no That one and the same space of time is hereby intended is manifest as Pareus well observes Because in verse 2. and 6. the thousand years are without an Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But four times afterwards with an Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these thousand years emphatically As if he should say Satans imprisonment shall continue a thousand years and during these thousand years the Martyrs shall live and reign with Christ and afterwards he shall be loosed The parts to which this number is applied are so cemented together as Cause and Effect distinction and opposition that they very much strengthen and prove that just account of a thousand years viz. Satan is bound a thousand years that he should not deceive the Nations till the same thousand years be fulfilled Then the Saints lived and reigned a thousand years with Christ that same thousand years But the rest of the dead lived not again untill these thousand years were finished whilst the holy ones as their happiness made Priests of God and of Christ Reign with Christ a thousand years And as to the third when these thousand years begin and end we have this general account That it is the space of time that is bounded with two Wars that of the great Battle of God Almighty before it begins And that of the Battle of Gog and Magog after it is ended being a time of ease peace and rest as before A space of time that hath the Beasts destruction and judgment the Dragons overthrow binding and imprisonment going before and the dragons release and final doom and judgment going after A space of time containing the sounding of the seventh Rev. 11.15 Trumpet the new Jerusalem the Bride of the Lamb 21 â—â— the new Heavens and the new Earth the Palme-bearing multitude out of all Nations Tribes People and Tongues Rev. 7.9 till the War and judgment of Gog personal coming of Christ dissolution of Heaven and Earth general Resurrection and judgment A space of time bounded with two Resurrections viz. the mistical or figurative Resurrection of the Church out of her death and slaughter called the first Resurrection and the Corporeal Resurrection at the lest day And with two deaths viz. that mistical death of the Rest of the Dead viz. the wicked that live not all the thousand years and the Eternal death which will be their doom after the thousand years with two Lifes the mistical of the Church in the thousand years and the Eternal Life and Glory to be their portion at Christs personal coming after the thousand years And with two judgments that of the Beast and False-prophet with their followers before and that of the Dragon and his followers with all the wicked after But when particularly as to precise time these thousand years shall begin is yet a secret the Lamb hath not discovered contained in the sealed Book all being as yet at a loss as to the certain Epocha of the Apocalyptick numbers either as to the forty two Months or 1260 days or years of the Beasts Reign or the Churches entring the Wilderness which God in his due time will discover Of the living of the Martyrs or first Resurrection And I saw the Souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and the Word of God and which had not worshiped the beast neither his Image neither had received his Mark upon their fore-heads or in their hands And they lived c. IN the interpretation of this mistry of the living of the Martyrs Writers and Commentators much differ some judging this to be a Corporeal Resurrection others and they not a few conceive it to be a spiritual Resurrection a renewing and reviving of Soul the effect of Christs Spirit upon the heart of Believers and faithful Witnesses and a leaving others to a state of sin and death But it is humbly conceived the mind of the Spirit here it is a mistical Resurrection or civil life they are said to live as most consonant to Truth sound Reason and the scope of the place They lived Living and dying in Scripture is variously taken sometimes litterally for the natural spirit or Eternal life and death sometimes figuratively for a civil or mistical life and death consisting either in a freedom from misery and diâ—â—ress in this life the lying under which is called death Isa 52.2 Isa 26.19 Luke 2.34 2. Chron. 19.10 And freedom therefrom into a prosperous state Resurrection and Life Resurrection Isa 52.2 1 Sam. 2.7 8. Isa 26.14.19 Rom. 11.19 Life Job 21.7 Psal 38.19 Hosea 6.2 The not freedom therefrom an unraised state Psal 140.10 Isa 2â— 14 43.17 Amos 8.14 This therefore holds out under these terms of living or first Resurrection-state the beginning of the Churches glorious happy and peaceable condition whereof all the Prophets speak after her long sorrow and suffering her Enemios being now conquered and brought under alluding to the Corporeal Resurrection for as the Saints cannot enter into Glory and triumph till the bodies be raised out of the Dust and revived and Resurrection power passes upon them No more shall the Church enter into its promised Rest foretold to be enjoyed by her in this life till this mistical Resurrection or reviving passeth upon her before which under the Beasts Dominion they are but as so many slain and dead men Rev. 11.7 8 9 10.6.9 They are so in a natural sense because they worship not the Beast Rev. 13.15 Dan. 3.6 Being killed all the day long Rom. 8.36 viz. in purpose and decree and by sentence of the Antichristian Laws multitudes also feelâ—ng actually the force of them under the bloody Beast and Scarlet coloured Whore much-more in a civil sense thrust down from the exercise of all power dignity and Soveraignty in the behalf of Christ either in Civils or Ecclesiasticks So was it with Israel in Babylon in these respects as persons put into their Graves Ezek. 37.12 as so many dead men But now is the time come