full Glory may be understood by the Bright Morning-Star And therefore by the Morning-Star in this place is understood the Remnant or the rest of this Succession which shall last until the Succession of Christ's Kingdom begins and who shall as the Morning-Star riseth before the Sun give notice of his Approach by some more than ordinary works and Manifestations of it Which we hope and pray that the Lord will soon accomplish and if he has vouchsafed to his Servants any Knowledge of Times and Seasons it cannot be far off by raising the poor oppressed Churches of the Valleys who were the Morning-Star or the first Visible Body of Witnesses before the Reformation and we hope will arise and that speedily before Christ's Appearance in his Glorious Kingdom for they have hitherto shined according to their own Mysterious (a) Mr. Leger Histoir des Vaudois Device which is a lighted Taper in a Candlestick environed with Seven Stars in a dark place with this Motto Lux lucet in Tenebris amidst the Darkness of the Apostasie And may Christ give unto them and that quickly the Morning-Star of his Glorious Presence Amen Amen come Lord Jesus come quickly 29 He that hath an Ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches i e. this is a Mysterious Truth worthy the utmost Consideration CHAP. III. The Text. 1 AND unto the Angel of the Church in 1 Sardis write These things saith he that 2 hath the Seven Spirits of God see Chap. 1.4 and the Seven Stars Chap. 1.16 and 2 1. I know and observe thy Works that thou hast a Name 3 or a more than ordinary Repute that thou livest according to Christ's Doctrine and art zealous in the Outward Profession of it 4 and or but art indeed dead 5 as to the perfect Purity of Religion and its Life and Power over thy Faith and Manners Eph. 2.1 1 Tim. 5.6 2 Tim. 3.5 James 2.20 Annotations on CHAP. III. 1 Sardes or Sardis is distant about Thirty Three Miles from Thyatira Southward It was antiently as appears by its Ruines a Magnificent Splendid and Proud City as being the Seat of King Croesus for which Reason as well as from an Allusion to the Precious Stones of that Name which (a) Hist Lib. 37.8 Pliny asserts were called so from this Place as being first found there it may typifie a splendid and stately Church-succession which has a Name or a Repute in the World It is now as the Learned Doctor (b) Notit Septem Asiae Eccles pag. 133. Smith an Eye-witness testifies who could not but weep at the sight of it a most miserable Village inhabited only by Shepherds and Herdsmen and a few ignorant Christians without Church or Priest whereby may be providentially set forth the Real Deadness of this Church-state and the Desolation it is to suffer 2 Sardis is thought to be the Type of the Churches of the Reformation under the Favour and Protection of Reformed Princes in a condition of External Splendor Because 1. It succeeds that of Thyatira which is the Type of Reformed Churches under the Tyranny of Popish Princes to which State the Reformation succeeded begun by Luther A. D. 1517. 2. Because there is no mention made of Balaam or Jezebel or Nicolaitism in this Succession which shews that they had escaped from under the power of the Apostasy typified by them 3. Because the same Title is given to Christ here as is made use of in the Ephesine Succession the Type of the Apostolical Church whereby seems to be intimated that the Church began now to be Reformed according to the First Primitive and Apostolical Pattern only it is here Remarkable that it is not said that Christ holdeth the Seven Stars in his Right Hand but barely that he hath them to shew perhaps by the Omission of those Remarkable Words that they had departed from the True Apostolical Model which Christ had or held in his Right Hand that is had in great Honour Neither is this to be taken for a groundless and a loose Interpretation or a Licentious Fancy as Dr. Hammond calls the like Conjectures of Mr. Brightman seeing that in such a Concise Prophecy God whose Glory it is to conceal a thing Prov. 25.2 hath given us sometimes but slender hints or intimations of great Truths and that the Addition or taking away of but a Letter in a Name as in the Names of Abraham Sarah and Jeconiah for which see Grotius on Jerem. 22.24 is of great import in Scripture And of how much greater signification then may be the leaving out so material a part of Christ's Title in a Prophecy so brief and mysterious 3 From whence it appears that this Church has a Reputation in the World for its outward profession but is very much wanting in inward Life Truth and Holiness 4 So And frequently signifies in Scripture 5 Ephesus had only lost its First Love but this Church was really dead as to the True Spirit and Power of the Gospel and the perfect simplicity and purity of it 2 Be watchful in observing the Times and Seasons of Christ's coming Dan. 12.12 Matth 24 42-51 Rev. 16.15 and strengthen or uphold and sustain the things 6 which remain i. e. the necessary Truths which shall remain until Christ's coming and which thou hast kept entire but that are ready to die as to the Power and Life of them for I have not found thy works of Reformation according to the Gospel 7 perfect before God so as to be able to stand before the Glory of his Kingdom when it shall begin to appear or to endure the Severity of his Tryal whatsoever Esteem they may have amongst Men Luke 16.15 6 By 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the rest seems to be meant those Necessary Works and Articles of Belief which they had kept alive or entire and were to remain during the following Succession of the Church until Christ's Coming as being Necessary Truths which would endure Tryal and were essential to the being of it as a Church in which sense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken in this Prophecy as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies in Authors the remaining or succeeding part of the Day 7 Filled up or compleated as the Rude Lineaments of a Picture are said to be filled up by a Painter when he comes to draw it to the Life See Hammond on Matth. 5.17 Here this Church is blamed for not carrying on the Reformation to its utmost perfection and for suffering necessary Truths to decay and be almost ready to die 3 Remember 8 therefore how i. e. with what Sincerity and Zeal thou hast received and heard the Doctrine of Truth at the beginning of the Reformation and hold fast what thou didst then receive and repent of thy Deadness Verse 1. thy Negligence and imperfections Verse 2. and thy Departure from the Principles thou hast received and heard If therefore thou shalt not watch 9 and wait for the
which it came to be called the third part whereupon the Grecian Monarchy was cast to the ground it 's very Seat and Power becoming thereupon Roman Constantine (b) Cave's Introduct to the Lives of the Fathers vol. 2. pag. 13. Rycaut's Pref. to the Lives of the Popes commanding by a Law that it should be called New Rome and having Peopled it with the best Families he could draw from Old Rome and the Inhabitants of it being called Romans 13 Here is implied that the fourth Empire Subdued all the rest and bore Rule over all the Earth after it had Subdued the Grecian Monarchy which stood in competition with it according to what was foretold by Daniel chap. 2. 39 40. 7 7 19 32. 14 This refers to the Persecutions which fell upon the Christian Church by the Instigation of the Devil and his Instruments in the Roman Empire especially to their last and most cruel Effort in the ten Years Persecution under Dioclesian when the Woman was as it were teeming with a Glorious Church State in a Christian Empire which was brought forth under Constantine as a short Specimen and imperfect Representation of the Kingdom of Christ as hath been shewn on chap. 7 9.-17 5 And yet notwithstanding all his opposition Psal 2. she brought forth a 15 Manchild i. e. Christ reigned then as King and Lord of his Church and there was on Earth a lively and manly representation of him and his Kingdom for a short time Psal 2.7 8. Is 9 6.66 7 8. Acts 4 23.-30 who was to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron i. e. was to have an universal Kingdom Psalm 2 8-12 and her Child was caught 16 up unto God and to his Throne i. e. Christ and his Kingdom were advanced and his Church was in a State typical of his glorious Kingdom which yet not long continued Psal 110.1 15 Here the Kingdom of Christ is plainly set forth in Expressions chiefly taken from the second Psalm which contains a Description of it as all Interpreters agree And by the Man-child is meant 1. Christ himself who is said to be brought forth or born because he at this time obtained as King of his Church a Conquest over Paganism and a great increase to his Kingdom whereby he was begotten in the Phrase of the Psalmist Psalm 2.6 7 8. that is the holy Child Jesus was manifested and declared to be Lord and King 2. The Church and Christian Empire under Constantine may be called the Man-child as Cyrus is called the Lord's Christ or Messias Isa 45.1 because he was a Type of Christ and as Christians are said to be Christ's Body and to have Christ formed in them Gal. 4.19 And if the Roman Empire it self may in some sense as Grotius has well noted on Dan. 7.13 be not unfitly called an Image or Type of Christ much more may the Christian Empire under Constantine who was a greater Restorer of Christ's Kingdom than Cyrus was be styled a Mystical Christ and be an Emblem of his Glorious Kingdom on Earth 16 Christ after his Resurrection which is called his Birth in Scripture was taken up into heaven as we also shall be caught up thither 1 Thes 4.17 where the same word is used insomuch that this Phrase is taken from Christ's Ascent into heaven and alludes to it And its import may be 1. That Christ was then actually King of the Roman Heathen Empire which he had newly conquered signified by his being caught up to the Throne of God whereby some Ascents of his Throne in the Heavenly Places or Advancements of his Kingdom may be signified in which he was installed and inaugurated at his Ascension when he was caught up into Heaven 2. Hereby may be signified also the advancing of the Christian Religion to the Imperial Throne as Christ was advanced at his Ascension to the Throne of his Father at his Right Hand Psalm 110.1 But as Christ was of a sudden taken up in a Cloud out of the sight of the Apostles whilst they were looking on him Acts 1.9 so may also hereby be signified the short space of the continuance of the Roman Christian Empire Rev. 17.10 answerable to Christ's being seen of the Apostles only for Forty Days Acts 1.3 and the sudden depravation of Religion by a growing Antichristianism upon its advancement by Constantine whereby in a short time the true Primitive and Apostolical Christianity was obscured and could not be seen pure and unmixt which as (a) And on John 1.1 Grotius has noted on the place may be signified by being caught up to God those things being said in Scripture to be with God which are invisible and appear not unto Men. 6 And 17 or but yet it was not long before the Woman or Church thus delivered from Persecution and advanced in the Christian Empire * fled into the Wilderness 18 i. e. was in a secret and obscure state and condition in the midst of the encreasing Apostasy where she hath a place prepared by God i. e. she is secured by him that they 18 should feed her there or that she should be nourished and preserved there after a wonderful manner a thousand 19 two hundred and threescore days i. e. Years See chap. 11. 2 3. 17 When Christ was caught up to God and the Heavenly State he designed became thereupon invisible the Church soon retired into the Wilderness i. e. into an obscure and invisible State too as being bereft of that Presence and Power of Christ which was necessary to advance it into that perfect and heavenly State which his Kingdom requires Here the Flight which was after the War in Heaven is mentioned before it by a Prolepsis or Anticipation frequent in (a) Grot. in Gen. 1.27 Ecclus 48.1 Scripture and in this (b) See Pererius on the Revelations Grot. on Rev. 21.2 Prophecy the Holy Spirit being wont to hasten to the chief point it is about and to mention what intervenes of lesser consequence afterwards as is manifest from the History of the Creation where Paradise which was planted on the Third Day is not described until afterwards in the second Chapter and the full and particular Relation of the Creation of Mankind but briefly touched upon in the first Chapter is deferred unto the second which Figure is here observed to shew that the Man child Christ's Kingdom was not to succeed upon the Glorious Pre appearance of it Verse 5. and that the Church the Woman was to be in an obscure condition and that immediately after her Delivery and that she was presently to prepare for her Flight she being not to appear in Visible Glory until 1260 Years after it * So the Children of Israel went up in haste out of Aegypt Exod. 12.31 33 39. 18 This Type is taken from the Children of Israel's sojourning in the Wilderness after they had escaped out of the hands of Pharoah who is expresly called Psalm 74.13 14. Isa 51.9 the Dragon or Crocodile lying
