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Julian Period, 4799. Vulgar Æra, 96.

§ 1. REV. i. 1-3.

All Mankind are commanded to study the Apocalypse.

David, and so on till the annunciation of Malachi, that the
Lord whom they sought should come while the second temple
was standing. Another peculiarity was, that the ancient pro-
phets announced, in very general terms, in the boldest and most
figurative language, various events which have never yet taken
place, relative to some more glorious state of the Church, the
punishment and overthrow of its enemies, the final restoration
of the Jews, and the universal establishment of happiness and
innocence among mankind. If we are justified in expecting a
book of prophecy, in the place of a succession of prophets, in
the Christian Church, we may anticipate also the clearer pre-
diction of the same events, and their gradual developement.

The majority of commentators on the Apocalypse generally
acted on these principles of interpretation. They discover in
this book certain predictions of events which were fulfilled soon
after they were announced; they trace in the history of later
years various coincidences, which so fully agree with various
parts of the Apocalypse, that they are justly entitled to consider
them as the fulfilment of its prophecies; and by thus tracing
the one God of Revelation, through the clouds of the dark ages,
through the storms of revolutions and wars, through the mighty
convulsions which at various periods have agitated the world, their
interpretations, even when they are most contradictory, when
they venture to speculate concerning the future, are founded
on so much undoubted truth, that they have materially con-
firmed the wavering faith of thousands. Clouds and darkness
must cover the brightness of the throne of God, till it shall
please him to enable us to bear the brighter beams of his glory.
In the mean time we trace his footsteps in the sea of the Gentile
world, his path in the mighty waters of the ambition and clash-
ing passions of man. We rejoice to anticipate the day when
the bondage of Rome, which would perpetuate the intellectual
and spiritual slavery of man, shall be overthrown, and the day-
spring of united knowledge and holiness bless the world.

Among other predictions of the future glory of the Jewish
Church, which shall be fulfilled in the latter ages of the world,
and the subject of which we might expect to meet with in the
Apocalypse, we may observe the following-

1. The Jewish Church shall possess its own land, Jer. iii.
18-23.; Ezek. xxxvii. 21, 22.; Amos ix. 14, 15.

2. It shall possess all the earth, Obad. comm. xv. 19, 20. ; Jer. xxxi. 38-40.; Isa. xxvii. 12. lxv. 10.

8. It shall dwell secure, Isa. lx. 18.; Hosea ii. 18.

4. And that for ever, Ezek. xxxvii. 25.; Amos ix. 15.

5. The land shall be more fertile than ever, Ezek. xxxvii. 35.;
Hosea ii. 21, 22.; Joel iii. 18.; Amos ix. 13.; Zech. xiv. 10.
6. It shall have more inhabitants, Isa. xlix. 19-21.; Ezek.
xxxiv. 31. xxxvi. 37, 38.

7. It shall be one united and perfect kingdom, Ezek. xxxvii.
22-24.; Hosea i. 11.

8. Uniformly flourishing, Dan. vii. 27.

9. The Church shall be eminent and illustrious, Isa. iv. xxiv. 23. lx. 1, 2.; Dan. xii. 3.; Jer. iii. 16, 17.; Joel iii. 19, 20.

10. And this as to its external form, Isa. xxiv. 23, xxx. 26. lx. 20. lxii. 1-4.: Zech. xiv. 6, 7.

11. Free from all unholiness, Joel iii. 17. Zech. xiv. 20, 21.

Asia Minor.

Julian Pe

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Asia Miner. riod, 4799. him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly Vulgar Era,

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12. Sincere and pure in its doctrine, Ezek. xxxvii. 23.; Hosea ii. 16, 17. xiv. 8.; Zech. xiii. 2, 3.

And this representation of the universal Church is depicted in the Apocalypse in the most vivid colours.

Rosenmüller has drawn up, in a general manner, the opinions of those commentators who have interpreted the Apocalypse on the principles now laid down.

Those who consider the Apocalypse as a prophecy and scenieal exhibition of what shall happen to the Christian Church to the end of the world, lay down as a proposition, which comprises the subject of the whole book:-The contest of Christ with his enemies, and his final victory and triumph over them. See 1 Cor. xv. 25.; Matt. xxiv.; Mark xiii.; Luke xxi.; but what is but briefly hinted in these Scriptures, is detailed at large in the Apocalypse, and represented by various images, nearly in the following order.

1. The decrees of the Divine Providence concerning what is to come, are declared to John.

2. The manner in which these decrees shall be executed, is painted in the most vivid colours.

3. Then follow thanksgiving to God, the ruler and governor of all things, for these manifestations of his power, wisdom, and goodness.

After the exordium, and the seven epistles to the seven Churches of Asia Minor, to whose angels, or bishops, the book seems to be dedicated, (chap. i. ii. iii.) the scene of the visions is opened in heaven, full of majesty, and John receives a promise of a revelation relative to the future state of the Church, chap. iv. v.

