six copies distinguished by a comma to be understood in that sense of new creation of things not spiritual regeneration as men use to take it when all such faithful Spirits shall be counted as our Saviour speaks worthy to obtain that World and the Resurrection of the Dead that which is called the World to come Heb. 2.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And when Abraham's Isaac's and Jacob's posterity shall enjoy that Land with them Deut. 30. to ver 11. Deut. 32.43 as Davids Kingdom shall then be stablished before himself for ever to the end 2 Sam. 7.16 And so likewise the Promise and Covenant made to David of the Kingdom for himself and his Seed for ever will then in Christ the Seed of David on Earth be fulfilled when also the first Adam's lost dominion as was fore-prophesied Psal 8. and explained and applyed by the Apostle Heb. 2. will be regained to the raised Saints from the dead at the first said Resurrection by Christ the second Adam Consider seriously these Scripture-evidences and the things held out by them 16ly Such Prophecies as speak of good things to come to Israel Ephraim or Joseph together with Judah joyned with them usually contain something belonging to the great Restauration at Christ's appearing and his Kingdom 1 Tim. 4.1 when he first begins to judge quick and dead at the first session of the day of Judgement when God's ancient People of Israel or Ephraim and Judah shall be joyned together into one stick under one King to them both for ever even Christ being his Promised Seed which will be accomplished in those last dayes as was said from Ezek. 37. 17ly When David by his prophetical Spirit foretelleth of things incompetible to his own Kingdom or to his natural seed such things must necessarily be referred to Christ's glorious Kingdom on Earth See Iren. p. 77 78 79 80. in the thousand years 18ly Again it is observable in Mystical Prophecies that the Spirit of God seems many times to lay down great things in generals and after by degrees to give expositions of them See Abridgm on Dan. as in Nebuchadnezzar's dream Dan. 2. and Daniels Visions of the same matters Dan. 7. both which are by Daniel and the Angel in the same chapters in some brief way first expounded and both again more particularly afterwards in the following Visions in their order chap. 8. and somewhat in chap. 9. but afterwards more fully in many things in their order in his last large Vision chap. 10 11 12. and so in the Revelation in chap. 4 5 7. some general heads are touched at which are more particularly explained in a great part of the Book following So in the latter part of chap. 14. the decay of the Papacy is spoken of which afterwards is again explained chapters 15 16 more briefly and some of the Vials again more largely chapters 18 19 20. 19ly In the Book of the Revelation when things are not said to succeed one the other as 1st 2d 3d c. as the Seals Trumpets Vials but one measure of time is assigned and suited to them all or one table of Chronology is fitted to them all such distirct Visions are contemporaries as all that concerned the true and false Church in Antichrist's time have the same measure though diversly computed by months dayes and a time times and an half all agreeing in 1260 years the date of the Beast the mourning-time of the Witnesses the Woman's Wilderness-condition by which also the Whore of Babylon the ten crowned Horns with the two-horned Beast c. are limited to their seasons So all those Visions under or after the 7th Trumpet See the Irenicon pag. 30. have one Chronological Table to compute their time as chap 11. to v. 15. contained the forty two months for the night-workers in darkness and a thousand two hundred and sixty dayes of such as are of the Light and walk therein So all the Visions I say in the three last chapters have one Chronological Table to compute the time of them all to wit a thousand years wherein Christ will reign with his Saints the Devil shall be bound and shut up c. the New Jerusalem come down from God and God's Tabernacle be with men and the New Heavens and New Earth and the Paradise of God and the Tree of Life and the pure River c. all for the said time of the thousand years and so are contemporaries and all strongly there asserted and confirmed See Irenicon in several places 20. Observ After Christ Jesus our Saviour had finished his Farewel Sermon Joh. 16. he then in the presence of his Disciples made that most excellent declarative Prayer Joh. 17. wherein a large Prophecy of many things to come is very divinely though mystically couched wherein we may observe many things in order according to the Will of his heavenly Father set forth by Christ which should afterward according both to his prayer prediction or disposal be done and hath herein caused to be recorded which shall have their due accomplishment in their times begining from his making that excellent prophetical Prayer who alwayes prayed according to his heavenly Father's Will and as he said was alwayes heard of him and so it is to be known by us that all here he prayed for in respect of himself his Disciples and the faithful Pastors and Christians succeeding even all such as his Father had given him till his coming again and all that believed through their word namely the Apostles Doctrine through the time of the wicked world which he prayed not for till the time of the good world came that should both believe and know him whom the Father had sent when that Glory should be given to his own that the Father had given him concerning which he then made his Will v. 24. that they should behold his Glory in his Kingdom Dan. 7.13 14. at the Resurrection in that World to come of which he speaks Luke 20.35 36. which as was said Heb. 2.5 is stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the world habitable to come of which the Apostle there said he spake namely chap. 1.6 where he had said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he shall bring his Son again into the World that is the second time he saith and let all the Angels of God worship him for he shall then as both Daniel and from Daniel three of the Evangelists witness Christ's words of his coming come in the clouds of Heaven as was foretold of him and all his holy ones with him both Saints and Angels And in reference to this order of this prophetical declarative Prayer of our blessed Saviour observe the ensuing steps of his proceeding therein to the said purposes which we have already hinted to be now further observed and duly considered accordingly Ver. 1. he saith Father glorifie thy Son that thy Son may also glorifie thee which was evidently soon after answered in his Resurrection from the dead
