Supplement to Christs Peaceful Kingdom on Earth to Come, Part
The Parallel of the Fifth Monarchy in Daniel, further Expounded in the Book of the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt. To which purpoſe we ſhall ſet down, Firſt, Some Obſervations tending thereunto more indirectly and remotely. Secondly, We ſhall ſummarily and briefly adjoin the particular Branches moſt conſiderable in the Parallel between Daniel and the Revelation. Thirdly, We ſhall add ſome Explications and Illuſtrations of ſome moſt material things further to be conſidered therein, as God ſhall aſſiſt.
WHere (Firſt) obſerve, That as the Antichriſtian Church is ſet forth by Forty two Months, according to the courſe of the Moon that rules in the dark night; So Daniel ſaith, chap. 2.7. He ſaw the fourth Beaſt in the Night-Viſions, wherein much myſtery of iniquity was to be obſerved.
Secondly, Again obſerve, as Chriſt (Rev. 16.15.) warns all men, That he will come as a Thief in the night: So Daniel (c. 7.13.) ſaw in the Night-Viſions, The Son of Man come in the Clouds of Heaven.
Thirdly, As the time of the Two Sack-cloth Prophets is deſcribed by 1260 days of years, Rev. 11. the day being the time of light and comfort; ſo the Saints (the Children of Light) are they to whom the Son of Righteouſneſs, the true Light, gives the Kingdom to poſſeſs it for ever and ever, ver. 18. when the Beaſt and his Worſhippers ſhall be caſt into utter darkneſs.
Fourthly, As Chriſt makes known to his Saints, That the Beaſt ſhall make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them temporally, Rev. 13. So Daniel ſhews, that the time would enſue, that the Beaſt ſhould be ſlain, and his Body deſtroyed, and given to the burning flame, Dan. 7.11. Rev. 14.
Fifthly, As the Lambs Followers (Rev. 14.) are deſcribed to be ſuch as loved not their lives unto death: So the Kingdom that belongs to them, Daniel ſaith, ſhall not be deſtroyed, v. 14. but they ſhall poſſeſs it for ever and ever, v. 18.
Sixthly, As the Woman (the true Church) is nouriſhed in the Wilderneſs a time, times, and half a time, Rev. 12.14. that the Beaſts tyranny and perſecution might not deſtroy her, while her limited time of ſuffering laſted; ſo the Beaſt ſpeaking great words againſt the Moſt High, and wearing out the Saints, is alſo limitted by the ſaid time, times, and dividing of a time, chap. 7.25. his great Power and abuſed Authority cannot lengthen his days.
Seventhly, As in Dan. ch. 2. many chief matters are ſet down of the times, nature, order or ſtates, founder or ſetter up, continuance and prevalence of Chriſts glorious Kingdom on Earth, with the unlimited extent of it; ſo beſides theſe, in chap. 7. is more remarkably deſcribed the manner of raiſing it, both remote, and more near, the Donation of the Founder thereof, with the Owner of it, namely, the Son of Man his Doputation of it to the Saints, together with power to judg and rule for him over the whole world; and in chap. 12. the particular time in order is deſcribed, of the ſecond eſtate of it, which are all that Daniel ſpeaks directly of it; only indirectly, are the continuance of the firſt eſtate of it, implyed chap. 9.24, 26, 27. deſcribing what ſhall be done towards the end of the ſeventy Weeks, when Chriſt ſhould by his own Sacrifice of himſelf, cauſe the other (jure) to ceaſe, and how he ſhould confirm the Covenant with many; and after the people of the Prince, to wit, the Romans, ſhould deſtroy the City about forty two years after: And then in general, ſets down the time of its deſolation, which our Saviour calls the fulfilling of the times of the Gentiles, Luc. 21.24. which contains the firſt Eſtate of Chriſts Kingdom. Alſo it is again indirectly ſpoken of under the Popes wicked actings againſt it, in the ſaid firſt ſtate of it, by the Roman Monarchy, Dan. 11.36, 37, 38, 39. So in the Revelation, what directly belongs to Chriſts glorious Kingdom upon Earth, is Rev. 11.15. to the end, and chap. 19, 20, 21, 22. But indirectly, there are many things revealed, and ſeen, and promiſed, which refer to the New-Jeruſalem that comes down from God out of Heaven for encouragements to the faithful ſufferers in their ſucceſſive times, all along ſet forth in that Book beſides: Of which more afterwards. Vide Paper of Dec. 7.1664. in the Forerunner, p. 36, 37, 38, 39.
