was the First year of Nero's Reign See Bishop Vshers Annal. pag. 668. 670. 671. from whom we may learn that Ephesus was not converted until the Reign of Nero. 10. Suppose it were true that these Churches were converted in the dayes of Claudius yet they could not be converted any long time before his Death and that because he Reigned but thirteeen years and nine moneths in all and either all or the greatest part of that time was spent in converting other Churches as you may read Act. 15 16 17 and 18. Chapters so that they could not be converted any long time before his death yea in his time it was that Paul and Timothy were forbidden to Preach in Asia Act. 16.6 But now the Gospel had been Preached unto them a long time before this Book was written and they were not new converts but old ones and of long standing in the Christian Faith when this Book was written to them as these Texts of Scripture sufficiently declare Rev. 2.2 3 4 5.9.13.19.21 11. If this Book had been written in the ninth year of Claudius Paul would not have gone to Ephesus to Preach the Gospel there at the latter end of his Reign for Paul did not Preach the Gospel where it had been Preached before by others as he himself confesseth Rom. 15.20 21. 2 Cor. 10.13 14 15 16. Now we find that Paul went to Preach the Gospel at Ephesus before it was converted Act. 18.19 and this was at the latter end of Claudius's Reign for his going thither was as Dr. Hammond in his Preface before the Epistle to the Ephesians saith about the one and fiftieth year of Christ and that was at the latter end of Claudius's Reign and therefore this Book was not written then but at some time or other afterward 12. Why was this Book revealed unto John and not rather unto Paul for Paul was the Apostle of the Gentiles and John of the circumcision Gal. 2.9 and Paul had the honour to convert the Gentiles to the Christian Faith not John as you may read in the Acts of the Apostles c. 18.19 and 20. and therefore it is likely that if this Prophecy had been revealed in the days of Paul that it should have been revealed unto him and that Paul should have been the pen-man of it and not John which we know is otherwise and therefore the true cause why this Prophecy was revealed unto John and not to Paul was because Paul was dead and the other Apostles were dead when this Prophecy was revealed and onely John was then alive whom it could be revealed unto 13. This Book was one of the last Books of Scripture that was written if not the last of all as the words Rev. 22.18 do imply but if this Book were written in the ninth year of Claudius the Epistle to the Ephesians and all other of Pauls Epistles had been written after this yea the Gospel of St. Luke the Acts of the Apostles and all other Books of the new Testament except the Gospel by St. Mathew had been written after this and this Book should not have been one of the last much less the last of all but one of the first Books of the new Testament that was written Ob. What Irenaeus affirms concerning John's Vision at the end of Domitian is not of all but particularly of that Vision of the number of the Beast c. 13.18 Thus will Eusebius's words be understood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. If the name of Antichrist ought to be Proclaimed openly now it would have been declared by him that saw the Revelation for it was not seen any long time ago Where 't is clear that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was seen may belong to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the name of the Beast as before 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 declared did And that it not only may but must be so understood appears by the Latine of Irenaeus which only is extant which reads it thus Antichristi nomen per ipsum utique editum fuisset qui Apocalypsin viderat neque enim ante multum temporis visum est sed pene sub nostro seculo ad finem Domitiani imperii The name of Antichrist would have been published by him who saw the Apocalypse for it was not seen any long time since but almost under our age at the end of Domitians Empire Where the word visum in the Neuter seen not visa in the Feminine belongs apparently to the name not to the Apocalypse Ans 1. John saw the Prophecies of the Revelation all together at one time and not at several distant times as shall be proved in the next question and therefore for any man to think that he had the vision of the name of the Beast by it self alone at the end of Domitians Reign and of the rest of the Apocalypse at some other time before is but a meer fancy at the best 2. Irenaeus counted the name of the Beast not worthy to be divulged at large by the Holy Ghost and therefore it is far from his meaning that it was seen by itself alone from the rest of the Apocalypse 3. Irenaeus doth not say nomen viderat that John saw the name of the Beast but Apocalypsin viderat that be saw the Apocalypse and this was seen not any long time ago but almost in our time at the end of Domitians Reign 4. Eusebius brings the Testimony of Irenaeus to prove that John was banished into Patmos at the end of Domittans Reign and therefore he understands Irenaeus as we do and his opinion is that the Apocalypse was seen by John in the Reign of Domitian and not the name of the Beast by itself alone 5. It is a very unlikely thing that John should be banished into Patmos in the Reign of Claudius and see some part of the Revelation there in his time and the name of the Beast elsewhere by itself alone at the end of Domitians Reign which was above fourty years afterwards without the least intimation of any such thing 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is not the Nominative case to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was seen as the objection would have it but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the Nominative case unto it which I prove thus That which John saw is the Nominative case to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was seen but Eursebius saith that John saw 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Revelation therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Revelation is the Nominative case to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was seen 7. Though it be true that in the Latine Copy of Irenaeus the word is visum in the Neuter Gender yet in the Latine Copy of Eusebius the word is visa in the Feminine Gender and in the Margent of one of them I find these words Anno Domini 96. Joannes in Patmon relegatus scripsit Apocalypsin in the year of the Lord 96. John was banished into Patmos and then wrote the Revelation 8. Let the word
consider of it but read it in order and without prejudice for that will cloud thine Eyes and thou wilt not see the truth if thou read the Book with prejudice weigh one thing with another as well the series and order of the Prophecies as the words and exposition of them and the Lord who is the Author of the Prophecy and revealed it to John reveal the truth unto thee Farewell A Paraphrase with Questions on the Revelation of the holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Divine from the sixth Chapter to the eighteenth CHAP. VI. The Prophecy of the first Seal 1. AND when Jesus Christ had opened the first Seal I heard the first living Creature say unto me Come and see what shall come to pass hereafter not shortly as the things thou hast seen already shall but a great while hence and that not in Europe but in Asia 2. And I. saw that there should come a man riding on a white Horse which is a sign of conquest and that he should be a King and should have first a Bow and afterwards a Crown and should go forth Conquering and to Conquer but some things should be left unconquered by him The Prophecie of the second Seal 3. And when he had opened the second Seal I heard the second living Creature say unto me Come and see what shall come to pass hereafter not shortly as the things in 〈◊〉 Epistles to the seven Churches shall but a great while here and that not in Europe but in Asia 4. And I saw that there should come another man after the Prophecy of the first Seal is ended riding on a red Horse which is a sign of blood and that he should take peace from off the earth or the place where he lived and should cause that men should kill one another by intestine Wars and that he should have a great Sword to commit a great and mighty slaughter and slay many men therewith The Prophecy of the third Seal 5. And when he had opened the third Seal I heard the third living Creature say unto me Come and see what shall come to pass hereafter not long before the day of Judgment doth begin and that not in Europe or the Isles afar off but in Asia 6. Then I looked and saw that there should come a third man after the Prophecy of the second Seal is ended riding on a Black Horse with a pair of balances in his hand which are a sign of Civil Justice Prov. 16.11 And I heard a voice among the four living Creatures say that in the time of this rider men should not live by rapine as in the time of War 2 King 7.1 but should pay for what they took if any one would have a measure of Wheat he should pay a penny for it and if any one would have a measure of Barley he should pay a penny for it and if any man would have any Oyl or Wine he should pay good money for it and wrong no man therein The Prophecy of the fourth Seal 7. And when he had opened the fourth Seal I heard the forth living Creature say unto me Come and see what shall come to pass hereafter not in Europe but in Asia a little before the day of judgment shall begin 8. And I saw that there should come a fourth man after the Prophecy of the third Seal is ended riding on a pale Horse which is a sign of Death and that should be this riders name because so many people should be killed and destroyed by 7. The Deeds and Doctrine of the Nicolaitans were crept into the Churches before this Book was written by John and he commends the Church of Ephesus for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans Rev. 2.6 and he blames the Church of Pergamus for that they had them amongst them which held the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans Rev. 2.15 but when did these Nicolaitans first begin and when did their Doctrine first creep into the Churches Not in the Reign of Claudius for then other Books of Scripture would have spoken of them especially those which were written at that time but we find nothing of these Nicolaitans in any Book of Scripture save only in the Revelation which shews they were not known in the Reign of Claudius but came up afterward and therefore Baronius and others place them in the Reign of Nero. Baronius Anno Neronis 12. 