and mocked at 1 Pet. 3.3 but by the Scoffers of those times very possible much more Now whereas besides Christ's coming in humility to take our nature and to suffer for his Church there remains according to holy Scripture as we hope by the Grace of God to make manifest to all impartial searchers into these Mysteries there still remains a twofold personal coming of Christ One when God will subdue and destroy the great Enemies of Christ and his People both Jewes and Gentiles namely the Turk and Pope set forth by Ezekiel under the titles of Gog and Magog chap. 38 39. before he set up his New Jerusalem chap. 40 to the end of the Book Whose name shall be JEHOVAH SHAMMA the Lord is there just as the Beast and his Armies shall be destroyed Rev. 19.11 c. before the Jerusalem Rev. 19 20 21. called the Holy Beloved the great and holy Jerusalem which is also there the Bride the Lambs Wife be built by God's own hand as Heb. 11. which will be accomplished at the sounding of the seventh Angel Rev. 11.16 upon which comes in the thousand years when Christ will take to himself his great Power and reign as chap. 19. v. 1 to v. 10. And afterwards when our blessed Saviour had given a clear and perfect computation of all succeeding times to the end of the world with all the suiting circumstances before in at the end and after his said thousand years Reign on Earth in that last Table of the last and best times in the new World in chap. 20. as he gave a Table of all the last and worst times chap. 11. to ver 16. in the old bad World he shews manifestly from the compleating of that Judgment upon those great Enemies from his second Personal Apearance or Coming at that time when the Judgment was set to destroy the Beast Dan. 7.9 10. there are to pass above a thousand years before the third when is to be the last Session of the day of Judgment at the general Resurrection of all that lived not again before both good and bad as our Saviour distinctly teacheth chap. 20. called there the rest of the dead that lived not again before ver 5. setting forth to the end the manner of God's carrying-on many wonderful works from thence unto the end And then Christ further proceeds in the two last chapters to set forth in a very divine and wonderful manner the succeeding glorious estate of his Church upon Earth with her excellent prerogatives and priviledges all that time of his thousand years Reign from his second coming to his third saving the little space Satan is after loosed and seduceth the last Gog and Magog chap. 20.7 8 9 10. to their destruction to which ensueth the last Judgment ver 11. to the end when he will again descend from Heaven not with clouds as at his second coming but with a shout and the voice of an Arch-Angel and the Trump of God as the Apostle sheweth 2 Thess 4.16 c. and as here chap. 20.11 sitting upon a great white Throne before whose face Heaven and Earth fled away Now to that end we may the better and more clearly carry on this great work to satisfaction of some hitherto unresolved consciencious Christians we shall endeavour to this purpose to set down many evident Texts of holy Scriptures upon the advantage of what hath been already said which may appear manifestly to relate to those two Personal Comings and then come more fully to consider them from the order of their distinct times wherein they are to be both from Daniels Visions and the Book of Revelations in both which we have the series and order of the accomplishment of the Generalities of the greatest marters wherein God's glory and the Churches concernment should lie from the beginning of Daniels Visions for the space of above three thousand three hundred years 2dly To observe for Christians information the different names and titles sometimes given to them and answerably thereunto their natures as suitable to those names 3dly The different things to be done by Christ at both those said Comings with many distinct particularities under both those heads besides what is orderly to be accomplished both according to Daniel and the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ the faithful and true Witness from his second to his third personal coming at the last resurrection of good and bad which our Saviour after his ascension into Heaven hath at last declared and opened and left unsealed as was noted for his Churches instruction and comfort as by special order is manifest Rev. 22.10 by which means his People are inabled rightly to understand many otherwise dark passages of Old and New Testament and besides hath given great incouragement of blessing to the faithfull and diligent searching into them to the spiritual hearing or believing of them and to the keeping of the sayings of that Book chap. 1.3 Now therefore in reference to the first part of our business let it be observed That many judicious men well vers'd in the mysteries respecting the latter times unanimously agree that Christ will remain from his appearance or coming at the destruction of Aptichrist thenceforward all the thousand years of his reigning with his raised Saints in the â—orld Rev. 20.4 and will as Mr. Mede conceives probably through that time be raising up all the dead bodies of all the formerly deceased Saints to the end of that thousand years in their own order having departed out of this life during the Kingdom of the Stone or the Kingdom of Patience for almost seventeen hundred years having believed through their word as is said John 17. namely by the Apostles Doctrine with all the Faithful under the Old Testament even till that time when they shall all be made perfect in one with Christ their visible Head then in that his glorious Kingdom on Earth for the said thousand years space unto which that Scripture must necessarily be referred Joh. 17. from ver 19 to 25. But it seems from the time that Satan at the end of the thousand years shall be loosed for a little season that Christ will withdraw from the world for that little season to give as it were opportunity to the Devil to play his last most abominable wicked prank in the world with his seduced Hypocrites the last Gog and Magog as followeth Rev. 20.7 8 9. to bring on that last destruction of all them and the whole World v. 10. which thereupon will suddenly be dissolved as follows ver 11 to the end when the Apostle Paul plainly saith 1 Thess 4.16 Christ will again descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the Trump of God and shews that immediately the dead in Christ shall rise first namely such as had died in the thousand years since his second coming that they with such as are alive and remain all the time since they were raised to live
time while it is offered will have none of it but utterly reject it and all God's and Christ's terms whereupon it is offered to them How then can they think to stand when Gods wrath and fury shall break out against them and they be irrecoverably carried away with the streams of his eternal indignation Let this I say be duly considered by all sorts of such persons while time and opportunity lasteth and who knows how suddenly any mans opportunity may be lost irrecoverably c. FINIS Certain Observations useful for the understanding of divers Mystical Prophecres of holy Scriptures See the Irenicon pag. 53 54 55. respecting the latter dayes for the encrease of Joy and Consolation to faithfull Christians Obs 1 FIrst Where things that concern the Mysteries of the last times are expressed more fully in the Old Testament they are usually touched more briefly in the New as for example What is said of that Mother-Text Dan. 7.9 10 11. as Mr. Mede calls it of the first Session of the Great Day of Judgement or the Judgement of the Great Day as St. Jude speaks setting forth God's manner of destroying Antichrist as is said remarkably because of the great words the Horn spake c. Dan. 7.9 10 11. That is for the Popes abominable Blasphemies Tyranny Pride and insolent Impieties c. which in the New-Testament is but briefly many times set down as 2 Thess 2.8 whom he shall destroy with the appearance of his coming the like chap. 1.7 8 9. of which and the like Scriptures in the New-Testament the said text Dan. 7. was the ground and warrant save only in the order of the accomplishment St. John had a particular Vision to the like purpose Rev. 19 11. to the end Secondly The first said Session of the Great Day of Judgement will be for the destruction of the first Gog and Magog to wit of the Turk and Pope who were so under those terms represented to the Jews Ezek. 38.39 before the setting up of the New-Jerusalem