bee no interruption of the preaching thereof and that the Lord will hinder and punish such as offer to hinder and will not obey it CHAP. 12. AS in the eighth Chapter is a vision of a great Mountaine that fell burning into the Sea which there is interpreted to bee the Emperour taking the part of the superstitious Romanes against the faithfull in Christ Heere the Emperour is called a great red Dragon which sheweth the fiercenesse of his persecution against Gods Children for resisting superstitions The woman that was cloathed with the Sunne and the Moone vnder her feet and vpon her head a Crowne of twelue starres sheweth the flourishing estate of the Church by Constantine the Gospell shined from them as the Sun and Moone and the testimony of the twelue Apostles was their Crowne and reioycing and as twelue starres to direct them her trauelling with child was the increase of the faithfull which the Dragon the Emperour sought by all meanes to deuoure they are called a Man child because Christ the Man-child and they are but all one their taking vp into Heauen sheweth their preseruation of God In that it is saide they shall rule the Nations with a rodde of Iron it is because Christ their head shall doe so for them The Dragons Taile that drew the third part of the starres of heauen and cast them to the earth his taile signifieth his edicts and the executioners therof the starres are the faithfull Children of God which shine like starres in respect of Infidells the third part signifieth all the Popes iurisdiction for he neuer had dominion but in the third part of the World and the Heauen heere is the Church I leaue the interpretation of his 7. heads and ten hornes vnto the 17. Chapter where the Angell interprets them The flying of the woman into the wildernes sheweth what feare the faithfull were put in that they were faine to haue priuate meetings as if it were in a wildernes and this continued 1260. yeares concerning the battell in Heauen Michael and his Angells are Christ and his Preachers against the Diuell and Papists his Soldiers and Christ and his Children gatte the victory in the end and Christ and his shall raigne in inspeakeable glory when as the Diuell and all that tooke his part in resisting the Gospell shall inherit eternall paine and torments When this victory was Saint Iohn heard a loud voyce saying Now is Saluation in Heauen that is the Church and strength and the Kingdome of our God and the power of Christ for the accuser of our brethren is cast downe there was neuer any that so falsly accused the faithfull as the Papists haue and still doe like vnto the Diuell their Captaine which accuseth vs day and night before God but they ouercame him by the bloud of the Lambe and the word of their testimony and they loued not their liues vnto death this certifieth vs who were Christs Angells that fought against the Diuell Reioyce yee Heauens and they that dwell therein meaning the faithfull in the true Church woe to the Inhabitants of the earth and and sea The earth is often interpreted great men and the sea the common people meaning carnall men for the Diuell is come downe vnto you hauing great wrath knowing he hath but a short time this is since the 1000. yeares that the Diuell is let loose When the Dragon saw that hee was cast into the earth that is ouercome hee persecuted the woman but God preserued her as an Eagle saueth her selfe with flying aloft and as one that saueth himselfe by hiding in the wildernes and the Dragon cast out water after the woman like a flood that he might carry her away but the earth helped the woman that is God prouided men of the earth euer all this 1260. yeares to defend and succour his children by the Dragon is meant not only the Emperours but the Popes for since the Emperors power decaid the Popes were as Emperours Then the Dragon made warre with the seed of the woman which keepe the Commandements of God and haue the testimony of Iesus Christ these are the warres that long haue beene and now are betwixt the Papists and the Protestants CHAP. 13. THe two Beasts in the Prophesies of this Chapter are the two starres that the Prophesies are of in the 8. and 9. Chapters and both set out vnto vs the Popes The first Beast is said to arise out of the Sea that is from amongst the lower sort of men which is when Phocas had slaine his Maister Mauritius the Emperour all his Children and made himselfe Emperour he gaue Boniface Bishop of Rome preheminence to be highest aboue all other Bishops and sole ruler of them In that he is said to haue seauen heads and tenne hornes with Crownes vpon them the reason is set downe in the second verse because the Dragon gaue him his vertue and his throne and his great power to enable him to fight against the Children of God In that there was set vpon his head the name of blasphemie is because the Pope taketh to himselfe that which onely belongeth to Christ to haue all power in Heauen and Earth and whatsoeuer prerogatiue the Scripture attributeth to Christ the Pope most blasphemously taketh to himselfe In that he is like the Leopard no Beast is so beautifully spotted as the Leopard is so no Emperour or King was euer so richly or gloriously decked with gold and precious stones as the Popes haue beene In that his clawes are like the clawes of a Beare which hath the strongest pawes of all Beasts to catch and to hold withall it sheweth that neuer any Emperour or any else hath been such an exactor of the riches of all Lands as the Popes haue beene as Ecclesiasticall Histories make mention In that his mouth was as the mouth of a Lyon it sheweth his tyranny cruelty and mercilesnes in deuouring Gods children and well may the holy Ghost stile him a Beast that hath these beastly qualities his head that was wounded to