The City of God, Exposition of Revelation · Chapter 21 · Question 1
The Firſt Queſtion neceſſary to be ſpoken to, for the better clearing what hath been before aſſerted relating to the thouſand years Reign, is.
WHether the thouſand years Reign is not yet paſt, as Brightman, Napier, Fox, &c. formerly Hamond, Durham, Harvey, and others more lately do aſſert from ſuch like reaſons as theſe that follow, which I have gathered out of their writings, viz
1. Becauſe (as they ſuppoſe) the Dragons caſting down to the Earth in the 12th. Chapter is one and the ſame with his being bound and caſt into the bottomleſs pit in the 20th. Chapter, and therefore muſt the Epocha of the thouſand years, of the Saints Reign mentioned, Rev. 20. be reckoned from the fall of Heatheniſm in Conſtantines time, and ſo is expired many years ſince.
2. Becauſe of the Order of the Prophecy, as expreſt in the 20th and 21th. Chapters, the new Heaven, and the new Earth, and the new Jeruſalem, containing a viſible Kingdom on Earth, is ſo long after, not contemporaneous with the thouſand years.
3. Becauſe Chriſt is perſonally to appear in the new Jeruſalem, ſo inconſiſtent with the thouſand years ſtate.
4. Becauſe of the duration of the new Ieruſalem, ſo much beyond the thouſand years, one being limited, the other for ever.
5. Becauſe of the agreement of the Heaven and Earth paſſing away, viz. the matteriall Rev. 20.11. with Rev. 21.1.
6. Becauſe the Gog-Magog Hoſt cannot come out of the new Heaven.
To which I reply ſpeaking to them in Order. And therefore in anſwer to the firſt Reaſon I ſay,
That the ſubduing of the Dragon with ſeven Heads and ten Horns with the Crowns upon his Heads, and caſting him out of Heaven to the Earth by Michael, Rev. 12.8, 9. Is not, nor cannot be the ſame with his apprehending, caſting into, ſhutting up, and ſealing in the bottomleſs pit for a thouſand years by the Angel that comes from Heaven, which I prove from theſe four eſſential differences.
1. From the point of time, when each caſting down was.
2. From the different places, where done.
3. From the different actions and circumſtances in each.
4. From the different ends in both.
Firſt, From the difference of time, when theſe two caſtings down were, which may appear in the particulars following, viz.
1. That in the 12th. Chapter was before the Beaſts riſe, that in the 20th. after his ruine.
2. That in the 12th. was before the 42 Months or 1260 days, and that in the 20th. after.
3. That in the 12th. was upon the treading under foot the Holy City, and that in the 20th. upon the erecting, or reſtoring it.
4. That in the 12th. takes place under the ſixth Seal, and that in the 20th. not till the ſeventh Trumpet, which is no leſs then 1260. years difference in time.
Now that the Dragons caſting to the Earth in the 12th was according to theſe forementioned characteriſtical notes, viz. before the Beaſts riſe, or 42. Moneths taking place, when the City was troden under foot, and in the time of the ſixth Seal, is fully owned and aſſerted. And that this binding was not till the Beaſts ruine, end of fourty Moneths, the reſtoring of the City, and the ſeventh Trumpets ſounding, I thus prove
If the Dragon was not bound, but free under the firſt ſix Trumpets of the ſeventh Seal, it remaines he muſt be bound under the ſeventh, and ſo conſequently at the end of the 42 Moneths, and Beaſts ruine and reſtoration of the City, which are all as contemporaneous as the other four. But that he was not bound under the firſt ſix Trumpets, I thus prove,
1. Not under the ſix firſt Seals; for then he wore the imperial Crown upon his head, and ſo fought Michael under the ſixth Seal, Chap. 12. 3, 7. Chap. 6.12, &c.
2. Not under the Six firſt Trumpets; for then was the time of the womans being in the Wilderneſs, wherein the Dragon is ſo far from being bound, that he caſts flouds out of his mouth after her, and makes War with the remnant of her ſeed, that keep the Commandments of God, and the Teſtimony of Jeſus, Rev. 12.13, 15, 17.
