spoiler or Serpent and the time we also see to be a time and times and halfe a time or a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes or as it is in chap. 11.2 3. called forty and two months which being accounted according to the Jews account thirty dayes for a month it amounts just unto three years and an half for a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes makes forty and two months and forty and two months makes just three years and a half so then the time of Jerusalems being trod under foot and of the wearing out of the Saints of the most high namely the remnant of the Womans seed which abode in Jerusalem and of the Womans abode in the Wilderness is just three years and a half and not a thousand two hundred and threescore years as Mr. Henden and some other expositers saith and further to prove that it is but three years and a half according to the litteral account both in Daniel and the Revelation and not so long a time as before mentioned I shall give a few reasons drawn from the Scriptures to prove it and the first is First Because the scripture saith that the seventh head which is the eighth and to go to perdition which is the man of sin or the Assyrian or vile person or the spoiler that when he cometh forth to raign that his time is but short that is he shall continue but for a short space as a seventh but is to be the eighth is the same that is to wear out the Saints of the most high and it shall be gien into his hands for a time and times and the dividing of time read Revel 17.10 11 12 13. compared with Dan. 7.23 24 25 26 27. so that the seventh head is to have but a short space or time to raign and also the eighth spoken by St. John is to continue but a short space even a Time and Times and half a Time spoken of by Daniel which is just three years and a half as I before in this Treatise have proved by shewing what is to be understood by TIME and TIMES and half a TIME comparing the word TIME and TIMES with the seven TIMES which was the seven years of Nebuchadnezzars being cast out into the open field and eating grass with the Oxen until he did acknowledge the Lord only to rule in the Kingdomes of men and giveth it to whom soever he will Dan. 4.25 So then the TIME is to be understood one year and TIMES in the plural number is to be understood two years and the half TIME or dividing of TIME is to be understood half a year according to the true account of Daniel from the word TIME or TIMES the which amounts to no longer Time than just three years and an half which is that short space that St. John speaks of the Beasts continuance in troubling the Saints or the sealed number Secondly The Time further appears to be but three years and an half because as it is called one thousand two hundred and threescore dayes even so it is also called FORTY AND TWO MONTHS which is just three years and a half and also a Time and Times and half a Time being compared with Forty and two Months sheweth clearly what Time is to be understood by the one thousand two hundred and threescore dayes that it is just three years and a half Thirdly It further appears to be but three years and a half and not so long as a thousand two hundred and threescore years that Jerusalem shall be taken and troden under foot and the people persecuted because this taking of the City and treading of it under foot is to be after the measuring line hath passed over the City in the latter dayes as I before have shewed that when Judah cometh out of her long captivity then shall she sit upon the repairing of her breaches and before she hath finished her Walls and outward Court there shall be a stop put to it by the Antichrist as it was in the dayes of Judah coming out of Babylon that there was a stop in their building in the dayes of Syrias until the dayes of Darias which was a type of this stop and hinderance in the work as I before have shewed so then if we consider this interruption of Israel and the time when even when they be newly brought out of captivity according to the Prophet Ezekiels words Chap. 38. it clearly sheweth us that the time must be very short agreeing with the Prophet Zechariahs words Chap. 14.1 2 3. which saith Behold the day of the Lord cometh and the spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee and I will gather all Nations against Jerusalem to battail and the City shall be taken agreeing with Revel 11. which saith The holy City shall they tread under foot forty and two months then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those Nations as he fought in the day of battail and his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives This being well observed may clearly be seen to be a thing falling upon Israel in the latter dayes and that the time of their trouble THEN after their great and long time of being scattered amongst the Nations shall be very short and not exceed the time of three years and a half Fourthly and lastly It appears to be but a very short time namely the time before mentioned because the two Prophets are to prophesie all the time of the Womans flight to establish the remnant of the Womans seed and to smite the Antichrist and his followers with plagues as Moses and Aaron did smite Pharaoh King of Egypt for his wickedness against the Children of Israel and that the two Prophets or Witnesses are to Prophesie all the time of the Womans flight and abode in the Wilderness and of the holy Cities being trod under foot is clear from the words of St. John Revel 11.2 3. in these words The holy City shall they tread under foot forty and two months and I will give power unto my two Witnesses and they shall prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes cloathed in sackloth From whence we may see that the time of the Womans flight and abode in the Wilderness and the persecution of the Remnant of her seed which remain in Jerusalem is but for the space of three years and a half because as it is called but for a short space and forty and two Months Time and Times and half a Time even so it is but to endure for the time of the prophesying of the two Prophets in Sackcloth which cannot be long much less one thousand two hundred and threescore years nay it is but the just time that the Scripture calls it take it either way namely a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes or forty and two Months or Time and Times and dividing of Time which is just three years and an half as before said And thus I
the Scriptures as you may read Isa 9.6 7. In these words For unto us a child is born unto us a Son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the THRONE OF DAVID and upon HIS KINGDOME to order it and to establish it with Judgment and with Justice from henceforth even for ever the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform it then shall the Sun be ashamed and the Moon confounded when the Lord of hosts shall raign IN MOVNT ZION AND IN JERVSALEM before his ancients gloriously Isa 24.23 From these Scriptures you may see that Christs Throne is to be in Mount Zion in Jerusalem in the time of his raign as First because God himself hath declared it by the Spirit of prophesie in David Psal 2.6 7. Yet will I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion c. Secondly it is a Doctrine preached by the Angel to the Virgin Mary Luke 1.30.31 32. In these words And the Angel said unto her fear not Mary for thou hast found favour with God And beh 〈◊〉 ld thou shalt coceive in thy wombe and bring forth a Son and shalt call his name Jesus he shall be great and be called the Son of the highest and the Lord shall give unto him the THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID c. Thirdly Jerusalem is to be called the Throne of the Lord as faith the Prophet Jer. 3.17 Fourthly The Lord himself saith that he will dwell there Zach. 8.3 In these words Thus saith the Lord I am returned unto Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem and Jerusalem shall be called a City of truth it is a Prophesie of the last times as is very clear from the Text. Fifthly The Lord saith that Zion and Jerusalem is his rest and dwelling place for ever speaking prophetically also by David Psal 132.13 and Isaiah saith Cry out and shout thou inhabitant of Zion for great is the holy one of Israel in the midst of thee Isa 12.6 A clear Prophesie of Christs Kingdome Again Lastly That Christs Seat is to be in Zion in Jerusalem is clear for Micah prophesying of the last dayes and of both the Houses of Israels return viz. Israel and Judahs return out of their last long captivity saith I will make of her that halteth a remnant and her that mas cast off a strong nation and the Lord shall raign over them IN MOVNT ZION henceforth even for ever for the Lord hath appeared of old unto thee saying I have loved thee with an