KEYTOTHEPROPHETICCHART1850ChartbyOtisNichols

ExplanationbyJamesS.White

“Writethevision,andmakeitplainupontables,thathemayrunthatreadethit."Habbakuk2:2

STEAMPRESSOfTHESEVENTH-DAYADVENTISTPUBLISHINGASSOCIATION,

BATTLECREEK,Mich.1864.

INTRODUCTION--ProphecyWhatcanbemorenaturalthanforman,ashelooksforthuponaworldwhereevilisevery-wherepresent,andthemarksofdisorderanddecayeverywherevisible,toinquirewhetherornotthisstateofthingsshallalwayscontinue?andifnot,whenitshallend,andwhatshallbe the tokens of the auspicious day? What inquiry, then, can be of more interest andimportancetotheracethanthatwhichhasrespecttotheageoftheworldinwhichwelive?Itwould thereforebeunreasonable to suppose thatGodwould give a revelation toman,andyetleavehimuninformedinrespecttosubjectsofsuchabsorbinginterest.The declaration of the scripture is therefore in strict accordance with an enlightenedreason,whenitsays,"SurelytheLordGodwilldonothing,butherevealethhissecretuntohis servants theprophets."Amos3:7.Theobjectofprophecy is to forewarn theworldofthingstocomeintimefortherequisitepreparation,andtoinspirethepeopleofGodwithfresh courage as they see the time for the full fruition of their hope drawing nigh. Nojudgment has ever come upon theworld unheralded; and none have ever fallen thereinunwarned.AndiffromtheuniformdealingsofanunchangeableGodwithourworldinthepast,wemayjudgeofthefuture,thenmayweconfidentlyconcludethatoftheeventsyettotranspire,andaboveallthegreateventinwhichearth'sdramashallclose–theusheringinof thegreatdayof theLord,andthecomingof theSonofman,somethingwillbeknown,andtheworldbefaithfullywarnedthereof,eretheyshalltakeplace.IncallingattentiontothesethingswearesometimesaccusedofpryingintothesecretsoftheAlmighty.FromthischargewewantnobettervindicationthanthelanguageofMosesinDeut.29:29: "Thesecret thingsbelongunto theLordourGod,but those thingswhicharerevealed,belonguntousandtoourchildrenforever."ProphecybelongstothatportionoftheBiblewhichmayproperlybedenominateda revelation. It isdesigned to reveal tousthingsofwhichwecouldnotinanyotherwaygaininformation.

Again,we aremetwith the plea that the prophecies cannot be understood. But says theSaviour,referringdirectlytotheprophecyofDaniel,"Whosoreadeth lethimunderstand."Matt.24:15.With thisendorsementbyourSaviourofourefforts tounderstand,with thedeclaration that thewise shall understand, Dan. 12:10, andwith the promise that if anymanlackwisdomGodwillgiveliberallyandupbraidnot,ifhewillonlyaskofhim,wearecertainthatthewayisopenforanunderstandingofthesethingsbeforeallthosewhoarehumbleandteachableenoughtoaskandreceiveinstructionofhimthroughthemediumofhisword,andtheagencyofhisHolySpirit.Todenythatthepropheciescanbeunderstood,

istodenythatapartofGod'swordisarevelation,which,isinfidelity.

ThattheBiblerevealsthedayorhourofChrist'scomingwedonotpretend.Buttherearecertainpropheciesgiven,andsignsforetold,whicharetoshowuswhenthegreatdayisathand; and we are commanded, when we see these things come to pass, to know that it[margin,he,Christ] isnear,evenat thedoors.Matt.24:33.AndPaulgivesassurance thatChristianswillpossessaknowledgeofthesethingswhenhesays,"Butye,brethren,arenotindarknessthatthatdayshouldovertakeyouasathief."1Thess.5:4.Withtheseremarkswecall theattentionof thereader to theeventsandpredictionrecorded inDan.2,v7,8,and9,illustratedupontheChart.Effortsareoccasionallymadeto throwridiculeuponthese illustrationsof thesymbolsofDanielandJohn'svisions.Wearedescribedasgoingaboutthecountrywithour"pictures,"lecturingupon"headsandhorns;"andsome in theirdisgustingefforts tobewittyon thesubject,willevengosofarastoapplytothesesymbolsthenamesofthelowestandmostoffensive animals. Such simple-minded individuals ought to know that they are thus inreality casting contumely and reproach upon the word of God; for all these things areplainly described. The illustrations upon the Chart are but the words of the prophet inanotherform.Thefiguresaredescribedonthesacredpageasaccuratelyandminutelyaslanguage can do it; on the Chart they are simply presented in their symbolic form, theinspireddescriptionbeingfollowedascloselyasdelineationof thepencanbe illustratedwiththepencil.Hencethosewhoendeavortothrowridiculeuponthesethings,wecarenotiftheyarearrayedinpriestlyrobes,andhavenamescumberedwithpompoustitles,betrayboth ignorance anddepravity, and theGodwho inspiredhis prophets towrite out thesedescriptions,willholdallwhothustreatthemtoastrictaccountfortheirdoings.The readerwill understandat once that it isnot theprovinceof thiswork to give adullexpositionofallthatisillustratedupontheChart.Whatisherepresentedisdesignedtobebut littlemore thanabrief synopsisof thegreathistorical factsshadowed forthby thesesymbols,referencebeinghadforafullexpositiontotheworksupontheFourKingdomsofDaniel'sProphecies,TheThreeAngelsofRev.14,TheSanctuary,andTheSevenTrumpets.Now let the student place the Chart before him, just as hewould his atlas in learning alesson ingeography,and,openinghisBible toadescriptionof thesesymbols,proceed toconsiderthewonderfulnatureofsomeoftherevelationofGodtoman.

THEGREATIMAGEOfDANIEL2Intheupperleft-handcorneroftheChartstandsagreatimage.Concerningthissymbol,thetimewhen,andthepersonbywhom,itwasseen,andthelessonsofwisdomcouchedinitsmassiveandmajesticform,wereadinfull inDaniel,chapter2.ItwasseeninadreambyNebuchadnezzar,kingofBabylon,B.C.603.But thoughthedreamwasgiventoaheathenking,theinterpretationcouldcomeonlythroughaservantofGod;henceDanielwascalledintointerpretthematter,theprincipaldesignofwhichisdeclaredtobe,tomakeknown"whatshallbeinthelatterdays."Verse28.

THEHEADOFGOLD

This image symbolizes four universal kingdoms which should bear rule over the earth,commencing with the then reigning kingdom of Babylon, and extending, in commonphraseology, to the end of time. These kingdom's are denoted by the differentmetals ofwhichtheimagewascomposed,namely,gold,silver,brass,andiron.Inhisinterpretation,theprophetaddressingthekingofBabylon,asarepresentativeofhiskingdom,said,"Thouartthisheadofgold."Verse38.Theheadofgold,then,representsthekingdomofBabylon.Babylonwas but a continuation of the oldAssyrian empirewhichhad governedAsia formorethanthirteenhundredyears,havingbeenfoundedbyNimrod,themightyhunter,andagreatgrandsonofNoah.Gen.10:10.TheKingdomofBabylon,proper,oraswereadofitinscripture,datesfromB.C.747;butyetitdatesinprophecyfromB.C.677.Thereasonofthisis, because kingdoms are not recognized in the prophetic record, as existing, until theybecome connectedwith thepeopleofGod.Hence inprophecy, kingdomsmustdate fromthatpointof timeatwhichtheybegantoactapart in thepropheticdrama.Babylon firstbecameconnectedwiththepeopleofGodbytakingManasseh,kingofJudah,captive,B.C.677.2Chron.32.ThedateofBabylon,therefore,asrepresentedbytheheadofgold,isB.C.677.

THEBREASTANDARMSOfSILVER"Andafterthee,"continuedtheprophet,"shallariseanotherkingdominferiortothee."Thiskingdommustbesymbolizedbythebreastandarmsoftheimage,whichwereofsilver;forthatkingdomrepresentedbythegoldmustceasewherethegoldoftheimageceases;andthedivisionofbrasswhichfollowsthesilver,isexpresslydeclaredtobeathirdkingdom.It is thesametherefore,as if ithadsaid,After theeshallariseanotherkingdomwhich issymbolizedbythebreastandarmsofthisgreatimage.Whatkingdomwasthis?ThatwhichnextsucceededBabylon,whichwasMedo-Persia.Cyrus,kingofthePersians,tookBabylon,slewBelshazzartheBabylonianking,endedtheBabylonian,andcommencedtheuniversalPersian, empire, B.C. 538. The scenes of the eventful night in which this transpired aregraphicallydescribedinDan.5.

