The Resurrection Revealed, Book 3 · Chapter 2 · Section 36
SECT. XXXVI.
THE next place in Daniel for our Theſis is in chapter the ſeventh throughout. "From whence (ſaith Mr. Mede †Vi…e Mr. Mede Diatrib. par. 4. p. 420.) as from the mother Text of Scripture the CHURCH OF THE JEWS grounded the name, and expected the great Day of Judgement**What he means by the great Day of Judgement ſee by and by at the 2 ☞. with the circumſtances thereof; and whereunto, almoſt all the deſcriptions and expreſsions thereof in the New Teſtament have reference. For in the Viſion of this ſeventh of Daniel, we have a SESSION OF JUDGEMENT, when the fourth BEAST CAME to be DESTROYED. Where we ſee the great ASSISES repreſented after the manner of the great SYNEDRION, or CONSISTORIE OF ISRAEL: Wherein the PATER JUDICII (the Father of the Judicatory) had his ASSESSORES (his Aſſiſtants or Aſſeſſors) ſitting upon ſeates ſemi-circle-wiſe, before him, from his right hand to his left. I BEHELD (ſaith DANIEL verſe 9.) TILL THE THRONES, OR SEATS WERE PITCHED DOWN*Vulg lat. Donec Throni poſiti ſunt. LXX and Theodot. foreign. The Chal. foreign & fic foreign uſurpatum de Sol…o invenies apud Chald, par…p. Jerem. 1.15. foreign ubi in Hebr. eſt foreign Sept. foreign.; (namely for the Senators to ſit upon;) not throwne down, as we of late have it. And the ANCIENT OF DAIES (Pater Conſiſtorii) did ſit &c. and (ſubaudi) I BEHELD TILL THE JUDGEMENT WAS SET (that is, the whole Sanhedrim) and the books were opened. Here we ſee both the forme of judgement delivered, and the name of judgement expreſſed; which is afterwards twice more expreſſed; 1. In the amplification of the Tyranny of the WICKED HORN, ver. 21, 22. which is ſaid to bee continued TILL THE ANCIENT OF DAIES CAME, and judgement was given to the Saints of the moſt High; i. e. Poteſtas judicandi ipſis facta. And the ſecond time in the Angels interpretation verſe 26. But the JUDGEMENT SHALL SIT, and they ſhall take away the dominion to conſume, and to deſtroy to the end. Where obſerve by the way, that caſes of DOMINION, of BLASPHEMY, and APOSTASY, &c. belonged to the juriſdiction of the great SANHEDRIM. From this deſcription it came, that the Jewes gave it the name of foreign The Day of Judgement. And foreign The day of the great Judgment. Whence in the Epiſt. of Jude v. 6. it is called, foreign (the judgement of the great Day.) From the ſame deſcription they learned, that the deſtruction then to bee, ſhould be BY FIRE, becauſe it is ſaid verſe 9. His throne was a FIERY FLAME, and his WHEELES BURNING. A fiery ſtreame iſſued, and came forth before him. And ver. 11. The Beaſt was ſlaine, and his body deſtroyed, and given to the BURNING. From the ſame fountaine are derived thoſe expreſsions in the Goſpell, where this day is intimated or deſcribed, THE SON OF MAN SHALL COME IN THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN. The ſon of man ſhall come in the GLORY OF HIS FATHER WITH HIS HOLY ANGELS, as it is ſaid here, thouſands miniſtred unto him, &c. And that Daniel ſaw one like the ſonne of man coming with cloudes of Heaven, and he came to the ancient of Daies, and THEY brought him, or placed him neare him, &c. Hence St. Paul learned, THE SAINTS SHOULD JUDGE THE WORLD; becauſe it is ſaid, that MANY THRONES WERE SET; and ver. 22. by way of expoſition, JUDGEMENT WAS GIVEN TO THE SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH. Hence the ſame Apoſtle learned to confute the falſe feare of the Theſſalonians, that the day of Chriſts ſecond coming was then at hand; becauſe that day cannot be, till the MAN OF SIN WERE FIRST COME, and ſhould have reigned his APPOINTED TIME; for as much as Daniel had foretold it ſhould bee ſo, and that his deſtruction ſhould bee at the SONNE OF MANS APPEARING IN THE CLOUDES; whoſe appearing therefore was not to bee till then. This is foreign in Saint Paul (the appearance, or brightneſſe of his coming.) Which man of ſin (ſaith he) Chriſt ſhall deſtroy at the foreign (appearance) of his coming. Daniels wicked HORN, or the BEAST, acting in the wicked horn, is St. Pauls MAN OF SIN. But to go on; whiles this Judgement ſits, and when it had deſtroyed the FOURTH BEAST, the ſonne of man which comes in the cloudes, receives DOMINION, AND GLORY, and A KINGDOM, THAT ALL PEOPLE, NATIONS and LANGUAGES SHOULD SERVE, and OBEY HIM, ver. 14. which KINGDOM is thrice explained afterwards; as ver. 18. Theſe foure BEASTS (ſaith the Angell) are foure KINGS which ſhall ariſe. But (viz. when they have finiſhed their courſe) the Saints of the moſt High ſhal take THE KINGDOME. Againe verſe 22. The wicked Horne prevailed, UNTILL THE TIME CAME THAT THE SAINTS POSSESSED THE KINGDOME. Againe verſe 27. when the fourth Beaſt, reigning in the wicked Horne, was DESTROYED THE KINGDOME and DOMINION and the GREATNES OF THE KINGDOME UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN, SHALL BE GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE OF THE SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH, &c. Theſe grounds being laid I argue as followeth.
