feet that were of Iron and Clay and brake them to pieces Interpreted to be the fourth or last Monarchy Chapt. 7 and Verse 40. of this Chapter 35. And the Stone that smote the Image became a great Mountain and filled the whole Earth Rev. 17.14 These viz. the ten Horns ten Kingdoms or ten Toes of this Image make War with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful Spoken as though personally present in the work and parallel to this Rev. 19.11 And I saw Heaven opened and behold a white Horse and he that sat upon him was called faithful and true and in righteousness he doth judge and make War 13. And he was cloathed in a Vesture dipt in blood taken out of Isa 63.2 c. And his name is called the Word of God 14. And the Armies which are in Heaven followed him upon white Horses cloathed in fine Linnen white and clean 15. And out of his Mouth goeth a sharp Sword that with it he should smite the Nations and he shall Rule them with a Rod of Iron and he treadeth the Wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God 16. And he hath on his Vesture and Thigh written King of Kings and Lord of Lords And then there is an invitation to the Fouls of Heaven to feast themselves with the flesh of Kings Captains and Mighty Men in the Supper of the great God And in the 45 Psa a Prophecy of the Kingdom Verse 3. Gird thy Sword upon thy Thigh O most Mighty with thy Glory and thy Majesty 4. And in thy Majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things 5. Thine Arrows are sharp in the heart of the Kings enemies whereby the people fall under thee And then after this Conquest as though in it in person 6. Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever The Scepter of thy Kingdom is a right Scepter c. So Psa 66.3 Isa 42.13 Haggai 2.22 As in Page 23. Isa 35.4 Secondly The Peaceable part of the Kingdom or the Kingdom of the Mountain so spoken of as if Christ was personally present Ps 72.1 Give the King thy judgement O God and thy righteousness unto the Kings Son 2. He shall judge thy people with righteousness and thy poor with judgement 3. The Mountains shall bring peace to the people and the little Hills by righteousness 7 In his days shall the righteous flourish and abundance of peace so long as the Moon endureth 8. He shall have dominion also from Sea to Sea and from the River to the ends of the Earth c. 11. Yea all Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him c. Dan. 7.14 And there was given him viz. the Son of man Christ Jesus Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him His Dominion is an everlasting Dominion which shall not pass away and his Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed 27. And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions shall serve him Jer. 23.5 6. Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous branch and a King shall reign and prosper and shall execute justice and judgment in the Earth 6. In his days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his name whereby he shall called the Lord our righteousness Ezek. 34.23 24. And I will set up one shepheard over them and he shall feed them even my servant David he shall feed them he shall be their shepherd 24. And I the Lord will be their God and my servant David a Prince among them I the Lord have spoken it Jer. 39.9 They shall serve the Lord their God and David their King whom I will raise up unto them Luke 1.32 He shall be great and shall be called the son of the highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David 33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdom there shall be no end And so again upon the sounding of the seventh Trumpet Rev. 11.15 The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever And again Rev. 20.4 And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years Rev. 22.3 Object But why then should not we so take it as the Scripture represents it and so plainly lays it down will you be wiser than what is written why should we not so receive and believe it Answ First it must be taken for granted that as the Beasts Kingdom is a mistery so is the Kingdom of Christ no less and threfore is the mind of wisdom called for to reach into the one as the other And as the Apostle 2 Pet. 3.16 speaking of these things in which as he saith there are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest unto their own destruction Which therefore calls for great sear caution and circumspection in our conversing about these great mysteries Secondly It must be taken for granted that in the speaking to these things no sense ought to be given that denyes received fundimental principles nor thwarts the Analogy of Faith nor crosses the current of Scripture Thirdly That it is the genuine sense true scope and intent of the Scripture comparing Scripture with Scripture and spiritual things with spiritual and not only the litteral reading in some places for otherwise the Racovian Catechisme asserting Socinianisme shall go for good pay Nay what Heresie upon that account may not be asserted and proved And therefore Maton well saith whatsoever Text of Scripture is expounded any other ways than god meant by it it is according to its interpretation the word of man and not of God and consequently in adhearing to such interpretations we believe not what God saith but what man doth make him say Lastly That we cannot receive these Scriptures in the sense that many give of them that thus seem to assert Christ personally to be present either in the smiting or peaceable part of his Kingdom during these thousand years Take these following Reasons and weigh them in the fear of the Lord in the true ballance of the Sanctuary wherein we shall first shew why they cannot so be received Secondly In what sense truly according to the mind of Christ they may and ought to be received First That Christ Jesus cannot properly be said to be personally present in the smiting part besides the five Reasons to this thing Page â—5 26 27. Because it is expresly said Psal 110.2 The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou
and Glory and Blessing And then every Creature in Heaven and Earth is heard saying Blessing Honour Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever To which the Church again Echoes by their representatives saying Amen and falling down and worshipping Him viz. the unity of the Godhead that liveth for ever and ever 6. You have also an evidence of this great truth out of the Mouths of the enemies themselves even Babylon that is to be destroyed Rev 6.15 16 17. And the Kings of the Earth and the great men and the rich men and the chief Captains and the mighty men and every Bond-man and every Free-man compare Rev. 19.18 said to the Mountains and Rocks fall upon us and hide us from the Face of the him that sits upon the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of wrath is come by way of unity and conjunction and who shall be able to stand 6. That as Christ God was King Lord and Law-giver of old unto his Church and People ruling and governing them upon that Throne in all things respecting both Ecclesiastical Civil and Military affairs So is he in all those respects upon his Throne here who after he hath as Lord of Lords and King of Kings judged the great Whore and subdued the Beast Rev. 19. And destroy them that have destroyed the Earth Rev. 11.18 Will then in a more visible way take to himself his great power and Reign Rev. 11.17 When that voice shall come out of the Throne praise our God all ye his Servants and ye that fear his name both small and great and when the Eccho shall be with a joynt consent with great acclamation Alleluja for the Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him Rev. 19.5 6 7. And when gathering round about his Throne they shall fall down upon their faces and worship him ascribing Salvation Glory Blessing Wisdom Power and Might unto him Rev. 7.9 10 11 12 To the fulfilling such blessed Prophecies as these viz. Isai 33.22 The Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King he shall save us c. Luke 1.32 33. And he shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David and he shall Reign over the House of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdom there shall be no end Isai 9.6 And the Government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellour to the Mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace of the encrease his Government and Peace there shall be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and to establish it from hence forth even for ever the Zeal of the Lord of Host shall perform this that as David of old Ruled the natural Seed so will our David govern all the Spiritual Seed And not only so but the Kingdoms of this World must become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall Reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 When the whole Universe will submit to his Scripture and as the desire of Nations that his Government be imbraced Hag. 2.7 And when all Creatures with universal consent shall ascribe Blessing Honour Glory and Power to him that sitteth upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever Rev. 5.13 When all Kings â—â—all bow before him and all Nations shall serve him Ps 72. When at his name every knee shall bow and every Tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2.10 Secondly You have the other Throne on which the Lord was said to sit of old hinted at here also viz. that Throne on which the Judge or Elder of old sat wherein the Lord was said more ordinarily to sit and it was called the Throne of the Lord. And not improperly 1. Because the Lords Ordinance of Magistracy was managed thereon 2. Because the Lords Law was to be the rule thereof 3. Because the Judgement thereon given was said to be the Lords 4. Because the Lords Servants men of truth and such as feared his name were only to be intrusted therewith 5. Because the Lords special presence was intayled thereto concerning which you have a particular and brief account in that most excellent charge that good Jehoshaphat give his Judges 2 Chron. 