time while it is offered will have none of it but utterly reject it and all God's and Christ's terms whereupon it is offered to them How then can they think to stand when Gods wrath and fury shall break out against them and they be irrecoverably carried away with the streams of his eternal indignation Let this I say be duly considered by all sorts of such persons while time and opportunity lasteth and who knows how suddenly any mans opportunity may be lost irrecoverably c. FINIS Certain Observations useful for the understanding of divers Mystical Prophecres of holy Scriptures See the Irenicon pag. 53 54 55. respecting the latter dayes for the encrease of Joy and Consolation to faithfull Christians Obs 1 FIrst Where things that concern the Mysteries of the last times are expressed more fully in the Old Testament they are usually touched more briefly in the New as for example What is said of that Mother-Text Dan. 7.9 10 11. as Mr. Mede calls it of the first Session of the Great Day of Judgement or the Judgement of the Great Day as St. Jude speaks setting forth God's manner of destroying Antichrist as is said remarkably because of the great words the Horn spake c. Dan. 7.9 10 11. That is for the Popes abominable Blasphemies Tyranny Pride and insolent Impieties c. which in the New-Testament is but briefly many times set down as 2 Thess 2.8 whom he shall destroy with the appearance of his coming the like chap. 1.7 8 9. of which and the like Scriptures in the New-Testament the said text Dan. 7. was the ground and warrant save only in the order of the accomplishment St. John had a particular Vision to the like purpose Rev. 19 11. to the end Secondly The first said Session of the Great Day of Judgement will be for the destruction of the first Gog and Magog to wit of the Turk and Pope who were so under those terms represented to the Jews Ezek. 38.39 before the setting up of the New-Jerusalem Ezek. 40. to the end of that Book and the second Session will be upon the destruction of the second Gog and Magog above a thousand years after Rev. 20.9 at the end of the world Where again observe that Gog and Magog are taken for the great obstinate resolved Enemies of God's People whom he will powerfully destroy Now at both the said Sessions of the great Day and at the ruine of both sorts of those wicked men it is said that the Judgment was set and the Books were opened which seem proper to the Judgment of the great Day Dan. 7.10 Rev. 20.4 14. And again observe See Parallel of Roman Mon. the 6th head that at both the said Sessions quick and dead are said to be judged First the wicked quick namely Antichrist and his followers c. then to be sent to the Lake of Fire and Brimstone from the Armageddon-battel described Rev. 19. from ver 11. to the 20th Concerning the same it is again said of the same time when the third Wo came Rev. 11.18 Thou hast destroyed them that destroyed the Earth See Irenicon p. 99. when the Nations were angry and God's Wrath was then come as the twenty four Elders that praise God for the ruine of Antichrist at that time and likewise for judging the dead then by giving reward unto his Servants the Prophets and to his Saints c. which Mr. Mede conceives he will be doing all the thousand years Raising the Saints in their own order as St. Paul speaks which is called by Christ the first Resurrection Rev. 20.5 and of which St. Paul likewise speaketh remarkably when he had spoken of Christ's Resurrection as the first fruits thereof which was to be above 1600 years before then saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 afterwards they that are Christs at his coming namely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at his coming or presence at Antichrist's destruction and then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he speaks of the coming of the end 1 Cor. 15.23 24. which Christ shews should be above a thousand years after the former Rev. 20. namely as St. Paul further adds when Christ had put down all Rule all Authority and Power and when he had destroyed the last enemy Death ver 26. Which Christ again shews shall be done at his last Session of Judgment Rev. 20.14 before he gives up again the Kingdom to his Father and until that time St. Paul positively asserts the Reign of Christ in the world namely from his second Coming or Appearance to the end of the second Session of the Judgment of the Great Day See Discov next after the Parall as ver 25. for saith he he must reign till he hath put all his Enemies under his feet which Reign Christ teacheth must be a thousand years with his eminent Saints first raised Rev. 20.4 and at the end likewise quick and dead will be again both judged first the wicked quick then at the destruction of the last Gog and Magog and then the dead both good and bad when the rest of the dead shall be raised as they are called Rev. 20.5 12.13 Thirdly The description of the New-Jerusalem Ezek. 40. to the end of the Book whose name is there said to be Jehovah Shamma or the Lord is there because there his Saints shall behold his glory given to him in his Kingdom on Earth as Mediator for a reward in time of that his great work in time as Dan. 7.14 15. which by his last Will and Testament in the presence of his Father and his Disciples he declared at the end of that Prayer See Obs 20. John 17.24 after he had ended his Farewel-Sermon Joh. 16. and then the Lamb will be the visible light of that heavenly City come down from God out of Heaven whose maker and builder is God Heb. 11. to remain in the world above a thousand years But I say that description of the said City in the Old Testament seems there to be set forth sutably to the state of the Jews under the Old Testament when Ezekiel was their Prophet But the description of the New Jerusalem under the New Testament which upon many considerations from the context and the series of the times which both descriptions relate unto appear plainly to be one and the same thing I say that Description of Christ Rev. 21. is set forth more sutably to the state of the Christian Church in a more glorious manner unto which a more eminent degree of Christ's Glory was manifest before that triumphant State of it came which should so descend from God out of Heaven to be for such time in the world which consisting of the raised Saints is not only called The Beloved City which those blessed and holy ones at their resurrection as they are called Rev. 20.6 shall then inhabit and have mansions therein and the holy Jerusalem Rev. 21.10 for the time of their reign with Christ there But they being
of God seems frequently to joyn matters of the latter times together which will be fulfilled at a great distance and particularly concerning the two Resurrections Rev. 20. and even the whole Doctrine of the Resurrection almost as we noted in the Irenicon pag. 102. and elsewhere was made known by degrees and so the two Sessions of the great day of Judgment vide Obser 2. But as we here observe St. Paul sets three great things down together namely Christ's Resurrection as the first fruits of the Resurrection of the Just at the said first Resurrection or at his second coming which is like to be about 1700 years after and then cometh the end which according as Christ hath revealed will be above a thousand years after his second coming and at his third So that mark of the Primitive times Dan. 12.4 to wit Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be encreased divers hundreds of years before Antichrist's time times and the dividing of a time which are set forth in a wonderfull Vision of Christ as Rev. 10. likewise in the three next verses 5 6 7. which contain 1260 years more So three Questions are propounded by Christ's Disciples Mat. 24. of the signs of Jerusalems destruction and of his coming again or returning as he called it before Luke 19.12 and of the end of the World To all our Saviour answers but much of the nearest and gives divers signs of his second coming in the clouds of Heaven which he speaks of ver 30. but closely thereunto adjoyns what should be done at his third coming v. 31. which was not to be so much revealed saving mystically afterwards in the Book of the Revelation which was in respect