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
the Mystical signification of what is delivered in the Law of Moses with relation to the Sanctuary God's Worship and his Priests particularly Exodus 28 29 30 Chapters Leviticus 10 8-11 and Chapters 21 and 22. Ezekiel 42 13 14.44 8-31 much of Ezekiel from Chapter 40 to the end Matth. 18 15-20 19 17.20 24-29 23 6-12 and Grotius on those places John 15 27.17 â—0-23 Acts 1 13-26 2 37-47 3 1.4 31-37 5 1-14 41 42.6 1-8 8 2.9 39.12 5.13 2 3 15.14.22 23 27. Chapter 15.16 2 4 5 25.20 7 11 27-36 Romans from Chapter 12 to the End of the Epistle First Epistle to the Corinthians from the First Chapter to the 15th and Chapter 16. most part of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians Galatians 2 and 6. Ephesians 2 19-22 Chapters 4th 5th and 6th the Epistle to the Philipppians the greatest part of the Epistles to the Colossians Tbessalonians Timothy and Titus Hebrews 5 12-14 and Chapters 6.1 2.12 14-29 and Chapter 13 the generality of the Epistle of James 1 Peter 2d Chapter to the End of the Epistle 2 Peter 1 3-21 and Chapter 2d and 3d most of the Epistles of John and Christ's Letters to the Seven Churches Which places diligently compared with what is prophesied of Christ's Kingdom in the Prophets and the Three last Chapters of the Revelations will furnish a Man with an exact Idea of the Church as it was designed by Christ with respect to Faith Discipline and Manners Scripture which treat of Matters relating to Church-Affairs and then to compare the State of the Churches now in being with what God requires in a pure Church and I am confident they will abate much of a too fond Dotage upon any particular Constitution or Church-State that is now in the World Of which Opinion also are the Honest and the Judicious of all Parties when some happy Conjunctures force them upon cool thoughts and peaceable Considerations which yet do not meet with their desired Success but in God's own Times and Seasons Which is remarkably evident in the Reformation of the Church of England which although begun by very good and great Men and carried on often very vigorously and successfully yet hath not been able to arrive to those Degrees of Perfection which even the first Reformers who planted it and watered it with their Blood (a) Reformatio Legum Ecclesiastic designed and (b) Preface to the Comminat Fox's Book of Martyrs edit ult Vol 3. page 67 105 107 120 121 137 362 374 385 400 403 411 412 427 442 537. Bishop Burnet's History of the Reformation edit secunda Tome 1. Praefat. pag. 147 148 189 262 300 303 315 364. in the Collect. pag. 160 178 182. Praefat. ad Vol. secund and page 44 59 67 71 72 73 75 79 80 95 96 101 104. ad 110 112 141 145 152 153 154 155 156 182 189 190 191 196. ad 202 218 219 304 339 376 377 387 390 394 395 396 397 398 399 406 407 420. Camdeni Elizab. ed. Amstelod pag. 26 in Praefat. 391 392. Sir Simon D' Ewes's Journal pag. 156-158 161 166 167 177 184 257 302 303 329 357-360 557 639. Bishop Stillingfleet's Preface to his Vnreasonableness of Separation the Discourses written lately about the Ecclesiastical Commission and the Convocation a Paper entituled Grievances of the Church of England supposed to be written by Archbishop Sancroft Letters of the English Reformers in the Library of Switzerland and Bishop Burnet's excellent Discourse of the Pastoral Care wished for But what through the inconstant Humour of a Vain and a Cruel Prince under whom it begun the Avarice and Dissentions of the Chief Ministers of rhe Court of King Edward the Sixth the short Reign of that Prince the contrary turn of Affairs in Q. Maries Days and the invincible prejudices of that great Princess Q. Elizabeth under whom it was settled who was against Alterations in the Church the glorious Work did not receive the last and finishing Hand of its Master-Builders but has ever since been hindered and retarded by several strange Occurrences but chiefly by the contrary struglings of two Parties ever since the Differences at Frankford whereby through mutual Animosities and immoderate Opposition the chief Obstacle to all Noble and Peaceable Designs things have sometimes rather gone back than forwards So that there is little hope of going on unto Perfection until the Times of Restitution begin to appear and God shall be pleased to dispose the Minds of Men by his over-ruling Providence to so necessary and so