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A
DISSERTATION.
CHAP. I.
We are taught in the prophetic parts of the sacred Scriptures, to expect the rise of a terrible, atheistical
Power, and a vast influence of Infidelity, in the last days, or just before the Millennium.
There are many predictions of this event, both in the Old and New Testaments; some of which will be noted in
the following sections. This terrible power is-to exist after the predominant reign of Popery, and not long
before the battle of that great day of God Almighty, which is to prepare the way for Christ's millennial Kingdom.
This Power is not a fifth Monarchy on earth; but is comprised in the fourth; or is the last head of the old
Roman Beast. It is, in the language of prophecy, the old bloody, persecuting Roman Empire revived, after it
had long lain dead: Ascending out of the bottomless pit, in the last days; to accomplish God's works of judgment;
and then to go into perdition. This I shall endeavor to substantiate. The rise of this Power is predicted as
a new and terrible event.
SECTION I.
Preliminary remarks upon the xth and xith chapters of Daniel. The first passage, which will be adduced to
prove the proposition staled in Chap. I, is Dan. xi, from the 36th verse, to the end. To prepare the way for
the consideration of this passage, let the following things
26
Remarks on Dan. x and xi.
be premised. The prophet Daniel had twice predicted the existence of the Roman empire; in the legs of iron; *
and in the fourth beast strong and terrible, having great iron teeth. † Popery had been before predicted,
under the emblem of the little horn of the Roman beast, speaking great things against the Most High. ‡
Mohammedism had been predicted, under the emblem of the little horn of the he-goat § as Mr. Faber has
ingeniously shown. ||
In Dan. ix, we have an account of the prophet's fasting and supplication, relative to the return of the Jews
from Babylon; upon which he has his vision of their return; of the seventy weeks; of the coming and death of the
Messiah; and of the destruction of Jerusalem.
Then, in the beginning of chap, x, we are informed, In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a thing was
revealed unto Daniel, and the thing was true; but the time appointed was long. And the whole of the succeeding
chapter is taken up in preparing to present this far distant thing to view. In verse 14th, the Angel says, Now
I am come to make thee understand what shall befal thy people, in latter days; for yet the vision is for many
days. No such formal preparation was made, nor notice given, of the great distance of the event, when the prophet
was about to predict the Roman empire; or the introduction of Popery; or of Mohammedism; although the two latter
were then ten or twelve hundred years future. Here was a new subject, a most interest thing to be revealed, the
time of which was to be long posterior to those which had just before been predicted. The revealing angel seems
to have but one thing in view: A thing was revealed to Daniel. It was to be a thing closely connected with what
should befal the Jews in the latter days. This could not refer to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. For
this had been before predicted; ¶ and it was not by far
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* Dan. ii, 34, 40.
† Dan. vii, 7.
‡ Dan. vii, 8, 24.
§ Dan. viii, 9.
|| Vol. i, p. 158,
¶ Dan. ix, 26, 27.
Remarks on Dan. x and xi.
27
so distant, as was the thing now to be revealed. The letter being what is to befal the Jews in the latter days, evinces, that it was to be something beside Popery. The Papal imposture never so materially affected the Jews, as a nation, as appears to be here indicated. The thing to be revealed then, must be an event to take place near the time of the final restoration of the people anciently in covenant with God; and just before the Millennium; and an event, which will deeply affect that people at that period. It was also a thing before predicted by the other prophets. Dan. x, 21, But I will show thee that, which is noted in the Scripture of truth. Popery was not much before noted in the Scripture of truth; till this prophet himself had just before predicted it. * But concerning the restoration of the ancient people of God, in the last days, it had been abundantly before noted by the prophets, that a terrible Power will, soon after their return to the land of their fathers, attack and greatly afflict them. † Some expositors have applied this prediction of Daniel (which is to be particularly noticed in the next section) to the Papal hierarchy. But in view of the preceding remarks, it appears unnatural thus to do. And the picture there drawn does not apply to Popery, without unnatural distortions of its features. The power there predicted is to remain in the tide of his glory, till the battle of the great day of God Almighty; ‡ a thing which cannot now be believed of the Papal hierarchy. This power then, can be no other than the atheistical Antichrist of the last times. The way being thus prepared, the Angel says, chapter xi, verse 2, And now I will show thee the truth, i. e. I will draw towards the great object in view. But before he comes directly to it, he begins, as is usual in such cases, with a line of preceding kings and events. When the Romish hierarchy was to be predicted, chap, vii, the prophet introduces that wicked power, by giving the preceding succession of the eastern monarchies. When Mohammedism was to be predicted, chap, vii,
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* Dan. vii, 8, 24.
† See Chap. III, Sec. 2 and 4 of this book.
‡ See the close of Dan. xi.
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Remarks on Dan. x and xi.
the prophet ushers in that vile imposture, by briefly alluding to the succession of the preceding powers, in the line of which it came. So in the case before us, the Angel describes a line of kings from the then present period, in order to introduce, not the atheistical Power in view immediately, but Antiochus Epiphanes, a noted king of Syria, as a type of the atheistical Power, who was to rise in the last days. This terrible Power the prophet predicts, first by his type Antiochus. St. Jerome informs us of its being a generally received maxim, "that it is the manner of the holy Scriptures to deliver beforehand the truths of futurity in types." (Bp. Hurd, p. 57.) We find much of this." When the Millennium was to be predicted, in Psalm lxxii, it was introduced by its type, the reign of Solomon. And the Holy Spirit there, without any formal notice, slides from the type to the antitype. This is a common thing in prophetic writings. In like manner, this terrible Power of the last days is predicted, first by a description of his type. It is an old opinion of expositors, that Antiochus was a notable type of Antichrist, even while they supposed the Romish hierarchy to have been Antichrist. But much more strikingly do the type and the antitype agree, if the latter be the terrible infidel Power of the last days, as I trust will appear. The type Antiochus was to afflict the Jews grievously, after their restoration from Babylon. And the infidel Power, then about to be predicted, is to afflict them much more grievously, soon after their final restoration, just before the introduction of the Millennium. The revealing Angel proceeds. Three kings he notes, who were to arise in Persia, after Darius, then on the throne. Then a fourth, richer than all the three, who should meddle with the realm of Greece to his ruin. Alexander is then noted. Then his four generals, among whom his empire was divided. Then the wars of the two most distinguished of them, culled the king of the north, and the king of the south; or Syria and Egypt; in which wars the Jews were deeply interested; -- till the Angel, verse 21, introduces Antiochus, the type of the terrible Power then so far future. On this type he dwells for fifteen
Remarks on Dan. x and xi.
