finished at the last said sudden and terrible ruine of the Roman Monarchy by the destruction of Antichrist And here again observe how God all along the Beasts forty two months gave his Spiritual Power unto his two Witnesses prophesying in sackcloth those Sons of Oyl as they are called Zech. 4. to prophesy against Antichrist to consume him with the Spirit of Christ's mouth 〈◊〉 bring on the said Destruction gradually accomplished by the seve◠Angels with their seven last Plagues poured out upon him Rev. 15 16 chapters till that Destruction be accomplish'd at the seventh Trumpet and last Vial of the seventh Angel poured-out upon him about the said time fore-spoken of when Christ comes in the clouds of Heaven Dan. 7.13 14. to receive his Monarchy upon Earth spoken of likewise Rev. 1.7 when the Jews shall generally be brought home unto him as Isa 66.8 and when the iniquity of that Land shall be removed in one day Zech. 3.9 And then will the four living Wights with the twenty four Elders have that honour given to them which they were assured of to their so great exultation aforehand See Iren. pag. 32. Rev. 5.10 and whereupon all Angels and all Creatures render to Christ the glory due to him which they acknowledge there to be his deservedly saying Thou art worthy to receive Riches and Power and Wisdom and Strength and Glory and Blessing c. And then the Kingdom of the Stone will become a Mountain filling the whole Earth when there will be given to him the Son of man by his Father the Ancient of dayes Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People and Nations and Languages shall serve him and that for ever whose Dominion is an everlasting Dominion that shall not pass away as the four former Kingdoms did and his Kingdom such as shall not be destroyed as the four former were Dan. 7.14 with many other Texts in Daniels Visions as we shewed which manifest it evidently to be to the utmost extent of Dominion both of place Over the whole Earth and under the whole Heaven as was said chap. 7.15 27. and of continuance and duration for ever while the World remained and for ever and ever to eternity v. 18. when that Kingdom of the Mountain shall be perfected in the Kingdom of Glory in the highest Heavens In that visible Kingdom of Power Christ having received that Kingdom of his Father he will then give it to his Saints who shall then take it as Dan. 7.18 and manage it for him as ver 27. having the Judgment that is the authority of judging then given to them to reign with Christ a thousand years Rev. 20.4 And that it is the same Kingdom given at the same time as the series and order of the Prophecy of Daniel and of the Revelation both manifest and the same Authority of Judging in the like expressions of Ruling and Governing is in both places assigned to the Saints as followeth For first Judicandi potestas illis facta Rev. 20.4 It is said I saw Thrones and they sat upon them Dan. 7.9 So I beheld till the Thrones were pitched down and the Judgement that is the Judges were set Rev. 20. And Judgement was given to them Dan. 7.22 And Judgement was given to the Saints of the most High Rev. 20. And the Saints lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years Dan. 7. And the Saints possessed the Kingdom with Christ the Son of Man that came in the Clouds of Heaven But after the finishing of the said thousand years Reign of Christ with his Saints on Earth we are to observe what Christ in Rev. 20.7 8 9 10. further explains shall be fulfilled concerning the last wicked attempt of Satan after he shall be loosed for a little season vers 3. from his thousand years imprisonment in the bottomless pit all which time he was bound that he could not seduce the Nations until the said thousand years were ended namely that after that time was finished that he shall then seduce the last Gog and Magog the wicked Hypocrites then in the World who shall then become very numerous in the four quarters of the Earth from whence he shall tempt them to come with a joynt consent who being a wicked generation that had been forced in the thousand years unwillingly yet-outwardly did conform to the holy and good Government of the Saints successively unto whom before time they were necessitated to be subject for the said thousand years space though against their own heart yet shall think then upon Satans seducement and conduct to free themselves from their yoke by attempting to compass with their multitudes the Camp of the Saints and even attempt to besiege the beloved City too the New Jerusalem that came down from God out of Heaven even Heaven it self upon Earth where the blessed and holy raised Saints had all the thousand years before happily beheld Christs glorious Presence shining bright with light and comfort upon them the Lamb being in each respect the light of that City Rev. 21.23 Isa 60.1 expecting by such means to free themselves from that by them supposed heavy yoke of the Saints good