A Secular Perspective (Christopher Jon Bjerknes) The racist Jews of Israel are deliberately and artificially carrying out the objectives of their religious mythologies. At present, the Israelis are laying Lebanon to waste in order to fulfill the apocalyptic prophecies of Ezekiel. Bear in mind that Tyrus is the Lebanese city of Tyre or Sur, and that Persia is Iran. Ezekiel 27 states:
"1 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 2 Now, thou son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus; 3 And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty. 4 Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty. 5 They have made all thy ship boards of fir trees of Senir: they have taken cedars from Lebanon to make masts for thee. 6 Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars; the company of the Ashurites have made thy benches of ivory, brought out of the isles of Chittim. 7 Fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was that which thou spreadest forth to be thy sail; blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was that which covered thee. 8 The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners: thy wise men, O Tyrus, that were in thee, were thy pilots. 9 The ancients of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee thy calkers: all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee to occupy thy merchandise. 10 They of Persia and of Lud and of Phut were in thine army, thy men of war: they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; they set forth thy comeliness. 11 The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadims were in thy towers: they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have made thy beauty perfect. 12 Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs. 13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were thy merchants: they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass in thy market. 14 They of the house of Togarmah traded in thy fairs with horses and horsemen and mules. 15 The men of Dedan were thy merchants; many isles were the merchandise of thine hand: they brought thee for a present horns of ivory and ebony. 16 Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of thy making: they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate. 17 Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants: they traded in thy market wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm. 18 Damascus was thy merchant in the multitude of the wares of thy making, for the multitude of all riches; in the wine of Helbon, and white wool. 19 Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market. 20 Dedan was thy merchant in precious clothes for chariots. 21 Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants. 22 The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they were thy merchants: they occupied in thy fairs with chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold. 23 Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Assur, and Chilmad, were thy merchants. 24 These were thy merchants in all sorts of things, in blue clothes, and broidered work, and in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords, and made of cedar, among thy merchandise. 25 The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas. 26 Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas. 27 Thy riches, and thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that are in thee, and in all thy company which is in the midst of thee, shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin. 28 The suburbs shall shake at the sound of the cry of thy pilots. 29 And all that handle the oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships, they shall stand upon the land; 30 And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes: 31 And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing. 32 And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea? 33 When thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filledst many people; thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise. 34 In the time when thou shalt be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters thy merchandise and all thy company in the midst of thee shall fall. 35 All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee, and their kings shall be sore afraid, they shall be troubled in their countenance. 36 The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt be any more." Though the Israelis are deliberately and artificially playing out the war against Gog and Magog outlined in Ezekiel 38 and 39, the New Testament states that the war against Gog and Magog is post-Millennial, and therefore the Israelis actions are specifically anti-Christian and generally anti-human. Revelation 20:7-8 states:
"7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea." There has been no ingathering of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and the false Jews of the bellicose nation of Israel are the enemies of Christianity. Hosea 8:14 states:
