A golden chaine: or The description of theologie containing the order of the causes of saluation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seene in the table annexed. Hereunto is adioyned the order which M. Theodore Beza vsed in comforting afflicted consciences.

CHAP. 49. Of the estate of the Elect, at the last day of iudgement. (Book 49)

THe last day of iudgement shall be on this manner.

• I. Immediatly before the comming of Christ, a 1.1 the powers of heauen shall be shaken: the Sunne and Moone shall be darkned, and the starres shall seeme to fall from heauen: b 1.2 at which sight the Elect then liuing shall reioyce, but the reprobate shall shake euery ioynt of them.
• ...

  II. Then the heauens, beeing all set on fire, shall with a noise, like to that of charriot wheeles, suddenly passe away, and the elements, with the earth, and all therein, shall be dissolued with fire. 2. Pet. 3. 12. L••••king for, and h••••∣sting vnto the comming of the day of God, by which the heauens beeing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall be dissolued, and the elements shall melt with heate. 13. 〈…〉〈…〉 new heauens, and a new earth, according to his promise, wherein d〈…〉〈…〉∣ousness.

  At the same time, when as all these things shall come to passe, a 1.3 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sound of the last trumpet shall be heard, sounded by the Archang•••••• b 1.4 And Christ shall come suddenly in the cloudes, with power, and glorie, and a great traine of Angels.

• III. Now at the sound of the trumpet the Elect, which were dead, shal a∣rise with their bodies: and those very bodies which were turned to dust, and one part rent from another, shall by the omnipotent power of God, be resto∣red, and the soules of them shall descend from heauen, and be brought againe into those bodies. As for a 1.5 them which then shall be aliue, they shall be chan∣ged in the twinckling of an eye, and this mutation shall be in stead of death. And at that time, the bodies shall receiue their full redemption: b 1.6 and all the bodies of the Elect shall be made like the glorious bodie of Christ Iesus, and therefore shall be spirituall, immortall, glorious, and free from all infirmitie.

• IV. Last of all, when they are all conuented before the tribunall seate of Christ, he will forthwith place the Elect, seuered from the reprobate, and ta∣ken vp into the aire, at his right hand, and to them being written in the booke of life, will he pronounce this sentence: Come ye blessed of my father, possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world. Matth. 25.33. He shall set the sheepe on his right hand, and the goates on the left. 1. Thess. 4. 17. Reu. 20. 12. whosoeuer was not found written in the booke of life, was cast into the lake of fire.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Matth. 24. 29. Immedi∣ately after the tribulation of those daies, shall the Sunne be darkened, and the Moone shall not giue her light, the starres shall fall from heauen, and the powers of heauen shall be shaken: 30. And then shall appeare the signe of the Sonne of man in heauen: and then shall all the kinreds of the earth mourne, and they shal see the Son of man come in the cloudes of heauen, with power and great glorie.
• b 1.2

  Luk. 21. 26. Mens hearts shall faile them for feare, and for looking after those things, which shall come on the world. 28. And when these things beginne to come to passe, then looke vp, and lift vp your heads, for your redemption draweth neare. 2. Tim. 4.8. Henceforth is laide vp for me the crowne of righteousnes, which the Lord, the righteous iudge shall give me at that day: and not to me onely, but vnto them also that loue his appearing.
• a 1.3

  Matth. chap. 24. vers. 31. And he shall sende his Angels with a great sound of a trumpet. 1. Thess. chap. 4. vers. 16. The Lord him∣selfe shall descend from heauen with a shout, euen with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
• b 1.4

  Matth. 24. 30. 1. Thess. 4. 17. Then shall we vvhich liue and remaine, be caught vp vvith them also in the cloudes, to meete the Lord in the ayre, and so shall we euer be with the Lord.
• a 1.5

  1. Cor. 15. 52. We shall not all sleepe, but we shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. 43.
• b 1.6

  It is sowne in dishonour, it is raised in ho∣nour: it is sowne in weakenes, it is raised in power. 44. It is sowne a naturall bodie, it is raised •• spirituall bodie, &c.