Salvation Heb. 2.28 Acts 11 1. 1 Cor. 15.23 Thes 1.8 Secondly His spiritual coming is either when he comes by his spirit to convince call and convert a Soul as Eph. 3.17 1 Thes 2.13 Rev. 4.20 or to confirm seal and establish by his Spirit John 14 20. Acts 23.28 Eph. 1.13 Thirdly It is mistically considered either in his coming in the type in the shadowy and legal dispensations Acts 7. 1 Cor. 10. or in the Evangelical Antetype or Gospel dispensation Fourthly He cometh in his Providence either to redeem deliver and save his people Exod. 3.8 Lam. 18.8 Heb. 10.37 or to execute Vengeance in the destruction of his Enemies Isa 63. Luke 18. Hab. 2. Mal. 2. And it is the mind of wisdom that must rightly and duly apply each of these according to the scope drift and meaning of the holy spirit and not mistake the one for the other Secondly What are we to understand by Christs being with a people or a people with Christ can that be otherwise than personal for it is expresly said They Reigned with Christ Christ may be said to be with a person or people when he is so virtually by his spirit or spiritual presence or when he is so by his Word Rule Law or Precept Judah was said to rule with God Hosea 11.12 when they cleaved to Gods Word and Rule When Israel rejected the Government by Judges which was Gods Ordinance and Appointment for a King after the manner of the Nations they were said to reject God from being their King who vertually went in and out before them and sought their Battles for them 1 Sam. 8. And therefore said Jer. 8.19 Is not the Lord in Zion Is not her King in her why have they provoked me to anger with the graven Images Solomon was said to sit upon the Throne of the Lord. And Jehoshaphat in his charge to his Judges 2 Chron. 19.6 bids them take heed what they did for you judg not for man but for the Lord who he told them was with them in the judgment being called forth as verse 8. for the Judgment of the Lord and for controversies Christ is said therefore virtually and spiritually to dwell to rest to walk amongst his people 2 Cor. 6.16 Rev. 2.1 Isa 57.15 and they with him to live with them and they with him to suffer with them and they with him Psal 91.15 Acts 7.9 To dye be buried quickned raised with him Rom. 6.4 Col. 2.15 2 Tim. 2.12 To work with him 2 Cor 5.6.1 Sup with him and he with them Rev. 3. To war and fight together with him and he with them Rev. 17. Joshuah 5. To be Captain of the Host and General of the Army Rev. 19. When all is but virtually and spiritually so So Satan is said to be with his Servants Subjects acting and instructing when he is not personally nor visibly so Satan shall cast some of you into prison Rev. 2.10 Where Satan dwelt and Satans Seat and Throne was Rev. 2.13 When he was only so by his substitutes in his Authority not really and personally but virtually and mistically And so to Reign and Rule as God King'd it in Israel by his Word Law and Authority by his influence and spirit As the Dragons Rule is called the Devils because the Devil influences acts and spirits his principal Agents and Instruments though not personally present So may the Rule in the hands of the Saints be called Christs Kingdom or Soveraignty though he be only virtually not personally present It is no new thing so to take it in his mistical Kingdom in the Church where his Laws Statutes and Ordinances are dispensed in his name and by vertue of his spirit It was no new thing to have it so esteemed in Israel in the Typical Kingdom when the Law was his the Rulers by his choice and spiriting the policy his called therefore his Rule Government Soveraignty Throne Kingdom And why then should it be thought strange in the Antetype When his Law Rule Policy and Rulers called according to his qualifications and influenced by his spirit shall according to promise and Prophesie come forth again in the world why may they not as well be said to Reign with Christ as suffer with him If we suffer with him we shall Reign with him We do not think it any absurdity to say The King of Spain fights and Conquers in America and Rules and Reigns there though never personally present in that other world but only vertually so by his Commissions by his Laws Civil and Ecclesiastical that he hath transferred thither by his Officers and Vice Roys that he hath appointed in his name to Rule and Govern there Did not the Roman Senate of old Govern the world at Rome by their Laws and Edicts and Rulers of Provinces that they Commissioned and appointed But by this Reason you seem to exempt Christs person from any share of Rule or Soveraignty in any Kingdom here whereas it is expresly said He is to judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and Kingdom by which it is most manifest that at his appearing he hath a Kingdom and you owning that appearing to be personal what do you make that Kingdom to be And what share hath Christs person in it In answer whereto I conceive it necessary in the first place to give you the distinction of a five-fold Kingdom the Scripture takes notice of belonging to Christ viz. a Providential Spiritual Monarchical mistical or Davidical and Misphatical Kingdom and then I shall give you my understanding and conceptions of this Kingdom hinted at that he is to have at that his appearing And for a want of a right distinguishing herein proceds as I humbly apprehend all the mistaken notions and differences about the Kingdom of Christ treated of in these papers First Therefore understand there is a providential Kingdom which Christ hath and doth as God manage over all the world and that from the beginning Secondly A spiritual Kingdom which he doth and hath all along managed in the hearts of his people from the beginning of the world to this day Thirdly There is a mistical Kingdom or a Rule and Soveraignty that he as Lord and King hath exercised in the Church as well under the Law as under the Gospel Fourthly There is his Monarchical or Davidical Kingdom namely that dignity and Soveraignty that is in time according to promise and prophesie to take place in and over the Nations and to be managed by his Laws and Government by his spirit and vertual presence in his Servants and Substitutes Which hath been the special Subject of this discourse Fifthly There is that glorious Misphatical Kingdom viz. Soveraignty that Christ Jesus in person with all the Saints in their glorified bodies with him shall upon their general Resurrection and Judgment exercise here upon the Earth before all is given up into the Fathers hands which is further cleared to you in the several parts of it in the
of the Land of Magog the head of Mesheck and Tubal the enemy of Israel Gen 10.3 Ezek. 38.39 For this came out of the North parts ours from the four corners of the Earth This appeared at the beginning of Israels Restoration ours after the 1000. years of the Kingdom of the Saints following the Restoration of Jerusalem This before Christs coming in the Flesh ours before his coming to Judgement But another Gog the enemy of the Church of the Gentiles to come immediately before the Resurrection of the Dead and farther it is plain that this Gog and Magog bear not the room of a subject but a convenient Title by which those Nations of the four Quarters might be declared as if he would have said the Nations in the four Quarters Spiritually called Gog and Magog Of the Camp of the Saints and Beloved City THose terms of Camp and City are allusions to Israels twofold state under the Tabernacle and Temple dispensation Of the order of Israels Camp state we read Numb 2. Wherein the Tabernacle of God with the 24 Courses of the Priests and Levites were placed in the midst all the Tribes under their four Standards pitching their Tents round about it Which is alluded to Rev. 4. And may greatly help the explanation thereof Then the City State was under Solomon after the erecting of the Temple to which glorious and beautiful condition this alludes Rev. 21.10 c. Holds forth the excellency it being câ—lled the great City the Holy Jerusalem where it is described in all its â—lory and Dimensions called here the Beloved City In opposition to the City of the Nations the great City Babylon containing the â—nti-Christian nay whole World in their Policies and