The Calling of the Jews, Summary of biblical prophecies · Summary of biblical prophecy 37 – Summary of biblical prophecy 40
Ezechiell, Chapter 37.
ALl from hence to the end of the booke, is excellently to this purpoſe: It hath foure ſteppes or degrees. The firſt ſtep is the lewes firſt conuerſion, which the Apoſtle 5 Poſit. Call.calleth Life from the dead, Rom. 11. 15. a kinde of reſurrection, and here is ſet forth by alluding thereunto (in the firſt 14 verſes.) The ſecond ſtep in a further progreſſe of their converſion, vnderunder a parable or ſimilitude of two ſticks, (verſ. 15. 16. 17.) comprehendeth many noble benefits; the application whereof hath,
1. The conuerſion of the X. Tribes as well as Iudah, (verſ. 18. and 1. part of verſe. 19.)8. Poſit. Ten Tribes.
2. The vniting of them both into one. (2. part of verſe 19.)26 Poſit. One kingdome.
3. The bringing of them to their owne country from 23. Poſit. Dwelling in their country.all the places where they were ſcattered. (verſ. 20. 21.)
4. Their making of one entire kingdome. (verſ. 22.)
5. The Couenant of God with them of peace and reconciliation, 29. Poſit. One Kingdome.(verſ. 23.) through Chriſt. (1. part of ver. 24.)35. Poſit. Couenant.
6. The ſanctifying of them to walke in his obedience. (2. part of verſ. 24.)
7. The inhabiting in their country for euer. (verſ. 25.)26 Poſit. Continue for euer.
8. The perpetuity of Gods Couenant, (verſ. 26.) and worſhip among them. (verſ. 27. 28.)
The third ſteppe or degree, is the deſtruction of their 43. Poſit. Perpetuity.enemies in the 38. and 39. chapters. Wherefore;
1. The enemies are reckoned vp, the Grand enemy is 18. Poſit. Conqueſt.Gog. out of the Land of Magog, Prince and head of Meſhech and Tuball, (chap. 38. verſ. 1. 2 3.) that is to ſay, the Turke; for Magog is the Scythian Nation, from whom came the Turkes, Lords of Meſhech and Tuball, that is, of Capadocia, and lberia, when they firſt began to raign, but whom now Aſia the leſſe, Syria, Meſopotamia, A rabia, Iudaea, Paleſtina, Aegypt, the Iſles Greece, Macedonia, Thrace, &c. doe obey; with him are multitudes of Princes his aſſociates. (verſ. 4. 5. 6.)
2. Their preparation to come in the laſt daies vponupon the Iewes. (verſ. 7. 8 9.)
3. The arrogancie of their heart, and their proud deſignes. (verſ. 10. 11. 12. 13.)
4. The comforts which God enterlaceth for the ſtrengthening of the hands & harts of his people, in that the end of all this is to glorifie Gods name in the deſtruction of 18. Poſit. Conqueſt.their foes, (verſ. 14. 15. 16.) and nothing commeth by chance, God hath ſpoken of this very man, and of his raging againſt the Church by the Prophets that were of old: (verſ. 17.) for though by name Gog be not elſewhere mencioned, yet vnderunder other names this very tyrant is particularly deſcribed.
5. The deſtruction of this enemy: where you hauehave;19. Poſit. Gods fighting.
Firſt, Gods fighting againſt them from heauen, as Eſay 26. (verſ. 18. to the end of the Chapter.)
Secondly, their fall in the land of Iſraell. (Chap. 39. 17. Poſit. Place of the conflict.verſ. 1. 2. 3. 4 5.)
Thirdly, the vtter aboliſhing of the Turkiſh name, (ver. 18. Poſit. Conqueſt.6.) the end whereof is declared (Gods glory) [verſ. 7.] and the certaintie. [verſ. 8.]
Fourthly, the aboundance of ſpoile which the Iewes ſhall carry away. [verſ. 9. 10.]
