CHAPTER III

Showing the history of the Beast and Antichrist, together with 1290 days, by the remainder of the 11th and 12th chapters of Daniel

The history of the fourth kingdom which we are now entering upon, is divided into two parts, represented by the legs and feet of the image, the ten horns, and the little horn,-the great red dragon,-and the woman, the Pagan and Papal, the daily sacrifice abomination, and the abomination, that maketh desolate.ESH 24.1

The first of these, Rome pagan, or the daily sacrifice abomination, the Angel Gabriel now goes on to explain to Daniel, and after showing when this kingdom begins as we heretofore explained Daniel 11:24, he then gives us a short prophetic history down to the time when pagan Rome should be taken away to make room for papal Rome. We will now follow the Angel Gabriel Daniel 11:24, “He shall enter peacefully upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his father’s fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches; yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.” In this verse the character of the Roman kingdom is even, that he would enter into the most populous places, take the spoil and prey, and scatter them among the more dependant parts of the Roman government. Did not Rome bring much riches out of As ia, and scatter them through the western empire? which luxuries finally proved her ruin? “Even for a time,” this I suppose is the time pagan Rome was to exist, which I shall hereafter show is 666 years. See Revelation 13:18.ESH 24.2

Daniel 11:25. “And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand; for they shall forecast devices against him.” This verse, is a description of the wars between Rome and Egypt, in the days of Pompey and the Caesars, which was noticed in the last chapter, this description being national.ESH 24.3

26 verse, “Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat, shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow; and many, shall fall down slain.” This verse alludes to the Roman generals making their treaties with Ptolemy and Cleopatra king and queen of Egypt, and afterwards destroying them and making them a Roman province, see the history of Anthony and Octavius Caesar.ESH 24.4

27 verse, “And both of These king’s (Anthony and Octavius) hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper; for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.” That this verse is a description of these two Roman rulers, is almost left without a doubt, they not only broke their faith, with other nations, but with each other, and with their wives, and through these two rulers, Rome lost the remainder of her liberties, and under them, the city of Rome ceased to be republican, and the government became imperial.ESH 24.5

28 verse, “Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits and return to his own land.” Octavius Caesar after he had conquered Anthony and Egypt, returned to Rome, carrying great riches, and entered the city in triumph, and by the means of his riches and spoil, he got himself proclaimed emperor of Rome by the name of Augustus Caesar; but was under the reign of his successor, Tiberius Caesar, that the Roman government manifested its hatred against the holy covenant, by beheading John, and crucifying our Saviour.ESH 25.1

29 verse, “At the time appointed he shall return and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former or as the latter.” This verse seems to carry us down to the end, or appointed time when pagan Rome was about to be taken away; if this is correct then “he shall return,” had reference to the northern nations, or barbarians, who had been by the power of the Romans, driven into the wilderness of the north, now returning and overrunning the plains of Italy, and a part of Africa. This happened in the beginning of the fifth century.ESH 25.2

30 verse. “For the ships of Chittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant; so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.” About; A. D. 447 Attila (called the scourge of God) ravaged the Roman empire and as I conceive it fulfilled this prophecy, his army being composed of Huns, from Hungary, which was by the Ancients called the land of Chittim.ESH 25.3

31 verse, “And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.” By this I understand the same northern nations that should and did conquer the Roman empire, and polluted Rome by the slaughter of her citizens and ravages committed by the armies of the northern barbarians, and after dividing the Roman empire into two kingdom, these two kings being converted to the christian faith, were the instruments of taking away the pagan rites and sacrifices, which Daniel, or the Angel denominates the “daily sacrifice abomination.” Here ends the description of the first beast in the fourth kingdom, which John informs us in Revelation 13:18, he saw numbered, and his number is six hundred three score and six,” which I understand to mean the years that this beast; or pagan Rome should contaminate the Jewish and Christian religion, break in pieces and devour with his “great iron teeth,” the same. If this be a correct exposition of the text: then this beast began his power over the people God, 158 years before Christ and would end 508 years after Christ: so that we are brought down to A. D. 508.ESH 25.4