Governments So here the Extent of this City and Camp of the Saints is held forth to be no less then the whole Earth as large in extent as the City of the Nations Christ's Government extending all the World over from Sea to Sea Ps 72.8 Isa 44.6 Of the Fire from Heaven that destroyeth Gog. And Fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them THis destruction as typt out in the Gog Magog destruction Ezek. 38. Is here alluded to That as fire came down from Heaven to destroy them So is it here for now is the time that Christ shall come in flaming Fire taking vengeance of his enemies destroying the Heavens also and the Earth and all its works by fire and this in order to the next Scene to be acted viz. The Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Judgement Of the General Judgement AFter the Saints Reign the Gog Magog gathering and destruction Now in order comes the Lord Jesus in person in the Glory of the Father the Saints Glory and in the glory of all the Holy Angels with the sound of the Trumpet and Voice of the Archangel The Sea Grave and Death giving up their Dead that there may be a general Resurrection of the Just and Unjust And then the preparing of the Throne the sitting of the Judge the opening of the Books the producing of the Witnesses in order to the general Judgement of great and small who are to be judged according to their works by Christ who Judges the quick and dead at his appearing and Kingdom A Paraphrase upon the 20. of Revelations THe Powers and Potentates of the whole World 1. And I saw an Angel come down from Heaven having the Key of the bottomless Pit and a great Chain in his hand whether Heathen or Antichristian being thus vanquished by Christ and his followers under the terms of fighting with and overcoming a Dragon Beast and false Prophet with the Kings of the Earth and whole World in the great Battel in the former Chapter and the Authority consequently now in the hands of the Saints John here in a Vision hath represented to him the Churches Soveraignity in a figure viz. By the Emblematical Representation of a Chain and a Key ensigns of Power in the hand of their Mystical and Spirirual Head though in this Vision their Representative the Lord Jesus is called here an Angel as Rev. 10.1.12.17 2. And he laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent which is the Devil and Satan and bound him a 1000. years And having judged and utterly razed the Antichristian state both in its Magistracy and Ministry by the figurative Representation of taking a Beast and false Prophet and casting them alive into a Lake of Fire doth here for the better securing the Churches quiet and peaceable Rule 3. And cast hâ—m into the bottomless Pit and shut him up and set a Seal upon him that he should deceive the Nâ—tions no morâ— till the 1000. years should be fulfilled and after that he must be loosed a little season wholy cancel and vacate the Heathen Empire also for a thousand years as in the Vision is set forth by the taking a Dragon and casting him bound into a bottemless pit and shutting him up and Sealing him therein the proper Emblem of the now ruined Pagan State the Dragon or Devil being also the Spiritual or Mystical head thereof and here in the Vision their representative As in 12. Chapter by an Angel fighting with overcoming and casting to the Earth a Dragon is held forth the Victory the Church at that day gets over the Heathen Roman Empire So here by the Angels binding him in a pit is the utter extinction of that Power a thousand years the time limited plainly discovered 4. And I saw Thrones and they sat upon them and Judgement was given to them and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God and which had not worshâ—pped the Beast neither his Image neither had received his mark in their Foreheads or in their right hand and they lived and Reigned with Christs a 1000. 5. But the rest of the dead lived not again till the 1000. years were finisht This is the first Resurrection 6. Blessed and Holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second death hath no power but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ and shall Reign with him a 1000. years The enemies of the Church thus casheired and turned off the Stage John hath a further discovery of their setled and happy Rule and Authority by the Vision of the Resurrection of a company of dead and Martyred Saints the proper Emblem of the Church during the Antichristian Tyranny who for witnissing to Christ and not Worshipping the Beast cannot in a civil sense at least be esteemed other ascending Thrones of Judgement And as blessed and holy ones freed from the second Death Reigning with or under the Lord Jesus as Kings and Priests whilst their enemies the Worshippers of the Beast are now as so many dead men at their feet during this space of a thousand years which is called the first Resurrection viz. The mystical general Resurrection that in order of time
and Hell were cast into the Lake of Fire this is the second death 15 And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life were cast into the Lake of Fire Christ's Kingdom in the thousand years Reign before his Personal appearing asserted from the 20th of the Revelations c. THis Chapter contains the last Historical prophesie of the Dragons disaster The twelfth foretels his being subdued by Michael and cast unto the Earth This of his being taken by the Angel and cast bound into the bottomless pit c. being the Epilogue and last act of the whole warfare of the Church as it is subject to dangers and distress s he being the last of her three capital Enemies that here goes off the Stage In the 16th Chapter John hath discovered to him the consederacy and conjunction of Dragon Beast and False-prophet in their call to and combination with the Kings of the Earth and whole world to oppose Christ and his Saints in the great battle In the 19th is the issue of this great undertaking declared viz. a total overthrow and destruction of that great Army the Kings Captains and Mighty men the taking of the Beast and False-prophet and casting them alive into the lake of fire burning with Brimstone And in this 20th you have the account of the Dragons Fate in this great Catastrophe viz. of his taking and how as a wretched Captive he was bound and made close prisoner for a season then after a short Release how brought to judgment and sentenced to the lake of fire with his Companions together with the blessing and advantage that accrues hereby to the Church of Christ A Portion of Scripture worthy our most serious search and enquiry containing most seasonable and necessary truths and of such import that a late learned Author saith thus of it That it contains the Catastrophe Result and Design of all that God hath spoken before in the Old Testament and no less than a Golden Key to unlock the Bible especially the Old Testament Though expressed in such mistical Allegories and Types such Figurative and Tropical Terms as makes it very abstruse and difficult and to that degree so that Brightman saith that a man may see by the commentary of Interpreters how greatly they are puzled and toyled in the interpritation of this Chapter being like an intricate Maze and Labyrinth where there is no winding of a mans self out And Mr. Mead calls it the most abstruse of all the Prophetical Scriptures and most to be admired and so misterious that he dares not enlarge himself into that curious search of the Reasons of several Circumstances lest that of Solomon be laid to his charge Prov. 10.19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin And another thus The particulars contained herein are most abstruse and misterious and that to be too positive and definitive about them and the misteries intended in them would argue too much boldness and temerity The consideration whereof calls therefore for the greater circumspection watiness and sobriety The Method propounded in search after the misteries contained in this Chapter shall be First To lay down the Analisis and parts of the Chapter then treat of each material thing contained in the parts and that by certain known rules as helps and way-marks to steer herein with some remarks upon the same and a brief Paraphrase upon it