thousand names of men, and not seven thousand men. I confess that this
seems somewhat mysterious: in other places we find not this phrase, names
of men, but simply men. Perhaps there is a figure of grammar, called
_hypolage casus_, so that names of men are put for men of name, i.e. of
raised and considerable quality, be it on account of riches, or of
dignity, or of learning. But I am more inclined to say, that here these
names of men, must be taken in their natural signification and do
intimate that the total Reformation of France shall not be made with
bloodshed, nothing shall be destroyed but names; such as are the names of
Monks, of Carmelites, of Augustines, of Dominicans, of Jacobins, of
Franciscans, Capuchins, Jesuits, Minimes and an infinite company of
others, whose number it is not easy to define and which the Holy Ghost
denotes by the number seven, which is the number of perfection, to
signify that the orders of monks and nuns shall perish for ever. This is
an institution so degenerated from its first original, that it is become
the ruin of Antichrist. These orders cannot perish one without the
other.
These great events deserve to be distinguished from all others; for they
have changed, or shall change, THE WHOLE FACE OF THE WORLD.
EXTRACTS
FROM
SERMONS
BY
DR. JOHN GILL.
THERE are some times fixed in prophecy, which by diligence, attention,
and application men may arrive to some understanding of. There are
indeed some times and seasons, the knowledge of which is not to be
attained unto; and it would be wrong, as well as in vain, curiously to
search into them. _It is not for us to know the times or the seasons_,
_which the Father hath put in his own power_; for he has _determined the
times before appointed_, when every thing that he has purposed or
promised shall come to pass; and he has fixed a _time for every purpose
under the heaven_, for the performance of every thing he has designed
shall be; _a time to be born_, _and a time to die_, and for every
intermediate event; but these times are not known beforehand, until
things are brought into execution. There are others and very remarkable
events, the times of which are pointed at in prophecy; and which with
diligence and application, a knowledge of them may in some measure be
attained unto: as for instance, the first coming of Christ into this
world to save men: the time for it was not only agreed upon and settled
between the Father and the Son, called _the fulness of time_, but there
were several prophetic hints of it; nay, not only was it described by
some general circumstances, as that it should be before the second temple
was destroyed, since he was to come into it and while the sceptre was in
the tribe of Judah; but the precise time was fixed by Daniel’s seventy
weeks, or four hundred years, which were to commence from a date given
him; and before the expiration of which the Messiah was to come: and so
as he by reading Jeremiah’s books knew the time when the Babylonish
captivity should end; another by reading his prophecies might know when
the Messiah would come; and accordingly about the time when those weeks
were drawing near to an expiration, there were many that were looking for
the Messiah and redemption by him, as knowing that it was about the time
by these weeks that he should come. There is a time set for the second
coming and God in his times will show him, or cause him openly to appear;
and though he will come in an hour we know not of, yet there are some
circumstances pointed out in the word of God by which it may be known
that it is nigh at hand; as that the day when the Son of man shall be
revealed shall be as the days of Noah and Lot, when men indulged
themselves in pleasure, lived in great security, unaware of the ruin
coming upon them; and that when the Son of man cometh, faith will not be
found in the earth; whether this be understood of the grace or doctrine
of faith, or of faith with respect to Christ’s coming: and when we
compare these things with the present times, and consider the luxury,
love of pleasure, carnal security and infidelity that abound among us, we
might conclude that the coming of Christ is just at hand, were it not
that there are many things which require time yet to be fulfilled
previous to it, as the destruction of Antichrist, the conversion of the
Jews, and the bringing in of the fulness of the Gentiles. So the last
judgment which will take place at the second coming of Christ, and is
most certain, being early known and often spoken of. Enoch, the seventh
from Adam, prophecied of it, and of Christ’s coming to it; the day is
appointed when it will come on, though of that day and hour knoweth no
man, not the angels in heaven, but the Father only: but then the
principal things that should come to pass, relative to the church,
between the first and second coming of Christ to judgment, are signified
to us in the book of the Revelation.