Fifthly, the wonderfull ſlaughter that ſhall bee made of them; for 1. they ſhall be ſeuen months in burying: [verſe 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.] where, by the way, the place of this noble victory ſeemeth to be pointed at, the great blow or 21. Poſit. Place of the armies diſcomfit.ouerthrow of the maine Army at the Sea of Genezaret, otherwiſe called the Lake of Tiberias, verſe. 11. Part alſo at Ieruſalem, verſ. 16. which verſe is to be rendred thus, 20. Poſit. Place of Gogs Fall.And alſo the multitude thereof ſhall be a name vntounto the Citie, that is, Ieruſalem it ſelfe ſhall hauehave part of the honour, as Ioel. 3. 2. 2. Yet for all that, multitudes ſhall ye vnburied, to be meate for the fowles of the heauen, and the beaſts of the earth: which is vttered by a ſolemn proclamation to theſe fowles and beaſts [verſ. 17. 18. 19. 20.] as Reuel. 19. 17. 18. in this very argument.
Laſtly, this whole matter is ſhut vp with declaration of the end of all theſe things: to wit, Gods glory, (verſ. 21. to the end of the chapter.)
After the defeat of Gog and Magog, commeth in the laſt eight chapters, a new prophecy, aptly depending vponupon the former, concerning the Chriſtian Iewiſh Church, ſetled in their owne land and Country, which is the fourth and laſt ſtep. Chriſt, the builder of his temple, appearing in the forme of a man, like poliſhed ſhining braſſe, to prefigure the ſplendor of that Church. No maruell then if ſo great a matter require ſuch a vehement and ſolemn charge to ſtirre vp the Prophet vntounto attention. Sonne of man. ſee with thine eyes, and heare with thine eares, and ſet thine heart vponupon all which I ſhall ſhew thee. Hardly in the whole booke of God ſhall you finde ſuch an other. (chap. 40. 1. 2. 3. 4.)
The thing it ſelfe is thus expreſſed:
1. There ſhall a new Church be erected by the preaching of the Goſpell: which the meaſuring of the houſe, 7. Poſit. Generall call.(verſ. 5. to the end of the chapter.) the temple, (chap. 41.) and the courts, (chap. 42.) and of all the parts noteth. But both theſe meaſurements, and whatſoeuer followeth touching the diuiſion of the land, the ſeates of the Tribes, the portions allotted to the Prince, Prieſts, and Leuites, the manner of their ſacrifices and oblations, or all new, varying from that which is in Moſes (though for their weakeneſſe by thoſe outward things hee ſhadoweth heauenly) to ſhew the abrogating of the legall ceremonies.
2. The Lord who had left the Temple and the Citie, Ezech. 10. doth now return, and filleth this houſe with the 31. Poſit. Glorious churchglory of his preſence (chap. 43. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.)
3. The ſanctitie of the Church purged from Idolatry, Superſtition, and Will-worſhip. They ſhall not, ſaith he, 34. Poſit. Puritie.defile my houſe any more with their ſpiritual whoredoms, nor with the carcaſſes of their Kings in their high places (that is the ſacrifices of mans fleſh, as Ieremy 16. 18. which they offered to Moloch, Leuit. 18. 21. whom they called their King, Amos 5. 56. after the manner of the Ammonites, whoſe Idoll it was) and ſo by their owne iniquities making a wall of ſeparation betweene me and them. (Chap. 43. 6, 7, 8, 9.)
And this ſanctitie of the Church he doth afterwards inlarge by the types of the ceremoniall ſeruice. (Chap. 43. 10. to the end of the Chapter.)
4. The refining of the miniſterie and diſcipline of the Church, with the ſame charge in regard of the excellencie 33 Poſit. Sanctitie.of the matter, repeated for attention. (chap. 44. 1. to ver. 17.) and lawes preſcribed to that purpoſe. (verſ. 17. to the end of the Chapter.)