The Parts of the Chapter THis Chapter contains the doom and judgment of the Dragon as discovered to John in three parts or periods First In his binding and consequents thereof Secondly In his loosing with the effects of it Thirdly In his final and utter judgment and what follows thereon First Of his binding wherein is considerable 1 The Agent by whom an Angel And I saw an Angel come down from Heaven having the Key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand 2. The actions of the Angel 1. In apprehending of him And he laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent which is the Devil and Satan 2. In binding of him and how long And bound him a thousand years 3. In Imprisoning of him set forth partly by the place and cast him into the bottomless pit partly by his secure way of proceeding And shut him up and set a seal upon him 3. The end of his judicial process with the Dragon viz. That he should deceive the Nations no more till the thousand years were fulfilled amplified by the Dragons release for a little moment After that he must be released a little season Then the consequents of the Dragons binding and as one main reason thereof viz. the Churches happy and glorious condition wherein is considerable First The Resurrection and Reviving state under the denomination of Martyrs And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and the Word of God and which had not worshiped the Beast neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their right hands Secondly Their Enthroning or Reigning And I saw Thrones and they sat upon them and judgment was given to them And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years Then their said state and condition is amplified three ways 1. By the opposite condition of their Enemies But the rest of the Dead lived not again till the thousand years were finished 2 By the denomination given to this condition of the Revived Martyrs This is the first Resurrection 3. By their happiness and holiness partly in respect to the evil they are exempted from partly the good they are called to enjoy Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second Death hath no power But they shall be Priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years Secondly Of the loosing of the Dragon out of Prison wherein is considerable 1. The time when But when the thousand years are expired Satan shall be loosed out of Prison 2. The subtile practises of the Dragon declared in the seducing and stirring up new Enemies against the Church And he shall go out to deceive the Nations described by the extent of of the places whence to be gathered From all the Quarters of the Earth 2ly By their denomination Gog and Magog 3ly By their number As the sand of the Sea 4ly The intent of the gathering For Battle against the Saints 3. The hostile acts of these seduced Enemies partly going up every way against them partly surrounding them on every side And they went up on the breadth of the Earth and encompassed the Camp of the Saints about and the beloved City Then nextly The effects of this great gathering and what became of this Dragonical design and mighty Host And fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them Thirdly His final and utter judgment which is described 1. By the Cause And the Devil that deceived them 3. By the place Was cast into the lake of fire 2. By his Companions
Types is to be performed gradually First the Antichristian powers and Interest afterwards the Heathenish and pagan Governments in order to the subduing and bringing the whole world under the Dominion and Soveraignty of Jesus Christ who must have the Heathen for his Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession and must rule from Sea to Sea from the River to the end of the Earth Of the Angel that lays hold on or apprehends the Dragon And I saw an Angel come down from Heaven having the Key of the Bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand and he laid hold c. THe word Angel both in Greek and Hebrew signifies a Messenger taken therefore sometimes for Heavenly Spirit Heb. 1.7 Psal 103.20 Sometimes a Minister of the Gospel or Elder 2 Cor. 5.20 Rev. 2.1 Sometimes for Christ Jesus himself the Archangel So sometimes by an Angel though exprest in the singular Number is meant the whole Eldership or Ministry as Rev. 2 1. So the Angel of the Church of Ephesus is to be understood more than one because they had Elders more than one Acts 20.17 So the Angel is said to pour out the Vials Chap. 16. By it is to be understood those Ministers of Gods wrath that are to execute his judgments upon Babylon And by the Angel in the 14th Chapter that is to Preach the Everlasting Gospel we are to understand the whole Ministry that is then called thereto Which I take to be the import of Angel here viz. the vertue power and authority of Christ the Archangel put forth in and by his Church and people clothed with authority to perform this great service having the Key and Chain Emblems of power and authority put into their hands Christ being their head and representative and the rather so because it is a power and authority in opposition to the Dragon who is a mistical representative of all the Enemies of Christ it being no new thing to represent a whole party by the head and chief that influences them As to say such a King vanquished such a King when neither of the Kings are personally present but vertually so by their commissions impowring their Generals and Armies So Michael and his Angels are said to fight Rev. 12. on the one side and the Dragon and his Angels on the other when neither Christ nor the Devil are personally present but their Agents and Instruments Constantine and his Host in the behalf of the Woman and Man child on the one side and Maxentius and his crew seeking to devour the one and the other on the other side So are the Bloody Tyrannous Antichristian powers that for 1260. years are to oppose the Church represented by a Beast And the filthy Idolatrous Church by a lewd filthy Strumpet a whorish Woman and the true Church of Christ by a Woman Object But is it not said that the Angel comes down from Heaven Therefore it must either be Christ himself in person or some mighty Angel that descends from him out of Heaven to perform his great Service In answer whereto I shall first shew you that by this Angel we cannot understand the person of Christ here descending and coming from Heaven and secondly shew you what we are understand by Heaven First By this Angel we cannot understand the person of Christ First Because this is not the time of his personal coming and appearing which will not be till a thousand years after for this action is but at the beginning of the thousand years His personal coming is not to be till the Judgment day It being said that he muâ—â— judge the quick and dead at his appearing and Kingdom which is not to be till after the thousand years and after the Battle of Gog and Magog Secondly Because when he comes in person it iâ— not to such work as this not to fight and subdue Enemies with material Swords nor to put his people as the Lambs Army and followers upon any such service at that time being then all to be in the Resurrection and glorified state made like himself in glory and as the Angels of God Neither will any of his Enemies be in a capacity to make resistance or opposition who in their own persons shall be destroyed by fire and the very earth they inhabit and all its works burnt up and consumed at whose presence the Earth and Heaven flye away Thirdly Because such an apprehension would make three personal comings of Christ whereas we read but of two Heb. 9.28 who will appear the second time without sin to Salvation Because it is expresly said He sits at the right hand of God till his Enemies be made his footstool Fourthly This conquering fighting work is not by Christ in person at this time of his glorious and terrible appearing because the Execution then upon the Enemies will be sudden and speedy like travail upon a Woman with Child as a Thief in the night like Lightning as it was in the days of Lot and Noah with sudden destruction and as a snare will he come upon all the Inhabitants of the Earth Whereas this work as you have heard is a