ust be in harmony with, and explanatory of other parts. Thus,
by the man-child and previous travail of the woman, she is identified, and
her relation to the dragon established. No other subject could fulfil the
conditions of the symbol, for of no other was it predicted: "Thou art my
Son; this day have I begotten thee.--Ask of me, and I shall give thee the
heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for
thy possession.--Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash
them in pieces like a potter's vessel," Psa. 2:8-10.

The War in Heaven.

"And a war took place in heaven: Michael and his angels fought
with the dragon;, and the dragon fought and his angels, and he
prevailed not; nor was their place found any more in heaven. And
the great dragon was cast out, the old serpent, called the Devil,
and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the
earth, and his angels were cast out with him."--Rev. 12:7-9.

The churches,--which on the persecution subsequent to the Pentecostal
season were scattered abroad, and went everywhere preaching the word (Acts
8:4),--afterwards had rest, and were multiplied, _Ib._ 9:31. They were thus
enabled again to act a conspicuous part, as symbolized by the contest
between Michael and the dragon.

The contest symbolized, is a religious one; for the dragon is overcome "by
the word of their testimony," v. 11.

Michael and his angels, then, must symbolize the body of Christ,--the
apostles, and their successor, under the guidance of the Lord,--who
constituted an army of religious teachers. With the arrows of truth they
assailed the idolatrous combinations of their opponents. Under the first
seal, they are represented by a mounted warrior, with bow and crown, going
forth conquering and to conquer, 6:2. See p. 58.

The dragon, with the appendages of heads, horns, and diadems, was seen to
be a symbol of the Roman government. Divested of those, it would simply
represent the Pagan hierarchy with which the contest was waged. The
heathen priests and their adherents, thus warred with the preachers of
Christianity.

Its prevailing not, shows the relative success of the two parties. The
struggle continued from the day of Pentecost till the accession of
Constantine. The church waded through bloody scenes of bitter persecution,
which, instead of diminishing, greatly added to her numbers--"the blood of
the martyrs" proving "t