3. Neither under the Beaſts Reign; for they that follow the Beaſt worſhip the Dragon, Rev. 13.2, 3, 4. The falſe prophet alſo being one of his Leiutenants, and delegates, works wonders and deceives the Inhabitants of the Earth. And how can he be ſaid to be bound, and ſo bound too, that he ſhall not deceive them at all during tha this binding, as Rev. 20.3. when he all along this time aforeſaid plays ſuch Rex, not only by himſelf, but ſubſtitutes.
4. That he was … at liberty till the deſtruction of the Beaſt, which is one and the ſame time with the ſix Trumpets, appeareth; for upon the pouring out of the ſixth Vial, there is a confederacy, combination, and conjunction, in preparation to the great Battle, by ſending their Emiſſaries to the Kings of the Earth to gather them thereto, and accordingly we have theſe three great Leaders, with the Kings, Captains, &c. gathered to Armageddon, Rev. 16.16. and the ſucceſs of the Battle, Chap. 19. viz. the routing and deſtruction of the Armies, the taking of the three Generals, and the Sentence that was paſt, and executed upon them, viz. the Beaſt and falſe-prophet to be caſt alive into the lake of fire, and the Dragon to be bound, and caſt into the bottomleſs pit as a cloſe priſoner for 1000. years, and afterwards to be caſt into the lake, where the Beaſt and falſe prophet were caſt a thouſand years before, being all one and the ſame ſtory.
By which it manifeſtly appears the Dragon was at liberty, and unbound, till the Beaſt and falſe-prophet were ruined and deſtroyed.
Mr. Fox himſelf doth in p. 130. of his firſt Book, calculate the 1000. years to ſucceed the 12…0. days or 42. Months, and the Witneſſes, death and reſurrection: But withall (it is true) doth conclude thoſe miſtical Numbers to contain no more than 294. years, viz. from the Death of John Baptiſt, to the end of Maxentius and Licinius, and the 1000. years to commence from Conſtantine.
Secondly, As theſe two Actions differ in point of time, ſo alſo in point of place, viz. that of the 12th appears (upon the War in Heaven) to be a caſting down from thence, by Michael and his Angels that ſubdued him: But this in the 20th ſeems to be a Scene acted in another place, viz not in Heaven, but by an Angel coming down from Heaven, viz. to the Earth where the Dragon was, and in the Armageddon rout apprehends him upon the Earth, and caſts him not out of Heaven to the Errth, as before, but out of the Earth (as it were under the Earth) into the bottomleſs pit.
The one being a caſting him out of that Empire he poſſeſſed in the Roman world, when Conſtantine (as a type of the man-child that muſt rule the Nations) did vanquiſh Maxentius in the Weſt, and Licinius in the Eaſt, to the poſſeſſing their Dominions (with his own) which extended over a good part of Aſia and Africa, and over the greateſt part of Europe, with the Metropolis and principal ſeat Rome it ſelf.
The other a caſting him out of the Empire, he ſhall enjoy at the Armageddon Battle, which will comprehend no leſs than three whole parts of the world, yea all that the ten horned Crowned Beaſt poſſeſſeth not: the Dragons circuit then containing Aſia, Africa and America, whether Turk, Mogul, Emperours of Perſia, China, India, Preſter John, or America, north or South, the Beaſt bearing way in the European Territories only; the whole Heatheniſh Rule being then called Dragon, in diſtinction from the Beaſt, or Antichriſtian powers, and yet both together doth but make up that fourth Monarchy, that extends it ſelf to the four parts of the world; for they in conjunction (as you find, Rev. 16.13, 14.) command and influence the whole world, which Chriſt is to vanquiſh in the fifth Monarcy, that the Kingdoms of this world may become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Chriſt, and the City of God be of as large an extent, as the City of the Nations, which Conſtantines Dominion heretofore was not; for he had no part of America, but part of Aſia, and Africa, and not all Europe, and of far leſs extent is the Turkiſh Territories, ſuppoſed to be the Dragon.