_Sermon from_ 1 _Chron._ xii. 32,
_preached Jan._ 1, 1752.
The destruction of Antichrist is the grand leading event to the glories
of this state. This is hinted at in the epistle to the church at
Philadelphus, the emblem of the spiritual reign; it will be the last
struggle of the beast that will cause that _hour of temptation which
shall come upon all the world to try_ the inhabitants of it: when the
seventh trumpet will be sounded, which will bring on the spiritual
kingdom of Christ throughout the world, he will destroy them which
destroy the earth; meaning the Papists, who have destroyed the
inhabitants of the earth with their false doctrine, superstitious
worship, and with those bloody wars, murders, and massacres they have
been at the bottom of. And till this is done the spiritual reign cannot
take place, especially in its full compass, and in all its branches, for
so long as Antichrist reigns, the church will be more or less in an
afflicted state: the date of the church’s troubles, and of the reign of
Antichrist are alike, and will expire together: the power given to the
beast is to continue forty and two months; wherefore there can be no
truly good and happy days, till these dates are ended.
The destruction of Antichrist will be by the spirit of Christ’s mouth,
and the brightness of his coming; that is, by his coming in a spiritual
way; or through the word of his mouth, his gospel attended by his spirit
and power; which will shine out with so much lustre, splendour, light,
and glory, as will chase away the darkness of popery, and enlighten the
minds of people, to see into all the fopperies, absurdities, and
wickedness of that religion and cause them to cast it off: yea, even to
open the eyes of the kings and princes of the earth, to behold and loath
the abominations of the whore of Rome they have committed fornication
with; and fill them with wrath and indignation against her, as to hate
her, make her bare and desolate, and burn her with fire.
This work will be greatly effected by the pouring out of the seven vials
of God’s wrath, or the inflicting the seven last plagues upon the
anti-Christian states, upon the western and eastern Antichrist, the Pope
and Turk; who must be both removed to make way for the spiritual reign of
Christ. These seven vials will be poured out, or those plagues inflicted
by Angels; by whom we are to understand protestant kings, and princes,
and generals of armies; and these will be given them by one or the first
of the four beasts, or living creatures, the emblems of gospel ministers;
who having some notice of the time of antichrist’s destruction being at
hand, will stir and animate the christian princes and potentates to take
this work in hand; and who are therefore said to go forth from the
temple, the church, the place of divine and spiritual worship, and where
they themselves are worshippers; and from whence they have orders to go
forth and do their work.
The first five of these vials concern the western Antichrist, and his
dominions: between which, and the trumpets, there is a great
correspondence, though they respect different times and persons. The
first vial will be poured out upon the earth, and designs those popish
countries which are upon the continent, as France and Germany, especially
the latter; and as the first trumpet brought the Goths into Germany, so
the first vial will bring great distress upon the popish party in the
empire, and issue in a reformation from popery. The second vial will be
poured out upon the sea, and may intend the maritime powers belonging to
the see of Rome, particularly Spain and Portugal; and as the second
trumpet brought the Vandals into these places, so this vial will effect
the same, and bring wars and desolations into them, and make a change in
their religion. The third vial will be poured out upon the rivers and
fountains of water, which may point to those places adjacent to Rome, as
Italy and Savoy; and as the third trumpet brought the Huns into those
parts; so this vial will bring in large armies hither, which will cause
much bloodshed, and a great revolution in church and state. The fourth
vial will be poured out upon the sun, which must denote some person or
