and also the Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifie lower than the Angels and crowned him with Glory and Worship making him to have dominion over the works of his hands and putting all things under his feet c. Which the Apostle applyes to Christ Heb. 2. and also saith he hath made him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a little while as our Translation hath it in the margent likewise inferiour to the Angels and then speaketh of the same subjection of the creatures under him then afterwards to come and therefore ver 8. he saith we do not yet see all things put under him only we see Christ in his own person that for a little while was made lower than the Angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour But he again further teacheth Phil. 2.9 c. that God had given him a Name above every name that at the Name of JESUS every knee should bow or be subject of things in Heaven and things on Earth and things under the Earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Which will not be done till he hath received his Kingdom and shall return as he himself speaketh Luke 19.12 15 and all these things can at no other time upon Scripture-ground be expected but at his said 2d coming when God shall bring again his Son into the world and say Let all the Angels of God worship him Heb. 1.6 and that was also foretold Psal 97.7 which whole Psalm beginning The Lord reigneth let the Earth rejoyce c. setteth forth prophetically in what a glorious manner Christ will come then to set up his glorious Kingdom both by destroying his Idolatrous Enemies and wonderfully delivering and exalting his People as is observable throughout the whole Psalm and this as to the time and order Christ succinctly explains Rev. 20.4 saying the Saints reigned with Christ a thousand years And accordingly thereunto are all the Promises of raising again the Tabernacle of David which was fallen Amos 9.11 Acts 15.16 and those for the perpetuity of Davids Kingdom to his seed so long as the Sun and Moon do endure See Irenicon p. 77 78 79. and the like are all to be interpreted which will be manifest when the Kingdom of the Stone Dan. 2.33 34. shall become a great Mountain filling the whole Earth And this is that Coming of the Son of man in his Kingdom spoken of by Christ Matth. 16.28 of which he soon after shewed a glymps unto his three Disciples Peter James and John at his Transfiguration Mark 9.1 Luke 9.27 Neither can these Texts be justly denied to be meant of such a Kingdom of Christ to come upon his coming again nor warrantably be interpreted in any other sense if the said Texts be seriously and duly considered 22. Obser I have observed only three great Earthquakes spoken of in all the series or order of the Book of Revelation And where the Spirit of God calls them great we may expect they will be great indeed For Earthquakes are often spoken of besides these great ones The first is upon the opening of the sixth Seal Rev. 6.12 when God by Constantine the Great overturned Satan's Paganish Kingdom when five or six several Caesars were so potent to oppose him See Fore runner p. 29. and cast down Satan from his Heaven of Heathenish Worship into the Earth Rev. 12.9 which was spoken of the same time which is described as a day of Judgment Rev. 6. to the Paganish Powers as indeed it was and there the Spirit of God sets down an Ecce before it and Lo saith he there was a great Earthquake The second is Rev. 11.13 at the ascension of the two Witnesses after their resurrection and then the holy Spirit tells us at the same hour there was a great Earthquake when the tenth part of the Dition of the City of Rome probably will quite fall from it See Fore runner p. 8. where the Witnesses are to rise again c. and this Earthquake we may daily expect But thirdly there is another great Earthquake afterwards spoken of to come which he further illustrates much above both the former and that will be at or about Antichrist's final destruction at the end of the sixth Viol and pouring-out of the seventh for the compleating of his ruine Rev. 16.17 18. and then the Spirit of God speaks with a great deal of emphasis of it saying v. 18. And there was a great Earthquake such as was not since Man was upon Earth so mighty an Earthquake and so great Which seems to be further described in the three following verses and seems to be at or about the same time of Michael's standing up to deliver Daniels People when such a time of trouble will be as never was since there was a Nation Dan. 12.1 and when St. Paul saith of Antichrist 2 Thess 2.8 Christ will destroy him with the appearance of his coming and happily of both Rev. 14. latter part of the chapter And then will not only the Earth be shaken but also the Heavens as saith the Prophet Hag. 2.6 7 21. Heb. 12.26 and as upon good reason from several Scriptures seems to be the main drift of them then to be fulfilled as Mal. 3.2 Rev. 11.16 Which shaking of the Earth probably may seem was first at that great Earthquake Rev. 6.12 when God by Constantine the Great overthrew Paganish Idolatry and may be again by the next great Earthquake now approaching Rev. 11.13 which will also begin to shake Antichristian Idolaters who are called in this Book the men of the Earth and the perfecting of that shaking is to be at that third and greatest Earthquake Rev. 16.18 when not only the Earth and evil men will be shaken but also the Heavens namely such Churches as will be then in a degree reformed Churches and thereupon will the new Heavens and new Earth ensue of both reformed Church and State in the whole World I conceive at the setting up of Christ's Kingdom on Earth Rev. 20.4 5.10 23. When the Prophet Moses denounceth threatnings against the twelve Tribes the Spirit of God seems to guide him divers times to set them down prophetically as including Prophecies in their order afterwards to be fulfilled as is observable Lev. 26. Deut. 28. 4.30 which he said expresly should be in the latter dayes and Deut. 32. from ver 1. to 44. See these Texts more fully in the Irenicon pag. 60 61. 24. Obser The heavy weight of God's wrath upon mankind next after the fall of the first Adam seems very observable through the first great Period of the World until the Flood for first good Abel the remotest type of Christ after Adam being slain by his brother Yet cursed Cain was then suffered to live to people the World which further appears that in those first ages of the World to the Flood few are recorded or hinted in Scripture to
