Apocalyptical Mysteries, Part 3
Apocalyptical MYSTERIES. The Third Part. Touching the Kingdome of Antichriſt, and the KINGDOME of CHRIST.
Rev. 11.15.
The Kingdoms of this WORLD are become the KINGDOM of our LORD and of his CHRIST, and he ſhall REIGN for ever and ever.
THe Seventh Angel mentioned in this verſe is the Angel of the third WOE, denounced againſt the Inhabiters of he EARTH, chap. 8.13.9, 12. and 11.14. which third WOE containeth all thoſe righteous Judgments of God that are to be executed upon Myſtical BABYLON by pouring out of the Seven VIALS of the Laſt PLAGUES of Almighty God upon the KINGDOM of the BEAST, Whereupon the Kingdoms of this WORLD become the KINGDOM of CHRIST and and of his SAINTS for ever and ever.
By the Kingdoms of this WORLD, we may underſtand, 1. Ʋniverſally, All the Kingdoms of the World, that are upon the face of the Earth: 2 Kings 19.15. Jer. 25.26. to wit, All Rule, Dominion, Power, and Government in all Nations, and Kingdoms of the WORLD. 2. Generally, All the Kingdoms of the DOMINION of Nebuchadnezzar King of BABYLON, Jer 34.1. and Dan. 2.37, 38. alſo of Cyrus King of Perſia, Ezra 1.2. and Dan. 2.39. likewiſe of Alexande… the Great, King of Grecia, Dan. 8.8, 9, 10, 21, 22. and Dan. 11.3. and 2.39. and laſtly of the Caeſars, the Kings of the Romans, which is the fourth Kingdom o… Monarchy of this WORLD, Dan. 2.40, 41, 42. Dan. 7.23, 24, 25. 3. Specially. All the Nations, Languages, Kingdoms, and People that are under the DOMINION, Rule, Power, Government and Kingdom of ANTICHRIST, the Man of SIN, and Son of PERDITION, 2 Theſſ. 2.3, 4. to wit, the BEAST of the EIGHT Head, with two HORNS, Who aſcended out of the Bottomleſs PIT, and ſhall go into PERDITION, chap. 17.8, 11. together with All the Dominions, Rule, Authority, Power, and Government of all the ten Kings, who received their Power one hour (that is, at the ſame Time) with the BEAST, and have given their Power and Strength unto the BEAST, chap. 17.12, 13. Theſe are the Kingdoms of this WORLD; which ſhall become the KINGDOM of our LORD, and of his CHRIST.
That which doth Concern the Saints in this GENERATION to know, touching the Kingdoms of this WORLD, is, 1. How they became the Kingdoms of ANTICHRIST; and 2. How they ſhall become the Kingdom of CHRIST.
To that End, let the Saints Conſider,
Firſt, The Kingdoms of this WORLD, to wit, the Aſſyrio—Chaldean Monarchy, the Medio—Perſian Monarchy, the Grecian— Monarchy, and the Roman—Monarchy had their Dominions and Kingdoms given them by the God of Heaven, Jer. 34.1. Dan. 2.37, 38, 39, 40. Ezra 1.2. Who have by the Succeſſion of Divine Providence had and exerciſed their Dominion, Power, and Authority over all Nations, People, and Languages under their Goverment; Under whoſe Yoke and Dominion God for the ſins of his people Iſrael put them alſo and their Kings, Deut. 28.15, 25. Jer. 27.6, 7, 8, 11, 12. Ezek. 17.12, 13, 14. Dan. 2.37, 38, 39, 40. Ezra 1.2. Rom. 13.1-7.
Secondly, The Fourth Kingdom or Monarchy, which is the Roman-Monarchy, or Kingdom of the Caeſars in the dayes of our Saviour and his Apoſtles, was God's ORDINANCE of Magiſtracy, and thoſe higher POWERS unto which all the Saints, and every Soul who lived under the Roman Government, ought to be Subject for Conſcience ſake, Rom. 13.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
The Apoſtle Paul would not have exhorted Titus to put the Saints in mind to obey Magiſtrates, (as he did, Tit. 3.1.) if there had been no Magiſtrates then in Being: or if they had been Ʋſurpers, and not God's Ordinance.