THEBELLYANDSIDESOfBRASS"Anotherthirdkingdomofbrass,"saysDaniel.Asthebrazenportionoftheimageisplainlycalledakingdom,welookforitsdevelopmentinthekingdomthatsucceededPersia,which,astheleastacquaintancewithhistorywillshow,wasthekingdomofGrecia.Alexander,thefirst kingofGrecia, conqueredDarius, overthrew thePersiankingdom, andassumed thereinsofuniversaldominion,atthebattleofArbela,B.C.331.Butthebrasswassucceededbyanotherportionoftheimage,whichbringsusto…

THELEGSOFIRONIninterpretingthisportionoftheimage,theprophetsaid,"Andthefourthkingdomshallbestrongasiron."Thisleavesnoroomformistake.WelookforakingdomtosucceedGrecia,

and behold Rome coming forth grasping a wider extent of territory than any of itspredecessors, leaving no kingdomunsubdued, and rulingwith an iron hand over all thethenknownworld.Rome then is without controversy the kingdom symbolized by the legs of iron. RomevirtuallysucceededGrecia,onitsconquestofMacedonia,B.C.168.Itwasnot,however,tillsevenyearsthereafter,thatis, inB.C.161,thatitenteredintothefamousleaguewiththeJews,andthusbecameconnectedwiththepeopleofGod.HencetheRomankingdom, theironoftheimage,datesfromB.C.161.Passingdowntothefeetandtoes,wefindthempartof ironandpartofclay,Thesignificationof thiswas that thekingdomin thatstageof itsexistenceshouldbepartlystrongandpartlybroken,andfinallybedivided.Romefirstgrewstrong then rich, then luxurious, then weak. It thus made itself a prey to the hardybarbarians of the north of Europe, who, inspired by the prospect of easy conquest anduntoldbooty,overrantheempire,andbrokeitupintotenkingdoms,correspondingtothetentoesoftheimage.ThesedivisionswereaccomplishedbetweentheyearsA.D.356and483,andtheyhavecontinuedtothepresentday.Thoughtheremayforshortperiodshavebeen sometimes more and sometimes fewer divisions, still they have generally beenknown,andarestillknown,as"thetenkingdomsofwesternEurope."Noeffortstomakeapermanentunionamongthemhaveprovedsuccessful.Warriorshavearisenandtrieditbyforceofarms,statesmenhavetrieditbydiplomacy,alliances,andintermarriages;butallhavefailed;fortheprophecyhadsaidthattheyshouldnotcleaveonetoanother;andthustheywillremainintheirdividedstatetilltheconsummation.Inthegreatimage,then,ofDan.2,wehaveanepitomeoftheworld'shistoryfromthedaysofBabylondowntotheend.Andwewouldasktheloverofhistoryhowthecourseoftime,the rise and fall of four successive universal empires, and the leading features andcharacteristicsofeach,couldbepresentedatoneview,inamoreexpressiveandcondensedform?But this is notmerely theobject of theprophecy, to give anoutlineof theworld'shistory;all this isbutpreparatory to the lastgreat fact,namely, that in thedaysof thesekings the God of Heaven is to set up a kingdom,which shall never be destroyed. A fifthuniversalkingdom,thekingdomofGod,whererighteousnessshallreign, istosucceedallearthlymisrule, and stand forever. It is to impart a knowledge of this great truth to thehuman race, and impress upon them the importance of preparing for that reign ofrighteousness,thattheprophecyisgiven.The earthly governments symbolized in this vision are all in thepast. Their rise and fallmaybeeasily tracedbyevery loverofhistory.Ontheseweshallnot thereforedwell,butonly inquire concerning that portion of the prophecy which yet alone remains to befulfilled, namely, the setting up of the everlasting kingdomofGod. Far toomany,we areaware,willbereadytomeetusherewiththeviewthatthiskingdomofGodisaspiritualkingdom,andwassetupinthedaysofChristandtheapostles.Letusasksuch,Mustnotthefifthuniversalkingdombeliterallylikethefourwhichprecedeit?Isitatalladmissibletosuppose that the scene would suddenly shift, without the least intimation, from literalkingdomonthisliteralearth,toaspiritualkingdomintheheartsofmen?Suchkingdomasthis,ifthetermisallowable,mightexistwithoutinterferingwithearthlygovernments;butthekingdomofGodinDan.2,dashes inpiecesallearthlygovernmentsere itsucceedstotheirruleandabsorbstheirterritory.

Another consideration more fatal still to this unscriptural, though popular, view of thekingdom,isfoundinthefollowing:Itwasnottill"thedaysofthesekings"thattheGodofHeavenwas tosetuphiskingdom.Dan.2:44. "Thesekings"canbenoother than the tenwhicharoseoutof theRomanempire.Not tillafterthisdivisionof theempire, therefore,couldthekingdomofGodcontemplatedinthisprophecy,besetup;anditisafactthatthisdivisionwasnotaccomplishedtelltheyearA.D.483.Whatevermaythereforebemeantbytheexpression,kingdomofGod,inotherplaces,it iscertainbeyondtheshadowofdoubt,thathiskingdomwhichistodestroyandsucceedallearthlygovernments,wasnotsetupbyChristorhisapostles;neither is ityet setup; forearthlygovernmentsstillexercise theirauthorityovertheworld.A thought may here occur, and be a source of perplexity to some. Have not the tenkingdoms,oftheRomanempire,inthedaysofwhichtheGodofHeavenshouldsetuphiskingdom,passedaway?andhasnottheprophecyfailed,ifthatkingdomisstillfuture?Weanswer,thedaysofthosekingdomsstillcontinue.Itmattersnotthattheirboundariesmayhave been changed, and their identity, in some cases, almost lost: The kingdom is stilldivided.WehavepassedthatpointwheretendivisionsoutoftheRomanempirecompletedthe development of the image. It is now onlywaiting to be smitten upon the feet by thestonecutoutofthemountainwithouthand.

Reader,areyoureadyforthisdestructionofallearthlygovernments?Haveyouaninterestinthekingdomthatistobesetup?Isyournameenrolledamongthosehighlyprivilegedoneswhoaretobeitsimmortalsubjects?IsyourcitizenshipinHeaven,fromwhencewelookfortheLordandSaviour?AreyouChrist's,andthereforeanheiraccordingtothepromise?Orareyou,ontheotherhand,inthatcondition,thatiftheKingshouldappear,toraisehispeopletotheirgloriousandimperishableinheritance,youwouldcovet,asthegreatestblessingtobeburiedfromhispresencebyrocksandmountains?Woefulcondition!Watch!lestcomingsuddenly,hefindyousleeping.

THEFOURBEASTSOfDANIEL7Attherightoftheimagestandsalineofbeasts,alion,abear,leopard,andnondescriptbeastintwoforms,representinganothervision.AviewofthesebeastswasgiventoDanielinvision,asrecordedinchapter7,ofhisprophecy.Inverse17,thesebeastsaredeclaredtobefourkingsorkingdoms.Themanneroftheirrise,Danieldescribesinverse2,thus:Isawinmyvisionbynight,and,behold,thefourwindsoftheheavenstroveuponthegreatsea,andfourgreatbeastscameup,diverseonefromanother.Seasdenotenationsandpeoples.Rev.17:15.Winddenoteswarandstrife.Hencethesekingdomsroseandfellthroughrevolutionsandpoliticalstrife.

TheLIONTheLionstandingoppositetotheheadofgold,isasymbolofthesamepower,namely,thekingdomofBabylon.Aravenouswildbeastisthefittestsymboltoshowthecharacterofanunsanctifiedearthlygovernment.Thelion,thekingofbeasts,bestrepresentsBabylonthekingofempires.Butthelion,asproducedinnaturecrouchinginhislurkingplacesand

springinguponhisprey,doesnotinthisrespectaccuratelysymbolizetheaggressivecharacterofthatpower;henceinspirationdepartsfromnatureandgivestheliontwowingsasofaneagle,todenotetherapidityofitsconquests.Itexisted,asseenintheheadofgold,fromB.C.677,to538,onehundredandthirty-nineyears.

TheBEARAsymbolofPersia,thesameasthebreastandarmsoftheimage.Heraisedhimselfupononeside.Theempirewascomposedofthetwoelements,theMedesandPersians,andthePersianwasthehigherandleadingelement.Ithadthreeribsinitsmouth,supposedtodenotethethreeprovincesofBabylon,Lydia,andEgypt,whichitconqueredandgrievouslyoppressed.ItexistedfromB.C.538,to331,twohundredandsevenyears

TheLEOPARDHere,again,wehaveanothersymbolofGrecia,correspondingwiththebrazenportionoftheimage.Thisbeast,unlikeanythinginnature,hasfourwingsandfourheads.ThefourheadsdenotethefourpartsintowhichtheempirewasdividedonthedeathofAlexander,andunderwhichitcontinued,tillsupplantedbytheRomanpower.Theleopardisofitselfexceedinglyfierceandswift,butthisnotbeingsufficient,fourwingsofafowlareadded,todenotetheunparalleledrapiditythatcharacterizedtheconquestsoftheGrecianempire,especiallyunderAlexander,whoissaidtohaveconqueredkingdoms,morespeedilythanotherscouldhavemarchedtheirarmiesthroughthem.ThiskingdomisincludedbetweenthedatesB.C.331,and161,onehundredandseventyyears.