thereof to be the true Key to open in after-times the spiritual Cabinet of divers otherwise mystical Texts darkly set down by Christ and his holy Spirit in other places of Scripture to the like purpose and so to be such a Key for other things See the like Mat. 25.31 speaks in part of his second coming and in the other part of that verse and ver 32. he speaks of what shall be done at his third coming largely expounded so by himself Rev. 20.11 to the end of the chapter So again St. Paul in 1 Thes 3. ult and chap. 4.14 he speaks of Christ's second coming when Christ will bring all his Saints and all that then shall sleep in Jesus with him but in ver 16. he speaks of his last coming as also expounded by Christ in the said place Also again 1 Cor. 15.23 the Apostle plainly speaks of his second coming and ver 52. sets down divers things to be done at Christs coming at the last Session of Judgment and last Resurrection And because it appears God would have these things concerning the last times of the World to be so darkly delivered for the most part and in mysteries in the Revelation Hence it hath come to pass that such imperfect and mistaken apprehensions have for the most part been entertained by all sorts of men and without some special guidance of God's Spirit could not probably be otherwise found out who himself is said to have opened the Disciples understanding after his Resurrection Luke 24.45 that they might understand the Scriptures but as many then which heard them neither believed nor regarded what they taught and those matters of Salvation by Jesus Christ crucified risen and ascended were hidden from most mens eyes so it is to be expected it will be as we are forewarned with most men in respect of Christ's descending or coming again the second time by stumbling at such Scriptures that concern it on one prejudice or mistake or other It concerns those therefore that will approve themselves wise to be wary in such matters of putting them by slightly which such as rightly shall receive and own are like to find much sweetnes and benefit by them being such as duely search into them For Christs blessing Chap. 1.3 will not be void or vain say vain men what they can or wicked men and devils act what they can to the contrary See Discovery of his Second and Third coming next after the Parallels 30. Observ That of Daniel 12.2 3. is specially meant of the civil Resurrection of the Jews from their bondage and dispersion the time of which is afterwards set down vers 12. which in a vision of the dry bones Ezek. 37. is shewed to Ezekiel is many wayes evident as afterwards follows and so that Resurrection was to be carried on to the end of the fourty five years vers 12. afterwards when Christ will fully deliver them both temporally and spiritually as vers 1. Many arguments might be raised from the words to this purpose and from the time wherein the things are to be fulfilled according both to Ezekiel and Daniel When it is said Many shall arise not all And again it is said They shall be turned unto righteousness that is the righteousness of Justification by Faith in Christ which was contrary to the Legal righteousness that the Jewes before sought after Again some arise to shame and contempt at that time that is by revolting from the faithful Jewes then by fears or hopes or threatnings or the like from the enemy and so fall into shame and perpetual contempt both temporally spiritually and consequently eternally It is observable that the Spirit of God sometimes setteth down Mysteries of Judgements in the order they are to be fulfilled in the resemblance of a day of Judgment as here and sometimes though such things be done long before the end of the world as in Rev. 6. When the sixth seal was opened in Constantines time which is above one thousand two hundred years ago and yet there described as a day of Judgement but yet it was but a particular one for that time but no Judgement said then to be set nor Books opened and quick and dead both Judged as will be at Christs second and third Comings as was said in our second large Observation 31. Observ The harmoniousness and uniform agreement of these divine Truths respecting the Reign of Christ the thousand years touched at least briefly in divers of the preceding Observations shewes them to come from God and their agreeing with the divine Oracles of the holy Spirit scattered in all parts of the sacred Scriptures as in many particulars have been here already set down and as we may afterwards point out or at least briefly hint at As in the two Sessions of the great Day of Judgment with the four particulars proper to the day of Judgement First In both the Judgement is said to be set Secondly In both The Books are said to be opened Thirdly In both first the quick And Fourthly In both last the dead are judged See the large second Observation to these purposes Again these particulars are suitable to the second personal coming of Christ to be hereafter at the beginning and after the little space when the thousand years shall
and mocked at 1 Pet. 3.3 but by the Scoffers of those times very possible much more Now whereas besides Christ's coming in humility to take our nature and to suffer for his Church there remains according to holy Scripture as we hope by the Grace of God to make manifest to all impartial searchers into these Mysteries there still remains a twofold personal coming of Christ One when God will subdue and destroy the great Enemies of Christ and his People both Jewes and Gentiles namely the Turk and Pope set forth by Ezekiel under the titles of Gog and Magog chap. 38 39. before he set up his New Jerusalem chap. 40 to the end of the Book Whose name shall be JEHOVAH SHAMMA the Lord is there just as the Beast and his Armies shall be destroyed Rev. 19.11 c. before the Jerusalem Rev. 19 20 21. called the Holy Beloved the great and holy Jerusalem which is also there the Bride the Lambs Wife be built by God's own hand as Heb. 11. which will be accomplished at the sounding of the seventh Angel Rev. 11.16 upon which comes in the thousand years when Christ will take to himself his great Power and reign as chap. 19. v. 1 to v. 10. And afterwards when our blessed Saviour had given a clear and perfect computation of all succeeding times to the end of the world with all the suiting circumstances before in at the end and after his said thousand years Reign on Earth in that last Table of the last and best times in the new World in chap. 20. as he gave a Table of all the last and worst times chap. 11. to ver 16. in the old bad World he shews manifestly from the compleating of that Judgment upon those great Enemies from his second Personal Apearance or Coming at that time when the Judgment was set to destroy the Beast Dan. 7.9 10. there are to pass above a thousand years before the third when is to be the last Session of the day of Judgment at the general Resurrection of all that lived not again before both good and bad as our Saviour distinctly teacheth chap. 20. called there the rest of the dead that lived not again before ver 5. setting forth to the end the manner of God's carrying-on many wonderful works from thence unto the end And then Christ further proceeds in the two last chapters to set forth in a very divine and wonderful manner the succeeding glorious estate of his Church upon Earth with her excellent prerogatives and priviledges all that time of his thousand years Reign from his second coming to his third saving the little space Satan is after loosed and seduceth the last Gog and Magog chap. 20.7 8 9 10. to their destruction to which ensueth the last Judgment ver 11. to the end when he will again descend from Heaven not with clouds as at his second coming but with a shout and the voice of an Arch-Angel and the Trump of God as the Apostle sheweth 2 Thess 4.16 c. and as here chap. 20.11 sitting upon a great white Throne before whose face Heaven and Earth fled away Now to that end we may the better and more clearly carry on this great work to satisfaction of some hitherto unresolved consciencious Christians we shall endeavour to this purpose to set down many evident Texts of holy Scriptures upon the advantage of what hath been already