ON THE

PROPHECIES

RELATIVE TO THE

SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.

BY

GEORGE DUFFIELD,

PASTOR OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF DETROIT.

"I cannot believe that truth can be prejudiced by the discovery of truth, but I
fear that the maintenance thereof by fallacy or falsehood may not end with a
blessing."-MEDE.

Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1842, by

DAYTON & NEWMAN,

In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York.

S. W. BENEDICT, PRINT.

JUL 22 1926
CHI
•187

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE DUTY OF STUDYING THE PROPHECIES, AND THE OB-

JECTIONS COMMONLY URGED AGAINST IT,

CHAPTER II.

THE SYSTEM OF INTERPRETATION,

9

32

CHAPTER III.

THE SYSTEM OF INTERPRETATION,

. 61

CHAPTER IV.

THE SYSTEM OF INTERPRETATION.-THE NATURE OF

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE,

CHAPTER V.

THE SYSTEM OF INTERPRETATION.-SYMBOLICAL AND

TYPICAL LANGUAGE

CHAPTER VI.

A GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE LITERAL AND SPIRITUAL

SYSTEM OF INTERPRETING THE PROPHECIES,

CHAPTER VII.

TRADITIONARY HISTORY,

97

122

148

167

THE PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION APPLIED, AND THE

SECOND COMING OF CHRIST SHOWN TO BE PRE-MILLE-

NIAL,

CHAPTER XI.

THE COMING OF CHRIST PRE-MILLENIAL, OR PRIOR TO THE

DESTRUCTION OF POPERY,

CHAPTER XII.

THE NATURE OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT SUPPOSED TO

AFFORD AN OBJECTION AGAINST THE PRE-MILLENIAL

COMING OF CHRIST,

267

291

326

PREFACE.

THE author of the following dissertations respectfully bespeaks the reader's attention before he enters on their perusal. They are the substance of part of a series of lectures delivered during the winter of 1841-2 to the people of his charge, and are now given to the public in compliance with the desire expressed by many to have them in some visible and permanent form.

He is aware that he needs the reader's favor, so far at least as to dismiss the influence of preconceived opinions, and dispassionately to examine the subject presented in these pages. But he is satisfied, that the intrinsic merit of the subject, as well as its important bearing on personal interests, on Christian practice, on social welfare, and on the destinies of nations, will gain the reader's attention sufficiently to examine the evidence presented whether these things are so.

The great question which forms the nucleus of the whole discussion, is one, and very simple, viz. Is the kingdom of heaven a new dispensation, to be introduced on earth by the visible personal coming of Jesus Christ? or has it been commenced,and is it now in the progress of its expansion, through the influence of moral and political causes, and especially the preaching of the gospel, designed in the providence of God. to overcome human corruption, to prostrate every system of superstition, idolatry, and oppression, and to mould society, to control the legislation, to effect changes in the organic laws or constitutions of nations, and to restore to the world the dominion of truth, peace, and righteousness, without any accession of miraculous agency? The statesmen and politicians of the day will reason and speculate, intrigue and plan, and think that they descry, in the march of improvement, the increase of light, and the very posture of nations, the pledges that