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the times alarming enough; some of which have already been distinctly noticed. There are yet others which remain to be considered; but there are, after all, none so clear, so unequivocal, as this, either as it respects circumstances or time; either as it respects symbolical or chronological prophecy.

It is my most earnest wish to be neither dogmatical or presumptuous; but with regard to any of these particulars, it seems difficult to imagine how a mistake can be made, confirming each other as they do in so striking a manner. The Turkish empire, which is called the second woe, is unquestionably, to all appearances, nearly past; all that is included in the period of 1260 years, must likewise be nearly over; the restoration of the Jews cannot be far distant; and the signs that are to indicate these things are fast clustering around us. Many do run to and fro-knowledge has increased-"the king," described in Daniel xi. 35-39, who was to appear just before the time of the end, has appeared, and with him the French revolution-and "the beast out of the bottomless pit," gives the most alarming indications of his near approach. These are some of the circumstances; some of the signs which point as to a crisis very, very near at hand. This being the case, there appears to be no presumption in the attempt to direct the anxious mind to the 'chronological periods which God has given, and to inquire how far they support these anticipations.

I have done so, as have likewise almost all that have gone before me in these studies; and the

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results of my inquiries, as they run throughout the whole of this work, and as they appear in the chronological chart in my former work, must, by this time, be familiar to the reader. It will be perceived they all point to a very early period, the year 1844; and although it is fashionable to object to the fixing of dates, yet so long as it is said, "things that are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever," I see not on what sufficient ground. If Jesus told his disciples, (says the late Rev. John Fletcher, of Madeley,) that it was not theirs to know the times when these things should be accomplished, it does not follow that it must be hid from us, who are far more nearly concerned in them than they were. Add to this, that Daniel's Vision was to be closed till the end, and could not be perfectly known till very near the time of the fulfilling of it."*

"But ye, brethren," says the Apostle, "are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are the children of the light, and the children of the day."+ And though Christ declared, when on earth, "of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father;" yet I think it may be questioned whether this state of ignorance was intended to last. Nor do I consider this passage is generally correctly understood; for, like all

* Letter on the Prophecies, Vol. X, of his Works. + 1 Thess. v. 1.

other controverted passages, it cannot be at variance with the general scope of the written Word, nor with that which immediately precedes it, where it is said, that, as the approach of summer was known by the budding of the fig tree, so the approach of these things should be known by the signs that should precede them, and which do Now appear!

The chronological period in question, clear as it now appears, could not, by any possibility, without further revelation, have been ever conjectured, until its commencement had been known by the event; and even after this, a veil appears to have been upon the mind until within a very few years back; so that any event but the right one should have been fixed upon. The late Rev. Charles Buck, in his valuable Theological Dictionary, published above thirty years ago, seems to have seen it aright; and I mention it more especially, as being the opinion of a Dissenting minister of high consideration. "The four angels were loosed, says the prediction, verse 18th, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. This period, in the language of prophecy, makes 391 years, which being added to the year when the four angels were loosed, (prepared) will bring us down to 1844, or thereabouts, for the final destruction of the Mahometan empire."*

I will close with another quotation from the aforesaid letter of Mr. Fletcher, which letter was written

* See the article "Mahomet."

in Nov. 1755, nearly eighty years since; or, be it remembered, nearly three generations ago! "If we are mistaken in forming conjectures-if the phenomena we hear of every where are but common providences-if these things happen not to us, but to our children, (as they most certainly will, before the third generation is swept away) is it not our business to prepare ourselves for them, to meditate on them, and to warn as many people as we can prudently, lest their blood should be required at our hands, were they to fall because of a surprise. Let us pray to God more frequently, that for the elects' sake he would still more shorten the days of the tribulation, and add daily to the true church such as will be saved. But let us not forget to rejoice with Abraham, in seeing by faith the glorious day of our Lord, and to hasten, by our fervent prayers, that glorious kingdom, those happy days, when narrow shall be the way of destruction, when saints raised from the dead shall converse with living saints, and the world of spirits be manifested, in a great measure, to the material world; in a word, when Jesus will be all in all."

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"What a glorious prospect is this! let us often think of these words of our Lord, Behold, I come quickly, blessed is he that mindeth the sayings of this prophecy. Let us join the spirit and the bride, who say, Come! O let him that heareth say, Come; and let him that is athirst come; for he that testifieth these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen! even so come Lord Jesus."

CHAPTER XV.

THE

LAST SOLEMN JUDGMENT ON THE

WESTERN NATIONS;

OR

THE THIRD WOE:

LIKEWISE

THE FIRST RESURRECTION, AND THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST.

The preparations in Heaven for this event—Our indifference— Signs of its approach-Referred to Old Testament ProphetsThey say little of Christian historical times—Of the latter times are profuse-Chief reason because they are connected with the Jewish Restoration—Why called "The mystery of God."Disbelief and infidelity of the present times-Certainty of the fulfilment of what remains—Song of the Elders—Its subject, the wrath of God-Kingdom of Christ—Daniel's last great vision referred to-And other prophets-Resurrection of the righteous dead, another subject of their song-Proved from Daniel—Kingdom of the saints.-The four living creatures do not join in this song, and why-Extract from Toplady-Destruction of the destroyers-The church and ark opened in Heaven—The wurs of this trumpet-A revolution-A northern invasion.

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