Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJonathan Edwards Collection: Edwards, Jonathan - Rational Biblical Theology: Chapt 36 Eschatalogy
TOPIC: Edwards, Jonathan - Rational Biblical Theology (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: Chapt 36 Eschatalogy
Other Subjects in this Topic:
As Stephen J. Stein has shown, Jonathan Edwards was deeply interested in eschatology:
The book of Revelation fascinated Jonathan Edwards, Americas premier philosopher-theologian, a fact that has been a source of bewilderment and embarrassment to some students of American thought. For him the Apocalypse came alive with each new reading. Like others in the eighteenth century, Edwards believed that the biblical visions with the mysterious figures and cryptic references could be very useful to the Christian church. He drew heavily in his sermons and treatises upon the Revelation’s bizarre and sometimes baffling symbolism, finding it a source of comfort and encouragement for the people of New England. Edwards spent long hours studying the Revelation, the only book of the Bible he favored with a separate commentary; that preoccupation began in early manhood as he searched for the best interpretation of the Apocalypse, and it spanned the full range of his years. Not content with mere curiosities or speculations, he probed for the pastoral and theological implications of the prophecies. *1*
Nevertheless, there has been relatively little concentrated study of Edwards’ over-all eschatology. The only exception is with regard to the doctrine of hell, though even there it is more the study of a famous single sermon, and even “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” deals principally with the present from the point of view of eternal destiny.
In this brief sketch I will consider Jonathan Edwards’ view of the Kingdom of God, the Antichrist, the Latter Days and Millennium, the Second-Coming of Christ, the Day of Judgment and Conflagration. *2* The two final chapters will be devoted to examining in detail Edwards’ doctrine of Hell and Heaven.
1. The Kingdom of God
The kingdom of the Christ was at first the kingdom of the Jews, whose Messiah he claimed to be. When they rejected him, the kingdom of Christ was apart from the Jews, since only a few joined. It came then, Edwards says, in four stages. First, Mat_16:28 indicates its coming in the fall of Jerusalem. Second, the kingdom comes with the fall of the heathen Roman Empire at the advent of Emperor Constantine (Rev_6:1-17). The fall of the Antichrist as described in Dan_7:1-28 and Revelation marks the third stage. Fourth, the fall of all the wicked and establishment of the righteous at the Day of Judgment is the final and perfect form of the kingdom of Christ. Formidable opposition appears at each critical stage: the Jews at the first, heathen and papal Rome at the second and third, Gog and Magog at the fourth. Each stage is a type of the last day, with a “resurrection” occurring at each epoch. *3*
Edwards was persuaded that Christ would conquer both heathenism and Islam before handing over His kingdom to the Father, *4* hence his well-known post-millennialism. H. Richard Niebuhr saw this confidence in the sovereign power of God as what led to Edwards’ great millennial expectation and hope. *5*
The climax of the kingdom begins rather than ends at the Day of Judgment. As we have seen in our discussion of the Kingdom, Christ on that Day shall deliver up His kingdom to the Father. *6* Christ will continue to reign, but in a different manner. At His Ascension, Christ was invested with kingly glory; at the Day of Judgment He will receive greater glory. At present, and until the Day of Judgment, Christ rules by delegated authority; after the judgment He will rule by virtue of His union with God. Now the Father reigns through His Son; then, with the Son and the saints sitting on Christs throne, the Father shall reign with both forever. *7* As Christ will remain Mediator forever, the kingdom He delivers up is not His “mediatorial” but His “representative kingdom.” *8*
This is Edwards’ note on 1Co_15:28 :
[158] 1Co_15:28. “And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” Christ as Mediator has now the kingdom and government of the world so committed to him, that he is to all intents and purposes in the room of his Father. He is to be respected as God himself is, as supreme, and absolute, and sovereign Ruler. God has left the government in his hands wholly, now since his exaltation, that he may himself have the accomplishment and finishing of those great things for which he died. He is made head over all things to the church until the consummation; and he is now king of the church, and of the world, in his present state of exaltation. He is not properly a subordinate ruler, because God hath entirely left the government with him, to his wisdom, and to his power. But after Christ has obtained all the ends of his labours and death, there will be no farther occasion for the government’s being after that manner in his hands. He will have obtained by his government, all the ends he desired; and so then God the Father will resume the government, and Christ and his church will spend eternity in mutual enjoyment, and in the joint enjoyment of God . . . God will be respected as supreme orderer, and Christ with his church united to him, and dependent on him, shall together receive of the benefit of his government. *9*
There are those who say that all this is wishful eschatological thinking that cannot be demonstrated, but Edwards insists the opposite is the case. This eschatological pattern is the only rational possibility and therefore proves Christianity true. *10* All revolutions of time and history are obviously for the man who understands them. So, man must remain or nothing would come of all these revolutions. All this confirms the Christian revelation that the world is coming to an end and man will continue. Otherwise it would all come “to nothing from which it was made” if “he that is carried in the chariot doesn’t remain after he is brought with so much labor and vast ado to the end of his journey, but ceases to be as the chariot itself does.” *11*
2. The Antichrist
Very early Edwards became convinced that the Antichrist (and Beast) was the Roman papacy. Long before he preached at all on this theme he entered into his “Notes on the Apocalypse” that “The saints shall revenge themselves, no otherwise than by doing their utmost for the destruction of popery.” *12* Commenting on Rev_18:6, “Reward her even as she rewarded you, etc.” Edwards explained that this does not mean that Christians are “designedly to revenge upon the persons of men” *13* but are to destroy the papal institution by truth which will ultimately bring its downfall.
