The Approaching End of the Age by H. Grattan Guinness – Part III. Foretold and Fulfilled. Chapter I.
We have been contemplating the two mysteries of the Apocalypse. The word “mystery” signifies something spiritual; it here describes a church, The first mystery is explained to us by Christ Himself: “The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest; the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest, are the seven churches.” The second mystery is explained also: “I will tell thee the mystery of the woman. The woman is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”