A PERFECT DESCRIPTION OF ANTICHRIST, And his false Prophet. WHEREIN Is plainly showed that Oliver Cromwell was ANTICHRIST, and John Presbyter, or John Covenanter his false Prophet. Written in the Year, MDCLIV. By ABRAHAM NELSON, And now Published with an Epistle to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. LONDON, Printed by T. F. and are to be sold at Westminster-Hall, Fleetstreet, and the old Exchange, 1660. TO HIS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, CHARLES the Second, Of England, Scotland, France, and Jreland, KING; Defender of the Ancient, Catholic, and Apostolical Faith. DRead SOVEREIGN: NOw after your Majesty's most happy Return to your Kingdom, your poor Subject hath nothing to present to Your MAJESTY (save only in testimony of my loyalty to your Grace and true affection which I bore to him which was made so like his Lord and Master) But only a few Observations collected out of holy Scripture Prophetically, and by Vision laid down therein; (which hath been hid since the world began) But now most dreadfully Acted in your days; the which Observations I drew up in the year 1654. and reading it over to two especial Friends and Royalists * Mr. BRYAN NELSGN, and Mr. WIL: EDWARD'S of Norwich. , By their persuasion and mine own Inclination, I resolved to put them in Print, and with a Resolution to send your Grace a Copy thereof. But considering that in the last Chapter of Daniel, the Angel commands him to go his way. Seeing the words are closed and Sealed till the time of the end; In Obedience thereunto I have reserved it till this present; But most gracious Prince, I humbly Beg of Your MAJESTY so much time as to Read it over, and your Majesty's pardon in that I cannot give (that is Eloquence with wisdom of words most proper for such a Prophetical subject and due to such a Prince; But that which is your Majesty's due (and can give) I present to Your Grace, that is my Service together with this unburnished Piece; proceeding from a man of little Learning, yet from a true and faithful heart; and whereas I have been loyal and always aiding to him whose fame is made glorious without clogging my Conscience with Protestations, Covenants. Judgements, or Oaths of any kind, which brought utter Ruin upon my estate, and great affliction upon me, my Wife and Children; Yet I choosed rather in my allegiance to expose myself to any sufferings, the same I shall be to Your Grace till (by God's aid) I shall finish my Course. Your Majesties, Loyal and obedient Subject, ABRAHAM NELSON. To the Reader. FRiendly and Impartial READER, I do here present to your view, a perfect Description of Antichrist and his false Prophet, collected out of holy Scriptures, which I writ in the year, 1654. You shall find upon serious Consideration in reading hereof, that the transactions that hath past since the year, 1639. till the year 1660. to be the time of Antichrist his false Prophet, their Increase and Reign, and their particular actions, perfectly to fulfil their whole Description, set forth in holy Scriptures; together with their Names, Mark, and Number of his Name, you shall also find Antichrist's false Prophet, perfectly set forth, in opposition to CHRIST's true Prophet that came before him; You shall also find the Antichrist himself, in opposition to CHRIST our Lord perfectly paralleled: But though that the acknowledgement thereof seem to cross the general Opinion of many Grave and learned Divines, which I honour, who have writ heretofore, and to offend some others, which have too much adhered to their late actions; My earnest request is, that they would suspend their judgements till they have read it over: And in so doing, than parallel that which they have seen, known and understood (in these times) to the Texts of holy Scripture quoted, which deciphers him out, and then they may be satisfied of the truth of what is inserted: And though in my own person, either for Learning or public Esteem, can give no Lustre thereunto, therefore in this I crave your favourable Construction: Neither did I undertake this so great a business of concernment, in itself so considerable; Which hath troubled both Church and State to this day, neither for any private Satisfaction to myself, or particular Interest: But being brought into great affliction and sadness of heart, not only for myself, my Wife and Children, through our great sufferings to the loss of all: But more a great deal for the horrid Apostasy from so excellent a Government both in Church and State in the days of CHARLES the first, the great Martyr of jesus:— So that I could not be delivered from such Meditations as brought these Observations into my mind: And having made it known to two especial Friends in Norwitch, they persuaded me to put them in Writing, the which I did and hath reserved it till this present; Not that I was doubtful of the accomplishment thereof for God's Glory, and our Good at the time specified: But in obedience to the Angels command to Daniel, to go his way, seeing the words was sealed up till the time of the End: For I had gone into Flanders this last Winter in February, (but that I wanted Money) and there to have presented my Service to my Sovereign with these Observations, knowing that the time was to be accomplished in 1660. But so it is now with me, that in writing of this poor Epistle to you, I cannot do it without tears: Considering God's miraculous Goodness to us, so wretched Sinners as to accomplish his Work in such Mercy and Gentleness, and goodness to all: As that all faults may be buried in oblivion in a little time, and all the loyal Party which was wronged, prevented of bringing a great Sin upon themselves in their own Vindication: O this great Mercy of God Our King restored to us, our Laws executed, Gods worship revived to the admiration of all the World, all fulfilled according to his Word; Let us walk worthy of his Mercy in love to one another: This shall be the Prayers of your Servant, as one of the Sons of the Church of England, praying God that I may be found faithful before him, and acceptable to you. Yours, ABRAHAM