The Antichrist is the papacy, Satan’s masterpiece as indicated in Rev_17:18, “the plainest of any one passage in the whole book.” *14* This passage, which it is “impossible” to mistake, is the key to the whole Apocalypse. Rome’s claim to be Christian makes the papacy all the more the Antichrist just as a “snake or toad” is “the more abominable for being joined with life” than “lifeless matter” would be. *15* It “is more antichristian than is possible for heathenish, Jewish or Mohammetan Churches to be.” *16* “Their whole religion is blasphemy,” Edwards concludes after listing their false claims such as pardoning sins, turning people over to the wrath of God by excommunication, and even creating their Creator by transubstantiation. *17*
The similarity between this “antichristian apostasy” and the “devilish apostasy” impressed Edwards. As the angels became devils,
so the pope and his clergy were gospel ministers, who are called angels. . . . the apostasy of the angels was in heaven and from heaven: so the apostasy of Antichrist is in and from the Christian church, the holy Jerusalem. . . . Antichrist sits in the temple of God; . . . showing himself that he is God. . . . Satan attempted to make himself king and sovereign over the other angels: so the pope arrogates to himself to be the king and sovereign over all Christ’s ministers and over the universal church. *18*
According to Edwards, Satan fell because of his pride and “the pope is too proud to be Christ’s servant, and sets up himself as universal king of the church in his room, and usurps his throne . . . makes himself an absolute monarch over God’s heritage. . . .” After citing a number of other resemblances Edwards closes the comparison with the pope’s likeness to the devil “especially in his cruelty.” *19*
With apparent approval, Edwards cites a statement of Dr. Goodwin on the pope as Antichrist:
1273. How the POPE IS ANTICHRIST.]* Dr. Goodwin Ibid. (see foregoing No) p. Matthew, 41.
“The devil was worshipped in the [world] as God and therefore it is said Rev_12:1-17. that he & his angels were in heaven. Why? Because they were worshipped as gods and he was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him. When Constantine turned Xtian all the [world] turned Xtian too. Then all his devils were thrown down from having that worship as they alwaies had before - But when he ceased to be a god - that he might imitate God who hath set up his Son J. X as likewise hath set up his son AntiX whose kingdom & the devils are in many things just alike - Tis said Rev_14:2. The Dragon did give the Beast his power & seat & great authority. AntiX is the oldest son of Satan as X is the oldest Son /p./ of God” [finis]. *20*
Nevertheless, there was great value to the true church in the long reign of Antichrist, the “1260 years” from 606 to 1866. *21*
One end of that great apostasy and long time of darkness, was that the church might be brought off from all dependence upon tradition, and from pinning our faith upon the faith of the generations of Christians, and making their customs our rule (which the primitive church was much given to), that they might depend to the end of [world] only upon God’s revelation of his will, which he has given for our rule. *22*
The papacy was only gradually revealed. The very name applied to it, “mystery,” implied that (Rev_17:5). Although Antichrist is the chief prophetic theme of the New Testament, (as Christ was of the Old Testament), it only became apparent as the papacy advanced its blasphemous claims, such as the pope being vicar of Christ (Rev_11:8). This church largely succeeded with the masses by its “shows” (Rev_13:3). It is the Word of God which exposes Antichrist and his followers leave. Five of the seven vials of Revelation have been poured out on Antichrist and the sixth was expected soon. Edwards collected news items concerning this event which he did not expect to be later than 1866. The seventh vial dropped in the air would destroy the Prince of the Air himself and bring total destruction to his kingdom sometime before 2,000. Lowman saw this vial marking the rise of the Antichrist, but since it also depicted the prosperity of the church, Edwards could not agree with him.
Certainly the center of Edwards’ doctrine of the papal Antichrist is Rev_17:18 which calls for closer scrutiny. *23* It is rather interesting that his famous exposition of Rom_4:5 on justification by faith makes no direct reference to Roman Catholic exegesis, but rather to the neonomian interpretation which was plaguing the Protestant church in the eighteenth century. It is clear if that was not “another gospel” the Roman interpretation certainly was. However, the Antichrist’s heresies are described more fully in his activities in the Book of Revelation.
