the destruction of the anti-Christian powers were not to be
expected until twelve hundred and sixty years had passed from the rise of
the ten kingdoms, and that near one hundred of them, therefore, were still
to revolve. As that period expired and the knowledge of the prophecy
advanced, the catastrophe of the wild beast was referred to a later time.
Many recent expositors regard the twelve hundred and sixty years as having
reached their end in 1792; and most refer the fall of the anti-Christian
powers to the last half of the present, or the beginning of the next
century."--_Ex. of Apoc._, pp. 238-240.

All the vagaries of the various sects of heretics were connected with an
expectation of the immediate establishment of CHRIST'S kingdom. That the
seven thunders gave utterance to such an expectation, is evident from the
response of the angel, when he lifted up his hand to heaven and with the
solemnity of an oath, by Him who liveth forever, affirmed that "_the time
should not yet be_;" but that "in the days of the voice of the seventh
angel, when he delays to sound,(2) the secret of GOD will be finished, as
he hath announced to his servants the prophets." Why such an annunciation
at this stage of the vision? It must be to correct a misapprehension which
would exist at a corresponding time in its fulfilment, respecting the
immediate appearance of the kingdom. Thus did PAUL correct the
Thessalonian brethren, when he wrote to them in his second epistle not to
be shaken in mind, as that the day of the LORD was then impending, 2 Th.
2:2.

The Bible, was, at this epoch, first opened to the common people. Before,
it was only found in languages which they were entirely ignorant of. It
was translated by LUTHER into their own language, and thus made
accessible. The art of printing, discovered at about that time, enabled
all who wished, to avail themselves of its unsealed contents. They feasted
on the words of inspiration, which were sweeter to them than honey, or the
honey-comb. But afterwards, they had to endure bitterness for the sake of
the Gospel. Divisions and subdivisions followed, parties multiplied, and
heresies abounded, accompanied with bitter and mischievous discussions,
and fierce and rancorous contentions. These being based on the
understanding which the several parties attached to portions of scripture,
were fitly symbolized by the bitterness that followed the eating of the
book. At this time, also, was revived a syst