Since the time the black horse of the third seal entered on his career, the people have been starving for spiritual food.  The few crumbs that have been dropped during the reign of Protestantism have been eagerly gathered up by the spiritually-minded; but, thank God! the time has now arrived when the messengers appear with food from heaven, and the multitudes of earth’s starving millions can “eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord God.”  Joel 2:26.  Halleluiah!

In taking the book from the hand of the angel and eating it, John became a symbol of the church, or people of God, who receive the Word from the hand of his ministers.  The sweetness of its taste signifies the eagerness with which people receive it and the gladness experienced when they first partake of the heavenly manna; while the bitterness resulting therefrom probably symbolizes the bitter persecutions and oppositions of which it is the occasion.  “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Tim. 3:12.

John was told to “prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings,” which signifies that the people of God must again be witnesses of his saving grace throughout all the world.  In the beginning of this dispensation all his people prophesied among the nations; for Christ had said unto them, “Ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.”  Acts 1:8.  So, also, in this evening time we go forth again on the same mission, inspired by the soon-coming of our Savior.

“Even so come, Lord Jesus.”

CHAPTER XI.

    And there was given me a reed like unto a rod:  and the angel
    stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the
    altar, and them that worship therein.

    2.  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and
    measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles:  and the holy
    city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

    3.  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall
    prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in
    sackcloth.

    4.  These are the two olive-trees, and the two candlesticks
    standing before the God of the earth.

    5.  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their
    mouth, and devoureth their enemies:  and if any man will hurt
    them, he must in this manner be killed.

6.  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy:  and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

The two principal objects of this vision is the city of Jerusalem with its holy temple and worshipers, and two witnesses prophesying for twelve hundred and sixty days.  These are not objects from the natural world; therefore we may conclude that we have not here to do with political events, while the character of the symbols point us with certainty to the history of the church.