work of time gradually to be performed The stone smites not the Image all at once but gradually and after smiting beats him to powder and blows it away Then by degrees doth that little stone increase to be a great mountain and to fill the whole Earth first the ten Kingdoms in Europe where the Beast hath ruled must be overcome in order to Whores judging for which there is Hallelujah aad Praise by all the Saints After that is the Dragon to be dealt with viz. The Heathen power and rule all the world through for all the Kingdoms of this world are to become the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ this therefore asks time the other is done at an instant suddenly at the sounding of a Trump in the twinkling of an eye Fifthly Neither can Christs personal appearing be at this time because then it must be supposed that Christ being in the Camp of the Saints and beloved City shall suffer himself and all the Glorious Angels and glorified Saints to be besieged and streightned by the Gog-Magog Army Therfore must this be done by his virtual presence power and spirit though spoken as if he did it in person and these great Conquests effected as in the foregoing Chapter is expressed by the Sword coming out of his mouth viz. by his word commission in his name and by his authority But by what ways will the Lord effect this work upon the Enemy Various will be the ways and means that this great work of removing this opposition and subduing these Enemies be brought to pass as the Scripture plentifully makes mention viz. First Sometimes by appearing against them in some extraordinary way of his providence either after the manner of Aegypt by ingaging the Host of Heaven and Stars in their courses against them by Hail-stones and Coals of fire
as at Mount Perizim or as in the Vally of Gibeon Or Secondly sometimes in an ordinary way by confounding dispiriting dividing them ingaging them one against the othet as Isa 19.2.14 Jer. 51.46 More especially by raising spiriting and ingaging his own people in the service to the fulfilling of divers promises and prophesies as Gen. 22.17 Psal 110.2 Psal 76. Jer. 51.19 to the 25. Obad. 21. Zach. 13.14.12.3 Mal. 4.4 Rev. 17.14.18.4.19.14 And the fore is the spirit promised to be poured out in the latter day to this as one end Isa 28.6.10.27 Zach. 12.6 Isa 32.15 16. And as Satan inspires and influences his Instruments in an invisible spiritual manner so the Lord Jesus directs guides governs and spirits his Saints and followers And his special presence as of old to accompany his in such great service Joshuah 5.13 14 15. Numb 10.35 36.14.42 Exod. 33.15 Psal 68.1 Isa 51.9 10 11. Mica 2.12 13.7.15 Zeph. 3.8 And why should it be thought more strange to have the work of God in the hands of his Saints in binding and keeping under their Enemies to be represented by an Angel dealing with a Dragon then to have the work in the hand of Constantine against the Pagan Roman power in the behalf of the Man-child the type hereof to be represented by a contest betwixt Michael and the Dragon It being said that Michael and his Angels fought and the Dragon and his Angels when Constantine and his followers in the behalf of Christ fought with and overcame Maxentius and his Heathen crew though both of them influenced no doubt by both the heads and principals as it may be also concluded in this place This contemporizeth with the witnesses rising and Earth-quake Vials out of the Temple the Lambs war and the retaliating of Babilon Of Heaven BY Heaven properly is to be understood either the out-spread Firmament which God called Heaven Gen. 1.8 wherein are the Birds of Heaven Mat. 13.32 the Winds of Heaven Dan. 4.12 the Clouds Rain and Dew of Heaven Or the starry Heaven Gen. 1.17 Or that Heaven of heavens the third Heaven the place of Gods principal Seat Mat. 16.9 2 Cor. 12.2 Figuratively sometimes for the heights and places above us sometimes God himself Luke 20.21 I have sin'd against Heaven Sometimes the Church is called the Kingdom of Heaven and often so represented in this Book Sometimes for Rule Dignity and Soveraignty in the world the place of the Rulers or the Gods Rev. 12.11 States and Kingdoms in the World political are as Mr. Mead observes upon the place much answerable to the condition of the world natural and accordingly represented in Scripture for as the world natural consists of Heaven and Earth and in the Heaven Sun Moon Stars so in each State and Kingdom by Nobility and Laity and Diversity of Orders and degrees in Rule and Government there is the semblance of them which interpretation Dr. Twist highly applauds convincing saith he the Reader of the sense and meaning of the Text which is delivered by him even to admiration wherein he excels greatly in his Preface upon the Key of the Revelations And therefore it is familiarly express'd in Scripture when great desolations happen to a State or Kingdom in subversion of their Rule and Government that the Sun is darkened Moon eclipsed Stars fall from Heaven As Isa 13.10 Vpon Babilons threatned destruction Ezek 32.7 Vpon Aegypts desolation And so the Catastrophe that befalls the Kings and great men of the Earth under tho sixth seal Rev. 6.12 13 14. set forth by like Metaphors by Sun being darkned Moon becoming blood Stars of Heaven falling to the Earth Heaven departing as a Scroll and Mountains removing out of their places Which I take to be the true meaning of Heaven here viz. the seat of authority that the Church was now ascended to after the Victory obtained against her Enemies who now by her Rulers that come forth in Christs name by the righteous Laws which are the cords and Chains of Christs Kingdom and by the visible power and authority in their hand bind and chain up their Enemies new Heavens Isa 65. importing the same Of the Dragons Binding Imprisoning shutting up sealing And bound him and cast him into the botiomless pit and Shut him up and set a Seal upon him that he should deceive the Nations no more THis Binding Casting into Prison shuting up and sealing are all terms of securing as Dan. 6.16 17. Mat. 27.64 65 66. And are Metaphorical expressions taken from the Nature of restraining and safe keeping some notorious desperate Villane from doing of mischief As when some cruel murderous desperate wretch is taken they use to fetter him with heavy Chains cast him into the Dungeon lock the door fast upon him not only to preserve the peace and quiet but to see him forth-coming to the Law day Which here holds out not only an absolute Conquest and subduing of Enemies as before but as much quiet and peace to the Church of God by this their close imprisonment and restraint as the neighbourhood may expect safety and quiet when the murderous Thiefs and Robbers are in Irons in the Dungeon or as the Lamb may enjoy freedom and ease while the Foxes Wolves and Dogs are in Chains As the good Dutchess said to the bloody Gardiner looking out of his prison in Edward the sixt his days that it was well for the Lambs when the Foxes were in Chains For such a righteous Rule by the Laws and Government of Christ shall take place that shall be as Chains Bonds and Cords to all the wicked tyrants and oppressors that they shall have no more liberty and power to domineer and exercise their wonted cruelty over the Saints then as so many men in Fetters and Chains And that such a state of ease peace quiet and rest is to be the portion of the Church after all their trouble disturbance and vexation they have met with from the bloody tyrants and beastly oppressours by this eminent restraint that is to be put upon them appears from the following Scriptures Isa 10 9 10. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountain for the Earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Seas 10. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse which shall stand for an Ensign of the people to it shall the Gentiles seek and his REST shall be glorious Isa 32.17 And the work of Righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever 18. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places Isa 60.17 18. I will also make thy Officers peace and thy Exactors righteousness Violence shall be no more heard in thy Land wasting and destruction within thy Borders but thou shalt call thy Walls Salvation and thy Gates praise 21. Thy people shall be all righteous Isa 2.3 4. Out of Zion shall go forth the
