A. D. 33-4

70

THE DEATH OF CHRIST.

This great event forms the termination of the "Fourth Period," or the 490 years of Daniel. .... Jerusalem taken and destroyed by the Ro

mans.

96. The Book of the Revelation written by the Apostle John in the Isle of Patmos. Constantine, the first Christian emperor, ratifies the canons of the Council of Nice.

325

379

396

433

439

445

476

The opening of the First Seal, which represents the Emperor on a white horse, with emblems of conquest. 328. Constantine removes the seat of empire from Rome to Constantinople.

337. Division of the empire into its Eastern and Western branches, on the death of Constantine.

Edict of the Emperors Gratian and Valentinian II., greatly increasing the prerogatives of the Roman See.

The opening of the Second Seal, which represents the Emperor on a red horse, with emblems of war. The invasion of the Northern Goths under Alaric, who first successfully broke in upon the empire, ravaged Greece and Italy, and took Rome.

The sounding of the First Trumpet, described as hail and fire mingled with blood.

The final division of the empire between the two sons of Theodosius the Great.

The invasion of the Huns under the terrible
Attila.

The sounding of the Second Trumpet, described as a burning mountain cast into the sea.

The invasion of the Vandals under Genseric, who, following the steps of the two former barbarian conquerors, completed the devastation of the empire, and again took and pillaged Rome.

The sounding of the Third Trumpet, described as a star falling from heaven, and burning as a lamp. Valentinian III., whilst the empire was thus falling to pieces around him, added strength to the general apostasy by an edict conferring great additional privileges on the Pope.

The opening of the Third Seal, which represents the
Emperor on a black horse, with emblems of expiring
sovereignty, of famine, weakness, and mourning.
The establishment of the Gothic kingdom in

A. D.

Italy, under Odoacer king of the Heruli, and the deposition of the last emperor, Augustulus, by which the Western Empire was extinguished.

The sounding of the Fourth Trumpet, described as a third part of the sun, moon, and stars being smitten. 529. The code of Justinian published.

533 The edict of the Emperor Justinian constituting the Pope head of all the holy churches ; thus giving the "saints into his hands."

583-4

612

The opening of the Fourth Seal, which represents the Emperor riding on a pale green horse, the colour of corruption, and with emblems of war, pestilence, and famine.

The first commencement of the Great Period of 1260 years, or the "Seventh Period," or the half of the complete Period of 2520 years; of the visible church or outer court being totally corrupt; of the church flying into the wilderness; of the divided empire, consisting of ten kingdoms, rising out of the commotions of the barbarian invasion; and of the time of the church's per

secution.

The full establishment of the ten kingdoms of the Western Empire.

The Pope asserts a claim to the Divine attribute of INFALLIBILITY.

This forms the second and full commencement of the "Seventh Period," of 1260 years.

The fifty years' intervening space between the last two dates, which answers to the corresponding space of 1260 years (backwards) from 727 to 677 B. C., was to the Christian church what that had been to the Jewish-the climax of its declension, misery, and ruin.

606. The edict of the tyrant Phocas, confirming afresh the power of the Pope.

The invasion of the Eastern Empire by the Saracens under Mahomet and his followers, who trampled on Christianity, and propagated the apostasy of the Koran by the sword, extending their conquests over a great part of Asia, Africa, and Europe.

The sounding of the Fifth Trumpet, described as a swarm of locusts with stings in their tails issuing from the bottomless pit.

The first "Woe" Trumpet.

The appearance of the little horn of the vision of the ram and he-goat.

755. The Pope obtains the sovereignty of Ravenna, the first of the three horns that were to be plucked up by the roots.

774. The Pope becomes possessed of Lombardy,

A. D.

800

1453

1552

1789

the second of his three predicted kingdoms. The Pope becomes sovereign of Rome-thus possessing the three horns that were to be plucked up-and wears up to the present day a triple crown in commemoration thereof.

The imperial government of Western Rome, or the "sixth head," revived in the person of Charlemagne, who was crowned, by the Pope, Augustus and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire; and he is hence called by Gibbon the restorer of the Western Empire.

962. The imperial crown passed into the name and nation of Germany, by the arms of Otho, after the fall of the Carlovignian race in France.

