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AN Appeal moſt Humble, YET Moſt Earneſtly by the Coming OF OUR Lord Jeſus Chriſt, AND Our Gathering together unto HIM, Even Adjuring the CONSIDERATION OF THE Moſt Contrary Minded, Who love HIS Appearing: Concerning the Scripture on due Compare, Speaking Expreſly, or Word for Word.
Of the Thouſand Years State of the Saints; The Dead Raiſed Firſt, and of The Living, The Remaining Chang'd in it.
And of the Wicked-Dead-Raiſed, the Gog Magog under it.
By T. B.
MY firſt Intention was only by way of Propoſal, concerning the Saints in the 1000 Years Kingdom of Chriſt; But finding Scripture-EviWicked-Dead, the Gog Magog of the 1000 Years alſo Raiſed, but to a State of Death, and ſo call'd ſtill, The Dead. It Gave me the Boldneſs to Raiſe my Propoſal to an Appeal; My Aſſurance in Theſe Things is, that the Spirit by laying its words in one Scripture, to its words in other Scriptures, ſpeaks Reſurrection Broken between, eſpecially, the Apoſtle Paul, and the Apocalyptic Apoſtle, by laying Them togeWicked Dead, the Gog Magog Raiſed to Condemnation.
Whoever would diſprove what I have Aſſerted, I expect, He ſhould not only perScheme, or at leaſt ſhew this Inconſiſtent with Scripture, or with it ſelf.
THE Propoſal is this: I will here ſingle out Three ArguApoſtolical, and from Prophetical Scripture in Compare; and which may ſeem of all other moſt diſputable; and if They can be made Good, They will undeniably prove the Thouſand Years Kingdom: And if They can be made void; They ſhall ſtand a Witneſs againſt me, that I am not able to make Good the Thouſand Years Kingdom of Chriſt, I have ſo earneſtly endeavour'd to Aſſert.
And that They may be more Clearly, and with All Brevity ſeen in their Force I will offer Them in the moſt Argumentative Order, and Form, I can Conveniently for General underſtanding compoſe Them into.
If the New Heaven, and New Earth, the Scripture ſpeaks of, be prepar'd for the Thouſand Years Reign of Chriſt, and of his Saints, ſo as to Begin, when that Begins, and to End, when that Ends; Then there muſt be a Thouſand Years Kingdom of Chriſt; But ſo It will be Found by a Compare of the moſt Litteral Conſequences from Doctrinal, and Prophetical Texts compar'd: Therefore ſo it muſt be.
I will here Anticipate one Evaſion; Seeing All Prophetical Scriptures of the Old Teſtament, particularly the mention of the New Heaven, and New Earth, Eſay 65. 17, and c. 66. 22. are ſo poſitive; and that in the New Teſtament, There is mention of the Regeneration, viz. of All Things, Matth. 19. 28. of Times of Refreſhing; or Reſouling of All Things; of the Time of the Reſtitution of All Things at the Coming of Chriſt; For the Heavens muſt Receive Him, till then; And that this Reſtitution was ſpoken of by the Mouth of All his Prophets, ſince the World began, Acts 3. 19, 20, 21. and that the Apoſtle, Rom. 8. 19. &c. plainly Aſſerts the Reſtoration of the Creation, (Tranſlated Creature) in which Heaven, and Earth, muſt needs be; Seeing All this is ſo; No one ſhall Fly off, and ſay; All this is but Allegory, Metaphor, and Figure; For with ſuch, There can be no Argument on Scripture Text held.
If the Apoſtle John ſaw, together with the Holy City, prepared as a Bride, a New Heaven, and New Earth, and that the Former Firſt Heaven,
Firſt Earth, were paſs'd away; which City will preſently Appear to have a Thouſand Years Peace, and Glory; Then the New Heaven, and New Earth Begin, when the Thouſand Years State of the Holy City Begins. But ſo He Aſſerts; I ſaw a New Heaven, and a New Earth, and the Firſt paſs'd away, Revel. 21. 1. and then to make it moſt Emphatical, He ſays; I John ſaw the Holy City, v. 2. So that it is not to bee ſuppoſed Any One will deny the Holy City, and the New Heaven, and the New Earth to be Together, according to the Apoſtle John, beſides the Great Concurrences of Reaſon, that ſuch a Glorious State, if Any ſhould have a New Heaven, and a New Earth. Thus They Began together
When any one Compares this with the Apoſtle Peter's Poſitive AſſerNew Heaven, and Earth, wherein Righteouſneſe ſhall dwell at the Day of Chriſt; and that a Day with the Lord is as a Thouſand Years; and ſees here a City, (as will be ſeen) of a Thouſand Years State of Peace, and, as ſecur'd from Sathan, of Righteouſneſs; They muſt be very Averſe to Compare of Scrip
Now that this very New Heaven, and New Earth, and no other Fly away, after a Thouſand Years State of Peace, and Righteouſneſs Granted to this City, in a Security from Sathan, and ſo end alike; I Go on undeniably to prove.
The Flying away of whatever Heaven and Earth, It was, was at the ſame Time with the White Throne, (as it were Blancking All into the High Spirituality of the Eternal State) and at the ſame Time, that there was no place Found for Them; and therefore for no other ſuch after them;and at the ſame Time, that John ſaw the Dead, Small and Great ſtand before God, and that Death and Hell, and whatever was not written in the Book of Life, were caſt into the Lake: This Conjunction of Theſe Things I am Aſſured none can deny, that ſhall but with the Leaſt obſervation Read Revel. 20. 11. &c.