everlasting love for there shall be a day that the watchmen upon the Mount Ephraim shall cry arise ye and let us go up to ZION VNTO THE LORD OVR GOD. For there shall the glorious Lord be unto thee a place of broad rivers for he shall roar out of Zion and utter his voyce from Jerusalem for the LORD DWELETH IN ZION Micah 4.2 3 4 5 6. Jer. 31.6 Amos 1.2 Isa 31.4 Chap. 33.2 From these and many more Scriptures and reasons that might be given we may see where Christs Throne shall be in the time of his Kingdome which is on Mount Zion in Jerusalem that Throne which was his Father Davids which he took from the Jebusites and Christ will also take it from the Antichrist and will possess it for ever that the everlasting covenant may be made good in him even the sure mercies of David not to want a man to sit upon his Throne but that of the fruit of his loynes according to the flesh he should raise up Christ to sit upon his Throne and so shall the word of the Lord be fulfilled in its time which speaks of Christs Kingdome according to the very letter of the word as it was fulfilled in the letter of the word about his sufferings and thus I pass this particular and come to the sixt and last which is how long Christ shall raign and the estate of the wicked in that time Sixthly As it hath been already proved that Christ and the Saints shal receive a kingdom raign upon earth now I shal proceed to resolve the matter as touching the time and that is also fore-told in the Scriptures to be a thousand yeares which time will contain ten generations it being preconsidered that persons shall live in that day to be an hundred years old according to the words of the Prophet Isa 65.20 which saith There shall be no more thence an infant of dayes nor an old man that hath not filled his dayes for the child shall die an hundred yeares old and the sinner being an hundred yeares old shall be accursed and that curse shall be the same spoken by the Prophet Zech. 14.12 and that the time will be a thousand years is plain from the words of the Lord to John Rev. 20.4 5 6 7. where the Lord shewed John that the godly were to live again after death and to raign with Christ a thousand yeares before the rest of the dead men viz. the wicked were to live again But if it should be demanded of me whether Christ and the Saints shall raign but one thousand yeares I should not say possitively that they are to raign no longer as just to limit the time yet I shall give my judgment as a man who have obtained favour of the Lord and say its like that a thousand yeares may be the set time first because we know that Christ is to give up the Mediator-ship and kingdome into the hands of the Father and then he is to be all in all as you may read 1 Cor. 15.24 and the Son then must be in subjection to the Father so that although Christ be to receive the Kindom and greatness of the Kingdom under the whole heaven and possess it and raign yet he is to leave it again at the time appointed of the Father which seems to be the time before mentioned viz. at the end of the thousand yeares but if it should be objected and said Object That that thousand years raign which you speak of may possibly be but the very time or day that Christ and the Saints shall pass sentence upon the wicked as Christ to judge the righteous to be said to judge as they acknowledg Christs judgement to be just so trample down the wicked because the Apostle saith that one day with the Lord is as a thousand yeares and a thousand yeares as one day 2 Pet. 3.8 Answ It cannot be so understood because Christ is to sit upon the Throne of his father David and to GOVERN IT in which time his dominion shall be from Sea to Sea and from the rivers unto the end of the world they that dwell in the Wilderness shall bow to him his enemies shall lick the dust the Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring presents
namely of receiving in or casting out although one Star fell from Heaven to Earth Revel 9. yet he carryed not away the heavenly keyes or power no more than the evil Angels when they fell could carry away the heavenly power and authority of the good Angels no they were so far from carrying away the power that the good Angels had that the power that the evil Angels had was taken away and given to the good Angels as the one Talent was taken and given to him that had ten so to him that hath shall be given and to him that hath not shall be taken away that which he hath so then the conclusion is that if one Star did fall it s nothing in comparison of many Stars which did not fall and that fallen Star did not carry away the keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven namely the heavenly power but God took it away from him and the Devil gave him the keyes of drakness so it was not the keys of the Kingdome for they still remained with them that abode in the truth as hath been already proved and by your self in effect hath been granted and thus I pass to the next thing considerable which is The four Winds Revel 7.1 with its interpretation by Mr. Henden But by the way I take notice of what is said in the beginning of his 4. page from Zech. 4. which speaks concerning their building of Jerusalem and the Temple after the seventy years of captivity in Babylon the which he applies to be a Gospel Church and the Pipes there spoken of to be understood Ordinances and from the seven Pipes spoken of vers 2. is to be understood the practising of the full number of Ordinances in the Primitive time and the two Golden Pipes in vers 12. Is to be understood the least of numbers and that least of numbers relates to the time of the Churches being in Babylon that then the lesser number of Ordinances were practicable and to be practised This is the sum in short that I gather from that his discourse To which I answer briefly and first that the 4 Chapter of Zech. is a Prophesie of a Gospel Church I cannot as yet see nor believe it is clear that it was a prophesie of the redifying of Jerusalem and the Candelstick the Lamps and Pipes belonging to it is the same vessels that God appointed in the Temple as you may read Exod. 25. Lev. 24.4 Numb 4.9 the oyle vessels ministering unto it is to be understood the Pipes Chap. 8.2 2 Kings 4.10 1 Chron. 28.15 from these and many more Scriptures that might be added we may see that the Candlestick with the Lamps and Pipes viz. the ministering vessels unto the Lamps and Candelstick was the same that God shewed unto Moses in the pattern and appointed it to remain in the Temple and after that pattern it was made in Solomons time and the very same was to be after the seventy years of captivity and it is far more evident because if we observe the Prophesie of Haggai who speaks of one and the same thing he will tell us that Zerubbabel and Joshua according to Zechariahs words that he should lay the foundation and also finish it Hag. 1.14 Zech. 4.9 and that this prophesie relates to Jerusalem read Haggai and Zechariah at large I do not say that it relates only to the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple at the end of the seventy years captivity but in it is a Prophesie of the redifying of the City and Temple destroyed since by Titus Vespatian which is yet to be built again according to the Word of the Lord Rev. 11. but more of that anon but in a short sentence I further add this as a reason to prove that the Prophesie of Zechariah Chap. 4. most primely relates to the redifying of Jerusalem at their coming out of the seventy years of captivity because that both Haggai and Zechariah have the Word of the Lord coming to them both at that time as to Haggai the Word of the Lord came to him in the sixth seventh month in the second year of Darius Chap. 1.1 Chap. 2.1 and to Zechariah it came in the eighth month in the same year Zech. 1.1 and the work of both Prophets was to stir up the People to the work of building of the House of God for they being hindred by subtilty in the dayes of Cyrus because that Zerubbabel and Joshua and the rest of the chief of the Fathers would not let the people of the Land build with them as you may see at large in Ezra 4.1 2 3 4 5 6. that they at last out of custome grew careless and was content to live in their sealed houses and let the house of God lye waste Hag. 1.2 and hence the Word of the Lord stirred them up by the two fore mentioned Prophets namely Haggai and Zechariah that they might go on to finish the Work for Zerubbabel had begun it before and laid the Foundation in the daies of Cyrus and being stopped as before said he was to finish it in the daies of Darius which agreeth with the words of Zechariah Chap. 4.9 in these words The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house his hands also shall finish it compare Haggai with the four first Chapters of Zechariah and compare them