In representing a system of religion by these objects from nature we depart from the general rule first laid down--that objects of nature symbolize political affairs, while the department of human and angelic life is chosen to represent religious affairs. But the reader should bear in mind one important exception to this rule--that things prominently connected with the history of the people of God in former ages are frequently employed (regardless of the department to which they belong) to represent spiritual things, their interpretation being easily seen; such as candle-sticks, altar, temple, incense, etc. When the plague of "thick darkness" covered the land of Egypt for three days, "the children of Israel had light in their dwellings." In the exodus the Lord went before them "by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light." After the erection of the tabernacle the holy place was constantly illuminated. This natural light in the Jewish age constitutes a beautiful type of the spiritual "light of the glorious gospel of Christ" that has "shined in our hearts" in the Christian dispensation. This spiritual light comes from Christ, the "Sun of righteousness," the "true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world"; and proceeds, also, from his people, who "shine as lights in the world." But it is the "light of the _gospel_." This light proceeds in a special sense from God's ministers, who are represented as "stars" (chap. 1:20) and who possess "the keys of the kingdom of heaven." Mat. 16:19; 18:18. How appropriate, then, that a _fallen_ "star," possessing "the key of the bottomless pit," should be a symbol of a religious impostor, and that the smoke which darkened the heavens, eclipsing the sun, the source of light, should represent a prominent delusive faith! I have already mentioned the fact that the symbols of this vision lead to a series of events entirely separate in their nature from the spiritual history of the church as developed under other symbols. We find its fulfilment in Mohammed and the delusive system he promulgated. In the year 606 Mahomet retired to a cave in Hera, near Mecca, and there received his pretended revelations, although it was not until six years later that he began to teach his doctrines publicly and to gain followers outside of the circle of his own family and personal friends. Gibbon, Vol. V., p. 121.