again upon Earth which he speaks of twice v. 15 17. as being in a very different condition from those that are dead then and in the thousand years and to be first raised when all wicked men are to be raised Where note he saith not We shall rise first then as he did of the other state we that are alive and remain but the dead in Christ and that they with all such as were in the natural life on Earth who should have a momentany change then instead of a death and also that all those that were before raised in the thousand years should all at once be rapt up to meet Christ in the air and altogether be thenceforth ever with the Lord who had for a little time before absented himself from them And that the Apostle in this Epistle speaks both of his second and third coming may thus further be made to appear chap. 3.13 he speaks of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with All his Saints and again chap. 4.14 he saith also them also that sleep in Jesus shall God bring with him he brings them with him at his next appearance to take their bodies in the first Resurrection Rev. 20.6 but at his third coming they are not said to be brought with him but rapt up to meet him in the air when he is descended from Heaven Before he had left them a little season but afterwards they shall be ever with the Lord. To which purpose Enoch prophesied of old of his first coming Jude 14.8 Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints that is when the New Jerusalem which is above and called by the Apostle The Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 shall come down from God out of Heaven at his second coming at the time of the restitution of all things Acts 3.20 21. Rev. 21. being prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband when he will make all things new and the Tabernacle of God shall be with men v. 2 3 5. when the souls beheaded for the testimony of Jesus shall live and reign with Christ the thousand years Rev. 20.4 and when he will begin that judgment Rev. 11.18 to reward his servants the Prophets and his Saints and all that fear his Name both small and great and when the four Beasts or rather living wights and the twenty four Elders Rev. 5.10 shall actually enjoy that which they foresaw in Vision above one thousand five hundred years before that they should reign upon earth for he is not said to bring them with him at his third coming but to take them up to him to meet him in the air by a sudden resurrection and momentany change and rapture who before in great part lived again and remained upon Earth or in the World until that time and yet he saith that they should not prevent those that were then asleep and also shews that though Christ had left them for a season before yet from thence-forward they should all ever be with the Lord. And for his second coming the Scripture is very full and clear at the destruction of Antichrist from Dan. 7.14 when he shall come in the clâ—â—â—â— of Heaven and Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him and 2 Thess 2.8 he will then destroy the Man of Sin with the appearance of his Coming when he shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on those wicked men who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his Power and then also be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe 2 Thess 1.8 9 10. And this is his appearance at his Kingdom when he will judge both quick dead as 1 Tim. 4.1 by destroying wicked men and rewarding the Righteous as Rev. 11.18 20.4 for then God begins to make his foes his footstool when having taken to himself his great Power he destroyes them that destroyed the Earth as follows in Rev. 11.18 and all this will be at or about the same time when Michael the great Prince that is the Messiah shall stand up to deliver his People Dan. 12.1 when such a time of trouble will be as never was since there was a Nation and such a great Earthquake also will be then at the pouring-out of the last Viol to finish the destruction of the Beast as never was since men were upon the Earth even till that time so mighty an Earthquake and so great Rev. 16. latter end and likewise Dan. 7.9 10 11. ver 26. for the Judgment is set to that end and the Books then opened as in ver 10. See many Texts that speak of this his second coming in the Irenicon pag. 42 43 44. and for his personal appearance which is the same second coming in the Forerunner p. 47 48. And for his third descending with a shout from heaven and the voyce of the Archangel and the Trump of God when the rest of the Saints that dyed in the thousand years shall be again raised as the other were in the thousand years that had reigned with Christ before upon earth before Satan seduced the last Gog and Magog See the Abridgmâ— on Daniels Visions there is above a thousand years space as was said from his second coming to that third when namely at his third coming he will sit upon that great white throne as Judg from whose face the Earth and Heavens will then slee away Rev. 20. after the last Gog and Magog shall be destroyed ver 11 12 to the end Also concerning this third coming seems St. Peter also to speak 2 Pet. 3.10 which words are spoken to the terrour of ungodly men termed there Scoffers at the promise of his coming whom that last coming doth specially concern and yet with the exceptive particle Nevertheless brings in the consolation for the Godly from the promise of the new Heavens and the new Earth which before in the thousand years they should enjoy with him v. 