Parley P. Pratt's 1837 booklet

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Parley P. Pratt (1807-1857) A Voice of Warning (First edition: NYC, 1837) Title Page Preface Chapter 1 Prophecy Already Fulfilled Chapter 2 Fulfillment of Prophecy Chapter 3 Kingdom of God Chapter 4 The Book of Mormon Chapter 5 A Proclamation Chapter 6 Resurrection of the Saints Chapter 7 The Dealings of God Chapter 8 Contrast Between Doctrines
Editorial Notes: In its incipient years, the LDS Church generally confined its public teaching to a call for repentance, conversion and "gathering" in anticipation of imminent, pre-millennial war and destruction. Prior to the publication of Pratt's 1837 A Voice of Warning, the public promulgation of Mormon doctrine was limited to the pronouncements published by the Church in its newspapers and through word of mouth preaching. Following the 1833-34 failure of the Saints to establish their prophesied "New Jerusalem" in Jackson County, Missouri, the overt Mormon message was refurbished to accent several doctrinal innovations and to downplay previous saintly predictions for an imminent destruction of the "ungodly." Pratt's 1837 book retains and explicates the original LDS teachings, but it mutes the intensity of the Mormons' previous calls for converts to flee to a frontier city of refuge among the Indians and there seek shelter from the coming eschatological storm of God's vengeance upon the Gentiles. The book is representative of Mormon doctrine as it was presented to the public in the half-decade following the Church's publication of its 1835 Doctrine & Covenants. In later years parts of Pratt's book were substantially rewritten for publication in subsequent editions. See additional comments (below) regarding a few of these changes.


A

VOICE  OF  WARNING

AND

INSTRUCTION  TO  ALL  PEOPLE,

CONTAINING


A DECLARATION OF THE FAITH AND
DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH OF
THE LATTER DAY SAINTS,


COMMONLY  CALLED  MORMONS.



BY P. P. PRATT, MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL.





Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things 
do I declare: before they spring forth, I tell you of them. --
Isa. xiii. 9.

Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong 
reasons, saith the King of Jacob. -- Isa. xii. 21.

==========


New-York:

PRINTED  BY  W.  SANFORD,  29  ANN-ST.




New-York:

PRINTED  BY  W.  SANFORD,  29  ANN-ST.



MDCCCXXXVII.

[ii]

Entered according to act of Congress, A. D. 1837,
by Parley P. Pratt, in the Clerk's Office of the District
Court of the United States, for the Southern District
of New York.

[iii]

P R E F A C E.

During the last nine years the public mind has been constantly agitated, more or less, through all parts of our country, with the cry of Mormonism, Mormonism, Delusion, Imposture, Fanaticism, &c.; chiefly through the instrumentality of the press. Many of the Newspapers of the day have been constantly teeming with misrepresentations, and lying slanders, of the foulest kind, in order to destroy the influence and character of an innocent Society, in its very infancy; a Society of whose real principles many of them know nothing at all. Every species of wickedness has been resorted to, and all manner of evil has been spoken against them, falsely; insomuch that in many places, houses and ears are closed against them, without the possibility of being heard for a moment, saying we do not wish to hear you, we know enough of your principles already; the Newspapers, or our good Preachers, have told us all about you. Were this the only evil, we might have less cause of complaint;

iv PREFACE.

but in consequence of this, we have been assaulted by mobs, some of our houses have been torn down or burned, our goods destroyed, and fields of grain laid waste. Yea, more, some of us have been Stoned, Whipped, and Shot; our blood has been caused to flow, and still smokes to heaven, because of our Religious principles; in this our native Land, the land of boasted Liberty and equal Laws, while we have sought in vain for redress, while officers of State have been deaf to the voice of innocence, imploring at their feet for justice and protection in the enjoyment of their rights as American Citizens. And no doubt many of the instruments of these diabolical proceedings verily think they are doing God service, being inspired by the influence of the press and pulpit, or, what is still worse, by the personal examples of some of the Clergy, who actually marched, with Rifle in hand, at the head of parties of the Mob, and afterward published an excuse in order to justify the Mob in such awful wickedness; (among other clergymen who were personally engaged in such conduct, I would identify the Rev. Isaac McCoy, a noted Missionary to the Indians,)

PREFACE. v

Under these circumstances, what could be done? how were we to correct the public mind? We were few in number, and our means of giving information very limited; the columns of most of the papers were closed against us, their prosperity being at stake the moment our principles were admitted; it is true we published a monthly paper, in which our principles were clearly set forth; but its circulation was limited to a few thousands. Under these circumstances, had we the tongue of Angels, and the zeal of Apostles, with our hearts expanded wide as eternity, with the intelligence of heaven, and the love of God burning in our bosoms; and commissioned to bear as joyful tidings as ever were borne by Michael the Archangel from the regions of Glory; yet it would have been as impossible for us to have communicated the same to the public, as it was for Paul when he stood in the midst of Ephesus, to declare the glad tidings of a crucified and risen Redeemer; when his voice was lost amid the universal cry, of great is Diana of the Ephesians. Go lift your voice to the tumultuous waves of the Ocean, or try to reason amid the roar of cannon while the tumult

vi PREFACE.

of war is gathering thick around, or speak to the howling tempest while it pours a deluge over the plains; let your voice be heard amid the roar of chariots rushing suddenly over the pavements; or, what is still less useful, converse with a man who is lost in slumber, or reason with a drunkard while he reels to and fro under the influence of intoxicating poison, and these will convince you of the impossibility of communicating truth to that soul who is willing to make up his judgment upon popular rumor; or to be wafted gently down the current of public opinion, without stopping for a moment to listen, to weigh, to hear both sides of the question, and to judge for himself. One of the greatest obstacles in the way of the spread of the truth, in every age, is the tide of public opinion. Let one ray of light burst upon the world in any age and it is sure to come in contact with the traditions and long established usages of men, and their opinions; or with some religious craft, so that, like the Ephesians they counsel together, what shall be done; their great goddess will be spoken against, her magnificence despised, her temple deserted; or

PREFACE. vii

what is still worse, our craft is in danger, for by this we have our wealth. Call to mind the apostles in contact with the Jewish Rabbis, or with Gentile superstitions; in short at war with every religious establishment on the earth. Witness the popular clamor: if we let them thus alone, all men will believe on them, and the Romans will come and take away our place and nation; these men that turn the world upside-down have come hither also; what new doctrine is this, for thou bringest certain strange things to our ears; these men do exceedingly trouble our City, and teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive, being Romans; what will this babbler say, he seems to be a setter forth of strange Gods; and many other such like sayings.

Or, let us for a moment contemplate the events of later date: for instance, the Mother Church against the reformers of various ages; see them belied, slandered, degraded, whipped, stoned, imprisoned, burned, and destroyed, in various ways; while the ignorant multitude were made to believe, they were the very worst of men. Again, think for a moment of the

viii PREFACE.

struggles of Columbus; an obscure individual, of limited education, but blessed with a largeness of heart, a noble genius, a mind which distained to confine itself to the beaten track. Accustomed to think for itself; it burst the chains which, in ages past, had held in bondage the nations of the earth. It soared aloft, as it were on eagle's wings; it outstripped and left far behind the boasted genius of Greece and Rome; it penetrated the dark mysteries which lay concealed amid the western waters. Behold him struggling for eight years against the learned ignorance of the courts and councils of Europe; while the sneer of contempt, the finger of scorn, and the hiss of derision, were the solid arguments opposed to his theory. But what was the result when, after many a fruitless struggle, an expedition was fitted out, consisting of three small vessels; a new world presents itself to the wondering nations of the East, destined at no distant period, to become the theatre of the most glorious and astonishing events, of the last days; this fact was no sooner demonstrated, than their philosophical, geographical and religious objections vanished in a moment; haughty

PREFACE. ix

ignorance and bigotry, were for once constrained to cast their honours in the dust, and bow their reverend heads at the feet of real worth; and learn, in humble silence, that, one fact, clearly demonstrated, is worth ten thousand theories and opinions of men.

Having said so much to impress upon the human mind the necessity of hearing, and then judging, I would only add, that the object of this publication is to give the public correct information concerning a religious system, which has penetrated every state from Maine to Missouri, as well as the Canadas, in the short space of seven years; organizing churches and conferences in every region, and gathering in its progress from fifty to a hundred thousand disciples; having, at the same time, to sustain the shock of an overwhelming religious influence, opposed to it by the combined powers of every sect in America. What but the arm of Omnipotence could have moved it forward amid the rage of mobs? Having to contend with the prejudice of the ignorant and the pen of the learned; at war with every creed and craft in Christendom; while the combined powers of earth and hell were hurling a

x PREFACE.

storm of persecution, unparalleled in the history of our country.

This work is also intended as a warning voice, or proclamation of truth, to all people into whose hands it may fall, that they may understand and be prepared for the great day of the Lord. Opinion and guess work in the things of God, are worse than useless; facts, well demonstrated, can alone be of service to mankind; and as the Holy Ghost can alone guide us into all truth, I pray God the Eternal Father, in the name of Jesus Christ his Son, that the spirit of truth may inspire my heart in inditing this matter; that I may be able to write the truth in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that it may be the word of God, the everlasting Gospel, the power of God unto salvation to the Gentile first, and also to the Jew.

Bringing to remembrance things past, and showing things to come, according to the spirit of Prophesy, and Revelation; that my garments may be clear of the blood of all men in the great and coming day, when all people must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, to receive a reward according as their work shall be.

[11]

A VOICE OF WARNING

AND

INSTRUCTION TO ALL PEOPLE.