persons of great dignity and influence, and as the fourth trumpet brought
destruction upon the Emperor of Rome, the sun of the empire, and upon
governors under him, signified by the moon and stars; this vial will
bring on the ruin of the pope of Rome, the sun of the antichristian
empire, with all his cardinals, bishops, priests, etc. The fifth vial
will be poured out upon the seat of the beast, which is Rome, the seat
that the devil gave to the beast, and will produce great darkness in his
kingdom; though as yet it will not be utterly destroyed, which is
reserved to the seventh vial. Now these several vials as they will be so
many plagues on the western Antichrist, and make so many breaches and
ruins upon his states and dominions, so they will be so many gradual
steps to the advancement of the glory and kingdom of Christ, and issue in
the reformation of these places from popery. The sixth vial will be
poured out on the river Euphrates, which designs the Turkish empire, in
the midst of which that river is; and as the sixth trumpet let loose the
four angels, or heads of the Ottoman family into Europe, so this vial
affects the same empire and brings destruction on it, signified by the
drying up of the waters of that river, as Babylon’s destruction is
expressed by the drying up of her sea, Jer. li. 36, which will make way
for the king, or kingdoms of the East; the kingdoms of Persia and Tartary
and others, to receive and embrace the Christian religion: this is the
second, or Turkish woe, which shall pass away; when the kingdoms of this
world will become Christ’s and his dominion will be from sea to sea, from
the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Sea; and from the river Euphrates to
the ends of the earth. The seventh vial will be poured out upon the air,
the whole kingdom of Satan, in all the branches of it, who is the prince
of the power of the air; and this vial will clear the whole world of all
the remains of Christ’s enemies, pagan, papal, and Mahometon, which the
other vials left or did not reach; and now will Christ’s kingdom be in
its full glory. Now the heathens, papists, pagans and Mahometans, will
perish out of this land and these sorts of sinners will be consumed out
of the earth and such wicked ones will be no more.
God will make a short work in righteousness, upon the enemies of his
church: as yet I take it, none of them are poured out, though some great
and learned men have so thought; as yet there have been no such
devastations on the continent, as in France and Germany, as to produce
the above effects; nor in the countries of Spain and Portugal; nor in
Italy and Savoy, and like the places near Rome, nor in the seat of the
beast, Rome itself; nor on the Pope and his cardinals; the river
Euphrates is not dried up; the Ottoman empire is yet in being; the
Turkish woe is not passed away; and much less the world cleared of all
the enemies of Christ and his church; no, before this work is done, the
outer court must be given to the Gentiles, and the witnesses must be
slain. Had they begun to be poured out at the time of the reformation,
as some have thought, in all likelihood they would have been finished
before now; and Antichrist would have been destroyed, and better times
than we are now in would have succeeded; but, however, this we may be
assured of, that as the plagues in Egypt issued in the destruction of
Pharaoh, and in the deliverance of the Israelites, so these vials will
end in the ruin of Antichrist, and in the salvation of the church of
Christ. As soon as these things will take place, nay, as soon as you
hear of those seven plagues, immediately you hear of persons on a sea of
glass, triumphing over Antichrist, having the harps of God, and singing
the song of Moses and the Lamb: and no sooner it is said, that Babylon is
fallen, but voices are heard in heaven ascribing salvation, glory, honour
and power to God, for his judgments on the great whore; declaring that
the Lord God omnipotent reigneth; that the marriage of the Lamb is come;
and his bride made ready; and proclaiming them happy that are called to
the marriage-supper of the Lamb; all which respect the spiritual reign of
Christ, now introduced by the ruin of Antichrist.
