An Appeal by the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, Part 1
A moſt Humble, and (I cannot but hope) A moſt Modeſt Propoſal to the Reverend Paſtors, and to All others that diſſent from, or doubt of the Thouſand Years Kingdom of Chriſt, and will give Leave to Scripture-Search, and Conſideration concerning it.
THE Propoſal is this: I will here ſingle out Three Arguments, Taken from Plain, Doctrinal, Apoſtolical, and from Prophetical Scripture in Compare; and which may ſeem of all other moſt diſputable; and if They can be made Good, They will undeniably prove the Thouſand Years Kingdom: And if They can be made void; They ſhall ſtand a Witneſs againſt me, that I am not able to make Good the Thouſand Years Kingdom of Chriſt, I have ſo earneſtly endeavour'd to Aſſert.
And that They may be more Clearly, and with All Brevity ſeen in their Force I will offer Them in the moſt Argumentative Order, and Form, I can Conveniently for General underſtanding compoſe Them into.
Argument 1.
If the New Heaven, and New Earth, the Scripture ſpeaks of, be prepar'd for the Thouſand Years Reign of Chriſt, and of his Saints, ſo as to Begin, when that Begins, and to End, when that Ends; Then there muſt be a Thouſand Years Kingdom of Chriſt; But ſo It will be Found by a Compare of the moſt Litteral Conſequences from Doctrinal, and Prophetical Texts compar'd: Therefore ſo it muſt be.
I will here Anticipate one Evaſion; Seeing All Prophetical Scriptures of the Old Teſtament, particularly the mention of the New Heaven, and New Earth, Eſay 65. 17, and c. 66. 22. are ſo poſitive; and that in the New Teſtament, There is mention of the Regeneration, viz. of All Things, Matth. 19. 28. of Times of Refreſhing; or Reſouling of All Things; of the Time of the Reſtitution of All Things at the Coming of Chriſt; For the Heavens muſt Receive Him, till then; And that this Reſtitution was ſpoken of by the Mouth of All his Prophets, ſince the World began, Acts 3. 19, 20, 21. and that the Apoſtle, Rom. 8. 19. &c. plainly Aſſerts the Reſtoration of the Creation, (Tranſlated Creature) in which Heaven, and Earth, muſt needs be; Seeing All this is ſo; No one ſhall Fly off, and ſay; All this is but Allegory, Metaphor, and Figure; For with ſuch, There can be no Argument on Scripture Text held.
Having thus premis'd, I carry on the Argument.
If the Apoſtle John ſaw, together with the Holy City, prepared as a Bride, a New Heaven, and New Earth, and that the Former Firſt Heaven, and the Firſt Earth, were paſs'd away; which City will preſently Appear to have a Thouſand Years Peace, and Glory; Then the New Heaven, and New Earth Begin, when the Thouſand Years State of the Holy City Begins. But ſo He Aſſerts; I ſaw a New Heaven, and a New Earth, and the Firſt paſs'd away, Revel. 21. 1. and then to make it moſt Emphatical, He ſays; I John ſaw the Holy City, v. 2. So that it is not to bee ſuppoſed Any One will deny the Holy City, and the New Heaven, and the New Earth to be Together, according to the Apoſtle John, beſides the Great Concurrences of Reaſon, that ſuch a Glorious State, if Any ſhould have a New Heaven, and a New Earth. Thus They Began together
When any one Compares this with the Apoſtle Peter's Poſitive Aſſertion of a New Heaven, and Earth, wherein Righteouſneſe ſhall dwell at the Day of Chriſt; and that a Day with the Lord is as a Thouſand Years; and ſees here a City, (as will be ſeen) of a Thouſand Years State of Peace, and, as ſecur'd from Sathan, of Righteouſneſs; They muſt be very Averſe to Compare of Scripture, that will not ſuppoſe them to Expound and Illuſtrate one Another, and would Abſolutely diſcourage All Compare of Scripture, which I cannot once ſuppoſe of ſuch Friends of Scripture, as I direct unto.
Now that this very New Heaven, and New Earth, and no other Fly away, after a Thouſand Years State of Peace, and Righteouſneſs Granted to this City, in a Security from Sathan, and ſo end alike; I Go on undeniably to prove.
The Flying away of whatever Heaven and Earth, It was, was at the ſame Time with the White Throne, (as it were Blancking All into the High Spirituality of the Eternal State) and at the ſame Time, that there was no place Found for Them; and therefore for no other ſuch after them;and at the ſame Time, that John ſaw the Dead, Small and Great ſtand before God, and that Death and Hell, and whatever was not written in the Book of Life, were caſt into the Lake: This Conjunction of Theſe Things I am Aſſured none can deny, that ſhall but with the Leaſt obſervation Read Revel. 20. 11. &c.