The only sermon on the Book of Revelation where Edwards dealt directly with Antichrist was on the occasion of the military expedition to Canada, July 10, 1746. Commenting on Rev_17:11, Edwards said, “The subject that I would insist upon from these words is the the fall of the Antichrist.” *24* The sermon on Mat_24:35 shows Edwards seeing the coming fall of Antichrist and national conversion of the Jews. *25*
A general summary view of these events is included in The History of Redemption:
Further, it was prophesied, that this Antichrist should reign over peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues, Rev_17:15. and that all the world should wonder after the beast, Rev_13:3. This also was verified in the church of Rome. It was foretold that this Antichrist should be remarkable for the sin of pride, pretending to great things, and assuming very much to himself: (2Th_2:4) “That he should exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped.” So Rev_13:5, “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things, and blasphemies.” Dan_7:8; Dan_7:20. the little horn is said to have a mouth speaking very great things, and his look to be more stout than his fellows. This also was verified in the pope, and the church of Rome. - It was also prophesied, that Antichrist should be an exceeding cruel persecutor, Dan_7:21. The same horn “made war with the saints, and prevailed against them:” Rev_13:7, “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them.” Rev_17:6, “And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” This also came to pass in the church of Rome. - It was foretold that Antichrist should excel in craft and policy: Dan_7:8. “In this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man.” And verse 20. “Even of that horn that had eyes.” This also marks the church of Rome. - It was foretold, that the kings of Christendom should be subject to antichrist: Rev_17:12-13. “And the ten horns which thou sawest, are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but received power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” This also came to pass with respect to the Romish church. - It was foretold, that he should perform pretended miracles and lying wonders: 2Th_2:9. “Whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders.” Rev_13:13-14. “And he doth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth, in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth, by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast.” This also designates the church of Rome. Fire coming down from heaven, seems to have reference to their excommunications, which were dreaded like fire from heaven. - It was foretold that he should forbid to marry, and to abstain from meats: 1Ti_4:3, “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving.” This also is exactly fulfilled in the church of Rome. - It was foretold that he should be very rich, and arrive at a great degree of earthly splendour and glory: Rev_17:4, “And the woman was arrayed in purple, and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones, and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand.” And so chap. 18:7, 12, 13, 16. What can more expressly describe the church of Rome? - It was foretold, that he should forbid any to buy or sell, but those that had his mark: Rev_13:17. “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” This also is fulfilled in the church of Rome. - It was foretold that he should sell the souls of men, Rev_18:13, where, in enumerating the articles of his merchandise, the souls of men are specifically mentioned as one. Is not this also exactly fulfilled in the same church? - It was foretold, that Antichrist would not suffer the bodies of God’s people to be buried: Rev_11:8-9, “And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, - and they - shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.” How literally has this come to pass with respect to the church of Rome! - I might mention many other things which were foretold of Antichrist, and show that they were fulfilled most exactly in the pope and the church of Rome. How strong an argument is this, that the Scriptures are the word of God! *26*
But the final end was still future in Jonathan Edwards’ day:
(2.) The kingdom of Antichrist shall be utterly overthrown. His dominion has been much brought down already by the vial poured out on his throne in the Reformation; but then it shall be utterly destroyed. Then shall be proclaimed, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen.” When the seventh angel sounds, “the time, times, and half a time, shall be out; and the time shall be no longer.” Then shall be accomplished concerning Antichrist the things which are written (Rev_18:1-24) of the spiritual Babylon, the idolatrous Roman government, that has for so many ages been the great enemy of the christian church, first under heathenism, then under popery. - That proud city which lifted herself up to heaven, in her pride and haughtiness; that cruel, bloody city, shall come down to the ground. Then shall that be fulfilled, Isa_26:5. “For he bringeth down them that dwell on high, the lofty city he layeth it low, he layeth it low, even to the ground, he bringeth it even to the dust.” She shall be thrown down with violence, like a great millstone cast into the sea, and shall be found no more at all, and shall become a habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Now shall she be stripped of all her glory, and riches, and ornaments, and shall be cast out as an abominable branch, and shall be trodden down as the mire of the streets. All her policy and craft, in which she so abounded, shall not save her. All the strength and wisdom of this great whore shall fail her, and there shall be none to help her. The kings of the earth, who before gave their power and strength to the beast, shall now hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire, Revelation 17:16. *27*
That Edwards had a ranging treatment of this theme can be seen in selections from the Yale editor’s index:
Antichrist: associated with the papacy, 119 n.; decline and destruction of, 106, 107, 118, 120, 121-22, 123, 140, 152, 175-6, 195-97, 201-08, 314, 358-59, 380, 418; deceptions of, 111-12, 383-84; defeated by the word of God, 116, pretensions of, 125-26, 138-39, 192, 236; beginning of reign, 129, 403-04, 406, 407, 408; time of fall, 207, 210-11, 337, 381, 394, 395, 398, 412; battles with the church, 385-87, 391; reign of, 102, 114, 393, 396-98, 404-05; cannot conquer Reformation, 105, 383; bothered by plagues, 120, 383-84, 385, 390, 425; victorious over the church, 125, 378, 379-81, 392; blasphemes God, 126; excommunicates, 126; types of, 127; claims power, 138; final destruction of, 216, 394, 410; and darkness, 384-84; downfall of, 386; and superstitions, 410-11. See also Beast, the Church of Rome. *28*
3. The Latter Days and Millennium
The idea of the latter days was a controlling concept in Edwards’ thinking. His earliest Miscellanies make reference to it. *29* During the First Awakening he was discussing it in his preaching. *30* Between the awakenings, in 1737, long before The Humble Attempt, he presented his people with a comprehensive yet urgent message based on Ecclesiastes 11:2. *31* He told his people that while some are presumptuous in fixing the exact time of the worlds end, others err in not being prepared for what is revealed. This much he assured them: these glorious times could not be very far off.
