what has been revealed concerning our own age and its close is thus sufficiently evident; and it is hoped that this volume may prove helpful to some who are desirous of acquiring the necessary information. With such an object in view, we have examined only those prophecies which would enable us to construct the scheme of God's dealings with our race, so far as it has pleased Him to disclose them. For if we can but discern the grand outline, all details will easily fall into place.

These pages are, however, put forth without any feeling of dogmatic certainty; the writer is well aware of the feebleness of the human mind in its attempts to cope with so vast a subject, and of the proneness of the human will to see only that side of a matter which is favourable to its own foregone conclusions. Nevertheless, he judges that the Scriptures, being a revelation to men, can, therefore, be comprehended by them, if they ask the Spirit's aid. And, so far as he is conscious, the system here propounded was not first constructed and then justified, but has been gradually evolved by a close study of the Divine revelations.

Its publication was prompted, in no small degree, by the prevalence in popular works of sundry statements which, having been for many years passed on from commentator to commentator, are too often accepted as indisputable truths, though they seem to invite more accurate investigation. The meaning of this remark will be best explained by a few examples.

Those who support what is called the Protestant interpretation believe Romanism to be the great evil power in which all the prophecies respecting Antichrist will find their fulfilment, and, consequently, hold that it will continue until it is destroyed by the Lord at His appearing.

The

If, however, we turn to the latest prediction on this subject, the seventeenth chapter of the Apocalypse, a difficulty seems to lie in the way. vision set before us is that of a wild beast, which may be readily identified with the fourth of Daniel's vision, and, therefore, represents the secular power of Rome. But the beast wears no crowns, as he does in the thirteenth chapter, for a very obvious reason: he is ridden and directed by a woman who is universally admitted to be the Church of Rome. We are thus able to recognize a picture of the times during which the Roman Empire has been in abeyance, and an ecclesiastical sovereignty has more or less taken its place. But what is the end of the vision? The woman is hurled from her seat, and destroyed with hatred and violence, not by the Lord, but by ten kings, who can be identified with the toes of Nebuchadnezzar's image. And after her destruction, these kings transfer the sovereignty, which she had claimed, to the beast, or secular power.

If, then, the usual, and undoubtedly correct, Protestant interpretation of the Harlot is to stand, we have a clear intimation that Popery will be exterminated by human agents, and will be succeeded by a secular and altogether antagonistic power. And the

what has been revealed concerning our own age and its close is thus sufficiently evident; and it is hoped that this volume may prove helpful to some who are desirous of acquiring the necessary information. With such an object in view, we have examined only those prophecies which would enable us to construct the scheme of God's dealings with our race, so far as it has pleased Him to disclose them. For if we can but discern the grand outline, all details will easily fall into place.

These pages are, however, put forth without any feeling of dogmatic certainty; the writer is well aware of the feebleness of the human mind in its attempts to cope with so vast a subject, and of the proneness of the human will to see only that side of a matter which is favourable to its own foregone conclusions. Nevertheless, he judges that the Scriptures, being a revelation to men, can, therefore, be comprehended by them, if they ask the Spirit's aid. And, so far as he is conscious, the system here propounded was not first constructed and then justified, but has been gradually evolved by a close study of the Divine revelations.

Its publication was prompted, in no small degree, by the prevalence in popular works of sundry statements which, having been for many years passed on from commentator to commentator, are too often accepted as indisputable truths, though they seem to invite more accurate investigation. The meaning of this remark will be best explained by a few examples.

vii

Those who support what is called the Protestant interpretation believe Romanism to be the great evil power in which all the prophecies respecting Antichrist will find their fulfilment, and, consequently, hold that it will continue until it is destroyed by the Lord at His appearing.

If, however, we turn to the latest prediction on this subject, the seventeenth chapter of the Apook lypse, a difficulty seems to lie in the way. 1, vision set before us is that of a wild beast, which may be readily identified with the fourth of ex vision, and, therefore, represents the secula porca Af Rome. But the beast wears no erov 18 á in the thirteenth chagner. for a very oumo & rekry he is ridden and direed II &

versally admitted to be the Cane & kons

are thus able to repugui

during which the Roman Jama

ance, and an ecclesiastica

less taken its place.

vision? The woman is ..... destroyed with hatred and SEO but by ten kings, who can be iuently of Nebuchadnezzar's image. Auc al tion, these kings transfer the sovere had claimed, to the beast, or secula If, then, the usual, and undou testant interpretation of the have a clear intimation that For nated by human agents, and v secular and altogether antago

what has been revealed concerning our own age and its close is thus sufficiently evident; and it is hoped that this volume may prove helpful to some who are desirous of acquiring the necessary information. With such an object in view, we have examined only those prophecies which would enable us to construct the scheme of God's dealings with our race, so far as it has pleased Him to disclose them. For if we can but discern the grand outline, all details will easily fall into place.

These pages are, however, put forth without any feeling of dogmatic certainty; the writer is well aware of the feebleness of the human mind in its attempts to cope with so vast a subject, and of the proneness of the human will to see only that side of a matter which is favourable to its own foregone conclusions. Nevertheless, he judges that the Scriptures, being a revelation to men, can, therefore, be comprehended by them, if they ask the Spirit's aid. And, so far as he is conscious, the system here propounded was not first constructed and then justified, but has been gradually evolved by a close study of the Divine revelations.

Its publication was prompted, in no small degree, by the prevalence in popular works of sundry statements which, having been for many years passed on from commentator to commentator, are too often accepted as indisputable truths, though they seem to invite more accurate investigation. The meaning of this remark will be best explained by a few examples.