If then Death, and Hell, were caſt into the Lake, then certainly Sathan, the Prince of the Power of Death, if whatever was not Written in the Book of Life, was caſt into the Lake, then certainly Sathan, for whom the Lake was prepar'd, muſt needs be at this Time Caſt into the Lake; But for what Reaſons the Beast and Falſe Prophet were there before Him, I have elſewhere declar'd.
Sathan's caſting into the Lake muſt needs be after the Thouſand Years, as is expreſs, Revel. 20. 7. &c. and will be more argu'd immediately; if then the Heaven and Earth that were in Being, when Sathan was caſt into the Lake, were the Heaven and Earth that Fled from the White Throne, as is prov'd; It muſt needs be that Heaven, and Earth that were in Being after the Thouſand Years, that Fled.
And if the Heaven, and Earth that Fled, were the Heaven and Earth that were in Being at the Thouſand Years end, They muſt be the Heaven and Earth that were in Being during the Thouſand Years; who can ſo much as Imagine other? And If They were the Heaven and Earth during the Thouſand Years, They muſt be the Heaven and Earth during the Holy City.
For the City, cap. 20. and cap. 21. muſt needs be the City New Jeruſalem, which as call'd Holy, c. 21. So it was the Camp of the Saints, ſecur'd from Sathan's Approach, during the Thouſand Years: And ſo Righteouſneſs dwelt in it, c. 20 9. And it is the Beloved City, c. 20. 9. Becauſe it is the Bride the Lamb's Wife, c. 21. 9, 10.
Now this Beloved City, and Camp of the Saints, had had a State of Peace and Righteouſneſs for a Thouſand Years, while Sathan was in Priſon, and Gog and Magog ſtir'd not; All which Time the Saints Above ſat on Thrones, and Reigned with Chriſt a Thouſand Years; and the Partakers of the Firſt Reſurrection on Earth were Bleſſed, and Holy, and were Prieſts of God, and of Chriſt and Reigned with Him a Thouſand Years, and ſo were for ever Holy, and Bleſſed; For over ſuch, the Second Death hath no Power.
If then the Heaven, and Earth that were in Being during the Thouſand Years of the Holy City, be the Heaven and Earth that Fled, when Sathan was caſt into the Lake after the Thouſand Years, as hath been ſhown; Theſe muſt be the Heaven and Earth that John ſaw together with the Holy City; And ſo they muſt be the New Heaven, and the New Earth that He ſaw, c. 21. 1. and not the Firſt; and there can be no more, except a New Creation be Piled on this New Creation, and New Heaven and Earth that Fled away: So They End with the 1000 Y.
Argum. 2.
If according to Prophecy, concerning the Thouſand Years Reign of Chriſt, with his Saints of the Firſt Reſurrection, and his Saints, Partakers of the Firſt Reſurrection, There muſt by the Apoſtolical Plain Doctrine be a ſpace of Time between the Time of the Saints Dead in Chriſt, Riſing firſt, who Anſwer to the Saints of the Firſt Reſurrection; and the Saints Chang'd, who Anſwer to the Partakers of the Firſt Reſurrection; and the Time of theſe Chang'd Saints being Caught up; This ſpace by Prophecy muſt be the Thouſand Years Reign of Chriſt with his Saints? But ſuch a ſpace will in the Apoſtles plain Doctrine be found; Therefore It muſt by Prophecy be the ſpace of the thouſand years; and ſo the thouſand years Kingdom of Christ will be Fully Aſſured from hence.
If the Apoſtles plaſn Doctrine be, That there are two Sorts of Saints, and no more at the Reſurrection viz. The Saints Raiſed Incorruptible, and the Saints who ſhall not Sleep, but be Chang'd; Chang'd in oppoſition to Dying, farr below the priviledge of being Chang'd; Chang'd in diſtinction from being Rais'd Incorruptible, a priviledge above being Changed, when Incorruptible is not Added, And if theſe make up the We All of Saints, even The Living, The Remaining Reſcued from the perdition of the Wicked Dead, and preſerved under Guards of Life, Then Theſe are two Sorts of Saints, vix. Principals in the Firſt Reſurrection, and Partakers of the Firſt Reſurrection; Seeing To be the We All is to be Saints or Holy: To be the Living is to be Partakers, To be Chang'd but not Incorruptible is to be no more than Partakers; To be Hi Zontes, The Living, Hi Perilipomeni, or the Preſerved is to be Bleſſed, For over Such the ſecond Death hath no power. But All Theſe Things are expreſsly written. 1. Cor. 15. 51, 52. 1. Theſſ. 4 14 &c. and Revel. 20. 4, 5, 6. And Both theſe Sorts of Saints Live and Reign with Chriſt a thouſand years: So There is a thouſand years Kingdom.
