those who never were very subservient to the ruler of this present evil world, or any of his systems.

And it became as the blood of a dead man.-After death the blood separates into a watery liquid, called serum, and a solid substance termed clot. As soon as this separation takes place the clot begins to putrefy or corrupt. Thus it seemed to worshipers of the beast and his image that anybody that would accept the teachings of Volume II would be in a hopeless condition.

And every living soul died in the sea.-To the worshipers of the beast and his image it seemed as though such would be lost and would surely go to hell to be tormented forever. An "evangelist" who held these views called at the home of a lady in Scranton. Entering the hall he saw an elegant picture of Pastor Russell. Instantly he lost control of what mind he had and vehemently said, "I called here as a Christian minister, but I see you have old Russell's picture here. Are you a follower of his?" The lady replied that she was. He then said, "He is in hell, and you will be there too, if you follow him." Quick as thought the lady reopened the door through which he had just entered, invited him to the porch overlooking the valley; and as he stood there gazing into space she said, "Tell it to the atmosphere," and left him while she attended to more important duties.

Another picture of the effect of Volume II on the antitypical Egyptians may be seen from the plague of the murrain (Ex. 9:1-7.) "This consisted in some distemper that resulted in a sudden and dreadful mortality among the cattle in the field, including horses, asses, camels, oxen and sheep. It was, however, confined to the Egyptian cattle, and to those that were in the field; for though the cattle of the Hebrews breathed the same air, drank the same water, and fed in the same pastures, not a creature of theirs died. The Egyptian cattle that survived in the sheds, and were afterwards sent into the fields, were destroyed by the succeeding storm of fire and hail." (MCC.) These creatures were valuable to the Egyptians. They used them for bearing their burdens, for sacrifices and for food. They represent the classes that go to make up the nominal church and support it. Thus it seemed to the worshippers of the Beast and his Image that the only way to prevent the loss of all their live stock would be to keep them securely impounded, allowing them no liberty what

ever.

16:4. And the third [angel] poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters.-It seemed to the worshippers of the beast and his image that the teachings of

Volume III of the Scripture Studies had contaminated the Scriptures, the Waters of Life, at their very source, by extending the call to people to come out of Babylon while they were busy trying to get people in.

And they became blood.-Seemed repulsive, undesirable, bloody.-Z.'07-279; Ex. 7:20; Rev. 14:20.

Another view of how Volume III appears to the worshipers of the beast and his image is shown by the plague of boils described in Ex. 9:8-12. "The boil was a scab or pustule, which might or might not break out into an ulcerous sore (Lev. 13:18). With this, in one of its worst forms, Job was afflicted (2:7), and by this Hezekiah was brought to the verge of the grave. (2 Kings 20:7; Isa. 38:21.) It was an eruption of a very painful kind accompanied with a burning itch, tending to produce a permanent state of foul and wasteful disease. One form of this disease which seized upon the legs and knees, and was regarded as incurable, was peculiar to Egypt, and was hence called 'the botch of Egypt.' (Deut. 28:27, 35.) In the case before us, this eruption had a tendency to break out into larger swellings and became probably the disease called elephantiasis, a disease said to be peculiar to Egypt, or the black leprosy, a disease which also affects cattle." (McC.) It was "ashes of the furnace," loyalty to the memory of the bullock, the one perfect Sacrifice for all, Christ Jesus, that caused the boils; and it is particularly noted that the magicians (clergy) could not withstand this plague, the message, "Come out of her, My People."

16:5. And I heard the angel of the waters.-Volume III, Scripture Studies.

Say, thou art righteous, [O Lord] which art, and wast.— See Rev. 1:4; 15:3; 19:2.

[And shalt be], THE HOLY.-The Lord, the Holy One, was present, at the time Volume III was written.

Because Thou hast judged thus.-Made the beautiful Harvest truths appear "bloody" to those not consecrated. 16:6. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets.-Literally and figuratively.-Matt. 23:34, 35; Rev. 13:15; 18:24.

And thou hast given them blood to drink; [for] THAT WHEREOF they are worthy.-See Rev. 14:20; Isa. 49:26. 16:7. And I heard [another out of] the altar.-The "Altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt" (Isa. 19:19) at the time these plagues are being poured out upon the antitypical Egyptians, is the Great Pyramid, discussed in a separate section of Volume III.

[Say] Saying Even so, Lord God Almighty.-The Lord Jesus. Rev. 1:8; John 5:22; Matt. 28:18

True and righteous are Thy judgments.-The teaching of the Great Pyramid is in full accord with the rest of the book. See Rev. 14:15. "It is by no means an addition to the written revelation: that revelation is complete and per fect, and needs no addition. But it is a strong corrobora. tive witness to God's Plan. Isaiah testifies of an altar and pillar in the land of Egypt, which 'shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt.' And the context shows that it shall be a witness in the day when the great Savior and Deliverer shall come to set at liberty Sin's captives."-C315.

16:8. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun.-Volume IV of Scripture Studies, as soon as published, was sent free to all clergy whose names could be obtained. They are taught, and teach others, that they are important luminaries in the heavens, suns, rivalling in brilliancy and wisdom the Lord Himself, whose place they take in the minds of the people, by setting forth their own views on every subject, rather than the Lord's Word. Volume IV, then, sent to this class, and calling attention to Babylon's fall, seemed to them as the height of all presumption in wickedness.

