The mystery of the two witnesses unvailed: Wherein wee have a description of their persons time acts death and office. manner of prophecie. sufferings. resurrection. With the consequences that follow. Together with the seaventh trumpet, and the kingdome of Christ explained. by John Robotham, preacher of the Gospel in Dover.

VERS. 15. And the seventh Angell sounded, and there were great voyces in heaven, saying, the kingdomes of this world are become the king∣domes of our Lord, and of his Christ, and hee shall raigne for ever and ever.

HAving spoken of the Prophesie, Death, Resurrection and ascen∣tion of the Witnesses, with the effects of their rising, namely the great earth∣quake that shakes the world, which doth accomplish the second woe. This being the first resurrection of the Saints from shame and sack-cloath, from misery and affliction, upon which the tenth part of the City falls, and the little horne, that thought to change times and lawes, is subdued, Dan. 7. But after comes a second Re∣surrection, of truth and light, of life & liberty to the Saints in all nations, when there shall be a universall ruine of Antichrist. Then all Saints, through∣out

all Nations, shall come in to the enjoyment of internall and externall glory: when all former persecution and shame shall be past away, and they shall live & raigne with Christ a thou∣sand yeares, and shall fully enjoy the immunities and liberties of the king∣dome of Christ, which shall be fulfilled at the sound of the seventh Trumpet. And the seventh Angel sounded, and there were great voyces in heaven, saying, The kingdomes of this world are become the kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Christ, &c. That which wee shall enquire from hence, is to know what is meant:

• First, by the Trumpet sounding.
• Secondly, by the seventh Trumpet.
• Thirdly, by the voyces in heaven.
• Fourthly, the subject matter, that those voyces doe proclaime, and that is, The kingdomes of this world are become the kingdomes of our Lord, &c.

First, a Trumpet is that with which men sound to give an alarme, or a pre∣paration unto the battell, 1 Cor. 14. 8. Also to publish or proclaime a thing, Joel 2. 1. The counterfeit Pharisees when they gave their almes, are sayd to sound a Trumpet, Mat. 6. 2. Allu∣ding

to the custome of the Jewes, who when they would gather an assembly, or proclaim a matter, did use to sound a Trumpet. So here by the Trumpet sounding is meant the Saints proclai∣ming and sounding forth the word of truth, declaring the testimony of Jesus, and extolling his praises. This they doe either by preaching forth or decla∣ring of the truth, or by making pro∣fession thereof. These Trumpets doe re∣spectively follow the seales opening: as the vials follow the Trumpets soun∣ding. The first seale, first Trumpet, first viall goe together, and every one of these respectively in order follow each other. The beginning is with the o∣pening of the seals, which is Christ o∣pening and disclosing of heavenly and divine truth unto his Saints: and ac∣cordingly, as the seals be thus opened to them; they by declaring and pro∣fessing of the truth so discovered to them, are said to sound forth the Trum∣pets; each Trumpet in his season, ac∣cording as the seals are opened, and heavenly light and knowledge is dis∣covered unto them.

Secondly, what is meant by the se∣venth

Trumpet. In Chap. 8. we read of the sounding of the foure first Trum∣pets▪ And in Chap. 9. of the fift and sixt▪ Trumpets sounding: and here we have the seventh and last Trumpet. So that there is a graduall and orderly sound∣ing of the Trumpets; answerable to the opening of the seals: when the last seale shall be opened, then the seventh Angel comes to sound the last Trum∣pet; which is the highest and last de∣claration of the truth and excellency of God: Seven is the number of per∣fection, of rest and blessednesse: the se∣venth Trumpet is the proclamation or declaration of the kingdome of Christ, caused by the Saints sounding forth, the highest and the last glory of Christs raigne and dominion.

Thirdly, we have the effect of the se∣venth Trumpet, and there were great voyces in heaven. The most perfect and exact, the most distinct and sweet note of musick is the tongue of man; there is no sound so perfect and compleat as these voyces in heaven; these are the voyces of A••llel••jahs and praises to God. And of these voyces here mentio∣ned we may note three things.

