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A Scheme of the whole Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, of very great use, with the following Summarie of Daniels Visions, &c. for the right understanding of the Parallel of that Book and the Revelation after set down. Printed in the Year 1671.

AFter that the beloved Disciple John according to Christs ap­pointment, chap. 1.19. had written, First, the things which he had seen in Vision, chap. 1. and Secondly, the things that were in his time concerning the 7 Churches of Asia, chap. 2, & 3. under which 7 Churches is probably conceived also to be contained an adumbration of 7 Intervals of the future state of the true Church until the glorious appearance and Kingdom of Christ.

Then in the 3d place (after a Divine Preludium, or rather Hierogly­phical Prologue and Drammatical Chorus (if I may so term them) by two most glorious Visions set down chap. 4, 5. respecting the events of things to come in the end) he is appointed in all the ensuing Book to write of all things to come unto the end of the World.

In which 3d respect from chap. 4, & 5. until the said appearance and King­dom of Christ on Earth, chap: 19, & 20. and the state of things in his said Kingdom farther decyphered, chap. 21, & 22. are two large Prophesies (in that interim) contained, both of them respecting the Fates and State of the Roman Empire and f [...]lse Church during the same time, viz. 42. Monthes, and also of the true Church contemporating all along with both, for the 1260. dayes of years.

The first of which is the Seal Prophesie chiefly respecting the Roman civil State, first, as Heathenish, chap. 6. 2dly, as heretical and Antichri­stian, chap. 8, & 9.

The 2d, is the Book-Prophesie, Rev. 10. respecting (chiefly) the Ro­man Ecclesiastick state, or false Church, first, as Pagan and Heretical, chap, 12. 2ly, as Popish, c. 13, 17. whose ruine is fore-told, c. 14.8, and exe­cuted to the end of that chapter, with c. 15, & 16. and more fully illustra­ted c. 18, & 19.

Under both which states, the true Church is briefly decyphered, in c. 11. to v. 15. (where follows her happie state succeeding to the end of that chap.) of which likewise more largly again in the Book-prophesie, c. 12, & 14 untill her said blessed state shall come, which is again decypher­ed farther, c. 19, & 20. and gloriously illustrated, c. 21, & 22.

Now for the Contemporating of the said two Prophesies observe further.

First, That the said Seal-Prophesie respect; the Roman Sease, and is con­tained in c. 6, 8, 9. (with c. 11. to v. [Page 2]15: which last as a table of all the said times is applicable to both Pro­phesies) but in c. 6. are the six first Seals: the first Victory: the 2d Slagh­ter: 3d Ballance: 4th Death: 5th the Altar: 6. the great Earthquake in Constantine the greats time, when the great Red Dragon was cast out of his Heaven of Idolatrous wor­ship to the earth, about 320. years after Christs birth under the said sixth Seal.

The 7th Seal in c. 8. out of which proceed the 7. Trumpets, or Judge­ments described in the same ch.

By

  • the first Trumpet Haile de­stroys the Earth;
  • the 2d, a Moun­tain burning fell into the Sea
  • 3d, a Star fell into the Rivers:
  • 4th, an Ec­clyps of the Lights,

being all gradu­al Judgements upon the Roman Em­pire for persecuting the Saints be­fore, &c and chiefly brought upon it by the Incursions of the Barba­rous Nations till about the time of the Popes date began; together with the 10. Kings that give their power to the Beast, as c. 17. v. 12. about 410.

But after these, come the three woe Trumpets much more full of horrour, &c. two of them in c. 9. wherein are contained the Locusts, the Saracens; the first Woe to v. 11. about An. Dom. 600. and the Turks the Euphratean horsemen, to the end of the ch. about 1300. who have suc­cessively more and more prevailed to promote the ruine of the Roman Empire, chiefly of the East irrecove­rably.

The 3d Woe Trumpet utterly puts an end to the Roman Empire at the ruine of the Popedome, the last [Page 3]head thereof, as c. 10, and c. 11.14. whereunto succeeds Christs Kingdom in the sequel of ch. 11. from v. 15.

And under all the said 7. Trum­pets the 144000. c. 7. of all the Tribes of Israel, i.e. of all real Saints in the times of all the said Trumpets are preserved by the Seal of the living God, whilst the rest of the men pe­rished under his said Sealed Judge­ments, but especially the Woe Trumpets.

Secondly, Also the said Book-Prophesie c. 10. with which the time of the first 6 Seals did contemporate▪

First, the Court of the Temple and Altar measured, c. 11.1.

2dly, The Dragon with 7 heads making War with Michael and his Angels, c. 12. which also were in the Primitive times of persecution al­most until Antichrists date began, by his great Apostasie.