THEGREATAndTERRIBLEBEAST.ForthepowerthatsucceededGreciatheprophetcouldfindnothinginnature,whichwouldanswerasafitsymbol.Apowersostrong,sofierce,soravenousanddestructive,couldnotberepresentedbyanyknownbeastthatthisearthproduces.Hencetheprophetisobligedtointroduceasymbolthatfindsnocounterpartinnature--amonsterwithtenhorns,thebodyofabehemoth,glaringeyes,alion'snostrils,greatironteethandbrazennails.Thisbeastsymbolizesthesameastheironlegsoftheimage,oppositewhichitisplaced,namely,Rome,thesuccessorofGrecia.ThetenhornsonthisbeastdenotethetenkingsthataroseoutoftheRomanempire,thesameasthetentoesoftheimage.Dan.7:24.ThesekingdomsareenumeratedbyMarchiaval,BishopLloyd,andDr.Hales,asfollows:1.TheHuns,A.D.356.2.TheOstrogoths,A.D.377.3.TheVisigoths,A.D.378.4.TheFranks,A.D.407.5.TheVandals,A.D.407.6.TheSuevi,A.D.407.7.TheBurgundians,A.D.407.8.TheHeruliandRugii,orThuringi,A.D.483."ItiscertainthattheRomanempirewasdividedintotenkingdoms;andthoughtheymightbesometimesmoreandsometimesfewer,yettheywerestillknownbythenameofthetenkingdomsofthewesternempire."--Scott.

Thisbeastinthelapseoftimeassumesanewphase."Iconsideredthehorns,"saysDaniel,andbeholdtherecameupamongthemanotherlittlehorn,beforewhomtherewerethreeofthefirsthornspluckedupbytheroots.Inthishornwereeyesliketheeyesofaman,andamouthspeakinggreatthings."Verse8.This little horn is by all Protestants acknowledged to be a symbol of the Papacy. It wasprophesiedofthishornthatheshouldsubduethreekings.Verse24.ThethreekingdomsthatwerepluckeduptomakewayforthePapacy,were,1. The Heruli, in 493. 2. The Vandals, in 534, and, 3. The Ostrogoths in 538. (Gibbon'sDeclineandFall.)Intothehandsofthispowerthesaints,times,andlaws,weretobegivenforatime,times,andthedividingoftime.Verse25.60years;seeRev.12:6,14.ThePapacywasestablishedin A.D. 538; for although the decree constituting the bishop of Rome the head of all thechurches,wasissuedbyJustinian,emperoroftheEast,fiveyearsprevious,inA.D.533,yetthatdecreewouldforeverhaveremainedineffectual,couldnotthethreepowersthatstoodin theway of the Papacy have been dislodged, and be really established in his position.Hencewemustdate thereignof thePapacy fromtheyear (538)when Justinian'sdecreewascarriedintoexecution,andthesaints,time,andlaws,inrealitygivenintothehandsofthelittlehorn.From538,whenthePapacywassetup,1260yearsextendto1798;anditisanotable fact of history, that on the 10th of February, 1798, Berthier, a general ofBonaparte's,attheheadoftheRepublicanarmyofFrance,enteredRomeandtookit.ThePapalgovernmentwasabolished,andthePopediedinexilein1799.(SeeCroleyontheApocalypse, Their's History of the Revolution, and Clarke onDan. 7:25.) The Papacy hasneverbeenrestoredtoitsformerpower.Wearebythischainofprophecybroughtdowntowithin66yearsofthepresenttime.Theprophetdoesnotseethisbeastgraduallychanginghiswildandferociousnaturetotheinnocenceandgentlenessofthelamb,tomakewayfora temporalmillennium; but he looks only a step further and says, "I beheld even till thebeastwasslain,andhisbodydestroyed,andgiventotheburningflame."-Dan.7:11.

Romedates inprophecy fromB.C.161. Its continuancedown to the timeof its completedivision into ten kingdoms, A.D. 483,was six hundred and forty-four years. The Papacy,which arose soon after, maintained its supremacy for 1260 years. With circumscribedpowers it remains today; andwe still behold this little hornwatchingwith cunning andcraftyeyesovertheinterestsoftheCatholicChurch,andopeninghismouthinblasphemyagainsttheMostHigh.Thushasthiswonderfulpower,initspaganandpapalforms,existedforthealmostincrediblespaceoftwothousandandfifty-fiveyears.Itcannotbelongbeforeitwillbegiventotheburningflame.Thegroundcoveredbythisvision is thesamein itsmain featuresas thatcoveredbythegreatimageofchapter2.Thequestionmaybeasked;then,whythisvisionwasgiven.Whyrepeat what had once been so forcibly expressed?We answer, Prophecies are repeatedbecause all the instruction thatGodwishes to convey, and all theparticulars concerningnationsandkingdoms,cannotwellbeembodiedinoneseriesofsymbols.Thustheheadofgold represents the grandeur and glory of the Babylonian kingdom; but it could not

representthefactthatthatkingdomborethesamerelationtootherkingdomsthattheliondoestootherbeasts;or,inotherwords,itcouldnotshowitswarlikecharacter,itsabilitytoconquer,itsbraveryanddaring,andtherapidityofitsconquests;allwhichplainlyappearinthesymbolofthelionwitheagle'swings.Butwhilethelionshowsthesequalities,itdoesnotrepresentthegrandeurandgloryshadowedforthbytheheadofgold.Hencebothlinesof prophecy are necessary to bring out the whole truth. So with Medo-Persia. The bearraising himself up on one side, does not sowell represent the two lines of kings in thatempire, as the twoarmsof the image.Buton theotherhand, thebreastandarmsof theimagecannotrepresentthecruelandoppressivenatureofthatpower,shownbythebearwiththreeribsinhismouth.LikewiseGrecia,whileitcontinuedaunit,iswellrepresentedbythebellyandsidesofbrass;butthisportionoftheimagecouldnotrepresentitsdivisionintofourkingdoms,andtherapidityofitsaggressivemarches,asbroughtoutbythefourheadsandfourwingsoftheleopard.Andso,too,ofthedifferentfeaturesoftheRomankingdom.Thetenkingdomsthataroseout of that empire, are represented by the ten toes of the image. But the change thatafterwardtookplaceinthosekingdoms,theriseofthelittlehorn,andthepluckingupofthreetomakewayforhim,couldnotberepresentedontheimage,hencethefourthbeast,inhissecondform,isbroughtuponthestage.Aqueryherearises:Asthisbeast inhis last formhasonlysevenhornsbesidesthepapalhorn, and these horns denote kingdoms, shall we now look for any more than sevenkingdomsintheplaceoftheoriginalten?Weanswerthatthelittlehorninpluckingupthethreehornsdidnot absorb them into itself. It simply removed themoutof its ambitiouspathtouniversaldominion.Theywerenotdestroyed,butonlycompelledtochangetheirterritory and location. So the symbol of the image, which retains all its ten toes till theconsummation,willremaintrue,asthetenkingdomswillinrealityexist;andthesymbolofthebeastwithitssevenhornswillalsoremaintrue,asshowingthatthreekingdomswereremovedtomakewayforthepapacy.Before leaving this prophecy we desire to call the attention of the skeptic to oneremarkable feature. The prophet's standpoint is away back in the kingdom of BabylonaboutfiveandahalfcenturiesbeforeChrist.Andthefartherhecomesdownfromhisowntime, the more minute he becomes in his predictions and descriptions of events, until,coming down to the rise of the little horn, or Papacy, he even gives the exact time of itssupremacy,predictingforitanunparalleledperiodoftriumphfor1260years,reachingtoapoint of timemore than two thousand years distant fromhis own day, Human foresightspeakswithmostminutenessofeventsthatarenearestathand,andgrowsmoreandmoreindefiniteasitgoesoffintothedimanddistantfuture.And had Daniel dwelt minutely upon the kingdom of Babylon, giving the length of itscontinuance,butgivingnosuchparticularsinthefollowingkingdom,andgrowinglessandless definite and distinct with each succeeding kingdom, there would have been moreground to account for these predictions independent of any divine agency; but theprophecydoesjustthereverseofthis,speakingwithmostminutenessofthemostdistantevents,asiftoshameskepticismoutofitsshallowclaimthatthesepropheciesarebuttheshrewdconjecturesofhumanforesightanddiscernment.NonebutthemindofGodcouldorwouldhavepredictedeventsinthisconciseandwonderfulmanner.