29
verses. And from the prophetic description, we learn, in the character of Antiochus, something of the character of Antichrist. In this description we observe, that Antiochus, the type of Antichrist, was a vile person; not the heir of the crown of Syria; but obtaining it by flatteries. He overflowed his enemies with the arms of a flood. He deposed the prince of the covenant, or Onias, the Jewish high priest. He wrought deceitfully, even after the obligations of solemn treaties. He did what neither his fathers had done, nor his father's fathers. He reduced strong holds, by forecasing devices against them. He scattered the prey among his favorites. He stirred up his courage and power against the king of the south, who checked his progress by a furious, though unsuccessful effort of defence. Ptolemy was overcome through the treachery of some of his own subjects. Antiochus returned from Egypt with great riches. He was elated with pride; and his heart was against the holy covenant, or the church of God. * He makes another attack upon the king of the south; but not with his former success. He is annoyed with the navy of a rival power, (the ships of Shittim, or Rome,) and is obliged to return. His indignation again rages against the holy covenant, or the church of God at Jerusalem. He has intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant; or he intrigues with apostate Jews. Arms stand on his part; or armed soldiers are sent into Judea, to enforce his abominable orders. The sanctuary of strength or the temple at Jerusalem is polluted. The daily sacrifice is taken away. The abomination, that maketh desolate, is set up. Apostate Jews are corrupted by flatteries. But such as know their God, are strong and do exploits. They who understand, instruct many; yet they Jail by the sword, by flame, and by captivity, and by spoil, days, (as in the original.) †
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* He slew forty thousand of the Jews; he sold as many more for slaves; and polluted the temple at Jerusalem.
† The desolation of the temple, and the taking away of the daily sacrifice by the commissioner of Antiochus continued three years and a half, according to Josephus. Newton on the Prophecies. Vol. i, p. 310.
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Remarks on Dan. x and xi.
Yet when they fall, they are aided with a little help. But many cleave unto them with flatteries. And some of the people of understanding fall, to try them, to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end. *
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* A celebrated modern author supposes, that the Angel here leaves the events of the days of Antiochus; and from verse 31st to 35th gives a prophetic sketch of events down to the sixteenth century of the Christian era: That verse 3 1st predicts the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, forty years after the ascension of Christ: That verses 32d and 33d predict the persecution of the primitive Christians under Pagan Rome: that verse 34th predicts the conversion of Pagan Rome to Christianity, in the revolution under Constantine, and the subsequent corruptions of Christianity in that empire, which gave rise to the Man of sin: And that verse 35th predicts the Papal persecutions of the witnesses down to the sixteenth century. This scheme I cannot conceive to be correct, for the following; reasons:
1. Simply to predict the line of events, from the time then present, till the rise of the Power, which he had in view to predict, appears not to have been any part of the object of the revealing Angel. If it had been, it would not have been said, chap, x, 1, A thing was revealed unto Daniel; and the thing was true; but the time appointed was long. (See also verse 14th.) Hut it must have been said, that many things were revealed to Daniel; some of which were far distant, and some of which were near. To reveal that one thing appears to have been the sole object of the Angel, in chapters x, and xi. And the manner of his doing this appears to have been, not the predicting of a course of events, which should reach to the time of the rise of the Power; but the predicting of the Power by his type, Antiochus Epiphanes; and thus passing immediately to the antitype. If the object of the Angel were to predict simply the course of great events, which should reach down to the rise of Antichrist, why did he dwell for at least ten verses, (from v. 2lst to 31st, according 10 the scheme of this author,) on the wars of Antiochus Epiphanes; and then touch so lightly on the subsequent events, which were of far greater magnitude, and which were to occupy seventeen or eighteen centuries? Why should he, after dwelling for ten verses on the affairs of Antiochus, appropriate but one verse to the great event of the coming of Christ in the destruction of Jerusalem, and of the Jewish nation by the Romans; two verses to the ten persecutions of the primitive Christian church, under Pagan Rome; one verse to the conversion of Pagan Rome under Constantine, and the subsequent corruptions, which issued in the Papal apostasy; and but one verse to all the Papal persecutions of the witnesses
Remarks on Dan. x and xi.
31
Thus the Angel proceeds in his description of Antiochus, the type of the terrible Power to be predicted,
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down to the sixteenth century? Who can account for such an amazing want of proportion in the communications of the Angel, if simply a prediction of facts were his object?
2. When a person or event is predicted by his type, it is not usual for the prophet, after predicting the type, to give a sketch of events, which should take place between the type and the antitype. This is usually no part of his object. But the writer, in such cases, slides from the type to the antitype, without regard to the length of time, or distance of place. This we find in Psalm 72d, in the predictions of the kingdom of Christ, with its typical reign of Solomon. This we find in the various predictions of the coming of Christ; and of the battle of the great day. We should hence be led to expect, that after the revealing Angel had presented to Daniel the type of the POWER in view, he would pass immediately to the antitype. And this I apprehend is the fact.
3. The language from verse 31st to 35th appears in perfect unison with the preceding prediction of Antiochus. But it does not seem at all to apply to a variety of new subjects, and distant events, without a most unnatural and forced construction. Let us examine. For the ten preceding verses, it is a given point, that Antiochus is the subject. In the last of the ten, or verse 30th, we read, "For the ships of Chittim shall, come against him, (Antiochus on his expedition in Egypt,) therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do: he shall even return and have intelligence with them, that forsake the holy covenant. Verse 31. And arms shall stand on his part." On whose part? What does grammatical construction, what does the common sense of the reader reply? Does the word hit here relate to the person, who is the subject of the preceding verse, and of the ten preceding verses? Or does it relate to a new subject; a subsequent empire; and to events sonic centuries after the events of the preceding verse? If liberty may be taken to say the latter, may not any expositor take liberty to fix any sense to a text, which he may please? There is sometimes a shifting in relatives, to a different person from the antecedent, when type and antitype are the subject. I he antecedent may be the type, and the relative may respect the antitype. But in no other cases can this be admissible. But, says the objector, does not the substance of this 31st verse decide that it relates to the siege of Jerusalem by the Romans? And they (the arms that shall stand on his part,) shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. Does not our Lord, Mark xiii, 14, apply this very text to the siege of Jerusalem?
32
Remarks on Dan. x and xi.
and in a detail of events under his tyranny, till verse 36. Here he drops the type, and takes the antitype, as
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Answer. By no means. Daniel had spoken of the abomination of desolation, in three passages; chap. ix, 27, relative to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans; chap, xi, 31, (the passage under consideration) relative to the persecutions of the Jews by Antiochus; and chap, xii, 11, relative to the rise of Popery, or Mohammedism, or both, at the beginning of the 1260 years. And now, to which of these did our Lord, Mark xiii, 14, refer, as he applied it to the destruction of Jerusalem? Surely to the passage in chap, ix, 27, which relates to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans; and not to either of the two other passages, which relate to different periods and events. A desolating abomination is a common prophetic figure, to denote an invasion of the rights of conscience. It is found in different passages; and in relation to different invasions. We may as well say, Christ referred to the passage in Dan. xii, 11, which relates to the beginning of the 1260 years; as that he referred to that in chap, xi, 31; and thus confound the whole order of those prophecies. The very thing predicted, in the passage under consideration, forbids that it should be applied to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. For polluting the sanctuary of strength, and burning it, are two very different things. The latter was performed by the Romans: But the former by Antiochus; and the whole verse was fulfilled by him, when he with armed fortes plundered, and defiled the temple; called it the temple of Jupiter Olympus; placed in it the image of this heathen god; forbade the Jewish sacrifices; and compelled the Jews to eat swine's flesh, and to conform to the idolatrous rites and manners of the heathen.