said which may appear manifestly to relate to those two Personal Comings and then come more fully to consider them from the order of their distinct times wherein they are to be both from Daniels Visions and the Book of Revelations in both which we have the series and order of the accomplishment of the Generalities of the greatest marters wherein God's glory and the Churches concernment should lie from the beginning of Daniels Visions for the space of above three thousand three hundred years 2dly To observe for Christians information the different names and titles sometimes given to them and answerably thereunto their natures as suitable to those names 3dly The different things to be done by Christ at both those said Comings with many distinct particularities under both those heads besides what is orderly to be accomplished both according to Daniel and the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ the faithful and true Witness from his second to his third personal coming at the last resurrection of good and bad which our Saviour after his ascension into Heaven hath at last declared and opened and left unsealed as was noted for his Churches instruction and comfort as by special order is manifest Rev. 22.10 by which means his People are inabled rightly to understand many otherwise dark passages of Old and New Testament and besides hath given great incouragement of blessing to the faithfull and diligent searching into them to the spiritual hearing or believing of them and to the keeping of the sayings of that Book chap. 1.3 Now therefore in reference to the first part of our business let it be observed That many judicious men well vers'd in the mysteries respecting the latter times unanimously agree that Christ will remain from his appearance or coming at the destruction of Aptichrist thenceforward all the thousand years of his reigning with his raised Saints in the â—orld Rev. 20.4 and will as Mr. Mede conceives probably through that time be raising up all the dead bodies of all the formerly deceased Saints to the end of that thousand years in their own order having departed out of this life during the Kingdom of the Stone or the Kingdom of Patience for almost seventeen hundred years having believed through their word as is said John 17. namely by the Apostles Doctrine with all the Faithful under the Old Testament even till that time when they shall all be made perfect in one with Christ their visible Head then in that his glorious Kingdom on Earth for the said thousand years space unto which that Scripture must necessarily be referred Joh. 17. from ver 19 to 25. But it seems from the time that Satan at the end of the thousand years shall be loosed for a little season that Christ will withdraw from the world for that little season to give as it were opportunity to the Devil to play his last most abominable wicked prank in the world with his seduced Hypocrites the last Gog and Magog as followeth Rev. 20.7 8 9. to bring on that last destruction of all them and the whole World v. 10. which thereupon will suddenly be dissolved as follows ver 11 to the end when the Apostle Paul plainly saith 1 Thess 4.16 Christ will again descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the Trump of God and shews that immediately the dead in Christ shall rise first namely such as had died in the thousand years since his second coming that they with such as are alive and remain all the time since they were raised to live
again upon Earth which he speaks of twice v. 15 17. as being in a very different condition from those that are dead then and in the thousand years and to be first raised when all wicked men are to be raised Where note he saith not We shall rise first then as he did of the other state we that are alive and remain but the dead in Christ and that they with all such as were in the natural life on Earth who should have a momentany change then instead of a death and also that all those that were before raised in the thousand years should all at once be rapt up to meet Christ in the air and altogether be thenceforth ever with the Lord who had for a little time before absented himself from them And that the Apostle in this Epistle speaks both of his second and third coming may thus further be made to appear chap. 3.13 he speaks of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with All his Saints and again chap. 4.14 he saith also them also that sleep in Jesus shall God bring with him he brings them with him at his next appearance to take their bodies in the first Resurrection Rev. 20.6 but at his third coming they are not said to be brought with him but rapt up to meet him in the air when he is descended from Heaven Before he had left them a little season but afterwards they shall be ever with the Lord. To which purpose Enoch prophesied of old of his first coming Jude 14.8 Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints that is when the New Jerusalem which is above and called by the Apostle The Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 shall come down from God out of Heaven at his second coming at the time of the restitution of all things Acts 3.20 21. Rev. 21. being prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband when he will make all things new and the Tabernacle of God shall be with men v. 2 3 5. when the souls beheaded for the testimony of Jesus shall live and reign with Christ the thousand years Rev. 20.4 and when he will begin that judgment Rev. 11.18 to reward his servants the Prophets and his Saints and all that fear his Name both small and great and when the four Beasts or rather living wights and the twenty four Elders Rev. 5.10 shall actually enjoy that which they foresaw in Vision above one thousand five hundred years before that they should reign upon earth for he is not said to bring them with him at his third coming but to take them up to him to meet him in the air by a sudden resurrection and momentany change and rapture who before in great part lived again and remained upon Earth or in the World until that time and yet he saith that they should not prevent those that were then asleep and also shews that though Christ had left them for a season before yet from thence-forward they should all ever be with the Lord. And for his second coming the Scripture is very full and clear at the destruction of Antichrist from Dan. 7.14 when he shall come in the clâ—â—â—â— of Heaven and Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him and 2 Thess 2.8 he will then destroy the Man of Sin with the appearance of his Coming when he shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on those wicked men who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his Power and then also be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe 2 Thess 1.8 9 10. And this is his appearance at his Kingdom when he will judge both quick dead as 1 Tim. 4.1 by destroying wicked men and rewarding the Righteous as Rev. 11.18 20.4 for then God begins to make his foes his footstool when having taken to himself his great Power he destroyes them that destroyed the Earth as follows in Rev. 11.18 and all this will be at or about the same time when Michael the great Prince that is the Messiah shall stand up to deliver his People Dan. 12.1 when such a time of trouble will be as never was since there was a Nation and such a great Earthquake also will be then at the pouring-out of the last Viol to finish the destruction of the Beast as never was since men were upon the Earth even till that time so mighty an Earthquake and so great Rev. 16. latter end and likewise Dan. 7.9 10 11. ver 26. for the Judgment is set to that end and the Books then opened as in ver 10. See many Texts that speak of this his second coming in the Irenicon pag. 42 43 44. and for his personal appearance which is the same second coming in the Forerunner p. 47 48. And for his third descending with a shout from heaven and the voyce of the Archangel and the Trump of God when the rest of the Saints that dyed in the thousand years shall be again raised as the other were in the thousand years that had reigned with Christ before upon earth before Satan seduced the last Gog and Magog See the Abridgmâ— on Daniels Visions there is above a thousand years space as was said from his second coming to that third when namely at his third coming he will sit upon that great white throne as Judg from whose face the Earth and Heavens will then slee away Rev. 20. after the last Gog and Magog shall be destroyed ver 11 12 to the end Also concerning this third coming seems St. Peter also to speak 2 Pet. 3.10 which words are spoken to the terrour of ungodly men termed there Scoffers at the promise of his coming whom that last coming doth specially concern and yet with the exceptive particle Nevertheless brings in the consolation for the Godly from the promise of the new Heavens and the new Earth which before in the thousand years they should enjoy with him v. 