If then Death, and Hell, were caſt into the Lake, then certainly Sathan, the Prince of the Power of Death, if whatever was not Written in the Book of Life, was caſt into the Lake, then certainly Sathan, for whom the Lake was prepar'd, muſt needs be at this Time Caſt into the Lake; But for what Reaſons the Beast and Falſe Prophet were there before Him, I have elſe
Sathan's caſting into the Lake muſt needs be after the Thouſand Years, as is expreſs, Revel. 20. 7. &c. and will be more argu'd immediately; if then the Heaven and Earth that were in Being, when Sathan was caſt into the Lake, were the Heaven and Earth that Fled from the White Throne, as is prov'd; It muſt needs be that Heaven, and Earth that were in Being after the Thouſand Years, that Fled.
And if the Heaven, and Earth that Fled, were the Heaven and Earth that were in Being at the Thouſand Years end, They muſt be the Heaven and Earth that were in Being during the Thouſand Years; who can ſo much as Imagine other? And If They were the Heaven and Earth during the Thouſand Years, They muſt be the Heaven and Earth during the Holy City.
For the City, cap. 20. and cap. 21. muſt needs be the City New Jeruſalem,
Holy, c. 21. So it was the Camp of the Saints, ſecur'd from Sathan's Approach, during the Thouſand Years: And ſo Righteouſneſs dwelt in it, c. 20 9. And it is the Beloved City, c. 20. 9. Becauſe it is the Bride the Lamb's Wife, c. 21. 9, 10.
Now this Beloved City, and Camp of the Saints, had had a State of Peace and Righteouſneſs for a Thouſand Years, while Sathan was in Priſon, and Gog and Magog ſtir'd not; All which Time the Saints Above ſat on Thrones, and Reigned with Chriſt a Thouſand Years; and the Partakers of the Firſt Reſurrection on Earth were Bleſſed, and Holy, and were Prieſts of God, and of Chriſt and Reigned with Him a Thouſand Years, and ſo were for ever Holy, and Bleſſed; For over ſuch, the Second Death hath no Power.
If then the Heaven, and Earth that were in Being during the Thouſand Years of the Holy City, be the Heaven and Earth that Fled, when Sathan was caſt into the Lake after the Thouſand Years, as hath been ſhown; Theſe muſt be the Heaven and Earth that John ſaw together with the Holy City; And ſo they muſt be the New Heaven, and the New Earth that He ſaw, c. 21. 1. and not the Firſt; and there can be no more, except a New Creation be Piled on this New Creation, and New Heaven and Earth that Fled away: So They End with the 1000 Y.
If according to Prophecy, concerning the Thouſand Years Reign of Chriſt, with his Saints of the Firſt Reſurrection, and his Saints, Partakers of the Firſt Reſurrection, There muſt by the Apoſtolical Plain Doctrine be a ſpace of Time between the Time of the Saints Dead in Chriſt, Riſing firſt, who Anſwer to the Saints of the Firſt Reſurrection; and the Saints Chang'd, who Anſwer to the Partakers of the Firſt Reſurrection; and the Time of theſe Chang'd Saints being Caught up; This ſpace by Prophecy muſt be the Thouſand Years Reign of Chriſt with his Saints? But ſuch a ſpace will in the Apoſtles plain Doctrine be found; Therefore It muſt by Prophecy be the ſpace of the thouſand years; and ſo the thouſand years Kingdom of Christ will be Fully Aſſured from hence.
If the Apoſtles plaſn Doctrine be, That there are two Sorts of Saints, and no more at the Reſurrection viz. The Saints Raiſed Incorruptible, and the Saints who ſhall not Sleep, but be Chang'd; Chang'd in oppoſition to Dying, farr below the priviledge of being Chang'd; Chang'd in diſtinction from being Rais'd Incorruptible, a priviledge above being Changed, when IncorWe All of Saints, even The Living, The Remaining Reſcued from the perdition of the Wicked Dead, and preſerved under Guards of Life, Then Theſe are two Sorts of Saints, vix. Principals in the Firſt Reſurrection, and Partakers of the Firſt Reſurrection; Seeing To be the We All is to be Saints or Holy: To be the Living is to be Partakers, To be Chang'd but not Incorruptible is to be no more than Partakers; To be Hi Zontes, The Living, Hi Perilipomeni, or the Preſerved is to be Bleſſed, For over Such the ſecond Death hath no power. But All Theſe Things are expreſsly written. 1. Cor. 15. 51, 52. 1. Theſſ. 4 14 &c. and Revel. 20. 4, 5, 6. And Both theſe Sorts of Saints Live and Reign with Chriſt a thouſand years: So There is a thouſand years Kingdom.
2. If the Saints, The Living, the Remaining, who dye not, but are Chang'd, are Chang'd in the Atom of Time, the very ſame Moment in
Twinckle of an Eye with the Saints Raiſed, 1 Cor. 15. 51, 52. and yet The Saints Dead in Chriſt Riſe Firſt, and the Saints, The Living, and the Remaining are not Caught up till an Epita (not to be Tranſlated [Then] but [Afterwards] which Epita is ſo Tranſlated [Afterward] 1 Cor. 15. 23. and leaves Room to almoſt 1700 Y. ſince Chriſts Reſurrection; If All This be, Then there may be ſuch a ſpace as the 1000 Y. from the Raiſing the Dead Saints, Changing the living Saints; before The living, The Remaining Saints are Caught up: and the Ama Tranſlated [Together] ſhall not ſignify Together in Time, but pariter, or Alike, (as it muſt needs be Rom. 3. 12.) with the Dead Saints raiſed, and with Chriſt Above, (who cannot be ſay'd to be 1 Theſſ. 5. 10. and elſewhereCaught up at all; For Chriſt Brings Them with Him,) much leſſe, Together, with the Saints Riſing, For this would Contradict the Apoſtles Proton, or Firſt, of the Saints riſing; and his Epita, or Afterward, of the Living Remaining Saints caught up. All this we find expreſs. 1 Theſ. 4. 14. &c.