But during the said 6 first Trum­pets out of the 7th Seal were many contemporaries, as

  • 1. The outward Court or holy City not measured but given to the Gentils [viz. the Papists] to be trodden under foot 42. Months, c. 11.2
  • 2. The two Witnesses at last to be killed by the Beast prophesied cloathed in Sackcloth 1260. dayes of years, chap. 11.3.
  • 3. The child-beating-Woman the Dragon being cast down, flees into the wilderness, where she is to be nourished by the witnesses, 1260. days of years, or a time times and half a time, c. 12.3, &c.
  • 4, The 7 headed, and 10 horned Beast being after his deadly plague revived, under the course of that last head, blasphemes, and overcomes the Saints 42. months, c. 13.1, 2, 3, &c.
  • 5. The 2 horned Beast or false Prophet, the setter up of the 10 hor­ned Beast administers all his power in his sight or presence, c. 13.11, 12, &c.
  • 6. The Virgin companie of the 144000. sealed ones of the Lamb, c. 14. to whom alone it is given to sing the new song, doth admonish the worshippers of the Beast of the Divine Judgements, c. 14.7, 8, &c.
  • 7. That great City Babylon the [Page 3]Whore, sits upon the 7 headed beast, now in the course of his last head with ten horns, making the inhabi­tants of the Earth drunk with the Wine of her Fornication, c. 17.1, 2, &c. to destroy which said whore with fire, God will stir up the Kings of the earth, Rev. 17, 16.

And as for the 7 Vials or last plagues, chap. 15.16. the first six of them are probably con­ceived, by Mr. Mede, to be powred out under the sixt Trumpet, all which prepare for the said Beasts ut­ter ruine, but it is the execution of the 7th when the 3d woe comes, that will as Daniel saith, c. 7.26. by fire consume and destroy the body of the said Beast unto the end, when he is also said to goe into perdition, Rev. 17.11.

But at the sounding of the 7th or 3d Woe Trumpet the mysterie of God is finished, c. 10. as he spake by his servants the Prophets, when will stand up the innumerable company of rejoycing Palm-bearers in their white robes, as they are described, c. 7. who are said to be sealed as before, and preserved for the Jerusalem state, and Christs Kingdom on earth, c. 20.21, 22. And upon the sounding of which said 7th Trumpet, when the last Beastly Kingdom, viz. the Roman shall perish for ever, as Num. 24 24. The good new World to come will then begin; for upon that ruine of Sa­tans Kingdom, Christs is set up in the world for 1000. years: for which time Satan is bound, and Christ reigneth personally with his Saints. All which time the Wife of the Lamb, the New Jerusalem that came down from God out of Heaven. (after whose light the Nations that are saved; shall walk) will be the Mother Citie of Christs said Kingdom.

And when the said 1000. years are ended, Satan shall be loosed for his last most provoking and desperate attempt with his last Gog and Magog, c. 10.8, &c, which will suddainly bring on him destruction, and on the world likewise, thereupon to be dissolved, when the sounding of the last Trumpet will be heard, and the change, resurrection and rapture of all the Saints living, remaining, and dead, will in a moment or twinckling of an eye be accomplished, unto which will succeed the resurrection of the wicked, and the General Judgement of good and bad by the irreversible Sentence of approbation and condemnation for all Eternitie.

A brief and useful Summary of the book of the Prophet Daniel, being a fit Introduction to the Parallel of that, and the book of the Revelation.

AS Christ Jesus commanded St. John his beloved Disciple. Rev. 1.19.

First, To write the things he had seen, viz. set down in the same [Page 4]

  • 2ly. The things that then were, viz. concerning those present Churches of Asia, Chap. 2. and 3.
  • 3ly. The things that should be afterwards to the end of the world: in the rest of that whole book: even so the spirit of God had before guided Daniel that greatly beloved Prophet in the same order.

First, To write the things he had seen: More gene­rally,

  • 1. By Revelation only, Chap. 2. by making known to him the exposition of Nebuchadnezzars dream of an Image, the parts of which, set forth the four Mo­narchies of this world.
  • 2. By both Vision and Revelation, chap. 7. when the same things in generals were again set before him by four beasts that should destroy each other, further de­cyphering for the use of the Church, the state of the said Mettle Kingdoms, in other respects set forth in the Image before.

By which double confirmation, God set before his people the excellen­cy and usefulness of those things so made known, with the certainty of them, and of what was to ensue to the end of the world (as our Saviour in these times of the end hath by his Revelations to St. John made mani­fest, as he here also expresly declares, Dan. 2.28. and afterwards, Dan. 10.14.) viz. they were of things that concerned the latter dayes.

