here to be understood Coming down from Heaven to wit The third Heaven or the Heaven of the blessed Who had the Key of the bottomlesse pit that is Who had received power from God to open and shut up Hell We must not therefore by the Key of the bottomlesse pit understand any inward light or knowledge kindled by some famous Doctor of the Church by whose help the Scripture may be the more enlightned or the profound skill in Divinity of such a one And a great chain in his hand The great power of binding and tying up the enemy is here understood This chain therefore is falsly expounded concerning the Divine Writings of some Angel or Teacher of the Church whose coherence like a chain may be such that they may bring Heaven and Earth together and draw the hearts of the believers up unto God 2. And he caught as if he had laid hands on him The Dragon That monstrous virulent and violent enemy of Christ and Christians That old Sorpent Who by his winding and subtle kinde of Oratory in the beginning of the world seduced our first parents and who yet keeps his old skin Who is the Devill That Slanderer and Sophister that mis-interpreter of all the good sayings and deeds as well of God and Christ as holy Angels and men And Satan The adversary and everlasting enemy of God Christ and the Church And bound him By hindering his wicked enterprises and attemps A thousand yeers Solar and usuall years 3. And he threw him into the bottomlesse pit that is With mighty power he restrained the malignity of Satan thrusting him down into Hell And * shut him up as if he should say He laid him not onely fast in prison but also shut up the prison upon him with him in it And set a seal upn hiom Here are four acts of the Angel the first bindes Satan then cast him being bound into the bottomlesse pit then he shuts up the pit and sets a seal upon it being shut up That he might not seduce to wit Partly by Idolatry Superstition and the power of lyes partly by bringing War upon the Church Any more As he had formerly done The Nations {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} The Nations â—oth Jews and Gentiles This word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in Scripture properly signifies the Gentiles as they were opposed to the Jews But that in this place the signification of this word is extended it doth hence appear The power of the devill is so fast bound he can no more seduce either Jews or Gentiles for the space of those thousand yeers Therefore this word is to be taken in a more large signification So that the Conversion of the Jews is described also implicitely in these words Till the thousand yeers were fulfilled to wit Untill the whole course of the Churches hapyinesse here on earth were finished And after that he must be loosed For these thousand yeers being ended the Devill by the just Judgement of God shall again recover his power and indeed a farre greater For a short time The kingdom of Satan shall not fulfill a thousand years but shall remain onely for a small time 4. And I saw Thrones Then I saw a Judiciall Processe prepared And they sate upon them that is Christ and his holy Angels And Iudgement was given unto thâ—m The power of Judgement was given by God as well to Christ as to the chief Judge as to the Angels as it were his Assessors Compare Mat. 25.31 And the souls I saw as well the Judges Christ and his Angels as also them that were to be judged that is To be absolved or freed in this Judgement And in this place souls are put for men Of them that were beheaded that is Of them that were slain by any kinde of torment And it is a description of the Martyrs For the testimony of Iesus Whereby they witnessed concerning Christ that he was the onely Iesus that is The onely Saviour both by merit and efficacy And for the Word of God that is The holy Scripture which they had learned to be the onely rule both of faith and life And which had not worshipped the Bâ—ast that is The Second Beast of which mention is in the 13 and 19 chapters which had arrogated to it self the divine Honours of Christ Nor his Image that is Those Kings and Princes which are the Image of the Beast that is which represent the Beast in their likenesse of doctrine and life Compare Revel. 13. v. 14. And had not received his mark in their foreheads By mark in this place is to be understood some characteristicall note or distinguishing signe or token which they are said to bear in their foreheads who publikely professe themselves to be addicted to such or such a master or leader Or in their hands that is In their actions Rites and Ceremonies In these words therefore is contained a concealed antithesis or opposition whereby the Martyrs are declared contrary to the slaves and servants of the Beast concerning whom there is former mention chap. 13. â—â— 14 15 16. that they worshipped the image of the Beast and received his mark on their right hand or on their foreheads From which words it is manifest that the Martyrs are here described by the distinction of their sufferings and doings And they lived that is They lived again as may be gathered from the fifth verse But the rest of the dead lived not again So formerly Revel. 2.8 Who was dead {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} for {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and is alive for hath lived again Here then is described the singular reward which the Martyrs have received for their sufferings and extraordinary performances And reignâ—d As being appointed here on earth Governours of the Church having now gained it 's most welcome Halcyonia or dayes of calmnesse With Christ Who all this while shall raign visibly in heaven invisibly upon earth his visible Kingdom being resigned to the Martyrs For those thousand yeers Of whiâ—h in the former verse For that the thousand yeers of Satans binding and of the Kingdom of the holy Martyrs with Christ are the same and not distinct or divers the Article {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} four times repeated in the 3 4 5 6 7 verses doth sufficiently declare and the term of time appointed for the loosing of Satan doth fully evince It is a forced Interpretation therefore that some do make taking the thousand yeers in the 4 and 6 verses tropically by a Synecdoche for Eternity in the other verses namely 3 5 7 according to the letter But the rest of the dead As well the godly as the ungodly * Lived not again that is Were not made partakers of that happinesse and prerogative whereby a number of some of the faithfull shall rise before the Universall and last Resurrection and shall reign with Christ here upon earth Vntill those