Seeing then by the Apoſt. a Space there muſt be, and Prophecy ſays exDead Saints, Living and Reigning with Chriſt on Thrones a 1000 Y. was the Firſt Reſurrection, and that the Reign of the Partakers of the Firſt Reſurrection, Bleſſed and Holy, and on whom the Second Death hath no Power, is a Reign with Chriſt alſo of a 1000 Y. It muſt be a 1000 Y; So Chriſt muſt needs have a Kingdom of a 1000 Years.
If the Saints Raiſed Sitt on Thrones with Chriſt, as above, a 1000 Y. and There is a City and Cittadell of Saints on Earth for a 1000 Y. and who after are made to Sitt on Chriſt's Throne, in his Kingdom, ere the end, according to Prophecy; and that According to the Apoſtle; The Saints chang'd, The living and The Remaining are on Earth, while Chriſt, and the Raiſed Saints are above; and this for ſome ſpace of Time; Then how clear a proof is there of the 1000 Years Kingdom of Chriſt in the New Heaven Inhabited by the raiſed Saints, and in the New Earth, Inhabited by the riſing Remaining Saints? But ſo it is according to the Prophecy, and Doctrine of Scriptures, Such a Kingdom therefore There ſhall be.
1. It is never ſaid in Scripture, Chriſt ſhall come down on Earth, at his ſecond Coming; But He is the Epouranios, the Lord from Heaven; The Heavenly; not Earthy, as the Firſt Adam, As He went up to Heaven in a Cloud, ſo He ſhall be ſeen Coming in a Cloud; Then indeed out of ſight; But now Every Eye ſhall ſee him, as Above, Thoſe places, Job. 19. 25. Zech. 14. 4. that ſeem to Favour Chriſts ſtanding upon the Earth at the laſt day; The Hebrew Word may better be TranAbove the Earth, or Over it, He indeed Deſcends into the Lower Heaven; His Glory as the Sun's Reaching down to the Earth; ſo This, 1 Theſſ 4. 17. Repreſents Him in the Clouds, and in the Air, where his Throne and Tribunal muſt needs then be.
2. The Raiſed Saints are there with Him, ſhining as the Firmament, and as the Stars, even as the Sun, Reigning with Him in the Air, viz. the New Heaven above, a 1000 Y. as Ana in Anaſtaſis may well ſignifie.
3. The Living, and the Remaining Saints, as the Kings of the Earth, the Nations of the Saved, walking in the Light of, and Bringing their Glory to the Jeruſalem Above, Healed with the Leaves of the Tree of Life, Reign in the Beloved City, and in the Cittadel of the Saints, as with Chriſt always in their Eye a 1000 Y. and at laſt are Caught up to Chriſt in the Air, into a Like State with the Sts. Above, and are made to ſit down on his Throne in His Kingdom Above, where He Reſides the 1000 Y.
And thus the New Heaven, and the New Earth are Inhabited, during the Thouſand Years Kingdom of Chriſt, according to both Apoſtolic Doctrine, and Prophecy.
When at the End Theſe Living Remaining Saints are Caught up. Then They put on perfect Incorruption and Immortality; and the Triumphal Song over Death is Sung. For it is Swallowed up in Victory; Sathan, the Dead, and Death and Hell, who had been Condemned to Lye as the Footſtool of Chriſt's Feet at the Beginning of the 1000 Y. are now caſt into the Lake, ſo the Laſt Enemy Death is Brought to Nought; The Kingdom in a General Rendezvouz, or Meeting of Saints, ſpoken of alſo, 1 Theſſ. 4. 17. is deliver'd up to God, and the Father All in All; and ſo All Saints are Outo, in that very Poſture and State of that Meeting, Ever with the Lord, with God, and with Chriſt.
IF it be declar'd in Plain Scripture, that the Seed of the Woman ſhall Break the Serpent's Head, as Gen. 3. 15. and that God will Bruiſe Sathan under the Saints Feet ſhortly, Rom. 16. 20. and that moſt Expreſs Prophetic Scripture tells us, that during the 1000 Years, wherein Chriſt Reigns with his Dead Saints Rais'd, Living, and Sitting on Thrones; and with his Saints, Partakers of the First Reſurrection; Sathan lyes Chain'd, Seal'd, Bound, and Impriſon'd for all that 1000 Years; All which, ſo many, and ſo Emphatical Expreſſions ſpeake the utter Impoſſibility of his Annoying the Holy City for that 1000 Years; If All this be, It is then certain, that Chriſt, as He ſhall Appear the Glorious Second Adam, the Seed of the Woman, and the Lord from Heaven alſo, hath a Kingdom of a 1000 Years; wherein as Referring to that Promiſe, Sathan, Call'd Remarkably the Old Serpent, Rev 20. 1. Lyes under Him with his Head Broken by Him; and that in this Kingdom, Coming according to the Apocalyptic Phraſe, Quickly, God Bruiſes Sathan under the Saints Feet, who Reign while He is ſo Bound, and Impriſon'd theſe 1000 Years alſo.
