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pass at the same time that an expedition into Palestine is undertaken by Antichrist, who is there

"narchies of the Gentiles should be finished. For these "times of the Gentiles are that last period of the fourth "kingdom prophesied of, a time, times, and half a time: at

the end whereof the angel swears unto Daniel (Chap. xii. 7.), that God should accomplish to scatter the power of the "holy people. This is that fulness of the Gentiles, which being come, St. Paul tells us, the Deliverer shall come out of Zion, "and all Isruel shall be saved. Rom. xi. 26. (Treatise on Daniel's "Weeks. Works B. 111. p. 709). I make no question but these

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times of the Gentiles, with which the Jews' tribulation shall "end, are either the times of the four monarchies in 466 general (that is, the times of that prophesied dominion of the Gentiles), or, (which is all one in event) those last times of the fourth kingdom of a time, times, and half a time." Works B. iv. epist. 12. p. 753. See also epist. 8. p. 744.

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"Mr. Lowth," says Mr. Wintle, "has recounted

number of passages in the prophets, which indicate the re86 storation of the Jews in the latter days, or when the fourth "monarchy shall expire.-At this decifive period, or after the` "1260 years of the reign of Antichrist (Popery) and the ad"dition of another short term for the restoration of the Jews, will be the end of these wonders or marvellous things inquired after in the last verse. (Wintle on Dan. xii. 7.) Though the reign of Antichrist seems here fixed for 1290 years, which is a term of 30 years more than was mentioned at Ver. 7, this excess in the opinion of some is the time "allotted for the collecting of the Jews from their captivity ""among all nations, or the several countries of their disper"sion; and at the close of Ver. 7 there does seem to be a

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further period alluded to for this purpose, after the time, times "and a half, or the 1260 years.” Wintle on Dan, xii. 11. destined

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destined to perish; and that this expedition shall take place at a period denominated the time of the end, which, as may be easily collected from other parts of the book of Daniel, denotes the périod of 75 years which commences at the expiration of the 1260 years, and extends to the beginning of the Millennium *. Thus are we in a manner doubly informed, that the Jews will begin to be restored, when the 1260 years shall have drawn to their close.

As for the order and manner of the conversion of Israel, his general restoration, and the final expedition and overthrow of the Antichristian faction, we have reason to believe, so far as can be collected from prophecy, that they will be as follows.

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Either before or 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 before the end of the 1260 years), and afterwards their restoration (certainly when the 1260 years shall have fully expired), some mighty maritime nation of

* See my Dissert. on the 1260 years, Chap. 111.

+ Dan. xii. 1, 6, 7. relates to the restoration, not the conversion, of Judah. The former commences at the close of the 1260 years.

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faithful worshippers will be principally instru mental. 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 swiftly-sailing 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.

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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 vassal kings of the Latin empire. To these Daniel adds a state, which he describes under the character of a king that magnified himself above every God, and which from the account of its actions is plainly the grand contriver and director of the whole confederacy*

* Having thus specified the members of which the Antichristian Confederacy is composed, I shall refrain hereafter, in order to avoid

Hence we are naturally led to conclude, that this state will at that period be identified with the last head of the beast*. The state in question I have elsewhere shewn to be Antichristian France: and recent events have but too amply confirmed the conjecture, that its chief would sooner or later acquire the empire of Charlemagne †. As yet indeed he has not assumed the title of Emperor of the Romans; but he has become virtually and effectively the Emperor of the West, the lord of the destinies of France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. With our own eyes we may now behold the rapid formation of that conspiracy of federal kings, of which he openly avows himself the head; and which, after the effusion of the sixth vial and the overthrow of the Ottoman empire, will begin to

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avoid needless repetition, from particularizing them. When ever therefore I speak of the Antichristian confederacy, or the Antichristian faction, the reader is desired to understand me as speaking conjointly of all these different members.

* See my Dissert. on the 1260 years, Vol. 11. p. 359–365. (2d. Edit. p. 400-408.)

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↑ See my Dissert. on the 1260 years, Vol. 1. p. 317-351. (2d. Edit. p. 346–383.)

↑ That the exhaustion of the waters of the Euphrates means the subversion of the Ottoman empire, is sufficiently manifest from the analogy of the apocalyptic language. If the issuing forth of the four angels from the Euphrates with an innumerable body of cavalry, under the sixth trumpet, denote, as it plainly does, the rise of the Turkish monarchy; then, unless we sup

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be gathered together by secret diabolical agency to their destruction at Megiddo. We need only look to what is passing on the great stage of the Latin empire; and we shall require no comment on the predicted confederacy of the beast under his last head, the false prophet, and the kings of the Roman earth. St. John teaches us to expect such a confederacy after the sounding of the third woetrumpet, after the horrors of the symbolical harvest, while the blazing sun of military despotism is scorching with an intolerable heat the degraded Latin empire, in the last days of blasphemous infidelity; and we now see the commencement of its formation.

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While the faithful maritime power is engaged in converting one great division of the Jews, with a view perhaps to their ultimate restoration; the Antichristian confederacy will take under its protection another great division of the Jews, and will prepare to direct its arms against Palestine, in order to restore them in an unconverted state (and

pose St. John to be utterly inconsistent with himself, the exhaustion of that same Euphrates must denote its subversion. But see my Dissert. on the 1260 years, Vol. 1. p. 344 et infra. (2d. edit. p. 381.)

It is possible, that the maritime power may at first attempt to convert the Jews without any specific design of restoring them. Its restoration of them may be undertaken in consequence of Antichrist's project of restoring the unconverted Jews. But respecting such points as these we can at present merely conjecture.

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