The works of the pious and profoundly-learned Joseph Mede, B.D., sometime fellow of Christ's Colledge in Cambridge

CHAP. IX.

Five Reasons clearly demonstrating That the Antichristian or Apostatical times are more than Three single years and an half.

• 1. BEcause impossible so many things, and of such quality as are to be peformed in this time, should be done in Three single years and an half. As 1. Ten Kingdoms founded at the same hour with the Beast, (ch. 17.) 2. Peoples and multitudes of Nati∣ons and tongues to serve and obey him, (ch. 13.) 3. To make war with the Saints and overcome them, ibid. 4. To cause all that dwell upon the earth to worship him, ibid. 5. Babylon to ride the Beast so long, that all Nations shall drink the wine of her forni∣cation, all Kings of the Earth commit fornication with her, (ch. 17, & 18.) 6. The Merchants, and all those that had ships in the Sea, to grow rich by trading with her, (ch. 18.) These things should ask more than three years work or four either.
• 2. Because that King, State of Government, Sovereignty, Seigniory (or what you will) of the Beast, under which the Whore should ride him, followeth immediately up∣on a former which in comparison is said to continue but a short space, Rev. 17. 10. But if the Antichristian state shall continue but three years and an half literally taken; how short must the time of that foregoing King or Sovereignty be, which should occasion the Holy Ghost to insert so singular a note of the difference thereof from that which fol∣lowed, That is should continue but a short space? Doth not this imply that the next State (wherein the Whore should ride the Beast) was to continue a long space?
• 3. Because if the 1260. daies of the Witnesses (which begin and end with the Time of Antichrist) be literally to be taken, then must their three dayes and an half, where∣in they lie slain by the Beast (Chap. 11. 9.) be so taken also: But how is it possible the nations and people of the earth should make feasts, send gifts and presents one unto another in three daies and an half? how should the Half day be a competent time to distinguish or limit any of the Actions there mentioned? If the Holy Ghost had meant nothing but daies, would he have been so precise for half a day?
• 4. Because Six of the Trumpets and the things which they bring to pass, by necessity of contemporation are included in the compass of the Antichristian time; Two whereof by the express times mentioned in them (in the Fifth, of* 1.1 five months; in

• the Sixth, of* 1.2 13.) take up a year and a half, that is near half the time: Which though far too little (if literally taken) for the great things prophesied in them, yet what time will they leave for the Four other Trumpets, and for the Seven Viols, which all are poured out upon the Beast, and afore his times are finished? What time alone will the Sixth Vial require for* 1.3 preparing the way of the Kings of the East, for the frogs to go forth unto the Kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battel of that great day of God Almighty, &c?
• 5. Lastly, from the Event. If Antichrist's times last no longer than is supposed, then either are they past long ago, or that Sixth Roman Head, which in S. Iohn's time was, is yet still in being. But that cannot be, when neither Greek nor Latin Caesar are now remaining. If any say, the Latin Caesar yet remains in the Germane Empire, as that which succeeded unto it; I demand, What succession can that be where was near 350 years interruption, a longer time than some famous Monarchies have had for their whole continuance? If the Caesarean State may revive and continue the same af∣ter so many years interregnum, how shall we ever know when it is dead for adoe, and the time come that Antichrist should be looked for? Besides, if the Times of Anti∣christ be so short, and therefore yet to come, (as they must be, unless they be lon∣ger,) then are we yet under the Times of the Red Dragon, and all the Trumpets yet to come. Let it be shewn how this can be. If it appear we are not under those times of the Dragon, then none of the Revelation is yet fulfilled.

Object. But what example elsewhere in Scripture of Daies signifying Years?

Answ. Daniel's seventy weeks. But you will say, the Etymologie of the Hebrew word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is as appliable to Sevens of Years as Sevens of Daies; and therefore this in∣stance proves not. I answer, The question lies not in the Etymologie, but the use, wherein 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 alwayes signifies Sevens of Daies, and never Sevens of Years; where∣soever it is absolutely put, it means of Daies, is no where used of Years:

Object. But in the tenth of Daniel we find, as it were for distinction sake, Weeks of Daies; which intimates there are Weeks of Years, which the use of the word might indifferently signifie.

Answ. It is ill translated;* 1.4 the Vulgar is better, which hath Daies of Weeks, Luge∣bam trium hebdomadarum diebus; meaning, that Daniel fasted and did eat no meat in the day-time for three weeks together, or some such like sense. Gen. 29. 27. The Week which Laban would have Iacob fulfil before he gave him Rachel, was not the Seven years service, but the Seven daies of Leah's wedding-feast, as the* 1.5 Targum translates, and the Vulgar, Imple hebdomadam dierum hujus copulae; nor can it be otherwise by the age of Rachel's children.

Secondly, Let it be shewn in all the Prophecy of Daniel, (or, for ought I know, in any other of the Prophets) where times of things prophesied expressed by daies are not to be understood of years: For when the Angel means daies in Daniel, he ex∣presseth it therefore not by daies (for so it were doubtful) but by* 1.6 evenings and mornings, chap. 8. 14. where he speaks of the time of the persecution of Antiochus.

A brief Demonstration and (as* 1.7 I conceive) unanswerable of the Contemporation of the four Timed Prophecies in the Apocalypse: viz. Of the Gentiles treading down the Court and Holy City 42 months; Of the Witnesses preaching in Sackcloth 1260 daies; Of the Beast's power of doing 42 months; Of the Apostolical Woman's continuance in the Wilderness a Time, Times and half a Time, expressed also by 1260 daies.

• 1. The Times of the Beast and of the Witnesses come out together, viz. at the end of the Sixth Trumpet (Chap. 11.) Ergò, being equal times they must needs begin together, and so contemporate throughout.
• 2. The Times of the Beast and of the Woman's being in the Wilderness have the same Epocha and beginning, namely the dethroning and vanquishing of the Red Dra∣gon (Ch. 12.) Ergò, being equal times they must also have the same ending.
• 3. The Times of the treading down the Court and Holy City by the Gentiles and of the Sackcloth-prophecy of the Witnesses are concurrent by the plain construction of the Text, which gives them to prophesy all that heavy time. Besides, when the Wit∣nesses have finished, we find the Gentiles angry, as being driven from their possession in the Temple, Ch. 11. vers. 18.

I. M.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chap. 9. v. 5.
• * 1.2

  Vers. 15.
• * 1.3

  Chap. 16. 12, &c.
• * 1.4

  Dan. 10. 2••
• * 1.5

  Targum Hi∣erosolym, & Targum Ion••∣thanis.
• * 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.7

  This is the Author's own Argument to what follows.