And in both these Generals made known to Daniel, we may observe the special inlargements concerning the 4th. Kingdom of the Romans, with this difference, that in Nebuchadnezzars dream were set forth the things that concerned the Roman Monarchy in the civil state thereof, by the mixture of Iron and Clay in the sect and toes towards the end of it, as belonging to the beast with ten horns, expounded by our Saviour, Rev. 13.1, 2, 3, to v. 11. And thereunto was added the setting up of the first state of Christs Kingdom by the God of Heaven, ver. 34. and v. 44. shewing the preva­lency thereof in the time, and at the end of that Monarchy, when both that, and all the broken parts of the former, should altogether pass aways whereupon should succeed the 2d. state of Christs Kingdom, which Mr. Made stiles the Kingdom of the Mountain, from Dan 2.35. when the stone shall become a great Mountain filling the whole earth.

But unto Daniel, ch. 7. with the 10 horns or civil state, is also set forth that which seemed to be a little horn (at first view) which was after to decypher the great Antichrist with his wicked actings, ver. 8. &c. further expounded, v. 20, 21, 22 &c. which appears from Rev. 13. v. 11. &c. to refer to the two horned beast in the same time in respect of its Ecclesiasti­cal capacity, for whose wickedness was the setting up of the Throne of Judgement of the antient of days to destroy the said beast, &c. v. 11, with 9. & 10. Upon which total and terrible destruction of that whole state was shewed unto Daniel, the coming of the Son of man coming with the [Page 5]Clouds of Heaven so often spoken of by our Saviour in the Gospel, when he shall receive and possess his universal glorious kingdom in the world, and all Domini­ons shall serve and obey him, v. 13, 14. and v. 27. and as is set down, v. 18. and v. 22. then Judgment, or Potestas judicandi, shall be given to the Saints of the most high: who shall from that time, as our Saviour hath taught, Rev. 20.4. and Rev. 5.10. Reign with himself upon earth a thousand years.

The second head in the book of Daniel, is of such things as were in Daniels own time, wherein,

  • First, Of his own, and the other three worthies coming, promotion, and con­tinuance at Babylon, to the first year of Cyrus, chap. 1.
  • Secondly, Of the special occasion of his own promotion by interpreting Ne­buchadnezzars dream, chap. 2.
  • Thirdly, Of the tryal and deliverance of the three said Worthies from the fiery Furnace, chap. 3.
  • Fourthly, [...]f Gods humbling of King Nebuchadnezzar for his pride, and his getting thereby glory to himself, chap. 4.
  • Fifthly, Of the end and ruine of his Kingdom in Belshazzars his Grand-childs destruction, chap. 5. where ended the Babylonian Monarchy as was revealed before to Daniel, ch. 2.4. for then was the Lion with Eagles wings made to stand on his feet as a man: wherefore no more is spoken thereof; but only of the 3 following.

The Sixth and last thing recorded by Daniel in his own time, was the Story of his own tryal and deliverance from the Denn of Lions, ch. 6. which though placed before his Vision of the 4 beasts, yet was given many years after it; about the same time in which he had the Vision of the 70 weeks of years revealed to him, chap. 9. of which, more afterwards, by Gods assistance.

So 3ly, We come to the last head of Daniels book, to wit, of such things more particularly which were to be afterwards. First, respecting that continuance of the said 70 weeks, or 490 years, in all the three succeeding Monarchies, to the utmost extent of that time contained in that Vision, ch. 9. which was shewed to him upon his seeking God at the end of the Babylonian Captivity, in the first year of Darius; the beginning of which 70 weeks (as learned men conceive) was from the putting in execution of the decree for the building of the City Jerusalem, until Christ Je­sus had fulfilled the work of mans Redemption, and in half a week after confirm­ing his Covenant with many, and to the end of the said 490 years, and before Je­rusalems last destruction, which was (as in the end of that 9th. chap. is shewed) to remain desolate, after the people of the Roman Prince had destroyed it, all the times of the Gentiles (as our Saviour hath expounded that Text, Luke 21.24) that he should make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determi­ned, should be poured upon the desolate, v. 27. the same time otherwise called the indignation to be accomplished, for that that is determined shall be done ch. 11.36.

