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Besides the attack from the Saracens and Ottoman Turks, the Eastern Emperors of the Romans undergo great alarm from the irruptions of the three Turkish dynasties of Persia from the East and North, viz. the Seljukians, Atabeks, and Kharismians into their Empire, A.D. 1050-1300; and being mighty rather by the decemvirate of the West, the Latins, (though indeed the Latins themselves are masters of the Romano-Greek Empire from 1204-1261,) than by any power of their own, through them they make the seven memorable crusades against the invaders, A. D. 1095-1270, in which the Latins commit the most horrid cruelties upon the infidels. On the capture of Antioch, 1098, they massacre 10,000 of the inhabitants: on the taking of the city of Jerusalem, where they plant the tabernacles of their palace by raising it into a kingdom which lasts from 1099—1210, they massacre from 70,000 to 100,000 more. Yet notwithstanding this assistance from the West at that time, the Eastern Romano-Greek Emperors at last come to their end by the Ottoman Turks, A.D. 1453, when not a power from the West again support them. Henceforward the Romano-Greek Empire is not and yet is.

44 And tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth. with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make 45 away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

Soon after the overthrow of the Greek Empire, it was that our blessed Lord stood up for his church by the Reformation, A.D. 1518, and helped his people with a little help; though many of them are oppressed to the last. Then commerce began to flourish and extend its intercourse more widely; and learning and science made great progress. In the first stage of the standing, which lasts from 1518, to 1688, a time indeed of trouble, Europe

was desolated by civil wars on account of religion, which must have eventually plunged it again into a state of barbarism. The second stage, which lasts from 1688 (when the seal seems to have been put to the wars of the Reformation by the establishment of the Protestant succession in our country,) to 1775, was marked by the bloody wars of ambition, caused principally by the houses of Austria and Bourbon, Charles XII. of Sweden, Peter the Great, and Frederic III. of Prussia. The third stage, which lasts from 1775, the beginning of the American war, to 1804, was conspicuous for the downfal of thrones and the subversion of social order. The fourth stage, which lasts from 1804 to the battle of Waterloo, 1815, is remarkable for the military despotism of Buonaparte. The fifth stage, which lasts from 1815 to 1828, is characterized by the efforts of the Holy Alliance to check the progress of constitutional liberty. The sixth stage, under which we live, brings the overthrow of the Ottoman Turks, and the accomplishment of the scattering of the power of the holy people, when the last grand conflict between truth and falsehood takes place, the battle of the great day of God Almighty, the slaughter of the witnesses, at Armageddon. On the seventh stage the contest is accomplished: and then comes the tremendous overthrow of all civil and religious despotism, an universal revolution, and the kingdom of the first resurrection of the saints. In 1843 the sanctuary is cleansed. Surely I come quickly. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

XII. 1. And at that time shall Michael stand up,

the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people, and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time shall thy people be delivered, every one that 2 shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and 3 everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall

shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars 4 for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut

up the words, and seal the book even to the last; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

The prosperity of Antichrist is to last 1260 years, and the abomination of desolation, or the scattering of the power of the holy people, 1290, when their desolation will be accomplished. They are blessed who arrive at the commencement of the period of the 1335 years. Daniel is to stand in his lot at the end of the 1290 years.

5 Then I Daniel looked, and Behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of 6 the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever, that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. 8 And I heard but I understood not; then said I, 0 my Lord, what shall be the end of these 9 things? And he said, Go thy way Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the last. 10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and

tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand: but the 11 wise shall understand. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and for the time that the abomination that maketh desolate shall be set up, there shall be a thousand two 12 hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three 13 hundred and five and thirty days. But go thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

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THE

SEVEN VISIONS

OF

ST. JOHN.

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