8. This Book was written after Antipas was slain Rev 2.13 and 't is written and sent to the Angel his successour who ever he were But now History tells us and our Adversaries confess that Antipas was slain not in the days of Claudius but in the days of Domitian the Roman Emperour See Doctor Hammond Page 927. Menolog April 11. Baronii Mâ—â—â—y to 〈◊〉 pag. 249. Baronii Annal. Anno Domitiani 10. And to this Argument they have not any thing to say but that Rev. 2.13 the Preter tense is put for the Future tense Antipas was slain for Antipas will be slain to which I answer 1. That the Preter tense is not usually put for the Future tense except it be in Prophecies but that part of the Epistle to the Church of Pergamus is not a Prophecy but a History of what was done before the Revelation was written 2. The proper names of men be not usually joyned with Verbs of the Preter tense before the thing spoken of be done but in the Future rather as when 't is said of Josiah that he shall burn dead mens Bones upon the Altar 1 King 13.2 it is spoken in the Future tense and not in the Preter tense So when 't is said of Cyrus He is my shepherd and shall perform all my pleasure Esa 44.28 it is spoken in the Future tense and not in the Preter tense 3. The Epistle to the Church of Pergamus is directed and sent to the Angel Antipas his successour Therefore it was written after Antipas was dead 4. Men are not commended in Letters in the Preter tense for what they will do hereafter but for what they have done already but the Angel of the Church of Pergamus is commended for that he had not denied the Faith of Christ even in those dayes wherein Antipas was slain therefore this commendatory letter was written after Antipas was dead and because he was slain in the dayes of Domitian and not in the dayes of Claudius therefore we conclude that this Book was written in the Reign of Domitian and not in the Reign of Claudius 9. This Book was written after the Seven Churches of Asia were converted to the Christian Faith But we cannot find that these Seven Churches were converted to the Faith in the dayes of Claudius but 't is more likely that Ephesus was converted in the dayes of Nero and that because as Doctor Hammond observes pag. 648. the first time that Paul disputed at Ephesus was about Ann. Ch. 51. and it was three years after that before Ephesus was converted and that was Anno Ch. 54. which
to oppose and persecute the Christian Jews and thereupon the Gnosticks compliances and making as if they were Jews to avoid persecution are so oft taken notice of by St. Paul Gal. 6.12 and elsewhere And by all the Epistles both of him and the rest of the Apostles written from about that time of Claudius the Gnosticks are every where touched on as the pests that were creeping into the Churches against which they endeavoured to fortifie the believers and assure them that those persecutions of the Iews should be shortly ended by their destruction that night of sadness far spent and the day of deliverance and refreshment at hand Rom. 13.12 Rom. 16.20 and that then the Gnosticks which were so sollicitous to save their lives should lose them i. e. should perish with them Acordingly to the very same purpose is most of the Vision here that concerned the seven Churches c. 2.2.4.9.14.20 and c. 3.9 10. c. and much of the following Prophecy to assure them that God would take revenge on those impenitent and impure professors and rescue the constant Christians And that makes it very reasonable to believe that this Vision was received about the same time also Ans Did not the unbelieving Jews persecute the Christians before Claudius's time was not the persecutions Act. 8.1 Act. 9.23 before Claudius's time and was not Steven stoned to death before Claudius's time yea did not the unbelieving Iews persecute the Christian in Christs time Ioh. 9.22 and did not many of the Rulers believe in him but because of the Pharisees did not confess him left they should be cast out of the Synagogue Ioh. 12.12 Why do they not say that this Book was written then 2. Did not Christ foretel the destruction of the Iews in his time Mat. 24.2 c. Luk. 21.24 and did not he say unto them When ye see these things begin to come to pass then look up and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth near Luk. 21.28 And if the Revelation were written to comfort the Christians against the Iews and assure them that those persecutions of the Iews should be shortly ended by their destruction as they say it was Why do they not think that it was written then 3. Doth not Paul take notice of the Gnosticks in the Epistle to the Ephesians c. 5.3 4 5 6. not any of Pauls Epistles nor of the other Apostles were written about the ninth year of Claudius but afterward as well as in the Epistle to the Galatians c. 6.12 and were not both these Epistles and many others of his where the Gnosticks are taken notice of written after the days of Claudius and why may not the Revelation be written after his days too 4. Did not the Iews persecute Christians in Domitians time and were there not Gnosticks at that time too Menander Basilides and others and why do they not think that this Book was written then In a word the persecution of the Jews and the complying of the Gnosticks to save themselves from persecution is no good Argument to shew the time when the Revelation was revealed to Iohn but Iohn being in the Isle of Patmos for the word of God and for the Testimony of Jesus Christ is a characteristical note of the time of its revealing Now there were no imperial edicts against the Christians as Christians in the time of Claudius as appears by Gallio's words Act. 18.14 15. and by Pauls appeal to Caesar Act. 25.11 and by Act. 28.31 but in Domitians time there were edicts made against them and 't is the more likely that Iohn was banished then and the scope of the Revelation is not to acquaint the Churches with the destruction of the Jews or Gnosticks but to acquaint them rather with the things that are and the things that shall be hereafter to the end of the World Rev. 1.19 Rev. 20.11 12. Ob. The eight Kings or Emperors c. 17.10 cannot otherwise be made intelligible but by beginning the account from Claudius so that he and Nero Galba Otho Vitellius shall be the five that were fallen and then Vespasian in whose time I suppose these Visions were committed to writing by St. Iohn being the sixth shall be the one is and Titus the seventh that is not yet come and when he comes shall stay but a little while reigning but two years and two months and then the Beast that was and is not and is the eighth and is of the seven and goes to destruction will fall out to be Domitian to whom and to whom onely of all the Emperors nay of all men in any story all those distinctive characters will appertain as that he exercised the office of the Emperor and was called Emperor at Rome when Vespasian was gone into Judaea and after his return became a private man again delivered up the Empire to him and so was and is not and then was the eighth reckoning from Claudius as the first and the Son of one of the seven viz. of Vespasian and should be a bloody persecutor and accordingly punished and so go to destruction Ans It is past my understanding to find a reason why we should begin the account of the eight Kings or Emperors c. 17.10 from Claudius and end it in Domitian and so leave out all the Emperors that were before Claudius and all them that went behind Domitian for the ten first persecutions did not begin in Claudius but in Nero neither did they end in Domitian but in Dioclesian Maximian Galerius and Licinius neither did any remarkable thing happen in the days of Claudius and end in the days of Domitian so as to force us to begin the account in the one and end it in the other 2. It cannot be made intelligible how the Angel could say to Iohn at the Revelation of these Visions Five are fallen meaning thereby Claudius Nero Galba Otho and Vitellius if so be these Visions were revealed to John in the Reign of Claudius for these five were not fallen then but Nero Galba Otho and Vitellius did succeed him in the Throne and were not fallen while he lived 3. It is past my intelligence to make it good that these Visions were received by John in the time of Claudius and not committed to writing till the time of Vespasian who began his Reign fifteen years after Claudius's decease for John did write his Visions presently as soon as he received them as appears Rev. 10.4 and was commanded so to do Rev. 1.19 Rev. 22.10 4. It is past my capacity to conceive that all the Prophecies in the Revelation from the beginning of the sixth Chapter to the end of the ninth besides some of them that follow after were fulfilled before the destruction of Jerusalem by Vespasian and yet to think as they do that they were committed to writing in the time of Vespasian for then the Revelation should be written and sent to the Churches after most of the Prophecies were past Lastly It cannot be made intelligible unto me
