Christ is there represented as ruling the nations with a rod of iron, and to break them as a potter's vessel (ii. 27, xix. 15), and as he has promised that his saints shall do so also (Rev. ii. 27), his saints must be resurrected to do it, before "the wicked are cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it," (Prov. ii. 21-22); for the rebels, after the millennium, shall be destroyed by God with fire from heaven. In chapter xix. at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, which refers to the period when the beast is destroyed and Christ's kingdom established, (compare xii. 7 with xvii. 8), we find the elders before the throne exclaim, "We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, who art, and who was, because thou hast taken thy great power, and hast commenced thy reign." The nations were wroth, and thy wrath came, and the time of the dead when they should be judged, and a reward should be given to thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name, small and great; and when thou shouldst destroy those that destroyed the earth (xi. 15, Campbell's edition.) Let the reader judge whether or not these things can be done without a literal resurrection, and consequently a personal coming of Christ. opened. I beheld then, because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake, till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed and given to the burning flames (see Joel iii. 12-14.) Now, respecting this beast with the ten horns, and the little horn (Popery), with a mouth speaking great things, we read, "I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them until the Antient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom," (vii. 9-11, 21-22.) How will these statements correspond with the Apocalypse? John saw the judgment of the great whore ; he saw the judge descend, and the beast cast into the lake of fire; he saw thrones, and them that sat upon them; and judgment was given with them, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. We conclude by reminding our readers that, if the beast has nearly accomplished his 1260 years, when he shall be destroyed, then the Antient of Days will soon arrive (Dan. iii. 21-22.) The King of Kings will soon tread the wine-press of the wrath of God (Rev. xix. 15), “in that great day of God Almighty," when the cities of the nations shall fall (xvi. 19), and when, at the battle of Armageddon, the fowls shall be satiate with the flesh of the rebellious. R.. Let us now refer to Daniel's vision of the beast. The first verse is from the Geneva translation. And "be- Lord, give us grace to watch and holde thys horne had eyes lyke a man, to pray always, that we may be and a mouthe speakynge presump-counted worthy to escape all these tuous thyngs; I looked tyll the seats things that shall come to pass, and were prepared, and till the old aged to stand before the Son of Man. sat him down." "His garment was white as snow, and the hairs of his head like pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels like burning fire. A fiery stream issued and went forth before him; thousand thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; and the judgment was set, and the books were REMARKS BY EDITOR. The great design of writing or speaking is either to elicit truths not fully understood, or to vindicate and maintain those already believed. The teaching of the Holy Spirit is contained in the Bible. In its pages are contained treasures of incalculable value. The progressive, yet distinct | developments of the Divine Mind in regard to the redemption of the world, are here revealed as a system most unique and perfect. Holy men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The Book of Revelations, the last of the volume, chiefly presented in hieroglyphic form, for the exercise of faith and confidence, has ever been, and still is, a source of much speculation among the children of men. Things new and old are constantly flowing from the tongue and the press, to initiate, if possible, the human mind into the mysteries of God, his government of the world, and of the antagonistic claims of Christ and of Anti-Christ. Still, Time, that great revealer of secrets, does more than any other agent, to develope the divine purposes presented in these living oracles of truth. are what nations will be then left for the Lord and his immortal associates to rule with a rod of iron during the millennial reign? Certainly the saints will not require this iron rule. Who, then, are to be ruled? There some parties who could more easily believe that the "electric telegragh" is to be the iron rod by which the nations are to be ruled for a thousand years, than that they could receive such an hypothesis. Let not the reader be startled, nor yet wrathful against these persons, for we are assured that they most firmly believe both in the spiritual_and personal reign of our adorable Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. spiritual reign is now in progression, extending to the heart and conscience of every man and woman on earth, and will continue to progress to the end of this dispensation, when the secrets of all hearts shall be judged by Jesus Christ at his appearing in his kingdom, according to Paul's gospel. His will be both literal and personalspiritual, enjoyed by sight, and not by faith. All present will be able to see as they are seen, and to know as they are known-so far as their character, state, and destiny are concerned. Having carefully read the article by Brother R. on Rev. xx. 1-6, we are unable to say anything particular on its merits, inasmuch as it presents The kingdom which is now spiritus with nothing new. The mind is ual and realized by faith, at the revenot much more enlightened on mil-lation of Jesus Christ from heaven, lennial matters subsequently to its perusal than it was previously. It is still an unsettled question, and the inquiry continues to be made-does the paragraph refer to a figurative spiritual resurrection of the church of Christ, typified by the reign of Solomon, when all the enemies of Israel were either slain or kept in abeyance for a period ?