raised and the dark miste of lyes being dispelled Then shall Satan be bound for a thousand years which must be expired before he scatter new errours through the world and by them seduce the Nations This this is the imprisonment this is the liberty or setting free of Satan In the same place upon vers. 2. But when began Satan to be bound In the year 1517. when the witnesses were raised From that time ALL people generally have not drunk any new poyson of heresie which might weaken or overturn their faith In the same place To 1517. adde 1000. years So you shall make 2517. at which time Satan shall again draw the Nations into abominable heresies In this Exposition of Cotterius the thousand years are rightly urged according to the letter But his Epocha or beginning of his account is not well placed in the year 1517. For then began onely the praeludium or proeme of this Millenary Iohn Piscator in his Commentary on the Revelations The happynesse of the faithfull who shall live upon earth after the downfall of the Papacy is their security from the hostile invasions of the wicked for 1000 years In the same place The singular happynesse of the Martyrs of Christ who before these thousand years indured persecution is their Resurrection which shall be before the generall Resurrection and their reign in Heaven with Christ for a thousand years before the Resurrection of the rest In this Exposition the literall interpretation is rightly urged But that he sayes the Martyrs shall reign with Christ in Heaven for those thousand years cannot be proved out of the Text Nay the contrary may thence be proved because the Resurrection of the Martyrs is part of the happinesse of the Church here on Earth Again The Kingdom which is limited by a certain number of years cannot suite well with eternall life See also Revel. 5.10 where the Saints in Heaven among other things sing thus And we shall reign upon the Earth But moreover the same Iohn Piscator maintains this opinion of the thousand years in his German translation of the Bible and a little before his death he wrote a short Treatise Of the future happinesse of the Church in this life Out of which I have made use of many things which I have transcribed into this Meditation for that Treatise of his hath not as yet seen the light Many Writers of the former and this present Age have published many things concerning Elias the Artist who is to come Of the Lion of the North who is neer at hand Of a fourth Northern Monarchy Of a great Reformation Of the Conversion of the Jews and the like See Theophrastus Paracelsus Michael Sendivogius in his Treatise of Sulphur Stephanus Pannonius Of the circle of the Works and Iudgements of God where among other things he writs thus Yet it shall come to passe that the pure Gospel of God shall be preached to the Americans before the end of the world Again Nothing is more sure then that the Reformation of the East and South drawing on some famous Emperour whose types Constantine and Theodosius both entitled Great were shall openly shew himself and granting liberty of Religion to them who professe the name of the Holy Trinity shall do some great matter in the world for the glory of God for the building up of the Church and for the downfall of Antichrist In the same place The Eastern Christians fired with the zeal of Christ shall make their way into Asia it self and provoke the Jews to jealousie Rom. 11. And the spirituall Babylon shall be a pray unto all Nations In the same place A refining of the Souldiers of God whereof there is mention Zach. 13.8 that is temptations and tryalls shall go before this Reformation that the light of God may arise out of the Crosse of Christ This Treatise was published in the year 1608. Iohn Dobricius also in the year 1612. did set forth a notable book entitled {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that is The Interpreter of times wherein both out of the Holy Scripture and from the new Star which appeared in the year * DC.IV. and the great Conjunction of the Planets many things are discoursed of concerning the reformation and future happinesse of the Church Peter du Moulin in his French Book intituled Du Combat Christien that is The Chrictian Conflict pag. 256. This persecution is a cruell tempest which cannot last awayes Either it will take us out of the world or God will take it away from us Pag. 353. Every one hath but a short journey whereby he must come to God and the time is at hand that we must commit our bodies to the earth our Souls to God and to the Church peace and the blessing of God For it shall come to passe even in our times that God shall be glorified in the great Congregations Yea even in those places where are horrible ruines the Word of God shall â—ound forth and God shall afford us matter of praise and thanksgiving Pag. 450. After that God shall have shewn us his deliverances on earth he will also shew us his riches in Heaven A CONFUTATION Of the Objections I. Object IS taken out of Matth. 24.14 If after the Gospel preached in all the world the end of all things shall come that happinesse of the Church in this world shall not happen out between the end thereof and the preaching of the Gospel For the Gospel is already preached through the whole earth I answer 1. The Consequence is to be denyed for although this happynesse do come between yet it hinders not but that the end of the world should come after the Gospel preached over the whole earth Secondly The pro-syllogisme is to be denyed because the Gospel is not already preached over the whole earth II. Object Is taken from Matth. 24.29 30. If presently after the destruction of Hierusalem Christ shall come to Judgement then this happinesse of the Church shall not be before his coming to Judgement Answ. The matter it self speaks and experience witnesseth that this word Immediately or Presently is not here properly or simply to be understood but hyperbolically and according to what went before namely in relation to the foregoing Prophesie concerning the overthrow of the Iews which they were to receive by the destruction of Hierusalem So that this is the meaning that between this desolation of Hierusalem and the coming of Christ the Iews should receive no other overthrow III. Object Is out of the same Chapter vers. 37 38 39. If a little before the coming of Christ to Judgement the State and condition of the world shall be such as it was in the time of Noâ—h before the Deluge and that such a state of things is to be seen at this day It may be hence gathered that such a condition of the Church as is here described shall not happen out before the coming of
be welcome to us because it contains the last Divine Revelation of Gods will after which no Prophecy following is to be expected and because this Book is very profitaâ—le in this Age in which the lively performance of things hitherto abstruse and concealed is presented before our eyes 2. Of the Subject of this Chapter THis Chapâ—er discourseth of the singular happinesse of the Church both under it's Warfare and Triumph The singular happinesse of the Church during it's warfare or being militant is let down in three respects 1. In its security from the hostile incursions of the wicked for a 1000 yeers 2. In the resurrection of the Martyrs before the generall resurrection 3. In the wonderfull dâ—livâ—rance of the godly from the last persecution of the wicked which shall happen after those thousand yeers The happinesse of the Church Triumphant is hâ—re described so farre forth as the beginning of its Triumph in the last Iudgement That these things may be made more plain I will from the very beginning make a repetition of the state of the Church here upon earth and I will say something briefly concerning the State and condition thereof in Heaven The State of the Church hereupon earth was either that before the fall of the first man and that was wholly Legall or that after the fall and this is wholly Evangelicall Again The State of the Church after the fall is either Internall and perpetuall or Externall and temporall The State of the Church Internall and perpetuall consists in the Union and Communion with Christ as also in the enlightning and guidance of the Spirit Isa. 54.5 Hos. 2.15 19 20. Iob. 6.56 1 Cor. 6 17. Eph. 5.30 1 Cor. 10.17 2 Cor. 11.2 Eph. 3.6 Gal. 3.28 Câ—l 3.15 Hence it is that the Church is one Holy and Invincible The Externall or