help him."-But in the last times the word of God, which he has for many years kept concealed from the eyes of the people, shall go forth he shall hear of its rapid progress in the north, and in the east of Europe: he shall find his establishments at Goa, and in other parts of the East; and, also, his South American possessions, broken in upon by Protestant Missionaries and the general spread of the Scriptures, throughout the world, shall forewarn him that his downfall is approaching. Enraged at the prospect before him, and furious against the progress of the truth; he shall, by his bulls and his manifestos, and by every artifice of intrigue, endeavour to stem the torrent, and to prevent the Scriptures being brought into any place, which is subject to his control; and he shall prepare himself to take vengeance upon those, who presume to disobey his commands. As a last great effort, he shall endeavour to gain spiritual and temporal authority, in that glorious holy mountain in the midst of the seas, even the land of Bibles, from whence the angel hath taken his flight with the everlasting gospel, to preach to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. And he shall be allowed to plant, even in that land, his superstitious tabernacles for idolatrous worship, and for the education and support of Jesuits, and Monks, and Nuns, and for priests, whom he sends forth to beguile and to deceive the people. But his appointed time shall overtake him, all his multiplied efforts shall only hasten his destruction, for the word is gone forth against him. Most assuredly shall he come to his end, and none shall help him, for the Lord God hath spoken it. The ensuing chapter describes the time and manner of the destruction of the Roman Power. Following the text, we find that at this time, Michael,-he who is the likeness of the invisible God, even Messiah the Prince, shall stand up for the seed of Israel, and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation; and then shall the chosen seed be delivered. The first resurrection also shall then take place, and many (not all) who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Then they that are wise unto salvation, being clothed with their spiritual bodies, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and such of them as have been the means of bringing many to the truth, shall be like brilliant stars in the midst of their brethren for ever. The prophet is commanded to seal up the prophecy till the end, to signify that it shall not be fully understood till the 1260 years are ended; but in the mean time it is intimated, that, through the searching of many, the knowledge of these things shall be generally increased in the Church. A further intimation as to the duration of the things spoken of, is given in verses 5, 6, and 7, declaring that the vision is for a time, times, and a half :--for one year, two years, and half a year; making three years and a half, or 1260 prophetic days, as before explained. (See page 71.) And when the Lord shall cease to scatter the power of his people, (his Church) that is, when the time of 1260 years, during which the saints were given into the hand of the Roman power, that he might prevail over them, is ended, then shall these things be finished. The prophet, not comprehending the exact meaning of what he heard, inquires what shall be the end or consummation of these things; and he is told a second time, that the words of the prophecy are sealed, and shall not be understood till the time of the end, viz. till the expiration of the 1260 years that many shall be turned to righteousness, and shall be purified and approved, but the children of the evil one shall go on in their evil ways, and none of them shall understand, for they only shall understand, who are made wise by the teaching of the Spirit. And for their instruction it is added, that the end or consummation shall be at 1290 years, or prophetic days, from the time when the papal abomination was set up. A further period is then adverted to, as a time of great blessedness, viz. 45 years beyond the 1290 : "Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the 1335 days." Connecting the circumstances related in this prophecy with what is declared in other places, it may be deduced, that this period of 45 years will probably be the time for the accomplishment of the great wonders; by restoring Judah and Israel, the spiritual seed, Jew and Gentile; by cleansing the Church of Christ from all false professors, and from every unclean thing, and putting away from her sin and sorrow for ever; by destroying all those who know not God, and who obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, and bringing every one upon the face of the earth to bow the knee to him; by purifying the heavens and the earth, which now are, by fire, to purge away the curse; and by making the new heavens and the new earth, in which righteousness shall dwell, under the peaceful, blessed reign of Messiah. That this eventful period of the 45 years will be ushered in by dreadful judgments upon the ungodly, we have seen most plainly announced, and if the date, which has been here assigned for the termination of the 1260 years, be the correct one, a large portion of those |