CHAPTER I.

ON PROPHESY ALREADY FULFILLED.

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye witnesses of his majesty.

For he received from God the Father, honour and glory when there came such a voice from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from Heaven, we heard when we were with him in the holy mount.

We have also, a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day Star arise in your hearts.

Knowing this first, that no prophesy of Scripture is of any Private Interpretation; for the prophesy came not in old time by the will of

12 PROPHESY ALREADY FULFILLED.

man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost. -- Peter.

Positive Demonstration which none can gainsay nor resist, is the design of the author throughout this work.

No believer in the Holy Scriptures, who reads it with attention, shall close this volume without being fully convinced of the great and important truths contained therein.

In order to prove any thing from Scripture, it is highly necessary in the first place to lay down some certain, definite, infallible rule of interpretation, without which the mind is lost in uncertainty and doubt, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The neglect of such a rule, has thrown mankind into the utmost confusion and uncertainty in all their biblical researches. Indeed while mankind are left at liberty to transform, spiritualize, or give any uncertain or private interpretation to the word of God, all is uncertainty.

Whatsoever was written aforetime, was written for our profit and learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope. Now suppose a friend from a distance

PROPHESY ALREADY FULFILLED. 13

should write us a letter, making certain promises to us on certain conditions, which if obtained, would be greatly to our profit and advantage; of course it might be said the letter was written for our profit and learning, that through patience and comfort of the letter, we might have hope to obtain the things promised; now, if we clearly understood the letter, and knew what to expect, then it would afford us comfort and hope; whereas if there was any doubt or uncertainty on our minds in the understanding of the same, then could we derive no certain comfort or hope from the things written; not knowing what to hope for; consequently the letter would not profit us at all. And so it is with the Scriptures. No prophesy or promise will profit the reader, or produce patience, comfort, or hope in his mind, until clearly understood, that he may know precisely what to hope for. Now the predictions of the Prophets can be clearly understood, as much so as the almanac, when it foretells an eclipse; or else the Bible of all books is of most doubtful usefulness. Far better would it have been for mankind, if the great Author of our existence should have revealed nothing to his fallen

14 PROPHESY ALREADY FULFILLED.

creatures, than to have revealed a book which would leave them in doubt and uncertainty, to contend with one another, from age to age, respecting the meaning of its contents. That such uncertainty and contention has existed for ages, none will deny. The wise and learned have differed, and do still widely differ, from each other, in the understanding of prophesy. Whence then this difference? either Revelation itself is deficient, or else the fault is in mankind. But to say Revelation is deficient, would be to charge God foolishly; God forbid, the fault must be in man. There are two great causes for this blindness, which I will now show.

First, mankind have supposed that direct inspiration by the Holy Ghost was not intended for all ages of the Church, but confined to primitive times; the Canon of Scripture being full; and all things necessary being revealed: the Spirit which guides into all truth was no longer for the people: therefore they sought to understand, by their own wisdom, and by their own learning, what could never be clearly understood, except by the Spirit of truth: for the things of God knoweth no man, except by the Spirit of God.

PROPHESY ALREADY FULFILLED. 15

Secondly, having lost the Spirit of Inspiration, they began to institute their own opinions, traditions, and commandments: giving constructions, and private interpretations, to the written word, instead of believing the things written. And the moment they departed from its literal meaning, one man's opinion, or interpretation, was just as good as anothers; all were clothed with equal authority, and from thence arose all the darkness and misunderstanding on these points; which have agitated the world for the last seventeen hundred years.

O ye inhabitants of New York, ye people of the United States; and finally I appeal to all of every nation, tongue, and people; you have many commodities for sale, which attract the attention, and are very desirable; but there is one thing, for which you would give more than for any other which has been presented to you. A something which, if once obtained, would greatly assist in obtaining all other things worth possessing, whether it were power, wealth, riches, honours, thrones, or dominions. Comparatively few have ever possessed it, although it was within the reach of many others,

16 PROPHESY ALREADY FULFILLED.

but they were either not aware of it, or did not know its value. It has worked wonders, for the few who have possessed it. Some it enabled to escape from drowning, while every soul who did not possess it was lost in the mighty deep. Others, it saved from famine, while thousands perished all around them; by it, men have often been raised to dignity in the State; yea, more, some have been raised to the thrones of Empires. The possession of it has sometimes raised men from the dungeon to a palace. And there are instances in which those that possessed it. were delivered from the flames, while cities were consumed, and every soul, themselves excepted, perished. Frequently when a famine, or the sword, has destroyed a city or nation, they alone who possessed it escaped unhurt. By this time, the reader inquires, what can that thing be? inform me, and I will purchase it, even at the sacrifice of all I possess on earth. Well, kind reader, this treasure is foreknowledge! a knowledge of things future! Let a book be published in this city, entitled a knowledge of the future, and let the inhabitants be really convinced that it did give a certain, definite

PROPHESY ALREADY FULFILLED. 17

knowledge of future events; so that its pages, unfolded the future history of the nations, and of many great events, as the history of Greece or Rome does unfold the past, and a large edition would immediately sell at, a great sum per copy: indeed, they would be above all price. Now, kind reader, the books of the Prophets and the spirit of prophesy were intended for this very purpose. Well did the apostle say, covet earnestly the best gifts; but rather that ye prophesy. Having said so much, we will now enter into the wide expanded field which lies before us, and search out the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, which have been shining for ages, like a light in a dark place. We will explore regions unknown to many; we will gaze upon the opening glories which present themselves on every side: and feast our Souls with knowledge which is calculated in its nature to enlarge the heart, to exalt, the mind, and to raise the affections above the little, mean, grovelling things of the world, and to make one wise unto salvation.

But, first for the definite rule of interpretation. For this we will not depend on any man

18 PROPHESY ALREADY FULFILLED.

or commentary: for the Holy Ghost has given it by the mouth of Peter. "Knowing this first, that no prophesy of Scripture is of any private interpretation." -- 2 Pet. i. 20.

There is one grand division to be kept in view constantly, in the study of Prophesy; namely, the distinction between the past and the future; the reader should be careful to ascertain what portion has been fulfilled, and what remains to be fulfilled; always remembering, Peter's rule of interpretation will apply to both. Now if we should find in our researches that every prophesy, which has been fulfilled to the present year has been literally fulfilled, then it follows of necessity, that every prophesy which is yet future, will not fail of a literal fulfillment. Let us commence with the days of Noah. -- Gen. vi. 17. "And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the Earth, to destroy all flesh wherein is the breath of life, from under Heaven, and every thing that is in the Earth shall die."

In the verses which follow the above, the Lord commands Noah to enter the Ark, and take with him some of every sort, and food of

PROPHESY ALREADY FULFILLED. 19

every kind. And in the 22nd verse it is written, Thus did Noah according to all that God commanded him, so did he." It was well for Noah that he was not well versed in the spiritualizing systems of modern divinity; for, under its benighted influence, he would never have believed that so marvelous a prophesy would have had a literal meaning and accomplishment. No, he would have been told that the flood meant a Spiritual flood, and the Ark, a Spiritual Ark, and the moment he thought otherwise, he would have been set down for a fanatic, knave, or fool; but it was so, that he was just simple enough to believe the prophesy literally; here then is a fair sample of foreknowledge; while all the world who did not possess it, perished by the flood literally.

The next prediction we will notice is Gen. xv. 13, 14, 15, 16. "And he said unto Abraham, know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years. And also that nation whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterwards shall they come out with great substance.

20 PROPHESY ALREADY FULFILLED.

And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age; but in the fourth generation they shall come hither again, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full."

The evil entreating of the children of Israel four hundred years, together with their coming out with great substance, and the judgments of God upon Egypt, as well as the death of Abraham, in a good old age, are all facts too well known to need comment here; suffice it to say, that it is a striking example of the exact fulfillment of prophesy; uttered more than four hundred years before it had its accomplishment. From this we gather, that none of those ancient men knew anything of the modern system of spiritualizing. Our next is Gen. xix. 12, 13. And the men said unto Lot, hast thou here any besides; son in law, and thy sons and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the City, bring thou out of this place; for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it." Now Lot being simple enough to believe the thing, in its literal sense,

PROPHESY ALREADY FULFILLED. 21

took as many of his family as would follow, and escaped for his life, to the great amusement no doubt of the Sodomites, who stood gazing after, crying delusion, delusion; they thinking all the while, that the Prophecy was only a figure. Here is an example, of a man escaping from the flames, by foreknowledge imparted to him, while the whole City perished. O what a blessing that Lot had no knowledge of the modern manner of interpreting Prophesy. If it had once entered his heart, that he must come out of Sodom spiritually, instead of literally, it would have cost him his life.

Let us examine a prophecy of Joseph, in the land of Egypt. -- Gen. xli. 29, 30, 31. "Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: and there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; And the plenty shall not be known in the land, by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous." Joseph then proceeds to give directions for corn to be laid up in great abundance during the seven plenteous years, in

22 PROPHESY ALREADY FULFILLED.

order to provide against the famine. And Pharaoh, being no better versed in the school of modern divinity, than his predecessors, never once thought of any other interpretation, but the most literal. And thus he was the means, together with Joseph, in the hand of God, of saving, not only their own nation, but the house of Israel from famine. This is another striking example of the power of foreknowledge. It not only saved from famine, but it exalted Joseph from a dungeon to a palace; from the lowest degradation, to the highest honour; so that they cried before him, bow the knee: but, O! what death and mourning, would have followed, had they dreamed only of spiritual famine, and spiritual corn.