Ezek. 40. to the end of that Book and the second Session will be upon the destruction of the second Gog and Magog above a thousand years after Rev. 20.9 at the end of the world Where again observe that Gog and Magog are taken for the great obstinate resolved Enemies of God's People whom he will powerfully destroy Now at both the said Sessions of the great Day and at the ruine of both sorts of those wicked men it is said that the Judgment was set and the Books were opened which seem proper to the Judgment of the great Day Dan. 7.10 Rev. 20.4 14. And again observe See Parallel of Roman Mon. the 6th head that at both the said Sessions quick and dead are said to be judged First the wicked quick namely Antichrist and his followers c. then to be sent to the Lake of Fire and Brimstone from the Armageddon-battel described Rev. 19. from ver 11. to the 20th Concerning the same it is again said of the same time when the third Wo came Rev. 11.18 Thou hast destroyed them that destroyed the Earth See Irenicon p. 99. when the Nations were angry and God's Wrath was then come as the twenty four Elders that praise God for the ruine of Antichrist at that time and likewise for judging the dead then by giving reward unto his Servants the Prophets and to his Saints c. which Mr. Mede conceives he will be doing all the thousand years Raising the Saints in their own order as St. Paul speaks which is called by Christ the first Resurrection Rev. 20.5 and of which St. Paul likewise speaketh remarkably when he had spoken of Christ's Resurrection as the first fruits thereof which was to be above 1600 years before then saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 afterwards they that are Christs at his coming namely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at his coming or presence at Antichrist's destruction and then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he speaks of the coming of the end 1 Cor. 15.23 24. which Christ shews should be above a thousand years after the former Rev. 20. namely as St. Paul further adds when Christ had put down all Rule all Authority and Power and when he had destroyed the last enemy Death ver 26. Which Christ again shews shall be done at his last Session of Judgment Rev. 20.14 before he gives up again the Kingdom to his Father and until that time St. Paul positively asserts the Reign of Christ in the world namely from his second Coming or Appearance to the end of the second Session of the Judgment of the Great Day See Discov next after the Parall as ver 25. for saith he he must reign till he hath put all his Enemies under his feet which Reign Christ teacheth must be a thousand years with his eminent Saints first raised Rev. 20.4 and at the end likewise quick and dead will be again both judged first the wicked quick then at the destruction of the last Gog and Magog and then the dead both good and bad when the rest of the dead shall be raised as they are called Rev. 20.5 12.13 Thirdly The description of the New-Jerusalem Ezek. 40. to the end of the Book whose name is there said to be Jehovah Shamma or the Lord is there because there his Saints shall behold his glory given to him in his Kingdom on Earth as Mediator for a reward in time of that his great work in time as Dan. 7.14 15. which by his last Will and Testament in the presence of his Father and his Disciples he declared at the end of that Prayer See Obs 20. John 17.24 after he had ended his Farewel-Sermon Joh. 16. and then the Lamb will be the visible light of that heavenly City come down from God out of Heaven whose maker and builder is God Heb. 11. to remain in the world above a thousand years But I say that description of the said City in the Old Testament seems there to be set forth sutably to the state of the Jews under the Old Testament when Ezekiel was their Prophet But the description of the New Jerusalem under the New Testament which upon many considerations from the context and the series of the times which both descriptions relate unto appear plainly to be one and the same thing I say that Description of Christ Rev. 21. is set forth more sutably to the state of the Christian Church in a more glorious manner unto which a more eminent degree of Christ's Glory was manifest before that triumphant State of it came which should so descend from God out of Heaven to be for such time in the world which consisting of the raised Saints is not only called The Beloved City which those blessed and holy ones at their resurrection as they are called Rev. 20.6 shall then inhabit and have mansions therein and the holy Jerusalem Rev. 21.10 for the time of their reign with Christ there But they being
again upon Earth which he speaks of twice v. 15 17. as being in a very different condition from those that are dead then and in the thousand years and to be first raised when all wicked men are to be raised Where note he saith not We shall rise first then as he did of the other state we that are alive and remain but the dead in Christ and that they with all such as were in the natural life on Earth who should have a momentany change then instead of a death and also that all those that were before raised in the thousand years should all at once be rapt up to meet Christ in the air and altogether be thenceforth ever with the Lord who had for a little time before absented himself from them And that the Apostle in this Epistle speaks both of his second and third coming may thus further be made to appear chap. 3.13 he speaks of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with All his Saints and again chap. 4.14 he saith also them also that sleep in Jesus shall God bring with him he brings them with him at his next appearance to take their bodies in the first Resurrection Rev. 20.6 but at his third coming they are not said to be brought with him but rapt up to meet him in the air when he is descended from Heaven Before he had left them a little season but afterwards they shall be ever with the Lord. To which purpose Enoch prophesied of old of his first coming Jude 14.8 Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints that is when the New Jerusalem which is above and called by the Apostle The Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 shall come down from God out of Heaven at his second coming at the time of the restitution of all things Acts 3.20 21. Rev. 21. being prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband when he will make all things new and the Tabernacle of God shall be with men v. 2 3 5. when the souls beheaded for the testimony of Jesus shall live and reign with Christ the thousand years Rev. 20.4 and when he will begin that judgment Rev. 11.18 to reward his servants the Prophets and his Saints and all that fear his Name both small and great and when the four Beasts or rather living wights and the twenty four Elders Rev. 5.10 shall actually enjoy that which they foresaw in Vision above one thousand five hundred years before that they should reign upon earth for he is not said to bring them with him at his third coming but to take them up to him to meet him in the air by a sudden resurrection and momentany change and rapture who before in great part lived again and remained upon Earth or in the World until that time and yet he saith that they should not prevent those that were then asleep and also shews that though Christ had left them for a season before yet from thence-forward they should all ever be with the Lord. And for his second coming the Scripture is very full and clear at the destruction of Antichrist from Dan. 7.14 when he shall come in the clâ—â—â—â— of Heaven and Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him and 2 Thess 2.8 he will then destroy the Man of Sin with the appearance of his Coming when he shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on those wicked men who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his Power and then also be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe 2 Thess 1.8 9 10. And this is his appearance at his Kingdom when he will judge both quick dead as 1 Tim. 4.1 by destroying wicked men and rewarding the Righteous as Rev. 11.18 20.4 for then God begins to make his foes his footstool when having taken to himself his great Power he destroyes them that destroyed the Earth as follows in Rev. 11.18 and all this will be at or about the same time when Michael the great Prince that is the Messiah shall stand up to deliver his People Dan. 12.1 when such a time of trouble will be as never was since there was a Nation and such a great Earthquake also will be then at the pouring-out of the last Viol to finish the destruction of the Beast as never was since men were upon the Earth even till that time so mighty an Earthquake and so great Rev. 16. latter end and likewise Dan. 7.9 10 11. ver 26. for the Judgment is set to that end and the Books then opened as in ver 10. See many Texts that speak of this his second coming in the Irenicon pag. 42 43 44. and for his personal appearance which is the same second coming in the Forerunner p. 47 48. And for his third descending with a shout from heaven and the voyce of the Archangel and the Trump of God when the rest of the Saints that dyed in the thousand years shall be again raised as the other were in the thousand years that had reigned with Christ before upon earth before Satan seduced the last Gog and Magog See the Abridgmâ— on Daniels Visions there is above a thousand years space as was said from his second coming to that third when namely at his third coming he will sit upon that great white throne as Judg from whose face the Earth and Heavens will then slee away Rev. 20. after the last Gog and Magog shall be destroyed ver 11 12 to the end Also concerning this third coming seems St. Peter also to speak 2 Pet. 3.10 which words are spoken to the terrour of ungodly men termed there Scoffers at the promise of his coming whom that last coming doth specially concern and yet with the exceptive particle Nevertheless brings in the consolation for the Godly from the promise of the new Heavens and the new Earth which before in the thousand years they should enjoy with him v. 〈◊〉 Mr. Archer observes first his second coming from Mat. 25.30 〈◊〉 his third from ver 31. sutable to what St. Paul expresseth 1 Cor. 15. where he speaks of his first coming v. 23. saying Christ the first fruits afterwards 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they that are Christ's at his coming Then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith he cometh the end where the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are used at a great distance for Christ the first fruits arose before the Saints at his next coming above 1600 years and then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 afterwards the end cometh above a thousand years after his said second coming and at his third when the last Session of the day of Judgment will be held and finished Where he further also v. 24. sets down what must be done at that third coming with what was done before that all along the thousand years from the
second while he is putting down all Rule and Authority and Power viz. that opposed his own and stood in his way to rule c. that is when the Devil shall be bound Rev. 20.1 2. wicked men destroyed or made slaves and so made his foot-stool at the end of his sitting at the right-hand of his Father Psal 110. when Antichrist is destroyed as before Dan. 7. Rev. 11. 19. before his third coming as might be cleared from many other Texts likewise and also the Turk come to his end when none shall help him Dan. 11. ver ult Dan. 12.1 and thereupon asserts Christ's Reign necessarily v. 25. for saith he Christ must reign till he hath put all his enemies under his feet and he names the last enemy to be destroyed by him namely Death v. 26. which will be done at his third coming Rev. 20. latter end when Death and Hell shall be cast into the lake of fire c. shews also ver 24. when the end shall come and not before namely when he shall deliver up the Kingdom to God even the Father which he received of him Dan. 7.14 which he told his Disciples he gave to them as his Father had given to him Luke 22.29 30. 1.33 and the glory in that Kingdom which his Father had given to him he gave to them John 17.22 Also of his last or third coming St. Paul speaks again evidently ver 52. of that 1 Cor. 15. when also the last Trump shall sound saith he and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye and he repeats it again that it might be observed well for saith he again the Trumpet shall sound and the Dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed Likewise in Mat. 24.3 the Disciples propound three Questions to our Saviour first of the destruction of Jerusalem the second of his coming namely his nex◠coming and the third of the end of the World which will be at his third as was shewed he answers to them all though there seems to be some intermixing but of his second he speaks ver 30. when all the Tribes of the Earth shall mourn when they see him the Son of man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory as Dan. 7.13 But of his third he speaks v. 21. when he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet and they shall gather the Elect from the four winds from one end of Heaven to the other as 1 Thess 4.16 So that if we duly weigh and consider these many Texts of holy Scripture and of others like them we need not so much startle at the mention of Christ's third coming as many upon mistake or prejudice and un-grounded conceits are often apt to do And as for that Text of Acts 3. at the restitution of all things God will send Jesus whom the Heavens must contain till then v. 20 21. it is clearly meant of his second coming with Dan. 7.13 when he will come in the Clouds of Heaven of which three of the Evangelists speak in several places Mat. 24.30 26.44 Mark 13.26 14.62 Luke 21.27 and in Luke 21. and Matth. 24. our Saviour sets forth divers signs of that his second coming and limits those signs to the times of the Jews dispersion saying This Generation shall not pass away till all these things be fulfilled which is to be understood of that Nation kept distinct from all others till his coming again Where note that his second coming is never called his last coming as many conceit it to be which the hand of God's providence respecting the Jews hath ordered accordingly ever since the Jews rejection though they have been scattered through the World And agreeable to this the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 generation signifying a race stock or off-spring of any sort of men not an age or present time as some unwarrantably would understand it is to be interpreted and almost to this day accordingly where the Jews have come they have been for the most part known to be Jews distinct from all other people and like to be so till Christ's personal appearance to convert them and deliver them suddenly both temporally and spiritually as Isa 66.8 Zech. 3.9 12.10 Rev. 1.7 Dan. 12.1 But because the clearing up the distinction of the second and third coming of Christ both of which will be personal are of great concernment in matters respecting the last times and by