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
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.
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
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
(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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
Chap. 20. 11. up of his Glorious Kingdom (c) Chap 1 7 and Chap. 20. 21. 22. to God and the Father Which Kingdom is the chief Action or End of the Prophecy to which all the other Actions represented in it are conducive and the whole is embelished by many accidental Ornaments as by so many Episodes As by a description of the (a) Chap. 4. Throne of the Majesty of God Songs (b) Chap. 5. chap. 7. 10 c. 11 16. c. 12. 10 c. 14 1. Chap. 15. and 19.1 c. of Triumph Praise and Thanksgiving (c) Chap. 7. 9-17 pre-representations of Christ's Kingdom Christ himself and Angels speaking voices from Heaven together with Thundrings and Lightnings and frequent Interlocutory passages too many to be here particularly mentioned It consists of two Tomes (d) See chap. 4 1. c. 5 1. of Prophecy the former (e) Chap 2. and 3. of which and the more general one may be called the Church-Prophecy the latter (f) Chap. 5. and more particular the Book-Prophecy both reaching from the Resurrection to the same Period of Time and describing the same events but after a different manner the first by Symbols (g) Chap. 2. c. 3. of Churches the latter (h) See Chap. 6. 1. c. by Symbols often taken from the Civil Occurrences of the Roman Empire and from others relating to the Church as Seated in it which principally respect the Affairs of the Church and Kingdom of Christ and yet are taken from civil Occurrences that each event might be the better distinguished as by so many notable Characters of time It begins with a general (a) Chap. 1. 1-12 Preface or Prologue wherein the Epoch (b) Chap. 1. 10. of the Prophecy is setled and the (c) Chap. 1. 5 6 7. Period of it the Kingdom of Christ And it ends with a general Conclusion (d) Chap. 22. 7-21 or Epilogue relating to some of the great events but especially to the Vials Besides the general Preface there are also two Particular ones the one (e) Chap. 1. 11 -20 prefixed to the Church-prophecy in which Christ is represented in a Priestly and Kingly Habit as Supreme Lord of the Church the Epistles are declared to be Mystical and are ordered to be sent to the Churches and their Angels The other (f) Chap. 4. and 5. is placed before the Book-Prophecy in which the Throne of God is described the Divine (g) See page 70. Court of Judicature which is to pass Sentence upon all the Actions in the Prophecy is setled Christ is declared the Supreme Director of them and appears (a) See pag. 83. as ready to receive his Kingdom But because Christ according to the Mysterious Agreement betwixt him and the Father had promised by (b) Dan. 12 7. pag. 83. 87. 112. chap. 10. 6. Oath that the Beast should have his Times therefore is the Book given into his hands Sealed with (c) Chap. 5. and 6. seven Seals which are as so many stops or delays to it and the several openings of them as so many removals of obstacles to it concerning which see Chap. 6. After the opening of the Sixth (d) Chap. 6. 12. c. Seal upon the downfal of Paganism the Succession of a Christian Emperour and the advancement of Christ's Church in the Empire there is given a representation (e) Chap. 7. 9-17 of Christ's Kingdom which as being the cheif end of this Prophecy is always kept in view in it of which the Christian Empire and Church thus advanced were an Emblem But because the Mystery of Iniquity began then to increase therefore (a) Chap. 7. 1-9 Chap. 11. 1. and Chap. 12. are the Servant of God Sealed the Woman prepares for her Flight into the Wilderness the Worshippers begin to retire into the Temple and the Witnesses prepare to put on their Sack-cloath which Visions are cotemporary and parallel and not long after are Persecuted by the (b) Chapters 11. c. 12. c. 13. c. 17. Beast which carries the Woman A pure Church being Sealed i. e. (c) See on Chap. 7. 3 4. Chap. 8. 1 -6 covered and secured amidst the growing Corruptions and the Seventh (c) See on Chap. 7. 3 4. Chap. 8. 1 -6 Seal being opened at the final Victory over Paganism by Theodosius there appear at the opening of that Seal on the back-side (d) See on Chap. 5. 1. of the seventh Roll of the Book seven Angels with seven (e) See Chap 8. and 9. Trumpets Symbols of so many Judgments upon the Antichristianizing Church and Empire The Judgments of the four (f) Chap. 8. 6-13 first Trumpets were executed by the Northern Nations which ended in the fall of the Western Emperours and the Succession of the (g) Chap. 9 1. Chap. 13. and 17. 8-13 Papal Empire the Fifth (a) Chap. 9. 3-12 by the Saracens and the sixth (b) Chap. 9. 12-21 by the Turks who destroyed the Antichristian Eastern Empire and still continue as a Wo upon the Western Quickly after the passing of the Mahometan Wo which is the second Wo the Wo of the sixth Trumpet before which (c) Chap. 11. 14. 15. the Witnesses will rise the ten Kings will hate the VVhore the Antichristian Hierarchy will fall and there shall be great Conversions the feventh (d) Chap. 11. 12 c. 17 16. See the Notes on Chap. 18. 21. and last Trumpet sounds out of which there proceed seven (e) Chap. 11. 15. Voices which are the (f) Chap. 14. Voices of the seven Thunders unsealed which were sealed at the beginning of the Reformation described chap 10. and are as so many preparations to the Blessed Millenuium out of the seventh (g) Chap. 14.19 See Notes on chap. 14. 2. of which Voices there issue seven Vials containing the final Judgments upon Antichristianism and all the enemies of Christ's Kingdom raised to Judgment whereupon a Monumental (h) See pag. 329. and chapters 15. 