be visa or visum one that has but half an eye may see what Irenaeus's meaning is that if the name of Antichrist ought to be divulged openly now it would have been divulged by him who saw the Revelation for it that is the Revelation was seen not any long time ago but almost in our age at the end of Domitians Reign and seeing it was not openly declared by him who saw the Revelation and that so lately too it ought not to be proclaimed openly by us as to say that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is his proper name this is Irenaeus's meaning and the drift of his discourse Lastly be it so as they would have it that visum seen doth belong to the name of the Beast yet 't is far from Irenaeus's meaning that the name of the Beast was seen by itself alone his meaning rather is that it was seen when the rest of the Apocalypse was and that was as he saith at the latter end of Domitians Reign and as for the name of the Beast his meaning is that it was not seen by John himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 manifestim that is in words at length but in figures only Ob. Though it should be acknowledged to be the opinion of Irenaeus that John received the Revelation and all his Visions at the end of Domitian yet on the other side 't is the affirmation of Epiphanius that John Prophecied in the time of Claudius Caesar when saith he he was in the Isle Patmos And that which may give authority to Epiphanius's Testimony is this 1. That Epiphanius in that place is a writing against the Montanists about the authority of the Apocalypse and that the later it were seen or written the more it would have been for his turn towards confuting or answering them whose objection it was that the Church of Thyatira mentioned in the Apocalypse was not yet a Church when that was said to be revealed And therefore if it had been but uncertain whether it were written so early or no he would without all question have made use of this as some advantage against his adversaries whom he was then in confuting 2. That Epiphanius is so far from doing this that he doth twice in the same place expresly affirm 1. That his being in the Isle of Patmos 2. That his seeing these Visions there were in the time of Claudius Ans The Testimony of Irenaeus who lived so near the time of Domitian is far to be preferred before the Testimony of Epiphanius who lived above two hundred years after 2. If there be any truth in Epiphanius's Testimony why did Jerom Eusebius and others follow the Testimony of Irenaeus and not the Testimony of Epiphanius but that they saw some fault in his Testimony yea why did all our modern Writers since as well Papists as Protestants except Grotius and his adherents follow the Testimony of Irenaeus and forsake the Testimony of Epiphanius if there were any credit to be given to his Testimony 3. Either the Copy of Epiphanius is corrupt or else he mistook and set down Claudius for Domitian as the marginal note mendosè pro Domitiano doth imply and he might as well mistake Claudius for Domitian as he did Priscilla Maximilla and Quintilla for Jesebel for he thinks that by Jesebel the Apostle meant Priscilla Maximilla and Quintilla which is a very unlikely thing for Iesebel was a woman then in being though of another name when the Apostle wrote the Epistle to the Church of Thyatira and he called her Iesebel by a Metaphor for the likeness she bore to Iesebel Ahabs Wife in wickedness witchcraft Adultery and Idolatry whenas Priscilla Maximilla and Quintilla the Disciples of Montanus were not Prophetesses till the latter end of Antoninus Pius which was many years after Claudius and Domitian too 4. I find another gross mistake in Epiphanius for he makes Iohn to be above ninety years old in the days of Claudius whenas he was not above fifty at that time and he lived at least forty years after his decease and died in the Reign of Trajan Helvirus pag. 87.5 Whereas 't is said the later it was seen or written the more it would have been for his turn it is nothing so for he makes the Epistle to the Church of Thyatira to be a Prophecy of a Church then to come and not a History of a Church that then was in which regard it made nothing to his turn whether it were written sooner or later for suppose it were written sooner in Claudius's time and that there were no Church in Thyatira at that time it made nothing against him nor against the authority of the Revelation if the Epistle be meant Prophetically of a Church then to come as he understood it or suppose it were written later in Domitians time and that there were no Church at Thyatira in his time neither it made nothing against him and his way nor against the authority of the Revelation neither if the Epistle be to be understood prophetically of a Church to come as he understood it but the truth is there was no Church at Thyatira in the Reign of Claudius nor in any other part of Asia Act. 16.6 much less such renowned Churches as St. Iohn speaks of consisting of Elders Bishops and Metropolitans too as some would have it and therefore this Book was not written in his days but at some time or other afterward Lastly if the Epistle to the Church of Thyatira were written in the days of Claudius how will they answer the objection of the Montanists which was that there was no Church there when that Epistle was written as indeed there was not if that Epistle were written in Claudius's days Ob. Having said this for the confirming this assertion of Epiphanius to have as much authority as his Testimony can give it four Arguments I shall add for the truth of it The first Negative to the disparagement of that relation that affirms him banished by Domitian and returned after his death in Nerva's Reign For of the persecution by Domitian there be but two authors mentioned by Eusebius l. 3. c. 20. Tertullian and Egesippus but of Tertullian he hath these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Domitian went about to do as Nero had done being a part of his cruelty or as Tertullians words are Apol. c. 5. portio Neronis de crudelitate a Portion of Nero for cruelty sed facile coeptum repressit restitutis etiam quos relegaverat but he ceased from it presently and recalled those whom he had banished which no way agrees with his banishing John and not recalling him all his lise as is supposed in the other relation and affirmed by Eusebius l. 3. c. 20. And therefore Baronius that is for his banishment under Domitian in the tenth year of his Reign is forced fairly to reject Tertullians authority in this matter giving for it his proof out of Dio viz. that Nerva released those who
that John should commit these Visions to writing in the time of Vespasian and yet see the name of the Beast as they say he did in the time of Domitian for then he should write these Visions before some of them were revealed See more of this c. 17. q. 2. p. 2. Quest Whether John received the Revelation at several distant times or all at once in one day Ans If any one will say that John received the Revelation not all together at one time but at several distant times as the Prophet Esai did his Visions Esa 1.1 Let me request him to tell us what Visions John received at one time and what Visions at another time for unless he can and will do that why should any one believe him 2. If any one suppose that John received some Visions in the time of Claudius and did defer the writing of them till the time of Domitian or Vespasian when he received more Visions this were to do the Apostle injury who was to write his Visions presently and send them to the Churches presently and not defer them till a long time after Rev. 1.11 Rev. 22.10 and Rev. 10.4 He was about to write presently what the seven thunders had spoken and had so done if he had not been commanded to conceal it 3. If any one shall think that John received some Visions in the Reign of Claudius and did write them then and that he received other Visions in the time of Domitian or Vespasian and did write them then this were to make two Books of the Revelation and one of them is supposed to be written in the time of Claudius and the other in the time of Domitian or Vespasian 4. If any man imagine that John received the Vision of the seven Churches first and did write it presently and send it to the Churches by it self and that afterward he received more Visions at several times and did write them at several distant times as he did receive them this were to make two or more Books of the Revelation as was said before And if it be said that when he had received all he did write the first Visions over again and add the latter to them and put them into one volume this were to make the Apostle do things over and over and write some of his Visions twice and send them to the Churches twice which we cannot find that any of the Apostles did Besides this is a meer imagination and every thing they say in this point is but meer imagination and no more but let them imagine what they will I prove it was not so by this Argument If John were commanded at the first entrance of his Visions to write his Visions all together and send them to the Churches all together then he did not write the first Vision by it self and send it to the Churches by it self without the rest but John was commanded at the first entrance of his Visions to write his Visions all together and send them to the Churches all together therefore he did not write the first Vision by it self and send it to the Churches by it self without the rest The minor is proved Rev. 1.19 VVrite the things which thou hast seen and the things which are and the things which shall be hereafter where by the things which he had seen is meant the Vision of the seven Golden Candlesticks mentioned in the first Chapter v. 12 13 14 15 16. by the things which are is meant the things which Christ should reveal unto him concerning the present state of the seven Churches and they are spoken of in the second and third chapters with which some prophecies concerning the future state of the seven Churches are mixt and by the things which shall be hereafter is meant the Prophecies from the fourth Chapter to the end of the Revelation Now had he said at this time which was the first entrance of his Visions VVrite the things which thou hast seen and the things which are and no more he might have written the three first chapters by themselves without the other but in regard he saith at this time which was the first entrance of his Visions VVrite the things which thou hast seen and the things which are and the things which shall be hereafter he might not write any one of them by themselves but he was to write them all together and send them to the Churches all together 5. If John received his Visions at several distant times as the Prophet Daniel did his it is likely he would have told us of it as the Prophet Daniel doth who c. 7.1 tells us that the Vision which he then saw was in the first year of Belshasar and c. 8.1 he tells us that the Vision which he then saw was in the third year of Belshasar and 't is likely that if Joâ—n had received his Visions at several distant times he would have told us of it as Daniel doth 6. There be many differences between the Visions of the Prophet Esai and the Visions of the Apostolical Prophet John as The Prophet Esai saith expresly that his Visions were in the days of Vzziah Jotham Ahaz and Hezekiah Kings of Juda Esa 1.1 but John makes no mention of any other day that he received his Visions than on the Lords day Rev. 1.10 2. The Visions as well of Esai as of John were when both of them were in a trance but herein they differ that the trances of Esai were at distant times some in one Kings Reign and some in another Kings Reign as he himself confesseth Esa 1.1 but the trances of John were all of them upon the Lords day and upon no other Rev. 1.10 3. The Visions which the Prophet Esai saw concerning Iuda and Ierusalem were so many Sermons which he Preached to the people at several times far distant one from other and they were so many and so long that he could not preach them all in one day therefore of necessity there was an intermission between his preaching of one Sermon and the preaching of another but the Visions of the Apostolical Prophet Iohn were not preached Sermons but mental Revelations which he was to write and send unto the Churches all at once and they were not so many nor so long but they could be seen and be written by him too all in one day 4. The writings of the Prophet Esai be but the heads of the Sermons which he preached the Sermons for the words were a great deal longer but the Revelation of the Apostolical Prophet Iohn is the full substance of what he saw and heard without diminution of the words 5. The Prophet Esai was at liberty to go and preach unto the people Sermon after Sermon but the Apostolical Prophet Iohn was not at liberty to travel to the Churches and Preach one day to the Church of Ephesus and another day to the Church of Smyrna and other days to the other Churches as he must have done had he
