Things and are and have been in all Ages and are prodvced by natural Causes and therefore this so understood cannot be a Sign of Christ's Coming in the Gospel or any other Way much less by falling of Stars to the Earth which is a Thing impossible the Diameter of the Earth not being able to contain one Star. Besides they are by an Ordinance of Heaven set to give Light to the Earth Gen. 1.18 and those Ordinances cannot be changed Jer. 31.36 therefore something else is here meant Let us see what the Scripture speaks to this Those Words then are metaphorically to be understood For there are other Suns Moons Stars which we read of in Scripture Gen. 37.9 10. There is mention made of Sun Moon and Stars where Superiors both supreme and subordinate are represented under that Notion of Sun Moon and Stars It may also signify the Fall and Ruin of States Monarchs Monarchys Hence we read at the Fall of the Babylonian Monarchy of the darkning of the Sun and the Moon not giving her Light nor the Stars of Heaven nor the Constellations thereof Isai 13.10 and Chap. 14.12 the King of Babylon is said to fall from Heaven and call'd Lucifer Son of the Morning The Fall of Idumea is represented to us by the Host of Heaven being dissolved i. e. Sun Moon and Stars being darkened Hence we read Rev. 6 at the opening of the sixth Seal of the Sun 's becoming black as Sackcloth and the Moon as Blood which some understand of the Fall of the Roman Pagan Empire And Chap. 8.12 at another remarkable Period we read of a third Part of the Sun Moon and Stars darkened And Chap. 16.8 the fourth Angel poured out a Vial on the Sun i.e. the antichristian State or some eminent Person in it We read also in Joel 3.15 of the Sun and Moon being darkened and the Stars withdrawing their Light and Chap. 2.31 that the Sun shall be turned into Darkness and the Moon into Blood And when will this be When he will gather all Nations into the Valley of Jehoshaphat and plead with them there both Pagan and antichristian Enemies this seems to be their great and last Overthrow at Armageddon when the Kings of the Earth and of the whole World shall be gathered together to the Battle of that great Day of God Almighty Hitherto may be referred that in Psal 110.6 when he shall judge among the Heathen and fill the Places with dead Bodies and shall wound the Heads over many Countries And it may be t is THEN they i. e. the Jews shall go forth and look on the Carcases of the Men that have transgressed against God Isai 66.24 for then by Fire and Sword will the Lord plead with all Flesh ver 16. A Scheme of this Battle we have in Ezekiel Chap. 38 39 and Expressions of the same Import of pleading against them with Sword Pestilence and Blood and Fire and is all one with that mentioned Rev. 19 and Joel 2. And when this shall be it will be a dark and bloody World indeed when these Suns and Moons are thus darkened and turned into Blood and so many Stars of the first Magnitude fall But when will this be It will be in the latter Days ver 11. and yet long before the last Day It will be at or about the Calling of the Jews Joel 3.1 and spoke of Ezekiel 37 immediately before this great Destruction then these Suns and Moons will be ashamed and confounded when the Lord of Hosts shall reign in Mount Sion and in Jerusalem and before his Antients gloriously Isai 24. Thus we see what may be meant in this Text by Sun Moon and Stars and what by being darkened by comparing it with other Scriptures Now let it be considered how well this Sign will agree with the Coming of Christ in the Gospel The next Sign to be taken Notice of as preceding the Coming of Christ is touching the Time it will be at such a Time as is unknown to Men or Angels Hence he is said to come as a Thief Rev. 16.15 Chap. 3.3 Behold I come as a Thief And he threatned to come to the Church of Sardis as a Thief and thou shalt not know in what Hour I will come upon thee This Coming will be secretly suddenly unexpectedly and unavoidably Furthermore it will be a Time of general and deep Security when Men shall say Peace and Safety A Time of Sensuality as in the Days of Noah and Lott Eating and Drinking Marrying and giving in Marriage A sleepy World wise Virgins as well as foolish slumbering and sleeping when Christ comes as a Bridegroom which is not at the general Judgment for the wise Virgins will not then be asleep neither will it then be a Time of general Security and Sensuality as it was in the Days of Noah and Lott as we shall show hereafter And the Signs of Christ's Coming extend to the 30th Ver. of Chap. 25th when the Son of Man cometh shall he find Faith on Earth Now let him that Readeth understand and consider whether these Signs or any other will agree with Christ's coming in the Gospel But because most Men understand this Coming to be to the last Judgment and do grant it to be a personal Coming let us now consider how all these Signs will agree and be Forerunners of Christ's coming to the last Judgment And which Coming is spoken of Chap. 25 from Ver. 30th to the End or whether there be any Signs at all mentioned in the Scripture of his coming to the last Judgment And here of Necessity something must be spoken of the THOUSANDS YEARS and of the State of Things here during that Time as also of the first Resurrection the Kingdom of Christ in this World Rev. 20 and other Things coincident And First Whether there be such a Term of Time or no as the Thousands Years Secondly Whether it be past or future and Thirdly The Time when it doth begin or from what Period it doth commence I. To the first of these that there is such a Thing or Term of Time is that which hath been asserted by Men of Note in all Ages since the primative Times a Catalogue of whom might easily be produced if Need were But this Doctrine of the Thousand Years needs no human Testimony We have a more sure Word of Prophesy which we should do well to give Heed unto In Rev. 20 it is express'd no less than five Times over a Thousand Years and The Thousand Years with an Emphasis And the Apostle Peter Chap. 2.3 speaking of the Day of the Lord and Perdition of ungodly Men tells us that one Day with the Lord is a Thousand Years which some think refers to this Time But whether they do or no we must and ought to believe it for this is one of those Sayings that is faithful and true Rev. 22. ver 6 and if any Man shall say otherwise and take away from the Words of this
since the World began Concerning the glorious State of this Kingdom of Christ in this World something hath been hinted before which may be further evinced from the Scriptures And First as to a plentiful Effusion of the SPIRIT promised that it shall be poured out from on high when the Wilderness shall become a fruitful Field Isa 32.15 which is to be understood of great Measures and Degrees of all saving Grace Promised also Zech. 12.10 to be poured out upon the House of David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem But when is it when they shall look non him whom they have pierced and mourn Also Ezekiel 36.27 I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes But when When they are gathered out of all Countries and brought to their own Land ver 24. And this will not only be 1. a Spirit of LIGHT and KNOWLEDGE but 2 there will be much HOLINESS It will be to such a Degree as never was in the World since the Beginning of it So great that some Men have thought though I am not of that Opinion that there will be no Unholiness at least not in the Saints but that the Subjects of this Kingdom shall sin no more See further what the Scripture speaks to this Isa 35.8 An high Way shall be there And it shall be called the Way of Holiness The Unclean shall not pass over it Hence called God's holy Mountain Isai 65. ult the Mountain of his Holiness Jer. 32.23 Upon the Bells of Horses and Pots shall be Holiness Zech. 14.20 3dly As to RIGHTEOUSNESS the People shall be all Righteous they shall inherit the Land forever Isai 35.8 Hence they are called a righteous Nation Chap. 26.2 The Habitation of Justice Jer. 