the over-ruling hand of God Satan and the Antichristian faction have all along prevailed to cloud this strongly asserted Truth in holy Scriptures and prejudices hitherto amongst men have much prevailed against it by the confused notion of the general day of Judgment taken up only upon trust we shall proceed to consider the other particular heads following concerning this great subject in order upon which many other mysteries of these latter times much depend according to the warrant we find in sacred writ and as the Spirit of God shall therein afford assistance Namely in considering first the distinct times and orders of Christ's said second and third personal comings according to the series of Daniels Visions and the Book of Revelation Secondly of the different titles and names of them according to their natures implying the reasons of such titles or names Thirdly Of the different things or matters to be done at both those personal comings in many particulars considerable First Then we may take notice of the distinct times of the two Sessions of the great day of Judgment when he is said to come at both according to the series or order both of Daniel and the Revelation wherein we have summarily set down the general heads of Prophecy in their order as the Spirit of God hath been pleased to record them for the benefit of his Church for See Parallel on Christ's Monarchy for †From the beginning of Daniel's Visions at Nebuchadnezzar the head of Gold Dan. 2. to Christ's third coming are contained above 3300 years as follow first The time of the Babylonian Captivity seventy years 2dly From Cyrus in whom the Persian Monarchy began to the twentieth year of Artaxerxes Longimanus eighty years 3dly Daniel's seventy weeks or four hundred ninety years to the end of the half week after Christs death whose death was about 1666 years more before Christs second personal coming according to all the four computations of Scripture observed to end about the seventeen hundredth year of our Lord so that accordingly from his Ascension to his descending again is so reckoned 1666 years when the Beast will wholly be destroyed which is to be observed From thence are to be reckoned Christs reign with his blessed and holy raised Saints on Earth a thousand years whereunto will succeed the little season wherein Satan will be again loosed to the destruction of the last Gog Magog by fire from heaven which
and also the Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifie lower than the Angels and crowned him with Glory and Worship making him to have dominion over the works of his hands and putting all things under his feet c. Which the Apostle applyes to Christ Heb. 2. and also saith he hath made him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a little while as our Translation hath it in the margent likewise inferiour to the Angels and then speaketh of the same subjection of the creatures under him then afterwards to come and therefore ver 8. he saith we do not yet see all things put under him only we see Christ in his own person that for a little while was made lower than the Angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour But he again further teacheth Phil. 2.9 c. that God had given him a Name above every name that at the Name of JESUS every knee should bow or be subject of things in Heaven and things on Earth and things under the Earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Which will not be done till he hath received his Kingdom and shall return as he himself speaketh Luke 19.12 15 and all these things can at no other time upon Scripture-ground be expected but at his said 2d coming when God shall bring again his Son into the world and say Let all the Angels of God worship him Heb. 1.6 and that was also foretold Psal 97.7 which whole Psalm beginning The Lord reigneth let the Earth rejoyce c. setteth forth prophetically in what a glorious manner Christ will come then to set up his glorious Kingdom both by destroying his Idolatrous Enemies and wonderfully delivering and exalting his People as is observable throughout the whole Psalm and this as to the time and order Christ succinctly explains Rev. 20.4 saying the Saints reigned with Christ a thousand years And accordingly thereunto are all the Promises of raising again the Tabernacle of David which was fallen Amos 9.11 Acts 15.16 and those for the perpetuity of Davids Kingdom to his seed so long as the Sun and Moon do endure See Irenicon p. 77 78 79. and the like are all to be interpreted which will be manifest when the Kingdom of the Stone Dan. 2.33 34. shall become a great Mountain filling the whole Earth And this is that Coming of the Son of man in his Kingdom spoken of by Christ Matth. 16.28 of which he soon after shewed a glymps unto his three Disciples Peter James and John at his Transfiguration Mark 9.1 Luke 9.27 Neither can these Texts be justly denied to be meant of such a Kingdom of Christ to come upon his coming again nor warrantably be interpreted in any other sense if the said Texts be seriously and duly considered 22. Obser I have observed only three great Earthquakes spoken of in all the series or order of the Book of Revelation And where the Spirit of God calls them great we may expect they will be great indeed For Earthquakes are often spoken of besides these great ones The first is upon the opening of the sixth Seal Rev. 6.12 when God by Constantine the Great overturned Satan's Paganish Kingdom when five or six several Caesars were so potent to oppose him See Fore runner p. 29. and cast down Satan from his Heaven of Heathenish Worship into the Earth Rev. 12.9 which was spoken of the same time which is described as a day of Judgment Rev. 6. to the Paganish Powers as indeed it was and there the Spirit of God sets down an Ecce before it and Lo saith he there was a great Earthquake The second is Rev. 11.13 at the ascension of the two Witnesses after their resurrection and then the holy Spirit tells us at the same hour there was a great Earthquake when the tenth part of the Dition of the City of Rome probably will quite fall from it See Fore runner p. 8. where the Witnesses are to rise again c. and this Earthquake we may daily expect But thirdly there is another great Earthquake afterwards spoken of to come which he further illustrates much above both the former and that will be at or about Antichrist's final destruction at the end of the sixth Viol and pouring-out of the seventh for the compleating of his ruine Rev. 16.17 18. and then the Spirit of God speaks with a great deal of emphasis of it saying v. 18. And there was a great Earthquake such as was not since Man was upon Earth so mighty an Earthquake and so great Which seems to be further described in the three following verses and seems to be at or about the same time of Michael's standing up to deliver Daniels People when such a time of trouble will be as never was since there was a Nation Dan. 12.1 and when St. Paul saith of Antichrist 2 Thess 2.8 Christ will destroy him with the appearance of his coming and happily of both Rev. 14. latter part of the chapter And then will not only the Earth be shaken but also the Heavens as saith the Prophet Hag. 2.6 7 21. Heb. 12.26 and as upon good reason from several Scriptures seems to be the main drift of them then to be fulfilled as Mal. 3.2 Rev. 11.16 Which shaking of the Earth probably may seem was first at that great Earthquake Rev. 6.12 when God by Constantine the Great overthrew Paganish Idolatry and may be again by the next great Earthquake now approaching Rev. 11.13 which will also begin to shake Antichristian Idolaters who are called in this Book the men of the Earth and the perfecting of that shaking is to be at that third and greatest Earthquake Rev. 16.18 when not only the Earth and evil men will be shaken but also the Heavens namely such Churches as will be then in a degree reformed Churches and thereupon will the new Heavens and new Earth ensue of both reformed Church and State in the whole World I conceive at the setting up of Christ's Kingdom on Earth Rev. 20.4 5.10 23. When the Prophet Moses denounceth threatnings against the twelve Tribes the Spirit of God seems to guide him divers times to set them down prophetically as including Prophecies in their order afterwards to be fulfilled as is observable Lev. 26. Deut. 28. 