And power was given unto him to scorch men.-Greek "The Men," i. e., the worshipers of the beast and his image. With fire. Perhaps some of the clergy became a trifle warm as they read Volume IV, as their later conduct seems to suggest. Why they should have disliked Pastor Russell when he told the truth, and proved it, is remarkable.

And men.-Greek "The Men;" the clergy. In Rev. 8:9 the clergy are not so honored.

Were scorched with great heat.-Became warm, indig nant at the Pastor's kindly explanation of the whore and the harlots, and the plainly evident application to the Pa pacy and the Protestant sects.

And blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues'.-Misrepresented the name and character of the mighty one, Pastor Russell, to whom the Lord committed the task of presenting to His Church this meat in due season. This misrepresentation burst like a storm after the publication of Volume IV, Studies, and continued until the Pastor's death, yea, and shame to say it, even afterwards, in the columns of such sheets as the New York World and the Brooklyn Eagle. What monuments of infamy these people have reared for themselves! They richly deserve all they will get when the tide turns. And they repented not to give Him glory.-"One great obstacle to many is the contracted idea generally entertained of the meaning of the word god. They fail to note

that the Greek theos (god) does not invariably refer to Jehovah, but signifies a mighty one. In the following texts the word god (theos) is used to refer to others than the one supreme being, Jehovah-viz.:-John 10:34, 35; Acts 7:40, 43; 17:23; 1 Cor. 8:5."-B274.

Another view of how the publication of Volume IV looks to the worshipers of the beast and his image is shown in the plague of hail, described in Ex. 9:13-26. "The character of this and the following plagues must be carefully examined, as the warning seems to indicate an important turning-point. The ruin caused by the hail was evidently far greater than that effected by any of the earlier plagues; for it destroyed men, which those others seem not to have done, and not only men, but beasts and the produce of the earth. In this case Moses, while addressing Pharaoh, openly warns his servants how to save something from the calamity. Pharaoh for the first time acknowledges his wickedness." (McC.) The appropriateness of these comments to the subject matter of "The Day of Vengeance," or "The Battle of Armageddon", (as it is now called) as the latter would appear to the mind of the clergy, is selfevident. Your true clergyman has the greatest abhorrence for any truth that would tend to lessen men's reverence for himself or the systems which he aims to perpetuate. 16:10. And the fifth [angel]-Volume V, of Studies. Poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast.-Thoroughly and scripturally analyzing the subjects of trinity human immortality and eternal torment, the foundation of all Papal doctrine, as well as constituting a large part of the stock in trade of the Protestant aggregation.

And his kingdom was full of darkness.-Complete ignor. ance of the truths on these subjects as taught in the Bible. And they gnawed their tongues for pain-"Note the ex pression of Rev. Samuel T. Carter in a Presbyterian journal-The Evangelist. He says: 'It must be admitted that if a Church is honest, that which stands in its Confession is its faith. It must be acknowledged that what is contained in its Confession is the faith of any honest church. The Westminster Confession of Faith is still the unquestioned Confession of the Presbyterian Church. Is the Presbyterian Church honest in its zeal for purity first and peace afterward? Be it known, then, to all the world that the Presbyterian Church by its Confession declares that all the heathen perish, that many men are hopelessly lost fron all eternity by the decree of God, and that there are in fants in hell In reality the church does not be lieve these dreadful doctrines. Then it stands before God and man with a lie in its right hand.'"-Z. 00-148.

16:11 And blasphemed the God of Heaven.-"In token of entire allegiance to the beast."-Cook.

Because of their pains [and their sores], and repented not [of their deeds].-"The commotion amongst Presbyterians continues-some standing firm for their church creed, others repudiating it and begging to be released from it. Many thus indirectly confess that they have despised it for years, and have realized it to be a lie and a blasphemy against God, and after confessing to this acting and confessing a lie for years they beg to be released without cost or loss either of human or Divine favor, and especially without loss of bread and butter." (Z,'00-148.) The way in which Volume V, Scripture Studies, appeared to the worshipers of the beast and his image is further illustrated in the plague of locusts, described in Ex. 10:1-11. "This plague has not the unusual nature of the one that preceded it; but it even exceeds it in severity, and so occupies its place in the gradation of the more terrible judgments that form the latter part of the series. Its severity can be well understood by those who have been in Egypt in a part of the country where a plague of locusts has alighted. In this case the plague was greater than any ordinary visitation, since it extended over a far wider space, rather than because it was more intense; for it is impossible to imagine any more complete destruction than that always caused by locusts." (McC.) With what dismay must the clergy have read the kind words for volume V, which appeared in the columns of the secular press.

16:12. And the sixth [angel].-Volume VI of Studies in the Scriptures.

Poured out his vial upon the great River Euphrates:— Seemed to the worshipers of the beast and his image to be instituting a new and horrible thing, a people's church, in which there is no place for clergy, collections, church edifices, reverence for one day above another, or in fact any of the customs cherished in the nominal church.

And the water thereof was dried up.-"Literal Babylon was built upon the literal river Euphrates, while in the Gospel age mystic or figurative Babylon, which carried away captive Spiritual Israel, is portrayed as sitting upon the mystic Euphrates. In the type, the golden vessels of the Temple were carried away and profaned by literal Babylon: in the antitype, the precious, Divine (golden) truths, pertaining to the service of the true Temple, the Church (1 Cor. 3:16, 17; Rev. 3:12), were far removed from their proper places, perverted and misapplied by mystic Babylon. Literal Babylon being built upon the river Euphrates, which materially contributed to its wealth