death was the Emperour when Mauritius and his Children were slaine But Hiraclius the Emperour killed Phocas that slew them and restored the Empire againe And the superstitious gloried in the Pope being made so great by the Emperour and worshipped the Dragon that gaue power vnto him and they worshipped the Beast saying Who is like vnto the Beast Who is able to warre with him And the Beast blasphemed God and his name and his tabernacle and them that dwell in Heauen that is his faithfull Children and hee warred against the Saints and ouercame them and power was giuen him ouer euery Kingdome and tongue and Nation therefore all that are in the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Booke of life But heere is the benefit of the patience and faith of Saints if any lead into Captiuity he shall be led into Captiuity and whosoeuer killed them by the sword shall bee killed by the sword This second Beast
ioyned vnto the Popedome the temporall Sword that is iutisdiction ouer all Emperours Kings to place them and displace them at his pleasure Which appeares in that hee gaue such power to his Locusts as hereafter is declared he is said to haue the key of the bottomlesse pit which sheweth that as the Angell in the 20. Chap. had the key of the bottomlesse pit to binde Sathan and to shut him therein for 1000. yeares so when the 1000. yeares were expired the Pope had the key of the bottomlesse pit to let him out againe The smoake that came out of this pit when it was opened and darkned the Sunne was their superstitions and false doctrines that darkned the Gospel as smoake darkens the Sun The Locusts that came out were the Cardinals and Bishops These farre differed from the Bishops of the primitiue Church they were the onely planters and maintainers of true Religion these the onely confounders destroyers therof The Locusts in Egypt neuer more deuoured the fruits of the land then these Locusts did the riches of all Countries both of their soules and of their bodies Their crownes shew the power that they had their faces like men sheweth their hypocriticall and fayre speeches their hayre like women declareth their flattering allurements that they vsed their Lions teeâ—h their cruelty and what deuourers of men they were their iron haubergions sheweth the temporall iurisdiction that they had their wings and chariots with many horses sheweth their swiftnesse and power to doe mischiefe their tayles like Scorpions with heads and crownes on them and stings were their Substitutes and Officers to whom they gaue great power as appeareth by their heads and crownes These so much stung and vexed the people that they were weary of their liues In that these had not power to hurt those that were marked by the Angell for God in the fore-heads it sheweth that yet the diuels time was not come to bee let loose to shed the bloud of Saints and it declareth the prouidence of God vnto the faithfull and that hee had euer his Church in the most troublous times In that these Locusts came out of the bottomlesse pit it sheweth that they were of the diuell and if the Diuell himselfe had beene in the shape of man he could not be worse then they were In that they had power to hurt but for fiue moneths it is common with the holy Ghost in prophesies to set a day for a yeare and at 30. dayes to the moneth which was the Iewes computation fiue moneths is 150. dayes which sheweth that their chiefe regalitie and power was to continue but 150. yeares In that this Starre is said to haue the key of the bottomlesse pit wee may see how much the Pope deceiueth vs in vaunting that hee hath the keyes of heauen when they are but the keyes of hell The mighty power of the Pope at this time is declared in that that hee is called the King ouer the Locusts and in that he could conferre such great power vpon them and in that hee is said to be the Angell of the bottomlesse pit it sheweth that hee had all the power that the diuell could doe to strengthen him and it appeares what a destroyer the Pope is in that the holy Ghost nameth him Destruction This Vision following in the 14. Verse of this Chapter and the Vision in the 7. Verse of the 20. Chapter are all one Now the 1000. yeares that the diuell should bee bound being expired the Gospell beginning to reuiue again he hath liberty to rage and stirre againe that the might of Christ might bee seene in defending his silly Lambes against the diuell the roaring Lion and all the popish Wolues though they were neuer so strong The infinite number of warriers that S. Iohn saw and told were the very same Locusts before mentioned for the description of these them are all one in all points and their battell was against the Saints as appeareth in the 20. Chapter The fire smoake and brimstone that went out of their mouthes were their Excommunications in that like smoake they breathed out that whosoeuer disobeyed them should be eternally burnt in Hell with fire and brimstone In that the Diuell is said to be foure Angels it is because as soone as he was set at liberty as is declared in the 20. Chapter he went into all the foure quarters of the earth to prouoke men against the Children of God in that hee got such an infinite number these were the Pope Cardinals Bishops Abbots Fryers and their officers to martyr the Saints In that it is said hee came from the riuer Euphrates it was to signifie that as the Babilonians came from Euphrates to destroy the materiall Temple so should this spirituall Babilon destroy the spirituall Temple If wee consider the martyrdome of the Waldences in France and their massacres and the Martyres that their Inquisitions haue deuoured there and all that haue beene martyred in England fince Wicklifs time those that haue beene martyred in Bohemia Germany Scotland