Section 3
V11. Preclusive to the
millennium, and preparatory for it, are the following events.
1.The present usurpers of the country given to Abraham and his seed will
be dispossessed, viz.
The Turkish or Ottoman
Empire will be demolished; for otherwise the right owners cannot posses their
inheritance. The said demolition' of the Turk (or beast that started out of the
earth) is exhibited at the opening of the first seal, when .a horseman with his
bow issues forth conquering an to conquer, (Rev. vi. 2): his exploits are
specified at the sounding of the first trumpet (ch. Viii.7), and at the pouring
of the first vial (ch. XVi, 2). The fifteenth chapter of Esdras is a prophecy of
these events wherein Asia is particularly. Mentioned, (ver. 46.)
2.
The twelve tribes (is observed before) will return to their ancient
inheritance, else how can the twelve apostles be their judges? Men have thought
that the ten tribes are lost, viz. have dwindled away, so as to cease to be a
people, like many other nations; but Christ faith that the Jewish nation shall
not pass away till he come in his glory. (Matt. xiv. 34.) The other two tribes
are in being yet, and are seen in most parts of the world a distinct people.
But all Israel must be saved, according to Paul (Rum. i, 25. 26); therefore the
ten tribes are in-being, and a distinct people: a prophet + of their own faith
"that, after Shalmaneser
*The present. Situation
of the Turrkish empire comrades attention from all that look for the coming of
the Lord Jesus to reign upon earth: the combination of the copiers of Russia
an, the emperor of Germany, and their success the last year (1787) against that
empire are the ressen: should they prevail, the Jews (like the crusades) will
repair from all quarters towards the holy land.
+
It may be observed, that the books of Esdras were, by the primitive Christians
(for near four hundred years) esteemed Canonical, as appeared by three
catalogues yet extant: among some western Christians they are yet so esteemed;
but granting they are not canonical, yet Esdras' s account of the ten tribes is
more credible than any other profane history; because he must be better
acquainted with the fact he relates.
The abomination intentioned by Daniel is supposed to be that which Antiochus
Epiphanes set up in the temple; but that was before Christ time many hundred
years; the Romans set up no abomination in the temple; for it was destroyed
before they could gain possession of it; therefore Christ refers to a thing
that is yet to come; and to a temple that is not yet extant.
Shalmaneser
had led them captive, they assembled together, crossed the Euphrates, and
marched in a body for a year and a half till they came to a country where no
man dwelt." The name of that far
country is Arsareth. (2 Efd. xxi.).
This account is the more credible, because they are expressly said to
cross the Euphrates. In they' re way back to their own country. (Rev. xvi.12). But the western Jews
will return before them, " Jerusalem shall be inhabited again, and the Lord will
save the tents of Judah first. (Zech. Xii. 6. 7.) And when they are returned
they will all coalefee into one body, as before the division in Rehoboam' s
time, and no longer be styled the Kingdome of Israel and the kingdom of Judah,
but be one, and their name one this is particularly described by Ezekiel, (ch.
Xxxvii), and is full to our purpose, because the prediction was not fulfilled
at the return of the Jews from the Babylonith captivity. (John iv. 9). In this united capacity they will
rebuild Jerusalem in its place, and the temple in its place on mount Zion; for
in this temple will antichrist sit as god, and be the abomination * mentioned
by Daniel, and referred to by Christ
As a prelude to his
coming to reign; and an alarm to the Jews to flee for their lives Mat. xxiv. 15
35)- Into the same temple will Christ come after the destruction o Antichrist,
and there fix his, residence (Zech. xiv. 4, 5.) Ezekiel is more particular in
his forty third and forty fourth chapters. The same Ezekiel describes this
temple in the eight last chapters of his prophecy: it is vain to say "
that he " means the. Temple begun by Zerubbabel and finished by
Herod." Let anyone read the description of this 'temple in Josephus, and
compare it with Ezekiel' s temple, and he will soon see that they are not the
same, and that the latter has never yet had an existence.