Having given a few plain examples in early ages, we will lightly touch upon some of the most remarkable events of prophesy, and its fulfillment, until we come down to the days of the Jewish prophets, where the field opens wide, touching in its progress the most remarkable events of all ages, and terminating in a full development of the opening glories of the last days.

PROPHESY ALREADY FULFILLED. 23

One remarkable instance, concerning Elijah the Prophet, was, that he prophesied to Ahab, that it should not rain for three years and upwards, which came to pass according to his word. There is also a remarkable instance of Hasael, the Syrian, who came to Elisha to inquire of the Lord concerning the king of Syria, his master, who was sick. The Prophet earnestly beholding him burst into tears; and Hasael asked him saying, 'why weepest thou?" and he answering said, "the Lord hath shewed me, that thou shalt be King over Syria." And he then proceeded to unfold unto him the cruelties which he would afterwards exercise towards Israel, which are too horrible to mention here, lest in so doing I might offend the delicate ear. But Hasael, astonished to hear these things predicted concerning himself, which at that time filled him with horror, exclaimed with surprise, "But, what! is thy servant a dog, that he should do such things?" yet, astonishing to tell, all was afterwards fulfilled to the very letter."

In the 21st Chap. 2 Chron., it is written that there came a writing to Jehoram, from Elijah, which after stating the great wickedness

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of which he had been guilty, in turning to idolatry and also murdering his brethren of his father's house, who were better than himself, proceeds thus: "Behold, with a great plague will the Lord smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods: and thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out, by reason of thy sickness day by day." In the same chapter it is written, "that the Philistines and Arabians came against him, and took his wives and children, and goods captive; and, after all this, the Lord smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease, and his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness, so that he died of sore disease.

In the 6 Chapter of Joshua, 26 verse, there is a wonderful prediction, concerning Jericho: "Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho. He shall lay the foundation thereof, in his first born; and in his youngest son, shall he set up the gates thereof."

After this curse, the city of Jericho lay waste for ages; none daring to rebuild it at the expense of their first born, and of their youngest son.

PROPHESY ALREADY FULFILLED. 25

Until after a long succession of judges and kings, when hundreds of years had passed, Hiel, the Bethelite, who lived in the days of Ahab, probably supposing that the Lord had forgotten the curse pronounced upon it by Joshua, ventured to rebuild the city: but no sooner had he laid the foundation thereof, than Abiram, his first born, died; but still persevering in the hardness of his heart, he set up the gates thereof, with the loss of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord by Joshua; see 1 Kings xvi. chapter, 39 verse. We might fill a volume with instances of a similar kind, dispersed through the historical part of the Scriptures; but we forbear, in order to hasten to a more full examination of the books of the Jewish Prophets. We shall trace them in their fulfilment upon Jerusalem, Babylon, Tyre, Egypt, and various other nations.

Babylon, the most ancient and the most renowned city of the world, was pleasantly situated on the banks of a majestic river, that flowed through the plains of Shinar, near where the tower of Babel once stood. It was laid out fours square, and surrounded with a wall upwards

26 PROPHESY ALREADY FULFILLED.

of three hundred feet high, and sixty miles in circumference; having an hundred gates of brass, with bars of iron, twenty-five gates at every side, which opened to streets, running through the whole city, a distance of fifteen miles; thus forming the whole city into exact squares of equal size. In the midst of these squares were beautiful gardens, adorned with trees and walks, diversified with flowers of every varied hue; while all the houses of the city were built upon the borders of the squares; directly fronting on the streets. In the midst of this city, sat Nebuchadnezzar, enthroned in royal splendor and magnificence, and swaying his sceptre over all the kingdoms of the world; when it pleased God in a vision of the night to unveil the dark curtain of the future, and to present before him at one view, the history of the world, even down to the consummation of all things. "Behold! a great image stood before him, whose head was of fine gold, his breast and arms of silver, his belly and thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet and toes, part of iron, and part of miry clay. He beheld till a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands,

PROPHESY ALREADY FULFILLED. 27

which smote the image upon the feet, which were part of iron and part of clay, and brake them in pieces; then was the iron, the brass, the silver, and the gold broken to pieces together, and became as the chaff of the summer threshing floor; and the wind carried them away, and there was no place found for them; but the stone which smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth." When Daniel was brought in before the king, to tell the dream, and the interpretation, he exclaimed, "there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king, Nebuchadnezzar, what shall come to pass in the latter days. Then, after telling the dream, he continues thus: "Thou, O king, art a king of kings; for the God of Heaven hath given thee a kingdom, and power, and strength, and glory, and wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the Heaven, hath he given into thy hand; and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou are this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom, inferior to thee; and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the

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earth; and the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron; for as much as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things, and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruize. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron. The kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it, of the strength of the iron; for as much as thou sawest the iron mixed with clay, and as the toes of the feet, were part of iron, and part of clay; so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men, but they shall not of cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings, shall the God of Heaven set up a kingdom, which shall not be destroyed, and the kingdom shall not be given to another people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Forasmuch as thou sawest the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver and the gold: the great God hath made known to the king, what shall

PROPHESY ALREADY FULFILLED. 29

come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure."

In this great view of the subject, we have presented before us in succession; first, the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar; second, the Medes and Persians, who took Babylon from Belshazzar, and reigned over all the earth; third the Greeks, under Alexander, who conquered the world, and reigned in the midst of Babylon; and fourth, the Roman Empire, which subdued all things; fifth, its division into Eastern and Western empires, and its final breaking up or subdivision into the various kingdoms of modern Europe, represented by the feet and toes, part of iron and part of clay. And lastly, we have presented before us an entirely new kingdom, organized by the God of Heaven, in the last days, or during the reign of these kings, represented by the feet and toes. This last kingdom was never to change masters, like all the kingdoms which had gone before it. It was never to be left to other people. It was to break in pieces all these kingdoms, and stand forever. Many suppose that this last kingdom alluded to, was the kingdom of God, which was organized

30 PROPHESY ALREADY FULFILLED.

in the days of Christ, or his apostles. But a greater blunder could not exist; the kingdom of God set up in the days of Christ, or of his apostles, did not break in pieces any of the kingdoms of the world; it was itself warred against and overcome, in fulfillment of the words of Daniel, 7 chapter, 21st. verse: "I beheld and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;" also 22nd. verse. "Until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom"; also, verse 27th. "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him."

John records, Rev. xiii. 7. "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, tongues, and nations." In fulfillment of these sayings, power has been given to the authorities of the earth, to kill the apostles and inspired men; until, if any remained,

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they were banished from among men, or forced to retire to the desolate islands, or the dens and caves of the mountains of the earth; there to live, being men of whom the world was not worthy; while at the same time, many false prophets and teachers were introduced in their place, whom men heaped to themselves, because they would not endure sound doctrine. In this way the kingdom of God became disorganized and lost from among men, and the doctrines and churches of men, instituted in its place. But we design to speak more fully on this subject, when we come to treat on the subject of the kingdom of God. Suffice it to say, that the kingdom spoken of by Daniel, is something to be organized in the last days by the God of Heaven himself, without the aid of human institutions, or the precepts of men. And when once organized, it will never cease to roll; all the powers of earth and hell will not impede its progress, until at length the Ancient of Days shall sit, and the Lord Jesus will come in the clouds of Heaven, with power and great glory, as the King of kings, and Lord of lords, and destroy all these kingdoms, and give the kingdom and the greatness

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of the kingdom, under the whole Heaven, to the saints. Then there will be but one Lord, and his name one, and he shall be king over all the earth.

We shall now return to Nebuchadnezzar, whom the Lord, by the mouth of Jeremiah, calls "his servant, to execute his judgments upon the nations." It seems that the Lord exalted this great man, and made him a King of kings, and Lord of lords, arming him with his own sword, and clothing him with power and authority, for the express purpose of executing his judgments, and scourging and humbling all the nations of the earth. Jeremiah, chap. xxv. says "that the Lord proposed to bring Nebuchadnezzar and his army against Jerusalem, and against all the nations round about, that he might bring them to desolation and captivity for seventy years; and after seventy years, he would turn and punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, for their iniquity." Now, who can trace the history of the fulfilment of these great events, so exactly pointed out by Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel, and not be struck with astonishment and wonder, at the marvelous gift of prophecy

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enabling men in those days to read the history of the future, as they read the history of the past. Indeed, the reader of history in the nineteenth century, holding in his hand the history of the Babylonians, Medes and Persians, Greeks, Romans and Egyptians, together with that of the Jews, will hardly render himself more familiar with the events which transpired among those nations, than the prophets were for seventy years previous to their accomplishment. Witness the seventy years captivity of the Jews in Babylon, and their safe return. Next witness the taking of Tyre, the city of merchants, the mart of nations, situated at the haven of the sea, surrounded not only by the sea, but by a strong wall. So strong a hold, required the utmost skill and perseverance of Nebuchadnezzar, and his whole army, who laboured incessantly for a long time, and at length succeeded in conquering the city, and bringing its inhabitants into captivity for seventy years; after which they returned and established their city. But when the king of Babylon had succeeded in taking Tyre; after many a bald head and peeled shoulder, caused by the hard service of his army in

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the siege; the Lord, by the mouth of Ezekiel, promised to give the spoils of Egypt unto him, for wages for his army, in order to pay him for the great service, wherewith he had served God against Tyre. Next, witness his war, in the taking of Egypt, and bringing it into captivity, until the seventy years were accomplished.