〈◊〉 Mr. Archer observes first his second coming from Mat. 25.30 〈◊〉 his third from ver 31. sutable to what St. Paul expresseth 1 Cor. 15. where he speaks of his first coming v. 23. saying Christ the first fruits afterwards 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they that are Christ's at his coming Then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith he cometh the end where the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are used at a great distance for Christ the first fruits arose before the Saints at his next coming above 1600 years and then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 afterwards the end cometh above a thousand years after his said second coming and at his third when the last Session of the day of Judgment will be held and finished Where he further also v. 24. sets down what must be done at that third coming with what was done before that all along the thousand years from the
second while he is putting down all Rule and Authority and Power viz. that opposed his own and stood in his way to rule c. that is when the Devil shall be bound Rev. 20.1 2. wicked men destroyed or made slaves and so made his foot-stool at the end of his sitting at the right-hand of his Father Psal 110. when Antichrist is destroyed as before Dan. 7. Rev. 11. 19. before his third coming as might be cleared from many other Texts likewise and also the Turk come to his end when none shall help him Dan. 11. ver ult Dan. 12.1 and thereupon asserts Christ's Reign necessarily v. 25. for saith he Christ must reign till he hath put all his enemies under his feet and he names the last enemy to be destroyed by him namely Death v. 26. which will be done at his third coming Rev. 20. latter end when Death and Hell shall be cast into the lake of fire c. shews also ver 24. when the end shall come and not before namely when he shall deliver up the Kingdom to God even the Father which he received of him Dan. 7.14 which he told his Disciples he gave to them as his Father had given to him Luke 22.29 30. 1.33 and the glory in that Kingdom which his Father had given to him he gave to them John 17.22 Also of his last or third coming St. Paul speaks again evidently ver 52. of that 1 Cor. 15. when also the last Trump shall sound saith he and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye and he repeats it again that it might be observed well for saith he again the Trumpet shall sound and the Dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed Likewise in Mat. 24.3 the Disciples propound three Questions to our Saviour first of the destruction of Jerusalem the second of his coming namely his nex◠coming and the third of the end of the World which will be at his third as was shewed he answers to them all though there seems to be some intermixing but of his second he speaks ver 30. when all the Tribes of the Earth shall mourn when they see him the Son of man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory as Dan. 7.13 But of his third he speaks v. 21. when he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet and they shall gather the Elect from the four winds from one end of Heaven to the other as 1 Thess 4.16 So that if we duly weigh and consider these many Texts of holy Scripture and of others like them we need not so much startle at the mention of Christ's third coming as many upon mistake or prejudice and un-grounded conceits are often apt to do And as for that Text of Acts 3. at the restitution of all things God will send Jesus whom the Heavens must contain till then v. 20 21. it is clearly meant of his second coming with Dan. 7.13 when he will come in the Clouds of Heaven of which three of the Evangelists speak in several places Mat. 24.30 26.44 Mark 13.26 14.62 Luke 21.27 and in Luke 21. and Matth. 24. our Saviour sets forth divers signs of that his second coming and limits those signs to the times of the Jews dispersion saying This Generation shall not pass away till all these things be fulfilled which is to be understood of that Nation kept distinct from all others till his coming again Where note that his second coming is never called his last coming as many conceit it to be which the hand of God's providence respecting the Jews hath ordered accordingly ever since the Jews rejection though they have been scattered through the World And agreeable to this the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 generation signifying a race stock or off-spring of any sort of men not an age or present time as some unwarrantably would understand it is to be interpreted and almost to this day accordingly where the Jews have come they have been for the most part known to be Jews distinct from all other people and like to be so till Christ's personal appearance to convert them and deliver them suddenly both temporally and spiritually as Isa 66.8 Zech. 3.9 12.10 Rev. 1.7 Dan. 12.1 But because the clearing up the distinction of the second and third coming of Christ both of which will be personal are of great concernment in matters respecting the last times and by the