The Kingdom of the ſon of man, and of the Saints of the moſt high, in Daniel, begins when the great Judgement ſits. But the Kingdome in the Apocalyps, wherein the Saints reign with Chriſt a thouſand yeares, is the ſame with the Kingdome of the ſonne of man, and Saints of the moſt high in Daniel. Therefore it alſo begins at the great Judgement*Mr. Mede ſaith not, at the ultimate generall Judgement; but at the great Iudgement, ſpeaking as Daniel, and other Scriptures (aforeſaid) and the Hebrew Rabbins; calling al the thouſand years the great judgement. And the beg…nning of them the beginning of the day of judgement. See after at the next ☞. That the Kingdome in Daniel, and that of the thouſand years in the Apocalyps, are one and the ſame Kingdome, appears thus. Firſt, Becauſe they begin ab eodem termino (from the ſame terme) at the deſtruction of the fourth Beaſt. That in Daniel, when the Beaſt (then ruling in the wicked horne) was ſlaine, and his body deſtroyed, and given to the burning flame, Dan. 7 ver. 11.22.27. That in the Apocalyps, when the Beaſt and falſe Prophet (the wicked horne in Daniel) were taken, and both caſt alive into a lake of fire burning with brimſtone, Apocal. 19.20, 21. Secondly, Becauſe Saint John begins the Regnum of the thouſand yeares from the ſame ſeſsion of judgement, deſcribed in Daniel, as appeares by his parallell expreſſions, borrowed from thence.
Daniel ſayes chap. 7.
Ver. 9. I beheld till the Thrones were pitched downe, and the Judgement (i. e. judices, the Judges) ſet.
Verſ. 22. And judgement was given to the Saints of the moſt high.
St. John ſayes chap. 20.
Verſ. 4.
I ſaw thrones, and they ſate upon them.
And the Saints poſſeſſed the Kingdome; viz. with the Sonne of Man, who came in the cloudes.
And judgement was given unto them.
And the Saints lived and reigned with Chriſt a thouſand years.
Now if this be ſufficiently proved, that the thouſand years begin with the day of judgement,☜ it will appear further out of the Apocalyps, that the Judgement is not CONSUMMATE, TILL THEY BE ENDED: For Gog and Magogs deſtruction, and the UNIVERSALL RESURRECTION is not till then. Therefore THE WHOLE THOUSAND YEARES IS INCLUDED IN THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT.
Hence it will follow, that whatſoever Scripture ſpeakes of a Kingdome of Chriſt, to be at his ſecond appearing, or at the deſtruction of Antichriſt, muſt needs be the ſame which Daniel ſaw ſhould be at that time; and ſo conſequently be the Kingdome of the thouſand years, which the Apocalyps includes between the beginning and conſummation of the great Judgement. Therefore that in Luk. 17. verſ. 20. to the end (where the Phariſees demand of Chriſt, when the Kingdome of God ſhould appeare? And Chriſt anſwers that it comes not with obſervation, but as the lightning that lightneth out of the one part under heaven, ſhineth unto the other, &c.) And that in Luk. 19. verſ. 11. &c. to 15. (He ſpake a parable, becauſe he was nigh to Jeruſalem, and becauſe they thought that the Kingdom of God ſhould immediately appeare, &c.) And that in Luk. 21. ver. 31. (When you ſee theſe things come to paſſe, know that the Kingdom of God is at hand. See what went afore; viz. The Sonne of Mans coming in a cloud, with power and great glory; borrowed from Daniel.) And that in 2 Tim. 4.1. (I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who ſhall judge the quicke and dead at his appearing, and his Kingdom,) muſt ſignifie the ſame Kingdome that Daniel ſaw ſhould be at the deſtruction of Antichriſt, and conſequently, the Kingdome of a thouſand years; which the Apocalyps includes between the beginning, and the conſummation of the great Judgement. By theſe we may underſtand the reſt; Taking this for a ſure ground, That this expreſsion of the Sonne of Mans coming in the cloudes of Heaven, ſo often inculcated in the New Teſtament, is taken from, and hath referrence to the propheſie of Daniel; being no where elſe found in the Old Teſtament. As our Saviour alſo cals himſelfe ſo frequently The Son of Man, becauſe Daniel ſo called him in that Viſion of the great Judgement; and that we might look for the accompliſhment of what is there propheſied of in him. It was not in vaine that when our Saviour quoted the propheſie of Daniel, hee added, He that readeth let him underſtand *Matth. 24. ver. 15.. Certainly the great Myſtery of Chriſt is cheifly, and moſt diſtinctly revealed in that Booke.
§. 1 Thus out of my great reſpect to Mr. Medes learning, having given him the precedency to ſpeak firſt, I ſhall limp after, and ſtammer forth my own Notions (ſuch as they are.)
§. 2 In the ſecond verſe, out of the ſtrivings of the bluſtering ſpirits of ## the inhabitants of the foure quarters of the World, in a Sea of Warres, there ariſeth a ſucceſſion of foure Monarchies; each in his turn ruling the greateſt part of the whole earth. This order, or ſeries of the foure Monarchies began with Nimrod, about the year of the world one thouſand ſeven hundred and eighty eight, and afore Chriſt two thouſand one hundred and eighty three; and hath continued to this day. This ſucceſſion, order, or ſeries of the foure Monarchies, the Prophet according to his viſion ſets forth in the third verſe, under the name and notion of foure Beaſts: Which he explaines in the ſeventeenth verſe, to ſignifie four Kings or Monarches, that ſhould ariſe out of the earth; that is, by earthly means domineer over the greateſt part of the earth.