"For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof." Matthew 12:30 states:
"He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." Matthew 21:43-45 states:
"43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them." Matthew 23:31-39 states:
"Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the LORD." Matthew 27:25 states:
"Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children." John 7:1 states:
"After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him." John 8:44-45 states,
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not." Galatians 3:16-29 states:
"16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." I Thessalonians 2:14-16 states,
"For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost." Revelation 2:9:
"I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan." Revelation 3:9:
"Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee." Cabalistic Jews, Jews who worship evil above good, have long taught Christians false beliefs in an attempt to cajole Christians into committing suicide for the sake of the Jews. Isaac Newton, and his disciple Samuel Clarke, and Clarke's disciple David Hartley, were a few among the many Cabalistic Jews who denied the Trinity, while propagating false beliefs among Christians in an effort to lead Christians to annihilate one another. Hartley wrote in 1749, and his work is but one of thousands of such examples of Jewish Zionist propaganda published by pseudo-Christians, “PROP. 41. The Divine Authority of the Scriptures may be inferred from the superior Wisdom of the Jewish Laws, considered in a political Light; and from the exquisite Workmanship shewn in the Tabernacle and Temple. A LL these were Originals amongst the Jews, and some of them were copied partially and imperfectly by ancient Heathen Nations. They seem also to imply a Knowledge superior to the respective Times. And I believe, that profane History gives sufficient Attestation to these Positions. However, it is certain from Scripture, that Moses received the whole Body of his Laws, also the Pattern of the Tabernacle, and David the Pattern of the Temple, from God; and that Bezaleel was inspired by God for the Workmanship of the Tabernacle. Which Things, being laid down as a sure Foundation, may encourage learned Men to inquire into the Evidences from profane History, that the Knowledge and Skill to be found amongst the Jews were superior to those of other Nations at the same Period of Time, i. e. were supernatural. [***] SECT. II. Of the Expectation of Bodies Politic, the Jews in particular, and the World in general, during the present State of the Earth. PROP. 81. It is probable, that all the present Civil Governments will be overturned. T HIS may appear from the Scripture Prophecies, both in a direct way, i. e. from express Passages, such as those concerning the Destruction of the Image, and Four Beasts, in Daniel; of Christ’s breaking all Nations with a Rod of Iron, and dashing them in Pieces like a Potter’s Vessel, &c. and from the Supremacy and universal Extent of the Fifth Monarchy, or Kingdom of the Saints, which is to be set up. We may conclude the same Thing also from the final Restoration of the Jews, and the great Glory and Dominion promised to them, of which I shall speak below. And it adds some Light and Evidence to this, that all the known Governments of the World have the evident Principles of Corruption in themselves. They are composed of jarring Elements, and subsist only by the alternate Prevalence of these over each other. The Splendor, Luxury, Self interest, Martial Glory, &c. which pass for Essentials in Christian Governments, are totally opposite to the meek, humble, self-denying Spirit of Christianity; and whichsoever of these finally prevails over the other, the present Form of the Government must be dissolved. Did true Christianity prevail throughout any Kingdom intirely, the Riches, Strength, Glory, &c. of that Kingdom would no longer be an Object of Attention to the Governors or Governed; they would become a Nation of Priests and Apostles, and totally disregard the Things of this World. But this is not to be expected: I only mention it to set before the Reader the natural Consequence of it. If, on the contrary, worldly Wisdom and Infidelity prevail over Christianity, which seems to be the Prediction of the Scriptures, this worldly Wisdom will be found utter Foolishness at last, even in respect of this World; the Governments, which have thus lost their Cement, the Sense of Duty, and the Hopes and Fears of a future Life, will fall into Anarchy and Confusion, and be intirely dissolved. And all this may be applied, with a little Change, to the Mahometan and Heathen Governments. When Christianity comes to be propagated in the Countries where these subsist, it will make so great a Change in the Face of Affairs, as must shake the Civil Powers, which are here both externally and internally opposite to it; and the Increase