Verses 32, 33. And such as do wickedly against the covenant, shall be corrupt by flatteries: but the people, that do know their God, shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people, shall instruct many, yet they shall fall by the sword, and by the flame, and by captivity, many days Who shall corrupt by flatteries the apostates from the covenant? It is said he shall do it. Antiochus has been the subject of the whole paragraph, without the least interruption, or notice of the introduction of a new subject. The unity of the whole passage seems to decide, that the people spoken of were the Jews under the persecution of Antiochus, and not the promiscuous Christians of other nations many centuries afterwards. Verse 34: Now when they shall fail, they shall be helpen with a little help; but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. To apply this to the revolution in Rome, and those lucrative establishments in the Church, by which Constantine designed to set the Church superior to the violence of her enemies; but which
Remarks on Dan. x and xi.
33
is common in prophetic writings; and he immediately describes the thing, which was to be revealed.
SECTION II.
This Infidel Power predicted in Dan. xi, from the 36th verse to the end.
THE way being thus prepared, the Angel comes to the Power, who was to be revealed, whose time was long; or who was to exist just at the close of the wicked ages of the world.
And the king shall do according to his will, and he shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god; and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods; and shall prosper, till the indignation shall be accomplished; for that, which is determined, shall be done.
Upon this verse let the following things be noted:
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proved, as some say, the occasion of the rise of the Papal hierarchy, appears to violate the unity of the whole prophecy. Verse 35; And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end, because it is yet for a time appointed. And does this relate to a new subject still? to the persecuted witnesses under the Papal hierarchy, down to the sixteenth century? Will not such a mode of exposition open the door to the wildest conjectures of men, in the interpretation of prophecy? There appears to be a perfect unity in the whole fifteen verses, (from the 21st to the 35th inclusive,) which is incapable of being broken, or of permitting the different parts to be applied to a variety of different powers, and in far distant ages. And it is a fact, that events took place under Antiochus Epiphanes, which appear to answer to every part of the predictions. (See 1 Mace, i, 21-23, and from the 41st to the end; and chap, ii; 2 Mace, the 2d, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th chapters; and Heb. xi, 35-38.) Its being said, that some of them of understanding should fall to try them -- to the time of the end, because it is yet for an appointed time, does not necessarily carry our thoughts to the battle of the great day, nor to the end of the world, nor to the sixteenth century; but to the end of the tyranny and persecutions of Antiochus, the subject then under consideration. As Antiochus was presented here as the type of Antichrist; so the end of his persecution was typical of the time of the end of the antitypical Antichrist.
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Remarks on Dan. xi.
1. That here is a change of characters, or a subject introduced, is acknowledged by expositors; and is evident from all that follows. What precedes was but a few centuries after Daniel's time. But what follows, or what the Angel had in view to reveal, was to take place at a time then far distant, just at the time of the end. This we learn from verse 40th; And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him; and the king of the north shall come against him. What precedes the 36th verse, is spoken of the king of the south, and king of the north; in order to exhibit Antiochus, as has been shown. But now, at the time of the end, many centuries after the time of Antiochus, we find those two powers uniting against a third Power; who is the new Power introduced verse 36th. And the king, says the Angel; q. d. The king, that I have in view; who has been described in his type; and is now to be described in his own character.
2. By a king, in the language of prophecy, is generally to be understood a dynasty, or government; a kingdom, or civil power; whether monarchical, or republican; and not an individual person. In this sense we are to understand the king in this text. Instances of this kind in prophecy are numerous. Antichrist is by no means an individual person; but a vast Power.
3. In this passage we are presented with a great atheistical Power, who in his commencement is to be anarchical; raised up to be an instrument of the Divine indignation; and who is to exist till that work of judgment shall be accomplished. His licentiousness is first noted; he shall do according to his will; breaking every restraint. His anarchy follows; and he shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god; i. e. above every king or legitimate ruler. That this is the sense of the passage, is evident. The following clause decides it; where the Most High is called, The God of gods; i. e. the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Kings and earthly rulers are, in Sacred Writ, called gods. I said, Ye are gods. Thou shalt not revile the gods; i. e. thou shalt not speak evil of the rulers of thy people. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth
Remarks on Dan. xi.
35
among the gods. In such passages, kings, and other lawful rulers are called gods; which passages may suggest the true sense of this Power's exalting himself above every god. War with kings was to be among his first characteristics. His Atheism follows; and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods. He shall blaspheme and deny the God of heaven; the King of kings. And a train of astonishing successes shall follow, or attend his arms; till the work of judgment, for which he is raised up, shall be accomplished. For the Divine counsel has originated the event for judgment; and nothing can frustrate its accomplishment.
Verse 37; Neither shall he regard the god of his fathers, nor the desire, of woman; for he shall magnify himself above all. Kings, and the God of heaven, were before denounced. Now his fathers' god, their pretended head of the church; so long venerated, even as a god, in all Popish countries, is by this Power rejected. Antiochus deposed Onias the Jewish high priest. And the Antitype of Antiochus deposed, and reduced to beggary the pope of Rome. And the Seed of the woman, to be the mother of whom was the fervent desire of the Jewish women, before his incarnation, and whose vicar the god of the fathers of this infidel Power pretended to be, is impiously disregarded, and his religion abjured. Eve upon bearing her first son, exclaimed, I have gotten the man, the Lord, as in the original. Her desire to be the mother of the promised Seed, suggested to her fond imagination, that this babe was the person. This same general desire continued in after ages. And it was perhaps chiefly on this account, that barrenness in Israel, where the Seed of the woman was to be born, was deemed so great a reproach. The desire of women, therefore, seems a suitable enigmatical appellation of the Messiah then to come, and then thus desired by women.
How exactly does the character here given to the infidel Power, accord with the New Testament characteristics of Antichrist! He is Antichrist, who denieth the Father and the Son. Denying the Lord who
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Remarks on Dan. xi.
bought them. Denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Despising dominions; speaking evil of dignities. Such predictions in the New Testament probably allude to this very passage in Dan. xi, 37. They identify the subject of their description, with that of the prophet; or show that the Power predicted in both is the same. For the first thought of the application of the desire of women to Christ, I am indebted to Mr. Faber. At first, the application appeared to me doubtful. But on deliberation, I apprehend it to be correct; so perfectly does it agree with the characteristics of Antichrist in the New Testament, as is noted above, and as may further appear.
The supposition that the clause, Neither shall he regard the desire of women, is the same with the characteristic of the Papal hierarchy, Forbidding to marry, cannot be admitted. For the Power under description is a Power different from Popery, as has been suggested, and as will more fully appear in the course of this Dissertation. And the two passages literally express different things. The desire of women must mean what women desire. It must mean the object of the desire, which women did then entertain, when the passage was written. But forbidding to marry is quite another thing. *
Verse 38; But in his estate shall he honor the god of. forces. When this Power shall view himself established, although he deny God, and Christ, and all legitimate authorities, yet shall he acknowledge Mozim, (in the Heb.) translated by Mede and others, gods -- protectors; i. e. tutelar gods. He shall adopt his fancied deities, like the country-gods of the ancient heathen.