6. The Angels can make use of living bodies that were before created and leave them when they have done as Satan made use of the Serpent to beguile the woman Gen. 3.1 2. and the good Angel made use of Balaams Ass to speak unto his Master Numb 22.28 and the Angel in the former Trumpet made use of the Locusts to torment men with their stings so the Angels in this Trumpet may make use of these Creatures to destroy the third part of men though they assume them not 7. If we read the fifteenth verse we shall there find that the Angels have a special hand in this business for they were prepared to slay the third part of men which this Army were to slay and therefore we have reason for to think that either these Horse-men be Angels or else had the guidance of the Angel in this work and we need not say that there were as many Angels imployed in this work as there be Horse-men mentioned v. 16. but four Angels besides the Angel that did sound this Trumpet may suffice to guide these Creatures in this work as one Angel did suffice to guide the Locusts in the former Trumpet 8. The Book sealed with seven seals of which this Prophecy is a part was such a special Book of Prophecy as no man in Heaven or on earth or under the earth was counted worthy to open the Book and look into it but Jesus Christ Rev. 5.3 therefore we may not think that this Book of Prophecy containeth only things ordinary usual or accustomed such as Church Heresies and Turkish Wars are which though they be grievous and calamitous while they last and continue yet they be common usual and accustomed things which the World and Church of God is well acquainted with We must rather look that in this Book of Prophecy should be things extraordinary unusual rare and unaccustomed such as the plagues of Egypt were which were never known before nor since and such as the Locusts were in the former Trumpet and the Horses and Horse-men in this sixth 9. The Horses be not usual Horses such as men use in War and therefore they that sit on them be not men for how should men come by such Horses as be here described and what men will adventure for to ride them in case they could come by them First it is said that they had heads as the heads of Lions and out of their mouths issued Fire Smoak and Brimstone v. 17. 2. They had tailes like to Serpents bodies v. 19. 3. They had heads behind at the end of their tailes 4. They had mouths in their heads so that they had two mouths as well as two heads one before and another behind and the head before was like a Lions head v. 17. and the head behind in the tail like a Serpents head v. 19. 5. Out of both their mouths issued Fire Smoak and Brimstone 6. By this Fire Smoak and Brimstone were the third part of men slain v. 18. Never any men did ride such Horses as these were nor ever will do 10. The Army here spoken of was two hundred thousand thousand but the Turkish Armies never were so many at one time nor ever will be They say Bajazet the Turk was once in the Field with five hundred thousand and Tamerlan the Tartar with thirteen hundred thousand but what be all these to two hundred thousand thousand There never was such an Army in the Field at one time nor ever will be 11. The Turkish Armies do consist of Foot as well as Horse though most of them be Horse but the Army here spoken of be only Horse and no Foot 12. The Army here spoken of did fend Fire Smoak and Brimstone out of their Horses mouths and slay the third part of men therewith this the Turks never did nor ever will or can do And as for those who think that this is meant of Gunpowder in which there is Fire Smoak and Brimstone when they shoot I think it fit to tell them that Guns and Gunpowder were not invented by the Turks but by Bertholdus Niger alias Swart a German Alchymist and a Franciscan Monk about the year of Christ 1380. And Guns and Gunpowder are used not only by the Turks but by other Nations in their Wars all the World over And 't is not the Gunpowder which doth slay men of it self but the Bullet which it driveth forth And the Turks shoot not Gunpowder out of their Horses mouths and tails but out of their Iron and their Brasen Guns and that at one end only so that Guns and Gunpowder are not intended in this Prophecy but Fire Smoak and Brimstone to kill the third part of men therewith and that without either Gunpowder Guns or Bullet 13. By this Army were the third part of men slain which were dwelling at Euphrates Now the Turks be the men which dwell there and therefore it is likely that the Turks be the men which shall be slain by this Army and not the Army which shall slay the third part of men so that the Turks be intended in this Prophecy not as Agents but as Patients not as killing others but as killed by others and God hath shewed in this Prophecy how the third part of Turks shall be destroyed not by Jews nor by Tartars nor by any other men but by Angels in a searful manner and yet not by them alone but by strange kind of Horses newly created for this purpose and never known in the World before and by Fire Smoak and Brimstone which proceed out of their mouths and the wonders that be in these Prophecies so wonderful and strange and unaccustomed that men will not believe them nor-think upon them in a literal sense because they do not see them but what said Christ to Thomas in a matter as hard to be believed as this Be not faithless but believe John 20.27 and such things as these or very like them in some kind or other or at least in some degree or other have been done already if we believe the Book of Wisdom c. 11. v. 18 19. CHAP. X. The continuation of the sixth Trumpet or a preparation to the second part thereof 1. AND I saw another Angel of special dignity among them come down from Heaven in a cloud having a Rain-bow over his head to denote a glorious apparition and his face was as the Sun for beauty and his feet as Pillars of fire 2. And he had in his right hand a little Book or Schedule not sealed as the other was before Rev. 5.1 but wide open in the Angels hand have nothing written in it and he set his right foot upon the Sea and his left foot upon the dry Land 3. And he cryed with a loud and dreadful voice as when a Lion roareth after his prey and is in sight of it and upon this cry of his as upon a call seven claps of Thunder uttered their voices in my hearing 4. And when the seven
Thunders had uttered their voices I was about to write what the seven Thunders had spoken for they spake things remarkable but I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me Conceal the things which the seven Thunders have spoken and write them not for they are too terrible to be revealed 5. And the Angel whom I saw standing with his right foot upon the Sea and with his left foot upon the dry Land lifted up his hand to Heaven as a token that he meant to swear 6. And he sware by the true and ever-living God who made the Heaven with the things which are therein and the earth with the things which are therein and the Sea with the things which are therein that the mystery of God should be delayed no longer 7. But in the days of the voice of the seventh Angel when he shall sound his Trumpet Rom. 11.25 Esa 11.11 12. Esa 14.1 2 3. Esa 27.12 13. Jer. 23.7 8. Jer. 31.27 28. Jer. 32.37 38. Jer. 46.27 28. Eze. 37.16 17. Hos 3.4 5. Joel 3.1 Amos 9.11.14 15. Zach. 8.20 21 22. which after these things now in hand will shortly be the calling conversion and restoring of the Iewish Nation shall be put in execution and not be laid aside until it be brought to full perfection As soon as that Angel shall begin to sound their calling and conversion shall be brought to pass and before that Angel ends the restauration of their Kingdom shall be finished and this joyful news is no new invention but God hath told it his Servants the Prophets in the old Testament long ago 8. And the voice which I heard from Heaven before bidding me seal up the things which the seven Thunders had spoken and write them not spake to me again the second time and said unto me Go take the little Book or Schedule which is wide open in the hand of the Angel which standeth with his right foot upon the Sea and with his left upon the dry Land 9. So I went unto the Angel as the voice commanded me and I said unto him Give me the little Book or Schedule which is wide open in thy right hand and he said unto me Take and eat it and when thou hast so done it shall make thy belly bitter but in thy mouth it shall be sweet as Hony 10. So I took the little Book or Schedule out of the Angels hand and eat it up before him and it was as the Angel said in my mouth as sweet as Hony but when I had eaten it my belly was bitter 11. And he told me the meaning of it and he said unto me Thou must Prophecy again before the sixth Trumpet endeth and thou must tell what shall befal the People of the Iews and what shall befal the Gentiles and their Kings before the seventh Trumpet soundeth and the mystery of God which I told thee of take effect And the first things that thou must Prophecy of will be very sweet and pleasant as Hony to thy mouth but the second will be very bitter as Gall unto thy stomach Disputation VI. 1 Quest Whether the little Book had any Prophecy written in it Answ 1. It is not said in the Text that it had any Prophecy written in it and therefore they which say it had do it upon no ground at all 2. It was wide open and not shut nor sealed therefore there was not any secret thing therein 3. It was but one Schedule or piece of Parchment and that a little one too and therefore too little to contain all the Prophecies from the eighth verse of the tenth Chapter to the end of the Revelation 4. It was far less than the other Book which had seven rolls and seven seals to them But if all the Prophecies from the eighth verse of the tenth Chapter to the end of the Revelation should be comprised in it it would be far bigger than the other Book which had seven rolls and seals to them 5. The other Book which had the seals is commended for its Prophecies Rev. 5.2 3 4 5. But this Book is no where commended for any Prophecy it had 6. The Prophecies in the following Chapters be of higher note and far more excellent and of more concernment than the Prophecies in the former Chapters be and therefore they belong not to this little Book which is no where commended for its Prophecies but to the other Book with seven seals which hath so high a commendation as not any Book the like Rev. 5.3 4 5. 