body of this Prophecy now in order to this ponder and weigh advisedly two things First The Scope or Intent of the Book Secondly The Synchronisms or the contemporaneousness of the Prophesies therein how the Visions therein run parallel one with another and what an acurate harmony and sweet consent there is among them in respect of time First Eye and observe intentively the scope of the Book that is the common time and Period whereunto all the particular Prophecies and passages in the Revolation do joyntly run and wherein they do ultimately determine For this is the Pole-stâ—â— and compass we must steer by the chief mark or white which must be aymed and levelled at in interpreting this whole book and all the mysterious visions therein contained Like an accurate Archer therefore keep the eye of thy judgement fixed stedfastly on the Scope that so far as possible thou shoot not wide not short nor over Now the Scope or intent of the Revelation 1. Parts of the book is more generally to make known to the Apostle John and by John to the Churches the present things that then were when the Revelation was given and the future things that should be afterwards from Johns time to the end of the World as the title of the Book intimates Rev. 1.1.1.19 2. More particularly Jesus Christ intends in this Book to declare the future condition of the Christian Religion and Churches of the Gentiles especially the European Churches the remaines of the Roman Empire and the Tyrannical dominion of Antichrist those singular subject matters of this book extending themselves in Europe peculiarly or as another learned writer expresseth it to the same purpose Christ intends in this book to describe the state of the Church in the New â—â—â—ament The Arocal vp is a Prophefie of the destruction of the Roman Empire not only as Heathenish but as Christian when as it were it was paganised again and persecuting the Church Mr. Thomas Goodwin in his Sermon before the Parliament 1645. and also the things that shall come to pass in the Roman Empire or the fourth Monarchy under which the Church of God doth subsist and that in divers remarkable Periods of events Now this description comprehends three Periods or three sorts of times The first Period containes the time of the Dragon the time in which the seven Crowns stood upon the seven heads of the Dragon Rev. 12.3 when the Dragon himself under the heathenish Emperors was publiquely adored and worshiped but the Christians banished persecuted and put to cruel death till at last Constantine the great came to the Imperial Seat whereby the raign of the Dragon came to an end for he throws down all both Idol-worship and Princes that upheld it So the Dragon was cast out of the Church Heaven the whole Empire turning Christian though as one well said the Devil did not thâ—â— turn Christian for he stirred up thâ—â—â—â—rian Christian world to persecute the Orthodox Christians as much as Heathen Rome had done yet notwithstanding the Church prevailed was built up and triumphed until after the death of the good Emperor Theodesins at which time the Devil left his shape of a Dragon and resigned his Host his residence and seat with his great authority unto the beast with ten horns that rose out of the Sea Cap 13.1 2. The second period comprehends the time of Antichrists raign Period 2. or the time in which the Pope of Rome as the Antichrist and enstalled Leiutenant of the Dragon Blasphemeth God and his name and persecutes his Saints for the space of 1200 and 60 days Rev. 13. Which God hath permitted as a scourge to Arrian Rome when the Dragon was overcome and cast out of the Church Heaven he did cast out of his mouth Water as a flood after the Woman Rev. 12.15 i.e. he stirred up the Septentrional Nations to invade the Roman Empire So Brightman Deed. Piscator I unius intending thereby to root out and destroy the Church but the earth swallowed up the flood in regard these Nations embruned the Christian faith Some by the flood understand Heresies especially Arrianism overflowing the Christian world and so interprers the earth to be the multitude of Christians mer in general Councels who defending the true faith overthrew and drank up these heresies as dry ground drinketh up water remaining in the Roman Empire and erected several Kingdomes in it Seeing then the Dragon saw that he could not maintain the Heathenism wherein be was openly worshipped and served he resigneth to the Beast which riseth up out of the Sea Rev. 13.7 and is ridden and governed by the great whore of Babylon Rev. 133. c. that is to the Antichrist who in the time of these wars doth creep out in the Roman Empire his power and his seat and great authority Cap. 13. vers 2. And so makes him his Vicar and Lieutenant by giving over to him his Seat and Residence the City of Rome and the whole Roman Empire whence it came to pass that about the time the Bishops of Rome began to seek to have the primacy and preeminence both in Church and State as Innocentius the first did in the year say some 402. others 406. The Dragon doth resign to his Lieutenant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Dragons delegate or Inostirute Râ—â— his whole host for in this sence the seventy Interpreters do use this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Exod. 14.14 and 15.4 as Mat. 24.29.30 The Host of the Dragon are his Angels or Devils So Mede and the Idols in which the Dragon and the Devils are worshipped and served by the heathen These Idols the Anti-Christian Popedome hath received and worshipped under the name of Saints the Dragon and his Vicegerent as hereof the Text speak's Cap. 13.3 4. The whole earth did wonder at the beast and they worshipped the Dragon that gave power unto the Beast and they worshipped the beast The Dragon doth give also to him great authority and makes him a head over great countries whereof David did prophecy Psa 110.6 The time of his Lieutenantship shall continue forty two Months i.e. one thousand two hundred and sixty years Vpon this follows the third Period which bringeth Statum Ecclesiae tranquillum Period 3. as the pure so the peaceable and quiet estate of the Church upon earth Seeing at the found of the Trumpet of the seventh Angel the seventh plague or the third we do come upon the Roman Empire and at the same time the seventh Viol of Gods wrath is poured out â— wherewith the enemies of the Church are wholly cut off and destroyed yea even the Devil himself shut up in the bottomless pit Rev. 20.1 2 3. therefore there can nothing but a true and constant peace ensue whence it is that the Church of God rejoyceth with great joy with a great voyce saying as Rev. 11.25 The Kingdomes of this World are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of