There will be very large conversions every where, in the several parts of
the world: in all popish countries and antichristian states; even the ten
kings that have given their kingdoms to the beast, have been associates
of Antichrist and reigned with him, shall withdraw from him; they and
their subjects shall revolt from him, and be converted, and embrace the
pure gospel: as it will be the christian princes and potentates that will
pour out the seven vials on Antichrist, they will carry the gospel with
them wherever they go; or, however, the ministers of it will follow
closely at their heels, way being made by the former for them; whose
ministry will meet with great success every where, and those that escape
the judgments of God in these nations, will not only be affrighted at
them, but will be truly converted by the gospel and give glory to the God
of heaven. In the Mahometan nations, the Turkish woe being past and that
empire being destroyed and way made for the gospel to be carried into the
eastern kingdoms, great and large conversions will be made by it; there
is a most glaring prophecy of this in Isa. lx. 7., which whole chapter
concerns the spiritual and personal reign of Christ; all the flocks of
Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall
minister unto thee; they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar and
I will glorify the house of my glory. Now Kedar and Nebaioth were the
sons of Ishmael, Gen. xxv. 13., who settled in Arabia, the country now
possessed by the Turks; so that this is a prophecy of the conversion of
multitudes in those parts, whereby the interest of Christ will be
increased and his church glorified. Moreover, in all Pagan countries the
gospel will make its way, and be successful; the covering and veil of
blindness and ignorance, cast and spread over all people and nations,
will be removed by it; not only the darkness of popery and Mahometanism,
but the gross darkness of paganism shall flee away at the light and
brightness of Zion’s rising; the Gentiles shall come to it; the fulness
and forces of them shall be brought into the church, being converted by
the word: and not only vast multitudes of the common people but great
personages also; kings shall be enlightened by it; these shall come to
Christ, fall down before him and worship him; these shall come into his
church and become members of it; kings shall be nursing fathers and
queens nursing mothers to his people; they shall bring their riches,
honour, and glory into his house; and his saints shall suck the breasts
of kings, be enriched, honoured and protected by them. This will be the
time when 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; not that there will be any change or alteration in the form and
order of civil government, which will be the same as now; there will be
kings and queens then, as at this time, as these prophecies show, it will
not be until the personal reign of Christ takes place, that all rule,
authority and power, will be put down: civil magistracy in the spiritual
reign will continue as it is; only it will change hands, it will be
entirely in the hands of christian kings and princes all the world over;
and no doubt but it will be better exercised, be more orderly and
regular; and that truth and righteousness will prevail every where. But
I must not forget the conversion of that considerable body of people the
Jews, who have been preserved a distinct people for several hundreds of
years for this purpose; the conversion of these people will be sudden and
of them altogether a nation shall be born at once. It looks as if their
conversion would be like that of the apostle Paul, and he seems to hint
that it will, when he says, that he, in obtaining mercy, was a pattern to
them which should hereafter believe; meaning, perhaps, his own countrymen
that should believe in Christ in the latter day, whose conversion would
be similar to his; that as his conversion was sudden, in the midst of all
his ignorance, unbelief, and rebellion, and without the word, by the
immediate power and grace of God, so will theirs be in like manner: nor
is it likely that their conversion should be by means of the word, since
there is such an aversion in that people to the hearing of it; and a rare
thing it is to see a Jew in a Christian assembly. But, however, all
Israel shall be called, converted, and saved; there is a famous prophecy
of this in Hos. iii. 4, 5., in the first of these verses it is said, the
children of Israel shall abide many days without a king and without a
prince; without any civil government of their own, the sceptre having
departed from them many hundred years ago; and without sacrifice; daily
or yearly, or on any occasion: they believing it to be unlawful to
sacrifice any where but in their own land, and at Jerusalem, and on the
altar of God there; and without an image, and without an ephod, and
without seraphim; without any manner of idols, or idol-worship; they
being not addicted to idolatry, since their return from the Babylonish
captivity: and now as all these things are exactly fulfilled in them, so
will in like manner that which follows: afterwards shall the children of
Israel return: by faith and repentance, from their evil way, from their
impenitence and unbelief, and rejection of the Messiah, and seek the Lord
their God, and David their king; the Messiah, the son of David, their
king, as their own _Targum_ paraphrases it; and shall fear the Lord and
his goodness in the latter days; in the spiritual reign of Christ; and it
is hinted as in the Philadelphian state, Rev. iii. 9, then will the
children of Israel appoint themselves one head, which is Christ, whom
they will own and acknowledge to be their head, lord, and king; and they
shall come out of the land, or countries where they are, to their own
land, and great shall be the day of Jezreel: and this will make a
considerable part of the glory of Christ’s spiritual kingdom.
