5.1 Answ 1. 'T is true that Glory is preparing now in Heaven Joh. 14.2 3. 2. Yet will come down from Heaven at the last Rev. 21.2 11 And to be brought to the Saints from thence 1. Pet. 1.13 Rom. 8.21 both they and the whole Creation groan for the time when they shall receive the Adoption that is the Redemption of their Body from the Grave and the bondage of Corruption c. ver 21 22 23. 3. Yet it is true That Christ and his Saints will be no Forreigners to Heaven also For Christ was the Lord from Heaven at first and since made way into the holiest by his own Blood wherewith he sprinkled the Mercy Seat and that power whereby his Elect shall be caught up into the Air to meet him at his coming can also take them higher into the third Heavens But these things Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard c. But in 2. Pet. 3.13 'T is the New Heavens as well as the New Earth that is there proposed as the Object of Faith and Hope wherein shall dwell Righteousness An APPENDIX touching the Resurrection of the Just and Unjust Acts 24.15 and the Judgment of both In Answer to this Question How it is said the Saints must all stand before the Judgment seat of Christ Rom. 14.10 and give an account every one of himself to God ver 12 and receive according to their Deeds 2 Cor. 5.10 Coloss 3.24.25 and yet it is said That they themselves shall sit upon Thrones judging the World c Mat. 19.28 2 cor 6.2 3. Answer Consider the sixth and seventh Particulars following but Take a Series of particulars according to measure of things to be from Christs appearing unto the Eternal state 1. The Appearing of Christ in the Clouds of Heaven Matth. 24.30 Revel 1.7 2. The Consternation of the wicked great and small at the seeing of h n. Rev 6.14 15 16 17. Matth. 24.30 3. The Voice of Christ Raising the Saints out of their Graves John 5.28 1 Cor. 15.23 this is the first Resurrection the Resurrection of the Just Luke 14.14 the Living Saints to be changed 1 Thess 4.17 4. Christ sending his Angels to Gather them being raised as Matth. 24.31 1 Thess 4.16 17. and the living Saints being changed they are all together caught up to meet the Lord in the air ver 17. 5. The burning up of the World and its works and destroying the ungodly then found alive 2 Pet. 3.10 ver 7. The Righteous being Caught up before as Noah and Lot were taken out of the places to be destroyed Luke 17.27 29. 6. Then the Lord Jesus will Sit upon the Throne of Judgment to judge his people as Psal 50. 1 2 3 4 5 6. that were raised to the Resurrection of Life Act 24.15 Jo. 5.29 all the unjust continuing in their Graves till thâ—s Judgment is over for they shall not stand in this Judgment nor sinners in the Congregation of the righteous Psalm 1.5 But here Christ will take an Account of his Servants And at this time it is the saints shall all stand before his Judgment seat and give their account and receive according But whatever blame may be laid on any in this Judgment their sins will all be blotted out then Acts 3.19 Rom. 8.1 Mal. 3.1 2 3 5 17. Mercy will here rejoyce against judgment Jude 21. 2 Tim. 1.16 18. as in the judgment of the unjust following there shall be judgment without mercy Jam. 2.13 In this Judgment of the just gracious souls will shine wondrously 1 Pet. 1.7 Rom. 2.7 1 Thes 2.19 20. 1 Cor. 4.5 But where fault is found with any of their works c. there will be no Purgatory by being punished for a time from the Lords presence For they must thenceforth be for ever with the Lord 1 Thess 4.18 Tho some may suffer loss 1 Cor. 3.15 trouble 2 Pet. 3.14 shame 1 John 2.28 grief Hebr. 13.17 yet as in this time much more then the saints judging themselves shall not be judged of the Lord as 1 Cor. 11.31 to condemnation Rom. 8.1 After the saints are thus Judged by the Lord Jesus and therein Refined c. Mal. 3.2 3 4 5. 1 Cor. 3.15 then as Malac. 3.5 he will be a swift Witness to judg the wicked c. and in order thereunto 7. He will raise the unjust and all that are Raised now not having part in the first Resurrection of the just will fall under the second Death This being the Resurrection of Damnation Joh. 5.29 And now in this Judgment it is that the saints are to sit on thrones and judge the world and Angels having given their own accounts before upon their first Resurrection and Judgment It appears Matth. 