Second advent library

And92 Lacruu vi.:ing parties, from the fact that the angel isthat govemment before and atterwards, andaboutat thefourth or Roman kingdom was to work deceitfully, " andthrough his policgslso he shall cause craft to prosper inhis hand." See aniel viii. 25. And also from the circumstanceof their being a small or republican people atfirst, Rome, too, was small in territory at this time, althoughmany nations and kingdoms were tributary untothem; but who was the other contracting party in thisleague? I answer, It must have been somepeople whomthe angel had in view; and he, Daniel, had the same inview, or he would have given some mark by which Danielor the reader could have come to a `ust conclusion.Yes, this was the case; for he had told Daniel in thevery outset, " Now I am come to make thee understandwhat shall befall thy gopk in the latter days." See ourtext. This, then, is ekey that unlocks the whole subiect,and explains two important points in the vision.irst, it teaches who are the subjects of this vision ; and,secondly, when and how the Roman kingdom becameconnected with the minion. If I am thus far correct, thenthe angel has reference to the league made with the Romans158 years B. C., when the Grecian Bachideswithdrew his army from before Jerus"generalem, and neverreturned to vex the Jews any more, as says 1 Maccabeesix. 72. For the histo of this youcan read 1Maccabees viii. and rgosephus leagge, B. II. chap.x. sec. 6.This leaguewas the first ever made between the Romansand the Jews, according to Josephus. It took effect158 years B. C., when the Grecian at thekingdom,command of the Romans, ceased to trouble e Jews, andthe Romans began to work deceitfully. Then began thePaar; beast to exercise his influence over the peopleof . now let us pursue his history as given bythe angel Gabriel, 24th verse, "He shall enter peaceably,even utgin the fattest places of the province '; 'andhe shall do t which his fathers have not done, nor hisfathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey,and spoil, and riches; yea, he shall forecast his devicesagainst the strong holds even for a time." This verse