their Mortal deadly Enemies being brought down by an high hand that they shall not only have all the bloody Laws and Decrees reverst and cancelled and so be freed from all danger or damage that may come to their persons But be revived to a civil life and put now into a capacity to come into the exercise of power dignity and Soveraignty both in Church and State for as is the Death so the Resurrection Therefore is it said that when Israel were to come out of Babylon and restored to former priviledges in their own Land the Lord opened their Graves caused Bone to come to its Bone Sinew to its Sinew put a Spirit of Life into them set them upon their feet to their becoming an exceeding great Army whereby they came again to the exercise of their former Jurisdictions in Rule and Government among themselves And so a parrallel place to this Rev. 11.11 The Church having passed the State of Death Slain Slaughtered Witnesses during the Beasts reign and
GREAT BABYLON The Mother of Harlots abominations of That filthy Bloody City Rev. 17. THE CITY of GOD OR Kingdom of Christ IN The thousand years Reign before his Personal coming and appearing further asserted and cleared From the 21th Chapter of the Revelations Wherein you have the Mystery of the two Worlds Christs Anti-christs further explained Wherein you have the Mystery of the two Kingdoms Christs Anti-christs further explained Wherein you have the Mystery of the two Cities Jerusalem and Babylon further explained Wherein you have the Mystery of the two Women Bride and Whore further explained Wherein you have the Mystery of the two Creatures Lamb and Beast further explained Ps 87.3 Glorious things are spoken of thee thou City of God Ps 122.6 They shall prosper that love thee Ps 48.12 13. Walk about Zion and go round about her tell the Towers thereof mark ye well her Bulwarks consider her Pallaces that ye may tell it to the Generations following 〈◊〉 137.8 Oh Daughters of Babylon that art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us â—â—ch 8.8 So they read in the Book in the Law of God distinctly and gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading London Printed in the Year of our Lord. 1672. THEOPOLIS OR THE CITY of GOD New JERUSALEM IN Opposition to the City of the Nations Great BABYLON Comprehending The blessing and benefit of Christs Kingdom in the thousand years Reign before his personal coming and appearing after the total ruine of the Beast and his Kingdom In a Coment upon the 20th and 21st Chapters of the Revelations With An Additional Answer to these two material Questions 1. Whether the thousand years Reign is not already past as Brightman and others affirm 2. Whether the natural Jew is not most concerned in the latter day Promises and Prophecies especially in the pulling down Babylon and Building of Zion as Maton and others assert Ezek. 4.1 Son of Man take thee a Tyle and Pourtray upon it the City Jerusalem Hos 12.10 I have multiplyed Visions and used similitudes Dan. 12.4 And many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall increase Ps 145.11 They shall speak of the glory of thy Kingdom and talk of thy Power Isa 57.14 Take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people London Printed by T. Ratcliff and Nat. Thompson for Nathanie Ponder at the Peacock in Chancery-Lane 1672. THE INDEX Of the principal Heads treated of in the 20th Chapter THe Introduction Page 1 The Analasys or part of the Chapter Page 4 Rules to be observed in the exposition Page 9 Who the Dragon Page 13 Of the taking of the Dragon Page 24 Of the Angel that laid hold on the Dragon Page 28 What by Heaven Page 34 Of the Dragons binding Page 36 Of the bottomless Pit Page 40 Of the thousand years Page 43 Of the living of the Martyrs Page 47 Of the rest of the dead that lived not Page 60 Of the Reigning with Christ Page 63 Of being Priests of God Page 104 Of the the Second Death Page 107 Of the Dragons Release Page 109 Of Gog and Magog Page 110 Of the Camp of the Saints and beloved City Page 112 Of Fire from Heaven Page 113 Of the general Judgement Page 113 The Paraphrase Page 115 THE INDEX OF THE XXI CHAPTER in the second Part. THe Text of the 21th of the Revelations and part of the 22th Page 121 The Introduction Page 125 The Analysis or parts of the Chapter Page 130 Of the Angel that discovers the Vision Page 139 Of the Bride the Lambs Wife Page 139 Of the Mountain on which the City stands Page 143 Of Jerusalem that great and Holy City Page 145 Of the City's descent from Heaven Page 149 Of the glory of God upon her Page 151 Of the Wall Page 154 Of the City's four square Cubical figure Page 160 Of the precious Materials Page 162 Of the Tree and Water of Life Page 170 Of there being no Temple in it Page 172 Of the Kings of the Earth that bring their glory to it Page 176 Of the Throne of God and of the Lamb. Page 179 The Paraphrastical Exposition Page 202 The first Question necessary to be spoken to for the better clearing what hath been before asserted relating to the thousand years Reign is Page 211 The second Question Page 235 Gospel Principles to be observed concerning the Jew Page 237 XX. CHAP. Of the Revelations ANd I saw an Angel come down from Heaven having the Key of the bottomless Pit and a great Chain in his hand 2. And he laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent which is the Devil and Satan and bound him a thousand years 3. And cast him into the bottomless Pit and shut him up and set a Seal upon him that he should deceive the Nations no more till the thousand years should be fulfilled and after that he must be loosed a little season 4. And I saw Thrones and they sat upon them and Judgement was given unto them and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God and which had not worshipped the Beast neither his Image neither