and by their Inquisitions in Spaine other places we shall see that the Diuell by these Locusts since his letting loose hath slaine more of Gods children then euer he did before he was bound CHAP. 10. NOtwithstanding the mighty hoast of the diuell and all his Popish train yet we see how Christ hath preuailed As Sauls kingdome decreased and Dauids increased so the Lord be praysed wee daily see Christs kingdome increase the Popes more and more ruinated let the Iesuites the Angels of the bottomlesse pit deuise neuer so many diuellish practises to vphold the same the vision of Christ in this Chapter declareth so much His Rainebow about his head teacheth vs that the Diuell by the Pope and his Locusts shall preuaile no more ouer vs euen as the Rainbow assureth vs the world shall bee no more drowned His face shineth to shew his fauor to such as haue forsaken all Popish errors and trust in him onely his brasen feet certifieth vs that he will tread the Diuell the Pope and all his Locusts vnder his feete In that he sets one foot on the sea and the other foot on the land it may hence infallibly be gathered that after Christ shall destroy the Popedome the very Turkes and Iewes and all Papists that remaine shall bee conuerted to beleeue in Christ onely and his elect among them shall be saued In that Christ sweares that there shall be no more time but in the dayes of the voyce of the seauenth Angell when hee shall blow the Trumpet the mystery of God shall be finished it may be most certainly concluded that not long after the destruction of the Popedome Christ shall come to Iudgement In that S. Iohn is forbidden to to write the voyce of the feauen thunders we must learne that there be some things that the Lord will not haue reuealed vnto vs as is the day of Christs comming to iudgement and the certaine day
is the second starre in the ninth Chapter which is Hildebrand which ioyned the supremacie vnto the Popedome that is temporall iurisdiction ouer the Emperour and the ten Kings to place them and displace them at his pleasure which is manifested in that hee is said to haue two hornes like the Lambe Christ that is to bee King of Kings and Lord of Lords as well as Ruler ouer soules Whereas his Predecessors had the Emperours power and iurisdiction but by permission and fauour hee and his Successors claymed the supremacie of duty giuen vnto them of God alleadging all those places of Scriptures which declareth what supremacie God hath giuen vnto Christ ouer all in heauen and earth for his proofes thereof and so made the image of the first Beast that is like as the first beast had the power of the Emperour but in fauour hee annexed the power and supremacie aboue all Emperours and Kings as an appertinent and duty vnto the Popedome for euer and he spake as presumptuously as the Dragon did execute his power in the Emperors sight that is as not hauing his power from him but from God This Beast did great signes so that hee made fire to descend vpon earth in the sight of men but these signes were done by Nigromancy wherefore after Pope Hildebrand was condēned by a general Councell and for coniuration and dealing with the Diuell many other grieuous offences hee was by the said Councell depriued from being Pope but his Successors vnto this day still maintaine the doctrine of his vsurped Supremacie ouer all Princes And this Beast made a law that whosoeuer would not worship the Image of the Beast should bee slaine The number of the beasts name is 666. this is to shew that at that time the first beast beganne to corrupt the Church with superstitions and false doctrines as is declared in Chap. 8. of the first Starre In that in the fift verse of this Chapter there is a mouth giuen vnto the beast to speak blasphemies 42. moneths which is interpreted Chap. 11. to be 1260. yeares so that iust this time was appointed vnto the People Emperour and Pope and it sheweth that they all this time ioyned together to tread downe the holy Citie the true Church all this while CHAP. 14. NOw Antichrist is reuealed in such liuely colours that none except the diuell blinde his eyes but may see the Pope to bee Antichrist now in this Chapter begins to be declared his destruction Christs standing vpon mount Sion signifieth his presence with his children the 144000. that were with him which were sealed in the 7. Chapter a certaine number for an innumerable number declaring that all the Saints who all this time of 1260. yeares were martyred or persecuted by Antichrist were with him in glory and none of them lost In that the sound of their voices was like the roaring of many waters and like thunder it declareth what a multitude of them there be In that they played vpon harps and sung a new song which none could learne but themselues their harping sheweth how ioyfully they praised God that none can sing such new songs and so much praise God as those which haue suffered for standing faithfully in the truth and haue beene deliuered In that they are commended for not being defiled with women it is not onely meant of their bodily chastity but also of their spirituall chastitie in that Antichrist had not made them commit spirituall fornication by following his idolatrous doctrines but they were virgins that did onely cleaue vnto their Spouse Christ and his word In their mouthes was found no guile they taught onely the truth they were without spot before the throne of God that is in the righteousnesse of Christ Now the 1260. yeares of Antichrist appeare plainely to bee finished in that the Gospell doth so plentifully flourish and in that wee see Christ vpon mount Sion that is defending his Church And here wee haue a promise that this shall be an euerlasting Gospell that is to indure vnto Christs comming as which so great a grace