—or does it refer to the literal personal descent of the Lord, with his redeemed and immortal children, to reign on earth for one thousand years prior to the winding up of all human affairs? If it be true, as Bröther R. affirms, that the Beast, (political government) the Harlot, (Roman Catholicism) the false Prophet, (Mahomedanism) the Dragon, and Satan, with their adherents, are to be cast alive into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, and to be shut up for one thousand years, Behold He cometh in the clouds, and every eye shall see him, even they who pierced him; and all the kings of the earth shall mourn because of him. Yes, so let it be. Now, when the Son of Man shall come in his glory, accompanied by all his holy angels, and shall be seated on his glorious throne, then shall all the nations be assembled before him, and out of them he will separate the good from the bad, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; the sheep he will set at his right hand, and the goats on his left.-For whoever is ashamed of me and my word in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him likewise will the Son of Man be ashamed when he shall come in the glory of his Father, accompanied by the holy angels. -Seeing it is just with God to return affliction to them who afflict you, and to you the afflicted rest with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven, with his mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe. If these three quotations from holy writ do not teach that the righteous and the wicked who lived in the days of our Lord and of his Apostles, with those of subsequent periods, will meet in his presence at the time when he shall come in the clouds of heaven, then what do they teach? : The Apostle Peter says of the Christian disciples in this world, "You are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people that you should declare the perfections of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; who formerly were not a people, but now are the people of God; who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." Regarding the same persons when in a future resurrected and immortal state, they are spoken of not as priests, but as conquerors, eating of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God-possessing a crown of life-partaking of the hidden manna -having a new name written which no man knows except he who receives it. As for the conqueror, he shall be clothed in white apparel; his name shall not be blotted from the book of life, but confessed before the Father, and before his angels; he shall be a pillar in the temple of God, and he shall go out no more; the name of God, and the name of the city of God, the new Jerusalem which is to come down from heaven, from God-the new name shall be inscribed upon him. The nations shall be dashed in pieces like a potter's vessel. But it does not say that the righteous or justified ones shall do this, although his saints or anointed ones may and no doubt will at his bidding. The earth, or unbelievers, are to help the church out of her wilderness state, as they did the Jews out of Babylon. See Isa. xiii. 3, xli. 2, xliv. 28, xlv. 1; Jeremiah xxvii. 6–8; 1 Kings, xix. 15; 2 Kings, viii. 7-12; Rev. xii. 16. PROPHETIC DEPARTMENT CONTINUED. DEAR SIR-Agreed with you substantially in the faith of the church, and thirsting for the time when we shall luxuriate in closest fellowship of love, unity, and knowledge, permit me to express the gratification I feel in your having turned your attention to the subject of the Lord's return, (be that return spiritual or personal) and opened the pages of the Harbinger for investigation of, and information upon, the subject. po Although I regard the second coming of Christ as the hope of the church, I differ somewhat with J. F.'s mode of treating the same—in quoting scripture by wholesale, and taking his positions as true, without defending his application of those scriptures so as to establish those sitions. Yet I am glad that he has written upon the subject, and that you have inserted his thoughts. In many of your own remarks thereon, as also those of Mr. J. Wilson, I differ; but I am persuaded that, by comparison of individual judgment, cautiously and prayerfully given—selected, inserted, information-edification, and profit may be the results. The wisest know but in part, and we have all need of each other. Superiority of judgment denotes but pro terest and profit thence to be derived. Submitting these matters to your editorial discrimination and Christian judgment, I shall realize great pleasure in supplying a short article each month for awhile, for your Prophetic Department. MINIMUM. article beyond 2 or 3 pages. And as no man is justified in waiting the arrival of the millennium before he commences sowing to the Spirit, our contributors will please to bear in mind that some practical deduction should be drawn from each communication. Will" Minimum" consider whether the watchmen seeing eye to eye were not the Apostles; and if the "all taught of God" are not the disciples-the fathers, young men, and children constituting the body of Christ. 1 John ii. 12-21; Hebrews viii. 10-13.