of Wickedness, which is the natural and necessary Consequence of their Opposition, will farther accelerate their Ruin. The Dissolution of antient Empires and Republics may also prepare us for the Expectation of a Dissolution of the present Governments. But we must not carry the Parallel too far here, and suppose that as new Governments have arisen out of the old ones, resembling them in great measure, subsisting for a certain time, and then giving place to other new ones, so it will be with the present Governments. The Prophecies do not admit of this; and it may be easily seen, that the Situation of Things in the Great World is very different from what it has ever been before. Christianity must now either be proved true, to the intire Conviction of Unbelievers; or, if it be an Imposture, it will soon be detected. And whichsoever of these turns up, must make the greatest Change in the Face of Affairs. I ought rather to have said, that the final Prevalence and Establishment of Christianity, which, being true, cannot but finally prevail, and be established, will do this. But it may perhaps be of some Use just to put false Suppositions. How near the Dissolution of the present Governments, generally or particularly, may be, would be great Rashness to affirm. Christ will come in this Sense also as a Thief in the Night. Our Duty is therefore to watch, and to pray; to be faithful Stewards; to give Meat, and all other Requisites, in due Season, to those under our Care; and to endeavour by these, and all other lawful Means, to preserve the Government, under whose Protection we live, from Dissolution, seeking the Peace of it, and submitting to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord’s sake. No Prayers, no Endeavours of this Kind, can fail of having some good Effect, public or private, for the Preservation of ourselves or others. The great Dispensations of Providence are conducted by Means that are either secret, or, if they appear, that are judged feeble and inefficacious. No man can tell, however private his Station may be, but his fervent Prayer may avail to the Salvation of much People. But it is more peculiarly the Duty of Magistrates thus to watch over their Subjects, to pray for them, and set about the Reformation of all Matters Civil and Ecclesiastical, to the utmost of their Power. Good Governors may promote the Welfare and Continuance of a State, and wicked ones must accelerate its Ruin. The sacred History affords us Instances of both Kinds, and they are recorded there for the Admonition of Kings and Princes in all future Times. It may not be amiss here to note a few Instances of the Analogy between the Body Natural, with the Happiness of the Individual to which it belongs, and the Body Politic, composed of many Individuals, with its Happiness, or its flourishing State in respect of Arts, Power, Riches, &c. Thus all Bodies Politic seem, like the Body Natural, to tend to Destruction and Dissolution, as is here affirmed, through Vices public and private, and to be respited for certain Intervals, by partial, imperfect Reformations. There is no complete or continued Series of public Happiness on one hand, no utter Misery on the other; for the Dissolution of the Body Politic is to be considered as its Death. It seems as romantic therefore for any one to project the Scheme of a perfect Government in this imperfect State, as to be in Pursuit of an universal Remedy, a Remedy which should cure all Distempers, and prolong human Life beyond Limit. And yet as Temperance, Labour, and Medicines, in some Cases, are of great Use in preserving and restoring Health, and prolonging Life; so Industry, Justice, and all other Virtues, public and private, have an analogous Effect in respect of the Body Politic. As all the Evils, which Individuals suffer through the Infirmity of the mortal Body, and the Disorders of the external World, may, in general, contribute to increase their Happiness even in this Life, and also are of great Use to others; and as, upon the Supposition of a future State, Death itself appears to have the same beneficial Tendency in a more eminent Degree than any other Event in Life, now considered as indefinitely prolonged; so the Distresses of each Body Politic are of great Use to this Body itself, and also of great Use to all neighbouring States; and the Dissolution of Governments have much promoted the Knowledge of true Religion, and of useful Arts and Sciences, all which seem, in due time and manner, intended to be intirely subservient to true Religion at last. And this affords great Comfort to benevolent and religious Persons, when they consider the Histories of Former Times, or contemplate the probable Consequences of Things in future Generations. PROP. 82 It is probable, that the present Forms of Church-Government will be dissolved. T HIS Proposition follows from the forgoing. The Civil and Ecclesiastical Powers are so interwoven and cemented together, in all the Countries of Christendom, that if the