in my Kingdom and thereby putting an end to Prophecy whose main scope and design was with reference unto it See on Chap. 1 8.21 6 14 Blessed 22 in Christ's Kingdom Dan. 12.12 See on Chap. 14.13 are they that (a) The King's M S. reads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is wash their garments do his Commandments i. e. are now found and appear to have kept them that they may have right by virtue of the Covenant of Grace and upon their appearing in the fine (a) The King's M S. reads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is wash their garments white Linnen of Christ's Righteousness See on Chap. 19.7 8. to the Tree of Life i. e. to the incorruptibility of the new Jerusalem State verse 2. and many enter in through the Gates of the City i. e. be admitted into that State See on chap. 21.6 12 21. 15 For without this blessed State in the four corners of the new Earth see on chap. 20.8 are Dogs i. e. the Members of the Antichristian (b) A Dog is thought by the best interpreters to signify a Sodomite Deut. 23.18 Canes qui Supra cap. 21.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ut Hebrei exponunt id quod est Deut. 23.18 Grot. in Locum Sodom chap. 11.8 and those who are without the Covenant Matt. 15.26 Profane Bruitish and Persecuting Apostates Matt. 7.6 2 Pet. 2.22 and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murtherers and Idolaters and whosoever liveth and maketh a Lie i. e. all wicked Persons but especially the Antichristian Party to which these Characters eminently agree see on Chap. 21.8 27. 16 I Jesus have sent my Angel from the beginning (c) Chap. 1.1 of this Prophecy all along to this present conclusion of it to testify unto you John and all my other Servants chap. 1.1 these things in the Churches i. e. in or concerning the seven Successions of my Church see the Notes on chap. 1.4 and on chap. second and third I am the root and the off-spring of David i. e. the Messias proceeding from David as from a root to whom the Kingdom (d) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was Promised see on chap. 5.5 and the bright and morning Star which only dawned in the Church Succession of Thyatira but now shews in full brightness at the succession of my Kingdom see the Notes on chap. 2.28 17 And the Shirit speaking to and in the several Successions of the Church chap. 2. and 3. and makeing intercession for the Saints Rom. 8.26 27. and the Bride i. e. the Saints chap 19.7 8.21 2 say come Lord Jesus come quickly in thy Kingdom And let him that heareth and obeyeth the words of this Prophecy say joyning as in consort come Lord Jesus And (a) These are Christ's Words and are a kind of Antiphon◠in ths Divine Anthem or Sacred Dialogue wherein Christ in Answer to the Saints says as it were if you so desire my coming I will not be backward in inviting you let him say I that is a thirst come let him that is a thirst for the comforts and refreshments of the new Jerusalem State see on chap. 21.6 come And whosoever will or has a sincere desire for these times of full refreshments let him take the Water of Life freely for the incorruptibility of this State is of my free grace and favour chap. 21 6.22 1. 18 For I Christ verse 20. testify and declare (b) All this is frequently the import of the word Testifie in Scripture openly with the greatest earnestness zeal and holy Asseveration as with an Oath John 13.21 Rom. 1.9 Acts 18.5 unto every man of what (c) Nullo excepto pontifice vel concilio Paraeus in loc quality or dignity soever that heareth the words of the Prophecy of this Book that it is a Book of so great perfection and life that if any man shall (d)(d) Elegans est allusio in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grot. in Loc. add unto these things contained in this Book of Revelations and by consequence to any other part of Scripture by 22 Traditions and rash (e) Rashly to be the Authority of a false Interpretation of Scripture is to take God's Name in vain in a high degree Mr. Mede This is the last authoritative Prophecy that is likely to come from Heaven to be a rule of Faith to the Church and whosoever shall go about to infuse any other expectations into men than usually are agreeable to these Visions God shall bring on him the Judgments here denounced against his greatest Enemies and so in like manner whosoever shall derogate from the authority of this Prophecy or occasion mens not receiving the admonition of Christ here contained in every part thereof God shall cast him off c. Dr. Hammond's Paraphr or wilfully false Interpretations God shall add unto him besides the retributions of his ordinary Justice and Wrath the dreadful plagues that are written in this Book 22 Here is a change of Persons and John speaks whose words plainly refer to the admittance and entrance of the Saints into the new Jerusalem State and therefore must have respect to the times after the Pouring forth of the Vials when the Wicked were shut out of the City 19 And if any man shall take 23 away as the Antichristian Party hath even the Scriptures themselves from the words or authority of this of Prophecy God shall take away his part and the Book of Life i. e. he shall not be found written in the Book of Life among the Living in the New Jerusalem and out of the Holy City from which he shall be debarred and excommunicated and from the Things promises and blessings which are written in this Baok 23 As the Antichristian Party hath done 20 He which testifies these things i e. Christ who is Truth it self saith surely believe it for it is a certain and infallible Truth I come quickly i. e. all my comings are unexpected and by Surprize I begin very suddenly after the date of this Vision to bring it into effect I hasten all things to an end in the just and due time and am now just upon coming to put an end to this and all other Prophecies being not slack in performing them as some men count slackness 2 Pet. 3.9 Amen saith John the beloved Apostle and Servant of Christ in the Name and Person of Angels and Saints his fellow Servants even so be it come Lord Jesus in thy Kingdom come quickly 21 The 24 Justifying Sanctifying and efficaciously operative Grace Proceeding from the undeserved Love Favour and Assistances of our Lord God Jesus Christ our Saviour and anointed Prophet Priest and King be with you all Churches and Saints to whom this great Prophetical Epistle is Written Amen So be it and so it will certainly be 24 This whole Book of Prophecies being as it were one entire Epistle Monitory to the Church of God throughout all Ages of the World it is concluded as it was begun according to the custom of the Apostles with the usual Form of Valediction in their Epistles AMEN AMEN COME LORD JESUS COME QUICKLY FINIS
p. 47. l. ult r. 1 Cor. 2. p. 55. l. 26. r. Gospels p 64. l. 15. blot out an indifference p. 66. l 23. r. wilt p. 72. l. ult r. compare p. 82. l. 21. r. slain p. 83. l. 30. r. haveing p. 84. l. 30. f. in the Earth r. on p. 85. l. 13. r. 19. l. 23. r and that because l. 30. r. brought in l. 31. r. objects p. 86. l. 20. r. also as well as p. 88. l. 10. f. whence r. where l. 26. f. his r. Gods p. 113. l. 16. f. Psalm r. Palm p. 149. l. 3. r. in a Cave p. 158. l. 3. r. about it p. 170. l. 25. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 174. l. 7. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 191. l. 22. r. much indebted p. 177. l. 14. r. that it l. 15. f. that r. the p. 205. l. 7. f. Times r. Time p. 283. l. 4. r. each of which Heads p. 300. l. 7. r. Σ. p. 344. l. 20. r. were Types p. 402. l. 7. r. the Lord God p. 415. l. 17. insert see thou do it not I am p. 235. blot out these words A.D. 1507. within ten years of p. 236. l. 4. r. 1529. ANNOTATIONS ON THE REVELATION CHAP. I. The Text. 1 THE Revelation of Jesus Christ i.e. the Discovery and Manifestation of Divine Secrets in a Prophetical Vision from Jesus Christ which God the Father gave unto him the Great Prophet and Mediatour to shew or make known by Prophetical Symbols and Representations and actually to * So the word is taken John 5 20.14 8. and in this sense God is said to shew Christ and he to be Revealed when he came into the World exhibit or produce the Effect of every Vision in its proper time unto his Servants i. e. those Eminent and Faithful Christians especially Ministers who dedicate themselves to his Service things which must shortly i. e. suddenly and speedily begin 1 to come to pass one after another and or which †And is here according to the Custom of the Hebrew Language put for the Pronoun Relative which he Christ sent and signified it i. e. made known the Prophetical Visions of this Book by his 2 Angel sometimes one special Angel sent for this purpose and sometimes another unto his Servant John The Annotations 1 Thus Grotius Dr. Hammond and most Interpreters expound these Words this Prophecy containing a Discovery of things which were to come to pass in a Succession of time one after another of which it may be very appositely said That they must come to pass shortly when they are shortly to begin to pass into Event as an Army is said to be coming when only the Van-Guard begins to appear With which Interpretation these Words of Dr. Pocock agree on Joel pag. 145 150. Of those last things which were to be done or in doing to the last of time in this world St. John by reason of the certainty of their being fulfilled in due time saith that they should be fulfilled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or shortly come to pass 2 Michael and Gabriel are employed in Daniel but in this Prophecy several Angels are made use of but none by Name which together with the Humane Subordinate Ministry employed under them are generally called by the Name of Angel in this Book From this Verse we may observe the Order of Divine Revelation which proceeds from God the Father as the Fountain and Original and is committed by him to Christ unto whom all Power is given in the Church by whom it is sent to his Servants especially Ministers by the Ministration of his Angels who are under him as their Head and Lord and his Ministers to whom the Prophecy is principally directed are also stiled Angels from their Ministring to him in this Prophecy together with the Angels See on ver 20. 2 Who bare record i. e. hath testified and declared by his Preaching and Sufferings vers 9. and in this Book of Christ the Word of God John 1.1 Chap. 19.13 and of the Testimony of Jesus Christ i. e. the 3 Gospel 1 Cor. 1.6 and of all things that he saw 4 concerning Christ while he abode on Earth and afterwards in this and the following Visions 3 Called his Testimony because it testified of him declared the Will of God and was testified unto or confirmed by his Miracles 4 Here the Apostle plainly discovers himself to be the Writer of this Book from many Characters peculiar unto himself as that he had given Testimony which is part of the Office of an Apostle in Scripture Acts 1.8 22 c. unto the Gospel of Christ and to the Divinity of the Word of God by his Preaching and by his Sufferings for it and that he had delivered many things concerning Christ of which he had been a peculiar Eye-witness which are now upon Record in his Gospel in the like manner of Speech and way of Assurance John 1 14.19 35. And moreover this being a Preface to the whole Book of Visions he had already seen these Words may very well refer unto them 3 5 Blessed here and here after is he that readeth and expoundeth with diligence and understanding and they that hear with attention the words of this Prophecy and keep in their Minds observe and practise those things which are written therein for the time of their beginning to be successively compleated is at hand and therefore to be regarded and the Consideration of it not to be put off unto a further Day as the Jews were wont to do Ezek. 12 21-28 5 The Divine Authority of the Revelation the Author of the Book and the Subject-matter of it having been delivered in brief in the foregoing Verses St. John here declares the Fruit and Benefit which the Readers and Observers of it shall reap by it and very probably gives an intimation That it ought to be read in publick Assemblies here being mention of one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Reader and of many as it were assembled to hear him Read and Interpret according to the Custom of the Church And without doubt great is the blessing attending the sober Study of this Book and the due Observation of the Correspondence betwixt it and the Events foretold in it must needs be a matter of extraordinary comfort especially to those who shall be so happy as to live near the Times of its full completion as Christ told Daniel chap. 12. 12. And even what is not so fully understood is nevertheless according to the Example of Daniel and of the Blessed Virgin Luke 2.19 50 51. to be pondered upon and kept in our Minds lest we be found wholly ignorant of the great Truths contained in this Book when the Times of their Consummation appear and that thereby God may be wrought upon to make known unto us what we do not understand seeing he hath declared That he that seeketh shall find and to him that knocketh it shall be opened But chiefly the Blessedness here pronounced
Souls to call them back or retain them when they are departed out of the Body and of Death it self to keep men from it and therefore fear not for if you were really Dead I could raise you up again All which looks with a Full Eye on that great First Resurrection c. 20. 28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See Hammond on Matth. 11. and Bishop Pearson on the Creed 19 And upon this assurance stand up upon thy Feet and be of good Courage and Write in a Book unto the seven Churches as I before commanded thee vers 11. the things which thou hast seen already 29 in the representation of the seven Stars and seven golden Candlesticks vers 12 13 16. and 30 write also the things which are now in being in my present Apostolical Church and the things which shall be hereafter successively to the very end of Time 29 It is manifest from the next Verse that this is the true sense of these Words where it is expresly said that the Seven Stars were Seen by him in his Right Hand which are therefore the things he had Seen and were written with the rest of the Preface in a Book to the seven Churches verse 11. 30 Here he is commanded to write the Epistles to the seven Churches the first of which viz. that to Ephesus as we have there shewn refers to the State of the then Apostolical Church beginning at Christ's Resurrection the others to the following successive States of the Churches to the End of the World 20 Which things present and future are the 31 Mystery or the Prophetical and Mystical sense of the seven Stars which thou sawest in my right hand which are the things thou hast seen and not the Mystery to be written concerning them and write the seven Golden Candlesticks i e. the mystery or mystick sense of them also The seven 32 stars are or signifie and represent Gen. 41.26 the Angels 33 or Pastors of the seven Churches and the seven Candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven Churches or are 34 seven Churches that is Bodies of Christians under their several Pastors as well those which are now as those which shall be successively hereafter 31 These words which are of the Accusative Case and put by way of Apposition plainly refer only to the things which are and shall be which are here said to be the Mystery or mystical meaning of the seven Stars which therefore are not referred to as being not themselves the Mystery but the things which were to be mystically explained in the following Epistles And from hence also we are plainly given to understand that the Subject Matter of these Epistles is Mystical and not barely Literal and that they concern things future as well as the present 32 Here is explained what is meant by Stars and Candlesticks whose further mystical meaning as they relate to Churches then in being and to future Successions of them and their Pastors is largely delivered in the following Epistles 33 The Ministring Spirits which attend on God are called Angels in Scripture from their being employed as Messengers in his Service and therefore by the Angels of the Churches must be meant the Pastors of them which are here clearly distinguished from the Churches themselves from their like Office of delivering God's Messages to the People and putting up their Prayers unto him Upon which Account the Jewish Priest is called The Messenger or Angel of the Lord of Hosts Malach. 