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after what is intended by the first vision, and before the third. At some period between these two extremes this prophecy will be accomplished.
What was the object of the first vision? If you attend to the hieroglyphic, and the exposition which follows; especially when you compare the whole with
what is found in the seventh chapter of this book, you will not hesitate to determine, that the great event, which is commonly called the reformation, was
there intended.
[See Appendix E.]
This happened in the beginning of the sixteenth century. The first vision, then, respects an event we know is accomplished, and has actually happened
about three hundred years ago.
In the third vision the fall of great Babylon is predicted. By this symbolical name is indisputably intended, the seat and dominion of that powerful
adversary, who for many ages has opposed the interests of true religion, encroached upon the perogatives of Jesus Christ, and persecuted his faithful followers. -
The duration of this enemy is limited to twelve hundred and sixty prophetic years. Different calculations have been made respecting the time when his
reign actually commenced, which renders it difficult to determine the precise period of his destruction; but the latest date which has been, or, indeed, can be,
fixed for his rise, extends his continuance to the year 1999;
[See Appendix F.]
consequently his fall must, at farthest, be immediately before the year 2000, when the Millennium wil be fully introduced.
[See Appendix G.]
Here, then, we have two two extremes, between which the prediction in question will be fulfilled. It must be after the Reformation, and before the fall of
antichrist. The angel must begin his flight after the year 1500, and before the year 2000. This brings our inquiry within the space of five hundred years.
These boundaries will be abridged, when we reflect that three hundred years have elapsed since the reformation, and nothing corresponding to the
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vision has yet been seen; nothing in respect to the universality, the power, and, success, which
characterize the preaching of the gospel described in the prediction. Much was confessedly done; great things were achieved
at the Reformation. But this is another angel - this foretells another preaching, vastly more
enlarged and interesting in its consequences than any thing which happened then, or at any time since.
It delineates an event which, when estimated in all its concurring circumstances, cannot fail of establishing
the conviction, that is not yet fulfilled. Three hundred years have passed away, and instead of
increasing, the Church has rather diminished in purity, in zeal, and in numbers. She has retired, some
steps at least, back into the wilderness again, and doth not now maintain that eminence nor sing with
so elevated a note, as when she made her appearance upon Mount Zion at the Reformation.
We are compelled, therefore, to look forward for the accomplishment; and are now reduced to the
short remaining space of two hundred years. Within this compass there can be no mistake. At some
point of time from, and including the present day, and before the close of two hundred years, the angel
must begin to fly in the midst of the Churches, and preach the everlasting Gospel to all nations and
tongues, and kindred, and people in the earth.
Thus far the prophecy, taken in its connexion and order, has assisted us in our calculation. We shall,
perhaps, approach nearer, if we attend to momentous events, which, from the whole tenor of the
prophetic word, we know are to happen previous to the millenium, and, consequently, within two hundred
years. If these be such as will necessarily require considerable time, and if the event in question be
inseparably connected with them, and stand foremost in the series, we may be enabled, from them, to form a
rational conclusion of the probable season when this will commence.
The events to which we alude are - the punishment
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