was neuer shewed vnto former ages therfore the Angell that brings vs these glad tidings exhorts vs to feare God giue glory vnto him for the houre of his iudgement is come and worship him that made heauen and earth and the fountaines of water Then is prophesied that Rome shall bee destroyed called by the name of great Babylon because as the Babylonians destroyed the materiall Temple so haue they of Rome the spirituall Temple the faithfull the cause of her destruction followeth Because shee hath made drunken all nations with the wine of the wrath of her fornications that is of her idolatrous and false doctrine Therefore there followes a warning that whosoeuer shall worship the Image of the Beast that is the Pope and receiue the print of his name that is make holinesse in crossing himselfe and in other superstitions hee shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God and bee tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lambe and the smoake of their torments shall ascend euermore and they shall haue no rest day nor night In that the destruction of Antichrist followeth the preaching of the Gospell it declareth that by it Antichrist shall bee destroyed and that the suppression of the preaching of the word was the cause of the growth of it and therefore it is that the diuell puts into the heads of Papists to keepe all people from the reading hearing and preaching of Gods word The voyce from heauen that bad Iohn write Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them ought to incourage vs to preach the Gospell to the beating downe of Antichrist though we suffer neuer so much for our labour After the fall of Antichrist by the preaching of the Gospell and that the Lord hath fulfilled the number of the elect then shall Christ come vpon a white cloud wearing a golden crowne in his hand a sickle and because the haruest of the earth is ripe heeshall thrust in his sickle and the earth shall be reaped that is by an allusion to husbandmen in haruest is declared how Christ shall gather his Saints to him into heauen And by the Angell that with a sharp sickle cut vp the vineyards of the earth because her grapes were ripe and cast them into the great winepresse of the wrath of God the winepresse was trodden without the Citie the bloud or wine of the grapes was vnto the horse bridles by the space of 1600. furlongs By an allusion to grape-gatherers is declared how Gods Angels shall cast the reprobate into eternall torments and in that the winepresse is without the Citie it sheweth that the place of the damned shall be separated from the Elect and in that there was such plenty of grapes that the wine or bloud of them was vp to the horses bridles that trode
hee was called faithfull and hee that iudgeth and fighteth righteously his face like a flame of fire and vpon his head many Crownes hee had a name written that none knew but himselfe hee was cloathed in a garment dipped in blood and his name was the word of God and the warriers in Heauen followed him vpon white hories these are the Preachers of the Gospell their pure white linnen is the righteousness of Christ out of his mouth wenâ— a sharpe sword that he might smite the Heathen for hee shall rule them with a rodde of Iron for hee it is that treadeth the wine-presse of the fiercenes of Gods wrath and hee hath a name written the King of Kings and Lord of Lords all these figuratiuespeeches haue beene sufficiently declared heeretofore And an Angell cryed to the fowles of Heauen these are the tenne Kings and their armies to gather themselues vnto the supper of the great God to eate the flesh of Kings Captaines and of mighty men and of horses and of them that sit on them and of free-men and of bond-men and of small and of great And the Pope and Kings and Warriours gathered themselues together to make Batraile against Christ that sate vppon the Horse and his Soldiours but the Pope the false Prophet that deceiued them that receiued his marke and worshipped him these were aliue cast into the Lake burning with fire and brimstone and the remnant were slaine with the sword that came out of Christs mouth and all the foules were filled with their flesh that is the tenne Kinges and their Captaines and Soldiours had a most rich and full booty of the destruction and sacking of Rome When Rome was destroyed Saint Iohn heard a great voyce of a great multitude in Heauen saying Halaluiah that is Praise the Lord saluation and glory and honour and power bee to the Lord our God for true and righteous are his iudgements for hee hath condemned the great Whore which did corrupt the earth with her fornication and hath auenged the blood of the Saints shed by her hand And againe they said Halaluiah and her smoke rose vp for euermore and the Elders and foure Beasts said Amen Halaluiah Then came a voyce out of the throne saying Praise our God all yee his seruants and a great voyce as of many waters and as thunder said Halaluiah for our Lord God Almighty hath reigned let vs bee glad and reioyce and giue glory to him for the marriage of Christ is come and his wife that is the faithful hath made herselfe ready This sheweth that the Gospel shall flourish more when Rome and the Popedome is destroyed then euer it did And to Christs wife was granted that shee should bee cloathed in pure fine and shining linnen that is in Christs righteousnesse and Saint Iohn was bid to write blessed are they that are called vnto the Lambs supper saying These words are true Saint Iohn was so rauished with the ioy of this vision that hee worshipped the Angell that shewed it but hee forbad him and bad him worship God saying I am but one of your brethren which haue the spirit of Prophesie which is the testimony of Iesus CHAP. 20. IN this Chapter is declared