4.30 which he said expresly should be in the latter dayes and Deut. 32. from ver 1. to 44. See these Texts more fully in the Irenicon pag. 60 61. 24. Obser The heavy weight of God's wrath upon mankind next after the fall of the first Adam seems very observable through the first great Period of the World until the Flood for first good Abel the remotest type of Christ after Adam being slain by his brother Yet cursed Cain was then suffered to live to people the World which further appears that in those first ages of the World to the Flood few are recorded or hinted in Scripture to
of God seems frequently to joyn matters of the latter times together which will be fulfilled at a great distance and particularly concerning the two Resurrections Rev. 20. and even the whole Doctrine of the Resurrection almost as we noted in the Irenicon pag. 102. and elsewhere was made known by degrees and so the two Sessions of the great day of Judgment vide Obser 2. But as we here observe St. Paul sets three great things down together namely Christ's Resurrection as the first fruits of the Resurrection of the Just at the said first Resurrection or at his second coming which is like to be about 1700 years after and then cometh the end which according as Christ hath revealed will be above a thousand years after his second coming and at his third So that mark of the Primitive times Dan. 12.4 to wit Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be encreased divers hundreds of years before Antichrist's time times and the dividing of a time which are set forth in a wonderfull Vision of Christ as Rev. 10. likewise in the three next verses 5 6 7. which contain 1260 years more So three Questions are propounded by Christ's Disciples Mat. 24. of the signs of Jerusalems destruction and of his coming again or returning as he called it before Luke 19.12 and of the end of the World To all our Saviour answers but much of the nearest and gives divers signs of his second coming in the clouds of Heaven which he speaks of ver 30. but closely thereunto adjoyns what should be done at his third coming v. 31. which was not to be so much revealed saving mystically afterwards in the Book of the Revelation which was in respect thereof to be the true Key to open in after-times the spiritual Cabinet of divers otherwise mystical Texts darkly set down by Christ and his holy Spirit in other places of Scripture to the like purpose and so to be such a Key for other things See the like Mat. 25.31 speaks in part of his second coming and in the other part of that verse and ver 32. he speaks of what shall be done at his third coming largely expounded so by himself Rev. 20.11 to the end of the chapter So again St. Paul in 1 Thes 3. ult and chap. 4.14 he speaks of Christ's second coming when Christ will bring all his Saints and all that then shall sleep in Jesus with him but in ver 16. he speaks of his last coming as also expounded by Christ in the said place Also again 1 Cor. 15.23 the Apostle plainly speaks of his second coming and ver 52. sets down divers things to be done at Christs coming at the last Session of Judgment and last Resurrection And because it appears God would have these things concerning the last times of the World to be so darkly delivered for the most part and in mysteries in the Revelation Hence it hath come to pass that such imperfect and mistaken apprehensions have for the most part been entertained by all sorts of men and without some special guidance of God's Spirit could not probably be otherwise found out who himself is said to have opened the Disciples understanding after his Resurrection Luke 24.45 that they might understand the Scriptures but as many then which heard them neither believed nor regarded what they taught and those matters of Salvation by Jesus Christ crucified risen and ascended were hidden from most mens eyes so it is to be expected it will be as we are forewarned with most men in respect of Christ's descending or coming again the second time by stumbling at such Scriptures that concern it on one prejudice or mistake or other It concerns those therefore that will approve themselves wise to be wary in such matters of putting them by slightly which such as rightly shall receive and own are like to find much sweetnes and benefit by them being such as duely search into them For Christs blessing Chap. 1.3 will not be void or vain say vain men what they can or wicked men and devils act what they can to the contrary See Discovery of his Second and Third coming next after the Parallels 30. Observ That of Daniel 12.2 3. is specially meant of the civil Resurrection of the Jews from their bondage and dispersion the time of which is afterwards set down vers 12. which in a vision of the dry bones Ezek. 37. is shewed to Ezekiel is many wayes evident as afterwards follows and so that Resurrection was to be carried on to the end of the fourty five years vers 12. afterwards when Christ will fully deliver them both temporally and spiritually as vers 1. Many arguments might be raised from the words to this purpose and from the time wherein the things are to be fulfilled according both to Ezekiel and Daniel When it is said Many shall arise not all And again it is said They shall be turned unto righteousness that is the righteousness of Justification by Faith in Christ which was contrary to the Legal righteousness that the Jewes before sought after Again some arise to shame and contempt at that time that is by revolting from the faithful Jewes then by fears or hopes or threatnings or the like from the enemy and so fall into shame and perpetual contempt both temporally spiritually and consequently eternally It is observable that the Spirit of God sometimes setteth down Mysteries of Judgements in the order they are to be fulfilled in the resemblance of a day of Judgment as here and sometimes though such things be done long before the end of the world as in Rev. 6. When the sixth seal was opened in Constantines time which is above one thousand two hundred years ago and yet there described as a day of Judgement but yet it was but a particular one for that time but no Judgement said then to be set nor Books opened and quick and dead both Judged as will be at Christs second and third Comings as was said in our second large Observation 31. Observ The harmoniousness and uniform agreement of these divine Truths respecting the Reign of Christ the thousand years touched at least briefly in divers of the preceding Observations shewes them to come from God and their agreeing with the divine Oracles of the holy Spirit scattered in all parts of the sacred Scriptures as in many particulars have been here already set down and as we may afterwards point out or at least briefly hint at As in the two Sessions of the great Day of Judgment with the four particulars proper to the day of Judgement First In both the Judgement is said to be set Secondly In both The Books are said to be opened Thirdly In both first the quick And Fourthly In both last the dead are judged See the large second Observation to these purposes Again these particulars are suitable to the second personal coming of Christ to be hereafter at the beginning and after the little space when the thousand years shall