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* Should any doubt relative to this exposition of the passage, let them examine the following; Neither shall he regard, but shall destroy the monarch of his own nation: And his queen, and hundreds of thousands of innocent females, shall he destroy, as though the desire of women for their lives, for the lives of their children, and for that protection, which is their due from man, were wholly disregarded. The queen, and 250,000 females were murdered in France, during the reign of terror there; furnishing an unprecedented trait of character, and of diabolical cruelty, in the history of man.
Remarks on Dan. xi.
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Some things highest in popular estimation, shall be reputed as gods. Or some deceased champions of their Infidel
order shall, in the impious fancy of their followers, be deified; and perhaps their bones deposited in some temple.
Or, after this Power shall gain national importance, he shall honor military munitions; or pay his first attention
to the arts of war; a sense which the term Mozim may bear.
The last part of verse 38th; And a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold and silver and precious
stones and pleasant things. Although his fathers' god, and all gods have been rejected; yet a god, or ruler, of foreign descent, shall by and by come to be acknowledged by this power, and honored with the greatest magnificence.
Verse 39th; Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory; and he shall cause them to, ride over many, and shall divide the land for gain. This infidel Power shall overrun strong holds, and powerful nations, with this foreigner at their head, who shall be received as their supreme ruler, and honored with the highest dignity; and he shall lead them to subdue states and nations; and shall distribute their governments among his favorites, for his own aggrandizement. *
Verse 40th; And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him; and the king of the north shall come against him, like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. After this Power shall have been for a time in existence, trouble shall arrest him from powers here called, the king of the south; and king of the north.
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* The Hebrew word Mehir, rendered by our translators gain, signifies a price, worth, value. See Micah iii, 11, and 2 Sum. xxiv. But the radical idea is to exchange. He shall divide out the nominal crowns of his conquered nations, for an exchange of homage and aid, which in his turn he is to receive.
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Remarks on Dan. xi.
These names, in the preceding parts of the chapter, are applied to Egypt and Syria. These countries are now under the dominion of the Turks. These appellations, in the above passages, may be designed to denote the Turkish empire. This empire, it is thought, is soon to be subverted; that the way for the return of the Jews may be prepared. (See section on the sixth vial.)
The sixth trumpet established the Ottoman empire, by loosing the four Turkish sultanies, which were bound upon the river Euphrates. * And it is expected the sixth vial will effect the ruin of the Turks; and this at a period not far distant. † The attack in this passage in Daniel, of the king of the south, and the king of the north, upon the infidel Power, may probably be an event introductory to the judgment of the sixth vial. The Ottoman empire may in some way be engaged in a war with the infidel Power, to its own ruin. Whether this will be the case, or whether some other powers, on the south, and on the north of the infidel Power, will prevail to check the common enemy, time will decide. In favor of this being the case, it may be remarked, that the leading subject, in this chapter, preceding the 36th verse, changes, in this verse, from the type to the antitype. In like manner the kingdom of the south, and kingdom of the north, spoken of after this change in verse 36th from the type, to the great Power of the last days, may relate to different powers from the kingdom of the south and kingdom of the north, in the preceding parts of the chapter. Some nation in the south of the infidel Power may push (butt) at him, and prevail so far as to impede his ambitious projects: And some mighty power in the north may lead a numerous host against him. The coming of this king of the north against him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, (armies of infantry, artillery, and cavalry) and many ships, seems clearly to intimate, that a vast coalition is formed in the north against him, in connexion with some naval power
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* Rev. ix, is.
† Rev. xvi, 12.
Remarks on Dan. xi.
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And the phraseology seems to intimate also great success against the infidel Power. For a mighty whirlwind usually prostrates every thing in its way. This great reverse of things perhaps, fulfils the predictions in parallel prophecies; -- that the last part of this Roman Power -- being part of iron, and part of clay, -- should be partly strong, and partly broken; -- that its parts should not cleave one to another; -- that the earth should open her mouth, and swallow up the floods; -- or the remainder of that wrath God would restrain.
A new turn seems in this passage to be given to the operations of the infidel Power: Or he is, afterward, found making new invasions. He enters into the countries; overflows, and passes over. Some distant expedition is set on foot. Something new and wonderful must be done, perhaps to retrieve the tarnished fame of his arms; and to accomplish some deep plot formed against the enemy. He is by and by found in the Holy land. The way must be prepared for another vial of divine wrath to be discharged.
Verses 41st -- 13d; He shall enter into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape out of his hands, even Edom and Moab, and the chief of the children of Amman He shall stretch forth his hands also upon the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and Ethiopians shall be at his steps. Great success, attending the arms of the infidel Empire, in this his first expedition into the east, is here indicated. Having entered into the countries, probably of Turkey in Europe, and having overflowed, and passed over the ancient Hellespont into Asia Minor, he enters into Palestine, from the north, laying all the Turkish provinces at his feet. The south eastern Arabs, in Arabia Felix, escape, as being far out of the line of his tour. But the express exception of these, implies, that the other countries generally, in those parts, will fall before
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Remarks on Dan. xi.
him. He beats his way round into Egypt, where he makes a thorough conquest, and finds access to whatever treasures the subdued people may have in their possession; or may have been conveyed thither by Turks, fleeing in consternation. Ethiopia, (probably not the African, but the Arabian,) and Libya, or the States of Barbary (now subject to the Turks) are to become subservient to his views. Thus he finishes a most extensive expedition; in which probably, the judgment of the sixth vial is fulfilled, in the subversion of the Euphratean empire, that the way of the return of the Jews and Israelites to the land of their fathers, may be prepared.
Verses 44th and 45th; But tidings out of the cast and out of the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palaces between the seas, in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. These tidings out of the east, and out of the north, probably will relate to the return of the ancient people of God. Their return may be expected soon to succeed the overthrow of the Turks. And the infidel Power evidently feels his interest extremely affected by this event. To have such an influence set up within his lately acquired territories, in favor of the Christian Religion, and of those powers, who support it, will fill him with rage. These tidings may be said to be out of the east, and out of the north, as they will relate to the collection of the Jews and Israel from eastern and northern regions, to the Holy land. Repeatedly the restoration of the Jews is predicted as being from the land of the north, See Jer. xvi, 14, 15, and xxiii, 7, 8. The infidel Power will therefore be excited to collect "the kings of the earth, and of the world," for a new expedition into Palestine; * and to
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* That this passage in Daniel xi, from the 40th verse to the end, predicts two expeditions of the infidel Power into Palestine, and at some distance of time from each other, I trust will appear very evident from collateral prophecies, which will come into view in the course of this Dissertation. This concise prophecy
Remarks on Dan. xi.
41
unite in a vast confederacy for the utter extirpation of the new church of God in Jerusalem. † The seventh vial finds him there, in Armageddon, at the head of his vast coalition of the kings of the earth, and of the false prophet; and it plunges him in ruin. ‡ Here, under the most signal judgment of the-great Head of the church, he comes to his end, and none shall help him.