And finally, trace him, executing the Lord's vengeance and anger against Uz, upon the kings of the Philistines, and Askelon, Azaah, and Ekron, Edom, Moab, Ammon, and Dedan Tema, and Buz, and the kings of Arabia, and of Zimri and of Elam, and of all the kings of the Medes, and upon all the kings of the north, far and near; and finally upon all the kingdoms of the world, who were to be drunken, and spew, and fall, to rise no more, because of the sword, which he would send among them. But, when the Lord had accomplished all his mind upon these nations; he purposed, in turn, to punish this great monarch, and those who succeeded him; and also the City and Nation over which he reigned: and finally to make it perpetually desolates. And all this for their pride and haughtiness. The Lord exclaims, shall the ax boast itself,

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against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw boast itself against him that shaketh it, &c. But, in order to trace the events of the return of the Jews, and the other nations, from their seventy years captivity and bondage, and the punishment of Babylon; another and very different character from that of Nebuchadnazer is introduced by the Prophets; one who is in Scripture termed the Lord's Anointed. He may be considered one of the most extraordinary characters that ever the heathen world produced; his mildness, his courage, his perseverance, his success, and, above all, his strict obedience to the command of that God, which neither he nor his fathers had known; all go to prove that Isaiah was not mistaken when he called him by name, as the Lord's Anointed, to deliver the nations from bondage, to scourge and subdue the greatest city and monarchy that have at any time existed on the earth; and to restore the Jews, and to rebuild the city and temple. Indeed, he was one of those few, which the world never produces, except for extraordinary purposes. But let us hear the Prophet's own description of him. Isaiah, 45 chap: "Thus saith the

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Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two-leaved gates, and the gates shall not be shut. I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron. And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none else." In the 13th verse, he says, "I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts." The reader will bear in mind, that Isaiah lived about one hundred years before the Jewish captivity, and one

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hundred and seventy years before Cyrus caused their return.

Here I would pause and enquire what power, but the power of the great God, could enable one man to call another by name, a century before his birth, and also to foretell the history of his life. What must have been his wonder and astonishment, when, after many years of wars and commotions, during which he marched forth, conquering and to conquer, gathering as a nest the riches of the nations, he at length pitched his camp near the walls of the strongest hold in all the earth -- he gazed upon its walls of upwards of three hundred feet in height, with its gates of brass and its bars of iron; the people within feeling perfectly safe, with provisions enough to last the inhabitants of the city for several years; -- how could he think of taking that city -- who would not have shrunk from such an undertaking unless inspired by the great Jehovah. But, turning the river Euphrates from its course, and marching under the walls of the city, in the dry bed of the river, he found himself in possession of the city, without any difficulty, for Belshazzar

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the king was drinking himself drunk with his nobles and concubines, and that too from the vessels of the house of the Lord which his father had taken from Jerusalem, and his knees had already smote together, with horror, from the hand writing on the wall, which Daniel had just been called in to interpret, giving his kingdom to the Medes and Persians. Having subdued this great monarchy, he seated himself upon the throne of kingdoms; and becoming familiar with Daniel, he was, no doubt introduced to an acquaintance with the Jewish records, and then the mystery was unfolded -- he could then see that God had called him by name, that the almighty hand girded him for the battle, and directed all his work; he could then understand why the treasures of the earth poured themselves into his bosom, and why the loins of kings had been unloosed before him, and why the gates of brass had been opened, and the bars of iron burst asunder. It was, that he might know that there was a God in Israel, and none else, and that all idols were nothing; that he might also restore the Jews, and rebuild their city and temple, and fulfill God's purposes upon

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Babylon. He accordingly issued his proclamation to the Jews, to return, and for the nations to assist them in rebuilding. For, said he, God hath commanded me to build him an house at Jerusalem. -- Ezra, i. 2, 3, says, 'Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judea. Who is there among all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judea, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God), which is in Jerusalem."

What powerful argument, what mighty influence was it, which caused Cyrus to be convinced that it was the God of heaven, (who dwelt at Jerusalem, who alone was God,) who had done all these things. He had not been traditioned in the belief of the true God, nor of the holy scriptures. Nay, he had ever been very zealous in the worship of idols; it was to idols that he sought for assistance, in the former part of his life. I reply, it was the power of God, made manifest by prophesy, and its fulfillment; not in a spiritualized sense, not in some obscure,

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uncertain, or dark mysterious way, which was difficult to be understood; but in positive, literal, plain demonstration, which none could gainsay or resist. Isaiah says, that this was the object the Lord had in view, when he revealed such plainness. And Cyrus manifested, that it had the desired effect. I would here remark, that when we come to treat of that part of Prophesy which yet remains to be fulfilled, we shall bring proof positive, that the heathen nations of the latter days, are to be convinced in the very same way that Cyrus was; that is, there are certain events plainly predicted in the Prophets, yet future, which, when fulfilled, will convince all the heathen nations of the true God, and they shall know that he hath spoken and performed it. And all the great and learned men of Christendom, and all societies, who have put any other than a literal construction to the word of Prophesy, shall stand confounded, and be constrained to acknowledge that all has come to pass, even as it is written.

But to return to our research of Prophesy and its fulfillment; we will give a passing notice of the vision of Daniel, recorded in the 8th chap.

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of his Prophesies, concerning the ram and the he-goat. The reader would do well to turn and read the whole chapter; but we will more particularly notice the interpretation, as it was given him by Gabriel, as recorded from the 19th to the 25th verses. And he said, "I will make the thee known what shall be in the last end of the indignation, for at the time appointed the end shall be. The ram which thou sawest, having two horns, are the kings of Media and Persia; and the rough he-goat is the king of Grecia; and the great horn that is between his eyes, is the first king. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up; and his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power, and he shall destroy the mighty, and the holy people; and through his policy also, he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand, and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many; he shall also stand up against the Prince

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of princes; but he shall be broken without hand." In this vision, we have first presented the Medes and Persians, as they were to exist, until they were conquered by Alexander the Great. Now it is a fact well known, that this empire waxed exceedingly great for some time after the death of Daniel, pushing its conquests westward, northward, and southward, so that none could stand before it; until Alexander, the king of Grecia, came from the west, with a small army of chosen men, and attacked the Persians upon the bank of the river, and plunging his horse in, and his army following, they crossed and attacked the Persians, who stood to oppose them upon the bank, with many times their number; but notwithstanding their numbers, and their advantage of the ground, they were totally routed; and the Grecians proceeded to overrun and subdue the country, beating the Persian prince in a number of pitched battles, until they were entirely subdued. It is also well known that Alexander, the King of Greece, went forth from nation to nation, subduing the world before him, until having conquered the world, he died at Babylon, at the age of thirty-two years.

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And thus, when he had waxed strong, the great horn was broken, and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven. His kingdom was divided among four of his generals, who never attained unto his power. Now in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgression of the Jewish nation was come to the full, the Roman power destroyed the Jewish nation, took Jerusalem, caused the daily sacrifice to cease; and not only that, but afterwards destroyed the mighty and holy people, that is the apostles and primitive Christians, who were slain by the authorities of Rome.

Now, let me inquire; does the history of these United States give a plainer account of past events, than Daniel's wisdom did of events which were then future; and some of them reaching down the stream of time, for several hundred years; unfolding events which no human sagacity could possibly have foreseen? Man, by his own sagacity, may accomplish many things; he may plow the trackless ocean, without wind or tide in his favor; he may soar aloft amid the clouds without the aid of wings; he may traverse the land with astonishing velocity without the aid of

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beasts; or he may convey his thoughts to his fellows by the aid of letters. But there is a principle which he can never attain; no, not even by the wisdom of ages combined; money will not purchase it; it comes from God only, and is bestowed upon man as a free gift. Ah! says the Prophet to the idols, tell us what shall be, that we may know that ye are gods.

We will now proceed to show how exactly the prophesies literalized in the person of Jesus Christ. Behold, said the Prophet, "a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son." Again, Bethlehem should be the place of his birth; and Egypt, where he sojourned with his parents, the place out of which he was to be called. He turned aside to Nazareth, for it was written, he shall be called a Nazarene. He rode into Jerusalem upon a colt, the foal of an ass, because the Prophet had said, "behold thy King cometh, meek and lowly, riding upon a colt," &c. And again, saith the prophet, "he shall be afflicted and despised; he shall be a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: he shall be led as a lamb to the slaughter, and like a sheep dumb before his shearers; so he opened

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not his mouth: in his humiliation his judgment was taken away; and who shall declare his generation, for his life is taken from the earth; he was wounded for our transgressions, and by his stripes we are healed; he was numbered with the transgressors; he made his grave with the rich. Not a bone of him is broken; they divide his raiment, cast lots for his vesture; give him gall and vinegar to drink; betray him for thirty pieces of silver; and finally, when it was finished, he rested in the tomb until the third day, and then arose triumphant without seeing corruption. Now, kind reader, had you walked up and down with our dear Redeemer during his whole sojourn in the flesh, and had you taken pains to record the particular circumstances of his life and death, as they occurred from time to time, your history would not be a plainer one, than the prophets gave of him hundreds of years before he was born. There is one thing we would do well to notice, concerning the manner in which the Apostles interpreted prophesy, and that is this; they simply quoted it, and recorded its literal fulfillment. And by pursuing this course, they were enabled

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to bring it home to the hearts of the people in the Jewish synagogues, with such convincing proof, that they were constrained to believe the supposed impostor whom they had crucified was the Messiah. But had they once dreamed of rendering a spiritualizing or uncertain application, like the teachers of the present day, all would have been uncertainty and doubt, and demonstration would have vanished from the earth.

