Post by Admin on Jul 16, 2024 16:28:51 GMT -5
In discoursing on this subject, we have already shown how the work of
redemption was carried on through the two first of the THREE PERIODS
into which we divided the whole space of time from the fall to the end of
the world. We are now come to the third and last period, beginning with
Christ’s resurrection; and would show, that the space of time from the
end of Christ’s humiliation to the end of the world is all taken up in
bringing about the great effect or success of Christ’s purchase.
PART 1
Scriptural Representations of this Period.
NOT but that there were great effects and glorious success of Christ’s
purchase of redemption before, even from the beginning of the
generations of men. But all that success which; as before, was only
preparatory by way of anticipation, as some few fruits are gathered before
the harvest. There was no more success before Christ came, than God saw
needful to prepare the way for his coming. The time of the successor
effect of Christ’s redemption is after the purchase has been made, as the
proper time for the world to enjoy the light of the sun is the daytime, after
die sun is risen, though we may have some small matter of it reflected
from the moon and planets before. And even the success of Christ’s
redemption while he himself was on earth, was very small in comparison
of what it was after.
But, Christ having finished that greatest and most difficult of all works,
now is come the time for obtaining the end, the glorious effect of it.
Having gone through the whole course of his sufferings and humiliation,
Christ is never to suffer any more. But now is the time for him to obtain
the joy that was set before him. Having made his soul an offering for sin,
now is the time for him to see his seed to have a portion with the great,
and to divide the spoil with the strong.
One design of Christ in what he did in his humiliation, was to lay a
foundation for the overthrow of Satan’s kingdom; and now is come the
time to effect it, as Christ, a little before his crucifixion, said,
"Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this
world be cast out." (John 12:31)
Another design was, to gather together in one all things in Christ. Now is
come the time for this also: John 12:32. "And I, if I be lifted up, will draw
all men unto me;" which is agreeable to Jacob’s prophecy of Christ, that
"when Shiloh should come, to him should the gathering of the people be,"
Genesis 49:10. Another design is the salvation of the elect. Now when his
sufferings are finished, and his humiliation perfected, the time is come
for that also . Hebrews 5:8, 9. "Though he was a Son, yet learned
obedience by the things which he suffered: and being made perfect, he
became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him."
Another design was, to accomplish by these things great glory to the
persons of the Trinity. John 17:1. "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy
Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee." Another design was the glory of
the saints. John 17:11."As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he
should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him." And all the
dispensations of God’s providence henceforward, even to the final
consummation of all things, are to give Christ his reward, and fulfil his
end in what he did and suffered upon earth, and to fulfil the joy that was
set before him.
Before I enter on the consideration of any particular things accomplished
in this period, I would briefly observe how the times of this period are
represented in Scripture.
1. The times of this period, for the most part, are in the Old Testament
called the latter days. We often, in the prophets of the Old Testament,
read of things that should come to pass in the latter days, and sometimes
in the last days, evidently referring to gospel times. They are called the
latter days, and the last days; because this is the last period of the series
of God’s providences on earth, the last period of the great work of
redemption; which is as it were the sum of God’s works of providence; the
last dispensation of the covenant of grace on earth.
II. The whole time of this period is sometimes in Scripture called the end
of the world, 1 Corinthians 10:11. "Now all these things happened unto
them for exsamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom
the ends of the world am come." And the apostle, Hebrews 9:26. in this
expression of the end of the world, means the whole of the gospel-day,
from the birth of Christ to the of judgment: "But now once in the end of
the world, hath he appeared, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."
This space of time may well be called the end of the world; for this whole
time is taken up in bringing things to their great end and issue. Before,
things were in a kind of preparatory state; but now they are in a finishing
state. An end is now brought to the former carnal state of things, which
by degrees vanishes, and a spiritual state begins to be established more
and more. Particularly, an end is brought to the former state of the
church, which may be called its worldly state, in which it was subject to
carnal ordinances, and the rudiments of the world. The end is brought to
the Jewish commonwealth, in the destruction of their city and country.
After that, an end is brought to the old heathen empire in Constantine’s
time. The next step is the finishing of Satan’s visible kingdom in the
world, upon the fall of Antichrist, and the calling of the Jews. And last
will come the destruction of the outward frame of the world itself, at the
conclusion of the day of judgment. Heaven and earth began to shake, in
order to a dissolution, according to the prophecy of Haggai, before Christ
came, that so only those things which cannot be shaken may remain, i.e.
that those things which are to come to an end may terminate, and only
those things may remain which are to remain eternally.