NELSON. A DESCRIPTION OF ANTICHRIST. REading in the holy Scripture of truth the Vision which the holy Prophet Daniel saw in the days of Balshazar King of Babylon; I find in the 7. th' Chap. the 7. verse, a description of a most dreadful and terrible Beast. First, he describes him by his Strength, to be exceeding strong. Secondly, by his Teeth, to be of Iron. Thirdly, by his Horns to be in number Ten, and also in the 8. th' verse, he speaks of a little Horn that came up before whom three fell. Fourthly, he describes this Beast to have Nails of Brass in the 9 verse. This monstrous Beast being described by his Shape, he also tells us what he shall do: But of that hereafter. Also reading in the 13. Chapter of St. John's Revelation, I find the same Beast described, and look what Marks of the beast Daniel hath omitted St. John doth describe them more fully. He saith, that he came out of the Sea, he saith he hath 7. Heads and 10. Horns, and upon his heads the Names of Blasphemy. This ugly Monster he describes in the 2. Verse to be like a Leopard, his Feet as the feet of a Bear, and his Mouth as the mouth of a Lion; his Power and his great Authority was given to him by the Dragon. And the Dragon is described before in the 12. Chap. and 3. verse, to be Red and to have seven Heads and ten Horns, and Crowns upon their heads. And I find in the 11. verse of the 13. chap. another Beast described, To come out of the Earth having horns like a Lamb, but a terrible speech like a Dragon. These two Beasts described by St. Joqn, doth exercise their Power to advance each other, vers. 1●. he saith, He exercised all the power of the first Beast, and caused all that was on the earth to worship the first beast. These two beasts be so joined together in the exercise of their Power; and having their power from the Dragon, that they are sometimes said to be one. But Daniel sets forth this Second beast unto us, in the similitude of a horn that hath a Mouth and Eyes, chap. 7. verse 8. Now before these terrible beasts appear in the Earth and exercise their power; I find in the 12. chap. and 1. verse, A wonder seen in Heaven, a most glorious Woman, clothed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet, and Crowned with 12 Stars. She is also described to be with Child and in pain to be delivered. But being in danger to be devoured by the Dragon and his Instruments, these ugly beasts, God Almighty provides a place for her and takes her Child unto himself, vers. 5. and 6. Now by this most glorious Woman and her Son, is most certainly set forth unto us the Estate of the Church of Chr●st, and the Sons of the Church: When these monstrous Beasts shall appear, for some of the Sons of the Church shall lay down their Lives for the Truth, and so is taken unto God. Also in the 11. th' Chap from verse the 1 till verse the 7. th' is most certainly set forth unto us the pure Preaching of God's Word for the Worship and Service of GOD, that shall be in the Church of Christ in that place, when and where these Monsters shall appear. John is there commanded to measure the Temple of God, and the Altar and them that worship therein: But is prohibited to measure the Court and holy City, seeing it was to be trodden under foot by the wicked and profane, 42. Months (that is 1260. days xxx. days to the Month) the same time the virtuous and glorious Woman lieth hid in the place God provided for Her, the 12. th' Chap. and 6. verse. But for his two Witnesses they should prophesy in Sackcloth 1260. days, these are the two Olive-trees and two Candlestick, standing before the God of the whole Earth: Spoken of by Zachary the Prophet, the 4. th' Chap. and 3. verse, and the 11. th' and 14. verses. By these two Olive-trees two Candlesticks and two Witnesses is set forth unto us the Kingly and Priestly Officers: As also the books of the Prophets and Apostles, the Old Testament and the New, all which shall be in Power and had in Estimation, and the Word faithfully taught unto us by his Apostolical Ministers: When and where these monstrous Beasts appears. And it is most certain, that these Monstrous Beasts shall be Enemies to God his Worship and those that fear his Name, That is manifest in the 7. th' of Daniel the 25. verse, for it is said there, he shall speak great words against the Most High. And in the 13. th' Chap. of Revelations the 6. verse, and he opened his Mouth with blasphemy, to blaspheme his Name, his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven. Now for the cruelty of this Beast, how this Beast shall prosper, and what he shall do and how long he shall continue, that is necessary to be shown: But of that hereafter. But first of all, what is meant by the Sea and great Waters from whence this Beast shall come, it is expressed Chap. 17. th' and 15. verse, to be People and Multitudes, Tongues and Nations, it is also necessary to know where they shall appear. He shall certainly appear in that place where the most pure preaching of the Gospel of GOD and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is taught and upholden: Both in Doctrine and Discipline, by Christ's Regal and Sacerdotal Officers: And he shall oppose himself against all lawful Authority. This great Beast is certainly the Man of Sin, the Antichrist, the Son of Perdition spoken of by the holy Prophets and Apostles. But now for the Description of this Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition set forth by the similitude of these Monsters, it is necessary to show; Therefore first of the body o● this Beast, It is Multitudes of men in the World in Seven several Nations, who will either voluntarily or by force comply to the Man of Sinne. Secondly, the Heads of this Beast, is Princes and great men in those Nations, and sometimes it is taken for the head City where they meet to consult: Called the Royal City. Thirdly, by the Horns of this Beast is meant the Kings of those Nations, whereof one of them hath four Dominions belonging to him: So these four and the other six maketh seven Heads and ten Horns: Revelations the 13. th' and 1. verse, Daniel 7. th' and 