the throne and of the foure beasts and in the midst of foure and twenty Elders he onely was counted worthy because he had beene slaine and redeemed his Church and people not onely from the wrath of God and Hell and Death but out of every kinred and tongue and people and nation and hath made them to God Kings and Priests and they shall reigne with Christ upon the earth 1000. yeers Rev. 20.4 This mysterie being now finished and this little booke and seales broken open Rev. 11 12. which were done the yeere the witnesses ascended up to Heaven 1639 when the tenth part of that Antichristian City fell as shall be shewed at large in its place then the Lord commanded his Prophet to make it plaine upon tables Vers 13. that he may run that readeth it Hab. 2.2 3. Dan. 12.10 And saith further that at the end the vision shall speake and not lye The Lord promising they that are wise shall understand this vision at the time of the end Rev. 1.3 Prov. 1.6 Now they are counted wise and blessed in this respect to understand a vision or mystery and the interpretation thereof Dan. 9.2 the words of the wise God and his darke saying who search and read the books and rolls wherein God hath wrapped and folded up these great mystery of the enemys ruine and the Churches deliverance and that trace and eye God in those secret wayes of his providence as that holy man of God did Psal 107. By which acts the Lord makes his vision and mystery plain upon tables that he that runs may read The Lord of his free love and grace having given some understanding in this great mystery and vision accordingly we will by Gods assistance endeavour to hold forth this light knowing that it is a great and hainous sinne inexcusable before God at that great day either to put our light under a bushell or to hide that talent in the earth which the Lord hath giuen us to trade with for his glory his Churches good and our owne everlasting comfort Therefore we will declare and make knowne what we understand of this great mystery in severall Chapters What is gold and pure mettall will endure the day of fiery triall but what is hay and stubble shall be burned which is my hearts desire THE MYSTERY OF God opened CHAP. I. The Vnion and Onenesse of those five grand enemies of the Church Daniels foure Beasts and little Horne set forth by one Image and one Beast THese foure Beasts and little Horn that carried the Church of God captive at the first into Babylon some 600. yeers before Christ and hath kept them in bondage 1600. yeers and upwards Isa 28.15 all these were confederate together to break devour and trample under their feet with great fury rage Dan. 7.7 and malice all the time of their reigne Isa 21.15 are therefore said to make a Covenant with Hell and Death for the same purpose First Dan. 2.31 the enemies are set forth by one Image the King of Babylon being the head of it who carried the Church of God first captive ver 38. is the first Beast chap. 7.4 The King of Persia which is the Breast and Armes of this Image who took the Kingdome from the King of Babylon Dan. 5.31 was Daniels second Beast Dan. 7.5 The Belly and Thighs of this Image was the King of Graecia who took the Kingdom from the King of Persia Dan. 8.6 7. 20 21. which was Daniels third Beast Dan. 7.6 The Legges and feet was the King of the Romans who took the Kingdome from the Grecians Dan. 11.20 set forth by this Character a raiser of Taxes as indeed he was as we may see plainly Luk. 2.1 2 he was Daniels fourth Beast Dan. 7.7 and was more terrible in his persecuting the people of God then any of the three Kings or Monarchs were that went before him set forth in these words Verse 7. Dreadfull terrible and strong exceedingly and had great iron teeth who devoured and broke in pieces and stomped the residue under his feet Dan. 2.41 And in this Kings dayes this great Kingdome and Monarchy was divided into ten Provinces or Kingdomes set forth by ten hornes Dan. 7.7 and by ten toes Dan. 2.41 which were on his feet but yet all under his power and jurisdiction and therefore he is said to have ten horns ten Kings that had ten powers under him and these ten Kings are not absolute Kings Rev. 17.12 therefore are said to have received no Kingdome but reigne as petty Kings under him and so receive power as Kings one houre with the Beast not distant from him Dan. 7.8 Rev. 13.11 but one with him Now this little horne which Daniel saw come up amongst those ten hornes which is that second Beast which John saw come out of the earth from amongst the common men of the earth as indeed he did was Antichrist for he did not come or issue from any royall race or blood therefore called by the Spirit of God Dan. 11.21 verse 24. a vile person to whom they shall not give the honour of the Kingdome but he shall come in peaceably and obtaine the Kingdome by flatteries as you may read ver 24. So that the Roman Monarch who is set forth by a raiser of Taxes was destroyed neither in anger nor in battell ver 20. but this little horne through his policy caused craft to prosper in his hand Dan. 8.25 he is noted to be very deep and subtill understanding darke sentences ver 23. shewing signes and wonders Marke 13.22 Rev. 13.13 14. and miracles making fire to come downe from Heaven by which signs he deceives the whole world would have seduced the Elect if it had been possible and by his policy and craft he began to work himself into favour with Constantin 320. who gave him the power of the civill sword in Rome and the other places adjacent in his time Rev. 13.2 afterward obtained the whole Kingdom or Monarch by flattery from the Dragon the Roman Emperour and therefore he is said to give him his power seat great authority Rev. 13.2 Dan. 11.23 for after he had made a league with the Roman Emperour about 365. he works deceitfully became strong with a small people therfore saith the Spirit of God his power shall be mighty but not by his own power no Dan. 8.14 for he got the power from the Roman Emperour by flattery and deceit and not by strength of Armes neither did the Romans give him the honour of the Kingdome at the first but he by his policy and craft like a Serpent wound himselfe into the Roman Beast and so became one with him and so this Antichristian Whore made the Roman Emperour her stalking-horse to carry her to the Kings of the earth that shee might commit spirituall fornication with them Rev. 17.3 7. Rev. 18.3 and
