circumstances, the two lifts are precisely the fame. For here we have mention of Affyria, ver. 22. the fame with "the utmost corner,” called "the kingdom of the north afar off, "Elam or Perfia," ver. 24. "Mefhech and Tu"bal," ver 26. the inhabitants of the country betwixt the Euxine and Cafpian feas, "Edom," ver. 29. including not only Idumea, but likewife the country of the Moabites and Ammonites, "the princes of the north," ver. 30. of Syria and the neighbourhood, " all the Zidoni"ans," ver 30. the inhabitants of Palestine, together with "the multitude of Egypt," ver. 18. As Antichrift, or the beaft whom they support, was in the former lift termed Sheshach the king of Babylon, fo, in the latter, he is called Pharaoh king of Egypt.

My reasons for supposing that the nations mentioned here are those flaughtered at Armageddon, I fhall lay before the reader, leaving them to his judgment.

The Church of Rome is in the Apocalypfe, called Egypt, xi. 8. as well as Babylon, confequently the head of that

community may be

termed the king of Egypt. As Pharaoh was the firft noted oppreffor of the people of God, fo Antichrift is the laft, immediately before the kingdom of Chrift is established in the world. Now, the nations mentioned here are called

"the

"the multitude of Egypt," Ezek. xxxii. 18. and "the multitude of Pharaoh," ver. 31. to intimate that they are flaughtered as allies of the king of Egypt. The connection with the context muft direct the attentive reader to the battle of Armageddon. The spirit of prophecy has the latter times in view in the thirty-first and thirtysecond chapters throughout. They contain three diftinct sections of prophecy. The first (including the whole of the thirty-first chapter) is a description of Antichrift under the name of Pharaoh, representing the prominent features of his character, his pride and arrogance, illuftrating these by an artful comparison with the king of Affyria, another type of the fame Antichrift. The second section (ch. xxxii. 1.-16.) reprefents the final ruin of Antichrift, under the fame name of Pharaoh. Now his ruin, as we learn from the Apocalypfe, takes place at Armageddon, confequently the flaughter described can be no other than the battle of Armageddon. The third fection, (chap. xxxii. 17.-32.), is a more minute detail of the fame event, mentioning the nations whose ruin shall be involved in his fall; confequently, they are the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to Armageddon to fupport him. The circumftances of the narrative fhew, that the fpirit of prophecy has Armageddon in view, as, "I will alfo "water

X X

"water with thy blood the land wherein thou " swimmeft, even to the mountains," ver. 6. is a metaphor fimilar to that used, Rev. xiv. 20. in defcribing the wine-prefs; "And blood came out of "the wine-prefs even unto the horse bridles."— "And when I fhall put thee out, I will cover "the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; "I will cover the fun with a cloud, and the "moon shall not give her light. All the bright

lights of heaven will I make dark over thee," ver. 7, 8. Darkening or extinguishing the lights of heaven, a metaphor fignifying the downfall of states and kingdoms, is more frequently applied to the overturn of the kingdom of Satan by the battle of Armageddon, than to any other event. It is the fole event in view, Ifa. xiii. 1o. chap. xxxiv. 4. chap. xxiv. 23. Joel iii. 15. "I will alfo vex the hearts of many people, "when I shall bring thy deftruction among the "nations,” Ezek. xxxii. 9. The vexation of his followers in Europe, occafioned by the destruction of Rome, Rev. xviii. 10. 15. fhall be given to his adherents in Afia and Africa, by the battle of Armageddon. "I will make many people a"mazed at thee, and their kings fhall be horribly afraid for thee, when I fhall brandifh my "fword before them; and they fhall tremble at every moment; every man for his own life, in "the day of thy fall," Ezek. xxxii. 10. As the de

ftruction

ftruction of Pharaoh in the Red Sea, ftruck with terror the inhabitants of Canaan; fo the fall of Antichrift at Armageddon, fhall difpirit the fupporters of the kingdom of darkness, throughout the earth." I will deftroy all the beafts thereneither "of, from befides the great waters; "fhall the foot of man trouble them any more, "nor the hoofs of beafts trouble them," ver. 13.

The ordinances of divine appointment, conveying grace like a copious ftream, shall be fet free from the machinations of Antichriftianism, by which they were fouled and troubled. "Then will I make their waters deep, and "caufe their rivers to run like oil, " ver. 14. That fulness of grace, accompanied by outward peace and prosperity, which God will beftow at the Millennium, is fitly compared to a copious stream, gliding smoothly along like oil; fo, Joel iii. 18. Thefe circumftances fix the time of the prophecy to that immediately preceding the Millennium; confequently, the battle of Armageddon is intended. The addrefs to Pharaoh, ver. 21. is the very fame with the addrefs to the king of Babylon, Ifaiah xiv. 9. where the king of myftical Babylon is intended. His allies are all along faid to be uncircumcised, to intimate, that irreligion is the caufe of their deftruction'.

It

(1) Ifa. xiv. 31. Natham pro Nahmam, fhall be inflamed, that is, with the defire to gather them. See Ifa. Ivii. 5.

It is worthy of remark, that the countries from which forces are led to Armageddon, to affift the beast, are those over which he has a fpiritual jurifdiction'; with the addition of Perfia, Affyria, Meshech, and Tubal, or the country betwixt the Euxine and Caspian seas. These laft, are either Mahometan or Pagan, and moft probably will contin ue fo until the battle of Armageddon. By joining their forces to the Popish powers, the dragon appears in his proper colours, giving aid to the beaft in his laft effort.

The parties on the other fide in the battle of Armageddon, are the Jews. "Fear not, thou "worm Jacob, and ye men of Ifrael :-Behold, "I will make thee a new fharp threshing in"ftrument having teeth: Thou shalt thresh "the mountains, and beat them fmall, and "fhall make the hills as chaff. Thou shalt fan "them, and the wind fhall carry them away, "and the whirlwind shall scatter them: "thou fhalt rejoice in the Lord, and fhall "glory in the holy One of Ifrael" Ifa. xli. 14, 15, 16. "Thou art my battle-ax, and

and

weapons of war: for with thee will I break "in pieces the nations, and with thee will I "destroy kingdoms: and with thee will I

break in pieces the horfe and his rider; and "with thee will I break in pieces the chariot " and his rider :-And with thee, will I break

(1) See page 341.