19. respecting the Duty Dignity and Law of the Throne worthy to be written in letters of gold upon every Throne of Judicature Where he chargeth them after this manner viz. Take heed saith he what ye do for ye judge not for men but for the Lord who is with you in Judgement Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you take heed and do it for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God nor respect of persons nor taking of gifts and he charged them saying thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart and what cause soever shall come to you of your Brethren between blood and blood between Law and Commandment Statutes and Judgements ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the Lord and so wrath come upon you and upon your brethren this do and ye shall not trespass deal couragiously and the Lord shall be with the good And to which may be added that of the Apostle Rom. 13. Holding out the great end of the Thrones erecting viz. for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well And which Throne of Judgement is here also intended and included and on which the Lord will sit in this his day to the making his Crown to flourish For the Text saith when that Throne of the Lord and of the Lamb shall be in it that his Servants shall serve him viz his Saints and people shall be subservient to him in this great ministration of managing the Throne viz. they are especially to ascend the Thrones and Judgements as Rev. 20.4 And I saw Thrones and they sat upon them and Judgemene was given unto them c. And in 4.4 And round about the Throne were twenty four Seats or Thrones and upon the Seats I saw twenty four Elders sitting clothed in white Raiment and they had on their heads Crowns of Gold being as Rev. 5.10 Made by Christ Kings and Priest viz. Royal Priesthood l. p. 2. 9. To Reign with and for Christ and as his substitutes in his Name and fear to his praise by his Law through his Spirit with his presence are they to execute the judgement of Truth in continual subjection and subordination to him and therefore are said 4.10 to cast their Crowns at his Feet before his Throne ascribing the Honour Glory and Power to him Whereby that Sovereign Ordinance of Magistracy that was ordained for the blessing and benefit of
sent to Hell to keep the Pope and Popish Emperour company Here it may be noted that the foes of the Church that profess not the name of Christ as the Heathen and Turkish Emperour are in this Book compared to Dragons and Serpents and to the Devil himself so the Popes and Popish Emperours who profess Christianity are eompared to wild Beasts And Mr. Mead in his Comment upon the Rev. Chap. 12.3 4. A wonder or representation of Rome Heathen whose marks are every where seven heads and ten horns seven heads indeed as well for the seven hills upon which the City was built as also for the seven sorts of Governours who were successively to Govern that City The ten horns for the ten Kingdoms which were to arise in the time of the last head to which they were to grow Which interpretation is not mine but the Angels Chap. 17. In the mean time another Character of the Roman Emperour is added to these Whereas it is said He drew the third part of the Stars of Heaven with his Tail and did cast them to the Earth that is he subjected the third part of the Princes and Rulers of the World to his Empire For even so much viz the third part of the known world in John's age the dominion of Rome did comprehend within its Limits Add here Bernard upon Rev. 12.3 p. 208. This is expounded to be the old Serpent the Devil and Satan vers 9. by an allusion to Gen. 3. but yet so understanding him as hereby be understood also the special ministry of his fury viz. the Heathen persecuting Emperours of Rome For this prophesie â— of things to be done here on Earth by men Also the Woman noteth out a company here in this world and so must the Dragon note out in like sort such here as be her Adversaries Again the description of this Dragon cannot agree properly to the Devil himself but is indeed the Arms of Rome when it was Heathen and had Heathen Emperours ruling there who worshiped the Devil 1 Cor. 10.20 and were led by him as all the wicked be Eph. 2.2 He persecuting Christians for the very name of Christ so as the battle was against Christ Jesus himself No marvel then that they be called the Dragon that is the Devil who is put for his Instruments Chap. 2.10 As here his Instruments for him Of the Dragons taking or apprehending ANd he laid hold or took A Metaphor borrowed from the seizing of a Prisoner at war and so improved here It is said in the former Chapter he was fought with and vanquished and in this Chapter laid hold off or taken implying a compleat conquest for when a chief General after Battle is taken the business is over Which holds out no less than the absolute victory that Christ and his followers have obtained in pleading his kingly right to the Governments of this world over the Beastly and Dragonical powers of this world who have usurpt and a long time posses'd the same and having not only subdued but absolutely dismissed cashier'd and damned the Antichristian state in both parts of it both Civil and Ecclesiastical even to that degree that they shall never appear to do mischief any more no more than two wicked wretches that are cast alive into Hell fire can ever expect to come forth to act villany any more in this world so now also is the Heathen Pagan state so vanquish'd and brought down and as much out of a capacity to do any more mischief for the season intended then a Baffled Conquered enemy that is apprehended and taken prisoner And that such a season shall be wherein Christ Jesus who hath right to the worlds Government not only by gift purchase covenant and inheritance must yet plead and obtain the same by war and conquest also appears in part from these following Seriptures Numb 24.8 He shall eat up the Nations his Enemies He shall break their bones and pierce them through with his arrows 9. He couched he lay down as a Lyon Who shall raise him up Isa 41.2 Who raised up the righteous man from the East called him to his foot gave the Nations before him and made him rule over Kings He gave them as the dust to his Sword and driven Stubble to his Bow Speaking of Abraham Gen. 14. in his subduing the four Kings Types of the four Monarchies Who hath wrought and done it calling the Generations from the beginning I the Lord the first viz. he that was with Abraham in the Type in the beginning at the first and with the last I am he will also in the conclusion be with the seed of Abraham in the same work in subduing and taking their Antitypes the four Monarches eyes themselves Isa 42.13 The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man He shall stir up jealousie like a man of War He shall cry yea roar He shall prevail against his Enemies 14. I have a long time holden my peace I have been still and refrained my self Now will I cry like a Travelling Woman I will destroy and devour at once 15. I will make wast Mountains and Hills and dry up all their Herbs and I will make the Rivers Islands and I will dry up the Pools c. Haggai 2.22 And I will overthrow the Throne of Kingdoms and will destroy the strength of the Kingdoms of the Heathon and I will overthrow the Chariots and those that ride in them and their Horses and their Riders shall come down every one by the Sword of his Brother Rev. 17.14 These shall make War with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with him are called chosen and faithfull Rev. 19.13 c. And he was clothed in a Vesture dipt in blood and his name is called the Word of God And the Armies which are in Heaven followed him upon white Horses clothed in fine linnen white and clean And out of his Mouth goeth a Sharp Sword that with it he should smite the Nations And he shall rule them with a rod of Iron And he treadeth the Wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God And he hath on his Vesture and on his thigh written King of Kings and Lord of Lords So also Psalms 2.8 9 c. Dan. 2.44 45. Psal 45.3 4 5. Psal 66.3 c Psal 72. 9 10. Isa 24.19 20 21 22. Ezek. 21.26 27. Rev. 14.19 20. Isa 63.1 2 3 4 6. Which dispensation is no other than the pouring out the Vials Chap. 16. The Earth-quake Desolation and Slaughter that attends the Resurrection of the Witnesses Rev. 11. Typed out by Abrams Conquest of the four Kings as before the overturning of Pharaoh and his Host the subduing the thirty one Kings in Canaan by Joshuah in order to give rest to the people in the promised land the destruction of all Enemies by David in order to Solomons quiet and peaceable Reign And this work as in the
