vial, exclaims It is done, that is to say, The mystery is done*. But, though the finishing of the same mystery be alike spoken of in both these passages, it is by no means spoken of in the same manner. For, as I have already shewn, the mystery is only declared to be finished in the course of the sounding of the seventh trumpet; "in the days of "the voice of the seventh angel," not at the beginning of its blast; while it is said to be actually done at the first effusion of the seventh cial. Hence, although it is manifest that the effusion of the seventh vial must synchronize with some part of the days of the seventh angel's voice, it is no less manifest that the proper arrangement of the vials must be ascertained before we can determine what part of those days it is with which the seventh vial synchronizes, That arrangement has been ascertained; and it has been shewn, that all the seven vials are introduced by the seventh trumpet. It follows, therefore, that, since the effusion of the seventh vial is considerably posterior to the commencement of the seventh trumpet; and since the mystery of God is actually finished at the effusion of the seventh vial, that mystery cannot likewise be actually finished at the prior commencement of the seventh trumpet, which introduces, not only the seventh vial, but all the six preceding vials. But the finishing of the mystery of God synchronizes with the termination of the 1260 years. Rev. xvi. 17. It follows therefore lastly, since the mystery of God is actually finished at the effusion of the seventh vial, and since the finishing of this mystery synchronizes' with the termination of the 1260 years, that the 1260 years expire at the effusion of the seventh vial; and, since the effusion of the seventh vial does not synchronize with the commencement of the seventh trumpet but is posterior to it, and since the 1960' years expire at the effusion of the seventh rial, that' the 1260 years do not likewise expire at the com mencement of the seventh trumpet. 3. The sum of the whole is this: the Jews will begin to be restored at the commencement of the time of the end, at the expiration of the times of the Gentiles, at the close of the 1260 years, at the pouring out of the seventh vial, and during that period of unexampled trouble in the course of which God's congregated enemies will be finally overthrown in the land of Palestine. Consequently, if I be right in computing the 1260 years from the year 606, they will begin to be restored in the year 1866. Should I be mistaken in my date, the 1260 years will of course terminate differently: but what I have said in the abstract respecting their termination, namely that they will expire, and that the Jews will begin to be restored, at the effusion of the seventh via!, will remain unaffected *. (4.) This *If there be any validity in this train of argument, the 1260 years cannot as yet have expired, as Mr. Butt, Mr. Bicheno, and an intelligent writer in the Christian Observer who signs himself € 4 (4.) This statement perfectly accords with the opinion entertained by the Hebrew doctors respecting the future restoration of their people. They suppose, that it will take place at the time that the Roman empire is finally overthrown. And their opinion seems to have been founded, partly upon the persuasion, that by the Edom, whose downfall is so frequently connected in prophecy with the return of Judah, the Roman empire was intended; and partly upon the comparison with each other of two passages in Daniel. in Daniel. In the first of these, the tyrannical domination of the Roman beast under the influence of his little horn is limited to three times and a half, at the end of which the judgment is to sit, and the beast is to be slain *. In the second, the scattering of the holy people is said to be finished at the end of the period of wonders, which period is itself limited to the times of the beast, or the three times and a half. Hence they drew the obvious conclusion, that the slaying of the beast and the restoration of the Jews, both equally taking place at the close of the three times and a half, were necessarily synchronical ‡. himself Talib, have supposed. The seventh vial is not yet poured out, because the sixth yet remains to be poured out; the times of the Gentiles are not yet fulfilled, because the Jews are still scattered among all nations: therefore the 1260 years cannot yet have expired, however wonderful the present times may be. + Dan. xii. 6, 7. * Dan. vii, S-11, 24—26. See Mede's Works. B. v. C. s. p. 902. Bp. Newton's Dissert. Vol. ii. p. 190-194. Vol. iii. p. 392. II. I now proceed to consider the order and manner of the conversion of Israel, his general res storation, and the final expedition and overthrow of the Antichristian faction. 1. About the expiration of the 1260 years, the eyes of one great division of the scattered Jews will be opened; and they will joyfully embrace the faith. of that Redeemer, whom they have so long rejected. and despised. In effecting first their conversion (possibly somewhat before the end of the 1260 years *), and afterwards their restora * The conversion and restoration of the Jews will most probably be nearly, if not altogether, synchronical. This seems to follow from the declaration of our Lord, that the Jews shall be led away captive into all nations until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled; and from the declaration of St. Paul, that blindness in part hath happened unto Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come. The same term is fixed for the expiration of their captivity and the ceasing of their blindness. Other prophecies however teach us, that St. Paul's declaration must be understood with some little degree of latitude: because it appears, that part of the Jews will be converted before their restoration, and part of them after it. Since therefore the commencement of their restoration is definitely fixed by Daniel to the expiration of the three times and a half, we may expect that some of them will be converted previous to the expiration of that period, though the complete conversion of Judala and the grand national conversion of Israel will not take place until it shall have fully expired. If we be as near the end of the 1260 years as I have supposed that we are, we may ere long expect to see efficacious steps taken to convert the Jews within the dominions of some great maritime power. These steps I should consider as the præludia of the general conversion of the whole house of Israel, tion tion* (certainly when the 1260 years shall have fully expired), some mighty maritime nation of faithful worshippers will be principally instrumental. To this great division of Judah, destined to be brought to the knowledge of the truth while yet in the land of their dispersion, the maritime worshippers will be sent, the appointed messengers of God, in swiftlysailing vessels: and, reverently obedient to the divine command, they will bear them safely in a mighty fleet, as a present to the Lord of hosts, to the place of his holy name, even mount Zion. The Jews therefore, who are thus converted and brought back by sea, must clearly be such Jews, as shall be scattered either through the dominions and colonies of the maritime power, or through those of other smaller maritime nations in alliance with and professing the same faith as the great naval power itself. 2. At the period when these matters are transacting, the Ottoman empire will have been overthrown, and the great confederacy of Antichrist will have been completed. It will consist of the Roman beast under his last or Carlovingian head, the false prophet or the ecclesiastical power of the Papacy, and the subordinate cassal kings of the Latin empire. To these Daniel adds a state, which he describes under the character of a king that mag * Dan. xii. 1, 6, 7, relates to the restoration, not the conversion, of Judah. The former commences at the close of the 1260 years. |