16 18 and 19. Pillar as it were is erected with this Inscription It is done to shew that the Prophecy aims at a certain time of Christ's Victory over his enemies and of his appearing in Glory to his Friends and Servants whereupon also anotner such Inscription is given chap. 21. 6. After the pouring forth of the seventh (a) Chap. 16. 17. Vial the thousand (b) Chapters 20-21 22. years Kingdom of Christ begins which being Expired Satan (c) Chap. 20. 3. is loosed for a little space but the final Judgment comes on at the end of which the Kingdom is (d) Chap. 20 11. delivered up to God And here it is to be observed that because the same things are represented in the Chutch Prophecy and in the Book Prophecy that therefore there are many Synchronisms or Contemporary Visions in this Book And because the Kingdom of Christ and Antichrist are Opposite that therefore there are many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
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
not for thy own sake or the sake of the Church which thou fearest will be deprived of what is contained in this Book for behold the Lyon 10 of the Tribe of Judah i. e. Christ Gen. 49.9 Heb. 7.13 14. who is also the root of David Isa 11.1 10. Rom. 15.12 hath prevailed with the Father by his Blood and Merits to open the Book and to loose the seven Seals thereof Vers 2 4. i. e. to declare what is in it and to accomplish it 8 For so One seems to signifie in this Prophecy as also it does Dan. 10.13 Gen. 1.4 Matth. 28.1 9 The Jewish Church having been entrusted with the Oracles and Prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the Kingdom of Christ it is very proper that their Ministry should be here made use of to declare unto John the import of what had been delivered therein concerning the Merits and Power of Christ in revealing and erecting his Kingdom and therefore Christ is here described by Titles taken from what relates to the Jews as the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah because he came from that Tribe which is resembled to a Lyon in Scripture and the Root of David because he proceeded from his Stock as from a Root 10 No Creature whatsoever as Man signifies Verse 7. and Isa 41.28 was able to open this Book or look into it but only Christ by Vertue of his Merits whereby that extravagant Knowledge which is ascribed unto Angels and Saints in the Romish Church and their Mediatorship is plainly exploded as appears also from the 11th 12th 13th and 14th Verses 6 And I beheld with great concern and expectation and lo on a sudden in the midst of the Throne i. e. just before it and next unto it and of the Four Beasts and in the midst of the Elders i. e. betwixt God the Father and his Church stood 11 in a posture of Defence as Mediator and Advocate and in a readiness to receive his Kingdom Dan. 7.13 14. a Lamb i. e. Christ John 1.29.36 as it had been newly stain and just risen from the dead having seven Horns 12 i. e. perfect Regal Authority especially over the sevenfold State of the Church and seven Eyes signifying perfection of Knowledge and Providential Administrations Zech. 3.9 which are or represent the seven Spirits of God i. e. the perfect Operations of Gods Spirit Zech. 4.6 10. See on Rev. 1.4 sent forth into all the Earth to superintend dispose and conduct all things 2 Chron. 46.9 Isa 11.2 11 From Christ's being here represented as just risen from the dead with the Signs of his Sufferings fresh and bleeding it may be gathered that the Epocha of these Visions is to be taken from Christ's Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven as we have observed before on Chap. 1.10 And he is represented as standing to denote that he was not as yet in possession of his Kingdom which was due to him at his Resurrection as the Psalmist plainly affirms Psalm 2 7 8. but that he stood ready to receive it to which end he was brought unto the Father as appears plainly from Dan. 7.13 14. 12 Horns being the Weapons of Beasts they are put to signifie Strength and Power in Scripture as Psalm 75.5 10. and in Daniel and this Prophecy they denote Kings and their Regal Power as the Scripture interprets it self Dan. 8.20 21. Rev. 17.12 7 And he i. e. Christ being now entring upon his Kingly Office came to the Father being brought near before him to receive his Kingdom Dan. 7.13 14 and took the Book * out of the Right Hand of him that sate upon the Throne i. e. received his Kingdom from the Father and power to reveal and execute what was contained in that Book concerning it * This answers to Dan. 7.14 where upon his being brought to the Father a Kingdom is given him of which this Book is a Symbol as being the Book of the Kingdom of Christ only we are to take notice that the Book is sealed the Kingdom being not to appear but by steps and degrees according to the opening of the Seals until the seventh Trumpet of the seventh Seal during which time Christ was to sit in the patience and expectation of his Kingdom at the Right Hand of God until his Father made his Foes his Footstool according to Psalm 110.1 and 1 Cor. 15.25 27. 8 And when he had taken the Boâ—k the four Beasts and four and twenty Elders i. e. the Christian and the Jewish Church perceiving th t all Power was now given unto him of the Father fell down before the Lamb to worship him bearing every one of them Harps to praise him and golden Vials or Bowls to hold Incense in 2 Chron. 4.22 full of 13 Odours which are i. e. signifie the Prayers Psalm 141.2 of Saints i. e. of the living Creatures and Elders and all Saints and Members of the pure Church in his Kingdom Rev. 20.4 13 The Ascent of the Incense signifies the Ascent of Prayers to Heaven and the Odour of it their Acceptableness with God for which see Dr. Hammond on the place and on Luke 1.10 And here Christ appearing for his Saints as in his Kingdom makes them Priests to God by giving them Incense See Chap. 8.3 4.20 6. 