And ſo upon the Dragons ſecond foil, he is neither to have place in Heaven, viz. in the Roman world or European Territories, the principal part thereof, that was poſſeſſed by the Beaſt, nor yet in the Earth, viz. in the heatheniſh Rule and Soveraignty, all which is to be in the hands of the Saints, during the thouſand years, and the Dragon as far from either as a perſon that is ſhut up, and fettered and chained in a Dungeon.
Thirdly, From the different Actions and Circumſtances relating to the one and the other, as expreſt in each Chapter; nothing related in the 20th appearing to be in the 12th, nor any thing in the 12th to be tranſacted in the 20th.
In the 20th there are four things related of the Dragon.
1. That he was apprehended by an Angel deſcending from Heaven.
2. That he was bound or chayned by the ſaid Angel.
3. That he was caſt into the Bottomleſs Pit.
4. Shut up and ſealed therein for a Thouſand years, but none of theſe in the 12th Chapter.
Neither is that Fighting in Heaven, nor caſting down of the Dragon from Heaven to Earth, as expreſt in the 12th, once ſo much as named in the 20th, but the contrary as before.
Fourthly, From the different end of the Dragons dealing with, in one place and the other; Becauſe,
1. In the Twelfth Chapter he is caſt out into the Earth (not there to be Bound) but to wander up and down at his pleaſure, which further appears; Becauſe he was
2. To torment, vex, diſturb and deceive the Inhabitants of the Earth, and therefore is Wo pronounced to them, becauſe of that great wrath he comes down to them in verſe, 12
3. To annoy the Church by perſecutions, ſtirring up of War, caſting Flouds out of his mouth againſt her, as being full of wrath againſt the woman, and the remnant of her feed that keep the Commandments of God, and have the Teſtimony of Jeſus; Whereas in the 20th it is expreſly laid down as one eſſential reaſon of his binding and caſting into the Pit for a Thouſand years, That he ſhould deceive the Nations no more, till the Thouſand years were expired. And the Church was to be ſo far from annoyance and diſturbance by him, or any of his accomplices, that they are ſaid to ſit upon the Thrones in a Reigning, peaceable poſture, and all enemies under their ſubjection; which ſtate doth not poſſibly admit of ſuch Satanical diſturbances.
Theſe things being ſo, it then appears, that there is a manifeſt miſtake in that firſt Reaſon urged,
And that the Epocha, that is made of the Thouſand years in Rev. 20. muſt not be reckoned from Conſtantines caſting down Heatheniſm in the downfall of the 10 horned Imperial Dragon, which was before the 42 months under the Sixt ſeal, during the treading under foot the holy City, before the riſe of the Beaſt.
But at the binding and reſtraint of thoſe Heatheniſh Governments influenced by the Devil that ſhall be exerciſed all the World over, in diſtinction from the Beaſtly or Antichriſtian powers and at the end of the 42 months, the finiſhing of the Beaſts reign, the building of the City or new Jeruſalem and the ſounding of the ſeventh Trumpet.
But now in anſwer to that Objection; What Kingdom of Chriſt in the hands of his Saints could that be, that during the Thouſand years was ſo expoſed to the Dragons and Beaſts rage, wrath, fury, perſecution, ſo ſhut up in the Wilderneſs, ſo hunted, ſlaughtered and deſtroyed? It is ſaid in anſwer, that it is only an inviſible and ſpiritual Kingdom that is there intended.
But that it cannot ſo be underſtood, let the Text it ſelf be the Judge, which Firſt aſſigns Reſurrection and Life to be the undoubted marks and characters of the Church of Chriſt in this their Reign, as death and not life to be the mark writ upon Antichriſts Church (the Antitheſis) For as durcng the Dragon and Antichriſts Reign, the true Church was in a ſtate of Death and Bondage, viz. Civil death. Rev. 11.7, 8, 9. Rom. 8.…6. So now is the Falſe to take its turn in the valley of the ſhadow of Death, and to give an account with their lives and liberties for all the cruelty they have exerciſed to the members of Chriſt. Rev. 11.13. …8.6, 19.2. Who are therefore during the Saints Reign ſaid not to live, viz. a Civil Life; The Life of the one being the Death of the other, which you'l find are not only the plain words and true ſenſe of the place, but what is ſo agreeable to the parallel place. Rev. 11.12, 13, 14. 15. For when the witneſſes riſe and aſcend, then Wo and Deſtruction befalls their enemies, which can no wayes be confined to a Spiritual and Inviſible Reſurrection and Life, without manifeſt injury to truth, and ſpoiling the very drift and ſcope of the holy Spirit in the Prophecy.