1327. The rise of the Ottoman or Turkish power, which it is generally considered ought to be reckoned from the capture of Prusa in Bithynia, by Othman, the Turkish Sultan. The Sultan of the Turks, Mahomet II., on the 29th of May in this year took Constantinople; slew the last emperor, Contantine Paleologus; and put an entire end to the Eastern Empire.

The sounding of the Sixth Trumpet, in which the Turks are described as an innumerable company of horsemen.

The second Woe Trumpet.

The great treaty of Passau, signed by the
Emperor Charles V., by which the Refor-
mation, which was commenced by Luther
in 1517, was established in Germany.
The opening of the Fifth Seal.

1780. The occurrence of the events which it is con-
sidered gave the first direct impulse to the
Revolution, which were, the reforms of the
Emperor Joseph II., and Louis XVI. send-
ing an army to America.

The commencement of the French revolution. 1. The opening of the Sixth Seal.

2. The pouring out of the First Vial; described as a noisome and grievous sore."

The full maturity of the French Revolution, by the murder of the king and queen, and other atrocities; commencing what is called the "reign of terror."

1. The first termination of the 2520 years of the "Fifth Period."

2. The first termination of the "Seventh or great Period" of 1260 years.

3. The pouring out of the Second Vial; which is symbolically described to have been "on the sea, which became as the blood of a dead man.'

[Infidelity now commenced its bloody and licentious course of action, as the Assyrian army had done 2520 years before, and as Popery had done 1260 years before.]

The rise of the Emperor Napoleon, and the beginning of the wars of the Republic against the chief seats of Popery.

The pouring out of the Third Vial, "on the rivers and fountains of waters, which become blood." The Emperor Napoleon became the seventh head of the Roman Empire, by the abdication of the Emperor Francis II., of the sixth head, which had existed ever since the time of Augustus Cæsar.

The pouring out of the Fourth Vial, "on the sun,” which was to "scorch men with fire."

The reverses of Napoleon, the Infidel or seventh head, commenced, with the loss of his immense army in Russia.

The pouring out of the Fifth Vial, "on the seat of the beast; by which his kingdom became full of dark

ness.

[The victorious progress of the Assyrian army, under Sennacherib, was stopped in a similar remarkable manner before Jerusalem, exactly "seven times," or 2520 years, previous.]

The final cessation of the destructive wars of Europe, and an end put to the commotions occasioned by the French Revolution, by the decisive battle of Waterloo.

1. The opening of the Seventh Seal, having the character of "silence."

2. The pouring out of the Sixth Vial, consisting of two silent operations; one of which concerns the overthrow of the Eastern Empire, and the other that of the Western Empire. It also leads us to expect the coming of Christ and the great battle of Armageddon; and is accompanied by an earnest exhortation to watchfulness.

We are therefore living—

1. Under the silence of the Seventh Seal, or the cessation from all wars.

2. During the time of the ceasing of the Sixth Trumpet, or the drying up of the Turkish Empire.

3. At a time when the three conflicting principles of Despotism, Liberalism, and Popery are strengthening themselves, and each trying for power and authority.

4. When "the King of the South" has again come into view by the setting up of the kingdom of Egypt.

5. The present time is characterized by "many running to and fro, and knowledge being increased."

6. During the present period, we are told, that the elect of God are gathering in from every part of the world, and sealed for a special deliver

ance.

7. Another character of the present time is, the Gospel being preached in all parts of the world, as a witness to all nations.

8. It is further characterized by a warm interest being felt in behalf of the Jews; and

9. It is a time when we are all especially exhorted to watchfulness.

The first great event to which Prophecy
appears to direct the attention of the
church, as what is next to happen, is the
three years and a half great persecution,
mentioned both by Daniel and St. John;
and which is immediately to precede the
termination of the 1260 years, or
"the time

of the end."

First. The final termination of the 2520 years of the Fifth Period, in its application to the kingdom of Israel.

"

An unprecedented time of trouble.-The end of "the times of the Gentiles."-The time when Michael is said to stand up for the Jews." Time no longer," or the end of the seven times. Second. The first termination of the above period of 2520 years, in its application to the house of Judah and the throne of David.

The Gentile monarchies, represented by the vision of the Great Image smitten on the toes.

The same monarchies, represented in the vision of the Wild Beasts, succeeded by "the sitting of the Ancient of days."

Third. The termination of the Sixth Period, of 2300 years, mentioned in the vision of the Ram and He-goat.

The fall of the "little horn" of Mohammedanism.— The cleansing of the Jewish Sanctuary.