The Fifth Kingdom that Shortly is to Come Into the World, Prognostication
Having thus declared and proved, That ſuch a Kingdome ſhall be, and the Soveraigne, Subjects, Officers, and Lawes of that Kingdome, I ſhall in a word give ſome hint of the time when this Kingdome ſhall begin.
KNow therefore that the uttermoſt durance of Antichriſts dominion, will be in the yeare 1673. as I have proved from Scripture in a brief Chronology, ready to be put forth. Ere which time it will be neceſſary that the ten hornes, or Kings, which are the ſtrength of the Beaſt, be broken off, which work is already begun in the Beheading of Charles, late King of three Kingdomes, Anno 1648. according to that in Dan. 7.11 24.26. and the reſt of the Hornes or Kings are to continue but a little longer, v. 12. Now this Kingdome of Chr ſt which I call the fifth Monarchy, ſhall begin a little before the fourth Monarchy be deſtroyed, Dan. 2.44. For which end it is ſet up of God, to conſume and break in pieces the other Kingdomes It ſhall fill the whole earth, and ſhall ſtand for ever, ſuch will be the prevalency thereof againſt all oppoſition, the univerſality and durance of this Kingdome.
But to come yet a little nearer to the firſt riſe of this Monarchy, it is ſaid, That judgement was given to the Saints, and they executed judgement on the little horne, Dan. 7.22.26. which was fulfilled 1648. and this is not the beginning of the fifth Monarchy, but it comes near it, for Daniel ſpeaks de futuro, That the Kingdome, and Dominion, and greatneſſe of the Kingdome under the whole Heaven ſhall be given to the Saints.
As for the preciſe yeare, I dare not determine, but this I ſay, that when God awakens the Saints and Witneſſes to hearken to a voyce from Heaven, that is, from the Churches, ſaying Come up hither, Rev. 11.12. when they are content to forget their old formes of Government, Civil and Eccleſiaſticall, called the firſt Heavens, and firſt Earth, Rev. 21.1. Iſa. 65.17. when I ſay the Saints are come to this pitch, that they will have no Lawes, Statutes, or Rules of Government in the Church or Civil State, but what Chriſt hath given in his word, even from thenceforth doth this fifth Monarchy begin, which Peter calls the new Heavens, and new Earth, wherein dwells righteouſneſſe, 2 Pet. 3.13. Of this Paul propheſieth, Heb. 12.27. that not onelyonly the Earth, but alſo the Heaven, to wit, the Government, Civil and Eccleſiaſticall, ſhould be ſhaken towards the end of the fourth Monarchy, under which he then wrote. And by ſhaking he means removing of them, that the Kingdome of Chriſt uncapable of ſhaking, might come in room thereof. And verily there hath been a great ſhaking already, and more yet remaines, for the work will not be wholly finiſhed untill the Jewes be called, and the fullneſſe of the Nations come in. For which let all Saints pray, Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly, and let thy Kingdome come, (that) thy will may be done in earth, as it is done in heaven, Rev. 22.17. Mat. 6.10.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Aspinwall, The Fifth Kingdom that Shortly is to Come Into the World (1653)