over-ruling hand of God Satan and the Antichristian faction have all along prevailed to cloud this strongly asserted Truth in holy Scriptures and prejudices hitherto amongst men have much prevailed against it by the confused notion of the general day of Judgment taken up only upon trust we shall proceed to consider the other particular heads following concerning this great subject in order upon which many other mysteries of these latter times much depend according to the warrant we find in sacred writ and as the Spirit of God shall therein afford assistance Namely in considering first the distinct times and orders of Christ's said second and third personal comings according to the series of Daniels Visions and the Book of Revelation Secondly of the different titles and names of them according to their natures implying the reasons of such titles or names Thirdly Of the different things or matters to be done at both those personal comings in many particulars considerable First Then we may take notice of the distinct times of the two Sessions of the great day of Judgment when he is said to come at both according to the series or order both of Daniel and the Revelation wherein we have summarily set down the general heads of Prophecy in their order as the Spirit of God hath been pleased to record them for the benefit of his Church for See Parallel on Christ's Monarchy for †From the beginning of Daniel's Visions at Nebuchadnezzar the head of Gold Dan. 2. to Christ's third coming are contained above 3300 years as follow first The time of the Babylonian Captivity seventy years 2dly From Cyrus in whom the Persian Monarchy began to the twentieth year of Artaxerxes Longimanus eighty years 3dly Daniel's seventy weeks or four hundred ninety years to the end of the half week after Christs death whose death was about 1666 years more before Christs second personal coming according to all the four computations of Scripture observed to end about the seventeen hundredth year of our Lord so that accordingly from his Ascension to his descending again is so reckoned 1666 years when the Beast will wholly be destroyed which is to be observed From thence are to be reckoned Christs reign with his blessed and holy raised Saints on Earth a thousand years whereunto will succeed the little season wherein Satan will be again loosed to the destruction of the last Gog Magog by fire from heaven which
true Grace in our hearts may shine forth in our lives the best adornings for the coming of our Lord that so we may be counted worthy to escape all those things and be able to stand before him the Son of man Luke 21.36 being so adorned to meet our spiritual Bridegroom Mat. 25.13 so waiting for and expecting the Adoption even the redemption of our bodies Rom. 8.23 in that day of Redemption when he cometh as Luk. 21.28 Mat. 24.33 being then counted worthy of that world even the world to come Heb. 2.5 and of the resurrection of the dead being the children of the resurrection Luk. 20.35 Yea let us as the Apostle exhorteth hasten unto the coming of the Lord 2 Pet. 3.12 casting off every weight that presseth down Heb. 12.1 and so all such as are risen with Christ from the dead though they sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 Thess 3.13 4.14 Sixtly Let the due consideration of this second coming of Christ make us long for it and love it which will be an Argument of our blessedness by it 2 Tim. 4.8 for there is laid up a Crown of Righteousness for all such as love his appearing It is the time of the redemption of all God's Israel from their Enemies and from the hands of all that hate them that they may serve him without fear in righteousness and holiness all the dayes of their lives Luk. 1.74 Rev. 22.3 It is the end and attainment of the faith and prayers of God's People according to the mercy promised frequently to the forefathers and recorded in the Word that as our Saviour taught us to pray that Gods Name should be hallowed his Kingdom come his Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven so it will from his said appearance be accordingly fulfilled by Angels and Men on Earth then as before in Heaven so it will be such a state as will be much admired and so to be longed after loved where above all his Servants shall behold Christs glory which his Father hath given him on Earth Iohn 17.24 Seventhly Let all faithful Christians hence be chearful and free-hearted in giving to Christ's Disciples so making them friends of the Mammon of iniquity that they may receive them into everlasting habitations Luke 16.9 that which is so disposed of is laid up in the best and safest treasury in the whole world yea more it is put into the best hand and for the best improvement that it is possible to make of earthly treasure Christ takes it as done to himself and undertakes the repayment both more incomparably than worldly treasure is worth and for unspeakably longer continuance than any worldly treasure could be kept 2dly Be sitted for acts of self-denial when Christ calls to it for he will be above all our interests or relations as there is the greatest reason Mat. 10.37 it is the condition of Christ's Disciples Mat. 16.24 Luke 9.23 Mar. 8.34 and such as in so doing forsake any thing make Christ their debtor who is their best paymaster and in the best season probably in his Kingdom in this time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the word may seem to note an hundred fold in both these Texts Mark 10.30 Luke 18.30 though otherwise many times in this life likewise but it is most sure if they suffer with him in his Kingdom of Patience on Earth they man reign with him in his glorious Kingdom of Power on Earth in the New Jerusalem