Scripture Proof the Kingdom of Christ in its Succession, Part 4
I had upon my firſt Prophetical Reſearches been well aſſur'd, both by the Courſe of the Seals, and the Times to which they Pointed, and the high Agreement of the Types; That the truly Adequate, or full Spread Viſum, or chief Thing ſeen in the ſeventh Seal, was Theodoſius his perfect Victory over Heatheniſm in the Defeat of Eugenius. His fore-mentioned Prayer, joyn'd no doubt, with the Prayers of All-Saints in the Christian Churches at that time, Incens'd with the Interceſſion of Christ, brought down Vengeance on the Pagans, as with the Fire of the Altar in the Cenſor cast down; and with Thundrings and Lightnings upon th…m, and with the great Earthquake of the Dragon. of Paganiſm, and the Devil Ruling in it caſt down from Heaven; and from hence the Voices of Thankſgivings and giving Glory to God; Now is the Kingdom of our God Come in ſo great an Appearance and Pledg of it, Rev. 8. v. 5. and 12. v. 10. in compare. Who can but ſay that the Types are Admirably Agreeable!
Herein alſo are the Types of the Church; not yet Judg'd by God, as under the Apostaſy. For the People Repreſented under All Saints, was waiting in the Outward Court, not yet Trodden by Gentiles, while the Incenſe was in Offering, ſhew'd the Worſhip yet pure in the Main; yet Contracting into retired Incenſe-Service in the Temple.
There was now at the Opening of this Seal a ſilence of half an Hour; to let us know, that it was but a ſhort Time, till the dayly Sacrifice would be taken away, and the Abomination of Deſolation ſet up in the Apoſtaſy; according to the ſilence in the Offering Incenſe, as the Learned Mr. Mede, ever to be Remembred with Honour, hath long ago Obſerved.
But further than this, In regard the Trumpets were making ready to ſound the Alarm of War from Heaven on the Weſtern Roman Empire, that had ſo long Paganiz'd, and n…w was ready to ſhift into Antichriſtianiſm; Then was the Space of about half an hours Silence of theſe Trumpets; ſhewing; There was ſome half ſpace of Time between the Victory over Heatheniſm immediately to be Declared, and the Sounding againſt Paganiſm, Re-Appearing in Pagan-Antichriſtianiſm, altho the Judgments were Determin'd even at or before the Victory; as is ſhewn by the Trumpets being given to the Seven Angels ſtanding before God, to Receive the Charge of the Trumpets, Rev 8. 2.
Soon after the Victory, Theodoſius Died; and from that Time the Angels prepared themſelves to ſound. There were continual Gatherings of the Clouds for the Storm of Hail, and Fire, by the Firſt Trumpet. But the Silence of the Half Hour was obſerved; till then they did not ſound.
Now any one Rationally conſidering the Half Hour of Silence, and inquiring when the other Half Hour, making up a whole Hour, might end, would in all Reaſon Center on the Ceſſation of the Imperial Name in the Weſtern Rome; and ſo great a Change as of the Diviſion of the Empire into Ten Kingdoms, and the Advantage the Biſhop of Rome took to make himſelf Supreme, by no Emperor, nor King of Rome; there being a Fatal (if I may ſo ſpeak) Prohibition on any to take the Title of Emperor or King of Rome it ſelf; that that City might be carried aloft only by the Beast, the Pope of Rome; though Kings of Italy, and Roman Emperors, and Kings of the Romans, there have ſince been, and Now.
