the human race before the kingdoms of this world really are become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ. It is to a very brief consideration of these awful calamities that we shall now direct our attention for a little while.
A celebrated writer on prophecy, Mr. J. M. Swormstedt, said a little while ago that no mortal man has ever yet been able to explain the twelfth chapter of Revelation. But in the twelfth chapter, St. John says: "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: and she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a
