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A.M. B.C. 3552

CHRONOLOGY.-No. IV.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S IMAGE.

165

538 Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar's grandson, and the last of the golden dynasty, slain by the Medes and Persians, whose Two-armed Argentine sovereignty becomes the royalty of Assyria.

3760 330 The Medo-Persian dynasty, or the "the Breast and Arms of silver." terminates after a continuance of 208 years. It is subverted by Alexander "the Great," or Goat of Macedonia; whose dominion "bears rule over the whole earth" from Macedonia to India; and answers to "the Belly of Brass."

a

3789 301 Alexander dies six years after the fall of the Persian monarchy. The ensuing twenty-three years was period of war and assassination. At length the Macedonian dominion was subdivided into Four Kingdoms, of which two only are represented in the image, the others being unconnected with the subjects of the prophecy. The 66 Thighs of Brass" are the South-western and North-eastern kingdoms of the four. prehended Egypt, Lybia, Arabia, Cole-Syria, and The former comPalestine; the latter, Syria to the Euphrates, and thence to the Indus the South-eastern is styled "the king of the South," and the North-eastern, "the king of the North," in Dan. xi.

4023

4060

4489

67 The Northern Limb of Brass becomes attached to the
Iron Dominion when the Assyro-Macedonian dynasty
was abolished, and its Syrian territory reduced to a
Roman province.

30 The Southern Limb of Brass annexed to the Iron
Dominion by the overthrow of the Greco-Egyptian
Monarchy. Its territory also becomes a Roman
A.D. province.

396 The Iron Dominion finally divided into the Two Legs by
Arcadius and Honorius, and styled the Eastern, and
Western, Roman Empires. In after times the Eastern
came to be called the Greek Empire; and the Western,
the Latin Empire.

4569 476 Though divided for convenience of government, the
Roman Imperiality was one. At this date it was

A.M.

A.D. eclipsed over the Western Third of the Roman territory, by Odoacer the Herulian Goth, who deposed Augustu

lus Romulus, the last emperor of the West for three hundred and twenty-four years.

4586 493 Ten Gothic Kingdoms founded by the Barbarians of the North, are by this date established on the Western territory. Themselves strong as Iron, which "breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things," they become the Iron Toes of the Image. Their legality is recognized by the Imperial Dynasty of the uneclipsed dominion of the Illyrian and Eastern Thirds of the Empire, which subsequently promulgates a Civil and Ecclesiastical Constitution between the years of our era 529 and 533; and is adopted by the Ten Toe-Kingdoms by the year

604.

4892 799 The Roman Empire of the West is revived by Charlemagne and the Pope. This dominion derives its character of Roman from the possession of Italy and three of the Toe Kingdoms, which were brittle because their “iron was mixed with miry clay." These lost their independence and were ultimately "plucked up by the roots."

5957 1864 The probable date when the Image, standing erect on its Feet on "the Mountains of Israel," will be struck by the Stone, and its whole fabric swept away.

In the above the An. Dom. is what is termed the "Vulgar Era ;" but the An. Mundi, a chronology deduced from scripture data, the evidence of which will appear in the forthcoming volume. Jesus was from born 3 yrs. 8 days before A. D. 1, hence 1849 is 1852 years the real time of his birth which was in the corrected An. Mundi 4090. 3, Brudenell Place, New North Road, JOHN THOMAS. London, April 18, 1849.

THE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY.

[CONTINUED FROM PAGE 131.]

WE are now to contemplate the "beast" under another aspect, represented in chapter thirteen as a beast “having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns." The crowns, indicative of imperial, or regal dignity and power, are now removed from the heads and placed upon the horns of the beast.

The Roman Empire, under the heads of the beast, had attained to the full plenitude of its power. The Roman people by repeated victories,

had acquired glory, wealth, and dominion; these brought with them their attendants-pride, arrogance, indolence, and effeminacy. That military discipline and energy by which this wide spread dominion had been acquired and maintained, became relaxed. Meantime the nations over whom they had exercised the strong arm of power, became in their turn (by repeated contentions with their oppressors) accustomed to the use of arms, and ultimately overran the western division of the empire, wresting the imperial ensigna of power from the head which bore it, and placed it upon the "horns," or the various sovereignties into which the western empire was divided, namely,

1. The Huns in Hungary
2. The Ostrogoths in Mysia.
3. The Visgoths in Panroonia
4. The Franks in France

A.D.

356

357

378

407

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The object which now claims our notice, is the character of the last form of the Roman government. This the Apostle describes (verse 11) as "the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition."

The prophet Daniel (chap. vii.) after having seen in vision the symbolical representations of the Babylonian, Persian, and Grecian empires, describes a fourth beast which the angel declares is the "fourth kingdom upon earth," (verse 24,) and that the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise; and another shall arise after them, and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

In A.D. 493, ten years from the establishment of the last of the ten kings, the Heruli in Rome and Italy, were subverted by the Ostrogoths. In 534, the Vandals were conquered by the Greeks for the purpose of establishing the Catholic supremacy. And in 538 the Greeks conquered the Ostrogoths in Rome and Italy, and thus opened the way for the establishment of the eighth and last form of government that was to obtain in Rome-the sanguinary Papacy.

That no difficulty may arise in the mind of any as to the identity of the Papacy with this eighth beast, let us take a glance at his portrait as delineated by the Prophet Daniel and the Apostle Paul, and I think none will be at a loss to recognize the original.

Daniel says, (vii. 25, 26,)" He shall speak great words against

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For the information thus afforded we are indebted to the word of prophecy," which reflects "light," not only upon objects that are passed, but upon those that are present-and, to come. general reader may now be able to trace the position which we occupy in the chart of human history, and to look around with increased interest upon the events which are now coming in rapid succession, like the waves of the mighty ocean, bearing all before them. He may be able to trace in these events, the mysterious working of un almighty power for the final accomplishment of his own purposes. While the eye of faith surveys the troubled scene with calmness and security, beholding in these things the last mortal struggle of usurped power, the Lord has promised to 'set his hand a second time to deliver his people from bondage. The antitype of that first deliverance is now at hand, and Christians would do well too, in these times of trouble, to take heed to the command of Moses, (Exodus xiv. 15,) "Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which he will show to you this day; for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." The great antitype of Moses has promised to come again, and to take unto himself his great power, and

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