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A25762 The personall reigne of Christ upon earth in a treatise wherein is fully and largely laid open and proved that Jesus Christ, together with the saints, shall visibly possesse a monarchicall state and kingdome in this world ... / by John Archer. Archer, John, 17th cent. 1642 (1642) Wing A3616; ESTC R24713 56,982 57

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horns I thinke in Daniel is meant the whole Kingdome or the Papacy but he instanceth in the last edition of it in which somewhat of the Popedome shall be ruined but yet shall be Papall Antichristian as perhaps the faction of Jesuits but this going immediately before Christs Kingdome and lasting to it as Dan. 7. declares it must be meant of the ten Kingdomes with the Papacy because the Revelation shewe that these immediately go before Christs Kingdome are swallowed up by it Rev. 12. 23. to 16. 2. Thes. 2. 8. Rev. 17. 12 13 14. Wherefore to find out the begining of Christs Kingdome we must search out how long this part of the Roman Empire which fell into ten Kingdomes the Papacy shall endure for their end is the beginning of Christs Kingdome Now how long this Papacy shall last is told Daniel but hiddenly sealed up so that he could not understand it because it was about the Gentiles converted which was a mystery not known till Christ came Dan. 12. 6 7 8 9. But in the Rev. Christ by his death purchased the priviledge to open this secret Rev. 5. 4. to 11. therefore Rev. 10. 25. 6. Christ comes with the booke open whereas to Daniel it was shut and takes the same Oath that he did in Dan. Chap. 12. 7 8. because it is about the same thing and shewes what is meant by time times and halfe a time which in Dan. were set down in these dark words which none could interpret he saith that it is meant of the seventh trumpet Rev. 10. 6 4. more plainly Rev. 11. 2 13. that it is meant of 42. months containing months by the ●oon or 1260. which is all one thus also Rev. 12. speaking of the same thing vers. 6. he saith it was 1260. dayes and vers. 14. it was time times and halfe a time which is Daniels phrase so that they shewed Daniel so darkly that none could interpret it but Christ expounded it to be 42. moneths or 1260. dayes a day signifying a yeare thus long from the beginning of the 10. Kingdomes in Europe and the Papacie shall prevaile over the holy people and Saints of God and then shall it be no more but Christ will come and set up his Kingdome But then the great question is when the ten Kingdomes and Papacie began in Europe I answer Historians are diverse in account some 4. or 6. yeares but about the yeare of our Lord and Christ 400. or 406. the Bishop of Rome began to usurpe Papall power and about that time some of the ten Kingdomes in Europe began to arise now let ut reckon it 406. when it begun and this is the last account then adde to 406. the 1260. and it maketh 1666. which is the time made the member of the Beast Revel. 13. 18. that is the Papacies duration Dan. 5. 26. thy Kingdome is numbred and finished in which number the millenary or thousand is left out because it comes seldome as we use to say the Spanish Armado comming against us was overthrowne in 588. and the Papists Powder-treason in 605. so then the end of the Papacie is to be Anno. 1666. For the conceiving of which wee must interpret that Revel. 11. 1. to 15. where by the Temple and them that worship in it it meant true worshipping and truths about worship which God would preserve from the prevailing of Popery where by the Court and holy City is meant the generall and common sort of Protestants over whom there should be a prevailing and that by Popery which is meant by the Gentiles as Rome Christendome or rather now Antichristendome is expressed by Rome Heathenish vers. 8. the City where that is by whose power our Lord that is Christ was crucified for by the power of Rome when it was Heathenish did they crucifie Christ now this place meaneth not Rome as it was Heathenish as we shall shew anon but describing it by what it once was it also calls the subjects that is the Popish Gentiles so that the summe of the second verse is that Popery should prevaile over true Christians 42. moneths during all which time there should be witnesses of God against Popery vers. 3. who in a sad and low estate in sackcloth should oppose Popery and that as long as Popery prevailed for 1260. dayes are the same with 42. moneths that is also expressed Rev. 12. 6. 14. And when the time grew up these witnesses who were but single persons shall grow to be both in Magistracie and Ministerie and therefore are called two that is of two rankes to be Christians and therefore are called two Candlestickes Rev. 11. 4. that is Churches and these witnesses shall vex and plague the Papacie Rev. 5. 6. but when their time and also the Papacies draw towards an end vers. 7. Indeed our Translation reads it when they have finished their testimony but it is better read according to the Greeke and this scope of the place when they are finishing that is when their time of conflict with the Papists drawes towards an end then the Beast that is the Papacie for so it is called shall warre and kill them and they lie dead in the streets vers. 8. that is in the streetes of Rome for it was Romes Authority by whom Christ was Crucified as I said before and yet here is not meant the same state of Rome in which it was when it crucified Christ namely Heathenish as some expound it for it was called Egypt and spiritually Sodome which Heathenish Rome is not for a speciall appellation of wickednesse is onely proper to Rome Antichristian but the Act of Heathenish Rome in crucifying Christ by her Deputy Pilate is here mentioned to cast a hatred upon the Antichristian state which is in the same place when being Heathenish Christ was crucified as because this state Antichristian was now crucifying of Christs servants and Christians as the Heathenish state did Christ Now by the Streets in which they shall lie dead is not meant strictly the street of the place Rome but the places under the power and Jurisdiction whatsoever Kingdomes they be as Christ was not crucified in Rome but in Ierusalem by the Authority of Rome for the City Rome called The great City and Babylon is taken two wayes in the Revelation sometimes more largely for all the places and Kingdomes which are under his Papall power and so it is a City of no strength that is Ten Kingdomes in Europe was under her Papall power Revel. 17. 13. and so it is here taken and by the streetes are meant any Kingdome under Papall power thus it is also taken Revel. 16. 1. but sometimes it is taken strictly for the place and City of Rome so it is called the Beasts seat Revel. 16. 10. and is meant Revel. 18. 2. by that Babylon is to be so destroyed so that the meaning of this killing of Witnesses is that Papall power from Rome shall kill and lay