both with Ezra 3.8.9 10. Chap. 4.1 2 3 4 5 6. and you may clearly see that what I have said is undeniably true and that is the thing that Zechariah speaks of in Chap. 4. which Mr. Henden would have to be a Gospel Church it 's clear that men may be carried away very strangely in the judgments and understandings if that they be guided by their own spirits or immaginations without searching the Scriptures and well comparing them together so as they may hold a correspondency together I am not willing to be nice in observing obsurdities the which if I were and had time I could observe many but at present I shall leave this thing saying that if the Pipes signifie the Ordinances of the Gospel and that they were lost from seven to two so that there is now but two Ordinances practicable and it 's a question to some whether Mr. Henden practise above one of them two what Ordinances they be which remain but you say that the two signifie the least of numbers and so I think that two is the least of numbers but that I may take you in the best sense I understand you mean that the Ordinances was devided in two numbers and the biggest number was to cease in Babylon as you call it and the lesser number to be perpetuated and remain the which if so cast up your account again and you will find upon your own account that the greater number is perpetuated and to remain as 1. Ministry 2. Prayer 3. Praises 4. Baptisme 5. the Lords Supper 6. the Sealed elect number 7. the Spiritual union 8. the beginning and profession of faith
Gods Judgments upon the Earth that they may be spared when the seal of the living God is seen upon their fore-head for this to be after the Man-child is caught up to God and to his Throne at which time the Gentile Church which I conceive to be the Man-child is to be in the Ark of their safety being caught up to meet the Lord in the ayre and then the Jews that look for their Messiah it being the time that God hath promised that all Israel viz. the natural seed of Abraham shall be saved as it is written Rom. 11. They shall have the Seal of God or the name of God written in their foreheads to distingush them from the worshippers of the Beast who are to have the name of the Beast in their right hand or forehead Revel 13.16 upon whom the seven Angels are to pour out their vials upon the earth that the same persons who have received the mark of the Beast in their foreheads or hands may be tormented and then the executing Angels will pass by all those that have the Seal of God in their forehead so that they shall not be plagued with those Judgments that shall be executed upon the Beast and his worshippers and to this end the Angel of the East forbid the four Angels that had power to hurt the earth that they might not go forth to execute their office till the servants of God were Sealed in their foreheads Revel 7.2 And this agreeth with the manner of Gods dealing with his people when he executes his Judgments upon the earth as you may see Exod. 12.14 Ezek. 9.4 5 6. and to that end was these Israelites Sealed so that none of the plagues either of the four Angels or the seven Angels did them any hurt And thus much at present of the Sealed number who they are and the Cause of their being Sealed and afterwards was seen preserved as a Sealed number Revel 14.1 2 3 4. Chap. 15.2 3 4. And so I pass to give my opinion what the Temple and the outward Court and holy City is Only by the way I thus say that although I have read Mr. Hendens opinion of the outward Court yet I cannot believe it nor adhere to what he saith because I do not find that ecclesiastical order is in any one Text called the outward Court neither doth it hold parallel with the outward Court but rather to the inward Court even the holy of holies into which the Priest was to enter alone who had the ecclesiastical order put upon him by God but because I find not the Scripture warranting such a parable I leave it and now come to speak briefly to that Text Revel 11.1 2. and first I shall cite the Text it self which is thus read And there was given me a reed like unto a rod and the Angel stood saying rise and measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein but the Court which is without the Temple leave out and measure it not for it is given unto the Gentiles and the holy City shall they tread under foot forty and two moneths and I will give power to my two witnesses and they shall prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes cloated in sackcloth from this Text with many more we find that Jerusalem and the Temple is to be built again and the Jews are to worship their God according to the Law of Moses at which time they shall earnestly look for their King namely the Son of God according to the words of their Prophets for although they were blind and understood not his coming in the day of his poverty yet they do believe that they have a King viz. Son of God to come in glory and to ragin upon the Throne of David and when God shall give them opportunity to return out of their long captivity then shall they sit upon their building to redifie the City and Temple as I have formerly proved at large read my Zions redemption and that Jerusalem is to be built again which is called the holy City relating to Revel 11.1 2. read the words of the Prophets which saith They shall build the old wast places they shall raise up the former desolations and they shall repair the wast Cities and THE DESOLATIONS OF MANY GENERATIONS behold the day cometh saith the Lord that the City shall be built to the Lord from the Tower of Hanael unto the gate of the corner and the measuring line shall yet go forth over again compare Revel 11.1 2. upon the Hill Garib and shall compass about Goath it shall not be plucked up nor thrown down any more FOR EVER in that day will I raise up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen and close up the breaches thereof and I will raise up his ruins and I will build it as in the dayes of old and I will plant them upon their Land and they shall be NO MORE plucked out of their Land which I have given them saith the Lord God And Ezekiels vision relates to this very thing where he saith In the vision of God brought he me into the Land of Israel and set me upon a very high Mountain by which was as it were the frame of a City on the South and he brought me thither and behold there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of brass with a line of flax in his hand and a measuring reed so he measured the length thereof twenty cubits and the breadth twenty cubits before the Temple and he said unto me this is the most holy place this is the Law of the house upon the Mountain and these are the measures of the Altar after the Rubites and the name of the City from that day shall be THE LORD IS THERE And that the Cities of Jerusalem is called a holy City read Isa 64.10 chap. 61.4 chap. 60.18 Jer. 30.18 chap. 31.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. chap. 33.12 13 14 15 16 17. Amos 9.14 15. Ezek. 40.3 chap. 3.13 chap. 41.4 chap. 48.35 From all that which hath been said this is the Sum in short that the City Jerusalem and the Temple is to be built again and inhabited and God there worshipped only there will be a stop in the work by the Antichrist before the outward Court is finished and therefore the measuring line is said not to pass over the outward Court or it not measured but that I may be plain and easily understood I shall divide the matter in short and brief particulars The first is the building of the City the which I have spoken already to And the second is of the Temple The third is the outward Court being given into the hands of the Gentiles and the holy City being trod under foot forty and two months And fourthly of the two Witnesses prophecying in Sackcloth one thousand two hundred and threescore dayes That the City and Temple is to be built you have heard somewhat
