comparing together the two most common, but opposite systems, we have been led to conclude that in all probability a prophetic day is about half of a natural year, let us now further consider that that conclusion makes the forty and two months of the Beast to be about half of 1260 = about 630 years; which tends to confirm the supposition already expressed, namely, that the number 666 denominates years. "Let us make use of the result thus far attained, for the purpose of discovering all the other apocalyptical periods. This is to be done principally by comparing with the number 666, the 1000 years mentioned in the twentieth chapter. At once we perceive that this latter number bears to the former the relation of 3 to 2; and by a little additional thought we obtain the following interesting proportion: 3:2:: 999 years: 666 years; consequently a unit of 666;;; must be 1 year. And this may be one reason why the word years is not added to the numeral expression, six hundred three score and six,' in the sacred text. Unity, in each of these denominations, with the appropriate fraction annexed, (thus, 111,) very little exceeds the ancient Roman century, which consisted of 110 years. Mention is made of 6 a half-time' in the text itself, and there is reason for supposing a half-time to be exactly the unity we here speak of, with its appropriate fraction; so that we may exhibit the apocalyptical periods according to the following scale : : 111 years, ch. xx. 4. 2223 333 444 The time no longer,' ovкétɩ Xpúvos, or no whole period between 999% and 1111 A Period (χρόνος) An Eon, or double period (air) - "Thus an accurate consideration of the text discovers a regularly ascending series of periods as here stated. The difficulty, that a 'short time' (ch. xii. 12,) should denote the long space of 888; years, is done away by considering that our computation is by 6 half-times, (viz. 111.)-Now the ancients used to reckon no less than seven to the completion of a time, (καιòs;) hence four times (or 2223×4) might easily be denominated a short time,' öλiyos kapós.” The application of this key of times to the apocalyptical dates and to those of history will be seen in the following table, to which a few particulars are added, which obviously could not be found in Bengel's "Exposition," that we may take a better general view of his chronological system. 4038 4040-4059 4040 Beginning of the Vulgar or Dionysian Era Ante Christum. 394028 1347 51 A. D. Opening of the Apocalypse in the reign of Nerva 96 4040-4054 The Third Seal, ch. vi. 6. Scarcity under Trajan 98-112 tions 4040-5151 Ch. vi. 11. Period (xpóvos) of 1111 years, from the persecution of Christianity under Trajan, to 98 the persecution of the Waldenses by the papacy 98-1209 4056-4077 Ch. viii. 7. Trumpet of the First Angel. Rebellion of the Jews; and sanguinary wars with that people Ch. viii. 8. Trumpet of the Second Angel. Irruption of barbarous nations into the pagan Roman empire Ch. viii. 10. Trumpet of the Third Angel. The 4337-4452 Ch. viii. 12. Trumpet of the Fourth Angel. • Angel in our English version; but Eagle is considered the genuine reading; derou RETOμÉVOU. Lectio indubie genuina. Griesb. Anno Mundi. 4452-4531 EVENTS. Ch. ix. 1-12. The First Woe. Severe oppression 4531-4576 A pause between the first and second woes; which Anno Domini. 510-589 589-634 4576-4789 Ch. ix. 15. The Second Woe; which lasts one prophetic year, month, day, and hour;=213 Havoc commenced by the common years. Saracens 847-947 4789-4889 Pause between the second and third woes; which Commencement of the non-chronus, (or a TIME no longer,") which lasts 1036 years 66 4742-5742 The Germanic Roman Imperial Dominion, esta- days;=677 common years; from the comple- 4889-5778 The Third Woe; ch. xii. 12, lasts (¿λíyov kaιpòv) 66 5000-5778 Ch. xii. 14. The "time, times, and half a time," (or 3 times,) in which the Woman nourishes and supports herself in the northern countries of Europe; a period of 7773 years 4882-5000 The most helpless time of the Woman, now fled on the nourishment and support of others, and 5000-5559 More favourable time, when she becomes nourished, vention of printing; Reformation 800-1836 800-1800 5589-5778 The most favourable time; wherein she nourishes herself with continually growing strength (though under oppressions), so that she can nourish others also. Pietism; Bible societies; missions, &c. The