31.23 Here Righteousness aud PEACE will kiss each other Psa 85 which is next proposed to Consideration For CHRIST being the Prince of Peace Isa 9.6 there shall be Peace in his Kingdom and under his Government The Mountains shall bring Peace to his People Psal 72.3 In his Days shall be abundance of Peace so long as the Moon endureth ver 7 and I am sure that will be to the End of the Thousand Years Again Great shall be the Peace of thy Children Isa 54.13 Peace to him that is far off and Peace to him that is near Chap. 57.19 Peace like a River A Succession of Peace as of Waters in a River Jerusalem shall be a quiet Habitation and a peaceable resting Place Isa 32.18 33.20 They shall not learn War any more nor any Weapon that is formed against them shall prosper Again there will be JOY when the Lord reigneth the Earth will rejoice Psal 97.1 and ver 8 Sion heard and was glad and the Daughters of Judah rejoiced sing for Joy of Heart Isai 65.14 rejoice with Joy and Singing everlasting Joy will be upon their Heads and they shall obtain Joy and Gladness and Sorrow and Sighing shall flee away Therefore in this Kingdom of Christ during the Thousand Years there will be no more Apostacy or Backsliding in Holiness or as it was in the Days of Noah and Lot when the World was filled with Violence and all Flesh had corrupted their Way Neither is there the least Hint in Scripture of any Backsliding after this Thousand Years is begun For then there could not be everlasting Joy on their Heads nor could Sorrow and Sighing flee away No more pricking Briar nor grieving Thorn no more Persecution by wicked Men no more violent Death nor Sorrow nor Crying nor any more Pain upon any such account For then Sorrow and Sighing would not flee away nor would Tears be wiped from their Eyes We may further take notice that this Time will be a Time of great LIGHT The Earth shall be filled with the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea The Light of the Moon shall be as the Light of the Sun And the Light of the Sun as the Light of seven Days At the Time of the End Knowledge shall be increased Dan. 12.4 Then there will be a glorious Accomplishment of Predictions and Prophesies which now to us are dark and obscure and the Book which is now sealed at the Time of the End will be opened Much more might be added to what hath been written but we shall at present give some Scriptures which speak of this EXTERNAL AND OUTWARD HAPPINESS First long Life Isai 65 there shall be no more thence an infant of Days nor an old Man that hath not filled his Days for the Child shall die an Hundred Years old for as the Days of a Tree are the Days of my People Again they shall enjoy a Fulness of other temporal Blessings build Houses plant Vineyards and eat the Fruit of them Isai 65. Their Floors shall be full of Wheat and the Fat 's shall overflow with Wine and Oyl and they shall eat in plenty and praise the Name of the Lord that hath dealt wonderfully with them and they shall never be ashamed Joel 2. Then will be fulfilled according to the Letter spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ Mat. 5.5 Blessed are the Meek for they shall inherit the Earth which hitherto they have not done Oh glorious Things are spoken of thee O City of God Selah Psal 87 3. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the City of our God in the Mountain of Holiness beautiful for Situation the Joy of the whole Earth the City of the great King Psal 48.1 2 which Places ultimately refer to this Time and the glorious State of the Church in the last Age of the World. The Church of old was called the Lord's Portion Deut. 32.9 his pleasant Portion Jer. 12.10 his Inheritance Isai 19.25 and the dearly beloved of his Soul his Treasure Exod. 19.5 his Glory Isai 46.13 But the Gospel Church is call'd a Crown of Glory Isai 62.3 the House of his Glory a royal Diadem These are high Expresses of the Glory of the Church in the Thousand Years of Christ's Kingdom in this World. And thus I have written a little and but a little may see a Glimpse and but a Glimpse of Sions Glory much of which is yet to come And from all that which is here written we may gather that if the Times immediately preceding the personal visible and glorious Appearance of Christ at his second Coming be Times of deep Security general Sensuality open Prophaness and Apostacy as hath been declared before then it must needs be that Christ will appear before the Thousand Years because after those Years are began there will be no such Times of Wickedness and Prophaness as hath been also shewed before but the first is undeniable and therefore the second must and will necessarily follow for it cannot be imagined by any that know or understand any Thing of the glorious State of the Church during that Time which hath been mentioned before and which hath been so abundantly declared both by the Prophets and Apostles should
but the rest of the Dead that is wicked Men and it may be some of the Saints also shall lie still in their Graves 'till the general Judgment when all shall appear Good and Bad before the Judgment Sent of Christ And 't is very like this is the Meaning of that Place 2 Tim. 4.1 where 't is said that Christ shall judge both quick and dead at his appearing and his Kingdom That is to say by judging the Quick that is the Wicked or some of them to a temporal Destruction and the raised Saints to be rewarded with all the Glory that is promised to all Overcomers in the New Jerusalem Rev. 2.7 11 17 27 Chap. 3.12 21 And as an Addition to all the Rest they shall sit with Christ in his Throne even as he overcame and is set down with his Father in his Throne And these are some of the Rewards that are mentioned Rev. 11.18 to be distributed to the Saints of the first Resurrection so that we may say with the Psalmist Verily there is a Reward for the Righteous verily he is a God that judgeth in the Earth Psal 58. ult By This time I hope it is clear that there is a first Resurrection of some before all and that of Saints and Saints only And having shewed before what this first Resurrection is not namely that 't is not Regeneration let us now enquire what it is and whether it be not a Resurrection of the Body and that properly so called And to this End let us consider that 20th Chap. of Rev. a little more John is said there to see the the Souls of them that were beheaded for the Witness of Jesus c. What may we think is meant by Souls Souls in this Place are put for the Dead the Souls of them that were beheaded is the same with the Dead that were beheaded And that is manifest from the opposite Clause or Sentence i.e. the rest of the Dead lived not again ver 5 and therefore the first are considered as dead Again 't is faid they lived and reigned c. What may be meant by this Living and Reigning By the Lives of the Souls of them that were beheaded it seems to me to be no other than the Life of the Body which they did lay down in the Death of the Body and which now in the Resurrection they receive again to die no more To evince the Truth of this let it be considered First That John speaks of the Souls of them that were beheaded that is of those that were slain or dead in Body and he saith that they lived that is they lived again but the dead in Body live not again but by a Resurrection from the Death of the Body The Argument may be thus framed The Resurrection of the Dead in Body is the Resurrec-of the Body 1 Cor. 15.12 13. but the first Resurrection is the Resurrection of the Dead in Body for 't is the Resurrection of those that were beheaded therefore 't is of the Body Secondly The Text speaks of such a Resurrection wherein Men lived a Thousand Years after they be raised which cannot agree to any other Life or Resurrection but the Life and Resurrection of the Body therefore this Resurrection is a bodily Resurrection Thirdly Such a Resurrection is here meant as will be to the rest of the dead after the Thousand Years are ended who lived not again 'till that be finished ver 5 which shall be of the Body ver 12.13 