In the first place, the carnal ordinances of the Jewish worship came to an
end, in order to make way for the establishment of that spiritual worship,
which is to endure to all eternity:
"Jesus saith unto the woman, Believe me, the hour cometh, when ye
shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father." (John 4:21)
Verse 23. "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers
shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such
to worship him." This is one instance of the temporary world coming to
an end, and the eternal world beginning. And then, the outward temple
and the city Jerusalem came to an end, to give place to the setting up of
the spiritual temple and city, which are to last for ever. Another instance
of removing those things which are ready to vanish away, that those
things which cannot be shaken may remain, is the bringing to an end the
old heathen empire, to make way for the empire of Christ, which shall last
to all eternity. After that, upon the fall of Antichrist, an end is put to
Satan’s visible kingdom on earth, to establish Christ’s kingdom, which is
an eternal kingdom; as the prophet Daniel says, chapter 7:27. "And the
kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the
whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High,
whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve
and obey him;" which is another instance of the ending of the temporary
world, and the beginning of the eternal one. And then, lastly, the very
frame of this corruptible world shall come to an end, to make way for the
church to dwell in another dwelling-place, which shall last to eternity.
Because the world is thus coming to an end by various steps and degrees,
the apostle perhaps uses this expression, that (not the end but) the ends
of the world are come on us; as though the world has several endings one
after another. The gospel-dispensation a is a finishing state: it is all spent
in finishing things off which before had been preparing, or abolishing
things which before had stood.
It is all spent as it were in summing things and bringing them to their
issues, and their proper fulfillment. Now all the old types are fulfilled, an
the predictions of all the prophets from the beginning of the world shall
be accomplished in this period.
III. That state of things which is attained in the events of this period is
called a new heaven and a new earth: Isaiah 45:17, 18. "For behold, I
create new heavens, and a new earth: and the former shall not be
remembered, nor come into mind. But be you glad and rejoice for ever in
that which I create: for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing and her
people a joy." And chapter 66:22. "For as the new heavens and the new
earth which shall remain before me; so shall your seed and your name
remain." See also chapter 51:16. As the former state of things, or the old
world, by one step after another, is through this period coming to an end;
so the new sate of things, or the new world, which is a spiritual world, is
beginning and setting up. In consequence of each of the old state of these
finishings of the state of things, there is the beginning of a new and
eternal state. So that which accompanied the destruction of the literal
Jerusalem, was an establishing of the spiritual. So with respect to the
destruction of the old heathen empire, and all the other endings of the old
state of things; till at length the very outward frame of the world itself
shall come to an end; and the church shall dwell in heaven, which will be
a new habitation. Then shall the utmost be accomplished that is meant by
the new heavens and the new earth. (See Revelation 21:1.) The end of
God’s creating the world, was to prepare a kingdom for his Son, (for he is
appointed heir of the world,) which should remain to all eternity. So far
as the kingdom (if Christ is set up in the world, so far is the world brought
to its end, and the eternal state of things set up-so for are all the great
changes and revolutions of the world brought to their everlasting issue,
and all things come to their ultimate period-so far are the waters of the
long channel of divine providence, which has so many branches, and so
many windings, emptied into their proper ocean, which they have been
seeking from the beginning of their course, and so are come to their rest.
So far as Christ’s kingdom is established in the world, so far are things
wound up and settled in their everlasting state, and a period put to the
course of things in this changeable world; so far are the first heavens and
the first earth come to an end; and the new heavens and the new earth,
the everlasting heavens and earth, established in their room. This leads
me to observe,
IV. That the state of things which is attained by the events of this period,
is what is so often called the kingdom of heaven, or the kingdom of God.
We very often read in the New Testament of the kingdom of heaven. John
the Baptist preached, that the kingdom of heaven was at hand; and so did
Christ and his disciples after him; referring to something that the Jews in
those days expected, and called by that name. They seem to have taken
their expectation and the name chiefly from that prophecy of Daniel in
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Daniel 2:44. "In the days of these kings shall
the God of heaven set up a kingdom;" together with chapter 7:13, 14.
Now this kingdom of heaven is that evangelical state of things in the
church, and in the world, wherein consists the success of Christ’s
redemption in this period. There had been often great kingdoms set up
before; as the Babylonish, the Persian, the Grecian, and the Roman
monarchies. But Christ came to set up the last, which is not an earthly
kingdom, but a heavenly, John 18:36. "My kingdom is not of this world."