Government that so the Kingdoms of the World might again become the Kingdoms of Satan and of themselves his Vassals Upon which abominable attempt of Satan and those by him seduced hypocrites the Vengeance of God by fire as formerly upon the Beast and false Prophet shall again fall from God out of Heaven upon them and devour them and thereupon the Devil that deceived them be cast into the lake of Fire and Brimstone where the said Beast and false Prophet were cast above a thousand years before to be perpetually there tormented with them unto which will succeed the end of the World and the general judgement when again the Judge will sit and the Books will be opened and another Book will be opened which is the Book of Life and the Dead shall be judged out of those things that shall be written in the Books according to their Works as follows Rev. 20.11 12 c. whereunto succeds Eternity of Blessedness or Misery to every Man and Woman accordingly as they stand or fall in that general Judgment And thus briefly of the main things of Christs Kingdom in its several states of the Stone and of the Mountain filling the whole earth with what respects the beginning and ending of the latter state of the Mountain namely that it begins upon the destruction of the first Gog and Magog to wit of the Turk and Pope Ezek. 38. 39. before the New Jerusalem Ezek. 40. to the end of the Book which shall be called Jehova Shamma the Lord is there and at the end of the 1000 years reign of Christ and his Saints will succeed the attempt and defeat and ruine of the last Gog and Magog of wicked hypocrites against the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City as was shewed upon which will ensue the end
three Ribs of Babylon Media and Persia in his mouth so the Grecian much of the Persian together with its own though many Limbs and Parts remained of them after their greatest breakings as Daniel also speaketh their Lives were prolonged for a time and season chap. 17.12 So when the Roman of all others the strongest terriblest and fiercest came upon the Stage to act its part besides its own nature so rapacious and cruel it had advantage after all to make use of all the broken parts of the former Three above any before it and therefore so proudly and cruelly triumphed ever their ruinous states on all parts on East and South and North and after and above all extended its Dominions very far in the West likewise even ad toto divisos Orbe Britannos to these furthest known Brittish Islands and in those known parts of the World of Afia Africa and Europe was the spreading of the Gospel by the Apostles in so many Countreys mentioned in their Writings whose boundary shewed them to be the Roman Empire in a manner and the encouraging also afterward the profession thereof in East and West by Constantine the Great when he threw down Idolatry and set up and encouraged Christianity in all the Empire And this also is further manifest by what hath been since taken away by the Saracens and Turks after his time from those Roman Dominions besides the considerations of those many Conquests the Romans obtained till they came to the height about our Saviours life-time as in the Abridgment in part is set down whence it is manifest upon all the said considerations that the Roman Monarchy was of the largest â—â—tent of all the other and therefore by that Emperors command the whole World was said to be taxed The Roman Empire for its largeness then containing in some sort the known habitable World or which none could withstand which Daniels former expressions do eminently foreshew and even of the Pope Rev. 13. it was said the World wondered after the Beast and who is able to make war with him But when the Dragon himself sate in that seat with his seven Heads and ten Horns of Paganish Persecutions with such ample Dominions before the Popes time How much more might it have been said The whole world wondred after the Dragon and who was able to make war with him had not Christ himself in the first Seal undertaken that encounter and set him his line how far he should go and his limits of time under the sixth Seal when his term should end by casting him from his Heaven of Paganish Worship to the Earth Rev. 6. later end Sixthly And so we proceed to the last step or period of our Parallel of Daniels Prophesie and the Book of Revelations as respecting what they say jointly of the end ruine and destruction of the Roman Monarchy and first for the ruine of the Beast chap. 7.9 the Ancient of Dayes is said to have the Judgment set and that with a fiery Throne with Wheels of burning fire and to that end a stream of fire issued and came forth from before him and for the execution of the Judgment those thousands ministred unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him and the Books were opened and the first part of the execution and the special occasions thereof seems to be upon the provocation of the Beast ver 