The Name Mark and Number of the Beast, Chapter 5 · Part 30 – Part 33
Answer.
For the beginning of the Kingdom of Christ 1500 years ago, I yield that this is true according to the right meaning of the Scriptures. But the great Question is, Whether the Monarchical Kingdom of Christ, when the Saints of the most High shall become the Monarchical People, whether did that Kingdom begin 1500 years ago, yea or no? I do call that the Monarchical Kingdom of Christ (to speak cleerly in the Point) not when he hath a power in himself greater than any Earthly Dominion; not when by the merit of his death, and donation of his Father, he beginneth to have right to all Earthly Kingdoms, for this was given to him at his Ascension: But by the Monarchical Kingdom I understand, when the Lord Christ, after the several and respective times of the Tyrannical Kingdoms of this world, according to the free Dispensation of his Father, doth actually take into his Possession the Sovereignty over the Earth, and that his Gospel cometh to be the regent Law over the Nations. Now, this Monarchical Kingdom I deny that it began 1500 years ago. It is not fully begun as yet, though we have some beginnings thereof by the Preaching of the eternal Gospel by Luther and those that follow. The scope of the Spirit in the Revelation is to shew that this Kingdom must begin at the end of the Dominion of the Beast, or the Roman Kingdom of the latest Edition. But to come to particulars: It is mentioned, Rev. 19. vers. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. That when the Saints did sing their Halelujah at the Judgement upon the great Whore, then a voyce was heard, The Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth, vers. 6. Here I demand, Did not the Lord God Omnipotent Reign before? He did not Reign before, in the sense of that text▪ For the great Who…e had Ruled all the world, and had corrupted the Earth by her Fornications: all was under her Power, and she spilt the Blood of the Martyrs at her own pleasure. But at her destruction the Lord Christ did begin to Reign, and that was the time of the marriage of the Lamb, of the glory of the Gospel-Church, when the Lamb's Wife had made her self ready, vers. 7. So it is said, Rev. 11. 15. The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall Reign for ever and ever. Here I demand, Were not the Kingdoms of this world the Kingdoms of Christ before the sound of the Seventh Trumpet, before the fall of the great City, before that time when the Kingdom of the Beast began to be destroyed? I Answer, They were his Kingdoms jure by Right, they were his by vertue of Purchase 1500 years ago, and more; but he entered not into the actual Possession till the destruction of the Tyrannical Kingdoms of this world. He received Institution▪ & jus ad rem, above 1500 years ago; but he had not In…uction & jus in re, till the destruction of the Beast's Kingdom. And therefore these words are specially and Emphatically added, foreign, foreign Thou hast taken to thy self thy great Power, and hast Reigned. In which words the holy Spirit doth insinuate, That before the sound of the Seventh Trumpet, the Lord Christ by his own free and voluntary permission did suffer the Beast, and other Monarchical States to encroach upon him, and to detain his Power for 1260 years. At the end of this time he doth resume and take the Power to himself alone. This is the scope of the Prophecie. And for the Argument of Mr Hayne, That Christ was an established King upon Mount Sion, when Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired against him; I will further adde, That in those times when the Beast ruled over all, and when all worshipped his Image, and received his Mark, in those very times the Lamb stood upon Mount Sion, and with him 144000, having their Fathers Name written in their forehead, chap. 14. vers. 1. Now, I believe, none that understand the scope of the Prophecie will affirm, That Christ was stated in his Monarchical Kingdom in all the times of the Reign of Antichrist upon the Earth. To speak properly, These were rather the times of the Patience of the Saints, and of the Exinanition and concealment of the Glory of Christ's Kingdom. The Kings did agree to give their Power to the Beast, and must do so till the Word of God be fulfilled. When this is done, the Beast shall be destroyed, his Body shall be given to the burning Fire; and then the Lord Christ shall begin to Reign.
Mr Hayne.
It must be granted, That Christ's Kingdom when it was set up, was more powerful than Romes, which to this day never could (though assisted by the Gates of Hell) either by Might or Policy, prevail against Christ's Kingdom.
Answer.
It is true, That the Kingdom of Christ is in it self stronger than any Monarchical Kingdom whatsoever. But the great Question is, Whether it be his mind at all times to e…ert and put forth his Power? If this had been his mind, why did he not dash in pieces the Babylonian, the Persian, the Graecian, and the Roman Powers as soon as they had any Being? Why had they any liberty given▪them to Afflict the Saints? In these Variations and Changes of Empire, the Lord Christ would not put out his Power till the times of his Reign upon the Earth should begin. Again, We do not absolutely and simply affirm, That the Lord Christ did not exert and put out his Power in the times of the Metal-Kingdoms: For, he armed his Saints with Faith and Patience, and made them able to Suffer. But this we affirm, He did not put forth his Power to the destruction of these Kingdoms in their Tyranny and Rage against the Church. When the Babylonian stood in all greatness of Power, it could not overcome the Spirit of Christ in the Three Children. And when the Ten Horns did agree together to give their Power to the Beast, The Lamb did overcome them, for he is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings; and they that are with him, are called, and chosen, and faithful, chap. 17. vers. 14. It is manifest then, That the Lord Christ did put out his Power to hold up the Faith of the Saints, and to make them able to Suffer. But for the present he did not break those Tyrannical Empires in pieces, to make them submit to the Laws of the Gospel. He did not, nor will not exert and send forth that part of Power, till the time and season doth come when his Monarchical Kingdom shall begin. The Apostle saith, 1 Tim. cap. 6. vers. 15. In his times he will shew who is the foreign, the only Potentate, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords. He will set forth his Monarchical Sovereignty and Potency; but foreign, in his own times, in that season which the Father hath appointed for his Sovereignty and Dominion. Now that time, according to the Scriptures, is at the end of the Metal-Kingdoms, and more particularly at the end of the Antichristian Kingdom. But let us proceed.
Mr Hayne.
Christ in S. Iohn's time was the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, Rev. 1. 5. Had all things given him by his Father, Luk. 10. 22. All Power in Heaven and Earth was given him before his Ascension, Matth. 28. 18. So that he was the Head of the Church his Body, and in Place far above all Principalitie, and Power, and Domination, and every Title and Name that is Named, not in this world only, but in the world to come, Eph. 1. 21, 22. Therefore at Christ's being here on Earth, or near unto that time, he had an absolute and boundless Sovereignty far above all Monarchs that here…ofore lived, or shall ever live hereafter.