watchful over such Pretenders especially at a time and in a Nation so prone to Enthusiasm and so easily transported into irregular Practises upon any new or unusual Occurrence But although due caution be commendable yet a settled aversion to or a careless neglect of searching into Scripture Prophecies may be of as ill effect to the Publick as the Confidence of false Pretenders to the Interpretation of them or the rashness of the giddy Multitude can possibly be And I cannot see what excuse Learned Men can have for not weighing and considering what is offered from Scripture History and Reason towards the clearing up of that Prophecy to the Study of which the reward of Blessedness is promised in it Rashness and groundless Confidence and pretences to immediate Impulses when not agreeable to Scripture or Reason are indeed to be Despised and it is fit that even those who propagate Truths after a Turbulent and Zelotick manner should be restrained but when things which may seem something strange and uncommon are offered by Men of Piety and Learning although with an Air of some more than ordinary assurance it is very commendable to search into the grounds of them and not wholly to slight them although there may be a mixture of Frailty and Error in them For God doth not now ordinarily assist after an infallible manner and sometimes permitted even his Prophets (a) 1 Sam. 16.6 2 Sam. 7.3 2 Kings 4.27 to Err when their desires were too eager and their approbation even of a good design too hasty and they spake as Men not as Prophets Enthusiasm which arises from an overheated Imagination is indeed a dangerous Disease of the Soul and it is I must confess something difficult for the best and wisest Men to avoid all taint and infection of it whilst they are too intent upon the Study of Prophetical Scripture especially of those parts of it in which God who hath afforded us in Scripture suitable matter for the exercise of all our Intellectual Capacities has condescended to the Fancy and Imagination of Mankind and has entertaired them as he hath done in this Book if I may so speak with a Divine Opera representing the greatest transactions belonging to his Church in Sacred Emblems and Hieroglyphicks Upon which consideration câ—re hath been taken that no interpretation should be inserted into the Paraphrase upon the Text which was not thought to be justly grounded upon the Scriptures quoted in it and bare Imagination hath not been in the least indulged but in the Annotations where it is Lawful to Exspatiate to propose conjectures to the Learned World and to give the raines to Fancy but under the curb and restraints of Reason and Prudence But although Enthusiasm which is a false pretence to extraordinary Impulses and Inspirations from God be very pernicious to the Souls of Private Persons as well as to the Publick yet it is certainly of very ill consequence rashly to reject every thing as Enthusiastick in the performance of which good sober and judicious persons profess themselves to have found sometimes more than ordinary assistance upon the due use of proper means Because it tends to the disparagement of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost encourages Men in a Jejune dry formality of Religion without inward Life and Spirit and robs them of much of that Joy and Comfort they might otherwise find in hearkning what God the Lord will say unto them by bringing natural and revealed Truths into their Minds and by opening and awakening their Ears to Discipline and Instruction for God speaketh once yea twice but man perceiveth it not For let Men of narrow Souls or those who have accustomed themselves only to dry Reasoning think what they will it is evident enough from some Mens Experience and from the very Spirit and Majesty which appears in their Discourses that they are raised sometimes above themselves and are afforded a clearer and larger prospect of useful great and momentous Truths than their Faculties do ordinarily arrive to or could have reached without Divine Assistance And extraordinary Truths are not only to be expected from those who have an happy Concurrence of all the Endowments which compleat a Great Genius but are frequently bestowed upon men of meaner abilities such Oar being often found amidst much Dross and many Imperfections especially of Style and other Ornaments which the World too much values and unreasonably dotes upon God for the Exaltation of free Grace and that men might not Glory in themselves and attribute things to their own Skill sometimes making use of the foolish weak and base things of the World to confound the Wise the Mighty and most valuable things in the esteem of Men. And therefore I hope that men of Wit and Natural Accomplishments will not disdain to look into Authors whose way of management may at first sight promise little much less rashly despise great Truths for not being cloathed in a modish Dress For many men who have true and just Thoughts of things are very unhappy in expressing them and they who much Study the Prophetical Writers whose Style as the ingenious Theorist of the Earth truly observes is rather Bold and Noble than Just will contract a swelling obscure and Metaphorical Style which elevated Minds and even Plato himself could not avoid nor the generality of the first (a) Plutarch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philosophers who are observed to have admitted a Divine Principle into their Philosophy the want of which is an unpardonable fault in Aristotle and others as if an uncommon and freer Style were the effect of Noble and Divine Thoughts and a too close and jejune one were the sign of a narrow and an Atheistical Disposition But whatsoever may be thougnt of the Interpreters of this Prophecy the Prophecy it self is certainly worthy the utmost thoughts of all Pious Learned and Ingenious Persons whose pains will be sufficiently rewarded by the pleasure Spiritual Profit and Advantages they will reap from it For what can afford greater pleasure to Pious Minds than to have a view in lively Emblems of the Throne of the Majesty of tne great God and to see his Glory and Goodness pass before them in Mystical representations of his Attributes of the Mystery of our Redemption and the Glorious Kingdom of Christ the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World Who can forbear breaking forth into Praises and Thanksgivings upon reading the Songs of Victory which the blessed Spirits sing before the Throne or God at the several Exaltations and Triumphs of Christ's Kingdom And who is so in Love with this present World as not to wish that he were Dissolved that he might be with Christ in his holy Mount (a) Chap. 14. 1. And that even this Earth and Heavens might meit and pass away although he himself should suffer Loss thereby and be saved but so as by Fire that he might be with Christ and the blessed Saints in a New World wherein Righteousness shall
Peter Boyer's History of the Vaudois Printed at London 1692. The History of the Negotiation between the Duke of Savoy and the Countrey of Switzerland Printed at London 1690. Lettres sur les Matieres du Temps Tom. 3. Pag. 198. of Piedmont returned to their Countrey at the precise Term of Three Years and an half after their total dissipation For by an Edict dated Jan. 31. 1686. their Religion was forbidden upon pain of Death their Churches were ordered to be demolished and their Ministers to be banished which Edict was published in the Valleys April 11. and was put in Execution by the help of French Troops who attacked them on the 22d of the same Month and totally subdued them in the following Month of May when many of those poor people were killed and barbarously slaughtered and the miserable Remainders of them were permitted to depart who after a tedious March in the depth of Winter arrived at Geneva the December following of the same Year 1686. But about three years and a half after their dissipation they having in the mean while been kindly received by their Neigbours of Switzerland Geneva Holland and others and not suffered to be put in Graves by the Popish Nations round about them who appeared in their Favour All on a sudden they took an Vnanimous Resolution of returning into their Countrey and that at first against the Advice of their Friends who altogether despaired of their Success And accordingly about the beginning of September 1689. they passed the Lake of Geneva secretly and without the knowledge of that Government entred into Savoy with their Swords in their hands recovered their Ancient Possession and established themselves in it by the Month of April 1690. notwithstanding the Opposition of the Troops of France and Savoy Of whom they killed great Numbers with an inconsiderable Loss to themselves who were but a few in comparison of their Enemies Upon which the Duke of Savoy finding them to be encouraged and assisted by Forreign Princes recalled the rest of them and re-established them by an Edict dated June 4. 1690. with Liberty for the French Refugees to return with them three years and a half after their total dissipation in the End of October 1686. For although they were not Established by the Civil Power until the beginning of June a Month after the Expiration of the three years and a half yet they had regained their own Possessions and expelled the Strangers out of them by April and had received great Assistance in May just at the End of the forementioned term of Years Now although I must confess that there are many things very much to be taken notice of in this Account yet it cannot be the Resurrection here pointed at because the Sister Witness Church of France still lies desolate and dead in the Street of the great City and what hath already been performed in Favour of the Waldenses comes so much short of what may be justly thought to be meant by the Resurrection here foretold that I cannot look upon it but as a Providential Congruity if I may so call it and a Pledge and Earnest of a much greater Life and that of a more spiritual Nature than what hath yet happened unto them which I pray hope and humbly believe upon Prophetical Grounds in which I trust God has graciously assisted me not to be far off 38 This is plainly taken from Ezekiel's Description Chap. 37. of the Restauration of the Jews from Babylon and of what will come to pass at their final Restauration of which the former was but a Type Whereby is signified that God shall extraordinarily revive the Witnesses which are in a dead condition and mightily assist the Churches which are already raised to imperfect degrees of Life Gifts and Graces and so are consequently still in a Sackcloath and mournful Condition for the continuance of Judaism Paganism and Antichristianism in the World and the Imperfections of its own State so that they shall be seen and taken notice of by all as standing upon their Feet That is as being in a steddy Posture of Self Subsistence and Defence and that after an Eminent and most Conspicuous manner Zech. 14.4 39 For they shall stand upon their Feet an exceeding great Army according to what is prophesied of the Jews Ezek. 37.10 12 And they i. e. the Witnesses standing upon their Feet in a Posture of readiness and Preparedness heard a voice from Heaven 40 i. e. had an extraordinary call and a Divine impulse saying unto them come up hither unto a state of Security Purity and Glory and they ascended up to Heaven 41 i. e. enjoyed a pure and Holy Church-State in a bright Matt. 17 5. Acts 1 9. cloud i. e. in Glory and their Enemies 42 beheld them i. e. their great change and advancement was visible and notorious to all even to the Antichristian Apostasy 40 From hence and from what goes before it is manifest that this will be performed after an extraordinary manner by the more immediate power and assistance of God from whom the Spirit of Life came and all the Preparations and Abilities for the performance of this great Action 41 Their Church State is called Heaven in opposition to the Antichristian one which is called Earth and the World and because of the security from Persecution which should attend it and the Purity of its Doctrine and the Holiness of it and its Professors and the Glory Honour and Esteem it was to be in amongst Men especially Supreme Powers who are denoted by Heaven in this Prophecy Rev. 12.4 And a pure Church-State is called Heaven because it is a Resemblance of the Kingdom of Heaven as it shall be upon Earth and is an Exemplar of what is actually decreed performed and represented in Heaven in behalf of it before the Throne of God as appears from Chapters Fourth and Fifth 42 Here as well as in what goes before is a manifest Allusion to the Circumstances of the Ascension of our Saviour but with this difference that only the Apostles or chosen Witnesses beheld Christ's Ascent but here even the Enemies of the Witnesses are to testifie it it shall be so Notorious and Convincing to all 13 And the same hour i. e. about the same time but after their ascent Chap. 8.1 Num. 11. Chap. 9.15 was there a great * Earthquake i. e. a commotion and suddain change of thing in the World and especially in the Apostasy 43 and the 44 tenth part of the great City i. e. of the Roman Antichristian Kingdom ver 8. chap. 17.78 fell by the commotion change or Earthquake and in the Earthquake were slain 45 of Men seven thousand and the remnant or the remaining successions of Men to the Kingdom of Christ See chap. 2 24. 3 2. were affrighted at these Judgments and gave 46 Glory to the God of Heaven alone and not to Saints and Images as had been before done * As there was at our Saviour's Death and after his
the former which being perfectly and directly Satanical was a State of things more agreeable to the Devil which when he lost he might very well be said to be cast from Heaven to which the Pagans had exalted him in their Worship to Earth that is to an inferiour sort of Authority and Power in the VVorld and an Idolatry less Diabolical 10 And upon this Sentence and Judgment obtained in Heaven I heard a loud 24 Voice of praise and thanksgiving saying in Heaven and in the Church thus delivered and exalted now is come Salvation i. e. deliverance from Satan's Claim Power and Kingdom as a God upon Earth under the Divine Justice upon a faln World and from Persecution and strength i. e. the manifestation of God's Power in destroying his Enemies and the Kingdom of our God i. e. the glorious advancement of his Religion and the manifestation of the Power of his Christ in advanceing his Church for the accuser of our Brethren before God and in the time of Persecution under the Pagan Empire is cast 25 down or thrown down upon the Earth which accused 26 them before our God day and night i. e. was their indefatigable and inveterate enemy and false accuser 24 This Verse and the following contain an Epinicion or a Song of Thanksgiving to God upon the Conquest of Paganism and the (a) Chap. 7. n. 23. and n. 1. of this Chapter Appearance of Christ's Kingdom in the Empire now become Christian which yet lasted but for a short space before the Glory of it was Eclipsed by Antichristianism Chap. 17.10 Concerning the downfall of Paganism see Dr. Cave's Learned Introduction to the Lives of the Fathers of the Fourth Century 25 A Metaphor taken from wrestling as Grotius notes And here we may observe that when Idolatrous and wicked Men are cast out of Rule and Authority it may be very well said that the Devil is cast out because he acts and governs in and by them 26 Expressions taken from Job 1. and the 4th and Zech. 3. where the Scripture speaking according to the manner of Men represents Satan as accusing good and pious men before God Which he does by aggravating their real Faults and Imperfections and by exciting the Wicked Men of the World to raise False Accusations against them as they Notoriously did against the Primitive Christians see Dr. Cave's Primitive Christianity Part 1. Chap. 1-4 But perhaps this Accusation may relate to Satan's appearing at this Judiciary Tryal alledging the Faults of the Brethren and demanding that they might be delivered unto him the Executioner of God's Justice which he might urge was not yet satisfied 11 And they 27 i. e. our Brethren overcame him in this judiciary Tryal before the Throne of God and all his subtile arts and powerful instruments in the times of Persecution by the Blood of the Lamb i. e. by Faith in Christ's Blood and by his Merits and Passion alone and by the word of their Testimony i. e. by the Gospel which they Preached purely and Efficaciously and the Testimonies they had given under the four first Seals and because they Loved not their Lives no not unto the Death but despised them and willingly and chearfully laid them down for Christ and his Gospel's sake Chap. 4. 9 10 11. 27 In this Verse is shewn the Way how Paganism was overthrown which is in a manner contrary to that which Antichristianism makes use of viz. by the Blood and Merits of Christ alone and not of Saints by the preaching of the Gospel and not by Vnwritten Traditions and by the Christians chearful and patient Suffering not by Resistance VVars and Murther Chap. 11.7 Although perhaps the Chief and Principal Import of this Verse may be to set forth the Grounds and Just Proceedings of God against Paganism and of the Victory here mentioned which was obtained by the Blood of Christ the great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Fundamental and principal Cause who prevailed by his Blood to open the Seals which were so many preparatory Judgments to this End and by the Testimony of the Living Creatures the Gospel-Ministry and Witnesses of the Four First Seals and by their Deaths and Martyrdoms under the Fifth Seal after which ensued the Ruine of Paganism under the Sixth Seal 12. Therefore rejoyce ye Heavens and ye that dwell in them i. e. ye Angels and Saints whose joy encreases according to the advancements of Christ's Kingdom on Earth and ye good and heavenly minded Christians which are faithful Members of the Church now in an exalted state although but for a short time wo to the Inhabitants of the Earth i. e. the earthly minded and Antichristian part of the Empire and of the Sea i. e. the wicked multitude of the Empire Jude 13. for the Devil is come down from Heaven or his exalted State unto you upon the Earth having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short 28 time i. e. in respect of his former Reign 28 The Pagan Religion was overthrown by Theodosius the Great and made only some feeble Efforts under Arcadius and Honorius and Theodosius the Younger but with little Advantage and therefore that being at an End the short time here mentioned must be meant concerning the Antichristian Empire which Satan knew was to have an End and that in a short time in respect of the several Thousand Years of his past Reign in the World from the beginning of Idolatry 13 And when the Dragon i. e. the Devil saw that he was cast upon the Earth out of his former Empire and Dominion he Persecuted * the Woman i. e. the Church which brought forth the Man-child i. e. the Kingdom of Christ * Here the History of the VVoman is resumed and the Persecution here mentioned must relate to the Incursions of the Goths and other Barbarous Nations Chap. 8. because they are the only Persecutions which immediately succeeded upon the Dragons being cast upon the Earth by the Overthrow of Paganism which Judgments designed as a Chastisement by God were intended by Satan who stirred up those Nations by the permission of Providence as a Persecution upon the Church so that the Trumpets which are contemporary with this Persecution were Divine Judgments in the Hands of the Angels upon the Empire and the Antichristianizing Party but in the Designs of Satan a Persecution of the pure Church 14 And to the Woman i. e. the true and pure part of th Church were given i. e. prepared by God's Providence ver 6. two 29 wings of a great Eagle i. e. effectual means of a speedy and safe delivery from this Danger notwithstanding all difficulties and in despight of all oppositions that she might fly into the Wilderness i. e. be in an obscure invisible condition verse 6. into her place prepared of God verse 6. where she is nourished or preserved for a 30 Time and Times and half a Time chap. 10 6. 11 2 3 9 11. from the face or sight and
bright 29 cloud of Glory to denote the Majesty Justice and Purity of Gods Judgments and upon the Cloud one 30 sate like unto the Son of Man i. e. Christ Chap. 1.13 Dan. 7.13 John 1.14 having on his head a Golden 31 Crown denoting his Kingdom and Conquests Chap. 6.2 and in his hand a sharp 31 Sickle to reap the World swiftly and speedily Joel 3.4 13. Matth. 13.30 36-43 28 The two former Verses contained evidently a Declaration of a Blessed State of the Dead in the Lord immediately to ensue which State being the next thing in order to be performed seems to be here set forth by Metaphors made use of to the same purpose by the Prophet Joel and our Saviour in the places quoted in the Paraphrase on the Text as shall be endeavoured to be shewn from what the Words of the Text shall suggest 29 Here Christ is represented as coming in his Kingdom to Judgment according to the Descriptions frequently given of it in the Gospels Luke 21.27 Matth. 24 30.26 64. Dan. 7.14 30 This posture also denotes Judicature and Government Joel 3.12 Matth. 19.22 to which answers his coming sitting on a White Horse as he does here on a White Cloud in the parallel place to this Rev. 19.11 31 In Rev. 19. he hath also many Crowns upon his Head which are a known Emblem of Regal Power and Conquest And as he had a Crown at his first going out to propagate the Gospel Chap. 6.2 so is he here also represented with a Golden one to shew the Glory of the Kingdom in which he is now established 32 This is the Instrument of Reapers with which they not only cut down the Corn but also gather it together according to our Saviour's Parable Matth. 13. and it is sharp to denote the speed which will be then used Joel 3.4 15 And another a sixth * Angel and Voice came out of the Temple crying with a loud Voice i. e. earnestly Luke 18.7 Rev. 6.10 to him that sate on the Cloud i. e. to Christ Thrust in we humbly pray thee thy Sickle and reap for the time is come for thee the Lord of the Harvest the Judge of the World which raiseth the Dead and quickneth them Matth. 9.38 John 5.21 22. to reap for the 33 Harvest of the Earth or Field of the World is * ripe i. e. all things are ready and the time appointed for gathering the Children of the Kingdom is now just at hand Matth 13.30 38. John 4.35 Mark 4.29 (a) The Day of the Lord is near Joel 3.14 * This Angel or Angelical Company for Angel is taken collectively in this Prophecy is not a Gospel-Ministry because it does not denounce any thing as the others had done but seems to denote the Attendants of Christ the Angels who are the Reapers Matth. 13.29 and the Shout the Voice of the Arch-Angel which shall accompany him at the last Day and they cry out unto him from his Heavenly Temple to expedite that Blessedness which had been so long delayed and which the Saints so eagerly long after and the whole Creation groans for Rom. 8.22 23. 2 Cor. 5.1 2.4 5. 33 Harvest is plainly taken in a good sense in the places quoted in the Paraphrase and where it is common to the good and bad as Matth. 13. they are distinguished from one another as Tares and Wheat and even in Joel 3.13 from whence this Expression is taken Vintage is peculiarly appropriated to the Wicked and may be very well distinguished from the Harvest which may relate to God's bringing or gathering together his People Verse 1.7 and his mighty ones Verse 11. who seem to be the same with the Armies of Heaven the Angels and the Saints which shall accompany Christ at this great Day of his Kingdom Rev. 19.14 And therefore the reaping of both these at the last Day being so plainly distinguished in Scripture it is fit also that it should be so here also * Ripe that is fully ripe White to the Harvest and therefore looks as if it were dried or withered as the Word also imports because of the long delay and expectation of Christ's Kingdom 16 And he that sate on the Cloud i. e. Christ thrust in his Sickle on the Earth and the Earth was immediately reaped of its 34 Wheat i. e. the Just were gathered together at the first Resurrection Matth. 13.30 38 48. Rev. 20.5 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes 4 13-18 34 The Saints and Godly are understood saith Mr. Brightman on the place by the Corn or Wheat of this Harvest who are compared to it by our Saviour Matth. 13.30 38. and are here represented saith he as falling of their own accord before the Sickle through the great ripeness of them Now seeing that almost (a) Poli Synops in Apocal. pag. 1098 in fin all Interpreters agree that these Words have a reference to the last Judgment described by the same Metaphors in Dan. 7. and Math. 13. it is highly probable that hereby is meant the gathering together of the Saints departed in Christ by the first Resurrection fitly called the reaping of the Earth of its Wheat as it consists in the gathering together of the Bodies and Dust of Saints which are all that is precious and of any Value in it and the gathering of them and those who remain alive out of this Wicked Antichristian Earth into a New Heaven and a New Earth which is the proper meaning of (b) Metere est ex hac Vita colligere Menoch Tirinus in locum Falx homines a Terra demet it ut Ecclesiae inserantur Grot. in locum Reaping in Scripture and because this is to be done in a moment 1 Cor. 15.51 52. therefore is the Sickle represented as sharp to denote the extraordinary quickness of this Action But of this see what is largely discoursed on the Three Last Chapters 17 And another Angel i. e. the Seventh and last came out of the Temple which is in Heaven i. e. another Angelical Company of Reapers who were to bind 35 together the Wicked in order to destruction Matth. 13.41 he also having a sharp Sickle to cut 36 down and gather together the wicked ones for a swift Destruction Verse 14 35 For such this Angel may very well be supposed to be by the Description here given of him and consequently the Angel Verse 15. must mean the Reapers who were to gather the Wheat or the Children of the Kingdom together 36 For this is the Use of a Sickle as well as to gather 18 And 37 another Angel came out from the Altar of Burnt Offerings on which there was Fire continually Levit. 6.9 Rev. 6.9 which had power over fire i. e. God's Judgments in order to execute them Rev. 8 5.11 5 and cryed with a loud cry that the Blood of the Souls under the Altar might be speedily and fully avenged upon the Wicked Rev. 6.9 10 11. to him that had the sharp Sickle saying Thrust in thy sharp Sickle
others is included Luke 24.49 by the Holy Ghost's coming upon them the knowledge of Times and Seasons was bestowed upon them by God which indeed it was not for them to know before of themselves and without the Spirit which alone knoweth the Secrets of God for which they were rebuked by our Saviour Acts 1 6-8 and not for supposing such a Kingdom and Restauration For in the first Sermon which the Apostle Peter made after the descent of the Holy Ghost Acts 3 19-26 he plainly makes mention of the Times and appointed Seasons of d Restitution or Restauration and Refreshment to Israel determining also the precise Time when this should come to pass viz. at the second Coming of Christ from Heaven foretold by all the Prophets when the sins of the converted Israelites were to be blotted out and they should have great comfort and refreshment from the presence of God by Christ's return referring to the Prophecy of Moses Deut. 18.15 18 19. where it is foretold that at the raising up or coming of Christ the Israelites shall hear or obey him in all things whatsoever he shall say unto them which perfect Obedience hath not been as yet paid unto Christ's Doctrine by them and therefore the Words must refer to some Second Coming when according to the Tenor of that and other places of Scripture the faithful Jews shall be restored comforted and rewarded and the Disobedient shall be destroyed from among the people Lastly The Apostle 1 Cor. 15 24.-29 plainly asserts that Christ shall have such a Distinct and Peculiar Kingdom to himself as that he may be said in the Exercise of it not to be subject to God the Father and God the Father during that Kingdom not to be all in all Which cannot be understood concerning him whilst he was upon Earth because he was then in a State of Humiliation and Sufferings being made lower then the Angels and having taken upon himself the Form of a Servant Phil. 2.7 8. Heb. 2.9 nor concerning him as he is now in Heaven because he is represented in Scripture in his present State as sitting on the Right Hand of God whereby is denoted his enjoying and possessing as the Son (c) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 3.2 the same word used Acts 1.6 by the Apostles when they proposed this question to our Saviour of Man a Glory and Authority next to that of God the Father and the Exercise of his Regal Office as a Branch of his Mediatorship as in subjection and subordination unto him and as in expectation of having his Enemies subdued by the Father Psalm 110.1 Heb. 10.12 13. Nor can this be understood concerning the Kingdom of Eternity because then God will be All in All And although Christ must Reign in his Humane Nature to all Eternity yet that is not as Mediator but as God-Man (a) John 13 32.17 5 24. glorified with the Glory which he had with the Father before the World was in which State his Humane Nature is not to have a proper and peculiar Glory of it self but one in and with God from him and him alone And therefore this must be understood concerning some State of his Kingdom called 1 Cor. 15.24 The Kingdom in which Christ as Son of Man and Mediators shall appear to Reign so gloriously with such Evidences and Manifestations of Glory in and from himself as that he may be said not to be subject to the Father but to have a distinct Kingdom of his own although communicated from God the Father in which he Reigns freely and absolutely as King and net as a Vice-Roy limited by a Commission and which was not to be One with his Fathers Kingdom until all things become One in him when Christ's Mediatory Kingdom is to cease A Mediator not being a Mediator of One. Now if there be such a Kingdom and that Kingdom be not his Mediatory nor Eternal Kingdom what Kingdom can it be but that Glorious Kingdom we have been treating of which is to begin as the Apostle there intimates and shall be shewn hereafter at the Resurrection and is to end when all things are subdued unto the Son when he shall deliver up his Kingdom in which the Saints had been sanctified by him and prepared for Union with God according to the Tenor of that admirable Prayer of our Saviour John 17. the Pattern of his Intercession Q. E. D 15 It is no where expresly said in Scripture that Christ shall come down upon the Earth at the Day of Judgment but only that he shall appear in the Clouds (a) So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be rendered compare Rev. 5.10 and Matth. 25.21 See Mr. Mather de Signo Filii Hominis and Dr. Homes Resurrect revealed 2.2 over the Earth in the lowest part of the Heavens into which be descends from the highest Heavens Judging the World and Reigning there with his Saints 1 Thes 4.16 17. 16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Thousand Years which are to be understoood of a definite space of time as appears from the Epocha and Period assigned to this Line of Time which is dated from the binding of the Devil and ends in the loosing of him And the Thousand Years are to be understood Literally and not Prophetically reckoning each Day for a Year because all Prophetical Time will be at an end before the Blessed Millennium begins according to Christ's Oath Rev. 10.6 that Time should be no longer after the expiring of the 1260 Years the Times foretold by the Prophets Now if Propheticall Time be at an end before the Thousand Years enter then they must be Literally and not Prophetically understood in which sense if they were to be taken the Glory of the Divine State in which God is all in all would be deferred to so vast a length of Time as could not rationally be supposed But that this State is to last such a precise Number of Years seems to be plainly asserted by the Apostle Peter 2. Ep. 3.8 who discoursing concerning the Day of Judgment delivers this remarkable Axiom of which he charges those he wrote to to take special notice as of a thing very observable viz. That one Day is with the Lord as a Thousand Years and a Thousand Years as one Day In which place the Apostle answers an Objection which he foresaw would be made by some Scoffers in the last Days against the coming of Christ to dissolve this present World and make a New One and tells the that this should certainly come to pass at the Day of Judgment But least his meaning should be mistaken he says that by the Day of Judgment he does not mean a single ordinary Day but a Day in the mysterious Account and Reckoning of Almighty God who made all things in Number as well as in Weight and Measure and had ordained accordingly that a Day in his Account should be reckoned as a Thousand Years and a Thousand Years as One Day and therefore that the Day
revealed in Flames of Fire It being very (a) Luke 17 26-31 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom c. Even thus shall it be in the Day when the Son of Man is revealed i. e. to make good the parallel in the very self same Day in which he is revealed 2 Thess 1.7 8. 2 Pet. 3.10 12. See Dr. Burnet 's Theory B. 3. and 4. Mather de Signo Filii Homin 2. 5. plain from Doctrinal Scripture that the present World shall be burnt before the end of all things and probably at Christ's very first coming to his Kingdom to which Conflagration there will be many preceeding Dispositions and Preparations which are called the Signs of Christs Coming in Scripture and are probably the Vials in this Prophecy before insisted on Chap. 16. This New (b) Dr. Burnet 's Theory B. 4. 3 8. Heaven and Earth which are to arise out of the Remains of the Old ones as out of a Second Chaos are no other than the Seat of the Kingdom of the Blessed Millennium in which the Saints are to Reign with Christ Chap. 20. because according to the plain words of the Apostle Peter it is that New Heaven and Earth in which Righteousness is to dwell i. e. Righteous Saints are to Reign in Holiness and Righteousness during the Day of Judgment which is a Day of the Lords consisting of a Thousand Years which is as plain a Description of the Blessed Millenium as can well be given of which Truth also the following Verses will administer many Proofs 3 The very word made use of by the Apostle Peter 2 Ep. 3.10 concerning the passing away of the Heavens of this World at the general Conflagration For it is to be observed that the Scriptures make mention of Three Worlds 1. The World before the Flood reaching from the beginning of the Creation to its perishing by Water Which the Apostle (a) 2 Ep. 2 5.3 5 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peter calls the Heavens and Earth of Old the World that then was and the Old or Original World concerning which see the (b) Burnet's Theory B. 1. and 2. and the Append to the 4th Book ingenious Theory of the Earth 2. The present World reserved for fire called in (c) 2 Pet. 3.7 Rom. 8 19-24 Gal. 1.4 John 12 31.14 30. 1 Cor. 2.6 8. 2 Cor. 4.4 Mather de Signo Fil. Homin 1. 2. Scripture the Heavens and Earth which are now this present evil World and this VVorld by way of Contempt and to distinguish it from the world to come 3. The New (d) 2 Pet. 3.13 Heb. 2.5 Eph. 1.21 Luke 20 34-38 and Chap. 17. Heavens and New Earth called in Scripture the VVorld to come that VVorld the VVorld of the Resurrection from the Dead and the Kingdom of God and of the Son of Man at his coming which is to succeed when (a) 1 Cor. 7.31 Psalm 102.26 2 Pet. 3. Psalm 104.30 Matth. 19.28 Acts 3.21 Rom. 8 19-24 Mather de Signo c. 2.5 Burnet 's Theory the Form Fashion and Disposition of the parts of this VVorld shall pass away and be changed upon its dissolution by fire and there shall be a Restitution Regeneration Delivery Redemption and Restauration of all things in the Natural as well as Moral VVorld into the Primitive State from which they had fallen by Sin 4 This is a very surprising confirmation of Doctor Burnet's Hypothesis viz. That the VVorld shall be restored to its Primitive Paradisiacal State in which there was no Sea and that the Sea shall be devoured by the Conflagration which latter is also alluded to by the Prophet Amos Chap. 7.4 where he supposes that Fire shall devour the great Deep of which it had already eaten up or devoured a part in Vision And the VVicked being separated by God from the Righteous now strictly united into one Body and living together in perfect Peace and Unity it seems to be very congruous there should be No Sea in that State which as it is the Type of unquiet multitudes so also is it an hinderance to the mutual communication of Men one with another And here it may be convenient to give a brief Account of the Series and Order of things according to Scripture from the Time of the Approach of Christ's Kingdom until the End and Delivery up of it to God 1. Antichrist will fall as soon as ever the Months of the Beast are expired and Mahometanism which was designed as a Scourge to it shall consequently afterwards cease to be a VVo to the Christian VVorld See Chapter 9 12.11 2 3 14. 2. The Jews also will be restored to their own Countrey after the fullfilling of the Times of the Gentiles i. e. at the End of Antichristian Times Matth. 21.24 3. There will be Days of Great Tribulation and immediately after them there will be many signs of Christ's coming and of the End of the VVorld and very great Preparations for the general Conflagration Matth. 24.3 29. Mather de Signo Filii Hominis Dr. Burnet's Theory B. 3. Chap. 10 11 12. 4. Then will appear some Extraordinary Sign of the Son of Man in Heaven upon which all the Tribes of the Earth shall mourn and the Son of Man shall be seen coming in the Clouds of Heaven Matth. 24.30 5. As soon as ever Christ shall appear the Dead will be raised and the Earth and Heavens of this present World will at the same time be dissolved by Fire in which the Wicked Living and Raised are punished (a) 2 Thes 1.8 9. 2 Pet. 3.7 Vengeance being to be taken on them and they suffering Perdition in and by this Conflagration of the Heavens and Earth which were kept in store and preserved by God for the perdition of ungodly men and that not only of the wicked men of that Generation which shall be then alive but of all who have died in their sins it being plain that our Saviour bids all of every Generation watch least that Day surprize them and that he supposes that Sodom and Gomorrah which were set forth for an Example of Eternal Fire should suffer again in the Day of Judgment and that all which repent not must perish (a) Luke 13.3 5. Matth. 11.24 Jude 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after the like manner with the Galileans and those on whom the Tower of Siloam fell that is by sudden Bodily Judgments which can happen to all impenitents only at this General Judgment by Fire 6. The whole Antichristian State will be utterly annihilated at the first appearance of Christ Satan will be bound for a Thousand Years and the Wicked will not be consumed in the Conflagration but having Bodies capable of undergoing it will be brought thereby into a state of Confinement and that as it were in the (b) See the Opinions of the Ancients about Limbus Patrum in Bp. Usher's answer to the Jesuit Ends and Corners of the New Earth during the
whole space of the Blessed Millennium Rev. 20. 7. The Bodies of the Dead Saints being raised are caught up into the Air and the Saints which come with Christ appear in them together with him in the Heavens and probably continue with him there in Glory during the Thousand Years the Heavens being purged and purified as it were by Fire and the (c) Luke 10.18 Eph. 6.12 Evil Spirits falling down like Lightning from the Air which had been so long possessed by them whereby these High and Heavenly Places are as it were prepared for the Reception of Christ and his Saints For Righteousness must dwell in the New (a) 2 Pet. 3.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.22 23. Heavens as well as the New Earth and the whole Creation groans and waits for this Redemption But this shall be further made out as occasion offers upon the following parts of this Vision 8. The Living Saints will be (b) Malach. 3 1-3 1 Cor. 3 10-16 purged and purified as Gold and Silver and many of them shall be saved at this Day with great Difficulty but all shall be preserved by God who knoweth how to deliver the Godly as he did Lot and the Three Children in the Fiery Furnace which are Types of this Last and Great Deliverance 2 Pet. 2.9 in the general Conflagration and their Bodies being changed they shall Reign with Christ on the New Earth the (c) Rom. 8 19-24 Burnet 's Theory 4 7-9 former being unfit through the Vanity and Corruption it is subject to for such a purpose And this is that State of the Earth which it earnestly expects and groaneth after and for which it was designed by God who seems to declare by the Prophet Isaiah Chap. 45.17 18. that he created it not in vain or to be such a Chaos and subject to so much Vanity Rom. 8.20 as it now is but to be inhabited by the Mystical Israel of all the Earth Isa 45.17 21 22. who shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting Salvation 9. All this will come to pass at the very beginning of Christ's Coming whose Proceedings will be very sudden and swift Malach. 3.5 1 Cor. 15.52 in which (a) Malach. 4 1-4 Psalm 110.1 the Wicked shall be burnt up and trod down and be as Ashes under the Soles of the Feet of the Saints lying at the Footstool of Christ's Throne whilst the Living Saints Reign with him on the New Earth and the Raised Saints in the New Heavens 10. At the End of the Thousand Years upon Christ's withdrawing some of his more immediate Presence and Glory Satan will stir up the Wicked Nations who had been all that while in a State of Contempt and Punishment Malach. 4 1-4 to endeavour to destroy Christ's Kingdom on Earth upon which he will catch up his Saints into the Air and give them incorruptible Bodies and the whole Body of Saints with Christ their Head shall finally Judge the wicked world and the New Heavens and Earth shall disappear and fly away the Son shall deliver up his Kingdom to the Father and the Saints shall remain with him to all Eternity whilst Satan and all the Wicked remain in the Lake for ever which is a place of Punishment represented as a Lake made out of the Liquefaction and Dissolution of the present Earth burnt with Fire And this is a brief Scriptural Account of this great Transaction against (b) See Dr. Beverley's Vniversal Christian Doctrine of the Day of Judgment which although many Objections may be raised yet there are few which may not be as plausibly alledged against the Day of Judgment as it is usually understood by Divines 2 And 5 I John the Apocâ—lyptick Apostle unto whom Christ had sent and signified and shewn things to come thereby testifying that I was a Servant of his and greatly beloved by him Rev. 1 1. Dan. 9 23.10 7 11 19. saw and let it be observed diligently for these words are true and faithful Verse 5. the 6 Holy City or Polity of Saints New Jerusalem above the Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 Heb. 11 10 16.12 22 23. coming down with Christ into the Regions of the Air 1 Thes 4 14-18 See on Chap. 19.7 8 9 14.19.20 4. from God the Father out of Heaven before whose Throne it had hitherto been in various degrees of Exaltation See on Chap. 12 1.14 1. prepared and arrayed in Christ's Righteousness as a Bride adorned for her Husband which is the Lamb Christ that he might present to himself a Glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle and at last perfectly unite it to God in his Eternal Kingdom Eph. 5.26 27. Rev. 19.7 8 9 5 He does not say simply as in the former Verse I saw but I John saw by that Emphatical Expression shewing the great Importance of the Vision and likewise more earnestly affirming the Truth of that which was to be of so great use and consolation to the Saints hereby imitating the Beloved Prophet Daniel who frequently makes use of the same Phrase upon the like Occasions 6 From a due compare of this place with the places quoted in the Paraphrase it appears 1. That the Holy City is no other than the Bride or Saints those Armies which come with Christ in the Air to Judgment in his Kingdom the very They who sit in Thrones and Reign with him a Thousand Years Chap. 20.4 as hath been before proved and often observed 2. That this New Jerusalem is in the New Heavens or Heavenly Places of the Air as they are called in Scripture into which the Saints come or descend from Heaven with Christ as hath been before observed and consequently that the New (a) Dr. Burnet 's Theory 4.3 8. Heavens and New Earth are the Seat of the Thousand Years Reign of Christ and the Saints the Inhabitants of it because they are here represented as coming into it as into a place newly prepared for them by God Verse 1. 3. That this New Jerusalem State coming down from God is the Kingdom of Christ in its Highest and most Exalted State which had been hitherto represented in this Vision as before the Throne of God in divers States and Degrees of Exaltation according as Christ's Kingdom increased and his Enemies were subdued by God the Father at whose Right Hand he was to sit in a patient Expectation of this Kingdom until all his Enemies were made his Footstool which being now performed he comes down from God out of Heaven with his Bride or Church purified and perfectly sanctified into his glorious Kingdom in the New Heavens and New Earth the Seat of the Blessed Millennium For thus Heb. 12.22 compared with Rev. 14.1 the Saints first come unto Mount Sion and then unto the City of the Living God the heavenly Jerusalem or the Archetypal State of Christ's Kingdom in Heaven to which there is one always correspondent on Earth the Metropolis of the Christian Worship which had its Original from thence Heb.