therefore this Resurrection is of the Body also Fourthly The Men that were beheaded must so live during the Thousand Years as the rest of the Dead lived not all that while their Souls were still separated from their Bodies therefore these must live in Souls joined to their Bodies And Lastly These must so live at the first Resurrection as the rest shall live at the second Resurrection and that will be in Bodies and Souls united which cannot be except they be raised from their Graves And thus having written before of the second or next Coming of Christ and of the Thousand Years and of the first Resurrection and the Judgment of the Quick and Dead and other Things coincident we shall write hereafter a little more fully to what hath been only hinted already in this Discourse And First Touching THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST IN THIS WORLD That of John 18.36 being objected against it where Christ saith his Kingdom is not of this World for the better Understanding of this we may take Notice That when Pilate asked Christ if he were a King his Answer was thou sayst that I am a King grants the Thing told him that for that End he was born i. e. to be a King. And Luk. 19 we read that he was proclaimed King by the Multitude and a great Multitude with great Solemnity to the Astonishment of the Spectators All Jerusalem was moved at it Matt. 21.10 and he justified them that did it But it may be said every one will grant this that Christ is a King and that he is King over his Church in which Respect he is called King of Saints Rev. 15.3 King of Sion Joh. 12.15 Psal 2.6 King Jesus Act. 17.7 But CHRIST is not only King of Saints but King of Nations Jer. 10.7 and that not only as GOD equal with the FATHER but as MEDIATOR also And in that Respect he is called God's King Psal 2.6 And all Power in Heaven and Earth is given to him Civil as well as Ecclesiastical And therefore in Luk. 1.32.33 there 't is said that God shall give to him the Throne of his Father David and that he should reign over the House of Jacob and therefore in Mar. 11 the People are said to Cry Hosanna Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord blessed be the Kingdom of our Father David But the Throne and Kingdom of David was Civil Government Again CHRIST is not only a King but a great King Mat. 5,35 in Reference to Jerusalem which is often put for civil State and not only a great King but King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19.16 By all which we may see that Christ is de jure and will be de facto a King and that not only over his Church but over all the Earth and that is next to be considered i. e. THE EXTENT OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM For this see Psal 2. He is to have the utmost Parts of the Earth for his Possession Psal 22.28 he is said there to be Governor among the Nations and Psal 72.8 his Dominion is to the Ends of the Earth ver 13. all Nations shall serve him Daniel also speaking of this Kingdom of Christ says it became a great Mountain and filled the whole Earth Chap. 2.35 But more fully Chap. 7.14 and there was given to him Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him I shall add one Scripture more to all these and that is Rev. 11.15 at
that new Song sung Rev. 5 9. that Christ had redeemed them by his Blood and that they should reign on Earth And in this Sense I understand that in Rev. 14.3 4 where the Hundred and forty four Thousand standing on Mount Sion with the Lamb are said to be redeemed from the Earth and redeemed from amongst Men singing a new Song which none else could learn. See also how the Creatures are brought in rejoicing at this Time when the Lord reigneth as if it were the only Thing they waited and groaned for Psal 96 The Heavens rejoicing the Earth glad Fields joyful and all that is therein which comprehend all Land-Creatures all the Trees of the Wood Sion heard and was glad and the Daughters of Judah rejoiced But what is the Ground of all this Joy and Rejoicing Why 't is because of God's Judgments on a wicked World in burning up his and our Enemies Psal 97.3 delivering his Church ver 10. Methinks this looks very well like the Time that the whole Creation groaneth and travaileth in Pain for the Fruition and Enjoyment of But it may be thought that all this Joy and Rejoicing will be during the Time of the general Judgment And it may as well be thought otherwise and that it will be long before that Time For at this Time the Earth shall be established that it shall not be moved and when they should bring Offerings to God and come into his Courts and worship him in the Beauty of Holiness with external Worship which will not be at the ultimate Judgment To all that which hath been already written touching this Matter may be added that there shall be a Time when the Enmity of the Creature shall cease both their Enmity against Man and one against another For there was no such Enmity in them before the Fall and 't is no small Part of the Curse brought on the Creature and that Vanity they were made subject to and they groan travail in Pain to be delivered from being subjected to it in Hope of Deliverance and it shall be delivered from this Bondage of Corruption ver 22. See some Scriptures to this Purpose Hosea 2.16 17 18 in the Day when the Church should call Christ Ishi and the Name of Baalim should be taken out of her Mouth in that Day God would make a Covenant for them with the Beasts of the Field and with the Fowls of the Heaven and with the creeping Things of the Ground and break the Bow the Sword and the Battle out of the Earth and they should lie down safely Moreover God promiseth that in that Day he would hear the Heavens and the Heavens should hear the Earth and the Earth hear the Corn and Wine and Oyl and they should hear Jezreel See here is Safety Peace and Plenty and this will be before the End of the World. But more full is that Isa 11.6 7 8 9 the Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard lie down with the Kid and the Calf and the young Lion and a little Child should lead them and the Cow and the Bear should feed their young ones and lie down together Here we see the Enmity of the Creatures one against another shall cease and not only so but their Enmity against Man also So that the sucking Child shall play on the Hole of the Asp and the weaned Child put his Hand on the Cockatrice Den they shall not hurt nor destroy in all God's holy Mountain for the Earth shall be filled with the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea. The whole Chapter is nothing else but a Description of the Kingdom of Christ in this World as is intimated to us in the Contents of the Chapter and will be fulfilled at or about the Calling of the Jews for it will be in that Day as is clear ver 11 and it cannot without Wrong to the Scriptures be referred to the general Judgment You have the same and much more Isai 65. from ver 17 to the End and this will be when there shall be a new Heaven and a new Earth and none in their right Understanding can refer it to any other Time. And here we are told that by Wolfe and Lyon and Leopard are meant Men of a ravenous Disposition before Conversion which afterward become Lambs but if so then they are no longer Lyons and Leopards but Lambs and t is no Wonder if they feed and lie down together Or if any should think that by these ravenous Creatures are meant wicked Men under the Power of restraining Grace although t is true there will be wicked Men at this Time in the World and possibly may be much under Restraint yet t is to be doubted whether they shall have such Intimacy of Communion with the Saints as to Eat and Drink and lie down together in God's holy Mountain or that they will be so tame that a little Child should lead them For we know there will still be Enmity between the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent when the Enmity of the Creature shall cease But what need is there of forsaking the literal Interpretation of these Scriptures unless Truth were endangered