THERAM,GOAT,ANDLITTLEHORNOfDANIEL8Standing at the right of the series of beasts last described will be seen another line ofprophecy,consistingofaRam,GoatandLittleHorn.ThisvisionisfoundinDaniel8,andinitweareagainconductedoveraportionoftheworld'sgreathighway,withadditionalparticularsconcerningthemightykingdomsthatwepassalongourjourney.Thuswehavelineuponlinetillthesubjectismadesoplainthatnoman,howeverpoororwayfaringhemaybe,neederrtherein.Onthesymbolsofthischapter,theram,he-goat,andlittlehornwhichwaxedexceedinggreat,theprophetreceivedthefollowinginstruction:Theramwhichthousawesthavingtwohorns,arethekingsofMediaandPersia.Thehigherofthetwohornscameuplast.Verse3.ThisrepresentedthePersiandivisionoftheempire,whichroselast,andbecametheleadinginfluenceinthenation.Theramwiththetwohornswasthewell-knownemblemoftheMedesandPersians.ThissymbolisplacedontheChart,onalinewiththebreastandarmsandthebear,asitdenotesthesamepower.Thegoatwhichcameagainst theramhadathis firstappearance,notrepresentedontheChart,anotablehornbetweenhiseyes.Thisgoatandhornareexplainedbytheangel, inverse21,thus:"AndtheroughgoatisthekingofGrecia;andthegreathornthatisbetweenhiseyesisthefirstking."ThiskingwasAlexandertheGreat,amanofunbridledappetiteandlust,andwhoeightyearsafterheoverthrewthePersianempireatthebattleofArbela,B.C. 331, died atBabylon in a drunken fit, at the age of 33, B.C. 323. This hornwas thusbroken,and fourcameup in itsstead,asrepresentedontheChart. Inexplanationof thischange, the angel said, "And whereas, the great horn being broken, four came up in itsstead;""fourkingdomsshallstandupoutofthenation."Verse22.These kingdoms were Macedonia, Thrace, Syria and Egypt, into which the empire wasdividedshortlyafterAlexander'sdeath,governedrespectivelybyCassander,Lysimachus,SeleucusandPtolemy."Andoutofoneofthemcameforthalittlehorn,"verses9,23-27,representedontheChartbythesideofthecross,belowthegoat.RomewasnotconnectedwiththepeopleofGod,andhenceisnotintroducedintoprophecy,tillafteritsconquestofMacedonia,oneofthehornsofthegoat;hence,itisrepresentedascoming forth fromoneof thesehorns.That this little hornwhichwaxed exceeding greatwasRome,thefollowingconsiderationsprove:1. Itwas to rise in the latter part of their kingdom, that is, of the four kingdoms. So didRome, so far as its place in the prophecy is concerned. Its connection with the JewscommencedB.C.161.1Mac.8.(Josephus'Antiq.,B.xii,c.x.,sec.6.Prideaux,vol.ii,p.166)

2.Itwaslittleatfirst.SowasRome.

3. It waxed "exceeding great, toward the east and toward the south." So did Rome. ItconqueredMacedoniaB.C.168;Syria,etc.,totheriverTigris,B.C.65;Egypt,B.C.30."Fromthishorn'sincreasingtowardthesouthandeastparticularly,SirIsaacNewtoninfersthatitaroseinthenorth-westcornerofthegoat'sdominion,i.e.,inItaly;whichpointsdirectlytotheRomans.

4."Itcastdownsomeofthehostandofthestarstotheground."SodidRome;persecutingthedisciplesandministersofJesusasnootherpowereverdid.

5."HemagnifiedhimselfeventothePrinceofthehost.ThusdidRome,whenbothHerodandPontiusPilateconspiredagainstJesus.

6.Heshalldestroywonderfully...themightyandtheholypeople."LetfromfiftytoonehundredmillionsofmartyrsmakegoodthischargeagainstpersecutingRome.(SeeReligiousEncyclopedia).

7.Itwastheonlypowerwhichsucceededthefourkingdomswhichwaxed"exceedinggreat."

8.Inthisvision,GreciasucceedsMedo-Persia,justasithadbeenseentwicebefore;anditisabsurdtosupposethatthepowerwhichfollowstheminthisvisionisadifferentpowerfromtheonewhichtwicebeforehadbeenseensucceedingthem,inchapters2and7;andthatpowerwasRome."

9."Heshallbebrokenwithouthand."Howclearareferencetothestonecutoutwithouthandwhichsmitestheimageuponitsfeet.Chap.2:34.

Itisnotinappropriatethatthecrossissoprominentlyrepresentedbythesideofthishorn;foralthoughthispowerhasbeenabletostandupagainstthePrinceofprinces,andputtheSonofGodtodeath,thedaywillcome--aday,thankGod,nownotfardistant--whenthecrossshalltriumph,whenitsdayofvictorywillcomeandallwhohaveopposeditsrighteousclaimswillbebrokenanddestroyed.

TheTWENTY-THREEHUNDREDDAYSBesidesthesymbolsofgovernmentscontainedinDan.8,thereisadefiniteperiodoftimebroughttoview,whichclaimsattention.Thediagramofthisperiodisseenintheupperright-handcorneroftheChart,themeaningofwhichwillappearasweproceedtoconsiderthisperiod.Asrecordedinverse13,Danielheardonesaintaskanotherthequestion,howlongthevisionshouldbeconcerningthedaily[paganism]andthetransgressionofdesolationtogiveboththesanctuaryandthehosttobetroddenunderfoot.TheangelthenaddressedhimselftoDanielandsaid,Untotwothousandandthreehundreddays;thenshallthesanctuarybecleansed.Waivingforthepresentthequestionastowhatmayconstitutethesanctuary,wewishtoascertainifpossiblethenature,thecommencementandterminationofthisperiodoftime.TherearetwokindsoftimetobemetwithintheBible:literalandsymbolic.Insymbolictimeadaysignifiesayear.Num.14:34;Ezekiel4:6.Towhichclassdothe2300daysbelong?Beingbroughtinconnectionwithacknowledgedsymbols,itwouldbebotheasyandnaturaltoinferthattheypartookofthenatureoftherestofthevisionandweresymbolic,presentinguswithaperiodof2300years.Andthatsuchisthecaseisfurtherevidentfromthefact,asisshownintheinvestigationofDan.8,thatthefieldoftheprophet'svisionwastheempiresofPersia,Greece,andRome.The2300daystheregivencannotthereforebeliteraldays;forliteraldays(scarcelysixyearsandahalf)wouldbyno

meanscoverthedurationofanyoneoftheseempiressingly,muchlessembracesonearlythewholeoftheirexistenceputtogether,astheyevidentlydo.Theymustconsequentlydenote2300years.Canwenowascertainthecommencementofthisperiod?Weanswer,Yes;thekeytothematterbeingfoundintheninthchapterofDaniel,betweenwhichandtheeighththereisanunmistakableconnection,asweshallnowendeavortoshow.

Aftertheirmentioninverse14,the2300daysarenotagainspokenofinchap.8.Alltheotherpartsofthevisionaretherefullyexplained;itmusthavebeen,therefore,thispointconcerningthetime,thattroubledthemindoftheprophet,andinreferencetothis,solely,thatheexclaimsattheendofthechapter,"Iwasastonishedatthevision,butnoneunderstoodit."ItwasinthethirdyearofBelshazzar,B.C.553,thatDanielhadthisvisionofchap.8.Fifty-threeyearsprevioustothistime,JerusalemhadbeentakenbyNebuchadnezzar,andtheseventyyears'captivitycommenced;andthirty-fiveyearsbeforethis,theChaldeanshadutterlydemolishedthecity,brokendownitswalls,andburnedthehouseofGodwithfire.2Chron.36:19.DanielhadlearnedfromtheprophecyofJeremiah,drawingneartheirclose,inthefirstyearofDarius,B.C.538,aswereadinthefirstversesofDan.9;anditisevidentthathesofarmisunderstoodtheperiodofthe2300daysastosupposethattheyendedwiththeseventyyearsofIsrael'sservitude;thereforeturninghisfacetowardtheprostratecityandtheruinedtempleofhisfathers,hepraysGodtocausehisfacetoshineuponhissanctuarywhichisdesolate.Verse17."AndwhileIwasspeakingandpraying,"sayshe,chap.9:20-23,"eventhemanGabrielwhomIhadseeninthevisionatthebeginning,beingcausedtoflyswiftly,touchedmeaboutthetimeoftheeveningoblation.Andheinformedmeandtalkedwithme,andsaid,ODaniel,Iamnowcomeforthtogivetheeskillandunderstanding.Atthebeginningofthysupplication,thecommandmentcameforth,andIamcometoshowthee;forthouartgreatlybeloved;thereforeunderstandthematter,andconsiderthevision.Seventyweeksaredetermineduponthypeopleanduponthyholycity."etc.

