FOUR MESSENGERS

I understand these figuratively, and represent four of the principal ruling governments on land, and sea, that is to be found on the four quarters of this terraqueous globe, for the evident reason already expressed in the 2nd verse, that they have the power on both land and sea. On an examination of present history, and a map of the world, we plainly see that Great Britain, France, Russia and these United States of North America, hold this power on land; and about all of it with a few trifling exceptions on the sea. Prussia, Austria and Rome, have been variously represented to be one or more of these four messengers; but I cannot learn that Rome, or Austria, has any maritime force on the sea, and Prussia but one single corvet (a small man-of-war ship,) on the ocean, therefore they cannot be represented here, seeing they have not the power to injure or suppress any force on the sea.SLG 4.7

The earth and sea is here personified, meaning the living people that are on the earth and sea, because all the governments on earth, with all their implements of war and destruction could not injure or hurt the sea. We know there are millions of the human race crossing and recrossing, and living on the sea. I have been told that in one country (East Indies,) more than two million of her population live on the sea, and that thousands of them never set their foot on land. Again these four messengers are standing, (i.e. located) on the four quarters of the earth; therefore these cannot represent, or mean the allied powers of Europe.SLG 5.1