If as many assert, the two witnesses are the Old and New Testaments they have both been prophesying since A. D. 95, and if as others assert they are the two churches, Jewish and the Christian, they began their prophesying much earlier.

Writers on chronological prophecy ransack the pages of history for some remarkable events from which to commence the prophetic eras, and they have generally passed over the commencement of great revolutions to fix

some subsequent event less important, though more convenient as a prophetic epoch. The termination of these important periods are generally fixed sufficiently distant to prevent the authors' mortification of seeing faithful time falsify their predictions. Later writers however, are not so prudent, for they venture on dates some of which have occurred in their own life time 1789, 1792, 1793, 1796, 1798, 1806, 1812, 1823, 1836, 1837, 1838, and others may occur 1843, 1844, 1847, &c.

5. I object to the day-year theory because it does not appear that any man ever interpreted days, as meaning years, during the first fifteen centuries of the christian era. All the early christian Fathers were Millennarians, and understood the prophecies relative to Christ and Antichrist, and the times of their respective reigns literally. They believed in a personal Antichrist, and

that he would come in the last four years of the world; that he would reign three years and an half, and then be destroyed in the land of Judea by the personal advent of Christ, who would then reign with his saints a thousand years.*

6. Because the most judicious writers on this subject differ greatly among themselves relative to the predicted events and dates, frequently five hundred years, and sometimes nearly a thousand, see Faber and Habershon, Table IV. Seal I.

7. Because these prophecies, said to be fulfilled, produce no general conviction. Fulfilled prophecies are demonstrations of the truth. We can point to the scattered Jews, to Babylon, Nineveh, Tyre, Jerusalem, and to Jesus, and say, here is the fulfilment of prophecy. But who has ever pointed the infidel to the fulfilment of the Seals, Trumpets or Vials as a demonstration of the truth of the Apocalypse? Some persons inquire 'Have all the mighty battles and revolutions which have occurred since the close of the sacred canon, been unnoticed by the prophets, except the destruction of Jerusalem?' I think so: there is no series of them foretold: the theme of the prophets is crisis rather than continuous events. All the destructive wars and mighty conquests have been but *Pareus, p. 525.

the quarrels, fightings, and usurpations of wicked men, to gratify their lusts for revenge or dominion; and there is no revolution worthy of prophetic notice, but that which will either subvert the antichristian powers, or establish the reign of Christ. The New Testament prophets were commissioned to notice only the wars which related to the church, such as the destruction of Jerusalem, the battle of that great day of God Almighty, &c. See Rev. xvi. 14. xix. 11-21. xx. 8-10.

When the hail and

From the close of the sacred canon to the present time, there has not been one event concerning which commentators have agreed to say, 'This is that which was spoken by the apostle John.' One is ready to ask with astonishment, why are the fulfilled prophecies of the Old Testament generally so indisputable, and nearly all those of the New Testament so doubtful? fire mingled with blood, are cast upon the earth, and the third part of trees burnt up, and all green grass burnt up, Rev. viii. 7. there will be no dispute whether this was the first Trumpet. When there falls a noisome and grievous sore, worse than the sixth plague of Egypt, and it affects none but those men which have the mark of the beast and worship his image, xvi. 2. there will be no doubt entertained whether it was the first Vial. Who, after the lapse of 1800 years, can put his finger on

the pages of history, and say this is certainly the fulfilment of the eleventh chapter of the Revelation, and this of the twelfth?

8. Because what is called the 'grand period of 2520 years,' is a mere creature of the fancy, made to arise out of the phrase, "seven times," which simply denotes the seven years during which Nebuchadnezzar should have his dwelling with the beasts of the field, Dan iv. 16. 24. 25. 32. Some also adduce in proof, the threatening denounced against Israel, "I will punish you seven times for your sins," Lev. xxvi. 18–28. and also the number "seven times" which the priests were ordered to compass Jericho. Josh. v. 4-16. These seven times they reckon seven prophetic years, 360×72520, the half of which is 1260. But the scriptures give no countenance to this fanciful mode of reckoning; but inform us that Nebuchadnezzar lived until the appointed "times" of punishment had passed over him. Hear his own testimony, "And at the end of the days, I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes to heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High." Dan. iv. 34. Dean Prideaux says, 'his senses were taken from him B. C. 569 and at the end of seven years, B. C. 563, his understanding returning to him, he was restored again to his kingdom.'

9. Because if days are years, all the important events foretold in scripture, and amongst them, the second Advent might be known some hundreds of years before the time, which is contrary to the plain declarations of revealed truth. It is evident that "God hath determined the times before appointed," and "that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he will gather together in one, all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him." Eph. i. 10. And that he will restore the kingdom to Israel: but when the disciples asked their Lord about the time, He said, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his power." Acts i. 7.

10. Because if the precise time could be ascertained, it would falsify our Lord's assertion, "Ye know not when the time is:" and would render the commandment founded upon it, utterly useless. "Watch, for ye know not when the time is." The precise time of the second Advent is fixed. The Rev. Joseph Wolf says it will be in the year 1847. But where is the propriety of watching for an event definitely fixed for a certain year, before the commencement of that year? The day is indeed appointed, but "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing;" and the time of the second Advent is one