rage comes now to have a Spirit of Life from God enter into them enabling them to stand upon their feet And then a voice from Heaven or the Orb of Government and Rule for so Heaven here and in the Rev. 12.7 is to be taken calls them up thereto alluding hereby to Christs dead body that was killed raised and ascended into Heaven And so the Prophet Isa 26.19 Thy dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise Awake and Sing ye that dwell in the Dust for thy Dew is as the Dew of Herbs and the Earth shall cast out the Dead And parallel to this Hosea 6.2 After two days he will revive us in the third day he will raise us and we shall live in his sight His mistical body the Church being in a mistical way to conform and suit in a figure to the Death Resurrection and Ascension of his real Body The Prophet Hosea also in the 13 14. ver foretelling this promised restauration to the Church in this mistical manner doth it in terms alluding to the Corporeal Resurrection to which also the Apostle refers 1 Cor. 15.55 when he asserts that Doctrine of the Resurrection I will ransom them from the power of the Grave I will redeem them from Death O Death I will be thy Plagues O Grave I will be thy destruction Repentance shall be hid from my Eyes And again by the Prophet Isa 25.8 Speaking of this very time He will swallow up Death in Victory and the Lord will wipe away tears from all faces and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the Earth for the Lord hath spoken it Which very words of the Prophet are repeated by John and applied to this very time Rev. 21.4 Rev. 7.17 Now as is the Death so must the Resurrection be to the Spiritual Death there is a Spiritual Resurrection to the mistical Death a mistical Resurrection to the Corporeal Death a Corporeal Resurrection To this the Assemblies Annotations upon this place seem to concur also Rev. 20.5 6. After Antichrists destruction there will be such a new face of the Church as if the Saints were all raised up again This Resurrection is not of particular persons but of whole Churches and Nations as Rom. 11.15 alluded to in the raising of dead Bones Ezek 37. in which they are said to have part And that the Corporeal Resurrection of the Saints cannot be understood in this place further appears First Because the Text in the Letter of it speaks not of their Bodies but Souls and of the Souls only of them that were beheaded as Rev. 6.9 And I saw under the Altar the Souls of them that were slain for the Word of God c. Now it is no where said that Souls in a proper sense revive and are raised because they never dye being Immortal and so not capable of Resurrection necessitating therefore another sense Secondly Because if we are here to understand a bodily Resurrection of the Saints Martyrs only being here mentioned and beheaded Martyrs too taking in no other Saints and only such too that suffered under Antichrist then will Christ have but a small Kingdom And then only such Martyrs partaking of that first Resurrection are to share of happiness and freedom from second Death excluding all but such both from happiness and exemption from such a curse contrary to the Analogy of Faith and whole current of Scriptures for what by such Doctrine will become of all the Saints from Abel to this time that were not Martyrs under Antichrist Thirdly Because this will hold out an absurdity of a two-fold Resurrection a thousand years distant each from other of bodies contrary to John 5.28 The hour is coming in which all that are in the Graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done Good to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done Evil to the Resurrection of Damnation The state of the Resurrection being there held forth by Christ to be general and universal relating to Good and Bad and to be at one time the hour So in John 6. four several times he refers the Saints Resurrection to the last day verse 39.40 44 54. The professed Faith of the Saints in that day John 11.24 And Martha said unto him I know that he shall rise again in the Resurrection at the last day So 1 Cor. 15.51 52. Behold I shew you a mistery we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed in a Moment in the twinkling of an Eye at the last Trump for the Trumpet shall sound and the Dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed Joh 19.25 26. For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth 26. And though after my skin Worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God So Job 14.12 Man lyeth down and riseth not till the Heavens be no more c. By which two Scriptures in Job the last day and time of the last Trump is explained and limited to Christs personal coming and end of the world or dissolution of the Heavens and the Earth as 2 Pet. 3.10 11 12. Rev. 20.11 Fourthly Because this opinion holds out this to be the first bodily Resurrection contrary to what the Scripture speaks of nine going before it As first the Widow of Sarepta's Son 1. Kin. 17.22 2ly The Son of the Shunnamite 1 Kings 4.35 3ly The man that was raised by the touch of the Prophets Coffin 2 Kings 13.21 4 y The Widow of Naim's Son Luke 7.15 5ly The Daughter of Jairus Luke 8.55 6 y Lazarus John 11.44 7ly Those many that came out of their Graves accompanying Christ at his Resurrection 8ly Tabitha Acts 9.41 9ly Eutichus Acts 20.16 By which several instances it must appear thar either this is not a Corporeal Resurrection spoken of or these nine mentioned were not so for this cannot be said in truth to be the first Corporeal Resurrection when nine went before it but the Tenth Resurrection rather Fifthly The Bodily Resurrection cannot be here meant because that is not to be till a thousand years after this as in this Chapter when all the Elements must give up their Dead Rev. 20.12 13. Sixthly This cannot be the Corporeal Resurection of the Saints for that cannot be till Christs personal coming and appearing and day of Judgment 1 Thes 4.14 Them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 Cor. 15.23 Christ the first fruits afterwards they that are Christs at his coming 2 Tim. 4.1 Who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom And as before Christs personal coming is proved by many arguments not to be till after the thousand years And 't is as clear that the Judgment day is not till after the thousand years and destruction of the Gog Magog Army Seventhly This cannot be the Corporeal Resurrection of the Saints because it inverts Christs
divided into four and twenty courses whose duty and priviledge is held forth in Deut. 33.10 Levit. 10.11 Numb 16.9 Thirdly Judaical of the Tribe of Judah of which Melchizedek the Type Gen. 14.18 Hebr. 7.1 And Jesus Christ the Antetype our great High-Priest Heb. 3.1.4.14 And under him the Spiritual Royal Priesthood Exod. 19 6. Rev 1.6 2 Pet 2.5 9. Importing separation and consecration to God and a nearness and constant communion with him Numb 16.9 Ordering in special the affairs of his Church being appointed and anointed thereto Now as in the Kingdom of Israel the Type of Christ's Kingdom there was an anointed Priesthood a Ministry to manage the affairs of the Church and an anointed Kingship or Magistracy to govern and manage the State So Hath Antichrist in his â—surpations in Imitation of them the Type and as if they were this Kingdom of Christ the Antitype pretended not onely to the Kingship but the Priesthood to the Ministry as well as the Magistracy to the Government of the Church as well as the state putting their Holy Oyl upon the one and the other as most Holy and Sacred things Dedicated to the service of Christ in both Which nevertheless their glorious entitling themselves to such his peculiar service he is pleased as to foretell this horrid blasphemous usurpation so to renounce it with great detestation calling their Magistracy an unclean filthy blasphemous bloody Beast that comes not from him but out of the bottomless Pit and must go into Perdition and the other their Ministry or Priesthood a vile filthy Idolatrous Strumpet that must for her lewd Whoredoms Drunkenness and Witchcrafts have her