A dissertation concerning the future conversion of the Jewish Nation. Answering the objections of…

2. It is by some objected that there is no mention of a Thousand Years any where in all the Scripture, except in one Place, when as, if so momentous • Truth as that contended for, were intended thereby, it would be oftener spoken of than once. But far be it from us to reject a Scripture Truth because it is but [Greek or Hebrew], once in express Terms mentioned. There are many weighty Truths of which this is to be affirmed. The Messiah his being to be born of a Virgin, and at Bethlehem, and that he was to come within so many Years, these Things were but once mentioned by the Prophets. That particular Resurrection which was at the Time of our Lord's Resurrection, is spoken of by only one of the Evangelists. Many Historical Passages in Luke's Gospel are no where else mentioned, but that is Ground sufficient for our Faith to build upon. But as for the Thousand Years, they are mentioned no less than Six Times (sometime with, and sometime without an Article in the Greek Original) in one Chapter. I cannot think that the Holy Spirit by the Apostle John would so inculcate, and insist upon it, if there were not a greater and a more glorious Mystery contained therein than the vulgar Interpretation does allow of. Moreover, it seems to me that another Apostle mentions the Thousand Years, as concurring with the Day of Judgment: For Peter calls the Day of Judgment, the Day of God, and the Day of the Lord. He also says, that one Day is with the Lord as a Thousand Years, and […] Thousand Years as one Day, 2 Pet. 3.8, 9, 10, 12. The ancient Jews did believe the Day of Judgment would continue a Thousand Years. It is a celebrated Saying among them when they speak of the Day of Judgment, that one Day of the Holy Blessed God, is a Thousand Years. Peter seems to say the same. Hence it was that some old Antimillinaries would not own the Second Epistle of Peter to be Canonical Scripture; because they thought the Writer of that Epistle was a Chiliast, as Mr. Mede has observed Folio 756. The Jews cannot endure to read the New Testament; nevertheless, some of them are affected with the Book of Revelation, for therein they find Mystical Numbers, such as 666, and 42 Months, Three Days and a half, &c.

2. It is by some objected that there is no mention of a Thousand Years any where in all the Scripture, except in one Place, when as, if so momentous • Truth as that contended for, were intended thereby, it would be oftner spoken of than once. But far be it from us to reject a Scripture Truth because it is but , once in express Terms mentioned. There are many weighty Truths of which this is to be affirmed. The Messiah his being to be born of a Virgin, and at Bethlehem, and that he was to come within so many Years, these Things were but once mentioned by the Prophets. That particular Resurrection which was at the Time of our Lord's Resurrection, is spoken of by only one of the Evangelists. Many Historical Passages in Luke's Gospel are no where else mentioned, but that is Ground sufficient for our Faith to build upon. But as for the Thousand Years, they are mentioned no less than Six Times (sometime with, and sometime without an Article in the Greek Original) in one Chapter. I cannot think that the Holy Spirit by the Apostle Iohn would so inculcate, and insist upon it, if there were not a greater and a more glorious Mystery contain'd therein than the vulgar Interpretation does allow of. Moreover, it seems to me that another Apostle mentions the Thousand Years, as concurring with the Day of Judgment: For Peter calls the Day of Iudgment, the Day of God, and the Day of the Lord. He also says, that one Day is with the Lord as a Thousand Years, and Thousand Years as one Day,