1. Some by the World to come assert, is only meant, the Gospel-Church-State, 1or Spiritual Kingdom of the Messiah, which begun in the Apostles Days: Nay, I find Reverend Dr. Owen is much of this Persuasion, as you may see in his Exposition of the first Chapter to the Hebrews; "By the World to come, saith he, the Apostle in this Epistle intends the Days of the Messiah, that being the usual Name of it in the Church at that time, as the New World which God had promised to create, whereof these Powers, by Signs, Wonders, and mighty Works were then wrought by the Holy Ghost, according as it was foretold by the ⟨p. 344⟩Prophets that they should be so, Joel 2. Acts 2. These the Persons spoken of, are supposed to have tasted; either they had been wrought in and by themselves, or by others in their sight, whereby they had experience of the glorious and powerful working of the Holy Ghost in the Confirmation of the Gospel. Yea, (saith he) I do judg that they themselves, in their own Persons, were partakers of these Powers in the Gift of Tongues, and other miraculous Operations, which was the highest Aggravation possible of their Apostasy." I will not deny this to be intended by the Powers of the World to come: But this Exposition seems too much to interfere with the second and third Attainment mentioned of these Persons: and if this be granted to be intended hereby, yet it must be carried also further, I mean, to the after-State of Christ's Kingdom; for the Kingdom that is now expected, and the latter-day-Glory, we all allow to be the Kingdom of the Messiah: Nor can any doubt of a World yet to come, or glorious visible Kingdom of Jesus Christ to be set up in the last Days; the Holy Ghost positively affirming, That the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; And 2that when the seventh Angel soundeth his Trumpet, and not till then, which brings in the third and last Woe upon the Antichristian State and Kingdom. Yet I question not but that the beginning of the Kingdom of the Messiah was in the Apostles Days, and did commence from the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, being ushered in and established with the miraculous Gifts and Operations of the Holy Spirit: Which wonderful Appearance of God's Power, doth no doubt appertain to the Kingdom of Christ as such:
1. Some by the World to come assert, is only meant, the Gospel-Church-State, 1or Spiritual Kingdom of the Messiah, which begun in the Apostles Days: Nay, I find Reverend Dr. Owen is much of this Perswasion, as you may see in his Exposition of the first Chapter to the Hebrews; "By the World to come, saith he, the Apostle in this Epistle intends the Days of the Messiah, that being the usual Name of it in the Church at that time, as the New World which God had promised to create, whereof these Powers, by Signs, Wonders, and mighty Works were then wrought by the Holy Ghost, according as it was foretold by the ⟨p. 344⟩Prophets that they should be so, Joel 2. Acts 2. These the Persons spoken of, are supposed to have tasted; either they had been wrought in and by themselves, or by others in their sight, whereby they had experience of the glorious and powerful working of the Holy Ghost in the Confirmation of the Gospel. Yea, (saith he) I do judg that they themselves, in their own Persons, were partakers of these Powers in the Gift of Tongues, and other miraculous Operations, which was the highest Aggravation possible of their Apostacy." I will not deny this to be intended by the Powers of the World to come: But this Exposition seems too much to interfere with the second and third Attainment mentioned of these Persons: and if this be granted to be intended hereby, yet it must be carried also further, I mean, to the after-State of Christ's Kingdom; for the Kingdom that is now expected, and the latter-day-Glory, we all allow to be the Kingdom of the Messiah: Nor can any doubt of a World yet to come, or glorious visible Kingdom of Jesus Christ to be set up in the last Days; the Holy Ghost positively affirming, That the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; And 2that when the seventh Angel soundeth his Trumpet, and not till then, which brings in the third and last Wo upon the Antichristian State and Kingdom. Yet I question not but that the beginning of the Kingdom of the Messiah was in the Apostles Days, and did commence from the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, being ushered in and established with the miraculous Gifts and Operations of the Holy Spirit: Which wonderful Appearance of God's Power, doth no doubt appertain to the Kingdom of Christ as such:
- 1What is meant by the World to come.
- 2Rev. 11. 15.