7. There should be by this reckoning two Prophetical Books of the Revelation and the seventh verse of the tenth Chapter should be the last verse of the first Book and the eighth verse of the tenth Chapter should be the first verse of the seeond Book but St. John makes but one Book of all the Revelation and he writes it all in one Volume without division and calls it a Revelation in the singular number and not two Revelations in the plural number Rev. 1.1 8. By this reckoning the Prophecies of the other Book with seven seals should be mingled with the Prophecies of the little Book without seals for they say that all the Prophecies in the Revelation from the eighth verse of the tenth Chapter to the end of the Revelation belong unto the little Book Now if you look into the eleventh Chapter you shall there find the ending of the sixth Trumpet v. 14. and after that the seventh Trumpet or some part thereof from the fifteenth verse to the end of the Chapter both which belong unto the other Book with seven seals and namely to the seventh seal thereof Rev. 8.2 and after this come in the Prophecies as they say of the little Book again What a mingle mangle have we here of those two Books one in another Surely as St. John eat up the little Book so they make the little Book swallow the Prophecies of the other Book into his Belly 9. The sixth Trumpet doth not end with the seventh verse of the tenth Chapter but goes onward to the fourteenth verse of the eleventh Chapter and there ends and not before so that all that Prophecy in the eleventh Chapter to the fourteenth verse doth belong unto the other look with seven seals and the seventh Trumpet doth not end with the eleventh Chapter for if it did a close would have been put unto it at the end of that Chapter to distinguish it from the Prophecies that follow but there being no period put unto it there as there is to the former Trumpets where they end it is an Argument sufficient that it doth not end there but is to be extended farther even to the twelfth Chapter and to all the Chapters following inclusively until a Period be put unto it which is no where to be found so that the seventh Trumpet hath no end at all nor any close put unto it as the fifth and sixth Trumpets have Rev. 9.12 Rev. 11.14 and seeing the seventh Trumpet
doth belong unto the Book with seven seals the Prophecy of the twelfth Chapter and of all the rest that follow doth belong unto that other Book also 10. If the little Book had the following Prophecies written in it from the eighth verse of this Chapter to the end of the Revelation what 's the reason that the Angel doth acquaint John with them afterward A man would think that after he had taken the Book and eaten it up he should have known what the Prophecies had been which were contained in it without any further help or any further Revelation but we find that in the next Chapter after this the Angel doth acquaint John with the Prophecies of that Chapter and tells him what they be from point to point and therefore the little Book though eaten up by him did not acquaint him with them before nor tell him what they were Ob. But why was John commanded to eat the little Book if it had no Prophecy written in it Ans 1. To acquaint him with the sweetness and the bitterness of the Prophecies which follow for by eating of the Book which was sweet in his mouth and bitter in his belly he thereby knew that the Prophecies which follow should be be sweet in the beginning but bitter afterward 2. To signifie unto him that he had not made an end of Prophecying and in particular that the Prophecy of the sixth Trumpet was not fully ended there was a little more behind not yet revealed to him which he was to add to the former part thereof and therefore it is said thou must Prophecy again not begin a new Prophecy ab ovo from the first Original but Prophecy again that is of the other part behind belonging to the sixth Trumpet which was not spoken of before but what that other part was was not written in the little Book but reported to him by word of mouth and it belongs all of it to the sixth Trumpet and the little Book it self to boot From hence it follows 1. That the whole Prophetical part of the Apocalypse doth not consist of two main Prophecies both of them beginning their race at the same Epoche or terminus à quo of time and concluding together likewise at the same goal or terminus ad quem The first of these as Mr. Mede would have it is prophetia sigillorum reaching from the fourth Chapter unto almost the end of the tenth The second is prophetia libri beginning at the eighth verse of the tenth Chapter and reaching to the end of the Book But herein Mr. Mede is exceedingly out for there is but one Prophetical Book of the Apocalypse as hath been proved in this Question and this Book is Prophetia sigillorum the Prophecy of the seals reaching from the fourth Chapter or rather from the sixth Chapter to the end of the Revelation 2. That the Prophecies of the Revelation shall come to pass in order as they came forth out of the sealed Book seal after seal Trumpet after Trumpet Vial after Vial and so of all the rest in order as they were presented unto Iohn in Vision of which more in the next Question 2 Quest Whether the Prophecies of the Revelation shall come to pass in order as they were revealed to John Ans 1. Things revealed at once and not at several distant times come to pass in order as they be revealed as for instance The Prophecy of the four Monarchiles Dan. 7. was revealed to Daniel all at once and it did and shall come to pass in order as it was revealed so the Prophecy of the Ram and Hee-Goat Dan. 8. was revealed to him all at once and it came to pass in order as it was revealed and so give instance where you will it never failes But now the Prophecies of the Revelation were revealed to Iohn all at once and not at several distant times as was proved at large Disp 1. q. 2. therefore they shall come to pass in order as they were revealed It is otherwise where things are revealed at several distant times here no such order is observed as for instance The Prophecy of the fourth beast Dan. 7. was revealed to him above a year before the Prophecy of the Ram and Hee-Goat mentioned Dan. 8. but yet the Prophecy of the Ram and Hee-Goat came to pass before it In like manner had the Prophecies of the Revelation been revealed to Iohn at several distant times as some of Daniels Prophecies were we could not conclude from thence that they shall come to pass in order as they were revealed but in regard they were revealed to him all at once or at one continued time without ceasing or intermission of his ecstasie we may and must conclude from thence that they shall come to pass in order as they were revealed and presented unto Iohn in Vision 2. The Prophecies of the Revelation were written all of them in one Book and not in two and that was the Book sealed with seven seals c. 5. But as for the little Book c. 10. it had not any Prophecy written in it as was proved at large in the former Question Now had the Prophecies of the Revelation been written in two Books and not in one it might be possible that the Prophecies of these two Books might begin their race at the same Epoche or terminus a quo of time and conclude together likewise at the same goal or terminus ad quem but in regard they were all of them written in one Book and not in two here is no colour at all for such a groundless imagination 3. Histories write of things in order as they come to pass as if a man were to write a Chronicle of the Kings of England he would not put King Henry the eighth and his Reign before King Henry the seventh but set down the Kings in order as they Reigned And no other is the case here the prophetical part of the Revelations is a History of things to come as a Chronicle is a History of things past and therefore it sets down things in order as a Chronicle doth 4. It is acknowledged by Mr. Mede and others of his mind that all the Prophecies in the Revelation except that of the Palm-bearers Rev. 7.9 from the beginning of the sixth Chapter to the middle of the tenth shall come to pass in order as they were Revealed but the grand Question is of those which follow after Now that the Prophecies which follow after from the beginning of the eleventh Chapter to the end of the Revelation shall come to pass in order as they were Revealed shall be proved severally of them all when I come to write on those Chapters see Ch. 11. q. 1. ch 12. q. 1 2. ch 13. q. 1. ch 16. q. 1. First second third fourth c. are all of them ordinal numbers and not cardinal and they are so called because they shew not only the number of things spoken of but the order also Now the Prophecies of