War again them So much of finishing their testimony It follows The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit c. That is Antichrist or any of the Beastian party He is compared to a beast not onely because of his inhumanity but because of his irrationality in seeking by killing the Witnesses to hinder the course of the Gospel 2 Thess 3.1 2. And he is said to come out of the bottomless pit or Abyss The word in the Greek signifies all these By this Beast here is meant the Popish Ecclesiastical Government who use the temporal sword Clavis Apoâ— which may be understood out of hell as chap. 9. 2. or out of the sea as the ten-horned beast did Rev. 13.1 or out of the body of the earth or a deep pit in the earth and so may signifie the two-horned beast chap. 13. 11. Now t is this beast and his party that makes War against overcomes and kills the Witnesses his party is described chap. 13. 15 16. Such as either receive his mark or his name or the number of his name The explication of which see before upon chap. 13. Shall make war against them i. e. against the Witnesses We read chap. 13. 7. of the Beasts war against the Saints And it was given to him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them i. e. saith Mr. Mede the remnant of the womans seed in the Wilderness chap. 12. 17. which the same Author conceives to be executed when such a numerous company of the Waldenses and Albigenses and other true Christians were destroyed seventy years together First intended against the Saracens after turned against the Christians that would not worship and submit to the beast Here in this 11. chap. vers 7. is set down by the holy Ghost the beasts war against the Witnesses Note here into 〈◊〉 precedes the killing of the Witnesses a War properly to caned and a War against the Witnesses â—â— the Magistrates and Ministers of some of the Reformed Churches for so it did the killing of the Witnesses to the German Churches the War betwixt the Emperor and the German Princes especally the Sweeds lasted many years at last ended in a Pacification out 〈…〉 were left and deprived of the liberty of the Consiliences whereby the Preachers and Professors of 〈◊〉 Gospel in the He 〈◊〉 Provinces were â—ivilly slain Apug 1650. which differs from the others regard of the time of its it being at the latter end of Antichrists reign when the Witnesses finish their testimony not then they begin to finish but when they shall finish It commonwealth from the time They were persecuted and fought against by Antichrist often before but this is the last hattel before their death and rising again to the ruine of Antichrists Kingdom Which War as Parâ—â—s notes is not onely Ecclesiastical but Civil for the beast doth stir up Princes of Kingdoms and Provinces to make War against the Witnesses that he may overcome and kill them And shall overcome them i. e. not by power and armed force as in the war against the Saints chap 13. 7. which made way for and effected a cruel bodily killing of the Saints before mentioned The enemies have now given over this bodily killing of the Prophets and Saints almost this 100 years few in this space have been called before Tribunals and sentenced to death Happily some few examples may be found like a few drops of rain after a great showr but not many They have forborn this course not out of any love or compassion to the people of God but meerly because they durst not or because they found by proof that this course prejudiced their cause Sanguis Martyr Semen Eccles but he overcomes them by his Jesuitical or rather bottomless pit policy bringing it so about that the secular and ecclesiastical power like Herod and Pilat are united against the Witnesses the latter making use of the former as a rider makes use of the power and strength of his horse to ride over tread down and kill the Witnesses Rev. 13.3 And kill them Now because these words are somewhat killing and discouraging because the same with those chap. 13. 7. and import as if this slaughter because the last were worse then the first I will first therefore give you the judgement and opinion of learned Mede of this last killing by the Beast His words are these Neither can it certainly be concluded that because this killing that the Beast makes of the Witnesses is the last therefore t is the greatest and the worst of all that went before it But it hath and deserves a singular mention and description amongst all the slaughters of the Beast perhaps not so much for the greatness of it sure not because of the continuance of it as because it was to be a sign that the mourning of the witnesses should end soon after it and that the ruine of the City of Rome should instantly follow it Fo as the compassing about of Jerusalem with Armies Luk. 21.20 did foretel and was a sign her destruction and desolation was at hand and near at her drors the like here may be intimated as we may conceive concerning the destruction of Babylon when you shall see that triennial slaughter of the Witnesses then know the desolation of that great City of Rome it at hand Now this killing of the Witnesses by the Beast or his party is to be understood according to the forecited Author and all late Interpreters metaphorically or analogically of a civil death For he is said to dye in that notion or sense who in that station wherein he stood either Political or Ecclesiastical or any other ceaseth to be what he was hence he is said to kill The slaying of the Witnesses is to be understood not of a corporal but civil death Caryl on Job cap. 21. 7. that doth punish any man with such a death For in Scripture language to live is often to be to die is not to be in which sense we are said to dye to sin when we are no longer the servants to sin and to live to Christ when we begin to be Christs Furthermore This killing is plainly meant a killing them as Witnesses not as men a throwing them out of their places and stations as if naturally dead Whether this sad time be past present or to come I leave others to judge it appears by the following Verses it must be meant of a civil death ver 8. Their dead bonies lying in the street of the great City three days and a half this shews it cannot be meant of a natural death for how should their bodies lye dead in that sense for three years and a half or say it were for shorter time Again it is clear from vers 11. For look what the resurrection of the Witnesses to life shall be after their killing and lying dead such a time such must needs be the killing for no resurrection properly so called can come
that wicked generation had forbidden men to read the Scriptures had kept them in unknown tongues and involved the mysteries of Christ in Masses and rude heapes of other superstitious Ceremonies but now he and all his excellencies shall be fully manifested to the Nations Now I will not make Application of the explications of this Chapter it being beyond my scope only from the time of Antichrists reign mentioned in this Chapter viz. 1200 and 60 years and the time of the Witnesses lying dead which is three years and a half we may infer for our comfort 1. That no sorrows or afflictions can steal upon the Church but all are foreseen and determined by God In all our sorrows and restraints consider they are foreseen of God and we are not unseen in them Let us with Hagar in the Wilderness say Then God seest me Have I also looked after him that sees me Gen. 16.13 2. God hath measured out all the afflictions of his Church that though her enemies may disturb and hinder pure Religion by force and violence yet it is but for an appointed time Antiochus may interrupt Jewish Religion and bring in swines flesh into the Temple but it is but for three years and ten days a time times and a piece of time Antichrist that grand enemy of Gods Church may make havock and tread under foot the holy City but it but forty two moneths a time times and half a time 1200 and 60 days Jezabel wastes the Church and causeth