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Opposite representations in it Of which the Reader is here presented with a general Scheme the particulars which are very many being to be carefully observed and gathered out of the Book it self The Church of Ephesus (a) Chap. 2. 1-8 See pag. 20. 32. is contemporary with the four first Seals and reaches from the Resurrection A. D. 33. to the beginning of the Persecution under Dioclesian A. D. 303. The Church of Smyrna (b) Chap. 2. 8-12 in which the Synagogue of Satan arose is contemporary with the fifth sixth and seventh Seal and lasts until the sounding of the first Trumpet A. D. 437. The Church of Perganus (c) Chap. 2. 1â—-15 begins to Witness in Sackcloath at the entrance of the Apostasy A. D. 437. and is contemporary with the five first Trumpets and part of the Sixth and with the progress of the Apostasy to a Throne and the slaying of the Antipapal Witnesses by Excommunications and Persecutions until about the 12th Century or between A. D. 1100 and 1200. Then arose the Church of (d) Chap. 2. 18. c. Thyatira witnesing against the depths of Satanical Corruptions which continued during the first Slaying of the VVitnesses and the progress of the Mahometan Wo of the sixth Trumpet (a) Chap. 10. until the Reformation A. D. 1517. The Church of Sardis together with some low appearances of the Philadelphian State kept under by those of the Synagogue chap. 3. 9. are contemporary with the Reformation and are to last until some more perfect Church State shall appear of which if the Calculations (c) See the Notes on Chap. 10. 7. on Chap. 11. 2 11. frequently mention'd in the following Book prove true there will be some more than ordinary appearance about A. D. 1697. when the Beasts Months end The Philadelphian (d) Chap. 3. 7-13 State the Church of Thyatira (e) Chap. 2. 19. in its last works the undefiled (f) Chap. â— 4. Names in Sardis and those also of that State whom this Prophecy calls Them of the Synagogue chap. 3. 9. who shall come and unite themselves to the Church of Philadelphia carry on the whole series of things during the (g) See Chapters 14 Voices and the Vials from the rise of that Sate until the Glorious Millenium that is if the Calculations here advanced (b) Chap. 3. 1-7 prove true from A. D. 1697. until (a) See Chapters 14. and 16. A. D. 1727. and from 1727 to 1772. After the Millennium Satan is loosed for a short season Gog and Magog compass the City but are destroyed and all the Enemies of Christ are Judged and perfectly Subdued with which the Laodicean (b) Chap. 3 14-22 Chap. 20. State of the Church is cotemporary But besides these Synchronisms betwixt the Church Prophecy and the Book Prophecy it is very observable that there are very many Visions in the Book Prophecy which Synchronize one with another as is frequently observed in the Annotations of which here is given a short Specimen referring the Reader to the Book it self for a larger account of them Synchron 1. The Seals and many particulars in the twelfth Chapter are contemporary as will appear to any one who compares the sixth Chapter with the twelfth Synchron 2. The Barbarous Nations chap. 8. 7. entring as Gentiles into the outward Court the Worshippers in the inward Temple the Witnesses in Sackcloath and the Church actually flying into the Wilderness are also contemporary See Chapters 8. c. 11. c. 12. Synchron 3. The Beast rising out of the Sea coming into his Succession and into his forty two Months and the ten Kings receiving Power all one Hour with him are contemporary with the Extinction of the Western Empire upon the Sounding of the Third Trumpet because when the former Government was expired Another must needs immediately come into Succession Synchron 4. The Witnesses lying Dead and the Woman hid in the Wilderness from the face of the Serpent are Synchronous Synchron 5. The ending of the two Times the beginning of Half Time the Thunders Voices Uttered and then Sealed are contemporary See Chap. 10. Synchron 6. The full rising of the Witnesses the Fall of the tenth of the great City the passing away of the second Wo and the beginning of the seventh Trumpet to sound are contemporary with the End of the three Days and an Half of the three Times and Half and of the 1260 days and forty two Months which are in an equal Duration Synchron 7. The seventh Trumpet the Voices and the Vials the Judgment on the Whore the Beast and the False Prophet the Lamb's Wife making her self ready are contemporaries Synchron 8. The thousand Years of Sathan bound the first Resurrection the Blessed Participation of it the New Jerusalem the New Heaven and New Earth are contemporaries Synchron 9. The thousand Years expired Sathan Loosed the Gog and Magog are together in time Synchron 10. The Fire coming down from Heaven Sathan's casting into the Lake the Dead Judged and with Death cast into the Lake Synchronize with the White Throne the Laodicean Saints sitting down with Christ upon it The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Opposites are cheifly these The Kingdom of Christ and of his Saints The Kingdom of Satan carried on in the fourth or Roman Monarchy first as Pagan then as Antichristian The Church of Ephesus as Apostolical The Church of Ephesus having left its first Love Chap. 2. 4. Smyrna A Synagogue of Satan Chap. 2. 9. Pergamus and Antipas The Throne of Satan Balaam and the Nicolaitans Chap. 2. 13 14 15. the false Prophet Chap. 16 13. Thyatira The Depths of Satan Jezebel or the false Prophetess Chap. 2. 20 14. The undefiled names in Sardis Those of the Synagogue Chap. 3. 3 4 9. Philadelphia The Laodicean Luke-warmness The Lamb. The Dragon the Beast the other Beast with two Horns like a Limb. Chap. 13. 11. The Bride the Lamb's Wife chap. 19. 7. The Whore chap. 17. Christ's sealed ones and witnesses The Marked Slaves of the Beast chap. 13. 16. The great City the Holy Jerusalem the beloved City the Camp of the Saints c. 20 9.21.10 Babylon the great City reigning over the Kings of the Earth c. 17. and the City of Gog and Magog at the four corners of the Earth c. 20.8 Twelve the Apostolical Number c. 7.4 Twenty five the Antichristian name mark number c. 13. 18. Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords chap. 19. 16. The Kings of the Earth chap. 19. 19. The Armies which come in the Heaven with Christ c. 19.14 The Armies of the Kings of the Earth and their Nations Gog and Magog Chap. 19. 15 19. 20 8. ERRATA PAg. 6. l. 29. read 16. p. 9. l. 5. of the of this World p. 13. l. 16. r. denote p. 14. l. 24. r. full of p. 21. l. 16. r. Rom. 2. p. 27. l. 27. r. Goods p. 22. l. 32. r. 58. p. 41. l. 8. f. the r. that
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
to be set up See on Chap. 8.7 9 And when he i. e. the Lamb Christ had opened 20 the fifth Seal I saw under the Altar 21 of sacrifice Lev. 4.7 i. e. under the Power in the presence of and in Communion with God and Christ the Souls of them see on Chap. 20.4 that were slain for the word of God and for the Testimony which they held i e. the Christian Martyrs especially under Diocletian Chap. 2 10.20 4. 20 The Beasts Voice or the Apostolick Ministry here ceases to shew that Satan's Synagogue was now rising in the Smyrnaean Succession upon the Honours paid to Martyrs under this Seal 21 When Altar is put indefinitely the Altar of Sacrifice is usually understood where the Blood of the Sacrifice was wont to be poured out and by being under the Altar is signified the happy state of Martyrs under the protection and in the presence of God and Christ as appears from Heb. 13.10 Colos 3.3 4. compared with 2 Maccab. 7.36 Psalm 27.5 Phil. 2.17 And here is given a plain Character of this Seal from the Voice of the Blood of the Martyrs and from the change of Things immediately following it in the next Seal whereby is evidently signified the great Persecution under Diocletian whereupon the Aera Martyrum was instituted and the overthrow of Paganism under Constantine from whence also it is very manifest that the Smyrnaean Succession is contemporary with this Seal from the like appearances Chap. 2.10 10 And they 22 cryed instead of the Apostolical Voices with a loud Voice thereby shewing their Number their Zeal and the importance of their Complaint saying How long O Lord Christ holy and therefore hateing Cruelty and Bloodshed and true to thy promises of avenging thy people Luke 18.7 8. dost thou not judge and avenge our Blood to vindicate thy Honour and thy Truth on them that dwell on the Earth i. e. the Pagan Empire for our Persecution has been long and cruel Revel 2.10 22 As Abel's Blood did Gen. 2.10 Heb. 12.24 11 And white Robes denoting Reward Honour and Purity Chap. 3.4 were given unto every one of them and it was said unto them that they should rest yet in quiet patiently expecting the time of God's Vengeance for a little season until their Fellow Servants also and their Brethren in Christ that should be killed as they were should be fullfilled 23 i. e. until the Times and the Number of Martyrs determined by God should be compleated 23 Hereby is signified the Martyrdoms which were to follow under Licinius Julian the Arrians and the Apostasie until God's signal and last Vengeance upon the Antichristian Tyranny under the Vials 12 And I beheld when he had opened the Sixth Seal and lo there was a great Earth-quake 24 i. e. a great commotion and a strange change of Affairs Hag. 2.6 7. Heb. 12.26 and the Sun 25 i. e. the chief God of the Pagans and the Heathen Emperour the chief Magistrate became black 26 as sackcloath of hair Isa 50.3 and the Moon i. e. the next in dignity became as 27 Bloâ—d i. e. were Eclypsed and lost their former Glory 24 It will not be altogether unseasonable to remark in this place what * Histor 4.11 Socrates the Ecclesiastical Historian notes from frequent Observation that Earthquakes are the Signs and Forerunners of Changes and Commotions in the Church 25 Here by Metaphors taken from the Prophetical Descriptions of the Day of Judgment and the last Conflagration of the World to which several of them seem plainly to refer as Dr. Burnet has observed in his ingenious Theory of the Earth and when the things described here by several Prophetical Accumulations shall be fully verified God's Judgments under Constantine and his Successors upon the Heathen Religion and Empire are set out unto us Although the Political World being described in Scripture by Metaphors taken from the Natural as appears from Isa 51.16 Dan. 8.10 the Heavens here may denote what is superiour in it and the Earth what is inferiour and the Sun may be taken for the Supreme in the State the Moon for the next and the Stars for those which are next in order unto them according to the Ancient Symbolical and Hieroglyphical Learning of the Eastern Nations of which we have an Example Gen. 37.9 10. Where Joseph's Dream concerning the Sun Moon and Stars is interpreted by Jacob of himself as Father and Chief of the Family of his Wife as next and of his Children as subject unto them And Sun Moon and Stars Hills and Mountains being the Objects and Places of Idolatry Hereby may be also signified the final Overthrow of Pagan Idolatry as well as of the Pagan Civil Powers 26 A Metaphor taken from an Eclipse in which the Sun appears black and the Moon of a dark Red like black Blood 13 And the Stars of Heaven i. e. the inferiour Deities and Magistrates fell unto the Earth i. e. were cast out and displaced by the mighty Power of God even as a Figtree casteth her untimely Figs Nahum 3.12 when she is shaken of a mighty wind e.e. as easily and in as great abundance Isa 34.4 14 And the Heaven i. e. the whole superior State of the Heathen World Civil and Religious departed 27 out of sight as a scroll that is rolled together so that they could not be seen i. e. they had no Authority nor Esteem and every Mountain i. e. all the places of Idolatry and of great strength and security Isa 2 14-18 Jerem. 51.25 Zech. 4.7 and Island 28 i. e. all their Provinces and Places beyond the Seas were moved out of their places i. e. the Government and Religion of them was changed and overturned 27 A Metaphor from the Ancient Manner of Writing upon one long Scroll which being rolled up according to their Custom what was written in it could not be seen 28 The Jews called all Maritime Places Islands and all places beyond the Mediterranean Consult the Interpreters on Gen. 10.5 and Mr. * Book 1. Disc 49. Mede And hereby is meant that no places escaped altho never so strong or remote 15 And the Kings 29 of the Earth i. e. the supreme Powers subject to the Roman Empire Isa 10.8 Acts 4.26 and the great men or Nobles Dan. 4.36 Mark 6.21 and the rich men and the chief Captains and the mighty men or Soldiers Judg. 5.22 and every bond man and every free man i. e. all of every rank and quality hid themselves for fear Isa 2.19 in the dens and rocks of the Mountains i. e. the most secret and most inaccessible places Judg. 6.2 29 Here by an enumeration of the several Ranks and Degrees of Men according to the Scripture-Phrase all the Members of the Roman Empire are reckoned up From a due consideration of these Six Seals it will be manifest that they are Synchronous with the two first Churches ending in that of Smyrna when that Period received a Crown of Life under Constantine and his
amongst the Branches of the River Nile ready to devour the Israelites as the Dragon here stood before the Woman to devour her Child And here the Paucity and Obscurity of the Members of the pure Church upon the Growth and Increase of Antichristianism after the Empire became Christian is set forth by a Wilderness state or condition which is an obscure and retired but a safe (a) See Dr. Pocock on Hos 2.14 one to which Men betake themselves when they are threatned and pursued by Enemies as the Israelites in the persecution of Antiochus 1 Maccab. 2. 28 31. when the Gentiles had prophaned the Sanctuary fled into the Mountains and into the secret places of the Wilderness And yet as when the Israelites fled from Pharaoh into the Wilderness they soon murmured and apostatized from God so was the Church no sooner delivered from the persecutions of the Pagan Empire but the Antichristian and Paganizing Apostacy began to increase amidst which yet the pure Church was preserved although small in Number and in an obscure condition as the few true Israelites were amongst the Numerous Apostatizing ones in the Wilderness who were corrupted (b) Exod. 12.38 Numb 11.4 by the mixt Multitude of Idolaters who went up with them out of Aegypt as the Christian Church was by the Converted Pagans * This by a frequent Hebraism may signifie no more than that she shall be fed ot nourished as the Phrase is explained at the 14 verse But perhaps hereby may be meant the Two Witnesses from whom the Woman only differs as the Vniversal doth from all its Particulars or the Body from its Members taken collectively by whom the Church may be said to be preserved and maintained because of their Preaching the Word of God and distributing the hidden Manna as the Israelites were fed in the Wilderness with Manna and miraculous Food by the Hands of Moses and Aaron Two Old Testament Witnesses Numb 33.1 Psalm 77 20.78 52. 19 The Witnesses chap. 11.3 and the Woman have the same number of Days assigned them as being not really different one from the other only the Woman or Church in general is to be understood as the Mother and the Witnesses as the Seed and Children begotten as it were in the Womb of the Church in which they were Baptized and Regenerated And here it is fit to be observed 1. That a Day began first to be reckoned for a Year in the Wilderness Numb 14.34 whereby the like reckoning of a Day for a Year in this place is much enforced 2. That there were but just Forty Two Encampments of the Children of Israel in the Wilderness reckoned up in the 33d Chap. of Numbers whereby may be fitly typified the Forty Two Months of the Gentiles and the Twelve hundred and sixty days of the Woman which differ only as Solar and Lunar time do one from another as hath been shewn on the former Chapter sojourning together in the Wilderness as the Few true Israelites did with the Numerous Apostatizing ones in a latent obscure and almost invisible manner 3 From hence also may be illustrated the Epocha or beginning of the Twelve hundred and sixty days from A.D. 437. For as the (a) Exod. 12.40 Gal. 3.17 Israelites went out from Pharaoh into the Wilderness at the End of Four hundred and thirty years from the Promise and the Covenant renewed by Sacrifice so in correspondence to its Type may the Christian Church be well thought to have fled from the Dragon Antichristianizing the Church about the same time from Christ's coming to give the Promise of Salvation and to enact the New Covenant by the Sacrifice of himself upon the Cross 7 And there was War 20 i. e. enmity and opposition Eph. 6.12 in Heaven 21 and in the Christian Church and Empire Michael i. e. Christ Dan. 10.13 21.12 1. and his Angels i. e. the Christians in the Empire fought 22 against i. e. opposed and resisted the Dragon i e. the Devil and Paganism and the Dragon Fought to hinder the progress of Christianity and his 23 Angels i. e. the Pagans in the Empire 20 There has been always an Enmity betwixt the good and the bad in the Church the latter persecuting the former as Cain did Abel and Ishmael Isaac from whence the Apostle dates the Persecution of the Church the Woman with her Children and the Mother of us all Gal. 4 22-31 So that the Four hundred Years Affliction of Israel Gen. 15.13 may be very well dated from about that time 21 The Christian Church is vety appositely called by the Apostle Gal. 4.26 Jerusalem which is above or the heavenly Jerusalem by which also may be signified the Archetypal Church or Kingdom in Heaven mentioned on Verse 1. in the Administration of which there is something like a VVar betwixt good and bad Angels who are represented as fighting in Scripture Dan. 10.13 20 21. But here seemeth also to be pointed out unto us the downfall of Paganism in the Empire which had its deadly Blow given it by Theodosius the Great as hath been before observed Whence it also follows that this War is Contemporary with the Times of Constantine and Theodosius 22 An Expression taken from Dan. 10.13 20. 23 Such were Licinius Julian Argobastes and Eugenius the Roman Senate and all other Opposers of Christianity in the Empire 8 And prevailed not i. e. they were conquered and subdued neither was their place found any more in Heaven i. e. Paganism was cast out of the Church and Empire and lost all its power and Authority in it as being adjudged by him that sitteth on the Throne to have no longer continuance in it See num 1. and 21. 9 And the great Dragon was cast out of Heaven by Divine Sentence and out of the Christian Church and Empire that old Serpen i. e. cunning and subtile who had been used to deceit ever since the time of our first Parents Gen. 3. called the Devil i. e. the slanderer and calumniator of God to Men and of Men to God and Satan i. e. the Adversary and Accuser of Christians Job 1.9 Zech. 3.1 2. which deceiveth the whole World into Idolatry and Wickedness 1 John 5.19 he was cast out of a state of rule and dominion and reputed Godship in the Pagan Empire into the * Earth i. e. into a mean condition in respect of his former state and to rule in the Hearts of Earthly minded Men and of the Apostatizing part of the Church and his Angels i. e. his Agents and Instruments were cast out with him i. e. Paganism was destroyed in the Empire now become Christian * The State and Condition of the Dragon under Antichristian Idolatry may be very well express'd by his being cast from Heaven to Earth because Polytheism or the VVorship of many Gods being extirpated at the Overthrow of Paganism he was no more worshipped as a God in the Empire and the Worship of Saints and Angels succeeded to it an Idolatry inferiour to
constant Attendants of the Lamb in his Heavenly Tabernacle and the first partakers of that exalted State of his Kingdom here Visionally represented by Mount Zion 5 And in their mouth was found no 8 guile i. e. they were not found guilty of the great Lye of Antichristianism and Idolatry for they are without Fault before the 9 Throne of God i. e. they are acquitted and justified by God although they had been condemned and anathematized by Antichrist 8 Idols are called Lyes in (a) Jerem. 16.19 Am. 2.4 Grotius and Mede on the place Scripture and Lying as Grotius observes on the place is a constant Concomitant of Idolatry and hereby this Apostolical Number of Christ's Followers are distinguished from those which belonged to Antichrist whose Religion is but an Image or Counterfeit of Christ's and is thereupon also justly called a Lye 9 Hence it appears that this is the Vision of some exalted State of Christ's Heavenly Kingdom seen as before the Throne of God or the Divine Sanhedrim and Court of Judicature coming down as it were on Mount Zion where the Witnesses who are the 144000. who had been killed by the Beast appear and are as it were adjudged by God as worthy the exalted State they enjoy with Christ and which they had obtained under his Conduct and for his Sake which Appearance shall have also as hath been all along observed a parallel one on Earth in the Philadelphian State of the Church 6 And I saw 10 anoth r Angel or Gospel-Ministry Chap. 1. 1 20 fly in the midst of Heaven to denote the Swift Publick and Universal Public tion of the Gospel of the Kingdom Chap. 8.13 having committed unto him 2 Cor. 5.19 the 11 Everlasting Gospel of the Kingdom spoken by the Mouth of all his Prophets since the World began which was to bring in Everlasting Righ eousne s Dan. 9.24 Acts 3 21-26 Rev. 16.7 to preach unto all them tha dwell on the Earth and to 22 every Nation of Pagan Mahometan and Antichristian Gentiles and Kindred or Tribes of Israeli es and Tongue or the various People of several Languages amongst them and People i. e. to the whole multitude of each 10 There being no Angel mentioned before but only a Voice Verse 2. By another Angel here must also be understood another Voice which Word imports Vtterance of Doctrine as John the Baptist is called The Voice of one crying in the Wilderness And this Voice is here called an Angel because it was pronounced by an Angelical Voice or Speaker who was seen whereas the former was only heard so that this is another or a distinct Voice or Angel from the former Whereby a certain Order of Voices is plainly represented which being also Seven in Number and distinctly reckoned up may very well be accounted the seven Thunders opened into loud and distinct Voices 11 The Gospel of Christ's Glorious Kingdom being the main Subject and Scope of these Visions it must therefore be here referred to which is called Everlasting 1. Because it was the Doctrine or Mystery designed by God from everlasting praefigured in all the Types of the Old Law and preached or spoken by the Mouth of all the Prophets since the World began by which Phrase Eternity is signified in Scripture See Acts 3 21-26 Rom. 16.25 26. 1 Cor. 2.7 Rev. 10.7 2. Because it was to bring in the Everlasting Righteousness mentioned Dan. 9.24 or the way of becoming Righteous in the Account of God by Christ alone which will then be fully manifested to be no New Doctrine as the Apostasy at the Beginning of the Reformation asserted it to be but the way which was from Everlasting and shall be until the End of all Things I think it may not be unfit to observe in this place That the Apostasy that it might be a perfect Antichristian Counterfeit of Christ's Kingdom did pretend to a New Gospel called the (a) Bishop Stillingfleet of Idol Chap. 4. p. 238-246 Eternal Gospel containing many Extravagant and Blasphemous Opinions and asserting that the Scriptures contained not the Gospel of the Kingdom but were to give way to a New Gospel which should take place in A. D. 1260. Six Years after the preaching of it which Gospel was so much favoured by the Popes and the Court of Rome that a Book written against it was burnt by their Order And although they were at last forced to burn the Eternal Gospel also yet it was done secretly and with much unwillingness 12 This is a Pleonasm or a Figure wherein by a Redundant Accumulation of many Particulars is expressed the preaching of the Everlasting Gospel for the bringing in of all Nations whereby Ethnicks or Gentiles of all sorts are meant in Scripture and of all the Tribes of Israel to the Kingdom of Christ according to Hosea 6 1-3 Matth. 24.14 Rom. 11.25 26. which is to be near the End when the Deliverer shall come out of Sion and after Two days in the Third Day which Dr. Pocock on Hosea extends even to the End of the World but others with more Reason to the End of (a) See on Chap. 11. 9 11. Antichristian or Gentile Times when Christ's Kingdom shall appear and they who have known something of Christ's Kingdom shall follow on to know the Lord more fully and perfectly by the preaching of this Everlasting Gospel Hos 6.3 7 Saying with a loud Voice i. e. after a zealous and most powerful manner fear God and not Idols Isaiah 8.12 13. and give Glory to him alone and not to Creatures Angels and Saints for the Hour or precise time and appointed Season of his Judgment Government or 13 Kingdom and of his Judgments on all manner of Idolatry Pagan and Antichristian which he will no longer wink at is come and worship him therefore the Creator of all things that made Heaven 14 and Earth and the Sea and the Fountains of Waters of the Great Deep Gen. 7.11 13 So Judgment often signifies in the Old Testament as Psalm 72.1 2. and in other places of Scripture 14 The Heathens worshipped all the parts of Nature even the Seas Rivers and Fountains as is clearly proved by (b) De Idolatr Vossius which the Antichristian (b) Dr. Moor's Mystery of Iniquity part 2. lib. 1.17 Bishop Stillingfleet's Fourth Conference concerning Idolatry Apostasy also having imitated in appointing Tutelar Saints and Angels to most of the parts of the Creation and in introducing a Worship which is but an Image or a New Model of Paganism Do their Idolatries may be here meant 8 And there followed another 15 Angel or Gospel-Ministry saying i. e. preaching and denouncing this great Truth 16 Babylon i. e. Antichristian or Papal Rome is 17 fallen is fallen i. e. will as certainly fall in a short time as if it were a ready fallen that great City of a large Juri diction and Head of the Roman Empire because she made all Nations drink of the Wine of the 18 wrath
Isa Chap. 54. and 62. Hos 2. Psalm 45. the Book of Canticles and Bp. Patrick's Preface to it in Scripture as a Bridgegroom and the Church as his Spouse and Wife to whom he is actually married when his Kingdom appears in its Glory as is plainly asserted Chap. 21.2 The Time from his Death and Resurrection until then being rather the Time of betrothing or Espousals than of Marriage Consider Canticles 3.11 and the Mystical Sense of the Captive Spouse Deut. 21 10-14 which may perhaps have some reference to this matter 8 And to her was granted 7 by Christ in virtue of his Death Eph. 5.25 26. that she should be arrayed in fine Linen clean and white or bright and Royal 8 Garments see on chap. 3.4 For the fine Linen is i. e. signifies the 9 Righteousness of the Saints who now come down from Heaven with Christ in his Kingdom chap. 21.2 7 Her Nuptial Garments and Ornaments are here said to be Granted or Given unto her to shew that all the Righteousness we have is of Free Gift and Grace even the preparing or making our selves ready by putting on Christ's Righteousness by Faith which as subjected in our Faculties may be called Our Righteousness whereby we become perfect through the Comliness which God puts upon us Jerem. 23.6 Ezek. 16.14 Zech. 3.4 Rom. 3. and 10.3 4. Phil. 2.12 13. 8 See Grotius on the place Christ was now about to present his Church without spot or wrinkle Ephes 5. and therefore is she cloathed in fine white Linen of which sort also Royal Robes were wont to be whereby is signified that the Saints were now to Reign with Christ. 9 By 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is meant in Scripture the (a) Grot. in Matth. 22.11 Luke 1.6 and Hammond on Rom. 8.4 Rom. 2.26 Precepts of the Law and Holy Actions conformable to those Precepts in which sense it is here taken which are said to be given unto the Saints to shew that the Justification and also the inherent Holiness of Saints is wholly from Christ our Righteousness and is given and communicated unto them out of his Fullness 1 Cor. 1 30.15 10. Gal. 2.20 John 1.16 Doctor Hammond's Interpretation of these Words The Ordinances of the Sanctuary cannot possibly be true because the Holy Spirit expresly says that the fine Linen which the Priest used when he went into the Sanctuary which is here alluded to is that is signifies which is the constant meaning of that word in this Prophecy Righteousness and therefore the fine Linen it self cannot be here meant but the Righteousnesses of Saints signified by those Ordinances of the Sanctuary 9 And he i. e. an Angel chap. 22. 8. saith unto me write this Truth and seal it not for it will immediately be brought into effect see on chap. 5 1.10 4. blessed are they which are 10 called unto the Marriage Supper of the Lamb which is the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 22.2 and he i.e. the Angel saith unto me (a) Or these true words are of or from God these 11 are the true sayings of God i. e. certain infallible and most important Truths as incredible and as inconsiderable as they may seem to men 10 The Righteous Saints who are called the Wife of the Lamb that is the Church of Saints collectively taken in the Two foregoing Verses come down with Christ out of Heaven as is evident from comparing those Verses with Chapt. 21.2 and therefore by the called in this Verse seems to be meant the Saints who shall then be alive upon Earth who are said to have but a part in the first Resurrection Chap. 20.6 and are represented here only as Guests bidden but not as the Companions and Followers of the Bridegroom See on Chap. 20.6 11 These being not ordinary Scripture-Truths but of an high and Prophetick Nature therefore a particular Asseveration of the Truth of them is here used that they might gain belief the more easily and to ascertain the Revelation of them as the Angel particularly asserts the Truth of Daniel's Visions Dan. 8 26.10 21.11 2. And this Phrase is afterwards twice used upon the same account in this very Prophecy Chap. 21 5.22 6. 10 And I being transported 12 with the Vision I had seen of the glorious state of Christ's Kingdom fell through incogitancy and surprise at his i. e. the Angel Feet to Worship 13 him And he i. e. the Angel said immediately with 14 great Zeal and in great haste to prevent me as soon as he could I am thy fellow 15 Servant and therefore am not to be Worshipped Worship being to be given to Superiors and not Equals not to Angels who are but Fellow Servan s and Fellow Creatures with Men and Ministring Spirits to the great God and I am the Fellow Servant of thy Brethren the Prophets and Witnesses chap. 12 17. 22 9 that have received the Testimony of Jesus in his Gospel chap. 1. 2. Worship therefore * God and him alone and not his Servants and Instruments whatsoever their Excellencies and Perfections may be for they are but your Fellow Creatures And even as to their Ministrations and Offices they are not Superior to you for the 16 Testimony of Jesus which your Brethren the Witnesses have from the Scriptures concerning things future chap. 1. 1 2 3. is of the same esteem and value with immediate Prophecy it self because that the very 16 Spirit and Life of Prophesy consists in the Communication of it from Christ and it matters not as to the value of the Prophecy or of the Persons who recive it whether it come from the Testimony of Christ in Scripture or from immediate Revelation And therefore seeing that thou and thy Brethren here received the Testimony of Christ you are equal unto us although you have it not immediately from Christ but by our Ministration or from his Apostles and Disciples chap. 1. 1-4 22 6. 12 This Action seems to be chiefly (a) Of this Nature are many Actions of the Patriarchs thought to be by Justin Martyr who calls them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dial. cum Tryphon pag. 364 371. Symbolical and is transferred as in a Figure to the Apostle to teach and represent unto us under the Person of the Apostle himself that the best men are very apt to he surprized and drawn by the Example of others and by false pretences into Creature-Worship and that such Worship is unlawful let the pretences be never so plausible and that the only way to avoid all manner of Idolatry is to keep to the Precept here given of Worshipping God alone See on Chap. 22.8 9. 13 As being an Angel employed in a great Ministry and upon the most pleasing and most grateful Message of shewing him the New Jerusalem-State consisting of Gentiles and Jews his Countreymen Brethren and Kinsmen for whom the Apostle Paul could have wisht himself accursed from Christ Rom. 9.3 united together and reigning with Christ in his Kingdom 14 All this seems to be included