Why did the Apoſtle Peter, writing to the Saints (ſcattered through Pontus, Galatia, Capadocia, Aſia, and Bythinia) exhort them, 1 Pet. 2.13, 14. To ſubmit themſelves unto every Ordinance of Man for the Lords ſake, whether it be to the King as Supream, or unto Governours, as unto them that are ſent by him, &c. verſe 15. for ſo is the will of God, &c. if the Caeſars, Kings, and Governours then in Being, were not Lawfull Powers, had no lawfull Authority, nor were the ORDINANCE of God, as well as they were the Ordinance of Man?
Let it be alſo well and ſeriouſly Conſidered, firſt, That Chriſt and his Diſciples called the then Roman Powers, Magiſtrates, Luke 12.11, 58. and Acts 16.19, 20, 21, 22. Secondly, That the Apoſtle exhorted the Saints to pray for Kings (in their Church-Aſſemblies) and for all that then were in Authority, 1 Tim. 2.1, 2. Thirdly, That our Saviour and his Apoſtles did ſubmit themſelves unto the Roman-Caeſats, Kings, and Governours then in Power, paid them Tribute or Cuſtom, Matth. 17.24, 25, 26. and commanded the Saints ſo to do, and to continue in ſo doing, Rom. 13.5, 6, 7.
Thirdly, The Roman-Power, and Political-Government of the Caeſars, Kings, and Governours of the fourth Monarchy or Kingdoms of this WORLD; became Antichriſtian, and the Kingdom of Antichriſt, when the Beaſt received his Power, his Seat and great Authority from the Dragon, Rev. 13.2. that old Serpent, which is the Devil, chap. 20.2. and exerciſed that Power, both Tyrannically over the Eſtates and Perſons of Men, and Coercively over the Conſciences of Men and Women, Cauſing all both ſmall and great, rich and poor, free and bond to ſubject themſelves unto the Beaſt and his Image, and to receive his Mark, Name, and Number, and to Worſhip the Beaſt, or elſe they muſt neither buy nor ſell, but be Killed, Rev. 13.16, 17.
This POWER of Antichriſt, which the Devil gave him, was ſignified unto John by a BEAST with two HORNS like a Lamb, Rev. 13.11. Horns do ſignifie Power and Authority in the Propheſies of Scripture, Zech. 1.18, 19, 20, 21. Hab. 3.4. and Dan. 8.20, 24, 25. and two Horns, imply a twofold Power and Authority, to wit, Political and Eccleſiaſtical; theſe two Horns are ſaid to be like the Lamb, becauſe the Beaſt pretends to have both his Political, and Eccleſiaſtical POWER and great Authority from Chriſt, and to exerciſe both for Chriſt; whereas indeed HE had his Throne, his Power and great Authority from the Dragon, the Devil and Sathan, chap. 23.2. and doth exerciſe it againſt Chriſt and his Saints, chap. 11.7. and 13.15, 16, 17.
This Politick and Eccleſiaſtick POWER is the ſame POWER, that the ten Kings of the Roman-Kingdom received alſo ONE HOUR with the Beaſt, that is to ſay, at the ſame Time, when the Beaſt received his Antichriſtian POWER from the DRAGON, chap. 17.12. Which mixt Political and Eccleſiaſtical Power the ten Kings or Kingdoms do exerciſe for the BEAST againſt CHRIST and his Saints, chap. 17.13, 14. and chap. 19.19, 20, 21. unto their own Deſtruction.
Now aſſoon as this Antichriſtian Beaſt with his ten Horns was riſen out of the SEA, to wit, the troubles, tumults, confuſions, and diviſions of the Roman-Empire, when by the WARS of the Barbarians the Roman-Empire was diſſipated into ten Kingdoms; At which Time alſo this ſame Beaſt with his two Horns, is ſaid to Riſe out of the EARTH, that is to ſay, out of the Apoſtacy of an earthly-minded CLERGY; who departed from the FAITH, as was afore Propheſied, 1 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3. ſhould come to paſs in the latter Dayes. I ſay, from that Time, the Roman-Monarchy, and Political Government of the fourth Kingdom ceaſed (though not to be a Kingdom, and to have a Power, a Throne, and great Authority, yet) to be a lawfull POWER, and an ORDINANCE of God: And therefore ought not to be obeyed, nor ſubmitted unto by any of the Saints of God, neither in any Civil or Eccleſiaſtical Commands; for that is to WORSHIP the BEAST, or his IMAGE.