§. 3 The firſt Beaſt (ver. 4.) is like a Lyon, that had Eagles wings, wherewith he was wont to lift up himſelfe from the earth, till they were plucked, and then he was made to ſtand upon his feet as a man, reſting upon the earth; and a mans heart was given unto him. By all which is meant the Babylonian Monarchy; which was ſtrong like a Lyon, and had wings of celerity and victory, becoming the Aſſyrio-Chaidean Monarchy, whereby it was lifted up to an Imperiall eminency above the generality of all the earth. Obadiah ver. 4. Jer. chap. 4. ver. 13. Thoſe his wings are plucked by Darius the Mede, and Cyrus the Perſian, and ſo made to ſtand as a man upon his feet; that is, was brought down to the common rank of men: And hath a mans heart given unto him; that is, the ſpirit of an ordinary man; an ordinary, low, boates, peaſants, plebeian ſpirit; not an Heroick, and Imperiall.
§. 4 The ſecond Beaſt (verſ. 5.) is like a Beare, that raiſed up it ſelfe on one ſide, and had three ribs in its mouth, between its teeth, and they ſaid thus unto it, Ariſe and devoure much fleſh. By all which is meant the Perſian Monarchy; which was ravenouſly cruell like a Bear; raiſing up one dominion, induring no Mate, or Corrivall; but ſubdued firſt the Medes, then the Babylonians, uniting all into one Monarchy: Between the teeth of his mouth, of his deſires and power, demanding, and ſnatching more dominion, he hath the three ribs of the Eaſterne, Weſterne, and Southerne parts of the world by conqueſt (compare Dan. 8.4.) He ariſeth and eateth much fleſh, in his cruell ſlaughterings, and ſpoilings in purſuance of his Victories.
§. 5 The third Beaſt (ver. 6.) is like a Leopard, which had upon the back of it foure wings of a fowle, and had alſo foure heads, and dominion was given to it. By which is ſignified the Grecian Monarchy, which was like a Leopard in ſubtilty, celerity, and rapacity, Jer. 5.6. Hab. 1.8. Dan. 8.5. The Subtilty appeared in the policy of Philip the Father, and Alexander the Sonne, in laying the plot for this Monarchy, ſlyly occaſioning a quarrell, to fall out with the neighbour Nations. And in the cunning of Alexander in battell, that would alwayes fight his ſupernumerous Enemy in ſtraites, where his ſaid enemy might not have roome to bring up more of his men in fight, then Alexander on his part could diſplay in battell. The ſwift celerity appeared in that the Grecians under the ſaid Alexander did ſo ſuddenly (within about twelve years) over-run the greateſt part of the world; as if this Conquerour had flowne upon wings; of whom the proverb was, He came, he ſaw, he overcame. And is therefore deſcribed in Dan. 8. by an Hee-Goate, which skips as if he touched not the ground. The rapacity, or ravenouſneſſe to devoure appeared eſpecially againſt the Jewes, the foure heads of this Leopard, and their Succeſſors exerciſing matchleſſe cruelty againſt them; and every where (as naturally ravenous) more tearing, and deſtroying; then taking prey. For Alexander, and the Empire under him, being the Body, his four Captaines that immediately ſucceeded him in the Empire, were the foure Heads, or Rulers (Dan. 8.8.—and 11.4.) Caſſander head of Macedonia, Antigonus of Aſia, Seleucus of Syria, and Ptolomy of Egypt; all poſſeſſing Imperiall dignity at once: By which this Monarchy became a Monſter, and monſtrous in devouring.
§. 6 The fourth Beaſt (verſe 7.) is ſo variouſly monſtrous, and ſtrangely different, that no naturall Beaſt, nor Name is found meet to deſcribe him; onelyonly he is ſaid to have ten hornes, and iron teeth to devour, and feet to ſtamp the reſidue of the beaſts under it. A ſtrange beaſt, different from all Beaſts, and all the Beaſts; but compounded (as John ſhewes, Rev. 13.) of all foure. By this deſcription of Daniel is ſet forth the Roman Monarchy: which (according to Daniels words) was dreadfull and terrible to all Nations, being exceeding ſtrong to annoy them all; having ſuch teeth of warre, as Scipio, Pompey, Caeſar &c. iron victors. That addition of nailes of braſſe ver. 19. ſignifies their Imperiall Senate, and Provinciall Magiſtrates, who held faſt whatſoever the iron teeth conquered. The ten Hornes are explained by Saint John, Rev. 17. to be the character of the Roman Empire, and to ſignifie the ten Kingdomes into which at laſt it was divided. And the breaking off three of theſe ten, by the one Horn that grew up among them, doth further notably deſcribe the Body of Antichriſt ariſing out of the Roman Empire, with its two ſides: The Turke, one Eye, Legge, and Arme; and the Pope the other Eye, Legge, and Arme: Both making up one Antichriſtian Body, to keep the world from imbracing Chriſt and his pure Goſpell. I have already largely ſhewed*Lib. 2. cha. 2. Sect. 4. §. 2. how Turke and Pope are (generally conſidered) one Antichriſtian body: that they jarre among themſelves, it nothing prejudiceth this Notion (no more then the foure heads of the Leopard, prejudiced the oneneſſe of the Grecian Monarchy, or the ten hornes the oneneſſe of the Roman; or the ſeverall factions between the ſeverall Popes co-exiſtent at the ſame time, with mighty factions of their ſeverall ſorts of Friers, did null the union of the Roman Antichriſt.) As Herod, and Pontius Pilate, diſagreeing in other things, became friends in that tertio of crucifying Chriſt; ſo the Turke and Pope, however they diſagree in other things, yet they are moſt deſervedly called by the ſame NAME, Antichriſt, and deſcribed by the ſame number of their name: The Turke keeping off the Jewes, and the Pope the Chriſtians (ſo called) from imbracing Chriſt: And both their names making exactly ſix hundred ſixty ſix, of which afore, loco citato. Even as their SEATS are both called by the name of Babylon, both in the Old and New Teſtament. Their RISE alſo being the ſame, compare Revel. 13. with this ſeventh of Daniel, the Pope riſing out of the Romane Empire, and the Turke out of the Pope, viz. out of Popiſh adviſe for Religion, and the Popiſh Territories for dominion. The Pope taking part of the Romane Empire, and their Heatheniſh religion, and the Turke (Mahomet) formed his religion by the adviſe of Sergius a Monke (of which largely afore) and tooke part of the Romane Empire, viz. three parts of tenne towards his Territories, as it is in this ſeventh of Daniel.
