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of Christ, which forms the termination of the "Fourth Period," took place in the early spring (at the time of the Passover); and that, as at that time the period he had been in our world was thirty-three years and a half, his nativity must have been at the latter end of the year 1 consequently, in this case his death could not be said to have taken place till the year 34. This mode of reckoning, which is in all probability the true one, will necessarily cause the dates of the commencement of the three of the above-mentioned four Periods which happened before the Christian era, to stand nominally, although not actually, a year later than appears in the Chronological Chart -thus:

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to A.D. 34.

to A.D. 1844.

Fourth Period: B.C. 456... 490 years
Fifth Period : B.C. 676...2520 years
Sixth Period: B.C. 456...2300 years to A.D. 1844.

...

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And the one after the Christian era:

Seventh Period: A.D. 584...1260 years to A.D. 1844.

THIRD ASPECT-SECOND PROPHECY.

It now only remains very briefly to notice the " Second Prophecy," under this "Third and last Aspect" in which Popery is presented to our view. The vision opens with a repre

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sentation of the true church, as it appears under the Christian dispensation, clothed with the sun; while the Jewish church, represented as the moon, is under her feet; and on her head is a "crown of twelve stars," or the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. For forty weeks (the time of gestation in women), or 280 prophetic days, or 280 real years, the church struggled with her enemies; till at length, about the year 313 or 314, in the time of Constantine—that is, 280 years after the death of Christ-His KINGSHIP, or triumph over the powers of Paganism, burst on the astonished view of the world; and this is what I conceive is intended by "a man-child being born who was to rule the world with a rod of iron." Satan, personified by the Roman Empire, after he had by many persecutions brought the truth very low, stood ready, on this triumph being obtained, to destroy this rule or Kingship of Christ over the world, so soon as it should be obtained. And he was successful: " And the child was caught up to God, and to his throne." At length, however, after the woman, or the true church, had been in her depressed condition the appointed term of "a thousand two hundred and three-score days," or 1260 years, that Kingship over the nations, maugre all opposition from Satan or the world, shall be successfully and permanently resumed; as it is ex

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pressed in Ps. ii. 9: "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." (See also Rev. xix. 15.) Her King will then appear; "the great ensign of Messiah" will be unfurled to the view of the world; and He shall reign "whose right it is." "In his days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him, and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. YEA, ALL

KINGS SHALL FALL DOWN BEFORE HIM: ALL

NATIONS SHALL SERVE HIM" (Ps. lxii. 7-11).

"AND THE SEVENTH ANGEL SOUNDED, AND THERE WERE GREAT VOICES IN HEAVEN, SAYING, THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD ARE BECOME THE KINGDOMS OF OUR LORD, AND OF HIS CHRIST, AND HE SHALL REIGN FOR EVER AND EVER."

CONCLUSION.

Ir will be perceived, that in all the foregoing investigations I have taken it for granted that the fate of Britain will be involved in that of the ten Papal kingdoms of the Western Roman Empire, of which it unquestionably forms one of the principal, or what is denominated one of the kingdoms of iron. Would that I could form a different opinion! that I could, with some other writers on this subject, perceive an exemption made in favour of a country to which, as our native land, we are all so deeply attached, and in the prosperity and preservation of which the happiness of all whom we hold dear on earth is so inseparably interwoven. But finding in the Bible no such exemption, and it being declared that prophecy is of no private interpretation, it is a question that rests not on our wishes or prepossessions, but one that must be referred to the all-wise and irreversible counsels of Jehovah, as they are revealed in His word; and to the accomplishment of that wonderful foreknowledge, which, to use the language of the immortal Toplady," is un

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