First, they are great voyces; they are mighty and powerfull voyces. God once spake to Elijah in a low still voyce; so he hath done unto his peo∣ple, while they prophesied in sack∣cloth: but now upon the great and various discoveries of God, the Saints are made to sound forth mighty decla∣rations of his truth & glory. It is said in Psal. 29. 3, 4, &c. The voyce of the Lord thundereth upon many waters, it's powerfull, and full of Majesty, breaking downe the Cedars of Lebanon, dividing the flames of fire, and making the wildernesse to shake, &c. So these voyces of the wit∣nesses risen, are so great and power∣full, that they shake the wisedome, glory, strength, riches, power, and ex∣cellency of the world. The appearances of God in former time have been faint and low in his people, they have seene things at a great distance, and have as it were, whispered in a low private voyce of the things of the kingdome of Christ; but now they shall publish them on the house-top: and as John Baptist could say, Behold the Lamb of God: so shall these cry aloud, with boldnesse and confidence, with assu∣rance

and liberty, and say, the king∣domes of this world, are become the king∣domes of our Lord, and of his Christ. There is no eare, but shall heare, and no heart but shall tremble at this voyce: Hell and Devills, all the glory of flesh, and power of the world, shall be affrighted and consumed before this great and mighty voyce.

Secondly, These voyces are sayd to be in heaven: The witnesses are risen and ascended up into heaven, to live in heavenly discoveries and enjoyments, to walke in the light, and to act in the glory of God. These voyces come from the excellent glory, like the voyce that came unto Christ at his trans••igurati∣on. The Saints that lived in a poore earthly condition before, under the oppressing power of the earth, are now raised up into heaven, and there doe re∣joyce over that vengeance, that the Lord executeth upon the earth: There∣fore in respect of Babylons destruction the Saints are thus called upon: Rejoyce over her thou heaven, and ye holy Apostles and Prophets, for God hath avenged her, Revel. 18. 19. Nothing but songs of praise and glorious voyces of delive∣rance

are heard of those that live in heaven, who live in the spirit of God, and in the glorious discoveries, and divine manifestations of the Lord. There can be no voyce from heaven, but it must be full of excellency and glory, the voyce of joy and gladnesse, the voyce of praise and triumph. These voyces are heard round about the throne of God; and they sound forth nothing but the power, throne, domi∣nion, and glory of God. Here is hea∣ven opened, the glory of God mani∣fested, and Saints under those heavenly dispensations singing Allelujahs, say∣ing, The kingdomes of this world are be∣come the kingdomes of Christ. Now they can say, the Lord lives, the Lord raigns. When the Lord shall raigne before his An∣cients gloriously, Esa. 24. 23. The Saints of God, called the twenty-foure Elders vers. 16. are meant by the Ancients, be∣fore whom the Lord will raigne, upon whom the glory of God shall shine. Now the Ancients, or Elders, being raised up by the Ancient of dayes, to sit with him in heavenly places, will abundantly Trumpet forth the glory of God, and sing from heaven his won∣derfull praises.

Thirdly, These were voyces in hea∣ven, not one single voyce, but voyces: a plurality of voyces; and those not a few but many, here are a multitude of voyces: now at the rising of the wit∣nesses, the Saints are multiplyed, they are not now as a poore few scattered people, but they increase to thousands of thousands, here are multitudes of hearts enlarged, and multitudes of voyces sounding in heaven▪ They shall not be a poore despised remnant, who are accounted the off-scouring of all things: but now abundance of the Sea shall be converted: and a little one shall be∣come a thousand, and a small one a strong Nation, Esa. 60. 5. 22. There shall be a miraculous increase and multiplicati∣on of Saints, that shall utter their voy∣ces together, and yet they shall all sing with one voyce, with one tune: all these voyces sound one and the same thing, they all concentre in one, they all sound forth the praise and glorie of Christ's raigne and kingdome.

Now before I proceed to speake of the subject matter, that these voyces do proclaime, viz. the glory of Christ's raigne and kingdome, I shall give you

some observations of what hath been already spoken from this verse.

First, From the succession of Trum∣pets, or the Saints declaring the glory and truth of God, observe, That the* 1.1 Lord hath alwayes had a people to declare his truth unto the world. There was al∣wayes some that did proclaime and professe the truth of Christ, though in weaknesse; yea, the first Trumpet hath it's time of sounding, as well as the se∣venth. In every age according as the Lord made a discovery of his truth, there were some ready to give forth a testimony thereof before the world. When the Prophet Elijah thought in his owne judgement, there was none left in Israel, besides himselfe, there was seven thousand left, that the Lord re∣served to himselfe, that had not bowed the knee to Baal. So in the saddest and darkest times of Antichrists raigne, there have been those that have, accor∣ding to their measure given forth their testimony of the truth. Every Trum∣pet sounding did in some measure hold forth the glory of the Lord, and every such declaration of truth hath caused a viall of wrath to fall upon the man of sin.