make all the Inhabiters of the earth drunk with the wine of her spirituall fornication v. 3. And this is noted in the Scripture of truth that the Roman Beast and all those ten Kings under him had all one mind to enslave themselves to this Antichristian Whore Rev. 17.13 and gave their power and strength to her yea saith the Text God hath put it into their hearts to fulfill his will and to agree and give their Kingdome unto the Beast nutill the word of God be fulfilled ver 17. So yee see he became one with those four great Beasts or Monarchs of the whole world all folded and united into one set forth by an Image Dan. 2.31 Secondly these enemies of the Church of God are set forth by one Beast The Beast which thou sawest was and is not Rev. 17.8 and shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names are not written in the booke of life from the foundation of the world when they behold the Beast that was and is not and yet is ☜ Here is a great mystery in the onenesse of these five great Monarchs the Babylonian the Persian the Grecian the Roman and last of all the Pope or papall Monarch all make up but one Beast who was and is and is not For to understand this aright we must find out the time of this vision when John did see this Beast in which of these Kings reigne it was It is plaine and evident both by Scripture and Ecclesiasticall Histories that John saw this vision when the Roman Monarchy was extant and therefore this Beast is was and is not The Babylonian the Persian and Grecian Monarchs was they all had their time who were considerable with the other two grand enemies of the Church which followed after them Isa 28.15 and had made a Covenant with hell and death to set themselves against God and his Church These three great Beasts were once in being but at this time Dan. 7.8 Rev. 13.11 when John saw this vision were gone and dead That second Beast which John saw come out of the earth is not or is not yet come ver 10. is not and shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit and this is Antichrist he was not come at this time for he could not come till he that did let or hinder his comming was taken out of the way 2 Thes 2.7 saith the Text which was the Roman Emperour And being one with those former Beasts that went before him by covenant and confederacy with them he is said to be this Beast as well as they but being not come the Spirit of God saith he is not or is not yet come Rev. 17.10 Thirdly yet is the three former Beasts was not they were gone the little horne Antichrist he is not yet come but the Roman Monarch he was then extant when John saw this vision and is still in being and that he was extant in Johns time it 's plaine and evident was the Roman Emperour Rev. 13.1 for he is said to have seven heads and ten hornes now none of the other three Monarchs had their Kingdome divided into ten Provinces or Kingdomes over which there was ten Kings Dan. 2.41 42 But this Kingdome in his time the Scriptures note was divided into feet and toes into ten Kingdome which had ten Kings ten heads over them reigning one houre with the Beast a short time Rev. 17.12 And this Roman Beast had seven heads he was not onely mighty strong having ten horns but also full of subtilty and craft set forth by seven heads seven is a number of perfection to note that he was perfect and compleat in pollcy to doe hurt and mischiefe to the Church of Christ These seven heads are set forth by mountaines Rev. 17.9 to note their great power which the Roman Emperour had to destroy the Saints of God not in regard of his ten hornes only but also his seven heads full of subtilty craft which were as so many mountaines of strength and therefore saith the Spirit of God Rev. 17.9 here is the mind that hath wisdome A wise man knowes that wisdome and policy is seated in the head which is the proper seat of wisdome and not any naturall power of flesh which is set forth usually by the Arme Neither are these seven heads seven mountaines on which Rome is built as some have supposed but seven mountaines of wisdome and policy All these ten hornes and seven heads or hils of policy Dan. 11.21 Rev. 17.8 did the Roman Emperour resigne to the vile person Antichrist who is said to come up out of the bottomlesse pit because he was so deep in his subtity and craft The Roman Beast and his ten hornes and Kings had one mind and gave their power and Kingdome to this Antichristian Beast and likewise these seven heads Rev. 17.11 and therefore he is said to be of the seven so the Roman Beast furnisheth him with power and policy to doe as much hurt and villany to the people of God as himselfe did And yet Antichrist is said to bring another head of policy and craft with him beside these seven which the Roman Beast resigned up to him The Beast which was and is not even