11. because of the great words which the Horn spake which execution is done first upon the Beast to slay him and destroy his body with the burning flame and so again ver 26. the end of the Judgment is declared to be to take away the Dominion of the Beast to consume and destroy it unto the end And Daniel then further saw ver 13. one coming in the clouds of Heaven like the Son of man the same which Rev. 1.7 is said to come with clouds and every eye shall see him and they also that pierced him with Even so Amâ—â— added shewing then that promised Mercy is then to be fulfilled to the Jews Zac. 12.10 That they shall then mourn with penitent contrition though many others with woful lamentation at that time and unto this was the glorious description of the Alpha and Omega the said Son of Man set before him who at the finishing of the things of this Book saith he comes quickly and of this coming of Christ speaks the Apostle Paul 2 Thess 1.7 When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when on the other hand he shall be admired of his Saints and glorified in all them that believe And in the next Chapter ver 3 4. he describes the man of sin against whose wickedness the Apostle shews with Daniel he will â—â—â—ially be revealed whom saith he ver 5. the Lord shall destrâ—◠〈…〉 the appearance of his coming and in like manner when that King of Kings with his Armies in the Armageddon Battel Rev. 19.11 cometh against the Beast and his Armies and then takes the Beast and the false Prophet they are both said to be cast alive into a Lake of fire and brimstone thereby describing the Hellish destruction that then will fall upon that Roman Monarchy for ever Now as the Roman Monarchy the strongest and fiercest and of much the longest continuance hath been the most wicked having attempted by abominable Idolatries Blaâ—phemies and unheard of cruelties in their persecutions so highly against Christ and his Saints in those ten most barbarous Persecutions notwithâ—anding all the light tendered in their Dominions by the Preaching of Christ himself and his Aposâ—les whom they likewise had rejected peâ—ecuted and killed for the most part and so all along the primâ—tive times buâ—ed their power to extinguish the Christian Religion until God raised up Constantine the Great to put a period to their Paganish proceedings in that â—readful manner that the wrath of the Lamb as it is said was executed upon them that is for the terribleness of it resembled to the day of Judgment as is largely set down under the sixth Seal Rev. 6. latter end But when upon the taking away of the Successions of those Heathenish Persecutors the afterwards Apostatical Church of Rome did become Antichristian though the extent of their power hath been lessened yet their wickedness so far as they then could reach hath been many wayes greater and more notorious and that for a longer time after their former owning of the Truth and again revolting from it and even perverting it to their own and others ruine in such a mysterious contrived Hellish Apostasie by such Artifice of bloody cruelty and wickedness so monstrously executed above their Paganish Predecessors so many hundred years together by their long holding out the Cup
wickedness both of Men and Devils in the world that the Vengeance of God will no longer suffer it to continue nor them to have longer time further to attempt any other Evil in it but both at once or near together shall be destroyed from the face of it and sent thence to their own place of torments and thereupon the dissolution of the world to ensue Such VVisdom Power Holiness and Goodness of such Gods great Proceedings in the world the Sacred Scriptures seem clearly to hold out to be observed and improved by all men The Parallel of the Fifth Monarchy in Daniel further Expounded in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ To which purpose we shall set down First Some Observations tending thereunto more indirectly and remotely Secondly We shall summarily and briefly adjoin the particular Branches most considerable in the Parallel between Daniel and the Revelation Thirdly We shall add some Explications and Illustrations of some most material things further to be considered therein as God shall assist WHere First observe That as the Antichristian Church is set forth by Forty two Months according to the course of the Moon that rules in the dark night So Daniel saith chap. 2.7 He saw the fourth Beast in the Night-Visions wherein much mystery of iniquity was to be observed Secondly Again observe as Christ Rev. 16.15 warns all men That he will come as a Thief in the night So Daniel c. 7.13 saw in the Night-Visions The Son of Man come in the Clouds of Heaven Thirdly As the time of the Two Sack-cloth Prophets is described by 1260 days of years Rev. 11. the day being the time of light and comfort so the Saints the Children of Light are they to whom the Son of Righteousness the true Light