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SECTION IX.

Time in which Gog appears.

THE duration of the Millennium is limited to a thousand years, fix feveral times, in the 20th chapter of the Revelation, which induces me to confider it as a definite number. Again, I-understand the number in its plain literal meaning; for though there are obvious reafons for concealing by myftic numbers, a long period of calamity, fuch as that in which Antichrift reigns, these cannot apply to a period of confolation, fuch as the Millennium is represented to be. The length of the period rather increafes, than diminishes the confolation promifed. Further, as the period is measured by years only, not by months or days, I take the number to fignify so many civil, not prophetic years. So the Millennium will end A. D. 3072. Afhort time after the clofe of the Millennium, Gog appears. The exact year I pretend not to determine. At the end of the Millennium, "Satan is loofed out of his prifon, and goes out to deceive the nations," Rev. xx. 7, 8. But fome years will be neceffary to give fuccefs to his delufions; and after his artifice has fucceeded, fome years more will be neceffary to collect forces from the "four quar"ters of the earth," to invade the Church.

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After

After the deftruction of Gog and his army, no event of importance occurs, till the laft: judg ment. The whole period that elapfes, from the end of the Millennium to the day of judgment, is exprefsly called "a little feason," (Rev. xx. 3.)` But it may be fo called abfolutely, as including only a few years; or comparatively with the period that preceded it, and fo may include a few centuries. Thus the feventh head of the beaft is faid to continue "a fhort fpace," (Rev. xvii. 10.) that is, compared with the fixth head, though it continued near two centuries.

But the exact number of years that interven. ed, either betwixt the end of the Millennium and the day of judgment, or betwixt the deftruction of Gog and the day of judgment, I know not; and no number has occurred to me, in the prophecies, by which to discover it! with fatisfying conviction. It would appear that God has been pleased to conceal the length of this last period, to keep the Church watchful, looking

(1) We are told, Ezek. xxxix. 12, and 14. that the people of Ifrael were "feven months" burying the bones of Gog's army. I have no doubt but the perfon mentioned by the prophet, is the fame introduced by the apostle at the close of the Millennium; and it is obvious, that burying the bones must be taken in a spiritual, not a literal fenfe. Perhaps, therefore, the feven months

may

looking for the appearance of the Judge; and that having given fo many demonftrations of his fecond coming, by the completion of prophecy in the ages that preceded, he will give no more till the last trumpet founds.

may measure, in myftic numbers, the period that elapses betwixt the deftruction of Gog and the day of judgment, making 210 prophetic years. However, candour obliges me to acknowledge that the conjecture is confiderably weakened by what is faid verfe 9. of the fame chapter, that they were seven years burning the armour of Gog's multitude.

A

KEY

TO THE

PROPHECIES,

WHICH ARE NOT YET ACCOMPLISHED.

PART III.

The Events foretold in them.

CHAP. I.

The prefent State of the World and the Church defcribed in the Prophecies.

BEFORE I proceed to future events, it may

not be improper to state the view given in the prophecies of this period in which we live. Such a view is neceffary to trace the progress of

events,

events, by fhewing the links which, in the chain of Providence, connect the prefent with future times. Besides, if the view given of the Church and the World agrees with their state and condition in our times, this coincidence affords the ftrongest evidence that the prophecies which regard future times, fhall be likewife accomplished in their season.

We are now in the year 1038 confiderably advanced, in the period of 1260 years, allotted to the reign of Antichrift. Now, the remarkable circumftances of this period are the following:

SECTION I

The Ottoman Empire.

THE plague of the fixth trumpet coincides with the latter part of this period, and continues to the conclufion of it, Rev. ix. 13.-21. "And "the fixth angel founded, and I heard a voice " from the four horns of the golden altar which "is before God, faying to the fixth angel which "had the trumpet, Loofe the four angels which "are bound in the great river Euphrates. And "the four angels were loofed, which were pre

pared for a hour, and a day, and a month, "and a year, for to flay the third part of men. "And the number of the army of the horsemen

were

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