The Whole Faith of Man, Pages 153-176
The fall of the Beaſt or Man of Sin, and when, and by whom.
Now Paul ſaith, that the Lord will conſume him with the ſpirit of his mouth, and ſhall deſtroy him with the brightneſs of his coming, 2 Theſ. 2.8. So when the enemy ſhall come in as a flood, the ſpirit of the Lord ſhall lift up a ſtandard againſt him, Iſa. 59.19. and ſo when the Lord himſelf ſhall deſcend from Heaven, with ten thouſand of his Saints, to execute Judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them, of all their ungodly deeds, and of their hard ſpeeches, which ungodly ſinners have ſpoken againſt him, Jude 15. Then the Sun and the Moon ſhall be be darkened, and the Stars ſhall withdraw their ſhining; the Lord alſo ſhall roar out of Sion, and utter his voyce from Jeruſalem; and the heavens and the earth ſhall Shake; but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the ſtrength of the Children of Iſrael, Joel 3.15, 16. And in that day will the Lord make Jeruſalem a burthenſome ſtone for all People, all that burthen themſelves with it, ſhall be cut in peices, though all the people of the Earth be gathered againſt it, Zech. 12.1, 2, 3, 4. Then the Lora Jeſus, (that Died and Roſe again,) himſelf ſhall deſcend from Heaven with a ſhont, and with the voyce of the Arch-angel; and with the trump of God; and the dead in Chriſt ſhall riſe firſt; Then we which are alive and remaine, ſhall be caught up together with them in the Cloudes, to meet the Lord in the ayre, and ſo ſhall we ever be with the Lord, 1 Theſ. 4.14, 15, 16, 17. And ſo as Zechary hath it, The Lord my God ſhall come, and all the ſaints with him, Chap. 14.5. And then the ten horns which received power as Kings in one hour with the Beaſt, the Man of Sin, Theſe have one mind and ſhall give their Power and Strength unto the Beaſt, Theſe ſhall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb ſhall overcome them; For he is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, and they that are with him are called, and choſen, and faithful, and ſo according to Rev. 19. The Lord Jeſus, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, with his Armies which were in Heaven, following him upon white Horſes, cloathed in fine Linnen, white and clean, deſcends from heaven againſt the Beaſt, the Man of ſin; And the Kings of the earth, and their Armies gathered together, to make warr againſt him that ſate on the Horſe, the Man Chriſt, and againſt his Armies; and the Beaſt was taken, and with him the falſe Prophet, that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received, the marke of the Beaſt, and them that worſhiped his image; Theſe both were caſt alive into a lake of fire, burning with brimſtone; And the remnant were ſlain with the ſword of him that ſate upon the Horſe; Which ſword proceeded out of his mouth; and all fowls were filled with their fleſh; So the Beaſt, the Antichriſt, the Man of Sin, and the falſe Prophet, which did work miracles before him ſhall be taken alive, and caſt into a lake of fire, burning with brimſtone; and ſo Tophet is ordained of old, yea, for the King it is prepared, he hath made it deep and large, the pile thereof is fire and much wood, the breath of the Lord like a ſtream of brimſtone doth kindle it, Iſai. 30.33. And ſo, as men are threatned, in Rev. 14.9, 10. That if they worſhip the Beaſt, or his image, and receive his mark in their foreheads, or in their hands; The ſame ſhall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture, into the cup of his indignation, and he ſhall be tormented with ſire and brimſtone, in the preſence of the holy Angels, and in the preſence of the Lamb; So it ſhall come to paſs when the Lord Jeſus ſhall appear; and therefore take the 11 verſe. And the ſmoak of their torment aſcendeth up for ever and ever, and they have no reſt day nor night who worſhip the Beaſt and his image, and whoſoever receiveth the marke of his name; For this purpoſe read Iſai. 14.18.19. and Chap. 66.24. Ezek. 38.22, 23. Thus the Lord will magnifie himſelf, and ſanctifie himſelf, and he will be known in the eyes of many Nations, and they ſhall know that he is the Lord; And then in that day ſhall his ſervants ſay. This is the Lord, we have waited for Him, we will be Glad in his Salvation, Iſai. 25.9.