Jehovah Shamma the Lord is there Ezek. 40. ult and when the Tabernacle of God is with men Rev. 21.3 and he will dwell with them and wipe away all tears from their eyes And 3dly to be couragious and resolute in suffering for him when called to this And what are any or all the sufferings of men to the sufferings of God becoming man that he might suffer to satisfie Divine Justice to procure infinite Mercy for such as should otherwise have endured infinite and eternal Misery this our Saviour requires in the forenamed places Mat. 16.24 Luke 9.23 Mark 8.34 Eightly Let the terrible things of both those comings engage Godly men to labour to be counted worthy to escape such things and to be able to stand before the Son of man by improving all such Christs and his Spirits counsels Luke 21.36 as ye have heard in sundry particulars And let the consideration of them fray wicked men from their sins even the greatest as well as the meanest and to learn to kiss the Son Psa 2 ult lest he be angry and they perish in the way And if they will not believe these things let them hence know assuredly they will feel the misery of them as the Jews of old did after Christ's first coming upon their neglecting or despising his warnings Again As for ungoâ—ly men of any of the former sorts that refuse to make any such good use of these terrors of the Lord let them hence also take notice and know that when they shall think themselves most secure in their sins a sudden destruction will then come upon them as pains on a woman in travel and they shall not escape It is true I know and I find by daily experience that these terrors of the Lord and Doctrines of mortification are unpleasing and unacceptable to most sorts of men but they must â—e pressed upon them as wholsom and necessary Physick is by parents upon their children to save their lives so on these to save such mens souls if God may give them repentance but if not they will be the more inexcusable in that they have not perished without warning and such seasonable warnings may help to free Gods Ministers from the heavy guilt of the blood of souls Now therefore let all carnal worldly ignorant prophane wicked and uâ— believing persons And all sinfully engaged enemies to the Truth Cause Glory Worship and Servants of God or against any or all sorts of persons engaged to stand up for Gods and Christs sake that so they might promote irreligion and false religion with prophaneness or to endeavour to suppress true Religion and the power of Religion by opposition and hatred of true Piety and Holiness Oh let such seriously and throughly consider in the most retired closets of heir hearts and consciences what a dreadful appearance without repentance and reformation will the coming of the Lord be unto all such O let them consider what fools they will then be with millions of witnesses that for trifles sading Vanities for nothing for worse than nothing for the matter and cause of horrour and anguish with everlasting wo and misery in that they have despised rejected their own mercy that happiness that Christ hath purchased by an infinite price and was provided for his servants by the most wife holy glorious and infinitely gracious God for all truly penitent and believing souls and tendered and bestowed on them by the sanctifying Spirit of Wisdom Grace and Truth but such in the mean
in it then made one and perfect in one as Christ prayed John 17.11 as Christ and the Father are one c. consider well the Prayer of Christ being all along prophetical of the ensuing times that Jerusalem will be then the Bride Rev. 19. and the Lambs Wife Rev. 21. and was of old fore-spoken of as his Spouse in the Song of Solomon his type therein So the Wisdom of God seems to fit the descriptions thereof suitably to their several states to whom it was so represented Fourthly The most of those Prophecies which concern the Jews are more fully set forth in the Old Testament Hence the Turk's ruine who is the sixth Trumpet Rev. 9.11 is more fully described Ezek. 38 39 chapters under the name of Gog and the Pope's there both briefly under the name of Magog in chap. 39. referring us Christians intime to come to look into the New Testament for what God would after for our use then make known of Antichrist more largely Fifthly The fifth and sixth Trumpets which are the first and second Wo-Trumpets Rev. 9. See Abridgm Dan. 11.40 which were to ruine the Eastern Roman Empire are the Sarazens and Turks set forth by the titles of the King of the South and the King of the North Dan. 11.40 c. being likewise the oppressors of the poor Jews Sixthly The Armageddon-battel being for the destruction of the first Gog and Magog is set forth in both Testaments as referring to the Enemies of both Christian Jews and Gentiles first set down in the Old Testament Ezek. 38 39 chapters Joel 3.7 11 12. Dan. 11.45 Zech. 14. as in reference to the Jews Secondly in the New-Testament Rev. 14 15 chapters and 16th under or after the sixth Viol and Rev. 19.11 c. as in reference to the Gentiles Seventhly The greatly-beloved Prophet Daniel chiefly sets down what might be ground of comfort to the faithful Jews See Irenicon pag. 63. But the beloved Disciple and Apostle St. John mainly speaks of what might be useful for the Faithful in the times of the Gentiles Luke 21.24 whilst the body of the Jewish Nation remained cast out Eightly The 12th chapter of Daniel's Prophecy is useful to open the way for understanding the Mysteries of that Book as the 17th chapter of the Revelations is for the understanding much in that Book See Abridgm on Dan. chap. 12. For from Daniels 12th may be understood the time and order of Christs appearing with the terribleness thereof ver 1. and