This is the kingdom of which Christ speaks, Luke 22:29. "My Father hath
appointed to me a kingdom." This kingdom began soon after Christ’s
resurrection, and is accomplished in various steps from that time to the
end of the world. Sometimes by the kingdom of heaven, is meant not only
that spiritual state of the church which began soon after Christ
resurrection; but also that more perfect state which shall obtain after the
downfall of Antichrist; and sometimes that glorious and blessed state to
which the church shall be received at the day of judgment. So 1
Corinthians 15:50. "This I say, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
kingdom of God." – Under this head I would observe several things
particularly, for the clearer understanding of what the Scripture says
concerning this period.
1. The setting up of the kingdom of Christ is chiefly accomplished by four
successive great events, each of which is in Scripture called Christ’s
coming in his kingdom. The first is Christ’s appearing in those wonderful
dispensations of providence in the apostles’ days, in setting up his
kingdom, and destroying its enemies, which ended in the destruction of
Jerusalem. This is called Christ’s coming in his kingdom,
"Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here, which shall not
taste of death till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."
(Matthew 16:28)
(And Matthew 24.) The second is that which was accomplished in
Constantine’s time, in the destruction of the heathen Roman empire. This
is represented as Christ’s coming, and is compared to his coming to
judgment, (Revelation 6 at the latter end.) The third is that which is to be
accomplished at the destruction of Antichrist. This also is represented as
Christ’s coming in his kingdom in the 7th and in other places. The fourth
and last judgment, which is the event principally signified in scripture by
Christ’s coming in his kingdom.
2. Each of the three former is a lively image, or type, of the fourth and
last, viz. Christ’s coming to the final judgment, as the principal
dispensations of providence before were types of his first coming. As
Christ’s last coming to judgment is the resurrection of the dead, so is each
of the three forgoing with a spiritual resurrection. That the coming of
Christ which ended in the destruction of Jerusalem was preceded by a
glorious spiritual resurrection of souls in the calling of the Gentiles
through the preaching of the gospel. Christ’s coming in Constantine’s
time, was accompanied with a glorious spiritual resurrection of the
greater part of the known world in a restoration of it to a visible church
state, from a state of heathenism. Christ’s coming at the destruction of
Antichrist, will be attended with a spiritual resurrection of the church
after it had been long as it were dead, in the times of Antichrist. This is
called the first resurrection in the 20th chapter of Revelation.
Again, as Christ in the last judgment will gloriously manifest himself
coming in the glory of his Father, so in each of the three foregoing events
Christ gloriously manifested himself in sending Judgments upon his
enemies, and in showing favour to his church. As the last coming of
Christ will be attended with a literal gathering together of the elect from
the four winds of heaven, so were each of the preceding attended with a
spiritual gathering in of the elect. As this gathering together of the elect
will be effected by God’s angels with a great sound of a trumpet;
(Matthew 24:31.) so were each of the preceding spiritual ingatherings
effected by the trumpet 4 e gospel, sounded by the ministers of Christ. As
there shall precede the last appearance of Christ, a time of great
degeneracy and wickedness, so this has been, or will be, the case with
each of the other appearances. Before each of them is a time of great
opposition to the church: Wore the first, by the Jews; before the second,
in Constantine’s time, by the heathen; Wore the third, by Antichrist; and
before the last, by Gog and Magog, as described in the Revelation.
By each of these comings of Christ, God works a glorious deliverance for
his church. The first, which ended in the destruction of Jerusalem, was
attended with bringing advancement of the church in from persecution,
the countenance of civil authority and her triumph over heathen
persecutors. shall be at the downfall of Antichrist, will with an
advancement of the church in glorious prevalence of truth, liberty, peace,
and joy, which we so often read of in the prophetical parts of Scripture.
The lost will be attended with the advancement of the church to
consummate glory in heaven.
Each of these comings of Christ is accompanied with a terrible
destruction of the wicked, and the enemies of the church: the first, with
the destruction of the persecuting Jews, which was amazingly terrible;
the second, with dreadful Judgments on the heathen persecutors of the
church; the third, with the awful destruction of Antichrist, the most cruel
and bitter enemy that ever the church had; the fourth, with divine wrath
and vengeance on all the ungodly. – Further, there is in each of these
comings of Christ an ending of the old, and a beginning of new, heavens
and a new earth; or an end of a temporal state of things, and a heavens
and a new earth; or an end of a temporal state of things, and a beginning
of an eternal state.
