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    CLOSING REMARKS ON THE PROPHETIC PERIODS

    These several prophetic periods, applied as above, are considered the main pillars of Mr. Miller’s theory of the prophecies. There is one grand consideration in favor of it, yet to be noticed, which distinguishes his from all other theories. It is this. He applies these periods to those events in the history of the people of God, which, of all others, one would suppose, should be made the landmarks, or eras, from which to reckon; and between the prophecies and the events of history, down to the present time, according to this theory, the agreement is like that between face and face in a glass. Indeed, the remarkable naturalness and propriety of the application might at first be considered an objection. On this account more than any other, probably, the question has been so often proposed,—“Why was it not found out before?” And the question would be a puzzling one if we did not know, as a matter of fact, that one of the universal features of the arrangements of Infinite Wisdom is simplicity; and, on the other hand, it is as universally true that the pride and blindness of man’s heart has presented the greatest difficulty in the way of his discovering what is true, or has disposed him to reject the truth when it is presented. Its common fate has been, like that of its great Author, to be regarded as a root out of dry ground. But he who is willing to forsake all for the truth, and with a single eye to lay hold of it, shall see and exclaim, “The one half has never been told me.” In this case, also, there is a special provision that the discovery should not be made “till the time of the end.” The first grand period, which includes all the rest, and expresses the whole time of the usurpation and triumph of the different forms of worldly power, together with the depression of the visible kingdom of God, begins where every one would suppose it must begin, at the passing away of independence from the Theocracy-an event predicted centuries before it took place, and deplored as the opening of the full tide of all their troubles for centuries after. It terminates with the overthrow of all worldly power, and the restoration of the visible kingdom of God on earth, with Him upon its throne whose right it is to reign, to order and to establish it with judgment and with justice henceforth, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.TSAM 93.3

    The second of these periods begins at a most important point in the history of the depressed covenant people of God-the issuing of an edict in their favor, under the provisions of which they experienced a partial, though temporary, deliverance, from a condition which threatened their political existence long before it actually took place. But though this period commences some time after the first, they terminate together.TSAM 94.1

    The third begins at that point where the final change in the visible agents of the long-continued subjection of the people of God took place, so distinctly pointed at by Daniel, but more clearly brought to view by the revelator, and so well understood by Paul, though future in his day. These last-named periods, that given for the desolation of the sanctuary,—the 2300 years,—and the period at the end of which Daniel shall stand in his lot,—the 1335 years,—terminate together, as is evident both from the nature of the prophecy in each case, and from the only possible dates for their commencement. One began B. C 457, and the 70 weeks are at once the seal of its truth and the pledge of its fulfilment in 1843. The other began, not when the first blow was struck against the worship of Paganism by the Christian emperors, as they are called, but when Popery stood in the place and acted the part of Paganism in western Rome. All the histories of the transition point to about A. D. 508, as the time when it took place. The 1290 days, or years, which terminated in 1798, by taking away the dominion of Popery, and modifying its character, are the pledge of its termination and fulfilment in 1843.TSAM 94.2

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