Antichrist Stormed, Frontispiece – Table of contents
Antychrist Storme…
Antichrist STORMED: OR, Mystery Babylon the great Whore, and great City, proved to be the present Church of Rome. Wherein all Objections are fully answered. To which is added, The Time of the End, or a clear Explanation of Scripture Prophecies, with the Judgment of divers Learned men concerning the final Ruine of the Romish Church, that it will be in this present Age. Together with an Account of the Two Witnesses, who they are, with their Killing, Resurrection & Ascention. Also an Examination and Confutation of what Mr. Jurieu hath lately written concerning the Effusion of the Vials, proving none of them are yet poured out, With Mr. Canns Reasons to confirm the same. Likewise a brief Review of D. Tho. Goodwins Exposition of the 11th chapter of the Revelations, concerning the Witnesses, and of that Street in which they should lie slain, proving it to be meant of Great Brittain. And a brief Collection of divers strange Prophecies, some very Antient. By Benj. Keach, Author of Sion in Distress
To which is annext, A short Treatise in two parts. 1. The Calculation of Scripture numbers by Scripture only, without the help of Humane History. 2. Upon the Witnesses; giving light to the whole Book.
LONDON, Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside. 1689.
TO THE READER.
Christian Reader,
THat which induced me to publishthe insuing Treatise, at this time, is first, the consideration of the present Providence of the great God, under which we are exercised; wherein it may appear to all, that he hath with an out-stretched Arm, begun to deliver his people, and to plead the controversie of Sion, against his old and implacable Enemies, such a gracious dispensation as we have certainly never before seen, and what the issue or event of it will be, we cannot be ignorant, if we consult his word, Babylon must fall, that is evident, and that this Mystery Babylon is the Church of Rome, is fully cleared in this Treatise, which we hope may tend to convince such who have had any doubt upon their Spirits about it, and confirm others in the stedfast belief thereof; true 'tis not above 6 or 7 years, since we wrote something of the same nature, but that lying in a folio, a book that comes but into a few hands; Besides this is great part new, and many things of another nature insisted on; I have been stirred up to make it publick in this small tract, hoping that such who read it will see some further cause to hate the Whore and all her off-spring who still retain her Persecuting Spirit, tho' blessed be God, this Nation and Scotland likewise, are stirred up of late, with just revenge against her, the Lord continue it, for there is much work still to be done both here and abroad, before that glorious state of the Church comes in, which we have so long waited for, as touching the time of Babylons final ruin and overthrow, something we have here said, and have also given the various Apprehensions of many learned and worthy Writers in respect of that, as also tou…ing the Slaying and Resurrection of the two Witnesses, together with their Ascention, which will have its further opening by the works and providence of God, so that our light, like the path of the Just, shall shine more and more to the perfect day; time will make manifest what is in the Womb of the present Providence. That which adds further incouragement, is, I perceive almost every where Gods people are much upon the search into the Prophesies of the Scripture, and Revelations of St. John about the time of the end.
We have given some brief hints touching the seven Seals, Trumpets, and the seven Vials or last Plagues spoken of by St. John, which may, we hope, let in a little light into some mens understandings, and tend to the putting of them upon a further search, we conclude that the six first Seals spoken of, Rev. 6. open things that were to come to pass in the World, from the time that John received his Revelations until the years 311 or 320, or there abouts, which produced, (1.) That fearful Apostacy from the Apostolical Faith, and true Christianity of the Gospel Church. (2.) The utter overthrow of the sixth Head of the Beast or Pagan Emperors Reign, and so put an end to the ten bloody Persecutions under them, for under the sixth Seal was effected or brought to pass their final ruin signified by an Earthquake, Rev. 6. Which overthrow was first begun by Constantine the great, and fully compleated according to History by Theodosius about 379. under the 7 Seal there was silence in Heaven for half an hour, viz. A short time of rest for the Church and Saints of God, which began in Constantines dayes and lasted as some conceive till the troubles rose by the Arians which was, if I mistake not, about the latter end of his Reign, but others say it continued till Theodosius died, in the year 395. also under the Seventh Seal come in the Angels with their Seven Trumpets the 6 first Trumpets ('tis concluded by most learned writers) brought in those things that were effected or accomplished under the Papal power and Turkish Empire as also the death and Resurrection of the Witnesses, and so brings in the second woe.