Thatthisisacontinuationoftheexplanationofthevisionofchapter8,wouldseemsufficientlyevidentwithouttheaidofanyspecialargumenttoproveitso.Butasthereisavitalpointthathingesuponthisfact,wewillofferafewreasonswhichplaceitbeyondthelimitsofcontradiction.1.Gabrielhadreceivedacharge,chapter8:16,tomakeDanielunderstandthevision;butattheendofthatchapter,Danielsayshewasastonishedatthevision,butnoneunderstoodit.Gabrielthereforedidnotcompletehismissioninchap.8:thechargestillresteduponhim,"Makethismantounderstandthevision."2.ThebeingwhocametoDanielatthetimeofhissupplication,wastheverysamewhohadappearedtohiminthevisionatthebeginning;namely,Gabriel.Andthathehadnowcometoundeceivehimconcerninghisapplicationofthetime,isevidentinthathesays,Iamnowcomeforthtogivetheeskillandunderstanding.Whydidhenotgivehimafullunderstandingofthevisionatfirst?Because,weanswer,herevealedtohimallthathewasthenabletobear;forhefaintedandwassickcertaindays.

3.Direct reference ismade to thevision at thebeginning; and if that is not the visionofchap.8,itisimpossibletofindit.Andagain,ifGabrieldoesnotexplaininchap.9,whatheomitted in chap. 8, it is impossible for any man to show wherein Gabriel fulfilled hiscommissiontomakethismanunderstandthevision.Butapositionwhichwillleadtosucharesult,isutterlyunallowable.

4.WhenGabrielcommencedhis furtherexplanationhedidnotexplainthesymbolof theram; for that he had already explained; he did not explain the goat; for he had likewiseexplainedthat;neitherdidhecommenceaboutthelittlehorn;forhehadmadethatplainalso in chap. 8. What then did he explain? The very point there omitted; namely, time:"Seventyweeksaredetermineduponthypeople,etc.ThesefactsaresufficienttoshowtheconnectionofDan.9,withthevisionofchap.8.

But how do thewords of Gabriel, "Seventyweeks are determined upon thy people, etc.,explain the period of the 2300 days? The answer is. The word rendered determined,signifies literally,cutoff.Gesenius inhisHebrewLexiconthusdefines it: "Properly, tocutoff; tropically, to divide, and so to determine, to decree." The Englishman's HebrewConcordancesays,"Determined,literally,divided."

Fromwhatperiodaretheseventyweeksdivided,orcutoff?Fromthe2300days;forthereisnootherperiodgivenfromwhichtheycanbetaken;andthisisplacedbeyondadoubtbytheconnectionofthetwochapters,whichhasalreadybeenproved.Havingnowascertainedthatthe70weeksofDan.9arethefirst490yearsofthe2300days,and that consequently the two periods commence together, we further learn that thisperiod of weeks dates from the going forth of a commandment to restore and buildJerusalem. Dan. 9:25. If then we can definitely locate this commandment, we have thestarting-pointforthegreatperiodofthe2300years.TheBiblefurnishesuswithfourtestsbywhichtodeterminewhenthetruedateisfound:1. From the time of the commandment, 49 years were to witness the completion of thestreetandwallofJerusalem.Dan.9:25.2.Three-scoreandtwoweeksfromthistime,or,inall,69weeks,483years,weretoextendtoMessiahthePrince.Id.3.Sixty-nineandahalfweeksweretoextendtothecrucifixion--thecessationofsacrificeandoblationinthemidstoftheweek.Verse27.4.The fullperiodof70weekswas towitness the complete confirmationof the covenantwithDaniel'speople. Id. In the7thofEzrawe find thedecree forwhichweseek. Itwentforth in B.C. 457. Much concerning this decree, and the date of its promulgation, forbrevity'ssakewearecompelledtopass.Concerningit,wecanonlyremark,a)Itcontainedalltheelementsnecessarytoconstitutesuchadecree,andwhencarriedout,resultedinthethoroughrestorationoftheJewishstate.Itansweredtheprophecyfullyinthisrespect.b) From the commencement of the work by Ezra, to the last act of reformation byNehemiah,werejustforth-nineyears,whichistheexactperiodallowedintheprophecytothiswork.

c)AsthisdecreewentforthB.C.457,the69weeksor483yearswhichweretoextendtotheMessiahthePrince,reckonedfromthecommencementof thework in theautumnof thatyear,bringustotheautumnofA.D.27,whenourLordwasbaptizedbyJohninJordan,andwent forthpreaching "the time is fulfilled."Mark1; Luke3,22,margin.Threeandahalfyearsfromthis,tothemidstoftheseventiethweek,bringustothespringofA.D.31,where,accordingtoDr.Hales,theCouncilofCaesareaA.D.196,theAlexandrianChronicle,etc.,thecrucifixiontookplace.Threeandahalfyearsmore,thelasthalfoftheweek,terminatethe70weeksor490yearsintheautumnofA.D.34,whereHales,Usher,andPearson,placethemartyrdomofStephen,thefirstpersecution,andtheformalrejectionofthegospelbytheJewishSanhedrin.Here,then,westandattheendofthisgreatperiodwhichGabrielinhisexplanationofthe2300days,toldDanielwascutoffuponJerusalemandtheJews.Thereisthisonegrandfactyettobenoticed:Ifthefirst490yearsterminatedintheautumnofA.D.34,thewholeperiodendsintheautumnofA.D.1844.For490takenfrom2300leave1810;and1810addedtoA.D.34,wherethe490terminate,make1844.

A reference to the diagram will now show all these facts beautifully illustrated: 1. Theupperlineofthediagramrepresentsthewholeperiodof2300days.The70weeks,or490years,areshowncutoff,leavingaremainderof1810years.2.The70weeks,showncutoffinthefirstline,areshownonanenlargedscaleinthesecondline,illustratingthedivisionofthatperiodasmentionedintheprophecy,intosevenweeks,three-scoreandtwo(sixty-two) weeks, and one week: the first division of seven weeks, or 49 years, covering theperiodoftherebuildingofJerusalem,the62weeksreachingtotheMessiahthePrince,andtheoneweekshowingthetimeduringwhichheshouldconfirmthecovenant,thefirsthalfbyhisownpersonalministry,andthelasthalfofthatperiod"bythemthatheardhim."Heb.2:3. 3.Theoneweekshowncutoffat theendof thesecond lineof thediagram, isagainrepresentedona larger scale in the third line, showing its commencement,division, andtermination.Itcommencedwiththeministrythreeandahalfyears,tothemidst,ormiddle,of the week, where by the cross he caused the sacrifice and oblation to cease, asrepresented.TheremainingthreeandahalfyearsextendtoA.D.34,wherethe70weeks,or first 490 years of the 2300, expire, as already shown. For a full application of thisargument, and the event to mark the termination of these days, see pamphlet on thesanctuaryand2300days.

TheSANCTUARYThebeautifulillustrationofSanctuary,seeninthelowercentralportionoftheChart,is,asthe readerwill at once understand, a floor view; though the furniture is represented inperspective.Attheleftaswepasstheentranceordoor,standsthegoldencandlestickwithits seven lamps.Opposite thaton theothersideof thebuildingstands the tableof shew-bread.FurtheroninthecenteroftheHolyPlace,weseethegoldenalterofincense.BeyondthatthesecondveildividestheHolyfromtheMostHolyPlace.Passinginthroughthisveil,webeholdas the furnitureof thesecondapartment thearkofGod's testament, so calledbecause in it were deposited the tables of stone, on which were written the tencommandments.Thecoverofthearkwascalledthemercyseat.Oneitherendofthemercyseatwere twosmall cherubimofbeatenworkof solidgold.Andwhen theSanctuarywas