he is the eighth verse 11. Dan. 8.23 he bringing another head of policy with him and therefore he is said to understand dark sentences and to have policy and craft ver 25. and to shew such signes and wonders as to deceive the Elect if it were possible and doth great wonders Mark 3.22 so that he makes as it were Rev. 13.13 Rev. 17.11 fire to come downe from Heaven in the sight of men this eighth head of policy the Roman Beast had not but Antichrist brings this along with him the Beast that was and is not he is the eighth Thus were these five great Beasts made up into one Beast making over their power and policy successively one to another to persecute and destroy the Church of Christ and the Saints of the most High Isa 28.15 by League and Covenant made with death and hell for many yeares CHAP. II. This Chapter treats of these two witnesses or opens those severall titles which the Spirit of God is pleased to set forth his people by in the time of their exile suitable to the state and condition wherein they were at the same time THe people of the most High are set forth by the Spirit of God by severall titles while they were in their great exile and captivity under these five devouring beasts very suitable to that condition wherein they were at the same time But he sets forth the state of the Church in what condition it was in Antichrists time especially by those titles he put upon them First he cals them his two Witnesses First witnesses because they did beare witnesse against that grand lye of Antichrist who
is the government and discipline of the Church which is to cover the shame of the Churches nakednesse that it doth not appeare unto the world every member of the Church and the Church her selfe walking according to the rule and order of the Gospel Matth. 18.15 16 17. We shall see this Seale agree with the fifth Trumpet and fifth Viall in the sense of it The fifth Angel sounding a Star fals from Heaven unto the Earth The fifth Trumpet sounds Rev. 9.1 Isa 19.15 Rev. 13 1â— unto him was given the Key of the bottomles pit By Star is meant a Minister or Ministers of Christ by Heaven is meant the Church by Key is meant power by bottomlesse pit is meant the depth of the craft and subtilty of that nian of sin in his cursed doctrine traditions So the Ministers of the Churches were invested with power from Christ in the preaching of the Gospel to open the depth of Satan and Antichrist in his cursed doctrine ferched out of that bottomlesse pit especially concerning the usurpation of his power Whereupon commeth a great smoak noting thereby darknesse and therefore it is said That the Sunne and Aire was filled with darknesse and in Rev. 16.10 when the fifth Viall was poured out it said His Kingdome was full of darknesse This smoake notes misery likewise therefore Locusts are said to come out of the smoake unto whom was given power as the Scorpions of the earth have power and they were to torment the men of that Antichristian world five moneths a certaine time set downe for an uncertaine and their torment is very sore as when a Scorpion striketh a man that they shall seek death and shall not find it This is noted further that these Locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battell when Christ and his Saints take the power of Churches and States from Antichrist it is to be pre-supposed that Antichrist will presently raise a very great Army to make warre with them as ye shall see anon fall out to be so by the sounding of the next Trumpet But these men that was counted as Locusts unto Antichrist they have Crownes of gold to note their victory if Antichrist should make warre with them and they have faces like men to note their Majesty and authority and haire as the haire of women to note their terriblenesse and fearcenesse and teeth of Lyons to note their greedinesse to prey upon these Antichristian men to eat their flesh Rev. 19.17 and to burne them with fire And brest-plats of iron to note their strength to encounter with him the sound of their wings being as the sound of Chariots of many horses running to battaile and their tailes like unto Scorpions to torment them Rev. 6.12 and to put them unto grievous paine and he that is King over them is the Angel of the bottomlesse pit even the Lord Christ see Rev. 20.1 2. that will ere long cast the Beast and that false Prophet into it Rev. 19.20 Rev. 20.10 yea and the Devil himselfe and shut him up and set a seale upon it binding him for a thousand yeers verse 1 2. Thus the first woe is past and behold there commeth two woes more herereafter The fifth Angell poured forth the fifth Viall The fifth Vial. poured forth Rev. 16.10 Rev. 16.10 upon the seate of the Beast and then they gnawed their tongues for paine And all this torment was when the fifth Angel poured forth his Viall upon the seat and throne of the Beast Rev. 11.12 Dan. 7.26 even when the Lord Christ and his witnesses ascended up into Heaven 1639. and when the judgement sate and tooke his Kingdome and Dominions from him For wicked and ungodly men to be taken from their high places of honour it is as great a torment to them as when a Scorpion striketh a man when Pope Cardinall and Prelates are cast from the high place of Judicature they that do it are as Locusts unto them and their torment is insufferable they gnaw their tongues for paine and they desire to die and death flees from them When the sixth Seale was opened Behold a great earth-quake Sixth Seale opened Rev. 6.12 and the Sun became black as haire-cloath and the Moon as blood and the stars fall from Heaven unto the Earth and the Heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together and every mountaine and Island were moved out of their places and the Kings and great men and mighty men of the Earth hide themselves in dens and in the rocks of the mountaines that they might be hid from the face of Christ that sits upon the throne because the great day of his wrath is come and they will never be able to abide it Christ and his witnesses being upon the throne takes away Antichrists Kingdome and Dominions from him Rev. 12.7 whereupon there fals out to be war between Christ and Antichrist foretold by the fifth Trumpet In this war there followes a great earth-quake a great slaughter amongst the men of that Antichristian Earth and the Pope the sun of this heaven becomes black as haire-cloath Isa 14.13 and his Cardinals set forth by the Moon become as blood and Popish Lords and Prelates set forth by Stars fals from Heaven those high places where they had their seate and throne even above the stars of Gods in Gods House and Temple and in the civill throne upon the Mount of the Congregation After they are fallen from Heaven their Heaven fel with them and is rolled together as a scroll and all their Mountaines and power of States and Islands is moved out of their place and set in their right place And in this battell and earthquake Kings the great men of the world crie to the Mountaines to fall upon them and to hide them from the face of the Lambe the Lord Christ because now the great day of his wrath is come in which he will take geance upon all these five grand enemies of his Church and upon that Antichristian world But this is noted in Rev. 7.1 2 3 4. that at this time in the midst of all this wrath and fury of Christ against this wicked antichristian crue he takes care of his Elect chosen people especially those that are in a true Church-state as the children of Israel was therefore set forth by them who are said to be upon Mount Sion with the Lambe Rev. 14.1 singing a new Song these must be all sealed and have the marke of God set in their foreheads Rev. 7.1 2 3 4. therefore those foure Angels that stands upon the foure corners of the Earth to hold the foure windes of Gods wrath in their hands ready to blow upon that antichristian World must not let those windes blow untill an Angel hath sealed the servants of Christ and there was sealed 144000. the same number that are upon Mount Sion in a true Church-state with the Lambe the Lord Christ their Lord
liberty to have the Gospel preached which is indeed the pouring forth of the seventh Viall that he that runs may reade it Upon the seventh Trumpet sounding and declaring what was now done in Heaven the high place of Judicature presently there was great voices of confidence and affiance in Heaven the Church that now the Kingdomes of this world should be taken out of that wicked antichristian Beasts hands and given into the hands of Christ and his Saints The people of God seeing Jesus Christ and his witnesses taking but the tenth part of the Kingdoms from Antichrist they looke from the beginning of the work to the end and were confident that the time of the enemies ruine was now come and the Churches sinall deliverance and the civill power of all the Kingdomes in the world should be put into the hands of Christ and his Saints and they shall raigne for ever and ever The same thing was shewed to Daniel almost 2300. yeares since when he saw the ancient of daies sit and the thrones of the Beast cast downe Dan. 7.9.13.14 Then one like the Son of man came to the ancient of daies and there was given him dominions and glory and a Kingdome that all people nations and languages should serve him and not him only but the Saints of the most High and the Kingdomes and Dominions and the greatnesse of the Kingdomes under the whole Heavens shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high and they shall possesse the Kingdome even for ever ever and ever Three terms and sections of times shall the Saints possesse the Kingdoms of the world after Antichrist hath his powers taken out of his hands as we shall shew anon The Churches of Christ do not only expresse their confidence and affiance they had in God for the accomplishment of this great worke that was now begun Vers 16. but they with all humility and reverence fall upon their faces before God and worship him in giving him thanks and praise which is and was and is to come who hath taken to him his great power and hath raigned And they further declare that the Nations of the antichristian world were angry Vers 18. as indeed they were at his great worke now begun and that the time of his wrath against the wicked is now come and the time of the dead that they should now be judged that is that now judgment shall be given to the poore Saints of God and witnesses of Christ that were slaine and lay dead for three daies and a halfe and that he should give a reward unto his servants the Prophets and to the Saints and to them that fear his Name both small and great and should destroy them that have destroyed the Earth which the Lord will accomplish in this present age The third effect is the opening of the Temple by Christ and his witnesses which sate in Heaven Effect 3. Vers 19. and the Temple of God was opvned in Heaven By Temple is meant the Church the people of God By Heaven is meant the high place of Judicature so by the Temple of God being opened in Heaven is nothing else but Christ and his Witnesses giving leave and liberty to the people of God thus congregated to worship Christ in his Temple And this they did first by their connivence and forbearing to trouble