thereby or to make Allegories or Metaphors where God makes none Those that know any Thing in these Matters know or may know that this Enmity of the Creatures amongst themselves and against Man which is a great Part of the Curse shall be taken away and cease and they wait in Hope for it as hath been before shewed and if so why not now Why must it be deferred till the general Judgment is begun or during that Time T is doubtful whether these irrational Creatures will have a Being at the General Judgment or if they should have a Being to be sure they could not be of any Use unto Men which was one great End of their Beings I know no Reason for such an Opinion but this that wicked Men will abuse them Such have been told before that Use either for Meat or any other Use or Employment is not in itself sinful but lawful and good and we may not think that wicked Men will be so apt to abuse them if at all when the Devil is in Chains and they themselves under the strict Government of the Saints And as a further Answer to such if these irrational Creatures should have a Being during the Time of the general Judgment which is yet to be proved what Children will there be then at Leisure to lead them or have nothing else to do but to play about their Holes when small as well as great and Children as well as others must stand before Jesus Christ to be judged Rev. 20.12 and the Earth the Heavens will then fly away from the Face of him that sits on the Throne and no Place found for them ver 11 and if so then no Place for these Creatures to be or not to be sustained in any ordinary Way Methinks Men
Chap. 38.8 16 Joel 3.1 Rev. 16.12 and that it will be in the Land of Judea that they shall be destroyed And they all shew the dreadful Effects that will follow Chap. 38.19 20 Joel 3.15.16 Rev. 16.18 19 20. And all agree that when this Battle is over there will be a peaceable and prosperous State of the Church this being the last Battle that ever will be fought in the World. So that if we view these Scriptures we shall see that they all speak of the same Enemies gathered together by the same Hand engaged against the same People at the same Time upon the same Occasion to be destroyed in the same Place and the same Effects to follow viz. terrible to the one and comfortable to the other So that you see this War is not a War in which the Enemies of God shall fight one against another as they often do upon divers Occasions but it will be a Combination of them all against CHRIST and his People and specially his antient People And these are as I understand the Gog and Magog intended by Ezekiel and the Gog and Magog mentioned Rev. 20 are the multiplied Posterity of those few of the Nations that shall be left when this Battle is over at the beginning of the Thousand Years when the Gog and Magog foretold by Ezekiel shall be destroyed in Armageddon But yet notwithstanding all that hath been said t is very likely there will be great Wars and much Blood shed and the Jews after their Return to their own Land will be much diminished brought very low as we may read in Dan. 12.1 There shall be such a Time of Trouble as never was since there was a Nation even to that same Time and at that Time shall thy People be delivered and the Prophet Zechariah tells us that many of them shall be cut off and die Chap. 13.8 the City taken and Houses rifled and Women ravished before the Lord go forth and fight against these Nations in the Battle of the great Day of God Almighty For t is a great doubt to me whether all this while that Nation will be converted to Christ and embrace Christianity until they be in their own Land and this great Battle be over For t is very unlikely considering how these dry Bones lie scattered most Parts of the World over and do hardly know themselves of what Nation they are much less do others know and it may be speak divers Languages and how the Gospel should be preached to them and to their Understandings and by whom and in what Tongue and whether seeing they have had the Gospel preached at least to their Predecessors already who did reject it and as they still do what Probability is there that they will now readily embrace it and that so suddenly so as to be born in a Day who hath heard such a Thing who hath seen such Things shall the Earth bring forth in one Day or shall a Nation be born or new born at once for as soon as Sion travelled she brought forth her Children Isai 66.8 I rather incline to think that God will some Way or other first bring them into their own Land and give them Advantage to return by drying up the River EUPHRATES that is as I conceive by diminishing and abating the great Power of the Turk in and about that Part of the World and that either by intestine Commotions or Wars with other Nations or both that so a Way may be prepared for these Kings of the East to return and this is to be done under the pouring out of the 6th Vial and now is the Time when these dry Bones will come together and stand upon their Feet and become an exceeding great Army and have Breath breathed into them and have a Civil Life put into them but no spiritual Life till they be in their own Land and at the Sound of the 7th Trumpet and the pouring out of the 7th Vial and after this great Battle when God will destroy all Nations that come against Jerusalem then he will pour upon them the Spirit of Grace Supplication and then will CHRIST personally visibly appear and they shall look on him whom they have pierced and mourn with a penetential Mourning and when his Feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives from whence he ascended then he will come and all his Saints with him Zech. 14.3.5 And this is the great Day of JEZREEL when the Children of Judah and the Children of Israel shall be gathered together and appoint them one Head Hos 1. ult when the Lord shall be King over all the Earth Zech. 14.9 and all the Kingdoms of this World become his Rev. 11.15 and now will Michael stand up the great Prince which standeth for the Children of Daniel's People and then they shall b e delivered and all this a Thousand Years before the general Judgment The Sum of all and that which I intend is this viz. That the Gog Magog spoken of by Ezekiel is not the same spoken of by John Rev. 20 nor any one Nation but a Compound of many Nations who shall engage in a War not one with another but principally with the Jews and that after their Return to their own Land Way being made for them by the Weakening of the Turkish Power on the Borders of Euphrates and after many Conflicts the Jews will be brought very low and much diminished and many Nations shall be gathered together in Battle against them to destroy them this Battle spoken of by Ezekiel Joel and John yet no spiritual Life till the Sound of the 7th Trumpet and the pouring out of the 7th Vial which probably will be by Christ himself when they shall be converted to Christianity partly by Vision Christ personally appearing to them whom they shall look upon and see with their Bodily Eyes and mourn under a deep Sense of their Sin and then t is likely will cry out as those converted Jews Act. 2.37 What shall we do and as Paul when struck down Lord what wilt thou have me to do then possibly the Gospel may be preached to them as it was to those and three Times three Thousand converted at one Sermon and that fulfil'd the Prophet spoken of before that a Nation it born at once and their Feet be accounted beautiful that bring these glad Tidings to them and then and never till then will they say blessed is he that cometh to us in the Name of the Lord. And now God assisting I shall write a little about the POURING OUT OF THE SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH which is yet future at least in Part and as to the full Accomplishment thereof and as a Concommitant of all these Things from Joel 2.28 29 It shall come to pass afterwards that I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh c. And here several Things offer themselves to Consideration as first what 's meant by Spirit and what by pouring out as also who