Secondly, observe, That the Lord hath* 1.2 manifested his truth by degrees; or in a graduall way hath caused his Saints to de∣clare it. The seventh Trumpet, doth imply six other Trumpets that went before: and so every one is brought forth in it's time and order, untill that of the seventh cometh to sound. The Lord opened one seale after another, letting light breake forth, Minutatim; by little, and little, and as it were by piecemeals, drop by drop, untill at last he comes to open the seventh seale, by making a perfect and compleat disco∣very of his truth. The Saints in sack∣cloth, in the midst of Antichrists raign, were under much dimnesse and dark∣nesse: but the Lord in every age re∣spectively, hath made severall advances of truth, and hath by degrees brought up his people from the state of bon∣dage and darknesse, by making a more full manifestation of his truth unto them. So the Saints hold forth the truth of God by degrees, and proceed gradually, from the sounding of the first Trumpet, untill they come to the seventh. It is with the Saints in this case, as it's said of the waters of the

Sanctuary, Ezek. 47. That these wa∣ters did increase, and arise first to the ancles, then to the knees, afterwards as high as a mans loyns; at last the wa∣ters arose to that height, that they be∣came a mighty river, wherein a man might swim, and without which he could not passe over them. So that the Saints under the first, second, & third Trumpets, did all hold forth a pro∣fession of the truth, and according to their measures did give a testimony thereunto, though but in some small, weake, and faint discoveries of it, and more in the letter, then in the spirit. These were glorious lights also, in re∣spect of the darknesse of those ages and generations they lived in: but yet in respect of that light discovered, and that declaration of the truth made out by the Saints under the sixt and se∣venth Trumpet, they were under much darknesse and weaknesse, not being come up to that degree of light, that the Lord hath of late discovered, and will make knowne unto his people.

Thirdly, observe, There shall be a most* 1.3 compleat and glorious discovery and declara∣tion of truth, made out by the Saints under

the seventh Trumpet. The seven Trum∣pets are all comprehended in one: the last Trumpet includes all the former. Seven, as you heard, is the number of perfection and rest: So all the Trum∣pets are involved, and wrapt up in this last. The seventh seale is the highest re∣velation of truth, & the seventh Trum∣pet is the highest and most perfect de∣claration, by which the Saints do pro∣claime, and make it forth. Suitable un∣to this is that Prophesie, Esa. 30. 26. Moreover the light of the Moone shall be as the light of the Sun, and the light of the Sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven dayes. So that here is seven dayes brought into one day, and one day shall have the light of seven. So that the last and highest discovery of truth, shall com∣prehend all the former. The seventh and last Trumpet signifies the highest declaration of the glory of God, the truth and kingdome of Jesus, that ever the Saints publish or sing forth: it is the breaking forth of the highest prai∣ses, and greatest glory of God. In this great and last dispensation, the Saints obtaine a fuller measure of the spirit then ever, they are now sevenfold more

enabled to proclaime the glory, power and kingdome of Christ, then ever they could doe in former time.

Fourthly, from the great voyces heard in heaven, observe, That the Saints* 1.4 fully risen, and ascended up into heavenly injoyments, at the finall destruction of Anti∣christ, shall with one harmonious and sweet consent, sound forth the praises and glory of Christ'•• kingdome. Indeed the Saints could alwayes sing, while they pro∣phesied in sackcloth, but it was like Da∣vid, when he sung of his deep waters, so it was of their afflictions and suffer∣ings; as Paul and Silas sung in prison, they had weake and faint joy, in the middest of their sufferings. But now the Saints in heaven, they cry out, they sing aloud, and shout for joy. These voyces be full of power and authority, the world, and it's strength and foun∣dation trembles to heare them, the ri∣ches, the strengths, the powers, the go∣vernments of men, are shaken by them. So great and powerfull are these voy∣ces, that as it was said of Israel of old, The voyce of a King is among them; they sing forth the grace, the excellen∣cy, the authority, and glory of Christ's

kingdome, saying, The kingdomes of this world are become our Lords, &c. The Saints are sayd in Revel. 15. 3. To sing the song of Moses, and the song of the Lamb. As Moses sung forth the praises of God, for delivering his people Israel, and de∣stroying their enemies the Aegyptians, Exod. 15. so his people shall sing forth the praises of his power and greatness, for delivering them from Antichrist's yoke and tyranny. And the song of the Lamb, who worketh great and marvel∣lous things, to the destruction of Anti∣christ, whose cruelty and oppression he had long suffered. They shall extoll him, as being King of Saints, and shall acknowledge him just, in his judge∣ments punishing Antichrist, and in his wayes true, in performing all his pro∣mises made unto his people.