2.7 where Angel that I may observe this by the way is evidently taken collectively as Dr. Pocock on the Place confesses for the Succession of the whole Jewish Priesthood comprehended there under the common Name of Levi their Father and spoken of as one Person because they were all of the fame Stock and all separated to the same Function And as they are upon this Account called Angels so are they called Stars from their Office of enlightning or instructing others By Angels therefore in this and the following Chapter is meant the Evangelical Ministry represented by Angels as all other Ministerial Agents are in this Prophecy because the present World is subject to Angels under Christ the Head of them and the Angel of the Covenant Whereas the World to come that is the Kingdom of Christ at his last coming as the Apostle speaks Heb. 2.5 is to be ruled by Christ and his Saints and is not to be in subjection unto Angels 34 It is here said That the seven Candlesticks are or signifie seven Churches for so it is in the Greek not the seven Churches which might seem to have determined them to the seven in Asia The Epistles are indeed to be sent to the seven Churches of Asia ver 11. But the mystical meaning of them is not here said to belong to the Angels or to the Seven Churches of Asia only but to Seven Churches and to the Angels of them from whence it is plain that they are prophetical relating to Seven Successions of the Vniversal Church See Mr. * Book 1. Disc 52. and pag. 905. Doctor Moor's Exposition of the Epistle to the Seven Churches Mede CHAP. II. The Text. UNto the Angel or Evangelical Ministry Chap. 1. 20. of the Church of Ephesus that is now planted there and of that Period 1 of the Church which is mystically represented by it write these things saith he that holdeth the Seven Stars in his Right Hand who walketh in the midst of the Seven Golden Candlesticks i. e. Christ the Light of the World who is more immediately present with them to enlighten guide and support them Chap. 1. 13 16 20. Annotations on CHAP. II. 1 This I shall hereafter endeavour to make out to be the principal if not only drift of these Epistles from such Characters and Arguments as shall arise from the Text it self Very good Interpreters and particularly Grotius on Revel 1.11 have thought that the several Successions of the Church here represented are intimated in their very Names according to a way of Allusion made use of in Scripture as well as in Heathen Authors For thus the God of Ekron whose True Name is thought to have been Baal zebachim or the Lord of Sacrifices is called in derision Baal zebub or the Lord of Flies and Belzebul or the Dunghil God And the Prophet Micah 1.14 15. manifestly alludes to the Names of Cities calling Achzib a Lie as if its Name were derived from Cazab which in Hebrew signifies to Lie and the City Mareshah is threatned to be disinherited in allusion to its Name and Adullam is called the Glory of Israel perhaps says Doctor Pocock on the Place from its Situation its Strength or its Beauty or some other Reason probably taken from its Name as the others are although now unknown And such Paronomasia's or Allusions may be more frequent in Scripture than we think for by reason of our Ignorance in the Premitive Language and of the Story and Circumstances of the Places whose Names are alluded to 2
I know observe and approve Psalm 1.6 thy good works and thy labour 2 in the work of the Gospel in converting instructing and governing those whom thou art set over 1 Thes 5.12 1 Tim. 5.17 and thy patience and perseverance in it and under sufferings for it and how thou canst not endure or 3 bear with them which are evil in Life or Doctrine but castest them when they prove incorrigible out of the Church and thou hast tryed 4 them by the Gospel Gal. 1.8 1 John 4.1 by their Works Matth. 7.20 and by the Gift of discerning Spirits 1 Cor. 12.10 which say they are Apostles sent and commissioned to preach the Gospel and are not and hast found them liars or False Apostles Acts 20.29 30. and 15.1 24. 1 Cor. 15.12 2 Cor. 11.13 Gal. 1.6 1 and 2 Epist to Timothy 1 John 4.1 2 Labour also may here signifie a zealous and unwearied profession of the Gospel amidst the greatest Discouragements as the Word is taken 1 Cor. 15.58 3 These Words refer to the zealous Execution of Discipline for which the Church was at first very remarkable as appears from 1 Cor. 5. 1 Tim. 1.20 Tit. 3.10 2. John 10. 4 It appears from Scripture that there were many False Apostles foretold by our Saviour Matth. 24.11 and by the Apostle Paul in his Admonition to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus Acts 20.29 30. Who generally seem to have insinuated themselves into the good Opinion of the People by specious pretences of being Brethren and by creeping into their Houses and Assemblies unawares and privily and by communicating with them in their Feasts of Charity as appears from 2 Cor. 11.26 Gal. 2.4 1 Tim. 3.6 Jude 4.12 and from this place where they are said to pretend to be Apostles when they were not For the Hereticks seem to have acted more closely and subtily while the Apostles were living than afterwards which made i◠〈◊〉 task to try and detect them which yet the Apostolical Church did with great Zeal and Care by examining their pretences by the Doctrine they had received of Christ and by Gifts of discerning False Spirits as Clemens Romanus attests in his Epistle to the Corinthians And this place seems to determine this Succession of the Church to the Times of the Apostles the Pretence of being Apostles or Messengers sent and commissioned by God to preach New Doctrines being peculiar to that Age and made use of by Simon Magus and his Followers particularly by Cerinthus against whom John wrote his Gospel who pretended to New Revelations And it being not peculiar to Ephesus alone but to most other Churches we may reasonably conclude that by Ephesus is not understood that Church alone but the Church-State of the Apostolical Age which began on the Day of Pentecost next following the Ascension of our Saviour in the Thirty Third Year of our Lord about the Twenty Fourth Day of May as Bishop Pearson has stated the Aera of the Apostolical Church in his first Lecture on the Acts. From this place we may learn That strict care ought to be taken in trying and examining those who are to be sent to teach others and that the Canon of Scripture was setled by this Apostolical Church she having duly tried and rejected all other Pretenders to Apostolical Doctrines and that the first State of the Church was purely Apostolical 3 And yet thou hast born 5 Afflictions although thou canst not bear 5 with them which are evil and hast still patience 6 and for my Names sake i. e. for me and upon the Account of my Gospel hast laboured 6 in it and hast not fainted under it nor under thy sufferings for it Gal. 6.9 2 Thes 3.13 5 Such kind of Allusions are frequent in Scripture as Rom. 1.24 25 26 28. 6 This being a Repetition of what was said in the foregoing Verse seems to intimate that their Labour and Sufferings were Great and very Remarkable a Repetition sometimes denoting so much in Scripture 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat of 7 complaint against thee because thou hast left or 8 remitted and abated something of thy first 9 or former fervent and intense Love of me my Gospel and Kingdom 7 So the Phrase is taken Matth. 5.23 8 So this word is rendred by Grotius and Doctor Hammond and I think rightly And as Grotius thinks that Love and Desire may by way of Allusion be signified by the Word Ephesus so may also the Greek Word here made use of intimate some Remission or Coolness of their First Love by the same Figure which the Prophet Micah makes use of Chap. 1. 13 14. and which Grotius thinks the Apostle uses Rom. 1.17 28 29. where also in the 29th Verse there is a manifest Allusion to the Name Judah which signifies Praise Gen. 29.35 9 The First Love which the Prophet Jerem. 2.2 calls the Kindness of Youth and the Love of Espousals is usually very fervent but is wont soon to cool and abate in the best of Men. And accordingly the Church at first when as Hierom speaks the Blood of our Lord was warm and the Faith of the New Converts was Fervent was very Zealous in all its Duties and Offices as appears from the Acts of the Apostles particularly from Chap. 2 41-47 and Chap. 4 31-37 where we have a perfect Pattern of the First Love of the Apostolical Church in the Church of Jerusalem especially in their having all things common and calling nothing their own And yet in a very short space as soon as the Number of the Disciples and with them the Church-Revenue was multiplied there arose a murmuring of the Graecians against the Hebrews even in the Infant-Church as we read Acts 6. occasioned by the Pride of the Hebrews as Bishop Pearson has shewn in his Third Lecture on the Acts wherein as also in the Behaviour of Ananias and Saphira there are early Tokens and Types given of a Declension in the Church which proceeded so far as to this matter even in those First Times of the Gospel that Paul tells the Philippians Chap. 2. 21. of his Epistle to them supposed to be written about A. D. 59 or 62. that all Men sought their own and not the things of Jesus Christ For not only Demas forsook Paul out of Love to this present World but Mark grew weary of the Labour of the Gospel and went not with Paul and Barnabas to the work Acts 15.38 and Peter himself for fear of the Jews was guilty of Dissimulation Gal. 2.11 12. And the Galatians had generally departed from the True Notions they had received of Christian Liberty and a Working Faith Gal. 5.1 6 7. and were grown very remiss in their Acts of Charity Gal. 6.9 And the Churches mentioned in Scripture are frequently reprehended for great Enormites so that it is no wonder that the Churches in After-Ages proved guilty of them the Love of many waxing cold betimes as our Saviour foretold Matth. 24.12 and Paul complained 2 Tim. 1.15
on Gal. 4.25 29. the Corrupt Party hath stood most upon its Purity Honour and Preheminence and hath Persecuted and Despised the pure one Now the Church of Smyrna comprehending that Succession of the Church in which the great Persecutions happened and in which a Crown of Life was at last given them at the Empires becoming Christian The Blasphemy here reprehended refers chiefly to the latter State of that Succession when Honours and Riches Flowing into the Church corrupted the purity of their former poor and suffering condition and the reverence at first innocently paid to Martyrs and the introducing of Pagan Rites by degrees under pretence of winning the Heathens gave a great encrease to the growing Apostasy iniquity under the covert of a Mystery i. e. of Piety Religion and well meaning Zeal making daily progress in the Church until it arose to an Antichristian Synagogue or Congregation of a prevailing party amongst them Which phrase is made use of in opposition to the Title given the Jews in the Old Testament who are called Numb 31.16 The Congregation or Synagogue of the Lord which the corrupt party of this Succession had forfeited by its Antichristian or Satanical Innovations as the Jews also did upon their Apostasy under Jeroboam 2 Chron. 11.15 who are thereupon said to have Sacrificed unto Devils or Satan And it is worth Observation that the last degeneracy of the Jewish Church when as it appears from the Gospels it became a Satanical Synagogue consisted chiefly in vain Traditions in Affecting Titles Honours and Prehemency in neglecting the Spiritual Service of God and in expecting a present Worldly Kingdom of the Messias instead of a Future Heavenly State of it and of the Kingdom of God within us consisting in inward Righteousness and Peace and lastly in Cruelty and Persecution and in casting out of the Synagogue of the Lord the true and faithful Servants of Christ. Now in whatsoever Age of the Church there may be found such a Temper and Spirit Prevailing so much may it be said to have of the Synagogue of Satan in it Much of which was visible in this succession in the strifes amongst Bishops about the Superiority and the Prehemenency of their Sees in their rash Censuring and Excommunicating one another for slight Matters as appears evidently in the Behaviour of Pope Victor in the Oppositions made in this period to the Doctrine of the Antient Chiliasts and in the introducing a great number of Ceremonies Rites and Customs into the Church to bring over the Jews and Pagans to the Christian Religion 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer For behold the Devil 22 shall by evil Men as his Instruments cast some 23 of you who have the courage not to deny me into prison i. e. various and grievous Tortures and Persecutions that ye may be tryed fully whether ye be perfect and entire James 1.2 3. 1 Pet. 1.7 and you shall have Tribulation that is one most notable Persecution 24 ten days of years Be thou faithful unto the suffering of death and I will give thee a crown 25 of Life i. e. Freedom from Persecution Rewards and Honours 22 Persecutors do the Devils Work Eph. 2.2 and to him Justin Martyr frequently attributes the Pagan Persecutions because they were promoted and set on by his Instigation 23 For many fell away in the Times of persecution 24 Days in Prophetick account are frequently put for Years as is evident from Numb 14.34 Ezek. 4.6 and Dan. 9.24 where the Days of the Seventy Weeks are understood by most Interpreters of Years For a Day being the First and most Natural Measure of Time depending upon the constant and most known Revolution of the Sun is put in all Languages and particularly in the Hebrew to express indefinitely a length or continuance of Time as the Days of Herod signifie in Scripture the Time of his Reign and is limited to some certain continuance by circumstances or according to the Will of Him who makes use of it as it is by God in Scripture restrained to signifie a Prophetical Year as is evident from the places I have quoted against which Grotius has Objected nothing material as Dr. Moor has fully proved in his Mystery of Godliness Book 5. Chap. 15. Now the last and greatest Persecution of the Church under Diocletian lasting according to all Chronologers exactly ten Years It is evident that this place must refer unto it especially if we consider that the Vision of the Souls under the Altar which is Contemporary with this Succession immediately preceeds the great Earthquake or change of Things under Constantine and that no Example could be brought by Grotius or Dr. Hammond of a ten days Persecution in the Times to which they limit this passage and that Ten does not denote in Scripture a short time when put indefinitely but is always put for one of a long continuance it being as it were the plentitude of simple Numbers as is evident from Numb 14.22 Job 19.3 1 Sam. 1.8 Eccles 7.19 Furthermore seeing that the things referred to in this Prophecy being for the use of the whole Church ought to be illustrious parts of History and not References to something not Transmitted unto us with which shift Grotius puts off his Reader what more Notable part of History could be referred to than that of the ten Years Persecution which gave Date to the Aera Martyrum and is a most famous Character of Time exactly answering in its ten Years Duration to the Prophetical way of Accounting a Day for a Year and fit to be made use of by the Holy Ghost in Transmitting so remarkable a Period of the Church down to after Ages 25 A Crown denotes Regal and Triumphal Honours and a Crown of Life is opposed to the Deaths and Martyrdoms they had before Suffered And hereby is plainly set forth the Freedom from Persecution they Enjoyed under Constantine at the end of the Tenth Persecution which according to the Accurate Computation of Mr. Pagi in his Critical Annotations upon Baronius began Feb. 23. A.D. 303. and ended June 13th A. D. 313. when the famous Epocha was Instituted of the Churches Freedom from Persecution mentioned by Eusebius in his Chronicon and by the Author of the Alexandrian Chronicon From which Time we may date their Crown of Life Constantine daily proceeding to advance and secure the Church which enjoyed great Freedom bating only some short Persecutions particularly that under Julian until it came to its highest pitch of External Peace and Honour under Theodosius the Great who died at Milan A. D. 395. on Jan. 17. or Feb. 24. after he had given Paganism its deadly Blow by his Famous Defeat of Argobastes and Eugenius A. D. 394. 11 He that hath an Ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches Verse 7. And He i. e. that person who overcometh the Persecutions and Evils of this Church-State and perseveres unto the End in the Precepts of the Gospel
