We proceed, therefore, to observe, that the death of the Savior at the termination of his three and a half years' ministry on the one hand, and the conversion of Cornelius, after the three and a half years of the apostolic ministry among the Jews on the other, together make up the "one," or last of the 70 prophetic weeks; and, added to the 30 years of Christ's age when he commenced his ministry, it demonstrates that the 70 weeks closed A.D. 37. Now, carry back the 70 weeks, or 490 years from A. D. 37, to the era B. C., and you have the date of "the command to restore and to build Jerusalem," B. C. 453, or A. M. 3679. Then, the 2300 years beginning at the same time, we ascertain their termination merely by deducting the years before the incarnation, which brings us down to A. D. 1847.

But by what event is the close of 2300 years to be signalized? Answer: The cleansing of the sanctuary, the accomplishment of the vision - the last end of the indignation. Dan. viii. 14-19; 23-27. In other words, that in A. D. 1847 the Lord Jehovah will appear for the restoration and re-establishment in Palestine of the seed of Abraham, which he sware unto their fathers.

Thus have we disposed of the first prophetical number of 453, from the commencement of Daniel's 70 weeks to the nativity; or 490, by the addition thereto of A. D. 37, to the conversion of Cornelius, as having a common commencement with the 2300 years. But, as we have seen, the year A. D. 1847, as the terminating point of the 2300 years, when added to A. M. 4132 from the creation, still leaves

21 years minus the 6000. There are however, three other numbers of the "more sure word of prophecy," which, as in the other instance, calculating the present as A. D. 1842, defines the period when " THE MYSTERY OF GOD" in Providence and Redemption shall be " FINISHED. These are, the three following numbers of Daniel xii., 7, 11, 12, viz., "a time, times, and an half," or 1260 years, 1290 years, and

1335 years.

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The point first to be determined in reference to these numbers is, whether they all commence at the same period of time. In order to this, it will be necessary to attach some definite idea to the descriptions given in the imagery of the prophet Daniel, of the two powers spoken of, the first, Chap. vii., 8, 20, 24, 25, and the second, Chap. viii., 8, 9, 10, 11, first clause, verses 23-25. Chap. xi., 31-45, and Rev. xiii. The works also to be accomplished by them respectively claims our special regard. Those of the first are described in Chap. vii., 21, 24, 25; and of the second, Chap. viii., 10-12, 24, 25, xi., 31-45, xii., 7., and Rev. xiii.

Now, the descriptions given by the prophet of the fierceness of character, and the persecuting, destructive career of these two powers, plainly indicate, as we have already said, a strong resemblance of the one to the other: and, united, they are designed to set forth the various persecuting powers which were to try the integrity of the Church, and to impress upon her the momentous truth, that "through much tribulation,"

the faithful within her militant pale, were to into the kingdom of God."1 Hence,

enter

1. Both these powers, in their persecuting career, direct their rage and malice against a common object. The "little horn" of Daniel vii., 8, "makes war with the Saints, and prevails against them," and "wears them out." (v. 20, 24.) And the "little horn" of Chap. viii., 9, "waxes great, even to the host of heaven, some of whom, with the stars, he casts to the ground, stamps upon, and destroys the mighty and the holy people." (v. 10, 24.)

2. To the commencement and termination of both these powers is set a fixed and unalterable period. "The Saints of the most High" were given into the hand of the little horn of Daniel vii., 8, for a time, times, and dividing of time." (v. 25.) And the little horn of Chap. viii., 9, "the king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences," (v. 23,) was to prosper, and practice, and destroy the mighty people, for "a time, times, and an half." (Chap. xii., 7.)

3. To both, (following a supposed long-established and generally received opinion on this subject,) as we shall now show, by a most extraordinary coincidence, is attached the same numerical mark, viz., 666. Rev. xiii., 18; xiv., 11. And,

1. Of the Papal Beast. "It was customary with the Hebrews, Greeks, and Latins, (or Romans,) to use the letters of their Alphabet, to keep accounts by, in. stead of figures, which were of much later invention; the same ancient practice, (in part,) prevails to this day, according to the old Roman custom; as you may

perceive on books, medals, monuments, or public buildings; e. g., MDCCXCIII, is put for 1793, which in Hebrew characters is thus deciphered, 1793, and in Greek thus, ahy 1793.

"Now, the Holy Spirit knowing, that notwithstanding men and nations would change their customs and manners, by being overturned, yet still their numeral letters would remain in use to the latest posterity. He therefore in infinite wisdom thought fit to describe the mark or name of the Popish Beast by numeral letters, that thereby it might unalterably remain, and so not only appear both a mark and a name, but a numeral name, or a name distinguished by the coincidence of its numbers, viz., 666; which number, being pointed out by a most remarkable circumstance, (and of which we shall speak presently,) happening in the corresponding century, it could not be possibly mistaken, forgotten, altered, or lost.

"On these accounts, (among others) no doubt the Holy Ghost gave the true sign or mark of the monster, in cypherical characters, as constitute the number 666, by a singular combination" of the three above named languages. "Nor is it a little astonishing" that this same number, "without a unit over or under should be found in the composition of the name, which has in it a combination of all those languages in which the (Pagan?) beast wrote the inscription over our blessed Lord's head on the Cross, viz., "Latin, Greek, and Hebrew." 1

Now, apply this number to the name and character

1. Luke xxiii., 38.

of the Papal beast "as a man, a Roman, of the Latin nation ; " and it will be found exactly to make out the mark of his name, thus, pr, Romanus, latievos, Latinus; both which, when received as letters, may be called the mark of his name; but when considered as numerals or figures, (of which both words entirely consist,) may then be called the number of his name, or the number of a man, being a Latin name derived from that of Romulus, a man, who founded Rome, Pagan, and so peculiar to a man, viz., the POPE, who is the foundation of Rome Papal."

"Now observe. The Hebrew and Greek letters

Ro רמענט - ,Romiith רומיים composing the words

manus, — or lateros, Latinus, each of them making in numerals exactly 666,- plainly point out not only his name and the number of his name, but also the mark of his name; e. g., in

400. 10. 10. 40. 6. 200. Romiith. 666.

300. 6. 50. 70. 40. 200. Romanus. 666; And also the Greek,

30. 1. 300. 5. 10. 50. 70. 200. Latinus. 666. in each of which the exact mark is contained."

"It therefore evidently appears, that each name is both a mark and a number; a mark, when viewed as made up of so many letters, therefore called the mark of his name; a number, when viewed as made up of so many numerals, thence called the number of his