That religious intolerance even at a later date was practised in England, witness the twelve years’ imprisonment of John Bunyan and the hundreds confined in jails throughout that country for not conforming to the established religion.  It was such severe persecution by that early Protestant sect that drove the Puritans from England’s fair country to the then inhospitable shores of America, that they might have an opportunity to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience.  In Scotland the Covenanters “insisted on their right to worship God in their own way.  They were therefore subjected to most cruel and unrelenting persecution.  They were hunted by English troopers over their native moors and among the wild recesses of their mountains, whither they secretly retired for prayer and worship.  The tales of the suffering of the Scotch Covenanters at the hands of the English Protestants form a most harrowing chapter of the records of the ages of religious persecution.”  This list might be considerably augmented, but it is unnecessary.  However, that Protestant persecution and tyranny should never reach the enormous extent of the Romanists before them is proved by the fact that her horns were “like a lamb.”  Chap. 13:11.

4.  It is very important for us to ascertain the time for the beginning of these plagues; for they can not be identified unless we understand the chronology of the events described.  It is a fact no one can question that the seventh plague is the judgment of the last day, for in the seven “is filled up” the wrath of God; hence they are denominated the last plagues.  It is also a fact, well-known to all who are spiritual and who understand the truth in the present reformation, that certain events said to occur under the period of the sixth plague are now taking place; namely, the confederation of all false religions to oppose the people of God, led on by the “unclean spirits” that come “out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.”  Verses 13, 14.

Therefore five of the plagues precede the time in which we are now living.  It is evident that the plagues could not begin before the reformation; for the vials were poured out upon the “image of the beast”—­Protestantism—­also.  Hence we are directed to some period between the sixteenth century and the present day for their commencement.  The reason why the first judgments especially were poured out will assist us in determining the starting-point—­“They have shed the blood of saints and prophets.”  This expression seems to indicate that the time for the plagues to begin was after Romanism and Protestantism ceased putting people to death because of their religious sentiments.  That this is the correct idea is clearly proved by what was said to the martyrs when they cried unto God for the avenging of their blood on them that dwell on the earth.  “And it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”  Chap. 6:10, 11.  For additional information concerning the terrible persecutions that followed the Sixteenth Century Reformation, see remarks on chapter 6:10, 11.