incorporated into the temple of Solomon, large cherubim, overlaidwith pure gold,wereplaced on each side of the ark, as shown in the illustration. A full description of theSanctuaryanditsinstruments,isfoundinExoduschapters25-31.WepresenthereonlyabriefsynopsisoftheargumentsandscriptureswhichshowwhatconstitutestheSanctuary,andtheimportantplaceitoccupiesinthegreatplanofredemption.1. Sanctuary is defined to be a holy or sacred place. (Cruden, Walker, Webster.) It is adwelling-placefortheMostHigh.Exodus25:8.2.Itcannotthereforebetheearth;fortheearthwillnotbearoneoftheabovedefinitions;andof the146 timesof the occurrenceof theword sanctuary in theBible, it is not onceappliedtotheearth.3.ItisnotthelandofCanaan.Substitute"thelandofCanaan"for"theearth,"andreadtheabove.SeealsoJoshua24:26.ForanexplanationofExodus15:17,seePsalm78:53,54,69.4. It is not the church; if it is, who are the "host" or worshipers, that are invariablyconnectedwithit;Dan.8:13.CompareDan.9:26,withMatt.16:18.5.ItwasbuiltbythechildrenofIsrael.Exodus25:8,9;35-40;2Chron.20:8.6.Ithadtwoapartments--theHolyPlaceandthemostHolyPlace.Ex.26:33,34;Lev.16:2.Inthefirstapartmentwerethecandlestick,thetableofshewbread,andthealtarofincense.Inthesecond,werethearkwhichcontainedthetablesofthecovenant,andthecherubim.Heb.9:1-5.Thatthecovenantherereferredtoisthetencommandments,seeExodus31:18;32:15,16;34:28;Deut.4:13;9:9-11;10:4.7.InthisSanctuarythepriestsministered.Exodus28:41,43;29:30;35:19;Leviticus4:6,7,16,17;16:2-9;Heb.9:6,7;13:11,etc.8.Thetransgressorconfessedhissinovertheheadofhisvictim,thustransferringhisguiltto it. The victimwas slain, and the blood bearing that guilt was sprinkled by the priestwithintheSanctuaryhadtobefreedonceayear;andthisservicewascalleditscleansing.Lev.1:4,5;4:6;16:16,33;Heb.9:7;Ezekiel45:18.9.Thiscleansingwasperformedwithblood.Lev.16:15,16,18,19,32,33;Exodus29:36,37;Ezekiel45:18-20;Heb.9:22,23.10.ThisSanctuarywasnotanoriginalbuilding,butwasmadeafterthepatternofagreaterandmore perfect tabernacle, whichmust therefore be the great antitype of this earthlybuilding,andmusttakeitsplacewhenthelatterhasserveditspurpose.Ex. 25:9,40; 26:30; Acts 7:44; Heb. 8:5. When the tabernacle ofMoses gave place to thetempleofSolomon,itwasstillaccordingtothepattern.1Chron.28:10-13,19.11.ThiswastheSanctuaryofthefirstcovenant,Heb.9:1,andwasdestroyedbyTitusinA.D.70.Dan.9:26.Forahistoricalrecordofthisevent,seeJosephus'Wars,book6,chap.4,sec.5.

12.ThiswasatypeorfigureoftheSanctuaryoftheNewCovenant,WHICHISINHEAVEN.Heb.8:1-5;9:23,24;Ps.102:19.

TheheavenlySanctuaryresemblestheearthlyinthat:1. Ithas twoholyplaces.Heb.9:24.Seealso,verses8and12,andchap.10:19, ineachofwhichtextsthewordsrendered"holiest,"and"holyplace,"areplural intheoriginal,andshouldbesorendered,holyplaces,astheyareinmanytranslations.Compare,also,Exodus26:31-35,and30:1,6,withRev.4:1,2,5;8:3-5;9.2.Itcontainsthelaw(covenantortestament).Rev.11:19.Hereisbroughttoviewtheark,inthetempleorSanctuaryinHeaven;andthearkwasusedasthedepositoryofthetablesofthecovenantortencommandments.Ex.25:21,22;26:33,34;40:20,21;1Kings8:6-9;Heb.9:1-4.3.Ithasaserviceofpriesthood.Heb.6:19,20;8:1-5;9:24;10:19-21.4.ChristboreoursinsinhisownbodyonthetreePet.2:24;andthroughhisministrationoursins,whenweconfessthemtohim,aretransferredtotheSanctuaryabove,renderingitinthissenseonly,impure.Nothinglesscanbearguedfromthetype.

5.Itisthereforetobecleansed.Dan.8:14.ThistextmustrefertotheheavenlySanctuary;fortheearthlywasdestroyedonly526yearsafterthe2300commenced.ThiscleansingoftheheavenlySanctuaryisaccomplishedwithblood.Heb.9:11,12,23,24.6.When the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle, or temple, in the type, therewas noministration.Ex.40:34,35;1Kings8:10,11.Soitwillbeintheantitype.Rev.15:8.7.Themostholyplaceinthetypewasenteredonlyonthedayofatonement.Lev.16:2,12-15,29,30;Heb.9:7.Soisitintheantitype.Rev.11:19.CleansingtheSanctuary,andmakingtheatonement,areidenticalworks.Andwhatcouldbemorebefittingthanthataworkofsuchmomentousimportance,thelastministrationofmercybyourgreatHighPriest,theclosingupoftheworkofsalvationfortheworld,shouldbeintroducedbytheterminationofagreatpropheticperiod?Whatpointofmorethrillinginterestandimportancecouldbemadeknownthanthecommence-ment of the great, though brief period of examination and decision of the characters ofmen?WhenthisisfinishedthegreatdecreeofRev.22:11,willgoforth:"Hewhichisfilthylethimbefilthystill,andhethatisholylethimbeholystill.

OURDISAPPOINTMENTIn1844Thereasonwhytheexpectationof thosewhowere lookingfortheLordtocomein1844,were not realized is clearly explained by the subject of the Sanctuary. The propheticcommandhadbeengiventowritethevisionandmakeitplainupontables,thathemayrunthatreadethit.Hab.2:2;Isa.30:8.Andthishadbeenfulfilled.Allwasapparentlysoplainthat he that ran might read and understand it. And yet this same prophecy implied adisappointmentinthenextverse."Forthevisionisyetforanappointedtime;butattheend

itshallspeakandnotlie.Thoughittarry,waitforit;becauseitwillsurelycome,itwillnottarry.Hab.2:3.Apersonorthingcannotbesaidtotarrytillthetimepassesatwhichitwasexpected.Weweresure thatnomistakehadbeenmade in the time,and in thatwewerecorrect; but we mistook the events to transpire at the end of the days. The testimonyadduced relative to the Sanctuary shows us that not the coming of the Lord, but thecleansingoftheSanctuarywastheworktotakeplaceatthattime;andthatwewereonlywarranted to expect from the declaration, "Then shall the Sanctuary be cleansed" [Dan.8:14], that at the endof thedaysour greatHighPriest in theheavenly Sanctuary,wouldenterwithinthevailintothemostholyplace,toperformbeforethearkoftencommands,the last act in his ministration. Having, since his ascension, ministered in the firstapartmentoftheheavenlySanctuary,asforeshadowedbytheministrationofthepriestsintheearthlytabernacle,webelievethatattheendofthedaysin1844Heenteredthemostholy place and commenced, according to the prophecy, that work which is called thecleansingoftheSanctuary.

THETHREEANGELSOFREVELATION14AttheleftoftheSanctuarywehavetheillustrationofthreeangelsflyingthroughheaven,followedbyaroyalpersonagecominginthecloudsofheavenwithpowerandglory.Theseangels are the three angels brought to view in Rev. 12:6-12. When we talk of the first,secondandthirdangel'smessages,wearefrequentlyaccusedofbeingfancifulinourwaysofScripture.Butwewishtoaskplainlyeverypersonwhorespectsthesacredtext,iftherearenotthreeangelsspokenofinRev.14,inconsecutiveorder,thelastcalledthethird,bywhichtheothertwoarerecognizedasthefirstandsecond?2.Havetheynoteachaspecialmessagetoproclaim?3.Isitnotthereforeeminentlyproperandscripturaltospeakofthefirstangel'smessage,thesecondangel'smessage,andthethirdangel'smessage?Allmustadmitthatitis.Letnofault,then,befoundwithourphraseologyofthesemessages,whileweproceedtoofferafewreasonsforourapplicationofthem.LikemostotheragentsintroducedinthebookofRevelation,webelievetheseangelstobesymbols. That they are not merely literal angels is certain, from the fact that they arecommissioned to preach the everlasting gospel, and associate truths. But in theproclamationof thegospel, literalangelsarenotemployed.Thiswork iscommitteduntomen [Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; 2 Cor. 4:1-7; 5:18]; and we therefore conclude that theysymbolizeclassesofreligiousteachers,withspecialandimportanttruths.Wenowinquireafterthetimeoftheseproclamations,towhich,however,butabriefspacecanbeallottedinthiswork.Ofthesceneimmediatelyfollowingthethirdangel'smessagetherecanbenodoubt.TheonelikeuntotheSonofman,verse14,seatedonawhitecloud,is evidently a symbol of the Lord Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven, Thesemessagestherefore go forth previous to the coming of Christ, and extend to that event. We aretherefore warranted to look for the thirdmessage, at least, immediately preceding thecomingoftheSonofman.Theothermessagegoforthbeforethis;buthowlongbefore?Notlong ages, as some contend, from the fact that the messages are connected together inunbrokensuccession;andfromthefact,also,thatthefirstoftheseproclamationsis,"Thehourofhisjudgmentiscome,"bringingtoviewascenecloselyconnectedwiththesecondadvent. Such a proclamation as this was not made by the apostles. Paul reasoned of a

judgmenttocome,Acts34:25,notofoneimmediatelyimpending.TheydeclaredmoreoverthatthedayoftheLordwasnotintheirday,athand.2Thess.2:2.