temporall State of the Church is as well under the Crosse and Persecution as Light and Comfort or refreshing which two changes the Church undergoes here on earth by turns as well under the Old Testament as the New and that either more or lesse For Adam and Eve after their most grievous fall were raised up again by the most sweet promise of the Gospel and after they had begot Cain and Abel and their Sisters they were comforted with this Infancy as it were and first foundation of the Church But no small grief followed hard upon this joy when as Cain slew his brother Abel However this breach was made up again in Seth whose posterity propagated the Church although not without grievous persecution by the race of Cain which had an end put unto it by the delâ—ge in the yeer of the world 1656. From whence the Church was enlarged to the yeer 1757 without any notable persecution which at that time the building of the Tower of Babel brought and hence sprung the division of Languages In the yeer of the world 2023 the Church was contracted into the Posterity of Abraham only And here begin the four hundred and thirty yeers dwelling of the Israelites in Egypt where Abraham Isaac Iacob and Ioseph underwent manifold changes both of prosperity and affliction And their posterity after the death of Ioseph was detained under a most horrid slavery from the yeer of the world 2360 even to yeer 2453 in which the Israelites were brought out of Egypt From which time to the yeer 2493 they had experience of divers blessings and judgements of God in the Wildernesse Now after they were brought into the Land of Canaan which happened in the yeer of the world 2493. Iosuah with very good successe for the six first yeers conquered the Canaanites vanquishing one and thirty Kings After the death of Iosuah to the yeer of the world 2879 the Israâ—lites were vexed with divers slaveries and persecutions and rescued from the same by severall Judges namely Deborah Gedâ—on Samson and Samuel And now the Kingly power being established in the dayes of Saul or yeer 2879 the Church presently in the very beginning thereof suffered persecution from Saul himself After that it underwent divers chanceâ— and changes namely under David and Solomon it exceedingly flourished under Rehoboam it suffered a great losâ—e ten Tribes falling of to Ieroboam By occasion whereof a most sad rent of the Kingdom happened the Church by little and little degenerating in Israel whose ten Tribes under Hoshea in the yeeâ— of the world 3228. were led away into a most grievous and yet continuing captivity as farre as the Col. hi Iberi c. As for the Church remaining in the Kingdom of Iuda it had severall entercourses of deformation as well as reformation of calamities as well as victories unto the yeer 3350. in which began the Babylonian captivity continuing Lxx yeers In the yeer 3419 Cyrus released this captivity giving the Iews free leave to return into their Country and to establish their own Laws and Religion as farre as their own Country did reach But not withstanding this Priviledge of using their own Laws was many wayes interrupted untill the yeer 3527 that is for 107 yeers From which time to the yeer 3781. the Church of the Iews enjoyed happy and Halcyonian dayes under the Persians and in like manner under Alexander the Great But under the Successors of Alexander especially the Kings of Syria they were divers wayes afflicted untill in the yeer of the world 3783 and so downward the Maccabees fought with happy successe for their Religion and possessions From the yeer 3887. Iudea was laid wast and severall wayes oppressed by the Romans and Parthians so that the whole State thereof was exceedingly troubled Let us now come to the estate of the Church of the New Testament which we will divide into four periods The first period is of the Church of the godly Iews in Iudea from the time of Iohn the Baptist to the Councell of Ierusalem that is from the yeer of the world 3948. to the fiftieth yeer of Christ In all which space of time Christ was born Baptism instituted Iohn put to death the twelve Apostles and Lxx. Disciples called by Christ Christ himself suffered the Holy Ghost was powred out upon the Apostles the Apostles were whipped for their bold preaching of the Doctrine of Christ c. The seâ—ond period is of the Church spread over the whole world and contains the calling and conversion of most nations from the 51. yeer of Christ to the beginning of the thousand yeers And this period hath four branches I. Under the Henthâ—n Roman Emperours till Constâ—ntine the Great 's time wherein the Church was propagated under divers Persecutions of which tenne were more notable from the 64. yeer of Christ to the 3â—3 II. Under Christian Emperours from Constantine the Great to Phocas in which time it was adorned with divers priviledgâ—s by Constantine the Great and other godly Princes yet so That notwithstanding it felt great persecutions by the Arians by Iulian by the Persians Sandals Gothâ—â— c. to the yeer of Christ
now it hath as also the Majesty or glory thereof shall appear joyned with an absolute and sincere joy All which are here and there to be found in the places quoted and are unfolded in the following Questions And this is that happy condition and estate of the Church which shall be in this life and shall last for a thousand years And it consisteth of these Parts 1. Of the Resurrection of the Martyrs and of rheir Reign here upon Earth 2. Of the increase of the Church and multitude thereof through the conversion of the Gentiles and Iews 3. Of the setting of the Church at liberty from the persecution of Enemies thereof by the small destruction of them 4. Of the continuall and lasting peace thereof 5. Of the Reformation of the same both in doctrine and life 6. Of the Majesty and great glory thereof 7. Of it 's true and sincere Ioy The fourth Period of the Church of the New Testament is from the end of the Thousand yeares to the last Judgement In which time the estate of the Church shall be very miserable by reason of the War of Gog and Magog unto which Christ shall put an end by his glorious coming to the generall Judgement Revel. 20.3.7 8 9 10. And thus we have described the estate of the Church of the old and new Testament here upon earth The estate of the Church in heaven is of perfect glory everlasting triumph absolute regeneration exact illumination and unspeakable joy And this is the full Doctrine concerning the Estate of the Church which we thus set forth The State of the Church is either On Earth Before the fall of man fully happy After the fall and is either Internall perpetuall and common to all places and times in respect of the Elect in generall Externall temporall and proper and it is either of the Old Testament under Patriarches Iudges Kings Divers kindes of Government after the Babylonian captivity New Testament where are 4 periods 1. Of the Jews to the yeare of Christ 51. 