and peoples, and tongues," (and this language is sufficient of itself to explain what is meant by the two witnesses,) "I beheld this innumerable multitude," says the Apostle, "standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and they cry with a loud voice, saying, The salvation be ascribed to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb. And one of the elders spake, saying unto me, These clothed in white robes, who are they, and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said unto me, These are they which came OUT OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb : therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple, and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them; and shall lead them unto living fountains of water and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes!" Thus this three years and an half is not only the counter-part of the three years and an half of our Saviour's sufferings, making the "one week" of Daniel, ch. ix. ver. 27, but of his resurrection and ascension. And here it may not be irrelevant to notice, that the prophet Elijah likewise appears to have been an eminent and remarkable type of the two witnesses; or of the church in this her last period of trial and suffering. His being miraculously fed for three years and an half, during a time of great famine ;* and the still greater famine of the Word of God; the fixed resolution of his enemies, during this period, to take away his life; a sound of abundance of rain being sent immediately after his servant had been to look at the sea seven times; the miraculous confirmation which God gave in favour of his own truth at the time of sacrifice; the unanimous attestation that was given to this attestation by all who witnessed it; and finally, Elijah's triumphant ascension into heaven in chariots of fire and horses of fire-all appear highly significant of what we have seen in the bistory of God's witnessing people in this place; and to point to their end on earth being, as it is expressed it shall be, of a similar nature. As he therefore ascended to heaven without dying-as Christ himself, whilst his disciples beheld, was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight-so shall all the members of his church, at this great crisis, "ascend up to heaven in a cloud!" And it is observable that our Saviour himself brings forward these three years and six months' famine in Elijah's time, as a proof of the great and awful doctrine of his own sovereignty ;§ teaching us that the supply of bread and oil, which his poor and despised church has received in her mournful and depressed condition, has been the result of discrimi * Luke iv. 25. Acts i. 9. † 1 Kings xviii. nating mercy, according to the language in St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion upon whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."* Hence, when the elect of God are gathered together in heaven, the praise is given to whom the praise is due. "The salvation," they cry with a loud voice, "be ascribed unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." And the top stone shall be brought forth with joy, crying Grace, Grace, unto it-" Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name be all the glory." * Rom. ix. 15, 16. CHAPTER XIV. THE GREAT REVOLUTION THAT IS TO HAPPEN AT THE TIME OF THE CHURCH'S TRANSLATION TO HEAVEN; AS THE LAST CONCLUDING SCENE PREVIOUS TO THE FALL OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE, OR THE CEASING OF THE SIXTH TRUMPET. Caution in speaking of future things—A great Revolution to happen - One of the ten kingdoms to fall-Titles of honour totally abolished-The fright these things occasion-Another argument proving that the deliverance of the Saints will be a translation to Heaven-The second woe past!—Its commencement clearly defined in the taking of Constantinople in 1453-The Turks prepared for this great undertaking-Their fall will be a most signal event— Harmony of the different lines of prophecy both in the old and New Testaments-Encouragement to prophetical studies-Rev. Charles Buck's notice of this chronology-Rev. Mr. Fletcher of Madely's remarks on prophecy. 276 CHAPTER XIV. THE GREAT REVOLUTION WHICH IS IMMEDIATELY TO PRECEDE THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE. THERE is only one other scene mentioned, as attendant on the conclusion of the sixth trumpetand there is one other which is to happen! and that at the same time as the one described in the last chapter. For it is said— “And in the same hour there was a great earthquake; and the tenth part of the city fell; and in the earthquake were slain of the names of men seven thousand and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven." (ver. 13.) : In speaking of things that are future, whilst it is peculiarly necessary and proper to use the utmost caution and circumspection, yet, if the subject is sufficiently important to go into at all, it is necessary likewise to speak with plainness and decision; and, as far as we have firm ground to go upon, to give the full sense of every prediction that comes across our path without fear or hesitation. With the encouragement from God, which we have in various passages, to |