the history of Sathan the Authour of the first tenne persecutions but when as Constantine had ouercome those persecuting Idolaters Saint Iohn seeth in a Vision that God bound the Diuell for a thousand yeares that is from generall martyring and deceiuing of the elect and chosen Children of God Yet in this time Sathan brought in all popish blasphemies Superstitions and Idolatries and grieuously persecuted those that stood to the puritie of the word against Antichrist The Seates that Saint Iohn saw and them that sate vpon them was Christ and the faithfull and gaue Iudgement and condemned the idolatrous and superstitious Papists who these thousand yeares persecuted the faithfull And Saint Iohn saw the soules of them that were persecuted for the witnesse of IESVS and the word of GOD and did not worship the Pope nor had taken his marke on their fore-heads or on their hands and they liued and reigned with Christ To arise from popish errours sinnes and superstitions is the first resurrection on such the second death shall haue no power but they shall bee the priests of God and Christ and reigne with him for euer After the Diuell had bin bound a thousand yeares from the time of Constantine as an Angell in the first Verse had the key of the bottomlesse pit and bound Sathan then the Pope had the key of the bottomlesse pit to loose the Diuell as appeareth in the ninth Chapter and when hee was loose hee went out to deceiue the people in the foure quarters of the earth Gogge and Magogge that is the open and the secret enemies of the faithfull which are in the ninth Chapter shewed to bee the Locusts and their tayles that is the popish Cardinals Bishoppes Abbots Fryers and such like to gather them together to battell against the faithfull and the number of them was infinite as the sands of the Sea but as they compassed the beloued Citie that is the faithfull fire came downe from heauen and deuoured them that is the Lord in his wrath destroyed the popedome and the Diuell that deceiued them and the Pope the false prophet were cast into a Lake of fire and brimstone where they shall bee tormented day and night for euermore After all these things it is prophesied that Christ shall come vnto iudgement sitting vpon a great white throne from whose face fled away both the earth and the Sea and their place were no more found And Saint Iohn saw the dead both great and small before God the Bookes were opened and another Booke was opened which is the Booke of life and the dead were iudged of those things which were written in the Bookes this is a Vision according to our capacitie for Gods wisedome is his Booke whereby hee alwayes seeth all things that euer were are or shall bee and Death and Hell that is the Diuell the cause of them were cast into the Lake of fire which is the second death and so were all that were not found written in the Booke of life CHAP. 21. IN these two last Chapters is declared how flourishing the Church shall be after the destruction of the Popedome vnto the end of the world This is declared in the tenth Chapter and the second Verse In that Christ is said to set one foote vpon the sea and the other vpon the land that all Countries shall confesse Christ and hee shall haue of his elect in all places As Mahomet rose iust with Antichrist in the yeare 666. so no doubt but the example of the destruction of Rome and the Popedome shall make the Turkes Iewes and them of other Nations to become Christians This is declared likewise in the 19. Chapter Let vs be glad and reioyce for the destruction of Rome because then the Lambs wife shall be made ready and
A REVELATION OF THE REVELATION Wherein is contayned a most true plaine and briefe manifestation of the meaning and scope of all the Reuelation and of euery Mystery of the same Whereby the Pope is most plainely declared and proued to bee Antichrist BY THOMAS MASON Preacher of the word of God at Odyham in the County of South Printed at London by G. Eld. 1619. TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY KING IAMES by the especiall Grace of God of Great Britaine France and Ireland King and in all causes whether Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill next vnder CHRIST supreme Head and a most faithfull Defender of the true Catholique and Apostolique Faith in all his Realmes and Dominions Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplyed Most Excellent Soueraigne HAuing attained vnto some certaintie of the scope and meaning of the Reuelation and of the Mysteries thereof by earnest prayer pervsing of Expositors and conference of the Prophesies therof with the Ecclesiasticall Histories and being desirous to inlighten others I haue cōpiled in as briefe and easie manner as I could deuise the true scope and meaning of the same and of euery Mysterie thereof And being well assured that as God gaue vnto the Kingly Prophet Dauid a rich measure of his Spirit so he hath bequeathed vnto your Highnesse most abundantly his holy Ghost so that none more knoweth the minde of Christ then you Maiesty doth Which imboldened me to dedicate this my Worke vnto your Highnesse most humbly crauing that this little shew of my dutifull loue vnto your Maiestie may obtaine pardon for my too much boldnesse so as it is my bounden dutie I will neuer cease to offer vppe supplications vnto God and vnto Iesus Christ for the dewe of his Spirit to be daily distilled into your Royall heart for your direction and that God would alwayes charge his holy Angels for the preseruation of your Maiesties person and of our most gracious Queene our most Royall Prince and all your Highnesse Kingly Progenie Your Maiesties most faithfull and dutifull Subiect THOMAS MASON THE EPISTLE to the Reader FOr the better vnderstanding of the Reuelation