The Signs of the Times

CHAPTER XVII.

FOURTH TRUMPET.-Scene, the third part of the sun,
&c. smitten.

Extinction of the imperial power of Rome.

476 or 479 Extinction of the western empire by Odoacer.

Xeno sole emperor; but imperial power not

discontinued over Rome

493

Theodoric, the Ostrogoth, subdues Italy, takes

Rome, assumes the Purple, and reigns over

Page

541
552

Extinction of the consulship

261

Subsequent restoration of the western empire by
Charlemagne, A.D. 800

264

591-616

622

.627-528

CHAPTER XVIII.

FIFTH TRUMPET, OR FIRST WOE.

Fall of a great star upon the earth. Opening of the
bottomless pit. Darkening smoke out of the pit.
Locusts out of the smoke. Mahometanism. Sar-

acens.

Reign and magnificence of Chosroes, king of

Persia. He invades the Roman empire, and

besieges Constantinople

Rise of Mahomet. Mutual destruction of the

Roman and Persian empires. First expedition

of Heraclius against the Persians, and the

commencement of the Hegira, or Mahometan

era, same year

Flight of Chosroes. He is deposed and mur-

dered

the earth, &c. but to destroy idolators

A.D.

Page

632

Invasion of Syria by the Saracens. Propagation
and rapid progress of Mahometanism
Saracens commanded not to touch the grass of

273

283

287

292

294

936

Prophetic and historical marks and description
of the Saracenic woe

718-767 Empire of the caliphs-prevalence of their con-
quests. Foundation of Bagdad

Fallen state of the caliphs of Bagdad.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE SIXTH TRUMPET, OR SECOND WOE.

The four angels that were bound in the river
Euphrates, loosed-prepared for a day, a week,
a month, and a year, or 396 years, 103 days-in-
termediate history-armies of horsemen siege of
Constantinople, the capital of the eastern Roman
empire-establishment of the authority of the
Turkish paschas-continued impenitence of the
papal kingdom of Europe.

The empire of the Turks identified with the
King of the north, Dan. xi, 44. &c.

930-1038 Emigration of the Turks-they defeat the Gaz-

1057

nevides, and subdue Persia

The sultan invested by the caliph

1065-1071 The conquest of Armenia and Georgia by the
Turks. The Roman emperor defeated and
taken prisoner

298

301

302

304

1076-1096 Division of the Turkish Empire into four sul-
tanies. Conquest of Jerusalem by the Turks 305
1096-1295 The Turks bound in the Euphrates by the

'crusaders

1227-1295 Conquests of the Moguls

1299-1326 Reign of Othman, and loosing of the Turks
Conquests of the Ottomans

318

310

312

314

318

Period of preparation, 396 years, 103 days
Purpose for which the Turks were prepared
Retrospective view of the history of the Turks
from the investment of the sultan by the
Caliph, to the taking of Constantinople, and
final submission of the eastern Roman empire 321
Establishment of the Turks in Europe

322

1396-1402 Bajazet defeated the confederate Christian
armies, and threatened the destruction of Con-
stantinople, but was conquered by Tamerlane 323

A.D.

1421
1451

1453.

1453

Reunion of the Ottoman empire

Mahomet II. on his ascension to the throne
displays hostile intentions against Constan-
tinople
Period of preparation completed. on the fortieth
day of the siege, and the fate of Constanti-
nople could no longer be averted

The siege of Constantinople, and its fall
The eastern Roman empire dvided into Turkish
pachalics

1453-1:00 The papal kingdoms of Europe continue idola-
trous and impenitent. Gross.vices of the
Roman Catholic clergy at the close of the
fifteenth century

CHAPTER XX.

Another mighty angel descends from heaven clothed with a
cloud-a rainbow upon his head-his face as the sun-his
feet as pillars of fire-a little open book in his hand-his
right foot on the sea and his left upon the earth-he
cried with a loud voice-when he had cried seven thunders
uttered their voices-and when the seven thunders had
uttered their voices, the angel sware that there would be
time (delay) no longer. The era and the symbol of the
reformation.

1517

1555

Reformation commenced

363

Significancy of the similitudes. Translation of
the Scriptures-book from heaven opened 366
The maritime countries of Denmark-Sweden-
Britain-Holland-chief seat of the reforma-

368
372

Protestant States of Germany
The angel cried with a loud voice, as when a
lion roareth. The Reformation a most mo-
mentous event, and glorious moral revolution 371
Reformation consolidated by the pacification of
Passau

374

Seven thunders, denoting wars, uttered their
voices, after the Reformation was established 374
1569-1607 I. THUNDER.-Civil and religious wars in Hol-
land and Zealand against Spain. Holland
cast off the Spanish yoke. War against the
Hugenots in France.

War between Britain

and Spain. Destruction of the Spanish Ar-

1

A.D.

Page

mada. The Liberty of the Protestants in
France secured by the edict of Nantz in 1598 377

1618-1648 II. THUNDER.-The thirty years' war. The
Bohemians elected a Protestant king-re-
pressed by Austria and Bavaria. General war
throughout Germany. Protestants headed by
Gustavus Adolphus. War between_Spain
and Holland-Civil war in Great Britain.
General peace by the treaty of Westphalia 379
1685-1697 III. THUNDER.-War of Louis XIV. He re-
voked the edict of Nantz in 1685. League of
Augsburg, 1687. France, Spain, Holland,
Denmark, Sweden, and Savoy, all engaged in
the war.
Terrible desolation by the French
in Bavaria. Terminated in the treaty of
Ryswick in 1697

1702-1711 IV. THUNDER.-Grand alliance against France.

383

Wars of Marlborough.

Louis utterly dis-

comfited, and humbled

3S3

1739-1748 V. THUNDER.-The wars of Louis XIV. were
succeeded by a period of comparative repose,
which was followed by a general war. First
wars of Frederick the Great

1755-1763 VI. THUNDER. The seven years' war. Britain
and Prussia against the other kingdoms of Eu-
rope. The war extended to America, where
Protestants contended with Catholics, or the
British with the French, and Canada was added
to the colonies of Britain

1773-1782 VII. THUNDER.-The American War. Britain
also at war with France, Spain, and Holland.
The angel proclaimed with an oath, that after
the seven thunders should be finished, there
should be time no longer, and that when the
seventh angel should begin to sound, the mys-
tery of God should be finished

384

385

386

CHAPTER XXI.

The Two Witnesses, 398-410.

In prophesying again, the tempel, the altar, and
the worshippers first measured