The Resurrection Revealed, Book 3 · Chapter 2 · Section 49
SECT. XLIX.
§. 1 THe fift place in Zecharie is Chapter 12 throughout; which is ſo full for a glorious viſible State of the Church on Earth; and ſo plainly demonſtrating it ſelfe, never yet to have been fulfilled, that I ſhall but little more then name the particulars.
§. 2 It ſeems very clear in the firſt place, That this propheſie of ſuch happy promiſes to be fulfilled, is intended as well for Iſrael, as for Judah. And therefore, as with Judah is often mentioned Jeruſalem (part of their Territory) ver. 2. ver. 5, &c. So with Iſrael, expreſſed in the firſt verſe, are mentioned after ver. 13, 14. the Families of Levi, and of Simeon, &c. which were of the ten Tribes. Now till any one ſhew us that ever theſe propheſies were fulfilled both to Judah, and Iſrael ſince their captivity, we muſt conclude they are yet unfulfilled.
§. 3 And the rather, becauſe, although at this time the people of Iudah had returned from Babylon, near twenty years ſince; yet in ver. 6. the Prophet points at another returning, to a re-inhabiting of Jeruſalem, in her own place, even in Jeruſalem. And this to be done at a notable day; Of which we know nothing in Scriptures, Hiſtories, or Experience, as to a notable fulfilling thereof, ſince Judah's firſt returne to this day: And therefore muſt bee expected as yet to come.
§. 4 For where ever ſince that time were the particulars, after mentioned in this chapter, fulfilled? I need but aske the queſtion, to convince men of that they can never anſwer. When was that in the ſecond verſe fulfilled ſince that time, that God did make Jeruſalem a cup of trembling to all that beſieged her? When Alexander M. with his Army, about one hundred and eighty years after this, came to Jeruſalem, though he came as a Conqueror, yet he entred, and was received in all peaceable manner, with reciprocall, high reſpect between him and the High-Prieſt. When after him, about one hundred forty three years (as the account is caſt up, 1 Maccab. 1.20.) Antiochus Epiphanes came againſt Jeruſalem with his Army, he prevailed againſt it, and miſerably ſpoiled it, and the Temple, and ſlaughtered the people, 1 Maccab. 1.21, 22, 23, 24. When after him about ſeven years, Antiochus Eupator came up againſt Judea and Jeruſalem, he prevailed againſt both, partly by power, and partly by policy, and threw down the walls of Zion, 1 Maccab. 1. ver. 17. ver. 48, &c. to the end of the chapter. About ninty eight years after him, the Roman Pompey takes Jeruſalem, and the Temple, ſending Ariſtobulus the King of the Jewes bound to Rome, and ſubdued the Jewes to the Roman power*Buchol. Jud. Chron. Ad an. Mund. 3909. About ſix years after (which was about fifty ſix years afore the birth of Chriſt) Gabinius the Roman invading Syria, and then Judea, he there conquered Alexander King of the Jews (Son of Ariſtobulus) in a maine battle; ſlaying 3000 Jewes, and taking as many priſoners*Ioſephus.. As for the Hiſtory after Chriſt, tis more familiarly known, that Titus the Roman Emperor about 70 years after the birth of Chriſt, deſtroyed Jeruſalem, both City and Temple; as likewiſe did Adrian the Roman Emperor after him, about the year after Chriſts birth 133. and ſo Rome ſucceſſively held it, til the Saracens and Turks wan it away from them, holding it to this day. So that I renew my queſtion, When ſince the return of Judah, was Judah and Jeruſalem a cup of trembling, to any enemy that ever came againſt it in that ſpace of time? And upon the ſame ground of hiſtory, but now ſummed up, I may put unaſwerable queſtions upon moſt of the chapter following, as, When ſince their returne, was ever Jeruſalem a burthenſome ſtone to all people of the earth, to cut them all in peeces that ſhall burthen themſelves with it, as tis propheſied in ver. 3? Or when, as in ver. 4. hath every horſe been ſtricken with aſtoniſhment, and his rider with madneſſe? Or when, as ver. 5. Could the Governors of Judah ſay in their heart, the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, under God, ſhall be my ſtrength? Or when, as in ver 6: Have the Governors of Judah been like a Hearth of fire amongſt the wood, and like a Torch of fire in a ſheafe, devouring all the people round about, &c? Or when, as ver. 7. and 9. Hath the Lord ſo ſaved the tents of Judah, and defended the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, that he that was feeble among them was made as David, and the houſe of David as ELOHIM, and as the ANGEL of JEHOVAH; and hath ſought to deſtroy all the Nations that come againſt Jeruſalem? But mind the breviate of hiſtory afore recited, and look upon the State of the Jews at this day, and remember the account we gave afore of the Maccabees in the former Section, and we cannot but expect the particulars yet to come. And upon the ſame grounds, adding the hiſtory of the carriage of the Jewes towards Chriſt, penned by the Evangeliſts, and the context in the ninth verſe [At that day it ſhall come to paſſe] viz. at the time that the former part of the chapter ſhall be fulfilled, with a collation of Revel. 1.7. and Matth. 24.30, We may as boldly quere, when were thoſe things ever yet fulfilled, mentioned in the 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 verſes, That God would ſo poure out upon the houſe of David, and the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem the ſpirit of grace and ſupplication, that they ſhall looke on him whom they have peirced, and mourn for him with great bitterneſſe, each family mourning a part? which cannot be imagined to be fulfilled by the Jews, afore Chriſt was peirced. Which is the argument of two Jews of late, with one of which I had conference; that they expect the Meſsiah yet to come,☞ to convert their Nation, becauſe they muſt ſee him with a penitent eye after he is pierced. Nor was it fulfilled upon the obſtinate Jews, who beholding his paſſion, derided him, or perſiſted in impenitency. Nor upon the eleven Diſciples, who fled when he was led to ſuffering. Nor did they pierce him. Nor upon thoſe mourners, Act. 2. for they ſaw him not when they mourned; nor did any of theſe ſorts of mourners aforenamed, mourn with their families: Nor did they ſee him in the clouds, and thereupon mourn for him, as tis expreſſe in thoſe places of Mat. 24, and Rev. 1. afore quoted.
§. 5 Therefore the main of this whole propheſie is yet to be fulfilled. And before the laſt univerſall Reſurrection, and ultimate Judgement, becauſe the Circumſtances of it ſo require.