The fact that these kingdoms were to rise and fall, and other events take place, named in the vision, show that the days could not be literal. I know of but one other interpretation to be given to them, and that is one well known among the prophets, namely, a day for a year. I appoint," saith the Lord, in one instance, "a day for a year." Without going through with the vision further, the question comes up, where does it commence? For if this point be gained, all is apparently safe. I answer, where would you begin to measure a man-at the head, and measure downward-or, at the feet, and measure upward? You would not surely begin at the breast, and measure downward, nor at the knee, and measure upward; but at the top of the head, or at the feet. But as the head only is now given, and only that needed, we must begin at the head. But, where is the head? Why, what the prophet first saw—a ram, having two horns, and they were high; the one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. Here are circumstances quite clear. The testimony, too, of the angel, is that the ram was Media and Persia. We must therefore begin to reckon from that empire. But in what age of it? When the horns are high, and when the last is the highest. When a Persian king has the ascendency; and when both kingdoms are in their glory. But when was this? This, too, is quite clear. The Medo-Persian empire commenced its fall in the reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus.* It cannot therefore be placed later than his day. It could not commence before for two reasons:- -1. The empire did not reach its height till his day; and, 2. To place it before his day, it would have expired already without any event to answer the import of the prophet. Nor can we begin to reckon when Artaxerxes ascended the throne, for both these reasons. He recovered Egypt, which his predecessor had lost, and celebrated his victories in his third year for a hundred and eighty days. But if we commence in his reign, it would be reasonable to suppose there would be some public act, so plain as to be at once apparent. Such an event occurred in his reign. He published in the seventh year of his reign, a decreewhich is now known to be a subject of prophecy-granting liberty to all the Jews in his realm, and making provision for restoring and rebuilding Jerusalem and its temple. Twenty-three hundred years from that decree, will, without doubt, end in 1843. Before the days of Artaxerxes, and since that time, chronology, as to the number of years that have gone by, can scarcely admit of a doubt. True, there is a possibility; but I do not see it to exist in the time. If error exists, it must be found in something else than the chronology since that time. * American Encyclopedia. 6* Before that time much of it is dark. And what corroborates this view is the fact, that, at a subsequent interview with the same angel, he fixes upon this very period for the commencement of the seventy weeks-one of the most important prophecies ever delivered to man. And the angel expressly revealed to him, that he came to give him understanding in the vision; and he gave him no understanding of it, unless in the time. This, we have said, is the basis of Mr. Miller's theory. He brings to his aid the fact, that he can harmonize chronology so as to meet exactly his views. Another circumstance in his favor is, he makes, without violence, all the predictions in Revelation harmonize also. And again; God threatened, in the twenty-fifth chapter of Leviticus, in four instances, that he would punish his children, on conditions, seven times, which in a prophetic sense would make 2,520 years. Commencing at the general captivity of Israel under Esarhaddon, this number too runs out at the same period. Many other things are brought to bear which I need not here name; only adding that he thinks the present state of the world shadows it out in a most imminent sense. But of this, if it please God, hereafter. Portland, Jan., 1842. G. F. COX. NOTE. I have said difficulties exist in Chronology; and that it is a little uncertain from which period prophe cies may take their rise. It has been supposed by some that the decree issued in Nehemiah, instead of that of Ezra, was the one from which the seventy weeks were to take their date. This is possible, and the following chronology is suggested in its favor: but the reader will judge for himself. It will be recollected that the weight of commentators-the extent of the decree, is in favor of the first; and at present I incline to that opinion. Meantime, let us remember, that no prophecy can be shaken by any change of this character, as on either plan the seventy weeks expire with the death of Christ, so that it does not affect the great question at issue. 1. From the creation to the time Noah left the ark, 2. From the flood to the call of Abram at Terah's death, 3. From Abram's call to the exodus, 5. Judges and servitude to various na- 8. From Jehoiakim's captivity to the 9. From the death of Belshazzar to the 10. Artaxerxes farther reigned-Rollin, 13. Artaxerxes Mnemon, 15. Arses, 16. Alexander the Great, Yrs. Mos. Days. 1656 1 27 427 430 83 450 411 3 70 10 77 8 15. 17. From the death of Alexander to 19. Ptolemy Philadelphus, 20. Ptolemy Euergetes, 21. Ptolemy Philopater, 22. Ptolemy Epiphanes, 23. Ptolemy Philometer, 24. Ptolemy Physcon, 25. Ptolemy Lathyrus, 26. Alexander I., brother of Lathyrus, " 27. Alexander II., 28. Ptolemy Aulutes and Bernice his daughter, Yrs. Mos. Days. Rollin, 22 20 Rollin, 39 25 18 26 35. 28 10 26 16 From the above the reader will perceive that on this system, there were 4157 years, within a few weeks, from the creation, to A. D. 1; and 457 from the 20th year of Artaxerxes to A. D. 1. [No. VIII.] SIGNS OF THE SECOND ADVENT NEAR. THAT the millennium is near, is indicated by circumstances connected with the present state of the world. "I core as a thief." "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and |