had received their marks upon their foreheads or in their hands and they lived and Reigned with Christ a thousand years 5. But the rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand years were finished This is the first Resurrection 6. Blessed and Holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second death hath no power but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ and shall Reign with him a thousand years 7. And when the thousand years are expired Saton sâ—all be â—â—â—â—d 〈◊〉 of his prison 8. And shall go out to deceive the Nations which are in the quarters of the Earth Gog and Magog to gather them together to battel the number of whom is as the Land of the Sea 9. And they went up on the breadth of the Earth and compassed the Camp of the Saints about and the beloved City and fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them 10. And the Devil that deceived them was cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone where the Beast and false Prophet are and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever 11. And I saw a great white Throne and him that sat on it from whose face the Earth and Heaven fled away and there was found no place for them 12. And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life and the Dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their works 13. And the Sea gave up their dead which were in it and Hell delivered up the dead which were in them and they were judged every man according to their works 14. And Death
and Hell were cast into the Lake of Fire this is the second death 15 And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life were cast into the Lake of Fire Christ's Kingdom in the thousand years Reign before his Personal appearing asserted from the 20th of the Revelations c. THis Chapter contains the last Historical prophesie of the Dragons disaster The twelfth foretels his being subdued by Michael and cast unto the Earth This of his being taken by the Angel and cast bound into the bottomless pit c. being the Epilogue and last act of the whole warfare of the Church as it is subject to dangers and distress s he being the last of her three capital Enemies that here goes off the Stage In the 16th Chapter John hath discovered to him the consederacy and conjunction of Dragon Beast and False-prophet in their call to and combination with the Kings of the Earth and whole world to oppose Christ and his Saints in the great battle In the 19th is the issue of this great undertaking declared viz. a total overthrow and destruction of that great Army the Kings Captains and Mighty men the taking of the Beast and False-prophet and casting them alive into the lake of fire burning with Brimstone And in this 20th you have the account of the Dragons Fate in this great Catastrophe viz. of his taking and how as a wretched Captive he was bound and made close prisoner for a season then after a short Release how brought to judgment and sentenced to the lake of fire with his Companions together with the blessing and advantage that accrues hereby to the Church of Christ A Portion of Scripture worthy our most serious search and enquiry containing most seasonable and necessary truths and of such import that a late learned Author saith thus of it That it contains the Catastrophe Result and Design of all that God hath spoken before in the Old Testament and no less than a Golden Key to unlock the Bible especially the Old Testament Though expressed in such mistical Allegories and Types such Figurative and Tropical Terms as makes it very abstruse and difficult and to that degree so that Brightman saith that a man may see by the commentary of Interpreters how greatly they are puzled and toyled in the interpritation of this Chapter being like an intricate Maze and Labyrinth where there is no winding of a mans self out And Mr. Mead calls it the most abstruse of all the Prophetical Scriptures and most to be admired and so misterious that he dares not enlarge himself into that curious search of the Reasons of several Circumstances lest that of Solomon be laid to his charge Prov. 10.19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin And another thus The particulars contained herein are most abstruse and misterious and that to be too positive and definitive about them and the misteries intended in them would argue too much boldness and temerity The consideration whereof calls therefore for the greater circumspection watiness and sobriety The Method propounded in search after the misteries contained in this Chapter shall be First To lay down the Analisis and parts of the Chapter then treat of each material thing contained in the parts and that by certain known rules as helps and way-marks to steer herein with some remarks upon the same and a brief Paraphrase upon it The Parts of the Chapter THis Chapter contains the doom and judgment of the Dragon as discovered to John in three parts or periods First In his binding and consequents thereof Secondly In his loosing with the effects of it Thirdly In his final and utter judgment and what follows thereon First Of his binding wherein is considerable 1 The Agent by whom an Angel And I saw an Angel come down from Heaven having the Key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand 2. The actions of the Angel 1. In apprehending of him And he laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent which is the Devil and Satan 2. In binding of him and how long And bound him a thousand years 3. In Imprisoning of him set forth partly by the place and cast him into the bottomless pit partly by his secure way of proceeding And shut him up and set a seal upon him 3. The end of his judicial process with the Dragon viz. That he should deceive the Nations no more till the thousand years were fulfilled