Propriety of the Titles attributed to Christ for he is said to be the faithful Witness that the following Prophecy might be the more readily believed and in Opposition to the Pretences of Antichrist to New Traditions distinct from those delivered by him in his Gospel the intire Revelation of his Father 's Will. 2dly His Resurrection is mentioned because it was the chief Proof of his Divinity and the Ground of our Faith and chiefly because that from thence is taken the Epocha or the beginning of the Account of the Times and Seasons of this Prophecy The other Titles plainly relate to the Efficacy of his Blood alone to our Justification and Sanctification and to our Praises due to him alone in opposition to Merits and Satisfactions Prayers to Saints and Angels and the other Corruptions of the Opposite Antichristian Kingdom 6 And hath made us Kings to Reign on the Earth in his Kingdom Dan 7.27 Rev. 5 10.20 6. and Priests to offer Spiritual Sacrifices 1 Pet. 2.9 Rev. 20.6 unto God and his Father and not unto Saints and Angels to him Christ be Glory i. e. Praise and Acknowledgment of his Perfections and Kingly Dominion for ever and ever in his Everlasting Kingdom Dan. 2.44 Revel 11.15 Amen So be it and so it will be 7 11 Behold he cometh 12 i. e. he will as certainly come as if we saw him now a coming with Clouds i.e. with Power and great Glory Dan. 7.13 Matth. 24.30 and every Eye of all Men shall see him coming and they also which pierced him i. e. the Jews shall see him feel his Power and acknowledge him Isa 40.5 Zach. 12.10 John 19.37 and all Kindreds Tribes or People of the Earth i.e. of the wicked worldly and 13 Antichristian Part shall wail because of him their Judg whom they had provoked Even so 14 Amen i. e. this is a certain Truth to be expected and desired 11 This Verse relates to the coming of Christ in his Kingdom at the last Day when the Jews who crucified him and all other his Enemies shall appear and be judged by him And it is worth noting That according to the Precepts of Art observed by the most Judicious Writers we have here from Verse 5. given us in short at the very entrance of this Prophecy a brief Representation of the chief End and Design of it The Kingdom of Christ of which upon all fit Occasions we are presented with a short View because it is the thing which all the Events Typified in this Book were designed to produce and as it were the Catastrophe of this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the World according to Plotinus's Phrase or of all the Transactions which have appeared on the Stage of it 12 A Form of Speech in use with the Prophets denoting the Infallible certainty of what they foretold Or cometh may here signifie he beginneth to come as Verse 1. See * Pag. 145. 150. Dr. Pocock on Joel 13 Earth is taken in this sense sometimes in this Prophecy as we shall see hereafter 14 This Word in Scripture is put to affirm that the thing will be as well as to wish for it and approve it 8 And do not doubt of the Truth and Extent of this Prophecy for I Christ who have revealed it am Alpha 15 and Omega the beginning and the ending who am before all things and shall abide after them for ever saith the Lord Christ which is or The That is and which was and which is to come the Almighty as well as Eternal Jehovah who can bring to pass the Words of this Prophecy from the beginning of it to the end of Time 15 These are the first and last Letters of the Greek Alphabet whereby the Beginning and Consummation of all Things Times and Seasons is ascribed to Christ as the incommunicable Attributes of God also are viz. his Name Jehovah and his Almightiness So that this Verse contains a plain Declaration of the Divinity of our Saviour 9 I John who also am your Brother in the same Faith and Companion in tribulation i. e. a Fellow-sufferer with you and in the Kingdom and patience or patient 15 expectation of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ delayed unto the time of the end Dan. 12 4-13 Rev. 10.4 7. was in 17 Banishment in the Isle that is called 18 Patmos for preaching the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ i.e. the Gospel 16 For so the words seem to signifie and may very well be Translated by a figure common in Scripture for this Kingdom was to have begun in its full Power immediately at Christ's Resurrection and was then expected by the Apostles Acts 1.6 but was still patiently to be waited for until the time of the end to which it was deferred Altho the words may more properly relate to the Patience of Christ or to his own patient Expectation of his Kingdom until the times agreed on with his Father See Chap. 3.10 17 In the time of Domitian about the end of the year of our Lord 95 or the beginning of 96 as Chronologers generally agree 18 Situate in the Archi-pelago about 40 Miles from the Continent of Asia towards Ephesus in the Sea next to the Churches to which he wrote And as Ezekiel and Daniel had their Visions when they were in Captivity so also might it be by way of Correspondence Ordained by God that John should receive this Prophecy in a place of Exile Restraints and places of Recess and Retireme◠from the wicked World affording the fittest dispositions and opportunities for Divine Communications 10. I was in the Spirit 19 i. e. under the immediate Power of it on the 20 Lord's day and 21 heard that is perceived in my Spirit unexpectedly and as it were from behind me a great voice as of a Trumpet i. e. a very loud voice as the sound of the Trumpets on the solemn Festivals Psal 47.5 or in the time of War Zechar. 9.14 to raise my attention and to encourage me and to signifie that Judgments were to be denounced 19 That is I was not in the Body but in a Spiritual Extasie or Rapture under the immediate actings of the Spirit of God representing things to my Soul and not to my Senses 2 Cor. 12.2 20 The First Day of the Week or the Christian Sabbath instituted in Memory of Christ's Resurrection and called The Lord's Day a Phrase never used in the New Testament but with reference to this Day and the Lord's Supper because it was blessed and sanctified by Christ's Resurrection and the Descent of the Spirit intimated here by John's saying that he was then in the Spirit and instituted and set apart by his Authority as the Day in which his Worship was ordinarily and necessarily to be frequented by all Christians And the Day is here punctually expressed which is also exactly observed by Ezekiel and Daniel for the benefit of the Church which is to take notice of Times and Seasons to shew that these
I know observe and approve Psalm 1.6 thy good works and thy labour 2 in the work of the Gospel in converting instructing and governing those whom thou art set over 1 Thes 5.12 1 Tim. 5.17 and thy patience and perseverance in it and under sufferings for it and how thou canst not endure or 3 bear with them which are evil in Life or Doctrine but castest them when they prove incorrigible out of the Church and thou hast tryed 4 them by the Gospel Gal. 1.8 1 John 4.1 by their Works Matth. 7.20 and by the Gift of discerning Spirits 1 Cor. 12.10 which say they are Apostles sent and commissioned to preach the Gospel and are not and hast found them liars or False Apostles Acts 20.29 30. and 15.1 24. 1 Cor. 15.12 2 Cor. 11.13 Gal. 1.6 1 and 2 Epist to Timothy 1 John 4.1 2 Labour also may here signifie a zealous and unwearied profession of the Gospel amidst the greatest Discouragements as the Word is taken 1 Cor. 15.58 3 These Words refer to the zealous Execution of Discipline for which the Church was at first very remarkable as appears from 1 Cor. 5. 1 Tim. 1.20 Tit. 3.10 2. John 10. 4 It appears from Scripture that there were many False Apostles foretold by our Saviour Matth. 24.11 and by the Apostle Paul in his Admonition to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus Acts 20.29 30. Who generally seem to have insinuated themselves into the good Opinion of the People by specious pretences of being Brethren and by creeping into their Houses and Assemblies unawares and privily and by communicating with them in their Feasts of Charity as appears from 2 Cor. 11.26 Gal. 2.4 1 Tim. 3.6 Jude 4.12 and from this place where they are said to pretend to be Apostles when they were not For the Hereticks seem to have acted more closely and subtily while the Apostles were living than afterwards which made i◠〈◊〉 task to try and detect them which yet the Apostolical Church did with great Zeal and Care by examining their pretences by the Doctrine they had received of Christ and by Gifts of discerning False Spirits as Clemens Romanus attests in his Epistle to the Corinthians And this place seems to determine this Succession of the Church to the Times of the Apostles the Pretence of being Apostles or Messengers sent and commissioned by God to preach New Doctrines being peculiar to that Age and made use of by Simon Magus and his Followers particularly by Cerinthus against whom John wrote his Gospel who pretended to New Revelations And it being not peculiar to Ephesus alone but to most other Churches we may reasonably conclude that by Ephesus is not understood that Church alone but the Church-State of the Apostolical Age which began on the Day of Pentecost next following the Ascension of our Saviour in the Thirty Third Year of our Lord about the Twenty Fourth Day of May as Bishop Pearson has stated the Aera of the Apostolical Church in his first Lecture on the Acts. From this place we may learn That strict care ought to be taken in trying and examining those who are to be sent to teach others and that the Canon of Scripture was setled by this Apostolical Church she having duly tried and rejected all other Pretenders to Apostolical Doctrines and that the first State of the Church was purely Apostolical 3 And yet thou hast born 5 Afflictions although thou canst not bear 5 with them which are evil and hast still patience 6 and for my Names sake i. e. for me and upon the Account of my Gospel hast laboured 6 in it and hast not fainted under it nor under thy sufferings for it Gal. 6.9 2 Thes 3.13 5 Such kind of Allusions are frequent in Scripture as Rom. 1.24 25 26 28. 