Now that which Juſtifies the moſt Solid, and Subſtantial Senſe of Sathan's Binding, and for a 1000 Years, under an utter Impoſſibility of Annoying the Divine Kingdom for thoſe 1000 Years, is; That Both the Binding, and the 1000 Years, muſt Bear a proportion to the Looſing Sathan for a Little Seaſon after the 1000 Years Expir'd, and to the Caſting Sathan into the Lake; which muſt needs ſignifie an utter Impoſſibility of his ActiLake, againſt the Divine Kingdom for ever; as All muſt needs Acknowledge; If then the Binding: Chaining, Impriſoning, Sealing Sathan in ſuch an Impriſonment for a 1000 Years, Bear a proCaſting Sathan into the Lake, He muſt be under an utter ImBeloved City, and Camp of the Saints, or the Divine Kingdom for that 1000 Years, as He ſhall be, when in the Lake to Eternity; And if the 1000 Year Bear a proportion to the Little Seaſon of his being Looſed after Them, then that Little Seaſon muſt be but a Little part of a 1000 Years.
Now who can ſay? There hath been ever yet ſuch an Efficacious ForeSathan againſt the Beloved City, and Camp of the
Saints, as will Agree with the Seed of the Woman, Breaking his Head, or God Bruiſing Sathan under the Feet of the Saints ſhortly, or with his Chaining, Impriſoning, or Sealing, ſo as to Bear a Proportion to his caſting into the Lake? Or how can the Time, viz. from Conſtantine, Generally pitch'd upon for the 1000 Years, be that Time? wherein Both Antichrist, and Mahomet, have Rag'd ſo againſt the Church of Chriſt; And how could the Time ſince thoſe 1000 Years ended, viz. about 1300 A. D. be without Great unreaſonableneſs, call'd the Time of Sathan's Looſing, which hath been the very Time of the Goſpel Riſing out of the Apoſtaſie, firſt in the Bohemian Teſtimony, and ſince by the Reformation! How can it be call'd a Little Time, compar'd with the 1000 Years? when it is almoſt Half a 1000 Years already; beſides what may be expected of ſuch a State, as the preſent is; according to ſuch Apprehenſions, as Give no Credit to the Aſſigning of any Time according to Prophecy, that might be ſhort.
I Appeal therefore to Any Conſidering Perſon, whether this be not ESpirit's ſpeaking expreſly, when by plain, and Prophetic Scripture comKingdom of a 1000 Years, which is yet to come; and that after the End of that 1000 Years Kingdom, within a very Little Time, how Little we can't expreſs, ſeeing Scripture hath not, Sathan ſhall for ever be Thrown into the Lake.
If there be a State of the Wicked, Dead before the Kingdom of Chriſt, and Deſtroyed by the Fire of his Coming; and yet Rais'd to a State of ſuffering, that according to plain Doctrinal Scripture, may be a 1000 Y. and according to Prophetic Scripture muſt be a 1000 Years, and then the Lake; Then It is certain, There is ſuch a 1000 Years Kingdom of Christ.
1. If according to both ſorts of Scripture, There muſt be a Riſing of the Wicked, or
Ʋnjuſt, that have done Evil at the very ſame Time, that the Just, and that They that have done well, Ariſe, and in Conjunction with Them; and that They with Them ſhall make an Appearance before the Tribunal of Chriſt; Then that muſt be in ſome State, and for ſome Time, or ſpace of Time, whatever State, or Space that ſhall be; And ſeeing the Juſt Ariſe at the Coming of Chriſt, and at his Kingdom 1 Cor. 15. 23. The
Ʋnjuſt muſt then Ariſe alſo; This being a General Principle, and Article of Faith, I only Refer to the Scriptures, moſt Evidently proving it. Eccleſ. 12. 14. Dan. 12. 2. John 5. 29. Acts 24. 15. Mat. 25. 31. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Revel. 11 18.
And according to my Judgment, when by the Sixth Voice, Rev 14. 18. (For there had been Five before it;) The Earth is Reap'd by Him, that had on his Head the Golden Crown in the Raiſing the Dead Saints, and Changing the Living; In the Seventh Voice, (by which Seven Voices in that Chap. I underſtand the Seven Thunders open'd) the Cluſters of the Vine of the Earth are Gather'd, and Thrown into the Wine-preſs of the Wrath of God; that is; The Wicked are Raiſed to Condemnation, and to Everlaſting puniſhment; which by Comparing Rev. 16. 14. and c. 19. 10. 15. is done at the Battel of Armageddon, when Chriſt with the Armies of Heaven, viz. the Raiſed Saints on White Horſes in Linnen, White and Clean, expreſſing the Purity of
Spiritual Bodies of the Reſurrection, Following Him, in Righteouſneſs Judgeth, and maketh War on all the Wicked, and Treadeth the Wine-preſs of the Wrath of God, into which They are caſt.
And yet Becauſe the Wicked Riſe thus to Shame, and to Contempt, and to this Everlaſting Puniſhment, their Reſurrection is Counted, as no Reſurrection; neither in Doctrinal, nor in Prophetic Scripture: The Reſurrection Abſolutely ſpoken of, is by our Lord ſtyl'd; The Reſurrection of the Juſt, Luke 14 14. and c. 20. 36. The Children of God are only Accounted the Children of the Reſurrection: The Apoſtle Paul in thoſe Two Great DiſReſurrection, 1 Cor. 15. and 1 Theſſ 4. 13. ſo Frames the Doctrine of it, as to Apply it only to the Saints, who are Chriſts at his Coming, and to the We All of the Saints Changed, v. 23. v. 51. 52. and to Thoſe whoſe who Sleep in, or through Jeſus, Riſing firſt, and to the Living, the Remaining, who are Chang ▪d in the ſame Moment with the Saints Rais'd; afterward, viz. the 1000 Years after, Caught up to Them, and into a Like State with Them, 1 Theſſ. 4. 13. &c. and ſo the Apoſtle Leaves the Wicked wholly out in Both.