shall Michael stand up the GREAT PRINCE which standeth for the Children of THY people and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a Nation For Behold the day of the Lord cometh and thy spoil viz. Jerusalems shall be divided in the midst of thee and I will gather all Nations against JERVSALEM to battail and the CITY shall be taken and the Houses riffled and the Women ravished and half of the City shall go forth into Captivity and the residue of the people shall not be out off from the City this is the Woman that flyeth into the Wilderness and the remnant of her Seed which remains Then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those Nations as when he fought in the day of battail and his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives which is before Jerusalem And I said to the man cloathed in Linnen how long shall it be to the end of these wonders namely the troublesome time and the treading down of JERUSALEM underfoot And I heard the man cloathed in Linnen swear by him that liveth for ever and ever It shall be for a Time and Times and half a Time and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people all these things shall be finished From whence we may see that Jerusalem is to be trod under foot according to the saying of the Text Revel 11. and also the time how long which by Daniel is said to be a Time and Times and half a Time and in the Revelations Chap. 11.2 it is said to be Forty and two Months in these words But the Court which is without the Temple leave out and measure it not for it is given unto the Gentiles and the holy City shall they tread under foot forty and two months All which time the Woman shall be fled into the Wilderness for she flyeth at the first of Jerusalems being taken so soon as she is delivered of the Man-child and it is the remnant of her seed which remaineth in Jerusalem over whom the Beast is to have power forty and two Months Revel 13.5 Zech. 14.1 2. Unto whom the two Witnesses is to prophesie and the time of the Womans flight into the Wilderness is the very same time in latitude with the scattering of the power of the holy people spoken by Daniel Chap. 12.7 And the holy City being trod under foot spoken of by St. John Rev. 11.2 And that you may see that the time of the Womans flight into the Wilderness is the very time of the scattering of the holy People namely the People of the Jews which Daniel frequently cals a holy People for then they shall all be holy unto the Lord and also the treading of the holy City underfoot read Revel 12.14 in these words And to the Woman was given two wings of a great Eagle that she might flee into the Wilderness into her place where she is nourished for a Time and Times and half a Time from the face of the Serpent From all which hath been said I gather this Conclusion which materially offereth it self which is That the Court without which is not to be measured is to be undestood that the Jews are to return and build their City and Temple and the Court without not measured but given unto the Gentiles is to be understood that the Families of the Gentiles above spoken of shall come to Jerusalem as to a Town of unwalled Villages before the outward Court and Walls is finished and take it and divide the spoil and the holy City being trod under foot is to be understood the spoil that will be made in Jerusalem for the space of forty and two Months in the which time the two Prophets or Witnesses shall prophesie unto that party of the Jews which do not flie into the Wilderness Zech. 14.1 2. Revel 11.3 Chap. 12.17 the which time of scattering of the holy People Dan. 12.7 for a Time and Times and half a Time and the holy City being trod under foot forty and two Months Revel 11.2 and the two Witnesses prophesying a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes and the Womans being nourished in the Wilderness from the face of the Serpent a Time and Times and half a Time agreeing with Daniel as before cited All these times though in several phrases is one and the same time for latitude in which time the Jews shall be scattered for as it is called by John Revel 11.2 forty and two Months and a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes yet to clear up what he means by that Time he also cals it a Time and Times and half a Time Revel 12.14 in the same phrase with Daniel 12.7 where he cals it a Time Times and a half which is just three Years and a half for a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes considering according to the Jews account thirty dayes to a Month is just forty and two Months and forty and two Months is also three Years and a half and hence it is called by Daniel and also by John a TIME and TIMES and half a TIME And that a Time is to be understood one Year and Times in the plural number is to be understood Years read Dan. 4 25. in these words And they shall drive thee from men and thy dwelling shall be with the Beasts of the field and seven TIMES shall pass over thee till thou know that the most High ruleth in the Kingdome of men c. From this Text we understand that the seven TIMES is understood the seven Years that Nebuchadnezzar was cast out into the open field to eat grass with the Oxen and to be wet with the dews of heaven until he had humbled himself and acknowledged the Lord So then by TIME in the singular number I understand one Year and by TIMES in the plural number although the least of numbers I understand two Years and by half a TIME I understand half a Year so then the TIME and TIMES and half a TIME is just three Years and a half which is also a thousand two hundred threescore dayes or forty two Months all which being considered with the premises sheweth That although a measuring Line be to pass over Jerusalem yet once again yet before it is finished to wit the Walls or outward Court there will be a stop by the Man of Sin or the great Army before mentioned and the City it self shall be taken and the Houses riffled and it trod under foot three Years and a half and then shall everlasting righteousness be broubt in namely Jesus Christ which shall take the Kindome Dominion greatness of the Kingdoms under the whole Heaven Dan. 7. and sit and raign upon the Throne of his Father David and this is that which I understand from Rev. 11.1 2 3 4. with the fore mentioned Scriptures and many that I could add if I had time the which is plainly signified from
Mountains or the like and to this agreeth the Prophets that saith The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together for he shall come in the clouds and every eye shall see him and they that pierced him and all the kindred shall waile because of him So in short I understand it is the personal coming of the Lord Jesus which is spoken of in that Text Mat 24. and not any spiritual coming for the same Jesus even the same blessed man which did once ascend in like manner shall again descend as I have proved in the former part of this Treatise intituled Truth and Innocency and thus much briefly of the coming of the Lord Jesus like lightening which lightening is to be seen from one end of Heaven to the other even from the East unto the West which light all men that have their natural eye-sight do see at once even so shall the personal appearance of Jesus Christ be that all men shall see his glory together when he shall appear in the Clouds of Heaven with all his holy Angels with him and this I am very confident was the mind of Christ in that place and thus I pass to speak somewhat to the Carkass and Eagles being gathered unto it which is Fourthly the fourth and last thing sheweth the taking up of the Saints to meet Jesus Christ the Carkass being understood Christ and the Eagles the Saints it s only a simily shewing that as the Eagles suddenly gather themselves tegether to the place where a Carkass is even so the Saints shall suddenly be gathered together to the place where Christ is agreeing with 1 Thes 4 14 15 16. and Mat. 24.40 the which I have before spoken of more at large therefore shall leave it at present with the Reader and pass all the other things very briefly because I find the things already spoken to is the whole grounds or master-pieces of your Book and those things that I shall now speak to I shall take them as they lie in order in your book and the first thing that I observe and shall speak to is Of the new pouring out of the Spirit and a new marriage after the former Page 5. Answ I find there was a Marriage between God and old Israel which is a Metaphor to wit the enjoyment of the inheritance and the marriage bed as I may so call it the presence of the Lord in Types dwelling amongst them in that holy Land or glorious Mountain Jerusalem which was a Type of the heavenly Jerusalem and the Tabernacle of God to be with men when they shall injoy the marriage bed to wit being present with Christ knowing him as we are known by him the which while we live in this Body we do not for we are absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5.6 And that there shall be a marriage and a marriage Supper I grant but it s after Christ is come the second time read Luke 12.35 36 37. compared with Revel 19.7 8 9. with more that might be said but as to the first marriage spoken of by you which was say you in the primitime times in the first breathing of the Spirit I cannot see nor believe nor I am certain you cannot prove it for the Church of Corinth had as great breathings of the Spirit as any had coming behind in no gift and yet were in that time but in a Virgin estate and condition as you may read 2 Cor. 11.2 in these words But I am jealous over you with godly jealousie for I have espoused you to one Husband that I may present you as a chaste