20And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. ~Revelation 14:20
And the winepress. — The Seventh Volume of
Scripture Studies, the work that will squeeze the
juice out of the "Abominations of the earth."
Cook's Revelation, page 709, calls attention to
the peculiar fact that this word is both masculine
and feminine. This seemingly indicates the
Lord's recognition of the interest and cooperation
of the sisters in the closing feature of the Harvest
work, as in all other parts of it. Priscilla was such
a valuable helper that in one instance she was
named before her husband. — Acts 18:18.
Was trodden without the city. — "In symbolic
prophecy a 'city' signifies a religious government
backed by power and influence. Thus, for
instance, the holy city, the new Jerusalem,' is the
symbol used to represent the established
Kingdom of God, the overcomers of the Gospel
Church exalted and reigning in glory." (D625.)
"The treading of the winepress is the last feature
of Harvest work. The reaping and gathering is all
done first." (D 18.)
Wordly editors have applied this verse to the
great war now raging in Europe; but this
expression makes it impossible to so apply it. If
the war is the winepress, it is not being trodden
without the city, but right in the middle of the
city, Mystical Babylon, Christendom. This
suggests that the Revelator must have referred to
another city; and he has done so, and with
propriety; for this chapter is devoted to Harvest
work only. What city more appropriate to refer to
then than the Bethel, the Divinely appointed
center for the Harvest work, the embryo
Kingdom of God on earth?
And blood. — Teachings which though truthful
will be death-dealing and seem "bloody" to
sectarianism.
Came out of the winepress. — The exposition
of the prophecies of Ezekiel and the Revelator.
Even unto the horse bridies. — So deep as to
strangle and drown the old false doctrinal
hobbies so long ridden. Sectarianism will be the
universal laughing stock. See Rev., chapters 8
and 9. "Because I have called, and ye refused; I
have stretched out My hand, and no man
regarded; but ye have set at nought all My
counsel, and would none of My reproof; I will
mock when your fear
cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation,
and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind;
when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not
answer; they shall seek Me early, but they shall
not find Me; for that they hated knowledge, and
did not choose the fear of the Lord. They would
none of my counsel: they despised all my
reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of
their own way." — Prov. 1:24-31.
By the space of a thousand and [six] TWO
hundred furlongs. — This can not be interpreted
to refer to the 2100 mile battle line of the world
war. A furlong or stadium is not a mile and this
is without the city whereas the battle line is
within the city. See Rotherham's translation.
A stadium is 606 3/4 English ft; 1200 stadii are,
mi., 137.9. The work on this volume was done in
Scranton, Pa. As fast as it was completed it was
sent to the Bethel. Half of the work was done at
an average distance of 5 blocks from the
Lackawanna station, and the other half at a
distance of 25 blocks. Blocks in Scranton are 10
to the mile. Hence the average distance to the
station is 15 blocks, or 1.5 mi
The mileage from Scranton to Hoboken
Terminal is shown in time tables as 143.8 and
this is the mileage charged to passengers, but in
1911, at an expense of $12,000,000, the
Lackawanna Railroad completed its famous cut-
off, saving 1 1 miles of the distance. From the
day the cut-off was completed the trainmen have
been allowed 1 1 miles less than the time table
shows, or a net distance of 132.8 miles. Hoboken
Ferry to Barclay Street Ferry, New York is 2.0
miles. Barclay Street Ferry to Fulton Ferry, New
York, is 4,800 feet or 0.9 mile. Fulton Ferry,
New York, to Fulton Ferry, Brooklyn, is 2,000
feet or 0.4 mile. Fulton Ferry, Brooklyn, to
Bethel, is 1,485 feet or 0.3 mile.
Shortest distance from place where the winepress
was trodden by the Feet Members of the Lord,
Whose guidance and help alone made this
volume possible. (John 6:60, 61; Matt. 20:11.)
miles 137.9
