Saint John which do relate to our present times especially in the 11. Chap. and in Chap. 16. in the Description of the pouring out of the Vials of Gods wrath This 11. Chap. is the heart and kernel of the whole Book The eleventh Chapter goes through all the three Periods of times before mentioned and is as it were an abridgement of the whole Revelation It is declared unto John how things shall come 〈◊〉 the Christich Church In the first Period verse the first Period 1. In the second Period verse 9.10.11 Period 2. In the third Period from verse 11. to the end Period 3. Vers 1 In the first Period vers 〈◊〉 thus writeth John 〈…〉 And there was given unto me a Read like unto a Rod and the Angel 〈◊〉 saying Wise and measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein Here he gathering and building of the Christian Church is commanded unto John under the measuring of the Jewish Temple 〈◊〉 Jerusalem the length whereof not 60. Cubits breadth 20. height 120. which Cubical number of the Dimensions of the Jewish Temple hold of â—â—th of the mystical Temple the number of the New Testament the number of them that are sealed which is 144,000 By which is meant the regular purity of the Church and Religion at the first which is set forth under the particular vision or mystery of measuring the inner Court of the Temple situate immediately next the holy of holies where God dwelt between the Cherubins Intimating that the Primitive Church and Religion therein immediately next unto Jesus Christ and his Apostles was exactly examined by and conforme to the measuring reed of the written word of God and therefore singularly pure and holy The Church was then gloriously beautified and cloathed with the sun of righteousness Cha. 12.1 had the moon under her feet despised all earthly and worldly things and raigned over the works of darkness and she had upon her head a crown of twelve Stars the Apostles and the wholesome Doctrine of the same Chap. 12.2 But though this was a time of great purity yet it was a time of great persecution under which the Church was built up at that time then the Dragon under the Heathen Emperors raged against the Church the Christians were persecuted banished and put to cruel deathe killed like Sheep appointed to the slaughter hence not onely the Temple but also the Altar is said to be measured and them that worship therein i.e. in the inner Court where the Altar of burnt Offerings stood where the Priests did Sacrifice called Thysiasterium Hereby the holy Ghost meanes the Christian Church should be exposed to afflictions and persecutions suffer many grievous forments and tribulations therefore he â—â—â—seth the suffering and miseries they should undergo to be measured out to them whereby he setteth certain bounds to the Tyrants beyond which they cannot go and when they are come so far then must vengeance overtake them hence it is that the sacrificed souls of the Martyrs who were slayn for the word of God and testimony of Jesus and lye under the Altar as slaughtered Sacrifices cry with a loud voyce to the lord holy and true for vengeance Rev. 6. vers 9 10. yet under all these persecutions they did worship i. e. serve â—o daâ— with purity so with perseverance so the end they did stick close to him in all sorts of persecutions even to the yeilding up and sacrificing of their bodies and lives Now the persecution of this pure Apostolical Church continued 300. years till at last Constantine the great came to the Imperial seat whereby the reign of the Dragon came to an end the Dragon was cast out of the Church-heaven Rev. 12. This regular purity of the Church ordered according to the Scripture rule and standard continued till after the death of Theodosius it continued till the beginning of the 42. months when the Devil left his shape of a Dragon and resigned his host with his residence and seat and great authority unto the beast with ten hornes See before p. 10 11. when it rose out of the Sea Rev. 13.1 Vers 2. But the Court which is without the Temple leave out and measure it not for it is given to the Gentiles and the holy City they shall tread under foot forty two months Here in this verse and verses following the second period is set down viz. under the Antichristian Vicar in two Synchronismes or concurrences of times First the Gentiles tread the Holy City under foot 42. months Secondly The two witnesses prophecy in sackcloth 260 days To begin with the first where begins the Churches Apostacy from her primitive Apostolical purity which is set forth under the particular vision of the outward Court of the Temple further distant and remote from the holy of holies signifying the Church succeeding the Primitive Church in the following ages should not be in Religion so regular and conforme to the Canon and measuring reed of Gods word as the primitive Church but should grow irregular and exorbitant in gentilish idolatrous worship Prophaning it as if heathenisme were again revived for heathemish Idolatry by Popery is brought in again The