glorious an Undertaking 8 And the Voice which I heard from Heaven verse 4. spake unto me again and said go and take the little Book which is open in the hand of the Angel which standeth or stood upon the Sea and upon the Earth 9 And I went unto the Angel and said unto him Give me the little Book And he said unto me Take it and eat 14 it up i. e. commit it to Memory and keep it secret as yet Dan. 7 28.12 4 9. Ezek. 2 8.3 1-10 and it shall make thy Belly bitter because what is contained in it must be delayed for a longer time Dan. 8.26 27.10 14-16 but it shall be in thy mouth when thou prophesiest again Verse 11. sweet as honey as containing the sweet and glad tidings of Christ's Kingdom Psalm 19 10.119 103. Jerem. 15.16 Ezek. 3.3 14 To eat signifies to meditate and digest Divine Truths as appears from our Saviour's Discourse John 6. and withal to keep them close and secret as Mary did Luke 2.19 51 the Belly denoting in Scripture the most secret Thoughts and Cogitations of a Man By which is signified that Christ's Kingdom which had appeared but for a short time only so long as to be just seen open and whilst the Book could be taken into his hand and mouth should soon have a stop put to it and thereby create much Sorrow to all the true Servants of God but that it should again appear signified by being again in his mouth after it had been in his Belly in its Glory to the Joy and Comfort of them 10 And I took the little Book out of the Angels hand and eat it up and it was in my mouth sweet as honey and as soon as I had eaten it my belly was bitter i. e. I was really affected after the manner the Angel had foretold 11 And he i. e. the Angel said unto me Thou must 15 prophesie again i. e. foretel the coming of Christ's Kingdom Chap. 11.3 before of or against many 16 People and Nations and Tongues and Kings i. e. before the People and Rulers of the Kingdom of Antichrist 15 To prophesie as is shewn on Chap. 11.3 is to foretel the coming of Christ's Kingdom which it is said here John should do because he was to deliver more Prophecies concerning it and because it was to be actually performed by the Witnesses represented by John as the people of Israel of Old were by the Prophets who were
lawful for the Gentiles to pray there and therefore it could not properly be said to be given unto them now or to be polluted by them as having been always accounted unclean whereas they were never admitted into the other Courts And by the Court without the Temple is very appositely understood the Visible Christian Worship because the Visible Worship of God was performed in that place under the Law whereas all the Temple-Worship was hid from the People See the Books before quoted and Mr. (b) Pag. 19 20 478 479 480. and Ainsworth on Exod. 40.33 Mede's Works 8 Grotius on the places notes That this is called Extracludere by the Ancient Writers concerning the Limits and measuring of Grounds But the Word also denoting in (c) John 9.34 Acts 7 58 13 50. Grotius in loca Scripture an Ignominious casting out or an Excommunication it may also here signifie the leaving or casting it out of the Sacred Enclosure or Limits as unsacred and polluted as Mr. (d) Pag. 587. Mede speaks 9 So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is of the past Sense and not of the present may be translated whereby is signified that it had been given up or delivered by God before the time in which it was measured although it must be confessed that the past Tense is often used for the present in Scripture 10 By (a) Hammond on Matth. 23.15 Grot. on John 12.20 Acts 21.28 Gentiles or Nations the Jews understand all but themselves and Proselytes of Justice who were circumcised and accounted as Jews which were the Proselytes of the Gates as they call them who had renounced Idolatry but had not embraced the whole Jewish Religion and were permitted to come no further than into the Outer Court called the Court of the Gentiles and were thought to prophane and pollute the Temple if they did as appears from Acts 21 28 29.24 6. But by Gentiles are most commonly meant in Scripture the Heathen Nations round about them who whilst they continued in open Idolatry were not to live amongst them especially those who persecuted them and laid their Country City and Temple waste such as Nebuchadnezzar and Antiochus whose Desolations are bewailed and described in (b) Psalm 74. and 79. Dan. 8.1 Maccab. from