2. Of the Gentiles under Emperours Roman Heathen Christian untill Phocas Popes of Rome Fully exercising their power Suffering some abatement thereof 3. Of Jews and Gentiles for a 1000 yeares 4. Of the same after those 1000 yeares finished In Heaven where is the Beginning of the triumph in the last Judgement Consummation thereof in life Eternall The Affections of this manifold Estate are thus delineated The Estate of the Church is either of One kinde to wit Onely happy On Earth Before the fall For the 1000. yeers now at hand In Heaven Onely unhappy by reason of severall persecutions Already past before these 1000. yeares To come after these 1000. yeares Divers kindes to wit partly happy partly unhappy or temporate and lyable to the enterchange of temporall felicity or calamity Of the Connexion of this Chapter with the former IOHN in his Revelation which he received from God in the yeare of Christ 94. after the Preface chap. 1 to the 9 verse describes seven generall Visions in this order The first Vision is of the seven golden Candlesticks and of so many Starres and it is concerning the present and future estate of the seven Churches in Asia in the 1 2 3 chapters The second Vision is of the Book shut up and signed with seven Seals in the 4 5 6 chapters And it is concerning the estate of the Church of the new Testament after the departure of Iohn to the yeare of Christ 606. The third Vision is of the seven Trumpets in the 8 9 10 11 chapters and it is concerning the state of the Church from the year of Christ 606 to the year 1517. The fourth Vision is of the woman bringing forth a childe and of the Dragon of the Beast and the Lamb in the 12 13 14 chapters And it is partly a description of the Birth of Christ partly a recapitulation and exposition of the second and third Visions and concerning the estate of the Church of the New Testament from the Nativity of Christ to the yeare 1517. The fifth Visiion is of the seven Vials in the 15 and 16 chapters of which the three former are poured forth from the year of Christ 1517 to the year 1625. the four following shall be poured forth from the year 1625 to the year of Christ 1694. in which the 1000 years seem to begin The sixth Vision is partly of the punishments as well those which are peculiarly appointed for the Whore and her worshipyers before the beginning of the 1000 years in the 17 18 19. chapters as also those which shall be inflicted upon all the enemies of the Church Partly of the future happinesse of the Church here upon earrh in the 20 chapter from the 1 uerse to the 7. After the end of those years chap. 20. the 7 and following verses The seventh Vision is of the Heavenly City chap. 21 22. II. The Sum of this Chapter AFter that the Evangelist hath related what happened to the first Beast and the false Prophet and their followers chap. 19. verse 20 21. He tells you now what happened to the Dragon himself For the Mystery of Iniquity being overthrown and due punishments inflicted upon the first Beast and the false Prophet the Angel descends from Heaven and being endowed with great Power he takes order that the Dragon that is Satan should not any more by the ministery of ungodly men stirre up those accustomed troubles in the Church Militant Wherefore there being no place left him any longer for his wonted impostures but bound up in the bottomlesse pit for a thousand years the Nations are not seduced â—y him untill being loosned out of prison he again makes use of his old Engines and Stratagems against the Church Therefore for the space of those whole 1000 years the Church shall enjoy outward peace the Martyrs being raised from the dead and the Nations together with the Jews being converted to the Faith of Christ Now after the end of these thousand years Satan is again let loose and the Church by reason of the Warre of Gog and Magog made sensible of more grievous afflictions then she had suffered in former times At length he being again thrust into the bottomlesse pit together with all his forces and power the Saints shall for ever reign with Christ III. The Analysis of the Chapter ANd that is After that For {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} is to be taken transitively here in this sense After that I had seen the Beast and the false Prophet thrown into the Lake burning with Bâ—imstone and the rest slain with the sword of him that sate upon the horse and all birds satisfied with the flesh of them I saw these things which now follow I saw that is In the Spirit or extasie of my minde Compare Revel. 1.10 An Angel A good Spirit a Minister of the Judgements of God such as were in the former Visions Therefore neither Christ nor any Doctor of the Church is
and troubled Verse 7 8 9 10. 3. Is concerning the throne of Christ the Judge Vers. 11. 4. Is concerning the Vniversall Judgement and the processe thereof Verse 12 13 14 15. IV. The Paraphrase of the Chapter THe condition and estate of the Militant Church being laid open unto me from the yeer of Christ 94 together with the temptations and assaults wherewith it was shaken the labours wherewith it was afflicted the deliverances whereby it was freed the Victory whereby it was ennobled but specially and last of all the fall of Babylon being foretold and declared 1. I saw in my extasie a good Angel the Minister of the Judgements of God such as I had seen in my former Visions Him I say I saw coming down from the heaven of the blessed who had by God entrusted to him the key of the bottomlesse pit of hell that according to the appointment of God he might shut and open it also a great chain in his hand wherewith he might binde some powerfull enemy 2. This Angel laid hold of the Dragon that infernall old Serpent who from the beginning vomited forth his poyson upon man-kinde and deceived them with his winding Sophismes who is both the Devill slandering God before men and on the other side men before God who is also Satan the adversary of God and men of Nature in generall and of the Church This Deceiver being found and apprehended in his Sophistry and Tyranny the good Angel bound with his chain and that for a thousand Solar years and commonly used in the generall course of life 3. Neither was it enough for him to binde him but moreover he cast him being bound and threw him headlong into the bottomlesse pit and being thrown down thither he shut him up and being shut up he sealed the Cover of the bottomlesse pit lest breaking forth by any means he might seduce partly to Idolatry partly to the persecution of the Church any more as he had done before the Nations as well Jews as Gentiles untill the thousand yeers are finished For afterwards he must God so appointing it be Ieâ— loose out of his prison for a short time which God hath limitted and which shall not befor a thousand yeers as the time of his binding and his being shut up was 4. A joyfull Catastrophe or issue shall follow this Tragedy of the Dragon For I saw Thrones set in order and and Christ with his holy Angels sate upon them For unto these power was given to judge partly by giving and executing sentence partly by approving thereof I saw also the souls of them who were beheaded and tormented with innumerable kinds of punishments not indeed for their own offences but for the testimony which they gave concerning Christ the Son of God and onely Advocate of the Church and for the Word of God which they had boldly maintained against the corruptions of men and who had not worshipped that second Beast which I made mention of that I saw it before nor the image of that Beast which is two-fold both in respect of doctrine and life neither had received his mark in their foreheads publikely making shew and witnessing by their words that they belonged to the family of the Beast Lastly they had not so much 〈◊〉 received this mark in their hands expressing the same either in their life manners or actions Such at these lived their bodies being raised again and restored to life Neither did they only live again but also reigned in the Church freed now from Persecutions with Christ that King of kings for a thousand years 5. But