The Revelation Unrevealed Concerning the Thousand Year Reign, Section 12 – Section 14

The Revelation Unrevealed Concerning the Thousand Year Reign · Section 12 – Section 14

p. 109§. 12 Of Paradoxes let it be the the first but not the least, Yhe first Paradox of Millenarisme.that Christ the Son of God p. 110now glorified shall come and personally set up, A Monarchicall state of Christ's Kingdom in a visible & worldly manner.and administer a Monarchicall state of a Kingdome here upon earth in a visible, and worldly manner, for splendour, riches, peace, &c.

I had thought we had heard him say, My Kingdome is not of this world; now, to what world do riches and honour and earthly contentments belong, if not to this? If he governe as earthly Monarchs have done, in a worldly visible, earthly glory (such are the words) how is his Kingdom not of this world? Surely this is more then ever the very Jewes expected, or dreamed of; they have p. 111looked for a Messiah, that should exercise Kingly authority in the world; but they never lookt for a glorified Messiah to come down from heaven to rule upon earth. Zebedees wife certainly never thought of such a Kingdome, wherein her Sonnes should be the prime… Peers: Neither did the good Thiefe think of such a state, when be said, Lord, remember mee when thou commest into thy Kingdome; we have heard of an absolute Soveraignty of Christ, as God; of a delegated Soveraignty as Mediator; we have heard of his rule in the heart, of his rule in the Church, but of his p. 112Monarchicall rule in the world, for a whole thousand yeares in a worldly, visible, earthly glory, we never yet heard; and think it very strange newes to Christian eares.

But much more strange news it is, Acts 3.21.Acts 3:21that all the Prophets since the world began have spoken of this Marvailous Monarchy, and yet that we never heard of it in the writings of all the Fathers and Doctors of the Christian Church, till this day: It is no whit strange, that Gods people should be abused by the feigned glosses of men, drawing those Scriptures which speak of Christs comming to the finall p. 113judgement of the world, to the sense of that imaginary Kingdom which hath being no where but in their own brain: But without any intention of a formall confutation, I purpose onelyonly to give some light touches at those paradoxall and unwarrantable Positions, which meet with me in this discourse.

That in this visible Monarchy of Christ he shall change all worldly customs, 2 Paradox. The change of all world ly custome and putting down kingly power.and put down all kingly power and greatnesse (how ever just) and set up a new; so as there shall be no more Lords but he; even as the earthly Monarchies swallowed all kingly power under p. 114them, may well passe for a sufficient Paradoxe: we grant indeed, there shall be none in competitiō with him, even in his spirituall rule; but that there shal be none in subordination to him in his supposed visible Monarchy, were too bold a word.

That there shall be a double Judgment one a thousand years before the other; 33Paradox. A double Judgment.The one wherein many both Saints and sinners shal be judged, Pag. 12.and that with great terrour and solemnity; which shall be a generall Judging (though not to the second death,) of all the ungodly in the world; Pag. 13.at least of all that will not p. 115stoop to Christ his Scepter; the other of all Devils and men, Pag. 14.upon the expiration of those thousand years, in that universall appearance before God at that great Day; is an assertion as bold as groundlesse.

We have heard of a particular doome passing upon every soule immediately upon the parting from this house of clay; and of a generall Iudicature in those common Assizes of the world; but of a middle sessions, betwixt both these, in which all the ungodly shall be arraigned, and sentenced to a temporall death, or perpetuall vassalage, was never either spoken of by p. 116God, or heard of by men.

§. 13 That there is a threefold comming of Christ. 44Paradox. A threefold comming of Christ.The first, when he came to take our nature; the second, when he comes to receive his Kingdome; the third, when he comes to judge all, and end the world, may well passe for a Paradoxe, not inferiour to the rest; Besides, the Metaphoricall commings of Christ to any soul, or nation, whether in merciemercy, or judgement; we have ever heard of one comming of our Saviour, past, in humane weaknesse; another to come in divine power, and glory; but that there should be a third p. 117comming down from heaven to earth, betwixt these, is strange newes to Christian eares; which were heretofore wont to be inured to our old Apostolike, Athanasian, and Nicene Creeds; and to hear, From thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead: No comming therefore till he come to Judgement; and that there may be no thought of an intermediate and partiall Judgement in the beginning of that thousand years, the Creed which we were wont to professe in our Baptisme, ran thus; We believe that in the end of the World, he shall come to judge the quick and the dead; p. 118Lo, in the end of the world, not a thousand years before it.