Agreeably Prophecy, as if They were not Rais'd, calls the Remnant, Slain with the Sword of Him that Sat on the Horſe, Rev. 19. 21. as in that very word, the Reſt, or Remnant, (and in the ſame Senſe with Slain) of the Dead, c. 20: 5. viz. The Remnant, or Reſt, becauſe not caſt into the Lake, as the Beaſt, and Falſe Prophet, but only Slain; The Dead, becauſe Slain, and neither Saints of the Firſt Reſurrection, nor Saints Partakers of it; Both which Lived, and Reigned with Chriſt a 1000 Years; But the Dead Lived not for the 1000 Years, that the Saints Reigned; and yet to ſhew They were an Appendage to the Firſt Reſurrection as Rais'd, though but to Death; till They were nam'd, It is not ſaid, This is the Firſt Reſurrection, Then it is, and They are ſet in the middle of both ſorts of Saints; What Greater Evidence can there be of the 1000 Years Kingdom, then the plain Scriptures, Leaving the Wicked out of the High Diſcourſes of the Reſurrection, and Prophecy in Agreement, calling them the Dead, as neiPartakers of the First Reſurrection, but Aſſigning one and the ſame 1000 Years, to the State of the Principals, to the State of the Dead not Living, and to the Partakers in the Firſt Reſurrection, and the Reign with Chriſt Concurrent with it!
If Gog and Magog can by Scripture be Cleared to be theſe veDead, ſlain with the Sword of Chriſt's Mouth, and ſo in the State of the Dead the 1000 Years, and then making their laſt Attempt, and ſo caſt into the Lake; This will ſtill Compleat the proof of the 1000 Years Kingdom; But there will be Found a Cloud of both Witneſſes, Prophetical and Doctrinal Scripture Probabilities; and one Great Proof of Scripture Doctrinal, and Prophetical Compar'd, that will conclude, it muſt be ſo.
Let then the Scripture Correſpondencies, both Prophetical firſt, to which this Figure firſt belongs, and then the Doctrinal be juſt nam'd, as Probabilities, and then the more concluſive Argument weigh'd. The
Ezekiel, which, whatever Litteral Senſe it may have, ſerves this Apocalyptical Image, with theſe Great Correſpondencies: 1. Gog Magog is a Confluence of Nations: 2. They Appear in Battel: 3. They come up againſt a People Reſcued from the Sword, and of
Ʋnwall▪d Villages: 4. The Vengeance and Fury of God comes up as in his Face upon Them: 5. Their Death, and Graves are made moſt Monumental. Ezek. c. 38. c 39. Proportionably in the Revelation; AlBattle of Armageddon, c. 6. 14. &c. and in this Battle, wherec. 20. 8 &c. and ſo firſt they are a confluence of Nations, the Kings, and the whole World, c. 16. Kings, Captains Great Small, c. 19. 18. &c. Gather'd under the Beaſt, and Falſe Prophet Both, and under the Dragon, by Spirits of Devils, c. 16. But when the Beaſt and Falſe Prophet were caſt into the Lake, c. 19. They are Rallied under the Dragon, Sathan only, c. 20. and their Number, to ſhew their Confluence is as the Sand of the Sea; Their City being a Hammonah, as Ezek. 39. 16. 2. Their Appearing in Battle is plain, and it is their Appearance under the mighty Efficacy of Spirits of Devils, or Sathan, in all their Malice againſt the Divine Kingdom. 3. They come againſt the Kings of the Eaſt, viz. (as I underſtand) the Saints, the Living, the Remaining, Reſcued from the Sword of Him that ſat on the Horſe, and on
Ʋnwalled Cities, viz. theſe Saints, before the New Jeruſalem came down, and now again after the 1000 Years, when the New Jeruſalems Glory, as Walls and Bulwarks of Salvation was Retir'd. 4. The Vengeance of God is alike deſcrib'd every where, Ezek. 38. 21. &c. Sword, Fire, and Hail, Rev. c. 16. c 19. Fire, c. 20. 5. 9. As their Graves in their Hamon-Gog, and Hammonah, are Ezek. 39. ſo Their being Slain, callDead, caſt into the Lake, is in the Revelation
The Correſpondencies of Doctrinal, and Prophetic Scripture Inducing a probability, that Gog Magog are the Wicked rais ▪d, are, that there is a diſtance of Time between the Enemies of Chriſt, being made his Footſtool, and their being Finally deſtroy'd: The Man of ſin made up of the Beaſt, and Falſe Praphet, 2 Theſſ. 2. 3. Rev 17. 8. 11. c. 19. 21 goes firſt into Perdition, and is caſt into the Lake at Chriſt's very Appearance, no Antichriſtian Church, or Kingdom being any more poſſible; But the Three other Great Enemies of Chriſt, Sathan, Wicked Men, Hell and Death are firſt the Footſtool of Chriſt, according to Pſal. 110. Heb. 1 13. c. 10. 13. All Rule, Authority and Power are not Finally deſtroy'd, or under the Catargeſis, till the very End; Death is the Laſt Enemy, ſo deſtroyed juſt before the Kingdom Given up, 1 Cor. 15. 24, 26. And the very date of this Time is, when the We of All of Saints, the Living, the Remaining are caught up to Chriſt into a like State with the Saints raiſed Firſt with Him in the Clouds, and ſo put on Abſolute Immortality, and Incorruption; Then the Triumphal Song over Dearh is ſung; and ſo All Saints are ever with the Lord in the Clouds, or Air of the New Heaven, and in the Kingdom deliver'd up to God All in All. 1 Cor. 15. 51. &c. 1 Theſſ. 4. 13. The Occaſion of the Great
Changing, and the being caught up, are not diſtinguiſh'd; The changing into Bodies of Paradiſe, or of a Participation of the Firſt Reſurrection, is indeed at the ſame Moment with the Saints riſing Firſt; There is an Epita, an Afterward of a 1000 Years, before They are caught up.