Other passages in the Old Testament predict this infidel Power, and his overthrow in Palestine. But as the way may be better prepared to form a right understanding of them, the consideration of them will be deferred till the third chapter of this dissertation.
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in Daniel makes no mention of this Power's crossing the Mediterranean, to return home from his first expedition; or of any events, after he subdues Egypt, and has the Ethiopians and Libyans at his steps; till the tidings out of the cast and out of the north trouble him, and call him again to Palestine. But we cannot infer from this, that he returns to Palestine from Egypt; or that the event takes place immediately, or before he returns home from his first expedition'. The contrary of this will doubtless appear to be the fact. This first expedition prepares the way for the restoration of Israel, by the subversion of the Ottoman empire; as I trust will appear. And the return of God's ancient people, their conversion to Christianity, and tho preparing of the way for the last coalition against them, must occupy some time; as long a time, I apprehend, as the space between the sixth and seventh vials. For I believe it will appear, that the first expedition of this infidel Power will fulfil the sixth vial; and that the second will open the way for the fulfilment of the seventh. To suppose that this prophecy in Daniel predicts but one expedition of the infidel Power into Palestine, is to involve the subject in great obscurity. The first expedition being said to be at the time of the end, (verse 40,) amounts to no great objection against there being two expeditions. The slaying of the witnesses is said to be, when they shall have finished their testimony. Yet some authors suppose that the event may consistently with this be more than three centuries before they shall have actually finished their testimony. This I believe to be incorrect. Yet I think it very consistent with the language of prophecy, where the year is not specified, to say, a thing is at the time of the end, when it is yet as far distant, as is the time of the sixth vial from that of the seventh.
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† See chapter 3d of this Dissertation.
‡ Rev. xvi, from the 13th verse to the end; and xix, 19, 20, 21.
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Antichrist not the Papal hierarchy.
SECTION III.
Antichrist another Power, beside the Papal hierarchy.
It has been the general opinion of Protestant divines, that the predictions concerning Antichrist were fulfilled in the Papal hierarchy. Some of late doubt the correctness of this sentiment. It probably may be doubted I shall in this section note some prophecies, and make some remarks, not so much with a view to find the certainty of the rise of a great Power subsequent to the reign of Popery, as to show that this terrible subsequent Power is emphatically the Antichrist of the New Testament. In the prophecies now to be noted, and in the remarks to be made, both the above objects will be ascertained.
No doubt the Romish hierarchy was indeed anti-christian; and was so to a fatal degree. It was the blasphemous horn of the Roman Beast, into whose power the saints were to be delivered, for 1260 years; Dan. vii, 8, 25. It was the apostasy predicted by Paul, 1 Tim. iv, 1,2, that "in the last days some should depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." It was the second Beast, in Rev. xiii, 11, which rose out of the earth, had two horns like a lamb, but spake like a dragon. It was the woman, Rev. xvii, called "Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots, and abominations of the earth." It was the subject of various prophecies; a terrible power; an awful judgment to the world; and as abominable, as any have ever conceived.
But it appears evident, that the Papal hierarchy was not the last great and terrible Power, foretold to be raised up in judgment to the wicked nations, in the last days. Another Power was to be raised up, for the execution of divine judgments, to be a rod of iron, a battle axe of destruction, to execute divine wrath on that Mother of harlots, to hate the whore, to make her desolate and naked, to eat her flesh, and burn her with fire, and to dash in pieces the nations of God's enemies. This work of judgment was not to be done by a Papal
Antichrist not the Papal hierarchy.
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hierarchy! but by a tremendous Power, raised up for the purpose, subsequent to the reign of the Papal hierarchy.
In the predictions to be noted in this dissertation, it is evident, that it is the secular Roman Beast, under his last head; and not the Papal Beast, the little horn, the false prophet, that is, the great leader in battle array against Christ, at the time of the end, or of the seventh vial. This appears in Dan. vii, 11, "I beheld then, because of the voice of the great words, which the horn spake, I beheld even till the BEAST was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame." It is important to note here, that the great Power upon the stage, predominant when Christ appears at the battle of the great day, is the Roman Beast, which in verse 2, rose out of the sea, or the tumultuous state of the nations, before the Christian era. This Beast is here spoken of as distinct from the Papal power, which in the same passage is mentioned as the horn of this same Beast. The Beast is the great Power then to be slain, and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame. This event, of his body's being destroyed and given to the burning flame, none can pretend has yet taken place. It must be future. The Roman Beast then, great and terrible, must be found in existence, distinct from Popery, either now, or at a time still future. This secular Roman Beast is the great Power in hostile array against Christ; and is the Leader of the contending nations, in that last battle of the great day of God.
The above passage in Daniel accords with, and is explained by, Rev. xix, 19, 20; where we have a more full account of the same period and event. After a description is there given of Christ in battle array, occasioned by a war against him by the terrible Power of the last days, we read, "And I saw the Beast, and the kings of the earth gathered together to make war against him, who sat on the horse, and against his army. And the Beast was taken, and with him the false prophet, that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them., that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image: -- These both
44
Antichrist not the Papal hierarchy.
were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him, who sat upon the horse." It is thus evident, that the great Power of the last days, leading the battle against Christ, is the old Roman Beast, distinct from the Papal hierarchy, and managing this hierarchy, as a puppet in his hands; which hierarchy in the above passage, is noted, as the false prophet; and in the corresponding passage, in Daniel, as the horn of that Beast. In various other passages these two Powers are found, at the same period, in the same connexion; the Beast and ihe false prophet. The Beast is first, or is the great mischievous Power, then in existence. And the horn, the false prophet, is a mere subordinate tool of mischief in his possession.
In Rev. xvii, this Power is found ascending, in the last days, from the bottomless pit, to go into perdition. (A passage which will be explained in another section.) The going of this Beast into perdition, is there twice Spoken of, as nearly connected with his rise from the infernal world, and from his state of long inactivity; indicating, that the time of this his revival is in the last days, or but a short time before he goes into perdition. This idea we repeatedly find. The apostles inform, of the same Power, "that his judgement lingereth not, and his damnation slumbereth not;" that he bringeth upon himself swift destruction; as did the rebelling angels, and various most notorious transgressors of old; Jude 5-8 verse. And 2 Pet. ii, 1-10. But so short a reign cannot be attributed to the Papal hierarchy; which continued for a great course of centuries. The great Power of the last days then, must be subsequent to, and distinct from Popery.
In the above noted chapter, Rev. xvii, this great Power is represented as distinct from Popery. The one is the scarlet colored Beast, full of the names of blasphemy. The other is a woman, with all the characteristics of the hierarchy, borne by this Beast, and by his horns executed, verse 16. This Beast must be the tremendous Power of the last days, noted in the aforecited passages, Dan. vii, 11; and Rev. xix, 19, 20.
Antichrist not the Papal hierarchy.