interpreted thus to come and worship God before thy Feet according to a parallel place of the Apostle 1 Cor. 14.25 10 Because thou hast kept and observed the word 25 or precept of my patience i. e. of the Patience which I taught and practised especially in expecting with me the coming of my Kingdom and that in a low and mean condition I also will keep thee or this Church State entire from the hour or suddain and unexpected time of 26 Temptation or general Tryal which shall come upon all the World to try them that dwell on the Earth whether their Church States are pure or no and to purify some and destroy others Dan. 12.1 Malach. 3.2 3. 2 Pet. 2.9 1 Cor. 3 11.-15 25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a Precept or Doctrine of Patience in the sense that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Word is taken 1 Cor. 1.18 and to keep the Word as the Phrase is frequently used in John's Gospel is to observe that Precept and that chiefly with reference to a patient Expectation of Christ's Coming as the Phrase is taken 2 Thes 3.5 and Rev. 1.9 26 This I suppose is to be understood concerning the pouring out of the Vials as shall be endeavoured to be shewn when they come to be considered 11 Behold I come to try and judg them quickly or on a sudden after this period of the Church begins to appear hold that fast which thou hast received and kept that no man take 27 thy Crown i e. rob thee of that reward thou shalt have in my Kingdom 27 No Churches so perfect but that it is possible for them if left to themselves to be perverted and no Man so nigh the Goal but he may lose the Prize if he be not by the Grace of God made watchful and careful And here we are to observe that these Promises are taken from the New Jerusalem-state in Christ's Kingdom and that they are made after the most ample and plainest manner to this Church-state because of its greatest purity and patience in expecting that Kingdom and its fitness to receive it in the near approach of it in the New Jerusalem 12 For Him that overcometh the temptations of this poor and despised Church State will I make a 28 Pillar in the Temple of my God i. e. he shall be a Member of a strong fixt and stable Church State and he shall go no more out of it for it shall not be changed And I will write 29 upon him or upon this Pillar the Name of my God Jehovah and the Name of the City of my God The Lord is there Ezek. 48.35 which is 30 new Jerusalem i. e. the prefect Gospel State in Christ's Kingdom Hebr. 12.22 which cometh down out of Heaven from my God i. e. shall be established by God's more immediate Power and by abundant Manifestations of Gifts and Graces Ezek. 43.4 5 6 7 8. Gal. 4.26 see on Rev. 21.2 3. and I will write upon him my new Name Rev. 19.16.22 4. i. e. he shall be 31 a Member of my Kingdom who am King of Kings and Lord of Lords See before on verse 8. and Isa 56.5 Rev. 19.12 28 In allusion to the Two Pillars before Solomon's Temple called Iachin and Booz from their strength and stability 1 Kings 7.15 21. The Apostles also are called Pillars Gal. 2.9 and the Church the Pillar of Truth 1 Tim. 3.15 and Christians are compared to a Temple and its Stones or Pillars Eph. 2.21 1 Pet. 2.5 29 This may perhaps be an Allusion to the Inscriptions which were used to be put upon Pillars Hence the Title of the sixteenth Psalm is in the Greek rendred An Inscription upon a Pillar and Absalom's Pillar 2 Sam. 18.18 might have probably his Name graven on it 30 New is often in Scripture put for excellent or perfect And this State may be called New because the visible Glory of it did then first appear and it was a strange or new thing it being known or believed before by few 31 For to be called and to be are of the same import in the Hebrew Phrase 13 He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches 14 And unto the Angel of the Church of the 32 Laodiceans write these things saith the Amen 33 i. e. The God of Truth Isa 65.16 who will perform what he has promised 2 Cor. 1.20 and will in this period put a final end to all things the Faithful and True Witness who hath performed punctually what hath been hitherto promised by the Father and will go on to do so to the end although the Truths he hath delivered may seem never so incredible Chap. 1.5 the beginning 34 of the Creation of God i. e. of the First Creation of all things and of the New Creation or Constitution of things after the Resurrection of which he was the first Born from the Dead Col. 1.18 Rev. 1 5.21 1. 32 This State succeeds the Philadelphian State and therefore must be after the Thousand Years Kingdom of Christ or the New Jerusalem of which Philadelphia is a Type as appears from Verse 12. It seems to be a State in which there was a great Remissness of the extraordinary Zeal which was shewn in the former Succession during Christ's Kingdom and its Name denoting as Grotius remarks The Judging of the People it may from thence be probably concluded that it is that State during which the great Judiciary Act of Judging the People or Nations is to be performed Rev. 20 8-15 where occasion will be given of discoursing more largely of this Matter It was once a most Famous and Rich City as this Church-state is described to be at the seventeenth Verse but is now only a heap of Ruines and inhabited by none but wild Beasts so that Monsieur Spoon after all his search could not find out where its Church stood Christ having spewed it utterly out of his Mouth 33 Amen signifies Truth and denotes also the End or Conclusion and being put before what follows concerning the beginning of the Creation of God implies that what concerns the End of Church-states is the chief thing typified by this Church 34 Christ is said to be the beginning of the Creation of God 1. Because he was in the beginning with God when all things were made by him John 1.1 as being the first born of every Creature that is being above and before all Creatures whatsoever and the Cause of them Col. 1 15-17 2. because he was the beginning of the New Creation or Constitution of things under the Gospel Col. 1.18 2 Cor. 5.17 and the Author of the New Heavens and New Earth or the New and Excellent State of things in his Kingdom upon Earth And 3. because he is the Beginning the First Born from the dead Colos 1.18 which Title he here takes because this Church-Period extends until the End of all Earthly Things when follows the beginning of the New Creation or Constitution of
things in his Kingdom of Glory But of this more on the Three last Chapters 15 I know thy works and thy whole state and condition that thou art neither cold i. e. neither void of all zeal for that Philadelphian glorious State of my Kindom which is now withdrawn from the very new Earth Rev. 20.11 nor hot i e. nor fervently zealous for it according to the extraordinary Love which that State requires I 35 would that I may speak after the manner of men thou wert cold for then being destitute of all Love which is the Life of a Christian Church thou wouldest be in a deadly state and fitted for destruction or 36 hot for then the vehement flame of thy Love would have been irresistible â—nd unextinguishable and all things here below would have been utterly contemned in respect of me Cant. 8.6 7. 35 Christ does not wish that they were cold simply and absolutely but comparatively that they were rather so than in such a State of Indifferency which was dangerous to themselves and more troublesome and displeasing in some respects unto himself And the whole Expression is taken from the manner in which Men are wont to express themselves when any thing is displeasing unto them and is not to be too Rigorously insisted upon in every part of the Similitude 36 By Heat and Fire is meant Divine Love in Scripture and by Coldness on the contrary is meant the absolute privation of it which is the Death of the Soul whose Life consists in the Love of God and Christ This appears from several Expressions especially in the Book of Canticles where Chap. 8.6 7. the Spouse which is Christ's Church in its most lovely Philadelphian State in his Kingdom represents the Love it has for him by a strong vehement flame or heat such a one as can be kindled only from the Lord as the Words may be translated and which could not possibly be extinguished nor could be translated from him to any other but perfectly contemned and rejected all Earthly things when they stood in competition with him Now this being the Love which the Spouse had for Christ in its perfect State which is elegantly set forth in that Book the Heat which is here wanting in this Laodicean State must be such a fervent one as that was which was in the foregoing State which was vehement heavenly overcoming all Difficulties and preferring Christ and things above beyond all Earthly things whatsoever yea counting them as dross and dung when compared with Christ See Grotius and Dr. Patrick on Canticles 8.6 7. 16 So then or therefore after all this long debate within my self what I should do with thee which art so troublesome and uneasy to me this is the conclusion of the whole matter that because thou art 37 luke-warm and neither cold as some of the other Church-states were which I have therefore destroyed nor hot to the degrees of the state of the new Jerusalem so that I cannot pitch my Tabernacle any longer with thee nor take thee up unto me except thou overcomest the evils of this State by following my counsels and hearkning to my rebukes Rev. 20.11.21 2 3. I will I speak still after the manner of men because of your infirmity spew 38 thee out of my mouth i. e. I will wholly rid me of the uneasiness I have been under and will have neither thee nor any other Church-state any more upon Earth 37 By Lukewarmness is not meant an indifferency to all Religion but an indifference to that higher Heavenly State of Love and Glory which Philadelphia was raised to For it is plain from a diligent compare of this Prophecy that after the Philadelphian State of a Thousand Years there is to be another Church state which is called Rev. 20.9 The Camp of the Saints and the Beloved City which must be this State of Laodicea because it is the only one that remains after the Philadelphian and therefore its Lukewarmness must be such as is consistent with the Love of God for else the Members of it could not have been said to be loved by Christ Verse 19. and is only so in respect of the higher Fervors of the Philadelphian State which is the Holy (a) Canticl â— 6 7. Rev. 20 11.21 2 3. City which comes down from Heaven like a Bride with a most vehement Flame of Love for Christ her Husband and after a Thousand Years of True Glory was translated or fled away with Christ into Heaven into a Glorious State of Eternity whereas this State is described as being on the Earth Rev. 20.9 and as retaining too much Love to the Glories and Enjoyments of their Earthly State although the Lustre of the Presence of Christ manifested during the Thousand Years was withdrawn and as not having such a vehement Love for being with Christ as to contemn all the Gold and Riches which are mentioned in the next Verse and all the Worldly substance of its Earthly State for a Heavenly State with Christ which it would have done if it had had the Love of the Spouse in the Canticles 38 This is a Metaphor from lukewarm Water which provokes Vomiting and casts off from a sickly Stomach what loads it and is nauseous or uneasie to it and is used in Scripture (a) Levit. 18.25 28.20 22. Jerem. 9.19 Ezek. 36.13 to signifie the utter dispeopling of a Nation in which sense it seems here to be taken for the total removal of this and all other such like Church-States as being uneasie to Christ because of their imperfections who would now be no more contented with any State but a Heavenly Perfect and Vnchangeable one such a one as no Waters could quench nor any Floods drown and which was to be set as a Seal upon his Heart Canticl 8.6 7. And accordingly Christ is here representented as uneasie under this State rather than angry with it and as deliberating and at last resolving what to do with it which is intimated by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Illative Particle noting a Conclusion drawn from Premises deliberated of and considered and the Result is That he could not indeed destroy them in his Anger by Fire from Heaven as he would their Enemies the Nations Rev. 20.9 because he had a Love for them and they were not cold in their Love to him neither could he take them in the State they were in unto himself in Heaven and therefore he was at last resolved to spew all Earthly Church states out of his Mouth and have no more such upon Earth by reason of the Imperfections and Corruptions they were subject to when left to themselves and his more immediate presence was withdrawn from them 17 And this will I do because 39 thou sayest I am still as rich as I was before and in the possession of the same Glorious State and not only so but I am encreased with Goods and which is more have need of nothing but am in a perfect self-sufficient State