little trodden by others But if so being made sensible of it I shall not be backward to acknowledge my Failings But 't is no good Logick nor will it be a convincing Argument to me to say that what is here written is not so If such an Answer would suffice and Disputes would soon be ended and it might possible satisfy all but such as have their Eyes in their Heads And if these be not Truths which are here asserted or proposed to Consideration those that are of another Opinion may do well to let us understand our Mistakes and declare their own Sentiments herein W. T. Of the Coming of CHRIST MATT. XXIV 3. Tell us when shall these Things be And what shall be the Sign of thy Coming and of the End of the World THESE Words contain three Questions proposed by the Disciples to Christ for Resolution 1 when shall these Things be which Words refer to the Destruction of the Temple and City 2 What shall be the Signs of thy Coming This Question seems to be grounded upon the last Verse of the former Chapter ye shall not see me henceforth till c. implying a Time wherein the Jews should see Christ again visibly when they should say Blessed is be that comes in the Name of the Lord. The 3 Question was about the End of the World when that should be and what Signs would precede That the World should have an End Christ had told them Mat. 13.40 Now that these are three distinct Questions is evident by three distinct Answers which Christ makes to the Disciples His first Answer concerning the Destruction of the Temple begins with a Caution ver 4. Take Heed that no Man deceive you and afterwards describes the Misery of that Nation in many Particulars as Signs and Forerunners of their Ruin unto ver 23. See Luke 21.20 But this being past no Notice shall be taken of it here The Answer to the second Question begins at the 23 ver of this Chap. and continues to the 31 ver of the 25 Chap. and from thence to the End we have a Description of the general Judgment and of the End of the World But no Signs preceding either there or any where else in Scripture that this Writer knows The main Thing intended in this Script is modestly to enquire not positively to conclude any Thing concerning a right Understanding of the second Question and the Answer of Christ thereunto viz. What Kind of Coming of Christ is here to be understood And here we must know that there are more Comings of Christ than two There is a spiritual Coming in the Ministry Christ came and preached in the Ministry of Noab 1 Pet. 3 and by the Ministry of Paul Eph. 2.17 There is also a providential Coming of Christ in stupendous Providences and it may be of this Coming James speaks Chap. 5.8 the Coming of the Lord draws nigh Neither of these seems to be meant here nor will the Signs laid down of the Coming of Christ agree to either of them For first it cannot be meant of his Coming in the Gospel spiritually for so he hath been always Coming and will be to the End of the World and no Signs can be given of this Coming The like may be said concerning his Coming in extraordinary Providences Other Comings of Christ might be mentioned but this Coming of Christ seems to be a personal Coming and therefore t is said they shall see the Son of Man Coming viz. personally Christ is seldom if ever stiled the Son of Man in any other Coming Again t is said he cometh in the Clouds of Heaven Dan. 7.13 One like the Son of Man came with the Clouds of Heaven Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with Clouds and every Eye shall see him and they that have pierced him viz. the Jews Zech. 12.10 This Description of Christ's Coming in the Clouds of Heaven so often mentioned cannot be understood of his Coming in the Gospel But it may be said by Clouds may be understood his Ordinances as in Isai 5.6 I will command the Clouds that they rain no more Rain upon it To which it is answered 't is not said there the Clouds of Heaven as in the fore-mentioned Texts Secondly t is answered that Clouds are for Protection from Danger Exod. 14.19 Isai 4.5 for a Defence upon the Glory and so it may be well understood here But if this satisfy not we must know that parabolical Divinity is not argumentative against plain Texts of Scripture and we may not forsake the literal Interpretation where t is not contrary to the Analogy of Faith. Let us consider a litter further of some of the Signs foregoing this Coming of Christ and see how they will agree with any other Coming but a personal Coming For the Suddenness of it is compared to Lightening which is most quick visible and also terrible ver 27. described also by gathering together of the Eagles ver 28. It cannot be understood of he Roman Eagles called the Abomination of Desolation For that was past long ago before the Destruction of the Temple ver 15. and therefore such an Interpretation is foreign from the meaning of that Text. By Eagles therefore are to be understood Saints rather By the Carcass or Body as Luke renders it Chap. 17. ver 24-37 is to be understood Christ and the Apostle 2 Thes 1.3 speaking of this Coming of Christ speaks also of our gathering together to him foretold by Jacob long before his Incarnation Gen. 49.10 To him shall the gathering of the People be and the Psalmist speaking of such a fiery tempestuous Time as is like to be at this Coming of Christ tells us that God calls to the Heavens above and to the Earth to gather together his Saints Psal 50.3 4 and in ver 31. of this Chap. t is said he shall send his Angels with a great ' Sound of a Trumpet to gather together his Elect from one End of Heaven to the other which it may be is the same spoken of Isai 27.12 13. when the great Trumpet shall be blown and the Children of Israel which are ready to perish in the Land of Assyria shall be gathered one by one and shall worship the Lord in the holy Mount of Jerusalem Now t is probable these Gatherings together will be of all Elect Jews and Gentiles done partly by a Sight of our Lord Jesus Christ and partly by the Ministry of Man of which we may possibly speak more fully hereafter Another Sign of Christ's Coming is The Sun shall be darkned and the Moon not give her Light and the Stars fall from Heaven c. Let us consider here what may be meant by Sun Moon and Stars and then see how t is a Sign of Christ's Coming in the Gospel There are some that understand it literally that these celestial Bodies should be darkened by frequent Eclipses and that the Stars should really fall to the Earth But we know that Eclipses are ordinary and common
was in the Days of Noah and as it was in the Days of Lott Eating and Drinking Marrying Building and planting and knew nothing 'till the Flood came even thus shall it be when the Son of Man shull be revealed ver 26 27 30. And Luk. 19.11 There were some that thought that the Kingdom of God should immediately appear but Christ gives them to understand otherwise and represents himself as a certain noble Man that went into a far Country to receive for himself a Kingdom and to return And ver 15 when he was returned having received the Kingdom then he calls his Servants to account and passes Sentence on them Hence he is said to judge quick and dead at his Appearance and his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.1 And therefore when he come to set up his Kingdom at the Sounding of the Seventh Trumpet at the Time he is said to Judge and to give Rewards to his Servants Rev. 11 15 18. So that at his Return will be the Time when this Kingdom of Christ shall appear and the Thousand Years begin But to enquire a little further concerning THE TIME and see what the Scripture speaks to it and we shall find Rev. 10.5 6 7 that under the sixth Trumpet which is the second Woe Trumpet Chap. 9.12 the Angel which is CHRIST who sets his right Foot on the Sea his left Foot on the Earth and lifteth up his Hand to Heaven and sweareth by him that liveth for ever and ever that there should be Time no longer but in the Days of the Voice of the seventh Angel when he shall begin to sound