the rest of the dead as well the godly who before these 1000 yeers received not the Crown of Martyrdom as the ungodly lived not again till the thousand yeers were finished And this is the first Resurrection due onely to them as a â—rerogative who above others have glorified the Lord Christ in their bodies nothing terrified with the threats curses and torments of men 6. These Martyrs therefore who have their part in the first Resurrection are deservedly esteemed happy above others as also peculiarly separated and set aside by God for the receiving of such a reward For the second death shall have no power over them By reason that though they live the second time here upon earth yet they shall no more by any sin engage themselves so that they need to fear any danger of an eternall death For they shall be here upon earth Priests of God and of Christ not of this world and they shall reigne with Christ not as the kings of the Nations but in the Majesty of the Spirit for these thousand yeers 7. Now when these thousand yeers shâ—â—â— be fulfilled the happinesse of the Church shall on the sudden begin to fail here on earth For Satan in an instant shall be â—et loose out of his prison in which he was most carefully kept for those thousand yeers 8. But being thus set at liberty he shall not rest so but shall return to his old game and so he shall go forth that he may the more freely seduce the Nations which are in the four corners of the earth towards the East and towards the West towards the North and the South Now he shall not onely by heresies of all kindes lead on the blinde world to Apostasie or falling away from the faith but also he shall behave himself as a Captain or Leader to bring on a grievous Persecution upon the Church stirring and raising up against it Gog and Magog the sworn enemies thereof and of God himself such as were of old those people who under these names were bitter enemies to the Iews And having thus stirred them up he shall gather them together to Batteâ—â— farre more cruell and bloody then hath been from the beginning of the world For men shall enter into this Battell barbarous in their monstrous cruelty and monstrous cruell in their barbarousnesse whose number shall be as the sand of the Sea 9. Wherefore these vast forces under the conduct of Satan shall come upon the earth and shall cover the breadth thereof with their multitudes And straightway they shall encompasse the Camp of the Saints wheresoever it shall be and with their utmost diligence and devices shall endeavour quite to deface the Church that beloved City of God But however in the very midst of this their rage and fury being greater then that either of the Cyclops or Giants on a sudden a fire shall come down from Heaven God himself sending forth lightnings and flashings of fire upon them and shooting out his Arrows against them This fire shall devour those his innumerable enemies like stubble 10. But neither shall their Leader the Devill who conducted and seduced them carry it away so without his due punishment for opposing the Church of God by the seduced Nations For he shall be cast into the Lake of fire and brimstone that is into hell it self where his companions the first beast and
Egyptian bondage Exod. 12. and 14. by the deliverance of Hierusalem from the siege of Sennacheri◠2 Kin. 19. by the deliverance from the hostile invasion of the Ethiopians under King Asa. 2 Chro. 14. by deliverance from the invasion of the Moabites and Ammonites under King Iehosaphat 2 Chron. 20. And lastly by deliverance from the oppression of Antiochus Epiphanes 1 Mac. 1. and following chapters Adde unto these divers examples of the Church of the N. T. which when it's condition hath been granted as desperate and quite lost hath had deliverance by the * unexpected handy-work of God See the Ecclesiasticall History at large From hence we may very well gather that the Church at this time oppressed on every hand and left destitute of all humane assistance shall by the power of God be asserted and vindicated when Antichrist in the full course and carrére of his happynesse shall little think of any such matter IV. The downfall of Antichrist and the binding of Satan for a thousand years do without any intermission meet together It is very probable therefore That the beginning of these thousand years is at hand For Antichrist at that very time wherein he shall make the greatest boast of his victories shall suddenly fall Revel. 18.7 8. V. The severall Phaenomena or Apparitions in the Heavens namely new Starres and Cometes also Earthquakes and the like taken notice of in these latter times do without doubt portend and manifestly foretell some notable and extraordinary change VI The Period or limited time for the Kingdom of Antichrist to continue is almost expired and at an end as appears by the Revelation and History VII Daniel Chap. 12. declares an end of his prophesie when he expressely sets down that 2625. years shall be finished after the end of his Lxx. Weeks that is from the year of Christ 69. which years if they be added to the other the sum of 2694. years is made up In which current of time all things shall happen out which are foretold except the last Judgement and what follows thereon Wherefore if from 2694. years 1000 be subducted we shall come by the year of Christ 1694. In this year then or sooner our THOUSAND years shall take their beginning The consent of Godly and learned Men IN the forefront we place the fourth book of Esdras For there many passages occurre concerning the conversion of the Jews and the deliverance of the Church of the N. T. from Antichrist Especially That is a notable place Chap. 13.39 40. And whereas thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable multitude unto him Those are tenne Tribes which were * carried away prisoners out of their own Land in the time of Hoshea the King What the same Author writes concerning the Eagle and Lion is severally expounded by severall interpreters Out of the Sibylls also some things are brought about the downfall of Antichrist and the happy estate which the world shall enjoy after that shall come to passe Very much mention is made of that Rome shall become a street or high way All the Fathers were of this opinion that Elias should come and restore all things Some as you may see in Alfonsus Conradus in his Commentary on the Revelation between the coming of Christ in the flesh and his coming in Majesty do maintain a certain middle coming which they call his coming in the power and effiency of his Spirit to destroy the great Antichrist to reform his Church This coming they say shall be in the end of the sixth Millenary or 1000 years of which coming they make Enoch and Elias the forerunners They say that Antichrist shall be destroyed by their preaching and his Kingdom abolished After whose downfall peace shall be granted to the Church and Satan shall be bound so that he shall not be able to disturbe the tranquillity thereof Now this peace and happy progresse of the Church they say shall last for the whole seventh Millenary till the last time of her troubles by the persecution of the Nations Gog and Magog because Satan who they say shall then be set at liberty shall stirre them up against the Godly From hence it appears That our opinion concerning these 1000 years is not new and unheard of Alfonsus Conradus of Mantua in his Commentary on the Revelation published at Basil. An. 1574. writeth as followeth IN his Preface This one thing perchance will offend the ears