Woman alone without man the Mighty One to save which God hath laid help on for that purpose Psal 89.19 Thirdly for the Place not in the highest Heavens for that time during the Judgment of the Great Day but in the world until Christs Kingly Office and Business fore-prophesied of in the Word be there sulfilled in destroying or removing the causes of evil in the world viz. wicked men and Devils out of it with their evil effects by sin namely the curse bodage corruption emnity brought upon the Creatures therein under which both men and other Creatures have long 〈…〉 do groan and accomplished all that promised good appoâ—ved for that time and state in the parts of that great restauration and renovation respecting both the raised Saints and those in the â—â—â—ural life according to Predictions and promised Mercies belonging to both sorts then c. which are all most surely confirmed Doctrines to be true and faithful by him that is said to sit upon the Throne in this Text and all as belonging to the Davidical Kingdom of Christ into the possession whereof the raised Saints are brought by the first blessed bodily Resurrection as their Inlet thereinto Secondly This may inform Christians first of the Divine excellencie of this Book 2. Of the incomparable usefulness thereof in those many great respects of the Saints great concernments in that time and state leading them into and securing also unto them their eternal happiness in the highest Heavens upon the compleating thereof and thirdly thereupon of the great Reasons they have to stir them up to the frequent reading diligent study and profitable improvement of the matters set before them by God and Christ therein First the excellencie thereof appears from the Author of it and the manner of delivering it for the benefit and information of the Christian Church God the Father gives it to the Son and he to the beloved Apostle John when he was in the Spirit on the Lords Day in time of his banishment for the word of God and the Testimony of Jesus to be sent unto the Churches being also for that end sent and signified by his Angel Chap. 1.1 Secondly It was given with wonderful great solemnity in respect of things then to come to the end of the world Chap. 4. and 5. God the Father as sitting upon his Throne the Church represented by the 24 Elders and four living Wights about him representing all faithful Christians and Church-guides with whom is the Lamb and the seven Spirits ever present and when none could be found in Heaven or earth worthy to look into that Book or open the Seals thereof it was given to the Lamb to open and fulfil who by his infinite wisdom and perfect power hath and doth and in due time will both perfectly open and fulfil the same in the set order for the accomplishment thereof which will bring unexpressible rejoycing and praise by Angels Saints and all Creatures in their capacities thereupon c. Chap. 5.10 to the end Thirdly The matter is profound and contains highly profitable Mysteries the form is very excellent in a wonderful Divine contrivance as in some small measure we have pointed out as we have in Mercy received c. Secondly for the usefulness it gives encouragement in the worst times of sufferings from many memorandums of Christs Kingdom for the suffering Saints and of the New Jerusalem-state observable in all these times as in our 7th Argum. of the Word written is shewed Secondly Useful in opening the hidden Mystical part of the Gospel and the great Subjects of the last things respecting the first and second said Resurrection of the bodies of just and unjust in their orders and of the first and second Acts of the Judgment of the great Day contained in general in Enochs Vision or Prophesie and in many things explained by Christ and his Apostles but in many other could not be understood without this Book therefore called the Book of Revelation with an Emphasis as the whole holy Scriptures called the Bible and the name of Christ is added to it being the Revelation that only could be made by Jesus Christ the Son of God the eternal word but as manifest in the flesh therefore much is to be looked for from it not to be attained by any other Writings nor many things in the Holy Bible understood aright without the explications of this most Divine Book c. And therefore in the third place hence may all serious and found Christians see what great Reasons there are for them to use all careful endeavours to understand the weighty matters held out and revealed therein they are not secret things forbidden as some in the Old times when men might not look into the Ark of Gods Testament nor things shut up and sealed as many of Daniels Mysteries that were reserved for Christ thus to open in the times of the end or Gospel-times but they are of things whereunto a blessing is annexed to the due reading and search into them and therefore the beloved Apostle is commanded contrarily not to seal them Chap. 22.10 This Book with Daniels Prophetical Visions the hidden part whereof this in good measure is a Divine explication viz. during the Revelation said suffering-times to the 19th Chapter and they are both together given to regulate all Chronologie in the world for 2300 years and more to the end of this sacred Book without which little truth in all times since in that respect could have been found or discerned by all humane Authors so that all Prophetical Chronologie by the Revelation of God the Spirit is given in them both for so long a time viz. from the Captivity of Babylon to the end of the world even as Moses had likewise received his Divinely revealed Chronelogy of all times past to and in his own time for the space about 2490 years when there was nothing but Tradition to have supplied that want which was after in the Books of Joshua Judges Kings and Chronicles contiued upon record until the said Prophetical Chronology of Daniel and Revelation took place which have been since Divinely carried on and so will be as was said unto the end of the world and because Moses and many of those that followed had likewise as the Apostle Peter teaches distinct Prophesies of those last times in the Book of Revelation therefore God in wonderful wisdom faithfulness and goodness hath in that last Table of of the happy times of Christs Church in the world revealed unto us those sure foundations of such unspeakable goodness then to be performed and accomplished not otherwise to be known or believed in many respects which are the peculiar excellencies belonging to and benesits accrewing to the Christian Church by this so Divine Book and are not these great engagements to the study of the same In this Divine Book we have the revelation in a latitude of the end of two special great Mysteries viz. the end of the great Mystery