Chap. 1. to Ver. 16 of the 6th Scripture and such were also the Four Successive Monarchies of the Assyrians Persians Grecians and Romans whose Times 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or appointed Seasons the word made use of by Daniel and Jeremiah Chap. 27.7 are called by our Saviour (c) See Grotius on the place and Mr. Mede's Works pag. 709 753. Luke 21.24 the Times of the Gentiles at the ending of which fort of Times in the Expiration of the Roman Monarchy continued in the Antichristian the Jews are to be restored as our Saviour there plainly asserts and the Holy City is no more to be trodden under foot by the Gentiles Now the like Expressions and some of the Words here made use of being plainly taken from the (a) Psalm 79.1 Dan. 8.10 1 Maccab. 1.37 38 39.3 45 51.4 60. Luke 21.24 Scriptures quoted in the Margin it is manifest that they have an Allusion to them especially to the Story of Antiochus a lively Type of Antichrist who is therefore prophesied of in him as a Type by Daniel and of the Gentile Times and Actions here foretold and therefore the like Actions committed by some Christians must be here referred to called Gentiles for bringing the (b) Mr. Mede's Apostasy of the latter Times Gentile Worship into the Church together with Tyranny and crafty Baits to entice to Idolatry according to the Example of Antiochus the Type of Antichrist and the Paganizing Jews who did after the Ordinances of the Heathens and built a Place of Exercise at Jerusalem according to their Customes and thereby gave a great occasion to the Tyrant to take Jerusalem and to enter proudly into the Sanctuary and pollute it and lay it waste like a Wilderness and to make the City an habitation of Strangers or Gentiles and to become strange to those that were born in it as you may read in the places of the Book of Maccabes before quoted All which agrees plainly to the Apostasy which has introduced a Pagan Christianity into the Church 11 Jerusalem is called so which is the Type of the whole Christian Church whereby is signified a Vniversal Apostasy in the Visible Church the latent or invisible one having been before measured and secured by God 12 A Day is put for a Year in this Book as hath been before shewn on Chap. 2.10 and then by consequence a Month must be put for a Month of prophetical Days consisting of as many common years as a common month doth of days But for the better understanding of the Nature of these prophetical Times and Seasons it will be very convenient to deduce this matter from the very Beginning and Original of it And accordingly it is to be observed that out of the whole space of Time assigned by God to the Transactions of this World which is thought to be about Seven Thousand Years there is a certain part allotted by him for the Times of the Apostasy and the Reign of the Beast called by Daniel Time Times and half a Time Chap. 7 25.12 7. of which it hath been discoursed already on Chap. 10.6 which are reduced into 1260. Days and Forty Two Months in the Revelations Into Days with respect to the Witnesses and the Seed of the Woman in the Wilderness who are the Children of the (a) Mede pag. 481 492. Mori Oper. Theol. pag. 614 616. Gen. 1. Luke 16.8 Acts 26.18 2 Cor. 6.14 Eph. 5.8 1 Thes 5.5 8. 2 Pet. 1.19 Rev. 22 16. See the Notes on Rev. 12.1 Day and into Nights with respect to the Gentiles and the Beast whose Antichristian Deeds are Works of Darkness and they the Children of the Night of which the Moon has the Government And as the Natural Day is divided in Scripture into Evening and Morning so is this Line of Time in proportion to that Distinction divided into Days which answer to the Morning of the Natural Day and into Months which answer to the Evening or Night of it the Days and Months making up one and the same Line of Time as the Evening and Morning make up One Natural Day whence the Time allotted in Daniel Chap. 8.13 14. for the Course of Affairs from Cyrus to the cleansing of the Sanctuary is called Evening-Morning out of which for it principally respects the Apostasy which defiled the Sanctuary this Line is taken the Months out of its Evenings and the Days out of its Mornings which way of Speech is taken from Gen. 1.5 16. where the Light is called Day and the Darkness Night and the Moon is said to rule the one and the Sun the other and the Natural Day is called Evening-Morning the Evening being put before the Morning because the Darkness o◠Night of
