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ESDRA S's

PROPHECY

CALLED,

The Second Book of Efdrás amongst the

APOCRYPHA.

CHAP. I. and II.

Containing Eldras's Prophecy in Media, amongst the Ten Tribes, in their Captivity: in which their Return into Judea is promised; the Separate State of their Souls is defcribed; then the Refurrection of the fuft, and an Heavenly Kingdom at Jeru

falem.

CHAP. I.

E

SDRAS's Genealogy is mention'd to fhew
his Defcent from Aaron, and that he was
a Prieft of the Tribe of Levi, Captive
in the Land of the Medes.

Verfe 4. The Word of the Lord came unto him, and the fame is fpoken by other Prophets, who received their Prophecies by the Voice of an Angel. He is fent to fhew the Ten Tribes their finful Deeds, and to reprove their InB

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gratitude to God, who had done many Miracles for them, in their Travels through the Wilderness. Ver. 24. What thall I do unto thee, Jacob? thou, Judah, wouldeft not obey me. I will turn me to other Nations, and to those will I give my Name, that they may keep my Statutes. 32. You have flain my Prophets, whofe Blood I will require at your hands. 33. Your Houfes are defolate, I will caft you out, as the Wind doth the Stubble. 3. Your Houses will I give to a People that fhall come, which not having heard of me, fhall believe me they have leen no Propher, yet fhall they call their Sins to remembrance, and acknowledge them.

By this Prophecy the Ten Tribes are rejected, as well as the Two Tribes; becaule Efdras was carried away after the taking of Jerufalem: And this was written before the 30rb Year after the Ruin of the City. Other Nations fhould poffels Judea, instead of the Twelve Tribes. The prefent Generation must be deftroyed for the Sins mentioned.

Ch. II. V. 7. Let them be fcattered amongst the Heathen, let their Names be put out of the Earth; for they have defpifed my Covenant. But Ch. I. V. 37. Efdras declares that their Pofterity fhall return from the Eaft, their little ones fhall rejoyce in Gladness, tho' they have not feen God's Mira cles, yet they will believe in Spirit the things which I fay. And the Angel fays, (Now, Brother, behold what Glory, and fee the People that cometh from the Eaft.) The Angel then gave Efdras this Vifion of their glorious Return, with fuch Leaders as then will be given to them, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Ofeas, Amos, Micheas, Joel, Abdias; and Jonas, Nahum, Hab. bakkuk, Sophonias, Aggeus, Zachary and Malachi. So Efdras calls himself the Angel of the Lord; that is, a Prophet fent to the Jews. So Haggai is called, being a Prophet in the same Age.

CHAP

CHAP II.

The Return of the Ifraelites of the Ten Tribes then in Captivity.

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V.1. "Hose that are to return, are the fame Nation as God 3. brought out of Bondage, and finned.

And Jerufalem (ays, I am a Widow, and am forfaken; O my Children, ask Mercy of the Lord.

8. The Deftruction of Affyria is declared:

Woe unto thee, Affur, O thou wicked People! Remember what I did unto Sodom and Gomorrah; even fo will I do unto them that hear not.

10. Efdras is commanded to fhew the Jews in Media this Vilion, that God would at laft give the Kingdom of Ferufalem (and this is a Defcription of the Millenary Kingdom) to his People, which he would have defigned for Ifrael; but he v. 11. would take that Glory himfelf, and give their Pofterity thefe everlafting Tabernacles, thofe Glorious Habitations which he had prepared for their Ancestors.

12. They fhall have the Tree of Life, Adam's Paradife re ftored, for Ointment of fweet favour. The Tree of Life, Rev. 2. v.7. is in the midst of the Paradife of God. The Ointment, Rev. 22. v. 2. is for the healing of the Nations; that is, they are anointed, or promifed the new Heaven and new Earth. V. 14. They hall have a right to the Tree of Life, they fhall neither labour, nor be weary.

13. Pray for few Days unto you, that they may be fortned; the Kingdom is already prepared for you; warch, the Ten Tribes are ordered to pray for this Kingdom, Mark 13. v. 34. Watching is there commanded; because v. 34, 35, the coming of the Son of Man is uncertain; who is, as a Man taking a far Journey, and gave to every one his Work, and commanded the Porter to watch.

15. Mother (Jerufalem) embrace thy Children, and bring them up with Gladness; for I have chofen thee, faith the Lord.

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16. And thofe that be dead, will I raise up again, and bring them out of their Graves; for I have known the Name of Ifrael.

18. For thy help will I fend my Servant Ifay, and Feremy, after whofe Counsel I have prepared Twelve Trees laden with divers Fruits.

19. And as many Fountains flowing with Milk and Honey, and Seven mighty Mountains, whereon there grow Roles and Lilies, wherein I will fill thy Children with Joy.

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Note, That the laft Return of the Jews will be after the Refurrection of Abraham, Isaac and Facob, and the Twelve Minor Prophets, and fay and Jeremy, who prophefied of thefe happy Days. Haggai 2. v. 24. faid to Ferubbabel, Ponam te quafi fignaculum, quia elegi te; that is, he is to be one fealed for the Millennium. The Millennium is defcribed by the Twelve Trees, to fignifie the Fertility of the Earth; and Fountains of Milk and Honey fignifie the Plenty of Milk and Manna or Honey. The Seven Mountains with Lilies and Roles fignifie fo many great Cities, very beautifully built for Pleasure or Joy.

23. The firft Place in the Refurrection is promised to them who did good Works, viz. the Care of the Widow, Fatherlefs, Poor, Naked, Blind, Lame, Deaf.

27. Others fhall weep and be forrowful; but thou fhalt be merry and have abundance.

31. Remember thy Children that fleep; for I fhall bring them out of the Sides of the Earth.

Note, That the Return of the Ten Tribes will not be till Chrift's Second Coming, and the First Refurrection.

33. Efdras received a Charge of the Lord on Mount Oreb, that he fhould go unto Ifrael; but they fet him at nought, and defpifed the Commandment of the Lord. He is laid

v. 36. to teftifie his Saviour openly. This the Ten Tribes will do, when they return; therefore v. 34. he speaks to the Heathen, Look for your Shepherd, he thall give you everla fting Reft: for he is nigh at hand, that fhall come in the End of the World.

35. Be ready to the Reward of the Kingdom; for the everlafting Light fhall fhine upon you for evermore. 36. Fice the Shadow of this World, receive the Joyfulness of

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