〈◊〉 Mr. Archer observes first his second coming from Mat. 25.30 〈◊〉 his third from ver 31. sutable to what St. Paul expresseth 1 Cor. 15. where he speaks of his first coming v. 23. saying Christ the first fruits afterwards 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they that are Christ's at his coming Then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith he cometh the end where the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are used at a great distance for Christ the first fruits arose before the Saints at his next coming above 1600 years and then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 afterwards the end cometh above a thousand years after his said second coming and at his third when the last Session of the day of Judgment will be held and finished Where he further also v. 24. sets down what must be done at that third coming with what was done before that all along the thousand years from the
A plain and evident Discovery of the two Personal Comings of CHRIST one at the beginning of his Thousand years Reign Rev. 20.4 with his holy and blessed raised Saints in the Now Jerusalem come down from God out of Heaven Rev. 21. the other after the little space when the Thousand years are ended c. Whereunto are added many profitable Applications of the same Doctrine for all sorts of persons Rev. 22.20 Surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Jesus THese words contain Christ's most certain Asseveration of his second Personal Coming whereunto is annexed the Spirits and Brides assent consent thereunto and their assured expectation thereof in its time and due order They are the last words of holy Scripture saving a usual Salutation and therefore like to be words of great consequence and that if we consider how and by whom spoken and how and by whom entertained and improved as in the latter part but we shall not here insist on them as to handle them as a Text save only as they hold out to us the great Personal Appearance of the Coming of Christ 1 Thess 2.8 now shortly approaching which the world in great part as it is likely will not believe till they in great part feel the terror of it when at the said Appearance and his Kingdom he will begin to judge both quick and dead 1 Tim. 4.1 as in the sequel we doubt not will by the assistance and guidance of God's Spirit and Truth be made to right enquirers evidently to appear In chap. 1.7 it was proclaimed with an Ecce a note of observation Behold aforehand for the Churches great consolation before her troubles began that even then her Deliverer had begun his journey as it were for her help and deliverance Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him and they also that pierced him but also for the wo and misery of the wicked world likewise for all Nations shall wail because of him and both these ascertained with Even so Amen to shew that his coming in the clouds of Heaven in such a glorious manner as the holy Scriptures abundantly shew or with clouds as here shall be most certain and infallible and of great concernment for his faithful People to observe all along to remember consider and improve through all the orders of times in this most sacred Prophetical Book But now at the latter end when he comes to set home this lesson in its due order of accomplishment as foreseeing what hindrances in that respect his People would find in the latter dayes he then striketh hard and often upon this string to rouse them and awaken that Faith that then would be hard to be found Luke 18.8 saith he in his own person three times in this 22th chapter first v. 7. Behold I come quickly again v. 12. And behold I come quickly and lastly in this 20th vers Surely I come quickly still in each verse encouraging his People to wait for his coming that would make amends for all and that in the worst times before his coming which would then shortly be when the last head of the Roman Monster was to fall in its order into utter perdition in the Armageddon battel Rev. 16.14 16 17. and fully executed chap. 19.11 c. and that he should most certainly then so come to set up his glorious Kingdom on Earth and then to have his reward with him for all sorts v. 12. Rev. 11.18 that so as the Apostle Paul speaks all that suffer with him in his Kingdom of Patience may reign with him in his Kingdom of Power as their Messiah and Deliverer on Earth 2 Tim. 2.12 That they may serve him without fear there in holiness and righteousness all the dayes of their lives Luke 1.74 So by these and the like means the Bride the Lamb's Wife the Mystical Body of Christ then shortly to be made perfect in one as John 17. our Saviour prayed on Earth at his first-coming for his Saints happiness on Earth at his second coming should according to the due order of things set down in this most divine Book expect it in the end of the Roman Kingdom and when his own glorious Kingdom as Mediator should succeed on Earth and become that Mountain filling the whole Earth Dan. 2.35 of which he sets down in the four last chapters First the removal of the hinderers the Pope and his adherents chap. 19. and then of the Devil and his angels chap. 20.1 2 3. Secondly the erecting of his excellent Dominion first by the Brides making ready when she should so sing her Alleluja's upon her Enemies ruine in the old mother-tongue c. Rev. 19.1 2 3 4 5. and also the Saints be raised in order first such as were beheaded and then c. chap. 20.4 and more fully chap. 11.18 who must then have Judgment given to them that is power of judging on Thrones ver 4. Dan. 7. and this for a thousand years and having shewed what Satan with the last Gog and Magog chap. 20.7 8 9 10. should attempt for a little space till both be sent to Hell and in what way and manner he will thereupon begin the last Session of Judgment from ver 10. to the end he then in the two last chapters decyphers the excellent blessed and holy state of his own and his Saints Kingdom upon Earth with their priviledges and advantages therein as may abundantly appear from chap. 21 22 wherein from the consideration of this his own next Personal Coming he stirs up all his People to come to him to be fit to welcome his Coming v. 17. The Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that heareth spiritually come and let him that is athirst come c. that when they hear him say ver 20. Surely I come quickly they may by faith and with fervent desires as his Bride say Amen Even so come Lord Jesus And all these warnings with frequent assertings of these things which he sets down in these four last chapters of this Book as chap. 19.7 8. These are the true sayings of God ch 21.5 These words are true and faithful chap. 22.6 These sayings are faithful and true and v. 10. forbids this Book to be sealed because the time is at hand viz. in the order of the accomplishment of all contained in this Book and in this 20th vers concludes with his own most sure testimony He which testifieth these things saith Surely I come quickly c. All which he seems to do as knowing how the faith of these things would be resisted in the world about the time he should so come in the clouds or with clouds as chap. 1.7 even this coming of which he saith Surely I come quickly And as we now find by experience at this very time as respecting his special spiritual powerful coming so much slighted and opposed by most of men and his next personal coming is not like to be less slighted