9 And they sung a new Song of 14 singular Love and Gratitude upon the occasion of Christ's Redemption and Kingdom saying Thou art worthy and thou alone Verse 23. to take the Book and to open the Seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God i. e. to be his Servants and Worshippers by thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation to be a Catholick Church and Kingdom 14 In this sense this Word is taken Psalm 33.3 Isa 42.9 10. But it is rather called a New Song here because it will have been for a long time out of use during the Apostacy which will have perverted the Doctrine of Redemption and Kingdom of Christ therein celebrated of which Kingdom there is here given an Appearance and Representation signified by Musick and Harps which are the Attendants of it in this Prophecy Songs and Musick being not made use of in it but upon some such Pre-appearance until the Apostasie is at an end as if during the Absence of the Bridegroom Mourning were more suitable for the Church 10 And hast made us unto the Service and Glory of our God Kings and Priests i. e. a Priestly Kingdom Chap. 1.6 and we shall reign 15 in the Earth in thy Kingdom Rev. 20.4 15 From hence it is plain that Christ's Kingdom is to be upon Earth Rev. 20.4 11 And I beheld or was still in Vision and I heard the Voice of many Angels round about the Throne and round about the Beasts and the Elders i. e. the whole Church consisting of Angels and Men Christians and Jews Heb. 12.22 23 24. and the number of them i. e. of the Angels was ten tbousand times ten thousand and thousands of
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
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
which it came to be called the third part whereupon the Grecian Monarchy was cast to the ground it 's very Seat and Power becoming thereupon Roman Constantine (b) Cave's Introduct to the Lives of the Fathers vol. 2. pag. 13. Rycaut's Pref. to the Lives of the Popes commanding by a Law that it should be called New Rome and having Peopled it with the best Families he could draw from Old Rome and the Inhabitants of it being called Romans 13 Here is implied that the fourth Empire Subdued all the rest and bore Rule over all the Earth after it had Subdued the Grecian Monarchy which stood in competition with it according to what was foretold by Daniel chap. 2. 39 40. 7 7 19 32. 14 This refers to the Persecutions which fell upon the Christian Church by the Instigation of the Devil and his Instruments in the Roman Empire especially to their last and most cruel Effort in the ten Years Persecution under Dioclesian when the Woman was as it were teeming with a Glorious Church State in a Christian Empire which was brought forth under Constantine as a short Specimen and imperfect Representation of the Kingdom of Christ as hath been shewn on chap. 7 9.-17 5 And yet notwithstanding all his opposition Psal 2. she brought forth a 15 Manchild i. e. Christ reigned then as King and Lord of his Church and there was on Earth a lively and manly representation of him and his Kingdom for a short time Psal 2.7 8. Is 9 6.66 7 8. Acts 4 23.-30 who was to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron i. e. was to have an universal Kingdom Psalm 2 8-12 and her Child was caught 16 up unto God and to his Throne i. e. Christ and his Kingdom were advanced and his Church was in a State typical of his glorious Kingdom which yet not long continued Psal 110.1 15 Here the Kingdom of Christ is plainly set forth in Expressions chiefly taken from the second Psalm which contains a Description of it as all Interpreters agree And by the Man-child is meant 1. Christ himself who is said to be brought forth or born because he at this time obtained as King of his Church a Conquest over Paganism and a great increase to his Kingdom whereby he was begotten in the Phrase of the Psalmist Psalm 2.6 7 8. that is the holy Child Jesus was manifested and declared to be Lord and King 2. The Church and Christian Empire under Constantine may be called the Man-child as Cyrus is called the Lord's Christ or Messias Isa 45.1 because he was a Type of Christ and as Christians are said to be Christ's Body and to have Christ formed in them Gal. 4.19 And if the Roman Empire it self may in some sense as Grotius has well noted on Dan. 7.13 be not unfitly called an Image or Type of Christ much more may the Christian Empire under Constantine who was a greater Restorer of Christ's Kingdom than Cyrus was be styled a Mystical Christ and be an Emblem of his Glorious Kingdom on Earth 16 Christ after his Resurrection which is called his Birth in Scripture was taken up into heaven as we also shall be caught up thither 1 Thes 4.17 where the same word is used insomuch that this Phrase is taken from Christ's Ascent into heaven and alludes to it And its import may be 1. That Christ was then actually King of the Roman Heathen Empire which he had newly conquered signified by his being caught up to the Throne of God whereby some Ascents of his Throne in the Heavenly Places or Advancements of his Kingdom may be signified in which he was installed and inaugurated at his Ascension when he was caught up into Heaven 2. Hereby may be signified also the advancing of the Christian Religion to the Imperial Throne as Christ was advanced at his Ascension to the Throne of his Father at his Right Hand Psalm 110.1 But as Christ was of a sudden taken up in a Cloud out of the sight of the Apostles whilst they were looking on him Acts 1.9 so may also hereby be signified the short space of the continuance of the Roman Christian Empire Rev. 17.10 answerable to Christ's being seen of the Apostles only for Forty Days Acts 1.3 and the