much resistance much depravation much disorder opposition in men and Devils in all the Creatures in it saving that God hath given Christ Power and Authority by degrees aforehand to take it away for which end our Saviour in this excellent Book besides other Scriptures hath much therein set forth the usefulness of Preaching the Crown as well as the Cross though that in the first place but this as a motive to take up the Cross which was formerly of great prevalencie as is storied of the Primitive sufferers that desired Martyrdom that they might reign with Christ in that his Kingdom on earth surely they had much greater faith of these things than is usually found in our days when that world is neer approaching and in this whole Book something is propounded to all the Sufferers in their several times respecting the Jerusalem-state as to the Asian Churches to the Sealed ones Chap. 7. c. for their encouragements as we have shewed in our seventh Convincing Argum. pag. 28 29. But we proceed to some other remarkable portions of Scripture that one way or other point out these times unto us To which purpose we may in a special manner observe that peculiar mark in the the curious Divine contrivance of Revelation-prophesie twice set down therein at the pouring out of the last Vial Chap. 16 17. upon the Air of the Beast probably taking away or binding the Prince of the Power of the Air. Then came a great voice out of the Temple of Heaven from the Throne saying it is done which appears also to be at the time of the sounding of the seventh Trumpet when the Kingdoms of the world become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11.15 which shews their coincidence about the same time and likewise that this great work of Gods renovation concurs in truth with both for the binding of Satan and the Reign of Christ with his raised Saints are fully contemporaries So it is added in the words next following this Text as being here again spoken by him that sat upon the Throne And he said unto me It is done which declares the same time that Satan is bound and Christ reigns this great work will be effected and therefore is another evidence that all things contained in Chap. 21. and 22. belong to the time and state of the said 1000 years of Christs Reign with his raised Saints in his said Davidical Kingdom upon earth But the Question here may be moved What is that that then will be done Ans In General many great enemies and workers of iniquity shall be destroyed but more especially it seems to have respect unto that great Divine Oracle fore-named The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou on my right hand until I make thy foes thy footstool Psal 110.1 at which time likewise Christ receives his Kingdom for his enemies ruine is the beginning of Christs Reign so that in respect of both God himself saith It is done viz. what he himself had promised unto David's Lord before and this time and day seems to be set forth very emphatically upon occasion of the destruction of Gog the Turk then likewise and there also the Holy Ghost seems to use the same Watch-word for the time thereof as here was at the Beasts ruine and that with a great deal of Divine illustration Behold it is come and it is done saith the Lord God this is the day whereof I have spoken Ezek. 39.8 the said Text appears to be of great weight N. B. Quest But how doth it appear that the Turk shall then also be destroyed Answ By Daniels last great Vision Chap. 10.11.12 in Chap. 11. having spoken something briefly of the Persian and more of the Greek Monarchy he comes to the Roman ver 36. and of the Roman Antichrist ver 37 38 39. and then he proceeds to speak of the two Ruiners of the Roman Monarchy viz. the two Woe-trumpets Rev. 9. that is the Saracens and Turkish Mahumitans the first stiled the King of the South the last the King of the North whose History is set down as almost accomplished ver 41 42 43 44 45. as Mr. Mede judiciously applied it except the last his setting his Tabernacle of his Palace in the Holy Land when he comes to his end and none shall help him and then immediately follows then stood up Michael the Prince of Daniels people and in that troublous time delivers them at his appearance probably when his feet shall stand upon Mount Olivet Zec. 14. and that mourning be Zec. 12.10 and ruine of both the first Gog and Magog as well as the last is prophesied very neer together c. And this mark of destruction of both It is done c. seems the more to be observed besides divers others both in Ezech. 38. and 39. and in the Revel because as the Apostle shews Heb. 10.13 Christ had sitten to that time above 1600 years expecting till such his foes should be made his footstool Therefore how fitly is it by God himself so punctually declared both to the Jews and Gentiles that he is not unmindful of his promise to his Son Jesus Christ but as he promised so at that set time It is done as if he should say my Beloved Son hath many hundred years sitten at my right hand expecting this particular season for my fulfilling such my promise to him and now that time is come and it is done this is the day whereof I have spoken Hence also the Holy Spirit directed the Apostle Peter to assert the same thing for time The Heavens must receive him saith he till the times of the restitution of things Acts 3.21 as we shewed formerly more fully and remarkably And since Christ hath left the Book of the Revelation to open Daniels before shut up and sealed Mysteries until the times of the end whilst the Roman Monarchy should continue after God had set up the Kingdom of the Stone from Christs first coming in the 19 first Chapters of that Divine Book unto his second coming Chap. 20. and hath also given the remainder of that Book as a Divine Key or Bunch of Keys to open also the Mysteries of the most ancient promised Mercies and Covenants to the Fathers as we have shewed which are to have their completing from his said second coming in that state of the 1000 years and those times of the restitution of all things in my Text. What pity is it that such matters of so great concernment to all Saints now near approaching are no more considered or understood or duly prized or improved and now indeed is the proper and seasonable time to publish them and make them known when Gods wonderful Grace and Goodness therein w th his Truth Faithfulness in the performance of them shall shortly be beheld with admiration and adoration as in the Text Behold I c. Another remarkable deciphering of these times is the finishing of the Mystery of God when the seventh Angel begins
revealed I believe they did not for first it is probable they would then with the said things have given the Interpretation of them if they had then known them And secondly the Holy Spirit of Christ would not have given particular Revelations to open and explain the particular meanings if they had not been necessary so to have been revealed in respect of the hidden parts of them and especially that God the Father in a glorious wonderful manner Rev. 5. should so give that most Divine Book to his beloved Son the Lamb so to reveal them as he hath done without which the Church had been in the dark in regard of many excelent points of Heavenly Doctrines now only knowable by the help and use of the said Book especially in what concerns the main Scope of all Revelation-Prophesie which is therefore highly to be esteemed and diligently to be studied by all wise and good Christians for the right understanding of the darkest portions of Scripture which are not rightly discovered by any other means but by these Divine Oracles of Jesus Christ and let it henceforth stand as an irrefragable Rule amongst all sound Christians that all those Texts of holy Scriptures concerning those last things viz. Resurrections and Judgment are to be explained by Christs Revelation and not the Revelation by them From the former said sure Rule and the many foundations formerly laid down in the whole work these Divine Conclusions or Christian Doctrines will evidently follow First That Christs Davidical Kingdom on earth will begin with the first act or session of the Judgment of the Great Day above 1000 years before the Last Judgment Esa 9. Luke 1.32 with Dan. 7. Rev. 11. and 19.6 9 11 to the end 2. That at the first said Session the quick namely the Beast fals Prophet with other great and small enemies then living will be judged by temporal destruction from the earth Dan. 7. Ezek 38.39 Dan. 11.45 Matth. 