Having taken a view of the Old Testament prophets, concerning prophecy and its fulfillment, and having shown clearly, that nothing but a literal fulfillment was intended, the objector may inquire, whether the same mode will apply to the predictions contained in the New Testament. We will therefore bring a few important instances of prophesy, and its fulfillment, from the New Testament, after which we shall be prepared to enter the vast field which is still future. One of the most remarkable prophesies in sacred writ, is recorded by Luke, xxi. 20-24. "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea

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flee to the mountains, and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto; for these be the days of vengeance, that all things that are written may be fulfilled. "But wo unto them that are with child, and to those that give suck in those days; for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people; and they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles is fulfilled." This prophecy involves the fate of Jerusalem and the temple, and the whole Jewish nation, for at least eighteen hundred years. About the year seventy, the Roman army compassed Jerusalem. The disciples remembered the warning which had been given them by their Lord and Master, forty years before, and fled to the mountains. The city of Jerusalem was taken, after a long and tedious siege, in which the Jews suffered the extreme of famine, pestilence, and the sword; filling houses with the dead, for the want of a place to bury them. While women ate their own children for want of all things.

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In this struggle, there perished, in Jerusalem near one million and a half Jews, besides those taken captive. Their city was laid waste, their temple destroyed, and the miserable remnant dispersed abroad into all the nations of the earth; in which situation they have continued ever since, being driven from one nation to another, often falsely accused of the worst crimes, for which they were banished, and their goods confiscated. Indeed, they have been mostly accounted as outlaws among the various nations; the soles of their feet has found no rest, and they have been a hiss and a by-word; and the people have said, "these are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land."

During all this time the Gentiles have possessed the land of Canaan, and trodden under foot the holy city, where their forefathers worshipped the Lord. Now in this long captivity, the Jews have never lost sight of the promises respecting their return. Their eyes have watched and failed with longing for the day when they might possess again that blessed inheritance bequeathed to their forefathers; when they might again rear their city and temple, and reestablish

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their priesthood, and worship as in the days of old. Indeed, they have made several attempts to return, but were always frustrated in all their attempts, for it was an unalterable decree, that Jerusalem should be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles should be fulfilled. On the subject of this long dispersion, Moses and the Prophets have written very plain; indeed, Moses even mentioned the particulars of their eating their children secretly in the siege, and in the straitness wherewith their enemies should besiege them in all their gates. Whoever will read the 28th of Deuteronomy, will read the history of what has befallen the Jews, foretold by Moses, with all the clearness that characterizes the history of past events, and all this thousands of years before its accomplishment.

Our next is found in Acts xxi.10, 11., where a Prophet named Agabus took Paul's girdle and bound his own hands and feet, and said, thus saith the Holy Ghost, "So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles." The fulfillment of this prediction is too

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well known to need any description. We therefore proceed to notice a prophesy of Paul, recorded in 2 Tim. iv. 3, 4. "For the time will come, when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts will they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." This prophesy has been fulfilled to the very letter, for it applies to every religious teacher, who has arisen from that day unto the present, except those commissioned by direct revelation, and inspired by the Holy Ghost. But, to convince the reader of its full accomplishment, we need only to point to the numberless priests of the day, who preach for hire, and divine for money, and who receive their authority from their fellow man; and as to the fables to which they are turned, we need only to mention the spiritualizing and private interpretations, which salute our ears, from almost every religious press and pulpit. But there is another prophesy of Paul well worth our attention, as illustrative of the times in which we live; it is found in the first five verses of the 3d chap. 2 Tim. "This know also,

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that in the last day perilous times shall come; for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." From the last verse of this quotation, we learn to our astonishment, that this sum of awful wickedness applies to professors of religion ONLY; that is, this would be the character of the (so-called) Christian part of community, in the last days. Do not startle, kind reader, we do not make the application without proof positive to the point: for remember, non-professors have no form of godliness, but those ungodly characters spoken of, were to have a form of godliness, denying the power thereof. But if you doubt Paul's testimony on the subject, look around you, examine for yourselves. "By their fruits ye shall know them." My heart is pained while I write. Alas, has it come to this; has the spirit of truth removed

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the veil of obscurity from the last days, only to present us with the vision of a fallen people; an apostate Church, full of all manner of abominations, and even despising those who are good; while they themselves have nothing left but the form of godliness, denying the power of God, that is, setting aside the direct inspiration, and supernatural gifts of the Spirit, which ever constitute the Church of Christ. Was it for this only, that the Holy Spirit opened to the view of holy men, the events of unborn times, enabling them to gaze upon the opening glories of the latter days? O! ye Prophets and Apostles, ye holy men of old, what have you done, if you stop here; if your prophetic vision only extended down the stream of time, to the present year? Alas! you have filled our minds with sorrow and despair; the Jews you have left wandering in sorrow and darkness, far from all their hearts hold most dear on earth: their land a desolation, and their city and temple in ruins, and they without the knowledge of the true Messiah. The Gentiles, after partaking of the root and fatness of the tame olive-tree, having fallen, after the same example of unbelief, are left without

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fruit, dead, plucked up by the roots, with naught but a form of godliness; while the powers that characterized the ancient Church, have fled from among men. Is this the consummation of all your labours? was it for this, you searched, toiled, bled, and died? I pause for a reply: if you have a word of comfort yet in store, concerning the future, let it quickly speak, least our own souls should linger in the dark valley of sorrow and despair.

----oOo----

CHAPTER II.

ON THE FULFILMENT OF PROPHESY YET FUTURE.

Having made the discovery, and produced sufficient proof, that the Prophesies, thus far, have been literally fulfilled-to the very letter; we hope the reader will never lose sight of the same rule with regard to those yet future. And while we stand upon the threshold of futurity, with the wonders of unborn time about to open upon our view, presenting before our astonished vision the most mighty and majestic scenes,

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the most astonishing revolutions, the most extraordinary destructions, as well as the most miraculous displays of the power and majesty of Jehovah, in his great restoration of his long dispersed covenant people, from the four quarters of the earth: I say, as these scenes are about to open to our view, let us bow before the great I AM, in the name of Jesus, and pray in faith for his Spirit to enlarge our hearts and enlighten our minds, that we may understand and believe all that is written, however miraculous it may be. But O, kind reader, whoever you are, if you are not prepared for persecution, if you are unprepared to have your name cast out as evil, if you can not bear to be called a knave, an impostor, or madman, or one that hath a devil; or if you are bound by the creeds of men to believe just so much and no more, you had better stop here; for if you believe the things written in the Bible, that are yet to come, you will be under the necessity of believing miracles, signs, and wonders, revelations, and manifestations of the power of God, even beyond any�thing that any former generation has witnessed; yea, you will believe that the waters

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will be divided, and Israel go through dry-shod, as they journey to their own land, as they did in the days of Moses; for no man ever yet believed the Bible, without believing and expecting such glorious events in the latter days. And I will now venture to say, that a believer in the Bible, would be a something, that very few men have ever seen in this generation, with all its boasted religion. For there is a great difference between believing the book to be true when shut, or believing the things therein written. It is now considered in Christendom a great disgrace not to believe the Bible when shut; but whosoever tries the experiment, will find it a greater disgrace to believe that the things therein written will surely come to pass. Indeed, it is our firm belief in, and careful teaching of, the things written in the Bible, that has brought upon us all the persecution we suffer. For let the prophesies be understood by the people, and let them roll on in their fulfillment, and it will blow to the four winds every religious craft in Christendom, and cause the kingdom of Christ to arise upon their ruins, while the actual knowledge of the truth will cover the earth as the waters do the sea.

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Having said so much by way of caution; if there are any of my readers, so bold, and regardless of consequences, as to dare with me, to gaze upon the future, we will commence with Isaiah xi chap. 11, 12, 15 & 16 verses, -- And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand a second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah, from the four corners of the earth.

And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind will he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it, in the seven streams thereof, and make men go over dry shod.

And there shall be an high way for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria: like as it was to Israel, in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

Here you behold an ensign to be reared for

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the nations; and not only for the dispersed of Judah, but the outcast of Israel (the ten tribes) are all to be assembled together, from the four quarters of the earth. The Jews are called dispersed because they are scattered among the nations: but the ten tribes are called outcasts, because they are cast out, from the knowledge of the nations, in a land by themselves. Now the reader will bear in mind, that the ten tribes have not dwelt in the land of Canaan, since they were led captive by Shalmanezer, king of Assyria. We have also presented before us, in the 15th verse the marvellous power of God, which will be displayed in the destruction of a small branch of the red sea, called the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and also the dividing of the seven streams of the River Nile; which flows into the Mediterranean, by seven mouths; and the causing men to go over dry shod; and lest any should not understand it, literally, the 15th verse says, there shall be an high way for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, like as it was to Israel when he came up out of the land of Egypt. Now we have only to ask whether, in the days of Moses, the Red Sea was

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literally divided? or whether it was only a figure? for as it was then, so it shall be again. And yet we are told by modern divines, that the days of miracles have gone by forever; and those who believe in miracles, in our day, are counted as impostors, or at least, poor ignorant fanatics, and the public are warned against them, as false teachers who would, if possible, deceive the very elect. On the subject of this restoration, the Prophets have spoken so fully and so repeatedly, that we can only notice a few of the most striking instances, which will go to show the particular circumstances and incidents attending it, and the manner and means of its accomplishment. The 16th chap. of Jer. 14, 15, 16 verses, says -- "Therefore, behold the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said, the Lord liveth, that brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but the Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them; and I will bring them again into their own land that I gave unto their fathers, Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them, and after, I will

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send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. Now, it has ever been the case with Israel, when they wished to express the greatness of their God, to say, the Lord liveth, which brought up our fathers out of the land of Egypt. This saying at once called to mind the power and miracles of that memorable event; and associated with it, all that was great and grand, and calculated to strike the mind with awe, under a lively sense of the power of Israel's God. But to our astonishment! something is yet to transpire which will cast into momentary forgetfulness, all the great events of that day, and the children of Israel shall know that their God liveth, by casting their minds upon events of recent date which shall have transpired still more glorious and wonderful than their coming out of Egypt; They will exclaim, the Lord liveth which recently brought the children of Israel from the north, and from all lands whither he had driven them; and hath planted them in the land of Canaan which he gave our fathers. With this idea will be associated every display of grandeur and sublimity

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of wonder and amazement, while they call to mind the revelations, manifestations, miracles, and mercies displayed in bringing about this great event, in the eyes of all nations.