the Prophets to hide themselves in caves but it was but three years and a half in the letter the Jews may bury Christ in the grave and roll a stone upon him and seal and watch the Sepulchre but they can keep him down but onely three days Know whatever affliction thy self or any member or the whole Church sustaineth it is not endless neither shall the whole nor parts suffer one hour more then Gods wisdom hath assigned The proudest waves cannot pass those bounds and banks which Gods power hath set them 3. In all the present sufferings and oppressions of the Church this comfort abideth by the Godly that she is not lest of God nor destitute of his presence nor without a promise of deliverance nor without faith of the â—ccomlishpment nor without a joyful hope that the time of this oppression and suppression of the Church is not far from Expiration Dr. More in his book of the mystery of godliness Book 5. cap. 17. of the usefulness of Apocalyptick Visions painted 1660. To which I will only add for a Conclusion the words of a late learned Writer I am not ashamed to profess that I think it clear out of the Apocalyps that the scene of things in Christendom Dies vel annus certe statui non potest in quem erunt exiquâ—iae Rome tamâ—◠〈◊〉 aliis Scripturis pe â—spicâ—◠〈◊〉 est arbitror non differendas ad longiss◠〈◊〉 â—ltra Sexagiâ—◠〈◊〉 Brightman Apocalyp cap. 19. ve◠〈◊〉 The time when he wrote this Book appears in his Epistle to be 1606 Feb. 25. will in a short time be very much changed for the better the time of the Churches appearing that is purely Apostolical hath in life and doctrine appears by the computation of Prophecy to be very near at hand when the Witnesses shall rise and the woman come out of the wilderness and the kingdoms of the world shall be the kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.11 And he further saith There is no stability to be expected in Christian kingdoms but vengeance will ever and apâ—n flow in upon them till that City be resed whose not onely foundation is laid in Twelve but whose Gates Tribes Angels the byâ—adth and heighth of the wall and the lâ—llid content of the whole City are nothing else but the replication still of Twelve throughout that is to say till that Church appear that is purely Apostolical in Doctrine Worship c. Which time being so very near at hand as appears by compute of prophesie it should be a great encouragement for every one to look thitherwnâ—d Besides the characters set upon the 1200 and 60 days as the treading down of the holy City cap. 11.2 the division of the Roman Empire into two parts cap. 12.14 and the rising of the Beast out of the Sea cap. 13.2 Historians agree to be soon after or about the beginning of the fourth Century and to shake off that dulness and lethargicalness that hath possessed the world so long as if it would never be better Wherefore let every Chrâ—stian beleive repent pray reform himself exhort and encourage his neighbor conquer his corruptions resist unto blood striving against sin For these times come not by rapine and violence but by encrease of righteousness upon the earth Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the Prophecy of this Book Rev. 22.7 To him which is and which was and is to come the Almighty be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen Rev. 16.8 FINIS
raised to life As the natural earthquake shakes the earth so mystical earthquakes make Kingdomes quake with wars and troubles Annot. on Bible and ascend into heaven there is a great earthquake i.e. great commotion of the Nations a great resurrection and combustion in the Roman Empire a great mutation and change of Political affairs a great turn of the times Which great commotion of the Nations and strange turn of things makes way for the resurrection of the Witnesses and their restoring to life again with so great an increase of honour and esteem The effect of which great earthquake is the fall of the tenth part of the City and the slaughter of 7000 names of men Now that we may come as near to the true sense and meaning of these words as possibly we can I will lay down and prove two things which will be good grounds to go upon in the explication of the Text. 1. Because no judgement can befal the Beast but what is contained in some of the Vials This same ruine of Rome here described belongs to the fifth Vial the proof of which is there is the same subject of the plague in both places viz. in this 11. chap. and in chap. 16. here t is the great City there it is the throne and seat of the Beast for Rome the great City to be the seat of the beast is so well known that it needs no proof It is further proved because the ruine that is here described doth so nearly precede the total destruction of the Beast at the sounding of the seventh Trumpet as nothing is said to intervene or come between but the passing away of the second wo. But now to the total abolition of the Beast is necessary the pouring out of the seventh Vial to the passing away of the second wo or that plague from Euphrates is necessary the pouring out of the fixt Vial therefore the destruction of the great City which goes next before the passing away of the second wo doth belong to the fifth Vial. 2. The second thing premised and proved in order to the interpretation of this verse is this viz. The â—â—ipe of the great City in vers 13. is the very same destruction of Babylon which is prophefied of c. 18. which I prove thus because it is certain from that Chapter that that very same destruction of Babylon or of the City of Rome doth go before the full destruction of the Beast and the beginning of Christs glorious Kingdom at the founding of the seventh Trumpet But now the destruction of the City which is here declared doth so nigh antecede that very Kingdom of Christ that the Spirit of God making mention of no other destruction between passeth immediately to that kingdom and the description of the seventh Trumpet Therefore one and the same destruction of that City must of necessity be described in both for who can imagine or beleive that the holy Ghost should altogether pass by the greatest destruction of all and make mention of some lesser slaughters between no way to be compared to it These things being so it follows then that the Interpretation of these words be levelled to this rule and as it were tried by this touchstone and so to seek such a sense and meaning of these words as doth best agree with the description of that destruction of Babylon which with what reason may be we may now see Besides the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fell must needs note some effect of an Earthquake cannot agree to this Interpretation And the touth part of the City fell By which I conceive is not meant the tenth out of many Kingdoms given to the Pope now taken from him for then the word should be rather 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nor yet the ten Kingdoms or any of them subject to the Dominion of the City of Rome who in this commotion of the Nations fall off from the Papal State and will be subject to it no longer But by this ΔΕΚΑΤΟΠthis tenth part of the City I agree with Mede is meant the fall and destruction of whole Rome the City that now is which is but the tenth part of that which it was when it was in its glory The City of Rome that now is in regard of the old City of