Having given you the observations from the former part of the verse, namely, from the seventh Trumpet, and the voyces heard in heaven: I now proceed to speake of the subject matter of these voyces.

The kingdomes of this world are be∣come the kingdomes of our Lord,

and of his Christ, and he shall raigne for ever and ever.

These words containe a glorious proclamation or declaration of the kingdome and raigne of Christ, where∣in we may take notice of these six par∣ticulars, to be enquired into.

First, What is meant by the kingdomes of this world.

Secondly, How these kingdomes have been detained from Christ.

Thirdly, How Christ will recover these kingdomes to himselfe.

Fourthly, By what right Christ shall possesse them.

Fiftly, The manner or nature of Christs raigne.

Sixtly, The time and duration of his raigne.

Concerning the first thing, namely, what is meant by the kingdomes of this world? we may easily perceive what they are, by opposing them to the king∣dome of Christ: for these kingdomes of the world are diametrically oppo∣sit, and contradistinct to the kingdome of Christ. The kingdome of Christ is of a heavenly and spirituall nature,

Rom. 14. 17. It's King, Laws, govern∣ment, and subjects are all spirituall: it's set up and advanced by no humane force or power, but by that which is meerly divine, Dan. 2. 45. Now the kingdomes of this world, are called the kingdomes of men, consisting of ex∣ternall glory, riches, strength, govern∣ment, policy, that men by humane po∣wer have set up, and doth act by. In a word, all the wisdome and policy, all rule and government, all power and strength, all Constitutions and Lawes, all the riches and glory of men, of these are made up and formed the kingdoms of this world, called the kingdomes of men, Dan. 4. 25. consisting of worldly greatnesse, externall glory, humane policy, outward strength, advanced into the forme of rule & government, acted and brought forth by man, this is the state, glory, and kingdome of the world.

Secondly, How these kingdomes have been detained from Christ; and that's thus: whereas Christ hath given forth his power by earthly men, as by Kings and Princes of the earth: accor∣ding to that place in Pro. 8. 15, 16. By

me Kings reigne, and Princes decree justice: by me Princes rule, and Nobles, even all the Judges of the earth. These have been the substitutes and deputies of Christ, ha∣ving received all their wisdome, their strength, their authority, and domini∣on from him, the Lord hath by these administred unto the world, even by carnall, fleshly, wicked men, by the Kings of the earth: the Lord hath not administred by his people, but by those that have raigned as Kings and Princes of the world. Now this being so, these Kings of the earth, have committed fornication with the whore, Rev. 17. 2. having mixed and joyned their power with hers, and have with one consent and minde given up their power and strength unto the beast; as is declared vers. 13. to serve his ends and designes. And though it be true, that all this while Christ hath intermedled with all the affaires of the Nations, their policies and governments, that all oc∣currances therein hath tended, at least by degrees, to advance his own king∣dome, and to bring about his owne ends: yet these kingdomes and poli∣cies, and governments have served An∣tichrist,

and it hath been their worke and businesse to oppose the kingdome of Christ, and suppresse and persecute his people and truth: so that these kingdomes of the world have not ser∣ved Christ, though Christ hath served himselfe by them; but they have been devoted unto Antichrist, and served him.

Thirdly, How doth Christ recover these againe into his owne hand. And that is by breaking and scattering the powers of the world; he will shake all Nations, Hag. 2. 6. when the Lord shall cast aside these oppressing tyrants of the earth, he will come forth in the ministry of his owne people, and by them, administer righteousnesse and peace unto the world. The Lord will dash in pieces all▪ the powers of the earth, that have oppressed his people, and will so come forth in his owne people to administer to the world, that the earth shall be at rest and quiet, when violence shall be no more heard in the Land, but our officers shall be righteousnesse, and our exactors peace. And how shall this be? See what the Lord saith by the Prophet, Esa. 24. 21,

22, 23. And it shall come to passe in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones, that are on high; and the Kings of the earth upon the earth: and they shall be gathe∣red, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison and after many dayes they shal be visited, or found wanting, as the margent reads it. Then the Moone shall be confounded, and the Sunne ashamed, when the Lord of host shall raigne in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his anci∣ents gloriously: or as the Margine renders it, There shall be glory before his ancients. The meaning of these words take thus: The great and mighty Kings of the earth, who have opposed the king∣dome of Christ, and have undertaken all power ecclesiasticall and civill, to rule in Church and State, to determine all spirituall causes by temporall po∣wer and civill sanction: God will so advance his Saints, by his spirituall appearance in them, that they shall oppose and punish these Kings of the earth, not onely by the sword of the spirit, but also with a temporal sword, the Kings of the earth upon the earth, they shall be able to overcome those that did enslave and rule over them.