Types is to be performed gradually First the Antichristian powers and Interest afterwards the Heathenish and pagan Governments in order to the subduing and bringing the whole world under the Dominion and Soveraignty of Jesus Christ who must have the Heathen for his Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession and must rule from Sea to Sea from the River to the end of the Earth Of the Angel that lays hold on or apprehends the Dragon And I saw an Angel come down from Heaven having the Key of the Bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand and he laid hold c. THe word Angel both in Greek and Hebrew signifies a Messenger taken therefore sometimes for Heavenly Spirit Heb. 1.7 Psal 103.20 Sometimes a Minister of the Gospel or Elder 2 Cor. 5.20 Rev. 2.1 Sometimes for Christ Jesus himself the Archangel So sometimes by an Angel though exprest in the singular Number is meant the whole Eldership or Ministry as Rev. 2 1. So the Angel of the Church of Ephesus is to be understood more than one because they had Elders more than one Acts 20.17 So the Angel is said to pour out the Vials Chap. 16. By it is to be understood those Ministers of Gods wrath that are to execute his judgments upon Babylon And by the Angel in the 14th Chapter that is to Preach the Everlasting Gospel we are to understand the whole Ministry that is then called thereto Which I take to be the import of Angel here viz. the vertue power and authority of Christ the Archangel put forth in and by his Church and people clothed with authority to perform this great service having the Key and Chain Emblems of power and authority put into their hands Christ being their head and representative and the rather so because it is a power and authority in opposition to the Dragon who is a mistical representative of all the Enemies of Christ it being no new thing to represent a whole party by the head and chief that influences them As to say such a King vanquished such a King when neither of the Kings are personally present but vertually so by their commissions impowring their Generals and Armies So Michael and his Angels are said to fight Rev. 12. on the one side and the Dragon and his Angels on the other when neither Christ nor the Devil are personally present but their Agents and Instruments Constantine and his Host in the behalf of the Woman and Man child on the one side and Maxentius and his crew seeking to devour the one and the other on the other side So are the Bloody Tyrannous Antichristian powers that for 1260. years are to oppose the Church represented by a Beast And the filthy Idolatrous Church by a lewd filthy Strumpet a whorish Woman and the true Church of Christ by a Woman Object But is it not said that the Angel comes down from Heaven Therefore it must either be Christ himself in person or some mighty Angel that descends from him out of Heaven to perform his great Service In answer whereto I shall first shew you that by this Angel we cannot understand the person of Christ here descending and coming from Heaven and secondly shew you what we are understand by Heaven First By this Angel we cannot understand the person of Christ First Because this is not the time of his personal coming and appearing which will not be till a thousand years after for this action is but at the beginning of the thousand years His personal coming is not to be till the Judgment day It being said that he muâ—â— judge the quick and dead at his appearing and Kingdom which is not to be till after the thousand years and after the Battle of Gog and Magog Secondly Because when he comes in person it iâ— not to such work as this not to fight and subdue Enemies with material Swords nor to put his people as the Lambs Army and followers upon any such service at that time being then all to be in the Resurrection and glorified state made like himself in glory and as the Angels of God Neither will any of his Enemies be in a capacity to make resistance or opposition who in their own persons shall be destroyed by fire and the very earth they inhabit and all its works burnt up and consumed at whose presence the Earth and Heaven flye away Thirdly Because such an apprehension would make three personal comings of Christ whereas we read but of two Heb. 9.28 who will appear the second time without sin to Salvation Because it is expresly said He sits at the right hand of God till his Enemies be made his footstool Fourthly This conquering fighting work is not by Christ in person at this time of his glorious and terrible appearing because the Execution then upon the Enemies will be sudden and speedy like travail upon a Woman with Child as a Thief in the night like Lightning as it was in the days of Lot and Noah with sudden destruction and as a snare will he come upon all the Inhabitants of the Earth Whereas this work as you have heard is a work of time gradually to be performed The stone smites not the Image all at once but gradually and after smiting beats him to powder and blows it away Then by degrees doth that little stone increase to be a great mountain and to fill the whole Earth first the ten Kingdoms in Europe where the Beast hath ruled must be overcome in order to Whores judging for which there is Hallelujah aad Praise by all the Saints After that is the Dragon to be dealt with viz. The Heathen power and rule all the world through for all the Kingdoms of this world are to become the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ this therefore asks time the other is done at an instant suddenly at the sounding of a Trump in the twinkling of an eye Fifthly Neither can Christs personal appearing be at this time because then it must be supposed that Christ being in the Camp of the Saints and beloved City shall suffer himself and all the Glorious Angels and glorified Saints to be besieged and streightned by the Gog-Magog Army Therfore must this be done by his virtual presence power and spirit though spoken as if he did it in person and these great Conquests effected as in the foregoing Chapter is expressed by the Sword coming out of his mouth viz. by his word commission in his name and by his authority But by what ways will the Lord effect this work upon the Enemy Various will be the ways and means that this great work of removing this opposition and subduing these Enemies be brought to pass as the Scripture plentifully makes mention viz. First Sometimes by appearing against them in some extraordinary way of his providence either after the manner of Aegypt by ingaging the Host of Heaven and Stars in their courses against them by Hail-stones and Coals of fire
his own Blood And hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever Daniel 7.17 These great Beasts which are four are four Kings which shall arise out of the Earth viz. the four Monarchies as interpreted Chap. 2.18 But the Saints of the most high shall take the Kingdom and possess the Kingdom for ever 2â— And judgment was given to the Saints of the most high 26. And the judgment shall sit and they shall take away his Dominion to consume and destroy it to the end 27. And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions shall serve and obey him Which is the very same spoken of Dan 2.44 and in the days of these Kings viz four Monarchs typed out by the Image the God of Heaven shall set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed and the Kingdom shall not be left to other people but it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever Psal 110 2. The Lord shall send the Rod of thy strength viz. his Septer or Ensign of Rule and Dignity out of Zion the new Testament Church Rule thou in the midst of thine Enemies Mica 4.8 And thou O Tower of the Flock the strong hold of the Daughter of Zion unto thee shall it come even the first Dominion the Kingdom shall come to the Daughter of Jerusalem Rev. 2.26 27. And he that overcometh and keepeth my Works unto the end to him will I give power over the Nations and he shall rule them with a Rod of Iron as the Vessels of a Potter shall they be broken to pieces even as I have received of my Father and I will give him the Morning Star Which glorious reign is held forth to us in the particulars following viz. First In the Great Extent Secondly in the Glorious Administration which is first in dispensing Laws 2ly Administring judgment both punishing the Evil and rewarding the Good to the encrease of 1. Peace 2. Plenty and 3. Protection Sixthly the great conversions both of Jews and Gentiles Seventhly the encrease of holiness Eighthly Freedom from sorrow Ninthly Restauration of the Creature First The extent of this Kingdom is no less than the bounds of the Beasts and Dragons Territories even the whole Earth Rev. 16.14 No less than the limits of the four preceding Monarchies as Dan. 7.27 And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions shall serve and obey him So Dan. 2.34 35. The Universality whereof is confirmed also by these following Scriptures Isa 60.11 Thy Gates shall be open continually they shall not be shut day nor night that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles and that their Kings may be brought 12. For the Nation and Kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish Yea those Nations shall be utterly wasted Isa 2.2 And it shall come to pass in the last deays that the Mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the Mountains and shall be exalted above the Hills and all Nations shall flow thereunto Agreeable to the first promise to Abram Gen. 12.3 And I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee and in thee shall all the Families of the Earth be blessed Ratified also by an Oath Gen. 22.16 17 18. By my self have I sworn saith the Lord that in blessing I will bless thee and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the Stars of Heaven and as the sand which is upon the Sea Shore And thy seed shall possess the Gate of his Enemies And in thy seed shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed Rev. 11.15 And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voices in Heaven saying The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever So Psal 2.8 Psal 29.10 Isa 19.23 25. The glorious Administration consists First in dispensing the Righteous Laws of the Lord in opposition to the Laws of the Nations the Statutes of Omri the Lord alone being the Law-giver Mica 4.2 And many Nations shall come and say Come and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord and to the House of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his paths for the Law shall go forth of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem Therefore it is said Isa 51.4 Hearken unto me my people and give ear unto me Oh my Nation for a Law shall proceed from me and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people 5. My Righteousness is near my Salvation is gone forth and mine Arms shall judge the people the Isles shall wait upon me and upon mine Arm shall they trust Therefore verse the 7th Hearken to me ye that