Since then the About Half Hour, if It can be made Juſtly up with the whole Hour, gives as Great Aſſurance of having found the True Prophetical Senſe; as the Two Parts of a Piece of Gold (the more for being unevenly broken, and) Juſtly meeting, give Aſſurance of the True Piece, and is a ſu…e Pledge between Friends; So the Not Half, but About Half an Hour, meeting in the whole Hour, Gives me this Aſſurance. If I may be bold then to uſe ſo High an Expreſſion, God was pleas'd to Tell me, moſt Unworthy, as it were in my Ear, and to my great Admiration; This Half Hour made up a whole Hour, is to be found, Rev. 17. v 12. as will eaſily appear by Comparing the Types. The About Half Hour; not exactly ſo; begins from the, that ſo often Celebrated Victory of Theodoſius, at One Hour, A.D 395. Before it the Silence of the Trumpets was decreed, for about Half an Hour; but yet the Trumpets were given to the Angels, ſhewing them, even then decreed. After this Theodoſius died, the ſame Year, and the Angels prepared themſelves to ſound: The Heavens gather'd on the Empire from thence. Account then from the Year 395 to 437, there are 41 years. Account from 437 to 476, there are 39 years. At 437 the Angels Time of Sounding is fix'd, in the midſt, between the Preparation, and its full Effect; In the Preparation; the Empire was terribly threaten'd on all Hands; From 437 it ſuffered Dil…ceration, or Rending into pieces; and the Full Effect was 476. When the Ten Kings, with the Papacy, the Beaſt, at the Fall of Auguſtulus, (theirMr. Mede names Ten Kingdoms ſoon after 455. Maſter in God's Account, till Then) Rec…iv▪d Power at One Hour, viz. the Half Hour made then One Compleat whole Hour; and ſo the Seventh Head and Eighth King ſucceeded, viz. at the Ceſſation of that Chriſtian Emperor, the Seventh King, but no Head, by Abdication, Emblem'd by the Falling, as a Quench'd Lamp into the Waters; as I have abundantly made out …n a Trcatiſe*God's Call out of Babylon., Publiſh'd the Spring before K. James's Abdication. But I had then no Knowledge of the Character of the Half Hour made the whole Hour. And in that, the Diviſion is ſomewhat unequal▪ and as 41 to 39 or 40. The Spirit of God hath been pleas'd to be ſo exact, as to give Notice It would be ſo by the foreign, or About Half an Hour. At the firſt, About Half Hour the Trumpets were given, but had no Effect but of Preparation. At the End of the About Half Hour, and the Beginning of the Laſt Half Hour, the Apoſtacy that had been working came into Light; The Gentiles Months begin, the Firſt Trumpet ſounds, and goes on ſhattering the Empire The Witneſſes on all this put on Sackcloth, and their 1260 Days begin. At the End of the Laſt Half Hour, or its making up the One Hour, the Empire is fallen, the Months of the Beaſt, the Seventh Head, and Eighth King begin; into which the Gentiles Months merging, they together, as Lunar Time agreeing with Solar, make the 1260 Days. The Ten Kings Receive Power at the Two Half Hours made up One whole Hour, viz. at 476. Let Him that would impute All this to Phantaſtry, take heed, leſt he impute to the Holy Spirit▪
And to conclude this ſo Weighty, and therefore Longer Argument; As the Apoſtacy ſurpriz'd the Pure Worſhip at a Half Hour, and cut it off in that midſt; So ſhall …t Self be cut off at Half Time, viz at the End of the 180 Years from the Reformation, never able to become 360, or a whole Time for ever; For Chriſt hath ſworn, There ſhall then be ſuch Time no more.
Argum. 12 In the Laſt Place, I Argue from the Preſent State of the Turkiſh Empire, That It is very near its End; For that it hath plainly, ſince the laſt War with the German Empire, been expos'd by God, as a Potentacy that hath loſt its Spirit, Puiſſance and Succeſs, which it had, as ſuch a Scourge upon the Antichriſtian State, is obvious to every Obſerver: And, as Haman's Wiſe Lady and Friends ſaid, If Thou haſt begun to Fall before the Seed of the Jews, Thou ſhalt ſurely Fall. So ſeeing the Turkiſh Power hath begun to Fall before the Chriſtian Name, It ſhall ſurely within a ſhort Time Fall, and only waits till that Christian Name be undiſguis'd from Antichriſtianiſm,; The very Beginning of ſo Long a Succeſsful Tyranny to Fall, is in General Providence an Earneſt of Its utter End very near.
But I further obſerve from the Types given in the Imagery-work of the Prophet Daniel, c. 11. 36: &c. Beginning with Antichristianiſm; The Worſhip of Angels and Saints in imitation of the Tutelary Gods of the Heathen and their Images, preſerv'd as the Sacraments of their Defenſive Power, hath been to Admiration Expounded by that Excellent Mr. Mede upon this Prophecy many years ago; which Worſhip is enough known to have been growing up all along the 5th Century, or from the year 400▪ The ſame Daniel Deſcribing the Judgments of God upon ſuch an Idolatrous State of the Chriſtian Profeſſion under the Antichristian Prince, foretells, The King of the South ſhall firſt puſh at Him, pointing to the Saracenic Power, which aroſe from, and was moſt Formidable in the South, but could only Puſh, and not Kill; and then the King of the North, or the Turkiſh Power; that coming from the Scythian North, *As Types of which, Two Southern and Northern Kings. So much was ſaid of the Greco-Syrian, and Egyptian Kingdoms, under the Names of the King of the North, and of the South, c. 11. 5, &c.peirc'd to the Eaſt; and I find theſe Great Agreements between this Prophetic Portraicture, and all I had ſaid on the Types, Rev. 9.
1. The Antichriſtian State, as the laſt Courſe of Gentile Times ſhall continue, till the Indignation againſt Jeruſalem treading it under Foot, ſhall be accompliſhed, v. 36.
