Time of antichrist’s destruction.

The time of her fall is not certainly known by the saints, nor at all believed by her; wherefore her plagues must come unlooked for by her.  And as to the saints, their guesses as to the time of her ruin must needs be conjectural and uncertain.  For her part, she shall say, and that when she stands where she must suddenly fall, “I shall be a lady for ever.”

Nor have I been without thought but that this mistake of the godly may become a snare to antichrist, and a trap to her upholders.  For what can be a greater judgment, or more effectually harden the hearts of the wicked, than for them to behold that the predictions, prophecies, expectations, and hopes of their enemies as to their ruin, should quite, as to the time, be frustrate and made void?

It is to be bewailed, namely, the forwardness of some in this matter who have predicted concerning the time of the downfall of antichrist, to the shame of them and their brethren; nor will the wrong that such by their boldness have, done to the church of God be ever repaired by them nor their works.  But the judgments of God are a great deep; and therefore who can tell, since the enemy of God would not be convinced by the power of truth and the virtuous lives of some, but that God might leave them to be snared, hardened, and emboldened to run upon their unavoidable destruction by the lies and lightness of others?  They begin to vaunt it already, and to say, Where is the word of the Lord as to this? let it come now.  But when Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is passed,” then was the time for him to be hewn in pieces.

I shall not therefore meddle with the times and seasons which the Father has put in his own power—­no, though they, as to antichrist’s ruin, are revealed—­because by the Holy Ghost there is a challenge made, notwithstanding the time is set, and by the word referred to the man of wisdom to find it out if he can.

If Sampson’s riddle was so puzzling, what shall we think of this?  And though the angel hath intimated that this sealed matter shall be opened towards the time of the end, yet it is evident some have either been too hasty, or presumed too much upon their own abilities; for I am sure they have missed the mark, hardened the heart of the enemy, stumbled the weak, and shamed them that love them.

Signs of antichrist’s destruction.

Forbearance is no payment:  God’s patience is not a sign that he forgetteth to take vengeance, but rather that he waiteth till his own are come out of her, and until her iniquity is filled up; for then he will execute the judgment written, and will remember the Babylonians and all their ways.

Must antichrist be destroyed?  Then this should make us glad when we see the signs of his fall presenting themselves to our view.  Indeed, the signs of his fall, or those that forerun it, are terrible and amazing to behold.  But what of that, since the wrinkles that are in their faces threaten not us but them?  A man is angry and will punish; yea, whets his sword and makes his rod; and he speaks not a word, but blood, blood is in it.