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
manner and restrained from all sorts of Mischief but because he was to be let loose after the thousand years therefore he is said to be only shut up in the bottomless pit and is not cast into the Lake until afterwards when he is made utterly uncapable of any manner of power or Action against God and his Kingdom for the least season and that to all Eternity And here end the first Triumphs and Conquests of Christ in his Kingdom which begins with the reducing of his Enemies viz. Antichrist the Wicked Nations and the Devil so as to make them his Footstool whom his Father had been subduing for him from his Ascension as is evident from Psalm 110.1 1 Cor. 15.25 5 The duration of this Season is no where determined in Scripture and therefore cannot be positively assigned only if the Tradition of the seven Thousand Years duration of the World prove true it must comprehend that space of Time which will be found wanting to compleat the 7000 Years after the Expiration of the 1000 Years of Christ's Kingdom 4 And I saw 6 Thrones i. e. solemn and glorious preâ—arations for Rule and Judgment Dan. 7.9 and 7 they i. e. the Saints of the most High who come with Christ Chap. 19.14 Dan. 7.13 18 21 22 26 27. Zech. 14.5 1 Thes 4.14 sat 8 upon them i. e. were invested in a Regal and a Judicial Office and 9 Judgment i. e. Power of Governing Sentencing and Punishing was given unto them who sat on the Throne by God and Christ Dan. 7.22 27. and I saw the separate 10 souls of them or of the Persons that we e beheaded for the Witness of Jesus and for the Word of God i. e. the Souls of the Martyrs under the Pagan Emperour of Rome Rev 6.9 10 11. and 11 I saw also the 12 Souls of them which had not worshipped the Beast neither his Image neither had received his Mark upon their foreheads or in their hands i. e. the Faithful Witnesses killed by Antichrist Chap. 6 11. 11 7. 13 15 16. and they i. e. all these Saints and Martyrs 13 lived again in Spiritual and Heavenly Bodies 1 Cor. 15 42-50 and 14 reigned with 15 Chr st a 16 thousand Years 6 This Representation is taken from Dan. 7.9 in allusion to the (a) Mede's Works p. 762. Grot. in Matth. 19.28 Thrones or Seats of the Jewish Consistory or rather in the Opinion of (a) Mede's Works p. 762. Grot. in Matth. 19.28 Grotius to the ancient Custom of the Jews amongst whom the Princes of the Tribes were wont to sit with the King ih publick Assemblies And accordingly This Court of Christ's Kingdom and Grand Assizes of the Day of Judgment is represented as having many Thrones as 1. The Throne of God the Father Dan. 7.9 2. The Throne of Christ in which he was enstated Dan. 7.13 14 upon the Judgment passed upon Antâ—ehrist to shew that Christ's Glorious Kingdom begins not until after that Judgment and Destruction as in this Prophecy the Thousand Years do not enter until after the Battle of Decision which is also called a Judgment Chap. 19. 3. Many Thrones of Saints Dan. 7.10 18 22 26. where the Saints are called The Judgment and are said to he set in Judgment and many Thrones to be set down pitched or erected as the Word ought to be translated at the 9th Verse which Thrones do not belong to the Angels who are not represented as sitting but standing as Ministring and Assisting Spirits 1 Kings 22.19 Is 6.1 Dan. 7.10 7 By a diligent compare of Dan. 7.13 18 c. with Rev. 19.14 17. and this Verse it will plainly appear that the Saints those Armies of Heaven who come with Christ in the Clouds to Judgment are the They here referred to the very They Dan. 7.13 where the like Phrase is used who come with the Son of Man upon the Clouds of Heaven to whom Thrones a Kingdom and a Judicatory are ascribed in (a) Matth. 19.28 Luke 22.30 1 Cor. 6 1-4 Scripture over the Wicked Angels and the World and who have here Thrones given them as a Reward for their Attendance upon Christ in the foregoing Battle to whom alone yet the Victory is ascribed Chap. 19.21 8 To sit upon a Throne denotes in Scripture a continuance in an undisturbed possession of Soveraignty and Dominion with a Right of Judicature as Expositors of the Creed have shewn on the Article concerning Christ's sitting on the Right Hand of the Father 9 This Word signifies Rule and Government in Scripture as well as a Judicial Power Gen. 15 14.19 9.1 Sam. 4.18 Psalm 72.1 2. 