CHAPTER III.

.

Respecting the fifth and sixth apocalyptic seals. p. 319.

The machinery of the fifth and sixth seals is different from that

of the four first. p. 319.

I. The fifth seal indicates a short and imperfect rest from per-

secution. p. 319.

II. The sixth seal is divided into two portions. p. 322.

1. The first portion indicates a mighty change in the

Roman world, by which Paganism is subverted and

Christianity is established. p. 322.

2. The second portion exhibits the results of this mighty

change. p. 325.

(1.) A separation is made between spiritual and secu.

lar Christians. p. 327.

(2.) The Church is delivered from pagan persecution.

p. 334.

CHAPTER IV.

Respecting the seventh apocalyptic seal. p. 337.

The account, which is given of the seventh seal, is a brief sylla-

bus of its contents, as afterward set forth at large in the

two successive septenaries of the trumpets and the vials.

p. 337.

I. The short silence in heaven. p. 341.

II. The particulars connected with the reception of the seven

trumpets by the seven angels, p. 345.

III. The voices and thunders and lightnings and earthquake.

p. 347,

CHAPTER V.

Respecting the apocalyptic third part. p. 350.

With the septenary of the trumpets commences the use of the

phrase The third part. p. 350.

1. The Roman Empire is described as the world. Hence the

third part is the third part of the world and hence,

as that world is triply divided, there are three such

third parts. p. 350.

1. The first third part is the Latin Empire of the West,

p. 351.

2. The second third part is the Greek Empire of the

East. p. 352.

3. The third third part is Roman Africa in the South.

p. 352.

H. The reason why the phrase first occurs in the septenary of

the trumpets. p. 353.

CHAPTER VI.

Respecting the four first apocalyptic trumpets. p. 354.

The four first trumpets are homogenous: hence, before they

can be interpreted, the principle of their interpretation

must be developed. p. 354.

I. The first trumpet produces the plague from the north-

wind. p. 361.

1. The poetical machinery of the first trumpet, in strict

accordance with the voice of History, shews, that it

comprehends every attack upon the Roman Em-

pire from the north. p. 361.

2. The true date of the first trumpet ascertained from

the mention of the third part. p. 362.

3. The operation of the great northern hail-storm. p. 364.

4. It was divided into four tempests. p. 365.

(1.) The tempest directed by Alaric. p. 365.

(2.) The tempest directed by Rhadagast. p. 367.

(3.) The tempest directed by Genseric, during his

progress from the north through Spain into

Africa. p. 368.

(4.) The tempest directed by Attila. p. 369.

5. By this hail-storm the Latin third part alone was

parched up, though it more or less affected the

whole Empire. p. 371.

II. The second trumpet brings the plague from the south-

wind. p. 372.

1. Remarks upon the necessarily contracted operation

of the three last winds, as the Empire was succes-

sively partitioned. p. 373.

2. The poetical machinery of the second trumpet, in

strict accordance with the voice of History, shews,

that it relates to an attack upon the diminished

Empire from the south. p. 374.

3. The operation of the figurative volcano exhibited in

the attacks of Genseric and his Vandals from the

kingdom which they founded in Africa. p. 375.

III. The third trumpet introduces the plague from the west-

wind. p. 379.

1. The figurative west-wind blows upon Italy from

Spain and Gaul : and, at length, the star of the

Latin Empire is cast down from heaven by Odoa-

cer and the Heruli. p. 380.

2. The kingdoms of the broken Latin Empire are tinged

with the wormwood of bitter wars and dissentions.

p. 383.

IV. The fourth trumpet brings the plague from the east-wind.

p. 385.

1. An eclipse of the political luminaries of the remain-

ing third part or of the Byzantine Empire is fore-

told. p. 385.

2. The figurative eclipse is fully explained by History.

p. 387.

(1.) Chosroes and the Persians bring the Byzantine

Empire to the verge of ruin. p. 388.

(2.) The eclipse passes away, and the Byzantine Em-

pire recovers its lustre. p. 389.

CHAPTER VII.

Respecting the fifth and sixth apocalyptic trumpets or the first

and second woe-trumpets. p. 391.

The three final trumpets, respectively introducing three great

woes, are homogeneous: hence they must be interpreted

homogeneously. p. 391.

I. The fifth trumpet introduces the first woe, or the woe of

Saracenic Mohammedism. p. 393.

1. The characteristics of the symbolical locusts. p. 397.

(1.) The first characteristic. p. 398.

(2.) The second characteristic. p. 398.

(3.) The third characteristic. p. 399.

(4.) The fourth characteristic. p. 399.

(5.) The fifth characteristic. p. 399.

(6.) The sixth characteristic. p. 399.

(7.) The seventh characteristic. p. 400.

(8.) The eighth characteristic. p. 400.

2. The king of the locusts. p. 401.

3. The fallen star. p. 402.

(1.) The date of the star's completed fall is the date

of the sounding of the fifth trumpet. p. 403.

(2.) The mode, in which the fallen star opened the

door of the pit. p. 407.

4. The chronological arrangement of the five prophetic
months they commenced A. P. C. 612, and expired

A. P.C. 762 ; being the measure or duration of the

first woe. p. 409.

5. It is intimated, that a much longer period intervenes

between the first woe and the second, than between

the second woe and the third. p.411.

II. The sixth trumpet introduces the second woe or the woe of

Turcomannic Mohammedism. p. 411.

1. The four angels bound upon the great river Eu-

phrates. p. 415.

2. The object of their liberation. p. 416.

3. The characteristics of the Euphratean horsemen.

p. 416.

(1.) The first characteristic. p. 416.

(2.) The second characteristic. p. 417.

(3.) The third characteristic. p. 417.

4. The irreclaimableness of the demonolatrous apos-

tates. p. 418.

5. A discussion of the number connected with the se-

cond woe; the day and the month and the year.

p. 420.

(1.) Abstractedly, it is not absolutely certain, whether

the number be equivalent to 391 natural years

or to 396, natural years: though the peculiar

phraseology of St. John leads us, even ante-

cedently, to adopt the latter opinion. The

point, therefore, must be positively determined

by history. p. 421.

(2.) Now history shews, that the second woe, and

therefore its numerical period, commenced

June 9, 1301. p. 423.

(3.) And it equally shews, that the second woe and

its period must have terminated with the battle

of Zenta, fought Sep. 1. O. S. or Sep. 11.

N. S. 1697. p. 430.

(4.) Historical summary of events connected with the

battle of Zenta. p. 432.

(5.) The prophetic day and month and year are,