sudden depravation of Religion by a growing Antichristianism upon its advancement by Constantine whereby in a short time the true Primitive and Apostolical Christianity was obscured and could not be seen pure and unmixt which as (a) And on John 1.1 Grotius has noted on the place may be signified by being caught up to God those things being said in Scripture to be with God which are invisible and appear not unto Men. 6 And 17 or but yet it was not long before the Woman or Church thus delivered from Persecution and advanced in the Christian Empire * fled into the Wilderness 18 i. e. was in a secret and obscure state and condition in the midst of the encreasing Apostasy where she hath a place prepared by God i. e. she is secured by him that they 18 should feed her there or that she should be nourished and preserved there after a wonderful manner a thousand 19 two hundred and threescore days i. e. Years See chap. 11. 2 3. 17 When Christ was caught up to God and the Heavenly State he designed became thereupon invisible the Church soon retired into the Wilderness i. e. into an obscure and invisible State too as being bereft of that Presence and Power of Christ which was necessary to advance it into that perfect and heavenly State which his Kingdom requires Here the Flight which was after the War in Heaven is mentioned before it by a Prolepsis or Anticipation frequent in (a) Grot. in Gen. 1.27 Ecclus 48.1 Scripture and in this (b) See Pererius on the Revelations Grot. on Rev. 21.2 Prophecy the Holy Spirit being wont to hasten to the chief point it is about and to mention what intervenes of lesser consequence afterwards as is manifest from the History of the Creation where Paradise which was planted on the Third Day is not described until afterwards in the second Chapter and the full and particular Relation of the Creation of Mankind but briefly touched upon in the first Chapter is deferred unto the second which Figure is here observed to shew that the Man child Christ's Kingdom was not to succeed upon the Glorious Pre appearance of it Verse 5. and that the Church the Woman was to be in an obscure condition and that immediately after her Delivery and that she was presently to prepare for her Flight she being not to appear in Visible Glory until 1260 Years after it * So the Children of Israel went up in haste out of Aegypt Exod. 12.31 33 39. 18 This Type is taken from the Children of Israel's sojourning in the Wilderness after they had escaped out of the hands of Pharoah who is expresly called Psalm 74.13 14. Isa 51.9 the Dragon or Crocodile lying
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
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
in the broken and abrupt form of speech here made use of by the Angel 15 Here is declared that Angels and Men are Fellow-Creatures and shall be Fellow-Servants in the New Jerusalem-State the World to come which shall not be subject to Angels and in which there shall be an Equality betwixt them and Saints the Members of it and that they shall joyn together in the Worship of Christ Luke 20.36 Heb. 1 6.2 5. * That is Jesus the Word of God who is God and One with the Father and is accordingly worshipped in this Prophecy Chap. 5. and. 22.3 and in other places 16 16 Here the Angel delivers a most excellent Axiom wherein we are taught 1. That the principal thing to be attended to in Prophecy is Whether it be the Testimony of Christ or no That is whether it be delivered in Scripture which principal Character is here called The Spirit of Prophecy that is the Life and Soul of it which animates it and gives it its true Value and Esteem in the Sense that Spirit is often opposed to Letter and Flesh in Scripture 2 Cor. 3.6 2 That the Sense of Prophetical Scriptures given from a compare of Scripture with Scripture is when it evidently appears to be so of equal Credibility with the Prophecy it self because it is the Spirit of the Letter of it 3. That Interpreters of prophetical Scriptures when their Interpretations are confirmed are worthy of a Prophet's Reward because they have the Spirit of prophecy Matth. 10.41 11 And I saw Heaven 18 opened for a glorious appearance of Christ and behold a white Horse the Emblem of Christ's Royalty and Glory from his Resurrection to his second coming in his Kingdom chap. 6. 2. and he that sate upon him i. e. Christ was called faithful 18 and true to his Promises and his Friends and in Righteousness i. e. Truth and Peace he doth Judg 19 his People Psal 96.10 13. Is 11 1-9.32 16. and make 19 War with his Enemies Is 11.4 17 To shew that the Heavens shall open when the King of Glory appears Psalm 24 7-10 Matth. 24.30 And this Appearance which is the second Vision in this Chapter is that of Christ's coming in his Kingdom to Judgment and is the same with that Chap. 14.14 as will plainly appear to any who considers the Circumstances and Description of both 18 He is said to be Faithful and True because of his appearing in his Kingdom according to his promise which Atheists Antiscripturists and those of the Antichristian Party had called in question still asking with those Scoffers 2 Pet. 3. where is the promise of his coming 19 19 Hence it appears that the great Battle of Armageddon is by way of Judgment wherein the Enemies of Christ and of his Kingdom are represented as (a) Ezek. 32.27 and Chap. 38. Rev. 20. Warriors in Arms who when conquered were wont as Captives of War to be judged by and receive Sentence from the Conquerour as appears from Jerem. 