Heathens worshipped Saturn Jupiter Juno Venus c. in the Popish Religion Mary Peter Paul George are set up in stead of these and called upon in time of distress so there is but little difference between them Here more particularly let us consider 1. A prophetical direction to leave out the outward Court or holy City and nor to measure it the outward Court and holy City seem to be all one the latter exegetical to the former For the outward Court was the Place for the holy City or the people of Israel to meet for divine worship yea in the wilderness the Tabernacle having but one court into which ordinarily it was not lawful for any to enter into but the Priests and Levites there was no outward Court but the tents of Israel or the Holy City So these words outward Court and holy City mutually explain one another So then by the outward Court here is to be understood the outward worship and service of God which consisted in the outward appearance and a company of superstitious ceremonies whereof God takes no notice but rejecteth it leave it out measure it not saith the Angel 2. We have a reason of this direction for it is given to the Gentiles c. i. e. this outward Court or holy City unmeasured is given to the Gentiles i. e. It was to be left out or cast out as prophane and that which God will make no account of yea to be given to the Gentiles to be trodden under foot 42. months i. e. it shall be given or left by Gods just dispensation to the Gentiles vix to them that exercise Gentilish Idolatrous Worship the event whereof should be treading under foot the holy City as the Gentiles trod Jerusalem under foot hostilly
particulars of the Text I refer the Reader to Mr. Joseph Mede in his Commentary upon the Apocalyps whose application is very orderly proper and articulate in the explication of the four first Seals where the lion on the east side of the Israelitish camp is applied to Christ the Prince from the East the nature of the lion being sutable to the thing signified in the vision viz. victory to him on the white horse and the like in the rest For so the Ox on the West side of the camp is applied to Trajan from the west the man on the South side to Septimius from the South and the Eagle on the North side to Maximinus from the North The natures also of the visions are sutable to the things that came to pass under those Emperors The mighty slaughters under Trajan and Adrian his successor are indigitated by the Oxe The exactness of administring justice and careful provision of Septimius and Alexander Severus by a man to whom numbring and measuring and administration of justice is so proper The extraordinary raging of the Famin Sword and Pestilence under Maximinus by the carnivorous Eagle that feeds upon dead Cakasses All which applications as they are easie natural and distinst so they are very weighty and worthy the Spirit of God and his holy Prophets to predict 2. In the second Period the seventh Seal is opened and seven Angels by seven Trumpets declare to the Roman Empire by seven judgements its ruine Cap. 8. Which plagues have been fulfilled The first Trumpet Trump 1. the Vision of it is hail and fire mingled with blood Rev. 8.7 which Haylstones and fire are symbols of hostile vengeance executed upon enemies this was fulfilled in the infestation of the Roman Empire from the year 395. to 406. partly by Alaricus and the Goths and partly by the Barbarous Nations under Ruduguisus and partly by the Vandals and Alans these are the Northern stormes of Hailestones with blood and fire that fell upon the Empire The vision of the second Trumpet Trump 2. is the burning mountain cast into the Sea which was sulfilled by Alaricus his taking and firing of Rome vers 8. upon which followed a continual spoyl of the Empire till it was dilacerated into ten Kingdoms for the Text saith the third part of the Sea became blood i. e. the extent of the Roman Dominion and the collection of the people therein which was a third part of the world was destroyed the head City being wasted the Barbarians at their pleasure wasted her Provinces deviding them into new Kingdomes The third part of the Creatures died i. e. the Armies of the Empire for its defence were irreparably ruined and the third part of the Ships destroyed i. e. all helps and means of traffique of supporting the power of the Empire being wofully lost Rome being first taken by Alarieus King of Goths Anno. 410. and after that the Roman Dominion was still miserably dilacerated till Anno. 445. Rome was taken again and spoyled by Genserius King of Vandalls and next year after the Kingdom as it were divided into ten Kingdomes foretold by Daniel and John viz. 1. Brittons 2. Saxons 3. Francks 4. Burgundians 5. Wisigoths 6. Sueves and Alans 7. Vandals 8. Alemuners 9. Ostrogoths 10. Grecians Trump 3. vers 10. The third Trumpet Vision is the great Star falling into the third part of the River burning like a Lamp the Comet Lampadius suppose properly so called This was fulfilled upon the Roman Empire in the