of the Jews deliverance therewith v. 1. and how long before both will come v. 11 12. and what state that Church and the Saints in it should be in then v. 1 13. in what state the Church of the Jews was in before Christ's appearing very troublesom v. 2 3. how long these Mysteries should continue shut up v. 4 9. and what was meant by the time of the end when they should be opened compare ver 9. with verse 40 of chap. 11. and then what state was to be of the Church of the Gentiles ver 4. latter part of the verse and v. 5 6 7. which Daniel then understood not v. 8. because then sealed up v. 9. and likewise concerned things long after to come in the Gentile-Church and yet he had it expounded to him before by one that stood by chap. 7.16 21 to v. 27. So also Rev. 17. is a chapter remarkably set down by the Spirit of God very useful for the opening of divers Mysteries contained in the Book of Revelations See Irenicon p. 26 27 28 c. concerning Antichrist's rise reign and ruine with many other things thereunto partaining mentioned chapters 11 13 14 15 16 c. as may be observed in the Letter of May 20. in the Fore-runner and in the Irenicon pag. 26 27 28 29 30 31. c. Ninthly Then observe Daniels Visions were sealed to the time of the end chap. 12.9 which was to the times of the Sarazens Turks or which is contemporary in Antichrist's time times and the dividing of a time as Dan. 11.40 c. Dan. 12.5 6 7. chap. 7.24 25. compated with Rev. 9.11 chap. 11. chap. 13. at which time they were to be unsealed in respect of both those enemies both of Jews and Gentiles as Daniel and the Book of Revelation set them forth in their due order as was said Tenthly What Daniel briefly shewed the Jews should be done for them at Christ's Appearing See Abridgm on Dan. 12. namely that then his People should be delivered Dan. 12.1 c. the Prophet Ezekiel in that respect more fully explained from the Visions of God chap. 37. first by the rising of the dry bones and after by the uniting of two sticks into one under one King to them both for ever and chap. 38 39. by removing Gog the hinderer of their rising And lastly chap. 40 41 42 to the end of the Book by shewing to him the New Jerusalem then to ensue after Gog's ruine and both Daniel and Ezekiel being God's Prophets sent to the Jews in the time of their Captivity and both fore-telling their great restoration and the time thereof though mystically as two witnesses of God's Truth to comfort the Faithful Jews in the low ebb of their dejected condition till then Eleventhly The first three worldly Monarchies being past which had oppressed the Jews before Christ came in the flesh the Book of Revelation speaks nothing of them See Abridgm on Dan. nor of the Roman Monarchy till Christ's Resurrection at the opening of the first Seal Rev. 6. Psal 45. when Christ having all power in Heaven and in Earth given to him he gave Commission to his Disciples for the preaching of the Gospel Mat. 28.18 19 20. See Irenicon p. 26 27 c. and pag. 61 62 63. But afterwards the orders of the times and things in Daniel as respecting the proceedings of things in the Roman Monarchy to the time of its ruine and Christ's Kingdom following upon it both the Prophecy of Daniel and the Book of Revelation exactly agree as being revealed by the same eternal Spirit of Truth namely from the finishing of Christ's work of Redemption to his coming again But after that for the state of things in Dan. 7.13 14 15. to the end of that chapter that it shall be for a thousand years Christ only in Rev. 20 21 22. further informs us saving it is darkly imployed Dan. 12.13 where it is promised to Daniel that he shall stand up in his lot at the end of the dayes that is at the resurrection of the Just or first resurrection Rev. 20.5 Twelfthly Hence it may appear that though Christ as man upon Earth knew not the time of the last day yet having since ascended and sitting on his Fathers right hand in Heaven revealed now for our use in a latitude both concerning the last day and also many other great mysteries contained in that Divine Book of the
of which God said Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Psal 2.7 applyed largely by St. Paul to Christ's Resurrection Acts 13.33 34 35 36 37. with other Scriptures of which saith he again Rom. 1.4 he was declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead And being so glorified by his Father he also glorified him by setting up the preaching of the Gospel and give Salvation thereby v. 2 3 4. when all power being given to him in Heaven and in Earth as he said Mat. 28.18 he then mainly improves the same in commissionating and fitting and sending his Disciples to be his Apostles to preach the Gospel as in the Prayer is to be observed afterwards and Mat. 28.19 20. Go preach the Gospel to all Nations and Mark 15. Go preach the Gospel to every creature and also glorified his Father many wayes in the forty days after his Resurrection but especially he is said then to speak to his Disciples of the things that concerned the Kingdom of God Acts 3.3 4 5. whereupon seemed that question of the same Kingdom then to be moved by them c. The next step was his Prayer for his Ascension into Heaven v. 5. to be glorified with that Glory which he had before in the Bosom of his Father before the world was when he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but thenceforward should as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God-man in one person sit at the right-hand of the Father in his Caelestial Glory which he had with the Father before the world was and then v. 6 7 8. having declared divers things respecting his Disciples what he had done towards them and what effect was found in them