Page:Mahometanism in its relation to prophecy - or, an inquiry into the prophecies concerning antichrist, with some reference to their bearing on the events of the present day (IA mahometanisminit00philrich).pdf/227

 there will be a period so dreadful, that "unless it were shortened, no flesh should be saved," but He presently adds, that "For the sake of the elect, those days shall be shortened."—(Matt. xxiv. 22.) Now it will be well to examine a little, what Scripture tells us about this terrible conflict. It seems to hold a conspicuous place in all the predictions of the prophets. We read of it in Daniel, in the Psalms of David, in Isaiah, in Ezekiel, in Michieas, in Osee, in Joel, in Amos and Zacharias, in Sophonias and Malachias, in the Epistles of St. Paul, and the Apocalypse of St. John. We will not dwell at length upon these terrible predictions, but we will briefly state our opinion concerning the principal ones that refer to this mighty conflict that is to precede the conversion and restoration of Israel.

It seems to me, that the destruction of the metallic statue seen in the vision: of Nabuchodonozor (Dan. ii.), which takes place, when struck on its feet by the little stone cut out of the mountain without hands, exactly corresponds with the destruction of the great Babylon of the Apocalypse—(Apoc. xviii. 21.) We there read these remarkable words: "And a mighty angel took up a stone, as it were a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, With such violence as this shall Babylon, that great