of the Saints and Martyrs mentioned in the Fourth Verse who are the Children of the Resurrection Luke 20.36 aand the dead in Christ that shall rise first whose Resurrection hereupon is called The First Resurrection i. e. the Resurrection of those who shall rise first at the beginning of Christ's Kingdom and who are to have a Second Resurrection as it may be called in the sense that (a) Grot. in Apocal. 20.5 word may be taken Lament 3.63 Heb. 11.35 when they together with the living Saints shall be caught up to be ever with the Lord in his Eternal Kingdom to which their first Resurrection to Glory is a preparative there being Four several Resurrections as they may be called in Scripture 1. To a Life of Grace and of the Divine Spirit here 2. Of separate Spirits with Christ 3. The Resurrection to a state of Glory in Christ's Thousand Years Kingdom 4. The State they are caught up to when they are united to God in an endless Life to all Eternity For as the Change the Living Saints are to undergo may be called a * Tertall de Resurrect cap. 41. qui ab adventu Domini deprehendentur in carne merebuntur compendio mortis per demâ—tationem expunctae concurrere cum resurgentibus Death so may their being caught up be called a Resurrection But because the Wicked (a) Dan. 12.2 Matt. 25.31 John 5.29 Acts 24.15 2 Cor. 5.10 shall rise at the same time with the Just and they both shall appear together at Christ's Tribunal therefore is their State here accounted for together with that of the Just and the Resurrection not mentioned until that be declared although it is not properly a Resurrection which word when it is used simply and absolutely as it is here signifies usually the (b) Luke 14 14.20 35 36. 1 Cor. 15. Resurrection of Life but a Death 6 Blessed in a most especial manner because he waiteth and cometh to the end of Times and the beginning of Christ's Kingdom Dan. 12.12 and holy for they also are of the Number of the Saints who are not perfect without them and shall at last be caught up with them 1 Thes 4.15 17. Heb. 11.40 1 Cor. 15.51 52. Isa 4.2 3. is 21 he i. e. they which are alive and remain unto the Coming of the Lord 1 Thes 4.15 17. Isa 4.2 3. that hath although but a part or share in the first Resurrection and not an entire possession of the whole Happiness and Glories of that blessed State of Life and Reign with Christ until they are caught up unto him 1 Thes 4.17 on such the 22 second Death in the Lake of â—ire and Brimstone Verse 14 15. Chap. 21.8 hath no power at all for they being the Living shall always live and having part in the first Resurrection to Life shall be found in the Book of Life Dan. 12.1 Ezek. 47.9 and the 15th Verse of this Chapter but they shall be Priests of God i. e. Holy and dedicated to his Service alone and of Christ enjoying the full benefit of his Redemption in White Priestly Robes of Righteousness washed in his Blood Chap. 1 16.5 10.19 8 9 and shall reign 23 with him a Thousand 24 Yeâ—rs i. e. shall enjoy a pure peaceable and glorious Church-State and be a Political Body upon Earth governing the whole World for a Thousand Years according to the Laws of Christ's Gospel by virtue of his Power and in relation unto and dependance on him Dan. 2. and 7th See Notes on Verse 4. 21 If the Sons and Children of the First Resurrection be the Saints and Martyrs who rise first and come with Christ in his Kingdom then the He or Body of Men as the Article so often signifies here mentioned must be the (a) 1 Thes 4.15 17 1 Cor. 15.51 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The We living or the Generation af Saints and Believers such as the Apostle was who shall be alive upon Earth at Christ's Coming and shall never have Died or fallen asleep in the Lord but shall have been kept (b) Isa 4.3 1 Pet. 3.7 alive and preserved as a Remnant therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Judgment and Burning the Battle and Fire of the last Day because there are no other Saints mentioned in Scripture who can be said to be partakers of the Resurrection And they are properly said to have but a part in the first Resurrection because they shall only be changed at the first Resurrection when the Dead in Christ rise first but shall not have such spiritual and incorruptible Bodies and put on such Immortality as the Dead Saints raised to Life have at the very first moment of their Resurrection until they are caught up in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air so as to be ever with him 1 Thes 4.17 1 Cor. 15.52 Who are also here very remarkably placed in their due order according to Doctrinal Scripture viz. after the Resurrection of the dead Saints to life and the Resurrection of the dead Wicked to condemnation who rise together Whereas the living Saints are not caught up which may be called a Resurrection until afterwards 1 Thes 4.15 16 17. Which will appear more plain from a close and due consideration of what Doctrinal Scripture hath delivered concerning the Resurrection in which it is asserted 1. That Christ is the (a) 1 Cor. 15.20 23. First Fruits of them that sleep from whence it follows that the Saints raised may be very well meant by the Harvest Rev. 14.15 before which the First Fruits were wont to be offered under the Law 2. The Apostle asserts 1 Cor. 15.22 23. 1 Thes â—â— 16. that there shall be an Order observed in the Vivification or Resurrection of the Just to Immortality and Incorruptibility in which Sense the Apostle must be understood 1 Thes 4.16 where he says that the Dead in Christ shall rise first that is to Incorruptibility for otherwise if Resurrection be to be taken simply and absolutely the Just do not rise before the Vnjust nor are the living Saints changed after them but all of them rise together in the same moment 1 Cor 15.52 3. The Bodies (b) 1 Cor. 15.52 2 Cor. 5.4 1 Thes 3 13.4 14-17 2 Thes 1.7 Jude 14. of the Dead Saints are first raised and that incorruptible at the Descent of Christ from Heaven with a shout and being caught up into the Air are united to their Spirits and then they come or are brought along with Christ at his Revelation and Appearing in his Kingdom 4. The Living Saints are (c) 1 Cor 15.52 changed indeed at the same moment that the Dead Saints are raised but they are not caught up to an Incorruptible and Immortal State until afterwards as the Apostle expresly asserts 1 Thes 4.16 17. where he says that the dead in Christ shall rise first and that then or afterwards for so the word ought to be translated here as it is 1 Cor. 15.23
Eph. 1. VVhereas the Books of Reprobation are many because that depends upon the many Evil Actions of Men which Justice particularly weighs and considers and upon the Multitude and Diversity of Sinners which are to be convicted and condemned according to the Sins each of them had particularly committed So that there is to be a◠it were a particular Book of Conscience for each of them And it is Another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Book or a Book of another sort or kind to shew that the Elect shall be justified and saved by Free Grace and not for their VVorks nor even according to their own VVorks but those which Christ had wrought in them 13 And or for the Sea 45 gave up or had before given up to Death 46 and Hell the Dead which were in it viz. at the beginning of the Day of Judgment when the Dead Wicked were raised to Condemnation and Death and Hell i. e. the common Receptacle of the Wicked where they were under Confinement and Punishment during the Thousand Years delivered up now at this last Act of Judicature the Dead which were in them i. e. all the Wicked which had been under their Confinement and they i. e. the Dead Wicked were judged every man according to their Works 47 which were not found written in the Book of Life and which they had lately done against the Camp and City of God as well as for all their other wicked Deeds which they had done whilst they were in the Flesh in this present World 45 Grotius and Piscator render the VVord had given up which must refer to the rising of the Dead Wicked at the beginning of the Thousand Years when because there was to be No Sea in the New Earth the Sea gave up its Dead 46 For the Dead Wicked were condemned at first to the Four Corners of the Earth which were as a kind of Hades or Common Receptacle of the Dead answerable to the Hamonah or City of Dead Carcases in Ezekiel Chap. 38 and 39. See on Verse 8. and Mr. Mede pag. 57 1. and Bishop Vshers Answer to the Jesuites Challenge concerning Limbus Patrum 47 Their Works in the former Verse are represented as written in Books because being committed long before they were thereby to be put in remembrance of them and therefore the Books are opened unto them But here being no mention of Books opened it may well be concluded that these Works were those which they had newly committed against the beloved City Verse 9. which being fresh in their Memories there needed not any writing of them in Books in order to their conviction 14 And Death 48 and Hell or the Grave the last Enemies to be destroyed 1 Cor. 15.26 55. were cast into the Lake of fire i. e. Mortality and all Places of Punishment except that designed for the Eternal Torment of the Wicked were annihilated there being now no further use of them and they having delivered up the Dead which were in them This casting into the Lake is the 49 second Death i. e. Death Eternal Matth. 10.28 See on Verse 6. 48 These are the Enemies of Christ which according to Doctrinal Scripture in full concurrence with Prophetical are to be destroyed by him at last just before the delivery of his Kingdom up to the Father 1 Cor. 15.25 26 54 55 56. 49 As that Expression Verse 5. this is the first Resurrection seems to denote that it was to be at the beginning of Christs Kingdom so does this parallel Expression intimate that this Second Death was to be at the End and last Appearance of it These Two being as it were solemn Inscriptions on Two Pillars shewing the Two Bounds of Christ's Kingdom beginning in a First Resurrection of Saints and a First Death of the Wicked and ending in a Second Resurrection to Glory of the former and a Second Death of the latter as Absolute Final and Immutable as the Life of the former 15 And 50 whosoever was not found written in the Lamb 's Book of Life i. e. whosoever was not a Living Member of Christ's Kingdom during the Thousand Years of Life and Blessedness was cast into the Lake of Fire i. e. was punished with Eternal Torments 50 The Reprobate are not only judged according to the Rules of Justice by their own works but the Book of absolute soveraign and free Grace is looked into when they are condemned to shew the Agreement there is betwixt God's Decrees and the proceedings of his Rectoral Justice in condemning Sinners according to their own demerits there being none left out of the Book of Life and Grace who shall not be shewn to have justly deserved to be condemned for their own sins And hitherto hath been a Description of the Wicked their City in the four Corners of the Earth their Actions and Final Condemnation There follows now in the next Chapters a Description of the City of the Saints and of their Final Reward in the Eternal Kingdom of God All in All. CHAP. XXI The Text. 1 1 AND I saw a New 2 Heaven and a New Earth i. e. the Seat of the Kingdom of Christ wherein the Saints Reign with him a Thousand Years Chap. 20.4 6. 2 Pet. 3. Isa 65 17.66 22. Matth. 19.28 Acts 3.19 for the first Heaven and 2 the first Earth i e. the Heavens and the Earth which are now 2 Pet. 3.7 were 3 passed away with a great Noise burnt up and dissolved by Fire 2 Pet. 3.10 11 12. and there was no more 4 Sea Annotations on CHAP. XXI 1 Here according to the custom of the Sacred Writers a particular Account is given of the Generations as the Scripture speaks Gen. 2.4 of the New Heaven and New Earth which he had before Chap. 20 11. seen fly away at the Consummation and End of all things when Christ shall deliver up his Kingdom to the Father 1 Cor. 15.24 28. it being usual as appears from Gen. 2. for the holy Penmen to give a particular Description afterwards of what they had before either briefly hinted or only described in general who are wont also to pursue the matter they have in hand quite throughout before they resume its more particular consideration as appears from the former Chapter where the duration of the Kingdom of Christ is continued from its beginning in the Resurrection of the Saints to its End in the Destruction of Death his last Enemy and to the flying away of the very New Heavens and Earth when Christ's Mediatory Kingdom being at an end the Eternal Kingdom of God All in All is to succeed 2 The preceding Vision plainly relating to the Resurrection and the last Day of Judgment the New Heavens and Earth here described must accordingly be understood concerning those mentioned by the Apostle Peter 1 Ep. 3.13 which are to succeed the general Conflagration of the present Heavens and Earth to be dissolved at the very first Appearance of Christ at his second Coming who is to be manifested or
12.25 and of which it is a Pattern Heb. 9.1 the True Temple built without hands where our hopes is and of which we are Citizens and which is the Bride the Lamb's Wife and the Mother of all True Christians Gal. 4.26 3 And I heard a great Voice out of Heaven proclaiming a great Truth and shewing me a New and Extraordinary Thing which had never been before saying Behold with thine eyes and hear with thine ears and set thy heart upon all that I shall shew thee Ezek. 40 4.44 5. the Tabernacle of G d i. e. the Kingdom of Heaven of which the Tabernacle was a Type See the Notes on Chap. 13.6 15 5. is now with 7 men in the New Heaven and New Earth into which it is come down from God out of Heaven Verse 2. and he i. e. God will 8 dwell or Tabernacle a second time John 1.14 with them in a State of Glory Ezek. 37 26-28 9 and they shall be his sanctified Ezek. 37.28 1 Thes 5.23 Rev 19.8 People and God himself shall be with them in Christ by peculiar extraordinary perpetual and Glorious Manifestations of Presence and Conduct and be their God to sanctifie them wholly and then to unite them unto himself in his Kingdom of Eternity John 17.19 21. 1 Cor. 1.8 1 Thes 5 23. 7 It comes down from God and is with Men and therefore a State in the highest Heavens cannot be here meant for it is not said that it Ascends or that the Tabernacle of Men is with God but that the Tabernacle of God is with Men. 8 God in Christ had dwelt with Men before in a State of Humiliation and his Glory appeared but to some few chosen ones for the World knew him not and his own did not receive him John 1.10 11. and that only at some transient Manifestations of it such as the Transfiguration on the Mount but now very great and glorious (a) Burnet 's Theory 4.7 appearances of Divine Majesty and Presence are promised to be continued for evermore in Heaven after a Thousand Years duration in the New Heaven and New Earth which are to fly away into Eternity Ezek. 37.26 9 Expressions taken from the Covenant made with Abraham Gen. 17.7 8. and the New Covenant mentioned Jerem 31 31-34 32 40 44. Ezek. 36.26 27.37 26 27 28 Heb. 8. whereby is shewn that the Promises of that Covenant are not fully accomplished but in the Glorious Kingdom of Christ the Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not Man which comes down from Heaven in this Vision Compare Heb. 8. with the first Verses of this Chapter 4 And God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes i. e. shall remove all Causes and Occasions of Sorrow Is 25.8.60 20. and there shall be no more death or it shall be destroyed by Christ Is 25.8 1 Cor. 15.26 54. neither Sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain i. e. it shall be a state of (a) Dr. Burnet 's Theory 4.7 Indolency free from pain and want for the former things of the first Heaven and first Earth the World of the first Adam i. e. Sin Diseasâ—s Want Satan and his wicked Agents Hell and Death are passed away out of the Limits of the first Heaven and first Earth 5 And he that * sat on the white Throne i. e. Christ whom I had seen sitting on his own distinct Throne at the delivery up of the Kingdom Chap. 20.11 said behold for it is a thing much to be observed I am now about to make all things new i. e. to make a New Heaven and a New Earth and to renew and fully sanctifie Humane Nature John 17.19 And he said unto me 10 Write for these Words are true and faithful i. e. the New Things declared by me in these Words are now ready to be made by me whereby all my Words Promises and Declarations will receive a full compleâ—ion and will appear to be True and Infallible * There are Three Thrones ascribed to Christ in this Prophecy 1. The Throne of the Father in which Christ sits with him from the Resurrection until the Appearance of his own Throne in his Kingdom Chap. 3.21 2. Christ's own Throne or the Throne peculiar to his Humane Nature in his Glorious Kingdom called his Throne Chap. 3.21 and the Throne of the Lamb Chap. 22.3 3. The White Throne Chap. 20.11 in which Christ appears at the last Judicial Act of his Kingdom jâ—â—hen he is about to deliver it up to his Father Which appâ—â—â—â—â—ce having been seen but just before although it be after this in Time and in the Order of Completion is here referred to to shew that the same person whom he had by way of Prolepsis or Anticipation a Figure frequent in this Prophecy seen dissolving all things was now to appear as making all things New the same Christ being the Omega and End who shall dissolve all things and the Beginning or Alpha who is the Efficient Cause of the New Creation the New Heaven and New Earth and of (a) Psalm 22 27-31.102 18. the Generation of Saints the people which shall be created to inhabit it 10 To write is to bring into Effect as hath been often (b) See on Chap. 19.9 observed before whereby is signified that all the New things he had promised and declared in his Word were just ready to be made hy him 6 And he said unto me 11 It is done i. e. what I was about to do is now performed I have now sanctified and renewed my Servants and delivered the Creation from its Vanity Corruption and Bondage I the Eternal Word in Humane Nature am Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End of Prophecy who made all things in the beginning and have now created them anew and am therefore able to say it is done Chap. 1 8.3 14. I who am able will also give unto him i. e. unto the Saints of all Ages that is a thirst i. e. that earnestly desire the full glory of mâ— Kingdom of the Fountain of the Water of Life i e. full and lasting Communications of Grace and Glory to all the Living in this New Jerusalem Isa 4 3. John 4 10 14.7 37. freely i. e. out of my mere Grace and Favour Isa 55.1 2. 11 Christ here at the completion of what he was to do for his Servants uses the same Expression he had before used Chap. 16.17 after the Destruction of his Enemies by the Vials which may thereupon he lookt upon as (a) See on Chap. 3.12 Monumental Inscriptions upon Two Pillars placed as it were at Two remarkable Boundaries of Prophecy of which the one respects Christ's making his Enemies his Footstool the other the Blessed State and Lot of the Saints at the End of Days mentioned Dan. 12.13 7 He that overcometh i e all of each Church-State who overcome the Temptations of it See Chapters 2 and 3. shall inherit as Sons all
brightness of his Father's Glory and the express Image of his Person See Bishop Pearson on the Creed and Dr. Bull 's Defensio Fidei Nicaenae 24 And the 37 Nations of them which are (a) Isa 45.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sunt ilii ex Gentilium reliquiis quos Diluvium Ignis non inundaverit Innelliguntur ni fallor qui cladem illam in Christi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saturam evaserint quando venturus est ad hostes Ecclesiae suae perdendos Mede's Works pag. 915. saved i. e. those Living Remaining Saints who shall have escaped the Sword of Christ's Mouth and the Fire for the Perdition of the Ungodly Isa 4 2-5 45 20.60 3 11. See the Notes on Chap. 20.6 shall walk in the Light of it i. e. shall partake of the Glories of the New Jerusalem in the New Heaven where Christ and the Dead raised incorruptible Reign together Isa 2 5.60 2 3. See the Not s on Chapter 20.4 and the Kings and Priests of the New Earth i e. the Saints living upon the New Earth and reigning with Christ a Thousand Years Chap. 20 6.21 1. do bring their Glory and Honour into it i. e. acknowledge all their Glory and Happiness to be derived from that State above and shall at last be caught up into it See on Chap. 20. Psalm 68 29.62 10. 1 Thes 4.17 37 Called Nations of the saved to distinguish them from the Wicked Nations Chap. 20.8 the Slain and Dead killed by the Sword of Christ's Mouth and devoured by Fire from Heaven Chap. 19 21.20 8 9. See the Notes on the former Chapter It is acutely observed by Mr. (a) Ep. 20. Mede That the State of the New Jerusalem and the State of the Nations which shall walk in the Light thereof are different as is plain because the Nations and Kings of the latter walk in the Light of the former and bring their own Glory to it as to a State different and distinct from it by the former of which seems plainly to be meant the Jerusalem above which comes down from God out of Heaven with Christ and his Saints into the New Heaven and by the latter the Camp of the Saints upon Earth those Living Remaining Saints who shall dwell in the New Earth for a Thousand Years partaking of the Glories and Happiness of the Sainâ—s above with Christ who Reign in the New Heavens as in a Palace of Glory from whence the Divine Light transfuses it self upon the Saints below who walk and rejoyce in it being directed and influenced by it until by Degrees those Assistances and powerful Communications being abated and withdrawn they began to be too much in love with their State upon Earth and did not so earnestly long to be caught up to be with Christ for ever Whereupon Satan was loosed and the wicked Nations drew together against them Which is the Laodicean State of the Church described in the Third Chapter and will appear to be the true meaning of this place to any one who will diligently compare it with what hath been discoursed on the former Chapter 25 And the 38 Gates of it shall not be shut at all by day but shall be open continually Isa 60.11 for although Men shut their Gates at Night yet there shall be no night there and therefore the Gates need never be shut because God and the Lamb are the Light of it Verse 23. 38 This seems to refer to the Free Communications there shall be in this State betwixt the Saints upon Earth and the Saints above in the Heavenly Jerusalem with Christ who may (a) Et si in nonnullis solenniis se praesens sistat Christi numen circumstantibus Angelorum turmis c. Burnet Theor. Tellur lib. 4. 7. perhaps descend sometimes upon Earth and ascend again to Heaven according to what is typified by Jacob's Mystical Ladder Gen. 28.12 26 And they i. e. the 39 Kings of the Earth shall bring the glory and honour of the Nations into it i. e. the whole Body of the remaining and Living Saints who are the saved of the Nations shall acknowledge all their Glory to be from this Heavenly New Jerusalem and shall at last be caught up into it Verse 24. 39 The Body of Saints upon Earth are a Kingdom of Saints which to shew the Universality of them and the Polity which will be in that State are represented as Naetions under Kings as Heads and Governours 17 And there shall in no wise enter into it any the least thing whatsoever that defileth i. e. it shall be a State of perfect Holiness Isaiah 35.8 neither any thing whatsoever that worketh abomination or Idolatry or maketh a Lye i. e. the great Lye of Antichristianism but they which are written in the Lamb's Book of Life i. e. none shall enter into this State but those who are amongst the Living and are either raised to Life or are alive and remain unto the Coming of the Lord. See the Notes on Chap. 20. CHAP. XXII The Text. 1 1 AND he i. e. the Angel Chap. 21.9 shewed me a pure 2 River of Water of Life clear as Chrystal i. e. abundance and even ful ess of Purely Spiriâ—ual Divine and Heavenly Life Gifts Graces and Refreshments Psalm 36.8 Ez. 47.1 Joel 3 18. Zech. 14.8 John 7.37 38. proceeding out of tâ—e 3 Throne of God and of the 4 Lamb as out of its Head or Fountain Gen. 2.10 Psalm 36.4 Chaâ— 21.6 Annotations on CHAP. XXII 1 This Chapter to Verse the 6th ought not to have been separated from the former as being one continued Description of the City in the midst of which this River was Verse 2. â— This is in allusion to the River of Paradise which went out of Eden as out of its Head and Fountain to water the Garden Gen. 2.10 VVhereby as also by the Tree in the midst of this City is intimated that this State will be Paradisaical 3 In Ezekiel's Vision the River cometh out of the Temple and Altar But there being no Temple in this New Jerusalem the Throne of God is put in the place of it to shew that this State shall be wholly Divine 4 The Lamb's Throne is the distinct and peculiar Throne of Christ as the Son of Man in his Glorious Kingdom in which State the Divinity will so dispense it self to the Humane Nature as that it shall have a distinct Glory of its own although derived from the Divine and the Son may be said not to be subject 1 Cor. 15.28 because he is a King even as in Christ's State of Humiliation the Divinity did not generally manifest it self so gloriously and illustriously in the Humanity but that Christ might be said to have emptied himself of his Divine Glory Phil. 2.6 7. See pag. 441 442. and Chap. 21.5 2 In the midst of the street or broad places whereby is signified the Assembly of the whole Body of the Saints Chap. 20.9 of it i. e. of the City and of either
THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION PARAPHRASED WITH ANNOTATIONS ON EACH CHAPTER Whereby it is made plain to the meanest Capacity DAN XII 4. Many shall run to and fro and Knowledg shall be increased HAB. II. 2. Write the Vision and make it plain upon Tables that he may run that readeth it LONDON Printed in the Year MDCXCIII THE PREFACE THere is scarce any part of Holy Writ which hath met with a more severe entertainment in the World than this Sacred Book For although it hath evident Characters of its Divine Authority and more Humane Testimony than any other Book of the New Testament yet upon the increase of the Millenary Controversies in the Church it was first called in question and then boldly and impiously rejected by that party whose Sentiments it oppposed until they had found out a way of reconciling it unto them Into such extravagancies will immoderate opposition transport men and a fond Love and heady Zeal for private Fancies and Opinions Neither have those who have endeavoured to illustrate and clear the difficulties of this Mysterious Book met with less gentle usage in these latter ages especially from those of our own Nation but have been commonly represented as Frantick Zealots and Crazed Enthusiasts or where such Characters could not be fastned on them they have been generally depressed in the World if their Sentiments proved contrary to what was most prevailing in it to the great discouragement of inquisitive Persons and to the mighty hindrance of Truth and Knowledg which never thrive better than under a gentle and moderate freedom And therefore I cannot but regret although it be to the Dishonour of my own Nation the hard fate of those two excellent Persons Mr. Potter and Mr. Mede the former of whom although admirably skilled in many abstruse parts of Learning yet lived and dyed in an obscure retirement in a remote corner of the Land whilst the other the Ornament of our Church and of the Age he lived in was never able so much as to keep a Horse for Health not State which was the heighth of his ambition And I wish I could say that we were grown more favourable to such disquisitions that so a considerable person of deep Thought and of great insight into Mysterious Truths upon whose Hypothesis the following Interpretation is chiefly grounded after much doubt and tryal of it might not be permitted to struggle with adversity and lie under the depressing circumstances of Restraint But alas I fear that like the Apostle Peter (a) Luke 9.33 when he desired the continuance of the Glory of Christ's transgfiuration upon this Earth we know not what we say when we wish that such men had met with greater advantages in the World as the present state of it is and that we ought not to seek (b) Jerem 45. great things for our selves or others whilst the Church is in a Sack-cloath State and Condition but that our Souls are to be suited to God's Dispensations and we are not to aim at high things in the times of publick calamities And whosoever makes this use of privacy and adversity may sooner meet with Divine Visitations and comforts in the most obscure corner and with Spiritual Illuminations in a Patmos or a Prison than amidst the greatest affluence of the enjoyments of this World and all the advantages of great Parts many Books and much Learning which too often swell the mind and puff up more than edifie whereas the chief qualifications next to Prayer and the Divine assistance to the attaining to Knowledg in this or any other part of Scripture are Humility Industry and Patience in searching and a ready submission to Convictions although they prove contrary to our former thoughts and our present interest For great application of Mind is necessary to search into the bottom of Mysterious Truths and a man who would understand the Will of God in this Prophecy must during the Study of it renounce Parties and Prejudices and divest himself of his former Principles although never so deeply rooted and never so seemindy rational and closely follow that Sense which appears to be the meaning of the Holy Spirit For God's Thoughts are not as our Thoughts and men of the greatest strength of Reason when they happen upon false Principles and too strictly adhere to them are of all others the most irreclaimable It were easy to shew that Alcasar who spent twenty Years in the Study of this Prophecy Ribera and other very Learned and Judicious Men amongst the Romanists had scarcely missed of many great Truths if they had not been of that Communion and that several truly great and good Men among the Protestants were misled by a too fond respect for some private Principles Such as were the impossibility that so gross an Idolatry and so Universal an Apostasy as is supposed in this Prophecy should ever be permitted to overspread the Face of the Visible Church which yet is supposed should actually come to pass towards the end of the Word by Ribera (a) Viegas Victorinus and most of the Ancient Fathers Alcas pag. 20. and other learned Papists chiefly upon the evidence which this Book afforded them And such also was their opinion of the necessity of an uninterrupted Succession in every Church and the impossibility of deriving it from one which was formally Idolatrous together with a greater Love for the outward Peace Unity and Prosperity of the Church than it is capable of during this imperfect State in which they seem to have rested without expecting one of a different Nature Which seem to be the chief prejudices upon which Grotius Mr. Thorndick Dr. Hammond and others espoused a groundless narrow and inconsistent Hypothesis contrary to the common Doctrine of Protestants and of the Churches of which they were Members and to the Scope and genuine sense of the words of this and other Prophetical Books of Scripture as hath been sufficiently shewn by Dr. Moor Dr. Cressener and several Divines of Foreign Churches Whereas Mr. Mede seems to have been rewarded by God with the best grounded the most consequential and the most comprehensive Hypothesis of any other for his great freedom of Mind impartial Search and universal Charity which were joyned in him with a rare and uncommon mixture of slowness and yet largeness of thought I am not ignorant that many excellent persons who have shaken off the fetters of Prejudice and Education and have too great Souls to he confined within the narrow compass of a Party or a private Interest are yet very a verse to the Writings of those who offer at the Interpretation of Prophetical Scripture if their sentiments seem to look with a too close and threatning Aspect upon the Age they live in because of the frequent falsity of such pretences and the ill influence they may have especially at some times and seasons upon the publick peace of Church and State And indeed they are not to be blamed for being cautious and
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
things throughout the whole Prophecy 2. The setling and appointing of Christ the Lamb newly risen from the Dead to be the Supreme Governour and Director of all the Events which were to come to pass by giving him power to open the Book and loose the Seals of it 3. We have here a Pre-representation as there is upon all suitable occasions of the Thousand Years Kingdom of Christ the chief End of all the Visions given us in Two Doxologies sung by Angels and the Representatives of the Christian and Jewish Church who are as it were a Chorus to this Divine Drama as the Virgins Companions Watchmen and Shepherds are in the Book of Canticles which is a Sacred Dramatick Poem relating to Christ's Kingdom See Dr. Patrick 's Preface on the Song of Solomon and Dr. Beverley's Exposition of it 1 From whence Prophecies are called Visions and Prophets Seers in Scripture Hammond 2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is put for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here and in other places of Scripture as John 1 15.15 18. 1 John 4.19 and this is the same with the first Voice of a Trumpet cap. 1.10 2 And immediately I was in the Spirit Chap. 1.10 and behold a Throne was set in Heaven i. e. God appeared as King and Judg Isa 6.1 Ezek. 1.26 Dan. 7.9 and one i. e. God the Father Chap. 5.7 sat on the Throne i. e. appeared in Majesty and as in Judgment 3 And he that sat was to look upon or was in appearance 3 and resemblance like a Jasper i. e. Glorious Rev. 20.11 and a Sardine 4 stone i. e. Glorious but Terrible Exod. 24.10 Ezek. 1.27 and there was a Rain-bow i. e. his covenant of mercy and peace and his mindfulness of it Gen. 9 11-16 Isa 54 8-10 Ezek. 1.28 round about the Throne so that it might always be in his remembrance in sight like unto an Emerald 5 denoting the never failing mercies of his Covenant and the most pleasant and precious promises of it and of his Kingdom 3 For he saw not God but only his Glory aâ—d such Appearances as denote his Attributes and Perfections Ezekiel 1.28 4 It is a Blood-coloured or Red Stone like Fire and therefore fit to denote the Justice and fiery Indignation of God Heb. 10.27 5 A Smaragd or Emerauld is a most precious Stone of a very pleasant and never fading Greenness the chief Colour in the Rainbow 4 And 6 round about the Throne were four and twenty Seats or Thrones and upon the Seats I saw the four and twenty 7 Elders i. e. the representatives of the Jewish Church 1 Chron. 24. Isa 24.23 sitting on Thrones as participating in Judgment and Government Dan. 7.9 22 26 27. Rev. 20.4 cloathed in white 8 raiment i. e. Priest's Vestments and they had on their Heads 8 Crowns of Gold i. e. Regal Ornaments Chap. 1 6.5 10.20 6. 6 They encompass the Throne as faithful Ministers and Servants to receive God's Commands and to shew their Nearness and Access unto him who was in the midst of them to protect assist and give his Commands unto them Matth. 18.20 7 The Church of Israel as it shall be advanced by Christ in his Kingdom being plainly called God's Antients or Elders by Isaiah Chap. 24.23 it seems evident to me that the four and Twenty Elders are here put for the Representatives of it in allusion to the Four and Twenty Heads of the Courses of the Priests instituted by David 1 Chron. 24. Elder in its General Notion signifying a Head or Governour amongst the Jews as appears from Gen. 50.7 And this Word Elder being by this time become familiar in the Church to signifie the Pastors or Governours of it why may not a Title used in the Christian Church be put to denote the Governours of the Jewish as on the contrary the Jewish Types are all along in this Prophecy put to denote the Christian Antitypes 8 8 The Jewish Church seems here to be represented 1. by their white Vestments which was the Habit of the Jewish Priests Exod. 28.39 40.39 27. and 2. by their Crowns whereby is denoted that they were a Royal Priesthood as they are called Exod. 19.6 and that they together with the Christian Church should reign with Christ 5 And out of the Throne of God the Father proceeded 9 lightnings and thunderings and voices denoting the Majesty of God and the Terror of his Laws and Judgments and of the appearance of his Kingdom and there were seven Lamps of Fire burning before the Throne which are the Symbols or Hieroglyphicks of the seven Spirits of God i. e. of the perfect warming and enlightning influences and operations of the Holy Ghost towards the Church Exod. 37.23 Ezek. 4.2 See the Notes on Rev. 1.4 12 20. 9 These Words are taken from the Dreadful Appearance of God upon Mount Sinai at the Delivery of the Law Exod. 19. and 20.18 20. and signifie God's Judgments in behalf of and upon his Church and especially the extraordinary breakings forth and signal comings of Christ's Kingdom whereby he shakes not the Earth only but the Heaven as they are set forth in Scripture by Metaphors primarily taken according to the Opinion of the Learned Theorist of the Earth from the last general Conflagration See and diligently com Haggai 2 6-9 Malach. 3.1 Psalm 18.13 Jerem. 25.30 Ezek. 1.13 Heb. 10 27-31 Heb. 12 18-29 6 And before the Throne there was a 10 Sea i. e. a large Vessel or receptacle 1 Kings 7.23 of Glass like unto Christal i. e. pure and transparent as that of the Tabernacle was Exod. 38.8 denoting Baptism and the purity it requires and the Blood of Christ by which we are washed and cleansed from our sins Rev. 7.14 and in the midst 11 of the Throne or just before it Ezek. 1.5 and round 11 about the Throne Numb 2.2 were four Beasts or living 12 Creatures representing the pure Apostolical Church of Christ in all parts of the World full of Eyes before and behind i. e. very circumspect and vigilant and skilled in the past and future state of Christ's Kingdom 10 The Laver or Brazen Vessel in the Temple for the Priests to wash in is called a Sea in Scripture as all Receptacles of Waters are of which see Exod. 30 18.38 8. by which is aptly represented the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Baptismal Lavers of the Antients which were very large 11 11 One of the Beasts might be probably placed before the Throne or in the midst of it and the other Three in just distances round about it probably one behind and two on each side of it in correspondence to the Description of Solomon's Throne 1 Kings 10.19 or according to the pitching of the Tents of the Israelites which are described Numb 2.2 as being over against and round about the Tabernacle that is encompassing it in a Square Figure as the Learned generally agree each of the Four Divisions being placed at the Four Points of it looking towards the Four
Message of Salvation to all who would come in unto him before he threatned and executed his Judgments upon the Rebellious Jews and Romans according to the Description of his Kingdom Psalm 2. and 45. 7 This refers to the Great Conquests the Gospel gained by the Ministry of the Apostles and this first Seal seems to be plainly contemporary with the Ephesine Succession in its first State when their Works and Love was great and their Preaching powerful as Thunder which is to be dated from Christ's Resurrection A. D. 33. when he gave Commission to his Disciples to conquer by teaching and baptizing all Nations Matth. 28.18 19 20. 3 And when he i. e. Christ had opened the second Seal I 8 heard the second 9 Beast or Gospel-Ministry as yet Apostolical 8 say Come and see what Desolations are coming upon the Earth 8 8 This living Creature speaks not in Thunder as the other did to shew that the Gospel's Power and Purity was now something abated Ephesus having soon left its first fervent and intense Love 9 The Ox whose Station was in the Western Quarter of the Camp 4 And the Enemies of Christ the Jews and Gentiles having refused to submit entirely to his Kingdom Psalm 2. and 45. there went out from the Western Quarter another Horse that was red denoting Wars and Effusion of Blood and power was given by Christ to him 10 that sate thereon i. e. who had the Execution of this Bloody Dispensation to take Peace from the 11 Earth i. e. to engage the Men of the World especially in the Roman Empire in Wars and that they both Jews and Gentiles should kill one another and there was given unto him a great Sword signifying great slaughter in War Jerem. 16.4 Ezek. 14.21 10 Here the Desolations of the Jews foretold by Daniel Chap. 9. and by our Saviour in the Gospel seem plainly to be described For 1. They were finally compleated by one coming forth from the West that is by Trajan and Hadrian who were Spaniards under whom they were miserably slaughtered and almost utterly extirpated And 2. Those Times were very remarkable for their mutual Slaughters one of another the Romans killing vast Numbers of the Jews and the Jews on the contrary almost dispeopling some of their Provinces and fighting so obstinately against Hadrian that the Conquerour could not boast of the Triumph his Loss was so great which is a thing so plain from all History that we need not quote Authors to testifie it This Seal may reach from A. D. 66. when these Desolations began in the War against the Jews under Nero by Vespasian and Titus until the fatal Slaughter and Dispersion of that Nation under Hadrian who ended his War against them A. D. 134. and died A. D. 138. on the Kalends of January as Mr. Pagi has accurately stated this Account 11 By Earth here is meant the Kings of the Earth who were Enemies to Christ the Jews and Gentiles as Peter has explained David Acts 4 25-27 5 And when he had opened the third Seal I heard the third 12 Beast or Apostolical Ministry 13 say Come and see and mark diligently what you see and hear Verse 6. And I beheld and lo a black 14 Horse i. e. a sad and a severe Dispensation and he 14 that sate on him or had the Execution of that Dispensation had a pair of 14 Ballances in his hand to signifie strict and impartial Justice 12 Like a Man whose Station was in the South 13 Here is no mention of Thunder for the Reason given before Numb 8.8 14 14 14 A pair of Ballances is the common and most apposite Emblem of Justice and by a Black Horse cannot be signified a Famine as is evident from what will be said on the following Verse although Blackness be reckoned as the Effect of it Lament 5.10 And therefore it is most agreeable that some sad Dispensation and severe state of things should be signified by it according to the Acceptation of Blackness Job 30.30 Psalm 119.83 With which Emblems the History of the Times succeeding the Desolations of the Jews under Hadrian does wonderfully conspire which reach from A. D. 138. when Hadrian died in whom the former Seal ended unto A. D 235. when Alexander Severus was killed on the 14th of March which seems to be the Extent of this Seal For 1. Septimius Severus was an African whose Countrey lay to the South the Station of the Third Living Creature which spake at the opening of this Seal And he being the first and only Emperour that ever came from that Countrey why may not that unusual Choice be more particularly hinted at by the Black Horse he rod on Horses of that colour being extremely valued by the Africans as Bochartus (a) Hierozoic 2.7 has observed out of their Resemblance to their own swarthy Complexion and because of their strength and firmness And of this kind perhaps was that Great and Couragious Horse which stoopt to take him up and carried him into the Forum after he had thrown his Predecessor Pertinax in an Ominous Dream related by * Lib. 2.34 Herodian Which Observation howsoever may serve to illustrate the Apocalyptical Symbol here made use of it being taken for granted by the Expositors of Dreams at that time that a Horse signifies Imperatorial Power 2. There happened in his time viz. A. D. 202. a bloody and a long (b) See Pagi in Baronium persecution continuing until after his Death which was on the 4th of Feb. A. D. 211. of which a Black Horse is a fit Emblem Blackness being the Symbol of Persecutions and Calamitous Dispensations in Scripture as Cantic 1.5 Zech. 6.2 6. 3. This Emperour was very Cruel and a Great and a Terrible Conquerour of a very Rigid and Rough Disposition and very strict and impartial in Administration of Justice and Punishment of Delinquents which are Qualities very properly represented by Blackness and a pair of Ballances especially if we consider that this Age was the Age of Lawyers in which Papinian and Vlpian flourished and were advanced to the highest Dignities under Septimius Severus and Alexander Severus the Son of Mamoea whose strict Justice and Severity against Offenders and excellent Laws are Famous in all History So that the Symbols of a Ballance and the Voice from the midst of the Beasts cannot but belong also unto him in a most particular manner who was also a great Warriour And the Beast appearing at the opening of this Seal having the Resemblance of a Man which signifies Humanity Reason and Prudence the excellent Race of the Antonines famous for those Qualities may be very well included in the Period of this Seal there having been an admirable Succession of Emperours excepting Commodus and Heliogabalus whose Reign was short from Hadrian in whom the former Seal ended unto Alexander Severus of whom the Ballance was a proper Emblem his Motto being that Epitome of Justice Do as you would be done by and who was also
32 living Fountains of Waters i. e. perpetual Comforts and Refreshments Isa 12 3. John 7.38 and God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes i. e. remove all Causes and Occasions of Sorrow 32 So the Jews call Fountains continually bubling and springing up Canticl 4.15 John 4 10. CHAP. VIII The Text. 1 AND when he i. e. Christ had opened the seventh Seal there was silence 1 in Heaven about the space of * half an hour i. e. there was a short respite from the commotions which followed upon the Sounding of the Trumpets Annotations on CHAP. VIII 1 The Metaphors here are taken from the (a) Mr. Mede Hammond on Luke 1.1 Ainsworth on Lev. 16.12 13. Temple-Service which shews that Church-Affairs are here typified as well as those of the Empire in which at the offering of Incense the People prayed without in the Court in private whilst the Priest offered the Incense which Prayers were very short and the whole Service performed in silence whereas the offering of Sacrifice the first part of their Service was accompanied with Singing Musick and Trumpets 2. Chron. 29.25 * See on Ver. 7. Num. 11. 2 And I saw the seven Angels which stood 2 before God as ready to execute his Pleasure and to them were given by God's appointment seven 3 Trumpets to denounce seven Judgments 2 These are expresly called Angels and not The Spirits of God whereby they are distinguished from the Seven Spirits Chap. 1.4 And by these Seven standing before God is denoted the Preparedness of the several Instruments and Means required to the executing of God's Judgments by the Seven Trumpets and also the Majesty of the Divine Presence is expressed by them in allusion to the Custom of the Eastern Kings from whose Rites many of the Descriptions in Scripture are taken who had Seven Princes who saw their Faces or stood before them and were the Chief in their Kingdoms Esther 1.14 Grotius on Matth. 18.10 3 Here is an Allusion also to the Temple Service where it was the Custom to blow with Trumpets after the Oblation of Incense as appears from Ecclus 50.15 16. strict Silence being observed before it as here the Angels have Trumpets given them to prepare to sound but sound not until the Incense was offered Angel signifies in this Prophecy not only the Angelical Spirits but also the subordinate Ministers employed under them here upon Earth as has been before shewn on Chap. 1.1 20. And therefore here may be meant by this Angel the Emperour Theodosius who is the Chief Person concerned in this Vision as we shall shew hereafter whose Prayer at the Head of his Army before the Battel with Eugenius is very remarkable in History and also the whole Christian Church which joyned with him in Prayer to God upon that great Occasion Angel being taken Collectively in this Book for all the several Instruments made use of in it 3 And another Angel or Ministring Spirit representing the Persons employed in the like service on Earth came and stood at or by the Altar of incense Exod. 30.1 having a Golden Censer or Vessel to hold Incense Levit. 16.12 Hebr. 9.4 and there was 4 given unto him much Incense Levit. 16.12 13. Rev. 5.8 that he should Offer it with the Prayers of all Saints 5 or Holy Chrians upon the Golden Altar of Incense Exod. 30 3 6 7.40 26. which was 6 before the Throne of God 4 Here may be an Allusion to a Custom in the Jewish Service of bringing the Odors to the Priest by others Exod. 27.20 See Maimonides in Ainsworth on Levit. 24.2 5 Here is also an Allusion to the High Priests offering Incense in the Temple while the People called here All Saints i. e. the Holy and Peculiar People of God prayed in the Outward Court And by what is here delivered and in the former Verses is intimated that the daily Publick Sacrifice of pure Worship which was wont to be performed in the Outward Court should cease and was about to be contracted into a retired and a silent one signified by the Silence Vers 1. and the Incense-Worship which was within the Temple and that although the Saints or Holy People were as yet without in the Outward Court not yet trodden down by Antichristian Defilements that nevertheless it would not be long but about half an hour or a short space before that also which was a Type of the Visible Church and its Worship should be polluted by them concerning which Allusion and the Grounds of it see more on Chap. 11.1 6 As the Altar of Incense in the Temple was before the Mercy-seat Exod. 30.6 7.40 26. 4 And the smoak of the Incense Chap. 5.8 which came with the Prayers of the Saints ascended up before God out of the Angels hand i. e. they were grateful and acceptable unto him through the Merits and Intercession of Christ Psal 141.2 Acts 10.4 5 And the Angel took the censer which was now empty the Incense being consumed and their Prayers ended and filled it with fire from the Altar of 7 Sacrifice or Burnt-Offerings and cast it i. e. dispersed God's Judgment and fiery Indignation Ezek. 10.2 Luke 12.49 upon the Earth i. e. the Roman Empire and there were 8 Voices and Thundrings and Lightnings Chap. 4.5 and an Earthquake i. e. extraordinary Commotions in the Empire and great Manifestations of Christ's Kingdom Chap. 6.12 7 For there was a continual Fire on the Altar of Sacrifice but none on the Altar of Incense See Ainsworth on Exod. 30.8 and on Lev. 6.12 13. This Service was performed in the Temple but the Fire was taken off the Altar of Burnt Sacrifice in the Outward Court to shew that God's Judgments represented by Fire which denotes in Scripture any destructive thing came upon them by Reason of the Gentilism or Antichristian Pollutions of the Outward Court or Visible Church 8 The other Seals having been distinguished by some notable Events in the Empire it is reasonable to think that this is so too and there is none which agrees better to it than the Wonderful Victory (a) Sâ—â—aâ— Hist 5.25 Sozom. 7.24 Howel 's History Part 2. pag. 427 of Theodosius over Eugenius A. D. 395. Because 1. It follows in order the Event foretold in the sixth Seal this Victory giving the Deadly Blow to Heathenism and perfecting what was begun by Constantine and some of his Successors under that Seal 2. Because the following Trumpets denoting the fall of the Empire began to produce their Effects not long after this Defeat So that it exactly corresponds as a middle Event with the foregoing and following ones 3. The Vengeance of God fell extraordinarily upon the Pagans and their Defeat by a wonderful Tempest was miraculous as Claudian the Heathen Poet confesses and as the Soldiers who were present at the Battel told (b) 〈◊〉 â—iâ—itat Dâ—i 5.26 Augustine which is very naturally expressed by Fire cast by an Angel from Heaven upon Earth Fire being a general
Rev. 17.12 And therefore about half of that space seems here to be signified by about half an hour which will reach from 395 unto 437 which is about the half of this whole Line of Time and falls upon that Time when the Barbarous Nations who had been before often successfully repulsed began to make their most Furious Impressions upon the Roman Provinces on all sides under the weak Government of a Woman Placidia the Empress and her Son Valentinian who was a Child when he began to Reign insomuch that Genserick came then to be so powerful as that he severely persecuted the Orthodox from the very Year (b) Ricciol Chronol 437. unto 476. when he died And furthermore it is very remarkable that about 430 and odd the Apostasy which began in Image-Worship about 360. palpably increased as Mr. (c) Pag. 589. Mede has observed So that the Year 437. is very remarkable on all Hands as being about the middle Point or about half of the whole Hour or Aera reaching from the entire Defeat of Heathenism to the entire Fall of the Western Empire and because it may be justly accounted the Exact Year from which the actual sounding of the Trumpets are to be reckoned which were but in preparation from 395. until that time and also because it may be with great Reason thought to be the beginning of the Antichristian Apostasy which from that time generally increased until it gained a Kingdom with the Ten Kings arising out of the Ruines of the Roman Empire A.D. 476. and that at One Hour that is One entire Hour made up of Two Halves the first reaching from 395 to 437. the latter at the End of which this Kingdom began from thence to 476. See on Chap. 11 2.13.5.17 12. 12 The Fourth Kingdom which is the Roman Empire is called Dan. 7.23 The Kingdom upon the Earth to distinguish it from Christ's Kingdom the Heavenly and Everlasting Kingdom and Luke 2.1 it is called all the World or Earth because most of the then Known World was subject to it 13 It is the Opinion of Mr. Mede that by the Fourth of the Earth Chap. 6.8 is meant almost all the Roman Empire which upon due Compute says Dr. Moor was then one third part of the Earth upon which account they take the Third part to be the Symbolical and Cabbalistical Character of the Roman Empire according to the Genius of this Mystical Book and the Custom of the Ancient Eastern Nations who gave Characters from Numbers and Proportions But to interpose a Conjecture not altogether groundless I am apt to imagine that as the Roman Empire is called the Fourth Chap. 6.8 whilst it had its Imperial Seat fixed at Rome the Head then of the Fourth Kingdom So that after Constantine removed the Seat of the Western Empire to Constantinople it is called the Third because its Imperial Seat was then in the Greek or Eastern part of the Roman Empire which was the Third Kingdom of the Earth in Daniel From which time Constantinople or New Rome became the Chief Seat of the Civil Empire Old Rome being abandoned to the New Ecclesiastical Empire of the Pope the Western Emperours seldom coming at it and by degrees leaving it to them So that even the Western Empire may be Charactered by the Third because that Old Rome the Chief Seat of it and of the Transactions of this Vision had lost its Civil Imperialism over the Fourth part of the Earth and was now forced to truckle to the third part or Constantinopolitan Roman Empire where the Chief Majesty of the Empire was seated Old Rome being never able to gain its Preheminence and the Ruin of its Civil Jurisdiction being owing to this Action of Constantine which will appear also the more probable if we consider that the Rise and Fall of Empires is dated in Prophecy from the like Fate of the Imperial Seats of them See Chap. 9 15.12 4. 14 This is taken from Exod. 9.25 where we read that the Thunder Storm of Hail smote every Herb of the Field and broke every Tree of the Field By which is here signified all the Members and People of the Roman Empire denoted by Metaphors taken from those things which suffer most by Storms And Trees here according to the Prophetical Scheme of Speech signifie the Great Ones and Grass by the like Analogy signifies the Common People 8 And the second Angel sounded and as it were a great 15 Mountain or City Jerem. 51.25 burning with fire was cast into the Sea and the third part of the Sea i. e. the Roman Empire became Blood 16 i. e. was ravaged with bloody Wars Exod. 7.17 18. 15 This Type is taken from Jerem. 51.25 where it is used concerning Babylon by which all along in this Book Rome is understood A Mountain denotes a Kingdom or a City from its Strength and Lofty Edifices and Towers as Annotators have observed on Isa 13.2 Jerem. 51.25 Zechar. 4.7 And the Sea signifies a Body Politick because Seas are in Scripture-Phrase a gathering together of Waters which in this Book are put to denote People and Multitudes as appears from Chap. 18.15 And therefore by the Type in this Verse the Confusions and Desolations represented by the Psalmist Psalm 46.2 by Mountains carried into the midst of the Sea which the State and City of Rome then lay under may be fitly signified it being at this time as a great Mountain burning in the Sea but not actually burnt that is in a consuming Condition but not utterly destroyed For 1. (a) Zosim Oros August Civit. 5. 23. Radagaisus was entirely defeated by Stilicho and he himself and almost his whole Army was destroyed by Sword or Famine Stilicho being made an Instrument by God of preserving the Empire when he designed nothing but his own Interest and the usurping of it which appeared also in another Memorable Instance when he (b) Zosim Oros Hieron Rubeus Hist Raven lib. 2. saved the Empire from total ruine by succouring Saul the General of the Army under him at the very time that he was put to flight by Alarick 2. When (a) Oros lib 7. Socrat. 7.10 Sozom. 9 6-9 Jornand Cap. 30. Alarick took Rome he sackt indeed and rifled it but burnt only some part of it and that contrary to the wonted Custom of the Goths as Jornandes hath particularly observed and left the large Church of Peter entire for an Asylum for the Christians 3. When Athaulphus the Goth not long after had pillaged Rome and was resolved entirely to root out the whole Roman Power he was opportunely diverted by Placidia the Emperour's Sister and perswaded to make a (b) Petav. Ration Temp. lib. 6. Peace and retire into Spain where he married her A. D. 414. 4 Attila the Hun and Genserick the Vandal were both hindered from firing and destroying Rome by the Eloquence and Prudent Behaviour of Leo the Great And (c) Procop. pag 359 360 398 474. ex ed.