7. verse. Then Daniel expresseth, that he saw another little Horn come up after them: Before whom three fell; And that Horn is said to be the 8. th' Dominion, and yet one of the Seven, Rev. 17 ch. and 11▪ verse, that l●ttle Horn is the Antichristian Horn, which by Daniel is said to have Eyes and a Mouth that shall speak high things. Now it is to be understood, that when this Man of Sin shall appear all the seven Nations shall be Christians: But he shall arise and make his Seat in one only Nation, and in that Nation where the most pure Preach of the Gospel are both in Doctrine and Discipline, and in that Nation whose Head hath four Horns, that is four Dominions belonging to it, though he do but exercise the power of Three. But upon the appearance of the little Horn, the three Dominions which the former King had shall fall to him, and the former King shall be plucked up, Dan. the 7. th' and 8. verse, but of that hereafter. Now that Antichrist is set out unto us by this little Horn in Daniel, and the Beast out of the Earth in John: It shall be apparent by what he shall do answerable to that which is written of him. Also by the Description of his Name and Mark, and the first Beast by his Name and the number of his Name. Therefore to make it plain, I will show it more clearly by setting forth and showing the Dignities of Christ. First, as the Son of GOD. Secondly, as a King. Thirdly, as a Priest, and as the Son of God had before his appearance a Forerunner, a great Prophet, a Messenger to go before his face to prepare his Way. So the Son of Perdition shall have a great Prophet, a Forerunner, a Messenger to go before him to prepare his Way; And as the Son of God was sent from Heaven by his Father, endowed with Kingly and Priestly abilities to redeem his people; So the Son of Perdition shall come out of the Earth from his Father the old Serpent the Devil; And shall usurp to himself both the Kingly and Priestly Dominions, to seduce a people from the true Worship of God, to worship himself and the Dragon. But first of all, I will compare together Christ's true Prophet, Forerunner, and Messenger that came before him. And Antichrist's false Prophet that shall come before him. Christ's Forerunner his Name is John so named of the Angel, Luke the 1. and 13. verse: He is a Priest also: And in verse 72, and 73. he is said to come to perform the Covenant, and the Oath which he swore to Abraham and his Seed. Antichrist's Prophet and Forerunner shall be called John Presbyter, but more properly his Name is John Covenanter. For he shall come with a Covenant and an Oath in opposition to the Covenant and Oath of God, and shall pretend to do the Offices that Christ's Forerunner came to do, in Preaching Repentance and pretending to a Reformation. The other Offices that Christ's Harbinger did perform was to make the Way strait, and to turn the hearts of the Fathers to their Children, and the Disobedient to the wisdom of the Just: And to make a people to be prepared for Christ the Lord, Luke the 1. and the 17. But the Offices that Antichrist's Harbinger shall perform for all his pretences shall be to make the Way crooked, and to turn the hearts of the Children from their Fathers, and the obedient from the wisdom of the Just: And to make ready a Rebellious People prepared for Antichrist. And as the people which John Baptist did prepare, did accept of the Covenant and Oath of God, and was distinguished from others and became Christians. So shall the people which Presbyter john shall prepare, accept of a Covenant and Oath which was from his Father the Devil: And thereby be distinguished from others and be called Covenanters. This is the first Beast which john saw like a Leopard, which cannot change his Spots. And first for his Name it shall be john Covenanter, and the number of the words in his Preamble and Covenant (that makes his Name) is the number of his Name, let him that hath Wisdom count them, for they are 666. mentioned, Revelations the 13. Chap. and the last verse. ☞ As it is to be seen in the original Copy of the Kirk. This Covenant shall combine all his Creatures in one, and unite them for Lives and Estates to serve him: The Enemy of God and all good Men. And as John Baptist came with a mighty Power, so that all did muse whether he were the Christ. So shall John Covenanter come with a mighty Power, trampling all under foot, Daniel the 7. th' and the 7. And with such a false Zeal; So that all shall muse thinking him to be the Truth of Christ, though he shall be the Forerunner of Antichrist: I have now described the Name of Christ's Messenger and his Power and Office, so that he is the greatest Prophet of God that ever was amongst the Sons of Men. And the Name of Antichrist's Messenger, the number of his Name, his Power and Office, so that he shall be the greatest Prophet of all the false Prophets that ever shall be amongst the Sons of Men: For he and the Antichristian Beast with the Dragon shall work wonders; They shall throw down the Stars, Revelations the 12. th' and the 4. verse, and they shall cause Fire to come down from Heav●n in the sight and presence of men, the 13. th' and the 13. verse▪ This is nothing else but the pulling down of the King, the learned Clergy, Bishops and Church Officers, which is compared to Stars & Fires in Scripture. And it must be a mighty wonder to see this done; Now it is necessary to show unto you the Offices of CHRIST the Lord of Life, and his Power (his Way being prepared) his Name and his Mark: Also the Offices of Antichrist the Man of Death and Destruction, his Name and Mark, his way being prepared before him. First for the Offices of Christ, he is a King, Matthew the 27. th' and the 11. and Hebrews the 1. and the 8. But unto the Son he saith, thy Throne O God is for ever and ever, the Sceptre of thy Kingdom is a Sceptre of Righteousness. He is a Priest also being the Priest of the most high GOD, and of the Order of Melchisadec, Hebrews the 5. th' and 6. verse, and his Name is Jesus so named of the Angel: And his Mark or Ensign is the Cross which we take in Baptism, and which Christ saith, all that will follow him must take up. Now the Power of Christ in the exercise of Kingly Office is proved, Psalm 2. and 9 verse, Revelations the 19 th' and 15. verse Out of his Mouth goeth a sharp Sword, and with it he shall smite the Nations, and he shall rule them with a Rod of Iron: And shall tread the Winepress of the fierceness of the Wrath of God. And of his Priestly Office, Hebrews the 4 th' and 14. Seeing therefore we have a great high Priest, that is passed into Heaven Jesus the Son of God: Let us hold our Profession. Now I shall show unto you the Offices of Antichrist, his power, his Name & Mark, in opposition to Christ his power his Name & Mark. First, he shall take unto him Dominion: That is Kingly power, Daniel the 7. th' and 25. verse, the middle of the verse. And he shall think to change Times and Laws both Civil and Ecclesiastical, and they shall be given into his hand. He shall also take upon him Dominion over (Episcopal Authority which is Apostolical, that is) Priestly power, to command Worship: As in the 13. th' Chap. and 4. verse, it is said: They worshipped the Dragon which gave Power to the Beast, also Paul saith, He shall set himself in God's Temple as God, and against him to depose and set up whom he will without Law or Example: Save only exemplified by his Type, that is Antiochus the Type of Antichrist under the Gospel. And for his Name it shall be equal with Christ's Name, that is Jesus a Saviour, a Protector to his people: And for his Mark it shall be a Cross wherewith all his shall be marked and commissionated to do his works in the World, and that none shall be permitted to buy or sell, or to do any thing of Concernment without his Name, his Mark or number of his Name afore spoken of, Revelations the 13. th' Chapter, and the 17. th' verse. Now ye see what a Combination Antichrist (when he cometh) shall make: All that are for him must have his Name, others must have his M●rke; And some must have the Name and number of his Name, and some shall have all. But before this Tragedy shall be acted, we shall find that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ shall seal his obedient ones, lest they should be deceived by the policy of the false Prophet, and the prosperous success of the Man of Sin; For it is said, If it were possible they would deceive the very Elect. In the 7. th' Chap. and the 2. verse▪ I saw an Angel ascend out of the East having the Seal of the living God, and in the 4. verse it is said: There was sealed 144000. I have made it appear what Power the Man of Sin shall have, and Offices he shall usurp. Now I shall further show you the Exercise of his power, what he shall do: I have shown how he shall trample all under foot, and change Laws both Civil and Ecclesiastical, now I will show you how he shall make Wars▪ and against whom. In the 7. th' of Daniel and the 21. it is said: I beheld and saw the same Horn make War with the Saints and prevail against them. And in the 13. th' of Revelations and the 7. verse and it was given unto him to make War with the Saints and overcome Them: In overcoming the Saints he shall first take away the chief Officers of the Church, that i● the King, and Bishops and their lawful Officers, and prohibit the true Doctrine and Discipline Apostolical to be used: and when he hath taken away the Church Officers, to suppress the Professors is easy. For the King that then shall be shall fall before him, which exerciseth the Power of the three Horns, Daniel the 7. th' and 8. verse, in the middle of the verse, I considered the little Horn saith he, before three of the first were plucked up; and in the 24. th' verse, he saith, He shall subdue three Kings or Kingdoms and there he shall plant himself. Now for the continuance of the time he shall have to stand in his Power; It is requisite I should speak of it: That after he appears in his splendour we may hope for his end, lest we should faint in the length of our sufferings. In the Exercise of this woeful Tragedy against the Saints of GOD, we find he shall speak great Words against the Most High, and weary out his Saints, the 7. th' of Daniel and 25. And in the latter part of the verse it is said, he shall continue a Time, Times, and the deviding of time: John saith the 13. th' Chap. and 5. verse. He hath Power to continue 42. Months, which is three years and an half, that is to measure and account his Time by. And I find that upon the increase of his Power, he shall be so prevalent in (opposition of God's word) persecuting the Regal and Apostolical Officers of CHRIST, as that the Books of the Prophets and Apostles, together with the two Candlesticks of the Church of Christ; his two Officers is said to be slain and lie dead in the streets (and in the sight of all men) for three days and an half, Revelations the 11. and the 7. th': And by reason of the Toleration that the Man of Sin shall grant upon the suppressing of the true Worship and Worshippers of GOD, and taking away the public Liturgy of the Church, there shall be a very great joy: So that they shall give and send Gifts one unto another and make merry, Chap. 11. th' and 10. verse. Because thereby they were hindered of their Liberty, that they could not exercise their several Idolatrous, Fantastical, and Heretical Opinions. And during the time that these two Prophets, and two Witnesses lies slain and dead in the streets in open shame and contempt: The true Professors of the Gospel shall be clothed in Sackcloth 1260. Chap. 11. th' and 3. verse. According to the number of the Days the virtuous Woman (that is the Church) is hid by God in the place which he hath provided for Her, the 12. th' Chap. and 6. verse. And then after the time limited be over shall their Sackcloth be put off, and the Woman come out of her place, to help forward the judgement of the Man of Sin. But during the Time of the hiding of this Woman and the Persecution of her Children; There appeareth another Woman, Chap. the 17. th' and the 3. verse: A Great Whore, a Jezabel wonderfully D●cked: By whose Glory Thousands are bewitched. By this Whore is set forth