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ately to confess his own and his people's sins, and to pray that God would remember Jerusalem and his people, and cause his face to shine upon HIS SANCTUARY that was desolate, &c. And while he was speaking and praying, &c., for the holy mountain of his God, "Yea, whilst I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision* at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me, about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications, the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee, for thou art greatly beloved; therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision."

1. Daniel had been told (Daniel viii. 14)

*Although Mr. Miller does not base his argument on this expression, yet we shall make use of it in support of our main position, that the seventy weeks are the key to the 2,300 days' vision. We contend that the definite article is correctly inserted in the text; but, admitting it was not correctly inserted, it is perfectly immaterial to our purpose; for nothing is clearer than that Daniel refers to his interview with Gabriel, as recorded in the eighth chapter. So, whether it is "vision" simply, or "the vision," is of no consequence.

that the sanctuary would be cleansed at the end of 2,300 days; but he did not understand the vision.

2. In the first year of Darius, fifteen years after, he supposed, as the seventy years had ended, the time had arrived for the cleansing of the sanctuary and the holy city, and immediately began to pray for it.

3. As soon as he began to pray, with that object in view, the commandment came forth to Gabriel to go and instruct Daniel. He was on a wrong track, and Gabriel came to set him right. Being caused to fly swiftly, he touched Daniel in the midst of his prayer, even while he was speaking in prayer; he told him, "I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding;" "therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision."

4. He proceeded to assure Daniel that, so far from the time being come for the cleansing of the sanctuary, the sin of the people had not been completed. Verse 24. "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins," &c. He then told him when to commence the period. Verse 25. "Know, therefore, and understand,

that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem, unto Messiah the Prince, shall be seven weeks and threescore and two weeks," &c. Verse 26. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off; and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary, (referring to its destruction by the Romans.) "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease; and for overspreading of abominations, he shall make it (the city and sanctuary) desolate even until the consummation."

5. I ask, if Gabriel did not instruct Daniel how long the sanctuary should be desolate on account of the overspreading of abominations, what did he inform him? The desecration was brought down this side the death of Messiah and the end of sacrifices by the coming of the antetype; and the destruction of the city (Jerusalem) and the sanctuary (the holy place), was to take place and be perpetuated even to the consummation.

6. As Daniel had seen a vision of 2,300 days, which was to continue to the end,-"for

at the time appointed the end shall be,”—and as he did not understand the vision when the instruction of Gabriel ended; and as, fifteen years after, he began to pray that it might be fulfilled then; and as Gabriel, the same messenger who had before instructed him, was sent with great swiftness to instruct him and give him skill and understanding, directing him to consider "the vision," then telling him how long it would be before the sins of the city and people would be fulfilled, and that after that the city and sanctuary would be destroyed and made desolate even to the consummation; we can but understand Gabriel to be instructing Daniel into the meaning of the 2,300 days, at the termination of which the sanctuary is to be cleansed, the end come, and the consummation take place. And also we cannot see how he did give him any light on the subject, except it was by making the seventy weeks the key to the former vision.

CHAPTER V.

THE TIME, TIMES AND DIVIDING OF TIME, OF DANIEL vii. 25, FULFILLED-EXTRACTS FROM JUSTINIAN, GIVING THE SUPREMACY TO THE POPE. THE 1,260 DAYS BEGAN A. D. 538, AND NOT 533; REASONS WHY-GREAT BABYLON NOT TO BE DESTROYED AT ONCE, WHEN THE 1,260 DAYS END, BUT TO BE CONSUMED UNTO THE END.

OUR next point in this discussion will be an examination of Mr. Dowling's fifth chapter; the three prophetic periods. We give the first section entire, that he may have the full benefit of his labor.

SECTION I.-THE THREE PERIODS COMPARED.

"And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?"-Dan. xii. 6.

"And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.”—v. 7. "And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.” —v. 11.

"Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days."—v. 12.

Here are three distinct prophetical periods. 1. In verse seventh; a time, times, and a half, mean

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