extinction of the Western aesariate which was grown very low and obscure in those inconsiderable Emperors Avitus Majoranus Severns Authemius Olybrius Glycirius Nepos the immediate predecessors of Augustulus but fell quite and was extinct in this prince of sorrow bitterness and sad misfortunes whom Odoacer King of Heruli pulled out of his Throne 476. The fourth Trumpet Vision Trump 4. vers 12. is an Eclipse of the third part of the Sun Moon and Stars which proceeds further concerning Rome for this Trumpet exceeds the former and signifies that that light she shone with under the Ostrogoth Kings should be extinct and she should be dispoiled of Royal Majesty yea of Consulship and Authority of Senate which ill fate is very properly prefigured by the obscuration of Sun Moon and Stars for by these luminaâ—ies the Scripture sets out the power and Government of Cities or Kingdomes Esaia 13.10 60.20 Jer. 15.9 Ezek. 32.7 The fift Trumpet Vision is Trump 4. Cap. 9.1 2 3. the Key-bearer of the bottomless Pit and the Locusts this was fulfilled upon the Roman Empire by Mahomâ—t and the Saracens In the Application of which Vision Learned Mede is admirably critical and punctual The plague therefore of the fifth trumpet is that false light or pseud oprophet Mahomet sent down upon earth by the vengeance of God The star fallen from heaven is that false light or prophet Mahomet sent down upon earth by the vengeance of the God of heaven By the star here is meant say the Annotators upon the Bible Some Apostate Minister that fell from the true religion to Mahometism such as Sergius of Constantinople the Nestorian Monk and John of Antioâ—h the Arrian who are said to affist Mahomet in composing the lying Alcoran And so this Trumpet is expounded of Mahomet and the Saracens Vide Annâ—t on cap. 9. of Apoâ—alyps whose doctrine is the fume of the bottomless pit and his followers the Saracens the locusts here spoken of as 1. Comming out of Arabia as the Aegyptian locusts did that plagued the literal Aegypt 2. And then hugely numerous as the company of locusts use to be 3. And also making their stay fo which you may turn menses quinos by five moneths which is an allusion to the usual continuance of locusts Plin. 11.29 and answers in the prophetical sense to five moneths of years that is 150 years that these locusts infested Italy and to the twice 150 years that the Saracenical kingdom continued so properly are the five moneths applicable to them 4. As also their golden crowns to the multitude of their conquests they having subdued Palestine Syria both the Armeniaes the lesser Asia Persia India Aegypt Numinia Portugal Spain within the space of fourscore years 5. The Arabians whence the Saracens wore their hair tied up like women 6. The sound of the wings of their locusts Rev 9.9 which was as the sound of chariots and many horses running to battel doth fitly signifie the mighty and swift victories of the Saracens 7. As also their poisonous Scorpions tails do the venom of the old Serpent under the false religion of Mahometism For all those powers that are not under the kingdom of light are part of the powers of the prince of the dark kingdom the Devil 8. As is here intimated very clearly the King over them being the Angel of the bottomless pit vers 1â— though they pretend to be such zealous worshippers of that one true God
horns cannot belong to the first five heads because in Johns time these five were fallen already Rev. 17.10 and consequently their hornes with them nor can these horns belong to the sixth head which then was in Johns time raigning for the Angel tels John plainly the ten horns are ten Kings which have received no Kingdom as yet compare Rev. 17.10 with the 12. verse Therefore it remaines that these ten horns belong onely to the seventh or last head Again this beast is described by his shape vers 2. And the beast that I saw was like a Leopard i. e. like unto the Grecian Monarchy resembled by a Leopard and divided into four heads as this Roman into ten Dan. 6.7 The Leopard is a beast all spotted Pareus in Apoc. 13.2 very swift extream cruel a notable Embleme of this present beast Voice out of the wilderness p. 37. who for his presumption in extolling himself above the Prince of the Covenant defiling his Sanctuary desolating his Sacrifice burning his Statutes and inforcing the humble and meek to the abnegation of the truth by blood fire strapadoes and such like exquisite torments the spirit resembles him to his Arch-type Autiochus descended from the Monarch of Greece here as in Daniel deciphered by a Leopard and I saw the beast like a Leopard Secondly for his strength cruelty and devouring nature the spirit likeneth him to a Bear and his feet were like the feet of a Bear strong cruel and of a devouring nature the embleme of the Persian Monarcy It had saith Daniel Cap. 7.5 three ribs in the teeth of it and they said thus unto it Arise and devour much flesh Thirdly the Holy Ghost likeneth him to the Lyons mouth The Lion was an Embleme of the first Monarcy