CHAPTER IU. Page. Further particulars relative to the subject The trials of the Church under the reign of Antichrist Gog and his bands: Or the final expedition and overthrow of Antichrist in Mr. Faber's opinion concerning Gog considered The bastard of Ashdod: Or the illegitimate Antichristian government 334 Other prophecies, relative to the last expedition and the overthrow of Anti- christ, and the ruin of the enemies of the Church A Babylonian and Assyrian of the last days On the seven apocalyptic Vials Vial 1. Fulfilled in the discovery made of Papal corruption, at the reforma. Vial 2: Fulfilled in the terrible wars in Italy for nearly half a century, be- tween Charles V, and Francis I. Vial 3. Fulfilled in the subsequent wars with the house of Austria, and in Vial 4. Fulfilled in the operations of the civil European governments against the interests of the Papal hierarchy; and the expulsion of the Jesuits from the principal nations in Europe, after the middle of the eighteenth century 412 Vial 5. Fulfilled in the overthrow of the Papal Beast, by the rise of the An- Vial 6. To be fulfilled in the subversion of the Turkish empire, to prepare the way for the restoration of the ancient people of God to the Holy land 453 The three unclean spirits like frogs Vial 7. To be fulfilled in the destruction of Antichrist, in his expedition against the Jews in Palestine; and in the destruction of all the persecuting enemies of the Church, to prepare the way for the Millennium A concise view of the book of the Revelation In which some duties are suggested, calculated to withstand the Infidelity of 2. Faithfulness in the government of our literary Institutions 3. Vigilance and faithfulness in the embassadors of Christ 4. Caution in the induction of men into the Gospel ministry 5. A faithful support and improvement of the regular administration of the Gospel; avoiding erroneous and unknown teachers and affording our aid to 6. Due exertions to promote the sanctification of the Lord's day 7. Due caution in the adinission of members into the Church; and a faithful support of Christian discipline Also due exertions of good people to promote Reformation $. Family religion; and a pious, discreet family government 9. The employing of pious as well as able instructors of our children 10. Wisdom and prudence in the choice of our civil rulers 11. A vigilant eye upon the movements of the enemy; and a solemn attention SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT NOTES, IN THE FOLLOW- ING WORK. 71 82 92 92 120 143 168 233 235 267 286 The great day of the Lord in the Old Testament, and the seventh vial, the A scheme relative to Rev. x, and some other passages considered 439 456 The testimonies kindly given, by those Divines, to whose inspection and advice the manuscript of the first edition of this work was submitted, will not be here inserted; (as they were inserted in the first edition;) except the two following, as a specimen of them. Rev. Dr. Hermenway's. “Having heard a considerable part of the Dissertation above mentioned read, I can heartily concur with the others, who have recommended the publication of it, as ingenious, seasonable, and highly worthy of the public attention. Moses HEMMENWAY." Wells, Nov. 28, 1809. Rev. Dr. Thayer's. “Having attended to a Dissertation in manuscript, of Rev. E. Smith, on the Prophecies, relative to Antichrist and the last days; including a Treatise on the seven Vials; I am fully of opinion, that new light is thrown upon the subject; that the predictions, and the events stated as their fulfilment, better accord with each other, than in any publication that I have seen upon the interesting subject. The work appears to be handsomely and judiciously executed; and calculated to afford important and necessary instruction and warning to the present generation. For these reasons it is wished that it may be made public. EliHU THAYER." Kingston, July 2, 1810. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. SINCE the publishing of the first edition of this work, the signs of the times continue to be very interesting. Aud the evidence, that a new era of affairs has indeed commenced, is decisive. Nothing has occurred to evince that any material point in this publication, is incorrect. As far as the author has understood, the sentiments of it have mict with general approbation. He is hence encouraged, as the first edition has for some time been disposed of, and a second has been requested, to submit this to the public. The work has been diligently revised, and enlarged. A new chapter has been inserted, on the Revelation of St. John: And one on the millennial Kingdom of Christ: A new section also, on Ezekiel's chambers of Imagery: And a section on the