3. Another event prior
to the millennium will be the appearing of, the two Witnesses mentioned in Rev.
xi. And Zech. iv. One of which will be Elias: this I gather from Malachi, (IV,)
and from Matthew, Elias truly shall come; and restore all things" (ch.
'xvii. Ii): this, indeed, is applied to John the Baptist in the next verse, but
it is in a way of accommodation of prophecy, and not of accomplishment; for
John was come and gone too) at the time that Christ faith in future, Elias
SHALL come: besides; John was a fetter forth of new things rather than. A
restorer of the old, which is the description of Elias: add to all, that John
had denied that he was the Elias whom Malachi spake of, and. the Jews enquired
after, John
(John i. 21), and Christ
does not contradict him. The other
witness I take to be the apostle John. My reasons for it follow: of this
apostle, Jesus faith, "if. I will that he tarry till I come what is that
to thee?" (John xxi. 22); now Christ did not use lightness in any of his
intimations, which would have been the case it he did not mean that John should
not die for so the disciples understood the matter (ver. 23): in another place
he faith, " There be some standing here which shall not taste of death
till the son of man come in his kingdom" (Mat. xvi. 28); that ".
Coming of his in the " glory of his father, and with his angels (ver. 27) is yet
a thing future; and therefore there be some alive now that were alive then, and
will be alive till Christ make his appearance in the air to raise the dead and
change the living. But plainer
than all is what the angel told John in the isle of Patmos, " Thou must prophesy
again before many " people, and nations, and tongue, and kings, (Rev. 11.): this
he never did; and therefore has it to do in a future day. Add to all, That the accounts we have
of John' s death are so very fabulous, that nothing sure can be inferred from
them than; that the people of Ephesus knew not what became of the old man: the
truth is, he (like Elias) was caught up to paradise, which is in the third
heaven, (2 Cor. Xii. 2. 4.) and was, in all likelihood, that angel that was
seen " flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to
preach to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people on the earth (Rev
xiv. 6). Where these two witnesses
will prophesy or preach is not hard to guess: Elias, no doubt
Will minister to the
Jews to take the veil off of their eyes when they read Moses; and to restore
his ceremony to its primitive exactness both as to sentiments and practice
(wherein the Jews were very corrupt, and had been corrupt long before their
dispersion) and so prepare thein for the reception of their long expected
Messiah, that they may know him when
- The composer of the above paragraph was
aware how. Subject to objections is his. Representing Elias as the
restorer of the Mosaic ceremony, viz. That it would-be restoring types
and' shadow, which had vanished at the coming or the substance. The same
objection hath been made against the return of The Jew to their own
country; the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple &c: but the proofs
of these last events among prophets and apostles are too plain: to be
controverter: the description of Ezekiel's temple alone authorizes the
supposition. But there is. A wide difference between," restoring
types and shadows emblems of good things to come; and, restoring types as
emblems of good things past: in this last sense Paul used circumcision,
vows, purification, &c. (Acts xvi.3. ch, xxi. 24.): in the same sense,
a great number of priest that believed, and other Jews, used temple worship
many years after (Acts xxi.20); in this sense the apostles, and all
Christians ministers since, make use of Moses' s types and shadows to
preach up the Messiah that is already come in the same sense will the
priests (under the instruction of Elias) preach over their circumcision,
sacrifices, divers washings, sprinklings, $c. I do not wonder therefore
that Luther was so positive, that the temple service would have continued
to this day, had the Jews understood matters before their dispersion, as
they will after their restoration; or as the apostles and succeeding
Christians did, and do understand them (Com. On Gal. Ch. Iii). Anyhow Elias must fulfill the
prophecy, viz. be the restorer of all things in the Law of Moses.
He appears in the air
and my shout, " Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord" (Mar
xviii.39). The other witness, viz.