Their END OF DESTRVCTION is alſo the ſame, both in time and manner, they falling immediately one after another, by which the fourth Beaſt is deſtroyed, and much after the ſame manner, as we may ſee by comparing Dan. 7. Revel. 19. & 2 Theſ. 2. and moſt juſtly, their EYES and MOVTHES of wit and blaſphemy againſt Chriſt being ſo like, Dan. 7. ver. 8.25. Rev. 13. ver. 5.6. Neither doe they differ in their PRIDE, Dan. 7.20. 2 Theſ. 2. advancing themſelves above all that is called God. not only above Magiſtrates, but above Chriſt; the Turke in preferring Mahomet, the Pope in diſpenſing with great ſinnes continually practiſed, which Chriſt threatens, and nulling much of his Word, and ordinances. They both alſo concurre in TYRANNY, in changing Lawes and times, ver. 25. of this ſeventh of Dan. & 2 Theſ. 2. Their CRVELTY is alſo deſcribed as one, in continuall making warre with, and prevailing againſt the Saints of the moſt high. Compare this ſeventh of Dan. ver. 21.25. with the thirteenth of Revel. ver. 7. But it is but for a TIME, which is meaſured out as the ſame, in the generall term, viz. A time, and times, & part of a time. So in the twenty fifth verſe of this ſeventh of Dan. & Dan. 12.7. compared with Revel. 12. ver. 14. Revel. 13. ver. 5.6. And if we reckon the difference of the commencement of one thouſand two hundred & ninety dayes, and one hundred and ſixty dayes, mentioned Revel. 11. & Dan. 12. the account will ariſe to be neare the ſame; of which computation (God permitting) more after. For cloſe of this identity, or likeneſſe, as the Turke pulled off at firſt three hornes of the ten of the Roman Empire, viz. Syria, Aegypt, and Africa; or rather as other reckon, Syria, Grecia, and Africa; ſo the Pope arrogates a triple Crowne over the Romane ſtate.
§. 7 Before we can fairely goe on any further upon this ſeventh of Daniel, I muſt inſert here my thoughts touching the LITTLE HORNE; I know the Learned differ much about it. Not to mention (as if worthy of words, that impoſſible opinion, that it ſignifies Antiochus Epiphanes) the learned Parker, and others hold, it meanes the Antichriſt of Rome. But learned Graſerus and others underſtand by it Mahomet, and give very ſtrong reaſons for it. The anſwers whereto that ſome give, are not to me ſufficient; nor are their owne Arguments for the Roman Antichriſt (as to peculiariſe that Horne to him) in my judgement convincing. I have here nor place, nor time (patching in this ſeventh §. after I was paſt it in the Copy) to diſcuſſe the Queſtion at large, but I ſhall propoſe this expedient to the learned;
1. To conſider (as hath been even now, and afore hinted, as we pointed in the Margin) that Turk and Pope, with their ſucceſſours, are but the maine Integrals of Antichriſt.
2. That upon exact review of what ever is ſaid on both ſides touching the little horne, it may appeare that all may handſomly and fairely be accommodated to both Turke and Pope, if not more appoſitely to the Turke.
3. That as they that make it a Romane Horne, may be led thereunto, with feare of omitting any thing that Propheſieth and promiſeth the ruine of that Roman Antichriſt; ſo we muſt be jealous of waving any thing that threatens the ruine of this Mahometan, or Turkiſh Antichriſt, intended in Revel. 9. by Mr. Parkers owne confeſſion, as after in the ſixteenth of Revelations, in the ſixth Vial, and elſewhere.
