[THE FINISHED MYSTERY,
CONT.]
[the fourth trumpet]
Look now, says the Lord, at the unveiling
of the fourth trumpet. Is it not written that a third
part of the sun, and a third part of the moon, and a
third part of the stars were smitten? (8:12). And does
it not say that a third part of each was darkened
because of this? And does this not indicate that
which will affect a certain segment of nations? You have already seen, says the Lord, that which will
affect all the inhabitants of the earth under the first
trumpet, with the unleashing of atomic destruction; you have seen the second
trumpet and its fulfillment in the United States of
America; you have seen a third of the
earth's inhabitants coming under the complete power of
communism under the third trumpet; now consider
that there is another portion of the human race which
will be affected by the blowing of the fourth trumpet.
What is it, says the Lord? You shall look and behold that
which shall take place on the continent of Europe in the
days that are ahead. For truly, the fourth angel has
already sounded the initial blast and the stage is being
set for its complete fulfillment. It shall be
exceedingly dark as the forces unleashed by the fourth
trumpet take their toll. Does it not say that the sun
was smitten? The sun is a symbol of Christianity,
and in that a third part of the sun is smitten, it
indicates that the portion of the Christian world which
has its stronghold in Europe shall be darkened as
revolutionary forces rise up within the nations of
Europe to destroy the traditional forms of
Christianity which have long been entrenched in the life
of the people. This will include both Catholic and
Protestant bodies. For none shall escape as the forces
of darkness rise up to put out the light of the sun, and
also strike at the moon and the stars. What does this
mean, says the Lord? It means that
the moon and the stars will be darkened even as the sun
is darkened. For the moon, which reflects the light of
the sun, is a type of the state, which reflects or gives
support to the church; and the stars are a type of the
leaders in both church and state who will feel the
impact of the forces of darkness rising up against them.
Thus the church-state combination, which has been
entrenched in Europe for centuries, will be
completely disrupted. The sun, moon, and stars will
be darkened to the extent that the church-state
relationships which exist in both Catholic and
Protestant groups will no longer be tolerated. For
violent forces will arise within the nations of
Europe to completely overthrow the
existing order of things. The stars: those high in
political and religious offices who benefit from the
church—state relationship, who long have had favored
positions in the existing system of things, will be
suddenly cast out of their privileged sanctums,
Does it not say that the day shone
not for a third part of it, and the night likewise?
(8:12). Now what does this mean? It means that for four
years there shall be extreme strife in Europe. For a
third part of a day of 12 hours is 4 hours; and I
appoint an hour for a year. And in that it speaks of
both the day and the night, I do double the witness of
that which shall be. For the double into the night as
well as the day indicates the extremity of that which
shall come on the nations of Europe as both church and
state—sun and moon—are violently disrupted by the
darkening effects of that which is coming. Therefore
consider what I say, for even now are the forces arising
which will bring these things to pass.
[Next:
5th TRUMPET
]
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