Beast out of the Sea; the papacy, as completed by Hildebrand, lasts forty and two prophetic months, ch. xiii. 5, 18, or 6668 years. The beginning of these cannot be fixed till their close; the two most probable periods which may be assigned, are either 5085-5752; from Celestine II., the first who was elected 5682 1143-1809 5556-77773 Ch. xiv. 6. The angel with the Everlasting Gospel; the measured everlastingness (aiov) continues 22223 years; Arndt or his followers 5577-5769 Ch. xiv. 8. The angel who announces the Fall of Babylon; Spener, or his followers 5682-5778 The Harvest and the Vintage. The sweeping away of many good and bad men from the earth, ch. xiv. 15-18 5772-5778 Ch. xi. 3. The prophesying of the Two Witnesses; 5772–5778. Ch. xi. 2. The last Treading-down of Jerusalem; 5774 tains ; ch. xvii. 10 The Power of the Ten Kings (one hour,) ch. xvii. 12, 5773-5778 The seven Plagues, ch. xvi. Divide into four and three, and run out quickly, in the days of Antichrist 5775 1614-3836 1635-1727 between * 1740-1836 between 1830-1836 between 1830-1836 about 1830 1831-1832 1832, from the 14th to the 22d Oct. about The ten kings lay Babylon (Rome) waste; in an agreement with the Beast; ch. xvii. 16, ch. xviii, 5774-5778 The last raging of Antichrist; which continues about three common years and a half 1833 1832-1836 * The reader, upon coming to this part of the table, is requested to take notice, that Bengel, in speaking to the years between 1740 and 1836, has expressed very various conjectures [B.] (so as not to have professed to speak positively, either of the year 1836 or of those very near it. Some slight flaw in the system, which may still conceal from us the awful year intended, should be so far from encouraging any to think lightly of the general matter, that we should be only the more circumspect and piously inquiring; as there is enough in the system to warrant our expectation that the time is very near at hand.)-[T.] Anno Mundi. 5778 Conflict of the Beast out of the Bottomless Pit with the people of God; and his overthrow at the appearing of the Lord; ch. xix. 11-21 5778-6778 Thousand years binding of Satan; ch. xx. 1—3 6778-6890 Loosing of Satan for "a little time” (μikpòv Xpóvov), a period of 111 years; ch. xx. 3 - 18 June, 1836 6778-7777 Thousand years' reign of the saints in heaven; 1836-2836 2836-2947 2836-3836 3836 Explanations of the above chronological table may be.collected almost entirely in Bengel's own words, from his "Exposition of the Apocalypse." Its principal matters are as follow:— "The book of the Revelation divides itself into three parts: first, the introduction; secondly, the body of the prophecy; and thirdly, the conclusion. The contents of the three first chapters, as preparative of all the events that follow, form the introduction; and first, we have the personal preparation of the inspired writer himself. This holy man, though he had been faithfully exercising his apostleship more than thirty years, yet before he could receive such high disclosures, must submit to purification. Next, we have the preparation of the angels, (or overseers,) of the seven churches, as also that of those churches themselves. Both parties are to be brought into better condition by repentance; therefore it is testified to them that the Lord knew the work of each individually, whether good or evil had the ascendant, or whether both were equally balanced. What was good in them, was, by the way, confirmed and strengthened. This preparation of the seven churches is an example to the Lord's servants in every age and on every occasion; therefore it is here introduced with perfect right and propriety; but we cannot, without violence to the text, understand it as likewise prophetic of seven periods in the christian church. Seven glorious promises are respectively annexed to it for the encouragement of each angel of the seven churches. "After these preparations, the Lord again addresses himself to John, saying, that he would show him things which must be hereafter' (ch. iv. 1.) Here commences the body of the prophecy; which opens with a manifestation of all power in heaven and in earth, as given to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is set in full view, first, generally (ch. iv.) then, by the seven seals; the four first of which relate to visible events, that commenced soon after the revelation was given. |