since Christ saith it will be but a little season we have reason to believe it will be so whereunto will ensue the last Resurrection and general Judgment this last state of things our Saviour hath clearly distinctly opened Rev. 20. which Daniel had but darkly set down in such manner as God's Spirit then taught and guided him for such time as God was pleased to have many things which he delivered then to be shut up til the time of the end when Christ should unseal and open them as both Daniel and the Revelation do witness the space as was said of above 3300 years of Daniel's Prophecies beginning with the Captivity of Babylon who darkly hold out the generals of things to be fulfilled in their order to the end of the World saving we finde nothing there of the little space after Christs Reign the thousand years is ended which both for the continuance of it for a thousand years and what was to be done in the little space after our Savior the great Prophet and faithfull Witness hath made known to his Church Rev. 20. and which could not by any wisdom of creatures otherwise be found out and the Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ explains so much of Daniel's Prophecy though mystically as was to be fulfilled to the end from the time of the opening of the first Seal under the Roman Empire when our Saviour at his Resurrection having received all Power in Heaven and Earth gave Commission for the preaching of the Gospel Mat. 28.18 19 20. Now for the time of Christ's second coming both Dan. 7. Rev. 19. joyntly agree as all serious men acquainted with the order of mystical Prophecies universally agree and is evidently discernable to any unprejudiced searchers into them St. Paul gives this Epitome of that Coming to destroy Antichrist which both Daniel and Christ are large in saying Christ will destroy him with the appearance of his Coming and so in other Scriptures before Daniel hath much in generals that shall be in the world at the second personal coming of Christ but the third I find not that he hath any touch of whence the Jews did so much expect and speak of such a coming as his second will be to restore the Kingdom to Israel c. which saith Mr. Mede the Jewish Doctors call the day of the great Judgement 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dies judicii 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 magnus dies judicii in the 4th Letter to Mr. Hain from Dan. 7.10.22.26 But our Saviour most clearly and St. Paul and Peter likewise seems but especially Christ in the Book of Revelation chap. 20. hath set forth his third coming as a point of Doctrine most needful to be known and considered in the last times when his second coming approacheth near unto us As the order of Daniel's Prophecy in our Abridgment and the order of the Revelation in the Letter of May 20. in the Fore-runner pag. 22. and the sum of the Revelation in the Irenicon p. 26 27 c. will evidently make to appear so that both Daniel and the Revelation do orderly hold out his second personal coming with other Scriptures And the Revelation of Jesus Christ most clearly decyphers the third shewing what shall be done at the begining of and all along the thousand years and what at the end of them and how the day of the last general Judgment will be brought on and executed to the end of that 20th chapter with the state of things in the interim in the two last chapters Rev. 11.15 to the end which respects the same time or at least the entrance upon that period And secondly As these two personall comings are distinguished by Christ the great Interpreter of both these Prophetical Books so their names and decypherings in Scripture are much distinguished suitable to the nature of both the said comings The first is called the appearance of Christ or the appearance of his Coming the other his descending from Heaven with a shout c. The first is his coming with clouds c. at the other no mention of clouds but contrarily Heaven and Earth will then flee away before him the former stiled the Revelation of Christ when the mystery of Godliness is finished 1 Tim. 3.16 but the last will be after a long manifestation of his Glory all the thousand years in the world with other names more fully to be seen in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pag. 43.44 45. and the reason the former is so often called his appearance seemes to be because Christ at his coming in the clouds of Heaven then will only appear in clouds to the world no mortal eye being able to behold his Glory in the brightness of it and probably because this appearance will be in the clouds but a short time cheifly to be so manifest unto the Jewes to take off the hard vail of unbelief from their hearts and as Mr. Mede probably conceives he will speak to the Jewes then at their conversion as he did to St. Paul for a pattern thereof And after that done I find not that he wil any more be seen of mortal men at least not ordinarily in the world though his Glory will shine fully and inlighten the raised Saints in the New Jerusalem as in many texts we have shewed as Isa 66.1 Rev. 21. Joh. 17.24 c. But his third coming is stiled his descending from Heaven with the voice of an Archangel and with the Trump of God but not so at the former 1 Thes 4.16 Mat. 24.31 his coming in his Glory with all his holy Angels and sitting upon his Throne where all shall be gathered before him Mat. 25.31 and the like in several texts fore-cited Thirdly As they differ in a long distance of time and the titles given to each according to their natures so they differ in the things that will be done at both those personal comings At the first God begineth to make Christ's foes his foot-stool both by binding of Satan Rev. 20. and by destroying many wicked men from off the earth that would not have him rule over them miraculously calling the Nation of the Jews and delivering that Nation fully from their temporal and greatly at least from their spiritual bondage Dan. 12.1 3 c. and making the wicked to be slaves and likewise then brings such as sleep in Jesus with him and all his Saints with him when the New Jerusalem comes down from God out of Heaven which is that Jerusalem whose maker and builder God is said to be Heb. 11. and that City prepared for the fore-fathers who without us that believe will not be made perfect c. where the blessed and holy raised Saints shal behold Christs glory which he hath given them their part in John 17.22 24. and shall raign with him there the thousand years But the third coming of Christ will be his descending from Heaven with a shout and the voyce of the Arch-Angel as was
in it then made one and perfect in one as Christ prayed John 17.11 as Christ and the Father are one c. consider well the Prayer of Christ being all along prophetical of the ensuing times that Jerusalem will be then the Bride Rev. 19. and the Lambs Wife Rev. 21. and was of old fore-spoken of as his Spouse in the Song of Solomon his type therein So the Wisdom of God seems to fit the descriptions thereof suitably to their several states to whom it was so represented Fourthly The most of those Prophecies which concern the Jews are more fully set forth in the Old Testament Hence the Turk's ruine who is the sixth Trumpet Rev. 9.11 is more fully described Ezek. 38 39 chapters under the name of Gog and the Pope's there both briefly under the name of Magog in chap. 39. referring us Christians intime to come to look into the New Testament for what God would after for our use then make known of Antichrist more largely Fifthly The fifth and sixth Trumpets which are the first and second Wo-Trumpets Rev. 9. See Abridgm Dan. 11.40 which were to ruine the Eastern Roman Empire are the Sarazens and Turks set forth by the titles of the King of the South and the King of the North Dan. 11.40 c. being likewise the oppressors of the poor Jews Sixthly The Armageddon-battel being for the destruction of the first Gog and Magog is set forth in both Testaments as referring to the Enemies of both Christian Jews and Gentiles first set down in the Old Testament Ezek. 38 39 chapters Joel 3.7 11 12. Dan. 11.45 Zech. 14. as in reference to the Jews Secondly in the New-Testament Rev. 14 15 chapters and 16th