for they may all consist but with a partial The fourth Argument is brought to prove a total contemporising but it comes short of it as the three other did for though these Virgins be antistoechal to the Beast and all his followers yet this is only at his declination and not before and though they be the Servants of God and wear his Livery and have his name written in their foreheads yet God had other Servants besides these which had to deal with the Beast and he with them before these had and they be the remnant of the womans seed Rev. 12.17 Rev. 13.7 but these Virgins advance against him afterward Rev. 14.1 2. It is true if God had had no more Servants to oppose the Beast but these only then must these have been antistoechal to the Beast throughout from his first breathing to his last gasp but God had other Servants to oppose the Beast before these did and they are the remnant of the womans seed as was said before therefore these are actually antistoechal to him afterward when the other have done their work and not before The last Argument speaks expresly of a final contemporising and no more which I grant to be true though I dislike the medium which is brought to prove it The truth of the Synchronism which we have in hand is this the Virgin company of the Sealed are antecedaneous to the Beast and false Prophet for they are Sealed in the time of the sixth Seal which is before the times of the Beast and false Prophet do commence but yet they advance not against him nor have to deal with him nor he with them until his 42 months be ended and then they step forth against him and get the Victory over him Rev. 15.2 And as for the Whore of Babylon we have a Prophecy of her final ruine which is to come to pass in the time of the seventh Vial Rev. 17.1 but of her first beginning when she began to be a Whore we want a Prophecy in the Revelation to inform us of it The fifth is a consectary of the general Synchronism of all hitherto mentioned Ans His inference is that they all Synchronise my inference is from what I have said and proved that only the conculcation of the holy City 42 months and the Witnesses in the mean time Prophecying in Sackeloth 1260 days are Synchronals but all the rest succeed one another The whole Prophecy of the twelfth Chapter shall succeed the Prophecy in the eleventh Chapter the Prophecy in the thirteenth Chapter shall succeed the Prophecy of the twelfth Chapter the Prophecy of the fourteenth Chapter shall succeed the Prophecy of the thirteenth Chapter and the Prophecy in the seventeenth Chapter concerning the fall of Babylon shall be the last that shall come to pass of all that have been hitherto spoken of The sixth Synchronism is of the inner Court measured with the Reed of God and of the lying in wait and the Battel of the seven headed Dragon with Michael concerning the Childbirth of the woman in travel Ans To which I answer 1. That they are not the immediate Antecedents of contemporaries for the woman in the Wilderness Rev. 12.14 the Beast with ten Horns Rev. 13.5 and the outer Court Rev. 11.2 do not contemporate but succeed each other as hath been proved in my answer to the first Synchronism 2. Though it be true that the womans Travel and the Dimication of the Dragon with Michael do contemporate and the flight of the woman into the Wilderness immediately succeed them Rev. 12.6 13 14. yet the seven headed Beast restored doth not immediately succeed the Duel in which Michael over-threw the Dragon for the Dragon doth not immediately raise the Beast so soon as he is cast out of Heaven unto the Earth but before he attempt such a Work he first of all persecutes the woman Rev. 12.13 then the woman flies into the Wilderness vers 14. after that he sends a Floud of Water after her to carry her away vers 15. then the Earth swallows up the floud of Water vers 16. and when all this is done then he leaves the Wilderness and goes into the Sea from whence he raises up the Beast to War against the Remnant of the Womans Seed and not before vers 17 18. Rev. 13.1 3. That the measuring of the inner Court shall precede the conculcation of the outer Court I grant and that the forty two Months in which the Gentiles shall tread it under foot begin when the measuring of the inner Court is ended but that the measuring of this inner Court shall synchronise with the womans Travel and the Dimication of Michael with the Dragon I deny and that because the conculcation of the outer Court and the Habitation of the woman in the Wilderness do not synchronise but succeed each other as hath been proved in my Answer to the first synchronism And therefore as the measuring of the inner Court shall precede the conculcation of the outer so they both shall precede the womans Travel and as the womans Travel shall precede her flight and habitation in the Wilderness so the habitation of the woman in the Wilderness shall precede the Beast and all his Actings against the Remnant of her Seed Lastly Whereas he talks of a repeated Prophecy he should have first proved a repeated Prophecy before he had said so much of it or built an Argument upon it for there is no repeated Prophecy in the Revelation And when the Angel saith Oportet te iterum prophetare thou must prophesie again Rev. 10.11 the meaning is not that he must begin a new Prophecy ab ovo from the first Original repeating the same times over again but the meaning is that he must prophesie of other things and of other times which shall succeed the former and which he had not spoken of before The seventh Synchronism is of the seven Vials and of the Beast and of Babylon inclining to ruine Answ And this Synchronism I grant to be true for the seven Vials are the seven last plagues Rev. 15.1 and they fall upon the men which have the Mark of the Beast Rev. 16.2 and upon his Throne and Kingdom vers 10. and upon Babylon vers 19. and they never leave her till they bring her and the Beast to a final end Rev. 17. and 18. and 19.20 The second Part. Answ And thus I have gone over the first part of his Synchronisms and as I believe have given fit Answers to them all what is true I have confessed to be true and what is otherwise I have given Reasons for my denial and dislike of it I proceed now with the like Candor and Ingenuity to speak unto the rest of the Synchronisms which follow but before I begin I must premise a few things in answer to his Prologue 1. That the little Book had not any Prophecy written in it as hath been proved in the former Question 2. That upon this account the
Revelation or the prophetical part thereof may not fitly be divided into two main Prophecies as he would have it whereof the first is Prophetia sigillorum the prophecy of the Seals reaching from the fourth Chapter or rather from the sixth Chapter to almost the end of the tenth the second as he would have it is Prophetia libri the prophecy of the little Book beginning at the eighth Verse of the tenth Chapter and reaching to the end of the Revelation I say that this may not fitly be done because there is but one prophecy of the Revelation and that is Prophetia sigillorum the prophecy of the Seals which begins at the sixth Chapter and reacheth to the end of the Revelation for as for the little Book it had not any prophecy written in it and Mr. Mede should have proved that the little Book had all the prophecies in the Revelation from the eighth Verse of the tenth Chapter to the end of the Book written in it and not have supposed it so to be 3. That because there is but one Book of prophecy and not two therefore the prophecies of the eleventh Chapter and so onwards which are subsequent to the little Book shall not begin their race at the same Epoche that the Seals do and so run along with them ad eandem metam to the same Goal for this were to make two Books of prophecy when there is but one 4. Suppose it to be true as he saith that the Revelation doth consist of too main prophecies and the first of them to be Prophetia sigillorum the prophecy of the Seals reaching from the fourth Chapter to almost the end of the tenth the other to be Prophetia libri the prophecy of the little Book beginning at the eighth Verse of the tenth Chapter and reaching to the end of the Revelation Yet it no way follows that these two prophecies must contemporate or begin their race at the same Epoche of time and conclude together at the same Goal for the latter may begin where the other left for all that 5. Suppose the Book of the Revelation might fitly be divided into two Tomes and the second Tome to begin at the eighth Verse of the tenth Chapter at these Words And the voyce which I heard from Heaven spake unto me again yet by that voyce is not meant the voyce mentioned Chap. 4. vers 1. but the voyce mentioned Chap. 10. vers 4. and by the Words Thou must prophecy again is not meant that he must begin a new prophecy ab ovo from the first Original but rather that he must begin where he left before As if a man were commanded to write a History of the Kings of Israel in two Volumes the first Volume beginning with the Reign of Saul and ending with the Reign of David the other Volume beginning with the Reign of Solomon and ending with the Reign of Zedekiah doth not this last Volume begin where the other left And no other is the case here Suppose the prophecies of the Revelation to consist of two Tomes the one reaching from the fourth or sixth Chapter to the eighth Verse of the tenth Chapter the other from thence to the end of the Book this last tome doth not contemporate with the former but succeeds it and begins to Prophecy where the other left 6. We read not that the voice ch 10. v. 8. was as the sound of a Trumpet and therefore not likely to relate to the voice ch 4. v. 1. but rather to the voice ch 10. v. 4. for that voice ch 4. v. 1. is said to be as the sound of a Trumpet but this not But to what purpose he would have the Reader take notice of this I cannot tell Is this an Index that the Prophecy of the little Book as he calls it doth contemporate with the Prophecy of the Seals No more than the voice ch 4. v. 1. is an Index that the Prophecy of the Seals doth contemporate with the Vision of the seven Churches Rev. 1.10 for both these Rev. 4.1 as well that Rev. 1.10 as that Rev. 4.1 had a voice as of a Trumpet before them yet they do not contemporate each with other Lastly you may be sure that it is not so as he saith that the second Prophecy or the Prophecy of the little Book doth begin at the eighth verse of the tenth Chapter and reach from thence to the end of the Revelation because Ch. 11. you have the Period of the sixth Trumpet and the beginning of the seventh from the fourteenth verse to the end of the Chapter both which belong not unto the little Book but to the Prophecy of the Seals as you may see if you look into his scheme And thus much by way of answer to his Preface I come now to the Synchronisms themselves The first Synchronism which is the principal one is of the seventh Seal so far as the six first Trumpets reach with the ten horned and two horned Beasts and the rest contemporisers Ans To which I answer first in general that the beginning of the Beast doth not contemporate with the beginning of the seventh Seal as he would have it nor the end of the Beast contemporate with the exit of the sixth Trumpet therefore here is no Synchronising 2. I answer to each branch of the Argument in particular and 1. I say that the beginning of the Beast doth not contemporate with the beginning of the seventh Seal but is the off-spring of the seventh Trumpet and comes forth into the World after the seventh Trumpet is begun Rev. 11.15 Rev. 13.1 2. One opposite may be before another witness David and Goliah who were deadly opposites one unto another yet Goliah was the elder and David was the younger and did outlive Goliah so though these Sealed Virgins be opposite to the Beast Reigning yet the Virgins are the elder Company and are Sealed by the Angel before the Beast has a being in the World Opposition implies a partial contemporation not a total 3. In what respect are the Sealed Virgins opposite to the Beast but in respect of Religion and warlike persecution for Religion And how either of these severally or both of them joyntly can cause a total contemporation I am yet to seek For instance The Christians and the Turks are opposites in respect of their Religion and who knows not but that the Christian Religion was before the Turkish And they be also opposite in respect of War and yet this made them not contemporate but come behind the Christians So what if these Virgins be opposite to the Beast in respect of Religion is not their Religion before his And what if difference in Religion produce a War betwixt them doth not this War succeed Religion and the Beast that is raised to begin this War succeed it too 4. If you look into the text you shall find that these Virgins though they be before the Beast in respect of their Sealing yet they actually oppose him