3. I would observe, that each of those four great dispensations which are
represented as Christ’s coming in his kingdom, are but so many steps and
degrees of the accomplishment of one event. They are not the setting up
of so many distinct kingdoms of Christ; but only several degrees of the
accomplishment of that one event prophesied of, Daniel 7:13,14. "And I
saw in the night-visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with
the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought
him near before him. And them was given him dominion and glory, and a
kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his
dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom that which shall
not be destroyed." This is what the Jews expected, and called "the coming
of the kingdom of heaven;" and what John the Baptist and Christ had
respect to, when they said, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." This
great event is accomplished by several steps.
4. When Christ came with the preaching of the apostles, to set up his
kingdom in the world, which dispensation ended With the destruction of
Jerusalem, then it was accomplished in a glorious degree; when the
heathen empire was destroy in Constantine’s time, it was fulfilled in a
farther degree; when Antichrist shall be destroyed, it will be
accomplished in a yet higher degree; but when the end of the world is
come, then will it be accomplished in its not perfect degree of all. And
bemuse those four great events are but images one of another, and the
three former but types of the last, and since they are all only several states
of the accomplishment of the same thing; hence we had them all from
time to time prophesied of under one, as in the prophecies of Daniel, and
in the 24th chapter of Matthew, where some things seem more applicable
to one of them, and others to another.
Thus it appears, that as there are several steps of the accomplishment of
the kingdom of Christ, so in each one of the event is accomplished in a
further degree than in the foregoing. That in the time of Constantine was
a greater and further accomplishment of the kingdom of Christ, than that
which ended in the destruction of Jerusalem; that which shall be at the
fall of Antichrist, Will be a further accomplishment of the same thing,
than that which took place in the time of Constantine; and so on with
regard to each; so that the kingdom of Christ is gradually prevailing and
growing by these several great steps of its fulfilment, from the time of
Christ’s resurrection to the end of the world.
5. The great providences or God between these four events, are to make
way for the kingdom and glory of Christ in the great event following.
Those dispensations of providence towards the church and the world,
before the destruction of the heathen empire in the time of Constantine,
seem all to have been to make way for the glory of Christ, and the
happiness of the church in that event. And so the great prove after that,
till the destruction of Antichrist, and the beginning of the glorious times
of the church which follow, seem all calculated to prepare the way for the
greater glory of Christ and his church in that event; and the following
ones to the end of the world seem to be for the greater manifestation of
Christ’s glory at the consummation of all things. – Thus I thought it
needful to observe those things in general concerning this last period,
before I take notice of particular providences by which the work of
redemption is carried on through this period, in their order. Before I
proceed, I will briefly answer an INQUIRY, viz. Why the setting up of
Christ’s kingdom after his humiliation, should be so gradual, since God
could easily have finished it at once? – Though it would be presumption
in us to pretend to declare all the ends of God in this, yet doubtless much
of his wisdom may be seen in it; and particularly in these two things.
1. In this way the glory of God’s wisdom is more visible to the observation
of creatures. If it had been done at once, or in a very short time, there
would not have been such opportunities for creatures to perceive and
observe the particular steps of divine wisdom, as when the work is
gradually accomplished, and one effect is held forth to observation after
another. It is wisely determined of God, to accomplish his great design by
a wonderful and long series of events, that the glory of his wisdom may be
displayed, in the whole series, of events, that the glory of his perfection
may be seen, in particular successive manifestations. If all that glory
which appears in these events had been manifested at once, it would have
been too much for us; it would have overpowered our sight and
capacities.
2. Satan is more gloriously triumphed overse – God could easily by act of
almighty power, at once have crushed, Satan. But by giving him time to
use his utmost subtlety to hinder the success of what Christ had done and
suffered, he is not defeated merely by surprise, but has large opportunity
to ply his utmost power and subtlety again and again, to strengthen his
own interest all that he can by the work of many ages. Thus God destroys
and confounds him, and sets a Christ’s kingdom time after time, in spite
of all his stable machination, and great works, and by every step advances
it still higher and higher, till at length it is fully set up, and Satan perfectly
and eternally vanquished. – I now proceed to take notice of the Particular
events, whereby, from the end of Christ’s humiliation to the end of the
world, the success of Christ’s purchase has been or shall be accomplished.
redemption was carried on through the two first of the THREE PERIODS
into which we divided the whole space of time from the fall to the end of
the world. We are now come to the third and last period, beginning with
Christ’s resurrection; and would show, that the space of time from the
end of Christ’s humiliation to the end of the world is all taken up in
bringing about the great effect or success of Christ’s purchase.