32 verse, “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall be corrupt by flatteries; but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” After, the time mentioned before, errors began to creep into the church, such as, doing penance, worshiping of images, depriving lay brethren of their rights, infallibility of the mother church, and the bishop of Rome; yet in this almost universal defection of the church there were a few lights in the world, who opposed the superstitions and errors of the times.ESH 26.1

33 verse, “And they that understand among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword, and by the flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.” In this verse, we are informed, that many private brethren “among the people,” would still remain faithful to the truth, and would endeavour to instruct and guard others against the craft and flatteries of the priesthood; yet they would suffer persecution, and the manner is foretold, by sword, imprisonment, flame and spoil. And who has read the history of the church, from the fifth century down to a very few years, and is not fully satisfied of the fulfilment of this prophecy?ESH 26.2

34 verse, “Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.” When persecution raged under the reign of Antichrist, the true followers of Christ were helped by the grace of God. There were a few names, “even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy;” but the multitude would follow the Antichristian deceivers, here called the flatterers.ESH 26.3

35 verse, “And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge them and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is for a time appointed.” Here weare informed for what purposes the children of God, especially the teachers should be be persecuted; to try, purge, and make them white even to the end of the Antichristian reign, which “time appointed,” is 1260 years.ESH 26.4

36 verse. “And the king shall do according to his will, and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every God, and shall, speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper, till the indignation be accomplished: for that, that is determined shall be done.” The king spoken of in this verse, is the little horn, in allusion to the papal power which should exalt himself “sitting in the place of God,” above all the heathen gods; and even oppose the God of gods, by dispensing with his laws, and claim the prerogative of making new laws for his kingdom; and also Antichrist would prosper until the “indignation be accomplished;” or Judgement of the great day.ESH 26.5

37 verse. “Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any God: for he shall magnify himself above all.” He (papal Rome) would not regard the pagan gods, and and would forbid to marry, not regard the christian God, but would exalt himself above all that is called God. See 2 Thessalonians 2:4.ESH 26.6

38 verse. “But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces; and a God whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and precious stones, and pleasant things.” Papacy erects her images, of pictures of saints, and adorns them with precious stone set in gold and silver, which things the fathers were commanded not to worship, and which things neither the Jews, Christians, nor Pagans had ever before worshiped.ESH 27.1

39 verse. “Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange God, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.” Truly it is a strange God, to set up in the most public places images, adorned with jewels etc. for the populace to bow down and worship, yet it is a well known fact, that in all countries where the power of papacy is felt, these images are placed in the corners of the streets, and all public places, and worship is rendered by every passing votary. And it is also true that Pope has sold kingdoms, and countries, and divided the land, to fill his coffers with gain.ESH 27.2

40 verse. “And at the time end the end.” What may we understand by the end? I understand the end of the 1260 years which Antichrist was to reign over the kings of the earth, and tread the church under foot: or the end of the power of the character, which Gabriel had been describing in the four last verses. Which year and power ended; as we shall presently show in the year A. D. 1798: but we will follow the Angel in his prophecy.ESH 27.3

40 verse. “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him, like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow many and pass over.” It will be necessary for the reader to observe, and; for me to remark in this place, that the inspired writers, in their descriptions of kingdoms, or principal governments, use the pronouns, he or him, instead of naming them, as, in the preceding description of Antichrist, or as Paul uses it in 2 Thessalonians 2:7. and many other places might be named. Therefore I understand the pronouns in the above named 40th verse and those following in the chapter to refer to the same kingdom, or principal ruler in said kingdom, and that the Angel has reference to the principal kingdom of the ten kingdoms into which the Roman was divided when Antichrist arose, which “shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her and burn her with fire.” Revelation 17:12-16. If this is correct, then France is intended by he or him in this prophecy. In order then to give my view, the reader will permit me to paraphrase these few remaining verses.ESH 27.4

40. And the time of the end (of Antichrist,) shall the king of the south (Spain) push at France (Vendean war) and the king of the north (Great Britain) shall come against France, like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and the French (or Bonaparte the principle ruler;) shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.ESH 27.5

41. “Bonaparte shall enter also into the glorious land (Italy) and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape out of Bonaparte’s hands, even Edom and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon’” Ottomans and eastern nations.ESH 28.1

42. “Bonaparte shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries; and the land of Egypt shall not escape.”ESH 28.2