5. Prouiſion for the Church-ſeruice. Which this people ſhall be moſt zealous of. Allotting before any divident of the land, a portion to be ſet apart for the houſe of the Lord, the Prieſts, the Leuites, the people, & the Prince. (chap. 45. 1. to verſ. 9.) That both Prince & people might hauehave whereof to make oblations, (verſ. 9, 10, 11, 12.) with lawes alſo concerning theſe matters. (verſ. 13. to the end of the Chapter.)
6. The fruitfulnes of the land, by the waters flowing 36 Poſit. Spirituall graces.aboundantly out of the Temple, that is, by the bleſſing of God dwelling among them. Wherein is ſet forth,
1. The riſing and increaſe of theſe waters (figuring the graces of Gods Spirit in his Church). Firſt, ancle-deepe, then vp to the knees, after to the loynes, laſtly not paſſable. A man might ſwim in them. (Chap. 47. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
2. This bleſſing ſhould be ouer all the land. for The waters ſhould iſſue vntounto Galilee, (the vpper part of Iudaea) and ſo go downe into the plaine, where Iericho ſtood. (verſ. 6, 7. & 1 part of 8.)
3. The fruit hereof is ſingular. It bringeth life, health, and all good things: it healeth and putteth away all euill. Inſomuch as theſe waters running from the plaine of Iericho to the Sea (the dead Sea, or the Lake called Aſphaltites, the ſalt Lake, (where nothing was wont to grow) the ſame ſhall now from one end to an other (from Engedie to En-eglaim) abound with fiſh and ſtore of commodities. Yea euen, the mirie places thereof and the mariſhes thereof, which were not (before that time) healed, but were employed to ſalt: neither yeelding of themſelues fruit, fiſh, or other profit, nor by any induſtrie or skill of man able to be brought vntounto it, ſhall become fruitfull. (2 part of verſ. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.)
7. The bounds of the land ſhall be full as large, if not larger then before. Compare Numb. 24. (verſ. 13 to the 24 Poſit. Inhabit all the Land.end of the Chapter.)
8. The diuiding of the land, and what ſeats ſhall be aſſigned to eueryevery Tribe. (chap. 48. 1. to verſ. 30.)8 Poſit. X. Tribes.
9. The elegancie of the Holy Citie, newly to be re-edefied. (verſ. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34.)31 Poſit. Glorious church
10. The perpetuitie of it. God will abide therein for euer. From that day forward, the name of the Citie ſhall be, 43 Poſit. Perpetuitie of the Church.Iehovah Shammah or Iehovah there. (verſ. 35.) The truth of that which the Temple, whileſt it ſtood, as a type or figure did repreſent, This is my reſt for euer. Here will I dwell. Pſal. 132. 14.
Dan. chap. 2. verſ. 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45.
THe fourth kingdome is the Romane Empire, whoſe leggs are of iron. (verſ. 40.)
The feete and toes part of iron and part of clay, (verſ. 41, 42, 43.) are the Roman Empire yet continuing; but weaker then it was before, whileſt it conſiſted of leggs of iron, being now but of feet and toes. And this Empire is diuided, as the feet and toes are. One part is the kingdom of the Pope in the Weſt (for he is the 7th head of the beaſt Rev. 17. 10, 11. He whom we call the Emperor, hath nothing to do with the Empire, which was of Rome). The other part is the Turke in the Eaſt, before whom 3 of the hornes of the Empire are rooted out. See Dan. 7. 8. It is euident that theſe feete and toes are part of the Romane Empire: for the Image deſcribeth onelyonly 4. Kingdomes. But if the feete and toes were a diſtinct kingdome from the leggs, there ſhould be fiue.
The kingdome raiſed vp in thoſe dayes, which ſhall 46 Poſit. Enemies ſubdued.not be deſtroyed for euer, but ſhall deſtroy all other kingdomes, is the kingdome of the Iewes. (verſ. 44, 45.)
Whoſe Church is the ſtone hewen out of the mountaine without hands. Till which time the Romane Empire ſhall endure, and then wholly be deſtroyed.