PART 1
Scriptural Representations of this Period.
NOT but that there were great effects and glorious success of Christ’s
purchase of redemption before, even from the beginning of the
generations of men. But all that success which; as before, was only
preparatory by way of anticipation, as some few fruits are gathered before
the harvest. There was no more success before Christ came, than God saw
needful to prepare the way for his coming. The time of the successor
effect of Christ’s redemption is after the purchase has been made, as the
proper time for the world to enjoy the light of the sun is the daytime, after
die sun is risen, though we may have some small matter of it reflected
from the moon and planets before. And even the success of Christ’s
redemption while he himself was on earth, was very small in comparison
of what it was after.
But, Christ having finished that greatest and most difficult of all works,
now is come the time for obtaining the end, the glorious effect of it.
Having gone through the whole course of his sufferings and humiliation,
Christ is never to suffer any more. But now is the time for him to obtain
the joy that was set before him. Having made his soul an offering for sin,
now is the time for him to see his seed to have a portion with the great,
and to divide the spoil with the strong.
One design of Christ in what he did in his humiliation, was to lay a
foundation for the overthrow of Satan’s kingdom; and now is come the
time to effect it, as Christ, a little before his crucifixion, said,
"Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this
world be cast out." (John 12:31)
Another design was, to gather together in one all things in Christ. Now is
come the time for this also: John 12:32. "And I, if I be lifted up, will draw
all men unto me;" which is agreeable to Jacob’s prophecy of Christ, that
"when Shiloh should come, to him should the gathering of the people be,"
Genesis 49:10. Another design is the salvation of the elect. Now when his
sufferings are finished, and his humiliation perfected, the time is come
for that also . Hebrews 5:8, 9. "Though he was a Son, yet learned
obedience by the things which he suffered: and being made perfect, he
became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him."
Another design was, to accomplish by these things great glory to the
persons of the Trinity. John 17:1. "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy
Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee." Another design was the glory of
the saints. John 17:11."As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he
should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him." And all the
dispensations of God’s providence henceforward, even to the final
consummation of all things, are to give Christ his reward, and fulfil his
end in what he did and suffered upon earth, and to fulfil the joy that was
set before him.
Before I enter on the consideration of any particular things accomplished
in this period, I would briefly observe how the times of this period are
represented in Scripture.
1. The times of this period, for the most part, are in the Old Testament
called the latter days. We often, in the prophets of the Old Testament,
read of things that should come to pass in the latter days, and sometimes
in the last days, evidently referring to gospel times. They are called the
latter days, and the last days; because this is the last period of the series
of God’s providences on earth, the last period of the great work of
redemption; which is as it were the sum of God’s works of providence; the
last dispensation of the covenant of grace on earth.
II. The whole time of this period is sometimes in Scripture called the end
of the world, 1 Corinthians 10:11. "Now all these things happened unto
them for exsamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom
the ends of the world am come." And the apostle, Hebrews 9:26. in this
expression of the end of the world, means the whole of the gospel-day,
from the birth of Christ to the of judgment: "But now once in the end of
the world, hath he appeared, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."
This space of time may well be called the end of the world; for this whole
time is taken up in bringing things to their great end and issue. Before,
things were in a kind of preparatory state; but now they are in a finishing
state. An end is now brought to the former carnal state of things, which
by degrees vanishes, and a spiritual state begins to be established more
and more. Particularly, an end is brought to the former state of the
church, which may be called its worldly state, in which it was subject to
carnal ordinances, and the rudiments of the world. The end is brought to
the Jewish commonwealth, in the destruction of their city and country.
After that, an end is brought to the old heathen empire in Constantine’s
time. The next step is the finishing of Satan’s visible kingdom in the
world, upon the fall of Antichrist, and the calling of the Jews. And last
will come the destruction of the outward frame of the world itself, at the
conclusion of the day of judgment. Heaven and earth began to shake, in
order to a dissolution, according to the prophecy of Haggai, before Christ
came, that so only those things which cannot be shaken may remain, i.e.
that those things which are to come to an end may terminate, and only
those things may remain which are to remain eternally.