43. “But Bonaparte shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Sybians and Ethiopians shall be at his steps.”ESH 28.3

44. “But tidings out of the east and north (holy alliance) shall trouble Bonaparte: therefore he shall go forth with great fury (to Moscow) to destroy, and utterly to make away many.”ESH 28.4

45. “And Bonaparte shall plant the tabernacles of his palace (be crowned king) between the seas (Milan) in the glorious holy mountain; (Italy) yet Bonaparte shall come to his end and none shall help him.” In this passage of holy prophecy, the history of the times from 1798 for twenty years are so clearly delineated, especially that of Bonaparte and the French nation; that it seems as though we cannot be mistaken, in the application to these events. After the French Revolution in 1793-4, the Vendean war broke out, in which thy papal States, Spain and England combined against the French; yet the French conquered and subdued almost all the nations of Europe, in very short time; except Great Britain, and the success that followed the armies of the French, is without a parallel in history, after humbling Spain, and conquering Italy, Bonaparte went into Egypt, and as is supposed with an intent to press his way through to the British East India possessions, “but these,” said the Angel “even Edom, Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon, shall escape out of his hands.” After the conquest of Egypt, Bonaparte marched into Syria, where, after gaining some advantages he was defeated before St. John d’ Acre. The combinations of the holy alliance, as it is called, his campaign into Moscow, the loss of a large share of his troops, his being crowned king of Italy at Milan, the total defeat at Waterloo, his captivity and death, are all foretold with that precision, that the fulfilment of this prophecy is but very little doubted by skepticism itself. We will now review the 12th chapter of Daniel.ESH 28.5

1 verse. “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people;” This part of the verse has been fulfilled in the pouring out of the Spirit of God; and in the conversion of many, to the faith of the gospel of Jesus Christ: in this passage called Michael the great prince, since A. D. 1798 “And there shall be a time of trouble, such us never was since there was a nation even to that same time.” This prophecy is a parallel to that in Revelation 16:18-21. also Haggai 2:6 & 7. Hebrews 12:26 & 27. Matthew 24:21 and has already begun. Witness the convulsions, in the political world; and the divisions and subdivisions of the churches, also the pestilence that is spreading terror and dismay through our world. “And at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” The people of God will at these troublous times be delivered, from the grave, the power of death, the thraldom of sin, the force of temptation, and the persecution of the world; in a word from all their enemies, all of them whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.ESH 28.6

2 verse. “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and them to shame & everlasting contempt.” This brings us to the resurrection, and mentions two resurrections, the resurrection of life, and the resurrection of damnation.ESH 29.1

3 verse. “And they that be wise shall shine in as the brightness of the firmament;” that is, all that believe in Jesus, shall God bring with him, and they shall live and reign with Christ; for they shall awake in his likeness.” “And they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.” These are those who have taught the way of salvation in truth and soberness, they shall be stars on the crown of his Church, see Revelation 12:1.ESH 29.2

4 verse. “But thou O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” In this verse Daniel is commanded to shut to the words not hide them; but to write them in a book, and then shut it up; that is, cease his prophecy, write no more: but what he had received, and then place his seal to the word of God, that is make it sure, for at the vision many missionaries or teachers would run to and fro, and his vision would be understood, when they should see its fulfilment.ESH 29.3

5 verse. “Then I Daniel looked, and behold, other two, (Angels) the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.” (Hiddekel) see Daniel 10:4.ESH 29.4

6 verse. “And one (of the Angels) said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, how long shall it he to the end of these wonder?” The man clothed in linen, is the same as in Revelation 10 chap. Daniel 10:5, 6. and is Christ standing as a mediator between God and man, and one of the Angels inquires how long to the end of these wonders? which shows us, my reader, that it is not presumption for us to follow up the inquiry. To the end of these wonders, means to the end of the reign of Antichrist, the beast that the world wondered after. Revelation 13:3. and 17:6.ESH 29.5

7 verse. “And I heard the man (Christ) clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and swear by him that liveth forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he (Antichrist) shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things (wonders) shall be finished.” The answer here given is the same time as in Daniel 7:25. Revelation 11:2&3. 12:6. 13:5. and is 1260 years. See our explanation in the first chapter in this work of time, times, times and a half.ESH 29.6