One of his most interesting sermons on this theme is on Isa_26:10. It is the only sermon on this Isaianic chapter devoted almost entirely to the latter days, and it deals with the destruction of the wicked: “The obstinacy of some wicked men is such that means won’t turn them, nor will all the advantages enjoyed in God’s visible church make any effect upon them nor will any of God’s providential judgments or threatenings reclaim them.” *32*
Edwards thought that the latter days were rapidly approaching. Though his calendar of the Apocalypse did not call for the destruction of the Antichrist until 1866, in his sermon on Mat_24:35 he indicates he was expecting the overthrow of evil in the world and the national conversion of the Jews. *33*
The British victory over the threatening French at Cape Breton in 1745 was seen as a sign of the end times. After giving a detailed account of the military success, Edwards exclaims: “The whole is wonderful from beginning to end. No parallel in history. We live in a day of wonders. Great reason to think that God is now about to fulfill the prophecies. *34*
Negative and positive “signs” were appearing, parallel to the first Advent. Negative indications (which were common excesses of revivals) included bodily effects, unusual events, noise, wide use of means, irregularities (including errors and delusions as well as counterfeits and scandals). *35* Positive signs included the Spirit’s leading souls to Christ, operating against Satan’s kingdom, convincing of truth, and promoting love and humility. Those who denied these signs were reminded that the Pharisees did not see the signs of their times either and were rebuked by the Lord; Edwards warned his people against hearkening to these deniers. In his sermon on Isa_27:13 Edwards speaks of the possible blowing of the Jubilee trumpet. *36*
Prayer should be poured out for the latter days in which the Spirit “will operate in a remarkable manner as a spirit of prayer.” *37* In the Isa_62:6 sermon he urges saints to make their election sure by prayer for these days and urges “natural” men to pray for their conversion at that time. *38* Other virtues besides prayer will also appear. “In the future times of the church of God saints shall be like trees that are always green.” *39* Love will abound, and glorifying God by word and deed will be characteristic.
We have seen how Edwards perceived the nearness and the signs and the necessary prayer preceding the coming of the latter-day glory, but what precisely was to be the nature of this Millennium? One important feature was the saints being recognized in the world; another, that it was the time of Christ’s “espousals.”
Edwards’ comments on the key biblical verse describing the Millennium (Rev_20:4) and his concept of the meek inheriting the earth are interesting. First, the Millennium will feature saints being recognized and exalted in this world where they had been so long persecuted. They are recognized in Christ by virtue of their union with him. ** No details of this reign are given except that it is long and peaceful, though Satan is not completely overthrown.
Second, this will be the time of Christ’s “espousals.” “The day of the commencement of the church’s latter-day glory is eminently the day of Christ’s espousals, when as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so he will rejoice over his church.” *41* So he interprets the wedding of the Lamb in Rev_14:1-20; Rev_19:1-21, though it precedes the description of the beginning of the Millennium in chapter 19.
Edwards nowhere discusses the precise time of the millennium, but he does state that it is to be taken literally. It is to be a Sabbath rest (one thousand years). *42* If not precisely a thousand years, at least it will be a “very long time.” *43* Among other evidences of prosperity and affluence during the Millennium, there will be a population explosion. *44*
His comment on Rev_20:4 in the Apocalypse Series explains the sense in which “martyrs under Antichrist, might be said to rise and reign in the time of the millennium. . . .” *45* A later reference in the same series merely asserts that saints do reign in the Millennium. *46*
Though not specifically mentioned in comments on Rev_20:4, Edwards surely conceived of the Millennium as that period of time when the meek inherit this earth:
“The meek (those that meekly and patiently suffer with Christ, and for his sake) shall inherit the earth;” they shall inherit it, and reign on earth with Christ. Christ is the heir of the world; and when the appointed time of his kingdom comes, his inheritance shall be given him, and then the meek, who are joint-heirs, shall inherit the earth. . . . The saints in heaven will be as much with Christ in reigning over the nations, and in the glory of his dominion at that time, as they will be with him in the honour of judging the world at the last day. That promise of Christ to his disciples, Mat_19:28-29. seems to have a special respect to the former of these. In verse 28, Christ promises to the disciples, that hereafter, “when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, they shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” *47*
The Millennium and the American Revolution
It is somewhat ironic that scholars writing two and a quarter centuries later see in Edwards’ millennial thinking a charter for American “manifest destiny.” For Edwards, the hope was that America (that is, the colonies) would turn from its evil ways and seek the Lord even more earnestly than in her beginnings.
Whether Edwards would have favored the American Revolution is difficult to determine. We know that he saw the Millennium as a time of liberty. The repudiations of Christianity as the official religion of the new republic could only have grieved him.
In general terms, Edwards conceived of Christ’s Second Coming as following the millennium. This view is in sharp contrast to eighteenth century premillennialists who saw it preceding the millennium.
The millennium will be a time when Rev_20:4 will be fulfilled:
(3.) It shall be a time wherein religion shall in every respect be uppermost in the world. It shall be had in great esteem and honour. The saints have hitherto for the most part been kept under, and wicked men have governed. But now they will be uppermost. The kingdom shall be given into the hands of the saints of the “most high God,” Dan_7:27. And “they shall reign on earth,” Rev_5:10. They shall live and “reign with Christ a thousand years,” Rev_20:4. In that day, such persons as are eminent for true piety and religion, shall be chiefly promoted to places of trust and authority. Vital religion shall then take possession of kings’ palaces and thrones; and those who are in highest advancement shall be holy men: Isa_49:23. “And kings shall be thy nursing-fathers, and their queens they nursing-mothers.” Kings shall employ all their power, and glory, and riches, for the advancement of the honour and glory of Christ, and the good of his church: Isa_60:16. “Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breasts of kings.” And the great men of the world, and the rich merchants, and others who have great wealth and influence, shall devote all to Christ and his church: Psa_45:12. “The daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift, even the rich among the people shall entreat thy favour.” *48*
Another part of the Latter Day glory than which nothing was more certainly foretold is the future conversion of the Jews.