Let the Saints conſider, 1. That thoſe, who ſhall Reign with Chriſt, have not WORSHIPPED the Beaſt, chap. 20.4.2. As it was dangerous to WORSHIP the Beast a little after his Riſe, chap. 8.7, 13. ſo it will be damnable to WORSHIP the Beaſt a little before his fall, chap. 14.8-12.3. Thoſe that ſhall ſtand with the Lamb upon Mount Sion, with his Fathers Name in their Fore-heads, and learn to Sing that New SONG before the Throne, chap. 14.1, 3. are ſuch Saints as have gotten the Victory over the Beaſt, and over his Image, &c. chap. 15.2, 3.
So then I conclude from what hath been ſaid, upon Scripture-Grounds, touching the Kingdoms of This WORLD becoming the Kingdom of ANTICHRIST,
That the Saints in this GENERATION ought not to Obey, nor to ſubmit themſelves unto the Roman-Antichriſtian-Politick and Eccleſiaſtick-POWER, Rule, Authority, Dominion, and Government of the BEAST, nor of the ten Kings or Kingdoms, who have given their POWER and Strength unto the Beaſt.
The ſecond thing which I judge neceſſary for the Saints in this GENERATION to know, is, How the Kingdoms of this WORLD ſhall become the KINGDOM of CHRIST.
God ſhewed unto his Prophet Daniel in his VISIONS of the Night, how the Kingdoms of the WORLD ſhould become the KINGDOM of Chriſt, Dan. 2.34.35, 44, 45. Dan. 7.13, 14, 18, 22, 26, 27. Viz.
Firſt, The Kingdoms of the WORLD ſhall be broken in pieces by a STONE cut out of the MOUNTAIN without hands, Dan. 2.34, 35, Which STONE is Chriſt, Plal. 118.22. Matth: 21.42. and 1 Pet. 2.4, 6. and alſo the Churches of Saints, his Jeruſalem, called a Burthenſom Stone, Zech. 12.3.
The Kingdoms of this WORLD ſhall be broken in pieces; firſt, by falling upon the Stone, viz. Chriſt and his People, Luke 20.17, 18. Whoſoever ſhall fall upon that STONE ſhall be broken, Zech. 12.3. In that DAY I will make Jeruſalem a burthenſom STONE; All that burthen themſelves with it ſhall be cut in pieces. Secondly, The Kingdoms of this WORLD ſhall be broken in pieces by the STONE, to wit, Chriſt and his Peoples falling upon them, Matth. 21.44. But on whomſoever this STONE ſhall fall, it will grinde them to Powder: and Jer. 51, 19, 20-24. Thou art my Battle-AXE, and Weapons of WAR; for with thee will I break in pieces the Nations, and with thee will I destroy Kingdoms.
The Myſtery of the STONE ſmiting the Fourth Kingdom upon his FEET of Iron and Clay, and breaking them in Pieces, was expounded unto the Prophet, Dan. 7.17, 18. But the Saints of the Most High ſhall take the KINGDOM, and poſſeſs the Kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever, Dan. 7.24, 25, 26. But the Judgement ſhall ſit, and they ſhall take away his Dominion, to conſume and to destroy it unto the End: read Iſa. 60.12.
Secondly, The Kingdoms of this WORLD, being broken in pieces by the STONE falling upon them, The STONE will become a great MOUNTAIN, and fill the Whole EARTH, Dan. 2.35. that is to ſay, Chriſt and his Saints ſhall have the DOMINION in all the EARTH, Dan. 7.11, 12, 13, 14. And I beheld till the BEAST was ſlain, and his BODY deſtroyed, &c. As concerning the REST of the Beaſts, they had their DOMINION taken away, &c. Behold ONE like the SON of Man, &c. And there was given him DOMINION and Glory, and a KINGDOM, that all People, Nations, and Languages ſhould ſerve him, &c. Alſo Dan. 7.26, 27. But the Judgement ſhall ſit, and they ſhall take away his DOMINION, &c. And the KINGDOM and Dominion, and the greatneſs of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven, ſhall be given to the People of the Saints of the Moſt High, &c.
