distinguishing characteristics; and upon the expiration of the time allotted to the fourth, a FIFTH kingdom is brought forward, namely, "THE KINGDOM OF THE PEOPLE OF THE SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH." Now we need hardly pause to explain to any who have sought to understand their Bible, that there have been four great empires, holding their dominion as the empires of the world, beginning with the time of Daniel: the BABYLONIAN, the MEDO-PERSIAN, the GRECIAN, and the ROMAN. Dwelling upon the FOURTH of these kingdoms, Daniel's prophecy informs us, that "it shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and tread it down, and break it in pieces." That such was the case with the ROMAN EMPIRE we know.

But further:-"The ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise." It is remarkable that from the very early times of the Christian era, down to our own day, the number of kingdoms associated with Rome has been ten. If we go back as far as the fourth or fifth century, or if we descend to the eighth, the twelfth, the sixteenth, or the nineteenth, we shall find them to have been ten, until the late Italian war, when the bond appears to have been broken,1 for reasons

1 Just before the war between France and Austria, when Napoleon III. took such an active part in the affairs of Italy, the kingdoms or states using the Latin tongue in their religious services, and bearing

But to pursue

which we shall understand presently. the language of the prophecy,-" And another (that is, another king) shall arise after them: and he shall be diverse from the first, and shall subdue three kings." Now, surely, this seals the matter at once against THE PAPACY being offered to our notice, as represented by this last king. The Papacy cannot be justly said to have come after the ten kings, for it has reigned with or rather over, them; and, certainly, no historian can speak of it with emphasis, as having subdued three kingdoms. For this, we need but see how greatly commentators differ in their attempts to establish such a subjugation as a point of history. The eleventh king, then, cannot be the Papacy; and forasmuch as no king or headship answering these requirements has yet appeared, his reign must be still future. But further, -"He shall speak great swelling words against the Most High, and shall wear out the Saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws; and they shall be given into his hand, until a time, and times, and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and

allegiance to the Roman creed, were ten in number: France, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Sardinia, Tuscany, Modena, Parma, the States of the Church, and Naples.

dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the Saints of the Most High."

Here then we have the period of this king's reign marked definitely. It shall be at the close of the time which is allotted to the fourth great kingdom, namely, the ROMAN.

But is this found to be clear also on reference to other parts of Scripture? We will refer to the following chapter (the eighth). In the nineteenth verse the period to which the grand point of the prophecy had reference, is distinctly named "THE LAST END OF THE INDIGNATION." Our attention is then directed to the kingdom of the Medes and Persians, and that of Alexander the Great, whose dominions were to be divided into four parts. ("Four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power."1) And passing on

1 It may be well to call to memory what these four kingdoms were. The first was composed of Armenia, Media, Babylonia, Syria, Susiana, a portion of Cappadocia, and Cilicia. This kingdom, indeed, claimed an extension from India to the Hellespont. The second comprehended a part of Thrace, Asia Minor, part of Cappadocia, and the countries which were within the limits of Mount Taurus. The third consisted of Macedonia, Thessaly, and part of Greece. The fourth spread over part of Asia Minor, part of Thrace, Colo-Syria, Phoenicia, Palestine, Cyprus, Cyrene, and Egypt. The first kings were Alexander's four general's, Seleucus Nicator, Lysimachus, Cassander, and Ptolemy, who ruled over these four kingdoms respectively.

to the latter time of their kingdom when the transgressors are come to the full, we are told that "a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up," of whose character as delineated in this place we have already spoken. Now "THE LATTER TIME OF THEIR KINGDOM" must be the time of the fourth great kingdom of the world,-THE ROMAN: for the Romans gradually obtained dominion over all countries which the four joint successors of Alexander governed; Egypt (the last subjugated of the four) being made a province of the Roman Empire в.c. 30.

Thus, that the king of fierce countenance shall have dominion over the Roman Empire, is shown in this place also. But so far being clear from the testimony of the Prophets, let us seek for a more detailed account in the NEW TESTAMENT.

We will refer to REVELATION, the thirteenth chapter. This chapter is occupied with the affairs of "that great city Babylon, which reigneth over the kings of the earth." The Lord brings before us two allegorical figures, called "beasts." The first arises "out of the SEA." It has " SEVEN HEADS and TEN HORNS, and on its heads THE NAME OF BLASPHEMY." Now, there is

certainly a great probability that ROME is represented by this figure-ROME IMPERIAL. ROME, the seat of the Empire, the point from which the Empire sprang, is

situated between the Seas. It has had seven forms of government having their seat always at the ancient capital. These forms of government were as follows:KINGS, CONSULS, DICTATORS, DECEMVIRS, CONSULAR TRIBUNES, EMPERORS, and POPES. And (as we have already seen) it has been peculiarly characterized by the association—at least for many centuries-of TEN KINGDOMS under its control, or closely bound to its interests. But we read that when "power, and a seat, and great authority" had been given by Satan to this Beast,—“ one of its heads was, as it were, wounded unto death; and his deadly wound was healed, and all the world wondered after the beast." This was true of Rome. The SIXTH headthat of the EMPERORS—was wounded unto death, by the sword of foreign invaders. It grew weaker and weaker, until the name of Emperor and no more existed. Yet, notwithstanding this, the nation did not actually expire. The capital was held by one who wore the diadem, as King of all the Kings of Earth; and wonderful authority he exercised. The wounded beast did live, for the PAPACY kept it alive. It was indeed quite changed in character, and not acknowledged in the world as the old Roman Empire. Still it lived and flourished, for “his deadly wound was healed; and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast; and they worshipped the