Nothing is more certainly foretold than this national conversion of the Jews, in Rom_11:1-36. There are also many passages of the Old Testament which cannot be interpreted in any other sense, which I cannot now stand to mention. Besides the prophecies of the calling of the Jews, we have a remarkable providential seal of the fulfilment of this great event, by a kind of continual miracle, viz. their being preserved a distinct nation in such a dispersed condition for above sixteen hundred years. The world affords nothing else like it. There is undoubtedly a remarkable hand of providence in it. When they shall be called, that ancient people, who alone were God’s people for so long a time, shall be his people again, never to be rejected more. They shall then be gathered into one fold together with the Gentiles; and so also shall the remains of the ten tribes, wherever they be, and though they have been rejected much longer than the Jews, be brought in with their brethren. The prophecies of Hosea especially seem to hold this forth, that in the future glorious times of the church, both Judah and Ephraim, or Judah and the ten tribes, shall be brought in together, and shall be united as one people, as they formerly were under David and Solomon; (Hos_1:11, &c.) - Though we do not know the time in which this conversion of Israel will come to pass; yet thus much we may determine by Scripture, that it will be before the glory of the Gentile part of the church shall be fully accomplished; because it is said, that their coming in shall be life from the dead to the Gentiles, (Rom_11:12; Rom_11:15.). *49*
4. The Second Coming of Christ
Edwards’ devotion to the latter-day glory and the Millennium only increased his zeal for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. All that preceded, however glorious, was but preparation for and anticipation of that grand event of the eschatological timetable. Even Christ’s coming triumphantly on the white horse as depicted in Rev_19:1-21 was but the prelude to the glorious latter days and Millennium. Nothing but the even more glorious Second Coming itself could upstage such splendor.
Scripture does not allow the calculation of the exact date of the Parousia, but it does indicate the general period. The fullest development of this is in an unpublished sermon on John 1:10. *50* The application is especially interesting. The prophecies make us believe, said Edwards in 1741, that the coming of Christ is not far distant. Furthermore, there is reason to believe that Christ’s reception, or lack of it, at the Second Coming will parallel his first coming.
What signs, Edwards inquires, will distinguish the return of Christ? Paralleling his procedure in Religious Affections, he first enumerates signs that do not prove the Second Advent, such as bodily effects, irregularities, delusions, counterfeits, and scandals. Positive indications are the Holy Spirit leading people to Christ, his operation against Satan’s kingdom, convincing of truth, and pouring out of the spirit of love and humility. The Devil will try to deceive, to be sure, but there are some things he could not do if he would and some he would not if he could. The sermon concludes abruptly with a warning against the unpardonable sin which opponents risk. To his own people, he says: “I warn against hearkening to them. . . .” *51*
It is rather interesting that this great postmillenniarian, all his great expectations for the future notwithstanding, believed only few would be saved. “This world,” he wrote, “is like a sinking ship.” *52*
But whenever Christ returns, it will be a great day of rejoicing for the saints. “Christ, at his first coming, came to bear the sins of his people for the procuring of their salvation. At this Second Coming, he will appear without bearing any sins for the bestowment of salvation.” *53* That is the reason all saints love Christ’s return. At his first coming his glory was under a veil but it is unveiled at the Second Coming as he will be revealed in both his divine and human natures. Therefore, “’tis the character of true saints to love the appearing of Jesus Christ at the last day,” even though (and especially though) they will probably be suffering persecution when the Parousia occurs. *54* “’Tis probable many of the saints at that time will be found suffering persecution, for there are, several things in Scripture that seem to hold forth that the time when Christ is coming shall be a time when wickedness shall exceedingly abound and the saints be greatly persecuted.” *55* This is a rather surprising way of putting the matter. Elsewhere Edwards had indicated that following the Millennium would be the greatest tribulation the church was ever to know.
At this point we may notice a critical concern of Edwards. Much scholarship then and now contends that the apostles taught that the Second Coming of Christ would occur in their own generation, not at a much later date following a thousand-year glory era.
Edwards went into a detailed refutation of this doctrine, now taken as axiomatic by naturalistic critics. In a nineteen-point argument he showed that the apostles, and Christ, taught no such doctrine.
1. The “we” (1Th_4:15 f.) does not necessarily refer to that generation (literally understood) but to “dead Christians, who will not be left behind when Christ returns.”
2. Uncertainty about the time of Christ’s return is seen in the reference to his coming “as a thief in the night.”
3. Gen_50:25 has Joseph foretelling that “God will surely visit you” (not meaning that generation of Jews) “and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.”
4. That Paul did not mean that his generation would be alive at the Second Coming is clear in 2Th_2:13.
5. There is no evidence of a change in Paul’s mind, because 2 Thessalonians was written shortly after 1 Thessalonians and while he was still at Athens.
6. 1Co_6:14 says that Christ “will raise up us” implying “our” death.
7. 2 Thessalonians is so clear and pointed that statements elsewhere must be seen in its light.
8. We must take expectancy passages in this light (that Christ’s coming meant the salvation of the church, not that the return would be in their time).
9. Biblical “at hand” did not necessarily mean “at that specific time” as is seen by Hag_2:6-7; Mal_3:1; Isa_39:1-8; and Rev_1:3.
10. Peter’s “thousand years is as a day” did not disappoint the saints, because they knew that Christ would come for them at death.
11. 1Co_10:11 shows that many things in the Old Testament times were done for examples centuries later in New Testament times.
