Eight prominent Lines of Prophecy.

THE accompanying diagram embraces, in condensed form, all the preceding diagrams shown in this book, which illustrate lines of prophecy.

1. Beginning at the left of the top line, we have B.C. 606, the time when the Babylonian empire first appears in the field of prophecy, as brought to view in Daniel, chapters two and seven. This empire was succeeded in 538 by the empire of the Medes and Persians, and this by the Grecian in 331. Rome followed, being recognized by the Bible as a universal power in B.C. 161, when the Jewish people came under its dominion. Passing by the cross, the division of Rome into ten kingdoms is reached between the years 351 and 483, from which point the prophecy of Daniel 2, with a sudden bound, carries the mind to the consummation. See reading on page 17. 2. But the prophecy of the 7th chapter supplements that of the second, and shows what is to take place between 483 and the time of the end. Beginning at 538, as shown by the short line under the first one, the papal supremacy of 1260 years extended to 1798, and was there cut short by the capture of Pope Pius VI. At that point the 7th chapter suddenly calls attention to the end. See reading on page 29.

3. In a line of prophecy beginning with the 12th of Revelation, in which the same ground is covered, the United States is brought to view as "coming up" in 1798, the time when the other beast, the papacy, was going into captivity. Revelation 13:10-17. Commencing its career in 1776, the two-horned beast, representing the United States, exists to the end, when both it and the papal beast are cast into destroying fire. Revelation 19:20. See reading on page 226.

4. Passing back to a point between 351 and 483 A.D. on the top line, a perpendicular line is seen extending downward to a right angle, which marks the beginning of the seven trumpets in 395. The first four of these ended in 620, the fifth, in 1449, and the sixth, Aug. 11, 1840. In 1844, the seventh trumpet began to sound, which does not stop at the end, but covers the 1,000 years while the wicked are being judged, and ceases only when, at the end of that time, the wicked have been destroyed, and the earth is made new and becomes the abode of the saints. Further explanation of this prophetic line will be found on page 419.

5. From the point where the sixth trumpet ended, Aug. 11, 1840, four years forward, was proclaimed the first angel's message. Connected with the loud cry of that message was given the second angel's message — "Babylon is fallen." In 1844, the third message of the series began to sound, from which point the three messages continue as one great connected work to the end. They are represented by the three short lines in the square marked "Three Messages." See readings on these messages, pages 98-109.

6 and 7. Going back once more on the upper line of the diagram, to the cross, and tracing the perpendicular line from that point downward, there are seen two horizontal lines. The first of these shows the chronology of the seven seals, and the second, that of the seven churches. An explanation of the first is found on page 407, and of the second on page 413.

8. Returning for the last time to the top line of the diagram, and tracing downward the longest perpendicular line, there is seen the beginning of the 2300 years of Daniel 8:14, which reach from B.C. 457 to A.D. 1844, bringing us to the cleansing of the sanctuary, or the investigative judgment. See reading on page 75. When this judgment closes, the end comes, and with it the resurrection of the righteous dead, the translation of the righteous living (see reading on page 147), and the binding of Satan during the thousand years. Then comes the resurrection of the wicked, and their destruction, when the earth will be cleansed by the fire which destroys the wicked, and so become the fit abode of the saints through eternity. See diagram on page 218