pious fraud was consistent and even commendable when practised to further the influence of that church.  Yea, she has proclaimed openly and unblushingly that if her cause could be promoted by deception and lies they were perfectly justifiable; and her practise has been consistent with her teachings.  In view of the fact that God’s Word was to pass through the depths of this “mystery of iniquity,” it is not surprising that we find annexed to this concluding portion of Holy Writ the awful anathema:  “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

    20.  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come
    quickly.  Amen.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

    21.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.

What importance is attached to the second coming of Christ!  Over and over again it is stated distinctly.  It is the grand climax unto which all the series of events in this book leads.

  “Are you ready, waiting for the Lord? 
    See, the signs proclaim him near;
  In the awful thunders of his Word,
    Now his coming steps we hear.

  “Now are many running to and fro,
    Spreading holiness around;
  And the evening light begins to glow,
    Soon we’ll hear the trumpet’s sound.

  “Hark! the solemn warning unto all,
    Judgment’s coming, oh, how soon! 
  Flee, O man, at Mercy’s final call,
    Heaven trembles at your doom.

  “Christ is coming, oh, the heavenly sight! 
    Our Beloved can’t delay,
  For his bride is robed in snowy white,
    Ready for the marriage-day.”

Amen.  “Even so come, Lord Jesus.”  Then will appear the great “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.”  In the beginning he “created the heaven and the earth.”  In the end, John said, “I saw a new heaven and a new earth:  for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”  In the beginning Satan entered the domain of God’s people to deceive and destroy.  In the end he is cast out, and will deceive the nations no more.  In the beginning sickness, pain, sorrow, and wretchedness found entrance to the world.  In the end “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain:  for the former things are passed away.”  In the beginning the people of earth were placed under the iron hand of death, who has claimed his teeming millions.  In the end, “I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God....  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them ... and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.”  In the beginning