Christian Reader I would haue thee to obserue in the three first Chapters the then present estate of the seauen Churches and in the fourth and fifth Chapters the vision of Saint Iohn in Heauen in what manner hee receiued the generall Reuelation from Christs ascension vntill his comming vnto iudgement in the sixt and seauenth Chapters the estate of the Church vnder the Idolatrous Emperours vntill the Christian Emperour Constantine his time and the flourishing of the estate thereof by him and in the eighth ninth and tenth Chapters the estate of the Church vnder the Emperors that were after Constantine and the Popes how men became as cold as hayle in true Religion and as hot as fire to maintaine superstitions to the shedding of blood and how the Emperours signified by the great Mountaine tooke part with the superstitious with a burning zeale persecuting those that would not consent to their superstitions The great Starre that fell from Heauen as bitter as worme-wood was the falling of the Bishop of Rome from Christ and his word to mainetaine superstitions and for that purpose was exalted of the Emperours aboue all other Bishops The second Starre is the Popes which exalted themselues aboue all the Emperours and Kings and filled the world with their mighty Locusts that is Cardinalls Popish Bishops and their officers Abbots Friers and such like and when these were multiplied as the sands of the sea the Diuell that was bound for a thousand yeares from Constantine his time is let loose obtaineth these innumerable company of Locusts to take his part and persecuted the Saints by these Antichristian Locusts martyred more then euer hee did by the idolatrous Emperours yet Christ and his Saints obtaine the victory And from the beginning of the eleuenth Chapter vnto the end of the Booke are prophesied againe the very same things of Antichrist but much more largely and with other similitudes In the eleuenth Chapter the superstitious are called the Courts and the faithfull the temple and Saint Iohn is commanded not to mete the Courts but to cast them out and it is prophesied that they shall tread the holy Citty which is the faithfull vnder their feete 1260. yeares In the twelfth Chapter the Emperours which before are called a great mountaine are heere called a great red Dragon and are prophesied to be they which shall be the greatest cause of the treading vnder foote the Children of God all this time of the 1260. yeares In the thirteenth Chapter the Popes that were called two Starres before are called two beasts the first Beast the Emperours shall set aboue all other Bishops of purpose to maintaine superstitions and to tread the faithfull vnder their feete all the said time of 1260. yeares and for this purpose the Dragon shall giue him his power and authority The second Beast which had two hornes like the Lambe is the second Starre as before which is the Pope when hee tooke vpon him not onely to bee the whole ruler in spirituall matters but to bee King of all Kings as Christ is and exalted himselfe aboue the Emperours All the other Chaptors vnto the end declare the manner of the destruction of Antichrist and of Rome and the flourishing of the Gospell after Rome shall be destroyed vntill Christs comming to iudgement As Christ foretolde the destruction of Ieausalem and truely at his time appointed performed it so surely bath Christ Prophesied and as truely in his time will accomplish the destruction of Rome and as a whole yeare before the destruction of Ierusalem there was seene an extraordinary Blazing Starre so the Blazing Starre that now so strangely appeareth seemeth to manifest Gods fiery indignation against Rome which shall shortly destroy it and to bee a forewarning vnto all men that they flye from her false Doctrines lest they be pertakers of her punishments and that all Kings and the Children of God should haue their hearts inflamed like the flaming Starre against that abhominable Strumpet to gather themselues to battell against her and burne her with fire And because euery one of Gods Children must claime by a liuely faith as perticular vnto himselfe all the generall promises of Christ so we ought to apply the generall iudgements of God euery one vnto his owne soule Let vs therefore examine our hearts whether wee retaine there any Poposh superstition or sinne against any of Gods commandements vnrepented of for against such that will not repent the Lords anger burneth like the blazing Starre But if wee flie by true repentance and a liuely faith and catch hold of the blood of Iesus Christ to wash away our sinnes and of his righteousnesse to couer our imperfections then may wee with ioy looke vpon this blazing Starre and prayse God for declaring his fierce wrath against Antichrist and sinners and for hastening to reuenge the blood of his Saints and that the time
the presses for the space of 1600. furlongs it sheweth the multitude of the number of the damned CHAP. 15. IN this Chapter begins the manner of the destruction of Rome and the Popedome by the seauen last plagues which vision S. Iohn cals a great and meruailous signe The glassie sea in the 4. Chapter is interpreted the soules of the faithfull there it was like Christall but here like fire shewing that the soules of the faithfull burned in zeale for the martyrdomes and persecutions of Antichrist and when they saw these 7. plagues goe forth they reioyced especially the soules of those whom Antichrist had martyred and persecuted Their ioy is signified by their harps and they sung the new song of Moses when he was deliuered from Pharao and the song of Christ when hee was raysed from death that is Great meruailous are thy workes Lord God Almighty iust and true are thy wayes King of Saints who shall not feare thee O Lord