the Eastern Empire the Kingly Power being extinguished and Narses made Governour of it for Justinian about A.D. 553. who being removed from his Government after sixteen Years Administration of it Longinus was advanced to it under the Title of Exarch of Ravenna A. D. 569. When the Consuls entirely ceased and the Authority of the Senate was abolished and Rome the Mistress of the World became a Dutchy and was subject to Ravenna at which time also the Kingdom of the Lombards who came Originally from Scanzia into Pannonia began in Italy which lasted until A. D. 756. after which Charles the Great who beat the Lombards out of Italy was created Emperour of the Romans by Pope Leo Dec. 25. A. D. 800. all which time Rome was under the Government of the Papacy as we shall see hereafter 13 And I beheld and heard an Angel flying to denote speed thorow the midst of Heaven i. e. in the meridian height of it that he might be seen and heard of all saying with a loud voice audibly and terribly Wo 27 Wo Wo to the Inhabitants of the Earth by reason of the voices of the Trumpets of the three Angels which are yet to sound 27 Here the extreme Misery which the Empire was to suffer by the Saracens and Turks Chap. 9.12 and the Apstasy Chap. 11.14 is foretold Under the Angels in this Chapter are included according to an Observation frequently made all those Faithful Servants of Christ who witnessed to his Truths and against the Rising Antichristianism in the Church during the Time and Course of the Trumpets and of the preparation to the sounding of them Such were amongst many others 1. Gregory Nyssen who was a married Man and wrote an excellent (a) Dr. Cave's Lives of the Fathers Vol. 2. in the Append. pag. 45. Epistle against Pilgrimages to the Holy Land 2. Gregory (b) Dr. Cave Vol. 2. pag. 322 326. Nazianzen who was so mightily offended with the Quarrels and Contentions of Bishops and Councils that he refused to come to a Synod at Constantinople saying That Experience had sufficiently taught him how little good was to be expected from Synods and then resigned his Bishoprick which he said he knew not whether to stile a Tyrannical or an Archiepiscopal Dignity and testified against the excessive State Power and Honours of the Clergy freely (c) Tom. 1. pag. 61 62. Orat. 1. adv Julian confessing That the Mischiefs of the Church in his Time proceeded from thence 3 Ambrose who was a stout Defender of Discipline (d) Cave 's Lives pag. 409 410. exercising it even upon the Great Emperour Theodosius who with an extraordinary Meekness and Penitence submitted unto it 4. (e) Dr. Cressener's Demonstrat of the Apocal. in Append. pag. 13. Jerome Theodoret Andreas Caesariensis Arethas and others who plainly testifie That Rome was to be the Seat of Antichrist as does also (a) Cressener ibid pag. 30. Augustine and Chrysostom (a) Cressener ibid. pag. 30. who were excellent Witnesses to many great Truths in this Succession the former (b) Augustin Epist ad Januar. lib. 2. Ep. 55. complaining exceedingly of the encrease of Ceremonies in his Time and confessing that a more than Jewish Servitude was brought in by them which Expression gives light to the Reason why the prevaling party of this Succession is called the Synagogue of Satan Ch. 2.9 Although it must be confessed that these and the other Great Men of this Period of the Church contributed much to the encrease of its Corruptions which the best of Men may do when God permits such Deviations from the Simplicity of the Gospel to prevail and doth not withhold Men from being carried away with them by his more than ordinary Restraints 5. Salvian Gildas and the other Authors who wrote concerning the Invasions of the Barbarous Nations and lived in those Times do loudly testifie against the Vices and Corruptions of them as also Gregory the Great who was a most Eminent Witness of the Approach of Antichrist in his Time as will be shewn in the beginning of the Annotations on the next Chapter as were also all those Excellent Persons who testified during the fifth and sixth Trumpet against the Worship af Images and other Corruptions for which God brought these Woes upon the Church See the Protestants who have gathered Catalogues of Witnesses and the laborious Collections of Monsieur Allix in his Accounts of the Albigenses and Waldenses CHAP. IX The Text. 1 AND the fifth Angel sounded and I saw a Star i. e. an 1 Angel or Minister of the Church Rev. 1.20 fall or fallen from Heaven unto the Earth i. e. Apostatized from a Christian Church state to a worldly Kingdom and to him was given by the Order and Disposition of events according to God's all-wise Disposals the Key of the bottomless Pit i. e. a Satanical Kingdom and an Antichristian Authority Rev. 2.24 Annotations on CHAP. IX 1 Here the Papacy is described 1. Because that which appeared is said to be a Star which is the Symbol of the Gospel Ministry Chap. 1.20 2. It is said to be the Star that was fallen from Heaven which cannot refer to Mahomet who never had any Place in Heaven i. e. any Place or Dignity in the Church or any Dignity at all from which he might be said to have fallen 3 This Star is said to have fallen from Heaven to Earth and then to have a New Dignity bestowed upon him whereby it is evident that the fallen Star mentioned Chap 8.10 cannot be here understood because that Star fell upon the Waters this upon the Earth and that was a Comet this a Star which fell from one Power to another whereas the other was in a burning and consuming Condition bereft of all Power 4. This fallen Star is said to have the Keys of the bottomless Pit given unto him that is a Satanical Authority consisting of a Synagogue a Throne and Depths of Satan which being proper to the Apostasy especially the Papacy ought here also to be understood concerning it For as according to the Observation of Dr. (a) Apud Poli Synops in locum Lightfoot the Keys of Heaven were given to Peter when a Door of Salvation was to be opened to the Gentiles by his Preaching and Erecting the first Christian Church so when the Christian World was about to fall as it were into its former Gentilism the Key of the bottomless Pit was given to Antichrist 5. This Star is said to be already fallen at the time that the Pit was opened and the Locusts that is the Saracens came out of it Now the Rise of the Saracens is placed by all Historians in A.D. 622. when the Aera of the Hegira or Flight of Mahomet began and the Rise of Antichristianism in the Latin Church as to the Point of Supremacy is generally placed by Protestants Sixteen Years before it when Boniface the Third A. D. 606. took the Title of Vniversal Bishop and Head of
all Churches which (b) Gregor Epist. lib 4.38 Gregory the Great had condemned before in the Bishop of Constantinople asserting that he who usurped it was the Forerunner of Antichrist the Prince of Pride and that he imitated Lucifer in exalting his Throne above the Stars of God that is his Brethren the Bishops who are the Stars of Heaven and in ascending above the heighth of the Clouds Which words are as it were a Comment upon the Place and a Prophecy as one ingeniously speaks of their High-Priest who spake not this of himself but as being High-Priest that Year foretelling the Fall of that Eminent Star from Heaven to a State of Worldly Dominion according to the manner of the Kingdoms of the Earth So that in a few years after the Rise of the Papal Antichrist in the West there arose in the East a new sort of an Antichristian Dominion to be a Scourge to it and in opposition unto it's Idolatrous Practices the Chief of which called themselves Chalifs or Vicars of Mahomet for so the word signifies as the Popes have called themselves the Chalifs or Vicars of Christ 2 And he opened the bottomless Pit i. e. Exercised this Authority and entred upon the Administration of his Kingdom and there arose a smoak 2 out of the Pit as the smoak of a great Furnace i. e. many gross and Antichristian Errors and the Sun and the Air were darkned by reason of the Smoak of the Pit i. e. The Gospel the Light of the World was obscured by these errors 2 As a great Smoak hinders the Sight so do Errors the Vnderstanding He keeps to the Allegory for Smoak takes from us the sight of the Stars saith Grotius on the Place And the * Bochart Hieroz lib. 4.4 Ludolph Commentar in Aethiopic Histor pag. 173. Locusts are wont to come in so great Numbers that the Air hath been darkned and the Sun as it were Eclypsed by them Joel 2.10 3 And there came 3 out of the Smoak contrary to the expectation of him that opened it Locusts 4 upon the Earth i. e. the grievous Plague of 5 Mahometism with the Numerous and Destroying Armies of the 5 Saracens Exod. 10 3-15 Joel Chapters 1.2 and unto them was given power as the Scorpions of the * Bochart Hieroz lib. 4.4 Ludolph Commentar in Aethiopic Histor pag. 173. Earth have power as to the manner of the Mischief they were to do Verse 5.10 3 Locusts do encrease most in very dry Seasons and come in bliting burning Easterly Winds which are usually accompanied with a smoaky Vapour whence probably is that Expression Hosea 13.3 according to the LXX and like a Smoak or Vapour from Locusts Although Bochartus is of Opinion that here is an Allusion to the Custom amongst the Ancient Arabs or Saracens of hunting Locusts by (a) Bochart Hieroz Part. 2. pag. 472 484 495. smoak 4 Great Armies of Enemies are resembled to (b) See Dr. Pocock on Joel Locusts in Scripture 1. By Reason of their Number Judg. 6 5.7 12. Psalm 105.34 Joel 1.6 The Multitudes of Locusts which infest the Eastern and sometimes the European parts being almost (c) Bochart Hieroz pag. 443 445. Ludolph Aethiopic Histor pag. 173 174. incredible And it is not altogether improper to remark here that vast Numbers of Locusts have been frequently seen to appear before the Approach of great Armies which is frequently noted by Abul Pharajai and by Du Fresne in his Notes at the end of (d) Pag. 530. Cinnamus 2. Because of the great and unavoidable Mischief they do in the Fields in Houses and to Men themselves whom they set upon and are thought sometimes to have killed (e) Bochart Hieroz pag. 462 477 478. Ludolph pag. 174. them Book of Wisdom 16.9 3. From the exact Military (f) Bochart pag. 477. Discipline and Order they observe in flying and the strength which is in their Ranks and Divisions when they fly or go Joel 2.7 8. 4 From their climbing of Walls and getting into Houses and Windows like Men of War in time of Seige and Sacking of Towns Joel 2.7 9. Exod. 10.6 and from their not (g) Bochart pag. 478. being subject to hurt from Weapons which they avoid by their Swiftness and by the Subtilty and Tenuity of their Bodies Joel 2.8 * Terrestrial Scorpions are as Naturalists observe of all the most (a) Boch Hieroz pag. 934. hurtful 5 5 The Saracens seem to be understood by Locusts because 1. They came from the East as the Locusts did Exod. 10.13 Whence they were called (b) Pocock Not. ad Specim Histor Arab. sub init Saracens which signifies the Inhabitants of the Eastern parts of the World 2. Because of their vast Numbers and their wandring State and Condition they being of the Race of the Ancient (c) Ammian Marcel 14.4 Scenitae who lived in Tents roaming from place to place with which agrees the Description of the Locusts given by the Prophet Nahum 3.15 16. as the place is interpreted by (d) Pag. 458. Bochartus 3. Because the Arabians or Children of the East are expresly likened to Locusts or Grasshoppers Judges 6 3-5 4. By Reason of the suddenness of their Invasions and the Prodigious Swiftness of their Conquests and the great havock and Ravage made by them all which Circumstances are Notorious in the Plague of Locusts who fall in prodigious Numbers in one Night and sometimes almost in a moment destroying all before them And Lastly because these Locusts are said to come out of the thick smoak of the bottomless Pit i. e. out of gross Errors and filthy Practices which is the plain Original of Mahometism which began in a very corrupt and dark Age when the Christians were divided into many Sects and Schisms and vented very gross Errors such were those of the Arrians Jacobites Melchites Eutychians Monothelites and Nestorians from whom proceeded many of the Opinions of Mahomet who was (a) Sylburg Saracenica pag. 3 5 59. assisted in the Contrivance of his Religion by Sergius a banished Nestorian by an Arrian Monk and other Hereticks with whom the Church was then infested as it was also by Contests about the Supremacy and with gross Antichristian Errors which are the Chief Things intended in this Prophecy Of all which (b) Histor Oriental lib. 2.2 Hottinger has treated fully But that we may the better understand the true Meaning of this Vision Iâ—â—â—ll endeavour to give a brief Account of the Rise of Mahometism and of the progress of the Saracenick Empire from Authentick Historians chiefly from Elmacinus and Abul Pharajai Two Arabick Writers which will be of great use in the following Annotations The Saracens are properly those Arabs which lived about Meccha and Medina and the places adjoyning who under their Prophet Mahomet began to be Famous about A.D. 622. when he fled from Meccha he place of his Nativity for fear of the Tribe of the Coraisites or Koreisheites the Inhabitants of
Continent which lay Eastward of them and by Sea whatsoever lay to the West Continent as well as Sea Which way of Speech is to this day Observed by the Chinese who upon that account call all the World except Tartary Si Yam or the VVestern Sea from whence Siam a Countrey in the Indies takes it's Name as being Situated towards the Sea Westerly of China And therefore by this action of our Saviour seeing that in all other Places of Scripture the Earth is mentioned before the Sea may be Intimated that the Gospel which was now almost extinguished in the Eastern parts by Mahometism Should appear First in its Purity and Strength in the Sea or the VVestern Parts of the World signified by the mention of the Sea in the First Place and by Christ's putting his right Foot upon it the Strongest and the Honourablest of the two Which came to pass at the Reformation foretold in this Vision as shall beshewn hereafter And that there sbould be in the latter Days which Doctor Pocock (a) On Hosea 3.5 Pag. 618. extends from Christs First to his Second Coming some Wonderfull and Amazing motion of the People of God from the VVest is evident from Hosea 11.10 Where the Prophet foretells that the Lord shall roar like a Lion an Expreson which very Remarkably Answers to the Roaring and Thundring in this Vision and that thereupon or then the Children shall tremble from the VVest or from the (b) Dr. Pâ—cock on the Place Sea as the Word in the Hebrew Signfies that is from the VVestern Parts and from Remote and Distant Countreys and even the uttermost parts of the Earth which is encompassed with the Sea Which strange motion or conversion is to come to pass near Christ's Second Coming which Dr. Pocock asserts to be a Received Opinion as to the Jews in his Kingdom which was to have appeared when Christ set his Right Foot upon the Sea if the Thunders the Effect of the Lord 's Roaring had not been sealed that is if a stop had not been put to the Efficacy of them for Christ's Kingdom when it comes in its full force will prevail to the placing of the Jews in their Houses Verse 11. and to the bringing in the fulness and perfection of the Gentiles 3 And cried with a loud Voice i. e. proclaimed his Right as when a Lion 8 roareth i. e. terribly and with Majesty Isa 31.4 Amos 3.8 Joel 3.16 Prov. 20.2 and when he had cryed seven Thunders 9 uttered their Voices declaring the appearance of his Kingdom 8 Christ called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Rev. 5.5 is here understood whose Roaring denotes as Dr. Pocock has shewn upon Hos 11.10 the Efficacious power of the preaching of the Gospel resembled to the Voice of a Lyon because of its calling Christians together to partake of it and its Promises as the Lyon does those of its own kind to partake of the prey and because it is accompanied with a Terror and an Awe and extends it self to the uttermost parts of the Earth with great power as the Voice of a Lyon is terrible and loud And hereby also as appears from the Texts I have quoted is signified the Anger of God when he appears for the Vindication of his Kingdom against the Enemies of it 9 Thunders as I have before shewn on Chap. 6 1.8 5. signifie the Power and Efficacy and signal Appearances of Christ's Kingdom which Seven the Number of Perfection peculiarly denotes and which Hannah prophesied would be exalted by the Lord's Thundering out of Heaven 1 Sam. 2.10 4 And when the seven Thunders had uttered their Voices I was about to write that which they had uttered and I heard a Voice from Heaven saying unto me 10 Seal up those things which the Seven Thunders uttered and write them not i. e. conceal them as things which are to come to pass hereafter and hinder them from coming immediately into Effect Dan. 8 26.12 4 9. 10 Here Sealing and Writing are plainly opposed Writing signifying the bringing of the Vision into Effect and Sealing the delaying of the Acccmplishment of it as I have shewn on Chap. 5.1 So that here is a plain stop put to the Kingdom of Christ insomuch that his Roaring did not prevail to make the Children come trembling from the West 5 And the Angel which I saw stand upon the Sea and upon the Earth lifted up his hand to Heaven the Throne of God in the posture and manner of Swearing Gen. 14.22 Dan. 12.7 6 And swore by him that liveth for ever and ever who created Heaven and the things that therein are and the Sea and the things which are therein i. e. by the Eternal Omnipotent God who created all things and therefore can alter them and their Times and Seasons that there should be such time 11 no longer as that which the Prophet Daniel foretold Chap. 7 25.12 7. 11 Time in general here called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is divided by Daniel into several distinct 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is appointed Times or Seasons which he calls Time Times and the Dividing of Time or a part that is an half of Time which Distribution is also used in this Book Chap. 12.14 By Time is meant in Daniel the most signal and perfect part of the appointed Times and seasons viz. a Year as appears from Dan. 4.16 and 11.13 where Times plainly signifie Years By Times absolutely put must be meant Two Times or Two Years because it is the Dual Number i. e. the next Plural Number to Time or One Year and then by consequence by The Division or cutting off or Half of Time must be meant Half a Year as I think all Interpreters agree Now The Prophetical Day being put for a Year in Scripture the Prophetical Year must by consequence be put for a Year of Prophetical Days that is a year of years consisting of as many years as a Year doth of Days viz. of Three hundred and Sixty Years in round and equal Numbers according to the degrees of a Circle and then (a) 360 a Time 720 Times 180 half a Time 1260. Times must be Two Years of Years i.e. Seven hundred and Twenty Years and the half Time must be half a year of years that is One hundred and Eighty Years all which amounts to Twelve hundred and Sixty Years Rev. 11 3.12 6. Now Christ's Oath here having a clear reference to Daniel 12.7 by no more Time must be meant no more such Time or of the same Nature with the Times there given to Antichrist which were to cease and no more time to be except when Christ's Kingdom appeared which is the import of the following Verse when there should be Time indeed but of a quite different Nature dated and reckoned from the glorious Reign of Christ and not from the Abominations and Servitude of Antichrist and ending in that which is not so properly Time as the completion and perfection of it Eternity For
the Mystical signification of what is delivered in the Law of Moses with relation to the Sanctuary God's Worship and his Priests particularly Exodus 28 29 30 Chapters Leviticus 10 8-11 and Chapters 21 and 22. Ezekiel 42 13 14.44 8-31 much of Ezekiel from Chapter 40 to the end Matth. 18 15-20 19 17.20 24-29 23 6-12 and Grotius on those places John 15 27.17 â—0-23 Acts 1 13-26 2 37-47 3 1.4 31-37 5 1-14 41 42.6 1-8 8 2.9 39.12 5.13 2 3 15.14.22 23 27. Chapter 15.16 2 4 5 25.20 7 11 27-36 Romans from Chapter 12 to the End of the Epistle First Epistle to the Corinthians from the First Chapter to the 15th and Chapter 16. most part of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians Galatians 2 and 6. Ephesians 2 19-22 Chapters 4th 5th and 6th the Epistle to the Philipppians the greatest part of the Epistles to the Colossians Tbessalonians Timothy and Titus Hebrews 5 12-14 and Chapters 6.1 2.12 14-29 and Chapter 13 the generality of the Epistle of James 1 Peter 2d Chapter to the End of the Epistle 2 Peter 1 3-21 and Chapter 2d and 3d most of the Epistles of John and Christ's Letters to the Seven Churches Which places diligently compared with what is prophesied of Christ's Kingdom in the Prophets and the Three last Chapters of the Revelations will furnish a Man with an exact Idea of the Church as it was designed by Christ with respect to Faith Discipline and Manners Scripture which treat of Matters relating to Church-Affairs and then to compare the State of the Churches now in being with what God requires in a pure Church and I am confident they will abate much of a too fond Dotage upon any particular Constitution or Church-State that is now in the World Of which Opinion also are the Honest and the Judicious of all Parties when some happy Conjunctures force them upon cool thoughts and peaceable Considerations which yet do not meet with their desired Success but in God's own Times and Seasons Which is remarkably evident in the Reformation of the Church of England which although begun by very good and great Men and carried on often very vigorously and successfully yet hath not been able to arrive to those Degrees of Perfection which even the first Reformers who planted it and watered it with their Blood (a) Reformatio Legum Ecclesiastic designed and (b) Preface to the Comminat Fox's Book of Martyrs edit ult Vol 3. page 67 105 107 120 121 137 362 374 385 400 403 411 412 427 442 537. Bishop Burnet's History of the Reformation edit secunda Tome 1. Praefat. pag. 147 148 189 262 300 303 315 364. in the Collect. pag. 160 178 182. Praefat. ad Vol. secund and page 44 59 67 71 72 73 75 79 80 95 96 101 104. ad 110 112 141 145 152 153 154 155 156 182 189 190 191 196. ad 202 218 219 304 339 376 377 387 390 394 395 396 397 398 399 406 407 420. Camdeni Elizab. ed. Amstelod pag. 26 in Praefat. 391 392. Sir Simon D' Ewes's Journal pag. 156-158 161 166 167 177 184 257 302 303 329 357-360 557 639. Bishop Stillingfleet's Preface to his Vnreasonableness of Separation the Discourses written lately about the Ecclesiastical Commission and the Convocation a Paper entituled Grievances of the Church of England supposed to be written by Archbishop Sancroft Letters of the English Reformers in the Library of Switzerland and Bishop Burnet's excellent Discourse of the Pastoral Care wished for But what through the inconstant Humour of a Vain and a Cruel Prince under whom it begun the Avarice and Dissentions of the Chief Ministers of rhe Court of King Edward the Sixth the short Reign of that Prince the contrary turn of Affairs in Q. Maries Days and the invincible prejudices of that great Princess Q. Elizabeth under whom it was settled who was against Alterations in the Church the glorious Work did not receive the last and finishing Hand of its Master-Builders but has ever since been hindered and retarded by several strange Occurrences but chiefly by the contrary struglings of two Parties ever since the Differences at Frankford whereby through mutual Animosities and immoderate Opposition the chief Obstacle to all Noble and Peaceable Designs things have sometimes rather gone back than forwards So that there is little hope of going on unto Perfection until the Times of Restitution begin to appear and God shall be pleased to dispose the Minds of Men by his over-ruling Providence to so necessary and so glorious an Undertaking 8 And the Voice which I heard from Heaven verse 4. spake unto me again and said go and take the little Book which is open in the hand of the Angel which standeth or stood upon the Sea and upon the Earth 9 And I went unto the Angel and said unto him Give me the little Book And he said unto me Take it and eat 14 it up i. e. commit it to Memory and keep it secret as yet Dan. 7 28.12 4 9. Ezek. 2 8.3 1-10 and it shall make thy Belly bitter because what is contained in it must be delayed for a longer time Dan. 8.26 27.10 14-16 but it shall be in thy mouth when thou prophesiest again Verse 11. sweet as honey as containing the sweet and glad tidings of Christ's Kingdom Psalm 19 10.119 103. Jerem. 15.16 Ezek. 3.3 14 To eat signifies to meditate and digest Divine Truths as appears from our Saviour's Discourse John 6. and withal to keep them close and secret as Mary did Luke 2.19 51 the Belly denoting in Scripture the most secret Thoughts and Cogitations of a Man By which is signified that Christ's Kingdom which had appeared but for a short time only so long as to be just seen open and whilst the Book could be taken into his hand and mouth should soon have a stop put to it and thereby create much Sorrow to all the true Servants of God but that it should again appear signified by being again in his mouth after it had been in his Belly in its Glory to the Joy and Comfort of them 10 And I took the little Book out of the Angels hand and eat it up and it was in my mouth sweet as honey and as soon as I had eaten it my belly was bitter i. e. I was really affected after the manner the Angel had foretold 11 And he i. e. the Angel said unto me Thou must 15 prophesie again i. e. foretel the coming of Christ's Kingdom Chap. 11.3 before of or against many 16 People and Nations and Tongues and Kings i. e. before the People and Rulers of the Kingdom of Antichrist 15 To prophesie as is shewn on Chap. 11.3 is to foretel the coming of Christ's Kingdom which it is said here John should do because he was to deliver more Prophecies concerning it and because it was to be actually performed by the Witnesses represented by John as the people of Israel of Old were by the Prophets who were
upon this happy and glorious change of things 50 Here is an Acknowledgment of Praise and Thanksgiving to God according to the usual manner in this Prophecy as hath been before frequently observed and that made by the Twenty Four Elders the Representatives of the Jewish Church and by Voices in the former Verse which perhaps proceeded from the Four Living Creatures who are the Voices or Speakers in the sixth Chapter 17 Saying We give thee thanks O God Almighty which art and wast and art to come i. e. the Eternal Jehovah because thou hast taken 51 unto thee thy great or extraordinary power which hath been hitherto usurped by Satan Mahometism Antichistianism and the wicked Powers of this World and hâ—th reigned visibly and powerfully in Truth and Judgment without any rival 51 Here is declared the Succession of Christ's Kingdom as it is the manner to proclaim the Succession of Princes 18 And or although 52 the Nations or Gentiles that is the Paganizing Christians verse 2. were angry for being cast out of the visible Church which they had defiled and usurped verse 2. Psal 2. and 99.1 and or but 52 thy wrath 53 is come or is ready to be poured forth and executed upon the living and the time of the Dead is come that they should be Judged both good and bad according to their Deeds and that thou shouldst in that time of Judgment give reward unto thy Servants the Prophets or Witnesses of the Jewish Church or Ministers Dan. 12.3 and to the Saints or eminently holy Persons of the Christian Church and to all them that fear thy Name in every Nation according to the light and talents God hath given them Acts 10.2 34 35. small and great in Office or Graces who shall be rewarded according to what they have received and the use they have made of it Mat. 25. and shouldst destroy them of all sorts which destroy or corrupt the Earth by their Tyranny Wickedness and Antichristian Apostasy 52 In both these Senses the Article is used in Scripture according to its Acceptation in the Hebrew of the Old Testament Gen. 15 10.17 5. Job 17.10 Jerem. 11.17 and in several other places 53 This Verse relates to the Time of Trouble mentioned Dan. 12.1 and the great Battle Rev. 16. and the Resurrection and Judgment mentioned in the last Chapters which shall be particularly discoursed of in their proper places 19 And the Temple of God i. e. his pure Worship was opened in Heaven i. e. became visible in the Church and there was now seen in his Temple which before was measured sealed and shut up verse 2. the Ark 54 of his Testament i. e. the greatest Mysteries of Religion which were before obscured by Antichristianism were most clearly made known and there were lightnings and voices and thundrings and an Earthquake and great hail i. e. high and clear Manifestations and signs of Christ's Kingdom Mat. 24 Rev. 4 5.8 5. 54 The Ark of the (a) Numb 4.5 20. 1 Sam. 6.19 Exod. 25. Testament was always kept secret and covered and was to be seen only by the High Priest once a year whereby the Mysteries of Religion are Typified which the Angels desire to look into and were not Revealed unto them but by the Church 1 Peter 1.12 Ephes 3.10 Now these Mysteries called here the Ark of His that is Christ's Testament or New Covenant which were mightily obscured and perverted under the Reign of Antichristianism appear opened that is clearly manifested unto all Jews as well as Christians now united into One Body from whom also they had been for a long time hid by Types and Veils and a Judicial Blindness 1 Cor. 3 13-16 Rom. 11.25 Which Temple here opened and the Ark seen it are more fully and largely prophesied of by Ezekiel from Chapter the 40th to the End of his Prophecy CHAP. XII The Text. 1 AND * there appeared in vision a great wonder or prodigious sign portending great things in Heaven †or in the pure Primitive Church State a Woman i. e. the Church the Spouse of Christ Isa 54.1 2 Cor. 11.2 Eph. 5.32 cloathed or Environed wich the Sun beams shining all about her i. e. full of Communications of Glory Purity and Holiness from Christ the Sun of Righteousness Malac. 4.2 and the Moon 1 i. e. Antichristianism under her feet i. e. in comtempt and in subjection to her and upon her Head a Crown 2 of twelve 3 Stars representing the twelve Apostles chap. 1.20 Annotations on CHAP. XII * The Beast having been but just mentioned in the former Chapter Verse 7. the Holy Spirit doth here according to the Custom of Scripture which takes occasion from the bare mention of a thing to give a larger Account of it begin to set forth who he was and from whence he had his Original and how he came to be so powerful as to make War with and kill the Witnesses which Subject is prosecuted in this the following and the seventeenth Chapter And here we may observe that the Vision of the VVoman is Cotemporary with the Fifth Seal Chap. 6.9 when the pangs of Persecution were at the heighth the Child being brought forth in the Christian Empire in the next Seal †Heaven as hath been cursorily observed on Chap. 11.12 num 41. is not to be understood always in this Book only and perhaps not primarily of the Church-State on Earth but of the Archetype or State of it now in Heaven there seeming to be in Heaven a Kingdom of Christ and an Heavenly Tabernacle and Sanctuary which is an Archetypal and Exemplar State of what is to be performed on Earth in the Church Whereupon a Door was opened to John in Heaven Chap. 4 1. and the Temple of God was opened in Heaven Chap. 11.19 Which Interpretation will be much strengthned by a due Consideration of Hebr. 9. where the Apostle distinguishes betwixt a VVorldly (a) See Grotius on Heb. 9. and Mr. Dodwell of One Altar Sanctuary and a Heavenly one and calls the Jewish a pattern of things in the Heavens And there is also in this Book a Consessus Synedrium or Seat of Judgment in Heaven described in the Fourth and Fifth Chapters before which Satan as God and Prince of this VVorld was as it were tryed and after his Accusation of God's Servants and Defence of himself adjudged to be cast from the power of Godship which he had in those parts of the World which are concerned in this Prophecy Whereupon there is Joy in Heaven verse 12. upon the Brethrens being acquitted upon Satan's Fall from the Rule he had by God's Justice over the wicked World the Glory which accrued to God by his Wise and Holy Administrations and the present Advance of Christ's Kingdom Upon the increase of which the Saints may receive increase of Glory in that Heavenly Tabernacle which shall come down from Heaven in the New Jerusalem State 1 Worldly things because of their Mutability may be reprseented by the
(a) See Mr. Mede on this place and Pag. 613. Poli Synops in Gal. 4.3 Coloss 2.8 20. Moon the lowest of the Planets and nearest to the Earth Paganism also one and the same Symbol having divers significations in Scripture as Grotius observes on Heb. 9.11 may be very well signified by it but Antichristianism is here chiefly intended the main Subject of these Visions denoted by the Moon because of the Paganism it introduced into Christianity whose Idolatrous Rites were Works of the Night or of Darkness of which the Moon is the Governess and whose Festivities depended upon the Motions and Aspects of that Planet as hath been already observed on Chap. 11. num 12. And by the Moon 's being here under the Sun as it is when it Eclipses it seems to be pointed out the critical time of this Vision viz. that it was when the pure Apostolical Church typified by Ephesus was about to leave its first Love and to receive a (b) Compare Luke 21.24 with Rom. 11.12 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Deminution or Eclipse from the increasing Apostasy for the Lustre of the Christian Church of the Gentiles was diminished upon the coming in of the Apostasy and is not to have its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Full Light of Graces Knowledge and Converts until the Paganizing Times of the Gentiles in the Antichristian Apostasy are fullfilled 2 To shew that the Apostolical Doctrine is the Chief Ornament Crown and Glory of the Church Thus the Word Crown is used Isa 28.5 Phil. 4.1 1 Thes 2.19 And in this Verse there is an Excellent Description of the pure primitive Church enlightned and adorned by Graces Gifts and Communications from Christ and with the pure Apostolical Doctrine but yet capable of having its Light eclipsed by Antichristianism rising from under its Feet and of having its Crown of pure Gold fall from off its Head except Christ hold it in his Right Hand Chap. 1.16 3 Hereby is signified that the Church was Apostolical the Twelve Apostles being represented by Twelve Stars because they enlightned the Church and were constant and sixt in their Doctrine not variable and unconstant as the Moon is in its Appearances and Motions whereby it is the fitter Type of Antichristianism See the Notes on Chap. 7. 4 5. and 21 15-21 And perhaps the Twelve Stars may be symbolical of the Twelve Tribes as they shall be in the New Jerusalem State Predicted and Typified by this State of the Church as the Glorious Kingdom of Christ is by the Christian Empire 2 And she i. e. the Church being with 4 Child i. e. very Fertile and Fruitful with true Christians Is 54 1.60 22.66 8. Ezek. 16.20 cried travailing in Birth and pained to be delivered i. e. laboured with her utmost endavours to bring forth set up and propagate Christ's Kingdom Isa 66.7 Gal. 4.19 4 The Metaphors in this Verse are chiefly taken from Isaiah's Description of the Perfect Church consisting of Jews and Gentiles united into One Body as it shall be in Christ's Kingdom Isa 66 5-24 3 And whilst the Women was in Travail there appeared another Wonder in 5 Heaven and behold a 6 great 6 red 7 Dragon i. e. the bloody and Persecuting Pagan Roman Empire of a great Jurisdiction and Extent having seven 8 Heads or Forms of chief Government successively one after another See Chap. 17. 9 10. and ten 9 Horns or Kings Dan. 7.20 24. Chap. 17.12 and seven 10 Crowns or Diadems upon his Heads noting the seven successive Forms of Government in the Roman State to have been Imperial and Supreme 5 The Dragon appears as in Heaven because he was reputed as God by the Heathens and was now worshipped and in power in the Pagan Empire 6 6 7 Pharaoh Aegypt and other Idolatrous and Persecuting Powers and Empires are represented by (a) Psal 74.13 14. Is 27 1.51 9. Ezek. 29 3.32 2. Dragons in Scripture and by Leviathan and other monstrous Creatures for so the Word translated (b) Dr. Pocock on Mic. 1.8 Malac. 1.3 Dragons signifies in general in the Old Testament And accordingly the Roman Pagan Empire is set forth by a Dragon because it was a Satanical Kingdom shewing a Diobolical Spirit in its Persecution Idolatry Tyranny and Unjust Enlargement of Dominion Upon which also the Dragon is represented as of a great Size and red or bloody and because Satan called a Dragon or Serpent from his tempting our first Parents in that shape ver 9.2 Cor. 11.3 really influenced and presided over that Empire as a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or a Governing and Assisting Daemon and was indeed worshipped by them when they sacrificed to their Idols 1 Cor. 10.20 8 Rome indeed stood upon seven Hills which yet are not here meant because Head signifies in Scripture the Governing Part Isa 7.20 Dan. 7.6 1 Cor. 12.21 and therefore by these seven Heads are appositely denoted the seven successive Governments of the Roman State viz. Kings Consuls Decemvirs Dictators Tribunes Caesars or Emperours and the Antichristian King the seventh Head See the Notes on Chap. 17. 9 10. 9 Horns as hath been shewn on Chap. 5.6 signifie Kings and Kingdoms and the Roman Empire is represented with Ten Horns that it may bear proportion with the Description of it given Dan. 2.41 where the Fourth Kingdom hath the Toes of a Man which are Ten. See Chap. 17.12 10 Crowns are an Emblem of Imperatorial and Supreme Power and therefore the Ten Horns do not appear crowned because they were not as yet in being as Kings but were Subjects to the Roman Empire See on Chap. 13 1. 17 12. 4 And his 11 Tail i. e. his Power and Subtility drew after him and reduced under his Power the third 12 part of the Stars of Heaven i. e. the Potentacies and Governments of the world and did 13 cast them to the Earth i. e. Subdued them and the Dragon stood watching and ready fierce and hungry 1 Pet. 5.8 before the Woman or Christian Church which was ready to be delivered of the Kingdom of Christ for to devour 14 her Child as soon as it was Born i. e. to destroy the Kingdom of Christ as soon as it appeared 11 Some Dragons or Serpents particularly those which are called Rattle-Snakess have monstrous and prodigious long Tails which are an (a) Moor's Oper. Theol. pag. 601. Hammond on the place emblem of a great retinue and a long Military Train of Souldiers and Armies the Tail also signifies in Scripture Subtility and may here denote the Policy of the Devil and his pretences to Miracles Prophecy Magick and the like whereby he corrupts and deceives the minds of Men. See Chap. 9.10 12 By the third Part is meant the Grecian Monarchy the third Monarchy in Daniel whereby we have a remarkable Note of Time given us viz. that it was now upon the point of time in which the Seat of the Roman Empire was to be transferred from Rome to Byzantium by Constantine upon