first fall, the last must fall also. But there are many Prophecies, which declare the Fall of the Ecclesiastical Powers of the Christian World. And through each Church seems to flatter itself with the Hopes of being exempted; yet it is very plain, that the prophetical Characters belong to all. They have all left the true, pure, simple Religion; and teach for Doctrines the Commandments of Men. They are all Merchants of the Earth, and have set up a Kingdom of this World, abounding in Riches, temporal Power, and external Pomp. They have all a dogmatizing Spirit, and persecute such as do not receive their own Mark, and worship the Image which they have set up. They all neglect Christ’s Command of preaching the Gospel to all Nations, and even of going to the lost Sheep of the House of Israel, there being innumerable Multitudes in all Christian Countries, who have never been taught to read, and who are, in other respects also, destitute of the Means of saving Knowledge. It is very true, that the Church of Rome is Babylon the Great, and the Mother of Harlots, and of the Abominations of the Earth. But all the rest have copied her Example, more or less. They have all received Money, like Gehazi; and therefore the Leprosy of Naaman will cleave to them, and to their Seed for ever. And this Impurity may be considered not only as justifying the Application of the Prophecies to all the Christian Churches, but as a natural Cause for their Downfal. The corrupt Governors of the several Churches will ever oppose the true Gospel, and in so doing will bring Ruin upon themselves. The Destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem, and of the Hierarchy of the Jews, may likewise be considered as a Type and Presage of the Destruction of that Judaical Form of Rites, Ceremonies, and human Ordinances, which takes place, more or less, in all Christian Countries. We ought, however, to remark here, First, That though the Church of Christ has been corrupted thus in all Ages and Nations, yet there have been, and will be, in all, many who receive the Seal of God, and worship him in Spirit, and in Truth. And of these as many have filled high Stations, as low ones. Such Persons, though they have concurred in the Support of what is contrary to the pure Religion, have, however, done it innocently, with respect to themselves, being led thereto by invincible Prejudices. Secondly, Nevertheless, when it so happens, that Persons in high Stations in the Church have their Eyes enlightened, and see the Corruptions and Deficiences of it, they must incur the prophetical Censures in the highest Degree, if they still concur, nay, if they do not endeavour to reform and purge out these Defilements. And though they cannot, according to this Proposition, expect intire Success; yet they may be blessed with such a Degree, as will abundantly compensate their utmost Endeavours, and rank them with the Prophets and Apostles. Thirdly, As this Corruption and Degeneracy of the Christian Church has proceeded from the fallen State of Mankind, and particularly of those Nations to whom the Gospel was first preached, and amongst whom it has been since received; so it has, all things being supposed to remain the same, suited our Circumstances, in the best Manner possible, and will continue to do so, as long as it subsists. God brings Good out of Evil, and draws Men to himself in such manner as their Natures will admit of, by external Pomp and Power, by things not good in themselves, and by some that are profane and unholy. He makes use of some of their Corruptions as Means of purging away the rest. The Impurity of Mankind is too gross to unite at once with the strict Purity of the Gospel. The Roman Empire first, and the Goths and Vandals afterwards, required, as one may say, some Superstitions and Idolatries to be mixed with the Christian Religion; else they could not have been converted at all. Fourthly, It follows from these Considerations, that good Men ought to submit to the Ecclesiastical Powers that be, for Conscience-sake, as well as to the Civil ones. They are both from God, as far as respects Inferiors. Christ and his Apostles observed the Law, and walked orderly, though they declared the Destruction of the Temple, and the Change of the Customs established by Moses. Both the Babylonians, who destroyed Jerusalem the first time, and the Romans, who did it the second, were afterwards destroyed themselves in the most exemplary Manner. And it is probable, that those who shall hereafter procure the Downfal of the Forms of Church-Government, will not do this from pure Love, and Christian Charity, but from the most corrupt Motives, and by Consequence bring upon themselves, in the End, the severest Chastisements. It is therefore the Duty of all good Christians to obey both the Civil and Ecclesiastical Powers under which they were born, i. e. provided Disobedience to God be not injoined, which is seldom the Case; to promote Subjection and Obedience in others; gently to reform and