Martin Luther and the other reformers did not give this message; for he placed thejudgmentinthefuturefromhisdayabout300years.Inshort,nomovementcanbefoundinthepasthistoryofthechurchtoanswertothismessageexceptthegreatmovementonthesecondadventquestion,whichhastakenplacewithinthememoryofthisgeneration.forafulldiscussionof thesesubjects thereader isreferredtoapamphletentitled,"TheThreeMessagesofRev.14,"publishedatthisOffice.Theillustrationswillpresenttothemindofthereader,ataglance,theorderoftheseevents,andtheapplicationofthem,whichwillbefoundabundantlysustainedintheworkabovementioned:

THEFIRSTMESSAGE

"AndIsawanotherangelflyinthemidstofheaven,sayingwithaloudvoice,FearGod,andgiveglorytohim;forthehourofhisjudgmentiscome."Verses6,7.Fulfilledinthespecialproclamationoftheeverlastinggospel,basedonthepropheciesandterminationofthepropheticperiodsbetweentheyears1837and1844.

SECONDMESSAGE"Andtherefollowedanotherangel,saying,Babylonisfallen,isfallen."Verse8.p.36,Para.4,Fulfilledfromthespringtothefallof1844.Babylon--(mixture,confusion),alifelessanddividedChristianity. Its fall --amoralone,causedbytherejectionofthefirstmessageorproclamationoftheadvent.p.36,Para.5.

THIRDMESSAGE"Andthethirdangelfollowedthem,sayingwithaloudvoice,Ifanymanworshipthebeast,andhisimage,andreceivehismarkinhisforehead,orinhishand,thesameshalldrinkofthe wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of hisindignation;andheshallbetormentedwithfireandbrimstoneinthepresenceoftheholyangels, and in thepresence of theholy angels, and in thepresence of the Lamb: and thesmokeoftheirtormentascendethupforeverandever:andtheyhavenorestdaynornight,whoworshipthebeastandhisimage,andwhosoeverreceiveththemarkofhisname.Hereisthepatienceofthesaints:"herearetheythatkeepthecommandmentsofGodandthefaithofJesus."Verses9-12.Thismessage is now going forth. The proclamation is based upon the closing sanctuaryworkuponwhichourHighPriestenteredatthecloseofthe2300daysin1844."The templeofGodwasopened inHeaven," says the apostle,Rev. 11:19, "and therewasseeninhistemplethearkofhistestament."Thearkwasadepositoryofthetablesofthetestimony,ortencommandments.Ex.25:21;31:18. Andhencethedeclaration,"Herearethey that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." The faith of Jesus, ofcourse, includeseverything contained in theNewTestament.The commandmentsofGodmustthereforebesomethingseparateanddistinctfromthis,andcanonlyrefertotheten

whichhespokewithanaudiblevoicefromthesummitofSinai.Theverynexteventinthislineofprophecyisthusdescribedbytheapostle:"AndI looked,andbehold,awhitecloud,anduponthecloudonesat likeuntotheSonofman,havingonhisheadagoldencrown,andinhishandasharpsickle.Andanotherangelcameoutofthetemple,cryingwithaloudvoicetohimthatsatonthecloud,Thrust,inthysickle,andreap;forthetimehascomefortheetoreap;fortheharvestoftheearthisripe.Andhe thatsaton thecloudthrust inhissickleon theearth;andtheearthwasreaped."Verses14-16.InthispersonuponthecloudwehaveasymboloftheSonofmancominginthecloudsofheaven, infulfillmentofthepromisemadebytheangelstothemenofGalilee,whentheysaid,"ThissameJesuswhichistakenupfromyouintoHeaven,shallsocomeinlikemannerasyehaveseenhimgointoHeaven"Actsi,11.Thenwillhiselectbegatheredwithagreatsoundofatrumpet.Matt.24:31.Thisis,thenextgreateventinthisseries,forwhichwearetolook.

THEDRAGONANDBEASTSOFREV.12&13Inthisloneofprophecy,broughttoviewinthechaptersofRevelationabovegiven,wehavethefourthkingdomofDaniel'svision,thatis,Rome,againpresented;andagainitisfoundnecessarytovarythesymbols,inordertobringoutstillotherparticulars,concerningthisstrange and complicated power, Satan's master-piece of earthly kingdoms. The threepreceding kingdoms, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Grecia, having passed away when Johnlived, throughwhom the book of Revelationwas given, he commenceswith ROME in itsPAGANFORM.Chap.12:3,4."Andthereappearedanotherwonderinheaven,andbehold,agreatreddragon,havingsevenheadsandtenhorns,andsevencrownsuponhisheads."Itwillbeobservedthatthisdragonhasthesamenumberofhornsthatthenon-descriptbeastof Dan 7, does. The new feature that is here introduced is the seven heads, which aresupposedtomeanthesevenformsofgovernmentthathaveexistedintheRomanempire.Thesearecommonlyenumeratedasfollows:1.TheKingly.2.TheConsular.3.TheDecemvirate.4.TheDictatorial.5.TheTriumvirate.6.TheImperial.7.ThePapal.(SeeEncy.Americana.)Johnlivedunderthe6thform.Fivehadfallen, andonewas "not yet" inhisday. "And thedragon [RomePagan] stoodbefore thewomen[thechurch],todevourherchild,[Christ]assoonasitwasborn."SeeMatt.2.NOTE.-TheDevilisalsocalledadragon,inverse9.Hishasbeenthemasterspirit,actuatingmoreor lessall thebeastsofDaniel'sand John'svisions.Pre-eminentlywas this thecasewithPaganRome,hencetheearthlypower,astheoutwardmedium,heretakesthesymbolofthewhoinspireditsaction.InRev. 13,wehave another symbol brought to view; namely, a beastwith the body of aleopard,feetofabear,andmouthofalion,havingsevenheadsandtenhorns,anduponhishorns tencrowns.Verse12.To thisbeast thedragongiveshis seat,hispower,andgreatauthority.TowhomdidPaganRomegiveitsseat[thecityofRome],andpower,andgreatauthority?Ans.TothePAPACY.ThisbeastisfurthershowntorepresentthePapacy,from

itsbeingidenticalwiththelittlehornofthefourthbeastofDan.7.1.Thelittlehornwasablasphemouspower."HeshallspeakgreatwordsagainsttheMostHigh."Dan.7:25.SoalsodoesthebeastofRev.13:6,dothesame."HeopenedhismouthinblasphemyagainstGod."2.Thelittlemadewarwiththesaintsandprevailedagainstthem.Dan.7:21.Thisbeastalso,Rev.13:7,makeswarwiththesaintsandovercomesthem.3.Thelittlehornhadamouthspeakinggreatthings.Dan.7:8,20.SohadthebeastofRev.13,Verse5.4.PowerwasgiventothelittlehornofDan.7:25,foratime,times,andthedividingoftime--1260years.Tothisbeastalsopowerwasgiven42months,thatis,1260years.5.Attheendofthatspecifiedperiod,thedominionofthelittlehornwastobetakenaway.Dan.7:26.At theendof thesameperiod, thebeastofRev.13washimself "tobe led intocaptivity."Verse10.BonapartefulfilledbothinhiscaptureofthePope.Whocanfailtoseetheiridentity?At thispointof time Johnbeheldanotherbeastcomingup,having twohorns likea lamb.Thisbeastisforawhilecontemporarywiththeoneabove:forheexercisethallthepowerofthefirstbeastbeforehim[enopion,inhispresence].WeunderstandthistobeasymboloftheseUnitedStates,fromthefollowingspecifications:

1.Its location.AllEuropeisoccupiedbythefirstbeastandhistenhorns.Wecannotlookthereforanotherbeast.

Whatever power arises there, must be apart of the first beast, or one of his horns.Consequentlywemustlookforthetwo-hornedbeasttoanothercontinent.

2.The timeof its rise.At the timeof the captivityof thePope,1798, therewasnoothernotablepower"comingup,"excepttheseUnitedStates.3.Themannerof its rise. It comesoutoftheearth;that is, in aquiet, peaceablemanner;unlike the other beasts which came up out of the sea -- arose through wars andcommotions.

4. Its character. It has two horns like a lamb. The lamb feature is a fit emblem of theprofessionandtheearlyactsofthisgovernment.Butitspeakslikeadragon--afitemblemofthepracticeofthishypocriticalnation.LookattheDeclarationofIndependence,andtheConstitution;andthenlookatslavery,lookatthereligiousintolerance,thecorruptionandoppression existing throughout the land. A further developmentmay be expected in thefuture.