know Right the People in whose heart is my Law Fear not the reproach of men c. Isa 42.2 He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgment in the Land and the Isles shall wait for his Law Verse 21 The Lord is well pleased for his Righteousness sake He will magnifie the Law and make it Honourable And further as a precept for the day Mal. 4.4 Remember ye the Law of Moses my Servant which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel with the Statutes and Judgments Ezek. 44.23 24. Secondly In Administring Justice and Judgment and Righteousness to the encrease of Peace and plenty and protection the blessings of good Government Isa 1.26 And I will restore thy Judges as at the first and the Councellors as at the beginning afterward thou shalt be called the City of Righteousness the faithful City Ps 72.7 In his days shall the Righteous flourish and abundance of Peace so long as the Moon endureth Verse the 2. of that Psal He shall judge thy people with Righteousness and thy poor with Judgment Verse 11. All Kings stall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him 12. For he shall deliver the needy when he cryeth the poor also and him that hath no helper 13. He shall spare the poor and needy and save the Souls of the needy 14. He shall redeem their Soul from deceit and violence c. Isa 60.17 18. I will also make thy Officers peace and thine exacters Righteousness 18. Violence shall no more be heard in thy Land wasting and destruction within thy Borders But thou shalt call thy walls Salvation and thy Gates praise 21. Thy people also shall be all Righteous they shall inherit thy Land for ever the branch of my planting the work of my hands
at my right hand until I make thine Enemy thy foot-stool compared with Heb. 10.12 But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sat down on the right hand of God from henceforth expecting till his Enemies be made his foot-stool And therefore being as an overcomer he sat down with God upon his Throne and the Earth his foot-stool He is upon that Throne to reign till all his Enemies be brought down as 1 Cor. 15.25 26. For he must Reign till he hath put all Enemies under his feet the last Enemy that shall be destroyed is death So that it is most manifest by this positive position that Jesus Christ is to sit upon the Throne of Heaven at Gods right hand till all his Enemies be subdued yea till death it self as the last Enemy be conquered which will not be till the general Resurrection when it shall be said that death is swallowed up in Victory and Death and Hell shall be cast into the lake of fire Therefore by this received principle Christ shall not leave the Fathers right hand personally to encounter Dragon Beast and False-prophet who are to be fought with as is already proved and vanquished before the general Resurrection Nay before the thousand years at the beginning whereof many suppose is this personal coming and Resurrection of the Saints So that according to their apprehensions that seeming coming of Christ to war with the Saints against the Beast Dragon and False-prophet must admit of another sense which is also expressed Page 27 28. Secondly Neither can be properly be said to be personally present in the peaceable part or mountain state during the thousand years First Because besides the constant concurrence of Scripture the universal consent of all parties is that Christ comes not personally till the bodily Resurrection and that there is no bodily Resurrection either of Saints or sinners in the beginning of the thousand years Take these Eleven Arguments from Page 40. to 44. Secondly It appears from the former Argument of his being at the Fathers right hand till the general resurrection till Death the last Enemy be destroyed and if so then the thousand years is to be first over and the Battle of Gog before the general Resurrection shall take place and that this is true Doctrine appears also from all the considerable places that make mention of his personal coming and appearing viz. First From those Scriptures that assert that when he comes all the Saints shall come with him which cannot be short of the great Resurrection 1 Thes 3.3.13 To the end be may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God even our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his Saints Luke 13.28 29. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when ye shall see Abram and Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God and your selves thrust out And they shall come from the East and from the West and from the North and from the South and shall sit down in the Kingdom of God 1 Thes 4.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the Trumpet of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Cor. 15.51 52. Behold I shew you a Mystery we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed in a Moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last Trump for the Trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed 54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in Victory 55. O Death c. By which Scriptures it infallibly appears that at the coming of Christ all the Saints shall come with him The living Saints are to be changed and glorified The dead Saints to be raised and glorified But if this coming of Christ and Resurrection be to be understood at the beginning of the thousand years then cannot all the Saints come with him For as page 37 multitudes both of Jews and Gentiles are to be called and converted in the thousand years Therefore cannot it be short of the general Resurrection after the thousand years Secondly From those Scriptures that inform his coming to be at the general Resurrection p. 40. John 5.28 John 6.39 40.44.54 1 Cor. 15.51.52 1 Thess 4.16 Job 14 12. Job 19.25 26. Secondly From those several Scriptures that assign Christs coming to be at the General Judgement to Judge the wicked and the righteous which is also long after this thousand years Reign viz. 1. To Judge the Wicked 2 Thess 1.7 8. c. When the Lord shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels 8. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his Power 10. When he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe c. 2 Tim 4.1 I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom Matth. 25.31 When the Son of man shall come in his Glory and all the Holy Angels with him then shall he sit upon the Throne of his Glory 32. And before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a Shepheard divideth his Sheep from the Goats 33. And he shall set the Sheep at his right hand but the Goats on the left 34. And then shall the King say to them on his right hand c. Jude 14 15. Verses And Enoch also the seventh from Adam Prophesyed of these saying Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints to execute judgement upon all and to convince all that are Ungodly amongst them c. Rev. 20.12 And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their works 2. To Judge the Righteous Matth. 25.34 Then shall the King say to them on his right hand c. Rev. 20.12 And another Book was opened which is the Book of Life c. Acts 3.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord 20. And he shall send Jesus Christ which before was Preached unto you 21. Whom the
Salvation Heb. 2.28 Acts 11 1. 1 Cor. 15.23 Thes 1.8 Secondly His spiritual coming is either when he comes by his spirit to convince call and convert a Soul as Eph. 3.17 1 Thes 2.13 Rev. 4.20 or to confirm seal and establish by his Spirit John 14 20. Acts 23.28 Eph. 1.13 Thirdly It is mistically considered either in his coming in the type in the shadowy and legal dispensations Acts 7. 1 Cor. 10. or in the Evangelical Antetype or Gospel dispensation Fourthly He cometh in his Providence either to redeem deliver and save his people Exod. 3.8 Lam. 18.8 Heb. 10.37 or to execute Vengeance in the destruction of his Enemies Isa 63. Luke 18. Hab. 2. Mal. 2. And it is the mind of wisdom that must rightly and duly apply each of these according to the scope drift and meaning of the holy spirit and not mistake the one for the other Secondly What are we to understand by Christs being with a people or a people with Christ can that be otherwise than personal for it is expresly said They Reigned with Christ Christ may be said to be with a person or people when he is so virtually by his spirit or spiritual presence or when he is so by his Word Rule Law or Precept Judah was said to rule with God Hosea 11.12 when they cleaved to Gods Word and Rule When Israel rejected the Government by Judges which was Gods Ordinance and Appointment for a King after the manner of the Nations they were said to reject God from being their King who vertually went in and out before them and sought their Battles for them 1 Sam. 8. And therefore said Jer. 8.19 Is not the Lord in Zion Is not her King in her why have they provoked me to anger with the graven Images Solomon was said to sit upon the Throne of the Lord. And Jehoshaphat in his charge to his Judges 2 Chron. 