He that kills by the sword shall be killed by the sword: here is the patience of the Saints: Revel. 13. 10. This is the fruit of all their patience, in all their former suf∣ferings. And after many dayes they shall be found wanting: men shall after a time be willing to beare the losse of Kings, and great ones, without trouble or vexing: when the Moone shall be confoun∣ded, and the Sun ashamed: viz. all civill & ecclesiasticall powers, governments, orders, and rulers shall be broken. Then the Lord shall raigne in Mount Zion, to wit, in his Saints and people, as before his ancients, in whom he shall gloriously appeare, to administer righ∣teousnesse & peace unto the world. By these ancients are meant no more, then the twenty foure Elders, mentioned Re∣vel. 4. 4. who sit in white clothing, ha∣ving Crownes upon their heads: as raign∣ing in royall state, glory, and tr••umph. So that the Lord will no longer come forth in, and by the men of the earth, to raigne by Kings and Potentates, but he will come forth in his glorious ap∣pearance in his Saints, and thorow them will administer righteousnesse to the world. Sutable hereunto is that

Scripture, Dan. 7. 22. where it is sayd, that the little horne should make war with the Saints, and prevaile against them, untill the Ancient of dayes should come, and then, judgement was given to the Saints of the most high, and the time came that the Saints possessed the kingdome. Christ himselfe shall inherit all Nati∣ons, and he will put his people in pos∣session of all power, riches, rule, and dominion. When the Lord shall take away power and dominion from the men of the earth: Then the kingdome and dominion, and the greatnesse of the king∣dome under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high, whose kingdome is an ever lasting kingdome, and all dominions shall serve and obey him, vers. 27. All that's good and excellent, that's rich and beautifull, that's noble and honourable, shall be given to the Saints. The forces of the Gentiles, and their Kings shall be brought to them, Esa. 60. 11. And they shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and boast themselves in their glo∣rie, Esa. 61. 6. All Dominions and States shall serve them▪ strangers shall stand and feed their flock and the sonnes of the alient shall be their plow-men and vine∣dressers,

dressers, vers. 5. So then when the Lord shall take the power, riches, dominion, and authority, from the great ones of the earth, and invest his Saints with the same, when all power & rule shall be brought under the feet of Christ, who will come forth in the appearan∣ces of his people; then Christ doth take to himselfe his great power and raign. Thus the Lord doth recover the king∣domes and nations into his own hand; stripping the men of the earth with their strength, riches, glorie, rule, and conferring of the same upon his peo∣ple; and so will administer no longer by Kings and Nobles, but by Saints and faithfull ones: He will raigne a∣mong his Ancients gloriously.

Fourthly, By what right or title Christ will lay claime to the king∣domes of the world; and that is, by his owne native and proper right: These kingdomes shall become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ. The origi∣nall right and propriety of all the kingdomes of the world are the Lords: they are his right, and he will main∣taine his owne priviledge and prero∣gative: he will take to himselfe and

possesse all: they of right belong unto him, and he from the beginning did possesse all: It is true the Lord did in∣trust Kings and great ones of the earth to be his Substitutes and Stewards; he committed the care of these to them as his Servants or Deputies: but when the Lord will cast these Stewards out of their places, & dispossesse the Kings and Nobles of the earth, then present∣ly, the kingdomes of the world returne to him, whose they were from the be∣ginning. But these kingdomes of the world are so the Lords, as they are Christ's also: Christ the anointed one of the Lord he shall raigne; he is son over his owne house, Heb. 3. 5. He hath right and propriety with the Father, by vertue of Sonship and anointing: The actuall administration is put into his hand: he being indued with all pow∣er in heaven and earth, Matth. 28. 18. Christ hath not onely propriety in the holy Citie, but the ends of the earth are his possession. Now all the Saints are the anointed of the Lord, gathered up into that one anointed, and there∣fore shall raigne with Christ: as it's sayd, He hath made us Kings and Priests