6 This being a Repetition of what was said in the foregoing Verse seems to intimate that their Labour and Sufferings were Great and very Remarkable a Repetition sometimes denoting so much in Scripture 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat of 7 complaint against thee because thou hast left or 8 remitted and abated something of thy first 9 or former fervent and intense Love of me my Gospel and Kingdom 7 So the Phrase is taken Matth. 5.23 8 So this word is rendred by Grotius and Doctor Hammond and I think rightly And as Grotius thinks that Love and Desire may by way of Allusion be signified by the Word Ephesus so may also the Greek Word here made use of intimate some Remission or Coolness of their First Love by the same Figure which the Prophet Micah makes use of Chap. 1. 13 14. and which Grotius thinks the Apostle uses Rom. 1.17 28 29. where also in the 29th Verse there is a manifest Allusion to the Name Judah which signifies Praise Gen. 29.35 9 The First Love which the Prophet Jerem. 2.2 calls the Kindness of Youth and the Love of Espousals is usually very fervent but is wont soon to cool and abate in the best of Men. And accordingly the Church at first when as Hierom speaks the Blood of our Lord was warm and the Faith of the New Converts was Fervent was very Zealous in all its Duties and Offices as appears from the Acts of the Apostles particularly from Chap. 2 41-47 and Chap. 4 31-37 where we have a perfect Pattern of the First Love of the Apostolical Church in the Church of Jerusalem especially in their having all things common and calling nothing their own And yet in a very short space as soon as the Number of the Disciples and with them the Church-Revenue was multiplied there arose a murmuring of the Graecians against the Hebrews even in the Infant-Church as we read Acts 6. occasioned by the Pride of the Hebrews as Bishop Pearson has shewn in his Third Lecture on the Acts wherein as also in the Behaviour of Ananias and Saphira there are early Tokens and Types given of a Declension in the Church which proceeded so far as to this matter even in those First Times of the Gospel that Paul tells the Philippians Chap. 2. 21. of his Epistle to them supposed to be written about A. D. 59 or 62. that all Men sought their own and not the things of Jesus Christ For not only Demas forsook Paul out of Love to this present World but Mark grew weary of the Labour of the Gospel and went not with Paul and Barnabas to the work Acts 15.38 and Peter himself for fear of the Jews was guilty of Dissimulation Gal. 2.11 12. And the Galatians had generally departed from the True Notions they had received of Christian Liberty and a Working Faith Gal. 5.1 6 7. and were grown very remiss in their Acts of Charity Gal. 6.9 And the Churches mentioned in Scripture are frequently reprehended for great Enormites so that it is no wonder that the Churches in After-Ages proved guilty of them the Love of many waxing cold betimes as our Saviour foretold Matth. 24.12 and Paul complained 2 Tim. 1.15
Cardinal Points of Heaven 12 For so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ought to be translated as it is Ezek. 1.5 that so they may be the better distinguished from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Antichristian Beast These Four living Creatures are called Cherubims Ezek. 10.2 By which is meant Active Beings of an Angelical Nature employed in the Ministration of God's Providence as appears from their Description given by Ezekiel Now the Representations here given figuring something analogous to them in the Church they cannot be supposed to signifie any thing more properly than the pure Christian Church represented by the Apostles who were so extraordinarily active in the propagating of the Gospel into the Four Quarters of the World and were Twelve making up Four Ternaries of Living Creatures or Zealous Active Ministers of Christ according to the Number of the Four Ternaries of the Twelve Tribes under the Four Standards in the Wilderness For we are to take notice that this Representation of the Throne of the Majesty of God or this Theatre or Stage of the Apocalyptick Visions as Mr. Mede calls it exactly answers the Encampments of the Israelites God's Throne being here placed in the middle as the Tabernacle was there the Four and Twenty Elders next to answer the Station of the Priests and Levites and the Four Beasts at each Angle Diametrically opposite to each other against the Four Cardinal Points of the Wind representing Christians in the Four Quarters of the World in analogy to the Four Standards of the Camp of the Israelites having in them Figures of these Four Living Creatures taken from the Cherubims of the Chariot or Glorious Throne of Almighty God 1 Chron. 28.18 For which see Mr. * Pag. 437 594 917. Mede Dr. Hammond on the Place Grotius on Numb 10.15 and Mr. Ainsworth on Numb 2. where he has given us the Figure of the Encampments and has discoursed largely on them and Dr. ‖ De legibus Hebraeorum lib. 3. Dissertat 5. Spencer 7 And the first Beast or living creature was like a Lion 13 denoteing the Power and strength of the Gospel and Apostolical Ministry Gen. 49.9 Psal 103.24 and the second Beast like a Calf 14 or Ox denoting their Laboriousness and Usefulness Prov. 14.4 and the third Beast had the face of a Man 15 signifying Reason and Prudence and the fourth Beast was like a flying Eagle 16 noteing their activity and quick-sightedness into the Mysteries of the Gospel 13 This was the Standard of Judah on the East side compared to a Lyon Gen. 49.9 And the Qualities of these Living Creatures do denote the like Gifts and Graces required in the Ministry which were after an extraordinary manner eminent in the Apostles the Representatives of the Christian Church and of its State in the Kingdom of Christ to which this appearance relates 14 The Standard of Ephraim on the West side of the Camp who is resembled to an Ox Deut. 33.17 15 Reuben's Standard on the South side 16 The Standard of Dan on the North side 8 And the four Beasts had each of them six 17 Wings noteing their speed their Reverence in God s Presence and their humble sense of themselves Isa 6.2 about 18 him and they were full of Eyes within 19 to observe themselves as well as to be vigilant over others and they 20 rest not day and night but are constant and incessant in the Worship and Service of God Isa 60 11.62 6. saying Holy 21 Holy Holy i. e. infinitely and superlatively Holy Isa 6.3 Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come Rev. 1.4 17 With Two they covered their Faces out of Reverence with Two their Feet or Nakedness out of a sense of their own shame and impurity and with Two they flew to execute God's Commands Isa 6.2 18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 round about them that is perhaps at several Distances on each side as the Israelites are said to encamp 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or round about the Tabernacle that is at distant Points of the several sides of the Square encompassing it So here each of the Living Creatures is said to have Six Wings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is on each side Three one against another one pair on their Shoulders with which they flew another on each of their Breasts stretched upwards to cover their Faces and the Third about their Hips to cover their less honourable parts or appearances Andreas Caesariensis reads as our common Copies do but if 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be to be joyned to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Grotius and Dr. Hammond think then their Exposition may be consulted as more commmodious 19 The inward Eyes of these Creatures were represented unto John the Figure or Appearance which was perhaps diaphanous being contrived accordingly 20 This was the Practice of the Apostolical Church as appears from Acts 2.42 46.20 31. Luke 2.37 2 Tim. 4.2 21 Here it is acknowledged by the Apostolical Church with the Joynt Consent of the Israelitish Church that God is a Supereminent Being and that he is to be worshipped incommunicably according to his most eminent and unparallell'd Holiness and perhaps the Divine Being in Father Word and Spirit may be intimated in the Threefold Repetition of the Word Holy But howsoever in this First Doxology the Lord God Almighty who is Father Son and Holy Ghost God blessed for ever is only mentioned and not the Lamb to shew that the Belief of One God who created all things is the First Fundamental Principle of Religion Christ as Redeemer the Lamb slain being not acknowledged and worshipped until the Second Doxology after he had appeared before the Throne of the Father and had received his Kingdom acccording to the Original Model of these Visions in the Book of Daniel where Chap. 7. the Son of Man is brought near to the Father and then had Dominion and Glory given him 9 And when soever these Beasts 22 or representatives of the Apostolical pure Church give or shall and are wont to give glory i. e. acknowledgment of God's glorious Majesty and Excellency and Honour to God's Authority and Preheminence and thanks for his bounty and gracious gifts to his Church to him that sat on the Throne who liveth for ever and ever i. e. to the Eternal and Living God not a dead Idol who will open his Kingdom of Eternal Life to all true Christians 22 At the fourth Verse the Twenty four Elders are placed before the Living Creatures to signifie the Primogeniture of the Jewish Church Here they are placed after them to signifie that the Truths here acknowledged were first clearly made known to the Christian Church and shall be at last communicated by them to the Jewish which shall be excited and provoked to Jealousie by them and shall at their Conversion joyn with them in an acknowledgment of these and all other Truths of Christianity 10 The four and twenty Elders or Heads of the pure Jewish Church testifying