them and to molest them as Antichrist and his faction did and afterwards they shall give them some liberty Rev. 6.12 being tender over the consciences of men in matters of worship Rev. 21.6 But at the end of the ruine of Antichrist Then the Temple shall be set wide open that whosoever will shall enter in if they be not such as defile or work abomination This we have seen fulfilled before our eyes that those that were Christs Witnesses Rev. 10. they countenanced and spared to molest the people of God that had joyned themselves in League and Covenant to come out of Babylon Rev. 27. and not to meddle at all with that Antichristian cup of spirituall fornications and to worship their Lord and Husband Christ according to divine institution but those that were of Antichrists side though pretended otherwise they would be stirring up the common people against them untill they were cast out of Heaven to the earth even all those popish affected ones When the Temple of God was thus opened there was seene in his Temple the Arke of his Testament that is verse 19. then the Lord Christ who is the Arke of Gods Testement was seen to be in his Temple in the midst of those people that before was looked upon as factious and seditious men but the Temple being open they prove otherwise And when the Antichristian party saw that Christ and his Witnesses tooke part with these men then there were Voyces and Thunderings and Lightnings and an Earthquake and a great Haile that is then there was great stirs combustions hurliburlies quakings and feares amongst the Antichristian party And last of all these grew to a great haile or great storme and war as weshall see anon between the servants and Witnesses of Christ and those that were for the Dragon and Antichrist in Heaven The fourth effect was A great wonder which appeared in Heaven Effect 4. a Woman cloathed with the Sunne By Woman is meant the Church of God who is cloathed with the Sunne of righteousnesse and which have her Officers in the midst of her officiating and emptying the golden Oyle out of themselves into the bosome of the Church 〈◊〉 4.12 〈◊〉 1.6.20 and are as a Crowne of gold unto her head set forth by 12 Stars after the Tribes of the children of Israel and the Moon is under her feet that is under her feet are all sublunary conentment and delight shee contemning them with holy scorn derision and being great with child cryed travailing in birth and pained to be delivered that is the people of God seeing Christ and some of his Saints and Witnesses in Heaven and many that were with them were against Christ and for the Dragon The Church hereupon is with child as it were and travailes in paine to have a godly Magistracy set up in the world that those which were in Heaven the high place of Judicature that was against Christ and his Government might be cast out that so the Lord Christ that man-childe might in and by his Saints rule the nations with a rod of iron and this they cryed and travailed in paine to God by humble and fervent prayers and to his Witnesses that sate in Heaven by humble petitions from the yeer of Christ 1639. to 1641. ☞ Whereupon another Wonder appeares in Heaven a great red Dragon having ten Hornes and seven Crownes upon his heads he stood ready to devoure this man-child so soone as it was borne The devil and satan in the Roman Beast and his Image the Pope and they in and by those popish Lords
Isa 13.12 that a man of that Antichristian and mysticall Babylon shall be more precious then fine gold even a man then the golden wedge of Ophir Dan. 7.11 For by fire and by sword will the Lord plead with all flesh and the slaine of the Lord shall be many Isa 66.16 In this war the Roman Beast shall be taken and slaine and his body given to the burning flames and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him Rev. 19.20 with which he deceived them that had received the marke of the Beast These both are cast alive into a lake burning with fire and brimstone this is the purpose which is purposed upon the whole earth and this is the hand that is and shall be stretched out upon all Nations for the Lord of Hosts hath purposed and who shall disanull it and his hand is stretched out and who shall turne it back Isa 14.26 27. Thus we see the fifth and sixth Viall poured upon the seat of the Beast and upon that great river Euphrates all his powers and strength taken from him in heaven himself cast down to the earth yea to hell and his armies utterly destroyed and given to the beasts of the field and to the fowles of Heaven Yet there is another Viall to be poured out namely upon the aire wherein Antichrist breathed but when the Witnesses Christs civill Magistrates that sit in Heaven have done that worke which is proper for them as they are civill Magistrates they shall sit still and keep silence in Heaven about the space of halfe an houre which is the full time that the seventh Viall shall be pouring forth though the Beasts have their Dominions taken from them Yea both the Beast and false prophet are cast into a lake burning with fire and brimstone Dan. 7.12 yet these are said to live still in the hearts of those men in whom those errors and heresies do still abide which they brought into the world by their Antichristian aire and this remnant of men are not to be destroyed by the power of the civill Sword Rev. 19.21 but to be destroyed by a mysticall and spirituall sword which proceeded out of the mouth of him that sits upon the white Horse and by spirituall men sent out of the Temple Rev. 16.17 therefore the civill Magistrate shall keepe silence all the same time even