John, will preach to the Gentiles; for people, nations, tongues, and kings are
applicable to none but them. When these witnesses will appear is hard to say;
for though their time of prophesying is sackcloth is 1260 days or three years
and a half (allowing thirty days to a month) yet they may preach out of
sackcloth long before; for the 1260 days reset only to the time that the holy
city and the outer court of the temple shall be trodded under foot of the
Gentiles (or Antichrist and his army) viz. 42 months, which make exactly 1260
days, allowing 20 to a month (Rev. xi. 2): but the ministry of the witnesses
requires many more years to perform than the time of their wearing sackcloth;
and there are no more than about 204 years between now and their death: I
should therefore expect that their appearance is not far off. I have hinted
before that the two witnesses and Antichrist will be in Jerusalem during the said
42 months: they in the temple defending it: and Antichrist and his army in the
town besieging the temple: and he will prevail not with standing the dreadful
powers the witnesses are armed with (Rev. xi.5), and will bring them out into
the street of Jerusalem, and there slay them (Rev. xi. 7,8.): I say, into the
street of Jerusalem: for the street of the city where our Lord was crucified
can be no other; it is spiritually Sodom and Egypt, but literally the city
where our Lord was crucified, and where the temple was which John measured
(rev. 4.)
The struggling of
Antichrist towards the mastery of the world, and his assumption of Godhead will
also precede the millennium. Who
this Antichrist will be is hard to say.
I take him for the last of them, who have plagued the world under the
names of Popes; for Antichrist is to be destroyed at Christ' s coming to reign
(2 Thess. Ii.8.); and pope will last till then; and therefore more cruel than
ever it began to strive for mastery in Paul' s time, but was checked by the then
Roman empire (2 Thessii8): when that empire fell it prevailed exceedingly, till
checked again by the reformation in Germany, and the starting up of the
protestant states: it has begun to prevail over these (for tho' the power of
the pope is lessening, his votaries multiply), and will prevail till checked
anew by the two witnesses mentioned in the book of Revelation: when he has
slain them, the pope will spring up to godhead, " exalting himself above, and
apposite all gods, showing himself in the temple of God. (At Jerusalem) to be
the god and Lord of all the earth (Zech. Iv 14. Rev. xi 4. Then, and not till then will that
wicked one be revealed who has hitherto assumed no higher title than the vicar
general of Christ on earth; but then off goes the mask. He will hold his godhead for 2300 days
according to Daniel (ch. Viii. 14); but according to John only for 42 months;
viz. 1260
Days, allowing 30 to a
month; the difference between these two numbers is 1040 days: and these are the
days which the lord hath shortened for the sake of the elect nation of the
Jews, Left they should all be destroyed.
(Matt. Xxiv. 22); so that the last and most dreadful persecution will
continue but three years and fix months, instead of six years two months and
twenty days. Blessed therefore (faith Daniel) is he that cometh to the end of
the 1260 * days; for then Christ will begin to reign, and Daniel will stand in
his lot his own country (ch xxi. 12,13), and Antichrist be no more.
5. Another event previous to the
Millennium will be the appearing of the son of man in the clouds, coming to
raise the dead saints and change the living, and to catch them up to himself,
and then withdrawing with them, and observed before, This event will come to
pass when Antichrist be arrived at Jerusalem in his conquest of the world; and
about three years and a half before his killing the witnesses, and assumption
of godhead. The signs of Christ's
appearing in the clouds, will be extraordinary " wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes
and famines," &c.
(Matth. Xxiv. 6, -8.) I say
extraordinary; for otherwise they would be no signs at all: because such things
had been before, and have been since the wars,
*The
number referred to in Daniel (ch.x ii. 12) contains 75 days more than his
number in ver. 7; the reason is, the last begins at the time of the visions;
the other at sealing the book that contained the visions, which made a
difference of 75 days. This being granted, the two numbers agree with that of
St. John, as they surely must; because both the writers speak of the same
event.