So then we may ſee, that the Whore is not the Antichriſt, that the Scripture ſpeaks of, for the Whore is ſet out in Scripture thus, as a Woman, a falſe Church, as a Queen, The Mother of Harlots, and ahominations of the earth; The Antichriſt is ſet out thus; A Man of Sin, The man that did ſhake kingdomes, The Son of the Morning, The Son of Perdition.
Secondly, the ſixth Head of the Roman Beaſt carrieth the Harlot, but the Antichriſt, the Man of Sin is the eighth and laſt Beaſt, as hath been ſhewed.
Thirdly, The Whore confeſſeth Chriſt to be come in the fleſh, and hath a ſhew, and a remembrance of his Ordinances, though ſhe have changed the ſubject and manner; but the Antichriſt denies Chriſt come into the fleſh, and his Ordinances that declare him come in the fleſh, as it hath been ſhewed.
Fourthly, The Woman, the Harlot, and her members that do worſhip according to her Traditions, and inventions, have ſpace given them to repent, and many do repent; but they that do worſhip the Beaſt, the Antichriſt, or receive his mark in their right hand, or in their fore-head, they cannot repent; they muſt drink of the wrath of God, &c. as it is Rev. 14.9, 10. and in Chap. 16.11. They repented not of their deeds; note, that the firſt vial is poured out upon the earth, and the men that had the mark of the Beaſt, and worſhipped his Image, are plagued; therefore none of the vials are poured out until the Antichriſt raigneth, verſ. 1, 2.
Fifthly, The ten Horns hate the Whore, and deſtroy her, and make her deſolate, Rev. 17.16. But the Antichriſt is taken alive, when the Lord cometh, and puniſhed with everlaſting deflruction from the preſence of the Lord, in a lake of fire, 2. Theſ. 1.9. and Rev. 19.20.
And ſo to draw to a concluſion, I do deſire all men to take heed to the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apoſtles, for they are able to make men wiſe unto Salvation; and if men ſpeak not according to the Law and Teſtament, it is becauſe they have no light in them. Iſa. 8.20. O give heed to the moſt ſure word of the Prophets, as unto a light ſhining in a dark place. until the day of Chriſt dawn, and the day Star ariſe in your hearts; noting diligently all things that are ſpoken of, that muſt come to paſs, for when the ſigns concerning Chriſts coming are come to paſs, the day of Chriſts perſonal appearing will dawn.
Secondly, is there ſuch a ſpirit of deluſion among men, wherein is a myſtery of iniquity? Then let all take heed, that they ſeek the Lord while he may be found, and to kiſs the Son leſt he be angry; and ye periſh in the way; O do not neglect to read, and ſearch the Scriptures, and walk up in that you do know, be not deceived, God will not be mocked; what a man ſoweth that he ſhall reap, for he that ſoweth to the fleſh, ſhall of the fleſh reap corruption, but he that ſoweth to the Spirit, ſhall of the Spirit reap life everlaſting, Gal. 6.7, 8.
Thirdly, is it ſo, that God doth, and will give up men to a Spirit of deluſion▪ that they ſhould believe a lye, that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleaſure in unrighteouſneſs? Then he exhorted from hence, to forſake all unrighteous wayes in converſation, and all whoriſh inventions of men in point of Worſhip; for if Moſes Law be aboliſhed, which was given to him by the Lord, let no man think that he ſhall be excuſed if he worſhip according to mens inventions.
Fourthly, let all the Saints conſider, and lay to heart what hath been ſpoken, and ſearch the Scriptures, that they may be informed what is to come to paſs, and ſo according to Chriſts exhortation, in Luke 21.36. Watch ye therefore, and pray alwayes, that ye may be accounted worthy to eſcape all theſe things that ſhall come to paſs, and to ſtand before the ſon of man.
