Scheme of the Book of Revelation

A brief and useful Summary of the book of the Prophet Daniel, being a fit Introduction to the Parallel of that, and the book of the Revelation.

AS Christ Jesus commanded St. John his beloved Disciple. Rev. 1.19.

First, To write the things he had seen, viz. set down in the same

• 2ly. The things that then were, viz. concerning those present Churches of Asia, Chap. 2. and 3.
• 3ly. The things that should be afterwards to the end of the world: in the rest of that whole book: even so the spirit of God had before guided Daniel that greatly beloved Prophet in the same order.

First, To write the things he had seen: More generally,

• 1. By Revelation only, Chap. 2. by making known to him the exposition of Nebuchadnezzar's dream of an Image, the parts of which, set forth the four Monarchies of this world.
• 2. By both Vision and Revelation, chap. 7. when the same things in generals were again set before him by four beasts that should destroy each other, further decyphering for the use of the Church, the state of the said Mettle Kingdoms, in other respects set forth in the Image before.

By which double confirmation, God set before his people the excellency and usefulness of those things so made known, with the certainty of them, and of what was to ensue to the end of the world (as our Savior in these times of the end hath by his Revelations to St. John made manifest, as he here also expressly declares, Dan. 2.28. and afterwards, Dan. 10.14.) viz. they were of things that concerned the latter days.

And in both these Generals made known to Daniel, we may observe the special enlargements concerning the 4th. Kingdom of the Romans, with this difference, that in Nebuchadnezzar's dream were set forth the things that concerned the Roman Monarchy in the civil state thereof, by the mixture of Iron and Clay in the sect and toes towards the end of it, as belonging to the beast with ten horns, expounded by our Savior, Rev. 13.1, 2, 3, to v. 11. And thereunto was added the setting up of the first state of Christ's Kingdom by the God of Heaven, ver. 34. and v. 44. showing the prevalency thereof in the time, and at the end of that Monarchy, when both that, and all the broken parts of the former, should altogether pass aways whereupon should succeed the 2d. state of Christ's Kingdom, which Mr. Made stiles the Kingdom of the Mountain, from Dan 2.35. when the stone shall become a great Mountain filling the whole earth.

But unto Daniel, ch. 7. with the 10 horns or civil state, is also set forth that which seemed to be a little horn (at first view) which was after to decipher the great Antichrist with his wicked actings, ver. 8. &c. further expounded, v. 20, 21, 22 &c. which appears from Rev. 13. v. 11. &c. to refer to the two horned beast in the same time in respect of its Ecclesiastical capacity, for whose wickedness was the setting up of the Throne of Judgment of the ancient of days to destroy the said beast, &c. v. 11, with 9. & 10. Upon which total and terrible destruction of that whole state was shown unto Daniel, the coming of the Son of man coming with the Clouds of Heaven so often spoken of by our Savior in the Gospel, when he shall receive and possess his universal glorious kingdom in the world, and all Dominions shall serve and obey him, v. 13, 14. and v. 27. and as is set down, v. 18. and v. 22. then Judgment, or Potestas judicandi, shall be given to the Saints of the most high: who shall from that time, as our Savior hath taught, Rev. 20.4. and Rev. 5.10. Reign with himself upon earth a thousand years.

The second head in the book of Daniel, is of such things as were in Daniel's own time, wherein,

• First, Of his own, and the other three worthies coming, promotion, and continuance at Babylon, to the first year of Cyrus, chap. 1.
• Secondly, Of the special occasion of his own promotion by interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's dream, chap. 2.
• Thirdly, Of the trial and deliverance of the three said Worthies from the fiery Furnace, chap. 3.
• Fourthly, • f God's humbling of King Nebuchadnezzar for his pride, and his getting thereby glory to himself, chap. 4.
• Fifthly, Of the end and ruin of his Kingdom in Belshazzar's his Grand-child's destruction, chap. 5. where ended the Babylonian Monarchy as was revealed before to Daniel, ch. 2.4. for then was the Lion with Eagles wings made to stand on his feet as a man: wherefore no more is spoken thereof; but only of the 3 following.

The Sixth and last thing recorded by Daniel in his own time, was the Story of his own trial and deliverance from the Denn of Lions, ch. 6. which though placed before his Vision of the 4 beasts, yet was given many years after it; about the same time in which he had the Vision of the 70 weeks of years revealed to him, chap. 9. of which, more afterwards, by God's assistance.

So 3ly, We come to the last head of Daniel's book, to wit, of such things more particularly which were to be afterwards. First, respecting that continuance of the said 70 weeks, or 490 years, in all the three succeeding Monarchies, to the utmost extent of that time contained in that Vision, ch. 9. which was shown to him upon his seeking God at the end of the Babylonian Captivity, in the first year of Darius; the beginning of which 70 weeks (as learned men conceive) was from the putting in execution of the decree for the building of the City Jerusalem, until Christ Jesus had fulfilled the work of man's Redemption, and in half a week after confirming his Covenant with many, and to the end of the said 490 years, and before Jerusalem's last destruction, which was (as in the end of that 9th. chap. is shown) to remain desolate, after the people of the Roman Prince had destroyed it, all the times of the Gentiles (as our Savior hath expounded that Text, Luke 21.24) that he should make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined, should be poured upon the desolate, v. 27. the same time otherwise called the indignation to be accomplished, for that that is determined shall be done ch. 11.36.

But 2ly, Daniel had another Vision in the third year of Belshazzar before that in the 9. c. which more especially concerned the two next succeeding Monarchies: First, setting forth therein the great power of the Persian Ram, and his sudden ruin by Alexander of Macedonia, the beginner of the Grecian Monarchy, set forth by the He-Goat, swiftly subduing the Persian Ram, ch. 8. according to the ensuing interpretation of the Angel, from v. 20. to 25. together with the division of the Greek Kingdom, afterwards unto his four Commanders: from one of which, viz. S • le • chus Nicanor, proceeded that wicked Antiochus Epiphanes, the eminent type of the great Antichrist, whose ruin also like his, is said v. 25. to be without hand. But before the said interpretation of the Angel, Daniel had another Vision of Palmoni, or the secret or wonderful numberer, v. 13, 14. &c. wherein it is resolved how long the Sanctuary and Host should be trodden underfoot, namely unto 2300 evenings and mornings, or many days, viz. of years, as seems to be f • rther explained, v. 26. which though in the letter, it be applied by some only to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes his outrage against the Jews and their Religion; yet seems • o have especial respect to the Jews general captivity, from the beginning of the 70 years, to their general deliverance by Christ at his appearance, • s Dan. 12.1. to which purpose observe, it is called a Vision of itself to be for many days, v. 26. with an especial confirmation of the truth of it. 2ly. It was from Palmoni or the secret and wonderful numberer, and therefore likely to have reference to some greater extent of time than that short time of Antiochus Epiphanes Tyranny and outrage. 3ly. It was the time that the Host and the Sanctuary were to be trodden underfoot; now the Host and Sanctuary had been trodden underfoot long before in the fence our Savior saith the City should be, Luke 21.24. after it sh • uld be again destroyed, which we read not that the Temple was in Antiochus Epiphanes time.

4ly it is said it should be until 2300. days, not said expressly so long time was to come but seems rather to imply much of it was past. 5ly, Both Host and Sanctuary, have in our Savior's sense seemed to be trodden underfoot many ages since (mystically, Rev. 11.2. under the Gentiles or Gentilizing Papists. ) But besides all this, there are divers expressions from the words in the Vision that appear to have referrence to the last times as the time of the end, v. 17. and again very expressly, he said he would make him know what should be in the last end of the indignation, v. 19. answerable to a like expression at the end of the Roman Monarchy, c. 11.36. till the ind • gnation be accomplished, &c. and again, v. 26. it shall be for many days; not mornings and evenings: and farther, it hath that mark of the last times set upon it, [that the Vision should be shut up,] as others after were till the time of the end, or Gospel times, as c. 11.40. & 12.4.9. Which, in this book hath reference to the time when Christ g • ve the Revelation, to open such Mysteries in Dan. as the other phrase [ • he list • nd of indignation] appears to relate to the Jews deliverance at the end of the Roman Monarchy, c. 11.36. and therefore upon the confirmation of the said Vision to be true, Daniel is enjoined to shut it up; and that for the reason following, for it is for many days: which phrase we find again explained by [the la • t • r days, or posternity of days (as the Heb. phrase notes) and so 'tis said, c. 10.14. I am come to make thee understand what shall be in the latter days: for yet the Vision is for many days. So that though there might be some gradual sui • ing of the mornings and evenings to Antiochus his time, yet upon these many considerations the Vision appears to reach to a much larger extent of time than the outrage of Antiochus, Epiphanes, namely, to the end of the Jews bondage. So the Prophesy Zac. 12.10. is partially and in some respect applied to the Jews piercing of Christ at his death, Jo. 19.37. when he was pierced with a Spear on the Cross, which will have in other respects a much more eminent fulfilling at the national conversion of the Jews, when they shall happily behold him, and mourn with true penitence abundantly for that former piercing of him. so the promise of pouring out his Spirit on all flesh, Joel 2.28. was partially fulfilled, Act. 2. but will much more fully be accomplished, when Jews and Gentiles shall jointly make up one Sheepfold under one Shepherd: so that promise that King, shall be Nursing Fathers, and Queens Nursing Mothers, Es. 49.23. hath sometimes been fulfilled, remarkably since the rejection of the Jews, but shall be in a far greater measure fulfilled (according to divers Prophesies) when all Israel shall be saved (as S. Paul speaks, Ro. 11.) so the Messenger promised Mal. 3.1. to prepare the way before Christ; and Elias, Mal. 4.5. to be sent before the great and terrible day of the Lord at Christ's first and second coming, were in some sort fulfilled in John the Baptist, who came in the spirit and power of Elias, Luc. 1.17. yet shall have a further accomplishment at his next coming, as our Savior informs us, after the death of John the Baptist. Mat. 17.11. and that with a strong asseveration; Elias (truly) shall first come and restore all things, &c.

3dly. Thirdly that last great and large Vision concerning the 3 other Mettle-Kingdoms after the Babylonian was past, to the uttermost period of the Romans, and the setting up of Christ's Kingdom, was revealed to Daniel in the 3d year of Cyrus after his three weeks seeking of God when the glorious appearance of Christ was revealed to him, c. 10. as if his glorious appearance should be upon the accomplishment of that Vision: the like was shown to St. John at the beginning of the Revelation, who saith, he comes quickly, &c. at the end of it, Rev. 22 2. and in v. 14. he is instructed by him that comforted him, that he was come to make him understand what should befall his people in the latter days, for yet (said he) the Vision is for many days. Whereupon the Visions of the three last Monarchies were given in order to him, c. 11. where, v. 2. only concerns the Persian Kingom, and v. 3.4 concerned the Grecian Kingdom more generally; and from thence the several wars between Syria and Egypt, to Antiochus Epiphanes, v. 21. and from thence of his evil actings, and the sufferings of God's people, to v. 36. where (according to Mr. Mede, and others, for weighty reasons) begins the 4th Kingdom of the Romans as there, and formerly described by Daniel, and farther explained by Christ in the Revelation, with the many changes which should be in its several times till the end thereof at Christ's appearance; c. 12.1. whereto are added many things for explication in the rest of that 12th c. but v. 36. of c. 11. is first set down what is spoken of the qualities and actings of the Roman Empire more generally both before Christ, in his time, and in those primitive times of the Church described, Rev. 12.1. when she was as a woman clothed, with the Sun and the Moon under her feet, &c. but v. 37.38, 39. seem to contain the Beasts 42. Months, when the said Woman the Church went into her wilderness condition for a time, times, and dividing of a time; and was fed by the Sackcloth witnesses 1260. days of years, but at v. 40. in those times of the end, or Gospel times, appears the more remarkable ruiners of the Roman Empire, which are reckoned in Rev. 9. to be the first and second woe Trumpets in the preva • lencie of Mohammedan impostures: the first of the Saracens about An. 600. called the King of the South, who in the time of the holy Wars (as they were called) seemed so to push at the Roman Monarchy in the East, & against the Popes party from the West. The 2d woe Trumpet the King of the N • rth, viz. the Turk, after by power and policy he had prevailed against the Sarracens, overflowed not only the Eastern Roman Empire, with his multitudes about An. 1300. but many other parts; whose actings and proceedings towards Edom, Ammon, Moab, Egypt, we have afterwards described, v. 41, 42, 43, 44. till his ruin and destruction irresistibly come upon him, v. 45. where ends the 2d woe Trumpet; and c. 12.1. will begin the 3d woe Trumpet when the Rom. Empire that remained in the feet and toes of it, under the Popedom will finally be destroyed; and Daniel's people the Jews be delivered, v. 1, 2 3. which state of the Papacie is also darkly further deciphered unto Dan. 12.5, 6, 7. but with a charge to shut up and seal that and some other things then v. 4 9. •• ll the said time of the end or Gospel times; which since are opened, unsealed, and revealed by Christ to St. John for the use of his Church; wherefore when the whole book of the Revelations were imparted to him he forb • d him to seal it, Rev. 22.10. (though the things; therein contained were sealed in Daniel's time) but now the time of the end was come, now he sets down the orders of the accomplishment of things more fully (though in a Divine mystical way) which Daniel set down more briefly, or only in generals, for then God would have them shut up till the said time of the end: when also Antichrists time, times, and half a time, Dan. 12.6, 7. should be understood by those that have warning given them, v. 10. to prepare and provide to improve those suffering times which are not yet fully ended, though hopefully near their period: whereunto are annexed some mystical Numbers respecting the Jews (as Judicious men probably conceive) to begin about Julians the Apostate Emperors time, An. 666. or as Dr. Usher computes 663, when Sacrifice should be last and effectually taken away, and the abomination of Desolation set up with further encouragement to the faithful Jews of those times, v. 11, 12. And in the last verse, was given a special consolation for Daniel at the end of the days, when all his former Visions should be accomplished, viz. at the Resurrection of the Just; when he shall stand in his lot with all the faithful Fore-fathers, and others since, &c. as Heb. 11.39, 40. See many of these things more largely spoken of in the Abridgement on Daniel 's Visions, with the Parallel of Daniel, and the Revelation.