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III. The conqueft of the Eastern Roman Provinces in Europe.

Verse 14. "Loofe the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

15. "And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to flay the third part of men."

17. "And the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions: and out of their mouths iffued fire, and smoke and brimstone.

18. "By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the fmoke, and by the brimstone."

We conceive ver. 15. to describe an empire, which was to arife for the completion of a particular event at a given time, and at the end of 391 years.

Gibbon, vol. 10, page 352, "The name of Alp Arflan, the valiant lion, &c. and the fucceffor of Togrul, difplayed the fierceness and generofity of the royal animal. He paffed the Euphrates, A. D. 1063, at the head of the Turkish cavalry." We

may

may therefore infer, that this war began in 1062, or upon the inveftiture of Togrul.

In fupport of this we may ftate four conjectures:

I. That the empire of the Turks, represented under four angels, arofe out of three powers, viz. the Perfian, Chagan, and Saracen.

II. That the lion, was the appellation given to the Sultan of the Turks.

III. That the use of gunpowder * is reprefented under the figurative expreffions fire, fmoke, and brimstone.

IV. That the refult of our periods account for the space of time which elapfed previously to the capture of Conftantinople, viz.

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1453

* Gib. Vol. 12, p. 63.-Gunpowder.

† Conftantinople taken May 29, A. D. 1453. Gib.

Vol. 12, p. 209.

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We therefore conclude that the whole of this chapter relates to the fulfilling of what we have ftated to fall under the fecond vial.

In the 11th chapter, verse 2. "But the Court which is without the temple leave out, and measure not; for it is given unto the Gentiles; and the holy city fhall they tread under foot forty and two months." "The court",we interpret to refer to the Roman dominions in Afia; and "the city" to allude to Antioch. This being the city where the disciples were first named Chriftians*: And from the words "leave out" we infer, that the remaining prophecies in Revelation are not to be construed to allude to Afia. We shall therefore proceed to draw our conclusion respecting the completion of this prophecy, with regard to the Roman provinces between the feas.

Daniel, Chap. 8, Verfe 13. "How long fhall be the vifion concerning the daily facrifice, and the tranfgreffion of defolation, to give both the fanctuary and the hoft to be trodden under foot?

Verse 14. The answer. "Unto two thousand and three hundred days".

* Acts chap. xi. ver. 26.

Chap.

Chap. 12, Verfe 6. "How long fhall it be to the end of thefe wonders?

Verse 7. The answer. "He held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and fware by him that liveth for ever, that it shall be for a time, times, and an half.

Verse 12. "Bleffed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days."

The three times in Daniel, Chap. 12, plainly demonstrate that the prophecies will be fulfilled at three different periods; and that the prophecy of 2,300 years concerning the abolition of the daily facrifice, of course must end at the period of 1335

Chap. 16, Verse 2. " And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous fore upon the men which had the mark of the beaft, and upon them which worshipped his image.

Verfe 3. "And the fecond angel poured out his vial upon the fea; and it became as the blood

of

of a dead man: ond every living foul died in the

fea.

Verfe 4. "And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood."

Verse 8. "And the fourth angel poured out. his vial upon the fun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire."

Verse 10.

"And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the feat of the beaft; and his kingdom was full of darkness, and they gnawed their tongues for pain.”

Verse 12.

«And the fixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the Kings of the Eaft might be prepared."

We therefore conclude that the different dates apply to each of the firft three vials, and to their correfponding ones, viz. the 4th 5th and 6th.

Therefore if we add 1260 years to the time of pouring out any of the first three vials, it will furnifh us with the year in which it will end.

And

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