Vol. 7 No. 1 Nevin • 33 ruled.31 Thus, it can be seen that the English Civil War was not merely a conflict between the king and Parliament in their eyes, but rather, it was a conflict where the saints were crushing the beast and making way for the return of Jesus as foretold in Daniel and Revelation. With this perception of the war, it is not surprising that they were some of the strongest advocates for the execution of Charles I. Some of the signatories of his death warrant were strong supporters of the Fifth Monarchists, including Thomas Harrison and John Okey.32 Especially noteworthy was how open the Fifth Monarchists such as Harrison were in their means of killing the king. Rejecting the idea of poisoning or silently overthrowing him, they advocated having a public trial and execution of the king.33 Thus, they became public regicides, destroying the “beast” for the sake of Christ for all the world to see. With the “little horn” safely dead, they would have the freedom to set up the rule of the saints over England and thereafter the world. The Fifth Monarchists initially worked quite closely with Cromwell. As Edward Hyde Clarendon wrote, “There were few men with whom Cromwell more communicated, or upon whom he more depended for the conduct of any thing 31 Aspinwall, pgs. 1, 7 32 Rogers, P. G. pgs. 17 and 24 33 Clarendon, Volume VI, pgs. 224-226 34 Clarendon, Volume VI, pg. 220 35 Rogers, P. G., pg. 20 36 Rogers, John, and Rogers, Edward, pg. 50 committed to him.”34 A result of this relationship was the overthrow of the “Rump Parliament.” Harrison and Cromwell, both members of the Parliament, emptied the House with musketeers, bringing down that Parliament.35 Thus, it can be seen that Cromwell had a close relationship with at least some of the Fifth Monarchists and worked closely with men like Harrison. The founding of the new government after these events, as it turns out, was also heavily influenced by Fifth Monarchists. John Rogers wrote a number of “epistles” to Oliver Cromwell. The most prominent one was sent in 1653 and proposed the establishment of a “Synhedrin” comprised of seventy members.36 The men were to be chosen ultimately by Cromwell, and they were to be chosen on the basis of their moral character and their piety. He also suggested the appointment of twelve “governors” who would help rule as the “Council of State,” as happened in Israel under Moses. Shortly thereafter, the new system was adopted, at least to a limited degree, in the way in which these Fifth Monarchists such as Rogers wished. A new Parliament was chosen by Cromwell, consisting of 140 members, and a Council of State was established, with
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