2. If the Saints, The Living, the Remaining, who dye not, but are Chang'd, are Chang'd in the Atom of Time, the very ſame Moment in the very Twinckle of an Eye with the Saints Raiſed, 1 Cor. 15. 51, 52. and yet The Saints Dead in Chriſt Riſe Firſt, and the Saints, The Living, and the Remaining are not Caught up till an Epita (not to be Tranſlated [Then] but [Afterwards] which Epita is ſo Tranſlated [Afterward] 1 Cor. 15. 23. and leaves Room to almoſt 1700 Y. ſince Chriſts Reſurrection; If All This be, Then there may be ſuch a ſpace as the 1000 Y. from the Raiſing the Dead Saints, Changing the living Saints; before The living, The Remaining Saints are Caught up: and the Ama Tranſlated [Together] ſhall not ſignify Together in Time, but pariter, or Alike, (as it muſt needs be Rom. 3. 12.) with the Dead Saints raiſed, and with Chriſt Above, (who cannot be ſay'd to be 1 Theſſ. 5. 10. and elſewhereCaught up at all; For Chriſt Brings Them with Him,) much leſſe, Together, with the Saints Riſing, For this would Contradict the Apoſtles Proton, or Firſt, of the Saints riſing; and his Epita, or Afterward, of the Living Remaining Saints caught up. All this we find expreſs. 1 Theſ. 4. 14. &c.
Seeing then by the Apoſt. a Space there muſt be, and Prophecy ſays expreſly, the Dead Saints, Living and Reigning with Chriſt on Thrones a 1000 Y. was the Firſt Reſurrection, and that the Reign of the Partakers of the Firſt Reſurrection, Bleſſed and Holy, and on whom the Second Death hath no Power, is a Reign with Chriſt alſo of a 1000 Y. It muſt be a 1000 Y; So Chriſt muſt needs have a Kingdom of a 1000 Years.
Argum. 3d.
If the Saints Raiſed Sitt on Thrones with Chriſt, as above, a 1000 Y. and There is a City and Cittadell of Saints on Earth for a 1000 Y. and who after are made to Sitt on Chriſt's Throne, in his Kingdom, ere the end, according to Prophecy; and that According to the Apoſtle; The Saints chang'd, The living and The Remaining are on Earth, while Chriſt, and the Raiſed Saints are above; and this for ſome ſpace of Time; Then how clear a proof is there of the 1000 Years Kingdom of Chriſt in the New Heaven Inhabited by the raiſed Saints, and in the New Earth, Inhabited by the riſing Remaining Saints? But ſo it is according to the Prophecy, and Doctrine of Scriptures, Such a Kingdom therefore There ſhall be.
1. It is never ſaid in Scripture, Chriſt ſhall come down on Earth, at his ſecond Coming; But He is the Epouranios, the Lord from Heaven; The Heavenly; not Earthy, as the Firſt Adam, As He went up to Heaven in a Cloud, ſo He ſhall be ſeen Coming in a Cloud; Then indeed out of ſight; But now Every Eye ſhall ſee him, as Above, Thoſe places, Job. 19. 25. Zech. 14. 4. that ſeem to Favour Chriſts ſtanding upon the Earth at the laſt day; The Hebrew Word may better be Tranſlated Above the Earth, or Over it, He indeed Deſcends into the Lower Heaven; His Glory as the Sun's Reaching down to the Earth; ſo This, 1 Theſſ 4. 17. Repreſents Him in the Clouds, and in the Air, where his Throne and Tribunal muſt needs then be.
2. The Raiſed Saints are there with Him, ſhining as the Firmament, and as the Stars, even as the Sun, Reigning with Him in the Air, viz. the New Heaven above, a 1000 Y. as Ana in Anaſtaſis may well ſignifie.
3. The Living, and the Remaining Saints, as the Kings of the Earth, the Nations of the Saved, walking in the Light of, and Bringing their Glory to the Jeruſalem Above, Healed with the Leaves of the Tree of Life, Reign in the Beloved City, and in the Cittadel of the Saints, as with Chriſt always in their Eye a 1000 Y. and at laſt are Caught up to Chriſt in the Air, into a Like State with the Sts. Above, and are made to ſit down on his Throne in His Kingdom Above, where He Reſides the 1000 Y.
And thus the New Heaven, and the New Earth are Inhabited, during the Thouſand Years Kingdom of Chriſt, according to both Apoſtolic Doctrine, and Prophecy.
When at the End Theſe Living Remaining Saints are Caught up. Then They put on perfect Incorruption and Immortality; and the Triumphal Song over Death is Sung. For it is Swallowed up in Victory; Sathan, the Dead, and Death and Hell, who had been Condemned to Lye as the Footſtool of Chriſt's Feet at the Beginning of the 1000 Y. are now caſt into the Lake, ſo the Laſt Enemy Death is Brought to Nought; The Kingdom in a General Rendezvouz, or Meeting of Saints, ſpoken of alſo, 1 Theſſ. 4. 17. is deliver'd up to God, and the Father All in All; and ſo All Saints are Outo, in that very Poſture and State of that Meeting, Ever with the Lord, with God, and with Chriſt.
THE END.