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empire of Alexander among them, and thus fulfilled the prophecy. And out of one of them came fourth a little horn which waxed exceeding great toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land." viii. 9. This is generally thought to be Mahomet who rose out of the kingdom of Ptolemy and waxed great southward, eastward and towards Palestine, or the pleasant land.

8. The eight symbol called "the Fourth Beast was dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly, and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and it brake in pieces and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it: and it had ten horns," vii. 7. This beast is the representative of the same kingdom as the iron legs of the metalic image, and is generally thought to represent the Roman Empire. It appears to be a compound of the three former beasts, having the lion's head, the bear's feet and the leopard's body; and as many horns as the ram, and the goat, for when the great horn of the goat was broken there came up four in its stead, making the whole number ten; besides the little notable horn which came up after it, vii. 8. This fourth kingdom in its divided form includes all the kingdoms into which that empire was divided; and these will exist until the thrones

are set for the assessors, (1. Cor. vi. 2.) and the Ancient of days sits in judgment on the nations, which judgment will slay the beast and destroy the horn. Dan. vii. 11. 26.

After the judgment upon the kingdoms represented by the fourth beast, the fifth great universal kingdom will be established; this is represented by the Stone which smote the image. The Stone symbolizes the kingdom of Christ, or the Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven; and he was brought before his Father, who gave "him dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." Dan. vii. 13, 14.

Thus closed the wonderful vision which grieved and troubled the prophet, and made him anxious to know "the truth of all this:" and having one near him who understood the whole, he asked him the meaning of the vision and received the following "interpretation of the things" which he saw.

"These great beasts which are four, are four kings which shall arise out of the earth." ver. 17. These are the Babylonian, the MedoPersian, the Macedonian or Grecian, and the Roman kingdoms, but as Daniel had understood these things by the interpretation of the great Image, the Interpreter did not enlarge upon them; but proceeded to instruct him in that which was most interesting to him, that is, the fifth monarchy, the kingdom of the Stone, or the kingdom of God, when "the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever." vii. 18. As the fourth beast appeared so very extraordinary, the prophet was anxious for more information respecting it, and particularly concerning the little horn which made war with the saints and prevailed against them, even until the Ancient of days came. ver. 19-22. To satisfy these important inquiries, the Interpreter, said, "The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth and tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings which shall arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings." ver. 23, 24. This little horn is by most commentators thought to be the Popedom, which subdued three kings, by which the pope became a temporal prince, and fixed the seat of his government at Rome. This little horn "shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to

change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time, and times, and the dividing of time." ver. 25. But when this time arrives, "the judgment shall sit, and they," the agents of divine judgments, "shall take away his dominion to consume and to destroy it unto the end." vii. 25, 26. When that is accomplished the Millennium will commence, and the saints under Christ have universal dominion. "And the kingdom, and dominion, and greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." Dan. vii. 27. The saints in heaven are now anticipating this era of superior bliss. "Thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood,-and hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign upon earth.Rev. v. 9, 10. This is the consummation of events foretold by the spirit of prophecy. "Hitherto is the end of the matter."

In the explanation of the plate I have expounded the principal prophecies of Daniel as far as the eight verse of the VIII. chapter. The following verse mentions the rising of a "little horn" which I now proceed to notice. I think this prophecy is not consecutive. Here is one of those great chasms which are frequently met with in the prophecies. This commences at the breaking up of the Grecian Empire, and continues to the last days. I incline to think that the person refered to by "the little horn" is "the king of fierce countenance" ver. 23, and that he is the same as the "vile person," and "the king that shall do according to his will,"xi. 21, 36. Some authors say the little horn is the Pope, and others that it is Mahomet, but I believe it refers to the Antichrist of the last days. All these interpretations necessarily include a very long interval of time. I think it appears that at least a portion of the Jews will be restored in their unconverted state, that they will rebuild the temple and restore the daily sacrifice. Then the little horn will wax great and magnify himself even to the prince of the host, and that he will take away the daily sacrifice and set up the predicted abomination, profane the sanctuary and the host and tread them under foot in contempt for 2300 literal days. ver. 14.

I incline to think the complete accomplishment of the vision will be realized "at the time of the end." ver. 17. It is what shall be in the last end of the indignation," for the time appointed will be the end" ver. 19. Though parts of the vision refer to the kings of Media and Persia, and the king of Grecia, yet some of the events are to be "in the latter (or last) time of their kingdom, when the

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