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to be still further signalized by those who have not been ashamed to own their Lord, being for ever delivered, and that in a most glorious manner, from the hand of all their enemies. For it is evident this is not a partial, but a most full, complete, and final deliverance: and it is a solemn and awakening thought, and to my mind a thought that deserves the most serious consideration, whether it is not a deliverance that will be effected by the immediate personal appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ himself! When we reflect that it is at this time that he says, "Behold, I COME as a thief;" at this time there is to be a partial resurrection; at this time (Luke xxi. 24) that it is said (ver. 27) “And THEN shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory;" and "THEN" that the kingdom of heaven is compared to ten virgins (Matt. xxv. 1—13), when "at midnight" (and Dr. Gill considers that the thickest of the night will be the time of the slaying the two witnesses) the cry will be made, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh!" -there seems to be sufficient to arouse the most indifferent to obey the often-repeated and impressive command of our Lord, to be ON THEIR WATCH. I beg to refer the reader, in connection with this idea, to the passages already quoted (page 381), and would merely repeat, that they appear to form a chain of evidence

that may well excite our deepest and most prayerful consideration; that may well animate and encourage the Lord's believing people in the great conflict they will most probably have previously to sustain from the powers of darkness. It will, however, be the last struggle; "for yet a little time, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry."

It may not be irrelevant to notice, before we proceed, that the Prophet Elijah appears to have been an eminent and remarkable type of these two witnesses. His being miraculously fed for three years and a half, during a time of great famine (Luke iv. 25; James v. 17), and that during a still greater famine of the word of God; the fixed resolution of his enemies, during this period, to take away his life; a "sound of abundance of rain" being given after his servant had been to look at the sea "seven times" (page 198); the miraculous confirmation which God gave in favour of his own truth at the time of sacrifice; the unanimous acknowledgment that was given to this attestation by all who witnessed it (1 Kings xviii.); and, finally, Elijah's triumphant ascension to heaven without dying: all appear highly significant of what we have just been considering. with regard to the two Christian churches, or the Lord's two witnesses. And it is remarkable

that our Saviour brings forward those three years and six months' famine as a proof of the great and awful doctrine of his own Divine Sove

reignty: "But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; but unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow" (Luke iv. 25, 26); — teaching us, that the supply of bread and oil which his poor and despised church has received (1 Kings xiii. 9-16) in her mournful and depressed condition, has been the result of sovereign discriminating mercy. Hence, when the elect of God shall be gathered together, "the top-stone shall be brought forth with shouting, crying Grace, Grace unto it.” "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy Name be all the glory!"

This prophecy, then, informs us, that at the time of this great interposition in favour of the Lord's people there shall be a great revolution; that one of the ten kingdoms of the Roman empire shall fall; and that in this fall there will be great slaughter. Dr. Gill thinks (vol. i. p. 53) that the kingdom of France is meant; but from its being mentioned in immediate connection with the persecution of the Lord's witnesses,

and there being, as far as we can form a judgment, but few such witnesses in that godless country, the connection would rather lead us nearer home, where, amidst abounding iniquity, infidelity, and mere profession, there will undoubtedly be found a goodly company, both in the established and non-established churches, who will be ready, at the call of their God and Saviour, to suffer the loss of all things for His sake. Be it, however, England or France, or neither, one of the ten kingdoms will at this time assuredly fall. Immediately after which it is declared, "The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe comes quickly!"—that is, immediately after the kingdom falls in the great revolution which is to take place, the Turkish empire will cease, and the seventh trumpet will sound!

With regard to this "second woe," the ceasing of which has so often crossed our path throughout the whole of this work, which thus closes it, and which forms so conspicuous an object of attention in the present aspect of the nations and signs of the times, I would direct the attention of the reader once more to the chronology which in Revelation ix. 15 marks the time of its continuance. This chronology is given in prophetical language, as "an hour, and a day,

and a month, and a year;" which amounts to 391 years, 1 month (360+30+1=391). In applying the events which mark the commencement and termination of this period (see page 65), I perceive, on further reflection, that I have inadvertently overlooked my own principles, as given in the axioms p. 4 and pp. 172, 173; and I have not now otherwise the means of correcting the error than by noticing it in this place. For neither the taking of Prusa by Othman in 1327, nor the peace of Passarowitz in 1718, can be said either to form important eras in history, to have been connected with the interests and affairs of the church, or to have been attended with permanent changes. The taking of Constantinople, and the consequent overthrow of the Eastern Empire (an event, in fact, directly alluded to in the prophecy by the allusion made to artillery), is the only event, connected with the rise of the Turks, that will stand such a test. This fatal day was May 29, 1453; and three hundred and ninety-one years and a month, dated from it, brings its termination to June 1844.

The difference of reckoning, between the beginning and end of a year, will reconcile this date to the termination of the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Periods, without in the slightest degree injuring any of the data that have been advanced. For instance, it is only to recollect that the death

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