12. 1Pe_4:7 : “The end of all things is at hand.” The explanation for this is given in 2Pe_3:7-8 : The heavens and earth are being kept in store for the appointed time.
13. Joh_21:22 shows that Christ did not say that he would return before John’s death.
14. Rev_3:11-12; Rev_20:1-15 seem to expect Christ to come quickly, but the following seventeen chapters show the successive ages that will occur before Christ returns.
15. The church grew strong rather than weak when Christ did not return, showing that Christians were not disillusioned but prepared.
16. Mat_25:5 says the “bridegroom” (Christ) “tarried.”
17. Luk_17:22; Luk_18:8 show that when Christ speaks of his coming the reference is to special providence: the fall of Jerusalem (cf. 1737; 1913-15). The apostles asked about the “time of his coming” and Christ referred to the fall of Jerusalem. When Christ referred to the end of the world it is associated with final judgment, which was not to follow the fall of Jerusalem. After that, the Jewish dispersion and time of the Gentiles were to occur.
18. “In that generation” refers to the fall of Jerusalem (AD. 70).
19. Christ predicted the calling of Gentiles (Mat_21:41; Mat_21:43), which the parables showed would be gradual. He also predicted the dispersal of Jews in all nations (Luk_21:24) before his return. *56*
5. Day of Judgment
The Day of Judgment, toward which Edwards’ life was oriented as pastor and person was spelled out in detail in his History of Redemption.
The success of Christ’s purchase is of two kinds, consisting either in grace or glory. The success consisting in the former of these, is to be seen in those works of God which are wrought during those ages that the church is continued under the means of grace; and the success, consisting in the latter, will chiefly be accomplished at the day of judgment. - Having already shown how the former kind of success has been accomplished, I come now to the latter, viz. that kind of success which is accomplished in the bestowment of glory on the church at the day of judgment. - And here I would mention two or three things in general, concerning this kind of success of Christ’s purchase.
1. How great the success of Christ’s purchase is, appears chiefly in this very thing. The success of Christ’s purchase summarily consists in the salvation of the elect. But this bestowment of glory is eminently called their salvation: Heb_9:28, “To them that look for him, shall he appear the second time, without sin unto salvation.” - So it is called redemption, being eminently that wherein the redemption of the church consists. So in Eph_4:30, “Sealed unto the day of redemption;” and Luk_21:28, and Eph_1:14. “Redemption of the purchased possession.”
2. All that precedes this, while the church is under the means of grace, is only to make way for the success which is to be accomplished in the bestowment of glory. The means of grace, and God’s grace itself, is bestowed on the elect to make them meet for glory.
3. All those glorious things which were brought to pass for the church while under the means of grace, are but images and shadows of this. So were those glorious things which were accomplished for the church in the days of Constantine the Great; and so is all that glory which is to succeed the fall of Antichrist. However great, it is all but a shadow of what will be bestowed at the day of judgment. But I hasten more particularly to show how this kind of success will be accomplished.
I. Christ will appear in the glory of his Father, with all his holy angels, coming in the clouds of heaven. When the world is thus reveling in their wickedness, and compassing the holy city, just ready to destroy it, then shall the glorious Redeemer make his appearance. He through whom this redemption has all along been carried on, shall appear in the sight of the world; the light of his glory shall break forth; the whole world shall immediately have notice of it, and they shall lift up their eyes and behold this wonderful sight. Every eye shall see him, (Rev_1:7) Christ shall appear coming in his human nature, in that same body (now glorified) which was brought forth in a stable, and laid in a manger, which afterwards was so cruelly used, and nailed to the cross.
Men shall now lift up their eyes, and see him coming in such majesty and glory as now is to us utterly inconceivable. The glory of the sun in a clear firmament, will be but darkness in comparison of it; and all the glorious angels and archangels shall attend him; thousand thousands ministering to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand round about him. - How different a person will he then appear from what he did at his first coming, when he was as a root out of a dry gourd, a poor, despised, afflicted man! How different now is his appearance, in the midst of those glorious angels, principalities, and powers, in heavenly places, attending him as his ordinary servants, from what it was when in the midst of a ring of soldiers, with his mock robe and his crown of thorns, buffeted and spit upon, or hanging on the cross between two thieves, with a multitude of his enemies triumphing over him!
This will be a most unexpected sight to the wicked world; it will come as a cry at midnight: they shall be taken in the midst of their wickedness, and it will give them a dreadful alarm. It will at once break up their revels, their eating, and drinking, and carousing. It will put a quick end to the design of the great army that will then be encompassing the camp of the saints: it will make them let drop their weapons out of their hands. The world, which will then be very full of people, most of whom will be wicked men, will then be filled with dolorous shrieking and crying; for all the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him, (Rev_1:7.) And where shall they hide themselves? How will the sight of that awful majesty terrify them when taken in the midst of their wickedness! Then they shall see who he is, what kind of a person he is, whom they have mocked and scoffed at, and whose church they have been endeavouring to overthrow. This sight will change their voice. The voice of their laughter and singing, while they are marrying and giving in marriage, and the voice of their scoffing, shall be changed into hideous, hellish yelling. Their countenances shall be changed from a show of carnal mirth, haughty pride, and contempt of God’s people; they shall put on ghastly terror and amazement; and trembling and chattering of teeth shall seize upon them.