5.Theformof itsgovernment.Therearenocrownsuponitshorns,whichshowsthatthegovernmentisnotmonarchical.Verse14[Rev.13]showsittobearepublican:"Sayingtothemthatdwellontheearth,thattheyshouldmakeanimagetothebeast,"etc.Thisisnotthelanguageofagovernment,thepowerofwhichisvestedinasupremeandabsolutehead.

Itisthevoiceofanation,inthegovernmentofwhichthepeopleparticipate--fixingitagaintotheseUnitedStates.

6. It isagovernmentwhich toleratesslavery;for itembraceswithin its jurisdiction"bothfree and bond.Verse 16. All the great powers of the earth have now abolished slavery,excepttheUnitedStates.

7. Its acts, "It doeth great wonders," etc. We need but refer here to the astonishingapplication of steam power to various purposes, the wonderful discoveries concerningelectricity, and its application to the magnetic telegraph, etc.; but more especially thewonders and mysteries of modern Spiritualism, all of which have emanated from thiscountry,andarrestedtheattentionofthenotionsoftheearth.Its two horns fitly denote the two great branches of power that exist in this Republic,commonly designated Ecclesiastical and Civil, Religious and Political Protestantism andRepublicanism,orChurchandState.ItwillbeseenbycomparingRev.13:14,withchap.19:20,thatthetwo-hornedbeastisthesameas the falseprophet.Hisdoomis tobecastalivewith thebeast intoa lakeburningwithfireandbrimstone.Rev.19:20.Forafullexpositionofthesubject,seeworkentitled,TheThreeAngels'Messages,andTwo-hornedBeast.

TheTHREEWOETRUMPETS

OntherightsideoftheChartareseenfourangels,thefirstoneflyingthroughheavenandthreetimesrepeatingthewordWoe!andthethreeothersfollowing,eachwithatrumpettohislips;whiletheeventstotranspireunderthesoundingoftwoofthemarerepresentedbytwohorsemen,indifferentattitudesandactions.TheangelthatcriesWoe,isdescribedinRev.8:13;and the three that followareapartof theseriesof seven trumpetsbrought toviewinRev.8and9.Theyarecalledwartrumpets,becausetoeachoftheseisattachedawoe.It isafterfouroftheseventrumpetshadsoundedthatanangelwasseenandheardflying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, "WOE! WOE! WOE! to theinhabiters of the earth, by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels,whichareyettosound."Rev.8:13.

TheFIRSTWOE

"Andthefifthangelsounded,andIsawastarfallfromheaventotheearth,andtohimwasgiventhekeyofthebottomlesspit....Andtherecameoutlocustsupontheearth,andtheshapeofthelocustswaslikehorsesprepareduntobattleandtheirpowerwastohurtmenfivemonths0propheticdays.Rev.9:1-11.Thistrumpet,representedbythefirsthorsemanontheChart,wasfulfilledbytheSaracens.ThefifthtrumpetcommencedtosoundJuly27th,1299,whenOthman,thefounderoftheTurkishempire,madehisfirstattackontheGreeks.Itextended150years,to1449.Theirpowerwastotorment,nottokill.DuringthatwholeperiodtheTurkswereengagedin

almostperpetualwarwiththeGreekempire,butyetwithoutconqueringit.Whenthefifthangelceased,itwassaid,"Onewoeispast,andbeholdtwomorewoescomehereafter."

TheSECONDWOE"Andthesixthangelsounded,andIheardavoicesayingtothesixthangel,Loosethefourangels which are bound in the great river, Euphrates. And the four angels were loosedwhichwerepreparedforanhourandadayandamonthandayear,toslaythethirdpartofmen"[thatis,blotouttheGreekdivisionoftheRomanempire].Rev.9:13-15.Thistrumpet,representedbythesecondhorseman,commencedJuly27th,1449,whenthe150yearsofthepreviousoneended.Itschiefcharacteristicwastheuseofgunpowderandfirearms,forpurposesofwar,whichwerethenbutrecentlyintroduced.Marktheapostle'sdescription:"Out of their mouth issued fire and smoke and brimstone." The time designated for itscontinuancewasoneday,thatis,onepropheticday,oroneyear;onemonth,or30days,30years;oneyear,or360days,360years;andonehour,one24thpartofapropheticday,or15days;amounting inall to391yearsand15days. ItendedAugust11th,1840;ANDATTHATTIMETHEOTTOMANSUPREMACYDIDCEASE!This calculationwasmadeby JosiahLitch, in 1838. Its exact accomplishment two years later gave a mighty impulse to theAdventmovement. Itshouldhaveno less forcenow. "Thesecondwoe ispast,andbeholdthethirdwoecomethquickly."Rev.11:14.

TheTHIRDWOE"And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in Heaven saying, ThekingdomsofthisworldarebecomethekingdomsofourLordandofhisChrist."Rev.11:15.Thisisnotthelasttrumpwhichwakesthedead1Cor.15:52,assomehavesupposed.Butitis like thetwopreceding it,awoetrumpet. Itoccupiesdays[years] insounding.SeeRev.10:7. "But in thedaysof thevoiceof theseventhangel,whenheshallbegintosound, themysteryofGodshallbefinished,ashehathdeclaredtohisservants,theprophets."Whatisthismystery?ThegospeltotheGentiles.Eph.1:9;3:3;6:19;Col.1:26-27;2:2;4:3.Whatisitsfinishing?AglanceattheclosingworkofourgreatHighPriestintheheavenlySanctuary,isasufficientanswer.ThecommencementofthistrumpetseemstobemarkedbytheopeningofthetempleofGodinHeaven[Rev.11:19];whichtookplaceattheendofthe2300days,in1844. See under Sanctuary. Solemn and fearful events are located under its sounding. Itintroducesthetime,notwhentheworldwillbeconvertedandthespiritualreignofChristbegin, but the timewhen the dead shall be judged, all God's servants rewarded, and thedestroyers[orcorrupters]oftheearthdestroyed.Undertheseventhtrumpetthesevenvials[Rev.15,16]arepouredout.ReadRev.11,fromverse15to19.Marktheeventsofverse18:"Andthenationswereangry,andthyWRATHiscome,andthetimeofthedead,thattheyshouldbeJUDGED,andthatthoushouldstgiveREWARDuntothyservants,theprophets,andtothesaints,andtothemthatfearthyname,smallandgreat;andshouldstDESTROYthemwhichdestroytheearth".

Thushavewebrieflypassedoverthelinesprophecy,andthesymbolspresentedupontheChart. How impressive are the great truths which they illustrate! and what a world ofmeaningiscrowdedintotheirminutestparticulars!Howclearlytheyshowusourpositiononthestreamoftime!Sevendistincttimesarewebroughtdownintheselinesofprophecytotheendofall things;andineachinstanceweareshowntobeontheveryvergeoftheopeningofthenewdispensation,onthethresholdofeternity.Everlastinglifeandeternaldeatharebeforeus.Theworldisnowreceivingitsfinalcalltodecidespeedilywhichtheywill choose, and the result of their choicewill soon be given them. Be it your aim, dearreader,fromthistimeforward,tosecureacitizenshipinthatfifthuniversalkingdomwhichshallsoonsucceedtoallearthlygovernments;tobeamongthesaintsoftheMostHighwhoshall take thekingdom,when theRomanPapalbeastshallbedestroyedandgiven to theburningflame;tobeonthesideofthe"Princeofprinces"whenthelittlehornofDan.8,isbrokenwithouthand;tobeamongthoseofwhomitshallbesaid,"Let thembeholystill,"Rev.22:11,whenourgreatHighPriest leaves theSanctuary,andthedaysprobationareended,andtheworkofatonementforeverdone;tobeamongthosewhoshallwithjoyexclaim,whentheSonofmanappearsuponthegreatwhitecloud,"Lo,thisisourGod,wehavewaitedforhim,andhewillsaveus,"Isaiah25:9;tobeamongthe144,000,whoshallsingthesongofvictoryuponmountZion,whenthetwo-hornedbeastofRev. 13, and his accomplices, are cast alive into the lake of fire; and to be among theservants of Godwhen the eventswhich the seventh angel is announcing as now near athand,shallcometopass,whenthekingdomsofthisworldshallbecomethekingdomofourLordandhisChrist,whenheshalldestroythosethatcorrupttheearth,andgiverewardtothosethatloveandservehim.Wecansaynomore.ButifyouchoosetorejectthecounselofGodagainstyourself, and rangeyourself among the rebelsagainsthis government,whenyouarebeingsweptawaywiththebesomofdestructionwhichwillsurelycomeuponsuch,andsinkingintothedarkregionofdespairanddeath,rememberthatnow,ereprobationhadceased,whilethewayofsalvationwasopen,andmercystilllingered,thelightwasheldupbeforeyou,andtheinvitationgivenyoutocomeandlive.