In the first place, the carnal ordinances of the Jewish worship came to an
end, in order to make way for the establishment of that spiritual worship,
which is to endure to all eternity:
"Jesus saith unto the woman, Believe me, the hour cometh, when ye
shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father." (John 4:21)
Verse 23. "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers
shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such
to worship him." This is one instance of the temporary world coming to
an end, and the eternal world beginning. And then, the outward temple
and the city Jerusalem came to an end, to give place to the setting up of
the spiritual temple and city, which are to last for ever. Another instance
of removing those things which are ready to vanish away, that those
things which cannot be shaken may remain, is the bringing to an end the
old heathen empire, to make way for the empire of Christ, which shall last
to all eternity. After that, upon the fall of Antichrist, an end is put to
Satan’s visible kingdom on earth, to establish Christ’s kingdom, which is
an eternal kingdom; as the prophet Daniel says, chapter 7:27. "And the
kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the
whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High,
whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve
and obey him;" which is another instance of the ending of the temporary
world, and the beginning of the eternal one. And then, lastly, the very
frame of this corruptible world shall come to an end, to make way for the
church to dwell in another dwelling-place, which shall last to eternity.
Because the world is thus coming to an end by various steps and degrees,
the apostle perhaps uses this expression, that (not the end but) the ends
of the world are come on us; as though the world has several endings one
after another. The gospel-dispensation a is a finishing state: it is all spent
in finishing things off which before had been preparing, or abolishing
things which before had stood.
It is all spent as it were in summing things and bringing them to their
issues, and their proper fulfillment. Now all the old types are fulfilled, an
the predictions of all the prophets from the beginning of the world shall
be accomplished in this period.
III. That state of things which is attained in the events of this period is
called a new heaven and a new earth: Isaiah 45:17, 18. "For behold, I
create new heavens, and a new earth: and the former shall not be
remembered, nor come into mind. But be you glad and rejoice for ever in
that which I create: for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing and her
people a joy." And chapter 66:22. "For as the new heavens and the new
earth which shall remain before me; so shall your seed and your name
remain." See also chapter 51:16. As the former state of things, or the old
world, by one step after another, is through this period coming to an end;
so the new sate of things, or the new world, which is a spiritual world, is
beginning and setting up. In consequence of each of the old state of these
finishings of the state of things, there is the beginning of a new and
eternal state. So that which accompanied the destruction of the literal
Jerusalem, was an establishing of the spiritual. So with respect to the
destruction of the old heathen empire, and all the other endings of the old
state of things; till at length the very outward frame of the world itself
shall come to an end; and the church shall dwell in heaven, which will be
a new habitation. Then shall the utmost be accomplished that is meant by
the new heavens and the new earth. (See Revelation 21:1.) The end of
God’s creating the world, was to prepare a kingdom for his Son, (for he is
appointed heir of the world,) which should remain to all eternity. So far
as the kingdom (if Christ is set up in the world, so far is the world brought
to its end, and the eternal state of things set up-so for are all the great
changes and revolutions of the world brought to their everlasting issue,
and all things come to their ultimate period-so far are the waters of the
long channel of divine providence, which has so many branches, and so
many windings, emptied into their proper ocean, which they have been
seeking from the beginning of their course, and so are come to their rest.
So far as Christ’s kingdom is established in the world, so far are things
wound up and settled in their everlasting state, and a period put to the
course of things in this changeable world; so far are the first heavens and
the first earth come to an end; and the new heavens and the new earth,
the everlasting heavens and earth, established in their room. This leads
me to observe,
IV. That the state of things which is attained by the events of this period,
is what is so often called the kingdom of heaven, or the kingdom of God.
We very often read in the New Testament of the kingdom of heaven. John
the Baptist preached, that the kingdom of heaven was at hand; and so did
Christ and his disciples after him; referring to something that the Jews in
those days expected, and called by that name. They seem to have taken
their expectation and the name chiefly from that prophecy of Daniel in
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Daniel 2:44. "In the days of these kings shall
the God of heaven set up a kingdom;" together with chapter 7:13, 14.
Now this kingdom of heaven is that evangelical state of things in the
church, and in the world, wherein consists the success of Christ’s
redemption in this period. There had been often great kingdoms set up
before; as the Babylonish, the Persian, the Grecian, and the Roman
monarchies. But Christ came to set up the last, which is not an earthly
kingdom, but a heavenly, John 18:36. "My kingdom is not of this world."