the Mystery of God should be finished as he hath declared to his Servants the Prophets What Should the World be now at an End that Time should be no longer when the seventh Angel sounded No not so but then Time should be no longer to the Beast and other Enemies of Christ and then the Mystery of God should be finished But what may this Mystery which must be finished after the Sound of the seventh Trumpet be which is the last Trumpet after which none shall Sound but the Trump of God at the last Judgment 1 Cor. 15.52 at the Resurrection of the Dead And this the Apostle calls a Mystery but this is not the Mystery of God here meant for God had not declared this to his Servants the Prophets Much less is it the Mystery of Iniquity 2 Thes 2.7 for that is not the Mystery of God but of the Devil There is yet another Mystery of which the Apostle speaks Rev. 11.25 and that is the Calling of the Jews And this Mystery hath been declared to all the Prophets as hath been shewed before And this Mystery of God is to be finished under the seventh Trumpet and at the pouring out of the last Vial For then 't is said It is done What is that which is done Then the Mystery of Gods is fulfilled Chap. 10.7 And at the pouring out of this Vial which is contemporary with the seventh Trumpet there will be Voices and Thunderings and Lightnings to strike Terror into the Minds of Men and there will be a great Earthquake such as was not since Men were upon the Earth so mighty and Earthquake and so great It will shake all the Kingdoms of this World shake the Heavens and shake the Earth the Lord will shake all the World by it and Things so shaken must be removed that what cannot be shaken may remain but of his something hath been spoken before But what may this Earthquake be which shall thus shake the whole World and such as never was since Men lived upon Earth I do not understand it of an Earthquake properly so called but so as it represents to us great Changes in the World and Distrese of Nations with Perplexity Mens Hearts failing them for Fear and for looking after those Things which are coming on the Earth For the Powers of Heaven shall be shaken Luk. 21.25 26. We read of a great Earthquake Rev. 6 at the Opening of the sixth Seal And it was so great that it shook the Pagan Roman Empire for so Interpretors understand that Place the whole Pagan Emperial World Sun Moon and Stars thereof and this introduced a blessed Change for the present So that we see such Earthquakes signify great Changes and affrighting Judgments by Wars and otherwise and such will be at the Sounding of the seventh Trumpet and the pouring out of the last Vial. Rev. 16.14 we read of the Kings of the Earth and of the whole World gathered together to the BATTLE of the GREAT DAY of GOD ALMIGHTY And it is the same Battle spoken of by the Prophet Ezekiel Chap. 38. 39 for that was to be in the latter Day ver 16 And it must be at or after the return of the Jews to their own Land which is yet future And the Prophet Joel also speaks of the same Battle Chap. 3.2 For behold in those Days and in that Time when I shall bring again the Captivity of Judah and Jerusalem I will gather all Nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat and plead with them there A more general War-like Assembly was never known in the World and by Means whereof there will be such an Earthquake as was never heard of since the World began And this will be all at the same Time ' the Calling of the Jews at the same Place Judea Ezek. 39.4 upon the Mountains of Israel Joel 3.2 in the Valley of Jehoshaphat Rev. 16.16 at Armageddon To this Time the Prophet Isaiah refers Chap. 63.1 2 3 c. where Christ is represented as treading the Wine-press treading his Enemies in Anger trampling on them in Fury Garments stained with their Blood Just the same with Rev. 14.15 20. Thrust in thy Sickle into the Earth and gather the Vine of the Earth and the Angel thrust in his Sickle and gathered the Vine of the Earth and cast in into the great Wine-press of the Wrath of God. But more of this when we come to speak of the great Battle of GOD and MAGOG Joel also speaks to the same Purpose and the same Time then will Men go into the Clefts of the Rocks and into the Tops of the ragged Rocks for Fear of the Lord and for the Glory of his Majesty when he ariseth terribly to shake the Earth By this little above-written we may partly judge what this Earthquake is like to be and to do which is so great as was not since Men lived upon Earth For now the old World will be at an End and the new World will begin which the Apostle calls the World to come Heb. 2.5 Thus much may suffice for Answer to the third Question proposed to be spoken to i.e. when the Thousand Years will begin and all the Kingdoms of this World become the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ and he to reign for ever and ever And this is one of the most remarkable Periods which hath been
this Man that hath been a Cripple this 38 Years he tells them that the Hour was Coming when the Dead should hear his Voice and live and not many Hours after Christ did raise up dead Lazarus and the Jews did see it Nay not long after that many dead Bodies of Saints arose by the Power of Christ and appeared to many and for ought I know to some of these Jews Mat. 27.52 53 So that this was fulfilled according to the Letter Further we must know that the Word Hour in Scripture is seldom taken for an Hour properly so called but mostly for a longer Time and sometimes for Periods of Time as in Mat. 20. mention is made of the third sixth ninth and eleventh Hour and sometimes t is taken for a very long Time even to Years and Ages The Hour of Temptation which shall come upon all the World Rev. 3.10 is a long Hour And I have heard that the same Word which is translated Hour in this Text is in the 1 Joh. 2.18 translated Time viz. the last Time and if there be nothing in this fifth of John repugnant to such a Translation why should we not as well read it viz. the Time is coming as well as the Hour is coming But upon a Supposition that this former Exposition be not the Meaning of this 25th Verse why then may we not understand the Meaning of it to be the Time cometh when the Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live viz. shall rise and live and so be the Saints of the first Resurrection called the Resurrection of the Just Luk. 14.14 when God will give Rewards which is at the Sounding of the seventh Trumpet Rev. 11.15.18 For then there is a Resurrection when the Kingdoms of this World shall be the Kingdoms of our Lord and when he shall take to himself his great Power and reign And why may not these be the Saints of the first Resurrection Or if neither of these should be the Saints of the first Resurrection let us see if we can find it in ver 28. Christ in this ver tells the Jews they should not marvel at what he had spoken before about raising the Dead and the Execution of Judgment but tells them the Hour or Time was Coming in which ALL that are in Graves should hear his Voice and come forth c. I think all Men that believe any Thing about a Resurrection do understand that Christ in this Verse speaks of a Bodily Resurrection But most take it for a single Resurrection viz. of all Men Good and Bad at one Time at the last Judgment and do utterly deny any first or other Resurrection at all And I confess I should be ready to think so too had not the same Apostle Rev. 20. told us in so many Words that there is a first Resurrection ver 5 when some lived and some did not live and if there be a first Resurrection I am sure there must be a last and therefore in ver 13 a Thousand Years after the first Resurrection we read of another Resurrection to the general Judgment when the Sea gave up the Dead that was in it and Death and Hell gave up the Dead that were in them and they were judged according to their Works at the last Judgment Some there be that think that there is a first and last Resurrection comprehended in this Verse and expound the Words thus the Time is Coming in