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In Rev. xvi, 13, we find this Beast, distinct from Popery, and placed before it, as a greater enemy. The passage informs of the three unclean spirits like frogs, from the mouth of the dragon, (the devil) of the Beast, (the newly raised terrible Power, placed next to die dragon) and of the false prophet; (the skeleton of Popery and false religion) spirits of devils, going out into the kingdoms of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Here is a Beast, at that time, beside, and superior to Popery. These three Powers, the devil, the Beast, and the false prophet, are found again in the same connexion, in Rev. xx, 10, being cast together into the lake of fire. From the view of these passages, it clearly appears, that a great and terrible Power was to rise posterior to Popery. The same appears, as will be noted, in Rev. xiv, 8-11, where, after Papal Babylon is fallen, a most terrible Beast is presented.
The present state of the Romish hierarchy forbids, that it can be that terrible Power of the last days. That hierarchy has already fallen under the iron grasp of a far superior Power who is inflicting on its nations the denounced judgments of heaven. To whatever degree of mischief, to the people of God, the dependant skeleton of the hierarchy may be yet made an occasion, before the battle of the great day; (and the indications concerning this are thought to be not uninteresting,) yet this false prophet will be only an engine of policy, and perhaps of desperate malice, in the hands of a far superior Power, who most heartily despises all true religion.
The great Power of the last day is, (Dan. vi, 40-43,) at or near the time of the end, engaged in a war with the king of the south, and the king of the north, and probably a coalition united with them. This was never fulfilled in the Papal hierarchy. If it were, it must have been in the attacks of the Saracens, who fulfilled the first wo trumpet, Rev. ix, 1-12; or in the invasions of the Turks under the second wo trumpet, Rev. ix, 12-21. No other events can have the least
46
Antichrist not the Papal hierarchy.
even apparent claim, as having been a fulfilment of that prophecy. But the former of these events was more than 1200 years ago; and the latter more than 350. But the time of the end, when this war, with the king of the south and king of the north, is to be undertaken, must be still future. Consequently, that war must be with a Power subsequent to the hierarchy, viz. the terrible Power of the last days. The king of the south was Egypt: The king of the north, Syria. Those nations are now under the government of the Turks. The Turkish government is soon to be subverted, under the sixth vial of wrath; Rev. xvi, 12. The fulfilment of the prediction, relative to this war, with the king of the south, and the king of the north may soon commence. And some power may be found in union with the latter or the Turks, which may give an emphasis to his being called, at this late period, the king of the north. However this may be, the argument in this paragraph shews, that a great and terrible Power was to be raised up subsequent to the reign of Popery. Popery was a very different thing from a rod of iron to dash wicked nations to pieces. It was an abominable corrupting system; a harlot, to pollute, and to prepare the nations for judgment. But it was very far from being that great new threshing instrument, having iron teeth, to beat the nations to powder, which was to be furnished in the last days, Isa. xli, 15. It required an instrument very different from the Papal hierarchy, (represented as a delicate female,} to beat small the mountains of wicked potentates and kingdoms of the earth, and to make the hills as chaff. And a very different instrument was, for this purpose to be furnished, and is indeed furnished, before the face of the world.
When the reformation under Luther, the art of printing, and the revival of learning in Europe, after the dark ages, had unveiled the abominations of Popery; there were many millions whose pride of heart would not permit them to embrace the doctrines of the reformation, and who would easily be induced to deny the Christian Religion, and its blessed Author.
Antichrist not the Papal hierarchy.
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This was a process very natural in old corrupt Popish countries, after the mummery of their false religion was exposed, and became ridiculous. Especially was this the case in a nation constitutionally licentious, volatile, haughty, and impatient of every restraint. Such a people would need only an association of infidel philosophers, under the instigation of the infernal dragon, to institute a scheme, which would give birth to the terrible Power of the last days. And such will appear to have been his origin.
A question now arises: -- Is this the Power, that was to be known by the name of Antichrist; The Papal hierarchy was indeed predicted to exist; a most abominable apostasy. But a posterior, and most terrible Power, raised up for the work of divine judgment, was also much more abundantly predicted to exist. And the apostle John speaks of Antichrist, who, they had heard, was to come. Now which of the two above noted Powers was to be that Antichrist of John?
Reply. A decision of this is not very material. The leading sentiment of my dissertation is not materially effected, be the question decided as it may. For it is that great Power of the last days, of which I treat; whether that prediction of John, relative to Antichrist, apply exclusively to this Power, or not. If it do not apply exclusively to it; still there are many predictions that do; and these contain the subject of my dissertation.
I have taken the liberty to apply to this Power, the name of Antichrist; being of opinion, that this Power is essentially included in the Antichrist of John, if not most immediately the very Power designed.
Several of my reasons for this opinion I will now state.
1. It is the express characteristic of John's Antichrist, that he is an Atheist; denying the Father and the Son; denying that Jesus is the Christ; denying that Christ is come in the flesh. And we find it to be the leading characteristics of the terrible Power of the last days, (as' has appeared in Dan. xi. 36--, and as will Appear in the next section, on the writings of the apostles,)
48
Antichrist not the Papal hierarchy.
ties,) that he denies God and Christ; -- "privately bringing in damnable heresies; -- denying the Lord, who bought them; -- and bringing upon themselves swift destruction:" -- "Denying the only Lord God; and our Lord Jesus Christ." Abundantly this Power is represented, as Antichrist is represented to be, a gross infidel.
But the papal hierarchy did not deny the Father, nor he Son. It did not deny the only Lord God; nor the Lord Jesus Christ. It did not deny that Jesus Christ had come in the flesh. It professed the highest veneration for God, and Christ, and the Christian Religion. And though this profession was not gracious, but was abominable hypocrisy; yet this profession (uniformly constituting an essential part of their system from the beginning) is not to be blended with the personal wickedness of its subjects. It is in itself proper to profess a veneration for God and Christ, and the Christian Religion. And this profession lying at the foundation: of a system, constitutes a feature in the basis of that system, very different from the atheism of Antichrist. Antichrist, at his development, takes to himself the character of a gross atheist. Whatever "form of Godliness" while he denies the power of it) he may afterward find it most convenient to his diabolical views, to adopt, yet he is a noted atheist.
2. Another argument in favor of the idea, that the terrible Power of the last days is the Antichrist in John's epistle, is as follows: This Power is abundantly represented as engaged in an actual war with Christ. This war is represented as carried on with such spirit and power, as to bring down the Captain of our salvation from heaven, with all his retinue and apparatus for the most terrible warfare. Christ is represented as engaging in this war, with unprecedented attention; and pursuing it to a final and most decisive victory over the Beast, and the false prophet, the kings of the earth, and all their armies.
In Dan. xii, 1, after the great infidel Power of the last days, described in the preceding chapter, has reached Palestine, to make war with God's ancient
Antichrist not the Papal hierarchy.