For with me, I confeſſe, it is a rule (which diligent obſervation, as I have gone along over all the Scriptures, hath irreſiſtably ingraffed into my reaſon) That all the Scriptures touching the great Reſtauration, or Reſtitution of the Church to her glorious eſtate on earth, before the ultimate day of Judgement, doe more directly, and immediatly look towards the Jewes; conſequentially, incluſively, and mediatly upon the Gentiles. And therefore by conſequence doe more immediatly threaten the ruine of the Mahometan Turkiſh Antichriſt, as their more immediate and cruell enemy, inhabiting all their borders, and next extend to the Roman Antichriſt, taking him in, under the generall notion of a grand enemy to the converſion of Jews and Gentiles unto Chriſt, and of the glorious reformation of the Church, and of the pure Doctrine and miniſtration of the Goſpel conducing to both. Nor doth it hang handſomely together (in my eye) that the little Horne breaking off three of the ten, ſhould be the Romane Antichriſt his conquering three of the Mahometan Emperours, becauſe the breaking off three of the ten, was to disjoyn them from the ten, not to reunite them unto the ten, and ſo make up thirteene; or to make up the ten to be ten, for they were ten afore, over which the Roman Antichriſt ruled, afore the three were broken off. Thus in briefe I have in this ſtrait of place modeſtly preſented my thoughts, which with all my heart I humbly ſubmit to the judgements of the more learned, that can produce ſtronger reaſons againſt what I have propounded.
§. 8 Now to returne to, and goe on upon this ſeventh of Daniel of theſe foure Beaſts (anſwering to the Image in chap. 2. of the foure Metals three eating up (as Pharoahs Kine) on another; the next thing that offers it ſelfe to conſideration is, who, or what it is that deſtroyes the ſurviving fourth. The Thrones (ver. 9.) were ſet (ſo we muſt read it, as we have proved afore;*Lib 3. cap. 2. Sect. 3. §. 3. and ſince Mr. Mede coming forth, hath aſſerted the ſame with us (as we heard but now S. 1.) God the Father ſits, called the Ancient of dayes, as out-living all Empires, and is ſaid to have Garments as white as ſnow; alluding to the white of Judges and Rulers, in their white Meniver, importing his righteouſneſſe in judging; his haire is ſaid to be white as wooll, noting the gravity and ſolidity of his Wiſdome; his Throne a fiery flame, and his Wheels as burning fire; ſignifying that his ſentence of Judgement is ſwift and ſevere in execution, according to his minde and will. The fiery ſtreame iſſuing out, and coming forth from before him, notes the continuation of execution, till all his minde be fulfilled. The thouſand thouſands miniſtring unto him, &c. ſignifie the aſſeſſion, aſſent, and aſsiſtance of Saints and Angels in that execution, 1 Cor. 6.2, 3.
§. 9 After this deſcription of the poſture of this Judicature, it followes to the twelfth verſe, concerning the acts of this Judicature. (For take it for a conſiderable rule, when the Lord is to doe ſome notable thing for his people, or againſt their enemies, it is repreſented in Scripture in the forme of a Day of Judgement, Deut. 33.2. Job 1. Pſal. 50. Jude ver. 14.) The Judgement, or Judicature being ſet, and the Bookes being opened (as aforeſaid) Daniel beholds till the Beaſt was ſlaine, and his body deſtroyed, and given to the burning flame; That is, the Judicature ſate on purpoſe to condemne and execute; that is, to deſtroy the fourth Beaſt with ten Hornes, the Antichriſtian Roman Monarchy, divided into ſeven and three Hornes; oppoſing Chriſts Kingdome with Papall and Mahometan Hereſie and Tyranny; and this Judicature ſits (ver. 26.) to deſtroy the ten Hornes, divided into ſeven and three (ver. 24, 25.) and to conſume them unto the END, as the connexion of thoſe three laſt named verſes evidently gives in. The meaning is, that upon the totall of the fourth Beaſt, in both his limbs or parts, of Turke and Pope, in both his powers, Secular and Religious (alias irreligious) muſt be a continuall deſtruction, till a full end of his ruine be compleated. The opening of the Bookes ſignifies an open diſcovery of this Beaſt, and of all his Limbes, and all his impieties, to them that afore admired, adored, or obſequiouſly ſubmitted to him, and to all others that will come in to the Lord Chriſt, and his cauſe, to give the ſaid Beaſt a proportionable reward. Obſerve that it is ſaid in the ninth and tenth, ver. That Daniel beheld the fourth Beaſt, till the Judicature was ſet, and the Bookes were opened; and ver. 11. he beheld till the Beaſt was ſlain; which ſeemes to me aptly to ſet forth, that though a deadly blow be given to the Beaſt at the firſt erecting of the Throne of Judicature, yet his deſtruction comes on by degrees, and is not compleated till the end of the ſtriving, mentioned Dan. 12. ver. 1. compared with ver. 11, 12. To underſtand this more clearly. This fourth Beaſt (ſaith the text) is various, and ſtrange from all the reſt (as aforeſa…d) It hath ten Hornes, and among them came up another little Horne, breaking off three of the ten. All which aptly may ſignifie theſe three things.
1. The Roman Empire.
2. The Papacie, riſing out of that.
3. The Turkiſh ſtate, riſing out of both (as hath been touched afore.)
Now the two firſt growing into one (the Papacy ſwallowing up the Emperialtie) may be deſtroyed at the firſt ſetting of the Judicature; the third, the Turkiſh Dynaſtie, or power may immediatly after begin to fall, and ſo fall more and more before the Jewes (the Gentiles aſſiſting them) till it be fully downe: which graduall ſeems to be further hinted in ver. 11.
Firſt, the BEAST is ſlaine.