10 From this place it may be observed 1. That these were the Souls of the very Martyrs whom he had seen before under the Altar Chap. 6 9-11 the same Expressions being used in both places 2. That they were particularly the Martyrs under the pagan Roman Emperours because they are said to have been beheaded which was a (b) Grot. in locum Roman Punishment 3. That the Soul is Immortal and sleeps not in its separate State because they cry with a loud Voice have Robes given unto them and are admonished to rest for a little season 6 9-11 11 These are distinguished from the former by the interposition of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or And and are evidently as appears from comparing this place with Rev. 6.11 the Witnesses martyred under the Reign of the Beast or Antichrist who were to fill up or compleat the Number of Martyrs and then to Live and Reign together with the Martyrs under the Pagan Emperours 12 Pareus supposes an Ellipsis in this place which may be thus supplied 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. although separate Souls are often spoken of in Scripture in the Masculine Gender Luke 16 19-31 13 They lived that is in their Persons in Bodies suited to the State of the Blessed Milennium for this cannot refer to the Souls here-mentioned which lived before as hath been already observed See also the Notes on the following Verse 14 This as well as almost all the other Expressions in the New Testament concerning the Great Day of Judgment is taken chiefly from Daniel who in the second and seventh Chapters of his Prophecy foretells that during the Times of the Fourth Kingdom evidently proved by several (a) Mede 's Works pag. 711. Dr. Moor'â— Sâ—â—ps Proph 2.13 Dr Gressener s Demonstr B. 2. 6-8 and the Append. Authors to be the Roman the God of Heaven should set up a Kingdom which from small beginnings or an Infant-State likned by Daniel to a (a) Mr. Mede 713 743 c. Stone should by a Divine and Supernatural Power increase so far that at last in the Days of the Ten Kings who are the Ten Toes of the Feet of the Great Image Dan. 2.43 44. it should become a Mountain filling the whole Earth that is a Vniversal and an Everlasting Kingdom after it had put an end to all other Kingdoms particularly that
of Antichrist upon whose destruction this Glorious Kingdom or Glorious State of Christs Kingdom is to begin And that there shall be a glorious state of Christs Church such as hath not hitherto been is a Truth so apparent in Scripture that those (b) Pocock on Micah pag. 24 29 32 42. who are most wary of interpreting the Scriptures to this Sense lest thereby any advantage might be given to the Jews cannot but confess that many Passages of the Prophets which relate to this State are not as yet clearly nor fully compleated but that they are still in fulfilling and more may be expected in the latter times which Dr. Pocock extends to the second Coming of Christ. And although we ought to be cautious how we administer occasion of hardening the Jews in their Infidelity by forcing Texts of Scripture to this Sense which may be meant concerning the first Coming of Christ yet the want of due distinguishing betwixt his first Coming in a way of Humiliation and Sufferings and his second Coming in Glory and that to erect a Kingdom upon Earth and under the Heaven as is expresly affirmed Dan. 7.27 Rev. 5.10 in a State of perfect Righteousness Peace and Prosperity has been no mean cause of Offence to the Jews and is the occasion of many Errors amongst Christians But that there shall be such a Kingdom of Christ which may be called his Mediatory Kingdom distinct from the Kingdom of Eternity of which the Man Christ Jesus is the Eternal King as he is united to the Eternal Word and from his Spiritual and Evangelical Kingdom will appear evident from these following Considerations 1. Because the many (a) Psalm 2.8 Isa 2 2-4 Micah 4.1 Mr. Mede Disc 25. 29. 