19.28 the Twelve Appostles shall judge the 12 Tribes and also that the saints in all ages judge their respective Persecutors 1 Cor. 6.2 3. See Rev. 2.26 27. Then will be fulfilled that Prophecy of Balaam Num. 24 17.18 I shall behold him but not night there shall come a Star out of Jacob c. and shall smite the Corners of Moab destroy the World and the Wicked by fire and destroy or unwall as Mr. Iessey rendred it from the Hebr. all the children of Seth who was the godly Progenitor in Abels room so that his Children comprize all the saints and refers to the first bodily Resurrection and change that shall pass upon them Ver. 18. And Edom shall be a Possession c. and Israel shall dovaliantly While they are judging their Enemies and Talents unimproved took from the Condemned and given to their Noble Judges that did improve their own 8. After the end of this part of the Judgment also then the saints leaving their Judgment-seats as Christ himself will soon after Deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father then it appears to be he will set the Saints the Sheep on his right hand and the Goats on the left and pronounce the final Sentences severally upon them as Math. 25.31 32 33 c. 9. And now all being subdued unto him he will Deliver up the Kingdom to God that put all things under him That God may be all in all 1 Cor. 15.24.28 10. Finally Rev. 21.5 He that sate upon the Thrones said Behold I make all things new to wit a new Heaven and a new Earth for the first were passed away vers 1. And as it was said of the Earth of old he Created it not in vain he formed it to be inhabited Isa 45.18 so being now thus New Created it is not to be destroyed but made a glorious City of Habitation and the place of that Kingdom which is not of this World That is as to his Personal presence in that absolute Glory of Perfection that will be worthy his Divine Majesty Who now dwells in that Light that is unapproachable 1 Tim. 6.16 One OBJECTION from these 2 last particulars viz. If God will be all in all upon Christs delivering up the Kingdom Then Christ hath no
David and as heir apparent to sit upon his Throne Luke 1.32.33 And as he is Seed of David in point of Kingly Right so also the Seed of Abraham to whom in a special manner the Promises of Inheritance were made Which induces the III. Argument Abraham and his Seed are to be heirs of the World Rom. 4.13 Whereas it is said These all died in Faith not having received the Promises c. Hebr. 11.13 Acts 7.5 Inever read that Heaven without the Earth is called the World Only they are not to Inherit the world that now is that is reserved unto fire 2 Pet. 3.7 but the world to come Luke 20.35 36. in the renewed State Hebr. 2.5 Wherein they shall reign upon the Earth Rev 5.10 For before the Resurrection and day of Judgment there is no time imaginable wherein they could be heirs of the world for they are with the Lord in Glory till then And After the Resurrection of the Just follows the burning up of this World and the Works thereof 2 Pet. 3.10 So that No other World remains to the blessed Seed for an Inheritance but that of New heavens and earth after the end of all things in this world Rev. 21.1 2 Pet. 3.13 IV. Argument We read Hebr. 2 5 of a World to come wherein Christ is to have all in subjection under him ver 8. Ephes 1.20.21 As to which observe 1. That That World is alotted to the time at and after the Resurrection Luke 20.35 36. in a State of perfect Glory called that World 2. Hebr. 2. Speaks of the Dominion in the World to come as accrewing to Jesus Christ by reason of his humane Nature as recovering what was lost in the first Adam being head over all things to the Church both in heaven above and earth beneath Phil. 2.10 both in this World and that to come Ephes 1.21 22. 3. Hebr. 2. Speaks of Mans possession by Creation Which is the Earth and visible Heaven Onely upon occasion of Mans fall the Lord from Heaven acquaints us with That Glory also Yet notwithstanding the heavenly Glory of Christ he descends to a state lower than the Angels put himself into the Case and Place of Gods Elect took the seed of Abraham on him Hebr. 2.16 and so became heir as before and purchased the possession that had been sold under the Curse Ephes 1.18 Revel 21.3 4. Hebr. 2.8 'T is said We see not yet all things put under him But in Heaven he has all in perfect Subjection from the very first Therefore it must be on Earth V. Argument Acts 3.21 The Restitution of all things Which must respect the Visible things of the Creation Spoken of Rom 8.19 20 21 22. which the Apostle calls the Glory that was to be reavealed in the Saints then alive and therefore not to be till the Resurrection of their bodies according to vers 23. waiting for the Adoption to wit the Redemption of our bodies Phil. 3.21 This Restitution will be such as was made under the Law to wit A Fifth part added to the principal Exod. 22.3 4. Levit. 