which i. e. within the Compass whereof ALL that are in Graves shall hear his Voice and come forth they that have done Good to the Resurrection of Life at the beginning of the Thousand Years and they that have done Evil to the Resurrection of Damnation when those Years are ended at the general Judgment But whether so or no I shall not determine But I cannot see any Reason to persuade me to believe that Christ in the 25th ver of this Chap. did intend Regeneration or a spiritual Resurrection when the Sum of his Discourse was about the Resurrection of the Body and of Judgment to come and to speak of Generation as a Thing future which hath been ever since the World began I do not understand and where they may seem to be a double Meaning or doubtful Sense of any Scripture It is to be understood according to the subject Matter spoken of and the Scope of the Context Now I am sure that Christ speaks here of a bodily Resurrection but I am not sure that he speaks of Regeneration For further Proof of this Point we shall propound one Scripture more to Consideration and that is Rev. 11.15 At the Sounding of the seventh Trumpet when the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord Jesus Christ there is mention made of a Judgment ver 18 and of giving Rewards to his Prophets and Saints and this is called there the Time of the Dead that they should be judged small and great And this doth necessarily imply a Resurrection at least of some For they are not judged and rewarded before they are raised from the dead But it may be some may say this is to be understood of the Resurrection at the last Day and that the seventh Trumpet here is meant the last Trumpet to summon the whole World together to the general Judgment But I say no That Trumpet is called the Trump of God 1 Thes 4.16 so is not this Again that is called the last Trump 1 Cor. 15 so as after it none was to sound so is not this Again at the Sounding of the seventh Trumpet the Thousand Years of Christ's Kingdom in this World is to begin as hath been proved before but at the Sounding of the last Trumpet or Trump of God it ends for then the World ends So that except we will deny the Doctrine of the Thousand Years it must be granted that the seventh Trumpet is not the last Trump and so that this Resurrection is not the last Resurrection but the first For after this many Things were to be done and 't is said the Nations were angry And therefore not to be understood of the last Judgment For then 't will be a vain Thing to be angry Hitherto or to this Time may be referred that in Psa 2 When Christ should be set as King in Sion there would be much Anger when he shall have the utmost Parts of the Earth for his Possession and such of his Enemies as would not that he should reign over them be bro't forth and slain before him and broken in Pieces with a Rod of Iron like a Potter's Vessel and destroy them that destroy the Earth and give Rewards to his Servants small and great This is called the Resurrection of the Just Luk. 14.14 So that we may gather from hence that there is a partial or first Resurrection and that of Saints only because they that have Part in the first Resurrection on them the second Death hath no Power
not comprehending all Saints because there are Nations of them that are saved who shall walk in the Light of it Chap. 21.24 and they shall bring the Glory and Honour of the Nations into it ver 26. Besides Chap. 20.9 there is mention made of the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City which seems to imply at least to me that they are distinct Societies No such a Society in the purest Churches and in the best Times Tares will be amongst Wheat till Harvest Mat. 13.29 Coming down from God out of Heaven T is true the Gospel Church is called the Kingdom of Heaven but not coming down from God out of Heaven therefore is not Heaven itself for it comes down from God out of Heaven Chap. 21.2.10 Again the Kings of the Earth do bring their Glory and Honour to it and they shall bring the Glory and Honour of the Nations into it which they cannot bring into Heaven Again Rev. 20.9 t is said that God and Magog went upon the Breadth of the Earth and compassed the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City therefore they were upon the Earth for if by new Jerusalem be meant Heaven is a Thing altogether impossible Furthermore the Saints of the new Jerusalem are free from Sin Sorrow and Suffering 1 from Sin there is nothing in it that defileth Chap. 21.27 but Sin defileth 2 They are free from Sorrow ver 4 no more Sorrow nor Crying nor Pain and also free from Suffering for Suffering is always attended with Pain But in other Saints there will be Sin and therefore Sorrow and Suffering to the End of the World. Again these have attained to Perfection in Grace and Holiness so as they need no further Improvement of external Means of Salvation no Temple therein no Need of Sun and Moon to shine therein for the Glory of God doth lighten it and the Lamb is the Light thereof ver 22.23 no Night there nor Need of Candle or Sun for the Lord giveth them Light Chap. 22.5 But we know that external Means of Salvation will be needful for some till the End of the World by which Souls may be brought home to Christ Thus having given what my Apprehensions are in this Matter and shewed what this new Jerusalem is not and also what it is and whence it comes let it be enquired into where such a Society of Saints and Saints only according to the former Description may be found And here as I premised at first I will not be positive but propose to Consideration whether they may not be the Saints of the first Resurrection mention'd Rev. 20 That some Saints shall rise before others is clear in that Chapter in the beginning of the Thousand Years as before whether all Saints or no I shall not determine that some shall not then live when these are raised is as clear whether Saints or Sinners or both is left to Consideration That there will be Saints and Sinners in the World during that whole Term of Time and so until the End thereof and to the End of the World we have good Ground from Scripture to believe that Christ will appear long before the End of the World or ultimate Day hath been formerly proved that when he cometh he will come with all his Saints Zech. 14.5 Jude 14 and why not these Saints that come with Christ be the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven who are to live and reign with Christ a Thousand Years Chap. 20 and that on Earth Chap. 5.10 Again why may not these be the Spirits of just Men made perfect and Church of the first born to which we are come Heb. 12.23 or what else is the Meaning of that Place Once more why may not these be those who stand on Mount Sion with the Lamb Rev. 14 and follow him whithersoever he goes which are redeemed from among Men being the first Fruits unto God and to the Lamb who were without Fault before the Throne of God and are distinct from the four Beasts and the Elders which I understand to be the Church which will be at that Time. If these or some of these be not the new Jerusalem I know not where to find it I know that very few are of this Opinion that the raised Saints are the New Jerusalem but rather think that the New Heaven and New Earth of which Peter speaks 2d Epistle 3d Chap. 13. are the New Jerusalem for Resolution in this Case and as an Addition to what hath been already written I shall propose to Consideration 1. Whether thinking so or saying so without any Proof will make it so 2dly the Apostle John makes them two distinct Things Rev. 21.1 2. The New Heaven and New Earth seems to be quite another Thing and I understand it to be no other than the Jewish evangelical Church represented to us after a legal Manner by the Prophet Ezekiel under the Name Notion of a City and Temple which is like to be the most glorious Church that ever was in the World 't is more than possible that this may be the New Heaven and New Earth when Jerusalem shall be a Rejoicing and her People a Joy Isa 65.17 18 being