This is the kingdom of which Christ speaks, Luke 22:29. "My Father hath
appointed to me a kingdom." This kingdom began soon after Christ’s
resurrection, and is accomplished in various steps from that time to the
end of the world. Sometimes by the kingdom of heaven, is meant not only
that spiritual state of the church which began soon after Christ
resurrection; but also that more perfect state which shall obtain after the
downfall of Antichrist; and sometimes that glorious and blessed state to
which the church shall be received at the day of judgment. So 1
Corinthians 15:50. "This I say, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
kingdom of God." – Under this head I would observe several things
particularly, for the clearer understanding of what the Scripture says
concerning this period.
1. The setting up of the kingdom of Christ is chiefly accomplished by four
successive great events, each of which is in Scripture called Christ’s
coming in his kingdom. The first is Christ’s appearing in those wonderful
dispensations of providence in the apostles’ days, in setting up his
kingdom, and destroying its enemies, which ended in the destruction of
Jerusalem. This is called Christ’s coming in his kingdom,
"Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here, which shall not
taste of death till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."
(Matthew 16:28)
(And Matthew 24.) The second is that which was accomplished in
Constantine’s time, in the destruction of the heathen Roman empire. This
is represented as Christ’s coming, and is compared to his coming to
judgment, (Revelation 6 at the latter end.) The third is that which is to be
accomplished at the destruction of Antichrist. This also is represented as
Christ’s coming in his kingdom in the 7th and in other places. The fourth
and last judgment, which is the event principally signified in scripture by
Christ’s coming in his kingdom.
2. Each of the three former is a lively image, or type, of the fourth and
last, viz. Christ’s coming to the final judgment, as the principal
dispensations of providence before were types of his first coming. As
Christ’s last coming to judgment is the resurrection of the dead, so is each
of the three forgoing with a spiritual resurrection. That the coming of
Christ which ended in the destruction of Jerusalem was preceded by a
glorious spiritual resurrection of souls in the calling of the Gentiles
through the preaching of the gospel. Christ’s coming in Constantine’s
time, was accompanied with a glorious spiritual resurrection of the
greater part of the known world in a restoration of it to a visible church
state, from a state of heathenism. Christ’s coming at the destruction of
Antichrist, will be attended with a spiritual resurrection of the church
after it had been long as it were dead, in the times of Antichrist. This is
called the first resurrection in the 20th chapter of Revelation.
Again, as Christ in the last judgment will gloriously manifest himself
coming in the glory of his Father, so in each of the three foregoing events
Christ gloriously manifested himself in sending Judgments upon his
enemies, and in showing favour to his church. As the last coming of
Christ will be attended with a literal gathering together of the elect from
the four winds of heaven, so were each of the preceding attended with a
spiritual gathering in of the elect. As this gathering together of the elect
will be effected by God’s angels with a great sound of a trumpet;
(Matthew 24:31.) so were each of the preceding spiritual ingatherings
effected by the trumpet 4 e gospel, sounded by the ministers of Christ. As
there shall precede the last appearance of Christ, a time of great
degeneracy and wickedness, so this has been, or will be, the case with
each of the other appearances. Before each of them is a time of great
opposition to the church: Wore the first, by the Jews; before the second,
in Constantine’s time, by the heathen; Wore the third, by Antichrist; and
before the last, by Gog and Magog, as described in the Revelation.
By each of these comings of Christ, God works a glorious deliverance for
his church. The first, which ended in the destruction of Jerusalem, was
attended with bringing advancement of the church in from persecution,
the countenance of civil authority and her triumph over heathen
persecutors. shall be at the downfall of Antichrist, will with an
advancement of the church in glorious prevalence of truth, liberty, peace,
and joy, which we so often read of in the prophetical parts of Scripture.
The lost will be attended with the advancement of the church to
consummate glory in heaven.
Each of these comings of Christ is accompanied with a terrible
destruction of the wicked, and the enemies of the church: the first, with
the destruction of the persecuting Jews, which was amazingly terrible;
the second, with dreadful Judgments on the heathen persecutors of the
church; the third, with the awful destruction of Antichrist, the most cruel
and bitter enemy that ever the church had; the fourth, with divine wrath
and vengeance on all the ungodly. – Further, there is in each of these
comings of Christ an ending of the old, and a beginning of new, heavens
and a new earth; or an end of a temporal state of things, and a heavens
and a new earth; or an end of a temporal state of things, and a beginning
of an eternal state.