19.6 bids them take heed what they did for you judg not for man but for the Lord who he told them was with them in the judgment being called forth as verse 8. for the Judgment of the Lord and for controversies Christ is said therefore virtually and spiritually to dwell to rest to walk amongst his people 2 Cor. 6.16 Rev. 2.1 Isa 57.15 and they with him to live with them and they with him to suffer with them and they with him Psal 91.15 Acts 7.9 To dye be buried quickned raised with him Rom. 6.4 Col. 2.15 2 Tim. 2.12 To work with him 2 Cor 5.6.1 Sup with him and he with them Rev. 3. To war and fight together with him and he with them Rev. 17. Joshuah 5. To be Captain of the Host and General of the Army Rev. 19. When all is but virtually and spiritually so So Satan is said to be with his Servants Subjects acting and instructing when he is not personally nor visibly so Satan shall cast some of you into prison Rev. 2.10 Where Satan dwelt and Satans Seat and Throne was Rev. 2.13 When he was only so by his substitutes in his Authority not really and personally but virtually and mistically And so to Reign and Rule as God King'd it in Israel by his Word Law and Authority by his influence and spirit As the Dragons Rule is called the Devils because the Devil influences acts and spirits his principal Agents and Instruments though not personally present So may the Rule in the hands of the Saints be called Christs Kingdom or Soveraignty though he be only virtually not personally present It is no new thing so to take it in his mistical Kingdom in the Church where his Laws Statutes and Ordinances are dispensed in his name and by vertue of his spirit It was no new thing to have it so esteemed in Israel in the Typical Kingdom when the Law was his the Rulers by his choice and spiriting the policy his called therefore his Rule Government Soveraignty Throne Kingdom And why then should it be thought strange in the Antetype When his Law Rule Policy and Rulers called according to his qualifications and influenced by his spirit shall according to promise and Prophesie come forth again in the world why may they not as well be said to Reign with Christ as suffer with him If we suffer with him we shall Reign with him We do not think it any absurdity to say The King of Spain fights and Conquers in America and Rules and Reigns there though never personally present in that other world but only vertually so by his Commissions by his Laws Civil and Ecclesiastical that he hath transferred thither by his Officers and Vice Roys that he hath appointed in his name to Rule and Govern there Did not the Roman Senate of old Govern the world at Rome by their Laws and Edicts and Rulers of Provinces that they Commissioned and appointed But by this Reason you seem to exempt Christs person from any share of Rule or Soveraignty in any Kingdom here whereas it is expresly said He is to judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and Kingdom by which it is most manifest that at his appearing he hath a Kingdom and you owning that appearing to be personal what do you make that Kingdom to be And what share hath Christs person in it In answer whereto I conceive it necessary in the first place to give you the distinction of a five-fold Kingdom the Scripture takes notice of belonging to Christ viz. a Providential Spiritual Monarchical mistical or Davidical and Misphatical Kingdom and then I shall give you my understanding and conceptions of this Kingdom hinted at that he is to have at that his appearing And for a want of a right distinguishing herein proceds as I humbly apprehend all the mistaken notions and differences about the Kingdom of Christ treated of in these papers First Therefore understand there is a providential Kingdom which Christ hath and doth as God manage over all the world and that from the beginning Secondly A spiritual Kingdom which he doth and hath all along managed in the hearts of his people from the beginning of the world to this day Thirdly There is a mistical Kingdom or a Rule and Soveraignty that he as Lord and King hath exercised in the Church as well under the Law as under the Gospel Fourthly There is his Monarchical or Davidical Kingdom namely that dignity and Soveraignty that is in time according to promise and prophesie to take place in and over the Nations and to be managed by his Laws and Government by his spirit and vertual presence in his Servants and Substitutes Which hath been the special Subject of this discourse Fifthly There is that glorious Misphatical Kingdom viz. Soveraignty that Christ Jesus in person with all the Saints in their glorified bodies with him shall upon their general Resurrection and Judgment exercise here upon the Earth before all is given up into the Fathers hands which is further cleared to you in the several parts of it in the
Scriptures following Mat. 16.28 There be some standing here that shall not tast death till they see the son of man coming in his Kingdom Which in a figure is performed in the next Chapter Mat. 17.2 And was transfigured before them and his face did shine as the Sun and his Raiment was white as the Light c. Compared with Rev. 1 13 14 15. 2 Pet. 1.16 For we have not followed cunning devised Fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eye Witnesses of his Majesty viz. They had a vision of that power and glory that Christs Majesty shall have when he come in his Kingdom Mat. 19.28 Ye which have followed me in the Regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the Throne of his Glory ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Rev. 3.21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me upon my Throne even as I also overcome and am set down with my Father on his Throne 1 Cor. 15.50 Now this I say Brethren that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God neither doth corruption inherit incorruption Therefore 51. Behold I shew you a mystery we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed Holding out the necessity of the changed immortal incorruptible estate to qualifie them and make them capable to partake of the blessings and benefits of that Kingdom of God which Christ enters upon at the sounding of this last Trump and the general Resurrection and Judgement 2 Tim. 4.1 I charge thee before our Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the Quick and the Dead at his appearing and Kingdom Luke 13.28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God and you your selves thrust out 29. And they shall come from the East and from the West and from the North and from the South and shall sit down in the Kingdom of God Math 25.31 32. When the Son of Man shall come in his Glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit upon the Throne of his glory And before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a Shepheard divideth the Sheep from the Goats c. Which fully states and clears up the thing 1. That Christ shall come in his Glory with all the Holy Angels with him 2. That he shall then in his Kingly state as Verse 34 Sit upon the Throne of his Glory 3. That this shall be at the general Resurrection For all Nations good and bad are gathered before him 4. That this shall be at the general Judgement For now is the Judgement and Sentence to be pronounced c. Secondly This shall be upon the Earth Job 19.25 26. For I know that my Redeemer liveth and he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth And though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God Whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another though my Reins be consumed within me 1 Thess 4.17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with him in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air and so shall we ever be with the Lord viz. Not to remain with him in the Air but to meet him to come with him to the Earth For so Acts 1.10 11. And while they looked stedfastly towards Heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white Apparel which said Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven With Zach. 14.4 And his Feet shall stand in that day upon Mount Olivet c. Thirdly The manner of his coming to his Throne it shall be first Visible secondly Glorious thirdly Terrible also 1. Visible Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with Clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him c. Matth. 27.30 And they shall see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with power and great Glory Acts 1.11 He shall come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven 2. Glorious And therefore well called the Kingdom of Glory Mark 13.26 And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds with Power and great Glory Which great Glory appears First Because it is in the Fathers Glory Mark 8.38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful Generation of him also shall the Son of Man also be ashamed when he cometh in the Glory of his Father with the Holy Angels Secondly In his own Glory with the Father Luke 9.26 Of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his own Glory and in his Fathers c. Thirdly In the Glory of all the Holy Angels Matth. 25.31 When the Son of Man shall come in his Glory and all the Holy Angels with him 2 Thess 1.7 And to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels Fourthly In the Glory of all the Saints as is already largely proved from Zech. 4.5 1 Thess 4.14 17. 1 Cor. 15.51 52. Luke 13.28 Luke 2.36.2 Thess 2.10 There vile bodies being now raised changed made from Earthly to bear the Image of the Heavenly is to be made glorious like Christs glorified Body 1 John 3.1 2. Phil. 3.21 1 Cor. 15.43 44 49. 3. Terrible also With a shout great noise voice of the Archangel with the Trump of God the last Trump with the dissolution of Heaven and Earth as 1 Cor. 15.52 1 Thess 4.17 Math. 24.31 Math. 24.24 2 Pet. 3. Rev. 20. Rev. 22. 4. What shall be done in this Kingdom 2 Thess 1. Christ shall be glorified and admired and praised Saints shall be glorified and rewarded Wicked Men and wicked Angels shall by Christ and the Saints be Judged and Sentenced according to their deeds and demerits Of being Priests of God and Christ But they shall be Priests of God and Christ THis is another part of the Saints Priviledge this thousand years not only to Reign as Kings but be Priests too as Rev. 1.6 â—ev 5.10 And hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall Reign on the Earth Alluding hereby to that Dignity and Priviledge of the Priesthood under the Law who were said to draw nigh to God in a more special and peculiar way in his worship which was First Patriarchal or the Priesthood belonging to the first born Num. 63.12.41.45.8.16 17. Secondly Mosaical or Levitical Numb 3.18.7.22 Exod. 28.1 1 Chron. 6.49 Of whom First High-Priest 1 Chron. 6.14 15. Secondly Chief Priests Numb 20.26 Thirdly Ordinary Priests of the same line Lev. 6.29 Which were