Cardinal Points of Heaven 12 For so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ought to be translated as it is Ezek. 1.5 that so they may be the better distinguished from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Antichristian Beast These Four living Creatures are called Cherubims Ezek. 10.2 By which is meant Active Beings of an Angelical Nature employed in the Ministration of God's Providence as appears from their Description given by Ezekiel Now the Representations here given figuring something analogous to them in the Church they cannot be supposed to signifie any thing more properly than the pure Christian Church represented by the Apostles who were so extraordinarily active in the propagating of the Gospel into the Four Quarters of the World and were Twelve making up Four Ternaries of Living Creatures or Zealous Active Ministers of Christ according to the Number of the Four Ternaries of the Twelve Tribes under the Four Standards in the Wilderness For we are to take notice that this Representation of the Throne of the Majesty of God or this Theatre or Stage of the Apocalyptick Visions as Mr. Mede calls it exactly answers the Encampments of the Israelites God's Throne being here placed in the middle as the Tabernacle was there the Four and Twenty Elders next to answer the Station of the Priests and Levites and the Four Beasts at each Angle Diametrically opposite to each other against the Four Cardinal Points of the Wind representing Christians in the Four Quarters of the World in analogy to the Four Standards of the Camp of the Israelites having in them Figures of these Four Living Creatures taken from the Cherubims of the Chariot or Glorious Throne of Almighty God 1 Chron. 28.18 For which see Mr. * Pag. 437 594 917. Mede Dr. Hammond on the Place Grotius on Numb 10.15 and Mr. Ainsworth on Numb 2. where he has given us the Figure of the Encampments and has discoursed largely on them and Dr. ‖ De legibus Hebraeorum lib. 3. Dissertat 5. Spencer 7 And the first Beast or living creature was like a Lion 13 denoteing the Power and strength of the Gospel and Apostolical Ministry Gen. 49.9 Psal 103.24 and the second Beast like a Calf 14 or Ox denoting their Laboriousness and Usefulness Prov. 14.4 and the third Beast had the face of a Man 15 signifying Reason and Prudence and the fourth Beast was like a flying Eagle 16 noteing their activity and quick-sightedness into the Mysteries of the Gospel 13 This was the Standard of Judah on the East side compared to a Lyon Gen. 49.9 And the Qualities of these Living Creatures do denote the like Gifts and Graces required in the Ministry which were after an extraordinary manner eminent in the Apostles the Representatives of the Christian Church and of its State in the Kingdom of Christ to which this appearance relates 14 The Standard of Ephraim on the West side of the Camp who is resembled to an Ox Deut. 33.17 15 Reuben's Standard on the South side 16 The Standard of Dan on the North side 8 And the four Beasts had each of them six 17 Wings noteing their speed their Reverence in God s Presence and their humble sense of themselves Isa 6.2 about 18 him and they were full of Eyes within 19 to observe themselves as well as to be vigilant over others and they 20 rest not day and night but are constant and incessant in the Worship and Service of God Isa 60 11.62 6. saying Holy 21 Holy Holy i. e. infinitely and superlatively Holy Isa 6.3 Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come Rev. 1.4 17 With Two they covered their Faces out of Reverence with Two their Feet or Nakedness out of a sense of their own shame and impurity and with Two they flew to execute God's Commands Isa 6.2 18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 round about them that is perhaps at several Distances on each side as the Israelites are said to encamp 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or round about the Tabernacle that is at distant Points of the several sides of the Square encompassing it So here each of the Living Creatures is said to have Six Wings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is on each side Three one against another one pair on their Shoulders with which they flew another on each of their Breasts stretched upwards to cover their Faces and the Third about their Hips to cover their less honourable parts or appearances Andreas Caesariensis reads as our common Copies do but if 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be to be joyned to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Grotius and Dr. Hammond think then their Exposition may be consulted as more commmodious 19 The inward Eyes of these Creatures were represented unto John the Figure or Appearance which was perhaps diaphanous being contrived accordingly 20 This was the Practice of the Apostolical Church as appears from Acts 2.42 46.20 31. Luke 2.37 2 Tim. 4.2 21 Here it is acknowledged by the Apostolical Church with the Joynt Consent of the Israelitish Church that God is a Supereminent Being and that he is to be worshipped incommunicably according to his most eminent and unparallell'd Holiness and perhaps the Divine Being in Father Word and Spirit may be intimated in the Threefold Repetition of the Word Holy But howsoever in this First Doxology the Lord God Almighty who is Father Son and Holy Ghost God blessed for ever is only mentioned and not the Lamb to shew that the Belief of One God who created all things is the First Fundamental Principle of Religion Christ as Redeemer the Lamb slain being not acknowledged and worshipped until the Second Doxology after he had appeared before the Throne of the Father and had received his Kingdom acccording to the Original Model of these Visions in the Book of Daniel where Chap. 7. the Son of Man is brought near to the Father and then had Dominion and Glory given him 9 And when soever these Beasts 22 or representatives of the Apostolical pure Church give or shall and are wont to give glory i. e. acknowledgment of God's glorious Majesty and Excellency and Honour to God's Authority and Preheminence and thanks for his bounty and gracious gifts to his Church to him that sat on the Throne who liveth for ever and ever i. e. to the Eternal and Living God not a dead Idol who will open his Kingdom of Eternal Life to all true Christians 22 At the fourth Verse the Twenty four Elders are placed before the Living Creatures to signifie the Primogeniture of the Jewish Church Here they are placed after them to signifie that the Truths here acknowledged were first clearly made known to the Christian Church and shall be at last communicated by them to the Jewish which shall be excited and provoked to Jealousie by them and shall at their Conversion joyn with them in an acknowledgment of these and all other Truths of Christianity 10 The four and twenty Elders or Heads of the pure Jewish Church testifying
their agreement with the Christian Church do fall down in great humility and submission before him that sat on the Throne and worship him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their Crowns before the Throne in token of Subjection and Homage saying 11 Thou art worthy and thou only O Lord to receive the Acknowledgement of Glory and Honour and Power for thou hast created all things by thy Power and for thy pleasure or Will the only Motive to it they are preserved in their Being and were at first created Nehem. 9.6 CHAP. V. The Text. 1 AND I saw in the Right 1 Hand of him that sate on the Throne i. e. of God the Father a 2 Book or Roll Ezek. 2.9 10. written within and on the back-side i. e. containing a long Series of Events 3 sealed with 4 Seven Seals to denote the Obscurity of the Prophecy and the Delay of its Accomplishment Dan. 12.4 Annotations on CHAP. V. 1 God held the Book in his Right Hand to shew his Power and his Readiness to deliver it 2 This Book seems to have consisted of seven several Rolls rolled up into one in the Form of a Cylinder (a) Poli Synops Hammond on Luke 4.17 and on the place Mede pag. 789 790 791. Mori Oper. Theol. pag. 21. ubi formam libri videas according to the Custom of the Antients having seven Labels sealed with seven Seals which being opened in order there appeared in each of them the Seulptures or Hieroglyphicks hereafter mentioned and the back side of the last Roll which is the outermost in rolling was written upon to shew that there was a long series of Events contained in this Book it being not the Custom of the Ancients to write on the back side of the Roll but when the inside could not contain all their Writing We may divide for Order and Memories sake the whole Prophecy of this Book into Two Tomes as Mr. Mede calls them the first of which contained in the foregoing Chapters may be called The (b) See on Chap. 4.1 Church Prophecy wherein Symbols of Churches then in being are used the Second which begins here may be called The Book-Prophecy because its Events are represented by Hieroglyphicks in a Book And both Prophecies are of the same Extent this latter reaching to the End of Time and determining and distinguishing Church Successions and Affairs as well as the former only with this difference that they are represented in the latter by future Occurrences and Circumstances of the Civil State and Empire that so the Times of their Accomplishment might be the better known and taken notice of by the illustrious Events represented in them For as it pleased God to describe and foretel by his Prophets the Fall of Babylon and other Events under several Symbols and Representations for the greater assurance of the Prediction as in Pharaoh's Dream Gen. 41.32 and that the thing might be the more deeply imprinted on Mens Minds by the Variety of the Figures by which they are described so hath the Divine Spirit upon the same account given divers Emblems of one and the same thing in this Prophecy 3 I shall here once for all endeavour to give the true import of Sealing which seems to have these several Acceptations in Scripture 1. It denotes a secret or an hidden Condition as we seal up things which we would keep secret 2. It denotes Security Thus the Stone at the mouth of Daniel's Den and our Saviour's Sepulchre were sealed with Seals 3. It signifies Hindrance and Restraint Thus God Job 37.7 is said to seal up the Hand of every man i. e. to hinder their Work by Storms and wet weather and to seal up the Stars Job 9.7 i. e. to restrain their Influences as Satan is said Rev. 20.3 to be shut up and to have a Seal set upon him to restrain him 4. Propriety is signified by sealing in Scripture from the Custom of sealing Goods and Servants when they were bought thereby to denote their propriety in them and to distinguish them from other Mens Servants Hammond on Eph. 4.30 5. Lastly From these and other Metaphors it often in Prophetical Scripture signifies the Obscurity of a Prophecy and the concealing of it in dark terms from the Generality of the People Isa 8.16 and the stopping or hindring the Events foretold by it so that sealing and writing and sealing and opening are opposed in prophetical Language to one another and signifie as much as concealing and revealing delaying the Accomplishment of a Prophecy and bringing it into effect See the Notes on Chap. 7.2 3 4. 4 With reference to the seven states of Christ's Church which were hindred from coming into event whilst the Book was sealed and were to be by degrees accomplished and discovered upon the gradual opening of each of them 2 And I saw a strong 5 Angel or a mighty one Psalm 103.20 proclaiming with a loud 5 voice after the manner of a Herald Dan. 3.4 who is worthy for Authority and Ability to open 6 the Book and to loose the Seals thereof i. e. to bring into event the things there delivered 5 5 To shew the Weight and Concern of the thing to be delivered as worthy to be heard of all Creatures 6 To open it by unsealing it or when it is unsealed 3 And no 7 man or no creature Isa 41.28 in Heaven i. e. neither Saint nor Angel nor in Earth nor under the Earth i. e. in the State of departed Souls from whence Christ was just come was able to open the Book i. e. to bring to pass the Events of it neither so much as to look thereon if it were opened that is of himself to understand foresee and govern the course of the Prophecy and conduct it into Event 7 Here by a Hebraism consisting in describing the whole by an enumeration of its parts is signified that no Creature whatsoever was able to open the Book or so much as to understand it of himself 4 And I wept * much because no man was found worthy to open and to read the Book neither to look thereon as fearing that I should not be shewn those things that were promised me Chap. 4.1 * This weeping seems to be rather from a Despair that things would not be carried on to the great Kingdom of Redemption as the Two Apostles Luke 24.21 were sorrowful least Christ was not he which should have redeemed Israel and were astonished as Mary also was John 20.13 15. because the Lord could not be found for which she wept For Christ is represented at the sixth Verse as just risen from the dead and therefore in congruity to that appearance what is here said must relate to the time before he appeared as risen which is also a Circumstance that confirms the fixing of the Epocha of this Book at the Resurrection 5 And one or the 8 first and chief of the 9 Elders or Representatives of the Jewish Church Chap. 4.4 saith unto me Weep