Moreover when the Lord thus overthrows Antichriſt and his Armies, and the Kings of the earth, as it hath been ſhewed before, and more plentiouſly appeareth in Scripture; When the whirle wind of the Lord goeth forth with fury, a cutting whirle-wind, it ſhall remain with pain upon the head of the wicked; the fearce anger of the Lord ſhall not return, until he have performed the intents of his heart; At the ſame time, ſaith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Iſrael, and they ſhall be my people: For God hath loved them with an everlaſting love, therefore with loving kindneſs he will draw them, Jer. 30.23, 24. Chap. 31.1, 2, 3. And it ſhall come to paſs in that day, that the great Trumpet ſhall be blown, and they ſhall come that are ready to periſh in the land of Aſſyria; and the out-caſts in the land of Egypt, and ſhall worſhip the Lord in the holy mount at Jernſalem, Iſ. 27.13. So when the Enemies ſhall come in like a flood, great enemies being gathered by the beaſt, the Antichriſt, according to Rev. 16.13, 14. being m… according to Joel 3.9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. the Spirit of the Lord ſhall lift up a ſtandard againſt him; then even then, the redeemer ſhall come to Sion and unto them that turn from tranſgreſſion in Jacob, ſaith the Lord, Iſa. 59.19, 20. compared with, Rom. 11, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32. Then at that day, the Lord himſelf which was dead and aroſe again, and is alive for evermore, Rev. 1.18. ſhall deſcend from Heaven with a ſhout, with the voyce of the Archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Chriſt ſhall riſe firſt, 1 Theſ. 4.14, 15, 16. compared with Iſa 27.13. and ſo as Zach. ſaith, The Lord my God ſhall come and all the Saints with thee, and his feet ſhall ſtand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jeruſalem, Chap. 14.4, 5. then the Lord Jeſus Chriſt the Lord of Hoſts, and Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, ſhall raign perſonally upon the earth in mount Sion, and in Jeruſalem, and before his antients the houſe of Iſrael gloriouſly, Iſa. 24.23. Rev. 17.14. Chap. 19.13, 14, 15, 16.
And for the further proof and clearing up of this truth, That the Lord Chriſt ſhall raign perſonally on the earth, more then a thouſand years, and all the Saints with him, from Adam to his coming, which dyed in the faith, and are found in the faith at his coming, are to raign with him upon earth; Firſt, conſider and mark well what the Scripture ſaith in the letter of it, for the proof of the ſame, the Prophet Jer. ſaith, Behold the dayes come ſaith the Lord, that I will raiſe unto David a righteous branch, and a King ſhall raign and prosper, and execute Judgment and juſtice in the earth; In his dayes Judah ſhall be ſaved, and Iſrael ſhall dwell ſafely; and this is his name, the Lord our Righteouſneſs, Chap. 23.5, 6. Ask of me and I ſhall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermoſt parts of the earth for thy poſſeſſion, Pſal. 2.8. In his dayes ſhall the righteous flowriſh, and abundance of peace ſhall be ſo long as the Moon endureth; He ſhall have dominion alſo from Sea to Sea, and from the river unto the end of the earth; Yea all Kings ſhall fall down before him, all nations ſhall ſerve him, Pfal. 72.7, 8, 9, 10, 11. verſe 17. His name ſhall endure for ever, his name ſhall be continued as long as the Sun; and men ſhall be bleſſed in him: All nations ſhall call him bleſſed; and the Lord ſhall be King over all the earth; in that day ſhall there be one Lord, and his name one, Zach. 14.9. Dan. 7.27. And the Kingdome and dominion, and the greatneſs of the Kingdome under the whole heaven ſhall be given to the people of the Saints of the moſt high; whoſe Kingdome is an everlaſting Kingdome; and all nations or dominions, ſhall ſerve and obey him; and Rev. 5.9, 10. ſaith, Thou haſt made us unto our God Kings & Prieſts, & we ſhall raign on the earth, Chap. 11.15. And the ſeventh Angel ſounded, and there were great voyces in heaven; ſaying, the Kingdomes of this world, are become the Kingdomes of our Lord, and of his Chriſt; and he ſhall raign for ever and ever, Rev. 20. ſheweth at large, That the Saints ſhall raign with Chriſt a thouſand years; which cannot be underſtood but to be on the earth.
