Pride’s Purge: We shall Reign with Christ, not for Christ

On 6^th December 1648, Colonel Thomas Pride ‘purged’ Parliament of Presbyterian MPs, leaving only the Independents or Congregationalists. A few of the former were arrested and taken to one of the three pubs adjacent to Parliament, called Heaven, Purgatory, and Hell. The imprisoned members were taken to Hell where they spent the night. The Rump- the remaining MPs- went on to approve the King’s execution and began a period of godly reforms. They passed laws against adultery, fornication and blasphemy, while removing the law requiring attendance at the local parish church, allowing separated congregations of believers to flourish.

All this sounds great (to me), but in reality, it failed. The saints are not called to inherit the earth and rule before Christ’s Second Coming. Like the First Century Jews demanding a military Messiah without the Cross, so these Congregationalist brethren demanded to ‘live and reign with Christ’ well before the appointed time. 

Occasionally I hear people pray for more Christians in government. If this is because such people operate with greater integrity or might be sympathetic to gospel freedom, fair enough. But if it is to launch the rule of the saints ahead of time, such prayers will go unanswered. 

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Rev. 14:12