Continent which lay Eastward of them and by Sea whatsoever lay to the West Continent as well as Sea Which way of Speech is to this day Observed by the Chinese who upon that account call all the World except Tartary Si Yam or the VVestern Sea from whence Siam a Countrey in the Indies takes it's Name as being Situated towards the Sea Westerly of China And therefore by this action of our Saviour seeing that in all other Places of Scripture the Earth is mentioned before the Sea may be Intimated that the Gospel which was now almost extinguished in the Eastern parts by Mahometism Should appear First in its Purity and Strength in the Sea or the VVestern Parts of the World signified by the mention of the Sea in the First Place and by Christ's putting his right Foot upon it the Strongest and the Honourablest of the two Which came to pass at the Reformation foretold in this Vision as shall beshewn hereafter And that there sbould be in the latter Days which Doctor Pocock (a) On Hosea 3.5 Pag. 618. extends from Christs First to his Second Coming some Wonderfull and Amazing motion of the People of God from the VVest is evident from Hosea 11.10 Where the Prophet foretells that the Lord shall roar like a Lion an Expreson which very Remarkably Answers to the Roaring and Thundring in this Vision and that thereupon or then the Children shall tremble from the VVest or from the (b) Dr. Pâ—cock on the Place Sea as the Word in the Hebrew Signfies that is from the VVestern Parts and from Remote and Distant Countreys and even the uttermost parts of the Earth which is encompassed with the Sea Which strange motion or conversion is to come to pass near Christ's Second Coming which Dr. Pocock asserts to be a Received Opinion as to the Jews in his Kingdom which was to have appeared when Christ set his Right Foot upon the Sea if the Thunders the Effect of the Lord 's Roaring had not been sealed that is if a stop had not been put to the Efficacy of them for Christ's Kingdom when it comes in its full force will prevail to the placing of the Jews in their Houses Verse 11. and to the bringing in the fulness and perfection of the Gentiles 3 And cried with a loud Voice i. e. proclaimed his Right as when a Lion 8 roareth i. e. terribly and with Majesty Isa 31.4 Amos 3.8 Joel 3.16 Prov. 20.2 and when he had cryed seven Thunders 9 uttered their Voices declaring the appearance of his Kingdom 8 Christ called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Rev. 5.5 is here understood whose Roaring denotes as Dr. Pocock has shewn upon Hos 11.10 the Efficacious power of the preaching of the Gospel resembled to the Voice of a Lyon because of its calling Christians together to partake of it and its Promises as the Lyon does those of its own kind to partake of the prey and because it is accompanied with a Terror and an Awe and extends it self to the uttermost parts of the Earth with great power as the Voice of a Lyon is terrible and loud And hereby also as appears from the Texts I have quoted is signified the Anger of God when he appears for the Vindication of his Kingdom against the Enemies of it 9 Thunders as I have before shewn on Chap. 6 1.8 5. signifie the Power and Efficacy and signal Appearances of Christ's Kingdom which Seven the Number of Perfection peculiarly denotes and which Hannah prophesied would be exalted by the Lord's Thundering out of Heaven 1 Sam. 2.10 4 And when the seven Thunders had uttered their Voices I was about to write that which they had uttered and I heard a Voice from Heaven saying unto me 10 Seal up those things which the Seven Thunders uttered and write them not i. e. conceal them as things which are to come to pass hereafter and hinder them from coming immediately into Effect Dan. 8 26.12 4 9. 10 Here Sealing and Writing are plainly opposed Writing signifying the bringing of the Vision into Effect and Sealing the delaying of the Acccmplishment of it as I have shewn on Chap. 5.1 So that here is a plain stop put to the Kingdom of Christ insomuch that his Roaring did not prevail to make the Children come trembling from the West 5 And the Angel which I saw stand upon the Sea and upon the Earth lifted up his hand to Heaven the Throne of God in the posture and manner of Swearing Gen. 14.22 Dan. 12.7 6 And swore by him that liveth for ever and ever who created Heaven and the things that therein are and the Sea and the things which are therein i. e. by the Eternal Omnipotent God who created all things and therefore can alter them and their Times and Seasons that there should be such time 11 no longer as that which the Prophet Daniel foretold Chap. 7 25.12 7. 11 Time in general here called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is divided by Daniel into several distinct 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is appointed Times or Seasons which he calls Time Times and the Dividing of Time or a part that is an half of Time which Distribution is also used in this Book Chap. 12.14 By Time is meant in Daniel the most signal and perfect part of the appointed Times and seasons viz. a Year as appears from Dan. 4.16 and 11.13 where Times plainly signifie Years By Times absolutely put must be meant Two Times or Two Years because it is the Dual Number i. e. the next Plural Number to Time or One Year and then by consequence by The Division or cutting off or Half of Time must be meant Half a Year as I think all Interpreters agree Now The Prophetical Day being put for a Year in Scripture the Prophetical Year must by consequence be put for a Year of Prophetical Days that is a year of years consisting of as many years as a Year doth of Days viz. of Three hundred and Sixty Years in round and equal Numbers according to the degrees of a Circle and then (a) 360 a Time 720 Times 180 half a Time 1260. Times must be Two Years of Years i.e. Seven hundred and Twenty Years and the half Time must be half a year of years that is One hundred and Eighty Years all which amounts to Twelve hundred and Sixty Years Rev. 11 3.12 6. Now Christ's Oath here having a clear reference to Daniel 12.7 by no more Time must be meant no more such Time or of the same Nature with the Times there given to Antichrist which were to cease and no more time to be except when Christ's Kingdom appeared which is the import of the following Verse when there should be Time indeed but of a quite different Nature dated and reckoned from the glorious Reign of Christ and not from the Abominations and Servitude of Antichrist and ending in that which is not so properly Time as the completion and perfection of it Eternity For
Apostatizing Hierarchy attained its Bestian Power and that therefore the Months of the Gentiles who are the Members of the Apostatizing Church before it had an Antichristian King began before the Months of the Beast upon whose Rise they fall into his Months and are continued down with them although only the Mouths of the Antichristian King came then into Publick Account as after the Erecting of a Monarchy or after an Interregnum those only of the Supreme Prince do And because these Times were given to the Beast and Times are always reckoned from the Supreme Princes Reign therefore the Gentiles Months are to be reckoned only as suppletory to the Beast's Months by a kind of Intercalation of Thirty Eight Years which by the All-wise disposal of Providence is the Exact Mathematical proportion betwixt the Time of the Sun and Moon to teach us by the very Astronomical difference here observed that these were Pagan or Gentile Times the Heathens (a) Cary's Chronological Account of Time Part 1. B. 1. Chap. 4. Spencer ubi infra generally observing the Lunar Year and making it give place to the Solar although this were more Ancient Easie Equal and certain than the other Because that their Night-Revellings were wont to be celebrated upon the Rising of the Moon and their Idolatrous Festivities depended upon the Aspects and superstitious Observations of that Planet Whereupon God indulged the (b) Spencer de Hebraeor Legib. pag. 715-744 Jews the Observation of New Moons and instituted Festivities of his own which depended upon their Phases and Appearances to take them off from following the Pagan ones which yet they by degrees imitated And therefore I cannot but look upon the high Contest in the Church about the Day of the Paschal Solemnity in the behalf of which an imposing and a domineering Temper first appeared and the regulating and setling of it according to the Motion of the Moon to contain some Indications in it of an Apostasy then working in the Church to which the superstitious Observation of Holy Days much contributed whereas there was no Day at first observed as Necessary but the Lord's Day Vallesius (c) Valles in Euseb pag. 279. Pearson Lect. in Acta Apostol pag. 39 40. himself confessing that although the Primitive Christians met on other Days that yet it was Voluntarily and that it was not the Custom to do so every where and that all were not wont to frequent those Assemblies where it was And I cannot also but observe further That this Paschal Cycle of the Moon after many Corrections was settled upon a New Hypothesis in the very Year (a) Petav. Doctr. Temp. 2.57 437 by Cyril of Alexandria that proud and assuming Prelate who as that prudent Historian (b) Histor 7.7 11 13. Socrates notes was the first Bishop that exercised Civil Power and Coercive Authority and advanced Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction at Alexandria beyond its due bounds For such Providential Congruities if I may so call them fatally as it were conspiring to signalize this Year will with other Concurrent Arguments tend much to facilitate our belief that it is the very Epocha of the Antichristian Times the Cycle of the Moon being then regulated to shew that her Months were just beginning and Usurpation upon Civil Rights Tyranny and Persecution beginning then at (c) Socrat. 