flesh torn off and burnt with fire But his faithful Saints and Servants that will neither bow the Knee to the one nor the other as being Blasphemous Idolatrous Usurpers not only to the opposing but outing Christs Ministry and Magistracy shall be found in this his Kingdom during this thousand years to administer in both these blessed Ordinances being received in Truth Power and Purity to the advantage of his name and Glory viz. as anointed Kings to manage the Affairs of State as Rulers and Magistrates under Christ the King of Kings and as anointed Priests shall under Christ their High-Priest manage his pure Worship and Govern the Affairs of the Church as his Elders and Ministers which in happy conjunction makes up this Blessed and Glorious state of Christs Rule in this his Kingdom Of the second Death On such the second death had no power THis is another Priviledge of the Saints in this happy Estate that they shall not be lyable to the second death By second death in the Letter is to be understood Hell-fire the place of the damned as interpreted Rev. 21.9 But Mistically and Metaphorically taken for utter ruine destruction and perdition As for instance it is said in Rev. 19.20 that the Beast and False-prophet were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with Brimstone which must Metaphorically be understood because as before explained Page 2 by Beast and False-prophet we are not to understand two persons but states viz. the Magistracy and Ministry of Antichrist who being vanquished in the great Battle are now as utterly extinguished and put into perdition never ony more to do mischief as if two persons were cast into Hell fire which gives light to Dan. 7 11. Rev. 17.8 Rev. 18.8 So also Rev. 20.10 It is said the Devil or Dragon that deceived them was cast into the lake of Fire and Brimstone where the Beast and False-prophet are c. which admits the same mistical signification viz. that now the Dragonical or Heathenish power as explained to be Page 2. that was only bound in times past for a season is after the Gog-Magog destruction as utterly ruined raised and destroyed as the Beast and false prophet the Antechristian stare before Yea and as the Devil himself will be when he is cast into the lake at the last day now never more to work mischief in the world And again the Worshippers of the Beast whose names are not in the Lambs book the Beast and Dragon being thus in utter perdition are now to share with the principals in utter ruine and destruction Rev. 14.10 11 13.8.17.8 compared with the 20.15 And lastly it is said that Death and Hell or the Grave are cast into the lake of Fire which is the seconâ— Death Rev. 20.14 viz. Now after the general Judgment there is to be no more Death Death is swallowed up in Victory a full confirmation of the former Of the Dragons Release And when the Thousand years are expired Satan shall be loosed out of his Prison UPon the expiration of the thousand years it seems Hell is to break loose again the Conquered and subdued Heathen Nations and their Authority that during that space have by the Righteous Laws and Soveraign Authority of Christ been as so many imprisoned fettered Captives yea as so many civil dead men kept down and under subjection whereby universal peace and quiet hath been managed and maintained all the world throughout do now by Gods permission and the Devils inspiration and sedition again perk up for him and in a rebellious manner standing upon their feet again do break off their subjection and Allegeance from Christs Rule and Authority and by combination and confederacy make head against him and engaging under their old Captain general the Devil do rally from the four quarters of the Earth an huge and numberless Host like to the Sand of the Sea which mighty gathering is called here by the spirit Gog and Mâ—gog with design by besieging and compassing the Camp of the Saints and beloved City to raze and destroy the Soveraign Power and Authority of Christ that he hath so long managed by the hands of his Saints in this World upon the breadth of the Earth even as the Syrian Host the Prophet in Dothan The Assyrian Jerusalem the Sodomites Lot 2 Kings 6.14 15. 2 Kings 25.1 Of Gog and Magog ANd shall go out to deceive the Nations which are in the four quarters of the Earth Gog and Magog to gather them together to Battel This is the Name the Holy Spirit is pleased to give this great and last enemy of the Church upon the Earth which for your better understanding take the pithy exposition given by Mr. Mead. It is saith he to be observed that the Revelation is a Book of the Future estate of the Christian Church set forth by Resemblances and Parables borrowed from the condition of affairs of the Jewish Church under the old Testament in which the Worship of the true God flourished alone the rest of the Nations serving Idols universally Hence therefore that Egypt Babylon in the Revelations are not the Babylon and Egypt of the Israelites but the enemies of the Church of the Gentiles like that Babylon and Egypt being Types and Figures of these In like manner Gog and Magog in the Revelation are not the Gog in Ezekiel
thy lovers shall dispise thee they will seek thy life Jer. 4.30 And these are the true sayings of God Rev 19.9 And this further know that strong is the Lord God that will judge thee Rev. 18.8 Of the Throne of God and of the Lamb. And there shall be no more curse but the Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it and his Servants shall serve him 22.3 A Throne or Seat is that principal place where Judgement is administred and from whence it floweth called therefore the Throne of Righteousness the Throne of Justice the Throne of Judgement and sometime put for Dominion and rule 2 Sam. 7.13.16.14.9 Lam. 5.19 Because exercised thereon sometime for dignity and glory because a place of chief renown and eminency sometime for a Kingdom it self Jer. 33.17 1 Sam. 14.9 Because the principal affairs thereof are transacted there And as respecting God sometime for Heaven it self which is called his Throne Ps 11.4 Math. 5.33 Acts 7.49 Because it is his principal place and seat where his Throne of Majesty is and whereon Christ sits with him upon his right hand Heb. 12.3 Holding out most commonly that rule and authority that is exercised in civil states The Throne of God and of the Lamb here shoen by Vision discovered to John to be in the new Jerusalem or new Testament Church hath an allusion to the Throne of God and Christ that was in the old Testament Church and to which we shall have recourse for our better understanding of this mystery And which Throne of Old we find to be two fold viz. either that upon which God was said more petticularly and specially viz. that which was erected in the Tabernacle Exod. 25.17 Or upon that which he was said more ordinarely to sit viz. that which the Judges and Kings of Israel sat in Judgement upon The former whereof we shall in a more particular manner search into because there much lyes in it and much light may be gathered from thence not onely for the understanding this Book of the Revelations but the Prophecies relating to the latter times whereof it was a special Type And which we find was that Throne which God commanded Moses to make and to place over the Ark betwixt the Cherubins called the Mercy Seat or Throne of Grace as Exod. 25.17 And thou shalt make a Mercy Seat above upon the Ark where he promised to sit govern and to give Law to Israel Verse 22. And there I will meet with thee and will commune with thee from above the Mercy Seat from between the Cherubins which are upon the Ark of the Testimony of all things which I will give thee in Commandment unto the children of Israel Which Throne was made accordingly and all things appertaining thereto as Exod. 40. and which no sooner was erected and put into the Tent or Tabernacle according to appointment but the Lord came thereon as Exod 40.34 compared Numb 37. Then a Cloud covered the Tent of the Congregation and the Glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle and Moses was not able to enter into the Seat of the Congregation because the Cloud abode thereon and the Glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle which was no other than that