So then the letter of the Scripture ſpeaks much, that the Lord Chriſt ſhall deſcend from heaven, 1 Theſ. 4.16. Acts. 1.11. and his feet ſhall ſtand upon mount Olives, which is before Jeruſalem, Zach. 14.4. and that he ſhall raign on the earth with his Saints; And that it may not appear a ſtrange thing, obſerve well how the Scriptures were taken in the letter, that ſpake of Chriſt to come in the fleſh, and his ſufferings; as, A virgin ſhall conceive and bear a ſon, Iſa. 7.14. Chriſt the King of Jeruſalem, and Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, riding upon an Aſs, and upon a coult the foal of an Aſs, Zach. 9.9. Mat. 21.5. of their giving him vineger to drink, Pſal. 69.21. Mat. 27.48. again the ſelling of Chriſt the Lord of life and glory, for thirty pieces of ſilver, Zach. 11.12.13. Mat. 27.9. Much more might be ſaid, to ſhew that ſtrange things were fore-told by the Propheſies in the Scripture, concerning the coming of Chriſt in the fleſh, and his ſuffering, and riſing from the dead, plainly declared in the letter; yea, men hardly believed them until they were fulfilled. So then the Scriptures ſpeaking plainly alſo of the Lord Chriſt deſcending from heaven to the earth, and to raign on the earth with his Saints, (as it hath been ſhewed before) why ſhould it be thought to be uncredible.
Again there is a ſtream of Scriptures that declareth, that the Saints ſhall ſuffer perſecution, and be in tribulation until the coming of Chriſt, John 16.33. 2 Tim. 3.12. Luke 14.2, 27. Acts. 14.22. Yea, the neerer the coming of Chriſt, the greater trouble to the Saints, 2 Tim. 3.1, 2, 13▪ Dan. 7.25. Luke 18.7, 8. Rev. 7.14. Alſo the Scriptures declare plentiouſly, that the Saints ſhall raign on the earth, and flouriſh exceedingly, and that a long time, Pſal. 72.7. Iſai. 65.21, 22, 23. Daniel 7.27. Pſal. 149. Mat. 5.5. Rev. 2.26, 27. Chap. 5.10. Chap. 11.15.
Now obſerve it well, how can this ſtand or conſiſt, that the Saints muſt from Chriſt coming in the fleſh, to his coming to Judgment ſuffer perſecution and tribulation, and yet muſt have a long time to raign and flouriſh, ſeeing reigning over the earth and flouriſhing, is inconſiſtant, for men cannot be at one time in a perſecuted, troubled, afflicted condition, and in a raigning, flouriſhing ſtate; therefore I ſay, that Chriſt muſt reign on the earth, and appoint his people a kingdome, Luke 22.29, 30. and ſo they ſhall reign with him on the earth.
Again there is a ſtream of Scriptures, that declareth, that there ſhould be warrs, and rumors of warrs in the laſt dayes, Mat. 24.6, 7. Mark 13.7, 8. Dan. 2.40. Chap. 8. Chap. 11. Rev. 13. Chap. 17. Yea, the fourth Monarchy, which is the Roman power, which did begin to raign before Chriſt, came in the fleſh, and hath raigned in the ſixth Head, and will raign in the ſeventh and eighth, which is of the ſeventh of that Roman power, untill Chriſt come as hath been ſhewed before; hath all a long brought in warrs, and doth and will to the coming of Chriſt; for the Scriptures ſhew, that this fourth power, will break in peeces and ſubdue all, and ſtamp the reſidue with the feet of it, Dan. 2.40. Chap. 7.7. So there hath been no long peace, but deviſion, and warrs, and is and will be more and more, untill the coming of Chriſt, Dan. 2.42, 43. Chap. 7.24, 25. Joel 3.9, 10. Exek 38. Chap. 39. Revel. 16.14. Chap. 19.17, 18, 19. So then, by the Scripture it appeareth from the coming of Chriſt in the fleſh, to the coming of Chriſt from heaven, to judge the quick and the dead; there hath, and will be warr; and to this Hiſtories agree alſo, that there hath not been no long peace in the world, ſince the Jewes captivity in Babylon, but very much warr.