52.9 12 His Eyes were as a flame of 20 Fire penetrating and judging of all things after a quick and terrible manner chap. 1.14 2 18. and on his head were many 21 Crowns to denote the amplitude of his Dominions his many Conquests and the several Exercises of his Regal Office especially now in his glorious Monarchy and Kingdom Psal 72 8-20 Rev. 14.14 and he had a Name 22 written that no man knew but he himself i. e. his Essence and Nature as God Incarnate and his Will Counsels Judgments and Rewards c uld not be fully known nor comprehended by any Creature and not at all after a saving manner but by them to whom he should reveal them Judg. 13.18 Job 11.7 8. Psalm 36.6 Matth. 11.27 Rom. 11.33 34. 1 Cor. 2 6.-16 1 John 3.2 20 Christ is to be revealed in flaming (a) Thes 1 8.2 8. fire when he comes to Judgment in his Kingdom and therefore his Eyes are represented as a flame of fire to signifie his Discerning Judgment and All-seeing Wisdom which he will then most peculiarly manifest 21 Christ had a Kingdom from his very Resurrection and has had all along many Conquests over his Enemies in the Administration of it and is therefore very fitly represented with many Crowns as David a Type of Christ put on his Head the Crowns of the several Kings conquered by him 2 Sam. 12.30 1 Chron. 20.2 See also 1 Maccab. 11.13 He has also many Crowns because of his Kingdom as the Eternal Word and as Mediator which he hath administred under the Father ever since his Resurrection represented by the first Seal and as he now enters upon the Administration of his Glorious Kingdom as he is also King of Kings and Lord of Lords he hath all the Crowns of the Kingdoms of the Earth belonging unto him and now as it were put upon his Head 22 His Name Emmanuel God made Flesh or God in our Nature seems to be here more particularly understood as being peculiar to him as distinct from the Father and the Spirit Judg. 13.18 Isa 9.6 Prov. 30.4 13 And he was cloathed with a vesture dipt in the Blood of his Enemies Psal 68.23 Is 63 1-6 and his Name is called or he is the Word 23 of God John 1.1 23 That is the Eternal Word of God by whom God spake when he made the World and spake also to our Fore-fathers under the Old Testament and unto us in the Gospel And he may also be called The Word because in him the whole Word of God Prophecies and Promises are Yea and Amen that is constant and not changeable punctually fullfilled unalterably confirmed and ratified 2 Cor. 1.19 20. See Grot. on Joh. 1.1 Bishop Pearson on the second Article of the Creed and Dr. Bull 's Defensio Fidei Nicaenae 14 And the Armies which were in Heaven i. e. Christ's mighty Angels and the Saints which shall accompany them when he comes to Judgment in his Kingdom Dan. 4 35. Zech. 14.5 Matth. 22.7 1 Thes 4.14 1 Cor. 15. Phil. 3.29 2 Thes 1.7 Jude 14.15 See the Notes on Rev. 14 14 15. and chap. 20. and on verse 11. of this Chapter followed him upon white 24 Horses as Companions and Partakers with Christ in his Glory and his Kingdom cloathed in fine 25 Linen white and clean i. e. they were Justified and Sanctified by the Righteousness and Holyness of Christ imputed unto them See on verse 8. 24 This Battle is a Judgment as appears from Verse 15. So that these Armies of Heaven must be the Angels and the Saints who shall come with Christ in Judgment to his Kingdom with glorified Bodies as the Scriptures quoted in the Paraphrase do plainly declare and they are represented as on White Horses to shew the Glory they shall appear in and their joynt Rule and Reign with Christ it being the custom for Kings Favorites Nobles and Rulers to be clad in White Garments and ride on White Beasts as hath been already observed on Rev.
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
12 the New things i. e. Graces and Blessings of my New Kingâ—om under which is comprised all that is really desirable and all the Promises made to the Churches Chapters 2 and 3. and I Christ God-Man 12 will be his God and Father as having begotten him to this New Life Eph. 2.10 and he shall be my Son i. e. the Promises of the New Covenant and the Priviledges of Adoption shall be bestowed upon him in the highest and fullest Sense of them Sâ—e on Verse 3. 12 12 Here is declared that the (a) Rom. 8. Restauration of all things and the Adoption to the Inheritance and Redemption of Bodies will be fully compleated only in the Kingdom of Christ who is the Father of the New World the World to come 8 But all the 13 fearful of the Antichristian State especially who dare not hold fast the Profession of their Faith without wavering but for fear forsake the assembling of themselves drawing back unto Perdition Heb. 12.23 25 38 39. and unbeleiving in the Promises of Christ's Coming because of his long delay and who upon that draw back from the true Faith and scoff at it Heb. 12 35-39 2 Pet. 2 and 3 Chapters the abominable and defiled in their Mind Conscience and Practises and to every good work reprobate Tit. 1.15 16. and murderers especially of the Witnesses and Saints Chap. 18.24 and Whoremongers who practise and advance Doctrines which promote uncleanness Chap 2.6 15 and Sorcerers who bewitch Souls Chap. 18.23 and Idolaters as the Antichristian Party are by way of Eminence and all Liars who belâ—eve and make a Lye especially the great one of Antichristianism Rev. 3.9 2 Thes 2.9 1 Tim. 4.2 shall have their part not in the first Resurrection to Blessedness and Holiness but in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second Death and that Eternal See on Chap. 20.6 10 14 15. 13 All sorts of Sinners are here understood but most especially the Antichristian to whom the Characters agree Antichrist being the Man of Sin and Shinar or Babylon which is Antichristian Rome being the very House and Base of all Wickedness Ezek. 5.8 11. Rev. 18.24 9 And there came unto me 14 one or the first and principal of the seven Angels which had the seven Vials full af the seven last plagues the very same who shewed me the Jâ—dgment of the Great Whore Chap. 17.1 and talked with me saying Come hither I will shew thee the (a) Chap. 19 7-9 Bride the Lamb's Wife i. e. the New Jerusalem State and thou shalt plainly and more distinctly see the Nature of it and the vast difference there is betwixt it and the Antichristian State which I before shewed thâ—e Chap. 17. 