to his people and then comes the last judgement and the ●nd of the world Rev. 20. 3 7. to the Chapters end Thus we have some comfort in that there is hope the troubles on us Gentile Christians shall cease about 666. But untill those dayes 〈◊〉 are like to see sad times even till Anno Dom. 1666. For it 〈◊〉 to be ●●red that Popery shall againe over-run Europe and bring backe under Papall power every King in Europe and so suppresse all oppos●●s in every Kingdome by Papall power as appeareth by these Arguments Argument 1. First in Revel. 17. 12 13. it is spoken of a double giving up of the Ten Kingdomes in Europe to the Papacie and againe vers 7. which may seeme both one yet it will be found of him who ponders them that two diverse and severall times For in the former it is onely said They had one mind to give their power to the beast that is to the Papacie at that time they were all alike ignorant and superstitious and so the Papacie easily devoured them but in the latter place it is said God put it into their minds to agree and doe it that is at this time they were not all alike some of the Kingdomes had Light and Reformation and had with-drawne from Rome yet by some speciall over-ruling Providence in respect of which it is said God put it into their hearts they who had departed from Popery shall revolt and by some Agreement or Covenant with the rest all joyntly shall againe give up themselves to Papall power so that it differs much from the former Act and seemes to be a second Act of the Ten Kings that is of so many as were revolted from the Papacie and it also appeares to be so because it is made the fore-runner and immediate fore-goer of the ruine of Rome which is here meant by the Whore vers. 16. as is explained vers 18. This Act of the Kings is the meanes by the which God will fulfill his Word of Romes ruine by fire therefore it is said They shall burne her with fire for they shall agree to give up their power to her till the words be fulfilled But the former giving up their power to the Beast was at the beginning of the Papacie vers. 12 13. So that it seemes by the generall Vassallage of all Kingdomes in Europe to Popery againe God will bring about the ruine of Rome for the revolted Kingdomes eyes shall be opened to see how Rome hath abused them to bring them backe againe to her slavery and to slay all their Prophets and Witnesses● and then they shall hate her and ruine her and this may be by some one of the Ten Kingdomes in Europe reformed and yet revolted and at last fell off from Rome againe For though it is said The Ten should ruine the Whore it cannot be meant of them all for some of them lamented her ruine Revel. 18. 19. But if any of them do it it is truly said the Ten did it as it is said the Theeves reviled Christ Mark 15. 32. when as it was but one of them Luk. 23. 39. and by this revolting of Reformed Kingdomes to Popery againe in Europe comes it that the Witnesses that is the Orthodox Christians and Professors are slaine by the Papacie which also is a second Argument for that is meant by the Beast Revel. 11. 7. and that their Bodies lie dead in the streets of Rome for that is meant by the great City for it was Romes power which crucified Christ therefore he is said to be there crucified Pilate by Roman Authority did it Now it cannot be the City of Rome in which all witnesses lie dead for there be none or few Witnesses in Rome but most Witnesses are in Reformed Kingdomes and must there be slaine and lie dead therefore by the streetes must be meant the Ten Kingdomes in Europe come under Romes Jurisdiction every Kingdome being under Romes power in Europe is at a street to the City and by Romes power and in her name slayes the Witnesses therefore Papall power must be over Europe before the Witnesses be slaine Argument 2. A second Argument is because when Rome is ruinated she is most secure no Widow no Sorrow Revel. 18. 7. that is none of her Kingdomes shall be rent from her which she had at any time under her Jurisdiction but is in her full strength therefore it is said Strong is the Lord vers. 8. that is she being in perfect strength God shewes his strength in her ruine Thus betweene this and 1666. is like to be a revolt of the Reformed Kingdomes to Popery and by Papall power a suppressing of Orthodoxe Christians and publike persons in Europe whose full suppressing will be compleat within a few yeares of 1666. And this is the sad time of the Gentile Beleevers which will be sweetned with the glorious worke of the Conversion of the Israelites in the middest of it about 1656. but that will yeeld no present reliefe to us Gentiles against Antichrist but he shall goe on to slay the Witnesses and finish it Which having done before he can triumph foure yeares the Witnesses shall be raised up and one of the Ten Kingdomes fall off from him and ruine the City of Rome and this will be a generall good to Europe But yet the Papacie shall breath and by degrees get head and joyne with Turke Tartar and the Christians in Europe But from this danger will Christ save all Christians by his comming and setting up his Kingdome And as there shall be trouble in regard of Religion before this comming of Christ so there shall be it is to be feared in regard of Justice and that all Princes shall fall by degrees to tyranny and oppression and enslaving their Subjects that so Christs comming and Kingdome may be more welcome to the world Which is therefore celebrated chiefly by the joy it brings through doing of Justice Psal. 72. 1. to 5. Psal. 96. 10. to the end and relieving the oppressed For Christ having a purpose to swallow up all Kingly power he will weary the world of it by letting it vexe and spoyle the earth and when all the World groanes under tyranny and oppression of Kings then will he come and throw downe all their Thrones and erect his owne only who alone is fit to rule the World Monarchically being infinitely full of Wisedome Justice and Meeknesse Amen But what Use should we make of all this Doctrine about Christs Kingdome Even this also the Scripture teacheth us namely First to looke for it therefore wee should know it for there can be no expectation of things unknowne and to long for it and so to hasten to it in our desires and fervent affections 2 Pet. 3. 10. For though we cannot hasten its time to come to us yet wee may hasten to it by our longing for its comming And there is no losse by such love of Christs appearing For to