The light of the gospel, both in the preachers and professors of it, will
be very great, clear, and distinct; the light of the moon, as in the
present dispensation to which it may be compared, shall be as the light
of the sun, to which that dispensation shall be like; and the light of
the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days: as if the light
of seven days were collected together, and shone out at once;
hyperbolical expressions, setting forth the exceeding greatness of gospel
light in those times: not only the watchmen, ministers of the word, shall
see eye to eye, all truths clearly and distinctly, but their ideas and
sentiments shall be regular and uniform; there will be an entire harmony
and agreement between them; and even private Christians, common members,
shall all know the Lord, and the things of the gospel, in a very clear
and comfortable manner, even from the least of them unto the greatest of
them; when God shall lay Zion’s stones with fair colours, and her
foundation with sapphires, make her windows of agates, and her gates of
carbuncles, and all her borders of pleasant stones; then all her children
shall be taught of God, to such a degree as they never were before, so
clearly, fully and universally.
Brotherly love, which is now waxed cold, will be in its height and glory,
agreeable to the name of this state, Philadelphia, which signifies
brotherly love: there will be no more contentions, animosities, and
quarrels: Ephraim shall not envy Judah on account of pre-eminence of
office, gifts and grace; and Judah shall not envy Ephraim, by any haughty
or overbearing carriage, or with wrangling debates and opprobrious
language: the two sticks of Ephraim and Judah shall be one in the hand of
the Lord; there will be perfect harmony and love, nothing to disturb,
distress, and make uneasy, or tend to alienate the affections of one from
another; there will be no pricking briars nor grieving thorns among them;
they will be like the first Christians, of one heart and of one mind, and
of one judgment, all studying to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond
of peace.
Holiness, which becomes the house of God for ever, will now adorn every
member in it; nor will there be such immorality in the world as at this
present time: holiness will be as common as profaneness is now; in that
day there shall be upon the bells of the horses holiness to the Lord—yea,
every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah, shall be holiness unto the Lord of
hosts: Christ therefore takes his titles in writing to the church at
Philadelphia, the emblem of the spiritual reign, suitable to its state;
as truth and holiness shall then prevail, he addresses it thus, these
things saith he that is holy, he that is true; truth and holiness go
together; truth influences the heart, and that the life and conversation.
There will be great peace and prosperity of all kinds, inward and
outward, spiritual and temporal; in these days of the Messiah’s spiritual
reign, shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as
the moon endureth: as the saints will enjoy great peace of conscience and
tranquillity of mind so they will have nothing to disturb them without;
there will be no more persecution; there will be none to hurt or destroy
in all the Lord’s holy mountain, as there will be no discord among
themselves, so no distress from any enemies, violence shall no more be
heard in their land, nor wasting and destruction within their border. O
happy, halcyon days! I go on to observe,
There will be a personal appearance of the Son of God, and a glorious one
it will be: he will personally appear; the Lord himself shall descend,
not by his spirit, or by the communication of his grace, or by his
gracious presence, as before; but in person he will descend from the
third heaven, where he is, in our nature, into the air, where he will be
visible; every eye shall see him, when he cometh with clouds, or in the
clouds of heaven, which will be his chariot; he will descend on earth et
the proper time; and his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives; on that
spot of ground from whence he ascended to heaven. Job seems to have this
descent of his in view when he says, he shall stand at the latter day
upon the earth; which seems to respect not so much his first coming as
his second; since it is connected with the resurrection of the dead.
This appearance of Christ will be a very glorious one: it is called the
glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Happy are those that belong to this city, who are fellow-citizens with
the saints, and of the household of God; whose citizenship is in heaven,
and they have a right to enter in through the gates into the holy city,
the new Jerusalem; but miserable will these be that will be without, for
without are dogs: and then he that is unjust, will be unjust still; and
he that is filthy, will be filthy still; and he that is righteous, will
be righteous still; and he that is holy, will be holy still.
_Sermon from Psalm_ lxxxvii. 3, _preached Dec._ 27, 1752.
* * * * *
_An Extraordinary Prediction relating to the Downfall of the House of
Bourbon and the House of Austria_.
RELATED BY MR. JOHN WESLEY.