and I doubt not will be owned more and more I am well assured are of so high concernment both for the glory of God and our Lord Jesus Christ and for the edification and comfort of his People in the last times that I shall be ready by his Grace upon all fitting occasions to warn all such as truly fear God to take heed either of slighting or rejecting of them for though they are of that nature that God hath in his most wise counsel reserved to be more especially known for his true Churches benefit in these last dayes when his ancient People the Jews are shortly to be converted unto Christ their Saviour as the Apostle Paul saith Rom. 11. and all Israel shall be saved that even as the Mystery of the Gentiles Conversion was hidden to the Jews and even for a time to the Apostles themselves when it was to take place until by Miracles Word Spirit and Visions they were powerfully taught to acknowledge it So theirs is like in great part to be hid to the Gentiles And as Antichrist was to come to be revealed to reign to be consumed with the breath of Christ's mouth uttered by his Witnesses but all to be fulfilled in a great Mystery all along to the most in the World saving unto some few persons and places unto whom by degrees God in special wayes of mercy hath been pleased from time to time to manifest these things and yet I say but by degrees for the accomplishment of God's Mysteries have in all times been very wonderful and above mens reach ordinarily to discover And as the Apostle Paul was greatly honoured and imployed by the Jewish Rulers and learned Rabbies of his time whilst he persecuted the Christian Faith yet when afterward he preached that Gospel of Christ crucified and that unto the Gentiles was as much by those Jews persecuted and opposed himself and by all of their way so in a degree may it be expected of such as God manifesteth such things unto as he will accomplish in the end of the dayes as Daniel's phrase is which shall appear to be against the interest of men in the world or above the ordinary strain of the times that many though not all will slight and oppose them even until God fulfils them and such their slighting and opposing is like to be as to the Jews of old the occasion of such his fulfilling of them Dan. 12.10 But then many such will they nill they must give glory to God as Rev. 11.13 for so it pleaseth God usually to hide great things from the wise and prudent and to reveal them unto babes Luke 20.21 But to prevent and remove prejudices First then Let all serious Christian Spirits take notice that in those two first Books I have endeavoured to vindicate the true Doctrine of Christ's Kingdom on Earth to come from those unjust aspersions of Disloyalty to Kings and Magistrates as most opposit thereunto which though haply it hath been unpleasing to some yet otherwise I had not therein so approved my self unto God satisfied mine own conscience done right to many sorts of men nor to the Doctrine which I have been taught as I said before and this may three times be seen in the said Books in the first pag. 15. somewhat largely and pag. 41 42. reckoning such delusions among Satans Vials on Christ's Kingdom and in the second Book in the Preface of it towards the end of the second leaf c. Secondly Let all such observe that those things which as I believe I have by God's special guidance published are for the substance nothing but the true Scriptural explications of the old Articles of the Faith as Learned-men had before manifested from the best Antiquity and owned in great part in the most pure Primitive-times But yet upon a better ground for us are now to be owned from the most pure and infallible Word of Truth that more sure Word of Prophecy as 2 Pet. 1.19 whereunto all Christians are bound to take heed For as we profess to believe that Jesus Christ will come from the right hand of the Father to judge the quick and the dead and likewise to believe the Resurrection of the Just and the Life of the World to come as the Nicene Creed according to Heb. 2.5 And how these things shall be fulfilled our Saviour who best knew hath himself instructed his Church together with the time when in some good measure as Rev. 11.18 at his glorious appearing both beginning to judge the quick then by destroying of them that destroyed the Earth i.e. Antichrist and his Accomplices with the appearance of his coming as 2 Thess 2.8 and 2dly by giving reward unto his Servants the Prophets and unto his Saints and to all that fear his Name both small and great which is then to be done in the Resurrection of the Just as is further explained Rev. 20.4 5 6. when also begins the Reign of the Saints with Christ on Earth the said thousand years while Satan also shall be bound as ver 1 2 3. during which time our Saviour shews that the Apostles shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Mat. 19.28 concerning which Period he more fully explains himself Luke 22.29 I appoint unto you a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me where his Throne must be distinct from his Fathers where he sate on his right hand in Heaven as Rev. 3.21 is clearly explained which Kingdom appointed to him by his Father the Apostle shews 1 Cor. 15.24 at the end the same shall be delivered again to his Father when ends the said Kingdom that the Father had appointed to him with his Saints on Earth which began at his beginning to judge the quick and the dead at his first appearing as was shewed which continued all the said thousand years and the finishing of the Judgment of the Just and Wicked concerning which there are so abundant and evident proofs in Scripture that when Antichristian prejudices shall once be removed even that spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh as 1 John 4.3 which such do not in the Apostles sense that acknowledg not the fulfilling of all Christ's Offices in their seasons as the Scripture holds them out till his Mediatorship be consummate which the spirit of Antichrist hath all along opposed c. Then I say I confidently believe those glorious Truths will evidently be manifest and received in the true Church of Christ Thirdly Now for the Subjects of that Kingdom of Christ on Earth that we may give a little further taste of the Doctrine thereof before we proceed to the removal of the prejudices against it They will be first the Body of the Nation of the Jews c. for the most part miraculously converted upon Christ's glorious appearance and probably his speaking to them as in that pattern of St. Paul's Conversion and of many Jews about three hundred years after Christ as