Secondly, As to the ſecond head briefly to be adjoined, we may both from Daniel and the Book of Revelations, jointly obſerve theſe particular branches moſt conſiderable.
Firſt, The order and different ſtates of that Kingdom diſtinguiſhed by the Kingdom of Patience, and Kingdom of Power, called aptly by Mr. Meds, The Kingdom of the Stone, and the Kingdom of the Mountain, grounded upon Dan. 2.34, 35. The firſt is deciphered under Chriſts riding conquering and to conquer, Rev. 6. through all the Seals and Trumpets, to the ſounding of the ſeventh Trumpet, which contains the time of the firſt ſtate; the Kingdom of Patience, or the Kingdom of the Stone ſet forth directly in all the Book of the Revelation, ſaving thoſe laſt named chap. 11. and chap. 19, 20, 21, 22. wherein (as was ſhewed) is contained the ſecond ſtate of Chriſts Kingdom of Viſible Power, or the Kingdom of the Mountain filling the whole Earth. Both theſe ſtates Daniel ſets down more largely: Firſt, the firſt ſtate (though indirectly) under the actings of the Roman Empire againſt the God of gods, and diſregard of his Fathers God in the Emperors and Popes time, Dan. 11.36, 37, 38, 39. and ſo of the actings of the Fourth Beaſt, with his wicked Horn, chap. 7. and a great part of the Iron Kingdom, with feet and toes of Iron and Clay, ſo long as they have been the Perſecutors and Oppreſſors of Gods true Church; and the other ſtate of it Daniel expreſſeth, when the Kingdom was given by the Ancient of Dayes to the Son of Man, chap. 7.13, 14, to the end of that Chapter.
2dly, Again, for the beginning of the States of the ſaid Kingdom; The beginning of the firſt was under the firſt Seal, Rev. 6. which was when Chriſt having all power given him in Heaven and in Earth, then gave Commiſſion, Matth. 28.18, 19, 20. to his Diſciples and ſucceeding Miniſters to preach the Goſpel to all, promiſing to be with them to the end of the World, when he ſaith, Rev. 10. Time (namely, of the Beaſt and wicked Dominion) ſhould be no more; which will be finiſhed when the Beaſt ſhall be deſtroyed; which Kingdom will be perfected upon the beginning of the following ſtate, namely, of the Kingdom of Power, or the Kingdom of the Mountain, then to ſucceed, as Rev. 20. and Rev. 11. which, as that of the Stone, was many hundred years in paſſing to this laſt ſtate: So this ſhall never paſs away, or be deſtroyed while the World continues, but ſhall at laſt be perfected in the Kingdom of Glory in Heaven for evermore, as that of Patience was perfected in the Kingdom of Power before. Now of the time of the beginning of the firſt, ſaith Daniel, chap. 2.44. In the dayes of thoſe Kings ſhall the God of Heaven ſet up a Kingdom, &c. and of the beginning of the Second, (chap. 7.) ſaith he again, v. 13, 14. I ſaw the Son of man coming with the Clouds of Heaven, and unto him was given Dominion, and Glory, and a Kingdom, that all People, Nations and Languages ſhould ſerve him, &c. Of which more (by Gods aſſiſtance) afterwards.
3dly, We muſt eſpecially obſerve how the firſt Seſſion of the day of Judgment begins the ſaid laſt ſtate of Chriſts Kingdom, where the Judgment is ſaid to be ſe, and the Books opened, at the deſtruction of the Beaſt; and upon that account, Dan. 7.12. becauſe of the great words which the Horn ſpake, ver. 9, 10, 11. will be executed by Chriſt at the Armageddon Battel, Rev. 19.11. to the end, ſpoken of Rev. 16. And likewiſe another like Seſſion of Judgment after the thouſand years, we may again obſerve will (according as God hath appointed, and our Saviour declared) Rev. 20.11, 13, &c. perfect the ſaid Kingdom of the Mountain in glory, after the laſt Gog and Magog ſhall be deſtroyed, after the thouſand years ſhall be ended; when alſo the Judgment will again be ſet, and the Books opened, which is proper only to the Judgment of the great Day (as St. Jude calls it;) and why ſhould it ſeem ſtrange that Chriſt ſhould have ſuch a great Day to judg and rule in over all creatures, as he is Mediator, whilſt the Kingdom which the Ancient of Days gave him, ſhall remain in his hand, when Antichriſt had his Day of before? And not to ſpeak of the days of Captivities of the Jews, or of 1260 years their forty years in the Wilderneſs, Heb. 4. St. Peter reckons Eternity under the name of a day, 1 Pet. 3. laſt; foreign (as in the Original:) So that upon many conſiderations, Mr. Mede might well reckon all that time from Chriſts coming with clouds, Dan. 7.13. of which Rev. 1.7. and Rev. 19.11, &c. to the laſt Seſſions end, under the title of the Day of Judgment; wherein firſt, at the deſtruction of Antichriſt, when he deſtroys the quick with viſible, temporal judgment, and rewards his Servants the Prophets, and his Saints, and all that fear his Name both ſmall and great, in their order, Rev. 11.18. and Rev. 20.4, 5. when likewiſe Daniel ſheweth, the Saints ſhall take the Kingdom (being then given to them) and poſſeſs it for ever (to the Worlds end) as Chriſt then will receive it of his Father, to give it to them, ver. 13. yet they ſhall rule for him, ver. 27. all that time, in all Nations under the whole Heaven.