As the WAY for the KINGDOM of Chriſt and his Saints to be ſet up, is made by the Breaking in pieces the Kingdoms of this WORLD, Iſa. 60.12. For the Nation and Kingdom that will not ſerve thee ſhall periſh, yea, thoſe Nations ſhall be utterly waſted: So the Kingdom of Chriſt and his Saints ſhall be inlarged and eſtabliſhed: 1. By the Converſion of Sinners, both Jews and Gentiles unto Chriſt, Iſa. 60.3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15. and Iſa. 66.8. and Rom. 11.25, 26, 27. 2. By the Pouring out the SPIRIT upon all Fleſh, Joel 2.28. Iſa. 44.3, 4, 5. 3. By the UNION of all the Saints, Zeph. 3.9. and Zech. 14.9. The LORD ſhall be KING over all the EARTH, in that DAY there ſhall be ONE Lord, and his Nome ONE. And 4. By the RESTITUTION of all things, Acts 3.20, 21. and Iſa. 1.26. I will Reſtore thy Judges as at the first, Iſa. 60.17. and Iſa. 49.6. It is a light thing that thou ſhouldest be my Servant to raiſe up the Tribes of Jacob, and to RESTORE the preſerved of Iſrael, &c. And then the Whole CREATION ſhall be delivered from the BONDAGE of Corruption, and Restored into the Glorious LIBERTY of the Children of God, Rom. 8.19, 21, 23.
That which the Saints of God in this GENERATION are to know, touching the KINGDOM of Chriſt, are theſe things following, Viz.
1. That the KINGDOM of our LORD Jeſus is not of this WORLD, Joh. 18.36. Nor is it of a Worldly Conſtitution; but it is a ſpiritual and heavenly Kingdom, 2 Tim. 4.18. and will be a glorious State, Iſa. 60.1, 2, 15, 19, 21, 22. of a NEW Heaven, and of a NEW Earth, wherein dwells Righteouſneſs, 2 Pet. 3.13. which is the State of the Holy City, the NEW Jeruſalem, that cometh down from God out of Heaven, Rev. 21.1, 2. Then ſhall they call Jeruſalem the THRONE of the LORD, Jer. 3.13, 17. which NEW Jeruſalem God will make a PRAISE in the EARTH, Iſa. 62.2, 3, 7. An eternal Excellency, and the joy of many Generations, Iſa. 60.14, 15.
2. This KINGDOM of Chriſt is the THRONE of his Father David, Iſa. 9.7. and Luke 1.32, 33. which Throne Solomon his Son (who was a Type of Christ) ſat upon, when he reigned over all the Kingdoms that God gave to him, 1 Kings 4.21. Upon whoſe THRONE our LORD Jeſus Chriſt ſhall ſit, and Reign over all the Kingdoms of the WORLD, Who is the onelyonly POTENTATE, the KING of Kings, and LORD of Lords, 1 Tim. 6.14. who ſhall be KING of all the EARTH, Zech. 9.14. with whom the Saints ſhall Reign on EARTH, and ſhall Rule and Govern the Nations, (not by the Laws of Men, but) by the Laws of God; Which are true Laws, right Judgements, and good Statutes, Nehemiah 10.13, 14. For Chriſt our LOKD, and Judah his People is our Law-Giver, Iſa. 33.22. and Pſal. 101.8. The Kingdom ſhall come to the Daughter of Jeruſalem, and the first DOMINION to the Daughter of Sion. Mich. 4.7, 8. And out of Sion ſhall go forth the Law, Mich. 4.1, 2, 3-7.
Thirdly, This KINGDOM of our LORD will begin before the Kingdoms of this WORLD End, Dan. 2.44. In the Dayes of theſe Kings (to wit, the ten Kings of the Fourth Monarchy and Kingdom of the Beaſt) ſhall the God of Heaven ſet up a KINGDOM; which is the Kingdom of Chriſt, Dan. 7.13, 14. Then will our LORD Jeſus Chriſt take unto him his great POWER and Reign, Rev. 11.15, 17, 18. At which the Nations will be angry, and the Heathen will Rage, The Kings of the EARTH will ſet themſelves, and the Rulers of this WORLD will take Counſel together againſt the LORD, and againſt his Chriſt; Yet God will ſet his KING upon his Holy HILL of Sion, and will give him the Heathen for his Inheritance, and the uttermoſt parts of the EARTH for his Poſſeſſion. Pſal. 2.1-8. And the LORD ſhall REIGN over them in MOUNT-Sion, from henceforth even for ever, Mich. 4.7, 8.
Fourthly, Though the KINGDOM of Chriſt ſhall begin before the Kingdoms of this WORLD End; And though all the Kingdoms of this WORLD ſhall become the KINGDOM of our LORD Jeſus Chriſt; Yet the great Glory and Perfection of Chriſts Kingdom ſhall be in the WORLD to COME. Then ſhall ALL things be put in SUBJECTION under the Feet of Chriſt, Hebr. 2.5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Which World to COME is contradiſtinguiſhed from the WORLD that NOW IS, Mat. 12.32. Called this WORLD, in diſtinction from that WORLD, Luke 20.34, 35, 36. The Apoſtle alſo ſpeaketh of the DOMINION of this WORLD, Eph. 1.21. and of the POWER of the WORLD to COME.