unto us Antichrist's superstitious Whore, and the City where he shall keep, and the Idolatrous Brood he shall beget. Now all men know or will confess, that Men are naturally subject to Idolatry, and therefore is fitly compared to a Whore, and Antichrist when he cometh will tolerate men thereunto; Now if an arrant Whore be tolerated by Law, what Wickedness is it that she will not commit with a Brazen face? And also abuse the most Godly Virtuous and Woman that can be found. Now I will but speak a very little of his Power more, lest I digress too fare. In the 13. th' Chap. and 4. verse (it is said) And they worshipped the Dragon which gave Power to the Beast, and they worshipped the Beast and said, Who is like to the Beast, Who is able to make war with him. Also he shall extend his power a great deal farther than his own proper Dominion which he hath usurped; For his Name and his Mark shall go through the earth, Revelation the 13. th' and the 8. th' verse. For it is said, All that dwell on the Earth shall worship him; For he shall extend all power into the Channels of the Sea, and great waters. So that Nations shall maintain their Traffic by him and shall do it by his Name and Mark, wherewith his Patents shall be sealed and Articles of Peace or War marked and sealed. He shall be like that Leviathan (spoken of by Job) that walloweth in the great deep. Now I think it necessary to the making of this great Tragedy plain, to speak of the matter of Worship a little as it cometh in order. Kings and Princes, and chief Priests, in holy Scriptures are called Gods, being sanctified by divine Power; and also the same Scripture doth command worship and honour to be given them. Now we may read in the 13. chap. Revelation the 3. verse, That one of the beasts Heads was wounded to death, and his wound was healed. You may remember that I said before, That the heads of the beasts were Nobles and great Men, or such as is of the King's Council; and the horns are Kings; now when the Horns by force falls off (aforementioned) the Head on which it doth stand will receive a wound. But when the little Horn grows great, he shall cause the beasts head to be healed, by electing another Nobility of his own Tribe; which is set forth unto us by the word Image: And well may be called an Image, in comparison of the other that was before it; But however it must be Worshipped; For in the 13. chap. the 15. verse. He had power to give life to the Image of the Beast, that the Image of the beast, should both speak and cause, that so many as would not Worship the Image of the beast, should be killed. And I will show you more things that this Man of sin shall do expressed by Paul his 2. Epistle to the Thessalonians, 2. chap. 4. verse, it is said there, That he shall oppose himself above all that is called Gods and are worshipped. Now his forerunner shall be a man of Worship (as John Baptist was) when he cometh. But the Man of sin, shall be a mean Man and no man of Worship; neither shall any be proper for him. Therefore it is truly said, When he cometh and playeth his Pageants above Kings and great Men on the earth, that he exalteth himself above all that is called Gods unto whom Worship belongeth. And in the first of Paul to Timothy, the 4. th' and the 3. verse, he saith, He shall forbid to Marry (that is) He shall alter the ordinary practice of the Church of GOD in marriage, which was solemnly performed by the Ministers of CHRIST, according to God's word; commanding it to be done by those that are no Priests: which are Commissionated by his Mark, and also upon a penalty of Disinheritance, as Bastardising their posterity. He shall also command Fasting-days, and prohibit Festivalltimes, which the Church had celebrated; as the time of CHRIST'S Nativity, his Resurrection and Ascension (and the like) fare worse than any Pagan. But it is more proper to Antichrist's forerunner which shall come like John Baptist; Neither eating nor drinking, but with a great deal of temperance and Purity to deceive, though it be proper to him what the People said of john, That he hath a Devil. Now I will speak of Antichrist and his false Prophet jointly, being united to advance each other; therefore first of their beginning and so of their growth. And that I may make it plain, I will compare the Lord of life and this Messenger of Death together. In the 2. of Luke, the 46. th' 47. and the 48. verses. Christ was found of his Parents disputing amongst the Doctors in God's Temple (it seems to me to be the Puritanical Pharisees with which he disputed, and) which he calleth so often (afterwards to his Disciples) Hypocrites: giving them command to take heed to them. This was the time of CHRIST's beginning and increase to do his Father's business, till he was Baptised in jordain of John. Then being in the full Exercise of his power after his Baptism, he continueth therein till his Ascension, 42. Months or thereabouts, in all, one and twenty years. And a little before his Suffering Matthew the 21. chap. the 12. verse, Enters into the Temple, and overthrew the tables of the Money changers, and those that polluted his Father's house, he drove out; saying, that they had made his Father's house a den of Thiefs. The same time shall Antichrist have till he come to the height of his power, that CHRIST had, till he was Baptised; after which time he shall think himself lawfully Installed to his Jesus ship to him and his for ever. And as Christ first began his most Gracious work in the Temple, and so continued till he whipped the Prophainers out as aforesaid. So shall Antichrist and his false Prophets begin, they work to do their Father's business in disputing against the true Doctors, Professors and worshippers of God in his Churches and Temples, till they drive out of Christ's Churches his faithful Officers and Professors, and make them Stables, Courts of guard, and consequently a den of Thiefs. Now it is requisite (he being so perfectly marked out) that it should be made known, what shall become of the Man of sin, and what shall be his judgement. It is said in Daniel the 7. th' and 