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covenant people there, "Michael (Christ) the great Prince, stands up for the children of his people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time." Here is a war greater than any ever before known, between this very Power, and Christ. In Re v. xiii, 7, we learn, that the great object of this healed head of the Roman Beast, (the great Power of the last days,) is war with the people of God." "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints." In Rev. xvii, 14, we find the same. Of the ten horns of this very Beast from the bottomless pit, it is said; "These shall make war with the Lamb." Of the same Beast it is said, relative to the witnesses, Rev. xi, 7, "And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit, shall make war against them." Rev. xii, 13, "And when the dragon saw, that he was cast out unto the earth, he persecuted the woman, that brought forth the man child." His floods of rage, falsehood and violence, now poured forth, to cause the church to be carried away; and the voice of wo, at the same time from heaven, against the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea, because the devil had come, with great wrath, knowing he had but a short time, (or the Millennium was about to dawn) all indicate unprecedented war at that time against Christ. In Rev. xiv, 12 -- to the end, the same thing is indicated. After the missionary Angel had begun his flight through the midst of heaven, to preach the Gospel to all nations; after it was ascertained that Papal Babylon had fallen; and a third warning voice was heard, warning mankind, as they would escape inevitable damnation, to abstain from all affinity with the Beast, (the horrid blasphemous Power of the day,) solemn indications follow. This warning will not be taken in good part, by the powers implicated. And it follows; "Here is the patience of the saints: Here are they, that keep the commandments of God, and the. faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord, from henceforth;
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Antichrist not the Papal hierarchy.
yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." A signal war against the church is here implied. And what follows confirms the indication. For the Captain of her salvation immediately appears in arms. The next verse presents him upon the white cloud, with his sharp sickle. The harvest of the earth is reaped. The clusters of the vine of the earth, fully ripe, are gathered for the pressing. The wine-press is trodden; and a river of blood is emitted. All this implies, that the great Power of that day is in arms against heaven; having instituted a most furious war with Christ.
The same is found in Rev. xiii, 13--. To prepare the way for the seventh vial, the agents cf the dragon, the Beast, and the false prophet, (unclean spirits like frogs, called spirits of devils,) go out unto the people of the whole world, to gather them to the "BATTLE of that great day of God Almighty." War virtually against Christ, is the object. And the Beast (the great Power of the last days) next after the infernal dragon, is the great instigator of it, by his threefold diabolical influence. Christ upon this proclaims, that his coming should be sudden and dreadful. His enemies are convened in battle array at Armageddon. There he comes upon them, and decides the contest.
A sublime description of this warfare, and of its final decision, we find in Rev. xix, 11 -- to the end. Christ, as a great triumphant general, upon a white horse, an ancient emblem of victory, rides forth. His eyes are as a flame of fire. Many crowns are upon his head. His vesture is already dipped in the blood of his enemies. All the armies of heaven follow him upon white horses. The war against him has become most serious. Out of his 'mouth goeth a sharp two edged sword, by which to smite the nations. He is now going to rule them with his rod of iron, and to tread the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God. On his vesture and on his thigh his titles appear in capitals, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. The "occasion of this tremendous order of battle, following verses unfold. "And I saw the Beast,
Antichrist not the Papal hierarchy.
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and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together, to make war against him, who sat upon the horse, and against his army. Here is the great Power of the last days, at the head of the coalition against heaven. This is the Power, concerning whom we have so many express predictions of his being in array against Christ. Is he not then, the Antichrist? What is meant by Antichrist? The word signifies against Christ. Does the word of God inform of any other Power, as having been more expressly against Christ, than this Power of the last days? Can one third so much of war language be found in the word of God, relative to the Papal hierarchy, or any other power, as is found relative to the great Power of the last days? Let the analogy of Scripture then, decide who is the Antichrist of the New Testament.
3. Another argument, that the Antichrist in John is this great infidel Power, is this' -- John says, "Ye have heard that Antichrist shall come." He here refers his readers to an event well ascertained in prophecy. This was before his Revelation was written, or the books of the New Testament collected, or filled up. His reference then, must have been chiefly, if not wholly, to the Old Testament. This was their Bible. And it was there they had heard that Antichrist was to come. But in the Old Testament they had read but very little, and that in one or two obscure hints, relative to the Papal hierarchy: -- While they had read much, very much, relative to the terrible Power of the last days. See section ii, and v, chap, iii, of this dissertation. This terrible Power, predicted Dan. xi, 36-- to the end, we find, was a Power much predicted before by the prophets. Chap, x, 21, "But I will shew thee that, which is noted in the scriptures of truth." This Power had been the great subject of Ezekiel xxxviii, and xxxix chapters; Gog, the land of Magog; -- and of other prophecies of the Old Testament. So that, when his destruction is predicted, Rev. x, 7, by the seventh trumpet, or third wo, it is there said to be, only "as God hath declared to his servants the prophets." And in Rev. xvi, 14, when the abominable, slippery and
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Antichrist predicted by the Apostles.
crooked agents of this Beast collects the kingdoms of the world, it is said to be "to the battle of THAT GREAT DAY of God Almighty." What great day? THAT great day so well known in the Old Testament; as in the above quotation, Rev. x, 7, "as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." John's Antichrist then, being the Power, that his readers had heard was to come, (1 John ii, 18,) must, I think, be the great Power, that leads the coalition in the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
I might multiply arguments: But it seems needless. It will appear in the next section that John's Antichrist, when he appears, is soon to be destroyed. But the Papal hierarchy was to exist 1260 years. Which argument seems sufficient to show, that Antichrist was to be a Power subsequent to the reign of the Papal hierarchy.
SECTION IV.
Antichrist predicted by the Apostles.
In 1 John ii, 18, we read, Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. This Epistle is said to have been written with a principal view to the Christian Jews. A principal object of the writer probably was, to exhibit the beauties of the Christian character, in contrast with the bitterness of the unbelieving Jews, and of the carnal heart; and to evince the great doctrine, that Jesus Christ is the true Messiah; in opposition to the infidelity of the Jews. *
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* It has been supposed by some, that St. John, in this Epistle, had his eye upon the heresies of the Gnostics and Ebionites. The Gnostics, a heretical, gentile sect, from Simon Magus, boasting of their knowledge sufficient to teach men the things of God, denied the humanity of Jesus Christ; and held that he suffered only in appearance. The Ebionites, a heretical sect of Jewish Christians, denied the Divinity, and the miraculous conception of Jesus Christ; yet pretended to hold that he was sent of God. Possibly the sacred writer had his eye upon these heretics. They virtually denied the Father and the Son, and thus were antichrists, but the infidelity and bitterness of his
Antichrist predicted by the Apostles.
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This Epistle is supposed to have been written just before the destruction of Jerusalem; which was one coming of Christ, or a lively type of the destruction of Antichrist, at the battle of the great day. Some, it is true, have conjectured, that it was written upwards of twenty years after the destruction of Jerusalem. But there is no evidence of this; as good expositors acknowledge. I think those have the most evidence on their side, who think it to have been written before the destruction of Jerusalem. Doctor Guyes was of this opinion; and thinks, that the individual antichrist spoken of, chap, ii, 18, and iv, 1, were the Judaizing teachers, predicted by Christ, Mutt, xxiv, 24, to come before the destruction of the temple. These were forerunners, or typical, of the false teachers of the last days. This circumstance, that the Epistle was written just before the fatal catastrophe of the Jews, by Titus the Roman, accounts for the writers sayings, "It is the last time." In the original, it is -- the last hour. It was then, as it were, the last hour, previous to the coming of Christ, in the fatal catastrophe of the Jewish nation. There were at that time many violent opposers of the doctrine of the Divinity of Christ, especially among the Jews, and the Judaizing teachers; * from which event the Apostle infers, that it was the last hour with that unbelieving nation. And so it proved in fact. For wrath soon came upon them to the uttermost. † Eleven hundred thousand Jews perished by the sword, at the siege and taking of Jerusalem by the Romans. And more than fourteen hundred thousand were destroyed in that war. Their temple was burnt; their city destroyed; and the small remnant of the Jews were sold for slaves to different nations. Ye have heard that Antichrist shall come. He alludes to predictions of an event, which was then Jar future. When he adds, even now are there many antichrists, he could not mean,
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nation, the Jews, and the hordes of Judaizing teachers, whom Paul calls dogs, evil workers, and the concision, Phil, iii, 2, probably were one great occasion of his writing this Epistle.