13.41 And the deceased Saints will then also be judged with a Judgment of reward or recompense at their holy and blessed bodily Resurrection when they shall rise to reign with Christ who will then so Judge both quick and dead at his appearing and Kingdom Dan. 7. Rev. 11.18 2 Tim. 4.1 Thirdly Christ will reign with his said raised Saints on earth in his said Kingdom all that same 1000 years wherein as he hath both strongly and emphatically taught us that Satan shall be bound from deceiving the Nations any more until the said 1000 years shall be sulfilled See Treatise on Rev. 21.5 page 37 38. and page 8. of this Fourthly The said 1000 years space to be so fulfilled beginning from the first said Session or Matutinum Judicium as Mr. Mede speaks or a greater than he Psal 49.14 and a greater than them both Luke 19.18 19. Rev. 2.26 before the little space of Satans loosing again is that interim before the last Judgment wherein shall be the performance of Gods most antient promised Mercies and Covenants to the faithful Forefathers and to their spiritual Seed viz. the then raised Saints and others then converted through their Divine promised Seed Christ by whom they shall all then have their sure Mercies of David Esa 55.3 and as the Lambs wife then inherit all things with him Rev. 21.7 Fifthly The New Jerusalem state the Marriage of the Lamb the Paradise of God with the pure River and Tree of Life therein and the Nations of them that are then saved walking in the light of the said great holy and beloved New Jerusalem wherein consists the New Heavens and new earth when God will make all things new as in this Text are the contemporaries of the said happy times and state in the said 1000 years and will make up that happiness in the said Davidical Kingdom of Christ both to the said Saints then raised and to the then converted Jews and Gentiles in the natural life when also the two second great calls of them both will be accomplished Deut. 32.43 Rom. 15.10 that Jews and Gentiles will rejoyce together Sixthly Satans last most wicked attempt with his last Gog Magog against the said holy City and the Camp of the Saints after the said 1000 years are ended will occasion fire from Heaven to consume them and probably the earth and the works upon it c. and thereupon also the destruction of the last enemy death when all the Saints both raised before and then living or lying in the grave to free them as is probable from the destruction with wicked men then shall be rapt up together and all be changed in a moment or twinkling of an eye to meet Christ in the Air c. when also all the wicked shall be raised at the last Trump to the last general Judgment and final sentence c. upon whose sitting upon the great white Throne will be the utter dissolution of the whole created world as Rev. 20.11 c. And these I believe are upon the many said accounts from holy Scripture the Divine truths of Jesus Christ not contradicting any thing taught in Gods Word before but only explaining many things formerly darkly yet Divinely couched therein and especially things respecting the said first and second bodily Resurrections and the proceedings of the Judgment of the great day of the Lord at above a 1000 years distance with the performance of the promised mercies in the interim as was said And thus have I given an account of my faith as respecting these things for which I bless and magnifie the glorious Name of God the Father Son and Holy Spirit three Persons and one true and everliving God and I do believe that all Saints will do the same here or hereafter Amen And thus for the Questions concerning the first Resurrection as being the Inlet to the Sts. that Christ brings with him when he comes into the happy said approaching state 1000 years before the said rest of the dead shall live again and that answers to sundry portions of Scripture that are by some otherwise expounded but are only to be understood by the help of the most Divine Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ as we have shewed And now before we proceed to speak particularly of the words or matters of this Text of the Renovation of all things which are to make up the happiness of Christs said Reign with his Saints upon the said first Resurrection we shall consider the preceding and following context thereof with its dependencie to remove some other seeming difficulties which for the greater evidence we shall endeavour to do by Answering some other Questions and resolving some doubts upon weighty reasons concerning the same Quest 1. Are not the New Heavens and the New earth the renovation of all things the New Jerusalem and Paradise of God c. Ch. 21.22 to be after the last Judgment wch is set down before them in Ch. 20.11 Answ Although the last Judgment is there placed in the
be part of the Restitution which God will then effect as we hope in due place farther to manifest from this Text. But for the clearer discovery of what hath been said let us a little look back again to the beginning of this Chapter where it is said this Holy Man had the Visions of the New Heavens and the New Earth which as to their time was not after the last Judgment as was said neither is there placed before it that usual expression in this Book when things which follow are spoken of After this I saw as chap. 18.1 chap. 19.1 but are 1000 years before it as is very evident neither is it any New making of the Material frame of them but they will be Prophetical Heavens and Earth as was said suitable to that Kingdome wherein Christ will reign with his raised Saints as the wood witnesseth of which Kingdom these are to be considered as the integral parts for never came such a King into the world before that must not only have all Nations to do him service and the Heathen to be given to him for his Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for his possession but when he comes all the Elohim Angels or Gods must Worship him yea all knees in Heaven and Earth and under the Earth must then bow and be subject to him owning him to be Lord but he must also then have those New Heavens and New Earth then made for him and his Spouse As Satan had his Mystical Heavens before when the Pagans worshipped Sun Moon and Stars Their Mercury Jupiter Mars Apollo with the multitudes of their Heathenish false Deities And hence it was under Christs spiritual Kingdome of the Stone that there was in the primitive times a great Battel in Heaven betwixt Michael and his Angels and the Dragon and his Angels Rev. 12. but the issue thereof was that the Dragon was cast down from his Heaven to the Earth And as God very remarkably by the Ministry of the Prophet Jeromiah caused it to be proclaimed before the Captivity of Babylon chap. 10.11 and that verse is only written as Mr. Mede well observes in the Caldean Language whither that People was shortly after to be led Captives The Gods said he that made not the Heavens nor the Earth even they shall perish from the Earth and from under these Heavens and accordingly chap. 25. God sent by him a Cup of Wrath to be drunk by those many Nations that owned