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The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2 - Contents
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    II. Burnet-Earth Renovated by Fire at Millennium’s Close

    THOMAS BURNET (1635-1715), English divine and author, was born in Yorkshire and educated at Christ’s College, Cam bridge, becoming master of Charter House in 1685. He resisted the attempt of James II to make a Roman Catholic pensioner of Charter House, and after the Revolution of 1688 became chaplain to William III. In 1680 he wrote Telluris Theoria Sacra (Sacred Theory of the Earth), with an English version enlarged and modified in 1684. Six editions were printed by 1726. Burnet maintained that the earth, like a giant egg, had its internal shell crushed at the deluge, and that the entombed waters burst out, the fragments of the shell forming the mountains, and at the same catastrophe the equator was diverted from its original coincidence with the ecliptic. 30Dictionary of National Biography, vol. 3, pp. 408, 409.PFF2 586.5

    Burnet contended that the earth must undergo a thorough change by fire before the great consummation, when the saints are to dwell upon it. Paradise will be restored on the renewed earth, after it had run its predicted course-creation week being the type. Placing the millennium on earth before the great renovation, had brought discredit upon it. In vain had men dated it from the days of Christ or Constantine. Moreover, only those changed by the literal first resurrection will have part in it. That great day is near, he urged, as the sun of time is near its setting.PFF2 587.1

    1. NEW EARTH OUT OF DELUGE OF FIRE

    Burnet stated that the “Sex-millennial” duration of the world (the 6,000-year theory) was very much insisted upon by the Christian fathers, and he added: “Which yet I believe is not so much for the bare Authority of the tradition, as because they thought it was founded in the History of the Six days Creation and the Sabbath succeeding.” 31Thomas Burnet, The Theory of the Earth, vol. 2, pp. 34, 35. He cited nearly a score of early fathers in its behalf. Burnet firmly believed in a coming deluge of fire that will overflow this earth like the deluge of old, not destroying it, but only its form and fashion. Burnet contended that the millennium was the soul of the Apocalypse, the key that unlocked it. After this great conflagration the earth will be renewed, and in that new earth the saints will dwell forever. 32Ibid., pp. 35, 36. Burnet takes due notice of the mistaken expectation of some around A.D. 500, but explains that this was based on the Septuagint Chronology, which is about 1500years longer than the Hebrew.PFF2 587.2

    2. ALL PROPHECIES TERMINATED BY MILLENNIUM

    Passing to the Bible prophecy phase, and alluding to the fifth kingdom in Daniel’s prophecies, Burnet declares that the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven vials all reach to the millennium and first resurrection, and “all terminate upon that great period. 33Ibid., pp. 37, 154. But of the time periods-the forty-two months of the treading of the Holy City, the 1260 days of the witnesses, the woman in the wilderness for 1260 days, the forty-two months’ war by the beast-he says, “They do not reach to the end of the world.” 34Ibid., p. 37. Burnet then attacks the evasions, inconsistencies, and absurdities of the spiritual or allegorical resurrection, 35Ibid., pp. 152-154. advocated by the Preterist Hammond and others—contending that if the first resurrection is spiritual, the second must be also. 36Ibid., p. 154.PFF2 587.3

    3. RENOVATION OF EARTH DROPPED UNDER APOSTASY

    Burnet next shows, by documentation, that the doctrine of the premillennial second advent was commonly held by the primitive church up to Nicea, 37Ibid., vol. 2, pp. 173-176. and that in the first and second centuries the literal resurrection of the flesh was understood. Jerome, in the fifth century, was an open enemy, 38Ibid., p. 180. and in the Christianization of the empire after Constantine, and with the Augustinian theory of the then-present millennium, the doc trine of the renovation of the earth was dropped. The doctrine has always been displeasing to Rome. And how could it be otherwise when she contends that Christ is already reigning through His vicar the pope. 39Ibid., p. 182. On this he adds:PFF2 588.1

    “The Apocalypse of St. John does suppose the true Church under the hardship and persecution, more or less for the greatest part of the Christian Ages.... But the Church of Rome hath been in prosperity and greatness, and the commanding Church in Christendom, for so long or longer, and hath rul’d the Nations with a Rod of Iron.... And the Millennium being properly a reward and triumph for those that come out of Persecution, such as have liv’d always in pomp and prosperity can pretend to no share in it or benefit by it.” 40Ibid.PFF2 588.2

    4. VARIOUS SIGNS OF APPROACHING END

    Because of the coming storm, with all the volcanoes of earth ready to burst forth, there will be precursors to herald its tragic fate. Christ plainly foretold these—celestial signs in sun, moon, and stars, and terrestrial omens on earth and sea. 41Ibid., vol. 2, pp. 91 ff. Earthquakes will in crease, the sun and moon will be darkened, and there will be a giant meteoric shower-the last celestial sign.PFF2 588.3

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