See Chap. 2.9 num 19. 22 The Humane Nature of Christ is called in (a) John 1.14 Hebr. 8 2.9 11. Col. 2.9 See Dr. Hammond on John 1.14 Scripture the True Tabarnacle in which the Divinity as it were sojourned here upon Earth And the Church also may be represented by a Tabernacle as it is called Ezek. 23.4 Rev. 21.3 because of its wandring Wilderness-condition in expectation of its Home and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Heaven The (b) See Dr. Moor's Mystery of Iniquity first is blasphemed in the Papacy many ways but especially by the Doctrine of Transubstantiation and the Idolatrous practises consequent upon it the latter by Calumnies Excommunications and Persecutions It is the Opinion of a Learned Man that by Tabernacle is here meant the State of Saints and Angels in Heaven or the Heavenly State in which Christ is said to minister Heb. 8.2 and through which he is said to have passed Heb. 9.11 to the Holy of Holies the very Throne of God which may also be the meaning of Heb. 10.20 And this Interpretation he thinks to be most probable 1. Because the Humane Nature of Christ is it self the Minister of the Tabernacle and not the Tabernacle in which the Ministration is performed 2. Because the Heavenly things themselves are to be purified and anointed Dan. 9.24 Heb. 9.23 and therefore are to be supposed to have been prophaned and blasphemed that is Idolatrously abused and because such an Acceptation of the Word Tabernacle here is more agreeable to what is said in this Vision concerning the Tabernacle of Testimony being opened and the Tabernacle of God being with Men and with Ezekiel's Visional Temple or Tabernacle and with the Divine Tabernacle Chap. 4. the Scene or Apocalyptick Stage of these Visions See Chap. 12 1. 21 3. And lastly because Christ in his Humane Nature may be more significantly comprehended under the (a) John 1.1 18. See Mercer and Pocock on Joel 2.32 and Acts 2.21 Name of God 23 Who are blasphemed by the Idolatrous Worship of them taught and practised in the Church of Rome 7 And it was given to him to make War with the Saints i. e. to oppose excommunicate and persecute the Witnesses Chap. 11 7. and the Seed of the Woman Chap 12.17 and to overcome them Chap. 11.7 and power was given him over all Kindreds and Tongues and Nations i. e. to make Proselytes in all parts of the World and to Rule and Govern the Kings and People of the Antichrian Kingdom Chap. 10.11 8 And all that dwell upon the Earth i. e. the Apostacy shall worship him i. e. obey and honour him as an Infallible Head whose 24 Names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World i. e. except those Living Eminent and Excellent Members of Christ's Church particularly known and designed by him to be effectually saved by his Blood who was crucified in respect of the Divine Decree Appointment and Agreement betwixt the Father and the Son from all Eternity Phil. 4.3 Gen. 3.15 Acts 15.18 Gal. 3.17 24 See on Chap. 3. 4 5. These are the Witnesses Chap. 11. the seed of the Woman Chap. 12.17 and the Sealed ones 9 If any man 25 hath an ear let him hear for what hath been now delivered in a Spiritual and Mystical manner is very remarkable and worthy the most attentive and most serious Observation See Chap. 2.7 25 Hereby as hath been already shewn on Chap. 2.7 is intimated that what has been delivered concerning the Beast in this Chapter after an aenigmatical and parabolical manner this being the Sentence made use of by our Saviour in the close of his Parables is a Truth of the greatest importance against which yet many would shut their Ears And therefore all Christians are called upon seriously to consider and weigh what is here delivered and not to be driven from the profession of the pure Faith by Fear of Punishment nor wrought upon to follow the Beast by the spendid Baits of Greatness Power and Authority or the high and big pretences of Infallibility Success and Vniversality seeing it was foreseen and foretold by the Holy Spirit that the generality of Mankind should be earthly minded and should thereupon follow the Beast and only a few chosen and beloved of God should escape this Vniversal Corruption 10 He that leadeth 26 into Captivity shall go into Captivity he that killeth with the Sword must be killed with the Sword i. e. all Antichrian Enemies shall be dealt with at last as they have dealt with others Chap. 19. 20 21. Here is an occasion for the Exercise of the Patience and Faith of the Saints in bearing their Sufferings and in believing and patiently waiting for their deliverance out of them and the destruction of the Enemies of God and of his Church See on Chap. 14.12 26 Here is a plain reference to the Beast's and the False Prophets being taken Captive and to the slaughter of the Remnant by the Sword Chap. 19. 20 21. For as the Prophets of old were wont to comfort the People of God when in Captivity and under great distress by Denunciations of Ruine and Destruction to their Enemies so does the Holy Spirit here revive the persecuted Saints by telling them that their Persecutions should have an End and that the Apostasy which now domineered and blasphemed the Holy Name of God should at last be abolished and utterly destroyed according to the just and righteous Judgment of Almighty God who recompenses Tribulation to them that trouble his Saints 2 Thes 1.6 7. Isa 33.1 2. Ezek. 39.10 Matth. 7 2.26 52. But yet they are commanded to have Patience for although the Judgment is certain yet it will not be so soon as they might expect Hab. 2.3 4. Matth. 21 19-24 11 And I beheld another 27 Beast i. e. another Persecuting and Idolatrous Body of Men under Superiors coming up silently slowly and by degrees as feet of Clay out of the 28 Earth or Apostasy and he had two 28 Horns Potentacies or Powers like a Lamb 29 i. e. seemingly Christian and he spake as a 30 Dragon i. e. was in his Doctrines Decrees and Practises Antichristianly Idolatrous and Persecuting 27 This Beast is different from the former as appears from his Original Shape and the other Characters here given of him called therefore the other Beast as being a distinct Beast from that whose Succession the Prophecy was describing 28 28 The former Beast rose up out of the Sea that is the Commotions and Divisions of the Empire This rises as things grow out of the Earth silently and by degrees And as by the former Beast the Papacy as Monarchick and Imperial was fitly represented so in this Type there seems to be a signification of the Apostate Hierarchy or of the whole Body of the Ecclesiasticks as Antichristian as appears 1. From the Account here given of its Original viz. that it was out of the Earth by which
the Apostate State of the Church is signified in this Prophecy For as the Papal Monarchy rose out of the Providential Commotions and Troubles of the Empire so was the Antichristian Power of the Clergy founded upon the Apostatizing Spirit of Diotrephes encreasing by degrees in the Church 2. It appears that some Christian Body of Men is signified by this Beast because it is said to have Horns like a Lamb which is the Type of Christ in Scripture By which Expression Horns being the Type of Powers and Potentacies in Scripture an Apostate Hierarchy or a Holy Government for so the Word signifies acting under the sanctified pretences of Christ's Authority and his Religion and in ordine ad spiritualia is very appositely set forth unto us And 3. By this Beast's being represented with Two Horns is very aptly signified the whole Body of the Ecclesiasticks under the Potentacy of the Ruling Clergy or Hierarchy of the Two Divisions of the Empire into East and West and withal there is an intimation given that this Beast rose when the Empire was thus divided And lastly We may from hence conclude that this Beast is not The Antichrist who is represented as a Monarch by One single Horn in Daniel but a Body Politick signified by a Beast in Prophecy under Two co-ordinate Powers or Horns by which the Hierarchy of the Eastern and Western part of the Empire before the Pope came to be an Horn or to have his Antichristian Supremacy is very fitly typified especially the Eastern and Western Patriarchates which were a meer Vsurpation in the Church arising from the honour of precedency which the Metropolitans of the Chief Cities gained upon Constantine's new modelling of the Empire which as Bishop (a) An account of the Govern of the Christian Church for the first six hundred years pag. 192.310 and from pag. 188. to the end of that Book Parker speaks quickly became a Stirrup to Ambition to mount into a Superiority of Power and Jurisdiction And although there were many Contests betwixt the Eastern and Western Bishops yet as the same Learned and Judicious Person has observed the Patriarchal Vsurpation first began at Constantinople and the Supremacy of the Church of Rome was founded meerly upon the Ambition of the Church of Constantinople Which Words are an excellent Comment upon this and the following Verses as his whole Discourse there is wherein is proved that the Eastern Horn or Hierarchy as well as the Western was the Chief Cause of advancing the Beast or the Papacy to its Kingdom 29 Christ is typified by a Lamb in (a) John 1.29 36. Acts 8.32 1 Pet. 1.19 Scripture the Emblem of Innocency Meekness and Purity And here is intimated that this is an Antichristian Beast because of its having something of a Lamb in it the Devil not being able to introduce Antichristianism but under the Mask of Christianity and under a pretence to (b) See Dr. Moor's mystery of Iniquity Mystery Godliness and (c) The Popes whilst they give themselves the humblest Titles make the Proudest claims and under the Name of Servus Servorum make themselves Princes of the World Bp. Parker ibid. pag. 347. with relation to Gregory the Great Humility by which ways it was at first brought into the Church and is still kept up in it 30 Here is signified that this Beast was a Pagano-Christian Beast and a persecuting one because he spake and acted like a Dragon the Type of Paganism and Persecution whilst his Pretences were the Authority and Honour of Christ the Advancement of Vnity and Peace and a Zeal for God's Glory and a reducing of Men by Lamb-like i. e. innocent and gentle Methods a Phrase much used by the French Clergy in their Speeches to their King upon his barbarous proceedings against the French Protestants 12 And he i. e. the Hierarchy exercised all the Power of the first Beast or the Roman Idolatrous Monarchy before 31 him and in favour of him for his Honour and by his Consent and causeth the Earth or the Apostasy and them which dwell therein i. e. the Apostate Members of this Earthly and Worldly Church the Gentiles the Subjects of this Hierarchy Chap. 11.2 to worship Verse 4.8 the first Beast whose deadly wound was healed i. e. the Roman Empire under the seventh Head and eighth King Verse 2 23. Chap. 17. 8 10 12. 31 From hence it appears 1. That this was the Hierarchy of the Roman Empire because it exerciseth Power before the Beast or in his presence which Beast was the Roman Empire as appears from its Description before given 2. That these Two Horns answering to the Two Feet in Daniel the same thing being fitly represented by Feet in the Image of a Man and by Horns in the Type of a Beast's Head and those Two Feet coming not into Succession until the Rise of the Ten Kings who are the Ten Iron Toes of it which was not until A. D. 476. when the Imperatorial Power ceased and the Papal Succession began with its Ten Kings it will follow that this other Beast exercised not the Power of the first Beast until then 3. That the first Beast with its seventh Head the Papacy even when it was in Succession as the eighth King A.D. 476. yet did not then exercise its Power of its self as is plain from History in which it is notorious that the Papacy attained not its Supremacy until A. D. 606. and that all that time the Hierarchy of the Eastern and Western Divisions of the Empire exercised all its Power before it by ministring unto it as the Phrase signifies 1 Sam. 2.18 or in (a) See Grot. on Luke 4 7.24 19. its stead and for its benefit as a kind of a Protector of it in its Infancy and as the Clayie part of the Feet of this Image upholding and sustaining the seventh Head 4. Although the first Beast were before the other Beast as the first Beast signifies the Roman Empire whence it is called the other Beast with reference to some former or first Beast yet as it is the seventh Head they are contemporary the Papacy and the other Beast in that particular Notion as Feet of Clay coming into Succession together at 476. which yet were before the first Beast as they were a domineering and aspiring Body of Men making way for the Papal Kingdom during the time of the Christian Emperour when the Beast lay wounded and was partly kept alive in an healing condition by them and as they were those who protected the New King the Papacy from his Succession at 476. until his Supremacy at 606. 13 And or for he doth great 32 wonders i. e. seemingly great but really lying and counterfeit ones 2 Thessal 2.9 so that he maketh 33 Fire to come down from Heaven on the Earth in the sight of men i. e. appeareth to worldly and apostatized Men consenting to and applauding the Cheat to work as great Miracles as Elias did 1 Kings 18.33 2
Kings 1.10 32 Lying Wonders are one Character of the Man of Sin giveh by the Apostle 2 Thes 2.9 And accordingly it is notorious that the great Apostacy was brought in by the Lying Miracles Fabulous Legends Counterfeit Writings and pretended Inspirations of the Clergy as Mr. (a) Apostasy of the latter times B. 1. Chap. 2 3 4 5. Bishop Stillingfleet's Second Discourse in Vindicat. of the Protestant Grounds of Faith Chap. 3. his Discourse of Idolatry Chap. 4. his Answer to Mr. Cressy's Epistle Apolog. Chap. 2. Mede and others have proved Bishop (b) Account of the Government of the Church pag. 249. the right of the Emperours in chusing the Pope was gained from them by a pretence to Divine Inspiration Rycaut's Preface to the Lives of the Popes Parker observes that the Constantinopolitan See which was afterward one of these Horns when the Clayie Feet came into Succession was first advanced by the pretended Inspiration of Diodorus an Old Doting Bishop and (a) Annal. lib. 4 5. Downham of antichrist lib. 1. pag. 110. Aventinus confesses that in the time of Gregory the seventh when Antichrist came to his heighth false Prophets were very frequent And accordingly this very Beast is called afteewards the false Prophet 33 This is one of those Miracles which the (b) Poli Synops in loc Jews require for proof that a Prophet is sent from God By which is intimated that this Beast was permitted by God to do great Signs and that withal he was of a wrathful and a revengeful Spirit contrary to that of the Gospel where Christ rebukes his Disciples for calling for Fire from Heaven 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth i. e. the Pagano-Christian Worshippers Chap. 11.2 by the means of those Miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the Beast saying to i. e. teaching perswading and commanding them that dwell on the Earth i. e. the Genti e Worshippers Chap. 11.2 that they should make an Image 34 of Universal Roman Persecuting and Idolatrous Empire to the Honour of the Beast which had the wound by a Sword of the Christian Emperours the seventh King in its sixth Head the Pagan Emperours and did now live 35 in this Image 34 Here is an Allusion to the Image which (c) Dan. 3. Nebuchadnezzar set up which he made of Gold to represent himself who was the Head of Gold in the great Image he had seen in a Vision Chap. 2. 38. as the sole Head and Vniversal Monarch of the World as he was acknoledged to be in the Titles given him Verse 4 or at least to be a Figure of his Vniversal Monarchy of which a great Image is the Type in (a) Chap. 2 31-45 Daniel which Image was also set up for Divine Worship and is called God at the 29th Verse all who refused to serve and worship it being severely punished To all which Particulars there are clear References in this Chapter and in the Usurpations of the Popes the Worship of Images introduced especially by their means and the great severity used against all the Witnesses of whom Shadrack Meshack and Abednego were Types who refused to worship Images and submit to the Papal Supremacy which were the Image and the Gods the Antichristianizing Hierarchy had set up 35 Did live signifies did revive or recover as Grotius and Vatablus render the Word and that in or by the Image upon the making of which the Beast was perfectly cured his Idolatry and Supremacy becoming then predominant whereas it was before but in its Infancy and under the Tutorage of the other Beast who was as it were a Cardinal Patron to the Beast in its Minority acting all things for him and in his Favour as those Cardinals now do for the Popes in their decrepit Age. The sixth Head as it distinctly and particularly denotes the Pagan Emperours was neither healed nor revived the Monarchy passing from it to the seventh Head although the Beast be represented in his entire Portraiture to shew the Succession of his Heads but as it denotes and is a part of the Roman Idolatrous persecuting Monarchickness in which Beastianism consists so it was revived and healed when the seventh Head attained Idolatrous and persecuting as well as Roman Power whereas during the Christian Empire although the Emperours had Roman Monarchick Power yet they were not Idolatrous and persecuting Powers as the Pagan were whatsoever there was of degeneracy or persecution upon other Accounts 15 And he had power to give 36 Life i. e. activity and a power of working upon the Minds of Men to the * Image of the Beast i. e. unto the likeness and similitâ—de of the Pagan Roman Empire that the Image of the Beast should both speak in Decrees and Canons and also cause by â—ts own power and that of the secular Magistrate that as many as would not worship obey and be subject to the Image of the Beast should be killed by Excommunication and the Temporal Sword Dan. 3.5 6 36 For this was not a lifeless dumb Idol like that of Nebuchadnezzar or those described Psalm 115. but was possessed with an active and a restless Spirit as some of the (a) See Dr. Hammond on the place Idols and Oracles of old were Or to give Life to the Image of the Beast may signifie the Revival of Paganism as Life signifies Chap. 11 11. and Verse 14. * The Devil being wounded in his Power by the Wound of the sixth or Pagan Head and knowing from the Prophecy of Daniel that there was to be no other Pagan Monarchy and Draconick Head gave his Power to the Beast But perceiving that this Beast was not able to deceive the World by a pure Imperatorial Power and a bare-faced Heathen Idolatry he wrought upon the Gentile Worshippers or Antichristian Laity newly converted from Heathenism and retaining a great Love for the Magnificence and Customes of their former Religion by means of the other Dan 〈◊〉 or the Antichristianizing Hierarchy to make an Image which should be not only to the Honour of the first Beast but should be a Resemblance of it Now an Image being not the thing it self but a similitude of it this Image must consist in some Likeness or Resemblance of a Vniversal Persecuting and Idolatrous Empire in which the Nature of Beastianism is placed by Prophecy Which was exactly fulfilled 1. When the Papacy attained an Vniversal Supremacy which yet being but an Ecclesiastick or Spiritual one or a Temporal one under an Hierarchick Form erected after the Model and Platform of the Civil Empire was indeed but a Clayie Image or Resemblance of the Real and Substantial Power which the Emperors enjoyed and wanted the strength of (a) Dan. 2 40-43 Iron which is necessary to all Dominion which the Papacy has not of it self but from the Iron and strength of its Ten Toes or of the Kings united under him as a Spiritual Head Such an Image did (b)
25 is most admirably applicable to the Antichristian Roman State it being the only Conspicuous and Remarkable number in that Hierarchy describing the Papacy in its most Essential Parts that Church having been Fatally led to lay its very Foundations upon it it having at first Five and Twenty Cardinals and its Creed consisting of Five and Twenty Articles as the Apostles doth of Twelve as Mr. Potter hath accurately shewn in these and many other Particulars 7. It may be observed That as the Number 666. can by no means be made out of 12 whatsoever Number you multiply it by so neither can the Antichristian State any way arise out of the Apostles Doctrine Lastly The Number 666. consisting of the same number in all its places from Vnits to Hundreds is upon that account as Grotius observes on the place very Remarkable according to the Opinion of the Wise Pagans who made their Vows in the same proportion And because it consists of an entire (a) Poli Synops in locum Senary of numbers arising by degrees from Vnits to Tens and from thence to Hundreds and that in a proportion very agreeable by the multiplication of 6 by 10 so as that 6 are found 10 times in 60 and 60 10 times in 600 it may from thence be thought to signifie the seeming Comeliness and Proportion of the Antichristian State which is so great that it is apt to deceive those who do not exercise Wisdom to discern things it being at first sight a Number more proportionable than 144 the Number of Christ's Kingdom So necessary is it to count numbers and to extract the Roots of them by stripping things of their Outward seeming Appearances although never so Comely and searching into the very intimate nature and Essence of them CHAP. XIV The Text. 1 AND I looked or was in Vision and lo a Lamb i. e. Christ stood to import his settlement in his Government and his Rule and Defence of his people Psalm 2.6 Mic. 5.4 on the Mount 1 Zion i. e. appeared in an exalted and an established State in his Kingdom Psalm 48. Mic. 4.1 Heb. 12.22 and with him an 2 Hundred Forty and Four Thousand i. e. a Body of Apostolical Pure Christians Chap. 7.4 having his i. e. Christ's Fathers Name 3 written in their Foreheads i. e. openly adjudged by God and professing themselves to be the true Followers of Christ See on Chap. 7.3 Annotations on CHAP. XIV 1 Zion (a) Josh 15.63 2 Sam. 5 1-10 1 Chron. 11 1-9 2 Chron. 3.1 Psalm 48.2 was the Mountain or upper part of Jerusalem on one side of which stood the House or Palace of David as the Temple did on the North side of it called Mount Moriah which was reckoned as a part of Mount Zion This Mountain was taken by David from the Jebusites whom the Children of Judah were not able to drive out because of their Vnbelief and was the first Exploit undertaken by him after his being anointed King over all Israel upon the Submission paid unto him by all the Tribes of Israel and their acknowledgment of their being his Bone and his Flesh wherein they were Types of the Obedience that all Nations are to pay to Christ and of their becoming Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones Ephes 5.30 David took it when he began to (a) 2 Sam. 5.4 Luke 3.22 23. Reign being Thirty Years old according to the Age when our Saviour began to preach gather Members for his Kingdom and cast out Devils as David also dispossessed the (b) 2 Sam. 5 6-8 Gregories Observat Chap. 7. Jebusites and cast out their Tutelary Idols the Hatred of his Soul called by him and his Followers by way of Sarcasm and Contempt the Blind and the Lame as having Eyes but seeing not and Feet but walking not according to the like Expression used by him Psalm 115. When he had taken it he fortified the Strong Hold of it and afterwards built there and made a Beautiful City calling it the City of David In all which he was a Type of Christ as that Mountain Strong Hold and City were of the Strength Stability and Beauty of Christ's Kingdom especially as it shall appear at last in a most glorious manner triumphing over all Heathen and Antichristian Idols when the Lord shall set his King upon his Holy Hill of Zion and Christ shall stand and feed his People and be great unto the Ends of the Earth Psalm 2.6 Micah 5.4 Only here it may be observed 1. That as the taking of this Mountain was the first Atchievement of David after he came to the Kingdom before he was fully established in it and had built his City so may this Appearance of Christ be some Preparatory State of his Kingdom called the Kingdom of David in Scripture rising (a) Micah 4.1 2. to the Tops of the Mountains and exalting it self above the Hills that so the Everlasting Gospel might be heard and People might flow unto it but somewhat different from the State of its full Establishment when his Kingdom shall appear in its utmost Glory as in the Description of it given Heb. 12.22 they first come unto Mount Sion before they come unto the City of the Living God and the Heavenly Jerusalem as is more fully shewn on the Three last Chapters where this whole matter is largely considered 2. That here is represented some Exalted State of the Heavenly Tabernacle it self typified by Mount Sion which was not yet of so high and so exalted a Nature as that which it shall afterwards arrive to when it shall appear as in the highest Heavens or in its Heavenly State it being probable that there are Exaltations of Christ's Kingdom in the Archetype of it in the Heavenly Places of which the several Advances it receives here on Earth are the Counterpart Patterns and Example according to what hath been already discoursed on Chap. 12.1 and will be shewn more largely hereafter it being very difficult to give Account of many things in this Prophecy without this Supposition 2 As this Vision relates to the State of Christ's Kingdom upon Earth there is hereby signified a Body of Apostolical pure Christians appearing in a State of open and publick profession of Christ's pure Religion but as it refers to the State of things in the Heavenly Places hereby is denoted an appearance of the very 144000. mentioned in the seventh Chapter who are the Saints and Witnesses departed in the Lord. 3 They were before sealed and in a hidden and invisible State but now they have a Name written that is appearing legible upon their Foreheads and that the Name of God whereby may be understood some Approbation of them and Declaration on God's part before whose Throne they are Verse 5. as to be judged and approved by him that they were Holiness unto the Lord in allusion to the Inscription on the High-Priest's Frontlet Exod. 20.36 and that they were worthy of the Exalted State they now
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
is signified the Preservation and Security of the Saints during the pouring forth of the Vials upon the Wicked Whereupon Fire is not here mentioned where the Sea is spoken of with relation to them And the Scripture seems to affirm that the Days of the last Great Tribulation which may perhaps refer to the Vials shall be shortned or cut off for the sake of the Elect Isa 10.22 Matth. 24.22 Rom. 9.28 7 By a usual Hebraism the most Excellent things are attributed to God in Scripture whence these Phrases Cedars of God Mountains of God and the like And by these Harps is signified such Heavenly Musick or Praise and Thanksgiving in this Representation of Christ's Kingdom as David the King a Type of Christ used in his Royal Palace and in the Service of the Temple called the Musick of God in (a) 1 Chron. 16.42 2 Chron. 7.6 Scripture Skill to play on the Harp being one of those Gifts which God bestowed on David to fit him for the Kingdom 1 Sam. 17.13 18. and in which the Prophets exercised themselves 1 Sam. 10.5 And so also at the passage over the Red Sea which is here alluded to the Women went out after Miriam with Timbrels Dances and Songs Exod. 15 20-22 3 And 8 they sung now in an happy and secure State the Song of Moses i. e. one of the same Spirit and Style with that which was sung by him Exod. 15. the (b) Deut. 34.10 Heb. 3.5 Eminent Servant of God and (b) Deut. 34.10 Heb. 3.5 Faithful in all his House and therefore a fit Type of these Faithful Witnesses and worthy to be imitated by them in a Song in Memory of Gods Judgments on Antichrist of whom the Aegyptians the Subject of Moses's Song were a Type and they sung the Song of the Lamb Christ sung Chap 5 8-14 saying Great as to the Power by which they are wrought Exod. 15.6 7. Rev. 5.12 and marvellous as to the Wisdom of them Exod. 15.11 Rev. 5.12 are all thy Works especially those wrought in our Deliverance Lord God Almighty glorious in Holiness doing Wonders Exod. 15.11 Rev. 4.8 just in punishing and true in performing thy promises are thy ways i. e. Proceedings and Actions Exod. 15.13 Deut. 42.4 thou King of Saints whom thou dost defend deliver and exalt Exod. 15.17 18. Rev. 5.9 8 As Moses and the Israelites also did on the Banks of the Red Sea Exod. 15. betwixt which Song and that of the Lamb Chap. 4 and 5. there is a very remarkable Congruity as is observed in the Paraphrase 4 Who of all the Creatures Rev. 5.13 shall not fear thee O Lord for thy Judgments Exod. 15 14-16 Jerem. 10.7 and glorifie thy Name i. e. Thee thy Excellencies and Perfections Exod. 15.3 11. for thou only art holy Exod. 15.11 Rev. 4 8. for all Nations shall come and worship before thee alone Exod. 15 14-16 Rev. 4 8-11 and 5.13 for thy Judgments are made manifest in the Glories of thy Triumphs over thy Enemies Exod. 15.6 7. Rev. 5.13 5 And after that Song and Vision I looked again or was in Vision and behold the 9 Temple or (a) Psal 28 2. 138 2. Grot. and Hammond on this place and on Acts 7.44 Oracle the most Holy Place of the Tabernacle of the Testimony i. e. of the Divine Habitation or Dwelling-place where God used to manifest and exhibit himself and give Testimony of his Presence and in which were the Two Tables the Witnesses of the Covenant betwixt God and his People which were to testifie what God required and testifie against them if they broke it Exod. 25.10 22.31 18 38 21. Numb 1.50 Deut. 31.6 Acts 7.44 in Heaven in the Heavenly Tabernacle and in the Pure Church See on Chap. 14 2. was opened i. e. there was a very high Appearance of an Exalted State of Christ's Kingdom in the Heavenly Tabernacle and a very great Manifestation of his Kingdom on Earth and Extraordinary Communications of God's Will aod Evidences of his Presence especially in 10 Judgments 9 The Temple of the Tabernacle denotes the Holy of Holies the most sacred part of it which is now opened to signifie some extraordinary manifestation of Christ's Kingdom there seeming to be many Gradual Openings and Visions of the several parts of the Temple according to the several Advances of Christ's Church and Kingdom unto its perfection For in the Vision of the Temple Opened Chap. 11.19 only the Ark of the Testament was seen which relates only to some particular great Mysteries concerning Christ's Redemption Whereas here the whole Inward Tabernacle of Testimony was discovered which had several (a) Heb. 9 1-5 other things in it besides the Ark whereby other Manifestations may be signified But although the Temple of Jerusalem be the primary Type alluded to yet Ezekiel's Visional Temple is the more immediate Type and the ultimate Prospect of all is upon God's dwelling in holy Souls especially in the New Jerusalem State by his Shecinah or special Presence and to God and the Lamb being the Temple into which all is at last resolved Rev. 21.3 22. 10 This I take as appears from the next Verse to be the principal intent of the Opening of the Temple of the Tabernacle at this time viz. That God's Will concerning the approaching Judgments ready to be executed was now plainly made known expressed here by the Opening of that place from whence the Divine Responses and Oracles were wont to be made under the Law and therefore the Angels come forth in the Habit in which the High-Priest was wont to come out of the Holy of Holies with an Answer from God 6 And the seven Angels or Ministers of God's Judgments came out of the Heavenly Temple having the seven Plagues Strokes or Punishments clothed in pure and white Linen Chap. 3.4 5. and having their Breasts girded with golden girdles i. e. they came out in the Habit of Priests and Kings to shew the Royal Priesthood of Christ's Kingdom and Heavenly Temple or Tabernacle out of which these Judgments proceed See Chap. 1 13 7 And one of the Four Beasts or the first of the Representatives of the Apostolical Church Chap. 4 6. 6 1. gave 11 unto the seven Angels seven golden Vials or Bowls 2 Chron. 4.22 Rev. 5.8 full not of Incense but of the 12 Wrath of God trodden cut of the Winepress of his Wrath out of which the Vial are filled Chap. 14 19 20. 15 1. 19 15. who liveth for ever and ever and therefore can and will punish the Wicked with an utter and an everlasting destruction Deut. 32 22-43 Heb. 10.31 11 The seven Angels had indeed the seven Plagues that is the Judgments and Punishments which were to be executed but besides the Materials if I may so speak of these Judiciary Plagues there is also something in God's severe Judgments which comes more immediately from the hand of God himself in which the very Essence and Formality of (a) Rom. 12.19 Heb.