to our God, and we shall raigne on the earth, Revel. 5. 10. The Lord shall raigne, and his Chirst must raigne: and all the Saints, the anointed ones of the Lord; these being all comprehended in the one anointed Christ, these shall raigne with the Lord. As the Lord comes forth in Christ, & Christ in his Saints: so the Saints shall ascend into Christ, and Christ into the Father, and so all in one, they raign in the glory of God, whereupon the speech of Christ shall be eminently fullfilled in Joh. 14. 20. At that day ye shall know that I am in the Father, and you in me, and I in you. The power of God falls upon Christ, and Christ becomes a quickning spirit in all his Saints, that he might by his power put forth in them, rule over the Nations. So that we see the right of all Nations belongs to the Lord origi∣nally, and to Christ his anointed; and to all Saints, as being the anointed ones of the Lord, they all making up the fulness of the anointed one of God. These have right to all the glory, po∣wer, riches, excellencies of the earth, it's theirs, they shall possesse the power and strength, the riches and glory of

the earth; these shall raigne, and the earth shall be filled with the glory of God. Then there are none have right unto the kingdomes of the world, but the Lord and his anointed: all other are but pictures and images of govern∣ment and rule; their power and autho∣rity was lent them from the Lord, and now he will take it againe to himselfe, whose owne it is; now he will cast forth the men of the earth, and shake them from the seat of greatnesse and dominion: and now the kingdomes of the world shall be given to the holy ones of God, to the anointed of the Lord, and they onely shall raigne.

First, the Manner of Christ's raigne is that to be spoken off in the next place: that Christ shall raigne in, and by his Saints: for they having over∣come shall sit downe upon Christ's throne, as Christ hath overcome, and is set downe upon his Fathers throne, Revel. 3. 21. The Saints shall judge the world, and Angels, 1 Cor. 6. 2. That is, they shall not onely judge poore, low, earthly things, but things of an Ange∣licall and most excellent nature. It's the Lord through his Saints that shall

judge the Nations with righteousnesse, and governe the people with truth, Psal. 67. 4. 7. This glorious dispensation of Christ shall be administred by his Saints: the Saints, or the Lord in them shall judge the world: that is they shall fust of all destroy and throw downe all confusion and disorder; and afterwards save and governe the world, they shall give set∣tlement in the Nations, by a right or∣dering of all things, civill and spiritu∣all. Now as for the personall and flesh∣ly reigne of Christ, that is asserted by many Godly men, (whom I love and honour) I shall not at all undertake, either to affirme or deny that opinion: but I shall say with them, the kingdome of Christ is at hand, I dare not say, it is a far off, though I cannot describe the manner of it: but of the spirituall raigne of Christ (which none deny) I shall speake off, from these foure rea∣sons.

First, The spirituall reigne seemes (to me) to be the most glorious ap∣pearance and manifestation of Christ unto his people: and hence the Apostle did not desire to know Christ any more after the flesh, 2 Cor. 5. 6. And

therefore I believe, that Christ by the spirituall manifesting of himselfe, in and through his Saints, will first break downe the powers of the world, and then administer righteousnesse unto the earth.

Secondly, the spirituall raigne of Christ, doth most of all besuite the glory & spirituality of his kingdome. Christ tells Pilate, that his kingdome was not of this world, that is, it was not flesh∣ly or carnall, but of a spirituall nature and quality. Christ coming in the spi∣rit to his Disciples, did more enligh∣ten, comfort, and spirituallize them, then his fleshly presence did, In Esa. 11. 2, 3. It's sayd of Christ, that he should not judge after the sight of his eyes, or the hearing of his eares, &c. That is, he shall not judge according to outward ap∣pearances, but according to righteous judgement. The glory of the Saints in the latter dayes shall be spirituall, their knowledge spirituall, their comfor••s and joys shall be spirituall, yea Christ shall raigne by his divine presence in his people, of whom shall be made up his spirituall kingdome.

Thirdly, It is by the spirituall ap∣pearance

of the Lords brightnesse and glory, that he will destroy Antichrist, 2 Thes. 2. 8. What is the word of Christs mouth, and the brightnesse of his coming? but the word of the witnesses testimony, and the bright shinings forth of spirit, life, knowledge, and righteousnesse in his people, whereby the iniquity of the man of Sin is detected and laid open, whereby Antichrist is destroyed, as by fire, wasting and consuming him to nothing. Now by the same appearance, as in his people, will the Lord admini∣ster righteousnesse, and goodnesse to the world, as that whereby he doth de∣stroy Antichrist.