rectify, and to pray for the Peace and Prosperity of, their own Jerusalem. PROP. 83. It is probable, that the Jews will be restored to Palæstine. T HIS appears from the Prophecies, which relate to the Restoration of the Jews and Israelites to their own Land. For, First, These have never yet been fulfilled in any Sense agreeable to the Greatness and Gloriousness of them. The Peace, Power, and Abundance of Blessings, temporal and spiritual, promised to the Jews upon their Return from Captivity, were not bestowed upon them in the Interval between the Reign of Cyrus, and the Destruction of Jerusalem by Titus; and ever since this Destruction they have remained in a desolate State. Secondly, The Promises of Restoration relate to the Ten Tribes, as well as the Two of Judah and Benjamin. But the Ten Tribes, or Israelites, which were captivated by Salmaneser, have never been restored at all. There remains therefore a Restoration yet future for them. Our Ignorance of the Place where they now lie hid, or Fears that they are so mixed with other Nations, as not to be distinguished and separated, ought not to be admitted as Objections here. Like Objections might be made to the Resurrection of the Body; and the Objections both to the one, and the other, are probably intended to be obviated by Ezekiel’s Prophecy concerning the dry Bones. It was one of the great Sins of the Jews to call God’s Promises in Question, on account of apparent Difficulties and Impossibilities; and the Sadduces, in particular, erred concerning the Resurrection, because they knew not the Scriptures, nor the Power of God. However, it is our Duty to inquire, whether the Ten Tribes may not remain in the Countries where they were first settled by Salmaneser, or in some others. Thirdly, A double Return seems to be predicted in several Prophecies. Fourthly, The Prophets who lived since the Return from Babylon, have predicted a Return in similar Terms with those who went before. It follows therefore, that the Predictions of both must relate to some Restoration yet future. Fifthly, The Restoration fo the Jews to their own Land seems to be predicted in the New Testament. To the Arguments, drawn from Prophecy, we may add some concurring Evidences, which the present Circumstances of the Jews suggest. First, then, The Jews are yet a distinct People from all the Nations amongst which they reside. They seem therefore reserved by Providence for some such signal Favour, after they have suffered the due Chastisement. Secondly, They are to be found in all the Countries of the known World. And this agrees with many remarkable Passages of the Scriptures, which treat both of their Dispersion, and of their Return. Thirdly, They have no Inheritance of Land in any Country. Their Possessions are chiefly Money and Jewels. They may therefore transfer themselves with the greater Facility to Palæstine. Fourthly, They are treated with Contempt and Harshness, and sometimes with great Cruelty, by the Nations amongst whom they sojourn. They must therefore be the more ready to return to their own Land. Fifthly, They carry on a Correspondence with each other throughout the whole World; and consequently must both know when Circumstances begin to favour their Return, and be able to concert Measures with one another concerning it. Sixthly, A great Part of them speak and write the Rabbinical Hebrew, as well as the Language of the Country where they reside. They are therefore, as far as relates to themselves, actually possessed of an universal Language and Character; which is a Circumstance that may facilitate their Return, beyond what can well be imagined. Seventhly, The Jews themselves still retain a Hope and Expectation, that God will once more restore them to their own Land. Cor. 1. May not the two Captivities of the Jews, and their two Restorations, be Types of the first and second Death, and of the first and second Resurrections? Cor. 2. Does it not appear agreeable to the whole Analogy both of the Word and Works of God, that the Jews are Types both of each Individual in particular, on one hand, and of the whole World in general, on the other? May we not therefore hope, that, at least after the second Death, there will be a Resurrection to Life eternal to every Man, and to the whole Creation, which groans, and travails in Pain together, waiting for the Adoption, and glorious Liberty, of the Children of God? Cor. 3. As the Downfal of the Jewish State under Titus was the Occasion of the Publication of the Gospel to us Gentiles, so our Downfal may contribute to the Restoration of the Jews, and both together bring on the final Publication and Prevalence of the true Religion; of which I shall treat in the next Proposition. Thus the Type, and the Thing typified, will coincide; the First-fruits, and the Lump, be made holy together. PROP. 84. The Christian Religion will be preached to, and received by, all Nations. T HIS appears from the express Declarations of Christ, and from many of his Parables, also from