8 verse. “And I heard but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord what shall be the end of these things?” Daniel was not yet satisfied; and therefore made still inquiry concerning the end.ESH 30.1

9 verse. “And he said, go thy way, Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” This has the same meaning as the fourth; that is Daniel is informed that his prophecy is finished, closed up, and that it reaches to the end, when the Angel standing on the sea and on the land, will swear that time shall be no longer.ESH 30.2

10 verse. “Many shall be purified and made while, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” This verse shows us, that until the close of Daniel’s vision, the righteous shall be in a state of trial, and that the wicked should do wickedly.ESH 30.3

11 verse. “And from the time the daily sacrifice should be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.” By this verse I understand that from the taking away of the first abomination, which may properly be called ‘the daily sacrifice abomination,’ to the end of the last abomination that maketh desolate, should be 1290 years, being 30 years more than the last abomination, should reign over the kings of the earth (or Roman government) and tread the church under foot. The said 30 years being the vacancy between the taking away the one, and setting up the other. This taking away the first, agrees with what Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2:7. “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth (or hirdercth) will let, (or hinder,) until he be taken out of the way.”ESH 30.4

12 verse. “Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.”ESH 30.5

13 verse. “But go thou thy way until the end be, for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” In these verses, the Angel informs Daniel that those who wait and come to the 1335 days should be blessed; did he mean those who lived until that day, should all be blessed? No, for the wicked would yet do wickedly, and it is very evident, that when Christ comes, he comes to take vengeance on the wicked, and those that obey not the gospel.ESH 30.6

What could the Angel then mean? It is obvious he meant that those who had a part in the coming of Christ, or as it is expressed is the 20 of Rev. “Blessed and happy are they, who have part in the first resurrection,” should at that day, (namely 1335 years after the sacrifice abomination should cease) be raised and stand in their lot, as the Angel expresses himself to Daniel in the last verse: “But go thou thy way until the end be, for thou shall rest, (die) and stand in thy lot, (be raised from the dead) at the end of the days,” (1335 years.) We will now review what we have proved, and if we have a right understanding of Daniel’s vision, it is proved that from the pushing of the ram, in the reign of the fifth king of Persia, when the decree or commandment was given to Ezra to go up to build the walls of Jerusalem, to the first resurrection; to the coming of Christ; or ancient of days, when the judgement should set; the books should be opened; the church justified; should be 2300 years, that in 70 weeks of those years, which is 400 years Christ should be crucified, which leaves 1810 years after his crucifixion, and will end us in 1843 after his birth. It has likewise been proved that Antichrist should reign 1260 years, or from the taking away pagan Rome to setting up papal, would be 30 years, making the 1290 years, and if pagan Rome was to continue 666 years; as has been mentioned, and which we shall endeavour to prove hereafter; then pagan Rome becoming the fourth kingdom in 158 years before Christ would cease, 508 years after Christ to which add the 30 years, will bring us down to the rise of Antichrist A. D. 538. Then add the length of his reign 1260; years would end in 1798, or add the 1290 to A. D. 508, would be the same 1798. Now add the remainder of the 1335 over and above 1290 which is 45 to A. D. 1798, and it will end in A. D. 1843 or add 1335 to A. D. 508 when pagan Rome was destroyed, or the daily sacrifice abomination was taken away, and you have the same A. D. 1843.ESH 30.7

2300 years from 457 years before Christ, Daniel’s vision will end. 490 years from the same 457 B. C. Christ was crucified and the 70 weeks ended. The fourth kingdom and the last of all earthly kingdoms, was divided into two parts, the first began 158 years B. C. and lasted 666 years to the end of the pagan daily sacrifice abomination, which was 508 A. D. The last number given in Daniel (viz.) 1335 carries us down to the resurrection and will end A. D. 1843. In this last number is included the reign of Antichrist; 1260 years beginning in A. D. 538 and ending A. D. 1798; also the 1290 beginning A. D. 508, and ending A. D. 1798. The remaining 45 years are for the spread of the gospel; the resurrection of the two witnesses; the church to come out of the wilderness, the troublous times; the last great battle; and the second coming of Christ, to raise his people; and reign with them personally the thousand years following.ESH 31.1