But with respect to the saints, it shall be a joyful and most glorious sight to them: for this sight will at once deliver them from all fear of their enemies, who were before compassing them about, just ready to swallow them up. Deliverance shall come in their extremity: the glorious Captain of their salvation shall appear for them, at a time when no other help appeared. Then shall they lift up their heads, and their redemption shall be drawing nigh. (Luk_21:28) Christ will appear with infinite majesty, yet at the same time they shall see infinite love in his countenance. And thus to see their Redeemer coming in the clouds of heaven, will fill their hearts full of gladness. Their countenances also shall be changed, not as the countenances of the wicked, but from being sorrowful, to be exceedingly joyful and triumphant. And now the work of redemption will be finished in another sense, viz. that the whole church shall be completely and eternally freed from all persecution and molestation from wicked men and devils.
II. The last trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised, and the living changed. God sent forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, to gather together his elect from the four corners of the earth in a mystical sense, before the destruction of Jerusalem; i.e. he sent forth the apostles, and others, to preach the gospel all over the world. And so in a mystical sense the great trumpet was blown at the beginning of the glorious times of the church. But now the great trumpet is blown in a more literal sense, with a mighty sound which shakes the earth. There will be a great signal given by a might sound made, which is called the voice of the archangel, as being the angel of greatest strength, 1Th_4:16, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.” On the sound of the great trumpet, the dead shall be raised every where. Now the number of the dead is very great. How many has death cut down since the world has stood. But then the number will be much greater, the world shall have stood longer, and through most of the remaining time it will doubtless be much fuller of inhabitants than ever it has been. All these shall now rise from the dead. The graves shall be opened in all parts of the world, and the sea shall give up the innumerable dead that are in it, (Rev_20:13).
And now all the inhabitants that ever shall have been upon the face of the earth, shall all appear upon earth at once. Among these will be Adam and Eve, the first parents of mankind, Abel, and Seth, and Methuselah, and all the saints who were their contemporaries; Noah and Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the prophets of Israel and holy confessors. Among them will appear all the holy apostles of Jesus Christ, and all the saints of their times; all the holy martyrs who fell under furious persecutions. There will be found all who belonged to the church in its wilderness-state, during the dark times of Antichrist, and all who have suffered under his persecuting, cruelty, with all the saints of past and the present time, and that shall be to the end of the world. - Now also all the enemies of the church in all the ages shall appear again; all the wicked heathens, and Jews, and Mahometans, and papists. Sinners of all sorts; demure hypocrites, profane sensualists, heretics, deists, and all cruel persecutors, and all who shall have died in sin, shall come together.
And at the same time that the dead are raised, the living shall be changed. The bodies of the wicked who shall then be living, shall be so changed as to fit them for eternal torment; and the bodies of all the living saints shall be changed to be like unto Christ’s glorious body, 1Co_15:51-53. - The bodies of the saints shall be so changed as to render them for ever incapable of pain, or affliction, or uneasiness; and all that dullness and heaviness, and all that deformity, which their bodies had before, shall be put off; and they shall put on strength and beauty, activity, and incorruptible unfading glory. And in such glory shall the bodies of the risen saints appear.
And now the work of redemption shall be finished in another respect, viz. that all the elect shall now be actually redeemed both in soul and body. Before this, the work of redemption, as to its actual success, was but incomplete; for only the souls of the redeemed were actually saved and glorified, excepting in some few instances: but now all the bodies of the saints shall be saved and glorified together, all the elect shall be glorified in the whole man, the soul and body in union.
III. Now shall the saints be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and all wicked men and devils shall be arraigned before the judgment-seat. When the dead saints are raised, then the whole church, consisting of all the elect through all ages, will stand together on the earth, at least all excepting those few whose bodies were glorified before; and then they shall all mount up as with wings to meet Christ. It seems that Christ, when he comes to judgment, will not come quite to the ground, but his throne will be fixed in the airy region, whence he may be seen by all that vast multitude that shall be gathered before him. The saints therefore shall ascend up to their Savior. Thus the apostle tells us, that when the dead in Christ are raised, and the living changed, then those who are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we be ever with the Lord, 1Th_4:16-17. What a wonderful sight will that be, when all the many millions of saints are thus mounting up.
Then shall the work of redemption be finished in another respect: then shall the whole church be perfectly and for ever delivered from this present evil world; shall take their everlasting leave of this earth, where they have been strangers, and which has been for the most part a scene of trouble and sorrow: where the devil has reigned as god, and has greatly molested them, and which has been such a scene of wickedness and abomination, where Christ their Lord has been cruelly used; and where they have been so hated, reproached, and persecuted. They shall leave it, and shall never set foot on it again. And there shall be an everlasting separation made between them and wicked men. Before, they were mixed together, and it was impossible in many instances to determine their characters; but now all shall become visible; both saints and sinners shall appear in their true characters and forms. - Then shall all the church be seen ascending to the right hand of Christ. What a mighty cloud of them will there be!
And then also the work of redemption will be finished in another respect, viz. that then the church shall all be gathered together. They all belonged to one society before, but yet were greatly separated with respect to the place of their habitation. Some were in heaven, and some on earth; and those who were on earth were separated, many of them by wide oceans, and vast continents. But now they shall all be gathered together, never to be separated any more. And not only shall all the members of the Church now be gathered together, but all shall be gathered unto their Head, into his immediate glorious presence, never to be separated from him any more.