The seventh Trumpet, as I conceive, brings in the Ascention of the Witnesses, and then comes out the seven Angels with the seven Vials and last Plagues; the first of which I cannot believe hath as yet been poured out, nor shall, till the Ascention of the Witnesses, which will be attended with that second Earthquake, Rev. 11. and from that very time I conclude the Kingdom of Christ will begin, which I know is quite contrary to what Dr. Goodwin, Dr. More, Du Moulin, and of late Peter Jurie… have written; the reasons why I am of this Opinion, you will find if you read the latter part of this Treatise. Dr. Goodwin, if I mistake him not, says that Waldo, &c. might be said to pour out the first Vial, and that two or three more of them have since been poured out by the Angels or Ministers of God out of the Temple, as they have been indued with more or lesser light, but we cannot think any of the Sackcloth Witnesses, who have lived under the time of the Beasts 42 months, can be said to pour out any of those Vials, because they are said to be clothed with pure white linnen, and to have Golden Girdles about their breasts and for several other reasons which we have here given, 'tis indeed very strange to many wise men that Mr. Jurieu should so confidently affirm that all the Vials should be already poured out by Gods Ministers, and that they are still in their Sackcloath▪ and have so all along.
Others there are who Judge that the Seven Vials shall none of them be poured out till the Seventh Trumpet shall begin to sound, which will effect her utter overthrow, and so bring in the third woe; of this opinion was that Worthy and Learned Divine, Mr. John Canne and some others, time will open these things more clearly, but I am perswaded whensoever those Vials and last Plagues come to be poured out, Gods Judgments will be so manifest, that they will be discerned and known of all, and be quite different from all other Judgments that have fallen upon the Antichristian State and people from their first rise.
But since we are in the Judgment of all Godly and Learned men, come towards the end of the wonders, let none be discouraged, for though there is very near a most dismal hour, yet it will doubtless fall upon the heads of the wicked, and such who are of Baby lons Race and Spirit, the Godly shall see the Lord hath not forgotten them, nor the righteous Blood that has been shed, but will appear suddenly to plead Sion's controversie, and set up his own Kingdom; therefore let us be much in prayer, and cry mightily to God, and be ready to meet the Lord in his more glorious appearance, for we are very confident a very dreadful hour is near, and it will come upon carnal, secure, and all formal Protestants, nay, fear shall surprize the sinners in Sion, tho' it will be a glorious hour to all that are found faithful to Jesus Christ; I desire all enquiring persons to weigh well what we have said in the latter part of this Treatise, and if it affords any further light to any of them, let them bless God, I am in hopes it will put many upon a further search into the Prophesies of the Scripture about the time of the end: However I sha'l at present say no more, but leave it to the blessing of the Lord, (till I see a little further what God is about to do) and at present take my leave of thee, and remain thy Servant in the Gospel,
Benj. Keach.
THE CONTENTS.
CHap. 1. Various Opinions concerning Mystery Babylon.
1. Not the World of wicked men.
2. Not old Chaldea Babylon.
3. Not Jerusalem.
4. Not the Turks and Saracens.
5. Not Rome Heathen.
6. Not Rome towards the end of the World, after, some Papists say, Rome shall Apostatize to Paganism again.
7. By Mystery Babylon is meant the present Papal or Romish Church, proved from p. 4. to p. 38.
Ch. 2. Proving all the marks that the Scripture gives of Mystery Babylon meet directly in Papal Rome, from p. 39. to p. 102.
Ch. 3. Literal Babylon a Type of Mystery Babylon, shewed in 12 particulars, from p. 103. to p. 116.
Ch. 4. Shewing the little Horn, Dan. 7. to mean the Pope in 10 particulars, from p. 117. to p. 127.
Ch. 5. Proving that our Saviour in Mat. 13. 15. and St. Paul in Acts 20. 29. and 1 Tim. 4. 2 Thes. 2. 3. pointed out the Papal Church, from p. 128. to p. 135.
Ch. 6. Shewing the Judgment of divers Eminent Writers concerning who the two Witnesses are, and who not, p. 136.
That they have been lately slain, and are risen, or about to rise, p. 140, 141.
What the Ascention of the two Witnesses are, and that 'tis near, p. 145.
Ch. 7. Where is shewed the Judgment of many English Writers about the seven Vials, with an Answer to Mr. Peter Jurieu, who has lately asserted in his Treatise, that they are all poured out; Proving by many Arguments that there is none of them as yet poured out, nor will till the seventh Angel blows his. Trumpet, from p. 153.
That England is the Street of the great City where the Witnesses were to be slain or lye dead. p. 182, 183, &c.
The Kingdom of Christ begins at the Earthquake, or at the beginning of sounding of the seventh Trumpee, and that 'tis at the door, p. 186, 187, 188.
Divers strange Prophesies, p. 188, 189.
Postscript. Wherein you have the substance of what a late nameless great French Writer has said in Answer to Mr. Jurieu about the Non-effusion of the Vials, p. 193.