c. he proceeds in v. 9 11. to make his Prayer for his Disciples after to be his Apostles being in the world when he was ascended that his Father would keep them from that evil world as he had done for them to that time v. 12. having shewed their joynt interest ver 10. and shews the end why he spake these things suitable to their present state v. 13 14. and shewing what Persecution they were to look for but how they should be preserved c. he proceeds to limit his Prayer for his Disciples v. 15. not that they should be taken out of the world but that they should be kept from the evil And since they were not of that world v. 16. he prayes further in v. 17. to have them sanctified by the Word of God's Truth and giving them their Mission v. 18. he shews the end of his sanctifying himself was for their sanctification by that means v. 19. So having done with what concerned his Disciples to be sent as Apostles into the world and in them for all faithful Messengers of the Gospel that were to succeed he then proceeds v. 20. to pray for all truly faithful and believing souls through their Word as he speaks even from that time of their Mission to his Coming again as may many wayes appear by what follows from ver 20. to 25. wherein all such faithful persons should be equally concerned shewing that the end and drift of all their believing through their Word or of any of his Messengers was that they might all be one as the Father was in him and he in the Father that they might be one as the Father and the Son were one v. 21 22. that is that they should be as the Bride the Lamb's Wife is one with her Head in the New Jerusalem come down from God out of Heaven Rev. 21. and so made perfect in one v. 23. at Christ's second coming or his coming again into the world as Heb. 1.6 when that good world to come shall believe that the Father hath sent him yea and know it too in an especial manner as he adds and repeats in part the same thing v. 21 23. having shewed in v. 22. that he had given them the same Glory that the Father had given him in his Kingdom Dan. 7.14 15. and for that end that they might be one as was said before as he and the Father are one who loved them as he had loved him And v. 24. he further declares his own last Will and Testament in that particular respecting the enjoyment of that happiness with himself in the said Kingdom which his Father had given him as Mediator as a reward in time for that work finished in the time of that his Office which the Faithful should enjoy with him in the time of that said good World to come when they should be where he should be and behold to their happiness the Glory then given him by his Father from his love to him as his obedient Son and faithful Servant before the foundation of the world and in the two last verses concludes with some special consolations respecting his Disciples as follows ver 25 26. to the end of the chapter Thus divinely hath our blessed Saviour according to his infinite Wisdom couched the order of these glorious Mysteries in his making and leaving this most excellent Prophetical and declarative Prayer of his before his departure out of the World recorded by his beloved Apostle St. John for the information and consolation of his poor and little little Flock to whom with himself it was his Father's pleasure to give that Kingdom with himself on Earth Rev. 20.4 Rev. 5.10 And the advancement of that state is the great drift of our Lord's Prayer recorded also by two Evangelists namely that God's Name may be hallowed See Irenicon p. 30. and his Kingdom come and consequently his Will be doen in Earth then as in Heaven before for which purpose as God's People should alwayes endeavour faithfully so they have abundant ground to believe from the Word it will be so done in the time when the Devil will be shut up in the bottomless-pit from seducing the Nations for a thousand years space Rev. 20. The blessed and holy Saints shall come with Christ to take their bodies in their own order The glorious Angels shall come and worship him and do their service to him in the world Heb. 1.6 And all the creatures in Heaven and Earth and under the Earth shall bow the knee and be subject unto him Phil. 2. and all things be made new by him Rev. 21.5 all which since his Word declareth most surely shall be performed 21. Observ That the perfect Dominion over the Creatures which was part of the Image of God upon Man in his innocency will be restored again unto him the holy Scriptures make evident which the Apostle Paul saith The whole Creation groans for to be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God Rom. 8. and this David prophetically foreshews will be done in Christ Ps 8. where he saith God had visited him the Son of man and made him for a little time as both the word in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
be ended See them at large in the Plain Discovery after the Parallels At the first Christ removes the hinderers and opposers of his reigning in the World towards whom God had shewed long Patience all the time of Christs sitting at his right hand and his faithful Servants patience had been all along exercised by them Yet notwithstanding by their Faith and Patience all along that Kingdom of Patience now almost at an end have inherited the Promises hitherto and still shall do through the thousand years But Psal 110. at the end of Christs sitting at Gods right hand in Heaven he will begin to make his foes his foot-stool by destroying the first Gog and Magog the Turk and Pope by a complication of Judgments Ezek. 38 39. Rev. 19.11 16.18 Dan. 12.1 with Dan. 11.45 And binding Satan Rev. 20.1 2 3. See Observ 3. Then God will set his King upon his holy hill of