VIRGINE to Christ From whence we may see that the primitive Church who lived under the breathings of the Spirit and had excellent gifts of working of Miracles and yet were but in a Virgine condition and so shall the Church be at the very time of the second coming of the Lord Jesus until he is come read Mat. 25.1 to the 11. And as to your cited text Mat. 22.1 2 3. it is a Parrable and it s also clear that the whole time of the preaching of the Gospel is the time of the inviting the Ghests and the Parrable holds not if all the Ghests be not invited before the day of the marriage supper and I am sure that all the Ghests are not yet invited nor born I could speak at large unto it but I study brevity and so shall pass to the next thing which is The Churches was in Babylon as appears saith Mr. Henden by her being called out Revel 18.4 it being a strange Land from the native Canon of a Gospel word where they were strangers under other Lords page 8. Answ I have read that the Israel of old was in Babel in Chaldea from whence they were to depart but I never yet read that the Elect Sealed Number were subject to other Lords in respect of order that is to say they submitted not to the Babylonish order neither was their order become Babel read Dan. 3. It 's true that the Jews had several Ordinances which were to be performed only at Jerusalem and hence it came to pass that they practised them not in Babylon and therefore they were far from being Babellish but the Gospel Ordinances are limitted to no one place more than other insomuch if there were a Church in Rome they might practise all Christs Ordinances if they could enjoy their Liberty so to do although it be the seat of the Pope and yet not be blamed but commended of by the Lord as was the Church of PARGAMVS Rev. 2.12 who lived where Satans seat was and yet did hold fast their profession even so it 's like there may be some in the City called Babylon Revel 18.4 which may own and practise the Truth although unknown to the Pope at the very time when the Lord will destroy it and so he may call them out as once he did call Lot out of Sodom but to suppose that God owns a People to be his People which are Babel in their order is but vain when we rightly understand how zealous God ever was of his order never admitting of his own people to mix it with the confused order of men or Babel for those that are partakers of her sins which they were not which were called out Revel 18.4 shall be partaker of her plagues but if Babels order were sin and the Church order which was in Babel was established then the Church must be partakers of her sins and so of her plagues which was not and so I pass this also and come to the next thing which is You may find all your new stated Churches saith Mr. Henden of a different Mettal from the true how near soever to the primitive they seem to be in the outward shell and yet in reallity do ground upon another foundation upon Believers not possessed with such a power sent down from heaven page 14. Answ They differ not in their Mettal
is universal the four Winds and the hurt thereby to all the unsealed Israelites which cannot agree with any one Nation Answ That the Angels stood upon the four quarters of the Earth is true and the with-holding of the Winds is so universal as to hurt all places and persons except the Sealed number and the places that escape the Antichrist which some shall as is before proved but what for all this doth it therefore follow that the Sealed Israelites were Gentiles its no reason at all to me for it is clear that the Jews are scattered into the four quarters of the Earth and it is as clear that God will gather them from thence and will get them fame in all places where they have been put to shame and also it is as clear that it is the family of the Gentiles which are to be deceived as hath been already proved and it may also be further seen to be they that shall be deceived first and last even Gogg and Magog as Revel 20.8 He shall deceive the NATIONS viz the family of the Gentiles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which are in the four quarters of the Earth Gogg and Magog c. but the Elect viz. the Jews shall not be deceived And whereas you say the hurt is to all the unsealed Israelites my answer is Shew that any of the Israelites at the fullfiling of this Prophesie shall be unsealed I am sure that the Prophets and also the Apostles saith that then they shall all be holy unto the Lord and all Israel shall be saved as it is written when the Lord shall thorowly purge away the filth of the Daughter of Zion then although they seek for sin in Judah they shall find none for they shall defile themselves no more with any of their detestable things or abominations So then in short the answer to the third reason is that although the Angels were standing on the four quarters of the Earth holding the four Winds and the with-holding the four Winds were universal and the hurt to all the unsealed Israelites proves not at all to my understanding that the Sealed number were Gentiles they that can receive it let them for I do asure you I cannot see not so much as a colour of reason in it and thus I pass to the examination of the four reasons to prove the sealed number cited by Mr. Henden to be Gentiles which is saith he because This hurt was chiefly introduced by the Locust Chap. 9.4 and by the Beast which cannot be applyed to the Jews but to the Christian Nations Answ I could if I had time speak much concerning the Locust and their King and the persons tormented but that which I say at present in answer to it is I think that herein Mr. Headen and I am very near of one opinion in this thing for saith he the hurt was chiefly introduced by the Locust and Beast which can in no sense be applyed to the Jews And all that I have been contending about is that those that were not hurt were the Jews which were the sealed number and here Mr. Henden saith the hurt introduced by the Locust and Beast was unto the Nations I understand him Gentiles for he saith it cannot be applyed unto the Jews and if the hurt cannot be applyed unto the Jews then upon his own argument the Jews were the sealed number for all others were hurt only they that were sealed were not to be hurt Revel 9.4 But by the way the hurt there was not at all by the Beast and his followers but to the Beast and his followers by the Locust and so I pass this and come to the fifth reason which is By comparing the Text with chap. 11.2 we may clearly see saith Mr. Henden that the Nations possessed the Court without the Temple Answ It is true the Nations or Gentiles did take the outward Court before it was measured viz. Walled and did tread the holy City under foot for which cause the Lord sent those plagues on the Nations when he had sealed the Tribes of the Children of Israel which were not to be hurt by the plagues of the Locust or Angels although they were troubled and persecuted by the Beast for which cause God sent plagues upon him as he did upon Pharaoh King of Egypt for the case may be fitly paralleled with Israels suffering in Egypt by Pharaoh King of Egypt and as God sent several kinds of plagues on Pharaoh for his cruelty exercised against his people Israel even so will the Lord send several kinds of plagues upon the Antichrist and his followers the Nations for their cruelty again the very same people viz Jews for his love unto them is an everlasting love and therefore will he have compassion on them and gather them and destroy all their enemies according to his word and thus I pass this reason also saying that although it be not denyed that there be alligorise in the vision of this book yet it 's meet that we distinguish between reason and madness and take heed of making an alligory of that which is plainly to be understood that we come not under that reproof of darkning words without knowledge and perverting and wresting the Scriptures to our destruction and thus I come to the sixth and last reason cited by Mr. Henden to prove that the Sealed Number were Gentiles which is saith he The number Sealed from amongst them was the same not hurt by the Locust chap. 9.4 nor utterly deceived by the Beast chap. 13.8 Mat. 24.24 The same standing on Mount-Zion chap. 14.1 which duly pondered with all the circumstances can be reduced to no time or condition but of that of the elect in Babylon if the Roman and Antichristian defection be not decyphered by these figures but the Jews only then it is altogether omitted in this book Answ Whereas it is said the number sealed was not hurt even so have I said already that the Tribes of the Children of Israel were sealed to the end that they might be distinguished from the worshippers of the Beast that they might not be hurt when the plagues were to be executed upon the Beast and his worshipers And Secondly where you say nor utterly deceived by the Beast I understand your Judgment is that they were deceived although not utterly deceived it seems to be a kind of a curious distinction the word nor utterly deceived by the Beast such an one as I find not made by Christ either in Mat. 24. or Revel 9. for saith Christ they shall deceive if it were possible the very elect implying that it was impossible to decive them And Thirdly whereas it is said the same sealed ones standing upon Mount-Zion can be reduced unto no time or condition but the Elect in Babylon Answ This is a strange alligory indeed to reduce Mount-Zion to Babylon or that Babylon is set forth by Mount-Zion I pray when you write again cite one text that calls Babylon by the name Mount-Zion