Let all good Christians stick close to their old Creeds, Jude 2.Jude 1:2the faith which was once delivered to the Saints, and not suffer themselves to be carried away with every gale of new doctrine. That of Tertullian is a sure rule, Primum verum; The first is true.

Necessarily depending upon this, 55Paradox. A double Resurrection.is that other grosse conceit of a double Generall Resurrection;17. The one, of those Saints which were dead before this comming of Christ which shal be raised up 1000 yeares before the rest at his next comming;18. p. 119the other of all flesh at the end of the World, and the final comming & judgment. But whether that first Resurrection shal be onelyonly proper and peculiar to Martyrs that have died for the name of Christ, or common to all the Saints; Let our Chiliasts argue amongst themselves; their opinions doe no less disagree from each other, then they all from the Truth: Alass, good Martha, thou wert much deceived, when thou saidst concerning thy brother Lazarus. Joh. 11.24.John 11:24I know hee shall rise again in the Resurrection at the last day; Why, woman, the Resurrection of that Saint, thy Brother shal be 1000 years p. 112sooner thou thoughtest of; Neither did Saint Paul ever take notice of this first Resurrection of the Saints; whiles he adjures his Timothy before God, 2 Tim. 4.1.2 Tim 4:1and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing: For surely the Lord Jesus his judigng of the quick and dead (indefinitely spoken) must suppose a Resurrection of all the dead whom he judgeth; but here (saith the Chiliast, is onelyonly in Christs next appearing, a Resurrection of the dead Saints, and a judging of none but the wicked which are found alive; for their raising out of their graves is reserved for the last and universal p. 121judgment; so as by that rule Christ should not at his appearing Judge both the Quick and the Dead:

§. 14 Answerable to this double Resurrection is the Paradoxe of Christs threefold Ascension, into Heaven; 66Paradox. A threesold Ascension of Christ into heaven Pag. 23.24.for (saith this Authour) when Christ hath thus put his Kingdome into forme, he will withdraw from earth to heaven againe; and leave the Government to the dead Saints raised up; They and all believers shall rule the world; And if these all shall govern, who are those that shall be governed? There are none left upon earth, but Saints raised to p. 122immortality, and Saints found alive, who are perfect believers: and some few slaves spared frō death for servitude: See now what an honourable imployment, and singular priviledge and honour here is for Saints immortalized, and translated from death to life, to be the Governours of some sturdy, and rebellious vassals: In the mean time, Christ the glorious King of his Church, is returned back into heaven, and will governe the earth by his Deputies; what a mean conceit is this, which these men professe to have of the King of eternall glory? That he who hath said, p. 123Behold, I am with you always even untill the end of the World, whose Majesty fils heaven, and earth, should come down to put on his Kingdome here below, to be governed by certain Delegates, and then with-draw to his heaven; what is this but poorly to circumscribe the infinite Majesty of heaven within the terms of a finite administration? And now in this second Ascension we hear no newes of the attendance of his retinue; He that brought down the souls of his Saints, to wait upon him in this descent, for the receiving of this inferiour Kingdome, shall leave them p. 124behind him with their old (but new-raised) partners to spend 1000 yeares upon earth; at the end whereof, hee shall come downe againe, and fetch them up with him in his third Ascension to the highest heaven. What an high presumption is this in flesh and bloud, to send the Son of God the Lord Jesus, from heaven to earth, and from earth to heaven, upon an errand of their own making? when himself in his holy Scriptures never speaks but of a double ascent of Christ; the one (which is past) from Mount O livet (where the impressions of his sacred feet are stil p. 125said to be) forty dayes after his Resurrection; the other future, when after the Generall Judgement of the world, he shall carry up all his elect with him to his heavenly glory.