But the Scripture ſheweth plentiouſly alſo, that there ſhall be a long peace in the whole world; Pſal. 72.7, 8. in his dayes, ſhall the righteous flouriſh, and abundance of peace, ſo long as the Moon endureth, Zach. 9.10. Iſai. 14.7. The whole world is at reſt, and is quiet, they break forth into ſinging, Mich. 4.3, 4. And he ſhall judge among many people, and rebuke ſtrong Nations after off, and they ſhall beat there ſwords into plow-ſhares, and their ſpears into pruning hooks; Nation ſhall not lift up a ſword againſt Nation, neither ſhall they learne Warr any More: But they ſhall ſit every man under his vine, and under his fig-tree, and none ſhall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hoſts hath ſpoken it, Iſa. 2.4. So then there hath been and will be warr untill Chriſt comes, & yet there muſt be a long time of peace, and this peace never was, nor cannot be untill Chriſt comes; (as the Scriptures of truth witneſſe) and then if the earth be utterly deſtroyed, as ſome ſay, then that peace cannot be; But I ſay with the Prophet, that that peace muſt be, and it cannot be untill Chriſt comes; therefore Chriſt will raign with all his Saints on the earth perſonally, and then he will make warr to ceaſe unto the ends of the earth, he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the ſpear aſunder, he burneth the Chariot in the fire; ſaying, Be ſtill and know that Lam God, I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth, Pſal. 46.9, 10.
Again the whole houſe of Iſrael after the fleſh, ſhall be called, as it hath been ſhewed before, which cannot be untill the fulneſs of the Gentiles be come in, and the appearing of Chriſt; and this will appear evidently if you well obſerve, what Iſa. ſaith, 59.20, 21. compared with Rom. 11.25, 26, 27. for the Apoſtle ſheweth, when the fulneſs of the Gentiles is come in; then the deliverer ſhall come to Sion, and ſhall turn away ungodlineſs from Jacob; For this is my Covenant unto them, when I ſhall take away there ſins; And that you may ſee the Apoſtle ſpeaks of the whole houſe of Iſrael, that remains on the earth when the fulneſs of the Gentiles is come in; note well, the 25. verſe, and ſo to the 33. And alſo what hath been ſaid before, concerning this thing. So then the whole houſe of Iſrael ſhall be called to a glorious ſtate here on earth, when the fulneſs of the Gentiles is come in; and then the deliverer the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſhall come to Sion, & then ſhall they look upon him whom they have pierced, and they ſhall mourn for him as one mourneth for his onelyonly Son, Zach. 12.10. So then, from all this, (and much more might be ſaid) it clearlly followeth, that the Lord ſhall reign perſonaly on the earth, and ſo the Lord God ſhall give him the Throne of his Father David, and he ſhall reign over the houſe of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdome there ſhall be no end, Luke 1.33.33.
Now in the next place, take notice further of ſome of the excellent things that the Lord will do in that day for the houſe of Iſrael; In that day ſhall the branch of the Lord be beautiful, and the fruit of the earth ſhall be excellent, and comely, for them that are eſcaped of Iſrael. And it ſhall come to paſs, that he that is left in Sion, and he that remaineth in Jeruſalem, ſhall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jeruſalem; When the Lord ſhall have waſhed away the filth of the daughters of Sion, & ſhall have purged the blood of Jeruſalem from the midſt thereof, by the ſpirit of Judgment, and by the ſpirit of burning, Iſai. 4.2, 3, 4.