Secondly, We have alſo in the Text, Thrones and Judgment aſſigned to this Reign, which are certain infallible Enſigns and Characters of viſible Rule and Authority, when as Judges they ſhall ſit upon Thrones, judging their enemies, who have in a judicial way judged them all the time of their Reign, and which by no means can be confin'd to Spiritual and Inviſible Thrones and Judgment.
Thirdly, This Reign of the Saints is further held forth as a reward of their ſorrow and ſuffering and faithfull witneſs to Chriſt, under Antichriſts Reign, which was not Spiritual and Inviſible, but open and manifeſt, as now their reward muſt be; Antichriſt being now turned off the ſtage, and they having ſuffered with, or for Chriſt, muſt now Reign with, or for him: As Rev. 5.10.7.14, 15, 16.
Fourthly, From what already hath been ſaid from the Text, as to the end of the Dragons binding, that he might not deceive the Nations any more during the thouſand years, which is explained afterward to be a ſtirring them up to annoy and diſturb the Saints, which he doth after his releaſe to the encompaſſing the camp of the Saints and the beloved City; Which is a further fuller demonſtration of their viſible rule: For during the ſaid ſeaſon of a thouſand years, they are to enjoy abſolute peace and quiet; for Satan being bound by Chriſts chains and Laws, the Nations are preſerved from deceit, and the Saints thereby kept in tranquility, as the bleſſed effect of Viſible Rule and good Government.
Beſides the confining of an Inviſible ſpiritual Reign to the thouſand years, is in my judgment as inconſiderate, as inconſiſtent to the truth: for ſince there were any Saints in the World, it may be ſaid, they ſo Reigned, and ſo all ages both before and ſince might as well be eſteemed the Saints Reign, as that thouſand years; ſo that if the thouſand years be paſt, then is the Saints Inviſible ſpiritual Reign paſt alſo, which none upon ſecond thoughts will in any wiſe affirm.
Object. But it is ſaid if it be not ſ iritual and inviſible, what will you make of Rev. 12.10. It being there ſaid upon the Dragons caſting down, that now is come Salvation and ſtrength and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of his Chriſt, and in Rev. 7.15, 16, 17. As contemperaneous therewith, It is ſaid that the ſealed ones are upon the Throne of God and ſerve him day and night, &c. and the Lamb in the midſt of the Throne feeds them, compared alſo with a parallel place. Rev 5.9, 10. Wh re the new Song is ſung upon the opening of the Seals; Thou haſt made us unto our God Kings and Prieſts, and we ſhall Reign on the Earth. Now all this muſt either relate to an inviſible Kingdom and Reign at this time, or viſible, but the latter it could not, becauſe of the Beaſts Reign that ſo immediately took place.
To which I reply, Firſt as to Rev 12.10 that that action of outing the Heathen Rulers with their Gods and Diabolicall worſhips, overturning their Temples, executing Judgment upon thoſe, that ſo long murdered the Saints upon the account of Chriſtianity, and this too to bring into the ſupreme Government of the World, one that would manage it for and under Chriſt, and for the good of his Saints, was no doubt as ſtupendious a change in the Romane World, as it was a manifeſt real type of what ſhould hereafter be, when the Manchild ſhould indeed take to himſelf his great power and Reign. And this no doubt was an actual putting forth of Chriſts viſible power, Kingdom and Authority; For the quarrel betwixt Michael and the Dragon, as the Text ſtateth it, was, whether the Dragon or Manchild ſhould rule the Nations; and the War accordingly was in Heaven; not as ſome notion it, only in and concerning the Religions then profeſſed in the World, viz. whether Chriſt or Jupiter ſhould be worſhiped; but who ought to have the Government of the World, without which their Idol Gods, Temples, and Worſhip could not have been ſo abandoned, as thy were upon that wonderfull change. For by Heaven here where the War was and out of which the Dragon was caſt, and into which Conſtantine entred, was the Viſible Government and Authority that was exerciſed in the Romane World; as Mr, Mede very learnedly, and the Aſſemb…ies Annotations with Mr. Bernard and others with great demonſtration do illuſtrate, as is before demonſtrated, to which the Reader is referred. Though this muſt alſo be granted, that this viſible Authority thus gained on Chriſts behalf continued but a ſhort ſpace, and was after Conſtantines time eclipſed, as one well obſerves, ſaying, Thus it was at the beginning of this turn of things, this Reign and Kingdom ſoon clapt in again as the Sun in a Cloud, in respect to the outward splendour of it, as intimated. Rev. 12.5.