such Gods And afterwards neither Bell nor Merodach of the Caldeans could save themselves or their Worshippers from their Enemies nor the Graecian Monsters and multitudes of feigned Gods and Goddesses could deliver themselves or those that served them and when Pagan Rome had ingrossed the Idol Gods of all Nations which they subdued they were at Christs first coming struck dumb and ceased to deliver their Oracles as formerly and after by Constantine the Dragon was cast out of his Heaven to the Earth and likewise that Beast that rose out of the Earth afterwards with all his Paganized Christianity of Popish Idolatry will shortly also find Jeremiahs Proclamation true That such Idol Gods shall perish from the Earth and from under these Heavens for not only all such supposed Heathen Gods but all Pagano-Christian Idols also will be then totally and finally casheired for ever out of the World Psal 97.7 Esa 2. And such like Heavens were ascribed in Scripture to Kingdoms and States according to many Oriental Notions as Mr. Mede observed who reckoned what was Superiour in their States were their Heavens as Monarchs and Governours and what was Inferiour their Earth But these New Heavens and New Earth being of an Heavenly Excellency not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the Opinions or Customs of the vain World but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to Truth are to be taken for what God hath promised then and as his Word sets them forth the Heaven of Angels will come with Christ then to wait upon him and to worship him and Christ coming personally with them then will make it an Heaven indeed and then also he brings all his Saints that sleep in Jesus with him so that there will also be then an Heaven of Saints also as he speaketh at the Whores Destruction chap. 18.20 Rejoyce thou Heaven ye Apostles and Prophets and even that Mystical Heaven the New Jerusalem shall then come from God out of Heaven as is explained v. 2. which is called the Bride the Lambs Wife ver 9. and for her also with the Lamb be made then also the New Earth wherein will dwell Righteousness 2 Pet. 3. when not only the Tabernacle of God will be with men as ver 3. but her Officers shall be Peace and her Exactors Righteousness Esa 60.17 and all that happiness in that time of refreshment from the presence of the Lord Acts 3. and as follows ver 4. that God will not only wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death nor crying nor pain but Christ will personally dwell with them in that Tabernacle wherein he was before 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only for a little while made lower than the Angels as we said but then he will be exalted far above all Principalities and Powers and every Name c. and continue to dwell with them and be their God and they shall be his people and for the assured making of these Integral parts of Chtists said Kingdome viz. the New Heavens and the New Earth is Gods great glorious and gracious undertaking at that time set forth in this text and he that sate upon the Throne said Behold I make all things new c. Now having thus prepared the way by removing these former difficulties and opening the context we shall by Gods assistance proceed to consider the Text it self both in respect of the words and sence thereof which is a farther step and degree of that most excellent Vision given to this beloved Apostle and saith he he that sat upon the Throne said behold I make all things New In which words we have a most excellent declaration of the compleating of Christs outward visible work of Redemption in the world with its Illustration and Confirmation the Declaration is of the happy Renovation of all things in that very determined point of time and occurrence of affairs which the Series and order of this Vision leads to I make that is I now make when the great Enemies are destroyed and Christs Davidical Kingdom is to take place and the Saints raised even in that state of things I make all things New for Christs unalterable order of these things is a doctrinal Foundation as was said and this most Divine Declaration is first Illustrated from the person that spake the words and undertakes the work whole speaking then will be doing as at first so said the Psalmist He spake the word and they were made he commanded and they were created so when the
period of this present State shall come God will as by speaking a word of Command make all things new 2. Again in respect of the excellency of his person he is here said to be he that sate upon the Throne who is Hieroglyphically and gloriously described in chap. 4. as God made known in his Church as on a Throne for in Judah is God known and his Name is great in Israel at Salem is his Tabernacle and his dwelling place in Zion Psal 78.1 and he is known to them in the face of Jesus Christ in all his glorious Attributes Nature and Persons as revealed in the Word 2 Cor. 4.4 6. as here compassed with the Rain-bow the Token of the Covenant made with Noah through Christ for all Creatures to the end of the world c. and also hath 7 Lamps burning before the Throne which are the 7 Spirits of God or the Holy Ghost chap. 1.4 and about the Throne 24. Seats for the 24 Elders and within the Throne 4 living Wights full of eyes within continually saying Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come So that there God is set forth as very gloriously made known in his Church to be three in Persons one in Essence to be ever so worshipped and glorified by them before and since for his great and good work of Creation ver 11. For as at first he Created the world by Jesus Christ Eph. 3.9 the Holy Spirit moving upon the face of the Waters Gen. 1.2 so he hath and doth and will redeem and fully work his Renovation of the world by the Lamb that was slain and hath since lived again and the book with 7 Seals is delivered to him to open and execute the Contents thereof as in chap. 5. by the power and effectual working of the Holy Ghost one God with the Father and the Son and proceeding from the Father and the Son So the 24 Elders and the 4. Beasts or living Wights worshipped him at the Whores Destruction as sitting on the Throne chap. 19.4 c. and in the end of chap. 4. 5. though this last was upon assurance of the fulfilling of all Revelation Prophesie But in the Text he that sits upon the Throne with a Rainbow about it and seven Lamps burning before it saith Behold I make all things new c. Thus then Almighty God Three in Persons and One in Essence so manifest in his Church that so Created the World and also by his Son and Holy Spirit carrieth on his work of Redemption and full Renovation of the World who maketh known this Divine Declaration thereof by his Servant John for the use of his Church in these latter times to be fulfilled most certainly as will after appear in the neer approaching times of the Restitution of all things the next Illustration of it is that usual note of Attention and Observation Behold but here to be more highly considered as a notation of Admiration Adoration Behold Admire the wonderful Mercy herein contained adore him in the Divine excellency thereof the like is done in many like Notations set forth by God respecting his wonderful work begun and by degrees carried on and to be perfected by his Son Jesus Christ as first especially in laying his great Foundation in Sion Esa 28.16 Behold I lay in Sion a chief Corner Stone Elect and Precious