THE PROGRESSION OF THE CHURCH TO ITS END, AND THE END ITSELF, ARE DESCRIBED IN VERY MANY PLACES IN THE WORD.

1. The successive decrease of good and truth, and increase of evil and falsity in the church, are called in the Word "vastation" and "desolation." 2. The last state, when nothing of good and truth remains, is there called "consummation" and "cutting off." 3. The end itself of the church is the fulness (of time). 4. Similar things are likewise meant in the Word by "evening" and "night;" 5. And also by these words in the Prophets and Evangelists:-

Then shall the sun be darkened, the moon shall not give her light, the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken [Matt. xxiv. 29; Isa. xlii. 10; Ezek. xxxii. 7; Joel ii. 10; ii. 31; iii. 15; Amos v. 20; viii. 9; Mark xiii. 24; Luke xxi. 25)].

6. Then there is no longer a church, except as to name; but still this residue is there, namely, that man may know and understand truths, and do goods, if he will.