the Declarations and Predictions of the Apostles, and particularly from the Revelation. There are likewise numberless Prophecies in the Old Testament, which admit of no other Sense, when interpreted by the Events which have since happened, the Coming of Christ, and the Propagation of his Religion. The Truth of the Christian Religion is an Earnest and Presage of the same Thing, to all who receive it. For every Truth of great Importance must be discussed and prevail at last. The Persons who believe can see no Reasons for their own Belief, but what must extend to all Mankind by degrees, as the Diffusion of Knowledge to all Ranks and Orders of Men, to all Nations, Kindred, Tongues, and People, cannot now be stopped, but proceeds ever with an accelerated Velocity. And, agreeably to this, it appears that the Number of those who are able to give a Reason for their Faith increases every Day. But it may not be amiss to set before the Reader in one View some probable Presumptions for the universal Publication and Prevalence of the Christian Religion, even in the way of natural Causes. First, then, The great Increase of Knowledge, literary and philosophical, which has been made in this and the Two last Centuries, and continues to be made, must contribute to promote every great Truth, and particularly those of Revealed Religion, as just now mentioned. The Coincidence of the Three remarkable Events, of the Reformation, the Invention of Printing, and the Restoration of Letters, with each other, in Time, deserves particular Notice here. Secondly, The Commerce between the several Nations of the World is inlarged perpetually more and more. And thus the Children of this World are opening new Ways of Communication for future Apostles to spread the glad Tidings of Salvation to the uttermost Parts of the Earth. Thirdly, The Apostasy of nominal Christians, and Objections of Infidels, which are so remarkable in these Days, not only give Occasion to search out and publish new Evidences for the Truth of Revealed Religion, but also oblige those who receive it, to purify it from Errors and Superstitions; by which means its Progress amongst the yet Heathen Nations will be much forwarded. Were we to propagate Religion, as it is now held by the several Churches, each Person would propagate his own Orthodoxy, lay needless Impediments and Stumbling-blocks before his Hearers, and occasion endless Feuds and Dissensions amongst the new Converts. And it seems as if God did not intend, that the general Preaching of the Gospel should be begun, till Religion be discharged of its Incumbrances and Superstitions. Fourthly, The various Sects, which have arisen amongst Christians in late Times, contribute both to purify Religion, and also to set all the great Truths of it in a full Light, and to shew their practical Importance. Fifthly, The Downfal of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Powers, mentioned in the 81st and 82d Propositions, must both be attended with such public Calamities, as will make Men serious, and also drive them from the Countries of Christendom into the remote Parts of the World, particularly into the East and West-Indies; whither consequently they will carry their Religion now purified from Errors and Superstitions. Sixthly, The Restoration of the Jews, mentioned in the last Proposition, may be expected to have the greatest Effect in alarming Mankind, and opening their Eyes. This will be such an Accomplishment of the Prophecies, as will vindicate them from all Cavils. Besides which, the careful Survey of Palæstine, and the neighboring Countries, the Study of the Eastern Languages, of the Histories of the present and antient Inhabitants, &c. (which must follow this Event) when compared together, will cast the greatest Light upon the Scriptures, and at once prove their Genuineness, their Truth, and their Divine Authority. Seventhly, Mankind seem to have it in their Power to obtain such Qualifications in a natural way, as, by being conferred upon the Apostles in a supernatural one, were a principal Means of their Success in the first Propagation of the Gospel. Thus, as the Apostles had the Power of Healing miraculously, future Missionaries may in a short time accomplish themselves with the Knowledge of all the chief practical Rules of the Art of Medicine. This Art is wonderfully simplified of late Years, has received great Additions, and is improving every Day, both in Simplicity and Efficacy. And it may be hoped, that a few theoretical Positions, well ascertained, with a moderate Experience, may enable the young Practitioner to proceed to a considerable Variety of Cases with Safety and Success. Thus also, as the Apostles had the Power of speaking various Languages miraculously, it seems possible from the late Improvements in Grammar, Logic, and the History of the human Mind, for young Persons, by learning the Names of visible Objects and Actions in any unknown barbarous Language, to improve and extend it immediately, and to preach