In the first of these, is Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the image, figuring four great empires. In the second are four beasts, which more fully explain the same thing; and in both a fifth empire is promised, which is to belong to the Saints, and to one like unto the Son of Man, who is to have dominion over all people, nations and languages, and whose kingdom is not to be destroyed. The four first great kingdoms are universally allowed to be the Babylonish, Medo-Persian, Grecian and Roman empires, and the fifth is certainly yet to

come.

But this fifth monarchy is generally taken in a figurative sense. To this I answer, that in that way Scripture could not be fulfilled. The prophets every where speak of the restoration of the descendants of Jacob, and the glorious reign of the Messiah upon earth. And, without doubt, the scattered Jews are to be gathered together, and to become the seat of empire. It is true, they denied and crucified Christ at his first coming, but in doing so, the sacred writings were confirmed. Two comings are pointed out by innumerable passages; for the reign of Messiah upon earth is the great subject on which the inspired writers rejoice. And as the first was a state of sufferings and humility; the latter must be of power and glory, which will fulfil all the predictions as to the Jewish nation.

Before the first coming of JESUS, the manner of his birth and death; his riding into Jerusalem upon an ass; the nature of his vesture, and various other things, were foretold, which were not figuratively but literally fulfilled. In the nineteenth chapter of St. John's Revelation, some very minute particulars, as to his second appearance, are likewise declared in the following words: (see chap. xix, verse 11 to verse 21, both inclusive,)-" And I saw "heaven opened, and beheld a white horse; and "he that sat upon him was called Faithful and “True, and in righteousness he doth judge and "make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, "and on his head were many crowns; and he had

66

a name written that no man knew, but he himself. "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in "blood: and his name is called The Word of God. "And the armies which were in heaven followed "him upon white horses, clothed in fine Linen, "white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth "a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the "nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: "and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness "and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on "his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. And I saw "an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in

66

66

"the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves

"together unto the supper of the great God; that "ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of "captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the "flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and "the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both "small and great. And I saw the beast, and the "kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered "together to make war against him that sat on the "horse, and against his army. And the beast was “taken, and with him the false prophet that "wrought miracles before him, with which he "deceived them that had received the mark of the "beast, and them that worshipped his image. "These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were "slain with the sword of him that sat upon the "horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth; "and all the fowls were filled with their flesh."

66

Now, how could it with truth be said, "That no man shall know his name but himself," unless he comes again as a man? Why should it be written on his vesture and on his thigh, "King of Kings, and Lord of Lords ?" The colour of his garment is to be that of blood. He is now to ride upon a white horse, whereas he formerly rode upon an ass. The beast and the kings of the earth are to make war upon him, and to lead their armies against him and his army. In short, the whole description denotes a second personal appearance in power

and glory; when he will be actually the King of the Kings of the earth, and will establish justice and the true religion throughout the world.

But the twentieth chapter of the Revelations makes this matter, if possible, still clearer: it says, “And I saw an angel come down from heaven,

66

having the key of the bottomless pit and a great "chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the "dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and "satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast "him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, “and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive "the nations no more, till the thousand years "should be fulfilled: and after that he must be "loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and

66

they sat upon them; and judgment was given "unto them: and I saw the souls of them "that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and "for the word of God, and which had not wor

66

66

shipped the beast, neither his image, neither had "received his mark upon their foreheads, or in "their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the "dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first "resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of "Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand

66

66

years. And when the thousand years are expired "Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall "go out to deceive the nations which are in the "four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to "gather them together to battle: the number of "whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went "up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed "the camp of the Saints about, and the beloved "city and fire came down from God out of "heaven and devoured them. And the Devil that "deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and "brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet "are, and shall be tormented day and night for 66 ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, " and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth " and the heaven fled away; and there was found "no place for them. And I saw the dead, small "and great, stand before God: and the books. "were opened and another book was opened, "which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in "the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and "death and hell delivered up the dead which were "in them and they were judged every man "according to their works. And death and hell 66 were cast into the lake of fire. This is the "second death. And whosoever was not found "written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

66

66