the earth with corruption, religious persecution, blood and fire; and maintained his deplorable reign for the space of twelve hundred and sixty years.

During this long and gloomy reign of Antichrist, the only true spiritual work of God on earth, by which he revealed his will to man, was intrusted to chosen witnesses, who bore testimony to the purity of the primitive church, and condemned the depravity of the times, and the corruptions of those false churches which had assumed the name and authority of Christ. This period was indeed a gloomy night of darkness; but these witnesses, like stars in the night, often broke through the gloom and gave a glimmering light to honest souls. These witnesses prophesied of the coming of Christ's Kingdom, and the great increase of the work of God in the latter day. And altho amidst the universal gloom which prevailed, all appearances seemed far distant; yet there was still an increasing work in the world of spirits, by which a foundation was gradually preparing for a more extraordinary increase of the spiritual work of God on earth, than had ever taken place since the foundation of the world.

But the day of full redemption was yet to come; the real and effectual work of which could not be accomplished but through the travel of the regeneration only; and this spiritual travel could not fully take place till the way was prepared for it. When the appointed time arrived, the way was opened, and this long predicted day was ushered into the world; and that work which was designed to establish the Kingdom of Christ on earth, and effect the final regeneration of souls, then commenced in very deed. Here began a new and important manifestation of Divine goodness; the great and last display of God's grace to a lost world, which superseded all former dispensations, to which they were all but preparatory events, and in which all the types and shadows, and prophetic signs of the law and the prophets, concerning the day of redemption, began to be eminently fulfilled.

The important period having arrived, the work of this great millennial day has now commenced, and is yet in its beginning; but it is an increasing work. The Kingdom of Christ is now established on earth, and his reign is begun; and henceforth he will rule and reign till all enemies are put under his feet; and, "of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end."

CHAPTER VII.

A few remarks upon the Witnesses of truth, including a brief calculation of prophetic scriptures alluding to the period of Antichrist's reign, and the second coming of Christ.

THE declension of the primitive church, and the rise of Antichrist have been briefly alluded to in several places in this work; but our limits will not permit us to enter fully into the discussion of these subjects. We shall, however, make a few remarks concerning those witnesses whom God raised up and sent forth, from time to time, to bear testimony of the truth to mankind; and in doing this, we shall also examine the prophetic periods, and the true import of some passages of scripture which allude to the time of Antichrist's reign, and the second appearing of Christ.

Those who suppose that God has always had a true church on earth, ever since the first appearing of Christ, and who expect to find the order and power of the primitive church solely by the revelation given in that day, will, in the event, most certainly be disappointed. It appears evident from the predictions of Jesus. Christ and his apostles, that they foresaw a time coming when the order and power of the church would be lost from off the face of the earth; and therefore could not be known nor found by any people whatever. Jesus testified to his disciples, saying, "The "days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of "the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.-Then if any man shall 66 say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.—Take "heed that ye be not deceived: for many will come in my name, "saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not "therefore after them."*

These testimonies of the Lord Jesus evidently alluded to the time of Antichrist's dominion; and if Christ had any true church on earth, at that time, he must certainly have been in it; because his church is his body in which he dwells, and of which he is the head and life. Those therefore, who are the real members of that body, can say in truth, "Christ is our life." Hence they can say truly, "Lo, here is Christ!" and such might be followed with the greatest propriety. "Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ;" saith the apostle. But if there ever was a time on earth when none could say in truth, "Lo, here is Christ ;" and consequently none could depend upon such a testimony; then it is certain that Christ had not, at that time, any true church on earth. Again: St. Paul saith, "Let no man deceive you by any means: "for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away "first, and that man of sin be revealed." This is a clear proof that the apostle foresaw that the church would fall away, and that *Matt. xxiv. 23.-Luke xvii. 22. and xxi. 8. t1 Cor. xi. 1.

2 Thess. ii. 34

Antichrist would have his reign, before the day of Christ's second coming.

It has been generally admitted that there was a falling away, and that Antichrist has had his reign; but that Christ had no true church on earth during that period, will hardly be acknowledged by any of the churches of Antichrist; because such an acknowledgment would implicitly condemn all these churches as counterfeits. "But the tree is known by its fruits." And certain it is, that if the predictions of Christ, on this subject, have ever been fulfilled, then there was a time when he had no true church on earth. This period may easily be ascertained by an impartial examination of ecclesiastical history, which developes ages of controversy and strife, fraud and violence, tyranny and persecution, war and bloodshed, licentiousness and debauchery, and every species of crime, committed under the authority and by the sanction of these professedly christian churches, and which sufficiently prove that Christ was not there.

Many attempts have been made under the reign of antichristian darkness, to ascertain the true meaning of those prophetic numbers given by Divine inspiration, respecting the rise and duration of Antichrist's power, and the prophecy of the "two witnesses." But the nature of these events being concealed from the view of man, those who have attempted to make the calculation, were unable to discern "those times and seasons which God had put in his own power:" and hence they have always failed in their attempts. Even the prophet Daniel himself was unable to comprehend the nature and event of those things which were represented to him in the vision. This appears evident from his own testimony.

