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satisfaction to the judicious*. The meaning of a prophecy of this kind can only be made manifest by the event which is to fulfil it. Before that time shall arrive, it is unsafe to conjecture after what method it shall be fulfilled; whether, as some prophecies literally, or as others, typically; whether the departed Saints and Martyrs shall actually be raised again in their own persons, to effect so glorious a change in Religion and morals; or, whether, like Elijah in the person of John Baptist, and David in that of Christ, they shall live again in the persons of other saints, who shall fulfill their characters and offices, no man may presume to determine. It is best therefore, after the example of the wise father Irenæus, respecting another prophecy, to "wait the completion of the prediction f." Yet, if we are not permitted to descend to a special interpretation, we may receive advantage from a general view. We may confidently indulge a well-grounded expectation, that happy times, of long duration, are yet destined

Augustine, in Civ. Dei, lib. xx. c. 7, commenting on this chapter, says, that the doctrine of a Millennium, in which the saints were to enjoy a corporeal resurrection in this world, was founded on a notion that, after six thousand years of trouble, the saints should enjoy one thousand years of sabbath, or rest. But the doctrine was founded on this passage of the Revelation. The notion of the time only, in which the prophecy will be fulfilled, was taken from this tradition of the Church. From Papias, a good man, but weak and credulous, seem to have been derived those earthly notions of a Millennium, branded with the name of Chiliasm, which were adopted by some eminent writers of the ancient Church; by Irenæus, Apollinaris, Tertullian, Victorinus, Lactantius, &c. But there was another, and much more debasing, notion of a Millennium, entertained in those early times, in which, gross, sensual, corrupting delights were supposed to make the felicity of the Saints. This seems to have been derived from Cerinthus, and thence to have passed on to other heretics. Euseb. Hist. Eccl. lib. iii. c. 28. † Iren. lib. v. 30.

for

for the Christian Church, even here upon earth. For the days will come, and seem at no very great distance, (the present century may perhaps disclose them,) when, the beast and false prophet being removed, and Babylon sunk for ever, the devil, that ancient foe, shall be deprived of his wonted influence; and the prophecies, which in the Old Testament, as well as in the book of Revelation, promise happy times, shall be accomplished".

* An abstracted view of the sentiments of the Ancients on this difficult, and as yet obscure subject, may be seen in Bishop Newton's Dissertations, vol. iii. 329–343. 8vo; and of the Moderns, in Lowman's Paraphrase and notes on Rev. p. 242-248. Some ingenious and useful hints are suggested in Mr. Kett's last volume on Prophecy. And a comprehensive, learned, and very judicious view of the whole subject may be read in Mr. Gray's Discourse on Rev. xx. 4, 5, 6. It is remarkable that Dr. Whitby, who had declined to comment on the Apocalypse, assigning as his motive, that he felt himself unqualified for such a work, has ventured to explain this particular prediction of the Millennium; which being, as all agree, a prophecy yet unfulfilled, is, of all others, the most difficult. Yet his Treatise on the true Millennium may be perused with advantage. But, as it plainly appears that no one, who lived before the completion of the prophecies of the Seals, the Trumpet, or the Harlot of Babylon, however learned and sagacious, was able to penetrate through the veil of these mysteries; nor was any progress made in assorting these prophecies, until the historical events fulfilling them appeared; so, to the events alone are we to look with confidence for the complete illustration of these predictions. We can at present collect from them with safety, only general notions and assurances. Such however are sufficient to support our faith, if not to gra tify our curiosity.

PART

PART VII.

SECTION V.

Satan loosed, deceiveth the nations, and is cast into the burning lake.

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Ο λάσσης. Καὶ ἀνέ

βησαν ἐπὶ τὸ πλά TOS Tйs jus, xxi ἐκύκλωσαν τὴν πα ρεμβολὴν τῶν ἁγίων, καὶ τὴν πόλιν τὴν ἠγαπημένην· καὶ κατέβη τοῦ ἀπὸ τῆ Θεῖ ἐκ τὰ ἐρανό, καὶ κατέφαγεν αὐτές. 10 Καὶ ὁ διάβολος ὁ πλανῶν αὐτὴς, ἐβλήθη εἰς τὴν λίμο νην τῷ πυρὸς καὶ θείς, ὅπως καὶ τὸ

θηρίον καὶ ὁ ψευδοπροφήτης" και βασα

CHAP. XX. VER. 7-10.

7 And when the thousand years shall be completed, satan shall

be loosed from his 8 prison: And he shall

come forth to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, the Gog, and the Magog, to gather them together to battle, the number of whom is as the sand of 9 the sea. And they

went up on the extent of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the saints, even the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven, and de10 voured them. And the

devil, who deceiveth them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone; where were likewise the wild-beast and the false prophet: and they shall be torment

7 And when the thou

sand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed 8 out of his prison, And

shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on

the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured 10 them. And the devil that deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and

ever.

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After the grand period of the Millennium, so favourable to the Christian cause, shall have come to its end, another apostacy shall unhappily take place. This is expressed figuratively, by satan being again loosed, to deceive the nations. This new rebellion against the Jaws of God, and against the easy yoke of the Redeemer, is of formidable extent. The four corners of the earth, (that is, the nations of the whole earth) are engaged in it. It is an apostacy of a new kind; different at least from the former apostacy, in which the beast and false prophet were satan's instruments of mischief. Beyond this we have little ground of conjecture. The enemies of the Christian Church, numerous as the sands. upon the sea-shore, surround the camp of the Saints, which is represented as in a state of siege. But the extinction of these enemies shall be sudden, miraculous, and complete. They shall be destroyed by fire, by fire from heaven, that is, miraculously, and utterly f.

This description is conformable to other ancient prophecies, still remaining to be fulfilled; or which have received only a partial and typical completion. Such are Isaiah lxiii. lxvi. Joel iii. Ezek. xxxviii, and xxxix; which is the last prophecy in the book, and is said expressly to be of the latter days. Gog and Magog will be found to signify the nations; those which were

* See note, ch. iv. 6.

+ See note, ch. xvii. 12. Excepting the exhibition of the temple, which, being a subject entire of itself, was reckoned by the Jews as an additional book. See Joseph. Ant. Jud. lib. x. c. 6.

most

most distant, and yet hostile to the Church *. On all these prophecies, evidently not yet fulfilled, little can be conjectured with safety. safety. They are to be handed down to the Church of the latter days, even as those prophecies, which we have seen fulfilled, have been delivered to us; and with this consolation, that this "overflowing of iniquity," whenever it arrives, shall be miraculously and completely terminated t. And this is the last successful effort of satan against the Church. He is then consigned to his eternal prison.

* See Mede's Works, p. 280; Abp. Newcome on Ezekiel xxxviii. 2; also Lowth on the same passage.

+ So Ezek. xxxix. 6. Isaiah xlvii. 13, 14; xxxiii. 14.

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