SECTION XLIX. The present state of the world compared with the prophecy-State of the Jews.-The sixth vial now pouring out, or very near it.-Euphrates now in the act of drying up -The miracle of drying up waters for their passage, a characteristic mark of Israel.-The converted Jews will be the kings of the east.-Their settlement and present great numbers in the east-Coincidence of the prophetical periods with their restoration. -The Antichrist of this period changed, not in nature, but in name and externals only.-The third woe, of short duration, but direful effects. -Particular attention called to the prophecies of this period. The faithful exhorted to fortitude and constancy. I have shewn, that the principal obstacle in the way of the conversion and restoration of the Jews, may be considered as virtually fallen already, in the overthrow of the papal throne and temporal power; but it is not actually so, until the foundations of that ancient fabric of superstition and tyranny be taken up, and the very rubbish be also removed out of the way. That it is probable the virulence of the indignation upon Israel is now spent, and its fixed time of duration expired with the first of the three great prophetical periods, -That "the ancient of days is come," and the session of judgment upon the beast has commenced its sitting, and will continue from time to time to deliver the sentences of the court, of which the first decree, (for taking away the dominion of the beast,) has been executed upon him, and the rest for the destruction of his body &c, will follow in the course of time. The Jews also, seem to be now in that state of apathy, which for a while oppresses the faculties of persons awaking from a long, and disturbed, and unrefreshing sleep. We may soon expect a revolution of ideas more favorable to christianity in that ardent minded people, which had shut themselves up in an hopeless and voluntary darkness, through which the instruments applied for their conversion could never penetrate. Great re-. volution of popular opinions must require considerable time to attain consistency and uniformity; and the prophecies seem to speak of the converting Jews, as continuing some time in suspense, and under doubts, before their ancient prejudice gives way.-Incertitude and inexpressible anxiety will follow, and remorse and pungent sorrow will then lead the way to genuine repentance and faith. It is in one of these gradations towards conversion, that the call of heaven is sent to them; and the Spirit of God, by a zealous searching of the scriptures of their prophets, and an unprejudiced attention to God pleading his own cause against them, in the words of prophecy, opens their understandings to receive the full flood of light, which flows in upon them to their confusion: "Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loath yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." (199) We have seen also, by the concluding part of the divine testimony against the Jews, in the last Section, that although the INDIGNA TION may virtually be at an end, yet their sufferings are not so. But they will now meet the remaining short though sharp afflic tions that await them, with the magnanimity which a clear conscience and a good cause inspire; and pass through them with the resig nation and holy zeal of christian martyrs, and conquer them at last with the heroic bravery which glowed in the breasts of their ancestors, when struggling against impious tyrants for their religion and liberty. These are events of which no traces do yet appear, and which will require a considerable time of preparation. The pouring out of the (199) Ezekiel xxxvi, 25, 26, 31. next vial (that is, the sixth) is expressly as signed to the commencement of the preparation of these things. "The sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared."-Whoever "the kings of the east" may be, whether, with Mr. Sharp, we here understand St. John to mean the saints and martyrs of the first resurrection, (Rev. xx. 4.) now raised from the dead, and coming in immortal bodies, "like a stream of fire," avatoλwv nw, from the risings of the sun (of righteousness); to take the kingdom under the whole heaven, and reign for Christ a thousand years or whether, with other commentators, we understand the converted Jews to be meant, having, at the time of this prophecy, conquered all their enemies, and been made kings and priests unto God (200), in the New Jerusalem, rebuilt by the liberal contributions of the kings of the christian world (201), and become by divine appoint : (200) Rev. v. 10 ;-Exodus xix. 6;-Isaiah Ixi. 6;Deut. vii. 6. (201) Amos ix. 11;-Isaiah Ix. 9, 16;-Rev. xxi. 24. |