7.11 Rome as well as at Alexandria whereby the Mystery of Iniquity was gradually advanced into a Beastian Kingdom by Leo the Great and his Successors and by Cyril at Alexandria whose Bishops were the Conservators of the Moon 's Paschal Cycle about which so many (d) Beverig in Canon pag. 19. 188. Vsser Anti◠Britannic pag. 487. Councils had been held and so many rash Decrees had been made for the anathematizing of all who dissented from them as Hereticks and that in a trifling Controversie grounded upon two contrary Traditions one of which was submitted unto at last for the sake of Peace rather than of Truth neither Party being able to tell exactly which was in the Right So dangerous a thing is it to give too great Credit to Traditions not recorded in Scripture and to be wise beyond what is commanded in it 5. The 2300 Evenings and Mornings given Daniel 8 14. will also tend very much to the ascertaining of this Epocha For if these 2300 Days are so many Years reaching from the first Year of Cyrus A. M. 3459. to A. M. 5759. which will be the Vulgar Year of our Lord 1772 Then if we take Daniel's Seventy Five Years which are immediately added by him as has been shewn on Chap. 10. numb 13. Paragr 6. to the 1260 Days as the End of all Time from the Year of our Lord 1772 we shall come going backwards in a Regressive Order to the Year 1697. for the End of the Forty Two Months and 1260 Days which being also deducted from that Year we shall arrive to the Year 437. for the beginning of the afore mentioned Days and Months Bus because this is a matter of great moment I shall endeavour to state and settle it by these following Observations Obs 1. It hath pleased God to afford us a Scripture-Account of Time to be our sure Guide amidst the difficulties and intricate Mazes of Chronology and that sometimes in common Numbers and sometimes in Prophetical and Mystical ones amongst which there is a very remarkable one in Dan. 8.13 14. Where a Line of Time is given consisting of 2300 Days called Evening-morning in the Original Hebrew in the Singular Number perhaps to shew that it was a continued Line of Time consisting of many several 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Days of Years answerable to the many particular Events to be transacted in them which yet for Memories sake were contracted into One Aera which might be called as it is at the 26th Verse The Evening-Morning Vision and that with relation to the long Night of Idolatry and Antichristianism called collectively Evening which was to precede the glorious Morning of Christ's Kingdom at the Entrance of the seventh Thousand Year the Type of which the seventh day is not distributed into Evening and Morning as the other six days are to shew that it is to be all Light without any Antichristian Works of Darkness So that this Phrase Evening-Morning shews That this was a Line of Time reaching through the Evening of Three Idolatrous Monarchies to the Morning of Christ's Kingdom Obs 2. In this Place of Daniel a Question is put by an Angel to Christ the Wonderful Numberer who is the Word or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for so the (a) Poli Synops in locum Words are to be understood unto how long or unto when the Vision should last or endure as the LXX have rightly supplied the Words understanding them concerning the things represented in the whole foregoing Vision and not only of those specified in this Verse which are but a part of them and are particularly mentioned because they were things of the
was before as to Outward Church Priviledges and Profession which is the visible Life of a Church 8 And their dead Bodies i. e. these Churches anathematized and suppressed shall lie unburied in the 30 Street of the great City i e. their Censures against them and suppressing of them shall be Publick Open and Notorious through the whole Extent and in the most conspicuous places of the Antichristian Jurisdiction which 31 spiritually i. e. in a mystical sense 1 Cor. 10.4 is 32 called by the Spirit of God in this Prophecy 33 Sodom for its Spiritual Uncleanness by Idolatry and Aegypt for its Tyranny and its innumerable Superstitions and Idolatries 34 where also or in which great City our Lord Christ was crucified 30 By Street in Scripture is meant the Broad Open and publick places of Concourse as the Word is used Matth. 5.6 and Esther 6.9 Whereby is intimated that some Churches in the most Conspicuous and Eminent Places of the Roman Territories which is the City concerned in these Visions and is called the (a) Chap 14 8.17 18 18 10. great City should be persecuted and anathematized by the Apostasy and that the Devastations made upon the Witnesses should be publick and in open view and that they should be capable of being raised and restored contrary to what the wicked are threatned with Job 18.17 that their remembrance shall perish from the Earth and they shall have no name in the Street 31 From hence it clearly appears that what is here delivered is to be understood in a Metaphorical sense by way of Mystical Allegory which was common then amongst the Jews and which the Sacred Writers especially the Apostle to the Hebrews makes frequent use of 23 Or is in a Spiritual and Mystical Sense for to call and to be are frequently used promiscuously in Scripture Although I presume the meaning of this place given in the Paraphrase to be the truest for as Gog was prophesied of by the Prophets under the Names of Edom Moab Leviathan and the other Chief Enemies of God and of the Jewish Church as the Prophet Ezekiel expresly declares Chap. 38.17 So are the Idolatrous Enemies of the Christian Church prophesied of under the Names of Aegypt Babylon and the like in this Book and in the Old Testament 33 Thus Jerusalem is called Sodom and Gomorrah Isa 1.10 34 Christ was crucified at Jerusalem which is here mentioned 1. To shew that this Slaughter of the Witnesses was to be under the Jurisdiction of the Romans Jerusalem being then under their Dominion and our Saviour being Crucified by their Authority Upon which account his Suffering under Pontius Pilate and his Crucifixion which was a Roman Punishment are mentioned in the Creed 2. Rome is called Jerusalem because it succeeded the (a) Mori Oper. Theol. 721 728 Synagogue in its Carnal Hypocritical and Persecuting Temper and is a City that killeth the Prophets and Witnesses of Christ as Jerusalem of old was wont to do 3. Our Saviour is said to be Crucified at Rome because he is crucified there in his (b) Matth. 25.40 45. Acts 9.4 Members to whom whatsoever is done he imputes as done to himself Whereupon he asked Saul why he persecuted Him when he persecuted his Disciples And because the Apostacy Reigns there which sin is particularly called the Crucifying of Christ afresh and the putting him to an open shame Heb. 6 4-8 9 And they or some of the People and Kindreds and Tongues and Nations who shall be disposed to attend to and take notice of this matter shall see or diligently consider their dead Bodies i e. the deplorable and ruinous State of these desolate Churches three days and an half see num 37. and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in 35 Graves i. e. to be buried in utter Oblivion and to be in an irrecoverable condition out of all hope of being restored Ezek. 37 11-14 Hos 6.2 35 The same Metaphors that are here made use of are also used in the same sense by Ezekiel Chap. 37 1-14 and by Hos 13.14 where by dry bones in an open Valley and by dead bodies in Graves is meant a hopeless condition without the least expectation of Recovery 10 And they that dwell upon the Earth i. e. the more sensual and earthly part of the Kingdom of the Beast shall rejoice over them and make merry and shall send gifts one to another as in time of publick Joy Hest 9.19 22. Nehem. 8 10-12 because these two Prophets 36 tormented by their Reproofs denouncing of Judgments contrary Life and Conversation and the progress of their Doctrine amongst the people Hos 6.5 Judg. 16.6 Jon. 4.9 them that dwell on the Earth i. e. the Antichristian People 36 As the Prophets and particularly Elijah one of the Witnesses of the Jewish Church are said to trouble wicked Kings and People 1 Kings 18.17 18.21 20. 11 And after three 37 days and a half the Spirit 38 of Life from God entred into them i. e. they were wonderfully revived Ezek. 37.5 8 9 10 13 14. Hos 6.2 and they stood 38 upon their feet i. e. were in a posture of Service and Defence and appeared with Courage and Readiness to perform their Duty Ezek. 2 1-3.37 10. and great fear 39 fell upon all them which saw them revived so wonderfully to the Joy of their Friends and the Consternation of their Enemies 37 It is observed by the Lord Napeir that besides the Common Prophetical Day which is taken for a Year in Prophecy There is also a great and extraordinary Day in Scripture which signifies not a Year but any Time to be determined by Circumstances as the Word Day is used in the Day of the Lord and in Man's Day Now if Day signifie Time in Scripture it may very well (a) Lord Napeir on the Revel Prop. 1.15 Mori Oper. Theol. pag 179. and his Appendix to Dan. pag. 284-293 signifie so in this place where it seems to be necessary that Three Days and an half should be brought to comport with Three Times and a half 1260 Days and Forty Two Months All which being of the same signification there seems to be no reason but that the Three Days and a half should be of the same Nature too especially if we consider that the Woman in the Wilderness which is the Church or Witnesses collectively taken from whom it differs only in Notion as the Body doth from its Members hath Three Times and a half allotted her as well as 1260 Days to which there must be something porportionable in the Times of the Witnesses which are her Seed and are coaeval with her and the Three Days and a half are of the same Extent with 1260 Days and Three Times and an half if you account the Days for Years and then again resolve those Years into Days denoting so many Years But for the clearer stating of this Matter it is to be observed that here is a plain Allusion to the time of