Fourthly, and lastly, all the glory that is spoken of Christ, and his king∣dome, that shall be in the latter age, doth amount but to thus much; that the Lord will eminently manifest his gracious and speciall presence with his people. As in that 37 Ezek. latter end; The Lord speaking of the glory he will bring upon his people, saith, I will Ta∣bernacle with them, and I will set my San∣ctuary in the midst of them for evermore, &c. The Lords presence and glory shall most of all appeare in the midst of his

people; he shall so manifest himselfe, as to be admired in his Saints. So what doth all the glory of the coming down of the new Jerusalem, mentioned in Revel. 21. imply, but onely thus much, Behold (saith God) I will Tabernacle with men, and I will dwell with them. In∣timating thereby, that as the Lord made the Tabernacle a signe & pledge of his presence with his people: so now in his last, and most glorious discovery of himselfe, it should be by the mani∣festation of his divine presence in his Saints, by erecting the Tabernacle of his owne spirit, life, and glory in the middest of them. And so much for the manner of Christs reigne. It follow∣eth.

Sixtly, and lastly, we are to consider the time and duration of Christ's reigne, and that is expressed for ever and ever. The raigne of Christ is an everlasting raigne, he receives a kingdome, that cannot be shaken: there shall be no end of it: his Throne endureth for ever, and it shall never expire: let the ene∣mies thereof use what craft or policie they will, they shall never destroy it. The God of heaven (saith the Prophet)

shall set up a kingdome, which shall never be destroyed: neither shall it be left to other people, but it shall stand for ever, Dan. 2. 44. If that of the Apostle be objected, where he saith, that Christ shall deliver up the kingdome to God, even the Father, 1 Cor. 15. 24. I answer, that this doth nothing at all impeach the everlasting∣nesse of Christ's kingdome: for the meaning of it is this, that when Christ shall have finished his worke, destroy∣ed all his enemies, and have complea∣ted his worke upon his Saints, then he shall cease to raigne any longer as Me∣diator, he shall cease to administer ac∣cording to his present dispensation and office, then God shall be all in all: God shall be all to his Saints, by the immediate and glorious communica∣tion of his light and glory; and Saints shall enjoy the all of God, his wisdome, his goodnesse, his love, and the like. So that however the Mediatorship of Christ shall cease, when he hath finished his worke and office, and the dispensa∣tory part of his kingdome shall cease, yet in respect of the nature and being, it shall be for ever and ever: The raigne of God shall be to eternity, and Ch••••st

shall raigne in the Father, and Saints in Christ, so that God, and Christ, and his Saints, shall raigne for ever and ever. The Apostle doth stile Christ, to be a King eternall, and immortall, 1 Tim. 1. 17. Christs kingdome is immortall, because it is not subject to succession; it's not liable to be devolved and rould downe to after-comers; which Daniel expres∣seth thus; His kingdome shall not be left unto other people; that is, it shall not be translated from man to man, and at last quite dissolved. And the Apostle doth not onely call Christ an immortall King, but also an eternall King, his kingdome shall hold on constantly throughout all Centuries and ages of the world; there is no period of time, that shall cause it to expire & give up the ghost, but it shall attaine to it's full beautie and perfection, it shall never decline or decay, but shall last beyond all ages and times, it shall endure for ever and ever.

But now concerning the glorious raigne of Christ, upon the downfall of Antichrist, the time expressed to be a thousand yeares, Revel. 20. And it's pro∣phesied of Christ in Esa. 60. 15. that he

should be the joy of many generations; both this expression of many generations, and of a thousand yeares, are an indefinit number, to expresse the very large and spacious time, wherein Christ shall rule in, and by his Saints, when he shall ap∣peare before his Ancients gloriously; and all the Elders before his Throne shall worship him. If it be objected, from Revel. 20. 4. That those that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and the word of God, &c. These lived and raigned with Christ a thousand yeares, this being the first resurrection, and the rest of the dead lived not againe. I answer, that it cannot be meant that the persons of those that were beheaded for Jesus, and refused to worship the beast or his im∣age, should bodily raigne with Christ: but that God will raise up a people of the same spirit with those, that suffered for the testimony of Jesus. Thus Elias was sayd to come againe, in John the Baptist. And thus the Lord tells Daniel, that he should stand in the lot at the end of the dayes, when his prophesie should be fulfilled. All Saints gathered up into one spirit, they make but one. And thus we have the Prophet speaking;

And the Lord my God shall come, and all the Saints with thee, Zech. 14. 5. When the glory of God shall appeare more glo∣rious in the Saints, in the time of his spirituall raigne, the glory of all the former Saints shall be gathered up in them, and appeare most gloriously. The resurrecteon here spoken off, is meant of a resurrection from shame and reproach, the witnesses rising from their sadnesse and sackcloth, and as∣cending into the glory of Christ's kingdome. And when the seventh Trumpet shall sound, and the glory of the Lord be fully discovered and layd open, then all that heare the glorious sound of the everlasting Gospel, shall live; but the rest of the dead (that heare not the voyce of the seventh Trumpet, or that great proclamation of the truth and glory of Christ) they shall not live untill the thousand yeares be past.