The WORLD to COME is not that eternal State of God's Kingdom of GLORY in Heaven; but it is the glorious and ſpiritual State of the KINGDOM of Chriſt on EARTH, Heb. 2.5. That ſame WORLD, even THAT, that is to COME; to wit, The inhabited WORLD to Come, wherein the PEOPLE of God ſhall build Houſes, and inhabit them, according to Gods Promiſe, in that day, when he will Create New Heavens, and a new Earth, Iſa. 65.17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25. and Amos 19.11, 14. And ſhall build up the Tabernacle of David, &c.
Fifthly, The Dominion and Government of the KINGDOM of Chriſt on EARTH ſhall be given to the Saints, Dan. 7.27. and be Managed by them according to the Laws of Chriſt; and to that End the Saints, (who ſhall Reign with Chriſt on Earth) ſhall be rarely Qualified, and fitted for that Kingdom, Work, and Kingly Government: for, 1. They ſhall be all Righteous, Iſa. 60.21. They ſhall do no Iniquity, Zeph. 3.13. They ſhall be without Fault before the THRONE of God, Rev. 14.5. 2. The Saints ſhall be SPIRITED for Government, Iſa. 28.5, 6. Conſtituted Government, Rev. 5.9, 10. and ſtrengthned for Governing, Zech. 12.5, 8. and Iſa. 45.24, 25. 3dly, and Laſtly, The Saints ſhall be cloathed with Humility, ſo that they ſhall Caſt down their Crowns at the Feet of Chriſt, their KING, Rev. 4.10, 11. Exalting HIM alone, ch. 5.9, 10. And they ſhal be Endued with Courage, Clad with Zeal, and Girded with Strength and Truth, that they may binde Kings in Chains, and Nobles in Fetters of IRON, and Execute upon them the JUDGMENT written, Luke 19.27. This HONOUR have all his SAINTS, Pſal. 149.1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9. which was Propheſied of Jer. 51.19-24. Thou art my Battle-Axe and Weapon of WAR, for with thee will I break in pieces the Nations, and with thee will I deſtroy Kingdoms, and with thee will I break in pieces Captains and RULERS, &c. Alſo Zech. 12.5, 6. In that DAY will I make the GOVERNORS of Judah like a Hearth of Fire among the Wood, and like a Torch of Fire in a Sheaf, and they ſhall devour all the PEOPLE (the Enemies of Chriſt) round about.
Sixthly, The Goſpel of this KINGDOM of Chriſt ſhall be preached in all the WORLD for a WITNESS to all NATIONS, Mat. 24.14. And therefore the Kingdom of Chriſt cannot be ſet up in any Nation until the GOSPEL of the Kingdom be firſt preached in that Nation; And then that NATION, Kingdom, or PEOPLE, which do believe the GOSPEL of the Kingdom preached unto them, and are made WILLING (in the DAY of God's POWER, Pſal. 110.3.) to Admit the Saints to RULE and GOVERN that Nation according to the LAWS of our LORD and KING Jeſus, ſhall become the Kingdom of Chriſt: But that Nation, Kingdom and People, which will not receive the TESTIMONY of the Kingdom of Chriſt, but reject the WITNESS of the Goſpel, and Kill the WITNESSES of Chriſt, ſhall be utterly Waſted, and Deſtroyed, Iſa. 60.12. And our LORD Jeſus Chriſt will put down all RULE, all AUTHORITY, and all POWER, that are his Enemies, and wil… not Submit unto his DOMINION, 1 Cor. 15.24, 25. and Luke 19.27.
Seventhly, WHEN this Kingdom of … LORD is Eſtabliſhed on EARTH, wi… POWER and great GLORY, and all th… Kingdoms of this WORLD are become the KINGDOM of Chriſt; The Thouſand Years of the Reign of Chriſt and his Saints being Expired and Ended, Then Will Chriſt come again, and all the Saints with HIM, Zeph. 14.5. and 1 Theſ. 4.15, 16, 17, 18. then will be the General RESURRECTION, and the Laſt JUDGMENT, 1 Cor. 15.22, 23. and Rev. 20.4, 12, 13, 14. Which being paſt, Chriſt ſhall deliver up the Kingdom unto God the Father, that GOD may be ALL in ALL, 1 Cor. 15.24, 25, 28.
FINIS.
End of the text · Hanserd Knollys, Apocalyptical Mysteries (1667)