* Titus i, 10, 11.
† See Josephus on the destruction of Jerusalem.
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Antichrist predicted by the Apostles.
that these many antichrists constituted that Antichrist, who they had heard was to come. He distinguishes between that Power then far future, and the petty, individual antichrists of his day, putting one in the singular, and the other in the plural. We may view the passage, as amounting to what is expressed in the following paraphrase: Ye are assured in various predictions, that a terrible Power, which may properly be styled Antichrist, on account of his enmity against the Christian cause, shall arise in the last days; and shall bring upon himself swift destruction: So that the appearance of that wicked Power shall be a certain token of its then being the last time with the enemies of the Church. And even now are there many among our countrymen, of the same bitter, infidel spirit; by which we know it to be the last time with the Jewish polity. Josephus informs, that in the last tremendous scenes of the destruction of the Jews, it was common for them "to make a jest of Divine things, and to deride, as so many senseless tales, and juggling impostures, the sacred oracles of their prophets." They were given up to the most gross and barefaced infidelity; and thus they were the antichrists of that day. Or they may be viewed as a type of the great Antichrist of the last time. Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son. * And every spirit, that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God: and this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come, and even now already is it in the world. † Here it is the decided character and spirit of Antichrist, that he is a gross Infidel: Not merely loving to have pre-eminence; or corrupting the ordinances of Christ; as did the Romish hierarchy; but expressly denying Christ; having the very spirit, which the infidel Jews possessed. The Apostle in the above passages teaches, that the Antichristian spirit, then existing, indicated that it was the last hour with its subjects. But it was the last hour only with the Jews. It
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* 1 John ii, 22.
† 1 John iv, 3.
Antichrist predicted by the Apostles.
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Was their gross infidelity then, which he calls the spirit of Antichrist. His inference, that the spirit of Antichrist, then existing, indicated that it was the last hour with its subjects, was deduced from this fact, which he understood to be a truth, viz. that the rise of Antichrist was to be but a short time, like an hour, before his utter destruction. The reasoning of the Apostle rests on this ground. For surely if Antichrist might exist many centuries, as did Popery, before he goeth into perdition, the Apostle could not have inferred from the existence of the spirit of Antichrist in his day, that it was the last hour with its subjects. We arrive then at this conclusion from the remarks of St. John, that Antichrist is another Power beside the Papal hierarchy; and that his rise was to be but a short time before the battle of the great day. And these ideas we find clearly exhibited in various prophecies. The other apostles, Paul, Peter and Jude, predict this Power, and his abominable agency and influence. I shall first note the writings of Jude. He inscribes his Epistle to the people of no particular place; but to the true people of God; "to them, that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Christ Jesus, and called." From various considerations, which I shall proceed to note, it is evident, that his Epistle is prophetic; or that the events of it, when he wrote, were for future; and were to take place but just before the Millennium. I shall first make this appear; otherwise, my remarks upon the Epistle will be of no avail to my object.
1. In verse 4, the writer hints what he was going to do; by informing, that the characters, he was about to describe, "were of old ordained to this condemnation." In the original it is, "of old forewritten to this judgment." Alluding to the ancient predictions, in the prophets, relative to the great Power of the last days. It is as though Jude had said; I am now going to describe the characters and agents of that tremendous enemy of the church in the last days, just before the millennial Kingdom of Christ, so much predicted and described in the prophets; -- - the people there "forewritten
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Antichrist predicted by the Apostles.
to this judgment;" -- or, predescribed to this character and destruction. If the descriptions in this Epistle had some primary reference to the Judaizing teachers of that day; it is evident, from the above clause, of their having been "of old forewritten to this judgment," that they had their ultimate reference to the characters, that introduce the battle of that great day of God Almighty. For these are the characters fore- written, in the ancient prophets, as has been noted, and as will more fully appear.
2. In verse 14, of this Epistle we have another clew for our guidance, in our inquiry for the period and characters described. "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these (these characters, that I describe) saying, Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all, that are ungodly among them, of all their ungodly deeds, and of all their hard speeches, which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." Here we learn, that the characters described are those, who shall be in existence on earth, when the Lord shall come, with all his retinue of war, to sweep the wicked from the earth: -- That it is their malice against him, (in his people) their hard speeches and ungodly deeds, which will be the immediate occasion of that tremendous judgment: -- And that their wickedness and their ruin are to be so terrible, that Enoch was inspired to predict the events, more than seven hundred years before the flood!
How striking, that this solitary and precious fragment of most ancient prophecy should be preserved now for fifty centuries, to designate, with other scriptures, the period, character and overthrow of the terrible Power of the last days! And how exactly its language, of the Lord's coming with thousands of his saints, comports with the descriptions of the same battle, in Rev. xix, 11, -- to the end; "all the armies of heaven following him on white horses:" Joel iii, 11, where Antichrist is gathered to the valley of decision; and the prophet adds, "Thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord:" As Zech. xiv, 5, upon the same period and
Antichrist predicted by the Apostles.
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event; "and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
3. In verses 17, 18, the point under consideration is decided "But, beloved, remember the words, which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how they told you, there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts." Here the characters, whom he was describing, are the mockers of the LAST TIME. And they are the very characters described by the other apostles; that, "in the last days perilous times shall come;" "there shall come, in the last days, scoffers."
Thus we may consult Jude's Epistle with an assurance that those whom he describes, are the abominable characters of the last days.
In his introduction of the subject is a solemn caution to duty. "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you, that ye should earnestly contend for the faith, which was once delivered unto the saints." He then begins his subject. "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation; ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." Here is the same character, given of the terrible Power, Dan. xi, 36 -- rejecting God and the Savior. 1 John ii, 22, "He is Antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son." These characters have "crept in unawares:" -- come, as from some dark recess: Under fatal disguises: -- Are among a people, and have effected their mischievous plans, before they are known.
The writer now, to fortify the minds of his readers, before he leads them over the ground, or unfolds the terrific picture, introduces the idea, which generally attends the description of this terrible Power, that his reign shall be short; he shall soon be destroyed. This he does, in verses 5, 6, 7, by noting the signal ruin of the ancient most inveterate enemies of God, as an emblem of what is just ready to be executed on these
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Antichrist predicted by the Apostles.
wretched characters of the last days, when they should appear. "I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them, that believed not. And the angels, who kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, in like manner giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, |