11. I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the Horn spoke, I beheld even till the Beast was slain and his body destroyed and given to the burning Flame; And in the 26. th' verse, The judgement shall sit, and they shall take away his Dominion to consume it, and destroy it to the end: And in the 19 th' of the Revelation the 20. th' verse, John saith; That the Beast was taken and with him the false Prophet that wrought Miracles. with which he designed them that had the Mark of the beast and worshipped his Image; these both were cast into the Lake of Fire burning with Brimston. But seeing in the same Chapter, there is mention made of a whorish Woman, which I have a little spoke of before, I will touch it a little as it lieth in the way. In the 3▪ verse, John was carried into the Wilderness and there he saw the whorish Woman riding, in the same Place and upon the same Beast which persecuted the most Glorious woman the Church. John seethe a Cup of abomination in her hand; and in the 5. verse, We saw her Name written in her Forehead, Mystery Babylon the great, the mother of Harlots the abomination of the Earth. This Woman was drunk with the blood of the Saints and Martyrs of JESUS which made John wonder. This Woman shall be the Royal City where the Man of Sin shall make his Seat; and in which the Antichristian Representative body of the Beast, and Head of the beast, doth Consult, and giveth Antichrist, that is the Horn his power. In the last verse of that Chapter, it is said; The Woman which thou sawest, is the great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth; sor by their prevalent Power (during their Antichristian compliance) both by Sea and Land, they are said to Reign over the Kings of the earth. And in the 7. verse of the 17. th' chap. The Angel saith, He will tell john the mystery of the Woman, and the Beast that carrieth her. And in the 8. verse, he saith, The Beast on which the Woman sat was and is n c, and shall descend into the Bottomless pit and go into Perdition, and they that dwell on the Earth shall wonder, whose lives are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the World: When they behold the Beast that was and Is not▪ and yet is. This Beast shall be Presviter John, and the first great Assembly of Republics that aids him; (which was)— That is, he shall be in great Power when the Man of sin appears with his Toleration. He shall lose his Power and Dominion when the Man of sin is apparently come; (and therefore it is said, He was and Is not. (And it is said, he yet is:) Seeing he shall give himself and his Power to uphold the Man of Sin, after which he shall recover his Power and being, and therefore is said (he yet Isabella) And then it shall be accounted a wonder of all, whose Names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the World; when they behold the Beast that Was and Is not, and yet Is. In the 10. th' verse, he saith; There are 7. Kings whereof five are fallen, one Is and another is Not yet come, and when he cometh he shall Continue a short space. That is, five of those Kings shall submit themselves to certain Conditions, and to the jurisdiction of the Man of Sin▪ and City where the Man of sin sitteth, intimated by the word fallen. It is said one is, that is himself and his City, as it is said, by the old Babel he only Is and No other. And it is said another is Not yet come, he stands out a little longer than the Rest, and it is said, When he cometh he shall continue a short space. This great City and her Antichrist, is said to sit on seven Heads, which is seven Mountains, that is 7. distinct Dominions, verse 9 One which he shall particularly Command and makes his Seat, and Six which he shall bring under Conditions. So this is No more in effect then hath been said before, only confirmed by more Testimonies. And in the 11. th' verse it is said, The Beast that was and is not, is the 8. th', and yet of the Seven, and shall go into Perdition. This Beast that was and Is not, is the same was spoke of before, but here is said to be the 8. and is of the 7. th' in the 11. verse. It is certain he is of the Seven; but how he is said to be the Eight I conceive it thus:— That when he is come near the time of his Destruction, and to the end of his account for his Antichristian Dominion; The right Heir shall appear to come into his Kingdom, and shall come with the aid of the other Six (which formerly Antichrist had brought to his Conditions) those Six with his own Nobility makes up 7. Heads; Then Antichrist and his Nobility makes up the 8. Head: And in the 16. th' verse it is said, These shall hate the whore and burn her with Fire. And verse 17. th' it is said, God hath put it into their hearts to fulfil his Will and agree together: And give their Kingdoms to the Beast until the Word of God be fulfilled. Then cometh those Kings to act right things, when they promise and give Aid to the lawful Heir, which before they could not, during the height of Antichrist's reign. Now I have shown unto you the Destruction of the Man of Sin, his Prophet and their Whorish brood. Now it shall be apparent that GOD shall take away Antichrist's Dominion by Daniel, the 7. th' and 19 verse; And in the 13. and 14. verses, He giveth it to his Son: it is said, there was given unto Him Dominion, Glory, and a Kingdom, that all People and Nations should serve Him: His Dominion is an everlasting Dominion which shall not pass away and his Kingdom, that which shall not be destroyed. Then Christ when the Kingdom is given to him, he giveth it to his Saints to be possessed by them▪ as it was before when Antichrist and his Adherents began their Wars against them. That you may read in the 22 verse: The Ancient of Days came, Judgement was given to the Saints of the Most High: And the Time came that the Saints possessed the Kingdom. And in the 27. verse, and the Kingdom, and the Dominion, and the Greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the People of the Saints of the Most High whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom: And all Dominions shall serve and obey