2. The Mahometan, Southern or Saracenic, and the Northern, or Turkiſh Powers are the Firſt Judgments or Trumpets, on the Roman Antichriſtian Empire; but making one Trumpet with the Laſt Woe Trumpet, v. laſt, call'd all Three, the ſingle Trumpet of the Three Angels, Rev. 8. ult. come in the laſt Courſe of Judgment; ſo Daniel ſays at the Time of the End, v. 42.
3. The Turkiſh Power, as it began by Trangolipix in Perſia, and ſeiz'd Egypt by Saladin, which, as it is ſaid in Daniel, did not Eſcape, v. 42. ſo it came to a Settlement in the Ottoman Family, which grew great above Any of the Former Turkiſh Families: But it was in greateſt Trouble by that ſo dreadful Impreſſion from the Eaſt-North, v. 44. by Tamerlane, who carried with him the Proud Sultan Bajazet in a Cage of Iron, and held him in Fetters to his Death. After this the Ottoman Princes went on with a Fury to Kill, and to Deſtroy, as the Prophecy Speaks; and planted their Tabernacle, or Palace, between the Seas, viz. at that Meeting of the Seas, a moſt Illuſtrious Character of Conſtantinople, on which Account it is called, The Port; even as its Mountainous Scite makes it called, the Holy Glorious Mountain. It might be underſtood of Judea and Jeruſalem, which was ſoon after ſeiz'd by Selymus, out of other Mahometan Hands, viz the Sultans of Egypt. But I rather underſtand it of Conſtantinople, call'd ſo by way of Alluſion to Jeruſalem; becauſe Conſtantine, the Firſt Chriſtian Emperor, made it the Tower of the Chriſtian Empire, and, as it were, a Jeruſalem Conſecrated to God and to Chriſt, v. 45.
And how when All was thus ſetled; to ſhew; The Turkiſh Potentacy would be then in its laſt Stage of Time, It is ſaid, This Northern King ſhall come to his End, and None ſhall help Him. And it appears an Inſinuation, That when he ſhall be very near his End, he ſhall have ſome unaccountable, and unexpected Help, ſuch as at this Day he finds from the French Power; that by Diverting the Imperial Arms, gives an Aid to the Continuance of this Turkiſh Power for a ſmall ſpace. But this notwithſtanding, He ſhall come to his End, and None ſhall be Able, by Any Help whatever, to prevent it, even at this 1697. But becauſe the Knot of the Eclipſe of Christianity Reſts in the Antichriſtian State; Firſt, the Ʋnion of the Pope, and the Ten Kings, ſhall be fully Diſſolv'd; And then this Woe ſhall paſs away.
I may in the Laſt Place Add; We muſt Underſtand the Prophecy of Daniel, and of the Revelation, by their Types; or never Underſtand them, till the Time of the Days Dawn, and the Day-Star of the Kingdom of Chriſt it ſelf Ariſing in our Hearts. For that they ſhall not be underſtood, except in Eternity, ſure Any One will be aſham'd to ſay. But that it is our Duty to underſtand them Now, is plain, by what the Apoſtle ſays; We Do well to give heed to the Sure Word of Prophecy, ſhining in the Dark Place, or Time of the2 Pet. 1. 19. Apoſtacy; and that Chriſt ſays, Let him, that hath an Ear, hear; and here is Wiſdom; Let him that hath it count. Now that the Types, and the Events Rev. 13. 8.pitch'd upon, Anſwer with ſo Great Exactneſs, we may know, by comparing the Events, which I have given, with the Events God hath himſelf expounded Prophetical Types into, that he might thereby give us an Example in Expounding Prophetical Types; as that Nebuchadnezzar was the Head of Gold, &c. Dan. 2. 38. That the Ram was the King of Perſia; that the He-Goat was theDan. 8. 21. King of Grecia; that the Kingdom was divided after the Death of the Firſt King of Grecia, by whom None doubt, Alexander the Great is Intended, putting an End to the Perſian Monarchy in Darius the Laſt King. Theſe things then give us the Key of Expounding Prophetic Types; 1. Agreement of the Types and of the Events. 2. In an Orderly Succeſſion. 3. That they be Events of a High and Signal Eminency in that Succeſſion, 4. That they keep the Courſe of Time a-foot,*Within Dan's 4 Monarchies. to the great End or Kingdom of Chriſt 5. That being rightly Hit, they are as ſignificant as plain Words. All which ſhew the Neceſſity of the Types I have inſiſted upon to be the True, and that there can no other be Expected; So that I boldly conclude, whoever conſiders them muſt ſay, They are certainly the True, or at leaſt, moſt Rationally to be believ'd to be the True Prophetical Types; and ſo that Chriſt's Kingdom muſt be ſo near.