14 The same Angel that shewed him the Judgment on the great Whore shews him also the New Jerusalem State to manifest that the Destruction of Antichrist and the pouring forth of the Vials are highly and immediately preparatory to Christ's Kingdom 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit i. e. I was in a Spiritual Extasie and was carried in Vision Chap. 1 10.17 3. to a great and high mountain to denote the State of Christ's Church and Kingdom now become a Mountain Dan. 2.35 established in the Tops of the Mountains and exalted above the Hills and to shew that this was the City seen by Ezekiel when he was set upon a very high Mountain Isa 2.2 Ezek 40.2 and shewed me not the Antichristian City of the Whore Chap. 17.3 but that truly great City the (b) Burnet's Theory 4.9 general Assembly consisting of all true Believers and of the Spirits of all just men made perfect Heb. 12.22 23. the Holy and Heavenly Jerusalem the City of the Living God and not the impure Idolatrous City of the Whore descending out of Heaven i. e. the highest Heavens into the lower Regions of it Verse 2. from God by whom it was built and the Kingdom was set up Dan. 2.44 Heb. 11.10 16. 11 Having the Glory of God i. e. the 15 glorious Presence of Christ and of his Saints Matth. 17 2. John 1.14 Heb 1.3 and her Light (c) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or that which enlightned her was like unto a Stone most precious even like a Jasper Stone clear as Chrystal i. e. the Presence of Christ was (a) Of which the Jasper is an Emblem See Grot. on Chap. 4.3 and on this Verse firm and lastâ—ng dwelling and abiding in it and it was full of Glory Purity and Holiness See on Chap. 4 3. 15 For this is the most proper Representation of the Divine Glory of which the Glorious Appearances of Fire Light and Bright Clouds the Schekinah under the Old Testament were but faint Images and Types 12 And had a Wall great and high i. e it was under the immediate protection of Divine Omnipotency and those which were without were excluded from it Isaiah 26 1-5 60 18. Zech. 2.5 Rev. 22.15 and had twelve Gates for free access to all true Israelites or Saints and at the Gates Twelve Angels as Cherubims to guard this New Paradise that nothing which had not right to Life might enter therein Gen. 3.24 Ezek. 48.31 and Names written thereon which are the Names of the Twelve 16 Tribes of the children of Israel to shew that none but God's People the true Israelitism had a right to this New Jerusalem State See on Chap. 7 4-10 16 These are the very 14400 who were sealed Chap. 7. 13 On the East three Gates on the North three Gates on the South three Gates and on the West three Gates i. e. there were Twelve Gates answerable to the Twelve Tribes Three on each side of the Four square City towards each Corner of the Heavens to shew that the whole Israel of God or all true Believers from every quarter of the World have a right to the Kingdom of Heaven Luke 13.29 See Ezek. 48 31-35 14 And the Wall of the City which was the Security and Protection of it and excluded every thing which was unclean had Twelve Foundations and in them thâ— Names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World to shew that the Kingdom and Church of Christ was secured and protected by the Apostolical Doctrine upon which it was built Jesus Christ the Lamb of God whose Blood is the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant by which all things are secured unto us ratified and confirmed being the chief Corner-stone Eph. 2 19-22 15 And he that talked with me i. e. the 17 Angel Verse 9. had a golden not a common Reed to shew that this was the glorious pure precious and refined State of the Church of which that measured by Ezekiel with a common Reed was but a Type Ezek. 40.3 to measure the Dimensions and Contents of the Holy 18 City or whole Visible Church which was now rescued out of the hands of the Heathens and Antichristian Enemies and might therefore be measured as being
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
13 I Christ come 14 quickly in Judgment to my Kingdom for the 15 Vials are now ready to be poured forth Blessed therefore and this admonition is at this time of all others the most seasonable when the severest Judgments of God are ready to be executed is he that keepeth the Sayings of the Prophecy of this Book See Chap. 1 3.3 11. 13 Here Christ himself speaks this being a Sacred Drama in which according to the Nature of such Representations several Persons are introduced and there are many interlocutory passages as is observable in the Song of Solomon which is a Dramatick Poem in the Form of a Pastoral Eclogue 14 This Epilogue or Conclusion seems to refer to some of the most important and remarkable passages of the whole Vision which it behoved all to take the chiefest notice of according to the Method observed in the first Chapter which is as it were a Prologue or Introduction to it And accordingly the sudden Coming of Christ to take Vengeance of his Enemies in the pouring forth of the Vials being one of the most remarkable Events foretold in this Vision is here again mentioned as it had been before Chap. 1.7 15 For it seems probable from Chap. 21.9 that this part of the Vision was seen and heard by John just before he had the Representation of the pouring forth of the Vials when the Admonition to keep and observe the Words of this Prophecy was most highly seasonable For by a close consideration of Chap. 17 1.19 7-11 21 9. it seems as if the first or principal Angel of the Vials which shewed John the Judgment of the Whore and the New Jerusalem gave him also this Conclusion at the same time aptly fitted to the time just before the pouring forth of the Vials when it was necessary that the Saints should not only have a comfortable View of the blessed State but also be assured of the sudden coming of it that they might be sustained under the dismal Tribulation then approaching whereupon they are again assured of his quick coming Verse 12. 