6.4 5. So in this No Sun Moon or Stars in their Courses for there is no night there Rev. 21.23 25. and no Temple ver 22. But an infinite Glory supplies the place of both And here I conceive will be the ultimate fulfilling that saying Cant. 2.17 c. till the shadows flee away c. Whereas now the Lights of this World being finite and remote from us do necessarily cast a Shadow by the Substantial form they shine upon So is it Light on the one side but dark on the other And so in the Absence of the sun the shadows of the Evening draw upon the Earth But when the Light shall be omnipresent there shall be no Shadows any more No night there Revel 21.25 Again though the Thousand years Reign admits of a good Degree of this glory of the Restitution yet the time of the Restitution of all things is expressly reserved to the Revelation of Jesus Christ from heaven Acts 3.21 and then to be fulfilled which if he comes not to restore he comes to Destroy 2 Pet. 3.10 But he will Restore after he hath Destroyed vers 13. Revel 21.1 VI. Argument From John 1. last Verily verily I say unto you hereafter ye shall see heaven open and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man Observe that the word is open and notes a state of Continuance and nor opened as it was opened to Stephen for a moment Acts 7.56 And to Peter in a Trance Chap. 10.11 The words allude to Jacobs Dream Gen. 28. and imports a transcendant union to be between Heaven and Earth through the riches of the Grace of Christ and by the Recourses of Angels By the Manhood of Christ fallen man is dignified to a fellowship and equallity with Angels Luke 20.35 36. and shall be also Restored to his created possession the Earth The Angels of God ascending and descending c. This cannot be before but in the new Heaven and Earth after ther day of Judgment For first Christ appears then the Tribes mourn at the sight of him then the dead are raised then the living Saints are Changed then all of them caught up to the Lord in the air then the Earth to be burnt up c. then begins the Judgment Now in any time before the Judgment what Ascending or Descending of the Angels as in a fixed state for the Dead Saints are raised by a Word quickly John 5 28. and the living Saints changed in the â—â—inkling of an Eye 1 Corâ— 5.52 And in the Judgment it self the Angels seem otherwise disposed as being present Auâ—iâ—oâ—s of Christs owning and disowning persons Mark 8.38 Revel 3.5 and at last bundling the Tures and casting them to the fire Matth. 13.30 40 41 42. And therefore it must be after the Judgment that the Angels will so ascend and descend And this the Lord Jesus proposeth to them as the consummation of the Mystery of Divine Counsel at the end of time and that the Design of God in particular lay upon this to restore the Earth as being indeed great things John 1.50.51 We ought not as not too carnally to think hereof so neither to think the things themselves are carnal Christ himself put a greater Marvel upon the Resurrection of bodies John 5 28 than that of Regeneration by Faith ver 25. And so John 1. the two last verses Again The Gospel that brings life and immortality to Light exhibits the Eternal Glory in the nature of man in Jesus Christ as the Saviour and Object of Worship Whereas the invisible God in the Old Testament was adored but we do not blame Thomat for saying to Christ my Lord and my God Neither think it carnal because the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily in him So the Lord glorifying the Earth as the place of his fect Isai 60.13 it appears to me that it will be accommodate and adapt to
Life Luke 20.35 36. Andse Revel 21.24 26. and Chap. 22.2 Expressions that must be fulfilled while the Regenerate converse with the Vnregenerate that is before the day of Judgment Answ 1. It is usual in the Old Testament to set out Spiritual Glories by carnal things and it may be question'd whether such Expressions in Isai 65.17 c. may not be so taken 2. But admit they be taken litterally then indeed it is granted that they do belong to the Life that now is 3. I do assert that the same Scripture prophecys may possibly nay commonly have diverse times and ways of Fulfilling and yet one ultimate fulfilling in a most eminent manner As those before Isa 41.19 Isa 55.13 And I will plant in the wilderness the Cedar c. In stead of the Thorn shall come up the Firr-tree c. Which are blessed Prornises of Gospel Grace now in the midst of Babylons Captivity And so those of the Amity among the wild Beasts Isa 11.6 c. Isa 65.25 which in Gospel times may hold forth blessed Grace given to brutish feirce men that when the Saints find favour in the Eyes of the Lord are made sweetly to live in peace together and yet all short of the litteral and principal fulfilling as the gleanings are of the Harvest when the poor-Earth shall spring up in the Glory of blessing and the Beasts iustead of terror to be not only peaceable but to become Rays of their Creators Glory and Majesty in the Restitution of all things as before So in a word I take the New Heavens and Earth in Isa 65. c. to be in a civil and Ecclesiastical Sense and to be fulfilled in a figurative sense in this â—ife But the New Heavens and Earth in 2. Pet. 3.13 and Rev. 21.1 to be also properly and litterally fulfilled and