of some because I seem to promise a more plentifull peace to the Church then that likenesse of the Crosse will allow of to which in this world it must be made conformable to Christ it's head But let them bethink themselves I entreat them that this is not so contrary to the Scripture that it should be objected against me or laid to my charge as fit to be reckoned in the number of those which are termed either impious or absurd Especially when as I cannot perceive by what means that happinesse which Iohn writes the Church shall enjoy Satan being bound can be made good except we acknowledge some rest of the Church her enemies being overthrown Which I think indeed ever happened as often as the enemies of God's people have been removed out of the way Now because the enemy which Iohn tells us shall be taken away is more dangerous then all that ever yet infested God's people it ought not to seem strange to any one if he being once overcome the Church enjoy a more plentifull peace then usually Vpon the 20. Chap. of the Revel. Vers. 1. God being about to bestow a more plentifull peace upon his Church then hitherto he had granted to it it sufficeth him not to have removed out of the way the Beast and those Kings of the Earth with a horrible slaughter who favouring the Beast had wholly disturbed his Churche's peace except also he restrain Satan the beginner of all these mischiefs So that he may not any more raise those usuall contentions and strife among men Wherefore the Angel comes down from Heaven who repressing the fury of Satan shuts him up in the bottomelesse pit and there forces him to remain so long as he pleases not to have the peace of the Church to be taken away And a little after Now he binds him and shuts him up into the bottomelesse pit for a thousand years that is for that whole time wherein God hath determined that the peace of his Church shall not be disturbed by Satan See more there to this purpose Lucas Osiander upon Daniel 12. I think the end of these years will fall in with that time in which the Popedome of Rome shall bodily be overturned although in some mens mindes it shall hiddenly remain even untill the last day Matthew Cotterius in his continued and demonstrative Exposition of the Revelation upon the 20 Chap. Satan began to be tyed in bonds when the restored Truth of the Scriptures began to take place on earth the witnesses being
years which cannot be understood of eternall life For the thousand years of Satans binding and of the kingdom of the Saints with Christ are the same as we have formerly proved XXI Object The War which Satan after his thousand appointed years being let loose hath made by Gog and Magog that is by the Turk * that Eastern Antichrist against the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City that is The Christian Church for 500 years and more with great successe even unto this day took it's beginning from the Holy Warre first raised by Gregory the 7 Pope of Rome by them who wore the Signe of the Crosse the end of which indeed shall not be before the last Judgement wherein the Beast with the false Prophet shall at length be cast into the Lake of fire And the Catastrophe or issue shall prove lamentable to all the enemies of the Church because the fire shall devour them Answ. This idle Glosse or Exposition may be confuted out of what I have said in the Analysis or unfolding of this Chapter and in answer to the 9 Objection This in brief The Beast with the false Prophet is thrown into the Lake of fire before those thousand years and those thousand yeers being finished the Warre of Gog begins Compare Revel. 19.20 with 20 7. Again Gog and Magog do not signifie the Turke But by this manner of speaking are figured out enemies of all kindes who by their incursions annoy or trouble the Church as before we have made it plain XXIII Object In every vision except the first the description of the last Judgement is set down in the Revelation more obscurely indeed in the former but in the latter more clearly because all the visions are terminated in the end of the world that the godly being injured may expect the day of their deliverance and occasion of security may quite be taken away from the mockers Wherefore it makes nothing which they say that Revel. 19.21 The peculiar destruction of Antichrist is described which shall not be in the last judgement but before those thousand years Answ. 1. The Antecedent is denyed For in the second Vision which ends with the 6. chapter a description of the last judgement is not set down but some particular judgement to be executed about that time which figures out the last judgement 2. The Text of Revel. 19. and the last manifestly argueth that that vision is not terminated with the last judgement 3. If however in every vision except the first a description of the last judgement were set down yet it would not be otherwise then by interruption or breaking of the present discourse and so no essentiall part of the matter in hand and consequently no way contradict or weaken this our opinion XXIV Object The 20 Chapter of the Revelation containeth a Vision which is the summe of all the foregoing visions and a succinct and brief iteration of the whole prophesie so often repeated which is divided into three parts In the first is the blessed state of the Church for a good space of time after the first coming of Christ which is expressed in the first Seal In the second are described the painfull labours and calamities wherewith the Church shall afterwards wrestle Of which in the third and fourth Seals and in the third fourth fifth and sixth Trumpets In the third is set down the joyfull deliverance thereof and the destruction of her adversaries with the end and Consummation of all as before in the sixth Seal and the seventh Trumpet and seventh Viall But especially in this Vision the punishment of the Devill himself is expressed when as in the former the destruction of his Ministers onely and his followers was set forth Hence therefore we may perceive that they are wide the whole Heaven as they say who out of this Chapter do erect I know not what happynesse of the Church which is yet to come here on earth for a thousand years Answ. This whole distribution or disposition of the Revelation and namely of the 20 Chapter which is here proposed is absurd and manifestly obscures the Revelation See what we have formerly discoursed up and down and namely the 1. Sect. Of the connexion of this 20 Chapter with the whole Systeme or entire body of the Revelation Briefly let this Maxime be observed The Divine Revelation from the departure of Iohn to the end of the world distinctly figureth out the State of the Church and the Ages thereof by Seâ—ls Trumpets Vialls and the following visions So that all these succeed one another in a most beautifull order and not one and the same thing is represented by divers visions For it doth not suite with that Majestique manner of teaching which the Holy Ghost observeth that in one and the same Prophesie he should propose so many visions of one and the same thing XXV Object No where in Scripture iâ— there any mention of these thousand years but in this place onely Therefore it is very likely That these thousand years signifie meerly a Great time so that a certain number is put for an uncertain Answ. 1. Here is no consequence It is but once mentioned in Scriptures Therefore it must not be taken litterally For also she Lxx. weeks of Daniel are but once mentioned and yet that number Lxx. is litterally expounded