Key to the 1843 Prophetic Chart
prophecy, be set up; and it is a fact that this division was not accomplished till the year A.D. 483. Whatever may therefore be meant by the expression, kingdom of God, in other places, it is certain beyond the shadow of doubt, that his kingdom which is to destroy and succeed all earthly governments, was not set up by Christ or his apostles; neither is it yet set up; for earthly governments still exercise their authority over the world.
A thought may here occur, and be a source of perplexity to some. Have not the ten kingdoms, of the Roman empire, in the days of which the God of Heaven should set up his kingdom, passed away? and has not the prophecy failed, if that kingdom is still future? We answer, the days of those kingdoms still continue. It matters not that their boundaries may have been changed, and their identity, in some cases, almost lost: The kingdom is still divided. We have passed that point where ten divisions out of the Roman empire completed the development of the image. It is now only waiting to be smitten upon the feet by the stone cut out of the mountain without hand.
Reader, are you ready for this destruction of all earthly governments? Have you an interest in the kingdom that is to be set up? Is your name enrolled among those highly privileged ones who are to be its immortal subjects? Is your citizenship in Heaven, from whence we look for the Lord and Saviour? Are you Christ's, and therefore an heir according to the promise? Or are you, on the other hand, in that condition, that if the King should appear, to raise his people to their glorious and imperishable inheritance, you would covet, as the greatest blessing to be buried from his presence by rocks and mountains? Woeful condition!
Watch! lest coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.
THE FOUR BEASTS OF DANIEL VII (7)
At the right of the image stands a line of beasts, a lion, a bear, leopard, and nondescript beast in two forms, representing another vision. A view of these beasts was given to Daniel in vision, as recorded in chapter vii, of his prophecy.
In verse 17, these beasts are declared to be four kings or kingdoms. The manner of their rise, Daniel describes in verse 2, thus: I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea, and four great beasts came up, diverse one from another. Seas denote nations and peoples.
Rev.xvii (17),15. Wind denotes war and strife. Hence these kingdoms rose and fell through revolutions and political strife.
THE LION
The Lion standing opposite to the head of gold, is a symbol of the same power, namely, the kingdom of Babylon. A ravenous wild beast is the fittest symbol to show the character of an unsanctified earthly government. The lion, the king of beasts, best represents Babylon the king of empires. But the lion, as produced in nature crouching in his lurking places and springing upon his prey,