Recent attempts by Replacement Theologians, Amillennialists, and
Preterists to discredit premillennialism have sought to portray the
doctrine as something unheard of until John Darby. Here is what a
review in The Sword and the Trowel (October, 1891, p. 581) had to say.]
"One of [John] Bunyan's contemporaries, Benjamin Keach, an illustrious
predecessor of Spurgeon in the pastorate, has left a very full
cnfession of his views on this point. He was brought to trial Oct. 8th,
1664, on two charges of Anabaptism and Millenarianism. As he stood
before Lord Chief justice Hide, the representative of the [Church of
England], he was summoned first to answer for his 'damnable doctrine'
concerning baptism; which, being disposed of, the second article of
indictment was teken up, viz., that heheld 'that the saints shall reign
with Christ a thousand years.' The judge pronounced this 'an old heresy,
which was cast out of the church a thousand years ago, and was likewise
condemned by the Council of Constance five years afer, and hath lain
dead ever since, till now this rascal hath revived it.' He was
condemned and sent to the pillory."
Preterists to discredit premillennialism have sought to portray the
doctrine as something unheard of until John Darby. Here is what a
review in The Sword and the Trowel (October, 1891, p. 581) had to say.]
"One of [John] Bunyan's contemporaries, Benjamin Keach, an illustrious
predecessor of Spurgeon in the pastorate, has left a very full
cnfession of his views on this point. He was brought to trial Oct. 8th,
1664, on two charges of Anabaptism and Millenarianism. As he stood
before Lord Chief justice Hide, the representative of the [Church of
England], he was summoned first to answer for his 'damnable doctrine'
concerning baptism; which, being disposed of, the second article of
indictment was teken up, viz., that heheld 'that the saints shall reign
with Christ a thousand years.' The judge pronounced this 'an old heresy,
which was cast out of the church a thousand years ago, and was likewise
condemned by the Council of Constance five years afer, and hath lain
dead ever since, till now this rascal hath revived it.' He was
condemned and sent to the pillory."