amplified by the Dragons release for a little moment After that he must be released a little season Then the consequents of the Dragons binding and as one main reason thereof viz. the Churches happy and glorious condition wherein is considerable First The Resurrection and Reviving state under the denomination of Martyrs And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and the Word of God and which had not worshiped the Beast neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their right hands Secondly Their Enthroning or Reigning And I saw Thrones and they sat upon them and judgment was given to them And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years Then their said state and condition is amplified three ways 1. By the opposite condition of their Enemies But the rest of the Dead lived not again till the thousand years were finished 2 By the denomination given to this condition of the Revived Martyrs This is the first Resurrection 3. By their happiness and holiness partly in respect to the evil they are exempted from partly the good they are called to enjoy Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second Death hath no power But they shall be Priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years Secondly Of the loosing of the Dragon out of Prison wherein is considerable 1. The time when But when the thousand years are expired Satan shall be loosed out of Prison 2. The subtile practises of the Dragon declared in the seducing and stirring up new Enemies against the Church And he shall go out to deceive the Nations described by the extent of of the places whence to be gathered From all the Quarters of the Earth 2ly By their denomination Gog and Magog 3ly By their number As the sand of the Sea 4ly The intent of the gathering For Battle against the Saints 3. The hostile acts of these seduced Enemies partly going up every way against them partly surrounding them on every side And they went up on the breadth of the Earth and encompassed the Camp of the Saints about and the beloved City Then nextly The effects of this great gathering and what became of this Dragonical design and mighty Host And fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them Thirdly His final and utter judgment which is described 1. By the Cause And the Devil that deceived them 3. By the place Was cast into the lake of fire 2. By his Companions
order which is to be at the sounding of the last trumpet The time of the living Saints change the time that is expres'd to be the last day which is the time of his coming and appearing which is the Judgment day But this a thousand years before all Eighthly Because if Corporeal and to be understood of Martyrs only then all the dead at the last day shall be raised to the second death contrary to John 5.24.6.39 40.44 54. Dan. 12.2 And they only as Martyrs Priests to God contrary to 1 Pet. 2.5 9. Rev. 1. â— Ninthly Because if this be understood to be the Resurrection of all the Saints who in that immortal and glorified state are to live and Reign the thousand years in and over the world it necessarily infers these strange absurdities First that glorified and unglorified mortal and immortal bodies must converse together for it necessarily follows if the Saints are raised then is Christ come in Glory and their vile bodies are made like to his glorified body and that Christ and the Saints and Angels in this glorified state converse with the men of the world Ruling Governing and Ordering them in the respective policies by Zions Laws and Edicts contrary to express Scripture 1 Tim. 6.16 Who only hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen nor can see viz. No mortal man no unglorified man for if Moses that had only a glimps of Gods back parts had such a Glory upon him that the Children of Israel could not converse with him without a vail And the Disciples were not able to stand before Christ in the Transfiguration nor Paul in the Vision how unable will wicked men be to stand before and converse with Christ who appears in transcendent Glory both in his own and the Fathers Glory the Glory of all the Holy Angels and Glory of all Saints as hereafter And it is expresly said that none can see God and live Exod. 33.20 It being impossible that any poor mortal finite Creature can see and stand before the glorious immortal and infinite Being without being consumed Secondly It holds out that some glorified and unglorified Saints shall at this time converse together viz. those that are raised from the dead with those that are then upon the Earth when the Scripture tells us 1 Cor. 15.51 52. that at the same instant that the dead Saints are raised the living Saints are changed at a Moment in the Twinkling of an Eye which must needs be so 1. Because when Christ comes he must have all the Saints come with him who are raised changed and glorified taken up in the Air to meet him and in that state are ever with him not one Saint being to be left behind 2. Because he then appears in flaming fire againt them that know him not nor obey his Gospel the day of Grace being then over and none to be converted after that And therefore are all the exhortations of making ready of getting Oyl in the Vessel and in the Lamp before he comes it being too late to do it after he cometh A third absurdity is that whereas Christ saith The last Enemy is Death here the raised Saints after death are to meet with another Enemy the Gog-Magog Army Tenthly This cannot be the Corporeal Resurrection because it is said expreslly that during this thousand years the new Jerusalem new Heaven and new Earth-state the Saints shall build plant Marry give in Marriage enjoy the works of their hands dispense Laws manage Governments in the world and be lyable to death and dessolution therein which is utterly inconsistent with the