Him. Then shall the Days come, spoken of by Zachary the Prophet 14. th' and the 9 verse: And the Lord shall be King over all the Earth, in that Dayshall there be one Lord and his Name one. Now it is requisite to show unto you the Joy that the Saints shall have for Antichrist's Destruction and for the Destruction of his Whorish brood: Seeing GOD works so great an Alteration, Revelations the 14. th' and the first (there he saith) he saw a Lamb standing on Mount Zion having with him 144000. Having their Father's Name written in their Foreheads And in the 2. verse he saith: He heard out of Heaven the voice of Thunder, the Voice of Waters, Harps harping, and in the 3. verse: They sung a new Song before the Throne, the books of the Apostles and Prophets, the four Beasts, and Elders which were redeemed from the Earth. And in the 6. verse, the Messengers of God goeth forth with freedom to preach the everlasting Gospel, to them that dwell on the Earth, to People, Tongues, and Nations. And in the 15. the 3. verse: That those that got Victory over the Beast, over his Image▪ and over his Mark and the number of his Name Sing the Song of Moses the Servant of the Lord▪ and the Song of the Lamb? Great and Marvellous are thy Works▪ Lord GOD Almighty: Just and true are thy Works, Thou King of Saints! And in the 4. verse, Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy Name, for thou only art Holy? For all Nations shall come and worship before thee; For thy Judgement is made manifest: And verse the 5. th', after that Song the Temple of the Testimony of the Tabernacle was open. And in the 19 c●p. He heard a Multitude of People which song Haleluja, Salvation, Glory, and Honour, and Power unto thë Lord GOD. read Revelations the whole Chapter. I have shown unto you the great joy that shall be upon the suppressing of Antichrist. I shall also show unto you a little, the sorrow of those that favour Him, and such as hath his Name, his Mark, or the Number of his Name. All those that have committed Fornication with Her shall bewail Her, and lament for Her, and cry and cast dust on your Heads: the 18. cap. 9 verse, 11. verse, 18 verse. Now I have shown in brief the great Mystery of Antichrist, and his Forerunner, his great Prophet, their Rising and Power, what they shall do and how long he shall continue, I have also shown unto you their Subversion and Overthrow. And I have shown un●o you the joy that shall ensue to the People of GOD: And the sorrow of those that adhere unto the Man of Sin, and his Idolatrous brood. And I have shown unto you the most Glorious Preaching of the Gospel that shall be after their Subversion: So that one Title of God's Word shall not fail of what is inserted in the Book of God. That which I have written is in brief, for if I had the Tongue of Men and Angels, and were the best Scribe in the World, it were impossible for me either to speak or write, or you to hear or read the most unnatural bloody and damnable acts of the Beast, his Prophet and their Lives, even their very Claws and Nails on their feet being of Brasle: to Plunder and Scrape the very Flesh of the bones of God's people, Daniel the 7. th' chap. and 19 verse. But when men seethe these things come to pass▪ which is Collected out of the word of GOD, let them lift up their hands which hang down, and their feeble knees, and make straight steps upon their feet, as Paul saith, Lest that which is halting be turned out of the way. It shall inform weak Consciences, and confirm them in the truth. It shall be a Caviat for many to take Salomons counsel, (that is) If thou hast stricken hands and been snared with the words of thy mouth make haste, deliver thyself. But more especially to do as our Lord Saviour CHRIST command's (that is) Agree with thy adversary quickly whilst he is in the way with thee, lest he deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the jailor. It shall be a means to Convert the Jews, when they see Antichrist play his Pageants on the earth, and God fulfil his judgement upon him, Being so perfectly Marked out by his Prophets and Apostles, and foretold so many hundred of years before he come. It shall also Reconcile the great differences amongst the Christians: But especially betwixt the Papists and Protestants, which hath so long time contended about this thing unto Blood. It shall Increase the torments and anguish of those, that are still obstinate Enemies of GOD and doth not Repent. And finally, It shall cause all both great and small, things in Heaven and things on Earth, and under the Earth, to bow the Knee at the Name of JESUS, even so AMEN. This sad Tragedy being past and gone, the Saints shall live at peace and ease at home: Till Gog shall make them to be sore dismayed, his wicked Pageants then that he hath played. But Consolation great to th' Saints will come, after he hath had his dreadful Doom: For final Sentence shall not long be driven, till th' Saints shall all for ever be in Heaven. I will further add this: That the false Prophet when he shall first appear shall be by Profession in his Religion, a false Dependant, (Puritanical) who by his rigid Curiosity and Scrupulous nonconformity: Shall make way for a Toleration of Antichristian Independency. Further you may observe in 1639: That from their Covenanting and first Entrance into the Field in open force and public Hostility against their lawful King and Priests (the Lords Deputies) till the time of their Subversion shall be (that is in 1660.) One and twenty years: Answerable to the time that Christ our Lord disputed in the Temple with the Puritanical, hypochriticall Pharisees, till he ascended into Heaven as . But more for particular Distinction of Time: As near as may be (it may be observed) that for the first Ten years and six Months▪ which is three times 42. Months, the Antichristian false Prophet shall most popularly carry on his wicked designs, deceiving the People by Lies, pretending to be for the King and Priests, till they may utterly destroy Both: And consequently God's holy Worship and so out them, as Antichristian by Lie and Scandals. But for the