before the total diffolution of the Jewish ftate or while the fecond temple was yet ftanding: And, when it was determinately foretold to be after the expiration of feventy weeks, from the going forth of the commandment to return and to build Jerufalem, ftill, befides the prophetic and somewhat obfcure fenfe of the word weeks, we cannot beforehand calculate exactly when these weeks commence [q], or in what term they are to be accomplished. Yet, notwithstanding these uncertainties, the Jews faw [1] "Whatsoever time of Meffiah's appearing Al"mighty God pointed out by Daniel's LXX Weeks, yet I believe not that any Jew, before the event, could infallibly defign the time without some latitude; because they could not know infallibly where "to pitch the head of their accounts, until the event difcovered it: yet in fome latitude they might." Mede, Works, p. 757. And fo in other inftances. "I do not believe that "the Jews themselves could certainly tell from which of their three captivities to begin that reckoning of "LXX years, whose end should bring their return "from Babylon, until the event affured them thereof." Mede, Works, p. 662. very clearly, and, from them, the rest of the world conceived an expectation, that the perfon predicted was to appear in that age, or about that time, in which he did appear, and which, from the tenour of the prophecies, they had computed would be the time of his appearance. In like manner, the season of Antichrift's appearance in the world is left to be collected from general intimations; and, when the duration of his tyranny is limited to twelve hundred and fixty days, befides that the expreffion, as before, is ænigmatical, we have no means of fixing the commencement of that period fo precisely, but that fome doubts may arise about it, till the accomplishment of the prophecy fhall give light and certainty to the computation. Yet ftill, as in the former cafe, we have fuch data to proceed upon in calculating the reign of Antichrift, as may let us fee about what time it was to be expected. Thus Thus much being premised, I have now only to remind you of what the prophets expressly declare concerning the rife of Antichrift. The eldest of these, the prophet Daniel, fays it was to be in the time of the fourth kingdom, that is, of the Roman; which, for the convenience of the prophetic calculations, is confidered as fubfifting, though in a new form, under the ten kings, among whom it was to be divided. He further tells us, that Antichrift was to arise from among, and after, the ten kings; that is, we are to look for him then (and not before) when the Roman empire has undergone that change of government [r]. Next, St. Paul, it feems, had told the Theffalonians, what it was that, for a time, prevented the appearance of Antichrift: But that information hath not been tranfmitted to us. However, he says to them-re know WHAT with-holdeth that he might be revealed in his time: and fur[r] Dan. vii. ther ther adds, HE, who now letteth, will let, until be be taken out of the way [s]. Now, by putting these paffages together, and by comparing them with the predictions of Daniel, not we of these later times only, before whom the man of fin is supposed to be evidently difplayed, but the early fathers of the church, long before the events happened to which these prophetic notices could be applied, clearly faw, or at least generally conjectured, that the impediment, here mentioned, was the then fubfifting power of the Cæfarean government; which, they said, was first to be taken away, and then Antichrist would be revealed [4]. Laftly, the Apostle St. John not only confirms the prophecies of Daniel, that Antichrift fhould arife out of the ten kings, who were to have the western empire shared out among them, but adds [s] 2 Theff. ii. 6, 7. [] Sermon VII. p. 15-17. But fee especially Mede's Works, p. 657. this remarkable circumftance, That he fhould RIDE the ten kings [u]; which implies, that he fhould co-exist with them: And it further appears, that he was to receive his whole power from them, and was finally to be destroyed by them. Now, turn to the history of the fourth kingdom, and fee how it correfponds to thefe prophecies. Obferve, when the western empire under its Cæfarean head, was taken away; how it was, afterwards, difmembered by the northern nations; by what degrees it fell at length, into ten, that is, many diftinct, independent kingdoms; at what time this partition was made, or rather fully fettled and completed. From this time, and not before, you are to look for Antichrift, now gradually rearing himself up among the ten kings; and at length, in a condition, by the power, which they gave to him, to ride, that is, to direct and govern them. From this time, again, compute the 1260 years, the predicted VOL. II. [x] Rev. xvii. 7. period |