But 2ly, Daniel had another Vision in the third year of Belshazzar before that in the 9. c. which more especially concerned the two next succeeding Monarchies: First, setting forth therein the great power of the Persian Ram, and his suddain ru­ine by Alexander of Macedonia, the beginner of the Grecian Monarchy, set forth [Page 6]by the Hee-Goat, swiftly subduing the Persian Ram, ch. 8. according to the en­suing interpretation of the Angel, from v. 20. to 25. together with the division of the Greek Kingdom, afterwards unto his four Commanders: from one of which, viz. S [...]le [...]chus Nicanor, proceeded that wicked Antiochus Epiphanes, the eminent type of the great Antichrist, whose ruine also like his, is said v. 25. to be without hand. But before the said interpretation of the Angel, Daniel had another Vision of Palmoni, or the secret or wonderful numberer, v. 13, 14. &c. wherein it is resolved how long the Sanctuary and Host should be trodden under foot, name­ly unto 2300 evenings and mornings, or many dayes, viz. of years, as seems to be f [...]rther explained, v. 26. which though in the letter, it be applyed by some only to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes his outrage against the Jews and their Religi­on; yet seems [...]o have especial respect to the Jews general captivity, from the beginning of the 70 years, to their general deliverance by Christ at his appear­ance, [...]s Dan. 12.1. to which purpose observe, it is called a Vision of it self to be for many dayes, v. 26. with an especial confirmation of the truth of it. 2ly. It was from Palmoni or the secret and wonderful numberer, and therefore likely to have reference to some greater extent of time than that short time of Antiochus E­piphanes Tyranny and outrage. 3ly. It was the time that the Host and the San­ctuary were to be trodden under foot; now the Host and Sanctuary had been trodden under foot long before in the fence our Saviour saith the City should be, Luke 21.24. after it sh [...]uld be again destroyed, which we read not that the Tem­ple was in Antiochus Epiphanes time.

4ly it is said it should be untill 2300. dayes, not said expresly so long time was to come but seems rather to imply much of it was past. 5ly, Both Host and Sanctuary, have in our Saviours sence seemed to be trodden underfoot many ages since (my­stically, Rev. 11.2. under the Gentiles or Gentilizing Papists.) But besides all this, there are divers expressions from the words in the Vision that appear to have referrence to the last times as the time of the end, v. 17. and again very expresly, he said he would make him know what should be in the last end of the indignati­on, v. 19. answerable to a like expression at the end of the Roman Monarchie, c. 11.36. till the ind [...]gnation be accomplished, &c. and again, v. 26. it shall be for many dayes; not mornings and evenings: and farther, it hath that mark of the last times set upon it, [that the Vision should be shut up,] as others after were till the time of the end, or Gospel times, as c. 11.40. & 12.4.9. Which, in this book hath refe­rence to the time when Christ g [...]ve the Revelation, to open such Mysteries in Dan. as the other phrase [ [...]he list [...]nd of indignation] appears to relate to the Jews deli­verance at the end of the Roman Monarchie, c. 11.36. and therefore upon the con­firmation of the said Vision to be true, Daniel is injoyned to shut it up; and that for the reason following, for it is for many days: which phrase we find again ex­plained by [the la [...]t [...]r days, or posternity of days (as the Heb. phrase notes) and so 'tis said, c. 10.14. I am come to make thee understand what shall be in the latter days: for yet the Vision is for many days. So that though there might be some gradual sui­ [...]ing of the mornings and evenings to Antiochus his time, yet upon these many con­siderations the Vision appears to reach to a much larger extent of time than the [Page 7]outrage of Antiochus, Epiphanes, namely, to the end of the Jews bondage. So the Prophesie Zac. 12.10. is partially and in some respect applyed to the Jews piercing of Christ at his death, Jo. 19.37. when he was pierced with a Spear on the Cross, which will have in other respects a much more eminent fulfilling at the national conversion of the Jews, when they shall happily behold him, and mourn with true penitence abundantly for that former piercing of him. so the promise of pouring out his Spirit on all flesh, Joel 2.28. was partially fulfilled, Act. 2. but will much more fully be accomplished, when Jews and Gentiles shall joyntly make up one Sheepfold under one Shepherd: so that promise that King, shall be Nursing Fa­thers, and Queens Nursing Mothers, Es. 49.23. hath sometimes been fulfilled, remarkably since the rejection of the Jews, but shall be in a farr greater measure fulfilled (according to divers Prophesies) when all Israel shall be saved (as S. Paul speaks, Ro. 11.) so the Messenger promised Mal. 3.1. to prepare the way before Christ; and Elias, Mal. 4.5. to be sent before the great and terrible day of the Lord at Christs first and second coming, were in some sort fulfilled in John Baptist, who came in the spirit and power of Elias, Luc. 1.17. yet shall have a further accomplishment at his next coming, as our Saviour informs us, after the death of John Baptist. Mat. 17.11. and that with a strong asseveration; Elias (truly) shall first come and restore all things, &c.