as saith the Apostle 1 Pet. 2.6 which the said Prophet sets forth with a great deal of Illustration in the Heberew c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and aptly rendred by Arias Montanus Ecce ego fundo in Sion Lapidem Lapidem munitionis anguli preciosi fundamenti fundati c. Behold I found in Sion a Stone a Stone of defence of a precious corner of a foundation founded and to be adored and admired likewise therein The like of the Womans Seed promised without Man Behold a Virgin shall bear a Son Esa 7.14 and yet a Virgin when she hath a Son but such a Son as should be God as well as Man who should be called Immanuel God with us here was likewise matter of Admiration and Adoration that he that was the Eternal Father as well as the Prince of Peace of the increase of whose Kingdome upon the Throne of David there shall be no end should yet in such a time be born of a Virgin c. Esa 9. The like by the Angel is used to the Shepheards at the birth of that said Virgins Son Luke 2.10 11. Behold I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to all people c. So when God will make the New World for his said Son Behold I make c. and the season of this work is the Alpha and Omega of this book of Revelation to be observed and admired and desired too by the Saints chap. 1.7 Behold he cometh with Clouds at the Jews Conversion who are there said to have pierced him which I conceive will not only be in mercy to the Jews as Zech. 12.10 but all Kindreds also of the Earth shall wail because of him penitently also when he then comes the second time without sin to Salvation because the Heathen shall be given then to him for an Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for his possession and they shall also then serve him Dan. 7.27 and as the Prophet saith in those times ten men shall take hold of the skirt of a Jew Zech. 8.32 to joyn themselves to them in the service of the God of Israel and the great shakings and dessolations in the world when the glorious Majesty of Christ shall then appear as Esa 2.17 19. so shaking terribly the Earth probably may much prepare all the Kindreds of the Earth that remain then so to wail with Contrition that they have not known Christ before and then so wailingly mourn after him therefore is added by the Holy Spirit Even so Amen to both Rev. 1.7 N. B. to teach us ever after to pray for the fulfilling of these so strongly promised Mercies then which is therefore the chief drift of that Petition Thy Kingdome come that also then Gods Will may be done in Earth as it is now in Heaven for which in that state there is great ground to believe and so his Name will be hallowed then as now in Heaven which is the great end of all Prayer And then he cometh also with reward for his Saints as chap. 22.12 11.18 The way to love Christs appearance as the Apostle Paul perswades all sound Christians is to know the happy advantages that all such shall have thereby at that time when God will make all things New that pertain to Christs Davidical Kingdome as here c. The next thing considerable respecting this comfortable Declaration of God is the Confirmation of it 1. by commanding the Holy man to record it for the comfort of his Church Write saith he 2. He gives a twofold ground of such Confirmation or Record of it first in
Christ by faith wrought in believers Souls by the powerful operation of the Holy Ghost but these times of restitution of all things we speak of are quite another thing to be fulfilled for Christ and his Saints at his second coming which the first made way for when the outward visible total and final Redemption will be fulfilled as well as the inward for Satan remains still the God of the world and Prince of the Power of the Air and works effectually in the Children of disobedience 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which will not believe and he they both bring much suffering and persecutions upon the Saints but in the following renovation they will both be taken off so that the Servants of Christ shall then serve him in righteousness and true holiness before him without fear of their enemies all the days of their lives which is the mercy promised to the Fathers as Zacharias sweetly sings out Luke 1 72 74 75. for then the inward and spiritual work of Redemption will be much more perfected in the Saints as well as the outward and visible for the Saints And thus much for answer to that Objection Now to proceed to consider what these times are how set forth in Holy Scripture and how it doth appear that they are now near approaching for the resolution whereof we must chiefly make use of this most Divine Book of Revelation with some of Daniels Visions respecting the same times as they are by Christ more fully explained in their due series and order which is a matter of very great use in all the sufferings times of the Church to Chap. 19. but after of much advantage and benefit for the Church of God in those good and happy times to which our Saviours Divine Key of these things hath special reference and is graciously given by him to open the Mysteries of them for the great use and consolation of his people in these later days to which purpose we shall consider those principal Texts of Scripture that have their reference unto those latter days The first is that great declaration of God upon the Fall of man Gen. 3.15 which is the most comprehensive of all others both containing removal of evil conferring of good in the Restitution of all things upon which accounts Christ hath ever since proceeded in the execution of all his three great Offices of the great Prophet Priest and King for his Universal true Church as the work his Father gave him to do until he make his great enemies his footstool eminently by destroying of wicked men that destroyed the earth and binding of Satan so to still the enemy and the avenger and finally at his casting him into the Lake of fire as was shewed from Holy Scripture when he will be utterly stilled for by reason of prevailing sin he brought the old world to suffer the Vengeance of the Deluge by Waters and Sodom and Gomorrah to be consumed with fire and brimstone from Heaven and even Gods people to be led captive by the Assyrians and Caldeans with all other miseries befalling for sin before and since Christ stilled him in good measure at his first coming when he was struck dumb and his Oracles put to silence and more stilled him under the sixth Seal when he was cast down from his Regencie of Heathenish Idolatry in his Heavens under the Pagan-Rulers unto the earth whereupon in his great wrath he betook him to his last designe of setting up the twofold Beast to continue till the said great stilling of him in the 1000 years also that great Oracle of God Psal 110.1 much spoken of in the New Testament hath also direct relation unto the said times when Christ shall cease to sit at his Fathers right hand in Heaven and his enemies as was said be made his footstool till which times saith the Apostle Peter also Acts 3.31 the Heavens must receive Christ viz. till these times of restitution of all things deciphered in the Text by him that sits upon the Throne when his Church will be refreshed with Christs presence and the Tabernacle of God then be with men and he dwell with them that space of the 1000 years c. in the third verse of this Chapter till which times the Apostle saith Heb. 10.13 Christ sits there expecting till his foes be made his footstool