The original Edition of Eureka \yas divided into three volumes, so that the Author’s Preface in what we have published as Volume Four should also be read in conjunction with the present Volume.
Since Eureka was first published, and since the death of its A uthor, world events have followed the pattern of prophecy as laid down in the Word, and expounded by him in Elpis Israel, Eureka and other works. For example, the Middle East was wrested from Turkish power during the course of World War I, and the Empire as such terminated shortly afterwards. In these events the political Euphrates has continued to “dry up” in accordance with Rev. 16:12, and the “way of the Kings out of the sun’s rising” has been in course of “preparation”. The Balfour Declaration inviting the Jewish people to return to their ancient homeland, and establish therein a national home, opened the way for prophecies of the restoration to commence. And in other, equally dramatic events, the expositions of the Author have been remarkably vindicated. World War II saw the emergence of Soviet Russia as a world power, followed by the demand for the establishment of the Jewish State of Israel. The post-war world has witnessed the consolidation of these developments, including the division of Europe into two parts through which can be seen the formation of the two feet of the Image seen by Nebuchadnezzar in his dream. Coinciding with that, the world has witnessed a tremendous advancement in the invention and manufacture of weapons of war of such destructive potentiality as to threaten the future of civilisation, answering to the requirements of the demoniac agitation indicated by Revelation 16:14. It is surely of the highest significance that mankind today has in its hands such forces of destruction as could render the earth uninhabitable if ever they were used to the fullest extent possible. For this is the very condition anticipated by The Apocalypse in Chapter 11:15: “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earthyy.
Never before have these words the significance that they have today!
Elsewhere the Lord told his Apostles: “Men’s hearts will fail them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken . . . And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:26-28).
How important it is, in these closing days of the Gentiles, that The Apocalypse should be studied, in order that a better appreciation of things to come should be developed. Eureka is outstanding in providing a help to that end; and we esteem it an honour to be associated with the issuance of a new Edition of what must rate as the outstanding exposition of The Apocalypse available — particularly in view of the blessings pronounced by Christ upon those who read it with understanding (Rev. 1:3). As the Author of Eureka wrote: “The Apocalypse was given to the end that the servants of Deity who are keeping their garments might be able to discern the signs of the times preceding the apocalypse of Christ; and the real nature of things extant in their several generations. No believer understanding this prophecy could be seduced into fellowship with the clerical institutions of this world; because he would see them in all their native deformity and sin”.
It will be noticed by the discerning Reader, that the mammoth task that engaged the Author of Eureka, particularly in view of his limited resources, resulted in some of the last chapters of The Apocalypse being treated more scantily than the earlier ones. Where we have deemed it helpful we have added comments of our own in the form of footnotes to supplement those of the Author, and further information on these chapters (Chapter 17 onwards) can be obtained from the verse by verse exposition of the Book of Revelation in The Christadelphian Expositor.
In his preface to the final volume of Eureka, the Author declared that it was only with the help of Yahweh that he was able to complete the task he set himself. We feel somewhat similar in regard to the publication of this new Edition. We have been plagued with problems in producing it, but gradually these have been overcome, and it is with great relief, profound thankfulness to Yahweh, and deep appreciation to those who have assisted us, that we are enabled at last to place this final Volume in the hands of the Reader. We trust that he derives the pleasure from reading it that it has been ours in re-examining it and preparing it for reprinting.
Logos Publications January, 1986