Resurrection-state Luke 20.34 The Children of this world marry and are given in marriage 35. But they which shall be accounted worthy to'btain that world and the Resurrection from the Dead neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they dye any more for they are equal to the Angels and are the childeren of God being the Children of the Resurrection the dispensing of Laws managing worldly policies and affairs being as utterly inconsistent with this state also Secondly Neither can this living or rising again intend the Spiritual Resurrection viz. the rising from the death of sin to the life of Grace the converted changed state though that will abundantly be manifested herein both amongst Jews and Gentiles by the preaching of the Gospel 1. Because it is supposed it speaks of the Church that were converted lived a spiritual life 2. Neither was this a life their Enemies could take from them for in this sense they lived all the time of the Beasts and the Dragons rage and rule and in this respect might be said to live most when most lyable to outward death and distresses Thirdly neither can this be the Eternal Life of Glory Because this speaks of a state that precedes that a thousand years Therefore lastly it will follow that if it be neither the Corporeal Spiritual nor Eternal Life that is here meant to which the Saints are raised then must it be the mistical or civil life to which the Prophets give witness as before And the rather so because of that mistical and civil death that all Saints are lyable to and lye under during Antichrists reign because they refuse to worship the Beast or his Image or receive his Mark and Number c. As also bcause the whole Church and all Saints do at this time partake of this life because it is said in the next verse that the rest or others lived not viz. those that did worship the Beast the Character of the Antichristian Church they lived not this thousand years viz. this mistical life But are now to take their turns in the Vally of the shadow of death lyable now to the Prison-state and Gibbet to give an account for all their cruelties and murders to be kill'd all the day long to be fill'd in the Cup they have fill'd and as being thrust in the pit and bound kept from all Rule Dignity and Authority Object But why must the Church be included under these terms or characters of Souls beheaded and that would not worship the Beast Answ Because it may more emphatically and significantly held forth the state they are raised from and raised to Various are the names and Characters the Church is represented by in this Book and yet all suitable to their present posture and station viz. In her primitive purity and lusture a Woman clothed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet and upon her head a Crown of Twelve Stars In her persecuted afflicted state under the Dragon or Rome Heathen Souls under the Altar Rev. 6.9 10. Slain for the Word of God and Testimony they held and so here Souls of the beheaded Rev. 20. In her contests with the Dragon Rev. 12.2 A woman with Child cryed travelling in birth and pained to be delivered Under the Beast tyranny and persecution Rev. 12. A Woman flying into the Wilderness
Rev. 11. Witnesses in Sackcloth and slain Witnesses In their cleaving to Christ whilst so many wonder and wander after the the Beast the Lambs followers the Sealed and Marked ones Keepers of the Commandments of God and Testimony of Jesus Rev. 14. In theâ—r courageous opposition to Tyranny and Idolatry called Victors over the Beasts Image Mark Number Name In their Martial attempts against the Beast and Whore the called chosen and faithful the Lambs Army In her quiet peaceable state Kings and Priests Ascenders of Heaven and the Throne of God Reigners with Christ the Bride the Lambs Wife the new Jerusalem the beloved City the Palme-bearing multitude The false Church being represented also under various Marks Names and Characters as you may find under another Head and amongst the rest they are called the Dead that shall not live this thousand years As Antichrist and his followers dye and go off the Stage so Christ and his followers live and come on The death of the one is the life of the other Of the rest of the Dead that lived not But the rest of the Dead lived not again till the thousand years were finished IN the understanding of this death of the wicked interpreters as much differ as they do about the living of the Saints Some suppose a Corporeal death that is here intended intimating that whilst the Saints and Martyrs are raised to live and Reign with Christ the bodies of the wicked shall not be raised but are to lye in their Graves all the thousand years And others suppose it a spiritual death a death in sin an unconverted unregenerated state that the wicked will be found in during all the thousand years But it is humbly conceived there is the same good ground t' understand this as the former living of the Saints viz. in a metaphorical sense As that living of the Saints is to be taken to be a civil life so this death of the wicked is to be understood a civil death being the direct Antithesis to the former and so indeed no other then a confirmation and illustration of that happy state of the Saints for as when the Beast and Dragon and their worshipers lived viz. were found in the full exercise of power Rule and Authority in the world the Saints then civilly dyed being not only put out of all capacity of that kind but made lyable to all manner of natural deaths and distress for opposing their usurpations and refusing their Idolatrous worship so when the Saints come to take their turns to live in power and authority then shall all the Beasts and Dragons worshipers and followers take their turns in a state of death too not only thrust from all Rule and Authority but rendred