Rome when she was in her flourishing condition is but the tenth part as the same is proved by Lipsius The holy Ghost in the words intimates as much Admirand lib. 3. So much of the great City as was remaining when the great earthquake came at that time was ruined viz. the tenth part of the City for nine parts many ages before were fallen partly by the desolations of war brought upon it so many times by the barbarous nations and partly decayed and worn away with time and partly destroyed with lightning and tempest the tenth was reserved for the fate of the Papal state the mother of Harlots which by this earthquake at the resurrection of the Witnesses shall be utterly destroyed It is added And in the earthquake wire slain of men Greek names of men seven thousand Note here the Text doth not say 7000 are slain by the fall of the City but 7000 are slain in the earthquake which earthquake is to shake down the whole kingdom of the Beast throughout the world therefore by the 7000 men must not be understood I conceive so many individual persons For t is not likely the pouring out of the Vial upon the throne of the Beast will pass away with so small a slaughter of men Sure we are shaking down of the whole kingdom of the Beast the total destruction of Babylon Chap. 16. which the holy Ghost intimates by this earthquake elsewhere in the Revelation will not be without the slaughter of a far greater number then 7000 men To satisfit this doubt therefore we must consider what may be meant by the City here and what by the names of men First The City or great City hath a double acceptation in these Prophesies Being taken either for First The Royal City of the Beast viz. the City of Rome called the throne or seat of the Beast upon which the fifth Vial is poured out or Secondly for the Citizens or for the Romish City constituted of the Pope and his Cardinals and the whole troop of the Romish clergy who Rome being destroyed burnt to ashes and levelled to the ground not to be inhabited any more shall betake themselves to another habitation and so shall be reserved to the last Vial at the pouring out of which it is said besides the destruction of others of all lands Nations and Cities in this earthquake so great as never was such since man was upon the face of the earth great Babylon came into remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath For that burning and destruction of Babylon taken for the Royal City of
and subjection to the Father and the Lamb. 4. vers 2. The voyce from Heaven as the voyce of many waters and as the voice of a great Thunder and the voyce of Harpers harping with their Harps ver 2. signifies their pure Gospel-worship described by the numerous multitude of the Heavenly singers whereunto these 144000. conforme themselves resembled to waters thunders harpers 5. vers 3. The new song they sing is either a new Gospel song since Christs coming opposite to the old before Christs comming or new in respect of new conferred benefits under the Gospel among which this preservation of his 144000. from Antichristian defilements was no small one the Scripture is wont to call for new songs for new mercies Here by song we may understand all Gospel-worship by a Synecdoche the part for the whole And during the Beast Dominion none could worship the Lamb purely without Idolatry upon earth but those that were redeemed from the earth that is bought by the blood of Christ and brought out of Popery from Antichrists earthly Church Cap. 12.12 6. And where it is said They are not defiled with women vers 4. vers 4. and to follow the lamb c. is signified their spiritual chastity not being guilty of spiritual whoredome and Idolatry and their constant attendance upon the Lamb in all states and places and their peculiar relation to God and the Lamb they being peculiar fruits to him redeemed out of the prophane mass of the Idolatrous world is expressed in the latter end of this fourth verse 7. And Lastly it is said of them vers 5. In their mouth was no guile and that they are without fault before the Throne of God which notes both their integrity and innocency their integrity In their mouth was found no guile Some Greek Copies read no lye Idols in Scripture are called lyes and Idolaters Lyers Isa 28.15 Ier. 16.19 it seems to note their freedom from Idolatry and they did not Hypocritically profess and pretend to be Christians and yet Idolatrously adore the beast Finally their innocency in Gods account is annexed as a reason of the former And they are without fault before the throne of God vers 5. The Seventh and last concurring time in the Angels prophesie of things that shall come to pass in the Ecclesiastical State Cap. 10. See before relating to the second Period Is The Whore of Babylon i the Popish Hierarchy ruling and riding the Beast with ten horns i.e. the Princes and Potentates which adhere to the Papacy at their own chusing and liking Cap. 17. Cap. 17. ver 3. I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured beast full of the names of blasphemy having seven beads and ten borns And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour and decked with gold c. vers 4. where the Whore of Babylon is described 1. By the monstrous beast whereon she sits cruel and bloody noted in her colour full of Antichristian Idolatries most opprobrious and reproachful to God noted in her names of blasphemy and besides seven-headed and ten-horned so that it is the very same beast formerly described cap. 13. 2. By her luxurious and meretricious array and ornaments And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour like the beast she sate on and deeked with gold and precious stones and pearls By her whoredoms she had obtained all these costly deckings and for winning the greater credit and custom to her whoredoms she was thus gaudily and thus glitteringly attired Popery is a sumptuous gaudy and glittering Religion 3. By her intoxicating cup whereby she amorously allures and enchants her lovers to spiritual lewdness with her having a golden cup in her hand full of abomination and filthiness of her fornication vers 4. An allution to the custom of Whores Joseph Mede who in golden cups are wont to give amorous draughts to their Lovers to provoke and to enflame their love and lust Now what Religion in the world hath outwardly more specious curious golden pretences but inwardly more abominable cursed Heresies Blasphemies Superstitions Idolatries shewing gold without deadly poison within 4. Her whores name Touching which note 1. Where it was wrtten viz. on her forehead intimating she was an eminent notorious whore indeed And upon her forehead was a name written Tertullian De pudicit Sen. Cont. 2. Lib. 1. vers 8. An allusion to the ancient custom of Stews and Brothel-houses that on or over the doors of their Cells and Chambers were wont to write the names of the Whores as Tertullian Seneca and others intimate But if the Whore was famous indeed her name and praise was written not only on her cell but on her forehead 2. Her name it self describing in great part her nature Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots or Fornications and Abominations of the earth v. 5. This name shows 1. that this Whore is Babylon not proper but mystical Babylon 2. That this mystical Babylon is the Mother and most notorious authour of all the abominable Idolatries those spiritual whoredoms in the whole world This can intend no other but Rome 5. Her extreme cruelty bloody tyranny against the Saints emphatically expressed being drunk therewith she had swallowed so much vers 6. This Metaphor from drunkenness denotes the height and extremity of her bloodiness witness Anchrists butcheries of the Saints under the names of Waldenses Albigenses Leonists Wicklivists Hussites Lutherans Hugonites c. condemned and destroyed by Antichrist because they would not drink of Romes whorish cup. All Ecclesiastical Histories and Martyrologies since Antichrists rise and reign fully declare this Whores bloodiness especially in her Spanish Inquisition See Foxes Acts and Monuments Especially consider the late Irish massacres designed and acted by bloodthirsty Papists to the utmost of cruelty in Ireland 1641. as may be seen in Doctor Jones his Remonstrance of the state of the Rebellion in Ireland And in the Declaration of the Commons of England assembled in Parliament touching the rise and progress of that Rebellion ordered to be published July 25. 