In view of this, Jeremiah exclaims, in the last verse of this chapter, '"Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know my hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is the Lord."

But the means made use of to bring about this glorious event, are not only the raising of a standard, the lifting up of an ensign, so that we might know when the time was fulfilled. But fishers and hunters are to be employed to fish and hunt them from every mountain, from every hill, and out of holes of the rocks. Let the reader mark here; men were not to send missionaries, (who were not inspired,) to go and teach Israel several hundred different doctrines, and opinions of men, and to tell them they supposed the time had about arrived, for them to gather. But the God of Heaven is to call men by actual Revelation, direct from Heaven, and to tell them who Israel is; who the Indians of America are, if they should be of Israel, and

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also where the ten tribes are, and all the scattered remnants of that long lost people. He it is, who is to give them their errands and mission, and to clothe them with power from on high to execute the great work, in defiance of opposing elements, and all the opposition of earth and hell combined; but do you ask, why is the Lord to commission men by actual Revelation? I reply, because he has no other way of sending men in any age. No man, says the Apostle, taketh this honour upon himself, but him that is called of God, as was Aaron, and we all know that Aaron was called by Revelation.

Now the Great Jehovah never has, nor never will acknowledge the priesthood or ministry of any man, who is not called by Revelation, and inspired, as in days of old. But, O, says the reader, you startle me, for the whole train of modern divines profess no Revelation, later than the Bible, and no direct inspiration, or supernatural gift of the Spirit. Do you cast them all off, and say that they have no authority? I reply, no, for the Bible does it, and I only humbly acquiesce in the decision; as they are no where known in Scripture, rather than as teachers,

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whom the people have heaped to themselves, (the word heap means a great many). But to prove more fully that God will give revelations in order to bring about this glorious work, we will refer you to Ezekiel, xx 33-38. It reads, "As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: and I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord."

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You discover, that this promise begins with a double assurance; first, with an oath, as I live; second, with an assurance, surely, with a mighty hand, &c. And, in the close of the same chapter, lest the people should possibly misunderstand him, he exclaims, "O Lord, they say of me, doth he not speak in parables!" Here we have the children of Israel, brought from among all nations, with a mighty hand, and a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out (O ye nations, who oppose these things, beware, remember Pharaoh, and learn wisdom,) we see them brought into the wilderness of the people; and there the Lord is to plead with them, face to face, just like as he did with their fathers, in the wilderness of Egypt. This pleading face to face can never be done. without Revelation, and a personal manifestation, as much so as in old times. Now, I ask, was all his manifestations to Israel in the wilderness, a mere fable, not to be understood literally; if so, this will be so too; for one will be precisely like the other, no parable, but a glorious reality. He will cause them to pass under the rod, and bring them into the bond of the covenant. This brings

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to mind the new covenant, so often promised in the Scriptures, to be made with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, just in time to gather them from their long dispersion. Some may suppose that the new covenant which was to gather Israel, made its appearance in the days of Christ and his apostles. But Paul tells us, it was future in his day. -- So in his xi. chap. to the Romans, he declares that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in, and so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written, "There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob, for this is the covenant, when I shall take away their sins." From this we learn, that Paul placed that covenant in the future, even down to the restoration of Israel, in the last days, when the times of the Gentiles should be fulfilled. Then, there should come a deliverer for Israel, and not before, seeing that they had rejected the first coming of that Deliverer. And He himself said to the Jews, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: from henceforth you shall not see me, until you shall say, blessed is he that cometh in the name

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of the Lord." Then, and not until then, should the covenant be renewed with Israel. And even when the apostles inquired, saying, "Wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel;" the Saviour made answer that it was not for them to know the times and seasons, which the father had put in his own power; but they were to receive power, and bear witness of him, &c.; as much as to say, that work is not for you Apostles to accomplish, but shall be done in the Lord's own time, by whom he will; "but go ye, and do the work I have commanded you." -- Again, Isaiah, lxi. 8, 9, in speaking of this covenant, tells us, that it should make their seed known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people; and should cause all that see them, to acknowledge them, that they are the seed that the Lord hath blessed. Now, we know that it is a question which can only be decided by Revelation, whether the aborigines of America are the seed of Jacob or not. Again, it is a matter of uncertainty where the ten tribes are, or who they are; but the new covenant, whenever it makes its appearance, will reveal these things, and will leave the matter no

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longer in suspense; we shall then know their seed among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people. But, O, how different was the effect of the covenant made eighteen hundred years ago in its effects upon Israel; it cast them off in unbelief, and caused all that have seen them or heard of them ever since to acknowledge, that they are the seed that the Lord has cursed. When the covenant is renewed in the last days, the Lord will bring them into the bond of the covenant, by manifesting himself to them face to face. Let me inquire, how does God make a covenant with the people in any age? The answer must be, by communicating his will to them, by actual revelation; for without this, it would be impossible to make a covenant between two parties. In order to illustrate this subject, let us bring an example. We see how we make covenants with each other. For instance, a young man wishes to enter into a covenant of matrimony with a young lady; but deprive him of the privilege of revealing his mind to her, cut off all direct communication between them, and a covenant could never be made; and so it is with the Almighty. He never

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did enter into a covenant with his creatures without revelations; and he never can do it. In short, whenever he made a covenant with the people, where a whole people were concerned, he included in the covenant the priesthood, offices, and authorities, together with the ordinances and blessings which pertain to his covenant; and so will he do at this time. Whenever the new covenant is established, it will organize the kingdom of God, with all its offices, ordinances, gifts, and blessings, as in the days of old; but more of this when we come to treat the Kingdom of God. But, says the inquirer, what need have we of the renewal of a covenant which has never been broken.

If the Lord made a covenant in the days of the Apostles, called a new covenant, why should that covenant still be renewed again, seeing it is in full force, until it is broken by one party or the other? This is an important inquiry, involving the fate of all Christendom in its decision; we must therefore be very careful to make the decision perfectly plain, and the proof easy to be understood. That there was a new covenant made between God and the people, in the days

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of Christ and his apostles, none will attempt to deny; and if that covenant never has been broken, it must be of force to the present day, and consequently there is no need of a new one. It therefore remains for us to prove, that that covenant has been broken, completely broken, so that it is not in force, either among Jew or Gentiles, having lost its offices, authorities, powers, and blessings, insomuch that they are no where to be found among men. In order to [do] this, we must examine, what were its offices, authorities, powers, and blessings, and then see whether they are still known among men.

We read that its offices consisted of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, all inspired, and set in the Church, by the Lord himself, for the edifying of the saints, for the work of the ministry, &c. And they were to continue in the Church, wherever it was found, until they all come to the unity of the faith, and unto the measure of the stature of a man in Christ.

Secondly, the gifts of the Spirit, which some call supernatural, were the powers and blessings, which pertained to that covenant, wherever

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it existed, among the Jews or the Gentiles, so long as the covenant was of force. Now, I would ask of the world of Christendom, or either of its sects or parties, if they have apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, inspired, from on high, together with all the gifts and blessings of the Holy Spirit, which pertained to the gospel covenant? If not, then the offices and powers of that covenant have been lost. And it must be through the breaking of that covenant that, they were lost: for in this way the Jews lost these privileges, when they were handed to the Gentiles. And Paul told the Gentiles, in his 11th chapter Rom. "That if they did not abide in his goodness, they would fall, as the Jews had done before them." But in order to prove by further demonstration, that the gospel covenant has been broken, by Jew and Gentile, and all people, so long as to be no longer in force, I shall quote Isa. xxiv. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. "Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master;

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as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him. The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word. The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left." In these few verses, we discover a like calamity awaiting priests and people, rich and poor, bond and free, insomuch that they are all to be burned up but a few; and the complaint is that the earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, and broken the everlasting covenant. Now, this could not be speaking of any other than the covenant, ordinances, and laws of the Gospel, made with the

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people, in the days of the apostles; because, however any former covenant may have been broken, yet the inhabitants of the earth were never destroyed by fire, (all but a few,) for having broken any previous covenant. No, this destruction is to come by fire, as literally as the flood in the days of Noah; and it will consume both priests and people from the earth, and that too for having broken the covenant of the Gospel, with its laws, and its ordinances; or else we must get a new edition of the Bible, leaving out the xxiv. of Isaiah.

