1841 William Miller Evidence from Scripture & History - A2Z.org

4 INTSODUCTIOII.
ursd in prophecy have their literal and metaphorical meaning ; aa
bend denote, literally, a kingdom, so metaphorically good or bad,
as the case may be, to be understood by the subject in connection.
To understand the literal meaning of figures used in prophecy, I
have pursued the following method :- I find the word "beast"
used in a figwatim rase j I take my concordance, trace the word,
and in Daniel vii. 17, it is explained to mean kings or kingdoms."
Again, I come across the words "bird m fml," and in Isa. dvi
11, it is used, meaning a conqueror or yamor,- Cyms. Also, in
Ezekiel uxix. 4-9, denotes armies or conquerors. Again, the
words " a+ a wind," as used in Rev. ix. 2, and 16, 17, to understand
which I turn to Eph. ii. 2, and 4-14, and there learn that it
' is used as a figure to denote the theories of worldly men or vain
philosophy. A e y "to& or riwrs" are used as figures in
Rev. xvii. 15, 11 1s explained to mean "people or nations."
" Riders" of course mean the nation or people living on the river
meationed, as in Rev. xvi. 12. Fire " is often used in a figurative
sense ; explained in Num. xxi. 27-28, hut. h i . B, Psal. luviii
21, Heb. xii. 29, to mean justice and judgment.
As prophecy is a language somewhat direrent &om other parts
of Scripture, owing to its having been revealed in vision, and that
higbly figurative, yet God in his wisdom has a, interwoven the
several prophecies, that the events foretdld are not dl told by cne
prophet, and although they lived and pmphesied in direrent ages of
the world. yet they tell us the same rbign ; so you take away one,
and a link will be wanting. There is a general connection through
the whole ; like a well-regulated communify they all move in unison,
speaking tho same things, observing the same rules, so that a
'Bible reader may almost with propriety mppoae, let him read in
what prophecy he may, that ho is reading the same prophet, the
same author. This will appear evident to any one who will compare
scripture with eeriptum. For example, see Dan. xii. 1, Matt.
xxiv. 21, Isa. dvii. 8, Zeph. ii. 15, Rev. xviii. 7. There never was
a book written that has a better connection and harmony than the
Bible, and yet it haa he appearance of a great store-house full of
all the precious commodities heart could desire, thrown in promiscuously;
therefore, the biblical student mnst select and bring together
every part ofthe subject he wish to investigate, from every
part of tbe Bible j then let every word have ita own Scripture meaning,
every sentence its proper bearing-, and have no oontradiction,
&d yw theory will and must of necessity be comb Trath ~LI