under or after the sixth Viol and Rev. 19.11 c. as in reference to the Gentiles Seventhly The greatly-beloved Prophet Daniel chiefly sets down what might be ground of comfort to the faithful Jews See Irenicon pag. 63. But the beloved Disciple and Apostle St. John mainly speaks of what might be useful for the Faithful in the times of the Gentiles Luke 21.24 whilst the body of the Jewish Nation remained cast out Eightly The 12th chapter of Daniel's Prophecy is useful to open the way for understanding the Mysteries of that Book as the 17th chapter of the Revelations is for the understanding much in that Book See Abridgm on Dan. chap. 12. For from Daniels 12th may be understood the time and order of Christs appearing with the terribleness thereof ver 1. and of the Jews deliverance therewith v. 1. and how long before both will come v. 11 12. and what state that Church and the Saints in it should be in then v. 1 13. in what state the Church of the Jews was in before Christ's appearing very troublesom v. 2 3. how long these Mysteries should continue shut up v. 4 9. and what was meant by the time of the end when they should be opened compare ver 9. with verse 40 of chap. 11. and then what state was to be of the Church of the Gentiles ver 4. latter part of the verse and v. 5 6 7. which Daniel then understood not v. 8. because then sealed up v. 9. and likewise concerned things long after to come in the Gentile-Church and yet he had it expounded to him before by one that stood by chap. 7.16 21 to v. 27. So also Rev. 17. is a chapter remarkably set down by the Spirit of God very useful for the opening of divers Mysteries contained in the Book of Revelations See Irenicon p. 26 27 28 c. concerning Antichrist's rise reign and ruine with many other things thereunto partaining mentioned chapters 11 13 14 15 16 c. as may be observed in the Letter of May 20. in the Fore-runner and in the Irenicon pag. 26 27 28 29 30 31. c. Ninthly Then observe Daniels Visions were sealed to the time of the end chap. 12.9 which was to the times of the Sarazens Turks or which is contemporary in Antichrist's time times and the dividing of a time as Dan. 11.40 c. Dan. 12.5 6 7. chap. 7.24 25. compated with Rev. 9.11 chap. 11. chap. 13. at which time they were to be unsealed in respect of both those enemies both of Jews and Gentiles as Daniel and the Book of Revelation set them forth in their due order as was said Tenthly What Daniel briefly shewed the Jews should be done for them at Christ's Appearing See Abridgm on Dan. 12. namely that then his People should be delivered Dan. 12.1 c. the Prophet Ezekiel in that respect more fully explained from the Visions of God chap. 37. first by the rising of the dry bones and after by the uniting of two sticks into one under one King to them both for ever and chap. 38 39. by removing Gog the hinderer of their rising And lastly chap. 40 41 42 to the end of the Book by shewing to him the New Jerusalem then to ensue after Gog's ruine and both Daniel and Ezekiel being God's Prophets sent to the Jews in the time of their Captivity and both fore-telling their great restoration and the time thereof though mystically as two witnesses of God's Truth to comfort the Faithful Jews in the low ebb of their dejected condition till then Eleventhly The first three worldly Monarchies being past which had oppressed the Jews before Christ came in the flesh the Book of Revelation speaks nothing of them See Abridgm on Dan. nor of the Roman Monarchy till Christ's Resurrection at the opening of the first Seal Rev. 6. Psal 45. when Christ having all power in Heaven and in Earth given to him he gave Commission to his Disciples for the preaching of the Gospel Mat. 28.18 19 20. See Irenicon p. 26 27 c. and pag. 61 62 63. But afterwards the orders of the times and things in Daniel as respecting the proceedings of things in the Roman Monarchy to the time of its ruine and Christ's Kingdom following upon it both the Prophecy of Daniel and the Book of Revelation exactly agree as being revealed by the same eternal Spirit of Truth namely from the finishing of Christ's work of Redemption to his coming again But after that for the state of things in Dan. 7.13 14 15. to the end of that chapter that it shall be for a thousand years Christ only in Rev. 20 21 22. further informs us saving it is darkly imployed Dan. 12.13 where it is promised to Daniel that he shall stand up in his lot at the end of the dayes that is at the resurrection of the Just or first resurrection Rev. 20.5 Twelfthly Hence it may appear that though Christ as man upon Earth knew not the time of the last day yet having since ascended and sitting on his Fathers right hand in Heaven revealed now for our use in a latitude both concerning the last day and also many other great mysteries contained in that Divine Book of the
six copies distinguished by a comma to be understood in that sense of new creation of things not spiritual regeneration as men use to take it when all such faithful Spirits shall be counted as our Saviour speaks worthy to obtain that World and the Resurrection of the Dead that which is called the World to come Heb. 2.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And when Abraham's Isaac's and Jacob's posterity shall enjoy that Land with them Deut. 30. to ver 11. Deut. 32.43 as Davids Kingdom shall then be stablished before himself for ever to the end 2 Sam. 7.16 And so likewise the Promise and Covenant made to David of the Kingdom for himself and his Seed for ever will then in Christ the Seed of David on Earth be fulfilled when also the first Adam's lost dominion as was fore-prophesied Psal 8. and explained and applyed by the Apostle Heb. 2. will be regained to the raised Saints from the dead at the first said Resurrection by Christ the second Adam Consider seriously these Scripture-evidences and the things held out by them 16ly Such Prophecies as speak of good things to come to Israel Ephraim or Joseph together with Judah joyned with them usually contain something belonging to the great Restauration at Christ's appearing and his Kingdom 1 Tim. 4.1 when he first begins to judge quick and dead at the first session of the day of Judgement when God's ancient People of Israel or Ephraim and Judah shall be joyned together into one stick under one King to them both for ever even Christ being his Promised Seed which will be accomplished in those last dayes as was said from Ezek. 37. 17ly When David by his prophetical Spirit foretelleth of things incompetible to his own Kingdom or to his natural seed such things must necessarily be referred to Christ's glorious Kingdom on Earth See Iren. p. 77 78 79 80. in the thousand years 18ly Again it is observable in Mystical Prophecies that the Spirit of God seems many times to lay down great things in generals and after by degrees to give expositions of them See Abridgm on Dan. as in Nebuchadnezzar's dream Dan. 2. and Daniels Visions of the same matters Dan. 7. both which are by Daniel and the Angel in the same chapters in some brief way first expounded and both again more particularly afterwards in the following Visions in their order chap. 8. and somewhat in chap. 9. but afterwards more fully in many things in their order in his last large Vision chap. 10 11 12. and so in the Revelation in chap. 4 5 7. some general heads are touched at which are more particularly explained in a great part of the Book following So in the latter part of chap. 14. the decay of the Papacy is spoken of which afterwards is again explained chapters 15 16 more briefly and some of the Vials again more largely chapters 18 19 20. 