so that it is taken for a certain finite and determined number 2. This phrase {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the thousand years is severall times repeated in this place Which repetition is not without some cause 3. From many testimonies of Scripture a a little before propounded and expounded from divers Arguments recited in the first Classis or distribution and compared with them places of Scripture it manifestly appears That the happy state of the Church for these thousand years is described in this Chapter XXVI Object The number of a thousand is the number of perfection Therefore these thousand years in this place do denote the fulnesse of time but are not to be taken literally Answ. 1. This is an Argument from a particular A thousand sometimes denotes perfection Therefore in this place 2. That the letter is here to be retained it is more then abundantly already proved XXVII Object The division of the Church into Militant and Triumphant opposeth this opinion of the future happinesse of the Church here on earth for a thousand years where by the Militant Church is understood that part thereof which in this life is subject to the Crosse and Persecution By the Triumphant iâ— meant the whole Church in as much as after this life it shall reign with Christ in Heaven Answ. 1. The Warfare of the Church is not to be restrained to the persecution to which now it is subject but it is to be extended to the Spirituall combate and wrestling which while it lives here it hath triall of from the lusts of the flesh Although therefore for these thousand years it shall have
interpretation oâ— these thousanâ— yâ—ares permitting to the Revelation it's divine authority they ceased from their attempt which could by no meanes be freed from the censure of impiety Conceive thus them that the Seaventh Trumpet with the whole space of those thousand yeares and other predictions belonging thereto doth set forth that great day of judgement so much spoken of by the ancient Church as also by Christ and his Apostles and is not the short space of a few houres as commonly it is beleives but according to the manner of the Hâ—brewes using a day for a time the continued intervall of many yeares and circumsâ—ribed with two resurrections as with two set or limitted tâ—rmes I say that this day shall bee begun first with the partâ—culâ—r and tâ—mely judgement of Antichrist and othâ—r eneâ—ies of the Church then remaining alive with the glorious appearance of our Lord Christ in flames of fire and that at length after the Kingdome of a thousand yeares granted to his holy Spouse the New Ierusalâ—m here on earth and others that shall afterward be borne this great day now drawing to an end shall bee finishâ—d aftâ—r the letting loose of Satan and uâ—ter destruction of the Churches eâ—emies with the generall resurrection and judgement of all the dead which being performed the wicked shall be thrust downe iâ—to Hell to bee tormâ—nted eternally and the Saints translated into Heaven to live with Christ there for ever This indeed is the Time of the anger of God upon the Nations and avenging the cause of them who dyed for Christ for which after the blast of the seaventh Trumpet chapter eleâ—enth the Elâ—ers give thankes with triumph because therein God was to gâ—ve a reward to his servants the Prophets and Saints and to them that feared his â—ame small and great and would destroy thâ—m who destroy the earth This is that day of judgement and destruction of wicked men of which Peter 2. Ep. 3.8 having spoken prâ—sently addes But beloved be not ignorant of this one thing for before I shewed it was called a day that one day is with the Lord as a thousand yeares and a thousand yeares as one day In which very day the Apostle with his brethren and kinsfolk the Iewes to whom he writeth doth expect a new fashion of things to happen of which hee saith Presenâ—ly BVT WEE EXPECT A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH according to his Promise where in dwelleth righteousnes Take notice according to his promise Now where was this promise to be found of a new Heaven and new Earth seeing Iohn had not yet had this Revelation but Esaya 65.17 and 66.22 which promise whosoever shall reade I should wonder if he think that it is to be accomplished anywhere else but vpon Earth This is also that Kingdome which is ioyned with Christs appearance heere on Earth to Iudge the world of which Paul to Timothy 2. Ep. 4 1. I charge thee before god and the lord Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 shall Iudge the quicke and the dead at his APPEARING and HIS KINGDOME For after the last and Vniuersall Resurrection the same Paul being witnesse 1. Cor. 15.24 Christ having destroyed the last enemy death shall deliver up the Kingdome to the Father that he himselfe may be subiect to him that put all things vnder him so little can he be said to enter upon a new kingdome The Kingdome therefore which neither was before the Appâ—arance of the Lord neither shall be after the last Resurrection must necessarily be concluded to be batweene them both This is the kingdom of the son of man which Dan. saw the times of the Antichristian HORNE being finished or the times of the Gentiles Luke 21.24 being accomplished who shall appeare in the clouds when power and glory and the Kingdome shall be given to him that all people nations and languages may serve him for when as the Angel streight expoundeth it the Kingdom and Dominion and greatnesse of the Kingdome under the whole heaven mark it well shall be given to the people of the Saiâ—ts of the most high For neither as I sayd before shall this Kingdome be after the last Resurrection seeing then the Sonne of man shall not enter upon a Kingdome but as Paul saith he must lay it downe and deliver to his Father Now that the same kingdome is spoken of by Daniel and Iohn may from hence be evinced First because both Kingdomâ— begin with the ruine of the fourth or Roman Beast that of Daniel when the Beast under the last command of the Horne which had eyes was slaine and his body given to the burning flame that in thâ—Revelation when the Beast and false Prophet that wicked Horne is Daniâ—l having mouth and eyes like a head were taken and both cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone Secondly from the same sitting in judgement which went before both for that one place is borrowed from the other and both enteâ—d the same thing will appeare from the comparing of the descriptions of both DAN. Cap. VII APOC. XX 4 Ver. 9. I beheld till the Thrones were placed For so it must be rendred with the Vulgar LXX and Theodor and so {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} is used of a Throne in the Targum on Ier. 1.15 And I saw Thrones Ver. 10. And judgement was set That is Judges as in the great Sanbedrim or Councell of the Jewes according to the manner of which this whole description is fitted And they sate upon them Ver. 22. And judgement was given to the Saints of the most High That is Power to Judge whence is that of Paul The just shall judge the Earth And judgement was given unto them And the Saints possessed the Kingdome That is with the Sonne of man who came in the clouds of Heaven And the Saints lived reigned with Christ a thousand yeares Moreover I would advise the Reader of this whatsoever wholesome truth almost is delivered by the Iewes or by our Saviour in the Gospel or anywhere in the new Testament by the Apostles concerning the day of the Great Iudgement is taken out of this vision of Daniel namely the Judgement which shall be by fire Christs comming in the Cloudes of Heaven his comming in the glory of his Father with a multitude of Angels the judging of the world by him with his Saints the abolishing of Antichrist by the glorious appearance of his comming c. So that they goe about to take away a pillar of our Evangelicall faith who neglecting this ancient tradition of the Church goe about to carry this Prophecy another way Lastly to make an end This is that most great Kingdome which as Daniel interprets it was shewed to Nebuchadnezzar in that representative Statue of the foure Kingdomes Not that of the STONE which the succession of the IV Monarchies yet remaining was cut out of the Mountaine for this is the