-J. W.] portioned responsibility. The smallest stars possess an actual existence, and shed their measure of light upon us. The widow's two mites were, owing to circumstances, more than the gifts of all those who honoured the treasury. It is possible we may each learn something from the other. There are useful lessons for the rich in the several additional correspondents who [NOTE. As we have this month circle of poverty, and for the wise in have expressed a desire to contribute the school of what is called folly. to our Prophetic Department, we must Freedom of investigation and expres-request the writers not to extend any sion, within the bounds of prudence and scripture testimony, is every Christian's birthright; and the tendency of the age, among the elect of God, is to unity of judgment and action. Let us, then, bear with each other awhile. Let us not despise or revile each other because we cannot just see alike. Let us not make our individual or social judgment the arbitrary standard to the prevention of others' doubts or objections, or even to temperate and Christian discussion, as was the case with that system whose overthrow myriads are ready and waiting to hail with delight. Truth is mighty, yea, almighty, and must prevail. Where it exists, it exists by virtue of its own nature, with and like its Author. The more it is tested, the firmer it grasps, the brighter it shines, the greater and more magnificent are its conquests. Jehovah has promised, then, that the watchmen of Zion shall yet see eye to eye, and that all, from the least unto the greatest, shall know the Lord. These sayings are faithful and true. This glorious state of things is considered, however, as to be accomplished "when the Lord shall bring again Zion"- "when he will appear in his glory." Before proceeding to the proof of these things, I have two or three other particulars to premise, which are worthy of separate consideration, and which are needful as so many progressive steps to the humble and prayerful student of prophecy, in order to that sure conclusion, that in FLEMING ON PROPHECY. (Continued from page 330.) II. I proceed to improve what I have said both theoretically and practically. And 1st, I shall advance something here, as a theoretical improvement of what I have said upon the former head. For by this key, we may attain, in a great measure, to unlock the dark apocalyptical periods and times; those, I mean, that relate to the continuance of the Papal power, both as to his gradual growth and increase first, and his decay afterwards, until his last and final destruction. And in relation to these, the far greatest part of the Apocalypse must be understood. Now, in order to this performance, I must premise this one thing, viz. that the seven seals, trumpets, and vials (in which is contained the order and series of the whole apocalyptical prophecy, and to the explanation and illustration of which, all the other particular visions are subservient)that, I say, these are joined together by the link of the seventh seal and seventh trumpet; so as the seventh seal doth, as it were, produce or include the seven trumpets, and the seventh trumpet the seven vials, in the same manner. This I should reckon no difficult thing to demonstrate, but that it would be too long to insist upon it in this place. Only let me desire you to consider, that it was not until after the opening of the seventh seal, that John saw the angels with the seven trumpets (chap. viii. 1-2.) And that it was after the sounding of the seventh trumpet also that he tells us he saw another sign, great and wonderful (chap. xv. 1) which was the vision of the vials. So that I wonder that Mr. Mede, Dr. Mure, and others, have suffered themselves to be confounded in their interpretations by reason of their not observing this, and consequently, by jumbling some of the trumpets with the seals, and most of the vials with the trumpets. Now, this being supposed, we will find the series of time run in the following order, according to his threefold septenary of periods, which do insensibly run out one into the other. The first septenary of seals relates to the Christian church during the state of the Roman empire. And these do accordingly run in this order. The first seal exhibits the state of the church under the conduct of a glorious Rider on a white horse, having a bow in his hand, and a crown given unto him, who went out conquering and to conquer (chap. vi. 2.) Under which emblem Christ himself is represented, going forth upon his conquests over Jews and Gentiles; and as this relates to Christ's first victory over his enemies, after his commission to his disciples to preach the gospel to all nations (Matt. xxviii. 18-20) and the pouring down of his Spirit for this end on the day of Pentecost, (Acts ii.) so the full completion of it is not till the end of time. For after all other horsemen and enemies of the church have done their utmost against Christ and his people, we find this Horseman leading them all in triumph as his captives, and proceeding in his conquests to make a full and final end of them. For which see chap. xix. 11, 12, &c. So that this seal begins with A.D. 33 or 34, and does not end till the end of time, as to its full completion. But if we reckon it only in relation to the beginning of the next seal, (Christ's conquests being darkened) we shall see that immediately. The second seal (chap. vi. 3, 4) under the emblem of a rider upon a red horse (who had a great sword given him, in order to take peace from the earth, and to engage men in wars) represents the state of the empire from the time that Nero made war on the Jews, A.D. 66; and so contains the civil wars of Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, when men did so remarkably kill one another; and the wars of Vespasian and Titus against the Jews, completed afterwards by the terrible destruction of that nation under Hadrian; together with his other wars, and the preceding persecutions of Domitian and Trajan, and the conquests of this last prince. So that, as this begins with A.D. 66, it ends with Hadrian's wars in 134, or with his life, 138. The third seal (chap vi. 5-6) begins therefore, with A.D. 138, where, under the hieroglyphic of a rider on a black horse, with a pair of balances in his hand, to weigh and measure all things exactly, is set forth the excellent reigns of the admirable Antonines, Pius, and Philosophus. And, therefore, this seal runs out in the year 180. The fourth zeal (chap. vi. 7-8) represents the Roman horse turned pale, and the rider changed from a grave and awful judge to a murderer, Z |