And thus I have given ſuch Arguments for the Great Change of the World at 1697, that as I moſt Humbly Appeal to the All-Knowing Spirit concerning their Truth, in Agreement with what He hath ſo long a-go ſpoken, and written; ſo I am moſt Bold to ſay, Neither the Underſtanding of Angels, or Men, can Reſiſt Them; having ſo Great a Preſence of Divine Manifeſtation in Them.
If any be perſwaded, we are yet to expect that Slaying of the Witneſſes before this Happy Change, which muſt have its Three Years and a Half; I have given Great Reaſons againſt that Judgment, as founded on that Text, Rev. 11. 9▪ and am ſure it cannot be the Senſe of a Prophecy, that requires a much longer ſpace to fulfil it ſelf in; even of the whole 1260 Years of the Apoſtacy; yet with a peculiar Reſpect to the Deepeſt Time of both the Pagan and Mahometan Tyranny, according to the Alluſion to the Deep Part of our Lord's being in the Grave thoſe Three Days, ſo Famous in Evangelical Hiſtory.
Yet I will not be ſo bold, as Abſolutely to Deny, (there being juſt poſſible Time before 97, to be ſo, and yet the Witneſſes to Riſe ſo ſoon) but there may be ſome ſuch Space, by way of Re-Capitulation, and Epitome of that Deep State at the Laſt of the 1260 Years; Which if Decreed by God, may be inſinuated, by the Framing the whole Viſion of the Witneſſes, ſo, as to End in Three Days of Years, and a Half; and then the wonderful Change at their Riſing, by the Spirit of Life entring into Them, to enſue. And hereunto it would much incline any ones Judgment, to obſerve the Great Wickedneſs found at this Day among the Proteſtants; their Ʋnpreparednefs, and deep Averſation to ſuch a Kingdom of Chriſt, as is ſo Near; and that therefore ſome very Dreadful, however Short Courſe of Judgment, muſt winnow the Reform'd (ſo call▪d) Nations, and even Churches for it. And if this be ſo, We muſt of Neceſſity be Juſt Entring into ſo Trying a Time, and ought to prepare for it; and to take into deep Conſideration, All ſuch Poſſible Fore-bodes of it in the Preſent Agitations in the World, we now ſee; eſpecially, if Tending to a Re-Revolution, the only Poſſibility of ſuch a Black State in Humane View, within theſe Kingdoms.
But though in Abundant Caution, and warn'd by the Laſt Summer's Suſpenſion of Deciſion, I thus ſpeak, Yet I hope Better Things, and Things that have Fast Hold of the Kingdom of Chriſt, which ſhall Reform the Age by an Unknown (hitherto, ſince the Reformation) Multitude of Converts; and for all ſuch Rebels, as will yet Hate to be Reform'd, and will not ſee; They ſhall ſee, and be purg'd out by the Majeſty of the Lord then Appearing.
And whether of th…ſe Two Judgments on this Prophecy is the Juſteſt to it, I am perſwaded, the Next Summer's Action will give a certain Proſpect. For Time is ſo ſhort to 97. that the Motion, in Relation to it, if there ſhould be ſuch a Gloomy Three Years and Half, muſt be very quick.
If Any ſtill think, The Time (Allow it All for Preparation, and No ſuch Dark Parentheſis or Time between) is too ſhort, both in regard of ſo many of the Ten Kings, and Kingdoms Remaining Popiſh; and even in regard of the Ʋn-Reformed Protestancy; I ſay, for a Concluſion, Thus it ought to be, that Prophecy may be Fulfilled. For this Bleſſed Change, and Re▪Reformation, is to be at the End of Half Time; And the very Nature of the End of Half Time requires, That All Things ſhould be Running on in a full Stream and Carier; as it were for a whole Time; and then ſuddenly, and to Amazement, coming to an End in the very Half, or Midſt; as the Man, ſpoken of, Jerem. 17. 11. who is Cut off in the midſt; or (as the Hebrew Word is, even as of Half Time) in the Half of his Days, and at his End proves a Fool, ſo ſhall the End of the Antichriſtian State be ſudden, ſurprizing, and at an Inſtant; as a Line that Appears in full Length, but cut off in the Midſt. The Suddenneſs is expreſs'd by the ſame Hour, the Surpriſal by Great Fear or Affrightment, Revel. 11. 13. And So Let it be, Oh Lord.
THE END.
End of the text · Thomas Beverley, Scripture Proof the Kingdom of Christ in its Succession (1692)