Then ſhall health be reſtored unto Iſrael, and their wounds healed, ſaith the Lord, becauſe they called thee an out-caſt; ſaying, this is Sion whom no man ſeeketh after; Thus ſaith the Lord, behold I will bring again the captivity of Jacobs tents, and have mercy on his dwelling place, and the City ſhall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace ſhall remain after the manner thereof: And out of them ſhall proceed thanksgiving, and the voyce of them that make merry; and I will multiply them, and they ſhall not be few, I will alſo glorifie them, and they ſhall not be ſmall, Jer. 30.17, 18, 19.
Again at this time, will the Lord make them one Nation in the land upon the mountains of Iſrael, and one King ſhall be a King to them all, and they ſhall be no more two Nations, neither ſhall they be devided into two kingdoms any more at all; Neither ſhall they defile themſelves any more with their Idols, nor with their deteſtable things, nor with any of their tranſgreſſions; but I will ſave them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have ſinned, and will cleanſe them; ſo ſhall they be my people, and I will be their God, Ezekiel 37.22, 23.
Again, Wait yea upon me ſaith the Lord, untill the day that I riſe up to gather the Nations; that I may Aſſemble the kingdoms to pour upon them mine Indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth ſhall be devoured with the fire of my jealouſie: For then will I turn to the people a pure Language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to ſerve him with one conſent; At this time I will bring you again, even in this time that I gather you; for I will make you a name and a praiſe among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, ſaith the Lord, Zeph. 3.8, 9, 10.
Again, Look upon Zion the City of our ſolemnities, thine eye ſhall ſee Jeruſalem a quiet habitation, a Tabernacle that ſhall not be taken down, not one of the ſtakes thereof ſhall ever be removed, neither ſhall any of the cords be broken: And the Inhabitants ſhall not ſay, I am ſick, the people that dwell therein ſhall be forgiven there iniquity; Iſa. 33.20, 24.
Again, Hear the word of the Lord, O ye Nations, and declare it in the Iſles afare of, and ſay, he that ſcattered Iſrael, will gather him, and keep him as a ſheepheard doth his ſtock; For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob and ranſomed him from the hand of him that was ſtronger then he: Therefore they ſhall come and ſing in the hight of Zion, and ſhall flow together to the goodneſs of the Lord; for Wheat, and for Wine, and for Oyle, and for the young of the flock, and of the heard; and their ſouls ſhall be as a watered Garden, and they ſhall not ſorrow any more at all, Jer. 31.10, 11, 12. Yea, in that day ſhall that ſong be ſung by the houſe of Iſrael that is in the 12. of Iſai; Yea they ſhall cry out and ſhout for joy, for great is the holy one of Iſrael, in the midſt of them, verſe the 6. Zeph. 3.15. They ſhall not ſee evil any more; then that in the 35. of Iſai. ſhall be made good, and that in Iſai. 60. and many other places which ſpeak very clearly to theſe things; ſearch and ſee, for Paul would not have us Ignorant of this myſtery, Rom. 11.25.
Moreover be not miſtaken though it be ſo, that the fulneſs of the Gentiles under this diſpenſation ſhall come in before Chriſt come in perſon, and many ſhall be given up to blindneſs, and be deſtroyed at his appearing, (as it hath been ſhewed before) yet them that are left of the Nations, ſhall fall in with the people of Iſrael, and ſay; Come let us go up to the mountains of the Lord, to the houſe of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his wayes; and we will walk in his pathes; For out of Sion ſhall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jeruſalem, Iſai. 2.2, 3. Micah. 4.1, 2, 3. Yea, many people and ſtrong Nations ſhall come to ſeek the Lord of hoſts in Jeruſalem, and to pray before the Lord; Thus ſaith the Lord of hoſts, in thoſe dayes it ſhall come to paſs, that ten men ſhall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, ſaying, we will go with you; for we have heard that God is with you, Zach. 8.22, 23. yea Zach. ſaith, that when the Lord cometh and all the Saints with him, even then the Lord ſhall be King over. all the earth, in that day ſhall there be one Lord, and his name one; and then it ſhall come to paſs that every one that is left of all the Nations which came againſt Jeruſalem, ſhall even go up from year to year, to worſhip the King the Lord of hoſts, and to keep the feaſt of Tabernacles, Chap. 14.9, 14. and this as I underſtand was ſignified under the Law, when the males came up to Jeruſalem to keep there feaſt, ſo the Nations ſhall come up from one new Moon to another, and from year to year, to worſhip before the Lord, Iſai. 66.23. for then the Gentiles ſhall be Converted to the houſe of Iſrael, Iſai. 60.5. For the houſe of Iſrael that are brought back and are called when Chriſt come, ſhall then be chief among the Nations, according to this Scripture, Iſai. 19.24, 25. In that day ſhall Iſrael be the third, with Egypt, and with Aſſyria, even a bleſſing in the midſt of the land; whom the Lord of Hoſt ſhall bleſs ſaying, bleſſed be Egypt my people, and Aſſyria the work of my hands, & Iſrael mine Inheritance; ſo in that day, the earth ſhall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea, Iſa. 11.9.