3dly. Thirdly that last great and large Vision concerning the 3 other Mettle-Kingdoms after the Babilonian was past, to the uttermost period of the Romans, and the setting up of Christs Kingdom, was revealed to Daniel in the 3d year of Cyrus after his three weeks seeking of God when the glorious appearance of Christ was revealed to him, c. 10. as if his glorious appearance should be upon the accomplishment of that Vision: the like was shewed to St. John at the beginning of the Revelation, who saith, he comes quickly, &c. at the end of it, Rev. 22 2. and in v. 14. he is instructed by him that comforted him, that he was come to make him understand what should befall his people in the latter dayes, for yet (said he) the Vision is for many dayes. Whereupon the Visions of the three last Monarchies were given in order to him, c. 11. where, v. 2. only concerns the Per­sian Kingom, and v. 3.4 concerned the Grecian Kingdom more generally; and from thence the several wars between Syria and Egypt, to Antiochus Epiphanes, v. 21. and from thence of his evil actings, and the sufferings of Gods people, to v. 36. where (according to Mr. Mede, and others, for weightie reasons) begins the 4th Kingdom of the Romans as there, and formerly described by Daniel, and farther explained by Christ in the Revelation, with the many changes which should be in its several times till the end thereof at Christs appearance; c. 12.1. whereto are added many things for explication in the rest of that 12th c. but v. 36. of c. 11. is first set down what is spoken of the qualities and actings of the Roman Empire more generally both before Christ, in his time, and in those primitive times of the Church described, Rev. 12.1. when she was as a woman cloathed, with the Sun and the Moon under her feet, &c. but v. 37.38, 39. seem to contain the Beasts 42. Months, when the said Woman the Church went into her wilderness condition for a time, times, and dividing of a time; and was fed by the Sackcloth witnes­ses [Page 8]1260. days of years, but at v. 40. in those times of the end, or Gospel times, appears the more remarkable ruiners of the Roman Empire, which are reckoned in Rev. 9. to be the first and second woe Trumpets in the preva [...]lencie of Mahumetan impostures: the first of the Saracens about An. 600. called the King of the South, who in the time of the holy Wars (as they were called) seemed so to push at the Roman Monarchie in the East, & against the Popes party from the West. The 2d wo Trumpet the King of the N [...]rth, viz. the Turk, after by power and policie he had prevailed against the Sarracens, overflowed not only the Eastern Roman Empire, with his multitudes about An. 1300. but many other parts; whose actings and pro­ceedings towards Edom, Ammon, Moab, Egypt, we have afterwards described, v. 41, 42, 43, 44. till his ruin and destruction irresistibly come upon him, v. 45. where ends the 2d wo Trumpet; and c. 12.1. will begin the 3d wo Trumpet when the Rom. Empire that remained in the feet and toes of it, under the Popedom will finally be destroyed; and Daniels people the Jews be delivered, v. 1, 2 3. which state of the Papacie is also darkly further decyphered unto Dan. 12.5, 6, 7. but with a charge to shut up and seal that and some other things then v. 4 9. [...]ll the said time of the end or Gospel times; which since are opened, unsealed, and revealed by Christ to St. John for the use of his Church; wherefore when the whole book of the Revela­tions were imparted to him he forb [...]d him to seal it, Rev. 22.10. (though the things; therein contained were sealed in Daniels time) but now the time of the end was come, now he sets down the orders of the accomplishment of things more fully (though in a Divine mystical way) which Daniel set down more briefly, or on­ly in generals, for then God would have them shut up till the said time of the end: when also Antichrists time, times, and half a time, Dan. 12.6, 7. should be un­derstood by those that have warning given them, v. 10. to prepare and provide to improve those suffering times which are not yet fully ended, though hopefully near their period: whereunto are annexed some mystical Numbers respecting the Jews (as Judicious men probably conceive) to begin about Julians the Apostate Emperours time, An. 666. or as Dr. Ʋsher computes 663, when Sacrifice should be last and effectually taken away, and the abomination of Desolation set up with further encouragement to the faithful Jews of those times, v. 11, 12. And in the last verse, was given a special consolation for Daniel at the end of the dayes, when all his former Visions should be accomplished, viz. at the Resurrection of the Just; when he shall stand in his lot with all the faithful Fore-fathers, and others since, &c. as Heb. 11.39, 40. See many of these things more largely spoken of in the Abridgement on Daniel's Visions, with the Parallel of Daniel, and the Revela­tion.

FINIS.

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