Now, having settled this question, I trust the reader will see the need of a new covenant, in order to save the few that are not to be burned. We will therefore drop this subject for the present, and turn again to the subject of the gathering of Israel; they will please turn and read the 36, 37, 38, 39 chapters of Ezekiel. In the 36 chap. you will discover a promise, that Israel is to return from all the nations where they have been scattered, and to be brought again to the land which he gave to their fathers; Jerusalem is to be filled with flocks of men. and all the desolate cities of Judea are to be rebuilt,

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fenced, and inhabited; the land is to be fenced, tilled, and sown, insomuch, that they should say, this land that was desolate, is become like the garden of Eden. I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it; and the heathen shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places, and plant that, that was desolate; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men, and they shall know that I am the Lord. In the 37 chap. you will find, after the vision of the resurrection of the dead, the Prophet goes on to speak of the two nations, becoming one nation upon the mountains of Israel, and one king being king to them all; and when this takes place, they are no more to be divided into two kingdoms, any more at all. Moreover, the Lord's tabernacle is to be with them, and his sanctuary in the midst of them forevermore; he will forever be their God, and they shall be his people; and the heathen are to know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them forevermore. Now, it is a fact well known, that Judah and the ten tribes have never been one nation, upon the mountains of Israel, since the day they were first divided into two nations.

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But, when this does take place, even the very heathen are to know it, and are to be convinced of the true God, as was the case with Cyrus. Now, if the missionaries should convert the world, before the Lord does this great work, then it will save the trouble of the Lord's doing it in his own way, and it will save the trouble of fulfilling the Prophets, and the word of the Lord would fail, and all the world lay hold on infidelity. Well did the Lord say, "my ways are not as your ways, nor my thoughts as your thoughts." The 38th and 39th chapters, present us with a view of about ten nations, united under one great head, whom the Lord is pleased to call Gog; and being mounted on horseback, and armed with all sorts of armour, they come up against the mountains of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; their object is to take a prey, to take away silver, and gold, and cattle, and goods in great abundance.

This is an event which is to transpire after the return of the Jews, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem; while the towns of the land of Judea are without walls, having neither bars nor gates. But while they are at the point to

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swallow up the Jews, and lay waste their country, behold, the Lord's fury comes up in his face, a mighty earthquake is the result, insomuch that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and all the creeping things, and all men upon the face of the earth, shall shake at his presence, and every wall shall fall to the ground, and every man's sword shall be turned against his neighbour in this army, and the Lord shall rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, great hail-stones, fire and brimstone. And thus he will magnify himself, and sanctify himself, in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that he is the Lord; thus they shall fall upon the open field, upon the mountains of Israel, even Gog and all his army, horses and horsemen; and the Jews shall go forth and gather the weapons of war, such as hand staves, spears, shields, and bows and arrows; and these weapons shall last the cities of Israel seven years for fuel, so that they shall cut no wood out of the forest, for they shall burn the weapons with fire; and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them,

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and they shall gather gold and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. At this time, the fowls of the air, and the beasts of the field, shall have a great feast; yea, they are to eat fat until they be full, and drink blood until they be drunken. They are to eat the flesh of captains and kings, and mighty men, and all men of war. But the Jews will have a very serious duty to perform, which will take no less than seven months; namely, the burying of their enemies. They will select a place on the east side of the sea, called the Valley of the Passengers; and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude, and they shall call it the valley of Haman Gog. And the scent shall go forth, insomuch that it shall stop the noses of the passengers; thus shall they cleanse the land. "And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them; so the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God, from that day and forward." "And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity, because they trespassed against me; therefore hid I

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my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies, so fell they all by the sword." "According to their uncleanness, and according to their transgressions, have I done unto them, and hid my face from them; therefore thus saith the Lord God, now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; after that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses, whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt in their own land, and none made them afraid. When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemy's lands, and am sanctified in them, in the eyes of many nations; then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, who caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen; but I have gathered them into their own land, and left none of them any more there; neither will I hide my face any more from them, for I have poured out my Spirit upon the whole house of Israel, saith the Lord God."

In the foregoing, we discover that the heathen are to know, that the house of Israel went into

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captivity for their iniquity, and are gathered again by the hand of God, after having borne their shame for all their trespasses, and the house of Israel shall know that it was the Lord their God who caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen, and that he it was that gathered and defended them, and he will hide his face no more from them, but will pour out his Spirit upon them.

O, ye blind, ye stiff-necked, ye hard-hearted generation, with the Bible circulated among all nations; will ten whole nations be so blind as to fulfill this prophesy, and not know it, until it brings destruction upon their own heads? Why all this blindness? Alas! it is because of false teachers, who will tell them the Bible must be spiritualized. Others declare that these prophesies can never be understood, until they are fulfilled. If this be the case, then we can never escape the judgments predicted in them, but must continue the children of darkness, until they come upon us unawares, and sweep us from the earth. Then where will be the consolation of looking back and seeing them fulfilled? But blessed be God, he has told us by the mouth of Daniel that many,

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shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased, and that the wise shall understand, but none of the wicked shall understand. And now, I would ask, who are more wicked than the willfully blind leaders of the blind, who tell us we cannot understand the Scriptures? Whoever will look into this subject, will find that Ezekiel has here described scenes very nearly connected with the coming of Christ; indeed, Zachariah, in his 14th Chapter, has told us much, concerning the same great battle and overthrow of Gog and his army, and he has said in plain words, that the Lord should come at the very time of the overthrow of that army; yes, in fact, even while they are in the act of taking Jerusalem, and have already succeeded in taking one half the city, and spoiling their houses, and ravishing their women. Then behold their long expected Messiah, suddenly standing his feet upon the Mount of Olives, a little east of Jerusalem, to fight against those nations and deliver the Jews in the midst of the great shaking, which Ezekiel describes, when every thing should shake at his presence, Zachariah says, "the Mount of Olives shall cleave in twain,

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from east to west, and one-half of the mountain removes to the north, while the other half falls off to the south," suddenly forming a very great valley, into which the Jews shall flee for protection from their enemies, like they fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah; while the Lord cometh with all the saints with him: then will the Jews behold that long, long expected Messiah, coming in power to their deliverance, as they always looked for him. He destroys their enemies, and delivers them from trouble, at the very time they were in the utmost consternation, and about to be swallowed up by their enemies. But what is their astonishment, when as they are about to fall at the feet of their Deliverer, and acknowledge him their Messiah, they discover the wounds which once pierced his hands and feet and side, and on inquiry at once recognize Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews, the man so long rejected. Well did the Prophet say, they shall mourn and weep, every family apart, and their wives apart. But, thank heaven, there will be an end to their mourning; for he will forgive their iniquities and cleanse them from uncleanness. And

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Jerusalem shall be a holy city from that time forth; and all the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon, and shall be lifted up and inhabited in her place, and men shall dwell there, and there shall be no more utter destruction of Jerusalem; "and in that day there shall be one Lord, and his name one, and he shall be King over all the earth." John, in his 11th chapter of Revelations, gives us many more particulars concerning this same event. He informs us that, after the city and temple are rebuilt by the Jews, the Gentiles (that is, Gog and his army,) shall tread it under foot, forty and two months, during which time, there shall be two Prophets continually prophesying, and working mighty miracles. And it seems that the Gentile army are hindered from utterly destroying and overthrowing the city, while these two Prophets continue. But after a struggle of three years and a half, they at length succeed in destroying these two prophets, and then overrunning much of the city. They send gifts to each other, because of the death of the two prophets, and in the mean time, will not allow their dead bodies to be put in graves, but suffer them

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to lie in the streets of Jerusalem three days and a half: during which the armies of the Gog, consisting of many kindreds, tongues, and nations, (passing through the city, plundering the Jews,) see their dead bodies, lying in the street. But after three days and a half, on a sudden the Spirit of life, from God, enters them, and they will arise and stand upon their feet, and great fear will fall upon them that see them. And then they hear a voice from Heaven saying, "come up hither," and they ascend up to Heaven in a cloud, and their enemies behold them. And having described all these things, then comes the shaking, spoken of by Ezekiel; and the rending of the Mount of Olives, spoken of by Zachariah. John says, "the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell; and in the earthquake, were slain of men seven thousand." And then one of the next scenes that follow, is the sound of voices, saying, "the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever."

Now, having summed up the destruction of these great events spoken of by these three Prophets,

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I would just remark, there is no difficulty in understanding them all to be perfectly plain, and literal in theft fulfillment.

Suffice it to say, the Jews gather home, and rebuild Jerusalem. The nations gather against them in battle. The armies of Gog compass the city, and have more or less power over it for three years and a half. A couple of Jewish Prophets, by their mighty miracles, keep them from utterly overwhelming the Jews, until at length they are slain, and the city is left in a great measure to the mercy of their enemies for three days and a half; the two prophets rise from the dead, and ascend up into Heaven. The Messiah comes, convulses the earth, overthrows the army of the Gog, delivers the Jews, cleanses Jerusalem, cuts off all wickedness from the earth, raises the saints from the dead, brings them with him, and commences his reign of a thousand years; during which time his Spirit will be poured out upon flesh; men and beasts, birds and serpents, will be perfectly harmless, and peace and the knowledge and glory of God, cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. And the kingdom and the greatness of the kingdom

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under the whole heaven, shall be given to the saints of the Most High.