So in that day when Chriſt raigns gloriouſly on the earth, there will be firſt all them that dyed in the faith, & are found in the faith at his coming, made immortal, and ſhall raign with Chriſt over the whole earth, Dan. 7.27. injoying perfection in knowledge and purity, 1 Cor. 13.10, 11, 12. Epheſ. 5.27. and be made free from all manner of imperfections, yea as David ſaith, They ſhall be abundantly ſatisfied with the Fatneſs of thy houſe, and thou ſhalt make them drink of the River of thy pleaſures, Pſal. 36.8. So they ſhall be compleatly happy injoying fulneſs of joy, for ever and ever.
Secondly, the houſe of Iſrael that is called when Chriſt appeareth (as hath been ſhewed) ſhall be under them, and governed and judged by them, Obad. 21. Mat. 19.28. Luke 22.28, 29, 30.
Thirdly, The nations that know the Lord ſhall be inferiour to the houſe of Iſrael, ſerving them in that day, Iſa. 60.12, 14.
Fourthly, That there will be ſome of the nations in that day, that will not come to worſhip the King, the Lord of hoſts, and upon them ſhall come great judgments, Zach. 14.17, 18. Jer. 31.30. Iſa. 65.20. So there will be in the kingdome of Chriſt (at leaſt ſome of the time that he raigns on the earth, before he delivers up the Kingdome to the father) four ſorts of people, but the Saints that come with Chriſt, ſhall raign moſt gloriouſly over them all.
So then, things being ſo, lets look back to what hath been ſaid concerning Chriſt coming to raign; namely, that the Saints muſt be in a troubled, perſecuted, afflicted eſtate, until Chriſt comes, and the neerer his coming, the more perſecution, and tribulations, Luke 18.7, 8. This ſerves to inform the fifth Monarchy men, that the Saints ſhall not have dominion of the earth, neither ſhall the fifth Monarchy be, until Chriſt comes, for the fourth Monarchy, or Beaſt in his Heads and horns, raigns until Chriſt comes, and preſecutes the Saints, Dan. 7.25, 26. as hath been ſhewed.
Secondly, if there will be warr and rumors of warrs, and overturning of powers until Chriſt comes; that ſhould teach the Saints, not to deceive themſelves ſo as to conclude, they ſhall enjoy long reſt and peace here on earth, before Chriſt comes, and ſo to ſeek great things for themſelves; I ſay with the Prophet, Jer. Seek them not, for that the Lord hath built, he will break down, and that which he hath planted, will he pluck up, Chap. 45.4, 5. For the nations muſt drink Jeremies cup, them that are wicked to the ſword, ſaith the Lord, Chap. 25. from the 15. to the 34.
Thirdly, This ſhould teach us to buy the truth and not to ſell it, and ſo to ſeek the Kingdom of God and his righteouſneſs, in the firſt place, and to give all diligence to make our calling and election ſure; redeeming the time, that we be not found among thoſe fooliſh Virgins that let their lamps go out; but of thoſe wiſe, that ſtand with their Loyns girded about with truth, and their lights burning, as men that wait for their Lord when he ſhall return to the wedding; Mat. 25. Luke 12.35, 36, 37.
