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as a point of principal importance.-The first
prophetical period is expired. The indignation
upon Israel spent or expiring.-Both these facts
reconciled with apparent objections to the con-
trary.-Popery not yet very near its end
Steadiness of papists to the essential principles
of their system.
SECTION XLVII,
147
The obscurity of the PROPHETICAL NUMBERS
not to be wholly removed:-they are not es-
sential to prophecy,-but added only to some
of highest importance for wise purposes.-
Great mistakes in the adjustment of them.-
Are much cleared up by the accomplishment
of one of them.-Hypothesis and prejudice in
the Jews hard to be subdued.-In Papists ut-
terly inextinguishable.To afford an evidence
sufficient, but not irresistible, is the intention
of divine revelation.-Dogs and sorcerers will
remain in the millennium.
SECTION XLVIII.
176
The wisdom and uniformity of the divine oeco-
nomy. In every dispensation unchanged.
Affords a strong presumption that the first
resurrection will not be literal-The divine
power sparingly exerted in reversing the
established order of nature.-The difficulty
of assigning a reasonable cause for a first re-
surrection, and of providing an earthly hap-
-
piness suitable to the nature of immortal and
glorified saints.--Scripture testimony unfavor-
able to that doctrine. The reconciliation of
the Jews, an event of principal importance in
the prophets.-The divine call to converting
Israel in Psalm 50.-represented as a judicial
arbitration*-in which Christ is Judge as Je-
hovah, the God of Israel.
SECTION XLIX.
201
The present state of the world compared with the
prophecy-State of the Jews-The sixth vial
now pouring out, or very near it.-Euphrates
now in the act of drying up.-The miracle of
drying up waters for their passage, a charac-
teristic mark of Israel.-The converted Jews
will be the kings of the east.-Their settle-
ment and present great numbers in the east.-
Coincidence of the prophetical periods with
their restoration.-The Antichrist of this pe-
riod changed, not in nature, but in name and
externals only.-The third woe, of short du-
ration, but direful effects.-Particular atten-
tion called to the prophecies of this period.-
See also Section 53.
The faithful exhorted to fortitude and con
stancy.
SECTION L.
235
One prophetical period is past, and two more are
to come. The true character of the witnesses.
They are not metaphysical but human agents.
Are both witnesses to truth and liberty, and
also defenders of them of great power.-Are
persecuted, yet chastise and torment their
enemies like the Maccabees-Their figura-
tive miracles.-Their fall at last under perse-
vering treachery and power -A speedy re-
surrection promised.-The Jews are divinely
possessed of the title of witnesses.-Are truly
martyrs. And have as such, a promise also
of a figurative resurrection.-The three mys
tical frogs arraigned. Convicted of monkery.
-Great utility of the characters of this period
as a premonition to the church.-The changes.
in the two principals, an index to the time
which cannot be mistaken.-Serious considera-
tion of these premonitory warnings, the design
in the vouchsafement of them 264
SECTION LI.
This period of prophecy all new ground, or little
explored.-Will require accurate investigation
of its productions.-A regeneration of the
bestial powers had become needful.-And
greater vigor to hasten their allotted work.-
Timely notice of this given to the church by
very significant signs. FALSE PROPHET, his
energy and zeal quickened by his fall.-The
DRAGON still an original. His fall late, but
certain.-THIRD BEAST to our times of more
interest than any before him.-Distinguished
from each of the former.-1. By the time of
his rise-Towards the close of the testimony
-But before the end of it-After the session
of judgment begun By which the old beast is
deprived, and the new one reigns.-2. By the
place of his derivation. The locality of the
origin of the two former beasts is fixed.-Two
different origins inadmissible.-Origin a perma-
nent mark of prophetic character.-Obscurity
in his origin peculiar to this new beast.-3. By
the circumstances of his rise. Very similar to
that of MOHAMMED...4. By a new Antichris-
tian coalition. Increased inveteracy and vigor
against the church.-Caution to Protestant
abettors of the bestial cause 297
--
SECTION LII.
The dark character of the third beast not yet
fully displayed. Recapitulation.-Proofs of
the new bestial hypothesis.-1. A real FALL
of the government of ROME, or eighth head.
-2. The bottomless pit truly opened, and a
NEW BEAST risen.-By actual usurpation of the
Roman government, 3. The Pope in a state
exactly corresponding to the prophecy.-Inac-
curacy no where chargeable on St. John.-
The new names and new associations un-
doubtedly meant to intimate corresponding
changes. Great utility of the information thus
given under present circumstances.-Three
other methods of accounting for the beast of
the pit.-1. That he is emblematical of the
modern Turk -2. Or of the Pope himself.-
3. Or of one of the former beasts restored.-
This last opinion the most plausible-But the
possibility of it destroyed by the events of 1808.
Sentiments of the modern witnesses more in-
dulgent to their destroyers than those of their
protestant ancestors were, or the language of
prophetic scripture will warrant
SECTION LIII.
332
The doctrine of a double resurrection examined.
-The Apocalypse a mystical prophecy -Its
construction different from prophecy in gene
ral-and necessarily obscure.-First resurrec-
tion.- Arguments for the literal sense -1. The
session of judgment (Dan. vii ) has taken place
in part, and will continue fulfilling till the mil