1643. This causeth in John great admination at the strangeness of the Vision of the Whore in the latter end of vers 6. And when I saw her I wondred with great admiration Which gave occasion to the Interpretation of this Vision more clearly And the Angel said Wherefore didst thou marvail Rev. 17.7 The City or Whore of Rome is said to sit upon a Beast viz. the fourth Beast mentioned in Daniel which is the Roman Monarchy And what City or people hath so ridden the Roman Empire as Rome hath done They that suffer themselves to be thus ridden by her are Abettors and Supporters they are Peoples Multitudes Nations and Tongues over whom this proud City reigns The Catholick Roman Church they are commonly called by themselves but by the holy Ghost The Beast on which the woman sit Vsher Rev. 17.18 in his Sermon before King Charls on Ephes
4.13 I will tell thee the mystery of the woman and of the Beast that carries her whichha th seven heads and ten horns ver 7. Hereupon the Angel doth more clearly interpret and explain the Vision 1. The mystery of the Beast carrying the Whore 2. The mystery of the Whore her self First The Angel explains the mystery of the Beast in the Whole and in the Parts First in the whole the Beast is interpreted 1. Partly According to his Many-form State or fourfold form and condition of this one and the same Beast The Beast that thou sawest was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition The beast thou sawest 1. was And 2. Is not And 2. shall ascend out of the bottomless pit And 4. Go into perdition This very Interpretation it self seems to be a riddle and a paradox that needs a further interpretation To omit variety of mens opinions sundry whereof rather obscure then clear this present Description This seems plain to be the sence As the whore is after interpreted to be the great City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth viz. Roms for what other City in Johns time did so reign So the Beast that carrieth this Whore what can it be but the * To this agrees Irenaus Lactantius Jerom which restimony of the Antients Cornelius a Lapide considering professeth that he will not tergiversari but granteth that by Babylon is meant Rome Roman Empire which though for substance it was one One Beast yet for States conditions and manner of Government was multifarous or many form as here described viz. This Beast the Roman Empire Was that is before Johns time when this Revelation was given it was but in another form and state then in Johns time i governed by Kings Consuls Dictators Decemviri and Tribunes all which were past in Johns time And is not i.e. this beast the Roman Empire is not in Johns time under those or any of those five manners of Governments but under a sixth viz. of Cesars and those both Heathenish and Christian This sixth head of this beast that ruled in Johns days viz the Heathenish Cesars they became no Christians till Constantine Yet the whore sits not upon this beast as under any of those forms or states of Government but on the Beast under another form which should rise up after them six as then not in being And is not viz. the beast under the Pontificial or Papal Government And shall ascâ—nd out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition that is saith Mede that form of the beast in which he shall carry the Whore shall be the last form of the beast beyond which he should not pâ—â—long his life Now what form of this Beast shall ascend out of the bottom â—ss pit or the abyss as t is in Greek this word abyss may be taken either for the Abyss of the sea or the Abyss of hell Now take it either way The sixt head the Ceasars heathen and Christian was deadly wounded The Heathen Cesars received a deadly wound by Constantine and his Successors who overcome the heathen Emperors and rooted our their hear◠〈◊〉 Idolatry c. The Christian Cesars received by the bath 〈◊〉 Nations a deadly wound who dilaterated the Empire into ten Kingdoms And the deadly wound of the heath 〈◊〉 Cesars was beaâ—ed by the substituted 〈…〉 Beâ—â—◠〈◊〉 course of his seventh head and by his how Idolatry or Idol-worship not of Pagarworship but of Saints and Angels The deadly wound of the Christian Cesars was healed when the Roman Empire divided into ten Kingdomes was again made up into one for the 〈◊〉 of the Whore by the subtilty of the Dragon and false Prophet it agrees to that form of beast that carries the Whore For that Beast that ariseth out of the Abyss of the Sea having seven heads and ten horns as also out of the Abyss of Hell for the Dragon Satan gives him his power and seat and great authority Rev. 13.2 The Cesars heathen and Christian were the beasts sixt head or form The beast at last under the Christian Cesars received by the barbarous Nations a deadly wound the Empire beginning to be divided about Anno. 456. into ten parts or Kingdomes viz. of Britons Saxons Franks Burgundiâ—â—â— Wisigoths Sweves and Alans 〈◊〉 Almanes Ostrogoths Grecians as Mr. Mede hath observed out of Sigonius This distracted state or form of the beast under these ten Kingdoms at least though really and in substance the same with that under the Cesars yet seems to be another distinct power and as it were the seventh King Rev. 17.10 which was to continue but a short space but is indeed the same with the 6. viz. the Cesars The Roman Empire thus torn into ten at last by the subtilty of the Dragon and the false Prophet the two horned beast Antichrist is recollected and all the ten united as in one Empire under the Pope Rev. 13.3 12 13 14. as head and Monarch thereof and so his deadly wound was healed And this is the Pontifician or Papal head the onely forme of the Beasts State and Government which seventh bears the Whore this Pontifician head or forme of the Emperors Government in respect of that changed and miserably dilacerated Cesarship Re. 17.12 which was as the seventh seems to be as it were the eighth head or King but really and indeed is but the seventh and last head of the Roman beast and this Papal head goeth into perdition and in him the Roman Empire shall be utterly abolished 2. As the Beast in the whole is interpreted partly by his many forme state or a fourfold forme so partly according to the Worlds wonderment after this beast whereby it is evident that this