The enemies of the Church of Christ, which the Christians had then most to fear, were the Jews, the Heathens, and the false teachers. All these are overcome by Christ; and over them he triumphs gloriously. First of all, punishments are threatened to the enemies of the kingdom of Christ, and the preservation of his own followers, in their greatest trials determined; and these determinations are accompanied with the praises and thanksgivings of all the heavenly inhabitants, and of all good men, chap. vi.-x.

The transactions of the Christian religion are next recorded, chap. xi.-xiv. 5. The Christians arc persecuted.

1. By the Jews; but they were not only preserved, but they increase and prosper.

2. By the Heathens; but in vain do these strive to overthrow the kingdom of Christ; which is no longer confined within the limits of Judea, but spreads among the Gentiles, and diffuses itself over the whole Roman empire, destroying idolatry, and rooting out superstition in every quarter, chap. xii. xiii. 1–10.

3. False teachers and impostors of various kinds, under the name of Christians, but enemies of the cross of Christ; more intent on promoting the interests of idolatry, or false worship, than the cause of true religion, chap. xiii. 11-18. exert their influence to corrupt and destroy the Church; but, notwithstanding, Christianity becomes more extended, and true believers more confirmed in their holy faith, chap. xiv. 1-5. Then new punishments are decreed against the enemies of Christ, both Jews and Heathens; the calamities coming upon the Jewish nation, before its final overthrow, are pointed out, chap. xiv. xv. Next follows a prediction of the calamities which

Julian Pe- come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel Asia Minor. unto his servant John:

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shall take place during the Jewish war; and the civil wars of
the Romans, during the contentions of Otho and Vitellius,
chap. xvi. 1-16. who are to suffer most grievous punishments
for their cruelties against the Christians, chap. xvii. The
Jewish state being now finally overthrown, chap. xviii. the
heavenly inhabitants give praise to God for his justice and
goodness; Christ is congratulated for his victory over his ene-
mies, and the more extensive progress of his religion, chap. ix.
1-10.

Opposition is, however, not yet totally ended: idolatry again
lifts up its head, and new errors are propagated; but over
these also Christ shews himself to be conqueror, chap. xix.
11-21. Finally, Satan, who had long reigned by the worship
of false gods, errors, superstitions, and wickedness, is deprived
of all power and influence; and the concerns of Christiauity go
on gloriously, chap. xx. 1-6. But, towards the end of the
world, new enemies arise, and threaten destruction to the fol-
lowers of Christ; but vain is their rage, God appears in behalf
of his servants, and inflicts the most grievous punishments upon
their adversaries, chap. xx. 6-10. The last judgment ensues,
ver. 11-15. all the wicked are punished, and the enemies of the
truth are chained, so as to be able to injure the godly no more;
the genuine Christians, who had persevered unto death, are
brought to eternal glory; and, freed from all adversities, spend
a life that shall never end, in blessedness that knows no bounds,
chap. xxi. and xxii.-See Rosenmüller.

Mr. Faber has supposed that much of the imagery of the Revelations is taken from the ancient mysteries; and Eichhorn has represented it as a drama: and the most strange and singular opinions have prevailed respecting its plan and interpretation. Though I have adopted that system of explanation, which represents the continued superintendence of God over his Church, there are four other principal hypotheses.

1. The Apocalypse, in the opinion of Wetstein, contains a prophetical description of the destruction of Jerusalem, of the Jewish war, and the civil wars of the Romans.

The second is the general opinion of the fathers; that it contains predictions of the persecutions of the Christians under the Heathen emperors of Rome, and of the happy days of the Church under the Christian emperors, from Constantine downwards.

The third is adopted by the generality of Protestant writers; that it contains prophecies concerning the tyrannical and oppressive conduct of the Roman Pontiffs, the true antichrist; and foretels the final destruction of popery.

The fourth is adopted on the other side, by the papal writers, that it is a prophetic declaration of the schism and heresies of Martin Luther, those called Reformers, and their successors; and the final destruction of the Protestant religion.

This fourth has been illustrated and defended at large by Bishop Walmsley, in a work called the History of the Church, under the feigned name of Signior Pastorini: in which he endeavours to turn every thing against Luther and the Protestants, which they interpreted of the Pope and Popery; and attempts to shew, from a computation of the apocalyptical numbers, that the total destruction of Protestantism in the world will take place in 1825, or 1828!

The plan of Wetstein is the most singular of all these. He

Julian Pe- 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the tes- Asia Minet. riod, 4799. timony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Vulgar Æra,

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supposes the Book of the Apocalypse to have been written a
considerable time before the destruction of Jerusalem. The
events described from the fourth chapter to the end, he sup-
poses to refer to the Jewish war, and to the civil commotions
which took place in Italy, while Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian,
were contending for the empire. These contentions and de-
structive wars occupied the space of about three years and a
half, during which, Professor Wetstein thinks the principal
events took place which are recorded in this book. On these
subjects he speaks, particularly in his notes, at the end of
which he calls his Avakɛpaλawor, or synopsis of the whole work,
which I proceed now to lay before the reader.