lyable to give an account with their lives and liberties for all their cruelties and murders during their tyrannous usurpations When they must have retaliation and be filled in the Cup they have filled to others and be rewarded as they have rewarded the Saints during their reign and rage For how much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much torment and soorrw she must have Object But why called the rest of the Dead that lived not again This also is a proper Character of the false Church holding out their present posture and condition sometimes termed Earth-dwellers Beast-worshipers and Wonderers Babylon Whore a Glorious Queen City of the Nations and here according to their dethroned slaughtered imprisoned captivated state The Dead that lived not But why the Rest of the Dead so read as Pareus after the manner of the Greek the Genetive for the Nomnative the rest of the dead for the rest being dead so Rev. 9.20 rest of the men that is other men The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being other as Eph. 6.10 1 Cor. 7 29. 1 Tim. 4.13 20. The Saints that were dead that would not worship formerly in the Dragons and Beasts life and reign are now alive But the other men that worshiped Beast and Dragon enter now a state of Death and Judgment who are judged to death all the thousand years no more to Rule or Reign either in Civils Militaries or Ecclesiasticks for or under the Beast during that time then they permited the Saints to exercise any such Soveraignty for and in the behalf of Christ during their day for as one goes up the other goes down They are not to live again till the thousand years be finished implying that when the Dragon is loosed there will then be a Military power and jurisdiction at least that they may live to again in opposition unto Christ and the Saints in their encompassing the Camp of the Saints and beloved City which their said raised state makes good and confirms the former interprepretation that their death is mistically and figuratively to be understood of a civil and not litterally of a Corporeal death for if the dead men must not live again till the thousand years be expired and then must be raised out of their Graves and in that Resurrection-state appear in that Military posture is such an absurdity that I presume none will own Wicked men being not raised to make opposition against Christ and his Saints but to appear to judgment being the Resurrection to them of Damnation as to the raised Saints of Life and Salvation Of Reigning with Christ And I saw Thrones and they sat upon them and Judgment was given unto them c. And they lived and Reigned with Christ a thousand years c. And they shall be Priests to God and Christ c. AFter the Saints are revived and a Spirit of Life entred into them they are called up and ascend into Heaven saith Rev. 1.1 viz. to Rule and Government as Page 39. to Kingly power to sit upon Thrones and have judgment committed to them saith this Text Ensigns of Soveraignty Psal 122.5 Psal 7.21 1. Dan. 7.22 Alluding to the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ after his Death who Ascending Heaven had all power judgment and authority given to him Mat. 28.18 John 5.22 27. So shall it be in like manner with his mistical body in their mistical Resurrection and Ascension They are to Ascend the Throne of Christ and to receive Judgment Rule and Authority from him having suffered with him during Antichrists Reign and are now as Kings to Reign with him in his Kingdom Which Kingly state of the Saints is confirmed by divers Scriptures whereof take some few Rev. 5 10. And hath made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall Reign on the Earth Being part of the new song of the 24 Elders that are said to be about the Throne in Chap. 4.10 with white Raiment and Crowns of Gold casting them down before the Throne interpreted here in the 9. verse of 5. to be the Church of God that were redeemed by his Blood out of every Kindred Tongue people and Nation Compared with Rev. 1.5 Vnto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in
divided into four and twenty courses whose duty and priviledge is held forth in Deut. 33.10 Levit. 10.11 Numb 16.9 Thirdly Judaical of the Tribe of Judah of which Melchizedek the Type Gen. 14.18 Hebr. 7.1 And Jesus Christ the Antetype our great High-Priest Heb. 3.1.4.14 And under him the Spiritual Royal Priesthood Exod. 19 6. Rev 1.6 2 Pet 2.5 9. Importing separation and consecration to God and a nearness and constant communion with him Numb 16.9 Ordering in special the affairs of his Church being appointed and anointed thereto Now as in the Kingdom of Israel the Type of Christ's Kingdom there was an anointed Priesthood a Ministry to manage the affairs of the Church and an anointed Kingship or Magistracy to govern and manage the State So Hath Antichrist in his â—surpations in Imitation of them the Type and as if they were this Kingdom of Christ the Antitype pretended not onely to the Kingship but the Priesthood to the Ministry as well as the Magistracy to the Government of the Church as well as the state putting their Holy Oyl upon the one and the other as most Holy and Sacred things Dedicated to the service of Christ in both Which nevertheless their glorious entitling themselves to such his peculiar service he is pleased as to foretell this horrid blasphemous usurpation so to renounce it with great detestation calling their Magistracy an unclean filthy blasphemous bloody Beast that comes not from him but out of the bottomless Pit and must go into Perdition and the other their Ministry or Priesthood a vile filthy Idolatrous Strumpet that must for her lewd Whoredoms Drunkenness and Witchcrafts have her flesh torn off and burnt with fire But his faithful Saints and Servants that will neither bow the Knee to the