glorious presence that brought them up out of Aegypt whereof we read Exod 13.21 And the Lord went before them by day in a Pillar of a Cloud to lead them by the way and by night in a Pillar of fire to give them light to go by day and night he took not away the Pillar of the Cloud by day nor the Pillar of fire by night from before the people and which was no other than Jesus Christ himself called the Angel of Gods presence Isa 63.0 and therefore said Exod. 23.20 Behold I send an Angel before thee to keep thee in thy way and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared Beware of him and obey his voice provoke him not for he will not pardon your transgressions for my name is in him but if thou shalt indeed obey his voice and do all that I speak then I will be an Enemy to thy Enemies and an Adversary to thy Adversaries for my Angel shall go before thee and bring thee unto the Amorites c. of whom Stephen speaks Acts 7.37 38. This is that Moses which said unto the Children of Israel A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren like unto me him shall you hear Deut. 18.15 Acts 3.22 23 24 25 26. This is he that was in the Church in the Wilderness with the Angel that spake to him in the Mount Sina and with our Fathers who received the lively Oracles to give unto us to whom our Fathers would not obey but thrust him from them And this is that Spiritual Rock that followed them which was Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 10.4 The Lord Christ being thus upon the Throne among them you will sind how he acted the part of a King Ruler Governour Shepherd thereon as more fully appears by the particulars following First By giving Law to them as a King and Legislator whereof you have the Account Numb 7.89 And when Moses was gone into the Tabernacle of the Congregation to speak with him viz. with God as in the Margent then he heard the voice of one speaking him from off the Mercy Seat or Throne that was upon the Ark of Testimony from between the two Cherubims And he speak unto him c. and so he goes on in the following Chapters And Jehovah spake unto Moses saying c. Giving him all the Laws Statutes and Judgments from his mouth who rejected saith Stephen the lively Oracles to give to us And therefore you have Moses saying to the People Deut. 4.5 6 7 8. Behold I have taught you Statutes and Judgments even as the Lord my God commanded me that ye should do so keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the Nations which shall hear all these Statutes and say surely this great Nation is a wise and understanding people for what Nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for and what Nation is there so great that hath Statutes and Judgments so righteous as all this Law which I set before you this day c. Secondly Because as a Shepherd and Guide he march before him as appeareth Exod. 40 36 37 38. And when the Cloud was taken up from over the Tabernacle the Ch ldren of Israel went onward in all their Jorneys But if the Cloud were not taken up then the Journyed not till the day it was taken up for the Cloud of the Lord was upon the Tabernacle by day and fire was on it by night in the sight of all the house of Israel so again Numb 9.18 At the Commandment of the Lord the Children of Israel Jornyed and at the Commandment of
the Ark and its appurtenances golden Candlesticks Altar Censures c. were put into 1. The Tent and wherein it abode till it was put into the Temple for about five hundred years except that time it was in the Philistians hands 2. Which marcht through the Wilderness incompassed by the whole Camp as you may read Numb 2. and 3. Chapter 3. After the conquest of Canaan was set up at Shilo Jos 18.1 4. In Elies days was brought into the Camp at Eben-Ezer and taken by the Philistines 1 Sam. 5.1 The Lord for the sin of his people giving up his glory into the enemies hand as 7 8. Psal 60. So that he forsook the Tabernacle of Shilo the Tent which he placed among men and delivered his strength into Captivity and his Glory into the Enemies hand he gave his people also over unto the Sword and was wrath with his Inheritance c. 5. Which plagued the Philistines Chapter 6. so that they returned it back again 6. Smote the Men of Bethshemesh for their sin in looking into the Ark of the Lord even 50000. of them Verse 19. Fetcht by the men of Kerjath-jearim into the House of Abinadab on the Hill 7. Removed by David with an intention to bring it to his own City but because of the disorder in carrying it on a Cart which should have been born upon Priests shoulders Vzzah was smitten and so the Ark was left three Moneths at the House of Obed Edom 1 Chron. 13. 8. Thence to the City of David 1 Chron. 15.29 9. Thence in the days of Solomon into the most Holy place into the Temple 1 Kings 6.6 c. To which Throne there is special regard in this Book of the Revelations in several respects For 1. As the Lord was said to sit then upon that Throne So John hath a Vision of the Lords sitting upon this Throne Rev. 4.2.3 2. As that Throne was posited in the midst of the Camp viz. the Levites in their 24. Courses being about it and the whole Congregation divided into four Brigades under four principal Standards viz. Judah at the East with his fellow Tribes with an Ensign as supposed of a Lyon because Jacob likened him thereto Gen. 49.9 And Ephraim on the West with a Bullock being also called the firstling of a Bullock Deut. 33.17 Reuben on the South with a man as supposed in his and Dan with an Eagle in his Standard which with the number of the Host surrounding the Throne viz. 603555. which you have particularly exprest in the second and third Chapter of Numbers So in this Book you have the Imperial Session of God and of his Church exactly framed according to the form of that ancient Encamping of God with Israel in the Wilderness where you have the 24 Elders sitting in 24 Thrones round about the Throne clothed in white Raiment and Crowns of gold upon their Head in allusion to the 24 Courses of Levites that incompast the other Throne and the four living Creatures viz. the Lyon the Calf the Man and the Eagle were in like manner round about the Throne answering not onely the four Standards before mentioned but Ezekiels four Cherubins Ezek. 1.10 Discovering as one observes the various constitutions frames and tempers of the Saints All which both Elders and living Creatures thankfully acknowledge in their new Song to have been Redeemed out of every Kindred Tongue People and Nation bespeaking them Saints and that they are made unto God Kings and Priests to Reign on the Earth Rev. 5.8 9 10. By which it appeareth they were the Churches Representatives and therefore are these Redeemed ones said to stand before the Throne in white Robes and Palmes in their hands and to be a great multitude that no man could number Rev. 7.9 And who are said to be before the Throne of God and serve him day and night in his Temple and he that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell amongst them c. the same that is said Rev. 21.3 4. As he Tabernacled of old with his People 3. As the Throne in the days of Solomon was put into the most Holy place 1 Kings 6.6 c. which was that Cubical square of twenty Cubits every way So was this Throne put into this Cubical square of 1500. Miles square as before in the Cubical figure page 160. 4. That as there was pitcht by the Throne both in the Tabernacle and Temple the golden Altar the Candlestick and the Sea so in allusion thereto you have Rev. 4. seven Lamps of fire burning before the Throne interpreted to be the seven Spirits of God and the Sea of glass like Chrystal which in Rev. 21.1 is called the pure River of Water of Life clear as Crystal proceeding out of the Throne And also golden Vials 5.8 And golden Censures with much Incense before the golden Altar Rev. 8.3 4. Interpreted to be the Prayers of all Saints 8.4 compare 5.8 And their white Garments interpreted to be the righteousness of the Saintss Rev. 19. 