19ly In the Book of the Revelation when things are not said to succeed one the other as 1st 2d 3d c. as the Seals Trumpets Vials but one measure of time is assigned and suited to them all or one table of Chronology is fitted to them all such distirct Visions are contemporaries as all that concerned the true and false Church in Antichrist's time have the same measure though diversly computed by months dayes and a time times and an half all agreeing in 1260 years the date of the Beast the mourning-time of the Witnesses the Woman's Wilderness-condition by which also the Whore of Babylon the ten crowned Horns with the two-horned Beast c. are limited to their seasons So all those Visions under or after the 7th Trumpet See the Irenicon pag. 30. have one Chronological Table to compute their time as chap 11. to v. 15. contained the forty two months for the night-workers in darkness and a thousand two hundred and sixty dayes of such as are of the Light and walk therein So all the Visions I say in the three last chapters have one Chronological Table to compute the time of them all to wit a thousand years wherein Christ will reign with his Saints the Devil shall be bound and shut up c. the New Jerusalem come down from God and God's Tabernacle be with men and the New Heavens and New Earth and the Paradise of God and the Tree of Life and the pure River c. all for the said time of the thousand years and so are contemporaries and all strongly there asserted and confirmed See Irenicon in several places 20. Observ After Christ Jesus our Saviour had finished his Farewel Sermon Joh. 16. he then in the presence of his Disciples made that most excellent declarative Prayer Joh. 17. wherein a large Prophecy of many things to come is very divinely though mystically couched wherein we may observe many things in order according to the Will of his heavenly Father set forth by Christ which should afterward according both to his prayer prediction or disposal be done and hath herein caused to be recorded which shall have their due accomplishment in their times begining from his making that excellent prophetical Prayer who alwayes prayed according to his heavenly Father's Will and as he said was alwayes heard of him and so it is to be known by us that all here he prayed for in respect of himself his Disciples and the faithful Pastors and Christians succeeding even all such as his Father had given him till his coming again and all that believed through their word namely the Apostles Doctrine through the time of the wicked world which he prayed not for till the time of the good world came that should both believe and know him whom the Father had sent when that Glory should be given to his own that the Father had given him concerning which he then made his Will v. 24. that they should behold his Glory in his Kingdom Dan. 7.13 14. at the Resurrection in that World to come of which he speaks Luke 20.35 36. which as was said Heb. 2.5 is stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the world habitable to come of which the Apostle there said he spake namely chap. 1.6 where he had said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he shall bring his Son again into the World that is the second time he saith and let all the Angels of God worship him for he shall then as both Daniel and from Daniel three of the Evangelists witness Christ's words of his coming come in the clouds of Heaven as was foretold of him and all his holy ones with him both Saints and Angels And in reference to this order of this prophetical declarative Prayer of our blessed Saviour observe the ensuing steps of his proceeding therein to the said purposes which we have already hinted to be now further observed and duly considered accordingly Ver. 1. he saith Father glorifie thy Son that thy Son may also glorifie thee which was evidently soon after answered in his Resurrection from the dead
and also the Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifie lower than the Angels and crowned him with Glory and Worship making him to have dominion over the works of his hands and putting all things under his feet c. Which the Apostle applyes to Christ Heb. 2. and also saith he hath made him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a little while as our Translation hath it in the margent likewise inferiour to the Angels and then speaketh of the same subjection of the creatures under him then afterwards to come and therefore ver 8. he saith we do not yet see all things put under him only we see Christ in his own person that for a little while was made lower than the Angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour But he again further teacheth Phil. 2.9 c. that God had given him a Name above every name that at the Name of JESUS every knee should bow or be subject of things in Heaven and things on Earth and things under the Earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Which will not be done till he hath received his Kingdom and shall return as he himself speaketh Luke 19.12 15 and all these things can at no other time upon Scripture-ground be expected but at his said 2d coming when God shall bring again his Son into the world and say Let all the Angels of God worship him Heb. 1.6 and that was also foretold Psal 97.7 which whole Psalm beginning The Lord reigneth let the Earth rejoyce c. setteth forth prophetically in what a glorious manner Christ will come then to set up his glorious Kingdom both by destroying his Idolatrous Enemies and wonderfully delivering and exalting his People as is observable throughout the whole Psalm and this as to the time and order Christ succinctly explains Rev. 20.4 saying the Saints reigned with Christ a thousand years And accordingly thereunto are all the Promises of raising again the Tabernacle of David which was fallen Amos 9.11 Acts 15.16 and those for the perpetuity of Davids Kingdom to his seed so long as the Sun and Moon do endure See Irenicon p. 77 78 79. and the like are all to be interpreted which will be manifest when the Kingdom of the Stone Dan. 2.33 34. shall become a great Mountain filling the whole Earth And this is that Coming of the Son of man in his Kingdom spoken of by Christ Matth. 16.28 of which he soon after shewed a glymps unto his three Disciples Peter James and John at his Transfiguration Mark 9.1 Luke 9.27 Neither can these Texts be justly denied to be meant of such a Kingdom of Christ to come upon his coming again nor warrantably be interpreted in any other sense if the said Texts be seriously and duly considered 22. Obser I have observed only three great Earthquakes spoken of in all the series or order of the Book of Revelation And where the Spirit of God calls them great we may expect they will be great indeed For Earthquakes are often spoken of besides these great ones The first is upon the opening of the sixth Seal Rev. 6.12 when God by Constantine the Great overturned Satan's Paganish Kingdom when five or six several Caesars were so potent to oppose him See Fore runner p. 29. and cast down Satan from his Heaven of Heathenish Worship into the Earth Rev. 12.9 which was spoken of the same time which is described as a day of Judgment Rev. 6. to the Paganish Powers as indeed it was and there the Spirit of God sets down an Ecce before it and Lo saith he there was a great Earthquake The second is Rev. 11.13 at the ascension of the two Witnesses after their resurrection and then the holy Spirit tells us at the same hour there was a great Earthquake when the tenth part of the Dition of the City of Rome probably will quite fall from it See Fore runner p. 8. where the Witnesses are to rise again c. and this Earthquake we may daily expect But thirdly there is another great Earthquake afterwards spoken of to come which he further illustrates much above both the former and that will be at or about Antichrist's final destruction at the end of the sixth Viol and pouring-out of the seventh for the compleating of his ruine Rev. 16.17 18. and then the Spirit of God speaks with a great deal of emphasis of it saying v. 18. And there was a great Earthquake such as was not since Man was upon Earth so mighty an Earthquake and so great Which seems to be further described in the three following verses and seems to be at or about the same time of Michael's standing up to deliver Daniels People when such a time of trouble will be as never was since there was a Nation Dan. 12.1 and when St. Paul saith of Antichrist 2 Thess 2.8 Christ will destroy him with the appearance of his coming and happily of both Rev. 14. latter part of the chapter And then will not only the Earth be shaken but also the Heavens as saith the Prophet Hag. 2.6 7 21. Heb. 12.26 and as upon good reason from several Scriptures seems to be the main drift of them then to be fulfilled as Mal. 3.2 Rev. 11.16 Which shaking of the Earth probably may seem was first at that great Earthquake Rev. 6.12 when God by Constantine the Great overthrew Paganish Idolatry and may be again by the next great Earthquake now approaching Rev. 11.13 which will also begin to shake Antichristian Idolaters who are called in this Book the men of the Earth and the perfecting of that shaking is to be at that third and greatest Earthquake Rev. 16.18 when not only the Earth and evil men will be shaken but also the Heavens namely such Churches as will be then in a degree reformed Churches and thereupon will the new Heavens and new Earth ensue of both reformed Church and State in the whole World I conceive at the setting up of Christ's Kingdom on Earth Rev. 20.4 5.10 23. When the Prophet Moses denounceth threatnings against the twelve Tribes the Spirit of God seems to guide him divers times to set them down prophetically as including Prophecies in their order afterwards to be fulfilled as is observable Lev. 26. Deut. 28. 