According to this, The Enemies of Chriſt, as the Footſtool of his Feet, Bear up the State of his Sitting on the Throne for the 1000 Years, viz. Sathan Chain'd, Bonnd, Impriſon'd, and Seal'd up. The Wicked, as Gog Magog in ſuch an Infinite Number, Exil'd in the Four corners of the New Earth, Appear, but cannot ſtir againſt the Beloved City, and Camp of the Saints for the 1000 Years: Death, as not caſt into the Lake, hath an Apa poſſibility of Action, in that the Living Remaining Saints, in having but a part, and not the Full yet in the Firſt Reſurrection, have not put on Immortality and Incorruption; yet ſo Heal'd with the Leaves of the Tree of Life, They ſhall not dye; Death cannot Faſten, though It ſhews its Fangs. When Chriſt does, as it were, Take off his Feet from his Footſtool; from all his Three Enemies, in order to Give up the Kingdom, They Every one Riſe, as into Action; Sathan the Prince, the Gog Magog, the Dead under Him, viz. Condemn'd, and ſo in the State of Death; and Death and Hell under their Prince; All theſe move to their utmoſt Activity againſt the Holy City, but as in Anticipation to the Lake, or a preſent Deſcription of it, Fire comes down from Heaven; Sathan long ago Condemn'd is without any New Judgment caſt into the Lake: The Judgment of Gog Magog the Dead, from all the Receptacles of Death, is Recollected, and Ratified in their being All Judg ▪d: And Death and Hell are caſt into the Lake with Them. This is the Final Catargeſts, deſtroying, and putting All the Enemies of Chriſt, that had been his Footſtool the 1000 Y. quite Below under his Feet.
The Concluſive Argument from the Compare of Doctrinal and Prophetical Scripture, That Gog Magog are the wicked dead rais'd, is this; AcWicked are Rais'd with the Servants of Chriſt, all at a Time; The Reſurrection is yet peculiar to the Saints, Becauſe the Wicked are Rais'd to Condemnation, and ſo to Death. All
Ʋngodly Men, whether Dead before, or Found Alive at Chriſt's Coming, are under the Perdition of the Fire of the Day of Judgment, and of Chriſt's coming; accorPeter, Ep. 2. c. 37. according to the Apoſtle Paul, 2 Theſſ. 1. 8. and ſo There are none, The Living, The Remaining, but Saints. Then according to Prophecy, whatever is not Partaker of the Firſt Reſurrection, to which, nothing is Second, but the Second death, muſt be under that Second Death, Beginning with that very Firſt Reſurrection; ſo the Wicked dead rais'd, not partaking of that Firſt Reſurrection, Immediately Begin to have their part in the Lake, which is the Second death, though not caſt into it, Revel. 21. 8. as the Living Saints in the Firſt Reſurrection, though not caught up into it; Gog Magog then call'd the Nations, and in ſo vaſt a Number as the Sand of the Sea, muſt be the Dead, having their part, though
full in the Lake; For there are no Earth none elſe but the Nations of the ſaved; But Gog does not for the 1000 Years Annoy the Holy City, being Exil'd in the Four corners, even as the Wine-preſs is Trod 1600 Furlongs without the Holy City, or Camp; ſhewing the Four ſquare Vengenance, IſſuFour ſquare Holy City, on the Wicked without it, The Saints above Equal to Angels, with the Lamb, Behold their Torment, and are Satisfied with their Fleſh, viz. Rejoyce in the Vengeance; The Saints below, as it were Burying Gog, Ez. 39. 11, 12. in Iſrael, nigh the Holy City, go out to Behold their Carcaſes; For without are Thoſe Dogs, Going round about this City, Eſay. 66. 24. Pſal. 59 14. Rev. 14. 20. c. 22. 15.
Concerning the Gog Magog, as the Dead Rais'd to Comdemnation, I have this Remarquable to Add, that when at the Final Doom, They are ſaid to ſtand before God, Rev. 20. 21. The Earth is not ſaid to Give up any Dead. The Sea had (as Grotius and Piſcator Render it) Given up its Dead long before, viz. at the Beginning of the 1000 Years; when, as hath been prov'd, the New Heaven and New Earth entred, and There was no more Sea: Why then does not the Earth give up its Dead, as well as the Sea? viz. Becauſe the Sea giving up its Dead, whOld Earth Burnt, became in its Four corners The Common Death, or State of the Dead, and the Hades, or Hell of Them: So Hades, or Hell, and Death Alone, GiveDead, and are caſt with Them into the Lake. This Aſſures, Earth is not meant by Death and Hades; except the Old, as Burnt, and Becoming the Seat of the Dead, and ſo caſt into one Common Lake: For when Gog came on the New Earth to Cover it, Fire from Heaven then Reſcued that Earth, and devour'd Them; So Death and Hades, or Hell, had all the Dead, for the Sea had before Given up its Dead to that Hades, Death and Hell, which is the Hamon Gog, or Hammonah of Gog Magog, Slain, and Buried in Iſrael, viz. without the Gate, and Camp of the Holy City, as Malefactors of Old: Sathan, for whom the Lake was firſt prepar'd, is caſt into it, without the Formality of a Judgment, as to his own place; The Dead; on whom the Judgment was at the 1000 Years Begun, is at their end Compleated. The New Jeruſalem, Seated in the New Heaven, and New Earth, upon their Flying, Re-Aſcends to God, from whom it Deſcended; So the Kingdom is deliver'd up to God All in All, and the Saints are for ever with the Lord, with God in Chriſt.