gives the Kingdom to possess it for ever and ever ver 18. when the Beast and his Worshippers shall be cast into utter darkness Fourthly As Christ makes known to his Saints That the Beast shall make war with them and overcome them and kill them temporally Rev. 13. So Daniel shews that the time would ensue that the Beast should be slain and his Body destroyed and given to the burning flame Dan. 7.11 Rev. 14. Fifthly As the Lambs Followers Rev. 14. are described to be such as loved not their lives unto death So the Kingdom that belongs to them Daniel saith shall not be destroyed v. 14. but they shall possess it for ever and ever v. 18. Sixthly As the Woman the true Church is nourished in the Wilderness a time times and half a time Rev. 12.14 that the Beasts tyranny and persecution might not destroy her while her limited time of suffering lasted so the Beast speaking great words against the Most High and wearing out the Saints is also limitted by the said time times and dividing of a time chap. 7.25 his great Power and abused Authority cannot lengthen his days Seventhly As in Dan. ch 2. many chief matters are set down of the times nature order or states founder or setter up continuance and prevalence of Christs glorious Kingdom on Earth with the unlimited extent of it so besides these in chap. 7. is more remarkably described the manner of raising it both remote and more near the Donation of the Founder thereof with the Owner of it namely the Son of Man his Doputation of it to the Saints together with power to judg and rule for him over the whole world and in chap. 12. the particular time in order is described of the second estate of it which are all that Daniel speaks directly of it only indirectly are the continuance of the first estate of it implyed chap. 9.24 26 27. describing what shall be done towards the end of the seventy Weeks when Christ should by his own Sacrifice of himself cause the other jure to cease and how he should confirm the Covenant with many and after the people of the Prince to wit the Romans should destroy the City about forty two years after And then in general sets down the time of its desolation which our Saviour calls the fulfilling of the times of the Gentiles Luc. 21.24 which contains the first Estate of Christs Kingdom Also it is again indirectly spoken of under the Popes wicked actings against it in the said first state of it by the Roman Monarchy Dan. 11.36 37 38 39. So in the Revelation what directly belongs to Christs glorious Kingdom upon Earth is Rev. 11.15 to the end and chap. 19 20 21 22. But indirectly there are many things revealed and seen and promised which refer to the New Jerusalem that comes down from God out of Heaven for encouragements to the faithful sufferers in their successive times all along set forth in that Book besides Of which more afterwards Vide Paper of Dec. 7.1664 in the Forerunner p. 36 37 38 39. Secondly As to the second head briefly to be adjoined we may both from Daniel and the Book of Revelations jointly observe these particular branches most considerable First The order and different states of that Kingdom distinguished by the Kingdom of Patience and Kingdom of Power called aptly by Mr. Meds The Kingdom of the Stone and the Kingdom of the Mountain grounded upon Dan. 2.34 35. The first is deciphered under Christs riding conquering and to conquer Rev. 6. through all the Seals and Trumpets to the sounding of the seventh Trumpet which contains the time of the first state the Kingdom of Patience or the Kingdom of the Stone set forth directly in all the Book of the Revelation saving those last named chap. 11. and chap. 19 20 21 22. wherein as was shewed is contained the second state of Christs Kingdom of Visible Power or the Kingdom of the Mountain filling the whole Earth Both these states Daniel sets down more largely First the first state though indirectly under the actings of the Roman Empire against the God of gods and disregard of his Fathers God in the Emperors and Popes time Dan. 11.36 37 38 39. and so of the actings of the Fourth Beast with his wicked Horn chap. 7. and a great part of the Iron Kingdom with feet and toes of Iron and Clay so long as they have been the Persecutors and Oppressors of Gods true Church and the other state of it Daniel expresseth when the Kingdom was given by the Ancient of Dayes to the Son of Man chap. 7.13 14 to the end of that Chapter 2dly Again for the beginning of the States of the said Kingdom The beginning of the first was under the first Seal Rev. 6. which was when Christ having all power given him in Heaven and in Earth then gave Commission Matth. 28.18 19 20. to his Disciples and succeeding Ministers to preach the Gospel to all promising to be with them to the end of the World when he saith Rev. 10. Time namely of the Beast and wicked Dominion should be no more which will be finished when the Beast shall be destroyed which Kingdom will be perfected upon the