all covert and open Enemies which new state will abide till Glory come Bringing in of Eastern Kingdoms may well be called a new world And Mr Mede further very significantly to this point upon his sixth Synchronysme in his Clavis Apoc. p. 24. gives the following four substantial Arguments to enforce the same viz. First The Marriage of the Lamb and that Imperial Kingdom of the Almighty Lord God both begin after the destruction of Baâ—ylon where the seventh Trumpet beginneth this appeareth out of the Hymn of the Elders and Beasts which in the former Synchronisme we have commended out of the Nineteenth Chapter verse 6 7. Hallelujah for our Lord God Almighty Reigneth Let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the Marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready Put the New Jerusalem is that Bride of the Lamb aborned and prepared for her Husband Chapter 21. verse 2. And I saw saith he the Holy City new Jerusalem coming down from the God out of Heaven as a Bride adorned for her Husband and verse 9. Come and I will shew thee the Bride the Lambs wife c. Secondly Jerusalem is the beloved City but that beloved City forthwith after he thousand years are ended is said to be compassed about by those Troops of Satan then let loose Chapter 20. verse 9. And they compassed the Tents of the Saints and the beloved City therefore it must needs have been extant before while Satan was yet bound Thirdly The seventh Vial being poured out wherewith the Beast is dispatcht and abolished there came a loud voice from the Throne saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is done Chapter 16. verse 17. So also he that sate upon the Throne saith to John beholding new Jerusalem descending from Heaven Chapter 21. verse 5 6. Behold I make all things new 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is done I am Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End therefore new Jerusalem the Bride of the Lamb begins at the last end of the Vials 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Whore being already dispatcht and so it contemporizeth with the space of time which ensueth the destruction of the Beast â—ourthly One of the Angels of the Vials Chapter 17. doth shew unto John the Condemnation of the Whore even while the Vials are in pouring out and at least by one of them to be executed And the same Angel of Vials Chap. 21. verse 10. sheweth to the same John the Bride of the Lamb the great City Holy Jerusalem to become Glorious even when the Vials are now ended that is the Beast and Babylon being destroyed In treating whereof we shall first give you a brief Analysis then a short Explanation of the most material and difficult things in the Vision The Analysis or Parts of the Chapter In this description of the glorious and happy state of the Church we have First A more brief and general account which is given partly by Vision partly by Voice from the first to the ninth Verse Secondly We have a more particular and larger account which is visionally expressed from the ninth of the twenty first to the sixth Verse of the twenty second In the briefer Account we have First By Vision the Churches happiness represented and that First In respect to a new World And I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth for the first Heaven and Earth was past away Secondly In respect to the evils of Commotion and trouble that are to be removed thence And there was no more Sea Thirdly In respect of the new Jerusalem Described by 1. Her Holiness in opposition to the unholy City that was removed 2 Her newness First In respect to old Jerusalem the Type Secondly In respect of her new state and happiness 3. Her Heavenliness or Divine descent 4. Her Bridelike preparedness Verse 2. And I saw the Holy City new Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband Secondly By Voice Tending to explain and confirm the former Vision which is twofold 1. From Heaven 2. From the Throne 1. The Voice from Heaven declares the Churches happiness First Respecting the enjoyment of all good consisting in the enjoyment 1. Of Gods Covenant relating to them 2. His Co-habitation by his presence with them And I heard a voice out of Heaven saying Behold the Tabernacle of God is with Men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God Verse 3. Secondly Respecting the removal of evil by the passing away of former things viz. Distresses Persecutions Slaughters as Rev. 12.2.13.7.14.13 Which shall trouble her no more And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are past away Verse 4. 2. The Voice from the Throne which is thâ—â—e-fold from God himself confirming this happy state 1. Proclaiming himself the Author of this new Fabrick And he that sate upon the Throne said Behold I make all things new 2. Commanding John to Write and Record these words as infallible And he said unto me write for these words are true and faithful Verse 5. 3. Declaring the consummation of this happy state according to Prophecy And he said unto me It is done confirm'd from his Omnipotency I am Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End described by the nature and excellency of this happiness I will give unto him that is a thirst of thâ— Fountain of the water of Life freely He that over cometh shall inherit all things And I will be his God and he shall be my Son Verse 6 7. Which happy state is illustrated by the contrary miserable condition that must attend the Worshippers of the Beast and Vassals of Anti-christ who are ranked in eight several sorts describing their corruptions But the fearful and unbelieving and the Abominable and Murderers and Whoremongers and Sorcerers and Idolaters and all Lyars shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone which is the second Death Secondly In the larger Account by Vifion to John we have 1. The preparation of John for the Vision 2. The description of the Church and her happy estate as represented in the Vision First The Preparation of John for perceiving and beholding this Vision wherein may be observed 1. Who prepared viz. one of the seven Vial Angels 2. How prepared him partly by words And there came unto me one of the seven Angels which had the seven Vials full of the seven last Plagues and talked with me saying come hither I will shew thee the Bride the Lambs wife And partly by action And he carried me away in the spirit to a great high Mountain Verse 10. Secondly The Churches Description And she is shewed here in the height of magnificency and stateliness transcending all the glory of the Kingdoms of
Glory it self and chief Corner Foundation-stone is of viz. the precious Jasper as clear as Chrystal denotes that the Churches Foundation Glory and Salvation is Jesus Christ for he is the Elect and precious Corner-stone and other Foundation can no man lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ who is also their Glory 2 Cor. 3.18 4. That as the twelve Gates standing upon the four quarters within Jerusalem the Type were places through the Wall that gave entrance into the City to the twelve Tribes coming up out of all the World to worship and to partake of the Priviledges that belonged to the natural Seed of Abraham as saith the Psalmist Our feet shall stand within thy gates O Jerusalem Jerusalem is builded as a City compacted together whither the Tribes go up The Tribes of the Lord unto the Testimony of Israel to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. So here these twelve Gates serve for entrance in the new Jerusalem to all the Elect who are the Spiritual Seed of Abraham for they that are Christs whether Jew or Gentile are Abrahams Seed according to promise even those who are built upon the foundation o the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone and so entering in by Christ the door they have admission by the Angels or Ministers of Christ into the rights and priviledges of this Holy free City the Mother of us all and are to be esteemed as the true Isaacs the children of Sarah the free Woman the marked sealed number belonging to the twelve Tribes Spiritual For as the twelve Tribes of old in the Type comprehended all the natural Seed of Abraham so under the denomination of the twelve Tribes are comprehended in allusion thereto all the Seed of Abraham Spiritual as Mead well observes from the sealed Tribes the 144000 mentioned in the seventh Revelation which you may read at large in his Coment upon the Seales Page â—9 Whereas the security and strength the broad and high Wall that encompasseth Babylon the false Church and wherein she trusts for Salvation and hath boasted saying She shall sit therein as a Queen and see no sorrow Is her wisdom beauty riches and strength her Sorceries and her Witchcrafts wherein she hath laboured from her youtâ— Isa 47. To the enchanting of the Nations and the Kings thereof and whereby the Waters have been gathered about her for her security for she sits amongst the Rivers Nah. 3.8 viz. In the midst of the people Rev. 17.15 Whereby she hath been enabled to impose and establish her Idolatry by blood and cruelty incompassing her self with violence and spoil For in her is found the blood of Prophets and of Saints and of all that were slain upon the Earth Rev. 18.24 Witnesâ— her blasphemous murderous Edicts her bloody cruel Inquisition her Gibbets Halters and Stakes But her Walls will totter and fall her Sea will be dryed up her wisdom and beauty wherein she hath trusted will fail her and all her Inchantments will be ineffectual when all her violence must return upon her The ten Horns or Kingdoms that have supported her will eat her Flesh and burn it with Fire and by how much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow must be meted out to her when Plague Death Mourning Famine and Fire shall be her portion for strong is the Lord God that will judge her Of the Cities foursquare