Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-01-07

the successive empires OF Observation-Disclosures
Rome and Russia, until the latter power shall
be bound for thousand gears, and he finally
destroyed at the termination of the millcniai
reign of Christ. That the Dragon power as
revealed by the unfailng word of The prophe-
cy, now exists. will not be denied. Expound-
ers of prophecy are very generally agreed in
tracing that power in the history of Rome, as
far as the Eastern Empire under Constantine.
There they lose sight of the Dragon, or endcay-
or to identify him in the Mahometan powers
But neither prophecy nor the facts in the case
Justify this conclusions. 1t is absurd to sup
pose that the Imperial Head lives in the power
which siew it,--whieh theory must be so, if the
Dragon exists in the Turkish power.
Again, If the Dragon power was transmitted
to the Grand Sultan at the fall of Constanti-
nopIc in l453, it exists there no,e, and must
there be fonnd in its full developement, to be
bound at the coming of the Lord, or it must
be transmitted and become tranSccndentally
great in some other dynasty before the Lord
comes,-all of which is improbable and absurd.
Admitting that the Dragon power exists in
the Russian dynasty, all appears plain concer
ming the head Of ihe beast (Rey. Xiii.) which
was slain by the srord, and hired again. ltwas
the Imperiel head which was slain when Con-
stantine Pacologus, the last Roman Emperor
fell BY the sword and it is the Imperial head
that will live again in ali its majesty, in the
Gar of Russia. The beast has been sscoDiing
up out of the earth OF Russia ever since the
10Th century, in which Sophia, the last heir Of
Constantine Palcologus. was given in marriage
to Ivan III. of Russia. When it shall attain
TO maturity fully developed 1T win have 'stiro
horns like lsalb,'' the Greek aud Latin chur-
ches--but will sspeak dragon
1t will be the real Dragon embodiment ex-
ercising sail The po.rer OF te first tsasl.'' that
is, he will have under his imperial sway the
military strength Of the whole Roman earth.
Then 'sthe ,rto'e ,rorld will ,roader ct1tr the
bsast,'' or grandeur of the Dragon power, cx-
ercised by the Gar Of Russia, over the ma
tions of continental Europe.
Taking this view of the subject the hither-
to inexplicable mystery Of the Beast, ssfhct
,ras, end is not, yef is,' of Rev. xvii is rcmov-
ed. 1t is also plain how he could be the eighth
head, and yet s'of the scccn.'' .sHe lccs" in
actual existence from the commencement Of
the first despotic monarchy OF Nimrod, B. c.
2233. to the death of Constantine, A. ID. 1853.
He e'ts metz now the supreme ruler in the Ro-
man earth, and has not been since the death
of Constantine, A. D. li53. He 'syet is in
his partially developed eighth and healed impc-
rial heai state, in the dynasty of Russia. In
tins state he has existed since the marriage OF
Sophia, tue neice of ConstlntineP Z aleologus to
Ivan, Emperor of Russia, in the 18th century.
And when he shall possess himself Of the an
cient throne Of the C,pslrs. stretch his scepter
''over many countrics,'' of the Roman earth.
push his triumphant victories to Palestine and
impiously '.plant the tabernacle OF his palace
on 'sthe glorious holy mountain" viz. Mount
Zion, 'sthe place of the throne of the King of
glory Dan. xi. 4j. Then the world may well
'.wonder aftcr'' this Dragon Beast, and though
to their dismay and deep sorrow, be constrain-
cd to acknowledge that he .syefis.'' But thanks
be unto our Father, when this mighty ''Assy-
rian''-this "Gog''--this ''king OF fierce coun-
teuance''-''king of the north, this terrible
Dragon power shall be oncamped on Mount
Zion, tho time will have come for him to ago
into perdition" by the Omnipotent arm Of the
Lord Jesus at his coming.
The marriage of Ivan of Russia and Sophia
of Rome, shows clearly how the Russian Dy-
nasty could be the eighth head, Cby the law of
the hereditary dcscent,) and ''of the seven''
IL also makes it plain how the Little Horn
power of Dan. viii. rose out of one OF the four
divisions of the Grecian Empire for the ORR
gin OF the Russo-Dragon power is clearly trac-
ed to Constantinoplc, which is situated within
the division Of the Grecian Empire which fell
to Lysimachus. one of Alcxander's four gem
erals, among whom the empire was divided at
his death.
Again, with these facts before us certain diff
ficulties which arise in some minds concerning
the fourth kingdom, removed. They read
of the existence of but four uHirersGl empires
or Kingdoms before the kingdom of Messiah !;
hence they cannot admit that ffIh kingdom
is to be constituted under a Gar, Napo-
leon, or any other earthly ruler. Very good !;
we admit the principle to be correct-but con-
tend that the fourth and last empire must attain
its perfection in power, corruption, &c, before
its destruction. This will not be questioned.
We ask then, has the fourth kingdom attained
to this state OF perfection 1t has not. True
it has passed through many changes, and has
been governed by many different dynasties, but
at no time has il ceased TO be the fourth king
dom. 1t sustains that character now, notwitG-
standing the fact that it is divided into many
lesser Kingdoms, and scourged with its differ
ent kinds of religion.
Other and still greater changes than hitherto
have been witnessed await this fourth king