2. His BODY is deſtroyed.
3. GIVEN to the BURNING.
Sure enough (to humane reaſon) it ſeemes probable the Papacie ſhould firſt downe; whoſe imagery and idolatry are the great offence hindering the Jewes from turning Chriſtians, and to ſtand up for their deliverance. In this graduall deſtruction of Antichriſt (in the generall) Mr. Parker on Daniel, doth fully concurre with me*Mr. Parker in Viſ. & Propheſ. Exp. p. 32, 33.. And he goes on confidently thus farre further; as to aſſert that this graduall ruine of Antichriſt ſhall be in acting, the ſpace of thoſe forty five yeares hinted in Dan. 12.11.12. from one thouſand two hundred and ninety, to one thouſand three hundred thirty five, which are juſt forty five years. Of which computation more after. But
Having ſeen Daniels viſion of the deſtruction of the fourth Beaſt; next in verſe the thirteenth he ſhewes us in a further viſion, who takes the Kingdom or Monarchy of the fourth Beaſt, with an explication of all former paſſages in this chapter.
§. 10 But it ſeemes by the twelfth verſe that the former three Monarchies were not deſtroyed in the deſtruction of the fourth. For Daniel having ſhewed us in the eleventh verſe, that the fourth beaſt was ſlain, and his body was given to the burning, followes on preſently in the twelfth verſe, telling us, that as concerning the reſt of the Beaſts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a ſeaſon, and a time. We Anſwer:
1. If we keep cloſe to the words of the originall, then thus we muſt render it (juſt as there, word for word) And they tooke away the dominion of the reſt of the Beaſts; for *Chal. foreign which like materia prima (as Mr. Mede ſpeaks) accepts of many ſignifications, and ſtands as a cauſal in many places of Scripture, as Pſa. 60.11. Iſa: 64.5 Iſa. 39.1. comp. 2 King. 20.12. (where foreign in I ſay is turned foreign) are undeniably apparent examples.length of life was given to them but for a time and ſeaſon. The words are an anſwer to a ſuppoſed queſtion that might be put, viz. And what (might ſome ſay) became of the reſt of the Beaſts? why (ſaith Daniel) they (that is each from one another, the latter from the former) took away the Dominion of the reſt, reſidue, or remainder; for it was granted unto them (by the ancient of dayes verſ. 9.) to live in perſon and power but for a time, and a ſeaſon. All which Daniels viſion preſents, to ſet forth antithetically the excellency of this fifth Kingdom, or Monarchy, that it was free from all ſuch ſhortenings; and in that ſence to be for ever. Yea, materially in the perſon and felicity, to be abſolutely for ever.
2. If any hanker, and long after the ſence, that our tranſlation hints, as if the three former Beaſts had a kind of life allowed them, after their dominion was taken away; to give theſe content, we can give them this faire anſwer (which may likewiſe be handſomely improved as to the illuſtration of the ruine of the fourth Beaſt, and ſo of the glorious remaining of the fift Monarchy) That though the three former monarchies were diſ-robed of their Monarchicall paramount Emperiality, the former by the latter, yet thoſe three (divine providence permitting) had continued unto them ſome degree of regality, untill ſome good ſpace of time that the fourth had been in being and power: which is the more probable.
1. Becauſe, how elſe could it bee ſaid, that the third trampled the ſecond, and the fourth the third; yea, all the remainder of the former; unleſſe they had ſome entiry or being to be trampled.
2. Becauſe the whole Image is broken by the ruine on the feet of the fourth and laſt. And therefore probably there were certaine broken limbs of the three former, remaining to be beaten into duſt with the fourth,
3. Becauſe wee have ſome ſuch account given us in the faithfulleſt humane Hiſtories.
Firſt, For the Armenians, part of Chaldea, as ſome learned affirme, had a King and Kingly dignity even unto the dayes of the Roman Monarchy. Tigranes King of Armenia was ſubdued by the Roman Pompey, and his Country made tributary, and ſo ſtamped under foot. But after a while, even in the reigne of Tiberius, the ſame Armenia was fortified againſt the Romans, whom the Emperour rather pacified (with promiſes) then ſubdued with Warre; who after got the ſtaffe ſo far into their hands againe, that in the reigne of Jovinian they were called Friends, not Vaſſals, to the Romans. Secondly, For Perſia, they had great power in the time of Antiochus the great, and of his ſonne, Antiochus the vile (of the Greeke Monarchy) downe unto, and farre into the times of the Roman Emperours. Of whom Julian loſt his life; Valerian went under ranſome, and Jovinian put to the ſhamefull foyle, of the loſſe of foure whole provinces. Thirdly, For the Grecian Monarchy; after the Romans had trampled Egypt; Anthony and Cleopatra being ſubdued by Auguſtus, and their Countries reduced to Provinces: yet after the Greekes did ſo far ſhake off the Roman yoake, as that they withſtood divers of their ſtouteſt Emperours, viz. Galienus, Aurelian, and Diocleſian. And this laſt anſwer doth alſo well illuſtrate the propheſie; That whereas ſomthing of the former Monarchies remained in the days of the later, yet the fift ſhould leave nothing of the fourth, and ſo nothing of the former: All being to be broken in the feet of the fourth; So glorious ſhould the fift Kingdome be. Now let the reader take which anſwer he pleaſeth.