our Saviour's Continuance in the Grave which is said by the Evangelist Matthew Chap. 12.40 to be Three Days although he lay in the Grave only one whole and entire Day of them For he was not enterred until after Three a Clock in the Afternoon of the Day in which he was crucified Matth. 27.57 and rose again in the Evening of the Lord's Day according to the Reckoning of the Jews who begin their Natural Day at Evening or to make use of those Heathenish Names of Days which we unnecessarily retain that I may be the better understood on Saturday-Night just before the Morning of the Lord's Day he being already Risen as the Evangelists testifie Matth. 28.1 John 20.1 before Day whilst it was dark when the VVomen came to the Sepulchre on the first day of the Week So that according to our Reckoning only a part of Friday and that a small one to wit from Three in the Afternoon until Evening when the Sabbath-day began in the Account of the Jews Friday Night and all Saturday until towards Sunday-Morning are called (a) Dr. Hammond on Matth. 12.40 and the Expositors on the 5th Article of the Creed Three Days and Three Nights i. e. Three Natural Days in Scripture altho they consist only of the middle one entire and but of a part of the First and Last Day And from hence it is that a very Sagacious (b) Dr. Beverley's Vision of the Witnesses slain See Alcazer in Apocalyps pag. 439. Person thinks that the Three Days and a half in this place are to be reckoned after the same manner making them to be only proportionable parts of the 1260 Days and of the Times and a half of the Beast as the Three days of our Saviour's being in the Grave are only parts of the Three Natural days of his continuance under death which proportionable parts he calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Season intimate and pregnant Time and Time within Time For as Christ's Death was towards the End of the First day so is the First Day of the death of the VVitnesses to be begun from about the End of the First Time or 360 Years reckoned from A. D. 437. where he begins the First Time as hath been shewn on Chap. 10. num 13. which he places at A.D. 787. when the VVitnesses were killed and were dead as to all open power and liberty of witnessing upon their being Excommunicated by the Second Council of Nice after a long War about Images called in correspondence to Prophecy Iconomachia And then this being the First of the Three days and a half in proportion to our Saviour's being in the Grave the whole Sabbath day he makes the two whole Times consisting of 720 Years to answer the two whole Days of the VVitnesses unburied State which will reach to A. D. 1507. within Ten Years of the Reformation begun A. D. 1517. when the half time to which the half day is parallel begun as hath been before shewn Upon which in proportion to our Saviour's Rising at the beginning of the third day some of the Witnesses began to rise and were called Protestants A. D. 1524. which Name he thinks although grounded only upon a particular Protestation made by some of the Princes of Germany against the Edict might be designed and brought about by an over-ruling Providence to signifie that they were VVitnesses against the Beast or Protesters just then risen and appearing to give Testimony by way of Protestation against the declining Antichristianism there being a mysterious and fatal signification in some Names and Appellations unforeseen by those that gave them who might perhaps ground them upon idle and insignificant Reasons which point out some Remarkable Events then unthought of And from hence he dates the Rising of the VVitnesses in the beginning of the Half time or Half day said yet to be after three days and a half as our Saviour is said Mark 8.31 in the very same words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to rise again after three days although it were but at the beginning of the third day and that very early as soon as so much of the Night was past as that it might be called the third day although he thinks it to be a partial and an imperfect one suitable to the dark Evening for so it was John 20.1 of the third day when our Saviour arose and to the imperfections of Half time During which there are to be continual Advances of the Reformation and Endeavours after a higher pitch of perfection which yet shall not be compleat nor shall there be an entire Resurrection of all the Witnesses until the End of the last half time which he determines at 1697. upon Reasons given before even as our Saviour who was seen before only by some few appeared not unto all his Disciples until Evening Joh. 20.19 Now this Hypothesis is so agreeable to the other parts of this Vision and so gracefully proportionable to the Type of our Lord's Death and Resurrection and so strongly supported by several Remarkable Passages of History as the VVar about Images the Decree of the second Council of Nice establishing them and the Reformation appealing just at the Half Time or Half Day that I cannot but give my Assent to it and that after much deliberation and tryal of the truth of it Only I cannot but also do so much Justice to the contrary Opinions of some Famous Men as to give the Reader a View of them and to place them in the best light I can 1. It is the Opinion of (a) Mede's Works pag. 483 760 766 850 924. Mr. Mede and of Bishop Vsher That the whole Body of Protestants should be oppressed and totally subverted for a short space and that towards the End of the 1260 days when they shall be finishing and compleating their Testimony Which Opinion is refuted by Dr. Moor in his Appendix to Daniel and seems to me to be highly improbable because it supposes that the Witnesses had never been slaughtered before nor lain dead in the Streets of the Apostate City which is utterly contrary to all History 2. Monsieur Jurieu and other Famous and Judicious Persons have thought that the Churches of Piedmont and of France are the Two Witnesses and have accordingly remarked several things relating to their Rising after three years and a half Concerning which Opinion these following things may be observed 1. That these Two Churches are of a very Ancient Original probably planted by Apostolical Men in the First Ages of Christianity the former being the Remains of that part of the Churches of the Diocess of Italy which were under the Bishop of Turin who are commonly called the Waldenses and the latter not called Albigenses until after the Council at Alby in Languedock A. D. 1178. being the Successors of the Ancient Churches of Gaul For which see Learned Mr. Allix's Accounts of those Two Churches 2. These two Churches have maintained from the beginning their Independency
bright 29 cloud of Glory to denote the Majesty Justice and Purity of Gods Judgments and upon the Cloud one 30 sate like unto the Son of Man i. e. Christ Chap. 1.13 Dan. 7.13 John 1.14 having on his head a Golden 31 Crown denoting his Kingdom and Conquests Chap. 6.2 and in his hand a sharp 31 Sickle to reap the World swiftly and speedily Joel 3.4 13. Matth. 13.30 36-43 28 The two former Verses contained evidently a Declaration of a Blessed State of the Dead in the Lord immediately to ensue which State being the next thing in order to be performed seems to be here set forth by Metaphors made use of to the same purpose by the Prophet Joel and our Saviour in the places quoted in the Paraphrase on the Text as shall be endeavoured to be shewn from what the Words of the Text shall suggest 29 Here Christ is represented as coming in his Kingdom to Judgment according to the Descriptions frequently given of it in the Gospels Luke 21.27 Matth. 24 30.26 64. Dan. 7.14 30 This posture also denotes Judicature and Government Joel 3.12 Matth. 19.22 to which answers his coming sitting on a White Horse as he does here on a White Cloud in the parallel place to this Rev. 19.11 31 In Rev. 19. he hath also many Crowns upon his Head which are a known Emblem of Regal Power and Conquest And as he had a Crown at his first going out to propagate the Gospel Chap. 6.2 so is he here also represented with a Golden one to shew the Glory of the Kingdom in which he is now established 32 This is the Instrument of Reapers with which they not only cut down the Corn but also gather it together according to our Saviour's Parable Matth. 13. and it is sharp to denote the speed which will be then used Joel 3.4 15 And another a sixth * Angel and Voice came out of the Temple crying with a loud Voice i. e. earnestly Luke 18.7 Rev. 6.10 to him that sate on the Cloud i. e. to Christ Thrust in we humbly pray thee thy Sickle and reap for the time is come for thee the Lord of the Harvest the Judge of the World which raiseth the Dead and quickneth them Matth. 9.38 John 5.21 22. to reap for the 33 Harvest of the Earth or Field of the World is * ripe i. e. all things are ready and the time appointed for gathering the Children of the Kingdom is now just at hand Matth 13.30 38. John 4.35 Mark 4.29 (a) The Day of the Lord is near Joel 3.14 * This Angel or Angelical Company for Angel is taken collectively in this Prophecy is not a Gospel-Ministry because it does not denounce any thing as the others had done but seems to denote the Attendants of Christ the Angels who are the Reapers Matth. 13.29 and the Shout the Voice of the Arch-Angel which shall accompany him at the last Day and they cry out unto him from his Heavenly Temple to expedite that Blessedness which had been so long delayed and which the Saints so eagerly long after and the whole Creation groans for Rom. 8.22 23. 