"And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, "what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way "Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of "the end. Many shall be purified and made white, and tried; "but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall ❝ understand; but the wise shall understand.-But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at "the end of the days."*

66

Thus it appears that these things were "closed up and sealed till the time of the end." It was therefore impossible that the predictions relating to these events, should be understood, as to their nature and substance, or the period of their accomplishment, till the time of God's appointment; and even then, they could be known only by the revelation of God. When the seals were taken off, and the book of Divine Revelation was opened, then these predictions which were delivered to the prophet Daniel, and

* Dan. xii. 8, 9, 10 & 13.

afterwards renewed by Jesus Christ, and again confirmed by the angel to John, could be clearly seen and understood, but not before. And it is but reasonable to suppose that this revelation would first be made to those who were in the real work of God, and whose minds were enlightened by the Divine manifestations which succeeded these events. These things having now been revealed by the light of Divine Truth, and the events clearly seen and understood, they may be pointed out and illustrated, agreeable to ancient predictions, and confirmed by the events recorded in history.

Tho the spirit of Antichrist began to manifest itself in the apostle's days, as appears evident from their writings; yet it was many years before it gained so much ascendency as to exclude the true and faithful witnesses of God and followers of Christ from the sanctuary. When this was effectually done, then the disciples of Antichrist, with great zeal, set about modelling the precepts and doctrines of Jesus Christ and his apostles to suit their own carnal views. And as the practical doctrines of the cross of self-denial were the most obnoxious to the spirit of Antichrist, the first object was to pervert these doctrines in such a manner as to render the cross of Christ ineffectual.

This was done by substituting the form of a wooden cross in the place of practical self-denial, and making the show of religion supply the place of the reality. Hence when the Emperor Constantine assumed the christian name, he formed such a cross for his standard, under which he prosecuted his bloody wars, and fought his way to the throne. Similar devices were formed to supplant every thing that bore the mark of christian purity and simplicity, till the views of Antichrist were fully accomplished, and the sanctuary itself, with every thing belonging to it, was com pletely trodden under foot.

As this was a gradual work, it was not fully affected until the period when Pope Leo the first came into full possession of his unlimited power, about the year 457. This was the year in which the emperor Marcianus died, and left Leo in the full possession of his power and supremacy, both civil and ecclesiastical; so that henceforth he was under the control of no power on earth, neither civil nor ecclesiastical, but ruled both church and state, as it is called, with unlimited sway. And from this time, the power of the Popes of Rome was fully established above the power of all earthly princes; and by their authority laws were framed, and creeds drawn up and established, to regulate and govern the religious faith of the whole christian world, so called, as far as their dominion extended. The scenes of tyranny and persecution which followed, to enforce obedience to their bloody religion, fully mark this gloomy period as the days of desolation, and the intele rant reign of Antichrist.

Hence it appears that the year 457 was the period in which the unlimited reign of Antichrist fully commenced. The closing period of this reign is pointed out in the visions of the prophet Daniel, and by reckoning from the date of the vision, may easily be found. The question was asked, "How long shall be the "vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of ❝ desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden “under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three "hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed."* This vision is dated 553 years before Christ; and allowing 2300 prophetic days to signify so many years, which is generally admitted, we have the time from the date of the prophecy to the cleansing of the sanctuary. Then by taking 553 from 2300 leaves 1747 for the year of the christian era when the cleansing of the sanctuary was to commence, and when the testimony of truth and all sacred things were no longer to be trodden under foot by the unlimited dominion and persecuting power of Antichrist.

Again: The duration of this reign of Antichrist is given in another vision, and which also confirms the preceding calculation. "And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, " and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be "a thousand two hundred and ninety days." These are with propriety called the days of desolation, being the period in which the true church of Christ, or sanctuary of God, was trodden under foot. These days, like the former, signify so many years. Then by adding these 1290 years of desolation to 457, (the year of their commencement under Pope Leo, as before stated,) we have 1747 for the year in which these days of desolation were to end. This agrees exactly with the former calculation, and each one confirms the other.

In the Revelations of John we find the following testimony: "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the Angel "stood, saying, Rise and measure the temple of God, and the "altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is "without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given "unto the Gentiles; and the holy city shall they tread under foot "forty and two months.† And I will give power unto my two "witnesses, and they shall prophecy a thousand two hundred and "threescore days, clothed in sackcloth." This measuring had reference to the period of time in which that order of primitive christians existed who worshipped God in the inner court of the temple, or in other words, who rejected the works of the flesh,

* Dan. viii 13, 14.

This revelation could not allude to the Jewish temple, except as a figure: for both the city and its temple were destroyed about 25 years before the revelation was given it evidently alluded to the primitive church, which was the spiritual temple of God.

Rev. xi 1, 2,3.