vials of the seventh seal; otherwise I called, of the seven thunders of the seventh trumpet. xvi. 1. x. 3. The earthquake of the seventh vial of the seventh seal; otherwise called, of the seventh thunder of The unarmed men of the tribes of the Israelites, who are called in Jeremiah the first-fruits unto God, who follow in the rereward of the armed men, and of the priests, and of the ark. vi. 9, 13. The first judgments upon Sihon and Og on the other side Jordan, which caused the hearts of the inhabitants of the land of Canaan to faint with terror, and faithful Rahab to give glory to God. ii. 9-11. The declaration of faithful Rahab, a convert from idolatry, "I know that the Lord hath given you the land and that your terror is fallen upon us, for the Lord your God he is a God in heaven above and in the earth beneath." ii. 9-11. The warning given by faithful Rahab to her father's household, and her exhortations, in consequence of which they separated themselves from the idolatrous inhabitants of the city. ii. 13. vi. 23. the seventh trumpet, by which the great city Babylon and the cities of the nations fall. xvi. 19. The 144,000 of all the tribes of Israel, the first-fruits unto God and to the Lamb, who are connected with the Elders, and Cherubim, and mediatorial throne; and "follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth." vii. 4. xiv. 1-4. The earthquake of the sixth seal, and the first of the little opened Book; which took place in the period of the 1260 years; by which the faithful remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. xi. 13. xiv. 7. The voice of the first angel of Rev. xiv, or of the faithful Church on earth, who "had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his mark, and over the number of his name;" saying "Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgments is come, and worship him that made heaven and earth." xiv. 7. xv. 2. The warning voice of the second angel of Rev. xiv, or of the faithful Church, saying "Babylon is fallen, is fallen," i.e. is assuredly about to fall; and that of the third angel, saying, "If any man worship the beast and his image, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God"-confirmed by the warning and exhortation of Christ himself, "Behold I come as a thief, blessed is he that watch. In comparing a type of this complex character with its antitype, it may not be practicable to define the exact extent to which the parallel holds good; and some particulars may possibly have been omitted, which should have been noticed; or on the other hand others may have been introduced, where no parallel really exists: but enough is attained if it be shewn that the two histories stand in the relation towards each other of type and antitype in all their principal features; and may therefore be believed to do so in others which are of less importance. |