not contemporants therefore here is no Synchronising The third Synchronisin is of the Vials with the sixth Trumpet Answ To which I answer 1. That the seven Vials are the seven last plagues Rev. 15.1 and therefore they do not begin the ruine of the Beast but end it 2. The Kingdom of the Beast is not brought to such a ruine in the sixth Trumpet as to put an end to his forty two Moneths all that is done in that Trumpet is the falling of the tenth part of the City and the loss of seven Thousand men and what is that to the ruine of the Beasts Kingdom or to the ending of his forty two Moneths 3. The Beast shall have a far greater loss than that before any of the Vials be effused for the Harvest Chap. 14. is a far greater loss than that in the sixth Trumpet and the Vintages far greater than the Harvest and both of them shall come upon the Beast before any of the Vials be effused 4. The fifth Vial is poured out upon the Throne of the Beast but that the Beasts Throne is touched in the time of the sixth Trumpet I deny For by the tenth part of the City is not meant the Throne of the Beast but Jerusalem 5. The seventh Vial is a consummating Vial and the seventh Trumpet a consummating Trumpet but this doth not make them to contemporate for the one takes up more time in consummating than the other doth as having more things to consummate than the other hath the one begins Chap. 16. and consummates the things from thence unto the end the other begins Chap. 11. and reaches from thence unto the end of the Revelation The fourth Synchronism is of the thousand years of Satans being bound with the seventh Trumpet or the space from the destruction of the Beast Ans To which I answer that the thousand years of Satans being bound are shorter than the seventh Trumpet both à parte ante and à parte post 1. They are shorter à parte ante for the thousand years begin Rev. 20. 1. but the seventh Trumpet begins Rev. 11. 15. and all the Prophecies between that Chapter and the twentieth belong unto the seventh Trumpet and not unto the little Book which had no Prophecy written in it Again the thousand years expire at the enlargement of the Prisoner Rev. 20.7 but the seventh Trumpet goes beyond it and contains under it not only that enlargement but the insurrection and destruction of Gog and Magog the resurrection of the dead and the final Judgment so that the thousand years are much shorter than the seventh Trumpet both à parte ante on the fore part and à parte post on the hinder part To that which follows in the Synchronism I have no more to say but what has been spoken to already the rest not spoken to I leave to others to answer that have a mind unto it for my opinion is that the Prophecies of the Revelation shall come to pass in order as they were revealed The fifth Synchronism is of the thousand years of the Soveraign Reign of Christ and of the seventh Trumpet or the space from the destruction of the Beast Ans To which I answer that the seventh Trumpet and the space of time which succeeds the destruction of the Beast are not all one for that space begins with the twentieth Chapter but the seventh Trumpet begins before and contains not that space alone but all the Prophecies besides from the eleventh Chapter to the twentieth The rest that follows in that Synchronism I leave to others to answer that be so minded for my opinion is that the Prophecies of the Revelation what ever the meaning of them be shall come to pass in order as they were revealed The sixth Synchronism is of the new Jerusalem the Lambs Bride with the seventh Trumpet or the space from the destruction of the Beast Ans To which I answer 1. In general that the new Jerusalem doth not begin at the destruction of the Beast nor contemporate with the thousand years but succeed them 2. I answer to each Argument in particular To the first I say that the marriage of the Lamb Rev. 19.7 and the marriage Rev. 21.2.9 are not the same The first is the personal marriage of Christ with the spouse in grace the other is the personal marriage of Christ with the spouse in glory To the second I deny that the new Jerusalem is the beloved City which Gog and Magog shall environ after the thousand years are ended Rev. 20.9 for this latter is the Church in the full state of grace but the other is the Church in the full state of glory To the third factum est it is done Rev. 16.17 is not the same factum est with that Rev. 21.6 By the first is meant that the seven last plagues were then expiring that being the last which then was pouring out and the full state of grace was ended and the state of glory was presently to begin The fourth Argument proves no more than this that the new Jerusalem shall succeed the utter exstinction of the Beast and Babylon but that it shall succeed immediately ' I deny The order shall be this Babylon shall be destroyed first the Beast and false Prophet next then shall be the thousand years after them the insurrection and destruction of Gog and Magog after that the last Judgment then the Lake of fire for the cursed and the new Jerusalem for the blessed The seventh Synchronism of the Palm-bearing multitude of the numberless triumphants out of all Nations Tribes People and tongues c. 7. v. 9. with the seventh Trumpet or space of time from struction of the Beast c. 11.15 Ans Two Arguments are brought to prove this the first is to this effect The Palm-bearing multitude immediately succeeds the Company of the Sealed and that company ended with the Beast at the exit of the sixth Trumpet therefore the Palm-bearing multitude followeth both Ans But if you look into the seventh Chapter you shall there find they immediately succeed the time of their Sealing not the race of the Sealed but the time of their Sealing Now their Sealing is in the time of the sixth Seal before any of the Trumpets do begin therefore these Palm-bearers precede the seventh Trumpet and the first to boot The second Argument is that they be Citizens of the new Jerusalem Ans But in the sixth Seal under which they are presented unto John they are not come to that estate at that time their bodies being not then raised from the Grave their Souls being then in Heaven in the state of bliss at such time as the Sealed ones are Sealed on earth Other things there be in these Synchronisms which for brevity sake I omit to speak unto By that which hath been said the Reader may perceive there be no such Synchronisms as he would have except those which belong to one and the same Prophecy as the two Beasts in the thirteenth
Verse of the eleventh Chapter as they might have done the matter had been more clear perspicuous and evident to the eye than now it is It cannot be denied saith Mr. Mede but the Division of Chapter especially in the New Testament being but Humani instituti is sometimes so ill ordered that it doth much prejudice the Reader in understanding the meaning of the Holy Ghost Remains pag. 5. And if the Contents of this Trumpet had been ordered into one Chapter beginning with the thirteenth Verse of the ninth Chapter and ending with the fourteenth Verse of this eleventh Chapter what man would have doubted but that this Prophecy of the eleventh Chapter to the fourteenth Verse thereof did belong unto the sixth Trumpet as the Prophecy in the ninth Chapter from the thirteenth Verse to the end thereof doth 6. Had it been said in the tenth Chapter at the end of the sixth Verse The second Woe is past here had been an undeniable Argument that the Prophecy of the sixth Trumpet did not reach so far as the eleventh Chapter Or had it been said in the eleventh Chapter The first Vision of the little Book is past and behold the third Woe cometh quickly here had been another Argument that the Prophecy in the eleventh Chapter to the fourteenth Verse did belong unto the little Book and not unto the sixth Trumpet But in regard it is not said in the tenth Chapter The second Woe is past nor in the eleventh Chapter The first Vision of the little Book is past but in the eleventh Chapter vers 14. it was said The second Woe is past and behold the third Woe cometh quickly Here is an irrefragable Argument that the Prophecy in the eleventh Chapter to the fourteenth Verse doth belong unto the sixth Trumpet and not unto the little Book which had no Prophecy written in it Object In the tenth Chapter at the sixth Verse is the end of the sixth Trumpet for there 't is said that Time shall be no more Answ By time is not meant the time of the sixth Trumpet as if the time thereof were past but the meaning is as Brightman well Expounds it Exiguum admodum jam superesse tempus ad consummationem that there is now but a very little time remaining to the seventh Trumpet in which the Mystery of God shall be fulfilled Object In the same Chapter at the seventh Verse comes in the seventh Trumpet which plainly shews that the sixth Trumpet ended at the Verse before Answ But if you look into the Text you shall there find that the seventh Trumpet is then to be expected and 