2 Cor. 5.1 2.4 5. 33 Harvest is plainly taken in a good sense in the places quoted in the Paraphrase and where it is common to the good and bad as Matth. 13. they are distinguished from one another as Tares and Wheat and even in Joel 3.13 from whence this Expression is taken Vintage is peculiarly appropriated to the Wicked and may be very well distinguished from the Harvest which may relate to God's bringing or gathering together his People Verse 1.7 and his mighty ones Verse 11. who seem to be the same with the Armies of Heaven the Angels and the Saints which shall accompany Christ at this great Day of his Kingdom Rev. 19.14 And therefore the reaping of both these at the last Day being so plainly distinguished in Scripture it is fit also that it should be so here also * Ripe that is fully ripe White to the Harvest and therefore looks as if it were dried or withered as the Word also imports because of the long delay and expectation of Christ's Kingdom 16 And he that sate on the Cloud i. e. Christ thrust in his Sickle on the Earth and the Earth was immediately reaped of its 34 Wheat i. e. the Just were gathered together at the first Resurrection Matth. 13.30 38 48. Rev. 20.5 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes 4 13-18 34 The Saints and Godly are understood saith Mr. Brightman on the place by the Corn or Wheat of this Harvest who are compared to it by our Saviour Matth. 13.30 38. and are here represented saith he as falling of their own accord before the Sickle through the great ripeness of them Now seeing that almost (a) Poli Synops in Apocal. pag. 1098 in fin all Interpreters agree that these Words have a reference to the last Judgment described by the same Metaphors in Dan. 7. and Math. 13. it is highly probable that hereby is meant the gathering together of the Saints departed in Christ by the first Resurrection fitly called the reaping of the Earth of its Wheat as it consists in the gathering together of the Bodies and Dust of Saints which are all that is precious and of any Value in it and the gathering of them and those who remain alive out of this Wicked Antichristian Earth into a New Heaven and a New Earth which is the proper meaning of (b) Metere est ex hac Vita colligere Menoch Tirinus in locum Falx homines a Terra demet it ut Ecclesiae inserantur Grot. in locum Reaping in Scripture and because this is to be done in a moment 1 Cor. 15.51 52. therefore is the Sickle represented as sharp to denote the extraordinary quickness of this Action But of this see what is largely discoursed on the Three Last Chapters 17 And another Angel i. e. the Seventh and last came out of the Temple which is in Heaven i. e. another Angelical Company of Reapers who were to bind 35 together the Wicked in order to destruction Matth. 13.41 he also having a sharp Sickle to cut 36 down and gather together the wicked ones for a swift Destruction Verse 14 35 For such this Angel may very well be supposed to be by the Description here given of him and consequently the Angel Verse 15. must mean the Reapers who were to gather the Wheat or the Children of the Kingdom together 36 For this is the Use of a Sickle as well as to gather 18 And 37 another Angel came out from the Altar of Burnt Offerings on which there was Fire continually Levit. 6.9 Rev. 6.9 which had power over fire i. e. God's Judgments in order to execute them Rev. 8 5.11 5 and cryed with a loud cry that the Blood of the Souls under the Altar might be speedily and fully avenged upon the Wicked Rev. 6.9 10 11. to him that had the sharp Sickle saying Thrust in thy sharp Sickle
others is included Luke 24.49 by the Holy Ghost's coming upon them the knowledge of Times and Seasons was bestowed upon them by God which indeed it was not for them to know before of themselves and without the Spirit which alone knoweth the Secrets of God for which they were rebuked by our Saviour Acts 1 6-8 and not for supposing such a Kingdom and Restauration For in the first Sermon which the Apostle Peter made after the descent of the Holy Ghost Acts 3 19-26 he plainly makes mention of the Times and appointed Seasons of d Restitution or Restauration and Refreshment to Israel determining also the precise Time when this should come to pass viz. at the second Coming of Christ from Heaven foretold by all the Prophets when the sins of the converted Israelites were to be blotted out and they should have great comfort and refreshment from the presence of God by Christ's return referring to the Prophecy of Moses Deut. 18.15 18 19. where it is foretold that at the raising up or coming of Christ the Israelites shall hear or obey him in all things whatsoever he shall say unto them which perfect Obedience hath not been as yet paid unto Christ's Doctrine by them and therefore the Words must refer to some Second Coming when according to the Tenor of that and other places of Scripture the faithful Jews shall be restored comforted and rewarded and the Disobedient shall be destroyed from among the people Lastly The Apostle 1 Cor. 15 24.-29 plainly asserts that Christ shall have such a Distinct and Peculiar Kingdom to himself as that he may be said in the Exercise of it not to be subject to God the Father and God the Father during that Kingdom not to be all in all Which cannot be understood concerning him whilst he was upon Earth because he was then in a State of Humiliation and Sufferings being made lower then the Angels and having taken upon himself the Form of a Servant Phil. 2.7 8. Heb. 2.9 nor concerning him as he is now in Heaven because he is represented in Scripture in his present State as sitting on the Right Hand of God whereby is denoted his enjoying and possessing as the Son (c) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 3.2 the same word used Acts 1.6 by the Apostles when they proposed this question to our Saviour of Man a Glory and Authority next to that of God the Father and the Exercise of his Regal Office as a Branch of his Mediatorship as in subjection and subordination unto him and as in expectation of having his Enemies subdued by the Father Psalm 110.1 Heb. 10.12 13. Nor can this be understood concerning the Kingdom of Eternity because then God will be All in All And although Christ must Reign in his Humane Nature to all Eternity yet that is not as Mediator but as God-Man (a) John 13 32.17 5 24. glorified with the Glory which he had with the Father before the World was in which State his Humane Nature is not to have a proper and peculiar Glory of it self but one in and with God from him and him alone And therefore this must be understood concerning some State of his Kingdom called 1 Cor. 15.24 The Kingdom in which Christ as Son of Man and Mediators shall appear to Reign so gloriously with such Evidences and Manifestations of Glory in and from himself as that he may be said not to be subject to the Father but to have a distinct Kingdom of his own although communicated from God the Father in which he Reigns freely and absolutely as King and net as a Vice-Roy limited by a Commission and which was not to be One with his Fathers Kingdom until all things become One in him when Christ's Mediatory Kingdom is to cease A Mediator not being a Mediator of One. Now if there be such a Kingdom and that Kingdom be not his Mediatory nor Eternal Kingdom what Kingdom can it be but that Glorious Kingdom we have been treating of which is to begin as the Apostle there intimates and shall be shewn hereafter at the Resurrection and is to end when all things are subdued unto the Son when he shall deliver up his Kingdom in which the Saints had been sanctified by him and prepared for Union with God according to the Tenor of that admirable Prayer of our Saviour John 17. the Pattern of his Intercession Q. E. D 15 It is no where expresly said in Scripture that Christ shall come down upon the Earth at the Day of Judgment but only that he shall appear in the Clouds (a) So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be rendered compare Rev. 5.10 and Matth. 25.21 See Mr. Mather de Signo Filii Hominis and Dr. Homes Resurrect revealed 2.2 over the Earth in the lowest part of the Heavens into which be descends from the highest Heavens Judging the World and Reigning there with his Saints 1 Thes 4.16 17. 16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Thousand Years which are to be understoood of a definite space of time as appears from the Epocha and Period assigned to this Line of Time which is dated from the binding of the Devil and ends in the loosing of him And the Thousand Years are to be understood Literally and not Prophetically reckoning each Day for a Year because all Prophetical Time will be at an end before the Blessed Millennium begins according to Christ's Oath Rev. 10.6 that Time should be no longer after the expiring of the 1260 Years the Times foretold by the Prophets Now if Propheticall Time be at an end before the Thousand Years enter then they must be Literally and not Prophetically understood in which sense if they were to be taken the Glory of the Divine State in which God is all in all would be deferred to so vast a length of Time as could not rationally be supposed But that this State is to last such a precise Number of Years seems to be plainly asserted by the Apostle Peter 2. Ep. 3.8 who discoursing concerning the Day of Judgment delivers this remarkable Axiom of which he charges those he wrote to to take special notice as of a thing very observable viz. That one Day is with the Lord as a Thousand Years and a Thousand Years as one Day In which place the Apostle answers an Objection which he foresaw would be made by some Scoffers in the last Days against the coming of Christ to dissolve this present World and make a New One and tells the that this should certainly come to pass at the Day of Judgment But least his meaning should be mistaken he says that by the Day of Judgment he does not mean a single ordinary Day but a Day in the mysterious Account and Reckoning of Almighty God who made all things in Number as well as in Weight and Measure and had ordained accordingly that a Day in his Account should be reckoned as a Thousand Years and a Thousand Years as One Day and therefore that the Day