4thly, In the next place the God of Heaven is ſaid to be firſt the Founder of Chriſts Kingdom in the whole of it, under both ſtates of the Stone and Mountain, of Patience and Power, chap. 2.44. In the dayes of thoſe Kings the God of Heaven ſhall ſet up a Kingdom that ſhall never be deſtroyed, &c. And alſo he is ſaid to be the Doner or Giver of it to Chriſt his Son, chap. 7.9, 13, 14. So likewiſe Rev. 5. Chriſt hath not onelyonly the Revelation given to him from God the Father, to open and make known the ſame to his Church; but the Lamb hath Riches, and Honour, and Power, and Wiſdom, and Strength, &c. to execute and fulfil all things contained therein, ver. 12, 13. which he himſelf declared before his aſcention, Matt. 28.18, 19, 20. his Commiſſion from the Father enables him to fulfil the contents of that Book in both ſtates of that Kingdom, in order from the beginning of the firſt Seal, chap. 6. when he ſent out his Apoſtles, as before, Matt. 28. to, and in his 1000. years reign on Earth, Rev. 20.4. Rev. 5.10.
5thly, So likewiſe for the extent of his Kingdom under both States: In the firſt ſtate it is large without reſtraint, unto Jews or Gentiles, Greeks or Barbarians, in reſpect of the tender of it, Go preach the Goſpel to every creature, Mar. 16.15. Go preach the Goſpel to all Nations, Matt. 28.19. As Auguſtus Coeſar would have all the World taxed; ſo Chriſts riding on the white Horſe hath the ſame bounds, Rev. 5. No doubt their ſound went into all the world, and their words to the end of the earth, ſaith the Apoſtle, Rom. 10.18. So Dan. 2.24. It ſhall never be deſtroyed, but ſhall break in pieces all thoſe Kingdoms, and extend ſometimes very largely in the Empire, and at one time or other all over the known World.
But the other ſtate of the Kingdom of the Mountain, is not onelyonly unlimited in the tender of it, but alſo boundleſs in the extent of it over all the whole Earth, as an huge Mountain it fills the whole Earth, Dan. 2.35. and ch. 7.13, 14. To the Son of Man was given Dominion, and Glory, and a Kingdom, that all People, Nations and Languages ſhould ſerve him; and his Deputies, the Saints, take the Kingdom, ver. 18. and that which was the greatneſs of the Kingdom, under the whole Heaven, v. 27. and then all Dominions ſhall ſerve and obey him. So Rev. 20.4. the Saints reigned with Chriſt a thouſand years, and the repreſentative Church exult aſſuredly, That they ſhall reign upon Earth, Rev. 5.10. and Rev. 11.15. The Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdoms of our God and of his Chriſt, &c.
6thly, Again, for the nature of this Kingdom, although the firſt ſtate of it, being moſtly inviſible, and therefore in the outward aſpect for the moſt part deſpiſed, neglected, yea oppoſed by the men of the World of all ſorts, for the moſt part of the time of the Kingdom of Patience, in which ſtate, though the Devil and the wicked World have endeavoured earneſtly to deſtroy it, yet it could never be deſtroyed, Dan. 2.44. And though the Beaſt make war with the Saints, and think to wear them out, yet his time is limited to a time, times, and dividing of a time; but then the Judgment ſhall ſit and deſtroy him, Dan. 7.25, 26. even when he ſhall have accompliſhed to ſcatter the Power of the holy people, Dan. 12.7. for he ſhall never utterly deſtroy their Power, Rev. 12.6. So Rev. 13. Rev. 11.2.