when Turk and Pope who stand in the way to hinder Christs said Kingdom shall be destroyed Unto these times also relates that great promise made by God unto Abraham upon that great act of his faith and obedience in sacrificing his Son Isaac Gen. 22. that his seed should possess the Gates of his Enemies though it was partially and typically performed in subduing such as would have stopped their passage or hindred their possession of the promised Land above 400 years after when the iniquities of the Amorites were arrived to their fulness but the great possessiou will be given to the Divine Seed Christ at his second coming and by him to all the spiritual seed and that so as never to be cast out again as 2 Sam. 7. when they shall remove no more from it as also many other Scriptures manifest Then also shall be performed from the beginning of revenges upon the Whore of Babylon and the great vengeance upon the enemy Antichrist fore prophesied by Moses in that excellent Song for Posterity Deut. 32.41.42 when God will whet his glittering sword and make his arrows drunk in blood that Jews and Gentiles may rejoyce together as Rom. 15. then also will be fulfilled that great Promise Esa 51.20 21 22 c. respecting those times also made upon occasion of the destruction of old Babylon the Type of this and much of Jeremies Prophesie there is by the Spirit of God applied in the Revelations to mystical Babylons destruction but we read not of Gods peoples being then Gods Battle-Axe and Weapons of War then c. for they came home then by Gods working powerfully upon the Spirit of Cyrus and they were ever low upon that reduction but when they shall be again restored all that great prevalencie over all enemies will take place fully for they as saith the Prophet Malachy shall then be as ashes under the soles of their feet Chap. 4.3 and all Nations that will not then be subject to the beloved great and holy Jerusalem shall be destroyed Esa 60.12 And when the same Prophet Esay chap. 26.19 shews that Gods Saints shall rise at the first bodily Resurrection explained by our Saviour Luke 20.35 36. and Rev. 20.5 Esay declares the contrary of such as tyrannized over Gods Church before ver 14. they saith he are dead they shall not live then they are deceased they shall not rise then c. for the enemies shall be so taken away for ever from the Land of the living that they shall ever after be uncapable of good with the Saints in the world and to all eternity when those Children of the Resurrection as
Noah in our late Systeme preceding the Saints Resurrection 1. respecting Noah as a Type of Christs saving his as their true Ark at the overflowing de uge of the wicked worlds destruction at the beginning and end of the 1000 years Secondly in respect of that Covenant made with Noah for the worlds and Creatures preservation till those last times when the Scriptures also testifie the greatest fruitfulness also will be And thirdly in respect of his Prophesie Gen. 9. that the Posterity both of Shem the Jews and of Japhet the Gentiles as now we hinted should both in those times at both their second calls spoken of in Scripture Deut. 32.43 rejoyce together applied also Rom. 15. to those times with other Scriptures respecting the same c. The same times were pointed out by our four Computations of the Jews deliverance and the great enemies destruction out of Daniel and Revelation formerly explained in our Parallels The like may be observed from what we said before of the Tabernacle of God at the same time being with men and his dwelling with them c. ver 3 4. wherefore also the name of the City then seems to be called Jehovah Shamma the Lord is there Ezek. 48 last And at the same time the Sun is ashamed and the Moon confounded when the Lord of Hosts shall reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before his Antients gloriously Esa 24.23 which all â—â—spect the same times The New Covenant upon the New giving of the Law after the first Tables were broken Deut. 30. to 11. especially respects Gods People the Jews in those times which seems to be the antient foundation in Moses writings of which divers like in the following Prophets are the confirmations and explications as Jer. 31.33 Ezek 36. more especially belonging to that people after their reduction from their great dispersions though applicable to all Abrahams spiritual Seed in the times of the Gentiles also Heb. 8.9 10 11. These times are also pointed out by the great solemnity of the Marriage of the Lamb with his Bride the 1000 years at the New Jerusalems coming down from God out of Heaven which great solemnity was prophesied of by the holy Kingly Prophet David Psal 45. when she shall have Sons whom she may make Princes in all Lands To which purpose is that excellent Song of Songs by Solomon as respecting the return of the Shulamite in the Book of the Canticles probably about the time the Bride is said to make her self ready Rev. 19.7 And Solomons peaceable Kingdom of old was but a Type of that peaceful and glorious Kingdom and state which Christ with his Saints at the said times of restitution of all things shall enjoy the 1000 years The Scepter and Dominion prophesied of by Balaam Numb 24. and according to Jocobs Prophesie placed in the Tribe of Judah said by him to be a Lyons whelp and the Ensigne thereof was also the Lyon accordingly Rev. 5. Christ is stiled the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah and in Ch. 22. stiles himself so when in those times he shall be as a strong Lyon to destroy his enemies Ps 110. who also is both the Root and Offspring of David Rev. 5. as will wonderfully 〈◊〉 manifest in the same times c. The first Adams casting out of Paradise compared with Christs Key for the restoring all the spiritual Seed to a Paradise in that State manifests it to be Gods designe from the beginning by that Goel or Deliverer promised to be at his second coming a more perfect Restorer of all things then than the Serpent Satan was or could be a corrupter or destroyer before it was called Abrahams bosom whether Christ said the Angels carried Lazarus his Soul but after by our Saviour was called Paradise at his death when he had purchased it and promised the Penitent Thief as we noted that he should be with him there that day and so the Apostle Paul said he was rapt up into the third Heaven or Paradise 2 Cor. 12. called after the Paradise of God in the world the 1000 years of Christs Reign with his Saints and so is coincident in the same times of the Restitution with the other The same times are also set forth by the world to come Heb. 2.5 and 1.6 as the general Deluge ended the Old World and began the New so the ruine of that last wicked Roman Monarchy in respect of each of those long God-provoking States therein viz. both Civil and Ecclesiastical with all the broken parts of the three former Monarchies Dan. 2. will end this world in the present state of things and Christs said 1000 years Reign in those times will begin that World to come and the Apostle Paul Ephes 1.21 uses the same distinction which by our Saviour had been laid down before when he taught that the sin against the Holy Ghost should neither be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come Matth. 