During this thousand years, Satan will be bound, and have no power to tempt the children of men. And the earth itself will be delivered from the curse which came by reason of the fall. The rough places will become smooth; the barren deserts fruitful; the mountains levelled; the valleys exalted; the thorn and thistle shall no more be found, but all the earth shall yield her increase in abundance to the saints of God. But after the thousand years are ended, then shall Satan be loosed, and shall go out to deceive the nations which dwell in the four quarters of the earth, to gather them to battle, and to bring them up to battle against the camp of the saints. Then the great and last struggle takes place between God and Satan, for the empire of the earth. Satan and his army shall be overthrown. And after these great things, comes the end of the earth; the resurrection of the wicked and the last judgment. And there shall be a new earth and a new Heaven, for the former earth and the former heaven have passed away, that is, they will be changed from temporal to eternal,

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and made fit for the abode of immortals. Then cometh Jerusalem down from God, out of Heaven, having been renewed, as well as the heavens and the earth. For said he, "behold I make all things new." This new city, placed upon the new earth, with the Lord God and the Lamb in the midst, seems to be man's eternal abode, insomuch that, after all our longings for a place beyond the bounds of time and space, (as saith the poet,) we are at last brought to our common senses, and given to understand, that man is destined forever to inherit this self-same planet, upon which he was first created; which shall be redeemed, sanctified, renewed, purified, and prepared as an eternal inheritance for immortality and eternal life, with the Holy City for its capital, the throne of God in the midst, for its seat of government; and watered with a stream clear as crystal, called the Waters of Life, issuing from the throne of Jehovah; while either side is adorned with trees of never-fading beauty. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." By this time, we begin to understand

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the words of the Saviour, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." And also the song which John heard in Heaven, which ended thus: "We shall reign on the earth." -- Reader, do not be startled; suppose you were to be caught up into Heaven, there to stand with the redeemed, of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, and join them in singing; and to your astonishment, all Heaven is filled with joy, while they tune the immortal lyre, in joyful anticipation of one day reigning on the earth -- a planet now under the domination of Satan, the abode of wretchedness and misery, from which your glad spirit had taken its flight, and as you suppose an everlasting farewell. You might perhaps be startled for a moment, and inquire within yourself, why have I never heard this theme sung among the churches on earth. Well, my friend, the answer would be, because you lived in a day when people did not understand the Scriptures. Abraham would tell you, you should have read the promise of God to him, Gen. xvii. 8., where God not only promised the land of Canaan to his seed for an everlasting possession, but also to him.

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Then you should have read the testimony of Stephen, Acts vii. 5, by which you would have ascertained that Abraham never had inherited that promise, but was still expecting to rise from the dead, and be brought into the land of Canaan, to inherit it. "Yes," says Ezekiel, "if you had read the 37th chapter of my Prophesies, you would have found a positive promise that God would open the graves of the whole house of Israel, who were dead, and gather up their dry bones, and put them together, each to its proper place, and even clothe them again with flesh, sinews, and skin, and put his spirit in them, and they should live; and then, instead of being caught up to Heaven, they should be brought into the land of Canaan, which the Lord gave them, and they should inherit it." But still astonished, you might turn to Job, but Job, surprised to find one unacquainted with so plain a subject, would exclaim, "did you never read my 19th chapter, from the 23d. to the 27th verses, where I declare, I wish my words were printed in a book, saying that my Redeemer would stand on the earth in the latter days, and that I should see him in the flesh, for myself, and not

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another; though worms should destroy this body." Even David, the sweet singer of Israel, would call to your mind his 37th Psalm, where he repeatedly declares that the meek shall inherit the earth forever, after the wicked are cut off from the face thereof. And last of all, to set the matter forever at rest, the voice of the Saviour would mildly fall upon your ears in his sermon on the mount, declaring emphatically "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." To these things you would answer, I have read them all, but was always taught to believe that they did not mean so, (although they declare these things plainly,) therefore I never understood until now. Let me go and tell priest and people, what wonders have opened to my view since my arrival here, merely from having heard one short song. It is true I have heard much of the glories of Heaven described on earth by our priests, but never once thought of their rejoicing in anticipation of returning to the earth. -- Says the Saviour, "they have Moses and the Prophets; if they will not believe them, neither would they believe although one should rise from the dead."

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We will now return to the subject of the coming of Messiah, and the ushering in of that glorious day, called the Millenium, or rest of a thousand years. We will gather from the field of prophesy, through which we have passed, first, that that glorious day will be ushered in by the personal coming of Christ and the resurrection of all the saints. Second, we learn that all the wicked will be destroyed from the earth, by overwhelming judgments of God, and by fire at the time of his coming, insomuch that the earth will be cleansed by fire from its wicked inhabitants -- like it once was by water; and that burning, will include priests as well as people: all but a few shall be burned. And more especially applies to the fallen church, than to the heathen or Jews, whom they are now trying to convert. "Wo unto you, Gentiles, who call yourselves the people of the Lord, but have made void the law of God by your traditions; for in vain do you call Lord, Lord, and do not the things which Jesus commanded; in vain do ye worship him, teaching for doctrines, the commandments of men." Behold the sword of vengeance hangs over you, and except you repent it, shall soon

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fall upon you, and it shall be more tolerable in that day for the Jews and heathen, than for you. Behold, ye flatter yourselves that the glorious day spoken of by the prophets, will be ushered in by your modern inventions and moneyed plans, which are got up in order to convert the Jews and heathen, to the various sectarian principles now existing among yourselves, and you expect when this is done, to behold a Millenium after your own heart. But the Jews and heathen never will be converted as a people to any other plan than that laid down in the Bible for the restoration of Israel. And you yourselves are labouring under a broken covenant, and ripening for the fire as fast as possible. But do not count me your enemy because I tell you the truth, for God is my witness that I love your soul's welfare too well, to keep back any truth from you, however severe it may seem. for the wounds of a friend are better than the kisses of an enemy. But, now concerning the signs of the times, the inquiry often arises, when shall these things be, and what sign shall there be when these things shall come to pass? I am often asked the question, whether it is near at

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hand; I will therefore tell you all, whereby you may know for yourselves, (and not be dependent on the knowledge of others,) when it is nigh even at the doors..

Now you behold the apple tree, and all the trees, when they begin to shoot forth their leaves, ye know of your ownselves that summer is nigh at hand; and so likewise when ye shall see great earthquakes, famine, pestilence, and plagues of every kind; the sea breaking beyond its bounds, and all things in commotion; the nations distressed with perplexity; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking for the things which are coming on the earth -- when you see signs in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath, blood, and fire and vapour of smoke; the sun turned to darkness, the moon to blood, and stars hurled from their courses -- when you see the Jews gathering to Jerusalem, and the armies of the nations gathering against them to battle -- you may know with a perfect knowledge, that his coming is near, even at the doors. "Verily verily,I say unto you, this generation shall not, pass away, till all shall be fulfilled." Heaven and earth shall pass away, but not one word of

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all that the Lord has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets and apostles shall fail. Whoever will look to the word of the prophets, and to the sayings of Jesus Christ, on this subject, the same will be convinced that all the signs of which I have spoken, are clearly pointed out as the signs of his coming. But, notwithstanding all these things are written, yet his coming will overtake the world unawares, as the flood did the people in the days of Noah. The reason is, they will not understand the prophets. They will not endure sound doctrine; their ears are turned away from the truth, and tuned to fables because of false teachers and the precepts of men; and what is still worse, when God sends men with the new and everlasting covenant, and clothes them with boldness to testify to the truth, they will be treated as the servants of God have been before them by the fallen churches; every church will cleave to its own way, and will unite in saying there is no need of these new things, the good old way is right, while at the same time they are walking in as many different ways as there are sects, and only agree in persecuting and speaking all manner of evil

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against the fishers and hunters whom God shall send. But, thank heaven, there are individuals in every sect who are humbly seeking the truth, and who will know the voice of truth, and be gathered out and planted in the new and everlasting covenant, and they will be adopted into the family of Israel, and will be gathered with them, and be partakers of the same covenant of promise. Yea, as Jeremiah says, in the 16th chapter of his prophecies, "The Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanities, and things wherein there is no profit." But as the Jews overlooked his first coming, by not understanding the prophets, and fastening their whole expectations on his glorious coming in the last days, to restore the kingdom to Israel, and avenge them of their enemies; and by this mistake were broken and scattered: so the Gentiles will overlook the prophecies concerning his second coming, by confounding them with the last judgment, which is to take place more than a thousand years afterwards. But this fatal mistake, instead of causing the Gentiles to be broken and scattered, will cause them to be ground to powder.

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O! my brethren according to the flesh, my soul mourns over you; and had I a voice like a trumpet, I would cry, awake, awake, and arouse from your slumbers, for the time is fulfilled, your destruction is at the door; "For I have heard from the Lord God of Hosts, a consumption even determined upon the whole earth." Prepare to meet your God! And again, awake, O! house of Israel, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh: yea, Depart ye, Depart ye, go ye out from hence, gather home from your long dispersion; rebuild your cities; yea, go ye out from the nations, from one end of heaven to the other; but let not your flight be in haste, for the Lord shall go before you, and the God of Israel shall be your reward. And finally, I would say to all, both, Jew and Gentiles, repent ye, repent ye, for the great day of the Lord is at hand; for if I, who am a man, do lift up my voice, and call upon you to repent, and ye hate me, what will you say when the day cometh, when the thunders shall utter their voices from the ends of the earth, speaking to the ears of all that live, saying, "Repent, and prepare for the great day of the Lord." Yea,again, when the lightnings

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shall streak forth from the east unto the west, and shall utter forth their voices unto all that live, and make the ears of all that hear to tingle, saying these words, Repent ye, for the great day of the Lord is come. And again, the Lord shall utter his voice out of Heaven, saying, "Hearken, O ye nations of the earth, and hear the words of that God who made you: O ye nations of the earth, how often would I have gathered you together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not." "How often have I called upon you by the mouth of my servants, and by the ministering of angels, and by mine own voice, and by the voice of thunderings, and by the voice of lightnings, and by the voice of tempests, and by the voice of earthquakes and great hail-storms, and by the voice of famine, and pestilence of every kind, and by the great sound of a trump, and by the voice of judgments, and by the voice of mercy all the day long, and by the voice of glory and honour, and the riches of eter