Furthermore take notice of ſome ſignes that go before Chriſts coming; Firſt, obſerve that the Goſpel being preached as it is now, (and ſhall be more fully hereafter) and many falling away from the truth, and the ſpirit of Antichriſt appearing, this is a ſign of Chriſts coming, 2 Theſ. 2.3.1 John 2.18.
Secondly, If we ſee and hear of warrs and rumors of warrs, and falſe Prophets, and falſe Chriſts appearing, and many run to and fro, and knowledge increaſe, and the great Whore of Babylon fallen, theſe things coming to paſs are evident ſigns that the time of Chriſts coming is neer, Mat. 24.5, 11. Dan. 12.4. Rev. 14.6, 7, 8.
Thirdly, When we ſhall ſee falſe Prophets, and falſe Chriſts, ſaying; loe hear is Chriſt, or loe there; working miracles, and the Antichriſt or man of ſin ariſing or appearing; then may we certainly conclude the coming of Chriſt to be at hand; yea if we ſee the Whore of Babylon fallen, and the man of ſin ariſing, we may certainly conclude, that before that generation ſhall go down to duſt, the Lord will appear, Mat. 24.23, 24.2 Theſ. 2.9. Rev. 14.9. Luk. 21.32.
Fourthly, When there ſhall be famins and peſtalence, and earth-quakes in divers places, and the Jewes return into their own land, and the Antichriſt (or man of ſin) plant his tabernacle in the holy mount, Dan. 11.45. Mat. 24.7.
Fifthly, When the Man of Sin and the falſe Prophet ſhall ſet up an Image, and give the mark of the beaſt, and cauſe fire to come down from heaven in the ſight of men, Rev. 13.13, 14, 15, 16. and the ſixth vial poured out, and that falſe miniſtry of the beaſt go forth, and gather the nations to the battel of the great day, according to Chap. 16.12, 13, 14. Joel 3.9, 10, 11. and the Sun and Moon darkned, and upon the earth diſtreſs of nations, with perplexity, the Sea and waves roaring in an extraordinary manner, Iſa. 13.10. Ioel 3.15: Luke 21.25, 26: When theſe changes begin to come to paſs, eſpecially the four laſt, then let us lift up our heads with joy, for our redemption draweth nigh, verſe 28. And when the laſt appeareth, know that the Kingdome of God is neer, even at the very doors, Mat. 24▪ 33. Now from all theſe things, let every one be perſwaded to walk up in all the commandments, and Ordinances of the Lord, improving all grace, ſo as to ſerve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear; yea let all the children of God, work out their ſalvation with fear and trembling; O let us give heed to the word of the Prophets, as a light that ſhineth in a dark place, until the day of Chriſt dawn, and the day Star ariſe in our hearts▪ that is, until Chriſt who is the bright morning Star he by his ſpirit; we giving heed to the word of the Prophet will cauſe us to underſtand the ſecrets of the Lord; yea the ſigns of his coming, as men that walk in the night know the day is neer, when they ſee the day Star ariſing; ſo the Lord will give us the morning Star, that we may know in an excellent meaſure the time of his coming, 2 Pet. ….19. Rev. 22: 16. Chap. 2: 28 Pſal. 25: 14.
But let no man be deceived, ſo as to account of the coming or receiving of the ſpirit in the moſt excellent manner, to be the coming of Chriſt; for the Corinths came behind in no gifts, yet waited for the coming of the Lord Jeſus, 1 Cor: 1.7: And the Apoſtle John ſheweth, that there are but three ſorts of Chriſtians, the little ones; young men, and old men, in Chriſt; and old ought to wait and did wait for the coming of Chriſt, 1 Iohn 2: 28: Chap. 3: 2. and then they and we ſhall be like him, Phil. 3: 31: O let all theſe things be laid to heart, and let all the children of God receive council of the Lord Jeſus, ſo as to watch and pray alwayes, that we may be accounted worthy, to eſcape all theſe things, that ſhall come to paſs, and to ſtand before him acceptably, Luke 21.36.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Jeffery, The Whole Faith of Man (1659)