thousands i. e. innumerale Heb. 12.22 12 Saying with a loud Voice and suitable affection worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive the Acknowledgment and Possession of power and Authority over all things especially his Church Matth. 11.27.28 18. John 17.2 and of Riches i. e. the inheritance of all things Heb. 1.2 and of Wisdom to govern his Church as being the Eternal Wisdom of his Father Prov. 3.16 and of strength to conquer his Enemies and honour from all Creatures and glory from his Father John 17.1 5. and blessing from Angels and Saints and all creatures Psalm 145.10 11. Psalm 148. 13 And every 16 Creature Phil. 2.10 which is in Heaven and on the Earth and under the Earth and such as are in the Sea and all that are in them heard I saying Blessing and Honour and Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb i e. to God the Father and his Son Christ for ever and ever 16 Even inanimatt Creatures are frequently in Scripture called upon to praise God by a common Figure usual to all Authors and Nations that because they would praise him if they could and are the Objects and Occasions of Praise to Angels and Men and are under the command of God and subservient to his Glory and his Churches good and because the very Order and Beauty of the Creatures especially as they shall be in the Restitution of all things is a Real and Virtual Praising of God And all Creatures Saints and Angels themselves are here brought as making this Acknowledgment to signifie that God and Christ are the alone Objests of Worship and not any Creature whatsoever Exod. 20.4 5. 14 And the four Beasts i. e. the Christian Church said Amen to this new Song i. e. consented and approved of it And after the Christian Church to shew that they received the clear and explicit Knowledge of Chrisi from the Christian Church and to testifie the Agreement there is betwixt the Old and New Testament the Four and Twenty Elders i. e. the Jewish Church fell down and worshipped him 17 that liveth for ever i. e. God the Father 17 Here it is to be observed that as the Christian Church began Chap. 4.8 9. with Hymns and Worship to God the Father so the Jewish Church here Ends after they had joyned with the Christian Church in Praises and Acts of Worship to Christ who has the same Worship here given him with the Father with an Act of Worship to the Father to shew that as all things are Of Him so are they also To Him and His Glory and that the Kingdom is to be delivered up unto him and that all things are to be subject unto him who is All in All 1 Cor. 15 24-28 which is signified by their falling down and worshipping him in token of their Obedience and of the Subjection of all things unto him all Creatures also are as themselves bowing or being subject unto him in the sense that they praise him Psal 2.10 11. CHAP. VI. The Text. 1 AND Christ being now possessed of the Right to his Kingdom and his sole and absolute Power and Dominion having been acknowledged by all Creatures in the former Chapter I saw or was in a Vision when the Lamb i. e. Christ having now the Right and Administration of the Affairs of his Kingdom opened 1 one i. e. the first Chap. 5. 5. of the Seals i. e. he revealed what was before hid and accomplished what was represented under each Seal and I heard as it was the noise or a Clap of 2 Thunder i. e. a powerful and a terrible Voice and efficaciously productive of its Effects See on Chap. 1. 10. 3 one i. e. the first of the four Beasts or the Apostolical Ministry saying Come and see and consider the Mysterious Sculpture which is to be seen in the first Roll of the Book and the great Event represented by it Annotations on CHAP. VI. 1 The Seals are as so many Stops and Delays to Christ's Kingdom and the opening of them signifies not only the making of the Visions known wnich before were concealed whereupon Prophecy is called a sealed Book but also the Effect of every Vision as the Prophet Ezekiel Chap. 12.23 Phrases it or the several Steps and Advances made towards the Kingdom of Christ this being the Book of Christ's Kingdom whirh he opened as King with Power and Authority and by actually effecting the things signified in their due and proper times 2 Hereby is signified the great Power and Efficacy which accompanied the first preaching of the Gospel whence Mark 3.17 James and John are called the Sons of Thunder and the utmost Force of God's Power is called the Thunder of God's Power Job 26.14 3 One as is usual in this Prophecy signifies the first of the Beasts like a Lyon whose Station being in the Eastern part of the Jewish Camp hereby is signified the coming forth of the Gospel from Jerusalem which is in the Eastern parts of the World whence the Gospel was first preached and the first Apostolical Church gathered according to the Prediction of the Prophets Isa 28.16 Micah 4.2 Acts 2.41 2 And I saw and behold I perceiv'd engraven on the first Roll a white 4 Horse signifying the pure and merciful power and conquest of the Gospel Dispensation Psal 45.4 and he 5 i. e. Christ that sat on him i. e. who had the Power and management of that Dispensation had a Bow 6 i. e. the Gospel Psal 45.5 and a Crown was given unto him as King and Conqueror and he went forth from Jerusalem Mic 4.2 conquering 7 by the efficacy of his Gospel and his Ministers and to conquer by degrees untill the completion of his Kingdom Psal 2 6.-8 4 Horses being a swift and warlike Creature according to the admirable Description of them given in Job Chap. 39. the Scripture does signifie by them some active and powerful Dispensation of his Providence brought to pass by his Angels and Ministers the Nature and Quality of which is denoted by the divers Colours attributed to those Horses as appears plainly from Zach. 1.8 10.6.2 3.10 3. Now the Dispensation here pointed at being that of Christ's Kingdom a (a) Bochart Hieros 2.7 white Horse is attributed unto him 1. to denote his Power Princes and Honourable Persons being used to Ride and that on White Beasts whilst Inferiours went on Foot as appears from Judg. 5.10 Eccles 10.7 2. To signifie the Mercifulness of his Conquest Psalm 45.4 Zech. 9 9.10 3. it being usual for Conquerors to ride on white Horses on the Days of Triumph Rev. 19.11 14. 5 That Christ is hereby signified is evident from Rev. 19.11 12 13. compared with Psalm 2. and 45. from whence these Symbols are taken 6 As an Archer with his Bow according to the Description given by the Psalmist 7 12.11 2. first menaces and threatens at a distance before he shoots so Christ first appeared with a peaceable
should sometimes be overcome by its Emies but should at last overcome them whereby the State of the Church Militant and of the Future Victorious State of the Kingdom of Christ notwithstanding its many seeming Foils and Delays of Conquest is fitly typified 6 Of the Tribe of 14 Aser were sealed twelve Thousand of the Tribe of 15 Nepthali were sealed twelve Thousand of the Tribe of 16 Manasses were sealed twelve Thousand 14 Asher signifies blessed because he was the cause that his Mother was accounted happy and blessed Gen. 30.13 and because he lived in a fruitful and happy Soil Gen. 49.20 Deut. 33.24 Whereby is signified the Delight which Christ has in his Church the Fruitfulness of it and the Blessing which they enjoy who have God for their Lord Psalm 144 12-15 15 This is the Tribe in which our Saviour was very conversant his constant Residence being in Galilee and most frequently in Capernaum a City of Galilee in the Tribe of Nepthali as Mr. Mede has ingeniously observed upon which account Nepthali is placed before his Seniors and has received so great an Encomium from Moses Deut. 33.23 The Word signifies Gen. 30.8 very great and vehement wrestlings or Endeavours joyned with (a) Josepho 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Skill and Cunning or Fair Words Gen. 49.21 By which may be signified the frequent Wrestlings of the Church with God in Prayer Gen. 32 24-32 Hos 12.3 4 and their wrestling against Flesh and Blood and resisting the Wiles of the Devil and the Powers of Darkness with a prudent Simplicity joyning the Wisdom of the Serpent with the Harmlesness of the Dove 16 Manasseh signifies forgetting whereby is intimated that God makes all true Christians forget all their former Toil when he gives them Comfort and Joy in the Holy Ghost and that whosoever would follow him must forget and forsake all his Father's House and worldly Relations which seems to be the Gospel-import of the Words of Joseph Gen. 41.51 and the thing for which Levi is praised Deut. 33.9 7 Of the Tribe of Simeon 17 were sealed Twelve Thousand of the Tribe of 18 Levi were sealed Twelve Thousand of the Tribe of 19 Issachar were sealed Twelve Thousand 17 Simeon signifies Hearing whereby is noted that God hears the Prayers of his Church and the Hatred with which their Enemies hate them Gen. 29.33 18 Levi indeed had no portion in the Division of the Land as Dr. Hammond notes yet in Christ their Portion was as good as any Levi signifies joyned for the Church Christ's Spouse is to be joyned unto the Lord in Spirit and Fervent Affection and not unto Idolatrous Harlots which is the Spiritual meaning of the Book of Canticles Read Gen. 29.34 1 Cor. 6.16 17. Eph. 5 25-33 Deut. 33.9 19 Issachar signifies Gen. 30 17 18. a Hire or Reward given by God as appears from the Context from whence (a) Pag. 55. Philo makes him to be the Type of One whose Labours are Crowned and Rewarded by God and that as (b) Apud Rivetum in locum Jerome remarks with a great Compensation for slight and small Performances of no greater Value than Mandrakes by which the Rich Rewards which God bestows upon his Church for their imperfect Services may be not unfitly set forth 8 Of the Tribe of 20 Zabulon were sealed Twelve Thousand of the Tribe of 21 Joseph were sealed Twelve Thousand of the Tribe of 22 Benjamin were sealed Twelve Thousand 20 Zabulon signifies Dwelling Gen. 30.20 which was the Tribe upon the Borders of which our Saviour himself dwelt Matth. 4.13 from which place diligently compared with Isa 9.1 it may be gathered that they shall have the greatest share of Christ's Presence who have undergone the greatest Misery and Afflictions and that he will come and dwell with the ignorant but humble person rather than with self-conceited and proud Professors as Christ dwelt with the ignorant Galileans rather than at Jerusalem whether he went not but upon some solemn Occasions See Mr. Mede upon this place and Isa 57.15 John 14.23 Matth. 9.13 21 Joseph signifies He will add or adding Gen. 10.24 for God daily adds to his Church more Blessings and continues his Grace to those who pray unto him and use their own diligent Endeavours Gen. 30 22.49 22-26 Deut. 33 12-17 22 Benjamin signifies the Son of the Right Hand Genes 35.18 For the Church which was Benoni or the Son of Sorrows unto Christ as being purchased by his Sufferings and Blood is yet unto him and his Father a Benjamin that is much loved and regarded as the Phrase is interpreted Deut. 33.12 as near and dear to him as the Right Hand the most Honourable of the Two Upon which account the people of Israel are called the Men of God's right hand Psal 80.17 And we may observe that Dan is here wholly left out and Ephraim not mentioned by Name because they both soon apostatized to Idolatry it being a Custom amongst the Jews to leave out of their Genealogies and Chronologies the Names and Times of Wicked Persons as Er and Onan Judah's wicked Sons are omitted by (a) Antiq. 2.7 Vossius de Sibyllin Orac. cap. 1. Josephus when he reckons up his Posterity And altho they are mentioned in Ezekiel yet that was when the whole Church was purified and in its Jerusalem State whereas at this present time of Numbring Dan and Ephraim were the Types of the Apostasie and were therefore to be omitted and not to be mentioned but when the Righteous amongst them had been purified and the Wicked had been purged away by God's Judgments 9 23 After this Vision of the Apostolical Church secured and concealed I beheld and lo a great multitude which no man could number of all Nations and Kingdoms and People and Tongues i. e. the 24 Catholick Church of Christ's Kingdom Dan. 7.14 27. stood before the Throne and before the Lamb in communion with God and Christ in his Kiâ—gdom cloathed with white Robes denoting Honour and Purity and 25 Palms in their Hands denoting Victory over Persecutions and Temptations and the Triumphs of Christ's Kingdom 23 The following Vision is taken from the Descriptions given in this Prophecy of the New Jerusalem State in Christ's Kingdom to which only it can in propriety of Speech belong as appears from the many high Expressions made use of in it and from the Elders the Representatives of the Jewish Church having the Precedency which will not be until the New Jerusalem State And yet because that Kingdom is not to come until the Days of the Voice of the Seventh Angel who has not yet sounded therefore this Description cannot belong to the Kingdom it self but to some Typical Resemblance or Pre-appearance of it it being usual in this Prophecy as I have already observed for the Spirit to describe the several Praeludia or faint Resemblances and imperfect Appearances of Christ's Kingdom by the State of the Kingdom it self to shew what the Church ought and might have
arrived to and that his Kingdom should have appeared of Right at those times if a stop had not been put to it according to the determinate Counsels of God and Christ's Submission unto them Dan. 12.7 For the Kingdom of Christ which should have come in its Glory upon the Ascension of our Saviour was retarded by the Times allotted to Paganism and Antichristianism and was thereupon delayed until the Time of the End Dan. 12. Only Christ at some certain seasons puts in as it were his Claim to his Kingdom by some more than ordinary Appearances of it Now the Appearance here referred to seems to be plainly that of the Christian Church under the Christian Empire which was the next remarkable Event after the Fall of Paganism described at the close of the foregoing Chapter and was so glorious a one that it might justly be described by the State of the Kingdom it self Paganism having been overthrown by it the Church delivered from Persecution and exalted into an unexpected and sudden State of Prosperity and the Man of Sin withheld for some time 2 Thes 2.6 7. And yet becxuse this glorious State of things would not continue long in purity but would be soon corrupted by Pride and Ambition and by the bringing in of Pagan Rites into the Church under the Specious Pretences of a well-meaning Prudence and Zeal therefore it pleased God to give an intimation of this early Corruption by sealing a pure Church even before he gives the glorious appearance of the Visible Church that a competent Number of sealed Witnesses might be set apart and preserved betimes in purity and integrity before their Minds could be corrupted by the Glory and Honours of this Exalted Church and by the Mystery of iniquity which had been working in secret for a long time and was advanced to a Satanical Synagogue even in the foregoing times of Persecution 24 Whereby is pointed out the great Number of Professors in the Christian Empire 25 A Psalm is the Symbol of Victory amongst all Nations whence in Ezekiel's Vision of the Temple Ch. 40 and 41. Palm Trees are so often mentioned which signifie the Conquests True Christians are to make over Sin and Persecution and the Conquest they had now gained over Paganism 10 And cryed with a loud 26 Voice to denote the Affectionateness and the Publick Freedom of their Worship saying 26 Salvation be unto our God i. e. let the Glory of our Deliverance be ascribed unto him the sole Author of it Psalm 3.8 Hos 13.4 which sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb the sole Purchaser of it to them alone let it be given and not unto our own Merits or any Creature 26 26 Hereby also is intimated the Publick Freedem of Worship they enjoyed in the Christian Empire and their Deliverance from their Persecutors 11 And all the Angels stood round about the Throne and about the Elders and the four Beasts and fell before the Throne on their Faces and worshipped God i. e. all the whole Church consisting of Angels Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Jews and Christians Heb. 12 22-24 joyned in the Praise of God 12 Saying Amen Blessing and Glory and Wisdom and Thanksgiving and Honour and Power and Might be unto our God for ever and ever Amen Chap. 4 8-11.5 11-14 13 And one or the first of the Elders or Representatives of the Jewish Church now fully instructed by the Christian and one with it answered or said Matth. 