The Revelation Unrevealed Concerning the Thousand Year Reign, Section 35

The Revelation Unrevealed Concerning the Thousand Year Reign · Section 35

p. 223§. 35 Fourthly; Not to put the day of the last judgment far from us, nor yet punctually to determin the time of it.that we do neither out of a credulous security put the day of the last judgement far off from us, nor out of a mis-grounded presumption passe our punctual predeterminations of it.

In both which extreams these last times have been too fault-worthy: The time was when the Apostle was fain to beat off his Thessalonians from the expectation p. 224of the then-instant appearing of Christ to judgement; now, we have more need, after sixteen hundred years continuance to perswade our people of the approach of this great day: They did then believe that Christ was at the doore, now we are hardly induced to believe that he is upon the way to that dreadfull Judicature. Surely, This operation hath this Millenary doctrine had upon the hearts of men, that though they are thereupon apt to expect an appropinquation of their Saviour for their happy advantage, yet they resolutely put off the thought of his comming to the generall judgement of p. 225the world, for many generations. A man hath a good estate in his Ferme for almost an hundred years; another, that is about to purchase the inheritance in reversion, after so long a term, is told it were better to spare that cost, since in all likelyhood the world would ere then be at end; he answers, Tush, no, the thousand years are not yet entred, wherein the Saints shall raign upon earth before that day: In which yet this opinionist can be no other then grosly over-seen; For, is he a Saint, or is he none? If none, even the next comming of Christ destroyes him, and marres his purchase; p. 226If a Saint, though he make no purchase now, he shall then (according to their doctrine) live in all fulnesse of riches, and earthly contentment.

But, what if that thousand years reign be to be accomplished in heaven, not in earth, as some construe it? or, if on earth, what if it be already accomplished, as others; where is then the confidence of this delay? Certainly, notwithstanding this unhappily-raised suggestion, nothing appears, why we should not make full account that the world is near to it's last period; and that our Lord Jesus is at hand for his finall p. 227judgement. For if in the time of the blessed Apostles, it was justly computed to be the last houre, needs must it now be drawing towards the last minute: Neither have we any reason to say with the evill servant in the Gospel, The Lord defers his coming.

It may be a question whether it be more out of boldnesse to maintain that delatory assertion of the last judgement, which hath passed the pens of Alphonsus, Conradus, Cotterius, and others, or the confident and punctuall assignation of the time of those universall Sessions, determined by Alstedius, Archer, and others of p. 228that way: who can but be startled at those lines of Mr. Archer? Now (saith he) having found out when Christs Kingdome, Personall raigne. p. 50or the thousand years shall begin, it is easie to guesse when the time of the last and generall judgement, and the worlds end shall be. Thus he. Truly the evidence is much alike of both: For when shall that 1000 years reign begin? About the year of our Lord, 1700. saith he, following the steps of Alstedius, who upon the same ground casts it upon the year. 1694. and both of them ground the Epochaes of their Calculation, upon that fore-mentioned place of p. 229Dan. 12.11. Dan. 12.11Dan 12:11Frō the time that the daily sacrifice shal be taken away and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety dayes. Blessed is he that waiteth, Verse 12.and commeth to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty dayes: Where the days (as I formerly intimated) are taken to stand for yeares; and withall it is supposed that the 1335 years are in order of time to take their originall after the expiration of the 1290 years; and both of them to take their rise from the termination of the seventy Weeks; viz. anno C'. 69. All which put together make up the number p. 231of 2694, which is the utmost period of the thousand yeares raigne of the Saints; from which therefore if we deduce the said thousand, there must remain 1694. The initium Regni of the Lord of glory here upon earth; But if either the taking away of the daily sacrifice and the desolatory abomination be not understood in that place of the act and armie of the Romans: Or the days there mentioned be not intended to stand for so many years: as being onelyonly to signifie the short time of Antiochus his cruell persecution; Or lastly, if those two severall numbers were not meant p. 230to be successive one to the other, in the whole eomputation of them (which learned Calviu plainly censures for a vain and groundlesse conceit) all this aime and labour is lost, and we are yet to seek where to pitch the account either for beginning or termination.

Shortly, what heed is to be given to this reckoning appears in that first parcell of it which concerns the totall conversion of the Jews: which Mr. Archer with the like confidence places upon 1650, now entred upon by our Almanacks, or at the furthest 1656. Wherein we see his Prognostication fails him; and his prediction is p. 232sufficiently checked by the event; No otherwise then Mr. Brightmans; by whose accompt, the Turkish Tyranny should have lasted but seven yeares after he wrote his Revelation; where as now near forty yeares are since passed, and that Empire holds up still in too much vigour, without any appearance of diminution.

What should I need to shew how others both of our countrymen and forainers, who thought themselves wiser then their fellows, have been shamefully baffled in their fore-determining of the last day of the world, which themselves have been suffered to overlive. p. 233It will well become modest Christians to rest in revealed Truths, and to leave the unlocking of the secret Cabinets of the Almighty, to the onelyonly key of his Divine Wisedome, and Omniscience; as remembring the words of our Saviour: Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the Angels of heaven.

Let it be our care to be ever in a perpetuall posture of readinesse for that awfull and glorious comming of our Lord, and Saviour, whensoever it shall be; and to see that our accompts be set right for that great Audit; so shall we meet our returning Master with a p. 234comfortable and happy assurance, and hear from him that blessed Euge, Wel done, good and faithful Servant; Enter into thy Masters joy.

FINIS.

ERRATA.

Page 203 line 9, read and reigning.

End of the text · Joseph Hall, The Revelation Unrevealed Concerning the Thousand Year Reign (1650)