Cubical Figure And the City lyeth foursquare and the length is as large as the breadth and he measured the City with the Reed twelve thousand furlongs the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal THis Cubical Figure is just answering to the form of the Holy place for as that was just twenty Cubits high and twenty Cubits long and twenty Cubits broad and the length and the breadth and the height of it equal and overlaid with pure gold 1 Kings 6.20 2 Chr 3.8 Ezek. 41.4 And which is represented to be the figure of Heaven it self Heb. 9.24 So this is just twelve thousand furlongs or fifteen hundred miles high fifteen hundred long and fifteen hundred broad the breadth and height and length being just equal not onely overlaid with gold but all of pure transparent gold which great mystery may hold out thus much to us 1. That all things relating to the City or Church of God in this glorious state will exactly hold proportion with the word and lye even every way to the golden Reed 2 That the Church in purity answering Rule is even Heaven upon Earth the very figure and pattern of Heaven where the Lord himself dwells and is enthroned Whereas Babylon is without any regularity or order of Gods appointment being a City of confusion for as is her name so is she and as she is the strong hold and habitation of Devils and unclean Spirits and the figure of Hell coming indeed out of the bottomless Pit and ordered by the wisdom from beneath So thither must she go both head and members as Rev. 19.21.22.8.20.14 Of the precious Materials And the building of the Wall of it was of Jasper and the City was pure gold like unto clear glasse And the foundations of the wall of the City were garnished with all manner of precious stones The first foundation was Jasper the second Saphire the third a Calcedonie the fourth an Emerald the fifth Sardonyx the sixth Sardius the seventh a Chrysolite the eighth Beryl the ninth a Topaz the tenth a Chrysophrasus the eleventh a Jacinct the twelfth an Amethyst And the twelve Gates were twelve Pearls every several gate was of one Pearl and the street of the City was pure of Gold as it were transparent glasse Rev. 21.18 19 20 21. GReat was the splendid glory of the Tabernacle whereof we read Exod. 25.26 27. Chapters And greater that of the Temple and City in Solomons days as 2 Chron. 1.2 3 4 5.9 Chapter when it was such a golden Age that silver was little regarded but was as the stones in the street 2 Chron 9 27. And both of them herein Types of this our City and Temple Great also was the riches of Tyre as Ezek. 27.28 Chapters especially in those remarkable precious stones Ezek. 28.13 Like those in the Brest plate Exod 25.15 16 17. And these mentioned here who was a Type of the man of sin or mystery Babylon And greater was the beauty and splendour of mystery Babylon its Antitype whose City was clothed in fine Linnen and Purple and Scarlet and deckt with Gold and precious Stones and Pearls c. Yet all this put together falls unspeakably short of the incomparable Riches and Glory of this famous City here delivered Whose City it self is pure Gold Whose Wall is built of the precious Jasper stone Whose street is Paved with transparent Gold Whose twelve gates are each of them of one intire Pearl Whose foundations are garnished with all manner of precious stones even with such as
be cast alive into the lake of fire and the Dragon to be bound and cast into the bottomless pit as a close prisoner for 1000. years and afterwards to be cast into the lake where the Beast and false prophet were cast a thousand years before being all one and the same story By which it manifestly appears the Dragon was at liberty and unbound till the Beast and false-prophet were ruined and destroyed Mr. Fox himself doth in p. 130. of his first Book calculate the 1000. years to succeed the 12â—0 days or 42. Months and the Witnesses death and resurrection But withall it is true doth conclude those mistical Numbers to contain no more than 294. years viz. from the Death of John Baptist to the end of Maxentius and Licinius and the 1000. years to commence from Constantine Secondly As these two Actions differ in point of time so also in point of place viz. that of the 12th appears upon the War in Heaven to be a casting down from thence by Michael and his Angels that subdued him But this in the 20th seems to be a Scene acted in another place viz not in Heaven but by an Angel coming down from Heaven viz. to the Earth where the Dragon was and in the Armageddon rout apprehends him upon the Earth and casts him not out of Heaven to the Errth as before but out of the Earth as it were under the Earth into the bottomless pit The one being a casting him out of that Empire he possessed in the Roman world when Constantine as a type of the man-child that must rule the Nations did vanquish Maxentius in the West and Licinius in the East to the possessing their Dominions with his own which extended over a good part of Asia and Africa and over the greatest part of Europe with the Metropolis and principal seat Rome it self The other a casting him out of the Empire he shall enjoy at the Armageddon Battle which will comprehend no less than three whole parts of the world yea all that the ten horned Crowned Beast possesseth not the Dragons circuit then containing Asia Africa and America whether Turk Mogul Emperours of Persia China India Prester John or America north or South the Beast bearing way in the European Territories only the whole Heathenish Rule being then called Dragon in distinction from the Beast or Antichristian powers and yet both together doth but make up that fourth Monarchy that extends it self to the four parts of the world for they in conjunction as you find Rev. 16.13 14. command and influence the whole world which Christ is to vanquish in the fifth Monarcy that the Kingdoms of this world may become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and the City of God be of as large an extent as the City of the Nations which Constantines Dominion heretofore was not for he had no part of America but part of Asia and Africa and not all Europe and of far less extent is the Turkish Territories supposed to be the Dragon And so upon the Dragons second foil he is neither to have place in Heaven viz. in the Roman world or European Territories the principal part thereof that was possessed by the Beast nor yet in the Earth viz. in the heathenish Rule and Soveraignty all which is to be in the hands of the Saints during the thousand years and the Dragon as far from either as a person that is shut up and fettered and chained in a Dungeon Thirdly From the different Actions and Circumstances relating to the one and the other as exprest in each Chapter nothing related in the 20th appearing to be in the 12th nor any thing in the 12th to be transacted in the 20th In the 20th there are four things related of the Dragon 1. That he was apprehended by an Angel descending from Heaven 2. That he was bound or chayned by the said Angel 3. That he was cast into the Bottomless Pit 4. Shut up and sealed therein for a Thousand years but none of these in the 12th Chapter Neither is that Fighting in Heaven nor casting down of the Dragon from Heaven to Earth as exprest in the 12th once so much as named in the 20th but the contrary as before Fourthly From the different end of the Dragons dealing with in one place and the other Because 1. In the Twelfth Chapter he is cast out into the Earth not there to be bound but to wander up and down at his pleasure which further appears Because he was 2. To torment vex disturb and deceive the Inhabitants of the Earth and therefore is Wo pronounced to them because of that great wrath he comes down to them in verse 12 3. To annoy the Church by persecutions stirring up of War casting Flouds out of his mouth against her as being full of wrath against the woman and the remnant of her feed that keep the Commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus Whereas in the 20th it is expresly laid down as one essential reason of his binding and casting into the Pit for a Thousand years That he should deceive the Nations no more till the Thousand years were expired And the Church was to be so far from annoyance and disturbance by him or any of his accomplices that they are said to sit upon the Thrones in a Reigning peaceable posture and all enemies under their subjection which state doth not possibly admit of such Satanical disturbances These things being so it then appears that there is a manifest mistake in that first Reason urged And that the Epocha that is made of the Thousand years in Rev. 20. must not be reckoned from Constantines casting down Heathenism in the downfall of the 10 horned Imperial Dragon which was before the 42 months under the Sixt seal during the treading under foot the holy City before the rise of the Beast But at the binding and restraint of those Heathenish Governments influenced by the Devil that shall be exercised all the World over in distinction from the Beastly or Antichristian powers and at the end of the 42 months the finishing of the Beasts reign the building of the City or new Jerusalem and the sounding of the seventh Trumpet But now in answer to that Objection What Kingdom of Christ in the hands of his Saints could that be that during the Thousand years was so exposed to the Dragons and Beasts rage wrath fury persecution so shut up in the Wilderness so hunted slaughtered and destroyed It is said in answer that it is only an invisible and spiritual Kingdom that is there intended But that it cannot so be understood let the Text it self be the Judge which First assigns Resurrection and Life to be the undoubted marks and characters of the Church of Christ in this their Reign as death and not life to be the mark writ upon Antichrists Church the Antithesis For as durcng the Dragon and Antichrists Reign the true Church was in a state of Death and Bondage viz.