is the self-same seven headed beast and ten horned which was formerly described Cap. 13. Rev. 13.1 3 4. And they that dwell on the Earth shall wonder whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the World when they behold that beast which was and is not and yet is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rather as some read it and yet is at hand for so it notably agrees with the former description in the beginning of the verse The beast was and is not and shall asound out of the bottomless pit or it â—ay thus be explained retaining the ordinary reading The Beast that was i. e. the Roman Empire that was under five former sorts of Government And is not i. e. is not as yet under the seventh or last form or sort of Government viz. Pontificial or Papal And yet is that is under the sixt form of Casars at present in Johns time vers 8. Thus the beast in whole is interpreted Secondly The Beast is interpreted in his Parts viz. his seven heads and ten hornes what they are An Emphatical intimation of the singular wisdom required to the true discerning of these misteries being first premised And
thirdly and lastly her Topical Denomination The Holy Ghost so clearly indigitates and as it were names her that he that runs may read and not mistake That this Whore is Rome the known Motropolis and Royal Seat of the Roman Empire Ribera in Cap. 17. Bellarmin l. 2. de pont Rom. Cap. 2. Papists themselves confess And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City that reigneth over the Kings of the Earth This is that beast that goeth to perdition or Destruction Of which Destruction God causeth her to be First Forewarned cap. 14. vers 6. and following verses Which premonition is described in the Vision of three Angels It is called the everlasting Gospel in opposition to those innovations and traditions of men under which the Churches of Christ had laboured a long time Vide Mr. Bridge his Sermon on Rev. 14.8 i.e. Evangelical Ministers preaching the everlasting Gospel against the Beast and Beast-worshippers 1. The first Angel exhorts all that had given their names to Christ by profession to consider how Gods judgements were now inflicted upon the Heathenish Idols and Idolaters and therefore to worship God the Creator onely and purely ver 6 7. This Angel learned Mede interprets of the Council of Constantinople in the East consisting of Three hundred thirty seven Bishops wherein the worship of the Virgin Mary and invocation of Saints was opposed 720. And of Frankford Synod in the West under Charls the Great consisting of about 300 Bishops 790th year of our Lord which damned both the worshipping of Images and also the second Council of Nice that established it Others interpret it of divers in England Pareus Brightm as Killington Langland especially Wicklife about Anno 1371. and of divers in Bohemia John Husse Hierom of Prague 2. The second Angel the first Angels doctrine being despised denounceth Babylons irrevocable ruine from that time forward till it be consummated for their obstinacy and impenitency in Idolatries The substance of the Angels doctrine is a commination of Babylons fall with the reason of it vers 8. Babylon is fallen it is fallen i.e. she is now fallen initially and shall fall totally and finally This Angel Mede interprets of the Waldenses and Albigenses who first of all other renounced Romish Idolatries and many followed them which falling off from Rome was the laying of a foundation from Babylons fall till it should be utterly ruined 3. The third Angel going beyond the former warneth all the Worshippers of the Beast what horrible vengeance hangs over their heads and would fall upon them if they persist still in following and worshipping the Beast and not renounce him And the third Angel followed him saying with a loud voyce If any man worship the beast and his Image and receive his mark c. the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God c. vers 9 10 11 This Angel thinks Brightman and Mede was M. Luther with his associates and Successors who so vehemently opposed Papal doctrine and superstition whereupon followed the eminent Reformation of the German and other Churches Luther saith Pareus left this Fatidical verse behind him Pestis eram Vivens moriens er mors tua Papa O Pope I was thy plague while I had breath And though I dye yet I will be thy death Parens thinks this Angel to be understood of Luthers succession to the end of the world from Anno 1546. because no fourth Angel follows but Christ sitting on his white throne of judgement Secondly As Babylon is forewarned so her punishments and plagues are not onely threatned As the seals brought in judgements upon the Pagan world Trumpets on the Christian world as ruled by Christian Emperors so the seven last vials are poured out upon the Antichristian world Cotton on the Vials These seven plagues are compared to the plagues of Egypt as Sores Blood Darkness Frogs Thunder and Lightning And in the pouring out of these vials understand nothing but meer divine wrath no mercy runs out of the vials Further note As the seven Trumpets were sounded to the ruine of the Roman Empire so the seven Vials are poured out to the ruine of the Beast and to the gradual ruine of the Beast they all tend For every Vial is a degree to the Beasts destruction who as he rose so he shall rall by degrees but gradually inflicted which dreadful judgements and the actual inflicting of them are represented under vials and the pouring forth of these vials which vials are full of the wine of that wrath of God poured out without mixture Rev. 14.10 This we have in Chap. 15 and 16. Thirdly When no reformation doth follow as did not for in pouring out of the Vials it is said cap. 16. vers 9. They blasphemed the name of God c. but repented not to give him glory so vers 11. they blasphemed God because of their plagues but repented not of their deeds God passeth sentence upon her and destroyeth her which destruction is briefly touched upon chap. 17. but is largely and pathetically described cap. 18. Whereupon in the third Period follows the description of the great joy and triumph of the Church over the total ruine and destruction of her enemies Period 3. chap. 19. and the desired peace and tranquillity of the Church In this 19. Chapter is set down the victorious triumphs and gratulations of them in heaven i.e. the Church Saying Hallelujah Salvation and honor and glory and power unto the Lord our God ver 1. And that 1. For the judgement of the great whore justly executed upon her vers 1. for her wicked Idolatries and persecuting cruelties against the Saints vers 2. 2. For the Dominion of Christ Hallelujah for the Lord God omnipotent reighneth vers 6. Parallel to that in Rev. 11. to 18. 3. For the marriage of the Lamb vers 7. ver 7. Let us be glad and give honour unto him for the marriage of the Lamb is come c. whose marriage garments are freely given her by Christ verse 8. And all the marriage guests which are called to the marriage Supper of the Lamb vers 8. are pronounced blessed vers 9. And because this victorious Triumph and gratulation of the Church is for the total ruine and destruction of her enemies therefore as in the former part of the Chap. John speaks of the judgement of the whore so in the latter part of the Chap. he speaks of the judgement of the beast and false prophet together with their Armies of Adherents warring against the Lamb and his Army These Adversaries are all mustred together under the sixt Viol in Armageddon Rev. 16. 13 14 16. now the seventh Viol the exposition whereof is yet continued describes the event of the battel in Armageddon Cap. 19.11 to the end viz. the beast and his adherents are entrapped and ensnared easily and suddenly royled by Christ the Beast and the false Prophet are both taken as wild beasts in
