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

ing parties, from the fact that the angel is talkin about
that government befvre and afterwards, and &t the
fourth or Roman kingdom was to workdeceitfully, "and
through his policy also he shall cause crirR to prmper in
his hand." See Daniel viii 25. And also from the circumstance
of their being a small orrepublican people at
first, Rome, too, was small in temtory at this time, althougli
many nations and kingdom were tributary unto
them ; but who was the other contracting pan in this
league I answer, It must have been some whom
the angel had in view; and he, Daniel, had the m e in
view, or he ~voold have given some mark by which Daniel
or the reader could have come to a 'ust conclusion.
Yes, this was the case; for he had told Daniel in the
very outset, L' Now I am come to make thee understand
what shall befall Ucy wple in the latter days." See our
pxt. This, then, is i e key that unlock9 the whole subect,
and explains two important points in the vision
$kt, it teaches who are the subjects of thb &ion; and,
secondly, when and how the Roman kingdom became
connected with he vision. If I am thus far correct, then
the angel has reference to the league mnde with the Roman3
158 years B. c., when the Grecian eneral Bachides
withdrew his army from before Jew f em, and never
returned to vex the Jews any more, ae says 1 Bfaccabecs
ix. 72. For the Itistory of thi len e, you can mad I
Maccabees viii. and Josepht~s B. %I. chap. x. see. ti.
This league \vos tlle first ever made between the Romans
and the Jews, according to Josephus. It took effoct
158 yearn B. C., when the Grecian kingdom, at tllo
comnland of the Romans, ceased to trouble the Jewa, and
the Romans begun.to work deceitfully. Then began tlm
Pagon beast to exercise his influence over the people
of God. And now let us pursue his history a8 given by
tl~e angel Gabriel, 21th verse, UHe rhall cnter peaceably,
even upon the fattest placm of the province ; and
he shull do that which his fothem have not done, nor IIW
&them' fathers; hc shall scatter among the111 the prey,
and spoil, and riches ; yea, hc rl~all forecast his devices
again~the strong holds even for a time." Thin rem
'