the mystery of God and therefore properly applyed to them but short of them can in no sence be either pertinent or true To the second Objection as to the order of the Prophecy I think I need do little but return that Observation for the Solution viz That for the order of things to be done whereof the Revelation speaketh we must search that in the Seal-prophecy which ends with the 11th Chapter all that follows being only a more plentifull declaration of things hinted before and so the order is not so much regarded in this latter prophecy that viz the Order being to be fetcht out of the former Which is true For you will find in this latter Systeme of Prophecies from the 11th Chapter that the former part of the 12th takes place before much of the 11th and the former part of the 13th the latter part of the 12th And good part of the 11th contemporizeth with if not precedes much of the 14th The 18 19 and 20th is an explanation of the 17th or rather all from the 11th Chapter to the end is but an enlargement and exposition of what is epitomized in the 11th where under the witnesses prophecy Death Resurrection and Ascension is held forth the Beasts rise rage and ruine and the taking place of Christs Kingdom which the mind of wisdom warily observing the parallel of Synchronisms must get the distinct knowledge into each as laid down mixedly from the 11th to the end And that no such order as is suggested is to be observed nor any such distance betwixt them as imagined But that the New Jerusalem beloved City new Heaven and Earth or City of God is one with Christs Kingdom in the thousand years may appear from these following considerations viz. First Because upon the destruction of the fourth Monarchy viz. the Whore and Beast or the Magisterial and Ministerial part of Antichrist the thousand years Reign of Christ and the Saints begin or the marriage of the Lamb or new Heavens-state being both one as Rev 19.7.21.2 takes place and therefore are the Hallelujahs sung by the Church for the Salvation Glory Honour and Power that Jesus Christ takes to himself thereupon Rev. 19.6 7 8 9. Secondly Because it is fully manifest that the beloved City is in being during the thousand years For upon the Dragons release he stirs up the Nations against the City of God and accordingly is the Gog-Magog design to besiege and encompass it which is no less in circuit than the whole Earth being the Antithesis to great Babylon the City of the Nations for as one goes down the other goes up in the beginning of the thousand years by which it is undenyable that during the thousand years the beloved City had a being and for better satisfaction herein you may see Mr Mede p. 24. upon his 6th Synchronism Thirdly Because of the Harmonious marks and Characters that accord with both in their taking place in the World viz. 1. Doth the new Jerusalem enter when the seventh Trumpet Soundeth and the Kingdoms of this World become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11.15 18. So doth the thousand years Rev. 20.4 6. comparde with 19.6 2. Doth the new Jerusalem take place upon the pouring out of the Vials and finishing the mystery of God Rev. 10.7 when the Angel of the Vials saith it is done Rev. 21.6 So upon the pouring out of the seventh Vial upon the destruction of the Beast when the thousand years begin as Rev. 19.21 22. Rev. 20.1 It is also said It is done Rev. 16.16 17. 3. Is one the beginning of Christs visible Kingdom upon the Earth so is the other Rev. 20.4 6.19 6. 4. Is one the time of the Marriage of the Lamb with his Church and people Rev. 21.3 9. so is the other Rev. 19 6 7. 5. Is one the time of Jacobs rest from his sorrow and from his fear and from his hard bondage wherein he was made to serve Isa 14.2 So is the other that seventh day or seventh thousand years or great Sabbatism Heb. 4.9 When all enemies Kings of the Earth and their Armies are brought down and Satan bound and Saints as Kings and Priests ascend the throne and peaceably Reign Rev. 20 4 6. 6. Is there to be building planting marrying and giving in marriage procreation enjoyment of Liberty Peace Ease plenty in the new Jerusalem new Heaven and Earth-state as is affirmed from Isai 65.21 33. So also must be the thousand years where Christs virtual presence is in that mystical Resurrection-state For neither before nor after the thousand years shall there be such a state to the Church therefore it must be in the thousand years After the thousand years is the Judgment day Corporeal Resurrection and personal coming of our Lord Jesus as I have at large proved elsewhere when all the Saints are in glorified bodyes as 1 Joh. 3.20 21. Phil. 3.20 21. 1 Thes 4.15 16 17. 1 Cor. 15.51 52. And that as well the changed as raised Saints in which state it is expresly said Luke 20.34 That they who shall be accounted worthy to obtain that World and the Resurrection from the Dead Mark that not onely the raised Saints but whoever shall be accounted worthy to obtain that World taking in the changed also neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they die any more for they are equal to the Angels and are the Children of God being the Children of the Resurrection so that this above all contradiction asserted that they which partake of the Angelical glorious state in the World to come are not capable of such sensitive enjoyments therefore of necessity must it bee before in this new Heaven new Jerusalem or 1000 years state 7. Is the new Jerusalem or City of God extensive over the whole Earth as great Babylon the City of the Nations was So is the Reign of Christ in the thousand years Rev. 20.9 8. Is this glorious City made up of living not dead stones and materialls so is the Church of Christ in an especial manner during the thousand years Rev. 20.6 Eph 2.19 The third Object against the Harmony or oneness of these two states is because of those Scriptures that so positively in their apprehensions assert Christs personal presence in the new Ierusalem-state so inconsistent with the 1000. years after which is to be the Gog. Magog attempts The Scriptures usually mentioned are Rev. 21.3.22.22.3 The Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and God himself shall be with them The Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it and his servants shall serve him and they shall see his face c. To which I would say in the first place that if I have reasoned right in answer to the former Objection about the order it necessarily and undeniably follows that these Scriptures that speak of Gods Tabernacling and dwelling with men and men beholding his face must be understood of a vertual