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/182

 great impostor, and to the polity established by him. In this sense, obviously the sense implied by the Apostle, did the second beast force all the children of perdition to adore the former beast, and in this sense his deadly wound was healed.

But let us follow the description of St. John; "And he wrought great wonders, so that he made also fire to come down from heaven unto the earth in the sight of men." From these words it appears that this beast was to astonish mankind by his wonderful achievements, and amongst the rest by one which the Prophet describes as "making fire to come down from heaven unto the earth in the sight of men." Now, bearing in mind that the language of prophecy in general, and especially of the Apocalypse, is conveyed to us under hieroglyphical symbols, we must not suppose that this second Mahometan power was literally to bring down fire from heaven, any more than that it was to be a literal beast with two literal horns; but though the language of prophecy is veiled under symbols, it never is used at random, and never fails to carry along with it some very veal, definite, and appropriate meaning. We say, then, without hesitation, that the figure here used by St. John is a most appropriate one to express a most remarkable cha-