sequent to the general conversion of the Gentiles, which is foretold in the close of the second chapter, (ii. 28—32); and of the Jews, which is the subject of the opening of the third chapter, (iii. 1): and this will be followed by a peaceful and prosperous state of the Church; which is described in the close of the same chapter, and also by Isaiah in the conclusion of his prophecy, (chap. Lxvi. 19-24). In the same manner, a similar destruction of God's enemies is foretold by Zechariah (chap. xiv. 1-2, 12-15), which is subsequent to the conversion of the Jews; and this will, in like manner, be followed by a peaceful and flourishing state of the Church, (xiv. 16-21): and similar to these are the events which appear to be alluded to by Daniel, in the close of the eleventh and the beginning of the twelfth chapters. We may therefore probably conclude, from a comparison of these different prophecies, that the present existing state of things will be followed by a general, or at least a considerable conversion of the Gentile nations;—that this, again, will be followed by the overthrow of the great antichristian powers and the conversion of the Jews; and probably, as we may collect from a comparison of the different passages of Scripture relating to this subject, their restoration to their own land';—that to this will succeed a prosperous state of the Christian Church; that this time of peace and prosperity will be again followed by a general attack of the anti-christian powers on the Church; which will, in

2 Compare Zech. xii. 9-14, xiii. 1, 2.

3 Dan. xi. 40-45, xii. 1; and compare particularly chap. xii. 7.

4

This does appear to be implied

in the different passages in the prophetical books, which relate to the restoration of the Jews. See W. Lowth's notes on the prophetical books passim.

their turn, experience a signal overthrow': after which we may look forward to a peaceful state of religion "till the time of the end."

This appears to be the general view of the progress of events in the Christian Church, as it may be collected from a comparison of these different prophecies. But with regard to the particular periods, when all these different events will be accomplished, and many other interesting particulars connected with them, we can form no positive judgment: nay, it is expressly declared that they are "sealed up" and concealed from our knowledge at present; and we are commanded to wait for their full developement in God's own time with patient faith and expectation. With regard however to the general tenor of these prophecies, we may be satisfied from the assurance both of St Paul and of our Redeemer himself, that "blindness in part is happened unto Israel, until until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in3," and that "Jerusalem must be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." But the events foretold are so important, and they are so intimately connected with the patient exercise of our faith in the promises of God, that we may reasonably look to some more complete developement of them under some subsequent dispensation of prophecy, such as that which is contained in the Apocalypse; in which those parts, which are at present involved in obscurity, will be made more clear; and the course of events, which may lead to these important results, will be more fully explained and foretold.

3

1 See W. Lowth's note on Isai. Lxvi. 16.

2 Dan. xii. 8—13.

4 Luke xxi. 24.

Rom. xi. 25.

This is perfectly consistent with the general analogy of prophecy; of which it is one peculiar characteristic, that the older and more obscure prophecies are often elucidated by later and more explicit revelations. It is a general characteristic of those prophecies, which relate to the first coming of our Saviour and the bringing in of the Christian dispensation, that they grow more clear as they advance towards the period of their accomplishment. We may therefore reasonably expect, with respect to those prophecies which regard the more distant events of the Christian dispensation, that the want of distinctness, which must necessarily belong to the older prophecies, would be made more clear by subsequent revelations ; revelations, which would be better appreciated and more clearly understood, when the first objects of the former prophecies were accomplished by the promulgation of the Gospel, and the appearance of those great anti-christian powers; of which the destruction, (though, until explained by further revelations, the subject is involved in considerable obscurity,) constitutes so important a feature in ancient prophecy.

(3) Another remark, which may be made with respect to the ancient prophecies, relates to the impossibility, with respect to many of them, of fixing the exact period of their commencement and their termination. There are some prophecies, for instance, those relating to the Babylonish captivity, of which the commencement is dated from different periods"; and which therefore imply more than one termination. There are others, again, of which the fulfilment is gradual, and of which therefore, the exact period of

5 Sec W. Lowth on Jerem. xxv. 11, and Zech. i. 12.

their commencement can never be exactly defined. But it is also true of other prophecies, which may be said to be of a more definite character; of which the prophecy of our Saviour's coming, which is contained in the weeks of Daniel, affords a remarkable instance. This prophecy, if any, may be said to mark out a definite period of accomplishment. Yet notwithstanding all the evidence of its fulfilment about the time predicted, who can presume to fix the exact period of its commencement? or to place beyond all doubt the difficulties which attend the interpretation of the close of this prophecy? Still less then, may we expect to fix the exact period, either of the commencement or the termination of other prophecies, which embrace a much longer period, and in which the true nature and character of the events foretold are involved in much greater difficulty; such as the periods of 1260, 1290, and 1335 days of the prophet Daniel'. With regard to these prophecies, the prophet himself was assured by the Divine Author of them, that they were "closed up and sealed unto the time of the end";" and he was enjoined by the same supreme authority to wait in faith and patience for their accomplishment. "Go thy way, till the end be: for thou shalt rest and stand in thy lot at the end of the days"." With regard to the general character of the events involved in these different periods, we may collect it from a consideration of the prophecies which contain them: but with regard to the particular period, as well as the mode of their accomplishment, it is evident that they are hidden, as they were intended to be, in impenetrable darkness.

1 Dan. xii. 7, 11, 12.

2 Ib. xii. 9.

3 Ib. xii. 13.

(4) Another question connected with this inquiry, which deserves our attentive consideration, relates to the extent, to which temporal events, and the fates and fortunes of temporal kingdoms are made the subject of ancient prophecy.

If we examine the prophecies of the Old Testament with reference to this point, we shall find that the affairs of temporal kingdoms are made the subject of ancient prophecy, only as far as they fell within the range of Jewish observation, or were connected with the fortunes of the Jewish people. In the revelation, which God made to Abraham with respect to the remote judgment upon Egypt and the Ammonites, (Gen. xv. 14, 16,) and the nearer judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah; it was connected, in the case of the former nation, with their cruelty and oppression towards God's peculiar people; and of the latter, with their great and abandoned wickedness.

In the Mosaic æra, we may observe the like union of the Pagan subject with the more immediate subject of prophecy, in the prophecies which were uttered by Balaam with regard to the Amalekites, the Kenites, and the Assyrians. The destruction, which is denounced by subsequent prophets upon the neighbouring nations, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Edomites, and the Philistines, as well as upon the greater kingdoms of Tyre, of Egypt, of Assyria and Babylon', is expressly declared to be in punishment of their impiety, their idolatry, and their oppression of God's chosen people.

In the same manner, some of the greatest conquerors of antiquity are expressly described as in

4 Numbers xxiv. 17-22.

5 Comp. Ezek. xxv-xxxii.