John had foreseen it all. His visions, unintelligible to the
masses, nevertheless held within them the mystery of great human events.
Tchernoff described the Apocalyptic beast rising from the depths of the
sea. He was like a leopard, his feet like those of a bear, his mouth
like the snout of a lion. He had seven heads and ten horns. And upon
the horns were ten crowns, and upon each of his heads the name of a
blasphemy. The evangelist did not say just what these blasphemies were,
perhaps they differed according to the epochs, modified every thousand
years when the beast made a new apparition. The Russian seemed to be
reading those that were flaming on the heads of the monster--blasphemies
against humanity, against justice, against all that makes life sweet
and bearable. "Might is superior to Right!" . . . "The weak should not
exist." . . . "Be harsh in order to be great." . . . And the Beast in
all its hideousness was attempting to govern the world and make mankind
render him homage!
"But the four horsemen?" persisted Desnoyers.
The four horsemen were preceding the appearance of the monster in John's
vision.
The seven seals of the book of mystery were broken by the Lamb in the
presence of the great throne where was seated one who shone like jasper.
The rainbow round about the throne was in sight like unto an emerald.
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