The first half of the ninth week corresponds, according to the previous suppositions, with the sixth and seventh of the Apocalyptic seals, and with the fourth and subsequent vials of wrath; and as the millennial period, subsequent to the coming of the Son of Man, is partly comprehended within this week, the commencement of that period must be the event by which we should expect it to be characterized. This is accordingly the case; for here the former mode of expression, as to the completion of the various weeks is abandoned, and the term of "in the ninth week," is substituted for it. We must infer, that the end of the fourth century of this week is here alluded to, from the synchronysm which is afterwards noticed, of the conclusion of the millennial period, with the seventh day of the tenth week; for if we reckon back from this date to the commencement of the thousand years, the time indicated for the commencement also of "the judgment of righ"teousness," will be that in which the century already mentioned is completed. The terms appropriated to this ninth week are at least sufficiently definite to show some correspondence with the expressions of the Apoca lypse as to this period. If of the judgment of righteousness it be said, that it shall be re"vealed to the whole world," so of the coming of the Son of Man it is declared, that "every eye "shall see him." If every work of the ungodly is at this period to "disappear," according to Enoch, "from "the face of the whole earth;" so, according to the Apocalypse, "former things are passed 66 away;" while it is also declared, that Satan "should deceive the nations no more till the "thousand years should be fulfilled." Thus, also, the world is here said to be "marked for "destruction;" while, in the Apocalypse, the combined symbols of the harvest and the vintage are found to synchronize with the period of the sixth seal, "when every mountain and island 66 were moved out of their places ;" and when, "in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, "when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of "God should be finished." Nor is the assertion here made, that "all men should seek the path "of righteousness," less consistent with the Apocalyptical synchronism of the binding of Satan, with the commencement of the millennium. From hence the transition to the seventh day of the tenth week, as the period of the "everlasting judgment, which shall be executed 64 upon the Watchers," leads us to the end of the millennium, of which St. John has said "that," when the thousand years are expired, "the Devil "that deceived them was cast into the lake of "fire;" while Enoch and the Scripture agree also, that "the former heaven shall depart and pass away;" as in the latter, before him that sat upon the throne, the earth and the heaven "fled away." Lastly, the declaration that "sin "shall not be named there for ever and for ever," exactly agrees with the prophetic assurance, that there shall in no wise enter into the holy city any thing that defileth, neither that worketh abomination. Having thus traced the most obvious of the coincidences which exist between this book and the Apocalypse, I leave this part of the subject without any farther observations, being rather desirous that the reader should examine for himself the book which follows, than that I should appear to support a theory by my own conclu sions. THE BOOK OF ENOCH. I. The word of the blessing of Enoch, how he blessed the elect and the righteous, who were to exist in the time of trouble; to the casting away of all the wicked and ungodly. Enoch, a righteous man, who was with God, answered and spoke, while his eyes were open, and he saw a holy vision in the heavens. This the angels shewed me. II. From them I heard all things, and understood what I saw; that which will not come to pass in this generation, but in a generation which is to succeed at a distant period, on account of the elect. |