3. I would observe, that each of those four great dispensations which are
represented as Christ’s coming in his kingdom, are but so many steps and
degrees of the accomplishment of one event. They are not the setting up
of so many distinct kingdoms of Christ; but only several degrees of the
accomplishment of that one event prophesied of, Daniel 7:13,14. "And I
saw in the night-visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with
the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought
him near before him. And them was given him dominion and glory, and a
kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his
dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom that which shall
not be destroyed." This is what the Jews expected, and called "the coming
of the kingdom of heaven;" and what John the Baptist and Christ had
respect to, when they said, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." This
great event is accomplished by several steps.
4. When Christ came with the preaching of the apostles, to set up his
kingdom in the world, which dispensation ended With the destruction of
Jerusalem, then it was accomplished in a glorious degree; when the
heathen empire was destroy in Constantine’s time, it was fulfilled in a
farther degree; when Antichrist shall be destroyed, it will be
accomplished in a yet higher degree; but when the end of the world is
come, then will it be accomplished in its not perfect degree of all. And
bemuse those four great events are but images one of another, and the
three former but types of the last, and since they are all only several states
of the accomplishment of the same thing; hence we had them all from
time to time prophesied of under one, as in the prophecies of Daniel, and
in the 24th chapter of Matthew, where some things seem more applicable
to one of them, and others to another.
Thus it appears, that as there are several steps of the accomplishment of
the kingdom of Christ, so in each one of the event is accomplished in a
further degree than in the foregoing. That in the time of Constantine was
a greater and further accomplishment of the kingdom of Christ, than that
which ended in the destruction of Jerusalem; that which shall be at the
fall of Antichrist, Will be a further accomplishment of the same thing,
than that which took place in the time of Constantine; and so on with
regard to each; so that the kingdom of Christ is gradually prevailing and
growing by these several great steps of its fulfilment, from the time of
Christ’s resurrection to the end of the world.
5. The great providences or God between these four events, are to make
way for the kingdom and glory of Christ in the great event following.
Those dispensations of providence towards the church and the world,
before the destruction of the heathen empire in the time of Constantine,
seem all to have been to make way for the glory of Christ, and the
happiness of the church in that event. And so the great prove after that,
till the destruction of Antichrist, and the beginning of the glorious times
of the church which follow, seem all calculated to prepare the way for the
greater glory of Christ and his church in that event; and the following
ones to the end of the world seem to be for the greater manifestation of
Christ’s glory at the consummation of all things. – Thus I thought it
needful to observe those things in general concerning this last period,
before I take notice of particular providences by which the work of
redemption is carried on through this period, in their order. Before I
proceed, I will briefly answer an INQUIRY, viz. Why the setting up of
Christ’s kingdom after his humiliation, should be so gradual, since God
could easily have finished it at once? – Though it would be presumption
in us to pretend to declare all the ends of God in this, yet doubtless much
of his wisdom may be seen in it; and particularly in these two things.
1. In this way the glory of God’s wisdom is more visible to the observation
of creatures. If it had been done at once, or in a very short time, there
would not have been such opportunities for creatures to perceive and
observe the particular steps of divine wisdom, as when the work is
gradually accomplished, and one effect is held forth to observation after
another. It is wisely determined of God, to accomplish his great design by
a wonderful and long series of events, that the glory of his wisdom may be
displayed, in the whole series, of events, that the glory of his perfection
may be seen, in particular successive manifestations. If all that glory
which appears in these events had been manifested at once, it would have
been too much for us; it would have overpowered our sight and
capacities.
2. Satan is more gloriously triumphed overse – God could easily by act of
almighty power, at once have crushed, Satan. But by giving him time to
use his utmost subtlety to hinder the success of what Christ had done and
suffered, he is not defeated merely by surprise, but has large opportunity
to ply his utmost power and subtlety again and again, to strengthen his
own interest all that he can by the work of many ages. Thus God destroys
and confounds him, and sets a Christ’s kingdom time after time, in spite
of all his stable machination, and great works, and by every step advances
it still higher and higher, till at length it is fully set up, and Satan perfectly
and eternally vanquished. – I now proceed to take notice of the Particular
events, whereby, from the end of Christ’s humiliation to the end of the
world, the success of Christ’s purchase has been or shall be accomplished.