IF the New Heaven and the New Earth be a Palace for Chriſt, the King of Glory, and for his Saints in Glory with Him; BeThouſand Years, and Flying away within a Little ſpace, after They are Ended; when the Kingdom is Delivered up, and the New Jeruſalem Re-aſcends to God; Then there muſt be ſuch a Thouſand Years Kingdom; But ſo It is, by plain Doctrinal, and by the Prophetical Scriptures of the Revlation compared: ThereThere muſt be ſuch a Kingdom.
If All Saints be Saints Dead in Chriſt Riſing firſt, or of the Firſt Reſurrection; Or Saints, Styled The Lrving, The Remaining, not Dying, but Chang'd in the very Moment of that First Reſurrection; ſo putting off this Low State of Body, but not immediately Caught up to Chriſt; nor Immediately putting on the Incorruption and Immortality of the Firſt Reſurrection, but Secured for it by this Change; as being Partakers of the Firſt Reſurrection, over Whom the Second Death ſhall have no power. And if there be a Thouſand Years between this Change at the Time of the Saints Riſing firſt, before the Time of theſe Living, theſe Remaining Saints being Caught up; All which Time the Saints of both Kinds Reign with Chriſt; Then there Muſt be ſuch a Thouſand Years Kingdom of Chriſt. But ſo all this is by plain Doctrinal, and by the Prophetical Scripture of the Reſurrection Compar'd; Therefore there muſt be ſuch a Kingdom.
If Chriſt, and the Saints of the Firſt Reſurrection are in the Palace of the New Heaven above, as on Thrones, and their Glory ſhining down on the New Earth below; and the Saints, the Living, the Remaining Chang'd, are in the Paradiſe of the New Earth below, and walk in the Light of the New Jeruſalem Above; and ſo Each in this Thouſand Years, Reign with Chriſt; and at the End the Saints below, are Caught up Alike with the Saints Above, Then there muſt be a Thouſand Years Kingdom of Chriſt: But ſo it is by the Compare of plain Doctrinal and of Prophetical Scripture in the Revelation; Therefore ſuch a Kingd. muſt be.
If Satan the Old Serpent Bound, muſt Lie a 1000 Years, haHead Broken by the Second Adam, the Seed of the Woman, and Bruiſed under the Feet of Saints ſhortly; and then be Looſed for a Little ſpace before he be Caſt into the Lake, which can never yet have been: Then there muſt be a Kingdom of a Thouſand Years to Chriſt and his Saints. But ſo by plain Doctrinal Scripture and the Prophetical Scripture of the Revelation, It muſt be; Therefore there muſt be ſuch a Kingdom of a Thouſand Years.
If the Dead Wicked Raiſed, as at the ſame Time with the Saints of the First Reſurrection, and with the Saints chang'd; and yet being Raiſed to Condemnation, are neither counted Principals nor Partakers of the Firſt Reſurrection, but the Dead ſtill; who with Death it ſelf muſt be the Footstool of Christ's Feet, Sitting on an Exalted Throne Above Them, and as Aſhes under the Soals of the Saints Feet for a Thouſand
Years, before They are Finally after the 1000 Y. Destroyed, and Cast into the Lake; Then there muſt be ſuch a Thouſand Years Kingdom of Christ: But ſo It muſt be by plain Doctrinal Scripture, and by the Prophetical Scripture of the Revelation Compard. Therefore ſuch a Kingdom muſt be.
If the Gog-Magog in the Revelation, of which Ezekiel's Prophecy is a Great Type, c 38. c. 39. that ſtirs not for the Thouſand Years of Satan Bound under the Reign of Chriſt with his Saints, againſt the Beloved City and Camp of the Saints; but at the End of the Thouſand Years, makes a ſhort Aſſault, is no other than the Wicked Dead Rais'd, and Lying at the Fotſtool of Christ on his Throne for a Thouſand Years, then Judg'd and Caſt into the Lake with Death and Hell; Then there muſt be ſuch a Thouſand Years Kingdom of Chriſt: But ſo it muſt needs be by plain Doctrinal and the Prophetical Scripture of the Revelation Compar'd. Therefore ſuch a Kingdom muſt be.
And thus according to both plain and Doctrinal, and Prophetical Scripture; The laſt Enemy Death ſhall be ſubdued, with Satan its Prince, and all its Dead; and in the New Heaven and Earth flying away, the Kingdom is Delivered up, and God All in All.
If at the Reformation, Beginning by Luther, A. D. 1517. The Laſt 180 of the 1200 Years, Aſſigned to the Tyranny of Antichrist, and to the Witneſſes in Sackcloth, Began, and ſo at the Ending of thoſe 180. A.D. 1697. Daniel's Fourth Monarchy is at an End, and the Kingdom of the Stone and of the Son of Man, Filling the whole Earth ſhall Begin; and the Kingdoms of this World ſhall be Proclaimed to be the Kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Chriſt, in order to a 75 Y. Preparation to the Glorious Kingdom of the Thouſand Years. Then the Time is ſo near that it ought to call us off from this World to a Faith in, Earneſt Prayer for, and Preparation for this Kingdom: But this hath been Argued on Great Scripture Grounds; Therefore ſo we ought to be Affected, Loving this Kingdom, and Appearance of the Lord Jeſus Coming Quickly.
An ANSWER is Deſired to a DISCO
THE New Jeruſalem Revel. 21. Can neither be the State of Saints in the Higheſt Heavens to Eternity, As Some; Nor any Excellent State of the Church on Earth, As Others would ſuppoſe: It cannot be the State in Heaven; For the New Jeruſalem is firſt by the Apostle Paul, ſaid to be Above, Galat. 4 26. and to be the Heavenly Jeruſalem, Heb. 12. 22. Then Three times in the Revelation, It is ſaid to Come down from God out of Heaven. Not only from Heaven, but from God out of Heaven, Chap. 3. 12. Chap. 21. 2. and Verſ 10. And upon it, The Tabernacle of God is ſaid To be with Men. Now if this were a Going up to God into Heaven, the Apostle had Inverted all; And what he ſays, is a Coming down, muſt be a Going up: As if One ſhould Look up, and ſay, Oh Earth, and Look down, and ſay, Oh Heaven; And whereas on this Account, He ſays, The Tabernacle of God is with Men, It ſhould rather be ſaid, The Tabernacle of Men is with God. When therefore plain Doctrinal Scripture ſays, the New Jeruſalem is Above, and the Prophetick Scripture ſays, It comes Down from God Out of Heaven, What can be more Aſſuring? It is not the Going Up of Saints to Heaven.
On the other ſide, If it were a State of Saints in Glory on Earth, Diſtinct from the Saints in Heaven; How does the Apostle ſay, in that, Gal. 4. The Jeruſalem Above is the Mother of us All; And ſo the Bride, the Lamb's Wife? Whereas the Jeruſalem on Earth would be the Bride, the Lamb's Wife; and ſo the Mother: And how did he ſay, You are come to the Heavenly Jeruſalem, and to the Spirits of just Men made perfect? viz. In Bodies of Glory Coming Down from the Manſions in the Father's Houſe, into the Place of the New Jeruſalem, Chriſt went to prepare for them, and to Receive them in unto himſelf, Even in the Kingdom he went to receive, Joh. 14 2. with Luke 19 This is the Myſtery of Marriage between Christ and his Church, which He Preſents to Himſelf without Spot or Wrinckle, or Any ſuch Thing; Which therefore can be no Other than the General Aſſembly, and Church of the Firſt Born, even of all Saints written in Heaven, both Above and BeBride and the Lamb's Wife.
Whereas Some would have the Proton or Firſt applyed to the Saints Riſing, 1 Theſſ. 4 16, 17. and the Epita, or Afterward, Applyed to the Saints, The Living, the Remaining Caught up, to be words only of Order, without Diſtance of Time, as they are uſed. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Of Firſt Apostles, &c. Afterward Miracles. I urge it cannot be ſo; For upon this very SuppoFirſt and Afterward, muſt ſignifie either Difference of Order, of Time, or Both: When then Difference of Order cannot be, there
Saints Riſing, and being Caught up, are All of One Order, being Both Alike Saints; even the Saints changed and Caught up are the Wee All, of Saints, and alſo alike Happy; For We are ever with the Lord: So the Firſt and the Afterward being not of Order muſt have the ſame Force to Diſtinguiſh Time; viz. of the 1000 Y. as They DiChriſt the Firſt Fruits, and His at his Coming in the Reſurrection; and the Natural Firſt, the Spiritual Afterward; viz. From the Beginning of the World, to the Kingdom of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 15. v. 23. and v 46. And hereupon indeed follows a Diſtance of Order; Saints Raiſed Incorruptible, of the First Reſurrection; Saints Chang'd, Partakers of the Firſt Reſurrection; Not putting on Abſolute Incorruption, Till Caught up; Yet on whom the Second Death hath no power.
Whereas by our Tranſlation, and general Interpretation, The Living, The Remaining, are ſuppoſed to mean Thoſe who in ordiRemain Alive at the Coming of Chriſt: It will by Four Geat Reaſons appear; A State, Order, and Generation of Saints is Intended.
1. The Word Lipomeni, joyned with peri, ſignifies Left under ſome Special Deſignation and Care: So Theſe Saints; In regard of Saints, with Chriſt Above are Left to Inhabit the New Earth Below; In regard of the World of Ʋngodly are Left; viz. Reſerved, Guarded from the Perdition of Fire.
2. The Order in the Original is not, Remaining Alive, or Living; but Living, Remaining, or Left: Whereas, if Remaining Alive, had been only meant, Remaining had moſt Naturally come Firſt in the Greek, as in the Engliſh.
3. To ſhew a High Senſe; The Apoſtle ſays not barely, Living Remaining, but with an Article to Each, Each Is made Emphatick and Diſtinct; As if He had ſaid, The Living, The Left.
4. To give both Certainty and Stronger Impreſſion; It is doubled in the ſame Words, the ſame Order, with the ſame double Article, The Livers, The Left, The Livers, The Left.
Whereas the Changing hath been generally underſtood to be in order to be Caught up; It is much otherwiſe; For the changing, and not changed Incorruptible, is in order to a Participation of the Kingdom of God, (as even the Living, the Remaining) on the New Earth, before Caught up Incorruptible, to a Full Enjoyment Above; which preſent Fleſh and Blood canApoſtle ſhews the Great Myſtery of ſome being chang'd, 1 Cor. 15 40. Now if Their Changing were only to be Caught up, That needed not; For being caught up, were it ſelf the highChange, as in Enoch, Elias, our Lord; And yet changing and being caught up, cannot be the ſame; For the changing is at the ſame Twinkling of an Eye, with the Dead Saints Raiſed. The Catching up not till Afterward; Not to meet Chriſt with the Saints he brings with him, and to come down on Earth, (for that could not be, All being in one Twinkle nor does Chriſt ſo come down) but to be for ever with him, after having been The Livers, The Left of a Thouſand Years ſpace of Christ's Kingdom.