to the Natives in it. The great Extensiveness of the Rabbinical Hebrew, and of Arabic, of Greek and Latin, of Sclavonic and French, and of many other Languages, in their respective ways, also of the Chinese Character, ought to be taken into Consideration here. And though we have not the Gift of Prophecy, yet that of the Interpretation of Prophecy seems to increase every Day, by comparing the Scriptures with themselves, the Prophecies with the Events, and, in general, the Word of God with his Works. To this we may add, that when Preachers of the Gospel carry with them the useful manual Arts, by which human Life is rendered secure and comfortable, such as the Arts of Building, tilling the Ground, defending the Body by suitable Cloathing, &c. it cannot but make them extremely acceptable to the barbarous Nations; as the more refined Arts and Sciences, Mathematics, natural and experimental Philosophy, &c. will to the more civilized ones. And it is in an additional Weight in favour of all this Reasoning, that the Qualifications here considered may all be acquired in a natural way. For thus they admit of unlimited Communication, Improvement, and Increase; whereas, when miraculous Powers cease, there is not only one of the Evidences withdrawn, but a Recommendation and Means of Admittance also. However, far be it from us to determine by Anticipation, what God may or may not do! The natural Powers, which favour the Execution of this great Command of our Saviour’s, to preach the Gospel to all Nations, ought to be perpetual Monitors to us to do so; and as we now live in a more adult Age of the World, more will now be expected from our natural Powers. The Jews had some previous Notices of Christ’s First Coming, and good Persons were thereby prepared to receive him; however, his Appearance, and intire Conduct, were very different from what they expected; so that they stood in need of the greatest Docility and Humility, in order to become Disciples and Apostles. And it is probable, that something analogous to this will happen at Christ’s Second Coming. We may perhaps say, that some Glimmerings of the Day begin already to shine in the Hearts of all those, who study and delight in the Word and Works of God. PROP. 85 It is not probable, that there will be any pure or complete Happiness, before the Destruction of this World by Fire. T HAT the Restoration of the Jews, and the universal Establishment of the true Religion, will be the Causes of great Happiness, and change the Face of the World much for the better, may be inferred both from the Prophecies, and from the Nature of the Thing. But still, that the great Crown of Glory promised to Christians must be in a State ulterior to this Establishment, appears for the following Reasons. First, From the express Declarations of the Scriptures. Thus St. Peter says, that the Earth must be burnt up, before we are to expect a new Heaven, and new Earth, wherein dwelleth Righteousness; and St. Paul, that Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; the celestial, glorious Body, made like unto that of Christ, at the Resurrection of the Dead, being requisite for this Purpose. Secondly, The present disorderly State of the natural World does not permit of unmixed Happiness; and it does not seem, that this can be rectified in any great Degree, till the Earth have received the Baptism by Fire. But I presume to affirm nothing particular in relation to future Events. One may just ask, whether Christ’s Reign of a Thousand Years upon Earth does not commence with the universal Establishment of Christianity; and whether the Second Resurrection, the new Heavens, and new Earth, &c. do not coincide with the Conflagration. One ought also to add, with St. Peter, as the practical Consequence of this Proposition, that the Dissolution of this World by Fire is the strongest Motive to an Indifference to it, and to that holy Conversation and Godliness, which may fit us for the new Heavens, and new Earth."—D. Hartley, Observations on Man, His Frame, His Duty, and His Expectations in Two Parts, Volume 2, Printed by S. Richardson for James Leake and Wm. Frederick, booksellers in Bath and sold by Charles Hitch and Stephen Austen, booksellers in London, London, (1749), pp. 184, 366-381. Dispensationalist Christian Zionists are a foolish horde of rabidly genocidal religious fanatics, who serve the evil forces which they pretend to oppose. They serve the "synagogue of Satan" and will gladly murder us all in the false hope that Jesus will whisk them away to heaven while the human race is consumed by nuclear weapons they seek to unleash on humanity. These false Christian monsters are the product of centuries of propaganda by Cabalistic Jews seeking to persuade Christians to kill themselves off for the sake of the Jews. Dispensationalist Christian Zionists and their Cabalistic Jewish leaders are in a very real, and a very secular sense, the "Anti-Christ". Christ symbolizes peace and humanity. The Zionists want war and genocide. |