one nor the other as being Blasphemous Idolatrous Usurpers not only to the opposing but outing Christs Ministry and Magistracy shall be found in this his Kingdom during this thousand years to administer in both these blessed Ordinances being received in Truth Power and Purity to the advantage of his name and Glory viz. as anointed Kings to manage the Affairs of State as Rulers and Magistrates under Christ the King of Kings and as anointed Priests shall under Christ their High-Priest manage his pure Worship and Govern the Affairs of the Church as his Elders and Ministers which in happy conjunction makes up this Blessed and Glorious state of Christs Rule in this his Kingdom Of the second Death On such the second death had no power THis is another Priviledge of the Saints in this happy Estate that they shall not be lyable to the second death By second death in the Letter is to be understood Hell-fire the place of the damned as interpreted Rev. 21.9 But Mistically and Metaphorically taken for utter ruine destruction and perdition As for instance it is said in Rev. 19.20 that the Beast and False-prophet were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with Brimstone which must Metaphorically be understood because as before explained Page 2 by Beast and False-prophet we are not to understand two persons but states viz. the Magistracy and Ministry of Antichrist who being vanquished in the great Battle are now as utterly extinguished and put into perdition never ony more to do mischief as if two persons were cast into Hell fire which gives light to Dan. 7 11. Rev. 17.8 Rev. 18.8 So also Rev. 20.10 It is said the Devil or Dragon that deceived them was cast into the lake of Fire and Brimstone where the Beast and False-prophet are c. which admits the same mistical signification viz. that now the Dragonical or Heathenish power as explained to be Page 2. that was only bound in times past for a season is after the Gog-Magog destruction as utterly ruined raised and destroyed as the Beast and false prophet the Antechristian stare before Yea and as the Devil himself will be when he is cast into the lake at the last day now never more to work mischief in the world And again the Worshippers of the Beast whose names are not in the Lambs book the Beast and Dragon being thus in utter perdition are now to share with the principals in utter ruine and destruction Rev. 14.10 11 13.8.17.8 compared with the 20.15 And lastly it is said that Death and Hell or the Grave are cast into the lake of Fire which is the seconâ— Death Rev. 20.14 viz. Now after the general Judgment there is to be no more Death Death is swallowed up in Victory a full confirmation of the former Of the Dragons Release And when the Thousand years are expired Satan shall be loosed out of his Prison UPon the expiration of the thousand years it seems Hell is to break loose again the Conquered and subdued Heathen Nations and their Authority that during that space have by the Righteous Laws and Soveraign Authority of Christ been as so many imprisoned fettered Captives yea as so many civil dead men kept down and under subjection whereby universal peace and quiet hath been managed and maintained all the world throughout do now by Gods permission and the Devils inspiration and sedition again perk up for him and in a rebellious manner standing upon their feet again do break off their subjection and Allegeance from Christs Rule and Authority and by combination and confederacy make head against him and engaging under their old Captain general the Devil do rally from the four quarters of the Earth an huge and numberless Host like to the Sand of the Sea which mighty gathering is called here by the spirit Gog and Mâ—gog with design by besieging and compassing the Camp of the Saints and beloved City to raze and destroy the Soveraign Power and Authority of Christ that he hath so long managed by the hands of his Saints in this World upon the breadth of the Earth even as the Syrian Host the Prophet in Dothan The Assyrian Jerusalem the Sodomites Lot 2 Kings 6.14 15. 2 Kings 25.1 Of Gog and Magog ANd shall go out to deceive the Nations which are in the four quarters of the Earth Gog and Magog to gather them together to Battel This is the Name the Holy Spirit is pleased to give this great and last enemy of the Church upon the Earth which for your better understanding take the pithy exposition given by Mr. Mead. It is saith he to be observed that the Revelation is a Book of the Future estate of the Christian Church set forth by Resemblances and Parables borrowed from the condition of affairs of the Jewish Church under the old Testament in which the Worship of the true God flourished alone the rest of the Nations serving Idols universally Hence therefore that Egypt Babylon in the Revelations are not the Babylon and Egypt of the Israelites but the enemies of the Church of the Gentiles like that Babylon and Egypt being Types and Figures of these In like manner Gog and Magog in the Revelation are not the Gog in Ezekiel
