Page:Mahometanism in its relation to prophecy - or, an inquiry into the prophecies concerning antichrist, with some reference to their bearing on the events of the present day (IA mahometanisminit00philrich).pdf/126

 brought forth a man-child, who was to rule all nations with an iron rod: and her Son was taken up to God, and to His throne." Now, who was represented by this "other sign in heaven?"—"The great red dragon?" If we take it in its first and direct application, it would evidently refer to Satan, and the ninth verse of this same chapter, puts this out of all doubt; but if we take it in a more extended sense, it would refer to Satan as working by and through mankind; in other words, it would signify the whole mass of fallen men, ruled over and directed by the devil. Taking it in this sense, I should understand the seven-headed and ten-horned dragon to symbolize the whole mass of mankind, ruled over by the enemy of God; and the seven heads of this dragon would signify the seven great kingdoms or associations of fallen men, which from the time of Noah until the end of the world were to carry out the devil's purposes in opposition to God, and to His true religion. Viewed in this light, the seven heads of the dragon would signify:—1. The Egyptian monarchy; 2. The Assyrian; 3. The Chaldean or Babylonian; 4. The Medo-Persian; 5. The Grecian; 6. The Roman; 7. The Antichristian empire of Ma-