This prophecy, which predicts the calamities which God
should send on the enemies of the Gospel, is divided into two
parts. The first is contained in the closed book; the second in
the open book.

I. The first concerns the earth and the third part, i. e. Judea and the Jewish nation.

II. The second concerns many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings, chap. x. 11. i. e. the Roman empire.

1. The book written within and without, and sealed with seven seals, chap. v. 1. is the bill of divorce sent from God to the Jewish nation.

2. The crowned conqueror on the white horse, armed with a bow, chap. vi. 2. is Artabanus, king of the Parthians, who slaughtered multitudes of the Jews in Babylon.

3. The red horse, ver. 4.-the Sicarii and robbers in Judea, in the time of the proconsuls Felix and Festus.

4. The black horse, ver. 5.—the famine under Claudius.

5. The pale horse, v. 8.-the plague which followed the robberies and the famine.

6. The souls of those who were slain, ver. 9.-the Christians in Judea, who were persecuted, and were now about to be avenged.

7. The great earthquake, ver. 12.-the commotions which preceded the Jewish rebellion.

8. The servants of God from every tribe, sealed in their foreheads, chap. vii. 3.-the Christians taken under the protection of God, and warned by the prophets to flee immediately from the land.

9. The silence for half an hour, chap. viii. 7.-the short truce granted at the solicitation of king Agrippa. Then follows the rebellion itself.

1. The trees are burnt up, ver. 7.-the fields and villages, and unfortified places of Judea, which first felt the bad effects of the sedition.

2. The burning mountain cast into the sea, which in consequence became blood, ver. 8. and,

3. The burning star falling into the rivers, and making the waters bitter, chap. viii. 10, 11.-the slaughter of the Jews at Cæsarea and Scythopolis.

4. The eclipsing of the sun, moon, and stars, ver. 12.-the anarchy of the Jewish commonwealth.

5. The locust, like scorpions, hurting men, chap. ix. 3.-the expedition of Cestius Gallus, Prefect of Syria.

6. The army with arms of divers colours, ver. 16, 17.-the armies under Vespasian in Judea. About this time Nero and Galba died; after which followed the civil war, sigui

Julian Pe 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the Asia Minor. riod, 4799. words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are Vulgar Era, 96.

written therein: for the time is at hand.

fied by the sounding of the seventh trumpet, chap. x. 7. 11.
xii. 15.

1. The two prophetic witnesses, two olive-trees, two candle-
sticks, chap. xi. 3, 4.-teachers in the Church, predicting the
destruction of the Jewish temple and commonwealth.

2. The death of the witnesses, ver. 7.-their flight, and the flight of the Church of Jerusalem to Pella, in Arabia.

3. The resurrection of the witnesses, after three days and a half, ver. 11.-the predictions began to be fulfilled at a time in which their accomplishment was deemed impossible; and the doctrine of Christ begins to prevail over Judea, and over the whole earth.

4. The tenth part of the city fell in the same hour, and seven thousand names of men slain, ver. 13.-Jerusalem, seized by the Idumeans; and many of the priests and nobles, with Annas the high-priest, signified by names of men, i. e. men of name, slain by the zealots.

5. The woman clothed with the sun; the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head, chap. xii. 1.—the Christian Church.

6. The great red dragon seen in heaven, with seven heads, seven diadems, and ten horns, ver. 6.-the six first Cæsars, who were all made princes at Rome, governing the armies and the Roman people with great authority; especially Nero, the last of them, who, having killed his mother, cruelly vexed the Christians, and afterwards turned his wrath against the rebellious Jews,

7. The seven-headed beast from the sea, having ten horns, surrounded with diadems, chap. xiii. 1.-Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, who were shortly to reign, and who were proclaimed emperors by the army.

8. This beast, having a mouth like a lion, the body like a leopard, and feet like a bear, ver. 2.-avaricious Galba; rash, unchaste, and inconstant Otho; Vitellius, cruel and sluggish, with the German army.

9. One head, i. e. the seventh cut off, ver. 3.-Galba.

10. He who leadeth into captivity, shall be led into captivity; he who killeth with the sword, shall be killed with the sword, ver. 10.-Otho, who subdued the murderers of Galba, and slew himself with a dagger: Vitellius, who bound Sabinus with chains, and was himself afterwards bound.

11. Another beast rising out of the earth, with two horns, ver. 11.-Vespasian and his two sons, Titus and Domitian, elected emperors at the same time in Judea.

12. The number of the wild beasts 666, the number of a man, Teitan, Titan or Titus: T, 300. E, 5. I, 10. T, 300. A, 1. N, 50. making in the whole 666.

But some very respectable MSS. have 616 for the number; if the N be taken away from Teitan, then the letters in Teita make exactly the sum 616.

13. A man sitting upon a cloud, with a crown of gold upon his head, and a sickle in his hand, chap. xiv. 14.-Otho and his army, about to prevent supplies for the army of Vitellius.

14. An angel of fire commanding another angel to gather the vintage; the wine-press trodden, whence the blood flows out

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