of the Land of Magog the head of Mesheck and Tubal the enemy of Israel Gen 10.3 Ezek. 38.39 For this came out of the North parts ours from the four corners of the Earth This appeared at the beginning of Israels Restoration ours after the 1000. years of the Kingdom of the Saints following the Restoration of Jerusalem This before Christs coming in the Flesh ours before his coming to Judgement But another Gog the enemy of the Church of the Gentiles to come immediately before the Resurrection of the Dead and farther it is plain that this Gog and Magog bear not the room of a subject but a convenient Title by which those Nations of the four Quarters might be declared as if he would have said the Nations in the four Quarters Spiritually called Gog and Magog Of the Camp of the Saints and Beloved City THose terms of Camp and City are allusions to Israels twofold state under the Tabernacle and Temple dispensation Of the order of Israels Camp state we read Numb 2. Wherein the Tabernacle of God with the 24 Courses of the Priests and Levites were placed in the midst all the Tribes under their four Standards pitching their Tents round about it Which is alluded to Rev. 4. And may greatly help the explanation thereof Then the City State was under Solomon after the erecting of the Temple to which glorious and beautiful condition this alludes Rev. 21.10 c. Holds forth the excellency it being câ—lled the great City the Holy Jerusalem where it is described in all its â—lory and Dimensions called here the Beloved City In opposition to the City of the Nations the great City Babylon containing the â—nti-Christian nay whole World in their Policies and Governments So here the Extent of this City and Camp of the Saints is held forth to be no less then the whole Earth as large in extent as the City of the Nations Christ's Government extending all the World over from Sea to Sea Ps 72.8 Isa 44.6 Of the Fire from Heaven that destroyeth Gog. And Fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them THis destruction as typt out in the Gog Magog destruction Ezek. 38. Is here alluded to That as fire came down from Heaven to destroy them So is it here for now is the time that Christ shall come in flaming Fire taking vengeance of his enemies destroying the Heavens also and the Earth and all its works by fire and this in order to the next Scene to be acted viz. The Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Judgement Of the General Judgement AFter the Saints Reign the Gog Magog gathering and destruction Now in order comes the Lord Jesus in person in the Glory of the Father the Saints Glory and in the glory of all the Holy Angels with the sound of the Trumpet and Voice of the Archangel The Sea Grave and Death giving up their Dead that there may be a general Resurrection of the Just and Unjust And then the preparing of the Throne the sitting of the Judge the opening of the Books the producing of the Witnesses in order to the general Judgement of great and small who are to be judged according to their works by Christ who Judges the quick and dead at his appearing and Kingdom A Paraphrase upon the 20. of Revelations THe Powers and Potentates of the whole World 1. And I saw an Angel come down from Heaven having the Key of the bottomless Pit and a great Chain in his hand whether Heathen or Antichristian being thus vanquished by Christ and his followers under the terms of fighting with and overcoming a Dragon Beast and false Prophet with the Kings of the Earth and whole World in the great Battel in the former Chapter and the Authority consequently now in the hands of the Saints John here in a Vision hath represented to him the Churches Soveraignity in a figure viz. By the Emblematical Representation of a Chain and a Key ensigns of Power in the hand of their Mystical and Spirirual Head though in this Vision their Representative the Lord Jesus is called here an Angel as Rev. 10.1.12.17 2. And he laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent which is the Devil and Satan and bound him a 1000. years And having judged and utterly razed the Antichristian state both in its Magistracy and Ministry by the figurative Representation of taking a Beast and false Prophet and casting them alive into a Lake of Fire doth here for the better securing the Churches quiet and peaceable Rule 3. And cast hâ—m into the bottomless Pit and shut him up and set a Seal upon him that he should deceive the Nâ—tions no morâ— till the 1000. years should be fulfilled and after that he must be loosed a little season wholy cancel and vacate the Heathen Empire also for a thousand years as in the Vision is set forth by the taking a Dragon and casting him bound into a bottemless pit and shutting him up and Sealing him therein the proper Emblem of the now ruined Pagan State the Dragon or Devil being also the Spiritual or Mystical head thereof and here in the Vision their representative As in 12. Chapter by an Angel fighting with overcoming and casting to the Earth a Dragon is held forth the Victory the Church at that day gets over the Heathen Roman Empire So here by the Angels binding him in a pit is the utter extinction of that Power a thousand years the time limited plainly discovered 4. And I saw Thrones and they sat upon them and Judgement was given to them and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God and which had not worshâ—pped the Beast neither his Image neither had received his mark in their Foreheads or in their right hand and they lived and Reigned with Christs a 1000. 5. But the rest of the dead lived not again till the 1000. years were finisht This is the first Resurrection 6. Blessed and Holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second death hath no power but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ and shall Reign with him a 1000. years The enemies of the Church thus casheired and turned off the Stage John hath a further discovery of their setled and happy Rule and Authority by the Vision of the Resurrection of a company of dead and Martyred Saints the proper Emblem of the Church during the Antichristian Tyranny who for witnissing to Christ and not Worshipping the Beast cannot in a civil sense at least be esteemed other ascending Thrones of Judgement And as blessed and holy ones freed from the second Death Reigning with or under the Lord Jesus as Kings and Priests whilst their enemies the Worshippers of the Beast are now as so many dead men at their feet during this space of a thousand years which is called the first Resurrection viz. The mystical general Resurrection that in order of time