Luther of error by solid demonstrations out of the Word of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but mainly because his doctrine was contrary to the decrees of Popes c. He doth also charge and command Patriarchâ— Metropolitans Primats Archbishops Bishops and all other Ecclesiastical Orders downward even to the begging Friarâ— and then all Kings Electors of the Empire Princes Dukes and so on and at last all men throughout the whole univerful world the very voyce proper and native language of the grand Antichrist on pain of the great Excommunication that they do not embrace Luthers doctrine nor adhere to or favour his person Now the Popes challenged this supremacy in some degree soon after the fourth Century Pope Innocent the first drew all Appeals from other Bishops to the Apostolick Sea according to former Statutes and Customs as be he saith in his Epistle to Victricius Innocent Epist 2. ad Vâ—coriâ—ium Majores cansae ad sâ—dem Apostolicam sicut Synodus statuit beata consuaetudo exigit Aâ—no 404 or 406. post judicium Episcopale reseruntur not to speak of their claiming the title of Vniversal Bishop nor yet their assuming the title of Pontifex Maximus the name of the cheif Heathenish Priest among the Romans which dignity many of the Emperors had annexed to their Imperial greatness which Graecian the Emperor first renounced Anno 380 and the rest after him they did about that time plainly arrogate and usurp a judiciary power over Councils and Churches As in the time of Innocentius the first who did sue for and obtained of the Emperor Honorius Priority of place suffrage and censure over all Churches In his time therefore Historians report the Roman Church began to swell with pride and to usurp Jurisdiction over other Churches And this appears by the insolent letter which this Pope Innocent the first sent to the fifth Council of Carthage in which Council the heresie of Pelagius was condemned This Council sent their letters to this Bishop of Rome expressing therein the decree of the Council See Sympsons History of the Church Cont. 5. The answer that this Innocentius returned to this Council was intermized with words of swelling pride as if no decree could be firm unless it had the allowance of the Roman chair Besides they did then claim this prerogative that Appeals ought to be made to the Bishop of Rome from all Churches and he to give the last definitive sentence yea so zealous were they about this time that three Popes Zosimus Boniface Coelestine did in the sixth Council of Carthage in which Saint Augustine was present in the cause of one Appianus who had appealed out of Affrick unto Rome as many had done before not onely challenge the receiving of Appellations from all Churches but also forge a decree of the great Council of Nice which had been almost a hundred years before to support it This was by the Fathers of the Synod indeed then rejected and the pretended Canon found to be forged and spurious yet this was a right by the Popes then challenged Before the Council of Constantinople which some reckon to be in Anno 381. others in Anno 383. Wolphius Lection memorab Tom. 1. p. 131. saith Hoc scilicet tempore gliscebat Antichristus Rome i.e. Antichrist did then begin to appear at Rome c. yea that very Council of Constantinople consisting of 150 Bishops moderated by Nectarius Archbishop of Constantinople did acknowledge the Primacy of the Bishop of Rome onely reserving to the Bishop of Constantinople the second place among the Bishops and immediately after this Council the Bishop of Rome did mightily labour to draw all causes to his own Consistory Morn Mystery of Iniquity p. 40. But this Supremacy they were ambitious of long before as learned Brightman and others observe for in the first great Council of Nice where Constantine was present the Bishop of Rome was not there of whose absence Bellarmin gives two reasons 1. It did not seem convenient that the Head should follow the Members 2. Because in the Eastern Councils always the Emperor was present or his Ambassador who did challenge the first Bellarm. l. 1. de Concil Eccles c. 29. at least material place to himself Lest therefore he should either suffer this or else make a tumult he would not go to the Council but rather sent his Ambassadors Hence Brightman concludes That in the time of this Council the man of Rome though not outwardly and openly Home Romae Brightman Antichrist Nascen Antichrist Crescent Antichrist Reâ—nant and Triumphant He was the first when he usurped an universal Authority over all Bishops See Dr. Crackinthorp his Treatise of General Councils cap. 13. p. 186. yet inwardly and secretly did lift up himself above all that is called God 2 Thess 2.4 From all which I conclude that about 400 years after Christ the grand Antichrist was not only as a great big Embrio swelling in the womb and ready to come forth but rather as a childe lately born lying in the cradle that it is probable yea I may say more then probable that between 403 and 410 Antichrist begun Object Daniel speaking of these horns intimates that the little horn Antichrist that grew so great should come up after the rest Dan. 7 24. Answ He spake as it were in his preception and observation the little horn rose with the rest but he did not discern it until he considered the horns as is were with a prying eye vers 8. And as it was in the Vision so it was in the accomplishment indeed he rose imperceptibly because the world mistook what manner of Creature he should be No we may rather suspect that Antichrist was up before the Kings the Papacy having such strange appearance of him before any of the Kings sprung up Rev. 17.12 And so some read these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They received power as Kings one hour not with the Beast but after the Beast Thus I have given two Indices or Evidences to prove and that a priori that the 1200. and 60. days are near to a period And so the Earthquake that must ruine the Beast is at hand But there are two other Evidences of it a posteriori which are more certain and more indubitable 1. The slaying of the Witnesses or rather their lying dead in the street of the great City which precedes the great Earthquake which shall be at their resurrection Centemporary with which resurrection as a second Evidence is the pouring out of the fifth Vial upon the throne of the Beast Some think this vial is now about to be poured out for at the pouring out of this Vial this great Earthquake begins and so continues and ends not till the pouring out of the seventh Vial. Of the first of these see the following AN EXPOSITION OF THE XI CHAP. OF THE REVELATION THere are many important things contained in the Revelation of
