Antichrist would have his reign, before the day of Christ's second coming. It has been generally admitted that there was a falling away, and that Antichrist has had his reign; but that Christ had no true church on earth during that period, will hardly be acknowledged by any of the churches of Antichrist; because such an acknowledgment would implicitly condemn all these churches as counterfeits. "But the tree is known by its fruits." And certain it is, that if the predictions of Christ, on this subject, have ever been fulfilled, then there was a time when he had no true church on earth. This period may easily be ascertained by an impartial examination of ecclesiastical history, which developes ages of controversy and strife, fraud and violence, tyranny and persecution, war and bloodshed, licentiousness and debauchery, and every species of crime, committed under the authority and by the sanction of these professedly christian churches, and which sufficiently prove that Christ was not there. Many attempts have been made under the reign of antichristian darkness, to ascertain the true meaning of those prophetic numbers given by Divine inspiration, respecting the rise and duration of Antichrist's power, and the prophecy of the "two witnesses." But the nature of these events being concealed from the view of man, those who have attempted to make the calculation, were unable to discern "those times and seasons which God had put in his own power:" and hence they have always failed in their attempts. Even the prophet Daniel himself was unable to comprehend the nature and event of those things which were represented to him in the vision. This appears evident from his own testimony. “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, "what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way "Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of "the end. Many shall be purified and made white, and tried; "but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall "understand; but the wise shall understand.—But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at "the end of the days."* closed up Thus it appears that these things were till the time of the end." It was therefore predictions relating to these events, should be understood, as to their nature and substance, or the period of their accomplishment, till the time of God's appointment; and even then, they could be known only by the revelation of God. When the seals were taken off, and the book of Divine Revelation was opened, then these predictions which were delivered to the prophet Daniel, and * Dan. xii. 8, 9, 10 & 13. afterwards renewed by Jesus Christ, and again confirmed by the angel to John, could be clearly seen and understood, but not before. And it is but reasonable to suppose that this revelation would first be made to those who were in the real work of God, and whose minds were enlightened by the Divine manifestations which succeeded these events. These things having now been revealed by the light of Divine Truth, and the events clearly seen and understood, they may be pointed out and illustrated, agreeable to ancient predictions, and confirmed by the events recorded in history. Tho the spirit of Antichrist began to manifest itself in the apostle's days, as appears evident from their writings; yet it was many years before it gained so much ascendency as to exclude the true and faithful witnesses of God and followers of Christ from the sanctuary. When this was effectually done, then the disciples of Antichrist, with great zeal, set about modelling the precepts and doctrines of Jesus Christ and his apostles to suit their own carnal views. And as the practical doctrines of the cross of self-denial were the most obnoxious to the spirit of Antichrist, the first object was to pervert these doctrines in such a manner as to render the cross of Christ ineffectual. This was done by substituting the form of a wooden cross in the place of practical self-denial, and making the show of religion supply the place of the reality. Hence when the Emperor Constantine assumed the christian name, he formed such a cross for his standard, under which he prosecuted his bloody wars, and fought his way to the throne. Similar devices were formed to supplant every thing that bore the mark of christian purity and simplicity, till the views of Antichrist were fully accomplished, and the sanctuary itself, with every thing belonging to it, was com pletely trodden under foot. As this was a gradual work, it was not fully affected until the period when Pope Leo the first came into full possession of his unlimited power, about the year 457. This was the year in which the emperor Marcianus died, and left Leo in the full possession of his power and supremacy, both civil and ecclesiastical; so that henceforth he was under the control of no power on earth, neither civil nor ecclesiastical, but ruled both church and state, as it is called, with unlimited sway. And from this time, the power of the Popes of Rome was fully established above the power of all earthly princes; and by their authority laws were framed, and creeds drawn up and established, to regulate and govern the religious faith of the whole christian world, so called, as far as their dominion extended. The scenes of tyranny and persecution which followed, to enforce obedience to their bloody religion, fully mark this gloomy period as the days of desolation, and the intole rant reign of Antichrist, Hence it appears that the year 457 was the period in which the unlimited reign of Antichrist fully commenced. The closing period of this reign is pointed out in the visions of the prophet Daniel, and by reckoning from the date of the vision, may easily be found. The question was asked, "How long shall be the "vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of ❝desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden "under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three "hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”* This vision is dated 553 years before Christ; and allowing 2300 prophetic days to signify so many years, which is generally admitted, we have the time from the date of the prophecy to the cleansing of the sanctuary. Then by taking 553 from 2300 leaves 1747 for the year of the christian era when the cleansing of the sanctuary was to commence, and when the testimony of truth and all sacred things were no longer to be trodden under foot by the unlimited dominion and persecuting power of Antichrist. Again: The duration of this reign of Antichrist is given in another vision, and which also confirms the preceding calculation. "And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, “ and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be 66 a thousand two hundred and ninety days." These are with propriety called the days of desolation, being the period in which the true church of Christ, or sanctuary of God, was trodden under foot. These days, like the former, signify so many years. Then by adding these 1290 years of desolation to 457, (the year of their commencement under Pope Leo, as before stated,) we have 1747 for the year in which these days of desolation were to end. This agrees exactly with the former calculation, and each one confirms the other. In the Revelations of John we find the following testimony: "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the Angel "stood, saying, Rise and measure the temple of God, and the ❝altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is "without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given "unto the Gentiles; and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.