Wilderness of Moab Sixthly The time of her abode in the Wilderness is three years a half Seventhly The people to whom the two Witnesses shall prophesie is the small number of the ten Tribes then in Jerusalem Eightly The two witnesses I understand to be John who saw the vision in the vayl of Patmose and Elijah these things I shall speak to in particular and give my reason why I thus believe and leave the Reader to judge hoping that if any judge me to be deceived in the matter they will rather make me an Object of their pitty rather than an Object of their scorn and shew me their judgment upon the thing in particular and their reason why they so believe and I hope that I shall not slight it but peruse it and weigh it in the ballance of the Sanctuary and if it hold weight to own it and receive it but passing this I come to the matter and first to the first wich is First The Woman that travaileth spoken of in Revel 12.1 2 3 4. I understand to be Zion and Zion I understand to be the two Tribes which was called the Church of Judah and first that Zion is to be understood the two Tribes even Judah and Benjamin which Jeremiah prophesied unto which was carried into Babylon spoken of in his Lamentations chap. 1.17 in these words Zion spread forth her hands and there was none to comfort her she is called Zion more than ten times over and she to wit Judah and Benjamin bears the name Zion in respect of her place and City that God had placed her in which is called Zion the City of David at large in the Scripture and I think none will deny it which makes me forbear citing the Scripture And that this also in the Lamentations is so plainly spoken of Judah and Benjamin called by the name Zion that I think none can deny it that they which went into captivity and are called Zion read Lam. 1.3 4 6 8 17. Chap. 2.10 are to be understood Judah and Benjamin read Ezra 4.1 compared with Lam. 1.3 is also as plain so then where the Prophets speaks of Zion they mean either the City Zion which was a Mounâ— in Jerusalem which David made his seat which was so called or otherwise it is to be understood the worshippers of God or people in that place namely Judah and Benjamin as aforesaid and now having premised these things I come to prove that this travelling Woman is this Zion or Jerusalem viz. Judah and Benjamin the two Tribes for so I would be understood when I speak of Zion and that she is the Woman which is to travail and afterwards to flie into the Wilderness read Micah 4.7 8 9 10. in these words I will make HER that HALTETH a Remnant and HER that WAS CAST OFF a strong Nation and the Lord shall raign over them in MOVNT ZION from henceforth and for ever And thou O Tower of the flock the strong hold of the Daughter of ZION unto thee shall it come even the first dominion the KINGDOME SHAL COME TO THE DAVGHTER OF JERVSALEM Now why dost thou cry out aloud is there no King in thee is thy Counsellors perished for pangs have taken thee as a Woman in travail Be in pain and labour to bring forth O daughter of Zion like a Woman in travail for now thou shalt go forth out of the City and thou shalt dwell in the field and thou shalt go even unto Babylon there shalt thou be delivered there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hands of thy enemies From these words we may understand that the Woman spoken of which was to travail and bring forth was the two Tribes as from these words for pains have taken hold on THEE as on a Woman in travail Who THEE even THEE Judah which halted pains hath taken hold of THEE Why so Because there is no King in Thee and thy Counsellors are perished yet shall the first dominions come unto the daughter JERVSALEM so then that these people which are called Zion and Jerusalem in this Text is clearly to be understood the two Tribes for these Reasons First Because she is called her that halted and her that was cast off which is usually to be understood the Jews and not the Gentiles which is not called a People halting or cast off Secondly Because it is called by name ZION and JERVSALEM which the Gentiles were not it 's a name proper to the Jews even the two Tribes and not to the Gentiles Thirdly Because the Text saith that then shall the Law go forth of ZION and the word of the Lord from JERVSALEM relating to the time of the fulfilling of the Prophets when the Lord Jesus shall raign upon the Throne of his Father David over the House of Jacob namely the Jews to establish order and govern it in Jerusalem from henceforth and for ever Fourthly It further appears that the travelling Woman is the Jews read Jer. 30.3 4 5 6. in these words For loe the day cometh saith the Lord that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah saith the Lord and I will cause them to return to the Land that I gave their Fathers and they shall possess it And these were the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah for thus saith the Lord we have heard a voyce of trembling of fear and not of peace wherefore do I see every man with his hands upon his loyns as a woman in travel it is even the time of Jacobs trouble but he shall be saved out of it From hence also we may see that the natural seed of Abraham viz. the Jews as a foresaid is the Woman that is to travel spoken of Revel 12. Fifthly It further appears that the travelling Woman is Zion viz. the Jews from the words of the Prophet Isa 66.6 7 8 9.10 which saith A voyce of noise from the City a voyce from the Temple a voyce of the Lord that rendreth recompence to his enemies before she TRAVELLED she brought forth before her pains came she was delivered of a MAN CHILD who hath heard of such a thing who hath seen such a thing shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day or shall a Nation be born at once for as soon as Zion travelled she brought forth her Children shall I bring to the birth and not cause to bring forth saith the Lord shall I cause to bring forth and shut the womb saith thy God Rejoyce ye with JERVSALEM and be glad with her all ye that love her so will I comfort you and ye shall be comforted in JERVSALEM From this Text we may also clearly see that the travelling Woman is Zion namely the inhabitants of Jerusalem even the Jews as is above expressed for here is the very Woman and the Man-child mentioned which John spake of in Revel 12. and I do not find that the Scripture in any place else speaks of
that Christ did not say in so many words that John should not die for if he had it might have begat some dislike and murmuring amongst his Disciples but he spake so plain that his Disciples that had the holy Spirit did so understand him and John himself who writ these things doth not contradict their opinion but only saith over the words that Christ had said which is But if I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee and indeed their was great reason that John who wrote these things should be very sparing in the delivering of it seeing Christ was sparing and because the matter concerned himself that he might not gain any dislike or hatred from any of the Disciples because of that thing and as touching Johns death I say it cannot be proved that he did ever die neither do I believe that he did till I see better reason then I yet see to prove it and if it be an errour it is no other thing then what was received and believed of the Disciples of Christ in that day and they no where reproved for so believing but because I am a speaking of Johns death I shall shew you the opinion of some or what they have written as touching his death although I would not be understood to believe all what is written concerning him Jerome saith alledging it out of Tertullian that in the time of Nero though others say in the raign of Domitian he was thrown at Rome into a tun of boiling oyle and thereby he took no harm but came forth after this tryal purer than he went in and so saith Abdias Augustine calls him a Martyr by will and that which he writes of his end is strangest of all which is that John at Ephesus caused his grave to be made and in the