And as to that urged from Rev. 7.9, 10.15, 16, 17.5.9, 10. As belonging to this time, I conceive upon better conſideration it will be found to be a clear miſtake.
Becauſe they properly belong to the Seventh, not the Sixth Trumpet being the ſame Palm-bearing multitude, who are the Citizens of the new Jeruſalem. as Rev. 21.4. with 7.6. where it is ſaid in both places; They ſhall hunger no more nor thirſt any more, and that the Lamb ſhall feed them, and lead them to the living Fountains of Water, and that God ſhall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
They are alſo the 144000 ſealed and marked ones mentioned to ſtand with the Lamb upon mount Zion ſinging the New ſong Chapter 14. which is no other then the New ſong mentioned Rev. 5.9, 10. and ſo all belonging to one and the ſame time, viz Chriſts Reign, when they are made Kings and Prieſts upon the Earth, to the New Jeruſalem-ſtate and to the Sounding of the ſeventh Trumpet.
But it is ſaid, This Song was ſung upon the opening of the ſeals; It is true, it was ſo, and you'l find upon the opening of the ſeventh Seal, brings on the ſeven Trumpets and ſeven Vialls, and the ſeventh Trumpet and ſeventh Vial, contemporize with the New Jeruſalem or ſeven Mellennium, and ſo finiſheth the myſtery of God, and therefore properly applyed to them, but ſhort of them, can in no ſence be either pertinent or true.
To the ſecond Objection, as to the order of the Prophecy, I think I need do little but return that Obſervation for the Solution, viz That for the order of things to be done, whereof the Revelation speaketh, we muſt ſearch that in the Seal-prophecy, which ends with the 11th Chapter; all that follows being only a more plentifull declaration of things hinted before, and ſo the order is not ſo much regarded in this latter prophecy, that (viz the Order) being to be fetcht out of the former. Which is true, For you will find in this latter Syſteme of Prophecies from the 11th Chapter that the former part of the 12th takes place before much of the 11th; and the former part of the 13th the latter part of the 12th: And good part of the 11th contemporizeth with (if not precedes) much of the 14th: The 18, 19 and 20th is an explanation of the 17th or rather all from the 11th Chapter to the end is but an enlargement and expoſition of what is epitomized in the 11th, where under the witneſſes prophecy, Death, Reſurrection and Aſcenſion is held forth the Beaſts riſe, rage and ruine and the taking place of Chriſts Kingdom which the mind of wiſdom (warily obſerving the parallel of Synchroniſms) muſt get the diſtinct knowledge into each, as laid down mixedly from the 11th to the end.
And that no ſuch order, as is ſuggeſted, is to be obſerved, nor any ſuch diſtance betwixt them as imagined; But that the New Jeruſalem, beloved City, new Heaven and Earth or City of God is one with Chriſts Kingdom in the thouſand years, may appear from theſe following conſiderations, viz.
Firſt, Becauſe upon the deſtruction of the fourth Monarchy, viz. (the Whore and Beaſt or the Magiſterial and Miniſterial part of Antichriſt) the thouſand years Reign of Chriſt and the Saints begin; or the marriage of the Lamb, or new Heavens-ſtate (being both one, as Rev, 19.7.21.2.) takes place; and therefore are the Hallelujahs ſung by the Church for the Salvation, Glory, Honour and Power, that Jeſus Chriſt takes to himſelf thereupon. Rev. 19.6, 7, 8, 9.