later ten years and six Months, the Antichrist himself by the assistance of his bloody Crew shall advance his Dominion. For the first 42. Months of the later Ten years and an half, the Antichrist shall be made General, and give a Toleration to all his Antichristian Imps. And for the second 42. Months, Antichrist shall take upon him to be the people's Saviour and Protector: And his false Prophet shall comply with him, and be protected by Him. And for the last 42. Months, he shall actually be confirmed in his Jesusship: And his false Prophet, with all their deluded Spirits, shall give Honour unto him as lawfully installed in his Jesusship for ever, both for Him and His. Yet before the 42. Months be expired a great darkness of Confusion shall be in his Kingdom, that they shall knaw their Tongues for pain, Revelations the 16. th' and 10. verse. And also before the last 42. Months be out: The right Heir shall come to possess his Kingdom, as is . This they shall see: All those that lives in the Days of Antichrist, the 42. Months of Antichrist's Dominion; And his false Prophet spoken of (by the Angel) to John: And the Time, Times, and the dividing of Time spoken of (by the Angel) to Daniel: Really fulfilled to the Sight and perfect Knowledge of all the Observers thereof: If they will but count. And if Pharoah's Dream was doubled twice, much more shall Antichrist's 42. Months be doubled thrice, for the Ratification thereof before all the World. But courteous Reader, look what thou hast here read is none of Mine, only collected by me out of holy Scripture, (therefore give God the Glory.) But it is so brief, that it is far short of what may be observed by the judicious Reader out of holy Writ: Though it be promiscuously laid down therein, as we may observe in all Prophecies: (that Men as natural may see and not perceive, and hear and not understand; for if it were by way of History than it were no Prophecy) as we may observe in the 24. th' of Matthew, and such like Prophetical places they be Mysteriously laid down. But I would have you to observe, that every Spirit that pretends to stand for Christ, and doth oppose his Dominion here upon Earth by his Deputies, Kings, and Episcopal Priests, doth therewith deny the true Doctrine and Discipline of Christ's Church: The same must undoubtedly be the Antichrist. Antichristian Spirits there was from the beginning, by the Enemy of Mankind in opposition to the promised Seed Christ. But they never prevailed to set up a Dominion as aforesaid, to fill up the whole Latitude of his Description. Read for your Satisfaction the 26. of Numbers, what became of Core and his complices: And read the Epistle of Judas his Prophecy of Antichrist, whereof Cores Rebellion against Moses their King, and Aaron their Priest was a Type of Antichrist's Rebellion under the Gospel. Read also the 10. th' of Leviticus: The History of Nadab and Abihu offering strange Fire to the Lord: A Type of the abominable Worship and Sectaries (tolerated by Antichrist) in the time of the Gospel. But though these did not prevail to set up a Dominion, yet Antichrist the Typified shall prosper, prevail and set up his Dominion as aforesaid: And all his evil Spirits shall prosper with him, all that ever were or shall be, and shall do what is written of Him. But the antichristian Spirits that shall assay to set up a Dominion before the Time of the Antichrist, the Son of Perdition, cannot. For Paul saith to the Thessalonians, 2. Epistle and 2 Chapter, only he who letteth shall let till he be taken out of the Way; and in the 8. verse, Then shall the Wicked be revealed. And it is to be understood, that He who hath let and doth let is the Angel of the Church: And the King Christ's Deputy, where this Man of Sin shall arise, who is appointed by GOD to protect his Church from such Malignant Spirits, according to his Promise made to his People, as to the Patriarches and to Moses to aid them: That for their and the Church's safety, his Angel should go before them. The like assistance doth attend Christian Kings under the Gospel, but when God's Angel is restrained from aiding the King in protecting of Christ's Church, then shall Antichrist appear and prevail, * The King and Bishop. and the two great Witnesses of GOD shall be murdered in the Street, and lie A Bishop may be Antichristian, being against Monarchy. slain in that City which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, Revel. the 11. chap. and 8, and 9 A Monarch may be Antichristian being against Episcopacy; But he that is the Antichrist must be above and against both. verses. For be assured Christian Reader, he shall be against Christ when he cometh, and against Christ's anointed Ones: Such as are commissionated, consecrated, and set apart for his most especial Service under the Gospel. And will presume to be above Christ▪ as he is a Saviour administering his Power here upon Earth (till his second Coming) by his lawful JESUSES, his Deputies here: And so he will set himself in Christ's Dominion or above Him. Absolutely to take away the Regal and Sacerdotal Officers of CHRIST: And to suppress the true Professors. Till the Ancient of Days sit, and Judgement be given to the Saints of the Most High as aforesaid. All which for the Glory of our God, and of his Son our Lord and Saviour, (in the right understanding hereof for our avails) I refer unto God: And for the Performance of his most Sacred Word, we ought not to doubt. Therefore as I said before, let us all both great and small, bow the Knee at the Name of JESUS: Even so AMEN. Now I doubt not, but I shall have the Construction of all the Sons of the Church of England herein. But for such as hath not known it through want of years, and those that through weakness have been seduced from it: My Desire is that they should return, and profess the Catholic Faith established in England, and professed in the Days of Charles the first, the Great Martyr of JESUS. This shall be the Prayers of him, that wisheth Grace and Peace till the finishing of his Days. Your Servant, ABRAHAM NELSON, of Garsdale in Yorkshire. FINIS.