't is there spoken of to signifie so much But in the dayes of the Voyce of the seventh Angel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he shall be ready to sound Quando futurum est ut clangat saith Brightman when his turn shall come to sound which plainly shews that the time for the seventh Trumpet was not yet come to sound and that the time of the sixth Trumpet was not yet expired but to continue longer even to the fourteenth verse of the eleventh Chapter Ob. The Prophecy of the little Book is no part of the sixth Trumpet but the Prophecy of this eleventh Chapter from the first verse to the fourteenth doth belong unto the little Book therefore c. Ans I deny the Major for a little Book may be the issue or Daughter of a great Book and as out of the seventh Seal came forth seven Trumpets so out of the sixth Trumpet came forth the little Book whether any thing were written therein or no and if there were it doth belong unto the sixth Trumpet and to no other 2. I deny the minor for the little Book had not any Prophecy written in it as hath been shewed in the former Chapter and when the Angel said to John in the former Chapter Thou must Prophecy again his meaning is not that he must begin a new Prophecy ab ovo and so begin a new Book repeating the same times over again as Mr. Mede would have it clavis Apoc. p. 13. Remà ines p. 4 5. but his meaning is that he must go forward with the former Prophecy of the Seals and Trumpets and in particular with the Prophecy of the sixth Trumpet and make known the other part thereof which was yet behind Ob. By 42 months mentioned ver 2. is meant Prophetical months and by 1260 days ver 3. is meant Prophetical days that is 1260 years as appears Numb 14.34 Ezech. 4.6 but it is not likely that the sixth Trumpet should continue half so long Ans Look into the Prophets he that will he shall never find a Prophetical month any more than a natural month and that is thirty natural days and no more and as for the word dayes it is very seldom if ever at all put for years unless it be typically as Numb 14.34 Ezech. 4.6 but not elsewhere 2. What if Numb 14.34 Ezech. 4.6 a day be put for a year Is it therefore so here Or is it so in all other Prophecies of the Scripture beside If it were it is very likely it should be so here but look into the Prophets while you will you shall hardly find it taken for a year in other places therefore not likely it should be so taken in the Revelation 3. Is the same number or the same matter spoken of Numb 14.34 Ezech. 4.6 as is here If it were no doubt they should be taken all alike in all the three places but compare the words together you shall not find the same number nor the same matter spoken of Numb 14.34 Ezech. 4.6 as is here 4. What if I should shew you a Text of Scripture where the self same number that is here used is taken literally for 1260 natural days and no more Is not this a more probable Argument that it is so taken here Look then into the next Chapter following vers 6. and ask Mr. Mede himself and others of our Protestant Divines whether 1260 days be any more than three years and a half Comment Apoc. pag. 174. Moulins Accomplishment of Prophecies pag. 194. 200 201. Piscator in Apoc. cap. 12. v. 6. and then judge of it 5. What if Numb 14.34 Ezek. 4.6 days be not put for years absolutely but typically Read the words and you shall find that to be the meaning After the number of the days in which ye searched the Land even 40 days each day for a year shall ye bear your iniquities even forty years be not days here types of years So again Ezech. 4.5 6. According to the number of the days 390 days so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the House of Israel And when thou hast accomplished them lye again on thy right side and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the House of Juda 40 days I have appointed thee each day for a year is not this typically to be understood And if days be not put for years in neither of these places unless it be
hath no end at all before the Book be ended You will say the four first Trumpets have no close to them Answ They had other Trumpets to succeed them but this Trumpet is the last of all and hath no Trumpet to succeed it Again the two first Woe Trumpets had a close set unto them Rev. 9.12 Rev. 11.14 But this Trumpet is the third Woe Trumpet and therefore should in all likely-hood have a close set unto it as the other have if there were any to be set 2. This Prophecy doth not belong to the little Book but to the Book sealed with seven Seals for that Book had something written in it but the little Book had nothing written in it now there is no part of that Book to which this Prophecy can belong but to the seventh Trumpet only 3. The Prophecy of the seven Vials doth belong unto the seventh Trumpet therefore that which comes between the beginning of the seventh Trumpet and the seven Vials doth belong to the seventh Trumpet also Now that the seven Vials do belong to the seventh Trumpet may appear from hence that as the seventh Seal doth contain seven Trumpets so the seventh Trumpet by the like proportion doth contain seven Vials and Mr. Mede in his Remains pag. 10. doth implicitly confess this Argument to be good in case there be but one Book of Prophecy and this I have already proved in a select question on the tenth Chapter concerning this subject 4. The mystery of God doth belong unto the seventh Trumpet as the Angel plainly saith Rev. 10.7 but the parturition of the Woman is the mystery of God there spoken of Rom. 11.25 Ob. In the former Chapter v. 15.17 18. there is mention of the Kingdom of Christ and of the time of the dead that they should be judged and shall this Prophecy succeed that Ans No it shall not succeed it but begin it The conversion of the Jews is the inchoation of the Kingdom there spoken of as appears v. 10. and the time of the dead in which they shall be judged or avenged shall follow thereupon as appears v. 12. but more particularly ch 14. 7. 13. 15 16. ch 15. 1. ch 16. throughout ch 18. 6. 20. 24. ch 19. 2. 20 21. all which belong unto the seventh Trumpet and is the execution of what was spoken of in general in the former Chapter in which the seventh Trumpet is set down in gross but in this and the Chapters following at retail To which may be added that the seventh Trumpet is a Woe Trumpet and there be no Woes belonging to that Trumpet in the former Chapter but only in the general therefore the particulars are in the Chapters following 2. Quest Whether this Prophecy doth contemporate with the Prophecy of the two witnesses or succeed it Ans 1. The seventh Trumpet doth succeed the sixth but this Prophecy belongs to the seventh Trumpet and that of the two witnesses to the sixth 2. That which gave occasion or an opportunity to the building of the Temple and the prophecying of the witnesses and removed the impediment thereof was the slaughter of the third part of men which were dwelling at Euphrates and that which gives occasion or an opportunity to the parturition of the Woman and removeth the impediment thereof is the fall of the tenth part of the City and the judgment on the Beast Rev. 11.13 and as the slaughter of the third part of Men which were dwelling at Euphrates goes before the prophecying on the witnesses as being the occasion of it by removing the impediments 2 Thes 2.6 7. and affording an opportunity thereunto so the fall of the City and the judgment on the Beast goes before the Travail of the Woman as being the occasion of it by removing the impediments which were or might be a hindrance to it and affording an opportunity thereupon whereby it might be brought to pass 3. The Church in building is before the Church builded but during the prophecying of the witnesses the Church is in building and when the Woman has brought forth her child the Church is then built 4. Persecution and freedom from it cannot contemporate each with other but in the time of this Prophecy the Church is under persecution and during the prophecying of the witnesses the Church is free therefrom until the 1260 days be ended and then the Beast doth war against the witnesses but not before and though the outer Court be given to the Gentiles during the prophecying of the witnesses yet the inner court where the Church is they dare not meddle with 5. Good success and bad success cannot contemporate each with other but in the former Prophecy the enemy hath some success against the Church for three days and a half as appears v. 9.11 but in the time of this Prophecy the Dragon hath no success at all 6. The beginning of this Prophecy doth not contemporate with the beginning of the former nor the end of this Prophecy with the end of the former therefore the middle which is the 1260 days in each Prophecy do not contemporate each with other First I say the beginning of this Prophecy doth not contemporate with the beginning of the former for in the beginning of this Prophecy the Church is under the opposition and persecution of the Dragon but in the beginning of the former while the Temple is in building the Church is free Again in the end of the former Prophecy the Church is worsted by the enemy for three days and a half but in the end of this Prophecy the Dragon has the worst of it and the Church the better 7. Other differences there be which shew they do not Synchronise as first the Church in this Prophecy flies away in that she stands to it and flies not Again in this Prophecy the Church is in the Wilderness in that she is without in an open place And thirdly in this Prophecy the Church is invisible and none but the Dragon knew where she was but in the other Prophecy the Church is visible and the Beast knew where she was all which do shew that they do not Synchronise Object The days of the two Witnesses and the days of the Womans being in the Wilderness are equal in duration for they be 1260 days a piece therefore they Synchronise and contemporate each with other Ans The month of January and the month of March are equal in duration for they be one and thirty days a piece yet they succeed one the other and the month of February comes between and no other is the case here the 1260 days of the Prophesying of the Witnesses and the 1260 days of the Womans being in the Wilderness are equal in duration yet the last of these succeeds the former as the month of March doth the month of January and that which follows in the former Prophecy from the seventh verse to the end of the chapter comes between Object But these Visions were presented both at one