12.32 which will begin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when the Father brings the Son again into the world viz. the second time as both Ancients and even Papists understand it when all the Elohim Angels shall worship him as Psal 97. Likewise the 42 Stages in the Childrens of Israel their passing through the Wilderness to possess the Land of Canaan was a Type of the womans the Christ ans's Church passing in her wilderness condition in the times of the Beasts 42 Moneths to attain in the issue to the New Jerusalem state in the said times of the restitution of all things or that redemption of the purchased possession as it seems Ephes 1.14 The restoring the Dominion over the Creatures lost by the fall of the first Adam was foretold by David to be obtained by Christ the second Adam Psal 8.4 5 6. c. as is explained and so applied by the Author to the Hebrews Chap. 2.6 7 8. which is another part of the Restitution of all things in the said times as we shewed And the said Creatures freedom from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Rom. 8.21 will be another ingredient to make up that blessed state and although the same holy man Heb. 2.7 did acknowledge that they did not then see all things in subjection unto him yet he declares in due time Phil. 2.9 10. That every knee of things in Heaven and Earth and under the earth shall bow and be subject unto that great King of the whole world And can it be conceived by rational men that these Divine truths are written in vain and that Christ when he takes to himself his great power shall not reign in these respects also unto the end of the world and have that honour reserved for him by Angels men and all Creatures in the world then It appears also to be the end and drift of all Revelation Prophesie by that general Doxologâ—â— Ch. 5.10 to the end by Angels men and all Creatures upon the fulfilling of the contents of
carrying on to lay the sure foundation of breaking the Serpents head at his first coming that by the Judgment of the great Day he might break it 1. eminently at the first and 2. totally and finally at the last Judgment the next antient Prophesie for removing the power of Satan c. was given to Enoch in the old World recorded by Jude ver 13 14. concerning Christs coming to Judgment which hath direct reference to Daniels Vision of the first Session of Judgment at the destruction of the Beast Dan. 7. which our Saviour confirms and explains in part Rev. 11.18 and Rev. 19. but Daniel speaks not there of the last general Judgment that is left for Christ to do Rev. 20.11 to the end 1000 years and more after the former and hence as Daniel of the said first act had said The Judgment was set and 2dly the books were opened and the Apostle Paul who had much of these mysteries revealed to him tells us 3. Christ would judge the quick viz. temporal destruction and 4. the dead Saints with reward as was shewed so saith the Apostle Christ will judg the quick dead at his appearance Kingdom in 2 Tim. 4.1 and all these four marks of that part of Judgment are the proper Characters of the Judgments of the said great Day which belong also to the last Judgment above 1000 years after Daniels as Rev. 20.11 to the end after the last Gog and Magog shall be destroyed and here we finde not any of these marks of that Judgment at any other time when the Old World or Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed though these are both in some respects made patterns of the other by our Saviour Luke 17. Sodom and Gomorrah probably of the first when many terrible Judgments will finde out many sorts of wicked men c. and the other a pattern of the general destruction of the world by fire as the other was by a Deluge of Water Jerusalems first and second destructions are also patterns and the Pagan-Idolators and Persecutors destruction which is set forth like a day of Judgment Rev. 6.12 to the end and so in that large description of the desolation of the Churches enemies Esai 34. throughout the whole Chapter but in none of these or any other do we finde these four Characters peculiar to the Judgments of the said great Day but only in Dan. 7. and Rev. 20. we read of many excellent points Christ informed such as lived in the visible Church or such as have to do with his Servants there as by him that had not the Wedding garment Matth. 22.11 shewing that nothing will serve Professors but being by faith invested with his righteousness and by three Parables together Matth. 25. First that the foolish Virgins were shut out for want of true faith and grace though they were formal Professors and his own Servants whether Ministers Magistrates or other Christians in the Church to whom the Talents were delivered to improve when he went into a far Country viz. to Heaven as he expounds it Luke 19. when one failed he was condemned and in that 3d which is more general but yet restrained to the visible Church likewise or such as had to do with his Servants whom in their afflictions or persecutions they should have fed clothed visited which he looks as done to himself but for the want of this all such will be condemned And alas alas how few consider any such proceeding of Christ in Judgment that are deeply in such case concerned men are in these days far short of the love compassion and zeal of the Primitive Christians who sold their possessions Acts 4.37 But to omit many passages to like purposes as some to be condemned by the Law some without the Law by their own Conscience some by the Gospel c. but above all Christ hath in the said Revelation made many great points known not known before of the said Judgment of the Great day as that there is a second act or general Judgment to be celebrated by Christ as well as that Daniel had the Vision of and he had before confirmed and shews what distance of time shall be betwixt them viz. above 1000 years and what things are to intervene betwixt them in the 1000 years and how the last shall be brought on by Gods raining fire from Heaven upon the last attempt of the last Gog and Magog and at his sitting on the Throne Heaven and Earth should be dissolved and the Earth the Sea and the Grave shall give up their dead that they shall be judged by their several distinct books the elect out of the Book of life and the Devil first be cast into the lake of fire where the Beast and false Prophet were cast before 1000 years and more and so should death and hell afterward which in such respects seems to shew their utter end in the world as in Chap. 17.11 but more to them that are capable of more these by Christ are Divinely delivered of the said Judgment no where in Scripture so made known before and so of both Resurrections after Esay and David then Daniel had much mystically shewed him in Vision that they sat on Thrones set for them and Judgment or power of judging was given then to the Saints but that the suffering Saints should come at that time with Christ coming in the Clouds of Heaven and be raised by Christ to reign with him 1000 years before the raising of the rest of the dead good or bad and that all the promised mercies should then be fulfilled to them none could reveal these but Christ who had this Book with seven Seals given to him by the Father in such a glorious manner when none else in Heaven or earth was found worthy to open it or look into it or much less to fulfil the contents of it but only the Lamb that had as it were been slain and lived again but will then appear to be the Lion of the Tribe of Judah the Root of David as well as the Branch the Father only reserved these things to be made known by his Son the Wisdom of the Father the Eternal Word in the bosom of the Father and therefore these his Divine Oracles concerning all such last things are chiefly to be attended to as Gods and Christs utmost infallible resolution of all such things as were not so fully and particularly explained concerning Resurrections or Judgment of all sorts before or what is to be fulfilled upon the foundations of the Prophets in the interim of the 1000 years betwixt both the Apostle Paul who was rapt into the third Heaven reveals many things of the Resurrection shews some Mysteries of that the Judgment 1 Cor. 15 1 Thes 4. and elsewhere but much thereof cannot from thence be rightly expounded without Christs said Revel ch 20. which therefore seems in these respects much more clearly and distinctly delivered than any of that Book before or after as
