Apocalyptical Mysteries, Title page 1 – To the reader
Apocalyptical MYSTERIES, Touching the Two WITNESSES, the Seven VIALS, and the Two KINGDOMS, to wit, of CHRIST, and of ANTICHRIST, EXPOUNDED.
Wherein is contained ſome things neceſſary for the Saints in this preſent GENERATION to know. And therein is alſo ſhewed, what the ISRAEL of God ought to do in this DAY.
By H. K. a Servant of Jeſus Chriſt.
Iſa. 26.20, 21.
Come my people, enter thou into thy Chamber, and ſhut thy doors about thee; hide thy ſelf as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpaſt. For behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to puniſh the Inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: The earth alſo ſhall diſcloſe her blood, and ſhall no more cover her ſtain.
London. Printed in Year, 1667.
To all the Saints, that in every place call upon the Name of the LORD Jeſus Chriſt.
My Brethren,
THey that would ſerve God in their Generation, according to his Will, ought to inquire diligently into the particular Truths of the Age they live in, which are Recorded in his Holy WORD. The dayes wherein we live, being not onelyonly the latter Times of the firſt Apoſtaſie, propheſied of by the Apoſtle, 1 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3. but the laſt dayes of thoſe perilous Times mentioned by him, 2 Tim. 3.1, 5. I conceive, that the laſt part of God's revealed Will, to wit, the Book of the Revelation, hath in it thoſe Truths, which more peculiarly belonged unto this Age wherein we live; which conſideration hath made me willing (as my occaſions and daily Imployment would permit) to be ſearching them out. And though I cannot ſay that I have in all things found the Truth, which principally, and above others, may be called the Truth of this Age, and of our Generation; Yet being incouraged by that Bleſſing, promiſed Rev. 1.3. I have crouded my ſelf into the number of thoſe that run to and fro to find it: And have by ſearching the Propheſies of this Book of the Revelation, found three Myſteries, wherein are ſome things that ſeem to relate unto this Age and Generation wherein we live, viz. That of the two Witneſſes, of the ſeven Vials, and of the two Kingdoms, to wit, of Chriſt, and of Antichriſt. Which I have made the Subject of this little Treatiſe, in the reading whereof, I doubt not but you will find ſome Truths that are neceſſary for the Saints in this Age and preſent Generation to know, and alſo ſome duties which the ISRAEL of God ought to do in this DAY and Age wherein we live.
Dear Brethren, How ever others may cenſure me for preſumption, in offering my Opinion in thoſe things, that are in their judgment too high and deep Myſteries for me to meddle with; Yet you that are Saints, know how to bear thoſe infirmities and weakneſſes of your unworthy Brother, which happily you may diſcern in reading this Treatiſe; And notwithſtanding them all, may receive any glimmerings of light that is held forth to you in the Expoſition of theſe Propheſies; that ſo you and I, who have our Fathers Name written in our Foreheads, may go hand in hand (like loving Brethren) about our Fathers WORK, following our LORD the Lamb whereſoever he goes. The Diviſions, Contentions, and Separations that to this Day remains among the Profeſſors of this Age, cauſeth me to think, That God hath not done all his WORK upon Mount Sion; There are ſome ſufferings yet behind, which will purge away that droſs, by the Spirit of Judgment, and by the Spirit of Burning: And this is one Reaſon among others, which makes me think, the two Witneſſes are not yet ſlain; And though many of Gods Servants have ſuffered for the Teſtimony which they held, yet there remains a Remnant of their fellow Servants and Brethren which ſhall be killed as they were, and this muſt be fulfilled: For, as there was ſuch a Diſpenſation under the ſeven Seals, Rev. 6.9, 10, 11. before God would avenge their Blood; ſo there ſhall be ſuch a Diſpenſation under the ſeven Trumpets, before the ſeven Vials of Gods laſt Plagues be poured out, Rev. 11.7, 18. And when I conſider the Congregations of Saints, & Churches of ſeveral perſwaſions, in this Age, how unlike they are to the Churches of God recorded in the Scripture, with reſpect unto Miniſtry, Gifts, and Diſcipline or Government, beſides what is amiſs in the Worſhip of God; It makes me think, That the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Teſtimony in Heaven is not opened, out of which Temple John ſaw the ſeven Angels come, who had the ſeven golden Vials of the ſeven laſt Plagues of God, Rev. 15.1, 5, 6. And if ſo, then the ſeven Vials are not yet any of them poured out upon Myſtical Babylon; for thoſe ſeven golden Vials were given them after they were come out of the Temple, Rev. 15.5, 6, 7. and they had not a command to pour out any of the ſeven Vials till after that, Rev. 16.1, 2, 3.
Laſtly, The late Apoſtacy of ſome, who have fallen in with the corrupt ſelf-ſeeking intereſts of this ſinful and ſuperſtitious Generation; and the Zeal of others, who have ſeparated themſelves from their Brethren, judging them to be defiled with the ſins of the times, and therefore dare not have and hold Communion with them, though they hope they are Saints, and the dear Chilaren of God, hath given me occaſion to publiſh my Teſtimony at this time for the Kingdom of Chriſt, and againſt the Kingdom of Antichriſt, wherein I have ſaid ſome things that may, by the bleſſing of God, tend unto the recovery of ſome backſliders, and to the rectiſying of the Judgments of my zealous Brethren, and to the reducing of thoſe Saints unto repentance, who have been defiled with any ſins of this Age or Generation, not of wilfulneſs, but through weakneſs, and that either for want of light, or through the strength of ſome temptation; who being overtaken with a fault, ſhould be reſtored in the ſpirit of meekneſs, Gal. 6.1, 2.
Which bleſſings of God ſhall pleaſe to effect, by theſe my poor endeavours, and labour of love, as I know he will not forget it, ſo I pray for you, and beg your prayers for me, that neither I nor you may forget to give him the glory.
This done, I remain your Brother in the beſt Bonds, H. K.