10 28-31 See Dr. Tho. Goodwin's Discourse of the Punishment of Sin in Hell Hell Torments is thought to consist Now this Wrath of God the Sting of his Punishments and the very Gall of them is here given to the Angels by One of the Four Living Creatures that is by the First of them as One generally signifies in this Prophecy whose Voice was as Thunder and who had the very Purity and Power of the Gospel and that in Golden Vials to signifie the Purity and Holiness of God's Judgments and that they were executed upon the Prayers of Saints of which Golden Vials and Incense are an Emblem Chap. 5. 8. 12 The Wicked with their sins are cast as Grapes of Sodom Deut. 32.32 33. into the Winepress of God's Wrath trod by Christ Chap. 19 15. as Redeemer and out of that VVine are these Vials filled Whereby is signified that the Just Vengeance and Recompence of God is executed upon them by Christ as the Demerit and Consequence of their sins for the Blood of his Servants they had shed and as the Vials of the Prayers of the Saints Chap. 5.8 are full of Odors by Vertue of Christ's Intercession so are these full of the VVrath of God upon the Intercession of Christ for his oppressed Saints 8 And the Temple was 13 filled with 14 Smoak from the Glory of God and from his Power i. e. there were setled Manifestatiâ—ns of God's powerful and Glorious Presence in a blessed State Ezek. 43 4-6 and 15 or but no man or no Creature was able to enter into the Temple i. e. God's Glorious Presence could not be enjoyed in its highest Manifestations Ezek. 48 35. Rev 21.3 23 24. till the Seven Plagues of the Seven Angels were fulfilled i. e. until the perfect Destruction of the Wicked whose Sins 16 hinder God's Presence Ezek. 43.9 13 The Constant (a) Exod. 43.34 35. Lev. 16.2 Numb 9 15-23 1 Kings 8 10-13 2 Chron. 7 1-4 Ezek. 43 1-9 Manifestations of God's Presence are signified in Scripture by a Cloud covering and filling the Tabernacle and Temple whereby God took as it were possession of them who is represented in Ezekiel as filling the House or Temple with his Glory when he came to dwell in the midst of his people for ever Ezek. 43.5 7 9. Whereby is signified that the New Jerusalem State was near its Settlement in the Blessed Milennium when God will dwell with Men and he and the Lamb shall be the Temple of the City Rev. 21.2 3 22 23. 14 Light (b) See on Chap. 3. num 36. and Bright Fire are the proper Emblems of God who is Love but when Smoak appears with it there is intimated some Darkness in the Dispensation referred to and Mixtures of VVrath and Displeasure as in this place because God's VVrath was not as yet executed the Glory of God represented by Light and Bright Clouds in the Old Testament filled the Temple with Smoak and not Light there being as yet a Contest betwixt the VVrath Jealousie and Justice of God and his Enemies to be destroyed whose Defilements represented by Smoak Chap. 9. 2. and Sins were the Cause that God's Anger smoaked against them for otherwise Fury is not in the Lord Isa 27.4 15 An Allusion to what is related concerning Moses Exod. 40.35 whereby is expressed the great Terror of this Time of Vengeance which no Created Beings not even the Angels themselves are able to bear this being the (a) Isa Chapters 24 25 26 27. Dan. 12.1 Matth. 24.21 29 30. Mark 13.19 Luke 21.23 24. Rev. 3 10.7 14.16 18. Time of such Trouble as never was called The Great Temptation The Great Tribulation and the Great Earthquake in Scripture which was to be shortned for the Elect's Sake and will be so very Terrible that they are pronounced Blessed by Daniel Chap. 12.12 who shall wait and come to the End of those Days when the Blessed Millennium shall begin Which perhaps may be prefigured by (b) Exod. 24 12-18 Mose's not being able to go up into the Mount until after six Days and his being called up into it by God on the seventh Day the (c) See the Notes on Chapt. 20.4 Type of the seventh Thousand Year or the Sabbatical Millennium And from hence it may be observed that although there shall be several Manifestations of God's Presence and Openings of the Temple after the End of the Beasts Months upon the Entrance of which the Temple was shut up and at the Expiring of which it must consequently be opened that yet nevertheless the highest State of it in which God and the Lamb are the Temple consisting in perfect Tranquillity and Serenity without any smoak of Anger from God's Glory shall not be enjoyed until the Vials are poured out which will not be if the Beast's Months end at 1697 until A. D. 1772. when the 75 Years which are added to the Times of Antichrist by Daniel Chap. 12. will be expired as hath been frequently observed 16 This was signified by the several gradual (a) Ezek. 8.4 6.9 3.10 4 15-19 11 23. Removals of the Glory of God and its departure from the Temple in Ezekiel and his not returning into it so as to fill it and inhabit in it for ever until he had consumed the wicked Idolaters and their Abominations in his Anger Ezek 39 11-29.43 1-9 CHAP. XVI The Text. AND I heard a great Voice or a powerful Command full of Authority and about a most important matter out of the Heavenly Temple of Christ's Kingdom the Original and Arche-type of his Kingdom upon Earth Chap. 15.1 8. saying to the seven Angels or Ministerial Instruments of God's Will who undertake nothing without a special Command Go your ways with all speed and swiftness and by Virtue of my Commission and pour out the very Dregs of the Vials of thr Wrath of God upon the 1 Earth Annotations on CHAP. XIV 1 This Chapter relating wholly to things Future is thereupon very obscure it being doubtful whether it is to be interpreted in a Mystical Sense as most Interpreters have done or in a Litteral one with reference to the Great Conflagration of the World plainly asserted by the Apostle (a) 2 Ep. 3. Peter and generally acknowledged as a great Truth In the former way of Interpreting Earth Sea Rivers and the other parts of the World on which the Vials are poured are to be understood only concerning the several Members of the Antichristian Kingdom signified by them but in the latter they are to be taken Litterally and the Vials are to be supposed as so many Gradual Preparations to the General Dissolution of the World by Fire To the clearing of which Question it may be observed 1. That these Vials are filled out of the Blood which came out of the Winepress of God's Wrath as appears from Chap. 14.19 20. compared with the first Verse of this Chapter Whence it will follow if that Observation be true That these Vials must
when he arrived to his Kingship and Supremacy then this other Beast became his False Prophet serving and Advancing him by Lying Miracles and Wonders 14 For they three Frogs are indeed the Spirits 25 of Devils like Frogs workâ—ng 26 lying Miracles 2 Thes 2 9-11 Rev. 13.13 14. which go f rth unto the Kings of the Earth i. e. the Antichristian Potentates and Enemies of Christ's Kingdom Psalm 2.1 2. Judg. 5.3.19 Rev. 20 7-10 and of the whole World Chap. 20.8 to gather them by exciting and engaging them to the 27 Battle of that 28 great day of God Almighty Chap. 19.19 25 These Wicked Agents for Paganism and Aneichristianism are called Spirits of Devils because they are acted and influenced by the Devil and his Angels who ever since their Fall have been permitted to make bold Attempts full of Malice and Rage against God and Christ's Kingdom 26 They are permitted according to the Example of the Aegyptian Magicians to work Lying Wonders as the Devil had frequently done in the Times of Paganism and Antichristianism 27 This is the first Battle of Gog and Magog before the coming of Christ's Kingdom now ready to appear wherein they are overcome and the Wisdom and extraordinary Power of God styled here upon that account 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lord of Hosts in respect of his Rule and Dominion over all things and his Power by which he is able to perform them is manifested in the Defeat of the Devil who had summoned all his Force and Power together under the Wise Holy and Incomprehensible Justice and Vengeance of God to shew his utmost Malice and Rage against Christ's Kingdom See on Chap. 19.19 and on the Three Last Chapters 28 Wherein he would manifest his uncontroulable Power and absolute Dominion after the most extraordinary manner beyond any thing which had as yet appeared 15 Behold 29 says Christ I come or am just ready to come in my Thousand Years Kingdom as 30 a Thief i. e. on a suddain and after a surprizing manner chap. 3.3 10 11. Blessed in that happy state Dan. 12.12 is he that 31 watcheth in this time of trouble and temptation and they who shall be found so doing when I come Luke 12 35-40 and 32 blessed also is he that keepeth his Garments i. e. his purity righteousness and innocency chap. 19.8 lest loosing his righteousness he walk naked and they see his shame i. e. his shameful nakedness be discovered to his utter confusion and he be driven out of Paradise as his naked first Parents were Gen. 3. 2 Cor. 5.3 29 These Words are a Parenthesis spoken by Christ to those who professed his Religion as appears from the Gentleness and tender care of them commanding them to watch over themselves with great diligence and signifying what their state should be in his Kingdom just approaching intimated by the Word Blessed taken from Dan. 12.12 which is a place of the like import with this 30 Christ is every where represented (a) Matth. 24. 1 Thess 5.2 in Scripture as coming of a sudden to his Kingdom notwithstanding the many Prognosticks given of it and preparations to it because his actual appearing will be on a sudden and by surprize 31 32 Hereby is signified that all they shall be blessed who have watched for Christ with Oyl in their Vessels as well as their Lamps and shall be found really united to him and having on his Righteousness when he comes in his Kingdom See Chap. 3. 16 And he 33 i. e. the Spirits of Devils under the justice and Vengeance of Almighty God in order to his Glory and the punishment of his Enemies Judg. 4.7 Joel 3.11 12. gathereth them i. e. the Kings of the Earth and of the whole World together by their instigations and power ever them into a place called in the Hebrew tongue 34 Armageddon i. e. there was a most Powerful and Diabolical Confederacy against Christ's Kingdom Psal 2. 33 It is evident from Verse 14. that this gathering together is performed by the three Evil Spirits where yet as well as in this Verse a Verb of the Singular Number is made use of according to the Custom of the Greek Language when a Noun of the Neuter Gender is referred to And this gathering together is some desperate Attempt managed by the Wicked of the Old Earth at the instigation and by the help of the Evil Spirits against Christ's Kingdom just ready to appear in which they are discomfited after some extraordinary and miraculous manner as Sisera was at Megiddo Judg. 4 15.5 20. and are confined by God in a miserable and most contemptible condition during the Thousand Years of Christ's Kingdom upon the expiring of which Satan and his Wicked Kings and Nations are again loosed See Chap. 20. 34 The Word signifies the Hill of Megiddo called Megiddon by the (a) Zech. 12.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 LXX Prophet a Royal City in the Tribe of Issachar but belonging to Manasseh which (b) Josh 17.11 12. Judg. 1.27 the Canaanites inhabited in despight of the Children of Manasseh and was (c) Judg. Chapters 3 and 4. famous for the miraculous Defeat of Sisera and the Kings of Canaan a Type of the Kings of the Earth in this Prophecy by Barak and the Israelites who came down from Mount Tabor which was not far from that place and discomfited them at the Waters of Megiddo in the Hilly as (a) In loc Grotius thinks and Mountainous parts of that place and also for the Death of (b) 2 Kings 9 27. Ahaziah but especially of (c) 2 Kings 23.29 30. 2 Chron. 35 20-27 Josiah who received his deadly Wound with a great slaughter in the Valley of Megiddo where he was bewailed with so great a Lamentation that the Mournings in that Valley are used by way of a proverbial speech by the Prophet Zechariah and Megiddo is interpreted by the LXX the Valley of the slain or cut off as if it signified a place of great grief and slaughter And the Name of this place is made choice of here perhaps to signifie 1. That Satan shall be discomfited and that although he make choice of the most advantageous places to defend himself signified by the Mountains encompassing the Valley of Megiddo For the Canaanites having had a Terrible Defeat in the Valley Satan the Leader of these Wicked Kings of the Earth may be supposed now to make choice of New Stratagems signified by the Hill of Megiddo according to the (d) 1 Kings 20.23 Notions received amongst Idolaters that the Gods of the Hills were stronger than the Gods of the Plain 2. With reference to what is prophesied of by (e) Chap. 39.4 Ezekiel concerning Gog the Type of these Kings of the Earth that he shall fall upon the Mountains of Israel 3. Megiddo is chosen as the Type and Symbol of the place of this Battel of Decision to shew that Satan intended the Destruction of Christ's Kingdom now ready to succeed
according to what had before come to pass in the destruction of Josiah who was a Type of Christ as the godly Kings of Judah and Israel were and was slain near that place just when he had prepared the Temple of God the Emblem of Christs Kingdom 2 Chron. 35.20 4. To shew that God who over-rules evil Designs for good and who declares Judg. 4.7 the place here alluded to that he drew Sisera and his multitude together had ordained that these Kings should be totally overthrown as the Kings of Canaan were at Megiddo and that Christ's Church should triumph over them and bless God for the great Victory in the Song prepared for it in the preceeding Chapter as (a) 2 Chron. 20.26 Jehoshaphat and the Israelites did in the Valley of Beracah or Blessing for the Defeat of that great multitude of Wicked People which confederated against Israel Whereupon this place of Decision is called the Valley of Jehoshaphat in (b) Chap. 3.2 12 14. Joel The Battel being described sometimes as if it were to be in a (c) Joel 3. Ezek. 39 5. Valley or Plain and sometimes as on a (d) Ezek. 39.4 Mountain and confined to no particular place Jehoshaphats (e) Fullers Pisgah Sight pag. 280 294. Valley being far distant from the Valley of Megiddo but expressed so as to typifie other things unto us and to shew that they shall be totally defeated as men driven from their several Fastnesses and Retreats Mountains as well as Plains and Valleys 5. To shew that both Jews (f) Zech. 12.3 6 9 10 11 12 13 14. and Gentiles should mourn at the sight of Christ now ready to appear in his glorious Kingdom as there was a great Mourning for Josiah by the Jews and the Assyrians whom he then assisted which may probably be the meaning of Hadadrimmon Zech. 12.11 which according to (a) On Zech. 12.11 Grotius signifies the Glory of Rimmon an Assyrian Idol 17 And the seventh Angel poured out his Vial into the 35 Air and there came a great voice out of the Temple 36 of Heaven from the Throne i. e. there was an extraordinary manifestation of the intimate and more immediate presence of God saying it 37 is done i. e. this is the last vial and Judgment upon the wicked Nations Ezek. 39.8 See on chap. 20. and 21.6 35 By Air is meant in (b) See Dr. Hammond on Psalm 148.4 Scripture the Aerial Expansum or Firmament consisting of Air and Clouds ballanced by the Weight of it Job 37.16 which being the Place of Meteors the Angel pours his Vial upon it and thereupon follow Thunder and Lightning and a Great Earthquake which commonly accompany each other the Islands and Mountains fly away and so great Hail falls which is a usual Attendant of Thunder-storms as if the Clouds with all their (c) Job 38.22 23. Treasures of Meteors were thrown down from Heaven Whereby the more immediate preparations to the Dissolution of the Old Earth seem to be described according to the Prediction of the Apostle Peter and the Description given of it in Dr. Burnet's Theory who yet very (d) 3.3 7. prudently admonishes us not to be too positive or presumtuous in our Conjectures about these Things because if there be an invisible Hand Divine or Angelical that touches the Springs and Wheels of Nature it will not be easie for us to determine with Certainty the Order of their Motions 36 Called so in remembrance of the Throne and Temple in Ezekiel 37 A Phrase evidently taken from Ezek. 39.8 where it is used concerning Gog and Magog whence also it appears that their Destruction is here referred to concerning whom read Chap. 20. and Ezek. 38. and 39. 18 And there were voices and thunders 38 and lightning aad there was a great Earthquake such as was not since men were upon the Earth so mighty an Earthquake and so great i. e. there were very high manifestations of Christ's glorious Kingdom and a time of trouble such as never was before the powers of the Earth and Heavens being shaken to make way for a new Heaven and a new Earth Dan. 12.1 2. Matth. 24.29 Heb. 12 26-22 See on chap. 4.5 and on the three last chapters 38 See Dr. Burnet's Theory of the Earth Book 3. 19 And the great City i. e. the whole Antichristian Jurisdiction and Kingdom chap. 14 8.18 10 21. was divided by the Earth-quake into 39 three parts i. e. the whole strength of the Antichristian State was dissipated and overthrown and the Cities of the wicked Nations of the whole World verse 14. chap. 20.8 fell and great Babylon 40 i. e. Rome chap. 14.8 came in special remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of the Wine of the feirceness of his Wrath i. e. to destroy her with a most severe and an utter destruction See on chap. 14 8-11 39 The general Type of Three Parts seems to be taken from Ezek. 5.2 12. where Jerusalem when it was designed for Destruction is marked out into Three Parts which Three parts here are the Three United Forces of the Antichristian Kingdom viz. 1. The Dragon or Devil with his Three Vnclean Spirits 2. The Beast and his False Prophet who as being united in Force and Interest have one punishment 3. The Kings of the Earth See on Chap. 19 19-21 40 Hence it appears that the Conflagration is here pointed at because it is plain from this Prophecy that Rome shall be destroyed by Fire as hath been before observed 20 And every Island fled away and the Mountains were not found i. e. the 41 old Earth was dissolved 2 Pet. 3. See on chap. 21.1 41 See Dr. Burnet's Theory of the Earth B. 3.9 whose ingenious Hypothesis gives great light to this place according to which as is here foretold the Mountains are to be destroyed in the last place and there are to be no Islands because no Sea in the New Earth which is to be plain and level 21 And there fell upon the wicked Kings and men of the Earth who were gathered together against Christ's Kingdom verses 14.16 a great Hail out of Heaven 42 i. e. an extraordinary Tempest of Divine Wrath inflicted by the more immediate command of God every stone about the weight of a Talent i. e. each stroak of God's Wrath was extraordinary great heavy and insupportable Ezek. 38.22 Matth. 23.44 and yet these men Blasphemed God because of the Hail i. e. were still obdurate and impenitent for the Plague thereof was exceeding great upon which they should therefore have humbled themselves under the mighty hand of God 42 Hail was one of the Plagues of Aegypt and the wicked Kings of Canaan were destroyed by great Hailstones from Heaven Joshua 10.11 as the Antichristian Aegyptians and Kings of the Earth here are But this place more immediately referrs to Ezek. 38.22 where God foretells that Gog and Magog shall be destroyed by a Thunder storm of Rain and Great Hailstones
pag. 22. 302. was in Conception in the Womb when the Apostle Paul wrote the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians probably 25 Years after the Resurrection 58 A. D. 2. He was forming (b) See from page 22-38 93 94 112 124 125. from 204 to 215. from that time by the workings of the mystery of Iniquity in the lower parts of the Earth as the Womb is called Psal 139.15 Eph. 4.9 during the Ephesine and Smyrnaean Succession in which the Synagogue of Satan arose until he was brought forth and the Gentiles Months began about the middle space betwixt the Death of Theodosius and the Fall of the VVestern Empire just when Cyril was setling the Lunar Year 437 A. D. 3. From that time the (a See on Chap. 8 10 11. 9 1 2 3. 11 1 2 3. and Chapters 13. and 17. and 2 Thes 2. Gentiles i. e. the people newly converted to Christianity Paganized it by introducing Heathen Notions and Customs and thereby prepared the way for this Man of Sin 's becoming the Beast or the Seventh Head and Eighth King upon the Fall of the Western Empire when he was revealed in his own Time and the Beast arose with his Ten Kings according (b) See the Author de Excid Antichr pag. 184. to all History and his Months began 475 or 476 A. D. 4. This Man of Sin was indeed the King of Rome according to the Course of Succession laid down in Prophecy at 476. when the Christian Emperours ceased but he did not arrive to his Vniversal (c) See on Chap. 9. 1 2. and Chap. 13. and Chap. 17. 8. and Heidegger Histor Papat Chap. 2. Morney's Mystery of Iniq. Supremacy over all Churches until A. D. 606. according to the general Consent of Protestants in agreement with Prophecy Chap. 9. 1 2. 17 8. which was prepared for him by the Eastern and Western Divisions of the Empire called the other Beast with Two Horns like a Lamb Chap. 13. 606 A. D. 5. At 606 he fell as a Star from Heaven to Earth and became an Earthly or Antichristian Monarch over all Churches and from thence by degrees proceeded to kill and overcome until he came to be an (d) See on Chap. 13 14-18 and Chap. 11. 7. Image or to have a Supreme Idolatrous Power established fully at the End of his First Time 797 A. D. 6. From (a) Heidig Histor Papat Chap. 4 5 6. that Time the Popes advanced themselves by degrees especially by the means of Hildebrand as is clear from all History until they came into a full possession of Dominion and Power in Temporals which they had long strove and struggled for 1157 A. D. 7. After that (a) Heideg Histor Papat Chap. 4 5 6. time altho with some Variety of Foâ—tune according to the Temper of the Popes and the Princes they were to contest with they exercised the Power they had gained over Princes and Emperors sitting in the Temple of God as God and opposing and exalting themselves above all that is called God by Deposing and Excommunicating Princes absolving their Subjects from their Allegiance dispensing with God's Laws arrogating Infallibility to themselves and filling the World with Slaughter and Confusion and with scandalous and abominable Doctrines and Practices until the Reformation when their Power in Spirituals and Temporals was broken 1517 A. D. CHAP. XVIII The Text. AND after these things i. e. immediately after the distinct Representation of the Woman and her whole State in the foregoing Chapter I saw another Angel or Minister of God's Judgment distinct from him who appear'd Ch. 17. 1. come down from Heaven in the Name of God and with a Commission from him having great power as being to effect great matters and the Earth was lightned with his Glory i. e. the Judgment and Ministration was very Terrible and Glorious and accompanied with abundance of Light and Knowledge Ezek. 43.2 2 And he cried mightily with a strong 1 Voice to shew the greatness of the Judgment saying Babylon the great i. e Papal Rome Chap. 14 8. 16 19. 17 5. is fallen is fallen i. e. will now be totally and finally overthrown and that as certainly as if it were already fallen Isa 21.9 Jerem. 51.8 and is become the Judgment being now actually in execution the Habitation of 2 Devils and the 3 hold of every foul Bird and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird i. e. it is desolate for ever Jerem. 51.62 See Note 19 Annotations on CHAP. XVIII 1 This Angel gives a particular Representation of the Divine Judgment upon Babylon or Papal Rome according to the general importance of the seventh Vial Chap. 16. 19. And this Voice or Angel may probably be the same with the Angel of the seventh Voice Chap. 14. 18. which had pow-over Fire for his Appearance is illustrious and Bright like that of Fire and the glorious Execution of the Judgment is as the loudest Voice 2 Its Destruction is here described by Expressions taken from the Prophets particulary from Isa 13 19-22.34 14. Jerem. 51.37 which are Allusions to the popular Notions and Opinions then common amongst Men for which see the Commentators on those places and Grotius on this Verse and on Matth. 10.1 and Matth. 12. 3 A Military word says Grotius signifying the Stations or VVatches of Soldiers 3 For 4 all Nations have drunk of the Wine of the Wrath of her Fornication and the Kings of the Earth Verse 9. have committed Fornication with her and the Merchants of the Earth Verse 11. are waxed rich through the abundance of her 5 Delicacies i. e. the several Members of the Papal Communion have through her Means been guilty of the foulest Idolatry Cruelty and Sensuality See Chap. 14. 8-11 and Chapters 13. and 17. 4 Here is declared the Cause of her Ruin 5 See Doctor Hammond on 1 Tim. 5.11 4 And I heard another Voice or Angel distinct from the former Verses 1 2. from Heaven saying 6 Come out of her i. e. out of Mystical Babylon the Papal City and Communion my 7 people who have not defiled your selves with her Idolatry that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues or punishments which are now actually in Execution Gen. 19 12-26 Numb 16.26 6 These Words are taken from Isaiah 48.20 Jerem. 50 8.51 6 45. and they are a Divine Admonition to all Ages especially since the Reformation and the clearer discovery of Babylon and its Corruptions by it to forsake that Communion as they tender their own Safety and Deliverance from Sin and Judgments the Consequents of it They do also express the Grace and Mercy of God by which he gathers his People from amongst the Wicked and calls them out of Danger into places of Retreat and Safety as he now does those whom he had hitherto witheld from Antichristian Errors and was about to secure after a most glorious manner 7 Hence it appears that God may have people
Candle shall shine no more at all in thee i. e. thou shalt be perpetual Darkness and Desolation without the least comfort Jer. 25.10 and the Voice of the Bridegroom and of the Bride shall be heard no more at all in thee i. e thy Polity and Society shall be no more propagated but shall utterly cease together with all the Joy of thy former Solemnities and Festivities Jerem. 7 34.16 9. and all this shall come upon thee for or because thy Merchants who proselyrted Souls to their destruction and made Gain of Godliness were the great 21 men of the Earth i. e. were Lordly Worldly Ambitious and Sensual and also because or for by thy Sorceries i. e. Idolatry and Superstition were all Nations deceived 21 See on Chap. 6.15 It is an Expression taken from Isa 23.8 where it relates to the Merchants of Tyre a Crowning or Imperial City and a Type of the Antichristian City whose Worldly and Ambitious Clergy are here signified 24 And in her was also found the guilt of the blood of Prophets or Witnesses and of Saints or Holy Persons and of all 22 that were slain upon the Earth i. e. she was found guilty of Persecution and Bloodshed as well as Idolatry and all which had been shed during the Times of Christianity was laid to her charge because she was the Off-spring of Persecuting Parents had approved her Fore-fathers wicked Deeds and had filled up the measure of their iniquities Jerem. 2.34 Matth 23.29 39. 22 This is to be understood in the sense our Saviour uses the like Expression concerning Jerusalem upon whom he charges all the Blood that had been spilt from Abel Matth. 23 29-39 See also Zech. 5 5-11 where the Land of Shinar or Babylon is represented as having the House and Basis or Foundation of all Wickedness in it as if she had been guilty of all manner of sins and all sinners were to be punished in the Lake of her Burnings See Note 19. CHAP. XIX The Text. 1 AND after 1 these things i.e. the things seen in the precedent Chapter I heard a great Voice of much people in Heaven i. e. of the innumerable Company which stands before the Throne and before the Lamb Chap. 7.9 saying 2 Alleluja i. e. Praise ye the Lord Salvation from all evils especially those suffered under Antichristianity and Glory and Honour and Power be ascribed unto the Lord our God and to him alone for he is the sole Author of all good Annotations on CHAP. XIX 1 From the First to the Tenth Verse there is a Vision of a Triumphant and Joyful Appearance in Heaven for the Judgment upon the great Whore described in the Two preceeding Chapters and for the Marriage of the Lamb and the near Approach of his Glorious Kingdom 2 This Word is first used Psalm 104.35 to express the Psalmist's Joy upon the prospect of the Accomplishment of his Prediction or Desire that sinners might be consumed out of the Earth And it is here also made use of accordingly upon the Judgment executed upon Antichrist God's Chief Enemy and upon a prospect of the Old Earth's being utterly consumed together with the wicked people of it and a New Earth's succeeding in its place 2 For true and righteous are his Judgements and therefore is he to be praised for he hath judged and punished the great whore or the Idolatrous City and Church which did corrupt and destroy Jerem. 51.25 the Earth with her Fornication or Idolatry and hath avenged the Blood of her servants at her hand i. e. hath rewarded her abundantly according to her demerits for shedding the blood of his Faithful Witnesses and Servants chap 18. 20. 3 And again or the second time they said Alleluja to testifie their Joy upon the sight of the smoke the sign and token of her everlasting burnings And her smoke rose up or was then in its ascent and that for ever and ever i.e. she was punnished with an everlasting Destruction 4 And the four and twenty Elders 3 and the Beasts i e. the representatives of the Jewish and Christian Church chap. 4. fell down and worshipped God that sat on the Throne saying Amen Allelujah i. e. there was a very great appearance and manifestation of Christ's glorious Kingdom and the justice of God's Judgments was acknowledged with Praise and Thanksgiving 3 The Elders of the Church of Israel are placed first in this Appearance of the Divine Confessus or Sanhedrim from whence it may be concluded that this was a Vision of the New Jerusalem-State in which the Israelites as the First Born are to have the Preheminence who according to all Prophecy and Rom. 11. are to be converted and restored to their own Land as hath been before observed And perhaps for this Reason also is the Hebrew word Allelujah here retained 5 And a voice 4 came out of the midst of the Throne from Christ See chap. 5 6. 7 17. saying by way of holy Excitement and Encouragement praise our God my God as well as yours John 20.17 Rev. 3.12 all ye his Servants and ye that fear and worship him both small and great i. e. of whatsoever Nation Quality and Condition ye are for God is no respecter of Persons Psalm 115.11 13. Acts 2 5.10 34 35. Gal. 3.28 4 This Voice seemes to be an Heavenly Excitement to all the Saints upon Earth Gentiles and Jews small and great of all Nations now converted to joyn with the Heavenly Assembly in rendring Praises to God 6 And immediately upon this efficacious Exhortation from out of the Throne I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude and as the voice of many waters and as the voice of mighty Thundrings i. e. there was a mighty appearance of Christ's Kingdom and powerful Communications from the Heavenly Throne to all his Servants upon Earth that fear'd him and Heaven and Earth joyned in praises saying Alleluja for the Lord 5 God Omnipotent now reigneth and that Gloriously Isa 4.23 5 These Words are taken from Isaiah 24 21-23 where it is prophesied That the Lord God of Hosts or the Lord God Omnipotent should Reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before his Ancients or Elders of the Christian Church and that Gloriously after he had punished and shut up in Prison the Kings of the Earth Which is a clear Proof that the Reign of God here mentioned has a Respect to the Reign and Kingdom of Christ after the punishment of the wicked Kings and Nations of the Earth Chap. 20. 7 Let us be glad and rejoyce exceedingly and give honour or praise Luke 17.18 to him alone For the Marriage 6 of the Lamb Christ with his Church 2. Cor. 11.2 Eph. 5.32 is now actually come in and by the coming of his Kingdom Psalm 45. Matt. 22 11.25 1-13 Luke 12.36 and his Wife hath made her self ready i. e. the new Jerusalem state is now coming down from God out of Heaven Rev. 21.2 6 Christ is represented frequently (a)
