The Kingdom of Jesus Christ Entering at 1697, Discourse · Part 6
The Prophetical Map of which Holy and Bleſſed State, is too large here to preſent, but it is neceſſary, that a ſhort delineation of it, ſo far, as is agreeable, to ſupport the laſt, and moſt excelling part of the Calendar, be given.
For in both the viſions, the viſion of the Image, and the viſion of the Beast; There enters at the end inſeparably, and no way poſſible to be divided a divine Kingdom, of which the expreſſions are ſo full, and high, that it is ſelf evident, the grand Intendment of the Holy Spirit was by the four Monarchies to lead to that Supreme Kingdom, that where They end, That may begin; which is of it ſelf a great proof, that if we are thus far right in the Calendar; as the Evidence of Divine Revelation aſſures me, we are; We muſt be near ſo great, and happy a Revolution, the Complement of the Calendar; and are now as on a Piſgah view of it.
For the Kingdom of Christ hath an immediate ſucceſſion to the Times of the Beaſt, even as the Beſtian Kingdom, and Times had to the Chriſtian Empire; The ſucceſſion is immediate, but the Illuſtrious Glory hath a Time of Preparation after the ſucceſſion.
In the Face of all Prophecy This ſucceſſion appears in Daniel's two Viſions: the Divine Kingdom follows the Feet, and the Little Horn, even ſo cloſe, as to be ſaid in their Days of thoſe ten Kings. The God of Heaven Sets up a Kingdom, Dan. 2. 47. as it were, within them, becauſe ſo juſt at the end of their Time; The Apoſtle Paul tells us The approach of Christ, to the Beſtian Times is ſo near, that Chriſt blaſts Him with the Spirit of his Mouth, and brings to nothing the blaze of his Moon, by the full Glory of his own appearance: That Illuſtrious Man of Sin, the Antitype of Antiochus the Illuſtrious is ſo out-ſhone, that He is a Lamp put out in obſcure Darkneſs; In the whole view of the Revelation, the Glory of Chriſt's Kingdom riſes as the Beast falls; and when He, and his Falſe Prophet are caſt into the Lake; or, as Daniel ſpeaks, His Body deliver'd to the conſuming Flames, Then the Kingdom is given to Christ and his Saints, as in full Glory: They ſit on Thrones and Reign with Him.
But nothing is ſo expreſs, as the Oath of Christ, as at the Morning of the Half Time, or Reformation; a beginning Glory Seal'd, or ſtay'd in the Thunders ſeal'd, till the end of the Half Time; Christ ſolemnly ſwears at that Time, There ſhall be after Time, Times, and Half Time allowed No more ſuch kind of Time; The falſe High Prieſt, the Counterfeit of the True is not made without an Oath, indeed; But becauſe, he is but a Counterfeit; He is cut off at his Half Time by an Oath alſo, and cannot be a Prieſt any longer; He is broken without Hand from Heaven.
As ſoon as ever the Oath takes place, That Time of the former date of Times and Half Time is no longer, it Immediately follows. The Myſtery of God, that is, the Glorious Kingdom of Christ, ſo much, and ſo long ſpoken of by the Prophets, ſhall be immediately in Motion by it ſelf to its complement, and perfection.
Accordingly at the end of the Twelve Hundred and ſixty days, and of the Three days and Half, the ſame, as hath been prov'd, with Time, Times, and Half Time; There is as in their Days of thoſe Ten Kings the appearance of the Kingdom of Chriſt in the Witneſſes riſing, &c. even juſt before the Blaſt of the ſeventh Trumpet; And then the Seventh Trumpet ſounds, and immediately there are Loud voices in Heaven; The Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ; The Kingdom is proclaimed and advances all the Time of the Seventy five years, in which the Twelve Hundred ſixty years, become Twelve Hundred ninety years, and then Thirteen Hundred Thirty five the Epoch of the perfectly Bleſſed ſtate of that Kingdom of Christ: All which lay'd together, is perfect Scripture Demonſtration of the Complement of the Calendar, and of the Kingdom of Christ in its ſucceſſion ſo near to us, as 1697, and then riſing to perfect glory.
And until that Time, there is to be a continual prayer for, and Expectation of ſuch preparatory motions in the World, as by which Beſtianiſm ſhall not onelyonly, not be allowed to Regurgitate on any of the reformed Nations, by any of their Princes Giving anew their power to the Beast, that had Revers'd their power from Him, but that the reſt of the Ten Kings, and Kingdoms ſhall hate the Whore; And that within the Reformation it ſelf, that Synagogue, Prophecy, Brands, as the Synagogue of Sathan, that was always foreign a Friend to Primacy, and to caſting out of the Church on its unſcriptural Canons, ſhould be bending to worſhip at Philadelphiaes Feet, and thereby the Reformation become perfect, and Illuſtrious.
Let us then take off our Hearts, and Eyes from all worldly Glory, whether Civil, or Eccleſiaſtic, which is now in its low Weſt, and adore the Glory of Christ in his Kingdom, as the riſing Sun, now near its Eaſt, and Morning Dawn. As the Stars, let every one move, and even Fight in their Courſes, and help the Lord againſt the Mighty; Let us wait for Jeſus Chriſt from Heaven, who before Pontius Pilate witneſs'd that good Confeſſion of his Kingdom, which though it is not of this World, is yet of the approaching World to come, whereof we ſpeak; and though, it is not from hence, or from beneath, yet is the Jeruſalem coming down from Heaven; which he in his own proper Time, now at Hand will ſhew, who is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings.
FINIS.