of Judgment being One of the Lord's Days called frequently the Day of the Lord in Scripture must consist of a Thousand Literal Years and a Thousand Years when spoken of with relation to some mystical Day or Time of the Lord must be accounted as One mystical Day comprehending a Thousand Years of common Account And also he further intimates that the Days of the Lord in which he perfected the Work of the Creation and rested from it being Seven there must consequently pass before the Day of Judgment six Thousand Years or six mystical Days and that the Day of Judgment must accordingly last a Thousand Years which should be a Day of Sabbatism or a Thousand Years of Rest or Peace and of Sanctification or Righteousness in correspondence to Gods resting on the Seventh Day and blessing and sanctifying it And this Interpretation of the place is not only agreeable to the Traditions (a) Mede 's Works pag. 609. Grot. in loc Ainsw on Gen. 1.31 Burnet's Theory B. 3 5.4 3 6. of the Jews to whom the Apostle wrote and to the Sentiments of the Primitive Christians but also may be stongly enforced from the Circumstances of the Text it self For if this were not the sense of the VVords and it contained only this plain Natural Truth that Time is nothing to Eternity why should so solemn an Admonition be prefixed to it VVhich is also a sense nothing proper to the scope of the Apostle who was to answer the Objection of the Scoffers and to comfort the Christians under the delay and long suffering of God and to excite them to look for it and hasten unto it to which end it was no ways proper to tell them that each Natural day of the Year was with the Lord as a Thousand Years which would but have encreased their impatient expectation and would withal not have answered the Objection of the Scoffers because there might be for all the Apostle had asserted many Thousand Years before the Promise of his coming should be fulfilled VVhereas the other Interpretation affords Hope to the Christians that things should not always continue as they were but that this wicked World should be at last destroyed and a New One succeed it wherein they should be found of Christ at his coming in peace that is in a state of rest and peace to their good and prosperity according to what the Apostle Paul had written unto them in his Epistle to the (b) Especially in the 3d and 4th Chapters Hebrews where besides the Rest from the VVorks of the Creation and that promised to the Israelites in the Land of Canaan he makes mention of another Rest which he calls a certain limited Day wherein another kind of Rest is to be expected plainly intimating the Day of Rest in the Times of the Messias or a Sabbatism as the word ought to be translated verse 9. that is a seventh Thousand Years of Peace and Righteousness after six Thousand of Labour Misery and Sin for according to the Key of Mystical Knowledge given by the Apostles Peter and John after a (a) Bp. Fell 's Sermon on 2 Pet. 3.3 Millenary Week the Everlasting Sabbath shall commence And further this Number is to be taken literally because by it is signified a State of Perfection a Year being the perfect Revolution of the Sun and a Thousand being a perfect Number and the perfection both of Time and Numbers concurring in a Thousand Years For a Thousand Years is a Cube (b) For it arises out of the multiplication of Three Tens Two Tens multiplied making 100 Years and 100 Years multiplied by the Third Ten amounting to 1000 Years which is a Cube of Time See Meursii Denar Pythagor and Dr. Moor's Cabbala Oper. Philosoph Tom. 2. pag. 500 501 530 532 557 558 559 561. of Time whose Root is Ten whereby is signified a steddy uninterrupted and permanent State of which a Cube is the Symbol and withal a perfect one to which no other State is to succeed but is to be swallowed up in the perfection of Eternity as the Number Ten is a perfect Number beyond which there is no simple Number and comprehends all simple Numbers in it Whence it is that Man being a sinful and imperfect Creature could never arrive to the Term of a Thousand Years as Jachiades a Jew has observed on Dan. 7.25 the period of a perfect State upon Earth which the First Adam could not reach for if he had he had been probably translated into an Immortal State nor any of the Sons of Adam during the Old World but is proper only to the Sons of the Resurrection in the New World of the Second Adam or the Messias 5 But the 17 rest or remnant of the dead i. e. those who weâ—e slain by the Sword of Christ's Mouth Chap. 19.21 lived 18 not again 19 until the Thousand Years were finished This living again of the Saints and Martyrs 20 is the first Resurrection of Life John 5.29 1 Thes 4.15 16. 17 It is plain from what hath been observed in the foregoing Annotation that the Day of (a) See Mr. Mede pag. 531-537 571-573 577-580 602-619 Ep. 15.2 and Book 5. And Dr. Beverley of the Universal Christian Doctrine of the Day of Judgment Matth. 25.31 34. Luke 19 12-27 Judgment mentioned in the Doctrinal parts of Scripture is the same with the Thousand Years Kingdom of Christ Day (b) John 16.26 Heb. 3.8 9. See Mr. Mede in the places quoted and pag. 86. and Mr. Mather de Signo Filii Hominis often signifying in Scripture a long space af Time and not only a single Day And therefore seeing that the Wicked are to be judged as well as the Good they must be here meant by the rest of the Dead who are evidently the same with the Wicked People slain with the Sword of Christ's Mouth Chap. 19.21 the same Expressions being used in both places 18 The Wicked indeed live again when they are raised to Judgment but because they rise only to Shame and Everlasting Contempt as the Prophet Daniel speaks Chap. 12.2 and lye as dead or slain under the condemning power of Christs Gospel the Sword proceeding out of his Mouth and shall never live a Life of Happiness therefore are they represented here as dead (c) See Matth. 8.22 Luke 15.32 1 Tim. 5.6 2 Peter 3.7 Jude 12. Men which lived not again and accordingly they are seldom mentioned in the general Discourses in the (d) Neither in the 15th of the Corinthians nor 1 Thessal 4. New Testament about the Resurrection 19 They are represented during the Thousand Years as in a dead spiritless and unactive State lying under the Judiciary Sentence of Condemnation and the perdition which the day of Judgment shall bring upon ungodly men 2 Pet. 3.7 upon the expiring of which they become active gather to Battle and compass the Camp of the Saints Verse 8 9. 20 This refers to the Resurrection and living again
safely and at rest when they shall be invaded by Gog that is the Heathen Nations out of whose Captivity they are to be brought And in such a Posture may the Saints upon Earth be well presumed to be after the Thousand Years when the Laodicean State as hath been before observed on Chap. 3 14-21 begins in which through a long continuance of Glory and Prosperity the Saints upon Earth began to be less Zealous and did not so ardently desire to be caught up to Christ and be for ever with him as they had before done 10 And the Devil that deceived them or the Deceiver of them and that from the beginning John 4.44 1 John 3.8 was without any Tryal as being taken in the very Fact and having been a notorious Murtherer and Lyar from the beginning and the Father of all Sin and Enmity to Christ's Kingdom cast immediately into the 33 Lake of Fire and Brimstone where the 34 Beast and the False Prophet are who were before cast into it Chap. 19.20 and shall be tormented day aad night for ever and ever i. e. he was adjudged upon undeniable Evidence of Fact to a State of utter inability of acting against God and Christ and to extreme Torments to all Eternity without intermission 33 He and his cheif Agents are condemned to the same punishment having no remains of any Power left no more than there is of a thing which is consumed by Fire for the Devil shall not be only held in Chains as formerly but all his Power and Authority shall be utterly abolished Grotius in locum in Cap. 19,20 34 From hence it appears that Gog and Magog is not Antichrist as some have thought because Antichrist was in the Lake before their Discomfiture and Condemnation 11 And I saw a 35 great white 36 Throne i. e. a Representation of the last and great Act of Judicature in which all Enmity was destroyed and the living remaining Saints were caught up to the Lord to sit with him on his Throne and all which belonged to Christ's Kingdom were fully sanctified and glorified and prepared for Union with God to all Eternity 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes 4. Rev. 3.21 and him that sat on it i. e. Christ Matth. 25.31 Acts 17.21 from whose 37 Face or Presence upon the Declaration of his Will the 38 New Earth and the 38 New Heaven sled 39 away or disappeared at his Rebuke and Command and there was found no 40 place for them i. e. they were utterly abolished and annihilated Psalm 37.10 Dan. 2.35 Rev. 12.8 35 It was a great Throne because all who had overcome were to sit with Christ in it and the whole World was to be finally Judged at it and it was White to shew the Glory Sanctity and Purity of Christ's Justice and of the State in which the Saints were now to be invested who at this great and last Session are caught up together into the Air to be with Christ for ever after they had Judged the World with him 36 From the Appearance of this Throne and the following Judgment it may be concluded that this was the Laodicean State of the Church according to the importance of the Word which signifies the Judging of the People See on Chap. 3. 