Secondly, Becauſe it is fully manifeſt, that the beloved City is in being during the thouſand years: For upon the Dragons releaſe he ſtirs up the Nations againſt the City of God, and accordingly is the Gog-Magog deſign to beſiege and encompaſs it, which is no leſs in circuit than the whole Earth, being the Antitheſis to great Babylon the City of the Nations: for as one goes down, the other goes up, in the beginning of the thouſand years, by which it is undenyable, that during the thouſand years the beloved City had a being, and for better ſatisfaction herein, you may ſee Mr Mede p. 24. upon his 6th Synchroniſm.
Thirdly, Becauſe of the Harmonious marks, and Characters, that accord with both in their taking place in the World, viz.
1. Doth the new Jeruſalem enter, when the ſeventh Trumpet Soundeth and the Kingdoms of this World become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Chriſt? Rev. 11.15, 18. So doth the thouſand years. Rev. 20.4, 6. comparde with 19.6.
2. Doth the new Jeruſalem take place upon the pouring out of the Vials, and finiſhing the myſtery of God Rev. 10.7. when the Angel of the Vials ſaith it is done? Rev. 21.6. So upon the pouring out of the ſeventh Vial upon the deſtruction of the Beaſt, when the thouſand years begin, as Rev. 19.21, 22. Rev. 20.1. It is alſo ſaid, It is done. Rev. 16.16, 17.
3. Is one the beginning of Chriſts viſible Kingdom upon the Earth? ſo is the other. Rev. 20.4, 6.19 6.
4. Is one the time of the Marriage of the Lamb with his Church and people. Rev. 21.3, 9. ſo is the other. Rev. 19 6, 7.
5. Is one the time of Jacobs reſt from his ſorrow, and from his fear, and from his hard bondage wherein he was made to ſerve. Iſa. 14.2. So is the other, that ſeventh day or ſeventh thouſand years or great Sabbatiſm. Heb. 4.9. When all enemies, Kings of the Earth, and their Armies are brought down, and Satan bound, and Saints as Kings and Prieſts aſcend the throne and peaceably Reign. Rev. 20 4, 6.
6. Is there to be building, planting, marrying and giving in marriage, procreation, enjoyment of Liberty, Peace, Eaſe, plenty in the new Jeruſalem, new Heaven and Earth-ſtate? as is affirmed from Iſai. 65.21, 33. So alſo muſt be the thouſand years; where Chriſts virtual preſence is in that myſtical Reſurrection-ſtate: For, neither before, nor after the thouſand years ſhall there be ſuch a ſtate to the Church; therefore it muſt be in the thouſand years: After the thouſand years is the Judgment day, Corporeal Reſurrection, and perſonal coming of our Lord Jeſus, as I have at large proved elſewhere, when all the Saints are in glorified bodyes, as 1 Joh. 3.20, 21. Phil. 3.20, 21. 1 Theſ. 4.15, 16, 17. 1 Cor. 15.51, 52. And that as well the changed, as raiſed Saints in which ſtate it is expreſly ſaid Luke 20.34. That they who ſhall be accounted worthy to obtain that World and the Reſurrection from the Dead, (Mark that not onelyonly the raiſed Saints, but whoever ſhall be accounted worthy to obtain that World, taking in the changed alſo) neither marry, nor are given in marriage, neither can they die any more; for they are equal to the Angels, and are the Children of God, being the Children of the Reſurrection; ſo that this above all contradiction aſſerted, that they which partake of the Angelical glorious ſtate in the World to come, are not capable of ſuch ſenſitive enjoyments; therefore of neceſſity muſt it bee before in this new Heaven, new Jeruſalem, or 1000 years ſtate.
7. Is the new Jeruſalem or City of God, extenſive over the whole Earth, as great Babylon the City of the Nations was? So is the Reign of Chriſt in the thouſand years. Rev. 20.9.
8. Is this glorious City made up of living, not dead ſtones and materialls? ſo is the Church of Chriſt in an eſpecial manner during the thouſand years, Rev. 20.6. Eph, 2.19.