the Baby lonians the Lions mouth notes strength and cruetly in tearing crushing and swallowing up his prey yea herein the Holy Ghost ascribeth unto him the prophane and cursed mouth of the Monarch of Babylon in commanding the dwellers upon earth Dan. 7.4 upon pain of fire and furnance to adore his golden Idol that he had set up How notably sets this our the Character of this beast his parts being framed of the most notable persecutors that ever were being a confection or compound made up of the terribleness strength and cruelty of all the three foregoing Monarchies hence Daniel admirably describeth this fourth Beast Dan 7.7 as dreadful and terrible and strong exceedingly And it had great Iron teeth Further the Holy Ghost describes him as by his shape so by his State and constitution he was vested with great power and Royal Dominion and herein the holy Ghost sets down the efficient cause the manner of acquiring it and the event of it 1. The efficient cause of it we have in the latter end of the second Verse viz. The Dragon the Dragon gave him his power and his seat and great authority by power Scripture notes not onely strength but bands armies and multitudes of persons The Dragons Bands or Army are his Angels or Devils with Idols their receptacles saith Mede these he gives to this beast together with his Seat and great authority viz. all that authority which he had in the heathenish Roman Empire from which Michael and the Martyrs cast him down overcoming him this he gives to the beast his Substitute to recover it for him How cunningly now Satan acts not now as a red Dragon but as masked in a new manyformed beast to draw the Church to Idolatry under the Christian Empire 2. The manner of his acquiring this Dominion by healing of his mortal wound received in his sixth head by the barbarous Nations Or rather according to Mede by Michaels Victory over the Dragon but now cured by this substituted power of the Beast in the course of his seventh and last head See these two opinions reconciled afterwards And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death and his deadly wound was healed v. 3. 3. The event of this his great Dominion upon the World generally all admiring and adoring this beast thus healed and now termed as the Dragons Deputy viz. highly approving of him and subjecting themselves to him and his power as incomparable and irresistible Adoring in Scripture is put for yeilding subjection Gen. 27.29.37.7 and 49.8 Esa 45. In obeying the Emperors or the Popes Idolatrous decrees they not onely Worshipped them but the Devil in them for the Dragon gave them that power and his work they did And all the World wondred after the beast and they worshipped the Dragon who gave power unto the beast i. e. they subjected themselves to the Dragon in the Beast and they worshipped the beast saying who is like unto the Beast who is able to make War with him v. 3. Again this beast is described by these acts which are ascribed to him viz. his Acts of Idolatrous blasphemy and cruel Tyranny First His acts of Idolatrous blasphemy for the Scripture is wont to set forth Idolatry as Blasphemous opprobrious and contumelious See Deut. 31.2 Jer. 23.25 Isai 65.7 This whole description is taken out of Daniel Cap. 7.25 where he speaks of the same Roman beast but what the Angel declares to Daniel more briefly John explains more largely this is generally mentioned And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and then the continuance of this blasphemous beast is computed And power was given to him to continue 42. months vers 5. The objects of his blasphemies or Idolatries are particularized And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his Tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven v. 6. thinks Mede Gods name by Image-worship his Tabernacle Christs body Here note saith Mede the beasts 42. months are not to be reckoned from the beginning of his euelty and war against the Saints but from the beginning of his blasphemy i. e. His Idolatry or spiritual whoredom which is when that is attributed to the creature which properly belongs to God Or when any thing beside God is worshipped with Divine Honour or when Saints or Angels are invocated which is to blaspheme them that dwell in Heaven v. 5 6. which invocation of Saints begun saith Perkins to be brought into the Church Anno. 3080. and in 20. years and upward no doubt it grew up to some height wherein the God-head dwelt personally by transubstantiation them that dwell in heaven viz. Saints and Angels by Angel worship Saint-worship or rather Devil-worship under their names Secondly His acts of cruel Tyranny 1. Partly persecuting the Saints And it was given to him to make was with the Saints and to overcome them i. e. with the remnant of the womans seed in the wilderness now this War against the Saints he did not wage from his beginning but when he came to his strength 1200. years after Christ his first expedition was against the Waldenses and Albigenses i. e. true worshippers