† And I will give power unto my two “witnesses, and they shall prophecy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth." This measuring had reference to the period of time in which that order of primitive christians existed who worshipped God in the inner court of the temple, or in other words, who rejected the works of the flesh, *Dan. viii 13, 14. †This revelation could not allude to the Jewish temple, except as a figure: for both the city and its temple were destroyed about 25 years before the revelation was given: it ́ evidently alluded to the primitive church, which was the spiritual temple of God. ‡ Rev. xi 1, 2, 9. and worshipped God in the spirit, and separated themselves from the course and friendship of the world. But the question will naturally arise, Who were these two witnesses? and for what purpose were they sent? As our limits will not permit us to enter fully into the discussion of this subject, our remarks must be brief. During the long reign of antichristian darkness, God always had his faithful witnesses, through whom he dispensed a sufficient portion of light to preserve the world from total darkness and ruin. Many such were raised up, from time to time, to whom God revealed himself by his Spirit, who always bore testimony against sin, and in whom was the only divine light then manifested on the earth. They were called the two witnesses, because they were chosen from the two sexes, male and female, and because their testimony pointed to the two great dispensations of the gospel, the first and second appearing of Christ. They were to prophesy 1260 years (in prophetic language called days) "clothed in sackcloth." This denotes the duration of their testimony under a state of darkness and mourning. And this is an evidence that Christ could not have been with them during that period: for his presence would have dispelled all darkness and mourning from them. "Can the children of the bride-chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them ?" The testimony of these witnesses commenced at the treading down of the holy city, by the Gentiles, under the dominion of Antichrist. These gentiles having obtained full possession of the outer court of the spiritual temple of God, the way into the temple was shut; of course there could be no entrance into the holy place. While the primitive church stood in its purity, it constituted the living temple of God, where souls could find an entrance into the sanctuary of holiness, and offer their spiritual sacrifices upon the holy altar. But when this church fell away, and came under the dominion of Antichrist, then the spirit of the world in the fallen nature of man, (called by the angel the Gentiles,) under the government of Antichrist, took full possession of every thing that belonged to the church, which was called the holy city, and corrupted and trod it under foot. But the spirit of holiness, and the true spiritual order of the church were shut from them, and were henceforth inaccessible to man. Therefore, during the reign of Antichrist, there could be no true church of Christ on earth: for if such a church had then existed, that church would have been the true temple of God, and man could have had access to it. When that measure was fulfilled by which the temple and the altar were measured, according to the direction of the angel, then was fulfilled the vision of Daniel the prophet: "I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them, ❝ until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the "saints of the Most High."* As the saints, or true worshippers of God, were excluded from the temple and the altar during the reign of Antichrist; so these two witnesses prophesied, “clothed in sackcloth." during that period. And as the temple was shut, and the true sanctuary trodden under foot; so there was no light of God on earth except in these witnesses; and wherever they appeared and bore testimony against the corruptions of a false church, and the bloody religion of a degenerate world, they were followed by the cruel arm of persecution, and all the power of this, beastly hierarchy was exerted to exterminate them from off the face of the earth. These witnesses continued to rise, from time to time, in the power of their divine testimony, and were as continually opposed and oppressed by the power of persecution, during the whole period of Antichrist's reign. The testimony of these witnesses pointed both to the first and second appearing of Christ. They bore testimony to the precepts and example of Jesus Christ, and to the purity of primitive christianity; and plainly testified against the doctrines of Antichrist, the religion of the times, and the degeneracy of the world. They also foretold the second coming of Christ, and what it would effect; that all false religion, pride and hypocrisy, all tyranny and persecutions, wars and fightings, and all manner of wickedness, and every kind of corruption must then be done away; that there should be one fold, and one shepherd. Altho these witnesses of God were raised up in different ages and nations, and bore testimony against the particular corruptions of the age and nation in which they lived; yet the real spirit of their testimony, while they kept in the truth, was uniformly the same, and pointed more or less to the first and second appearing of Christ. The testimony of these witnesses has ever been opposed and rejected by the established ecclesiastical orders, and the popular religions of the day, who have generally stigmatized them with the name of heretics, fanatics and enthusiasts. And by the authority of these self-styled orthodox churches, they have often suffered severely under the iron hand of persecution. Many thousands, yea, millions of them in different ages, have laid down their lives for their testimony, being sacrificed to the vengeance of those who claimed authority to dictate religious principles to all others, and who never failed to bend these principles to their own corrupt standard. These witnesses were the stars of the spiritual heavens; for they were indeed the only spiritual lights that were seen upon earth in this gloomy night of Antichristian darkness. These were the * Dan. vii 21, 22, |