Chap. 7.
THE 4 beaſts (verſ. 3.) are 4 kingdomes, as it is expounded verſ. 17. whereof, The firſt beaſt a Lion, is the kingdome of the Aſſyrians, extinct, and gone before Daniel ſaw the Viſion. (verſ. 4)
The ſecond a Beare, is the Perſian Monarchie. (v. 5.)
The third, a Leopard, the Greeke Monarchie or the Kingdome of the Macedonians. (verſ. 6.)
The fourth is, the Romane Empire: whoſe X. hornes (verſ. 7.) are 10 kingdomes not diuers from that of the beaſt. For then there ſhould be 5. Kingdomes, contrary to that is ſaid here verſ. 17. And theſe 10 Kingdomes are the 10 hornes of the Dragon. Rev. 12. 3.
The litle horne that grew out among them (1 part of verſ. 8.) is the Turke, the Dragon of the ſixt Viale Revel. 16. 13. Of whom onelyonly, and of the reſt of the enemies that ſhould oppreſſe the Iewes, Daniel ſpeaketh without any reſpect to the weſt Antichriſt.
By this litle horne three of thoſe hornes were rooted out. (2 part of verſ. 8.) That is, a third part of the Romane Empire ſubdued; which yet retaineth 7 hornes, whereof the Turke ſhall neuer be Lord and Maiſter, further then as he may by ſome ſodaine ſtorme for a while oppreſſe them. This third part of the Romane Empire ſo to be deſtroyed, is intended from Eaſt to Weſt, not from South to North. For therein the Turke poſſeſſeth more then euer the Romanes had.
This litle horne muſt raigne till the thrones be taken away, 18 Poſit. Conqueſt.and the auncient of dayes ſit. (verſ. 9.) That is, till after all the kingdomes of the world deſtroyed, the whole principalitie remaine with Chriſt; as preſently it ſhall, after this blaſphemous horne, the Turke, cut of. And till that time, the fourth beaſt is not to hauehave an end.
The continuance of the Turkiſh tyrannie, ſhal be, a time, times, and a diuiſion of times. (verſ. 25.) that is, a ſet time, ſet 11 Poſit. Time of firſt converſion.times and a halfe; as it is explaned Dan. 12. 7. Of what length that is, may be vnderſtood by Rev. 9. 13. that giueth him an houre, a day, a monethmonth and a yeare: which in all (accounting a day for a yeare) commeth to 395 dayes. A time then is 100 yeares: times, 200 yeares: halfe a time, 50 yeares. So the whole ſpace, if you account from the beginning of the Turkiſh power, which all hiſtories place Anno 1300, will end at they yeare 1650. But that you will ſay commeth ſhort of that, which is in the Reuelation, by 45 yeares. The reaſon is, becauſe the Reuelation ſetteth downe the vttermoſt period of the Turkiſh name; but the Angell here, and Dan. 12. 7. noteth his firſt declining, which ſhall be 45 yeares before, as is apparant Dan. 12. 11, 12. So Dan. 11. 44. tidings ſhall firſt trouble him, and then a few yeares after followeth his vtter deſtruction in the land of comelineſſe. The diſtribution therefore of time, both here and Dan. 12. 7. reacheth no further then to thoſe tidings. And then ſhall the people of the Iewes deſtroy 18 Poſit. Conqueſt.him. (verſ. 26.) After which ſhall be ſet vp a glorious both kingdome and Church among them. 30 Poſit. Flouriſhing Commonwealth.(verſ. 27.)
Dan. 9. 24. &c. to the end of the Chapter.31 Poſit. Glorious church
DANIELS weekes (as they are commonly termed) belong in part to this Argument: for in them is foretold the deſtruction of the Citie and Temple at Ieruſalem, for the Iewes contempt in reiecting the Meſſiah. But this requireth ſome larger Tractate. And therefore I refer it to the end of the Booke.