and glorifie thy name for thou onely art holy and all nations shal come and worship before thee for thy iudgments are made manifest The Tabernacle in heauen that S. Iohn saw open is the Church of the faithfull which by preaching opens a doore for all by beliefe to enter into the kingdome of heauen In that the 7. Angels with the vials of Gods wrath came out of the Tabernacle to wit the Church it sheweth that they were sent at the prayers of the faithfull their long white roabes is the righteousnes of Christ their golden girdles signifie the gloriousnesse and purenesse of their loue to God and his children for loue is the band of perfection In that the Angels poure out the vials of Gods wrath it shewes that God vseth them as instruments to punish the wicked and though Antichrist is and shall be destroyed by men they are but the instrumentall cause of God and his Angels CHAP. 16. THe first second third plagues are that there fell a grieuous and noysome sore vpon them who had the mark of the Beast and worshipped the image of the Beast in that the sea and waters became bloud it signifieth that many of thē should be slaine These seeme to prophesie the victories that the Turks other the Popes enemies haue had against the Papists the slaughters they haue committed vpon them which was the iust iudgement of God as appeares ver 5. in that an Angell saith Lord thou art iust because thou hast iudged these things for they shed the bloud of the Saints of the Prophets therfore hast thou giuen them bloud to drinke for they are worthy And another Angell said Euen so Lord God Almighty true and righteous are thy iudgements The fourth plague poured vpon the Sunne seemes to bee vpon their clergy this was the ouerthrow of the Cardinals Bishops Abbots Monks Friers Nuns and all their houses and dens in England Scotland other reformed countries this plague tormented them with heate of fire and made them boyle in great heate and blaspheme the name of God yet they repented not to giue God glory The fist viall fell vpon the throne of the Pope this was the cutting off of his reuennues which were infinite out of all countries and England was the most profitable in reuennues vnto the Pope of all countries and therefore was called the Popes Asse for bearing all taxes impositions that the Popes Cardinals laid vpon it but now the Pope is faine to allow maintenance for vpholding of Popery in al countries this hath wonderfully darkned the brightnes of his glory and kingdome and this makes them gnaw their tongues for sorrow and to blaspheme the God of heauen for their paines and their sores and yet they repent not of their works The sixt plague is the drying vp of the waters of Euphrates that the way of the Kings of the East should be prepared this is an allusion to the destruction of the temporall Babilon the meaning is that as the Medes and Persians turned the Riuer Euphrates out of his course whereby they went ouer destroyed Babilon so the Lord will take away all impediments that the ten King domes that haue hitherto taken part with the Pope may destroy Rome the spirituall Babilon as the Angell interpreteth it in the next Chapter The three vncleane spirits that came out of the mouth of the Pope for now the Pope is the Dragon in that hee is aboue the Emperour and as mighty and full of venome and as ready to sting and poyson Gods children as any Dragon and he is the Beast in respect of his beastly conditions and the false witnesse in respect of all his false doctrines These vncleane spirits are the Iesuites for they are sworne at the Popes command to goe into any Countrey and spend their liues for the vpholding of the Popedome these are the rotten pillers which proppe vp the falling tower of Babell the Popedome they are called three in respect of the triple diuision of the Popes Dominions to wit into the land the sea Riuers They are compared to frogges to shew they doe as much hurt all Countries as the frogs did Egipt and they are as lothsome in the sight of God and men as frogs are in our sights as frogs turne all things that they eat to poyson so doe they all Scriptures to the poysoning of soules and their study is nothing but treasons poysonings and murders of protestant Kings Princes and Countries but according to this Prophesie at the time that God hath appointed their wicked practises shall open the eyes of all Kings to see the vildnes and horrible wickednes of Antichrist and bee prouoked against that great day of the Lord to congregate themselues in Arma Geddon which may be interpreted a house or temple falling meaning Rome and the Popedome being now ready to fall The seauenth Angell powreth out his viall into the ayre that is sets the ayre against Antichrist which is the breath of Gods Ministers and their preachings vexed and tormented him like thunders and lightenings and shooke the Popedome like the greatest earthquake that euer was and made the greatest part of the Popedome to fall and become Protestants which the Lord be praised for it wee see already to bee performed and their preaching was like vnto the greatest hayle that euer was euery haylestone as big and heauy as a talent weight by which figuratiue speeches is signified the vtter destruction of Rome as the Angell interpreteth it saying It is done and in that it is said The Citty of the Nations fell and great Babilon came in remembrance before God to giue her the cup of the fiercenesse of his wrath and that the Iles that is them of the Iles and the mountaines that is the great ones fled away that is departed from the Popes false doctrines CHAP. 17. IN this Chapter an Angell sheweth St. Iohn Rome in a vision and interpreteth all the hardest things to bee vnderstood in this Reuelation He calleth