But in the ſecond ſtate it will not onelyonly be an inwardly inviſible, true Church, but alſo an outwardly viſible and glorious Kingdom likewiſe, when Jews and Gentiles ſhall be ſo largely and unlimitedly brought into it, Rom. 11.12, &c. Dan. 7.14. Even ſuch a glory as becomes the Son of God, to have Dominion and Glory, as was ſaid; and which he willed before his death the Viſion of to his Saints, John 17.24. that they ſhould be where he was [to behold his own glory] not which he had with the Father, but that which the Father had given him, as Mediator, at the Beaſts deſtruction, Dan. 7.12, 14. and accordingly Rev. 1. there is a glorious deſcription of his coming at his Kingdom; and likewiſe Rev. 19.11, 12, 13, &c. At his Firſt coming there was no form nor comelineſs ſeen by moſt in the World, either in his perſon, or outward condition, when the Son of Man had not where to lay his head, Eſ. 53.2. He was called a King in ſcorn at his death, and arrayed like a King in mockery, a crucified King, in contempt; and ſuch was his Kingdom outwardly in moſt mens eyes, in regard of his Subjects, of his Officers, of his Laws, of his Ordinances in the World, moſt of the many hundred years of the firſt ſtate thereof, by the varieties of Perſecutors both Paganiſh and Popiſh, &c.
7thly, As Chriſts Kingdom in the firſt State of Patience, is outwardly weak and oppreſſed, therefore reſembled by a Woman in a Wilderneſs condition 1260 years, or a time, times, and the dividing of a time, in wearing out, Dan. 7.25. and having her power ſcattered, ch. 12.7. yet inwardly, even then, it is ſpiritual and ſtrong, to conſume and break in pieces, and ſubdue, as Dan. 2.34. it ſmites and breaks in pieces the feet and toes of the Iron and Clay; and v. 44. it ſhall conſume and break in pieces all thoſe Kingdoms; and c. 7.23. it ſhall devour the whole Earth, and tread it down, and break it in pieces: [Obſerve the expreſſions] For that which is ſpiritual, is prevalent and ſtrong, above that which is outward and temporal. Hence Zac. 4.6. when the Candleſtick had its Lamps ſupplied with Oyle from the two Olive Trees: Chriſt there declares, his Church ſhould overcome, not by Power, nor by Might, but by his Spirit Hence alſo he ſaith, That he will give Power to his Two Witneſſes; that is, prevalency to propheſie, though in ſack-cloth, 1260 dayes of years, to conſume the Beaſt, and bring him low, Rev. 11. the Saints alſo overcome, having waſhed their Robes in the blood of the Lamb, by a ſpiritual, powerful Victory; hence the faithful are ſtiled Overcomers, having ſpiritual Power from God derived unto them againſt all Spiritual and Worldly Adverſaries; therefore ſaith our Saviour, He that overcometh, ſhall inherit all things, Rev. 21.7. Rev. 2.7, 11. Rev. 12.13. Rev. 15.2.
But the ſecond ſtate of that Kingdom is not onelyonly ſpiritually prevalent, but alſo outwardly powerful, to ſubdue and deſtroy; and therefore as it had ſpiritually ſmitten the Iron Kingdom in the feet and toes, before, Dan. 2.34. So by it, and for it ſhall the Beaſt be ſlain, and his body deſtroyed and given to the burning flame, Dan. 7.11. Rev. 19.11, to the end. Rev. 14. latter end, and 16. at the end; and after that there is given to Chriſt Dominion, and Glory, and a Kingdom, that all People, Nations and Languages ſhould ſerve him, Dan. 7.13, 14. which is the ſame with Chriſts Reign with his Saints a thouſand years, Rev. 20.4. and ſpoken of the ſame time in the ſame order of Affairs to be accompliſhed by Chriſt for himſelf and his Church; and likewife Rev. 11.15. relates to the ſame time of the ſounding of the ſeventh Trumpet, when the Kingdoms of the World will be the Kingdoms of our God and of his Chriſt, as there he is praiſed for by it the twenty four Elders. And then Judgment (that is, judicandi poteſtas, power of Judging) will likewiſe be given to the Saints of the Moſt High, as it is ſaid, Dan. 7.22. and the Kingdom, and the Dominion, and the Greatneſs of the Kingdom ſhall be given to the People of the Saints of the Moſt High, Dan. 7.26, 27. Anſwerable whereunto is that Promiſe of our Saviour in reference to that ſtate and time, as Mr. Brightman in his Obſervations noted, Rev. 3.21. That to him that overcometh, he will grant to ſit with him on his Throne, even as he before had overcome, and was ſet with his Father on his Throne.