that after the Old Heavens and Earth is destroyed by Fire as before when there will be no place left for any other fulfilling So Christs last Appearing will Metaphorically be fulfilled before the 7th Seal Rev. 6.14 And to this that Prophecies have diverse and succinct fulfillings let me add that I understand that of the first Resurrection Rev. 20.5.6 which though a reality in it self yet there to be in expression figurative and in allusion to the Resurrecton of the just before that if the unjust Acts 24.15 For the Resurrection to the 1000 years is not the bodily Resurrection because the 1000 years is before Christs coming to raise the Saints But as at the Resurreation of the just at the last day the Saints and none but they shall be raised first So in Revel 20.4 None but the faithful then living shall be spiritually Reviv'd to reign with Christ spiritually a Thousand years and the rest of the Dead lived not again till afterwards v. 5. And this first Resurrection was so discriminating that â—n such the second death had no Power ver 6. And so I take the Reign it self in the 1000 years tho its said Christ reigned with them yet not in person but in spiritual Glory and I conceive in a way of Prediction of that absolute Persection of his Dominion that would soon succeed after the 1000 years upon the Destruction and Judgment of this World And because the Opening this matter of the 1000 Years will be a Portal to all that shall succeed and clear up the Demonstration thereof I shall briefly lay down some Demonstrations that do Evince this for a Truth that the 1000 years Reign of the Saints with Christ will be before and so without his personal presence on the Earth 1. Demonstration The Thousand years is set forth in Scripture and so generally understood to be a time of Peace plenty liberty and rejoycing of the whole Earth But when Christ comes in Person it produces a universal Destruction and Astonishment to the World Revel 6.15 every bondman and every freeman crying to the Rocks c. so Rev. 1.7 Matth. 24.30 2. Demonstration When Christ comes all the dead Saiuts are raised and the living saints changed and all together caught up to meet the Lord in the Air and so to be for ever with the Lord 1 Thess 4.17 18. So that from that time they could no more converse with the unconverted of this World as the Thousand years requires See Luke 20 35 36. 3. ' Demonstration When Christ comes he comes in flaming fire taking Vengeance on them that know not God c. 2 Thess 1.7 8. Jude 14 15. And then also the world and the works that are therein shall be burnt up 2 Pet. 3.10 Now all these persons and things being destroyed at that day if this were at the beginning of the Thousand years where were the reign for a 1000 years after of the Saints over the World in converse with the unregenerate Therefore Christs Coming is after the 1000 years 4. Demonstration Upon Christs coming and raising the Saints c. then follows the Day of Judgment 2 Tim. 4.1 Which is clearly set down in the order of things to follow the thousand years Revel 20.11 to the end See pag. 9 10. So that Christs coming to Judgment cannot be but after the 1000 years 5. Demonstration Ps 110.1 Act. 3.21 Christ is to remain at Gods right hand till his Enemys be made his footstool But after the thousand years Gog and Magog assault the Saints Revel 20.8.9 therefore he came not a thousand years before while that Enemy was unsubdued 6. Demonstration Neither is God his last Enemy but Death is so called 1. Cor. 15 26. Therefore Christs coming is not till he comes to swallow up Death in Victory ver 54. in the Resurrection of the Saints See above 4. Answer to the Objection that Rev. 21.24 26. and Ch. 22.2 relate to a Temporal fulfilling in this World 'T is granted but yet conceived that the ultimate import of the Vision of New Jerusalem is finally reduceable to the Eternal State and that on Earth but as was asserted before Prophecies have diverse fulfillings so to that mistical sense of New Heavens and Earth in the purity c. of Church and State must those Verses in the Objection be reterted as inteâ—â—exed â—n general as to a glorious state of the Saints but properly belonging to the time of the Thousand years For the Saints Interest is called the beloved City then Chap. 20.9 And in this Eternal state called the great Citty Cap. 21.10 c. But still upon Earth to which she came down from Heaven ver 2. and we read not of her ever going up again Thus in these deep Mysteryes it pleases the Revealer of them to lay them down in words and methods hard to be understood 2. Pet. 3.16 And no wonder if the Prophets them selves were to seek what and what manner of times the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify 1. Pet. 1.10 11. 1. Cor. 13.9 II. Object The Eternal Inheritance is said to be in Heaven c. Colos 1.5 Luke 12.33 2. Cor