The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-09-27
VOL. XIV---NO. 679.
The Prophecies Of the Bible.

| lfrom the Montgomery Postl
Pleasing speculations are sometimes in.
dulged in by professed preachers of the
Gospel, and others, in regard to the proph-
ecies of the Old and New Testament, by
applying them 10 the present state of
affairs and the triumph Of our cause in
the noble struggle in which we are en-
gagged for liberty and independence, but
careful investigation of the subject will
convince the most credulous persons that
all such interpretations are farfetched and
fanciful. 1t would be encouraging no
doubt to our people could they rely upon
such f'utteflDg interpretations of the holy
sckinirn4ael I.,i s.--.-i---r-!- rnc crru II would
be better that the truth should be known,
in order that they should not build their
hopes upon n foundation SO false and
flimsy. The fact is, that under the Old
Testament dispensation the Jews conceiv-
ed themselves to be the peculiar and
chosen people of God and to q certain
extent they were so. Hence the prophe-
cies of the Old Testament mainly relate to
their fortellihg their future condition in
this world, depicting their strength, pros
perity and happiness on the one hand,
and their weakness and wretchedness on
the other, according as they acted, well
or ill-according as they lived up to the
requirements of the law given them of
God, or deviated therefrom. These proph-
ecies 60 on to speak of the final overthrow
and dispersion of the Jews In consequence
of their foreseen rejection of the long
promised Messiah, and of the calling in of
the Gentiles. And here they stop, with
the exception of the promise that these
unfortunate and much despised people
will yet return unto Zion with songs in
their mouths, and everlasting joy upon
their heads.
THE end" spoken of by Daniel, in tho
18th and last chapter of that Book, and
by Christ in the 9th chapter of Matthew,
is not the end or destruction of the ma
teral world, as many superficial readers
of the Bible imagine, but the end of the
Jewish age or dispensation. This is ad-
mitted by many Orthodox commentators.
DIR. Clarke. the great Methodist commen-
tator, for instance, says he is satisfied that
the true meaning of the phrase "end of
the world" is end of the age-that it
should hare been so translated. Christ,
who must be the best interpreter of tho
prophecies of Daniel, applies them prin-
cipally to the age in which he lived
Speaking of the great calamitics about
then to beiall the Jewish nation, the dc
struction Of their dolized city, Jerusalem,
and their unparalleled suffcrngs at that
time, he declares most positively that "all
these things shall come upon this genera
tion," viz; upon the people then living
upon the earth. And he forewarns his
disciples how they might escape, viz: when
they saw "the abomination of desolation
spoken of by Daniel the prophet" then
let them flee to the mountains, instead of
remaining in the city devoted to destruc-
ton, or ON the plains of Judea, where the
Roman armies were to pass.
As to the last Book in the New Testa-
ment, called Revelation, it is very strange
that men should SO interpret its prophe-
cies as to apply them to the present time,
or a time yet future, when ii is repeatedly
affirmed that the things therein revealed
were shortly to come to pass" and the
writer was commanded not to seal the
sayings of that book, for the reason that
the time of their fulfillment was at hand.
Still, there is this much of the prophe.
cies of the scriptures applicable to tho
present time, and to all times, that ma
tons which are degenerated and corrupt
cannot stand, while a righteous nation of
people must flourish and be invincible.
WETUMPKA.