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THE LAST SCENE OF THE VISION.

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tation of the vision to the understanding of the prophet, was the settlement of Alexander's divided empire among his four Generals, which was completed just about 300 years before the birth of Christ.

Hence, the amount of the explanation of the whole vision by the angel to the prophet's understanding, was, that in the latter ages of the world, a mighty power of wickedness would arise on earth, answering in all respects to the vision of the "little horn." And that at the end of 2,300 days, (i. e. years from a given time comprised in the vision,) the power of iniquity, of which the little horn was an emblem, would be destroyed without hand. This would be the end of the vision; the end of the dreadful power designated; and the end of the Divine indignation, in the total extermination of that power of iniquity from the earth.

And hence, in view of Scripture prophecy, and well authenticated historical facts in coincidence, it is affirmed, that the whole history of the rise, the antiChristian character, the demoralizing tendency, the destructive progress, and the delusive, ruinous results of the whole existence of the Mahometan Imposture, of a Christless, Holy-Ghostless, Bibleless, Sabbathless, faithless, hopeless, loveless religion of sensuality, without restraint in this life; and the fallacious prospect of a luxurious paradise of sensuality after death; is an accurate practical comment on the Prophet Daniel's vision of the little horn, in the eighth chapter of his book; and that this curse to mankind will be divinely destroyed, (according to the revelation made to the prophet,) at the expiration of twenty-three hundred years from the settlement of the division of Alexander's Empire among his four Generals, about three hundred years before the birth of Christ. This computation will extend the existence of Mahometanism

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THE LAST GREAT INFIDEL POWER.

to A.D. 2000, the same period when, according to the chronology of events foretold in the word of God, the Papal power will have completed its predicted period of twelve hundred and sixty years. Then will Mahometanism be "broken without hands."

III. In the eleventh chapter of the book of Daniel, is a prediction of the third and last great anti-Christian power of the last days, comprised in Daniel's last vision, about twenty years after the vision of the last "little horn." An angel from heaven declared to the prophet, in the introduction to the vision, thus: "Now will I show thee the truth, for that that is determined, shall be done." The doctrine affirmed by the angel to the prophet was, that events which God foreknows, and foretells by the revelation of his word, are true, and certain of existence, as it is that God is infinite in knowledge, and unchangeable in his purpose. Hence, on no less foundation than Divine Omniscience, the angel proceeded to the revelation of the "thing," which was the special object of the last vision of the aged and venerated prophet, just before he left time for eternity. The particular "thing," or special object which was revealed in this chapter, was the certainty of the future existence of the GREAT EMPIRE OF INFIDELITY, which would comprise the superior and predominant power of Antichrist, during ages of the world immediately preceding the Millennium, and the predicted great battle-day of the Lord.

The eleventh chapter of Daniel, from the second to the twenty-first verse, inclusive, describes a train of events during a period of about three hundred and fifty years, from Cambyses, the son of Cyrus, in the days of the glory of the Persian Empire, to the reign of Antiochus, the Syrian monarch, the "vile person," who was a type of the Antichrist of the latter days.

THE INFIDEL POWER DESORIBED.

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[See verses 2d to 21st.] The verses from the twentyfirst to the thirty-sixth. describe the character and exploits of Antiochus. And from the thirty-sixth verse to the end of the chapter, the antitype is predicted and described, which is to be understood to be the Infidel power of the latter days previous to the Millennium.

This great Infidel power is predicted under the appellation of "THE KING." The first characteristical trait predicted of this power, is in the following words: "And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods." This is downright speculative and practical Atheism. This trait of Infidel character is not to be understood as designating any individual person, or king, but a civil power, an INFDEL GOVERNMENT; countenancing licentiousness and all sensualities; exalting itself above every idol god, and speaking reproachful, calumniating, great swelling "marvellous" words against the God of gods, the Almighty, Maker and Lord of heaven and earth; and blaspheming, and denying the Lord Jesus, the Divine Saviour of the world. All this has been accomplished by the notable Revolution of France, A.D. 1789. Hence, by the great Infidel power, understand the French ATHEISTICAL REPUBLIC AND EMpire.

Another trait of the character of this Infidel power is, that “the king” would neither regard the god of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor any god, but would magnify himself above all. [v. 37.] By the god of his fathers, understand the Pope of Rome, long venerated as a god in all Papal countries. Him the Infidel power would not regard. By the "desire of women," understand the Lord Jesus Christ, the pre

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CHRIST DISREGARDED.

dicted seed of the woman, " to be the mother of whom, was the fervent desire of Jewish women."* The MesIsiah was the desire of women, as well as of nations; and it was said by a prophet of the Old Testament, "the desire of nations shall come." But, alas! after the fulfilment of that prophecy, by the advent of Messiah, the coming of the Lord Jesus, God manifested in the flesh, to die, that sinners by his death might live forever in heaven; even Him, the most lovely, the most desirable being in the universe, Him the Infidel power disregards, and magnifies himself above all rulers of earth, and Powers of heaven!!!

But, though he disregards the God of heaven, and magnifies himself above the throne of the King of kings, and Lord of lords; yet the Infidel power, it was predicted, would "honor the god of forces," ("Mauzzim," signifying military munitions;) a universal military despotism will be honored as the pride, and height of his glory, with presents of the richest metals, the most precious stones, and the most pleasant things. Even a ruler of foreign descent shall be honored by the Infidel Power, with great magnificence, the most splendid treasures, the highest office, and the most pompous titles; and, in prophetic language," He shall divide the land for gain." [ver. 38 and 39.] The import evidently is, that kingdoms should be overthrown, subdued and brought into subjection; while their supreme chieftain of military despotism should be honored with the highest dignity; (in the distribution of subjugated governments among his favorites, for their gainful inheritance; such as the creation of princes, and distribution of governments among the reputed worthies, once comprising

* Smith on the Prophecies.

THE BEAST FROM THE BOTTOMLESS PIT. 153

he Confederation of the Rhine !) all which was foreold, and has, doubtless, come to pass.

This Infidel Power, or Empire of Atheism, is the ame object that was afterwards predicted and decribed by John the Revelator, in the seventeenth hapter of his book, under the emblem of the Beast vhich rose out of the bottomless pit, of scarlet color; ull of names of blasphemy; having seven heads, and en horns; and having Papal Rome, the Mother of Iarlots, with her golden cup of abominations in her and, seated on the back of the Beast, or Infidel ower, and both of them on the way to perdition.

This Infidel Beast may be understood, as the healed ead of the ancient Roman Pagan Beast, which was vounded to death by the revolution under Constanine. That Pagan Beast was the sixth, or the imperial head of the Roman government. It had seven heads, and ten horns. This Infidel Beast of the same number of heads and horns, with a woman on its back, is thus mysteriously described as the "Beast that was and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and is the eighth, and of the seven." The signification of this description is, that the Infidel power of the latter days, in relation to form of government, would be Imperial, the same as that which was wounded to death; which, after being healed by ascending from the bottomless pit, should be recognized, as the ancient, persecuting power of Rome, once wounded to death by a revival of Christianity under Constantine, but mystically risen to life in the latter ages of the world, to assume the authority, and take command of all the combined powers of Antichrist in a renewed siege and attack upon the citadel of Christianity, with full determination to erase its

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