presence of divers went in alive and being no sooner in but there seeming he was dead they covered him which kind of rest saith he was rather to be termed a sleep than death for that the earth of the grave bubleth or boileth up after the manner of a well by reason of Johns resting therein and breathing a sign of his slumbering therein as you may see August in John Tract 124. also repeated by the translator in his discourse of the Apostles and seventy Disciples in Eusebius 533 Eusebius Pamphilius himself saith that he dyed at Ephesus Eusebius lib. 3. cap. 28. and indeed there is division amongst ancient writers as touching John but I shall leave these things and come to the second Reason which is Secondly Because the Angel told John that he must Prophesie again not preach again before many people and nations and tongues and kings which relates to the time of the Nations being gathered together against Jerusalem in the time of the Antichrist and the ten Kings that shall give their power unto the Beast until the word of God be fulfilled Zech. 14.1 2. Dan. 7.24 Revel 17.12 13 14. In this time unto these people or Nations was John to Prophesie Revel 10.11 Thirdly John saith There was given to ME a reed like unto a rod and the Angel stood saying rise and measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein But the Court without the Temple leave out and measure it not for it is given vnto the Gentiles and the holy City shall they tread under foot forty and two moneths And I will give power unto my two Witnesses and they shall Prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes clothed in sackcloth Revel 11.1 2 3. From whence we may see that John had not only as it were a new gift of Prophesie to be given unto him that he might Prophesie again before Nations tongues and Kings and the like but also he was the man that was to measure Jerusalem at the time of its last building when the holy City was to be taken by the Gentiles and trodden under foot as I before have proved and he is the other Prophet with Elias which the Jews look for before the great day of the Lord and demanded of John the Baptist if he was either of them and he said no and they demanded of him why he then Baptized to prepare a people for the Lord saying Why Baptiseth thou then if thou be not that Christ nor Elias neither that Prophet from whence we may see that the Jews look for Elias and another Prophet whose name is not mentioned and therefore he is called that Prophet or a Prophet not naming him John 1.21 25. As the Disciple who was to tarry until Christ come is not plainly mentioned but called the Disciple whom Christ loved who leaned upon his Breast at Supper and the like but we understand him to be John because the Text saith this is the Disciple that testifieth of these things and wrote these things and we know that his testimony is true so then the Jews look for Elias and his companion another Prophet even John to be forerunners of Christ and such are the two Prophets which are called the two Witnesses to be and doubtless are the same persons for they are such as shall be slain implying that they are such men as yet have not tasted of death and although some suppose that Enoch or Moses shall be Elija's companion to be one of the two Prophets yet it is not my Judgment for there is no reason for Moses to be one who hath tasted of Death already neither is there any mention made of him as to such a work and as for Enoch there is nothing spoken of him neither in reference to that work but of Elias there is and also of John for he is to measure the City and to prophesie again before Kings and there is great reason that one of these two Prophets should be of the new Testament a witness to Jesus as well as Elias of the old Testament and yet both to be of the seed of Abraham as Elias and Iohn was and finally the people that the two Witnesses were to Prophesie unto is the remnant of the Womans seed which remain in Ierusalem and the place where they prophesie is in Ierusalem in the presence or before Kings and Nations and the like gathered together into Ierusalem in which place the two Witnesses shall be slain when they have finished their Testimony by the Beast namely the Antichrist and at the end of three dayes and an half the Spirit of life shall enter into them again and they shall ascend into Heaven to meet the Lord and his glorious army just at the nick of time when he is ready to descend upon the Mount of Olives and the next thing which shall immediately fall out upon the City and the people viz. the wicked Gentiles Gogg and his company shall be the great Earth-quake which shall slay seven thousand men and the next the Kingdomes of this World shall become the Kindomes of our Lord and his Christ and he shall raign
for ever and ever Revel 11.11 12 13 14 15 16 17. But if it should be doubted whether the two witnesses should be slain in Ierusalem because it is said that their dead bodies shall lie in the streets of the great City which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified Answ It is clearly seen to be Jerusalem because it is said where our Lord was crucified and it is called Sodom because of their uncleanness for as the men of Sodom gave themselves up to fornication and to follow strange flesh even so shall it then be in Jerusalem that the wicked and ungodly Gentiles viz. Goggs Army shall ravish the women in the streets Zech. 14.2 and give themselves up to uncleanness and hence it is called Sodom and secondly it is called Egypt because of the slavery of the Jews and their hardships which they suffer in that time under the Antichrist of which there bondage captivity under Pharaoh King of Egypt was a type and so in respect of cruelty slavery and bondage it might fitly be called Egypt and so it is called spiritually Sodom and Egypt and yet it was where our Lord was crucified if it should be supposed to be Rome because our Lord suffered under the Roman power it is denyed upon these two reasons the first is because it is not the power under which our Lord was crucified but the place where our Lord was crucified that the two Witnesses were slain and secondly Rome is to be destroyed before by the same ten Horns that are upon the Beast have given their power unto him even they shall hate the Whore viz. Rome and make her desolate and burn her with fire Revel 17.16 17 18. And thus I shall leave these things to thy serious perusal desiring thee courteous Reader to inlarge it in thy meditations for although I have been necessitated to be very brief yet by this little which hath been said thou maist understand the scope of it more at large because when thou readest the Prophets they will further instruct thee in these things when once thou hast the knowledg of it in thy mind if it be but in a small measure and thou maist see in short who the Woman is which is to flie into the Wilderness and what her Man-child is and who are the remnant of her seed what Wilderness she is to flie into and how long she shall abide there and who the two Witnesses are and of their Prophesying and to whom and how long and of their being slain and the place where And thus desiring the Lord to inlarge thy understanding in the knowledge of the Mysteries of Christ and to guide thy feet into the way of peace and to bring thee into his everlasting Kingdome thorow Jesus Christ to whom be ascribed as is due all Power Might Majesty Dominion and Praise now and for ever Amen EIGHTEEN QUERIES ANSWERED Being desired by a Letter from a Friend and Brother in London to answer some Queries propounded therein I shall in a brief way give my Answer unto them shewing my opinion concerning them Christian Friend and my dearly beloved Brother in the Lord I Shall answer thy desire in Answering of thy Queries although I know that all the Queries propounded are not such things as thou wants satisfaction in but I understand as thou in a measure hath signified to me by Letter that in some of them thou rather aimest at the satisfaction of some other person or persons but however it be whether thy self or others yet I shall at all times according to the measure of the gift of God unto me be willing to impart it unto others that I may be a good Steward of God not hiding my Talent in a Napkin And thus I come to the first Query which is Query 1. Whether the Man of Sin or the Antichrist shall arise before the Children of Israel return to build their City and Temple Answ The Mystery of Iniquity did work in the Apostles dayes and also doth in our dayes the which fits a People for that work 2 Thes 2.7 But it appears that he shall not be risen unto his height or Congregated together into a Body until the Jews are returned and have builded although not finished their Walls or outward Court Zech. 38.7 8 17. Dan. 7.8 23 24 25. Chap. 8.22 