It should seem, will be
those of Antichrist; that is, of the kingdoms that aid and appose him: the
famines and plagues will be those inflicted by the two witnesses: the
earthquakes will be those which will cause the earth to rock to and fro, so as
to make the stars appear to fall, as they do at sea when the ship heels; for in
no other sense can real stars fall to the earth. The signs of his coming, in
the heavens, will be the trump of God, vapor and smoke, which will darken the
sun and moon, and make them look like blood (as they often do in very hazy
weather. And also cause those
meteors called falling stars. (Acts ii. 19. Matth. Xxiv.) The effect will be "
the terror and wailing of all the kindred of the earth, their hiding in caves
and dens, bidding the rocks and mountains to cover them," &c. (Matt. Xxiv.
Rev. xi. ) But the fright will soon be over with wicked men, as with the wicked
if Israelites when the terrors of Sinai ceased. And therefore, wonder working spirits of devils will take
occasion to counterfeit the preceding wonders in heaven and earth, (as the
Egyptian magicians did those of Moses) causing" fire to come down from heaven,
& c (Rev. xiii. 13. chap.xvi.13.): by which means he will not only take the
attention of the people from the foresaid miracles of Christ, but arrogate them
to himself, as reasons why he should be entitled to godhead. And that godhead
he will now assume, after killing the two witnesses, and gaining the temple
behold, them, " the man of sin fitting in the temple of God, showing that he
himself is God. (2
Thess. Ii. 4.) Now the great persecution of the Jews
will begin; who (though bad men) cannot submit to him as God; and such a
persecution as would extirpate the whole race had not God cut off 1040 days of
antichrist' s reign, as was before observed. Such of the Gentiles, as had so
much sense as to refuse him in the character of a god, would have shared the
same fate, had they not hid themselves in wilds and deserts of his reign as god
(Rev. xii. 14.). Nevertheless, it appears that many of the nominal Christians,
and Jews outwardly, will apostatize to him, and become his idolaters (Matt.
Xxiv. 10. Dan. Xi.35.)
6.
Another event previous to the Millennium will be, the destroying of that
Antichrist or false god. And this
will come to pass about a month before said millennium: I say about a month
before; for there is another number in Daniel which supposes as much, " From the
time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination which maketh
desolation is felt up is 1260 days." (Chap. Xii. 11.): but he will maintain his
godhead only for time, times, and half a time (chap. Xii. 7.); that is, for a
year, two yours and half a year or 1260 days, as observed before: the
difference between these numbers is 30 days, or one month: time little enough
to demolish his god ship, bury his army and cleanse the temple, &c. The
manner of his destruction is thus described by Daniel, (chap. Vii. 25) " He shall
be broken without " hand:" and well did he foresee; " for he will be consumed
with the spirit of Christ' s mouth, and not with hands (2 Thess. Ii. *.).
7.Another event prior to the Millennium is the
binding of Satan and shutting him up in the abyss for a thousand years (Rev.
xx. 1, 2, 3.). An event this
long foreseen and dreaded by the devils (Matth viii. 29.). Poor work do the Antimillenarians or
spiritualizing Millenarians (who are much the same) make of this matter: They
say that the devil was bound when Chris came in the flesh; because (surfeit)
oracles were silenced, and possessions checked: but if the Devil has not been
loose these thousand years past, and for seven hundred and forty - two years
besides, he never was loose in his life.
It is not long ago since I heard a grave divine maintaining, " that Satan
was bound when the Hebrew boy was born, according to prophecy of the
Sibyls: and yet before he finished
his sermon he cautioned his flock against the temptations of the devil: some
happened the laugh at the inconsistency; and his reverence broke the thread of
his discourse to admonish them.
But is it fair to tickle one first and then breaking one' s head for
laughing? Is it not more like truth to say, that the devil has been loose, is
loose, and will be loose, till the Millennium begins?" However, the wicked during that
millennium cannot say, as they do now, the devil tempted us.
8.The last event, and the event that will usher
in the millennium, will be, the coming of Christ from paradise to earth, with
all the saints he had taken up thither (about three years and a half before to
justify, against the accuser of the brethren; and to fettler their future
business and rewards, " the time is come that " thou should give rewards to thy
servant the