37 Face signifies a stedfast Will and Purpose shewn by Gestures or other Signs and Circumstances as the word is taken Luke 9 51-53 38 38 These must be the New Heaven and New Earth whose Description is given in the following Chapter because they fly away after the Expiration of the Thousand Years which is the space of Time allotted to the Duration of the Reign and Kingdom of Christ and of the Holy City prepared as a Bride the New Jerusalem which are to be not in the Old but the New Heaven and Earth as will plainly appear to any one who compares this Chapter with the following wherein as is all along observed are such Descriptions given of the Thousand Years Kingdom of Christ as can agree to no other but a New Heaven and New Earth in which dwelleth Righteousness 39 This New Earth flies away but the Old One is to be dissolved by Fire of which flying away is not a proper Expression 40 The Psalmist expresseth the Death of a Man by his place knowing him no more Psalm 103.16 But when it is said That no place is found for a thing thereby seems to be denoted its utter annihilation and withal the impossibility of any other thing succeeding in its place because there is no place remaining into which it should succeed Whence it follows that this is the last Heaven and Earth and that no New Ones are to succeed it and that nothing else shall remain after it but the Eternal Kingdom of God All in All in the highest Heavens and the Lake of the Damned 12 And I saw the 41 Dead in Trespasses and Sins who had lain in an unactive State of Infamy during the Thousand Years and were afterwards discomfited by the Fire of God which came down from Heaven Verse 5 9. small 42 and great i. e. all sorts and the whole Race of them Chap. 19.18 stand before God to be judged by him and the 43 Books of God's Omniscience Mens Consciences and the Law were opened i. e. Mens Actions and God's Knowledge of them were made manifest and 44 another Book was opened which is the Book 44 of Life viz. the Lamb's Book of Life from the foundation of the World Chap. 3 5.13 8.17 8 21 27. and the Wicked Dead raised to Condemnation and discomfited by God's severe Judgment and Indignation and now brought all together to receive their final Sentence were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their own wicked Works which were not also found written in the Book of Life Verse 15. 41 Hence it appears that this is the Judgment of the Nations the Gog-Magog who were discomfited Verse 9. because they are called the Dead in Ezekiel and the Slain and Dead in this Prophecy 42 Hence it also appears that these are the Kings and their Armies mentioned Chap. 19.18 19. who are the slain and the all men small and great viz. the whole Race of wicked Men. 43 A Metaphor (a) Dan. 7.10 Esth. 6.1 Isa 65.6 Malach. 3.16 taken from the Rolls and Records of Courts of Judicature and from the Registers kept by the Eastern Kings of the Actions of their Reigns whereby God's exact Justice and the perfect Knowledge which he hath of all Mens Actions is set forth and the evident Conviction which will attend the procedures of that Great Day Matth. 12.36 1 Cor. 4.5 44 44 This is is the Book of Election and Predestination belonging to the Living in the New Jerusalem State which is represented as One single Book because it depends upon One single Decree of God and One single Cause of that Decree viz. the free Grace and Good Pleasure of God in Christ Acts 13.48 Rom. 8.28 c.
revealed in Flames of Fire It being very (a) Luke 17 26-31 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom c. Even thus shall it be in the Day when the Son of Man is revealed i. e. to make good the parallel in the very self same Day in which he is revealed 2 Thess 1.7 8. 2 Pet. 3.10 12. See Dr. Burnet 's Theory B. 3. and 4. Mather de Signo Filii Homin 2. 5. plain from Doctrinal Scripture that the present World shall be burnt before the end of all things and probably at Christ's very first coming to his Kingdom to which Conflagration there will be many preceeding Dispositions and Preparations which are called the Signs of Christs Coming in Scripture and are probably the Vials in this Prophecy before insisted on Chap. 16. This New (b) Dr. Burnet 's Theory B. 4. 3 8. Heaven and Earth which are to arise out of the Remains of the Old ones as out of a Second Chaos are no other than the Seat of the Kingdom of the Blessed Millennium in which the Saints are to Reign with Christ Chap. 20. because according to the plain words of the Apostle Peter it is that New Heaven and Earth in which Righteousness is to dwell i. e. Righteous Saints are to Reign in Holiness and Righteousness during the Day of Judgment which is a Day of the Lords consisting of a Thousand Years which is as plain a Description of the Blessed Millenium as can well be given of which Truth also the following Verses will administer many Proofs 3 The very word made use of by the Apostle Peter 2 Ep. 3.10 concerning the passing away of the Heavens of this World at the general Conflagration For it is to be observed that the Scriptures make mention of Three Worlds 1. The World before the Flood reaching from the beginning of the Creation to its perishing by Water Which the Apostle (a) 2 Ep. 2 5.3 5 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peter calls the Heavens and Earth of Old the World that then was and the Old or Original World concerning which see the (b) Burnet's Theory B. 1. and 2. and the Append to the 4th Book ingenious Theory of the Earth 2. The present World reserved for fire called in (c) 2 Pet. 3.7 Rom. 8 19-24 Gal. 1.4 John 12 31.14 30. 1 Cor. 2.6 8. 2 Cor. 4.4 Mather de Signo Fil. Homin 1. 2. Scripture the Heavens and Earth which are now this present evil World and this VVorld by way of Contempt and to distinguish it from the world to come 3. The New (d) 2 Pet. 3.13 Heb. 2.5 Eph. 1.21 Luke 20 34-38 and Chap. 17. Heavens and New Earth called in Scripture the VVorld to come that VVorld the VVorld of the Resurrection from the Dead and the Kingdom of God and of the Son of Man at his coming which is to succeed when (a) 1 Cor. 7.31 Psalm 102.26 2 Pet. 3. Psalm 104.30 Matth. 19.28 Acts 3.21 Rom. 8 19-24 Mather de Signo c. 2.5 Burnet 's Theory the Form Fashion and Disposition of the parts of this VVorld shall pass away and be changed upon its dissolution by fire and there shall be a Restitution Regeneration Delivery Redemption and Restauration of all things in the Natural as well as Moral VVorld into the Primitive State from which they had fallen by Sin 4 This is a very surprising confirmation of Doctor Burnet's Hypothesis viz. That the VVorld shall be restored to its Primitive Paradisiacal State in which there was no Sea and that the Sea shall be devoured by the Conflagration which latter is also alluded to by the Prophet Amos Chap. 7.4 where he supposes that Fire shall devour the great Deep of which it had already eaten up or devoured a part in Vision And the VVicked being separated by God from the Righteous now strictly united into one Body and living together in perfect Peace and Unity it seems to be very congruous there should be No Sea in that State which as it is the Type of unquiet multitudes so also is it an hinderance to the mutual communication of Men one with another And here it may be convenient to give a brief Account of the Series and Order of things according to Scripture from the Time of the Approach of Christ's Kingdom until the End and Delivery up of it to God 1. Antichrist will fall as soon as ever the Months of the Beast are expired and Mahometanism which was designed as a Scourge to it shall consequently afterwards cease to be a VVo to the Christian VVorld See Chapter 9 12.11 2 3 14. 2. The Jews also will be restored to their own Countrey after the fullfilling of the Times of the Gentiles i. e. at the End of Antichristian Times Matth. 21.24 3. There will be Days of Great Tribulation and immediately after them there will be many signs of Christ's coming and of the End of the VVorld and very great Preparations for the general Conflagration Matth. 24.3 29. Mather de Signo Filii Hominis Dr. Burnet's Theory B. 3. Chap. 10 11 12. 4. Then will appear some Extraordinary Sign of the Son of Man in Heaven upon which all the Tribes of the Earth shall mourn and the Son of Man shall be seen coming in the Clouds of Heaven Matth. 24.30 5. As soon as ever Christ shall appear the Dead will be raised and the Earth and Heavens of this present World will at the same time be dissolved by Fire in which the Wicked Living and Raised are punished (a) 2 Thes 1.8 9. 2 Pet. 3.7 Vengeance being to be taken on them and they suffering Perdition in and by this Conflagration of the Heavens and Earth which were kept in store and preserved by God for the perdition of ungodly men and that not only of the wicked men of that Generation which shall be then alive but of all who have died in their sins it being plain that our Saviour bids all of every Generation watch least that Day surprize them and that he supposes that Sodom and Gomorrah which were set forth for an Example of Eternal Fire should suffer again in the Day of Judgment and that all which repent not must perish (a) Luke 13.3 5. Matth. 11.24 Jude 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after the like manner with the Galileans and those on whom the Tower of Siloam fell that is by sudden Bodily Judgments which can happen to all impenitents only at this General Judgment by Fire 6. The whole Antichristian State will be utterly annihilated at the first appearance of Christ Satan will be bound for a Thousand Years and the Wicked will not be consumed in the Conflagration but having Bodies capable of undergoing it will be brought thereby into a state of Confinement and that as it were in the (b) See the Opinions of the Ancients about Limbus Patrum in Bp. Usher's answer to the Jesuit Ends and Corners of the New Earth during the