§. 11 Having cleared (we hope) this knot, let us now goe on with Daniels viſions; wherein, he having already ſhewed us (towards the diſcovery of the Who, and what, that deſtroyed the fourth Beaſt) the poſture and Acts of the Seſsion of Judicature; next he repreſents to us the perſon or perſons, the Captaine, and his Army that tooke from the fourth Beaſt the Roman Monarchy, and all other Kingdoms, into their owne hands of power; and theſe are, Chriſt and his Chriſtians, verſ. 13, 14. Daniel ſaw in the night-viſions (fitly ſignifying the Antichriſtian darkneſſe that then clouded the Church) one like the Son of Man come with the cloudes of Heaven. This is Chriſt, who relatively as a King and Captaine Generall (as the Scriptures ſet him forth;) and Myſtically as he is by union of the Spirit, head of his Church, doth infer (as ſoon as he is come) an Hoſt of Chriſtians at his heeles, as part of his Seſſion when hee ſits; all which muſt neceſſarily bee here underſtood, as the 18, 26 and 27 verſes (being of the interpretation of the viſion) give ſufficient warrant. verſ. 18. But the SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH ſhall take the Kingdome for ever, Zech. 1.8. Heb. 2.10. Revel. 19.11, 12, 13, 14.even for ever and ever, ver. 27, 28. But the Judgement ſhall ſit, and they (of the Judgement) viz. as it is in this viſion, the Son of Man and his ten thouſand times ten thouſand of all Nations, Languages and Peoples that beleeve in him, ſhall take away his (the fourth Beaſts) dominion, to conſume, and deſtroy it to the end. And the Kingdome and Dominion, and the greatneſſe of the Kingdome under the whole Heaven ſhall bee given to the PEOPLE OF THE SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH, whoſe Kingdome is an everlaſting Kingdome, and all Dominions ſhall ſerve HIM. Where moſt evidently, Chriſt called here the Son of Man, doth as a publicke perſon, and a repreſentative, as the ſecond Adam of all mankind that beleeve, include and ſignifie all the ſonnes of men that beleeve; and they and he are ſo one myſtically by faith, and relatively as a corporation, or united Emperiality, that it is indifferent to the Holy Ghoſt to mention HIM, or THEM to be the Ruler of this fifth Monarchy.
As for that his coming we mentioned but now, Daniel expreſſeth it in the ſaid thirteenth verſe, The Sonne of man came with the Clouds of Heaven. Upon which words Mr. Parker ſaith thus; The Sonne of man is Chriſt the Head, including alſo his Body the Church, as appeareth ver. 26, 27. He is ſaid to come, and this is his ſecond coming, in a large ſence, comprehending his coming to beare rule on earth, by ſetting up his Kingdome, breaking down the enemy, and this is the ſpace of forty five yeares; and then his viſible appearing at the Reſurrection immediatly enſuing, to finiſh the New Jeruſalem begun, in heavenly perfection. And in this large deſcription his ſecond coming is uſually taken in the Prophets. He is ſaid to come in the Clouds of Heaven; that is, on high, above the glory, and power of the Kingdomes of the earth, in the ſupereminent Majeſty of his Kingdom, Rev. 11, 12. Iſa. 52.13. Mat. 24.30. Thus Mr. Parker. I only adde this, that by the current and tenour of Scripture this phraſe of his coming in the Clouds, ſignifies withall, that he ſhall viſibly and really appeare in the natural Clouds, at that his ſecond coming but now mentioned; as Chriſt himſelfe, and Saint John expounds the Prophets, Matth. 24.30. Revel. 1.7. Then ſhall appeare (ſaith Chriſt, in that twenty fourth of Matthew, ver. 30.) the ſigne of the Sonne of Man in Heaven, and then ſhall all the Tribes of the earth mourne, and they ſhall SEE the Sonne of Man coming in the CLOVDES of Heaven, &c. And ſaith John (in that Revel. 1.7.) Behold he cometh WITH CLOVDES, and every eye ſhall SEE him, and they alſo that pierced him.
§. 13 He is ſaid in the ſame thirteenth verſe, both to come to the Ancient of dayes, that is, as he is Mediator, to the end to obtaine the Kingdome for his Saints, being removed from the enemy. So the Lamb is ſaid to approach to him that ſate upon the throne to receive the Booke. And he is alſo ſaid to be brought before the ancient of dayes; which words, ſaith Mr. Parker, untill better light may ſhine, I cannot but conjecture (ſaith he) that they doe ſignifie the Saints, who bring Chriſt neare to the ancient of dayes, BY IMPORTVNITY OF PRAYERS, for the obtaining of the Kingdome, and removall of it from the Beaſt.
Whereupon the Kingdome, with all the dominion, and glory thereof, following in ver. 14. to the end of the chapter, is given to him; that is, to Chriſt and his Saints, as afore cleared; The beginning whereof ſaith Mr. Parker, is at the fall of Antichriſt, and the ſetting up of the Throne of Judgement, as appeareth verſ. 21, 22, 23.25, 26. and is abſolved in heavenly perfection, at the Reſurrection immediatly enſuing. So he. The greatneſſe of it is in thoſe words, that All People, Nations, and Languages ſhould ſerve him; ſignifying, that it is the very ſame Kingdome, or Monarchy, in place and ſubſtance, only the quality ſhall be better, and the quantity bigger; theſe words holding forth (ſaith Mr. Parker) the univerſall converſion of the remnant of the earth, who at the fall of Antichriſt ſhall be ſubject to Chriſt, and his Ordinances, in the hand of his holy people, the witneſſes of truth; for which cauſe they are alſo ſaid to be ſubject to them, v. 26, 27. Iſa. 60.10, 12. All that ſhall withdraw their …ecks from ſuch ſubjection, ſhall be deſtroyed.☞ And this is the firſt ſtate, or riſing of New Jeruſalem, the ſpace of five and forty yeares, before its compleating in the reſurrection; which ſtate is ſpecially deſcribed by all the Prophets. The deſcription of the continuance of this Kingdom of Chriſt is, that it ſhall be for ever, as hath been afore largely opened.
