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writings, is ch. ix. 15. of this book. "And the four

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angels were loofed, which were prepared for an "hour and a day, and a month and a year, for to flay the third part of men." But this exception is only apparent, for the word in the original which is tranflated year in this paffage is very different from the one tranflated year in chap. xx. In chap. ix. it is inauтot, which properly fignifies a revolution, that which returns again into itself, and ought to have been tranflated a revolution in that place. But, in all the fix verses in chap. xx. where the word years occurs, it is in in the original, which is the proper word for years in the Greek language.

It seems alfo to be agreeable to the idiom of the fymbolical or prophetic language, that whenever the fame period of time is repeated in the fame continued narration, a different fymbol, but which fignifies the fame length of time, is used at each repetition: for this good reafon, that by comparing one of them with another, and finding their exact agreement in fenfe, though different in found, we may learn with certainty the period of time which they fignify. Thus, chap. xi. 2, 3. 42 months and 1260 days are used to fignify the fame period of time, even 1243 civil years, as was formerly fhewn, and, in chap. xii. 6, 14, 1260 days, and a time and times and half a time, are ufed to fignify the fame period of time. But in literal

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literal or common language the very reverfe is the cafe in order to prevent ambiguity, whenever the fame period of time is repeated in a continued narrative, the fame terms are used to exprefs it at each repetition. It is not expreffed in days in one part of the narrative, in weeks, months, or years in other parts of it. But, in chap. xx. though the period of the millennium is fix times repeated in verses 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, it is always expreffed without variation by "a thousand years." For thefe two reafons, together with another which cannot be ftated with propriety and force until it hath been firft produced in proof of the time of the commencement of the millennium, I am as fully convinced as language can make me, that the continuance of the millennium fhall be for one thousand civil yeaas.

But, let it be obferved that the church of Chrift shall not be oppreffed nor overcome by her enemies when thofe thousand years fhall expire. She hall continue triumphant to the end of the world; and for ever in a future ftate. For, in ch. xxii. 5. which refpects the millennium ftate,as fhall be fhewn in its place, it is faid, "the fervants of God fhall "reign for ever and ever." But, by the millennium is meant, that for thefe thoufand years no attempt whatever fhall be made to disturb the peace and interrupt the profperity of the church of Chrift and of the world, that there fhall be no

perfecutions

perfecutions nor wars on the whole earth: but, at the end of these thoufand years, certain perfons ftiled Gog and Magog, inftigated by the Devil, fhall'attack the church of Chrift, and by bloody wars fhall difturb the peace of the whole world for a fhort time; but, that they shall be disappointed in their wicked attempts, and totally deftroyed. And, that by their deftruction the church of Chrift and the world fhall be left in a ftate of complete and final triumph and peace. These particulars will be illuftrated in the commentary on verfes 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th.

It now only remains, that I fhould fhew at what time the millennium fhall begin. That it fhall begin with the year of Chrift 2000, will I hope clearly appear to every candid and intelligent reader, from the following evidence. From chap. xix. 11. to chap. xx. 4. there is a clofe and continued narrative of the laft and bloody wars in which the enemies of Chrift's church fhall be overthrown, and at the termination of which the triumphant ftate of his church fhall commence. In that narrative, chap. xix. 12. Chrift is reprefented with many crowns on his head; chap. xix. 19, 20. the kings of the earth, the beaft, and the falfe prophet are reprefented as killed; chap. xx. 1, 2. Satan, the third clafs of Chrift's enemies, is reprefented as chained in hell for a thousand years; chap. xix. 14. the armies in heaven, or

faints,

faints, are reprefented as following Chrift; and chap, xx. 4. these faints are reprefented as placed upon thrones, and reigning with Chrift a thousand years.

This connection to fome perfons may appear to be broken by the intervention of the divifion of the xx. chapter. But let fuch perfons be informed, that they ought to judge of the connection of the narrative by the sense, and in doing fo, they ought not fo much as to fuppofe the intervention of a divifion by the chapter. There were no divifions by chapters and verfes in the original manuscripts of the facred fcriptures; but these were introduced in latter times, in order to affift men in making and finding citations from fcripture with more expedition and certainty. The chapters are not always made at the moft proper places, which is the cafe with this xx. chapter.

As therefore this is a very close connected narrative, the events contained in it must happen in the order in which they are narrated; and confequently, the millennium muft commence immediately upon the final overthrow of Papal Rome. But, it was formerly fhewn in its proper place, that Papal Rome fhall be completely overthrown, in the end of the year of Chrift 1999. The millennium, therefore, which both in the order of this prophecy and in the nature of the thing, follows close upon the overthrow of Papal Rome, muft

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commence

commence in the beginning of the year of Chrift

2000.

On account of the prevalence of true religion and the total reft from wars in it, the millennium is as it were the great fabbath of the whole earth. The seventh part of time was fet apart by the Almighty for a fabbath to men: But, the year of Chrift 2000 is the first year of the feventh millennary of the world. At that time, 6000 years from the creation of the world will be run. Through the whole fcriptures, both of the Old and New Testament, there is a ftriking typical representation of fome great and important fabbath, as a great feptenary that has not yet taken place, and which evidently appears to be the millennarian feptenary, as the great fabbath of the whole earth. Thus, Gen. ii. 3. "God bleffed the feventh day, and "fanctified it." Exod. xx. 8,-11. The appointment of the seventh day as the weekly fabbath was renewed in a most folemn manner. Levit. xxv. 1,-7. every feventh year was appointed a fabbatical year; and Levit. xxv. 8, 9. the commencement of the year of jubilee, which was every fiftieth year, was to be fixed by the running of a "And thou fhalt

feptenary of fabbatical years:

"number seven fabbaths of years unto thee, seven

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years, and the space of the feven fabbaths of }. years fhall be unto thee forty and nine years.' The number feven, becaufe ufed in fcripture to

complete

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