we hope to shew and therefore these Revelations of all such last things are not to be explained by other Scriptures that speak not of such things but all others that either speak in general of them or not explicitly of many of the said particulars are in those respects to be explained by our Saviours Revelation whose wisdom is infallible his truth unerring being the saithful and true witness and all such his Revelations are utmost resolutions in the case and sure foundations therein to rest upon and the rather because of the Divine charge to the contrary with the terrible penalty annexed unto these Doctrines which is very evident doth respect the same especially Chap. 22.18.19 concerning willing at least or much more willful adding to or taking away any thing from the Prophesie of this Book which ought not slightly to be overlooked besides many other considerations which might be added that of 1 Cor. 15. ver 23. as the Revelation explains it Christ was the first fruits of the Saints Resurrection above 1600 years before his coming at Antichrists destruction when the suffering Sts. shall rise which he brings with him ita deinde as saith the Apostle then cometh the end as in Rev. 20.1000 years after and more and a reason is added all Christs enemies must first be put under his feet viz. first Ezekiels Gog Magog Turk Pope as we shewed and all taken then out of Christs Kingdom that offend and 1000 years after when the last Gog and Magog Rev 20. shall be destroyed and the Devil that seduced them cast into the lake of fire then will the last enemy death also be destroyed but in the interim all the said thousand years saith the Apostle he must reign till that last enemy death be also destroyed after which he will deliver up his Davidical Kingdom to the Father as was said ver 24. but at ver 51 52. he declares certain mysteries not known before concerning the general sudden rapture and change at the last Trump and last Resurrection which suit with Revelation order also though those mysteries and Christs last descending with a shout at the same time 1 Thes 4. seem to be only revealed to the Apostle Paul yet the distinction of Christs bringing his said Saints with him at his next coming 1 Thes 3.13 and 4.14 and his sudden rapping them up above 1000 years after to meet him in the Air when he descends with the said Trump of God v. 16. at the coming of the Lord as it is also called ver 15. from which time they shall ever be with the Lord which was not true from the former as by Revel 20. is manifest which is also another evident ground of distinguishing the same and by the Revelation-order so to be explained which is not to be understood according to any mens apprehensions of other Scriptures but other Scriptures to be explained by that in all such matters as God hath given unto Christ in that most Divine Book to resolve his Church of in such particulars therein held out and as for that of Peter 2.3 upon which some mistaken apprehensions of some seem to have put some difficulties by the help of the Revel may easily be resolved if we consider he speaks both of the Scoffers of the last times and to faithful Christians likewise and suits considerations useful for both to the Scoffers he offers the consideration of the day of the Lord that is the great day of Judgment wherein is the morning Judgment contained when Christ is said to come as a thief at the end of the 6th Vial Rev. 16.15 about the Armageddon battle as here he is said also to come as a thief in the night then will be the consuming of the body of the Beast by fire Dan. 7. and ver 10. a fiery stream issued from the Ancient of days at that Judgment but this seems by our Saviour besides other considerations to be a partial destruction chiefly falling upon wicked men compared Luk. 17. to Sodoms and Gomorrahs destruction that will find out such where they are But then the deluge of fire and the passing away of the Heavens as Rev. 20.11 both which by Revelation-Prophesie are manifest to be above 1000 years after the Armageddon-battle when the Beast and salse Prophet were taken and said to be cast into the lake of fire burning with Brimstone Rev. 19.20 but both these burnings the first partial the second general and ultimate are contained in the day of the Lord or the Judgment of the Great Day as Christs Revelation also teacheth without which this Text with many others could not be soundly resolved for his bringing in the exception of the New Heavens and New Earth v. 13. that is on the Saints part to comfort them against the Scoffers in these bad times not that they will be after the last destruction of the World but that there was such an happy state coming on wherein they were interessed though both at the beginning and ending of the day of the Lord such fiery Vengeance was in store for such wicked Scoffers hardned by Gods long sufferance in these last Days which the Apostle prophetically spake of and this Exposition from the warrant of this Divine Book given particularly for many such purposes and therefore stiled the Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him to shew unto his Servants c. is more satisfying to my Conscience than all the differing apprehensions of men whatsoever concerning the same Quest And whereas it may be questioned by some whether these Interpretations being mysterious be according to the intent of the Writers of those or the like said portions of Scriptures Answ That is not so much to be respected as that they be according to the minds of the Inditer of them who taught all his Messengers and Amanuenses to write and deliver what was Divine and sacred truth whether he gave them full Interpretations of them at the same time or not sometimes it is evident he did not as when Daniel was denied the knowledge of the times of the end therefore he said I heard but I understood not Dan. 12. and the Disciples could not understand the fulfilling of the Prophesie of Hosea Ch. 1. of the calling of the Gentiles then till by Vision to Peter and and gifts of the Spirit and the like he had resolved them and it seems probable that neither Moses in his Song for Posterity Deut. 32. or threatnings in order Lev. 26. or in penning Jacobs Prophefie or Balaams Parable as they all respected the last times did so understand them so whether the Apostle Paul or Peter in those things being guided by the Spirit of Christ to write concerning matters directly respecting the last times did know the particular meaning of them in those respects as they are explained since by the Book of Revelation I must ingeniously acknowledge that in things which were so by the same Spirit of Christ further in due time to be