11.25 saying unto me to excite my enquiry after a thing worthy of it and out of a desire to inform me what are these that are arrayed in white Robes and whence came they 14 And I said unto him Sir thou knowest for I do not and am desirous to be taught by thee And he said unto me these are they which came out of 27 the great Tribulation and have 28 washed their Robes i. e. their imperfect performances Luke 15.22 Rev. 19.8 and made them 29 white or pure and shining in the Blood of the Lamb Christ i. e. they are purified delivered and rewarded by Gods acceptance of their actions and sufferings upon Christ's Merits Isa 52.1 27 With reference to the New Jerusalem State this Tribulation noted with a double Greek Article The Tribulation The Great to shew the Remarkableness of it refers to the Days of extraordinary Trouble mentioned Dan. 12. Matth. 24. Mark 9. and Luke 21. which shall precede Christ's Kingdom perhaps at the pouring forth of the seventh Vial and the Earthquake attending it from which the Saints shall be delivered but with reference to the Christian Empire it has a relation to the Ten Days Tribulation under Diocletian mentioned Chap. 2.10 from which they were delivered by Constantine and to their Escape from out of the Great Day of God's Wrath against Paganism Chap. 6.17 28 These are the Saints and Martyrs who had white Robes given them Chap. 6.11 and were bid to tarry in expectation of Christ's Kingdom which they and their Successors here enjoy whereby is set forth the Advancement of the before Persecuted Church and of its Confessors and Witnesses 29 They are made White or Shining by his Blood as Wooll receives a more Noble and shining Colour by being died in Purple And here is an Allusion to Joshua's Change of filthy Garments and his putting on White and Clean Priestly Vestments as these Saints do here in Christ's Kingdom in which they are Priests unto God and Christ. 15 Threfore because they persevered under Persecution and trusted in Christ's Merits are they before the Throne of God in communion with him and under his particular care in a State of Prosperity and serve him 30 Day and Night i. e. continually and incessantly in his Temple of the New Jerusalem in the General Assembly and Church of the First-born and he that sitteth on the Throne i. e. God shall dwell among them or pitch his Tent amongst them i. e. they shall be his people and he will afford them his continual Presence Conduct aad Defence Isa 4. Ezek. 48.35 John 1.14 Rev. 3 12.21 3. 2 Cor. 6.16 Levit. 26.12 30 A Metaphor taken from the constant Service and Attendance of the Priests and Levites in the Temple some of which were always present in it Day and Night 1 Chron. 9.33 Psal 135.1 2. Luke 2.37 16 They shall hunger no more neither thirst any more that is they shall always enjoy God's Ordinances and his Gifts and Graces Isa 49.10 John 4.13.6 27. neither shall the 31 Sun light on them nor any scorching heat i. e. they shall be delivered from Persecutions and Sufferings Isa 49.10 Psalm 121.6 7. 31 The Jews express all manner of inconveniencies by Heat because of its Extremity in those Eastern parts both from the Sun and burning Winds Jonas 4.9 17 For the Lamb which is in or about the midst of the Throne i. e. Christ shall feed them and shall lead them as a good Shepherd Psalm 24.1 4. John 4 10-14 and 21 15-17 unto
Apostatizing Hierarchy attained its Bestian Power and that therefore the Months of the Gentiles who are the Members of the Apostatizing Church before it had an Antichristian King began before the Months of the Beast upon whose Rise they fall into his Months and are continued down with them although only the Mouths of the Antichristian King came then into Publick Account as after the Erecting of a Monarchy or after an Interregnum those only of the Supreme Prince do And because these Times were given to the Beast and Times are always reckoned from the Supreme Princes Reign therefore the Gentiles Months are to be reckoned only as suppletory to the Beast's Months by a kind of Intercalation of Thirty Eight Years which by the All-wise disposal of Providence is the Exact Mathematical proportion betwixt the Time of the Sun and Moon to teach us by the very Astronomical difference here observed that these were Pagan or Gentile Times the Heathens (a) Cary's Chronological Account of Time Part 1. B. 1. Chap. 4. Spencer ubi infra generally observing the Lunar Year and making it give place to the Solar although this were more Ancient Easie Equal and certain than the other Because that their Night-Revellings were wont to be celebrated upon the Rising of the Moon and their Idolatrous Festivities depended upon the Aspects and superstitious Observations of that Planet Whereupon God indulged the (b) Spencer de Hebraeor Legib. pag. 715-744 Jews the Observation of New Moons and instituted Festivities of his own which depended upon their Phases and Appearances to take them off from following the Pagan ones which yet they by degrees imitated And therefore I cannot but look upon the high Contest in the Church about the Day of the Paschal Solemnity in the behalf of which an imposing and a domineering Temper first appeared and the regulating and setling of it according to the Motion of the Moon to contain some Indications in it of an Apostasy then working in the Church to which the superstitious Observation of Holy Days much contributed whereas there was no Day at first observed as Necessary but the Lord's Day Vallesius (c) Valles in Euseb pag. 279. Pearson Lect. in Acta Apostol pag. 39 40. himself confessing that although the Primitive Christians met on other Days that yet it was Voluntarily and that it was not the Custom to do so every where and that all were not wont to frequent those Assemblies where it was And I cannot also but observe further That this Paschal Cycle of the Moon after many Corrections was settled upon a New Hypothesis in the very Year (a) Petav. Doctr. Temp. 2.57 437 by Cyril of Alexandria that proud and assuming Prelate who as that prudent Historian (b) Histor 7.7 11 13. Socrates notes was the first Bishop that exercised Civil Power and Coercive Authority and advanced Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction at Alexandria beyond its due bounds For such Providential Congruities if I may so call them fatally as it were conspiring to signalize this Year will with other Concurrent Arguments tend much to facilitate our belief that it is the very Epocha of the Antichristian Times the Cycle of the Moon being then regulated to shew that her Months were just beginning and Usurpation upon Civil Rights Tyranny and Persecution beginning then at (c) Socrat. 7.11 Rome as well as at Alexandria whereby the Mystery of Iniquity was gradually advanced into a Beastian Kingdom by Leo the Great and his Successors and by Cyril at Alexandria whose Bishops were the Conservators of the Moon 's Paschal Cycle about which so many (d) Beverig in Canon pag. 19. 188. Vsser Anti◠Britannic pag. 487. Councils had been held and so many rash Decrees had been made for the anathematizing of all who dissented from them as Hereticks and that in a trifling Controversie grounded upon two contrary Traditions one of which was submitted unto at last for the sake of Peace rather than of Truth neither Party being able to tell exactly which was in the Right So dangerous a thing is it to give too great Credit to Traditions not recorded in Scripture and to be wise beyond what is commanded in it 5. The 2300 Evenings and Mornings given Daniel 8 14. will also tend very much to the ascertaining of this Epocha For if these 2300 Days are so many Years reaching from the first Year of Cyrus A. M. 3459. to A. M. 5759. which will be the Vulgar Year of our Lord 1772 Then if we take Daniel's Seventy Five Years which are immediately added by him as has been shewn on Chap. 10. numb 13. Paragr 6. to the 1260 Days as the End of all Time from the Year of our Lord 1772 we shall come going backwards in a Regressive Order to the Year 1697. for the End of the Forty Two Months and 1260 Days which being also deducted from that Year we shall arrive to the Year 437. for the beginning of the afore mentioned Days and Months Bus because this is a matter of great moment I shall endeavour to state and settle it by these following Observations Obs 1. It hath pleased God to afford us a Scripture-Account of Time to be our sure Guide amidst the difficulties and intricate Mazes of Chronology and that sometimes in common Numbers and sometimes in Prophetical and Mystical ones amongst which there is a very remarkable one in Dan. 8.13 14. Where a Line of Time is given consisting of 2300 Days called Evening-morning in the Original Hebrew in the Singular Number perhaps to shew that it was a continued Line of Time consisting of many several 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Days of Years answerable to the many particular Events to be transacted in them which yet for Memories sake were contracted into One Aera which might be called as it is at the 26th Verse The Evening-Morning Vision and that with relation to the long Night of Idolatry and Antichristianism called collectively Evening which was to precede the glorious Morning of Christ's Kingdom at the Entrance of the seventh Thousand Year the Type of which the seventh day is not distributed into Evening and Morning as the other six days are to shew that it is to be all Light without any Antichristian Works of Darkness So that this Phrase Evening-Morning shews That this was a Line of Time reaching through the Evening of Three Idolatrous Monarchies to the Morning of Christ's Kingdom Obs 2. In this Place of Daniel a Question is put by an Angel to Christ the Wonderful Numberer who is the Word or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for so the (a) Poli Synops in locum Words are to be understood unto how long or unto when the Vision should last or endure as the LXX have rightly supplied the Words understanding them concerning the things represented in the whole foregoing Vision and not only of those specified in this Verse which are but a part of them and are particularly mentioned because they were things of the
Resurrection Matth. 27 51.28 2. 43 Which is called Earth in this Prophecy 44 By 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be meant 1. The Tenth part of the City 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being understood and then it may denote Rome as under the Papacy which Mr. Mede supposes to be the Tenth part of Old Rome or rather because it is doubted whether Mr. Mede's Dimensions of Old and Modern Rome be exact some One most Notable Kingdom of the Ten into which the Western Roman Empire was divided as is observed on Chap. 17. Whereby the Kingdom of France may most peculiarly be denoted which was the Tenth part of the City that is the last of those Ten Kingdoms which arose out of the Ruines of the Roman Empire and gave their Power to the Beast as may be seen in the Catalogue of them given by the Judicious and Learned Author of the Book de (a) Pag. 17. Excidio Antichristi Or 2. By the Tenth of the City may rather be meant the whole Papal Jurisdiction called the Tenth because it is symbolized in Prophecy by Ten Toes Ten Horns Ten Kings united under the Papacy as will be shewn on Chap. 17. For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may signifie not the tenth part of the City but the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Decem-Principality the State of the Antichristian Jurisdiction or City after it came to have Ten Kings as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chap. 6.8 signifies not the fourth part of the Earth but the fourth Earthly Kingdom or Monarchy which is a Sense of the Phrase more comprehensive than the former and more suitable to the symbolical Genius of this Prophecy And it is said to fall that is to be ruined and destroyed in the Commotion as Babylon is said by the Prophets to be fallen or destroyed 45 In the Greek it is were slain Names of Men seven thousand By Names of Men as Dr. Moor observes may be meant Titles Dignities Offices and Orders of Men by which they are named and distinguished or the Men themselves who were Men of Name or Repute upon those and such like Accounts as Vile or Base Men on the contrary are called Men of No Name Job 30.8 And by seven Thousand of them being slain is meant that there shall be a Perfect Total and Solid Overthrow of the Popish Hierarchy and Jurisdiction which shall entirely be slain or cease to be what it was before which is signified by Seven a Perfect Number multiplied into a Thousand a Cubical Solid Number as 1 Kings 19.17 18. from whence this Expression is taken God saith that he had seven thousand left in Israel That is a perfect Number of pure Worshippers reserved entire in secret See Notes on Chap. 1 4. 7 4 5. 9 5. 20 4. 46 To give Glory to God is to confess their Faults and acknowledge the Righteousness and Justice of God in his Punishments as Achan did Josh 7. 19 20. and Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 4 34-37 and thereupon to Honour and Worship him after his own manner and to forsake their former Idolatry Rom. 1.21 25. 14 The second Wo 47 of the sixth Trumpet viz. Turkish Mahometism chap. 8 13 9 12 is past already and behold the third 47 Wo viz that of the sevenâ—h Trumpet upon Antichrianism chapters 14.15.16 cometh quickly 47 into event and execution after the second is past upon the sounding of the seventh Angel chap. 10 7. 11 15. 47 The First Wo is that of the Locusts or Saracens the Second of the Horsemen of Euphrates or the Turkish Mahometans the Third is the Wo of the seventh Trumpet or Angel upon Antichristianism which is largely related in some of the following Chapters And in this Verse is plainly asserted 1. That during or rather after the Earthquake and the Effects of it upon the Ascent of the VVitnesses into Heaven the second Wo or Turkish Mahometism should pass off and that more particularly from the Grecian Churches and their Empire or Imperial Seat For it is here said after the Vision of those Events that the second Wo is past that is it was then past in Vision and consequently was to pass off in the Event and Completion at the time immediately following the fulfilling of the foregoing Vision 2. That the Third Wo of the seventh Angel upon Antichristianism was to follow quickly upon the passing off of the second VVo that is upon its ceasing to be a Wo or a Scourge to Antichristianism for which End it was designed by God who will then inflict Woes of another Nature upon them And 3. That the Effects of the seventh Trumpet shall not take up any long time in their accomplishing but shall be performed with speed and of a sudden which may perhaps be the meaning of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for as a Judicious Person hath acutely observed the sixth Trumpet comes immediately after the Fifth as well as the seventh after the sixth and therefore it cannot be distinguished from the others by its immediate Succession which is common to them all but by the speed of its Motions and the quickness of its Events 15 And the seventh 48 Angel sounded and there were great or loud voices of acknowledgment of the Kingdom of Christ and of Thanksgiving for it in Heaven or in the Heavenly pure state of the Christian Church num 41. saying The Kingdoms of this World are becometh Kingdoms of our Lord God the Father and of his Son Christ and he shall reign for ever 49 and ever Dan. 2 44. 7 14 18 26 27. 48 Seven is a Number of Perfection and hath a reference in this Vision to the Kingdom of Christ which is here foretold should come upon the sounding of the seventh Angel and is to consist not in destroying but in reducing the Kingdoms of this World that is the several Civil Governments of it to a Constitution suitable to Christ's Gospel whereby they become his Kingdoms and in Christ's Reign over these Kingdoms thus modelled which shall be for ever and ever That is to the End of all succeeding time here upon Earth no other Empire or Kingdom being to succeed it 1 Cor. 15 24-29 But of this we shall have Opportunity to discourse more fully hereafter or the three last Chapters 49 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (a) Dr. Hammond on Matth. 24.3 and Luke 1.70 signifies in Scripture an Age of the VVorld or some eminent Period of it more particularly that of the Jewish Church and State and therefore by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seems here to be denoted the End of all the Periods or Divisions of Time consummated in that of the Messias which is called the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 VVorld or Age to come by the Jews 16 And the four and twenty 50 Elders or representatives of the Jewish Church chap. 4. 4 9 10 which sat before God on their seats in a posture of Authority as being to reign with Christ yet fell upon their Faces with great humility and reverence and worshipped God