23. Revel 17.8 11 12 13. Joel 3.1 2 3 9 10 11 12 13 14. Time would much fail me to open these Scriptures and compare them together with others which relates to this thing but remember the little Horn or the eighth is of the seventh and to appear in the very latter dayes at the end of the fourth Kingdome and the fifth Kindome is the Kingdome of Christ and thus I pass to the second which is Quer. 2. Whether the Man of Sin shall be of the Assyrians Answ Yea it doth appear that the Man of Sin shall be an Assyrian from these Scriptures Isa 10.24 25. Chap. 14.24 25 26. Chap. 30.30 31. Micah 5.5 6. Time also would fail me to shew you how Salmonazer King of Assyria took the ten Tribes out of Samaria in the dayes of Hosea and of Senacharibs coming up against Judah in the fourteenth year of the raign of Hezekiah King of Judah and of the Angel of the Lord smiting the Camp of they Assyrians a type of their destruction in the latter dayes upon the Mountains of Israel and further observe that Ezekiel calls Gogg and his company which is to be understood the Man of Sin those of the North Quarters Ezek. 38.6 And that these are considered of and relating to Assyria it being called the North is clear from Zeph. 2.13 And thus I pass to the third which is Quer. 3. Whether the Jews shall return and build anew that City and Temple that Titus Vespatian demolished Answ That there is to be a City and Temple built I have before proved but thy Query lyeth in these words as I understand Whether it be the same that Titus demolished yea or nay To which I say that it appears to be the same that is to say the same both in respect of the form and place for it is to be built upon the old Basis and that it is to be understood the building or repairing of it demolished by Titus is clear because it is said They shall build the old WASTES they shall raise up the former desolations and they shall repair the waste Cities the desolations of MANY GENERATIONS Isa 61.4 Chap. 58.12 Jer. 30.18 19 20. And the Temple is to be built according to the old pattern Ezek. 40. to Chap. the last But if it should be objected that this Prophesie is already fulfilled I should desire to know when for here is mention of the ten Tribes to have their place in this City then as well as the two Tribes and that was not fulfilled when Judah came out of their captivity in Babylon but this Prophesie relates to the time
when Ephraim and Judah shall be one after Israels return out of Assyria as you may read in the foregoing Chapters as chap. 36. and 37. And they shall never be divided into two Nations any more but as yet they are Quer. 4. Whether shall the Jews be succoured in the time of the Man of Sins raign by any Nation that shall be unsubdued by the Antichrist Answ Yea Moab is appointed of the Lord to be a hiding place to Israel and Moab shall not be subdued by the Antichrist but shall escape him that Moab shall escape him read Dan. 11.41 and that Moab is appointed to be a harbour or place of safety to Israel from the spoiler read Isa 16.4 I could cite many Scriptures more but I pass Quer. 5. Whether shall the Jews be changed at the coming of Christ and made immortal as the believing Gentiles or whether shall nature have more years accompanying it Answ I do not find in Scripture that any shall- be raised from the dead at the coming of the Lord but as have dyed in the Lord neither do I find that any shall be changed amongst the living at that day but such as have before that day believed in Christ and waited for him for at his coming two shall be in one bed the one taken and the other left behind and the Saints are to judge the twelve Tribes of Israel not when the twelve Tribes are changed into an immortal state but before for I do not find that one immortal Saint shall judge or govern another who himself when so judged is immortal Mat. 24.40 1 Thes 4 15 16. Revel 20.6 7 8. Luke 22.30 But if it should be Objected and said what correspondency can there be between bodies mortal and bodies immortal I Answer and say in what may they not correspond in their commerce one with another Was there not correspondency between Christ after his resurrection and his Disciples which were in their mortal bodies did they not walk together and discourse yea did they not eat together after his resurrection surely they had society and communion one with another although Christ was raised from the dead and his Disciples lived in their mortal bodies Luke 24.38 39 to the 48. And that nature shall have more years is clear from the Text cited Isa 65.19.20 and also Zech. 8.4 and more which might be added but I pass saying that I have spoke more or less to the chifest part of thy Queries already as thou maist read at thy leisure in my Book elsewhere Quer. 6. Whether shall Christ give the Jews a Law to keep in obedience to him differing from the Law of Moses or the new Testament Answ I do not find in Scripture mention made but of two Testaments one given from God by Moses as a mediatour and the other by Christ and as for the second or new Testament which is by Christ the Jews did reject and therefore it was taken from them and they shut up under unbelief until the fulness of the Gentiles and I do not find that the gospel administrations are to remain any longer than until the fulness of the Gentiles which will be at the appearance of the Lord Jesus and as touching the Gospel the Jews are to be enemies unto it and as I before have said I never find that the preaching of the Gospel is the way to turn the whole house of Israel from their sins but God hath appointed another way of convertion to the house of Israel namely the glorious appearing of Christ in the Clouds of Heaven at which time the spirit of grace and supplication shall be poured out upon them when they look upon him whom they pierced then shall they mourn and say this is our God we have waited for him Zech. 12.10 Isa 25.9 Mat. 23.38 39 Rom. 11 26 27 28. Isa 59.18 19 20. And as touching the two places of Scripture cited Isa 2.3 Mich. 4.2 to prove that the Law shall go forth of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem it appears that as the Jews shall be waiting for their King in the Laws of Moses even so those Laws shall remain with the Jews in that day read Isa 66.20 21 22 23 24. Zech. 14.16 17 18 19 20 21. There is many Scriptures speaks to this purpose but I study brevity only giving those Scriptures which lie before me in my mind at present and so pass to the seventh Query which is Quer. 7. How it may appear that Christ shall raign in Mount-Zion in Jerusalem and judge in the valley of Jehoshaphat Answ This also I have before shewed that although the Wine-press shall be trod without the gates at the valley of Iehoshaphat so as blood to come out even to the horses bridle when the Man of Sin shall go forth with fury to destroy the Jews at the Womans return and the ten Tribes with her yet afterwards Jerusalem shall be cleansed and Christ shall have his Seat there as I have fully proved in this Book Dan. 11.44 45. Ezek. 39.11 12 13 14. Revel 14.20 So then the great slaughter shall be without Jerusalem in the valley of Iehoshaphat where he will judge or plead with the heathen with fire and the sword yet he shall afterwards possess Jerusalem or Zion his holy Mountain and his Throne shall be in the place where his Father Davids was where he shall raign in Mount-Zion in Jerusalem thenceforth even for ever Isa 24.23 chap. 9.7 Luke 1.32 33. Quer. 8. Whether the new Jerusalem that shall come down from Heaven be the place for Christ and the Saints to raign in Answ The Scripture saith that they that are saved shall walk in the light of it and shall go no more out and there shall in no wise enter into it that which is unclean but such as are written in the Lambs Book of life Revel 21.24 27. cap. 3.12 Isa 36.1 2 3. So then that is the place for Christ and the Saints where they shall be glorified and there they shall remain for ever for it is the City which Abraham looked for whose maker and builder is the Lord and it is Gods Tabernacle which shall be with men when he shall dwell with them Quer. 9. What shall be the condition of the wicked and also of such as shall believe in Christ and own him in the time of Christs raign Answ As for the wicked they shall have great Judgments in this life as I before have shewed their eyes shall consume in their holes and their flesh shall consume from their bones while they stand upon their feet and afterwards have their due deserts at the time when all shall arise at the general Judgment Zech. 14.12 18. Revel 20.12 And as for those that do believe and obey Christ so as to come up to worship the King the Lord of Hosts even such Gentiles shall have priviledges although inferiour to the Jews and see his glory Isa 60.10 11 12 13 14. chap. 61.1 chap. 66.23