8 And I John the Apocalyptick Apostle and Servant of Christ See on Chap. 21.2 saw these foregoing things relating to the New Jerusalem and heard the Voice of Jesus and of his Angel Verse 6 7. and 16 both saw and heard all the Sayings and Vision of this Book and therefore am worthy of belief as having been an Eye and Ear-witness of them And when I had heard and sâ—â—â— the glorious State of the New Jerusalem I fell 17 down to worship before the Feet of the Angel which shewed me these things and who had also brought me the glad tidings of a Judgment on God's Enemy the Whore Chap. 17.1 and of the Marriage-Supper Chap. 19 9. 1â— Although these Words have an immediate reference to â—hâ—â— had been seen just before yet they may also refer to all the 〈◊〉 going Visions of this Book 17 It is something difficult to determine whether this passage be the same with the former related Chap. 19 7-21 and only twice repeated to shew the Importance of the Matter and the great danger of falling into the sin of Idolatry although the Relation be something different from the former according to the manner of the Evangelists the latter of whom deliver some things more fully and compleatly than the former and the Two Representations although of the same thing are very different the one being upon the View of the New Jerusalem State in its full Glory and compleat Description the other Chap. 19. only upon the sight of the preparation of the Bride and her coming down out of Heaven 9 Then saith he unto me immediately in great haste and with great Zeal and Vehemency See Chap. 19 10 See thou do it not for I am thy Fellow-Servant and therefore am not to be worsh pped and the Fellow-Servant of thy Brethren the Prophets and of them which keep 18 the sayings of this Book i. e. I although an Angel of so great Rank and Ministry am yet but a Fellow-Creature with thee and the Holy Saints and Witnesses and their Fellow-Servant also in the New Jerusalem State in which you and they shall be equal unto Angels and therefore I am nâ—t to be worshipped Worship being due to Superiors not Equals Creatures and Servants See on Chap. 19.10 Worship therefore God and him alone Matth. 4.10 18 Here the Angel seems to intimate as if the sayings of this Book were a Caution against the Apostatical State and the Worship of Angels and also the Rule and Model of Divine Worship from the first Apostolical State of the Church typified by Ephesus to the highest State of it in the New Jerusalem according to which as he could not receive such Worship so ought not John also to have given it unto him And this passage also affords a clear proof of the Divinity of Christ in Humane Nature because Divine Worship is paid unto him all along in this Book 10 And he i. c. Christ Ver. 12 13 16 20. saith unto me Seal 19 not the Sayings of the Prophecy of this Book for the time of the completion of all the Sealings mentioned in this Book is now at hand 19 These words must refer to the times of the seventh Trumpet when all the Thunders were unsealed Chap. 14. just before the pouring forth of the Vials until when it could not properly be used it being expresly commanded that every one of the Thunders should be sealed 11 He that 20 is unjust let him be unjust still and he which is filthy i e. guilty of any other sin all of which defile a Man Mat. 15.18 Jam. 1 21.3 6 let him be filthy still and he that is righteous or justified let him be righteous still and he that is holy or sanctified let him be holy still i. e. the time and place of Repentance is no more to be found but he that is unjust and filthy will not repent and he that is just and holy shall continue so still 20 These words seem to have a respect to the Times just before the pouring forth of the Vials when those Men who had been proof against the preaching of the Everlasting Gospel were judicially delivered over to punishment because of the willful Obstinacy and Hardness af their Hearts whereupon they blasphemed and repented not See Chap. 16.9 12 And behold I come 21 quickly to Judgment in my Kingdom and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be good or bad Matth. 16.27 Rev. 10.18.20 12-15 21 This must be supposed to be spoken before the pouring forth of the Vials in which the Wicked receive their Reward in Punishments 13 I am Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End the First and the Last i. e. I am the Eternal God who as I gave Being to all things so do I put an end to them too and I am more especially shewing this my Divine Power in bringing all things to perfection