present state of Christs Kingdomâ— but of the Stone which those Monarchies being dissolved and overthrowne became a Mountainâ— and filled the whole earth Hactenus Medeus {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in m sticis Prophetiis si quis alius {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} The Learned Authour of a Latine Treatise lately Printed in London and Inscribed NVNC IVS PROPHETICVS DE millenariâ felicitate doctrinam non esse novam besternam c. The future felicity of the Saints and servants of God here on earth for the space of 1000. yeares is no novell conceit new broached fancy or an opinion started up yesterday but a Truth to be reverenced for its antiquity and seniority it being countenanced and maintained above 14. or 1500. yeares agoe yea even in the infancy of the Christian Church Many reverend men famous for their sanctity and learning who lived whilest the blood of Christ was yet warme taught freely and fully with applause of all and contradiction of none concerning a great Sabbath and time of Rest which should in after ages come upon the Earth Some of them maintained then a twofold Resurrection 1. Particular of some choyce Saints especially Martyrs and Confessors whose lives were shortned and imbittered for the testimony of Iesus 2. Vniversall of the residue of the Saints with all the Reprobates which is a principall flower in the Garland of every Christians Creed and betwixt both a truely Golden Age of 1000. yeares continuance Peruse and ponder good Reader Revel. 5.10 and ch. 20.4 5 6. where the premises if my interpretation may â—eare sway are so manifestly asserted as if they were written with a Sunne beame Neither let any scruple at the raising of any particular Saints before their Brethren seeing we have a president hereof in sacred Writ or the first Good Friday or as I rather conceive on the first Easter day for at that time there arose with Christ our first Parents holy Patriarches and Matriarchs with many religious Kings and inspired Prophets by name Adam Eve Noah Abraham and his Sarah Isaac Iacob Iob Moses David or at least Iohn Baptist Zachary Elizabeth Simeon Anna Ioseph Christs Foster-father with others who saw and conversed with Christ in the flesh Moreover not a few eminent and ancient Fathers were strongly opinionated that Christ himselfe should then descend from Heaven and here Reigne in a visible shape with great glory and tranquillity amongst his Saints and holy ones That eloquent and * candid writer Lactantius the Cicero of the Christians shall be the mouth of the rest The Sonne of the highest and great God shall come to judge the living and dead and he shall dwell among men 1000. yeares and he shall governe them under a most just command and they shall live with their bodies they shall not dye but for those 1000. yeares they shall encrease into an infinite multitude and their issue shall be holy and beloved of God Now they that are raised from the dead shall as Iudges be placed over them that are alive And a little after The Moone shall receive the brightnesse of the Sun and shall lose her light no more And the Sun shall be seven times more glorious then now it is The earth shall expresse her fruitfulnesse and bring forth of its owne accord plentifull store of corne The cliffes of the Mountaines shall sweat out honey the Springs and rivers shall flow with wine and milke And presently againe There shall be no ravenous beasts in this time no birds of prey but all things shall be quiet and peaceable The Lyon and Calfe shall feed at the same stall the Wolfe shall not devoure the Sheepe neither shall the dogge hunt after his prey The Eagle and Hawke shall doe no harme The Infanâ— shall play with Seapents Lastly all those things shall come to passe which the Poets fable to have beene in those golden times of Saturnes reigne Men shall live therefore a most quiet and plentifull life and they shall reigne together with God and the Kings of the earth shall bring in their gifts and presents to worship and honour the great King c. This is the doctrine of the holy Prophets which we Christians follow This is Christian wisdome These are the words of Lactantius which though plausible at the first view being most part Scripture phrase yet may here and there I grant if minutely examined be justly liable to exception as bordering neere upon the Heresy of Cerinibus and the old condemned Millmarians except we yeeld them spoken as Saint Paul speakes in another case after the manner of men Howbeit the Authour may be excused he having only amplified that in transcendent expressions and flourishing streames which many-many Lights of the East and West-Churches delivered in downeright termes But why doe I single out one Lactantius or insist thus on his Rhetoriqueâ— Papias a Bishop and Saint Iohns Scholar Irenaeus and Iustine stiled the Martyr both which lived in the next age to the Apostles Tertullian also and Hilarius men of admirable endowments yea I had almost said and in part blessed Augustine himselfe and his contemporary Saint * Hierome all which were stars of the first magnitude in the firmament of the Primitive Church most willingly have afforded their places and suffrages to this comfortable Doctrine I meane for the maine of it After a good pause the same Author proceeds thus Lastly In what yeare this new world shall begin wherein holy men and women shall rejoyce and live together in a most blessed and heavenly manner is one of the great secrets of Heaven all which are unknowne to us mortals Alas our dimme eyes the Caleb and Ioshua fellow spies in this Isle of man cannot pierce those tenfold Orbes of Heaven Indeed so many men so many mindes One Author assignes this yeare another that a third differs in his account from both But it is agreed on all hands that this thrice happy and golden age is now at hand Alstedius the Champion of the late Millenarians and a maine prop of this new revised Doctrine names and confidently determines the yeare of Christ 1694. being 52 yeares hence for the first yeare of this triumphant Reigne of the Saints here on earth Others judge the time uncertaine and certainly their judgment in my judgement is most certaine I will turne my private opinion into a prayer O that the Almighty would hasten I againe and againe I wish it this glorious Kingdome that so it may come in our times before we be lodged in the silent grave and moulder into our principles dust and ashes And now I will seale this delightfull contemplation with the words of Saint Iohn surnamed the Divine or rather not of the Pâ—â—man but of the thrice blessed Spirit which guided his pen Rev. 20.6 Blessed is he that hath his part in the first Resurrection Sweet Jesus grant a part in the first Resurrection to Thy servant and