become indicative of the fortunes and condition of the Church at large through all succeeding ages; and the august emblematical scenery, introductory to this more enlarged scope of the Prophecy, is the subject of chapter iv.

The production of the Book of Revelation "sealed with seven Seals," as preparatory to the opening those Seals, is described in chapter v. The opening of the

first Seal is pointed out in
second Seal

vi. 1, 2.

vi. 3, 4.

vi. 5, 6.

vi. 7, 8.]

vi. 9-11.

vi. 12-17, and vii.

viii. 1, &c.

And it is manifest, that under this Seal are comprehended all the remaining scenes of Prophecy contained in this book; for the whole book was sealed, and this is the last Seal which was to be opened; and, therefore, no further Revelation of the great purposes of God was to be made, or expected.

The seven Angels are introduced with the seven Trumpets

The awful preliminaries to the

viii. 2.

viii. 3-6.

The sounding of the first Trumpet . viii. 7.

second Trumpet. viii. 8, 9..

third Trumpet. viii. 10, 11.

The sounding of the fourth Trum

pet

The sounding of the fifth, or first
Woe Trumpet

The sounding of the sixth, or second Woe Trumpet

The production of the little Book of collateral and supplemental Prophecy, whose contents were also to be digested, chapter x.

The supplemental prophecy of "the two Witnesses," &c.

The sounding of the seventh, or third Woe Trumpet.

xi. 1—13.

xi. 15, to

xiv. 20.

From which it appears, that the effects of the sounding of this Trumpet shall continue, till the termination of the judgments of GOD upon the enemies of his Church.

Supplemental prophecy of "the

War in the Heaven," &c.

Those of the two Beasts, which rose respectively out of the sea and the earth

That of The Lamb and the 144000

on Mount Sion

That of the three Angels that fol-
lowed each other, "flying through
the midst of the Heaven"
That of the Harvest

That of the Vintage

xii.

xiii.

xiv. 1-5.

xiv. 6-13.

xiv. 14-16.

xiv. 17-20.

Collateral Vision of the seven
Angels with "the seven last
Plagues"

And of those who are exempted
from enduring them

xv. 1. 5-8.

XV. 2-4.

The seven Vials given to these
Angels, for the pouring out of

the seven last Plagues Their Commission

The pouring out of the first Vial

XV. 5-8.

xvi. 1.

Supplemental description of " BA

BYLON THE GREAT”

The interpretation of it
The prophetic view of the judg-
ment of God upon BABYLON THE
GREAT, with its various concomi-
tant circumstances

The exultation in the Heaven on
account of it

xvi. 2.

xvi. 3.

xvi. 4-7.

xvi. 8, 9.

xvi. 10, 11.

xvi. 12-16.

xvi. 17-21.

xvii. 1-6.

xvii. 7-18.

xviii.

xix. 5-10.

Collateral view of the last great destruction of the enemies of GOD previous to the Millenium

Description of the Millenium

A Prophecy, of what is to take place

at the conclusion of it, and before the general Judgment And of the general Judgment

And of the new state of things that

is to succeed

Conclusion

xx. 1—6.

XX. 7-10.

XX. 11-15.

In exhibiting this general view of "The Revelation" after the three first chapters, no particular allusion has been made, either to the Symbols themselves, under which the wonderful events therein foretold have been figured out, or to the import of those Symbols: but if these be taken into the account, it will soon be perceived, that this Table of Contents will point out, in the clearest and most surprising manner, the nature of those events, and the very order in which they have succeeded each other, as far as they have yet been brought to pass; and will throw much light, in many instances, upon such, as, being future, are still the subjects only of prediction.

SECTION IV.

OF THE TIME WHEN THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN WAS

WRITTEN.

BEFORE I proceed to the contemplation of the various particulars contained in this wonderful Book, it will be incumbent upon me to determine the time when it was written.

This could only have been at a very short interval, before the series of the events it predescribes began to be accomplished: for St. John expressly says " Blessed is he that readeth, and they that "hear the words of this Prophecy, and keep those

66

things that are written therein; for the time is "at hand"-that time, when the Prophecies, or sacred Visions, descriptive of the most early in that series of events, which is to be gradually developed through all succeeding times, will begin to receive their accomplishment; and will, thereby, if a proper degree of attention be exerted, afford an indubitable argument, not only that they have received their completion, but that all the rest will be fulfilled in their appointed seasons.

But, in order to clear this preliminary ground the more readily, it will be proper to notice the line of reasoning, adopted by a learned and very distinguished Prelate, who has afforded a most

VOL. I.

* Ο γὰρ καιρὸς ἐγγύς. Rev. i. 3.

C