The third Object. againſt the Harmony or oneneſs of theſe two ſtates is; becauſe of thoſe Scriptures that ſo poſitively in their apprehenſions aſſert Chriſts perſonal preſence in the new Ieruſalem-ſtate, ſo inconſiſtent with the 1000. years, after which is to be the Gog. Magog attempts. The Scriptures uſually mentioned are, Rev. 21.3.22.22.3. The Tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and God himſelf ſhall be with them. The Throne of God and of the Lamb ſhall be in it, and his ſervants ſhall ſerve him, and they ſhall ſee his face, &c.
To which I would ſay in the firſt place, that if I have reaſoned right in anſwer to the former Objection about the order, it neceſſarily and undeniably follows, that theſe Scriptures that ſpeak of Gods Tabernacling, and dwelling with men, and men beholding his face, muſt be underſtood of a vertual preſence and co-habitation, and not perſonal and proper: which I think will be eaſily granted by them, eſpecially that acknowledge the thouſand years inconſiſtent with the perſonal preſence, the Analogy of Faith being to be kept in all our interpretations and expoſitions.
But ſecondly, neither is there any thing expreſt in theſe Scriptures, that neceſſitates literal underſtanding, ſo as to inforce a perſonal preſence, much of the ſame being expreſt elſewhere relating to Goſpel days, of the vertual preſence, as 2 Cor. 6.16. for ye are the Temple of the living God, as God hath ſaid, I will dwell in them and walk in them, Rev 2.1. Chriſt is ſaid to walk in the golden Candleſticks or Churches, and the great priviledge of Saintſhip, is to hold Communion with God, to maintain fellowſhip, to walk with him, to enjoy the light of his Countenance, and to ſee his face; The Scriptures I need not quote being ſo well known.
Thirdly, That the perſonal preſence cannot be in the new Jeruſalem ſtate, as granted it cannot be in the thouſand years, I refer you to thoſe many Arguments, Reaſons and Scriptures given in the former part.
The fourth Objection is from the duration of the new Heaven or new Jeruſalem, which is ſaid to be ſet without date, and to be for ever and ever, Chap. 22.5. and to remain before God as an immoveable pillar, Iſa. 66.22. and Daniel calls it an everlaſting Dominion, which a Kingdom expreſly bounded with a thouſand years cannot be called.
To which I anſwer, that there is no concluding Argument in this neither; for what is more frequent in Scripture, than by the terms ever, yea ever and ever, and everlaſting, to mean ſome ſpace of time, yea and that ſometimes a term ſhort of a thouſand years too. Is not the Covenant of Circumciſion called a perpetual and everlaſting Covenant? Exod. 31.19. Gen. 17.13. The Prieſt-hood an everlaſting Prieſt-hood? Exod. 40.15. The Temple is ſaid to continue for ever? 1 Kings 8.13. with everlaſting Gates, Pſal. 24.7, 9 The ſervitude of the Iſraelites till the Jubile for ever, Exod. 21.6. Deut. 15.17. Lev. 25.39. &c. The Land of Canaan was given the Children of Iſrael to inhabit for ever and ever, Jer. 25.5. The ſeventy years Captivity is called perpetual, Jer. 25.9.
Therefore I conclude, that there is no Ground or warranty at all upon ſuch niceties to draw ſuch ſingular concluſions, and not only to ſlit, ſeparate, and divide theſe States, but to ſet them at ſuch a vaſt diſtance, a thouſand years at leaſt, which indeed makes a wide breach in the Prophecie, and run upon that Rock of ſetting the thouſand years ſo far off, as to be paſt already, which I conceive is not to be reconciled either with the ſpirits interpretation in this Book, the ſcope of the place, or other Scriptures, and neceſſarily runs upon a thouſand inconveniences.
The fifth Objection is, that out of the Rev 20.11. where becauſe it is ſaid the Earth and Heaven fled away at Chriſts appearance, ſo as there was no more place for them: therefore it is concluded, that it is the ſame Heaven and Earth, viz. that in the 21.1. is ſaid to have paſt away, as the firſt Heaven and Earth to make way for the new Heaven and Earth or new Jeruſalem.