about the space of halfe an houre and sit and rest themselves having done the best worke that ever was done before them or that shall be done after them We cannot suppose this silence to be in Heaven strictly for half an houre no nor half a day moneth or yeare for the seventh Viall must be poured forth upon that Antichristian aire all the ten Kingdomes over in this space of time that this silence is to be in Heaven which cannot be in so short a time neither can it be meant of any longe time Luk. 21.32 because Antichrist must be destroyed in one age and generation of men Christ speaking of the ruine of Antichrist mystically as well as of Jerusalem literally therefore we are to take this silence for the space of half an houre for the space of 45. yeares in which time the seventh Viall is pouring forth as shall appeare more fully when we come to speake of the time or times of the ending of these Vials It is said that this silence was in Heaven when the seventh Seale was opened this we are to note that it was the custome of the Jewes to write those things that were of greater consequence in sheets of parchment and so to roll them up and seale them if they were things secret The Spirit of God alluding to this their custome sets forth to us that every Viall was written in a roll of parchment and every roll was sealed seven Vials were written in seven rolls and every roll had a seale and when the first Viall was to be poured forth then the first seal was broken open and the first trumpet sounded The Seale was broken open that men might see what was written in the roll and the trumpet which was the Gospel in the mouth of the Ministers of the Churches was to declare to that Antichristian world what the Judgement or the Viall was which God was then pouring forth upon them and the Viall or Judgement that they were to feel with paine and anguish when the Lord poured it forth ☜ So when the first Viall was poured forth the first Seal was opened and the first Trumpet sounded and so in order the second and third unto the seventh And when the seventh Seale was opened the seventh Viall was poured forth and then this silence was in Heaven Before we leave speaking of the sixth Viall we are to take notice of this that although the Lord be come in the clouds of our Heaven even in his Witnesses standing upon the Mount Olives and the judgement seat and the Thrones are casting downe yea and the Lord is gone out to fight and make warre with those Kings that carried the Church of God captive and himselfe upon the white horse and much of the worke is done yet at this time the holy Ghost saith Zach. 14.6 Rev. 2.28 That the light shall not be cleare no◠darke the morning Star is but newly risen and a very little light doth yet appeare There is so much darknesse as very few of the Saints themselves doe not see nor know what the Lord Christ is doing either for Churches or States great feares amongst most of the Saints that sorrow and misery will come to both They cannot as yet see how or when the Church of Christ shall be delivered nor the pure way of Christs worship in his House and Temple set up onely a few choyce ones that be wise Dan. 12.3 and they shall shine as the brightnesse of the Firmament That is those godly ones whom the Lord hath made wise to understand the Mystery of pure Ordinances of worship and the way and Government of Christ in his House and Temple at this time wherein the worship of God is so exceedingly corrupted and polluted by the abominations of that Babylonish Whore they shall shine in this Antichristian world as the brightnesse of the Firmament for the present And they that turne many to righteousnesse as the Stars for ever and ever When they shall not onely see and be able to discerne between gold and drosse water and pure wine Christs owne institutions and mens inventions and the false government of Antichrist and the true government of Christ in and over his Church and people but also turne many unto those righteous and pure Ordinances of worship even they saith the Lord shall shine as Starres not in this age and time onely but for ever and ever their names shall be famous unto all the Churches of the Saints For the first ever or terme of time which Christ and his Saints shall reigne in peace even a
a Time Times and halfe a Time see the third Chapter At which time then almost all his cruelty against the Saints shall be finished for he did to this very yeare slay the Saints and laid them dead and triumphs over them and make merry sending gifts one to another and at this time Antichrist is said to finish his reigne over the Saints having slaine them and so is one time of his end come Second time of his end is 1290. dayes which time begins saith the Text when thn daily Sacrifice was taken away and that abomination set up which made all desolate Which was done in the yeare of Christ 365. now 365. and 1290. are 1655. which is the second time of his end which is the end of the fifth and sixth Viall pouring forth Carion Chro. lib. 3. Rev. 12.17 18. Dan. 7.11 when all Civill and Ecclesiasticall power shall be taken from him and his Armies destroyed and given to the Fowles of Heaven and their bodies to the burning flames And all the civill power of States put into the hands of the godly but not the Ecclesiasticall power untill the seven plagues of the seven Angels be fulfilled The third time of his end is set down in the 12. verse to be 1335. dayes By dayes he means propheticall dayes a day for a yeare This time is to begin when the 1290. began at the yeare 365. so 365. and 1355. make 1700. which is the third and