called there the New Heaven and New the Earth And yet notwithstanding this New Heaven and New Earth as it is discribed by Ezekiel differs in many Respects from the New Jerusalem as will appear by comparing John Ezek. together For first In the New Jerusalem there is no Temple for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple thereof Rev. 21.22 but that City mentioned by Ezekiel had a Temple Chap. 41.1 4 implying that there should be external Worship And what else is the Meaning of the Priests and Offerings so often mentioned there See Zec. 14.16 Again in the New Jerusalem the River of the Waters of Life proceedeth out of the Throne of God and the Lamb Rev. 22.1 but in that House mentioned by Ezekiel Chap. 47.1 the Waters not the River of the Waters of Life issueth from under the Threshold of the House at the South Side of the Altar Thirdly In the new Jerusalem is the Tree of Life on either Side of the River ver 2. but by that River that shall issue out of the Sanctuary of that City in Ezekiel shall grow Trees for Meat Chap. 47.12 Again once more and once for all this City new Jerusalem comes down from God out of Heaven and whither doth it come but to the new Heaven and new Earth for the first Heaven and Earth were passed away Rev. 21.1 2 they shall not be remembered nor come into Mind Isai 65.17 All these Things being considered it seems to me impossible that this new Heaven and new Earth should be the same with the new Jerusalem The Sum is this Peter tells us of a New Heaven and new Earth and Ezekiel of a City and Temple but neither of them tells us that either of these is the new Jerusalem It remains
then that John and John only for ought I know speaks of this new Jerusalem And for ought I yet see that which hath been already proposed in and touching this Matter is most likely to be the new Jerusalem It may be thought that enough if not too much hath been written about this Matter and less might have been better but if it be not true it is too much and if it be true t is too little I having observed how much Men differ in their Apprehensions about it have considered the more of it and however some Men may think it but a small Matter yet they may be mistaken if they are the true Sayings of God blessed are they that read and hear them Chap. 1.3 and this new Jerusalem is no other then the Bride the Lambs Wife as is clear from Rev. 21.2 compar'd with ver 10. But it may be some with say t is impossible for Souls coming down from Heaven after their Bodies have been raised from the Dead and Bodies and Souls united together to live on Earth and converse amongst Men who are in a State of Mortality But that may be possible which to us may seem impossible for with God all Things are possible Mat. 19.26 And we know CHRIST did so after his Resurrection forty Days together and doubtless Moses and Elias both in Souls and Bodies appeared to some of the Apostles Mat. 17.3 and they took great Delight and Contentment therein And why then may not the raised Saints be so represented as to have and hold a holy and heavenly Correspondence with Men on Earth appearing and disappearing at Pleasure even as Christ did before he ascended Again why not raised Saints as well as Angels who appeared both to Abraham and Lott Gen. 18.2 19.1 as Men with human Bodies eating of such Things as were set before them yea CHRIST himself after his Resurrection is said to eat a Piece of a broiled Fish and of an Honey Comb Luk. 24.42 Thus having written already something of the next or second Coming of Christ of the first Resurrection of the new Jerusalem and several Things to come I shall in the next Place write something of GOG MAGOG who by the Instigation of the Devil shall be gathered together at the End of the 1000 Years to engage in a War against the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City mentioned Rev. 20.9 And here we shall enquire first who this God and Magog may be and whether this Gog and Magog mentioned by John be the same of whom Ezekiel speaks Chap. 38 and 39. The Scripture indeed speaks of Magog who was one of the Sons of Japhet Gen. 10.2 1 Chron. 1.5 but I do not remember it speaks of Gog until the Time of the Prophet Ezekiel Chap. 38.3 where he is mentioned as the chief Prince of Meshech and Tuball Neither do I remember that ever I read or heard of any one Nation that ever were called by that Name and therefore I think they are a Compound of many Nations represented to us by that Name both by Ezekiel and John as will appear by comparing Ezekiel 38.5 6 with Rev. 20.8 they were such as the Prophets of old had spoken of ver 17 by some other Name The next Thing to be enquired into is whether this God and Magog mentioned by Ezekiel be the same which the Apostle John speaks of Rev 20. For clearing of this we may consider first the Time when these Enemies of God and of his Church shall appear in Arms and 2dly with or against whom they shall engage and 3dly the Occasion or moving Cause thereof First for the Time and here we must understand that Gog and Magog spoken of by Ezekiel are to be Contemporaries with the Jews either at the Time or not long after their Return to their own Land as appears by the whole Story Chap. 38. 39 to which the Reader is referred 2dly The Persons against whom they are to engage in this War and they are principally the Nation of the Jews tho' it may be not only with them 3dly the Occasion or moving Cause and that seems to be either the Weakness of that Nation at this Time as not being yet settled in their own Land or their Security or both as ver 11 but it was chiefly to spoil them or to make a Prey of them as ver 12. And now let us consider whether these Characters will agree with that Gog and Magog spoken of before Rev. 20. First as to the Time of this War the one being at or not long after the Return of the Jews to their own Land Preparation thereunto will be under the pouring out of the 6th Vial and the other will not be till the End of the Thousand Years and after the loosing of Satan out of the bottomless Pit. 2dly One will engage principally against the Jewish Nation but the other will be against the whole Church of God consisting both of Jews and Gentiles represented to us under the Name and Notion of the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City 3dly As to the Occasion of this War viz. the Weakness of this People or their Security or both or to take or make a Spoil of them in the one but no such Thing is hinted nor can be supposed concerning the other But that which will put all out of doubt that this Gog Magog mentioned by Ezekiel is not the same spoken of by John is this in the one we have a Prophesy of a Battle a great Battle and such as was never heard of before in the World but in the other no Battle at all no Stroak struck on either Side for when once this great Battle is over they shall learn War no more Swords must be turned to Plow Shears and Spears to pruning Hooks when God shall judge the Nations and rebuke many People Isai 2.4 In further Prosecution of the Matter proposed to be spoken to we shall find that the Scripture makes mention of three great Battles which are yet future or it may be one Battel foretold in three several Places of Scripture viz. by two Prophets and one Apostle viz. by Joel Ezekiel and John and it is called by John Rev. 16.14 the Battle of the great Day of God Almighty Somewhat of this Battel hath been spoken of before Page 17 to which the Reader is referred I shall speak a little more of it here You have been told there of the Kings of the Earth and of the whole World being gathered together we tell you now t is GOD that gathereth them together Joel 3.2 I will gather all Nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat and Ezekiel 38.16 speaking concerning Gog and Magog God saith I will bring thee against my Land and so Rev. 16.16 He gathered them into a Place called Armageddon for so I am told the Word may be rendered Again they all three declare that this Warlike Assembly will be principally against the Jews