blessed are they that are called vnto the Lambes Supper In that there shall bee then a new heauen meaning the Church and a new earth meaning temporall gouernment and the old is passed away it sheweth that things touching the Church and Common wealth shall bee wholly ruled according vnto the Word of God and that all Popish and Iewish lawes which are contrary to the Word of GOD shall bee no more And there shall be no more sea that is ignorant and vnconstant men carryed away with euery wind of false doctrine as the waues of the sea are tossed with the winde Then the Church shall be prepared as a fit Bride for Christ her husband that is the Tabernacle of God shall bee with men and GOD shall dwell with them and they shall bee his people and God himselfe shall be their God and wipe away all teares from their eyes and there shall bee no more death sorrow crying or paine for the first things are past that is then there shall bee no more martyring persecuting mocking blaspheming and deriding of Gods Children In the tenth Verse an Angell shewes Saint Iohn a Vision of the glory that the Church then shall haue In that it is called a great Citie it shewes what a great number shall beleeue in that it is called holy Ierusalem it declareth the holinesse of their Faith Hope and Loue and other graces the descending of it from God out of heauen sheweth that God from heauen shall fill her with the riches of his graces and shee had the glory of God which made her shine like precious stones The three gates on euery side are the Trinitie without which there is no way to enter into the Church the Angels that are at these doores are the Preachers the twelue foundations of this Church is Iesus Christ which the twelue Apostles haue taught vs to build all our hope vpon in that the three gates were on euery side of the Church it sheweth that the doores of grace shall lye open and the Gospell be preached vnto all nations The twelue thousand furlongs the length the bredth and the height of it haue an allusion vnto the twelue thousand of euery Tribe that were marked for God in the seauenth Chapter the wals being an hundred forty foure cubits haue an allusion vnto the hundred forty foure thousand the whole number of them that were marked of all Tribes The stones of the wall signifie the faithfull in that they are precious stones it is by reason that the precious righteousnesse of Iesus Christ is imputed vnto them and of their precious Faith Hope and Loue and other graces giuen them of Christ In that they are a wall to the new Ierusalem that the Diuell nor any vncleane thing can come into it is declared how louingly they shall ioyne one with another as stones in a wall and how strongly they shall support one another to expell and to keepe out falshood and to defend the truth In that this Citie was of pure gold it sheweth the puritie of their Religion without any drosse of superstitions In that there was no Temple it sheweth that they shall truely serue God in spirit and truth and Christ shall bee their Temple in whom all their hearts shall meet and in him offer all sacrifices of prayer and praysing of God and of good workes which the Lord will accept for his Sonne Iesus Christ his sake In that it hath no neede of the Sunne nor of the Moone to shine in it the holy Spirit shall so illuminate their vnderstandings more then the light of naturall reason can teach them and there shall be no night for where the spirit of God is there is no darknesse In that the gates shall neuer bee shut it certifieth that none that come with a liuely faith shall bee shut from Grace and that Grace shall alwayes bee offered In that the glory and the honor of the Gentiles shall bee brought vnto it it sheweth that the Kings and chiefest of all Countries shall beleeue in Christ and there shall enter into it no vncleane thing that is wicked men nor whomsoeuer worketh abhomination and lyes such they shall hate and excommunicate but onely such shall enter as are written in the Lambes Booke of life CHAP. 22. THe pure riuer of water of life like Chrystall proceeding out of the Throne is the doctrine of the Gospell of Iesus Christ whosoeuer drinketh of him shall neuer thirst for any other meanes of saluation their thirst shall bee so fully quenched in him that they shall alwayes reioyce in their saluation Hee is the tree of life whosoeuer eateth of him with a liuely Faith shall haue eternall life and he shall neuer hunger that is doubt thereof Christ alwayes is fruitfull and the leaues of his righteousnes shall heale the imperfections and diseases of the faithfull in all nations There shall bee no curse but the throne of God and the Lambe shall be amongst the faithfull and they shall be his seruants and serue him and they shall see his face and his name shall be written in their foreheads that is they shall not bee ashamed to confesse his name and they shall reigne for euermore that is in the world to come Then S. Iohn concludes the truth of these Prophesies by the Angels testimony and his owne and lastly hee bringeth in Iesus Christ speaking for the testimony of the truth hereof I Iesus haue sent mine Angell to testifie these things in the Churches I am the roote and generation of Dauid the bright morning Starre The Spirit the Bride exhort men to come to me and let euery one that heares exhort men to come to mee and let all that thirst and will take of the water of life freely come for I protest that who so shall adde any thing to this Booke God will adde to him the plagues written in this Booke and if any diminish of the words hereof God will take away his part out of the Booke of life and the holy Citie he that testifieth these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen Euen so Lord Iesus The grace of our Lord Iesus be with vs all Amen FINIS