many of them had such faylings or given such offence as occasion others to stumble or they are so mean in esteem as not much to be regarded c. Answ Though perhaps some have been such yet not all there are very ancient as well as modern Witnesses thereof and in most times some and good and eminent men too as well as meaner persons if men would impartially enquire and much I doubt not might be fairly answered to particular exceptions if things were duely weighed but it hath been usual to take up any vain pretences against what is really good but the rule of old was non quis sed quid Our Saviour hath two cautions in hearing take heed what and take heed how but he reserveth to himself liberty to send his messages by any sort of men As we must not have his Faith with respect of persons so not receive or own it in respect of persons but as founded upon the Scriptures of Truth How oft hath the looking asquint upon Gods Messengers upon some appearing or pretended occasion of disrespect or other proved a sad judgement unto many to whom they have come and who have been sent by him in great turnings of times that have not been assaulted in some kind respecting their persons Those rebels of old excited one another to smite the Prophet with the tongue that they might not give heed to any of his words Jer. 18.18 However notwithstanding the worst that can be pretended against mens persons men may consider that Gold that is found but in dunghills ordraughts if by the touch-stone it be approved to be Gold deserveth to be laid up when washed from the soil upon it as well as that which had been kept closely before in the Treasury or Cabinet Wisdom will be justified of her Children in all her Oracles for this reason because they are her Oracles Gods Servants here are to have their grain of allowance but the vain World useth to preoccupate the judgment of the Saints unjustly by harsh censures and hard speeches as Antichrist hath done their reign to come by wicked Idolatry Object But these Doctrines c. shake the foundation of worldly interest and enjoyments for if Christs glorious appearance will be so terrible and work such desolations and changes and that its approach is nigh what will become of Possessors treasures and their owners Answ Good to the good and evil to the evil Rev. 11.18 and therefore God seems to cause such seasonable Truths to be known and published in these last dayes to loosen mens hearts from the world and especially from their wickedness and as Daniel counselled Nebuchadnezzar when he was to be driven from his most stately Palace to feed among the Beasts Dan. 4.27 Let men break off their sins by righteousness and their iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor viz. Gods poor c. and like to our Saviours wise Steward let them make themselves friends with the Mammon of iniquity whilest time serveth that they may receive them into their houses when they are out of their stewardships even those houses and mansions which our Saviour went to prepare for his little little flock in his Kingdom and at his return will give them possession of them with himself But here to be short Let sober and serious Christians further consider that God hath not said so very much of these things in his Word to no purpose but every truth contained in his Word is useful in its season to his Church working as all holy Scriptures do Sanctification in his People besides take notice that mystical Truths may now from the Word be expected to be revealed in great measure when that point of time is hastening to us wherein the Mystery of God will be finished Rev. 10.7 And according to Mark 13.32 which Text many stumble at Christ saith that as man he knew not the day and hour of the last times at least not strictly taken yet even then he being such a person in whom the Godhead dwelled bodily as Col. 2.9 did then to his Disciples make known much of these things Matth. 24. Luke 20 21. Mark 13. and in other places at least in some latitude although in a strict sense the day and hour of Christs comming may not be known to us by means of incompleat or broken years or some imperfection of Chronology or the like as God is pleased to over-rule c. So likewise when Christ tells his Disciples Acts 1.5 6. It is not for you to know the times and seasons then in the state they were in at present which the Father hath put in his own power Yet even then he tells them in the next vers of being endued with power from on high on Pentecost then near at hand when they were not only fitted for the work of the Ministry and to work Miracles but to know the great Mysteries of holy Scriptures and of Daniel in particular as was seen in Peter Acts 3.19 20 21. in James Acts 15.15 16 17. In St. Paul abundantly in his Epistles and even in Jude's short Epistle vers 14. But above all the beloved Disciple St. John is taught to unlock all the formerly shut up Mysteries of the greatly beloved Prophet Daniel even to those times and that by Christ himself in the whole Book of the Revelations thenceforward to be useful for his Churches successively for the time of the end for which they were reserved as is observable Dan. 8.17 19. Chap. 11.40 12.4 9. So that from that time they were unsealed by our Saviour and his holy Spirit who through all times of the Seals hath hitherto opened his Mysteries in their orders Rev. 6. Rev. 8. c. much of this nature might be added not only to remove the frivolous and erroneous conceits of many respecting these things whilest they little consider in what Glory and Majesty Christ will then come in the Clouds of Heaven or with Clouds as Rev. 1.7 accompanied with all his holy Angels And as Enoch long since prophesied Jude 14. with ten thousands of his Saints who shall then come with him 1 Thess 1. ult and 4.14 that he then uniting their Spirits to their Bodies may make them alive and remain against his last coming as verses 15 17. and may so make them capable to behold his glory in the New Jerusalem the thousand years John 17.4 with Rev. 20. In sum then Christian take notice of these representations of the points of Doctrine respecting Christs comings and Kingdom on earth First These Points as all other divine Truths are Uniform See this considered in many particulars in Obser 31. and bear an excellent harmony with themselves and all other true Doctrines and no wayes twharting or disagreeing in themselves or with any others which sound Christians own or profess as by comparing particulars will appear Secondly There is nothing new in them in substance being only fuller explications of divine Mysteries before more darkly couched yet contained in the Word of God Thirdly They will more and more be manifest to have no greater enemies than ignorance of Gods Divine Counsels revealed and sinful unbelief or prophaneness being of themselves sacred and sanctifying Truths which likewise is another evidence of their divine excellency Lastly That now they are in their due season especially made known by the especial grace of God to be published to and improved by his faithful People upon whom the ends of the World are coming And as for some misapprehensions of some good men to whom Mysteries of this nature are not yet discovered whence not only a strange slighting of these great things of God sometimes proceeds but likewise hard speeches both concerning the things and Christs own witnesses of them according to his Word who are therein to be pittied and prayed for with endeavours of information if God afford opportunity and shall be pleased to vouchsafe his blessing However all men herein are to be admonished that they offend not any such wayes against Christ more than they are aware of by contemning or speaking evil of those divine matters they understand not and therefore do not believe yet will be fulfilled in their season Amen FINIS Errata's formerly omitted though smaller faults be passed by IN the Forrunner pag. 10. before line 26. add of the eternal decrees p. 34. r. Rev. 13. in the marg In Irenicon p. ult Chron. Table l. 18. r. 410. In the Preface p. 3. l. 1. r. witnessings In the Advertisement l. 19. 1. supernal p. 84. l. 27. r. Pharisees not Disciples p. 100. l. 26. 1. Ideom p. 101. l. 39. r. special not spiritual p. 109. l. 6. r. thy In Parallel p. 36. l. 9. r. incheate Plain Discovery p. 1. l. 4. r. new