But I conceive they are as different in their Natures as they are in their times, being a thouſand years diſtant at leaſt from each other; the one Rev. 21.1. being the miſtical Heaven and Earth, outward, viſible Rule, Dignity and Soveraignty, ſuch as the Dragon, Beaſt and falſe-prophet have exerciſed in the fourth Monarchy, as is before largely proved, not only from the ſcope of the place, and many Scriptures of the Prophets, but from the excellent obſervation of Mr. Mead, Aſſemblies Annotations. Mr. Bernard, &c. in this place; for now the old Heavens and Earth in the fourth Monarchy being paſt away in order to its Antitheſis taking place, the new Heavens and Earth or new Jeruſalem, Saints Reign, or fifth Monarchy in the thouſand years, which the 65. Iſa. 17. &c. fully demonſtates, evincing it to be a ſtate, wherein there is to be Building, Planting, Marrying and giving in Marriage, enjoyment of peace and plenty by the Saints and Elect, which are utterly inconſiſtent to the perſonal Reign of Chriſt, after the erecting of the white Throne in the Judgment day. The other in the 20.11. is the material old Heaven and Earth, that at Chriſts coming and perſonal appearing paſs away, as 2 Pet. 3.10. where it is ſaid that the day of the Lord ſhall come, as a Thief in the night, in which the Heaven ſhall paſs away with a great noiſe, and the Elements ſhall melt with ſervent heat, the Earth alſo, and the works therein ſhall be burnt up, and the Heavens being on fire ſhall be diſſolved, and that this intendeth the material Heavens and Earth, beyond all diſpute the ſeventh verſe tells us; that as the former Heaven and Earth, viz. the old world was by Gods Word deſtroyed by Water, ſo the Heaven and Earth that is now, by the ſame word are kept in ſtore, reſerved unto fire againſt the day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men, and this in order to thoſe material new Heavens and Earth, that in this time of reſtitution of all things muſt take place, wherein Chriſt and all his Saints in the general Reſurrection and Judgement (as this Rev. 20.11.) in that his miſphatical Kingdom (after his Davidical or Monarchical kingdom is over) ſhall Reign and Judge. Now the ſame Heaven and Earth, that Peter ſaith, ſhall at Chriſts preſence paſs away with a great noiſe, John ſaith here, The Earth and the Heaven fled away at his preſence (or from his face) erecting now his white Throne, where he will judge the wicked and ungodly.
The ſixth and laſt Objection that is to be ſpoken to, and indeed is ſignificantly urged, is this, viz. that if this thouſand years ought to be eſteemed the new Heaven and Earth, how then can it bring forth ſuch Vipers and Monſters, as Gog and Magog, who muſt either be of the firſt or old Heaven and Earth, or of the new: Not of the new; for they muſt remain, Iſa. 65. And if of the old, how then are they paſt away?
To which I reply, that this new Heaven and Earth, viz. the Monarchical Rule of Chriſt in the hands of the Saints over the Nations of the Earth, hath its date and laſteth but a thouſand years, during alſo which time Satan is bound, viz. all worldly Empire put down, no Government in the hands of any, but Saints, and the Nations all in perfect ſubjection: But it is according to the decree of Heaven, that at the expiration of theſe thouſand years, Satan ſhall be looſed, and then the Heatheniſh Nations, inſtead of ſubjecting to Chriſts Rule, will univerſally rebel and conſpire againſt it; becauſe they are only under, and in ſubjection to the Government of the new Heavenly ſtate, but never of it, none of thoſe that ever entred the holy City, and ſo in order to the fulfilling of Prophecie, to the diſſolution of the old material Heavens and Earth, and bringing on the new, and to the introducing the miſphatical Kingdom. All theſe wicked Rebels muſt not only by Chriſts appearing be deſtroyed by fire (who cometh in flaming fire to take vengeance of all that know not God, nor obey his Goſpel) but alſo with the ſame fire will the material old Heaven and Elements (as before) melt with heat, and paſs away; the Earth alſo and all its works be burnt up, that the new Heavens and new Earth according to promiſe may come on. And ſo will the Lord Jeſus and the Saints continue therein to judge the quick and dead in that his miſphatical Kingdom, till he deliver all up into the hands of the Father, that God may be all in all, 1 Cor. 15.24, 28.