4.30 which he said expresly should be in the latter dayes and Deut. 32. from ver 1. to 44. See these Texts more fully in the Irenicon pag. 60 61. 24. Obser The heavy weight of God's wrath upon mankind next after the fall of the first Adam seems very observable through the first great Period of the World until the Flood for first good Abel the remotest type of Christ after Adam being slain by his brother Yet cursed Cain was then suffered to live to people the World which further appears that in those first ages of the World to the Flood few are recorded or hinted in Scripture to
and I doubt not will be owned more and more I am well assured are of so high concernment both for the glory of God and our Lord Jesus Christ and for the edification and comfort of his People in the last times that I shall be ready by his Grace upon all fitting occasions to warn all such as truly fear God to take heed either of slighting or rejecting of them for though they are of that nature that God hath in his most wise counsel reserved to be more especially known for his true Churches benefit in these last dayes when his ancient People the Jews are shortly to be converted unto Christ their Saviour as the Apostle Paul saith Rom. 11. and all Israel shall be saved that even as the Mystery of the Gentiles Conversion was hidden to the Jews and even for a time to the Apostles themselves when it was to take place until by Miracles Word Spirit and Visions they were powerfully taught to acknowledge it So theirs is like in great part to be hid to the Gentiles And as Antichrist was to come to be revealed to reign to be consumed with the breath of Christ's mouth uttered by his Witnesses but all to be fulfilled in a great Mystery all along to the most in the World saving unto some few persons and places unto whom by degrees God in special wayes of mercy hath been pleased from time to time to manifest these things and yet I say but by degrees for the accomplishment of God's Mysteries have in all times been very wonderful and above mens reach ordinarily to discover And as the Apostle Paul was greatly honoured and imployed by the Jewish Rulers and learned Rabbies of his time whilst he persecuted the Christian Faith yet when afterward he preached that Gospel of Christ crucified and that unto the Gentiles was as much by those Jews persecuted and opposed himself and by all of their way so in a degree may it be expected of such as God manifesteth such things unto as he will accomplish in the end of the dayes as Daniel's phrase is which shall appear to be against the interest of men in the world or above the ordinary strain of the times that many though not all will slight and oppose them even until God fulfils them and such their slighting and opposing is like to be as to the Jews of old the occasion of such his fulfilling of them Dan. 12.10 But then many such will they nill they must give glory to God as Rev. 11.13 for so it pleaseth God usually to hide great things from the wise and prudent and to reveal them unto babes Luke 20.21 But to prevent and remove prejudices First then Let all serious Christian Spirits take notice that in those two first Books I have endeavoured to vindicate the true Doctrine of Christ's Kingdom on Earth to come from those unjust aspersions of Disloyalty to Kings and Magistrates as most opposit thereunto which though haply it hath been unpleasing to some yet otherwise I had not therein so approved my self unto God satisfied mine own conscience done right to many sorts of men nor to the Doctrine which I have been taught as I said before and this may three times be seen in the said Books in the first pag. 15. somewhat largely and pag. 41 42. reckoning such delusions among Satans Vials on Christ's Kingdom and in the second Book in the Preface of it towards the end of the second leaf c. Secondly Let all such observe that those things which as I believe I have by God's special guidance published are for the substance nothing but the true Scriptural explications of the old Articles of the Faith as Learned-men had before manifested from the best Antiquity and owned in great part in the most pure Primitive-times But yet upon a better ground for us are now to be owned from the most pure and infallible Word of Truth that more sure Word of Prophecy as 2 Pet. 1.19 whereunto all Christians are bound to take heed For as we profess to believe that Jesus Christ will come from the right hand of the Father to judge the quick and the dead and likewise to believe the Resurrection of the Just and the Life of the World to come as the Nicene Creed according to Heb. 2.5 And how these things shall be fulfilled our Saviour who best knew hath himself instructed his Church together with the time when in some good measure as Rev. 11.18 at his glorious appearing both beginning to judge the quick then by destroying of them that destroyed the Earth i.e. Antichrist and his Accomplices with the appearance of his coming as 2 Thess 2.8 and 2dly by giving reward unto his Servants the Prophets and unto his Saints and to all that fear his Name both small and great which is then to be done in the Resurrection of the Just as is further explained Rev. 20.4 5 6. when also begins the Reign of the Saints with Christ on Earth the said thousand years while Satan also shall be bound as ver 1 2 3. during which time our Saviour shews that the Apostles shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Mat. 19.28 concerning which Period he more fully explains himself Luke 22.29 I appoint unto you a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me where his Throne must be distinct from his Fathers where he sate on his right hand in Heaven as Rev. 3.21 is clearly explained which Kingdom appointed to him by his Father the Apostle shews 1 Cor. 15.24 at the end the same shall be delivered again to his Father when ends the said Kingdom that the Father had appointed to him with his Saints on Earth which began at his beginning to judge the quick and the dead at his first appearing as was shewed which continued all the said thousand years and the finishing of the Judgment of the Just and Wicked concerning which there are so abundant and evident proofs in Scripture that when Antichristian prejudices shall once be removed even that spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh as 1 John 4.3 which such do not in the Apostles sense that acknowledg not the fulfilling of all Christ's Offices in their seasons as the Scripture holds them out till his Mediatorship be consummate which the spirit of Antichrist hath all along opposed c. Then I say I confidently believe those glorious Truths will evidently be manifest and received in the true Church of Christ Thirdly Now for the Subjects of that Kingdom of Christ on Earth that we may give a little further taste of the Doctrine thereof before we proceed to the removal of the prejudices against it They will be first the Body of the Nation of the Jews c. for the most part miraculously converted upon Christ's glorious appearance and probably his speaking to them as in that pattern of St. Paul's Conversion and of many Jews about three hundred years after Christ as