were advanced unto and withal an open profession of the Witnesses on Earth that they were God's true Soldiers and Servants who used to (a) See Mr. Mede on the place and Grotius be marked in the Forehead and not marked Slaves of the Beast And by the mention of Christ's Sealed Number in this place is intimated the great difference there will be in the Issue and Event of Things betwixt Christ's Servants appearing thus in Glory and the marked Servants of the Beast just beforementioned in the former Chapter and withal according to that known Rule That Opposites when placed near one another illustrate each other hereby is much established the Interpretation of the Number of 666. there given 12 the Root of 144000. being an Anti-Number to 25 the Mark of the Beast signifying an Apostolical Body of Witnesses as that does an Anti-Apostolical one See the Notes on Chap. 7. num 9. and on Chap. 13.18 2 And I heard a Voice 4 from Heaven as the Voice of many Waters i. e. a loud and powerful one Chap. 1. 15. and as the Voice of a great 4 Thunder i. e. Terrible Chap. 4 5. 6 1. 10 3. and I heard the Voice of 4 Harpers harping with their Harps i. e. there was a great and powerful Appearance of Christ's Kingdom Chap. 11.15 4 4 4 Voices Thunder called so frequently Psalm 29. and in other places the Voice of God Musick and Singing are the constant Forerunners and Attendants of Christ's Kingdom as hath been frequently observed And it seems to me that this Vision relates to the Appearance of Christ's Kingdom upon the sounding of the seventh Angel when there were great (a) See Grot. on Rev. 5.8 Voices heard in Heaven saying the Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and that it is Synchronous and contemporary with it it being very rational that the seven loud Voices so audibly heard in order in this Chapter should be no other than the Voices of the Seven Thunders mentioned Chap. 10 3-8 now unsealed or opened which were then sealed and not to be written or come into Event until the days of the Voice of the seventh Angel And here it may be observed that by the Voices and Musick is not only represented an Appearance of Christ's Kingdom upon Earth but that also they signifie the Joy which is in Heaven and in the Heavenly Tabernacle upon the Exaltation of Christ's Kingdom For if there be Joy in Heaven upon the Conversion of a Sinner it may well be supposed to be there also upon the great Advancements of Christ's Kingdom upon Earth And amongst all the Musick of the Temple perhaps (a) See Grot. on Rev. 5.8 Harps are here more particularly mentioned Because it is the Musical Instrument of Praise and Thanksgiving which was wont to be made use of in setting forth Great and Extraordinary Actions and was the particular Instrument which David was eminently skilled in and which was the occasion of his being brought to Court and fitted for the Kingdom which was the Type of Christ's Kingdom here represented And Thunder also may be here mentioned to shew that the seven Voices of this Vision were the several Openings or Vnsealings of the seven Thunders which were sealed Chap. 10.4 3 And they sung as it were a New Song i. e. the Song of Redemption by Christ's Blood alone which seemed to be New because it had not been taught nor heard openly during the Apostasy See Chap. 5.9 before the Throne of God Chap. 4. and before the Four Beasts or Living Creatures Chap. 4.6 and the Elders Chap. 4.4 i. e. the Doctrine of Redemption and those who sung and had taught it in the Church whilst they were upon Earth were approved of by God and the Divine Consistory which all along in this Prophecy appears as passing Judgment upon the Actions represented in it See Chap. 4.1 pag. 70. and no man could learn that Song but the Hundred Forty and Four Thousand i. e. none could fully understand and experience the Doctrine taught in that Song but those true Christ ans which were redeemed i. e. rescued and delivered by the Blood of Christ alone from the Earth i. e. from the Corruptions of Antichristianism 4 These are they which are not defiled with Whorish Women i. e. were not Members of Idolatrous Churches Ezek. 23. See Rev. 17.1 for they are Virgins and not Prostitutes as Jezebel and the Whore Chap. 17. and had kept themselves pure from all Idolatry and Antichristian Pollutions Psalm 45.14 Canticl 1.3 2 Cor. 11.2 these are they which 5 follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth i. e. were the Faithful Disciples of Christ and are now his more Immediate Attendants in the Heavenly State of his Kingdom here represented these were 6 redeemed from 7 among men being the first 7 fruits unto God and to the Lamb i. e. the choicest Members of his Church and the first partakers of the Glory of his Kingdom 5 A Metaphor taken from those Officers who are the constant Attendants of Princes or from the Disciples of Prophets concerning whom this Phrase is used in (a) Matth. 8.19 Luke 9.57 Scripture or rather from the Virgins the Companions of the Bride and Bridegroom Psalm 45.14 Matth. 25. Christ's Kingdom being likened to a Marriage-Supper Chap. 19.9 and his Attendants as a Bridegroom to Virgins Matth. 25. who are also the Chorus to the Marriage-Song of his Kingdom in the Book of Canticles And they are mentioned in opposition to the Followers and Worshippers of the Beast 6 As the First-born were wont to be under the Law Exod. 13 13.22 29. 7 First Fruits (b) Exod. 22.29 Numb 18.16 Jerem. 2.3 Zech. 2.12 James 1.18 See Mede on the place and the Commentators on these Texts were the First and the Choicest Offerings and whatsoever was separated from Prophane Vses to Holy ones Whereby is signified 1. The First Church of Choice Holy and Pure Christians which shall appear at the expiring of the Times of the Beast upon the first Succession of Christ into his Kingdom when as hath been before shewn on Chap. 10. num 13. the Thirty Years in Daniel which make the 1260 Years to amount to 1290. are to begin in the full and entire Resurrection of the Witnesses Who are said here to be redeemed by the Lamb or Christ alone in opposition to their own and others Merits and Antichristian Pardons and Indulgences and that from among Men i. e. from out of the World or the common State of Mankind or rather from the Antichristian Men of the Earth those Merchants Chap. 18 11-13 who bought and sold Men and Souls 2. Because in this Vision there is described not only the State of Christ's Church and Kingdom upon Earth but also the State of the Archetypal Kingdom in Heaven Hereby is also represented the first Glorious Appearance of the Members of it the Witnesses departed in the Lord who have the priviledge to be the
and gather by raising them the clusters of the 38 Vine of the Earth i. e. the Children of the Wicked one Matth. 13.30 38 41 49 50. Joel 3.13 Deut. 32.32 for her Grapes are fully ripe for Destruction 37 It is the Opinion of Dr. Lightfoot That here is an Allusion to a Custom amongst the Jews who were not wont to put in the Sickle until the Priests who sate in the Temple gave Order and Command for it But I presume the Reason given in the Paraphrase to be more apposite 38 The Wicked and the Antichristian Church are represented by an Earthly Vine whose Clusters and Grapes are bitter like the Vine of Sodom and Gomorrah Deut. 32.32 33 as the True Church and the Righteous Members of it are by the Vine of the Lord and of Christ Isaiah 5. Psalm 80. John 15. Now if the Reaping of the Harvest signifies the Gathering of the Saints at the First Resurrection then the Gathering of the Vintage must signifie the Resurrection of the Wicked to whom it is expresly referred by the Prophet Joel Chap. 3.13 Concerning which see what is discoursed on the Three last Chapters 19 And the Angel thrust in his Sickle into the Earth and gathered the Vine of the Earth and cast it into the great Winepress of the Wrath of God i. e. into exquisite Torments 20 And the Winepress was trodden i. e. these Judgments were executed without 39 the City of the New Jerusalem Chap. 21.2 Isa 66.24 in the Valley of Decision Joel 3 2 12 14. Rev. 16.16 and blood came out of the Winepress even to the Horses Bridles i. e. the Destruction was very bloody and apparent to them with Christ on White Horses Rev. 19.14 by the space of a thousand and six 40 hundred furlongs i. e. it was Universal Joel 3.2 Rev. 16.14 30 The New Jerusalem the beloved City the Camp of the Saints which they came to compass Rev. 20.9 but could not enter being discomfited in a place without it called Jehoshaphat by Joel whereby is signified that Gods Judgments shall be executed upon them which is the meaning of the Word Jehoshaphat in the places to which the Wicked shall be confined by God during the Thousand years of the New Jerusalem 40 Four the Square (a) Four times four hundred amount to sixteen hundred Root of 1600 is a Symbol of Vniversality taken from the Four Corners or Winds of Heaven which denote the whole Heaven and the whole Earth in Scripture and perhaps also upon other Pythagorical and Cabbalistical Reasons which may be seen in Dr. Moor's Commentary on this place And here is to be noted what a Learned Friend suggested unto me That Four being a Square Number and Furlongs being the Measure of the Four Square City the New Jerusalem Chap. 21.16 Hereby may be fitly signified that this Vengeance described here as a Four square one if I may so speak coming out of the Four square City was not only Vniversal in the Four Quarters or utmost Corners of the Earth the Seat of the Wicked Nations Revel 20.8 but also Perfect and Regular as a Four-square City is agreeable to God's Holy and Righteous Admensurations of Justice towards All Men the Wicked as well as the Saints CHAP. XV. The Text. 1 AND I saw in Vision another sign or (a) Matth. 16.1 prodigious appearance more 1 wonderful than the former seen Chap. 12.1 in 2 Heaven great and marvellous for the Events signified by it 3 seven Angels the immediate Ministers of this Judgment having in their Vials Verse 7. the seven 4 last plagues or Judgments for in them is filled up or finished the wrath of God and therefore they are the last Annotations on CHAP. XV. 1 For in the former Paganism fell and the Kingdom was only adjudged to Christ but in this Antichristianism falls and the glorious Kingdom of Christ it self appears whereas there was before only an Emblem of it upon Earth which being a State of things more perfect than the former is here called not only a great but a marvellous Portent 2 Three things in this Prophecy are more particularly seen as in Heaven 1. The Divine Court of Judicature or Grand Synedrium Chap. 4. 2. The Downfal of Paganism and the Appearance of the Christian Empire Chap. 12.1 3. The present Judgment upon Antichristianism All of them referring to the Kingdom of Christ in the New Jerusalem but this to an high State of it now approaching 3 The Sabbatick Number of Seven is all along used in this Prophecy to shew that the End and Issue of all things in it is with respect to Christ's Kingdom at the Seventh Thousand Year of the World as hath been before observed 4 Hence we may note 1. That these Plagues relate to the Seventh Trumpet out of which they must issue because they are the last Plagues and that the last We at the first sounding of which the Wrath of God came Chap. 11.18 which is by these Plagues filled up or accomplished 2. That the last Plagues must refer to the last Division of Time in Daniel Chap. 12.12 to wit the last Forty Five Years which being added to the Twelve Hundred and Sixty Years make them up the One Thousand Three Hundred and Thirty Five Days of Years there mentioned 3. That the last Portion of Apocalyptick Time necessarily supposes that there is a constant Order or Connexion of Time in this Book from First to Last viz. from the First Seal to the Seventh and Last Trumpet out of which first the Voices and then the Vials issue which are the Last Plagues after which according to Daniel the Blessed State of Christ's Kingdom in Glory begins until when none could enter the Temple Verse 8. 2 And I saw as it were a Sea of Glass representing the pure State of the Church and Kingdom See on Chap. 4.6 mingled with 5 Fire to denote the Fiery Indignation of God to be poured out of the Vials and them that had gotten the Victory over the Beat and over his Image and over his Mark and over the Number of his Name i. e. who had overcome and escaped out of the Temptations of the Antichristian Profession See Chap. 13 15-18 14 11. stand 6 on the Sea of Glass in a Posture and State of Victory and happy Security from the Vengeance of the Vials having the 7 Harps of God i. e. most Excellent Holy and Heavenly Musick with Joyful and Thankful Hearts 5 This has a reference to the Red Sea through which the Israelites passed being made up as it were of the Christalline Sea Chap. 4.6 and the Red Sea Exod. 14. this Verse and some others in this Chapter containing an Allusion to that Memorable Story 6 As the Israelites Exod. 14.29 30. stood on the shote of the Red Sea in safety viewing the Overthrow of the Aegyptians the Type of the Antichristian Party for to stand on the Sea signifies to stand on the shore of it 1 Kings 4.20 Exod. 15.22 Whereby