§. 15 From the whole viſionall repreſentation, and propheticall Nartative in this chapter, Mr. Archers ſhort argument (I may call it) in matter, is conſiderable, eſpecially if put into forme, thus.
Chriſt, the Son of Man, muſt have a Monarchy on earth, delivered to him by God the Ancient of daies, at the ruine of the fourth Monarchy, to bee in his occupation at his ſecond appearance, and from thence to the end of the world.
But this cannot be meant of his ſpirituall and providentiall Kingdome, which he had before the foure Monarchies, 1 Cor. 10.1. &c. as after the end of this world, at the period of the thouſand yeares he hath no Kingdom, but reſignes up all to the Father, 1 Cor. 15.24, 28.
Therefore this is yet to come; the fourth Monarchy being not yet deſtroyed; nor Antichriſt, the main, and moſt part of that fourth Monarchy.
§. 16 Adde for a cloſe of all we ſhall ſay, upon this ſeventh of Daniel, the reſolution and reaſons of learned Maſter Huet upon the ſcope thereof. This Kingdome (ſaith he*Huet on Daniel chap. 7. ver. 14.) is aſcribed to the perſon of the Meſsiah, which in ver. 22.27. is given to, and poſſeſſed by the Saints. It is Chriſts authoritatively; it is the Saints by delegation and miniſtry. And ſuch as rule for God, and according to God, are ſaid to rule with God, Hoſ. 11, 12. Rev. 2.26, 27. which Kingdome of our Lord is either meerly ſpirituall and inward, whereof he maketh no VICAR, ſaving his holy Spirit; and this Regency he reſerveth with himſelfe, as a peculiar Royalty: or elſe outward and mixt, partly ſpirituall in the Ordinances of Worſhip; and partly civill in Equity and Juſtice, according to righteous lawes, &c. This admits of Deputation. And the exerciſe of it may be aſcribed either to God, or Man (the firſt and ſecond cauſes never jarring) This is that dominion here mentioned, whereof the Iews are deprived, by the tyranny of the Roman Monarchy. Yet now through the glorious appearance of the Deliverer, it is reſtored to them againe, never more to be wreſted from them. This interpretation, the circumſtances of the Text confirme. 1. It is ſuch a regiment as was reſiſted by that very People, Languages and Nations, that after were brought in to ſerve and obey it, upon the violent breaking to peeces of all that perſeveringly reſiſted it. But thus the ſpiritual Kingdome of Chriſt is not ſet up. Ergo. 2. This Kingdom is ſuch as may admit of humane deputation: viz. that may be exerciſed by the Saints on earth, ver. 22. Judgement was given to the Saints of the moſt high, and the Saints poſſeſſed the Kingdom. But Chriſts ſpiritual Kingdom admits of no deputation; ſeeing none among men can give the Spirit, command the Conſcience, or move the Will, but Chriſt alone. So he. I will adde a word, and I have done with this Scripture; and that may be a third Argument: The dominion here propheſied and promiſed, is that which was taken from the Jewes.
1. By the Babylonian captivity, wherein Daniel and the Jewes now were; and in a way of comforting him and them, againſt this their preſent deſolate condition, theſe viſions, and predictions are given to him; and upon his ſadneſſe at firſt dark ſight of them (frequently mentioned in this booke) they are further explained to him. See more in an exact conſideration of the whole ninth chapter of this propheſie.
2. By the deſolations of Jeruſalem. And accordingly Daniel ſadly complaines in prayer to God in chap. 9. ver. 12. That under the whole Heaven hath not been done, as hath been done unto Jeruſalem. And for his comfort it is anſwered verſ. 24. That there were but ſeventy weekes to be determined upon the holy City: which now hee underſtood (ver. 1.2.) that they were neare expiration.
3. By the ceaſing of the daily ſacrifice, which is expreſly mentioned chap. 12.11. as from thence to begin the account of one thouſand two hundred and ninety yeares, at the expiration whereof their full deliverance ſhould commence.
Now obſerve, That therefore the dominion paſſing away from the Jewes,
1. paſſed away by Temporall calamities; as in the captivity, and the deſolations of Jeruſalem:
2. By the interruption of outward publicke worſhip.
But the ſpirituall Kingdome of Chriſt, he ruling their hearts by his Spirit, and they worſhipping him in ſecret with ſpirituall worſhip, cannot paſſe away from a people by thoſe two things. But contrariwiſe, as the Jewes were a religious people, and the onelyonly Church of Chriſt, many years after the captivity, yea, and ſome hundreds of years after their returne, till the Apoſtles times; ſo the Chriſtian Church was moſt flouriſhing ſpiritually, when outwardly moſt perſecuted, under the ten perſecutions, and were faine to ſerve God in ſecret, at dead midnight. Compare the ſtory of the Acts with Rev. 11.1. &c. and Rev. 12.1. &c.Fox Martyrolog Volum. 1. all which relate to thoſe times; as Mr. Fox in his Book of Martyrs gives us a particular account.