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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."

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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 prophe

cies. 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

transgressors are come to the full." When the king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark saying shall stand up-and destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper and he shall magnify himself, and in the pride of his heart "he shall stand up against the Prince of princes," that is the Lord Jesus, "yet he shall be broken without hand." God by his miraculous judgments will utterly destroy him. The Angel having assured the prophet that the vision was true; ordered him to shut it up, for it should be for many days:" that is the events predicted should be realized at a very distant period. chap. viii. 26.

DAN. IX.

In this chapter we are informed that "Daniel understood by books," that the seventy years captivity would soon expire. Therefore he prayed, and fasted, and confessed his sin, and the sins of his people, and humbly implored pardoning mercy, and divine interposition on their behalf. He then gives us an account of another visit from the Angel Gabriel who came to give him skill and understanding in the revelation of God relative to the Seventy weeks, and he was charged to understand the matter and consider the vision, ver. 23.

THE SEVENTY WEEKS.

THERE is a marked anxiety in man to know the times of predicted events, and there is a fixed determination in God not to permit them to be known long before they are accomplished. Yet as God has given dates, many suppose they can ascertain their commencement and termination, and by great ingenuity and immense labour, each has raised a system adapted to his own views though generally dissimilar from all who preceded him. See Tables III. and IV.

But many will reply, 'We are sure that weeks of days, are years, because events have proved that the 70 weeks of Daniel must be so interpreted, though the prophet has given no intimation of it.' I am aware that this is the opinion of many respectable authors, but after mature deliberation, I am constrained to differ from them. I will state what I conceive to be the import of this prophecy, and the reasons why I think it has not been fulfilled.

Daniel ix. 24. "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish transgression, and to make an

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end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness." Mede, and Sir Isaac Newton both thought the prophecy would have its ultimate accomplishment at the second Advent. believe its primary reference is to that period. I am of opinion that the weeks are common weeks, consisting of seven days each, and that they constitute the appointed period for the accomplishment of the following events connected with the Jews, and the city Jerusalem, contained in verses 24-27. "To finish transgression." That is to hinder or put a stop to transgression, or cause it to cease. He will bind satan and "make an end of sins, not by the shedding of blood, for that is done already, but by the effusion of his Spirit and grace. About the same time he will "make reconciliation for iniquity," so that God and sinners will be actually reconciled; then he will "bring in everlasting righteousness;" or the righteousness of the ages to come, when, as God has said, "nothing shall hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain." Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be properly "called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem. When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst

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