At the same time, all wicked men and devils shall be brought before the judgment-seat of Christ. These shall be gathered to the left hand of Christ, and, as it seems, will still remain upon the earth, and shall not be caught up into the air, as the saints shall be. The devil, that old serpent, shall now be dragged up out of hell. He, that first procured the fall and misery of mankind, and has so set himself against their redemption - and has all along shown himself such an inveterate enemy to the Redeemer - shall never more have any thing to do with the church of God, nor be suffered in the least to afflict or molest any member of it for ever. Instead of that, now he must be judged, and receive the due reward of his deeds. Now is come the time which he has always dreaded; the time wherein he must be judged, and receive his full punishment. He who by his temptation maliciously procured Christ’s crucifixion, and triumphed as though he had obtained the victory, even he shall see the consequences of that death which he procured. Now he must stand before that same Jesus, to be judged, condemned, and eternally destroyed by him. If Satan, the prince of hell, trembles at the thought of it thousands of years beforehand, how much more will he tremble, proud and stubborn as he is, when he comes to stand at Christ’s bar!
Then shall he also stand at the bar of the saints, whom he has so hated, afflicted, and molested: for the saints shall judge him with Christ: 1Co_6:3, “Know ye not that we shall judge angels?” Now shall he be as if it were subdued under the church’s feet, agreeable to Rom_16:20. - Satan, when he first tempted our first parents to sin, deceitfully and lyingly told them, that they should be as gods: but little did he think that they should indeed be so far as gods, as to be assessors with God to judge him. Much less did he think, that one of that nature which he then tempted, one of the posterity of those very persons whom he tempted, should actually be united to God; that as God he should judge the world, and that he himself must stand trembling and astonished before his judgment-seat. But thus all the devils in hell, who have so opposed Christ and his kingdom, shall now at last stand in utmost amazement and horror before Christ and his church, who shall appear to condemn them.
Now also shall all Christ’s other enemies be brought to appear before him. Now shall proud scribes and Pharisees, who had such a malignant hatred of Christ while in his state of humiliation, and who persecuted him to death, be made to come. Now those before whose judgment-seat Christ once stood, as a malefactor at their bar - and those who mocked him, buffeted him, and spit in his face - shall see Christ in his awful glory, as forewarned, Mat_26:64-65. Then Christ was before their judgment-seat; but now it is their turn to stand before his judgment-seat with inconceivable horror and amazement, with ghastly countenances, quaking limbs, chattering teeth, and knees smiting one against another.
Now also all the cruel enemies and persecutors of the church that have been in all ages, shall come in sight together. Pharaoh and the Egyptians, Antiochus Epiphanes, the malignant scribes and Pharisees, the persecuting heathen emperors, Julian the apostate, the cruel persecuting popes and papists, Gog and Magog, shall all appear at once before the judgment-seat of Christ. They and the saints who have in every age been persecuted by them, shall come in sight, and must now confront one another before the great Judge. And now shall the saints on their glorious thrones be made the judges of those unjust kings and rulers who before judged and condemned them, and put them to cruel death. Now shall those persecutors behold the glory to which they are arrived, whom they before so cruelly despised, and so cruelly treated. Thus wonderfully will the face of things be altered; now will all things be coming to rights. *57*
Jonathan Edwards’ application of the Day of Judgment to his own parting from his Northampton church was poignant:
Again, the mutual concerns of ministers and their people have a direct relation to the concerns of the day of judgment, as the business of ministers with their people is to promote the eternal salvation of the souls of men, and their escape from eternal damnation; and the day of judgment is appointed for that end, openly to decide and settle men’s eternal state, to fix some in a state of eternal salvation, and to bring their salvation to its utmost consummation, and to fix others in a state of everlasting damnation and most perfect misery. The mutual concerns of ministers and people have a most direct relation to the day of judgment, as the very design of the work of the minister is the people’s preparation for that day: ministers are sent to warn them of the approach of that day, to forewarn them of the dreadful sentence then to be pronounced on the wicked, and declare to them the blessed sentence then to be pronounced on the righteous, and to use means with them that they may escape the wrath which is then to come on the ungodly, and obtain the reward then to be bestowed on the saints.
And as the mutual concerns of ministers and their people have so near and direct a relation to that day, it is especially fit that those concerns should be there settled and issued; and that, in order to this, ministers and their people should meet and appear together before the great Judge at that day.
The deep and serious consideration of our future solemn meeting, is certainly most suitable at such a time as this; there having so lately been that done, which, in all probability, will (as to the relation we have heretofore stood in) be followed with an everlasting separation.
How often have we met together in the house of God in this relation! how often have I spoke to you, instructed, counselled, warned, directed, and fed you, and administered ordinances among you, as the people which were committed to my care, and of whose precious souls I had the charge! But in all probability, this never will be again. *58*
A Summary Sketch of Jonathan Edwards’ Eschatology
1. The Latter Day glory was a constant theme of Edwards.
2. Before that glorious era, Antichrist will be destroyed.
3. That Antichrist is the pope was based especially on Edwards’ understanding of 2Th_2:1-17.
4. Edwards’ identification of pope and Antichrist was based on arguments while Stein’s charge of “bigotry” *59* is based on bigotry because he does not attempt to refute Edwards.
5. Roman Catholicism’s “good works” makes its Antichrist role more hideous. Pro_16:4.
6. The city of Rome has been the perennial foe of the kingdom of God.
7. First it was temporal Rome.
8. Second, and more terribly, spiritual Rome.
9. Spiritual Rome’s Antichrist began his reign in 626.
10. And will continue during the following 1,260 (“days”) years.
11. Its fall would occu