illegitimale dynasty in modern France. Some other sections are revised, and enlarged. To some of the vials, especially the fifth, considerable additional attention has been paid. In the chapter on the Revelation, iwo charts are given, to facilitate the explanation of this mystical book. An introductory chapter was prepared, to ascertain the origin and use of the figurative language found in the Bible, and to explain many of the symbols usual in prophetic imagery. But this has since been given to the pubjic in a small separate publication, as 4 Key to the figurative danguage found in the sacred Scriptures. Hence it is here omitied. The late signal reverses in the affairs of the French Empire, it is believed, furnish no serious objection against the views given of that Empire, as the last head of the secular Roman Beast. They indeed furnish the fulfilment of a feature, found in the prophecies, relative to this last part of the Roman Power, which, till lately, has been wanting;-that "the feet and tocs” of the great image should be "part of iron, and part of clay;" that "the kingdom should be partly strong, and partly broken." That the earth should help the women, (the Church) and occasionally open her mouth, and swallow up the floods, cast from the mouth of the dragon, with a view to sweep her from the world. That “he wrath of man shall praise God," when he comes down in the last days, to save all the meek of the earth; "and the remainder of that wrath,” or what would exceed the divine purposes,"he will restrain.” That after the infidel Power, Dan, xi, 36—45, shall have done according to his will, and have magnified himself above every god, or legitimate ruler, and spoken marvellous things against the God of gods, and Jesus Christ; after the same nation shall have received a god, or ruler, whom their fathers knew not;-an emperor of foreign descent; and shall have been led by him 10 overrun the most strong holds of neighboring nations; and this foreign god shall have divided out the Roman earth for gain, to his vassal kings of an hour,“ at the time of the end, (when these things are thus far accomplished,) a kingdom of the south shall push, (butt) at him; and a kingdom of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, which prostrates all in its way. A whirlwind, or tornado, for so many centuries predicted, composed of a vast coalition of powers, might be expected to sweep its way, and prostrate oppo. sition. An incipient fulfilment of these prophetic strokes, has of latc caused a smile upon the face of the world; and revived hopes, which had become almost extinct. To how great a degree these reverses may proceed, God only knows. Should the brokenness of this last part of the Roman Power be now made in a considerable degree as conspicuous, as has been his antecedent strengin; (as the text seems to warrant us to expect; "the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly broken,") that wicked Power would indeed, for the present, be prostrated! But should this be the case, should all the horns of the Antichristian Beast be torn off, and the wretch lie bleeding and fainting; yet it appears evident that all his work is not yet done. This great Roman Beast does not go into his final perdition, till the battle of that great day of God, which is subsequent to the restoration of the Jews to Palestine. The enormous Power, or Influence, symbolized by the Beast from the bottomle88 pil, probably depends on no one man; though it has been accorniodated hitherto with a leader truly prepared for the work of judgment. In the first reign of the im. perial head of the Roman Beast, emperors were set up, and deposed, and numbers slain, in thick succession. And it repeatedly seemed as though destruction had fallen upon the Empire. Still that imperial head continued. That genius of the people coninued, which would be governed by nothing short of a military despotism. And this, we may expect, will be the case, henceforth, on the Roman earth, till the Millennium. Should revolu. tion succeed revolution, it would not alter the case. The principles of atheism, licentiousness, and disorganization, taught and supported in a profound system, and which constitute the very essence of the Beast from the bottomless pit, are so extensively and deeply disseminated, that the infernal current of them will not be effectually controled nor regulated, even though prime leaders be destroyed, and the earth open her mouth and swallow up their floods of efficient rage! The fountain of the extensive mischief remaining, it will, in some shape, fill all up again. The nature of the Beast from the botiomless pit is not changed. It rests on the broad basis of a |
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