Againe, if it be objected from Ezek. 37. 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. That the Lord hath promised, to call the Jewes, and gather them into their owne Land, and make them one Nation, and David their King shall raigne over them. I answer,

this prophesie is of a spiritual and my∣sticall interpretation; for the land of Messiah are the Saints; of whom the land of Canaan was a type: for if we take it litterally, that the Jewes should rebuild Jerusalem, and dwell peculiar∣ly in the land of Canaan, then also it must be meant, that David, and not Christ, should be King over them. But we know that the promise doth onely borrow expressions, from the state of the Jewish Church, but it shall be ful∣filled in spirit: for he is a Jew, which is one inwardly, Rom. 2. 28. The Jewes shall be called when the fulnesse of the Gentiles shall come, Rom. 11. 25. which is not meant, as if God would first finish his work among the Gentiles, and then call the Jewes as a peculiar people: but that the Jewes should be brought in, with the fulnesse of the Gentiles, when Antichrist shall be ruined, and that which letteth be taken out of the way, and the everlasting Gospel goe forth with freedome, in the fulnesse and a∣bundance of the Gentiles, shall the Jewes finde acceptance also.

Now from all that hath been said, of the kingdome and raigne of Christ,

observe, That Christ will come and raigne* 1.5 gloriously in his people, subduing all his ene∣mies, advancing his Saints unto the glory and dignity of his owne kingdome. Christ will take to himselfe all power, rule, strength, riches, glory, peace, joy, and whatsoever is good, and will bestow it upon his owne. Satan and wicked men have reigned long; but now they shall cease to reigne any longer. The whole earth shall be filled with the righteousnesse, goodnesse, and glory of God, and the anointed ones of the Lord shall reigne; and the Saints shall reigne with him for ever; as it's sayd, Revel. 5. He hath made us Kings and Priests to our God; and we shall reigne on the earth. The strength, glory, riches of the Gen∣tiles shall be given unto us; we shall no longer be subject to Satan and wicked men; but we shall be brought into the glorious libertie of the sons of God, and shall live in the new heaven and new earth, wherein dwells righteous∣nesse; our habitation shall be the new Jerusalem, the holy Citie. Now all the services of formall professors, and car∣nall Christians shall be disowned of God, Esa 43. 20, 21. And humane mi∣nistrie

shall be abhorred, vers. 27, 28. And Jerusalem shall be a burthensome stone; breaking in pieces Kings and Kingdomes, States and powers, that shall take upon them to judge of spiri∣tuall things, that shall intermeddle with Church-work, or shall any wayes goe about to interpose between God, and the spirits of men. Because none can, none shall reigne over the Saints, but the Lord himselfe; Man hath had his time of power, and dominion, but now he is to give account of his Ste∣wardship, and reigne no longer. The riches, the glorie, the strength, the do∣minion of the world are Christs; he hath let out these to man to be imploy∣ed; but the men of the world have abu∣sed them, these have been used in oppo∣sition to Christ; therefore Christ will recover these to himselfe againe, he will come and redeeme these from An∣tichrist, from Babylon, from the power of darknesse, and all these kingdomes of this world shall immediatly become the kingdomes of our Lord and his Christ: The Lord shall take all, owne all, possesse all, and his Saints shall pos∣sesse all i•• him: he must raigne, and

they shall reigne with him. The whole earth is the Lords, and he will put his people into possession of all that's good, excellent, and glorious. All the kingdomes of the world shall become our Lords and his anointed ones.

I shall now proceed to shew the ef∣fects that follow, in which I shall give you a briefe Paraphrasticall sence of the following verses, and so conclude. Because the Lord raignes, and we shall reigne with him, what is the issue.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 Observ:
• * 1.2

  2 Observ:
• * 1.3

  3 Observ:
• * 1.4

  4 Observ:
• * 1.5

  Obser: