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OF

ST. JOHN.

THE WAR OF THE WORD OF GOD, BINDING OF SATAN, FIRST AND SECOND RESURRECTION, AND SECOND DEATH.—A.D. 1828-3178.

SECTION I.

The War of the Word of God.

The leading characteristics of the false church are "MYSTERY" and "HARLOTRY"; mystery, because that is the openly professed leading article of her creed, the Father and Son denying heresy of Antichrist, which was established by the Beast or ROMAN EMPERORS at the Council of Nice, A.D. 325; and harlotry, because her ministers do not enter by the door into the sheepfold by the election of their flock, according to the primitive practice, but climb up some other way, being thrust upon the church, by kings or lords, bishops, colleges, or lay patrons, without the flock's consent, being mere hirelings, who do not know their sheep, nor are known, that is, recognized or elected of them. John, x. 14. The Word of God is against all this. And he now goes forth first, to destroy the antichristian mystery, by that <6 name written that no man knew but he himself," which we find to be that "NEW name which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it," Rev. iii. 12; ii. 17, which NEW name we find to be SON OF GOD according to 1 John iii. 1, plainly disproving the unscriptural "lie," as St. John calls it, 1 John ii. 21, or moral impossibility of an "eternally begotten Son,"which makes Son not a new but an old name. He secondly, goes forth to destroy the harlotry, or system of church prostitution which arises. from the unscriptural alliance of Church and State, wearing on his bloody vesture, and his thigh, the name "King of kings and Lord of lords," as about to avenge

his church of the "kings of the earth who have committed fornication with her," and the " merchants of the earth who have waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies,"giving his public approbation of those who follow him, as "called, and faithful, and chosen," Rev. xvii. 14, and thereby stigmatizing those who follow the Beast, i. e. adhere to the church government which the Roman Emperors established, as impostors, and thieves, and robbers. By the cry for " Church Reform," already become prevalent, it appears that He has already begun to stir, and there is no doubt when once the Reformers touch the foredoomed building, the whole fabric will come tumbling down. We can only say, therefore, with the angel in the sun "gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God," ye men of the true principles, that the flesh of the false church may be transferred to you its proper stewards; for ye may be now victorious by the mere assurance of victory.

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he doth 12 judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns: and he had a name written, that no man knew but 13 he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called THE 14 WORD OF GOD. And the armies which were in

heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed 15 in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his

mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty 16 God. And he hath on his vesture and on his

17

thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD

OF LORDS.

And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of 18 the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of

kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, 19 both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, gathered together to make war against him, that sat on the horse, and 20 against his army. And the beast was taken, and

and their armies,

with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brim21 stone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth; and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

SECTION II.

The First Stage of the General Judgment or First Resurrection.

The Wicked One being consumed by the brightness of our Lord's coming, the Lord Jesus himself is now revealed

from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe in that day, 2 Thess. i. 7-19. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things to himself. Philip. iii. 21. As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall be all changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 1 Cor. xv. 49-55. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive, and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thess. iv. 15— 17. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order; Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ's, at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put under him; it is manifest that he is

excepted which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 1 Cor. xv. 22-28. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment; so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation. Heb. ix. 27, 28. Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through deatlf he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. Heb. ii. 14. All sin and death disappear for a thousand years at the second advent of our blessed Lord or the resurrection of the just; after which, by the resurrection of the rest of the dead, which are the wicked, sin and death again appear for a short season, till that last enemy is destroyed by fire from heaven, when there shall be death no more. Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? know ye not that we shall judge angels? 1 Cor. vi. 2, 3. Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. Matt. xix. 28-30. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations and I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Luke, xxii. 28-30. The Lord Jesus Christshall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his kingdom. 2 Tim. iv. 1.

XX. 1. And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and 2 a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil,

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