10.12 Rev. 1.9 7. There must be such a State in which all things even the inanimate parts of the Creation are to be restored to their pure primitive State that Christ's Redemption might be perfect and compleat For Christ died and made an Attonement and Reconciliation by his Blood that he might carry on the great work of Redemption through the several Ages of the World to its full perfection Now that (a) Rom. 8 19-24 1 Cor. 23 21 22. Redemption consisting in restoring whatsoever the First Adam lost there must be a Restitution of the whole Creation to its first State or else Christ's Redemption will not be perfect But of this more hereafter 8. If the General Resurrection and the Kingdom of Christ are the same then the Arguments from the Justice and Wisdom of God and all the other general Topicks which are commonly brought for the proof of the former will conclude as strongly for the latter to which may be added that it is agreeable to the Wisdom Justice and Goodness of God that he should reserve some Age of the World for his own entire Reign in Righteousness who had permitted the Devil and Antichrist to domineer in so many Ages of it and that his Son should be visibly glorified in the sight of that very Earth where he had been humbled even to the Death of the Cross and the last Act or Period of the Oeconomy of his Exaltation should be accompanied with the greatest Glory and Majesty as the last Act of his Humiliation was attended with the greatest Misery and Reproach and that his Saints who had undergone a long state of Misery and Persecution should inherit (a) Rom. 8 19-24 1 Cor. 23 21 22. the Earth in prosperity according to the promises of God and the Wicked should suffer in a Visible State of Shame and Ignominy and that for some long space of time and not only for a single Day of Judgment that Men might be deterred from sinning here by the length of the punishment and (b) Burnet's Theor. 4.5 by the dishonour of it which shall be notorious to the whole Creation whereas the Eternal State of the Damned is an hidden State besides which according to the general current of Scripture there must be a Visible Appearance of the Wicked and the Good at the general Retribution when God will display to the whole World the Reasons and Grounds of his procedures and the whole Scene and Contexture of his Providence that his Wisdom Justice and Goodness towards his Creatures might be seen acknowledged and admired by all of them to which the continuance of Mankind under a Visible State for some considerable time according to their Demerits in the Reverse of what they enjoyed here will very much contribute Psalm 73. Isa 65.13 25. Dan. 12.1 2. Phil. 2 9-11 9. It is agreeable (a) See Dr. Home 's Resurrection revealed lib 3. 5. to the wonted procedures of Almighty God that there should be a state of prosperity to his Church upon Earth For he hath generally in all Ages punished on Earth feirce Tyrants and Persecutors of his Church and given to it a general Rest after long and tedious Troubles Afflictions and Persecutions and that most commonly in the Churches Extremity whiCh is God's Opportunity and accordingly we may justly expect such a State upon the Destruction of Antichrist and that his Fall is not far off because the two special Witness-Churches of France and Savoy have been reduced to the utmost Extremity 10. The Oeconomy Dispensation or Fatherly Administration af this Kingdom which is God's Houshold is placed by the Apostle Ephes 1.10 in the Fullness of Times that is of All Time which not being as yet expired we may thence conclude that this Kingdom is not yet come For from the Consideration of Mark 1.15 Gal. 4.4 Ephes 1.10 and Isaiah 2.2 it seems there were as if a Line of Time in Scripture commencing from Christ's First Coming called the Fullness of Time and ending in his second Coming called the Fullness of Times or of all such Times 11. The Monarchick (a) See Dr. Beverley's Kingdom of Jesus Christ entring its Succession and Dan. 2 and 7. Image in Daniel is not yet broken to peices but continues in its Feet and Ten Toes under the Papacy and its Ten Kings and therefore the Kingdom of Christ is not yet come which is to destroy it VVhich Kingdom also as it is there described cannot be Christ's Evangelical Kingdom because that destroyed not Kingdoms but converted them nor his Kingdom of Eternity because according to Prophecy this Kingdom is to be under the Heaven and to fill the whole Earth Dan. 2. 12. Very many Texts of Scripture cannot possibly be explained at least in their Fullest and most compleat Sense and Latitude without supposing some such State For even the first and great Prophecy Gen. 3.15 concerning the bruising of the Serpents Head is not yet fully compleated nor will be until Christ's Second Coming when Sin and Death shall be utterly abolished 1 Cor. 15. Japhet's Tents according to Noah's Prophecy Gen. 9.27 have not been yet enlarged through the whole Extent of the Northern parts of the World neither hath God yet perswaded Japheth and Shem Gentile and Jew to live together in the same Tents or Church The Promises to (b) Dr. Homes Resurrect revealed B. 3. 2. Abraham as they are explained by the Apostles of such a Numerous Race as shall possess almost the whole VVorld are not fulfilled in their utmost Latitude as neither (a) Dr. Homes Resurrect revealed B. 3.2 some of Jacob's Prophecies to befal his Posterity in the last Days Gen. 49. particularly that Remarkable one Verse 10. for the universal and compleat gathering of the people both Jews and Gentiles into one Body is not as yet come to pass And who can say that the (b) Nâ—mb 24.17 Deut. 30 3 4 5.32 36 43. Psalm 2 8.22 27-31 45.47 7 8 9.49 14.67.68 22-35 72.86 9.110.149 Very many places in the Prophets already quoted The places in the New Testament which speak concerning Christ's Kingdom and the World to come of the Messias and Luke 19.11 12.23 42. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in thy Kingdom Acts 3 19-26 1 Cor. 15.24 c. Eph. 1.21 Heb 3 5-9 2 Peter 3.13 Revel 11.15 See a Treatise written by Alstecius entituled The Beloved City or the Saints Reign Mr. Archer of the Personal Reign of Christ Dr. Homes 's Resurrection Revealed Dr. Burnet 's Theory B. 4. Dr. Beverley against Mr. Baxter Monsieur Jurieu and Mr. Claude Oevres Posthâ—m Tom. 3. Le Ciâ—quieme Empire Prophecies contained in the places quoted in the Margent are as yet compleatly fullfilled or that the First (c) See Dr. Beverley on the Lords Prayer Mede Ep. 52. Petitions of the Lords Prayer can be well understood without the supposal of such a Kingdom 13. VVhen the Apostles had received power in which all necessary Gifts Knowledge as well as
of Judgment being One of the Lord's Days called frequently the Day of the Lord in Scripture must consist of a Thousand Literal Years and a Thousand Years when spoken of with relation to some mystical Day or Time of the Lord must be accounted as One mystical Day comprehending a Thousand Years of common Account And also he further intimates that the Days of the Lord in which he perfected the Work of the Creation and rested from it being Seven there must consequently pass before the Day of Judgment six Thousand Years or six mystical Days and that the Day of Judgment must accordingly last a Thousand Years which should be a Day of Sabbatism or a Thousand Years of Rest or Peace and of Sanctification or Righteousness in correspondence to Gods resting on the Seventh Day and blessing and sanctifying it And this Interpretation of the place is not only agreeable to the Traditions (a) Mede 's Works pag. 609. Grot. in loc Ainsw on Gen. 1.31 Burnet's Theory B. 3 5.4 3 6. of the Jews to whom the Apostle wrote and to the Sentiments of the Primitive Christians but also may be stongly enforced from the Circumstances of the Text it self For if this were not the sense of the VVords and it contained only this plain Natural Truth that Time is nothing to Eternity why should so solemn an Admonition be prefixed to it VVhich is also a sense nothing proper to the scope of the Apostle who was to answer the Objection of the Scoffers and to comfort the Christians under the delay and long suffering of God and to excite them to look for it and hasten unto it to which end it was no ways proper to tell them that each Natural day of the Year was with the Lord as a Thousand Years which would but have encreased their impatient expectation and would withal not have answered the Objection of the Scoffers because there might be for all the Apostle had asserted many Thousand Years before the Promise of his coming should be fulfilled VVhereas the other Interpretation affords Hope to the Christians that things should not always continue as they were but that this wicked World should be at last destroyed and a New One succeed it wherein they should be found of Christ at his coming in peace that is in a state of rest and peace to their good and prosperity according to what the Apostle Paul had written unto them in his Epistle to the (b) Especially in the 3d and 4th Chapters Hebrews where besides the Rest from the VVorks of the Creation and that promised to the Israelites in the Land of Canaan he makes mention of another Rest which he calls a certain limited Day wherein another kind of Rest is to be expected plainly intimating the Day of Rest in the Times of the Messias or a Sabbatism as the word ought to be translated verse 9. that is a seventh Thousand Years of Peace and Righteousness after six Thousand of Labour Misery and Sin for according to the Key of Mystical Knowledge given by the Apostles Peter and John after a (a) Bp. Fell 's Sermon on 2 Pet. 3.3 Millenary Week the Everlasting Sabbath shall commence And further this Number is to be taken literally because by it is signified a State of Perfection a Year being the perfect Revolution of the Sun and a Thousand being a perfect Number and the perfection both of Time and Numbers concurring in a Thousand Years For a Thousand Years is a Cube (b) For it arises out of the multiplication of Three Tens Two Tens multiplied making 100 Years and 100 Years multiplied by the Third Ten amounting to 1000 Years which is a Cube of Time See Meursii Denar Pythagor and Dr. Moor's Cabbala Oper. Philosoph Tom. 2. pag. 500 501 530 532 557 558 559 561. of Time whose Root is Ten whereby is signified a steddy uninterrupted and permanent State of which a Cube is the Symbol and withal a perfect one to which no other State is to succeed but is to be swallowed up in the perfection of Eternity as the Number Ten is a perfect Number beyond which there is no simple Number and comprehends all simple Numbers in it Whence it is that Man being a sinful and imperfect Creature could never arrive to the Term of a Thousand Years as Jachiades a Jew has observed on Dan. 7.25 the period of a perfect State upon Earth which the First Adam could not reach for if he had he had been probably translated into an Immortal State nor any of the Sons of Adam during the Old World but is proper only to the Sons of the Resurrection in the New World of the Second Adam or the Messias 5 But the 17 rest or remnant of the dead i. e. those who weâ—e slain by the Sword of Christ's Mouth Chap. 19.21 lived 18 not again 19 until the Thousand Years were finished This living again of the Saints and Martyrs 20 is the first Resurrection of Life John 5.29 1 Thes 4.15 16. 17 It is plain from what hath been observed in the foregoing Annotation that the Day of (a) See Mr. Mede pag. 531-537 571-573 577-580 602-619 Ep. 15.2 and Book 5. And Dr. Beverley of the Universal Christian Doctrine of the Day of Judgment Matth. 25.31 34. Luke 19 12-27 Judgment mentioned in the Doctrinal parts of Scripture is the same with the Thousand Years Kingdom of Christ Day (b) John 16.26 Heb. 3.8 9. See Mr. Mede in the places quoted and pag. 86. and Mr. Mather de Signo Filii Hominis often signifying in Scripture a long space af Time and not only a single Day And therefore seeing that the Wicked are to be judged as well as the Good they must be here meant by the rest of the Dead who are evidently the same with the Wicked People slain with the Sword of Christ's Mouth Chap. 19.21 the same Expressions being used in both places 18 The Wicked indeed live again when they are raised to Judgment but because they rise only to Shame and Everlasting Contempt as the Prophet Daniel speaks Chap. 12.2 and lye as dead or slain under the condemning power of Christs Gospel the Sword proceeding out of his Mouth and shall never live a Life of Happiness therefore are they represented here as dead (c) See Matth. 8.22 Luke 15.32 1 Tim. 5.6 2 Peter 3.7 Jude 12. Men which lived not again and accordingly they are seldom mentioned in the general Discourses in the (d) Neither in the 15th of the Corinthians nor 1 Thessal 4. New Testament about the Resurrection 19 They are represented during the Thousand Years as in a dead spiritless and unactive State lying under the Judiciary Sentence of Condemnation and the perdition which the day of Judgment shall bring upon ungodly men 2 Pet. 3.7 upon the expiring of which they become active gather to Battle and compass the Camp of the Saints Verse 8 9. 20 This refers to the Resurrection and living again
that the Apostle might not seem to contradict what he had said just before concerning the Dead rising first the surviving Saints should be caught up in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air to be with him to all Eternity in Heaven Which is also asserted by the Apostle at the 15th Verse where he says that the Saints who shall be alive at the Day of Judgment shall not prevent them which are asleep that is shall not rise before them or shall not (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nequaquam assequemur sive attingemus Ludov. de Dieu attain the same State of Incorruptibility and Immortality they shall enjoy at the very moment of the sounding of the last Trump until afterwards which distance of Time is not determined by the Apostle and may be many Years for ought that is asserted in this place by him because the same word is used 1 Cor. 15.23 concerning the distance betwixt Christ's Resurrection and that of the Dead Saints which is now almost the space of seventeen hundred Years And although the Apostle 1 Thes 4.17 seems to assert that the Living Saints shall be caught up together with the Dead Saints yet those words must not be so understood as if the Living Saints were caught up at the same moment that the Dead Saints rise for then the Apostle would contradict himself but must be understood according to the acceptation of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 3.12 viz. that they shall be caught up in their own Order and Time as well as the other and be in the like State with them or else do rather refer to the last joynt Ascent of both together into the higher Regions of the Air the appearance of Christ hitherto having been perhaps in some lower parts of it in order to their being for ever with the Lord. This and such like Parallels betwixt the Doctrinal and Prophetical parts of Scripture as to this Point of the Resurrection did incline me to understand it in a litteral Sense which I was for a long while averse to as I since find Mr. (a) Pag. 770. Epist. 20. Mede was until by a more close consideration of what Dr. Beverley hath discoursed on this Point I was fully convinced 22 By Second Death is meant Final Eternal Punishment to distinguish it from the First Death of the slain with the Sword of Christ's Mouth for at the very beginning of Christs Kingdom the Wicked are slain by the Conviction Sentence and Condemnation of Christ's Gospel and Appearance which is called the making of his Foes his Footstool Psalm 110.1 1 Cor. 15.25 Rom. 16.20 Heb. 2 5-9 whereby the first Act of Christ's Regal Power at his first sending of the Rod of his strength out of Zion to bring his Enemies under the Footstool of his Throne seems to be signified under which they lie in a state of Death that is Condemnation and Inability to act any thing against Christ's Kingdom until the Thousand Years are accomplished when they are permitted to break forth into open Enmity and Hostility and are at last utterly subdued and cast into the Lake to suffer Eternal Punishments and the Son shall put down 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or abolish and bring to naught all his Enemies even Death it self the last Enemy to be subdued 1 Cor. 15.24 26. But those who are partakers in the first Resurrection being found alive at Christ's first appearing in his Kingdom are continued in that State and suffer no Death at all neither the first proceeding from the Convictions of Christ's Gospel and Judgments nor the second of final Condemnation 23 They may be said to Reign with Christ in the sense that we are said to be crucified with Christ and to live with him for the Personal (a) See Dr. Homes and Mr. Mather de Signo Filii Hominis Reign of Christ upon Earth cannot be proved from Scripture whatsoever Glorious Appearances may be of his Humanity from his Throne in the Clouds and the possession of the Kingdom is given to the Saints in Daniel of which more hereafter as occasion offers 24 Here it may be observed 1. That the same individual Thousand Years are meant throughout the whole Chapter as appears from the Greek Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereby reference is made to each foregoing Thousand Years and it is shewn that they are the same For Satan is bound a Thousand Years Verse 2. and is restrained Verse 3. from deceiving the Nations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 during the same thousand Years The Dead Saints and Martyrs live and Reign with Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the same space of Years Verse 4. during which also the Wicked are in a state of Death Verse 5. The Living Saints are partakers in the first Resurrection during a Thousand Years Verse 6. at the End of which very Thousand Years Satan is loosed Verse 7. Whence it will follow that the Thousand Years during which Satan was bound are the same with those during which the Living Saints Reigned with Christ and that they are the same with the Thousand Years assigned to the Dead Saints raised and the Dead State of the Wicked because they which agree in one Third must agree amongst themselves 2. That there are but three sorts of Mankind to whom the Thousand Years are assigned viz. The Dead-raised Saints and Martyrs The Dead Wicked raised to a Spiritual and Political Death and the Living Saints changed for there are only so many parts or sorts of Mankind in the state of the Thousand Years and it is not assigned to any Living-Wicked who shall live wickedly and then die because whatsoever liveth at all shall live Ezek. 47.9 7 And when the foregoing Thousand Years during which he had been bound and restrained from deceiving the Nations Verse 2 3 were expired Satan shall be 25 loosed out of his Prison i. e. his close Restraints from all power and liberty of Temptation shall be taken off 25 Satan who was always a Prisoner and in everlasting Chains under Darkness unto the Judgment of the Great Day was more peculiarly restrained during the Thousand Years from all power of Temptation which he had exercised notwithstanding his Chains of Darkness from the time of his Fall from his first Estate until then when he was closely confined by the Glorious Appearance of Christ and his Kingdom in the New Heaven and Earth but when that Appearance was withdrawn from the New Earth then Satan was as it were loosed and at liberty to tempt which he could not do whilst the Holiness Righteousness Truth and Justice of Christ's Kingdom appeared in their full Power and Glory 8 And shall go out of his Prison and Restraints to and fro in the Earth seeking whom he may devour to deceive the 26 Nations which are in the four * quarters or Corners of the Earth Gog 27 and Magog i. e. the Enemies of God and his Christ Ezek. 38.2 3.39 8. Rev. 19.18 19 21.
to gather them together from all parts to 28 Battel i. e. to oppose persecute and destroy Christ's Kingdom upon Earth the 29 number of whom is as the Sand of the Sea i. e. exceeding great Ezek 38.8 9 15 16. 26 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (a) Grot. in Matth. 5 7. Eph. 2.11 12. that is Gentiles or Aliens from the New Jerusalem State banished as it were from that happy Society into the Four Quarters or Corners of the Earth and living there as without God in the New World of the Messias beleiving indeed but as the Devils do with trembling which is a Spiritual Death who were typified by the Hamonah and Multitude of Nations Ezek. 38 8 9 15 16.39 11 16. who are to come up against the New Jerusalem in the latter Days after the Resurrection Conversion and Return of the Jews and their Vnion with the Gentiles into One Church as appears from Ezek. Chapters 36 37 38 39. Now whatsoever is meant by these Nations in Ezekiel it is plain that in this place they can be no other than some of those to whom the Thousand Years are here assigned who are the whole of Mankind and seeing that it cannot be supposed that the Saints of any kind can be possibly engaged in such a design against Christ's Kingdom as being the saved and healed the Living the Sons and Partakers of the first Resurrection and secured by Christ the Second Adam in a State of Righteousness who will lose none that are his as the first Adam did it will follow that by these Nations must be understood the remnant slain the rest of the Dead who lived not again or the Dead-Wicked raised to a state of Condemnation and continuing under the Awe and Terror of it during the Glories of Christ's Kingdom who are now stirred up by Satan their Head and Ringleader to attack the Camp of the Saints upon Earth whom he thought he might easily overcome now the more immediate Presence and Assistance of Christ was withdrawn from them And to this sense agree many Expressions in Ezekiel who calls them the Multitude or Nations of the Dead Chap. 39 8-17 and also the general scope of this Chapter which has a relation as is granted by all Interpreters to what will come to pass at the last Judgment and the Resurrection * In the Four Corners or Angles of the New Earth which is represented as a square City or Camp without which as it were at the Four Angles and Corners of it the Wicked are placed here and Chap. 22.15 in allusion to the Custom amongst the Jews of executing Offenders without the Camp and City and of excluding and excommunicating all unclean persons out of it Numb 5 1-4 Heb. 13.11 12 13. 27 This is a plain proof that these Nations are typified by the multitude of the Dead in Ezekiel who calls them Gog and the Land of Magog by which the (a) Ezek. 32 26.38 15.39 2. The Mogul-Tartars above the Wall of China are called so by the Arabian Writers Dr. Hyde Epist de mensuris Sinens See Mr. Mede pag. 574. and Ep. 41. Northern and Scythian Nations are understood in Scripture a Type of the Enemies of God's Church and Kingdom prophesied of in Old Time by the servants of God the Prophets of Israel under the Names of such Nations as were the Chief Enemies of the Jews in the particular Times of each Prophet Ezek. 38.17 So that Gog and Magog seems to denote the whole multitude of God's Enemies in each Age which admirably agrees with what hath been discoursed already to wit that these Nations are the Wicked dead of every Age of the World raised to Condemnation 29 This Battel is distinct from that at Armageddon which was before the Thousand Years Neither will it appear incredible that the Faln Angels and the Damned should again attempt such a Design and that after they had experienced the power of Christ's Wrath for a Thousand Years If we consider that the Devils retain the same Enmity against God notwithstanding their many Ages of Punishment and their Expectation of an Eternal Doom and that this Attempt was under the wise Permission and Order of Almighty God at a time when his more immediate Glorious Presence was withdrawn from the New Earth of his Saints and the Laodicean state of Coldness and Indifferency to the Glories of Christ's Kingdom began For the Wicked Nations as they went down to Hell according to the Expressions of Ezekiel Chap. 32.26 27. with their Weapons of War that is with the same Enmity to Christ in which they lived and laid their Swords under their Heads in a readiness to act the same Wickedness over again so are they raised with the same Passions only the more enraged for their Punishments and may very well be supposed out of Envy and Revenge for their long confinement under a State of Punishment and Infamy to engage in this Attempt 29 Although the Number of the Wicked who shall be raised to Condemnation will be very great yet there will not be any inconvenience to our Assertion from thence as if the Earth would be incumbred with so vast a Number of wicked persons because no very great space will be required for their confinement if that be true which is asserted by Sir William (a) See his Essay in Political Arithmetick concerning the Growth of the City of London Petty That half the Island of Ireland would afford not only Footing to stand upon but Graves to lye down in for the whole Number of Men now living and also for those that have died since the beginning of the World To which may be added that their Bodies shall be spiritual they being to partake of the spirituality of the Resurrection although not of the Purity and Blessedness of it 9 And they went up in Battle array 1 Kings 10.1 from the Quarters and Corners to which they were confined on the breadth of the Earth i. e. to assault the Kingdom of Christ which had spread it self over the whole Earth Isa 8 8.49 6. Psalm 72.8 and compassed or besieged the Camp 30 of the Saints who reign with Christ Verse 6. and the 31 beloved City i. e. they endeavoured to destroy Christ's Kingdom and the New Jerusalem State on Earth See on Chap. 21.2 3. and 32 or but Fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them i. e. they were suddenly and miraculously discomfited by God and most severe Judgments were inflicted upon them by God's fiery Wrath and Indignation Ezek. 38.22 23.39 6 9 10. 30 A Metaphor from the Camp of the Israelites in the Wilderness a Type of the Church and Kingdom of Christ See Ainsworth on Numb 2.27 31 Jerusalem is called God's Beloved Psalm 60 5.108 6. which was a Type of the New Jerusalem State the Holy City the Bride and Beloved of her Husband Chap. 21. 32 The Israelites are represented by Ezekiel Chap. 38.11 as living in unwalled Villages without Bars and Gates
safely and at rest when they shall be invaded by Gog that is the Heathen Nations out of whose Captivity they are to be brought And in such a Posture may the Saints upon Earth be well presumed to be after the Thousand Years when the Laodicean State as hath been before observed on Chap. 3 14-21 begins in which through a long continuance of Glory and Prosperity the Saints upon Earth began to be less Zealous and did not so ardently desire to be caught up to Christ and be for ever with him as they had before done 10 And the Devil that deceived them or the Deceiver of them and that from the beginning John 4.44 1 John 3.8 was without any Tryal as being taken in the very Fact and having been a notorious Murtherer and Lyar from the beginning and the Father of all Sin and Enmity to Christ's Kingdom cast immediately into the 33 Lake of Fire and Brimstone where the 34 Beast and the False Prophet are who were before cast into it Chap. 19.20 and shall be tormented day aad night for ever and ever i. e. he was adjudged upon undeniable Evidence of Fact to a State of utter inability of acting against God and Christ and to extreme Torments to all Eternity without intermission 33 He and his cheif Agents are condemned to the same punishment having no remains of any Power left no more than there is of a thing which is consumed by Fire for the Devil shall not be only held in Chains as formerly but all his Power and Authority shall be utterly abolished Grotius in locum in Cap. 19,20 34 From hence it appears that Gog and Magog is not Antichrist as some have thought because Antichrist was in the Lake before their Discomfiture and Condemnation 11 And I saw a 35 great white 36 Throne i. e. a Representation of the last and great Act of Judicature in which all Enmity was destroyed and the living remaining Saints were caught up to the Lord to sit with him on his Throne and all which belonged to Christ's Kingdom were fully sanctified and glorified and prepared for Union with God to all Eternity 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes 4. Rev. 3.21 and him that sat on it i. e. Christ Matth. 25.31 Acts 17.21 from whose 37 Face or Presence upon the Declaration of his Will the 38 New Earth and the 38 New Heaven sled 39 away or disappeared at his Rebuke and Command and there was found no 40 place for them i. e. they were utterly abolished and annihilated Psalm 37.10 Dan. 2.35 Rev. 12.8 35 It was a great Throne because all who had overcome were to sit with Christ in it and the whole World was to be finally Judged at it and it was White to shew the Glory Sanctity and Purity of Christ's Justice and of the State in which the Saints were now to be invested who at this great and last Session are caught up together into the Air to be with Christ for ever after they had Judged the World with him 36 From the Appearance of this Throne and the following Judgment it may be concluded that this was the Laodicean State of the Church according to the importance of the Word which signifies the Judging of the People See on Chap. 3. 37 Face signifies a stedfast Will and Purpose shewn by Gestures or other Signs and Circumstances as the word is taken Luke 9 51-53 38 38 These must be the New Heaven and New Earth whose Description is given in the following Chapter because they fly away after the Expiration of the Thousand Years which is the space of Time allotted to the Duration of the Reign and Kingdom of Christ and of the Holy City prepared as a Bride the New Jerusalem which are to be not in the Old but the New Heaven and Earth as will plainly appear to any one who compares this Chapter with the following wherein as is all along observed are such Descriptions given of the Thousand Years Kingdom of Christ as can agree to no other but a New Heaven and New Earth in which dwelleth Righteousness 39 This New Earth flies away but the Old One is to be dissolved by Fire of which flying away is not a proper Expression 40 The Psalmist expresseth the Death of a Man by his place knowing him no more Psalm 103.16 But when it is said That no place is found for a thing thereby seems to be denoted its utter annihilation and withal the impossibility of any other thing succeeding in its place because there is no place remaining into which it should succeed Whence it follows that this is the last Heaven and Earth and that no New Ones are to succeed it and that nothing else shall remain after it but the Eternal Kingdom of God All in All in the highest Heavens and the Lake of the Damned 12 And I saw the 41 Dead in Trespasses and Sins who had lain in an unactive State of Infamy during the Thousand Years and were afterwards discomfited by the Fire of God which came down from Heaven Verse 5 9. small 42 and great i. e. all sorts and the whole Race of them Chap. 19.18 stand before God to be judged by him and the 43 Books of God's Omniscience Mens Consciences and the Law were opened i. e. Mens Actions and God's Knowledge of them were made manifest and 44 another Book was opened which is the Book 44 of Life viz. the Lamb's Book of Life from the foundation of the World Chap. 3 5.13 8.17 8 21 27. and the Wicked Dead raised to Condemnation and discomfited by God's severe Judgment and Indignation and now brought all together to receive their final Sentence were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their own wicked Works which were not also found written in the Book of Life Verse 15. 41 Hence it appears that this is the Judgment of the Nations the Gog-Magog who were discomfited Verse 9. because they are called the Dead in Ezekiel and the Slain and Dead in this Prophecy 42 Hence it also appears that these are the Kings and their Armies mentioned Chap. 19.18 19. who are the slain and the all men small and great viz. the whole Race of wicked Men. 43 A Metaphor (a) Dan. 7.10 Esth. 6.1 Isa 65.6 Malach. 3.16 taken from the Rolls and Records of Courts of Judicature and from the Registers kept by the Eastern Kings of the Actions of their Reigns whereby God's exact Justice and the perfect Knowledge which he hath of all Mens Actions is set forth and the evident Conviction which will attend the procedures of that Great Day Matth. 12.36 1 Cor. 4.5 44 44 This is is the Book of Election and Predestination belonging to the Living in the New Jerusalem State which is represented as One single Book because it depends upon One single Decree of God and One single Cause of that Decree viz. the free Grace and Good Pleasure of God in Christ Acts 13.48 Rom. 8.28 c.
side of the River was there the 5 Tree of Life i. e. this was a Paradisiacal State in which the Saints raised and changed could dye no more but were made equal to the Angels Luke 20.36 1 Cor. 15. which bare Twelve manner of Fruits i. e. afforded perfect 6 Pleasures and Consolations to this 6 Apostolical Israelitism and yeilded her Fruit every Month i. e. Variety and Fullness of Joy for 7 evermore Psalm 1. and 16 11.92 12 14. Ezek. 47.7 12. and the 8 Leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the Nations of the saved who were to walk in the Light of the New Jerusalem State that is the Living Saints were to be preserved during the Thousand Years in Bodies changed which should afterwards be made incorruptible See on Chap. 20. and 21.24 5 Or A Tree of Life viz. one on each side at just and convenient distances for they were very many as appears from Ezek. 47.7 12. and from the Expression here used at the Bank of the River on the one side and on the other and yet they are here represented as One Tree because they were all of One Kind viz. of the same kind with the Tree of Life in the midst of Paradise by which Life was Sacramentally conveyed to our first Parents and a Symbol was given of the Immortality of the renewed Paradisiacal State of Christ's Kingdom 6 For the Number Twelve is a Symbol of Perfection of Apostolicalness and of the True Israel of God now united into one Body in this State 7 The Year being the measure of all Time bearing Fruit as oft as there be Months in the Year must needs signifie the continual constant fruitfulness of it Dr. Hammond on the place 8 The (a) Ezek. 47.12 to which place this Verse alludes Fruit of this Tree is for Meat i. e. for solid Nourishment and ordinary Food but the Leaves of it are only for medicine or healing from whence it follows that the Nations here mentioned had some Remains of Corruptibility left which required Care and needed Preservation by Medicines by which is admirably set forth the different State of the raised Saints caught up immediately to Christ into a State of Incorruptibility and that of the living Saints on Earth the very Nations mentioned Chap. 21 24 26. whose Bodies are only changed but not made incorruptible at first as hath been (b) 451 452. already frequently observed and therefore are represented as living indeed Chap. 20.6 but with some Principle of Corruptibility in them which stood in need of Healing whereas the Dead Saints being raised to a Life of Incorruptibility are very aptly represented as fed and nourished with the very Fruit of she Tree of Life that is by immediate Communications of Incorruptibility from God and Christ who is Life John 1 4.5 26. and Chap. 6. 3 And there shall be no more curse or no Effects of Sin in this New Paradise as there were in the first Gen. 3.14 c. but the Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in 9 it by glorious Manifestations and Communications and his 16 Servants which were sealed See Chap. 7.4 shall serve him perfectly in this State and never fall from it as our first Parents did but shall be Kings and Priests to God for ever 9 This whole City or State as well that on Earth as in the Heavens shall be replenished with Communications from the Throne of God and of the Lamb which shall be in the City on the New Earth by its Light shining on it from the New Heaven Chap. 21.24 10 This Relative Particle respects both God and the Lamb and yet is of the Singular Number to shew the Vnity of the Godhead and the Equality of the Father and the Son the Lamb as one with the Eternal Word 4 And they shall see his Face i. e. partake of the Nature and Glory of God and of Christ Matth. 5.8 1 Cor. 13.12 1 John 3.2 and his Name shall be in their Foreheads i. e. they shall be manifestly known to be his Servants who were wont to be marked on the Forehead and they shall be Holiness to the Lord according to the Inscription on the High-Priests â—râ—ntlet See the Notes on Chap. 7 3 4.14 1. 5 And there shall be 10 no night there i. e. no impuriâ—â— and 〈◊〉 interruption of Happiness and Comfort â—sâ—lâ— â—6 ◠〈◊〉 Johâ— â— 5 6 7. and they need no Candle 〈…〉 â—ither â—ighâ—â—f the Sun i. e. no Natural Light of which the Sun is the Fountain for the Lord God giveth them Light i. e. affoâ—deth them hiâ— glorious Presence and Consolations and thâ—◠〈…〉 for ever and ever i. e. after the Thousand Years Mâ—diâ—â—oâ—y Kingdom they shall reign with Christ for ever in the highest Heavens for Christ's Kingdom is an Eternal Kingdom and of it there shall be no end Luke 1.33 See Chap. 3 21.5 10.20 4 6. 10 This and the foregoing Verses contain a Repetition of what had been said before either by way of (a) Gen. 41.32 â—hil 3.1 Assurance and Confirmation as is usual in Prophecy or with reference to the Saints upon Earth upon the mention of them Verse 2. or with respect to the Persons to whom that is now accommodated which had been before spoken concerning their City or State Compare Chap. 21.23 25. with the fifth Verse of this Chapter 6 And he i. e. the first of the Seven Angels which had the Seven Vials Chap. 21.9 said unto me 11 these sayings of the Prophecy of this Book Verse 7. are faithful and true i. e. important certain and infallible Truths See on Chap. 19.9 And the Lord 12 God of the Holy Prophets i. e. Christ who spake by them and whose Spirit inspired them Acts 3.21 1 Pet. 1.10 11 12.3 19. 2 Pet. 1.21 sent or did send at first Chap 2.1 and all along in this Prophecy his Angel or Minâ—string Spirits to shew unto his Servants the things of this Prophecy which must shortly after the Day of the (b) See the Notes on Chap. â— 1â— Resurrection the time when this Vision was seen and from whence it commences begin to come to pass in order one after another See on Chap. 1.1 11 Here begins the Conclusion or Epilogue of this Sacred Drama wherein the Angel says Dr. Hammond in his Paraphrase on the place began to conclude and fold up his Discourse and to sum up what I had seen in this Vision telling me that all this as strange and as glorious as it was should certainly come to pass And the Vision ends as it began with a Declaration of the (a) Chap. 1.5 Truth and Importance of the Prophecy and of its (b) Chap 1.1 speedy issuing into Event and of the most remarkable things contained in it 12 Here is a plain Assertion of the Divinity of Christ concerning whom these words are to be understood as is manifest by comparing them with Chap. 1.1 and Verse 16. of this Chapter 7 Behold
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