5. That as the unity of the Godhead and Divinity of Christ was manifestly held forth by Christ siting upon the Throne who in all respects was owned to be God though sometimes called an Angel So is the same great and blessed truth fully in diverse respects made out in this Book respecting Christ's the Lamb sitting upon the Throne with the Father as appeareth by the following instances 1. It is called the Throne of God and the Lamb Rev. 22.3 Thereby intimating that Christ Jesus hath equal property and Interest therein accounting it no robbery to be equal with God Phil. 2.6 The unity of the Godhead being made out in the next words and his Servants shall serve him Rev. 22.3 2. He that sat upon the Throne said I am Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End Rev. 21.5 Which is the same that is attributed to Christ Rev. 1.11 As also to God himself Verse 8. 3. He that sat upon the Throne was to look upon like a Jasper the very same that is spoken of Christ who is represented to be that Saphir like glory that Wall of Saphir and that foundation Saphir stone 4. He that sat upon the Throne had Divine adoration and worship given him by the Church or their Representatives the 24. Elders and four living Creatures Rev. 4.10 11. They also worship and adore the Lamb. Rev. 5.9 10. The whole Church with joynt consent and one voice ascribe the like salvation and glory to the Lamb as they do to God sitting upon the Throne Rev. 7.9 10. And again in the 11 and 12. Verses falling upon their Faces do worship God in unity saying Amen Blessing and Glory and Wisdom and thanksgiving and Honour and Power and might be unto our God for ever and ever Amen Which also by the whole Church in that innumerable multitude is given to the Lamb 5.14 saying with a loud voice Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive Power and Riches and Wisdom and Strength and Honour
the mystery of God and therefore properly applyed to them but short of them can in no sence be either pertinent or true To the second Objection as to the order of the Prophecy I think I need do little but return that Observation for the Solution viz That for the order of things to be done whereof the Revelation speaketh we must search that in the Seal-prophecy which ends with the 11th Chapter all that follows being only a more plentifull declaration of things hinted before and so the order is not so much regarded in this latter prophecy that viz the Order being to be fetcht out of the former Which is true For you will find in this latter Systeme of Prophecies from the 11th Chapter that the former part of the 12th takes place before much of the 11th and the former part of the 13th the latter part of the 12th And good part of the 11th contemporizeth with if not precedes much of the 14th The 18 19 and 20th is an explanation of the 17th or rather all from the 11th Chapter to the end is but an enlargement and exposition of what is epitomized in the 11th where under the witnesses prophecy Death Resurrection and Ascension is held forth the Beasts rise rage and ruine and the taking place of Christs Kingdom which the mind of wisdom warily observing the parallel of Synchronisms must get the distinct knowledge into each as laid down mixedly from the 11th to the end And that no such order as is suggested is to be observed nor any such distance betwixt them as imagined But that the New Jerusalem beloved City new Heaven and Earth or City of God is one with Christs Kingdom in the thousand years may appear from these following considerations viz. First Because upon the destruction of the fourth Monarchy viz. the Whore and Beast or the Magisterial and Ministerial part of Antichrist the thousand years Reign of Christ and the Saints begin or the marriage of the Lamb or new Heavens-state being both one as Rev 19.7.21.2 takes place and therefore are the Hallelujahs sung by the Church for the Salvation Glory Honour and Power that Jesus Christ takes to himself thereupon Rev. 19.6 7 8 9. Secondly Because it is fully manifest that the beloved City is in being during the thousand years For upon the Dragons release he stirs up the Nations against the City of God and accordingly is the Gog-Magog design to besiege and encompass it which is no less in circuit than the whole Earth being the Antithesis to great Babylon the City of the Nations for as one goes down the other goes up in the beginning of the thousand years by which it is undenyable that during the thousand years the beloved City had a being and for better satisfaction herein you may see Mr Mede p. 24. upon his 6th Synchronism Thirdly Because of the Harmonious marks and Characters that accord with both in their taking place in the World viz. 1. Doth the new Jerusalem enter when the seventh Trumpet Soundeth and the Kingdoms of this World become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11.15 18. So doth the thousand years Rev. 20.4 6. comparde with 19.6 2. Doth the new Jerusalem take place upon the pouring out of the Vials and finishing the mystery of God Rev. 10.7 when the Angel of the Vials saith it is done Rev. 21.6 So upon the pouring out of the seventh Vial upon the destruction of the Beast when the thousand years begin as Rev. 19.21 22. Rev. 20.1 It is also said It is done Rev. 16.16 17. 3. Is one the beginning of Christs visible Kingdom upon the Earth so is the other Rev. 20.4 6.19 6. 4. Is one the time of the Marriage of the Lamb with his Church and people Rev. 21.3 9. so is the other Rev. 19 6 7. 5. Is one the time of Jacobs rest from his sorrow and from his fear and from his hard bondage wherein he was made to serve Isa 14.2 So is the other that seventh day or seventh thousand years or great Sabbatism Heb. 4.9 When all enemies Kings of the Earth and their Armies are brought down and Satan bound and Saints as Kings and Priests ascend the throne and peaceably Reign Rev. 20 4 6. 6. Is there to be building planting marrying and giving in marriage procreation enjoyment of Liberty Peace Ease plenty in the new Jerusalem new Heaven and Earth-state as is affirmed from Isai 65.21 33. So also must be the thousand years where Christs virtual presence is in that mystical Resurrection-state For neither before nor after the thousand years shall there be such a state to the Church therefore it must be in the thousand years After the thousand years is the Judgment day Corporeal Resurrection and personal coming of our Lord Jesus as I have at large proved elsewhere when all the Saints are in glorified bodyes as 1 Joh. 3.20 21. Phil. 3.20 21. 1 Thes 4.15 16 17. 1 Cor. 15.51 52. And that as well the changed as raised Saints in which state it is expresly said Luke 20.34 That they who shall be accounted worthy to obtain that World and the Resurrection from the Dead Mark that not onely the raised Saints but whoever shall be accounted worthy to obtain that World taking in the changed also neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they die any more for they are equal to the Angels and are the Children of God being the Children of the Resurrection so that this above all contradiction asserted that they which partake of the Angelical glorious state in the World to come are not capable of such sensitive enjoyments therefore of necessity must it bee before in this new Heaven new Jerusalem or 1000 years state 7. Is the new Jerusalem or City of God extensive over the whole Earth as great Babylon the City of the Nations was So is the Reign of Christ in the thousand years Rev. 20.9 8. Is this glorious City made up of living not dead stones and materialls so is the Church of Christ in an especial manner during the thousand years Rev. 20.6 Eph 2.19 The third Object against the Harmony or oneness of these two states is because of those Scriptures that so positively in their apprehensions assert Christs personal presence in the new Ierusalem-state so inconsistent with the 1000. years after which is to be the Gog. Magog attempts The Scriptures usually mentioned are Rev. 21.3.22.22.3 The Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and God himself shall be with them The Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it and his servants shall serve him and they shall see his face c. To which I would say in the first place that if I have reasoned right in answer to the former Objection about the order it necessarily and undeniably follows that these Scriptures that speak of Gods Tabernacling and dwelling with men and men beholding his face must be understood of a vertual