36. Prophecies foretelling a Glorious Constant and uninterrupted Visibility and Vniversality of Christ's Church not yet accomplished do require such a Future State For the Church hath been seldom gloriously visible never constantly and uninterruptedly so neither hath it been at any time in possession of much above the sixth part of the known World so far hath it fallen short of the Vniversality prophesied of in Scripture 2. Many (b) Isa 11 6-9.65.17-25 Ezek. 48.35 Micah 4.3 Justin Mart. Dial cum Tryphon Dr. Burnet's Theor 4.5 7. Jurieu's accomplishm of prophec Tom. 2. Chap. 18 24. Grot. de Verit. Relig. Christ 5.18 Quaedam vero etiam definite sine conditione promissa si impleta nondum sunt adhuc possunt expectari Constat enim etiam apud Judaeos Tempus sive Regnum Messiae durare ad finem seculorum Prophecies relating to the Temporal and Spiritual Happiness of Christs Church are not yet at all fulfilled or only in part and therefore there must be some Future State in which they are to be accomplished Such as those which foretel its perfect peace prosperity holiness and the divine presence resting and remaining in it which can by no Art be so interpreted as to make out that they are already fulfilled 3. Many of the (c) Jurieu T. 3. Ch. 19. Types of the Old Testament prefigure and signifie such a State of Christ's Church and Kingdom such as Paradice the New World after the Flood the coming of the Israelites into Canaan out of Aegypt the Type of the Antichristian Apostasy their Return from their Captivity in Babylon into a peaceable possession of their Land the Kingdom of (a) 2 Sam. 7 8-29 and 23 3-8 See the Notes on Chap. 14.1 David in which he was established upon his Conquest over the Heathens and not until after many Troubles and Distresses wherein it was an Eminent Type of Christ's Kingdom as it proceeded from weak small and troublesome beginnings to strength and a lasting Peace after great Victories over the Sons of Belial and the Heathen Nations This Kingdom is also Typified by (b) Psalm 72. Solomon's Kingdom and his Marriage in the Book of Canticles and most eminently by the (c) See on Chap. 1.4 and what follows in the next Note Sabbatism or Rest of God in the seventh day after six for finishing his Works wherein the seventh Thousand Year designed for Christ's Kingdom is evidently prefigured for Christ's Kingdom being the main design of God to be accomplished in order to his Eternal Kingdom and the chief means conducing to it was the primary thing in his intention from the beginning and was not only foretold by all the Prophets but was prefigured by the (d) Ezek. Chap. 40 c. Heb. 8 5.9 9 10.10 1. Types which shall be perfectly and fully compleated in that State 4. (e) Dan. Chapters 2 and 7. 2 Thes 2.8 Burnet 's Theory B. 4. 8. Antichrist is not yet destroyed neither are the (f) Isa 11. and 14.1 2.25 8.56 8. Chap. 60.65 17-25 Ezek. 28 24-26.36 25-38 37 15-28 Hos 3.4 5. and Dr. Pocock on the place pag. 162. Zech. 9 9-17 10 5-12 and Chapters 12 13 14. Amos 9 11-15 Mic. 2.12 13. Rom. 11.2 Cor. 3.16 Grot. in Luc. 21.24 Mr. Mede Ep. 17. and pag. 891 Mons Jurieu's accomplishm of prophec Tom. 2 Chap. 17. Jews called nor is the (f) Isa 11. and 14.1 2.25 8.56 8. Chap. 60.65 17-25 Ezek. 28 24-26.36 25-38 37 15-28 Hos 3.4 5. and Dr. Pocock on the place pag. 162. Zech. 9 9-17 10 5-12 and Chapters 12 13 14. Amos 9 11-15 Mic. 2.12 13. Rom. 11.2 Cor. 3.16 Grot. in Luc. 21.24 Mr. Mede Ep. 17. and pag. 891 Mons Jurieu's accomplishm of prophec Tom. 2 Chap. 17. fullness of the Gentiles as yet come in nor are (a) Psalm 110.1 Cor. 15 24-29 Heb. 2 5-9 all things as yet subdued unto Christ all which yet according to plain Scripture are to come to pass some of them before Christ's Kingdom others before it be delivered up to the Father whence it is evident that this Kingdom is not yet come much less already past as some imagine 5. Christ is not yet come in his Glory and therefore his Kingdom is not yet come For the (b) Compare Isa 53. and 63. with many other places of Scripture For there are twenty Texts which speak of his Second Coming to Glory for one which speaks of his First Coming See Mons Jurieu and Dr. Burnet's Theory Scriptures evidently distinguish betwixt Two Comings of Christ the one in a State of Humiliation already past the other in a State of Glory and most commonly (c) Matth. 16 28.25.31 Luke 19 13 15.23 42. 2 Tim. 4.1 joyn his Second Coming and his Kingdom together 6. The Scriptures joyn the Resurrection and the Coming and Kingdom of Christ together Whence it is evident that this Kingdom is not come because the general Resurrection is not past For thus 1 Cor. 15.23 24. Christ's coming plainly refers to his coming to the Kingdom at the General Resurrection he having all the while from his Ascension sat at the Right Hand of the Father in the patient Expectation of this his Glorious Kingdom Psalm 110.1 Heb.