entirely destroyed at the Succession of the Christian Empire but that it recovered for a short time under Julian and was kept in some Life by the Pagan part of the Senate and those Heathens who continued in Office until the time of Theodosius and by the Emperour's connivance at their Religion all (b) Dr. Cave's Introduct to Vol. 2. of the Lives of the Fathers of them also having accepted of the Pontifical Stole and born the Office and Title of Pontifex Maximus or Chief Head of the Colledge of the Priests of the Heathens until Gratian who refused it and especially by the Heathen Customs and Rites which the Christians by degrees brought into the Church by which Paganism gradually and insensibly passed into Antichristianism and the Beast was kept alive and at last perfectly healed So that here is described the State of the Roman Empire as in its passage under the Christian Emperours from the sixth Head to the seventh in a bleeding and desperate Condition but in hopes of having its Wound cured And the State of the same Empire as actually healed is represented in the next Words when a Monarchy and Idolatry was introduced so like that under the sixth Head that its Rise is here described rather by the healing of an Old Wound than by the Succession of a New Head * Here is set forth the Extent of the Beast's Kingdom the whole World being said to be his Followers and Admirers which the Defenders of the Papacy make to be a Note of their Church who are wont as hath been well (a) Rivet Tom. 3. pag. 583. observed by the just Judgment of God to attribute those things imprudently to the Papacy which are the Apocalyptick Marks of Antichrist To wonder after him may also imply the implicit Faith and blind Devotion paid to the Papacy which is usually the Effect of a groundless Wonder and an Admiration of Mens persons And here we may observe that it is foretold that Defection from Truth shall be Vniversal 4 And they that wondred after the Beast which were a very great multitude worshipped the 10 Dragon or Roman Pagan Power or Monarchy which gave his power unto the Beast i. e. they obeyed a Roman Pagan Diabolical Power in an Antichristian Successor and they 15 worshipped and were subject unto the Beast i. e. the 16 Roman Empire under its seventh Head the Papacy as Imperial and Monarchick saying 17 Who is like unto the Beast in Eminency and Excellency who is 18 able to make War with him i. e. resist or withstand his Power 14 It was one and the same Roman Monarchy under the Dragon and the Beast because they had both the same Imperial Seat at Rome upon the continuance of which a Monarchy is continued in the Account of Prophecy and because they were both influenced by the same Draconick and Devillish Temper and Spirit whereby they became One Body the Dragon living in and being worshipped in the Beast Whence it is that the Beast has but one and the self same Body under all its Heads it being represented as One Beast with divers distinct Heads each of which Head also may be called a Beast by a Synecdoche or a Figure whereby what belongs to the whole may be attributed to an eminent part 15 To Worship denotes also (a) Grotius in locum Gen. 37.7 8. Subjection in Scripture because Subjects were wont to adore or prostrate themselves to their Princes and Superiors in the Eastern Countries As the Subjects also of the Popes do who are not approached unto without (b) Rivet Tom. 3. pag. 576 577. Fouli's Romish Vsurpat B. 1.4 Adoration and are placed on the (c) Ceremonial Roman Sect. 2. cap. 2. And Sir Paul Rycaut's Preface to the Lives of the Popes Altar after they are chosen to receive the Adorations of the Cardinals and others present 16 Beast absolutely taken signifies 1. The Roman Empire with all its seven Heads And 2. The State of the Roman Empire under the seventh Head and Eighth King the Papacy which is the general Acceptation of the Beast in this Prophecy 17 This is an Expression frequently made use of in (d) Exod. 15.11 1 Sam. 2.2 1 Chron. 17.20 Scripture to denote God's peerless and appropriated Supereminence and consequently his appropriated Worship And by it is very appositely set forth the (e) Rivet Foulis ubi supra extravagant prophane and blasphemous Titles and Prerogatives given to the Pope by his Followers who make as if he were something more than Humane calling him their (a) In Gloss extravag Rivet Tom. 3. pag. 518. confessed by Father Walsh the Author of the Controversial Letters and other honest Romanists God and Christ's Vicar and attributing to (b) See Mr. Dodwel's Fundamental Principle of Popery where it is proved that this must necessarily be the fundamental principal of their Communion although it be denied by some of them him Infallibility all which is signified here by this Phrase which is not unlike the blasphemous Expressions of Rabshekah 2 Kings 18. 18 This most (c) See Fouli's Romish Vsurpat Mr. Dodwell 's Considerat of present concernment Math. Paris Anno. 1245 Imperatorem Fredericum conculcavimus quis es tu qui nobis temere credis resistere Graseri Histor Antichrist pag. 176. Omnes Principes fortunam irritasse qui cum Papa certaruat Kings and Kingdoms have found to be true in their Contests with the Papal Omnipotency as some of their Admirers have called it 5 And there was given unto him by the Devil God permitting and ordering things accordingly upon mens willful blindness a mouth 19 speaking great things i. e. a Faculty of impudent lying and boasting concerning his own Power and Infallibility in Decrees Anathema's and the like and blasphemies i. e. Idolatrous Decrees and power was given unto him to continue 20 Forty and two Months of Years See on Chap. 11.2 19 This Phrase is taken from Dan. 7.8 11 20 25.11 36. where it is the Character of the Little Horn and the Antichristian King from whence it also appears that this Beast is an Antichristian one and that this also is a Mark of the Papacy clearly appears from their (d) See the Authors quoted on num 16. The Canon Law the Bullarium Romanum and the Authors who defend the Papacy and the Court of Rome extravagant Titles and Decrees and Pretences to Universal Power 20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (e) Grot. in Jac. 4.13 Mede in Locum when joyned with a word signifying any space of Time denotes in Scripture the continuance of it 6 And he opened his Mouth with great boldness and arrogance in Blasphemies or Idolatrous Expressions against God Dan. 7 25. to 21 blaspheme his Name or Essence and his 22 Tabernacle i. e. Christ's Humane Nature and his Church and them 23 that dwell in Heaven i. e. Saints and Angels 21 By making Images of God which is called Blasphemy or Idolatry in Scripture