last time of his end when he shall be spiritually slain and cast out of the hearts minds of men in whom he hath fastly rooted himself by his Antichristian errours Dan. 7.12 in whom he and the rest of the Beast was said to live after they had their Dominions and Kingdomes taken from them At this time the Lord Christ is said to sit upon the Throne Rev. 19.1 6. and much people in Heaven crying Alleluiah and the voyce of a great Multitude and as the voyces of many waters and the voyce of mighty thunderings saying Alleluiah for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth In the yeare 1655. Christ and his Witnesses are to take the powers of all the ten Kingdomes which Antichrist had into their owne hands and shall reigne but yet Christ is not said to reigne fully Christ not said to reigne untill his reigne in and over his Church as well as over Nations untill Antichrist be quite removed out of the hearts of men and the Church way of Christ clearly seene by all his servants both by his Witnesses in Heaven and other of his Saints that so he may reigne not onely upon the thrones of Nations but likewise upon the hill of Sion his Church and then Christ is said to reigne truly which he shall doe at this last terme 1700. Then shall the Lambe Christ be married unto his Church and the new Jerusalem built Antichrist being quite destroyed and cast not onely out of the would but out of the hearts of men and all that Antichristian darknesse and ignorance out of the mindes of men that the way of Church-discipline at that time shall be so plaine Isa 35.8 that wayfaring men yea though fools shall not erre therein and so much light that all shall see the way of Church-discipline Zach. 14.7 which way the uncleane is not to passe over but it shall be for those At even time it shall be light which is meant of this yeare 1700. Rev. 19.7 The Spouse married to Christ by a Church-Covenant even for those that are holy which doe not pollute nor defile and not for the uncleane At which time all the people of God seeing the Church way of Christ so plaine are said to make themselves ready and prepared to be married to Christ not but that they were married to him before in a spirituall way by faith and love Else how could they have this title of Bride or Wife But to be married to him is in an outward way by a solemne League and Covenant in the sight of all the world and Nations round about them which is called the building of that new Jerusalem and holy City Rev. 21.2 10. which is said to come downe from Heaven By Heaven is meant the place of judicature where Christ and his Witnesses sit from this high place or Heaven the Church and Spouse of Christ who is that new Jerusalem or holy City being invested with liberty and leave from Christ and his Witnesses to enter into a true Church-way and to set up such a Government in all the Churches of the Saints Isa 24.22 whereby the Lord Jesus may be Mount Sion and in his new Jerusalem before his anciemts gloriously The Lord Jesus who is the Tree of Life Rev. 22.2 who is in the midst of his Church is said to yeeld twelve manner of fruits twelve sorts of fruits after the twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel That is in him is all kindes of spirituall meats to feed and nourish all the Churches of his Saints though their wants be divers and many And this Tree yeelds his fruit every moneth in the yeare The holy Ghost secretly hinting to those Churches that shall live in those thousand yeares that he would have them to eat of that Tree of Life but once a moneth Now by Tree of life is set forth to us the Lord Christ in that great Ordinance of the Lords Supper who doth fully communicate himself to his Saints by that Ordinance In other Ordinances there is but a communication of Christ by parcels but in this of whole Christ and a participation of all spirituall gifts and graces and therefore the Lord Jesus the Tree of life is said to yeeld his fruit but once a moneth therefore the Saints are not to take fruit from this Tree but as it yeelds it not to pluck the Tree before the fruits be ripe and it is likely this will be the custome of all the Churches in the thousand yeares reigne Though the Churches in the primitive times did receive it every seventh day because they were then in their infancy and childhood and so the Lord Jesus had need to be as a Nurse with his Breasts full of Milke to nourish his young ones every day as it were But when the Church shall be growne up to the age and stature of a man and so to be fed with meat and not with milke then Christ will be a Tree of life in his Church yeelding meat and fruits for strong men every moneth for his Saints at that time are foretold by the holy Ghost to be ancient men ancient Christians Isa 24.23 such that are growne up towards the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ Ephes 4.13 before whom he is said to reign in Mount Sion in Jerusalen gloriously This liberty to build this holy City new Jerusalem shal be to the Saints 1700. by the Witnesses in the high place of Judicature therefore it is said againe That