Sion Psal 2. and so perform the sure mercies to David for ever and that before himself for all which it is plainly recorded as is to be well observed 2 Sam. 7. in a great part of that Chapter See Observ 21. And then he will make every knee to bow to him in Heaven and Earth and under the Earth Phil. 2. Having given him a Name above every Name c. For then those in Heaven Angels and Saints come with him into the World when God shall bring his Son the second time into it as Heb. 1.6 which was prophesied of by David Psal 97. throughout and many other Scriptures Vide Irenicon from pag. 42 to pag. 88. And then all such as sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 Thess 4.14 See Obser 21. And he will then bodily begin to reward his Servants the Prophets and his Saints c. Rev. 11.18 by that blessed first Resurrection Rev. 20.6 and probably as they were eminent in grace or sufferings or both so much the sooner And in Earth the Jews will then become upon a miraculous Call and Conversion a very zealous and blessed People being beloved for their Fathers sake Rom. 11. See Observ 15. The heathen Gentiles will earnestly then seek Christs face and favour and even make use then of the Jews interterest to procure Christs favour Isa 6. Isa 19. c. The very inferiour creatures then will be freed from their bondage of coâ—uption Rom. 8. For there shall be no wicked men that shall then dare to abuse them or tyrannize over them as formerly See Observ 21. yea even such wicked men as will then be spared proving hypocrites as is probable will themselves be made slaves then as diverse Scriptures seem to speak For as sin brought alwayes with it a Spiritual slavery before so it is like always remarkably to add an outward visible slavery to all evil men in the world then But those Creatures will be matter of Gods praise to the Saints c. Christ will then delegate the power and management of that his Kingdom to the Saints for him Dan. 7.18 22 27. even that Kingdom he received of the Father and which he gave to them as he speaks and that they may rule for him v. 27. First to the first raised Saints and then to other eminent Saints in the natural life as his enemies which he came to destroy had ruled against him before which will be the just reason and cause of their ruine then Luke 19.27 The Covenant and Mercies to Abraham Isaac and Jacob promised and sworn to them personally and yet never personally performed in respect of their enjoying the Land of Canaan neither had their natural Seed that Land as it was made sure to that one seed Christ Gal. 3. for ever Deut. 30. and Deut. 11.21 and that as the dayes of heaven upon the earth c. See Observ 15. But it shall be then accordingly performed as it was promised and sworn As likewise the Oath to David in David's Seed and Saviour and Antitype to reign so long as the Sun and Moon shall endure See Irenicon pag. 77 to pag. 80. And Observ 21. So of the New Jerusalem called Jehova Shamma Ezek. 48. ult which is said to come down from God out of Heaven Rev. 21. where the Tabernacle of God is said to be with men See Observ 3. And the new Heavens and new Earth See Observ 22. later end with divers other Contemporaries for that thousand years as the Tree of Life and pure River See Iren. pag. 30. whereby the blessed gracious and glorious state of all things then are decyphred c. If these and the like points of Doctrine were enlarged upon and sitly placed in their due order of accomplishment as the holy Scriptures set them forth with such Rational and Scriptural Illustrations as are best suitable to their natures amongst themselves and in their sweet harmony with all other divine Truths there set down I doubt not but when once God shall give any sorts of men such Faith as to receive these things upon the divine authority of his Word they will appear both comfortable and excellent and prove forcible to such true Believers for increase of sanctification above what they received before and make to them as I have found by experience many parts of holy Scripture more clear and sweet and many wayes more useful than otherwise they can be to them whereas without these Doctrines I find I did not nor could ever have rightly understood or known them namely what such Texts of Scriptures respecting these and the like Doctrines do chiefly mean or drive at and I believe many others by degrees may find the like experience thereof in time But I am now many wayes restrained from enlarging therein and therefore only at present hint these things to believing Christians in such respects c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To Glory's God all Glory 's due for aye To Him alone this Due let all his pay FINIS A brief representation of the Doctrine of Christs Kingdom of Power to come upon Earth together with an endeavour to remove unjust prejudices from it To prevent the great sin and danger of being ashamed of Christ and his Truth even that great Truth of his Kingdom Joh. 18.37 Before a sinful and an adulterous generation of both which we are warned Mat. 8.38 True Christian Friend c. THE great and precious Truths respecting Christ Jesus our Saviours glorious appearance to destroy Antichrist to convert the Body of the Jewish Nation to begin his glorious Reign with his raised Saints on Earth for a thousand years c. And all this probably shortly to be manifest in the World which God hath been graciously pleased to discover unto me a poor weak and an unworthy instrument in such remarkable wayes as he hath led me according to his Word and by the guidance and operation of his holy Spirit and hath so strongly evidenced to my own soul and which hath been by sundry learned men and judicious Christians acknowledged