to sin but this he shall be bound from tempting men to civill war against one another Mic. 4.3 all that 1000. years and therefore they are said not to learne war any more that is not all that 1000. yeares and wicked men shall be civilly slain and laid as dead men and not to live untill that 1000. years be ended Rev. 20.5 and shut up as prisoners in a pit not but that they shall have as much liberty as the Saints in an outward way to trade and to have commerce in the world but they shall have all civill power taken out of their hands and so lie as dead men and uselesse men in the State or Kingdome where they live and be in that respect as prisoners gathered into a pit and shut up in prison Isa 24.22 But after this thousand yeares is ended then Satan shall be unbound in the yeare 2700. and the rest of the wicked Rev. 20.7 Vers 5. Isa 24.22 which were civilly dead shall live and the prisoners which were shut up shall be visited that is let forth out of their prison and the Devil shall go out to deceive the Nations of the earth by stirring up wicked men to make civill war with the Saints and the wicked of the earth shall be suffered by God to take up armes against his people and so are said to be let out of prison for it is a prison to wicked men and the Devill Rev. 20.5 to be kept from warring against the people of God And likewise are said to live when the 1000. yeeres are ended that is civilly they now having taken up Armes have civill power in their hands Ezek. 39.1 and so live And they shall gather together into a great Army horses and horsemen all of them cloathed with all sorts of armour even a great company all of them handling the sword the number of whom is as the sand of the sea God and Magog The chiefe Princes of Meshech and Tubal Captaines of this great Army shall goe upon the breadth of the earth and compasse the Campe of the Saints and the beloved City But God will destroy them with a mighty destruction Rev. 20.9 First he will call for a sword against him throughout all his Mountaines or powers of States all being in the hands of him and his Saints at the same time throughout the world Ezek. 38.21 Secondly God will turne the sword of the enemy against themselves every mans sword shall be against his brother Thirdly God will send his pestilence into their army Vers 23. Rev. 20.9 Ezek. 39.2 4.9.12 Ezek. 28.23 and raigne upon them great haile-stones fire and brinstone and but the sixt part of them shall returne back and the rest shall fall upon the Mountaine of Israel and the people of God shall be seven moneths burying the dead and seven yeares burning their weapons Thus will the Lord magnifie and sanctifie his great Name in the fight of the Heathen and in the eyes of many Nations and they shall know that he is the Lord and they shall know that the people of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity and for their sin Therefore God hid his face from them and gave them all into the hands of their enemies and the house of Israel shall know that the Lord is their God from that day forwards neither will he hide his face from them any more because he hath poured his Spirit upon them And thus shall God destroy this great army of Gog Magog the Devil that deceived them shall be cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone Rev 20.10 where the Beast and false prophets are and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever And then the Saints of God and Churches of Jesus Christ shall reigne in peace and quiet never to be molested by the Devill and wicked men in a way of civill war more and shall reigne to the end of the world but when that end of the world shall be is not knowne Our Saviour gave foure signes of his comming to judge Antichrist but of that last judgement of quick and dead when Christ shall deliver up the Kingdome to his Father and God to be all in all 1 Cor. 15.24 28. Mark 13.32 of this day and houre knowes no man no not the Angels in Heaven neither the Son but the Father Onely he hath hid this time and season in his owne heart and breast and it is not for us to search into it or to meddle with it It may be hundreds or thousands of yeares after this yeare 2700. when Gog and Magog shall be destroyed But this is noted in the Scripture of truth that the Saints shall reigne for three periods they shall take and possesse the Kingdom for ever even for ever and ever Ever is a terme of time Dan. 7.8 the first ever begins 1655. when the Beast and the false prophet and their Armies shall be destroyed and the Saints take possession of the Kingdome to the yeare 1700. unto which time the seventh Viall shal be pouring upon that Antichristian aire and so cast out of the world as out of the grave as an abominable branch Second Ever is from the yeare 1700. to the yeare 2700. all that 1000. yeares reigne of Christ and his Saints wherein Satan is to be bound and the wicked civilly slaine and lye dead at the end of which terme they shall assay to take the power out of the hands of the Saints but shall not be able This is the second terme of time or ever to which the Saints shall raigne The third Ever is from the yeare of Christ 2700. to the end of the world when Jesus Christ shall come to judge the quick and dead and deliver up the Kingdome to his Father and God be all in all Then also who knows whether the Lord will fulfill all these things in a literall and naturall way at his last and personall comming to judgment as he hath fulfilled them in a spirituall and mysticall sense as hath been shewed in this discourse so that the sun shal be darkened and the moon be turned into blood the stars fall from Heaven Heaven and Earth to be rolled together as a scroll and passe away and their place be no more found and the sea not only to roare but there to be no more sea and a new Heaven and a new Earth to be made by the almighty power of God which shal be as a great new City for the servants of God to dwell in and to behold his face and see his glory which City will have no need of the light of a naturall sun or moone for the Lord God and the Lambe will be the light and glory thereof FINIS