Egyptian bondage and restorers of Gods true worship in the Wilderness The two witnesses shall exercise the power of Moses and Aaron whence Learned Mede collects the power of the Witnesses figured in this type not to belong to all the days of their sackcloth prophecy but onely to the end of their Prophecy viz. the pouring out of the Vials As Moses and Aaron immediately before and at their bringing of Israel out of Egypt turned those waters into blood and smote them with ten sore plagues So towards the Period of these two Witnesses Prophecy when the Christian Church under their conduct as it were of Moses and Aaron shall now begin to be rescued from the Antichristian bondage and Tyranny of the Beast the Vials of Gods wrath like Egyptian plaguen shall come upon the beast and his Gentilith worshipers the plague of the first Vial being a noysome grievous sore the second and third blood the plagues of the rest greater and more greivous to he inflicted upon the beast and his party or the Gentiles treading down the outward Court and holy City the interpretation whereof I refer till I come to Cimp 〈◊〉 It is enough here to note this last power of the Witnesses to belong to the pouring out of the Vials Vers 7. And when they shall finish their Testimony the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make War against them And shall overcome and kill them Hitherto of the gift and power of the Witnesses It followeth now that I speak of the sate or the various consequents and events of their prophecying expressed in this verse wherein these Witnesses become singularly conform to Jesus Christ who preached about forty two moneths i. e. three years and a half was then slain by the Roman Governour lay dead three days three days after rose again with a great earthquake and forty days after ascending into Heaven a cloud receiving him But to give some light into the Text Then they shall finish their testimony Translators and Interpreters have been mistaken in rendring these words thus When they have or shall have finished their testimony 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to think that this killing should not begin till the 1200 and 60 days should be expired because by this means the Witnesses should remain in Sackcloth and the woman in the wilderness beyond the time appointed and also the fourth beast should continue to blaspheme longer then 42. months to all which not onely the plain text but also the swearing of the Angel Dan. 12.17 and the great Oath of the Son of God Rev. 10.6 are contradictory Therefore the words must not be rendered in the Perfect-tence when they have finished or in the Future Perfect tence when they shall have finished but in Future simplici cum Finituri sunt When they shall finish their testimony So Claverius in his first Apotalyptical dawning page 124. and Mede in his Commentary upon the Revelation reads the words When they shall finish i. e. when the 1200 and 60 days shall draw towards an end And when now part of the Christian world shall repent of their Gentilish Idolatries and reforme and the Witnesses for joy shall begin to lay aside their mourning weeds though yet they were not past the danger that was prophecyed should come That seven-headed beast of Rome in the course of his last head of which see before Chap. 13. disdaining and scorning the prevalency of these mourning Witnesses by their Prophecying shall make war against them overcome and kill them First then to speak of the Witnesses finishing their Testimony I agree herein with Mr. Mede that the mourning Witnesses began to finish the Testimony of all the former Witnesses from the beginning of the reformation of the Reformed Churches and so on to the begining of the beasts war against them preceding the killing of them His words are these speaking of the Witnesses finishing their Testimony and of the War and slaughter of them quorum primum inquit de testium planctu finiri caepto ab initio Ecclesiae reformatae huc usque continue factitatum est c. In the beginning then of the reformation of the Reformed Churches this finishing began Now this reformation began in Germany in the raign of the Emperor Charles the fifth by Luther and his Associates Luther began the finishing of this Testimony by Sermons writings disputations whereby he discovered and detected the lyes and frauds of Antithrist as Moses did the Cheats and falsehoods of Jannes and Jambres the Egyptian Sorcerers which Doctrine of Luther Charles the fifth laboured by all means to suppress by conventions decrees and edicts but Luther and his Associates being backed and assisted by the Duke of Saxony the Lantgrave of Hesse and other Princes in Germany the Magistrates of Fellow Witnesses withstood these Edicts and decrees and answered to them in every point Entred into a Protestation against them Protestation And of this Protestation the Princes and all that adhered to them were called Protestants which name is now given to all them that in their Doctrine swerve from the Church of Rome League and Covenant Afterward being sorely for this threatened by the Emperor the Protestants entred into a League and Covenant to ayd each other in the Quarrel of Religion And not long after the Protestans drew up a Confession of their faith Confession of faith and presented it to the Emperor this is that Confession of faith that is called the Augustane Profession This finishing of the Testimony of the former witnesses thus begun was carried on by their example in other Cities and places abroad whence sprung up other reformed Churches as of Helvetia Sucvia Geneva France Holland Scotland and England last of all reformed The finishing then of the Testimony I conceive must be by the Magistrates and Ministers of some of these reformed Churches who shall give in their Testimony against the Churches Apostacy towards the latter end of the 1200 and 60 days For the finishing must be meant of the last Witnesses before the last battel of the Beast against them whereby he overcomes and kills them And it is likely the Witnesses of some of the reformed Churches last reformed conclude compleat and make an end of finishing this Testimony as the Witnesses of the first reformed Churches begun it Yea not onely by Witnessing against the Apostatical Church of Rome as they did but by giving the cleerest the fullest Testimony for truth and holiness against the errors and unholiness of Antichrist for Church purity against Church-corruptions and the Apostacy of the Church of Rome that ever was given this twelve hundred years So that these last Witnesses may be called the Finishing Witnesses that finish compleat and perfect the testimony of all the former Witnesses do it with so much light and convincing evidence and with so much heat in their testimony called fire in their mouths vers 5. as doth vex and torment their enemies and enrage them to a
to pass before Christs coming under the seventh Trumpet But this Resurrection here in the Text is to be while yet under the sixth Trumpet Corrente adhoc tuba sexta Vers 8. And their dead bodies shall lye in the street of the great City which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was crucissed Here we have the Witnesses unburied estate and here is the place described where they are killed for where they lye dead there they must be killed Now the Text saith their dead bodies lye in the street of the great City By the great City is meant the City of Rome of which the Angel speaks Rev. 17.18 and Chap. 14.8 Babylon the great City Bellarm. l. 2. pontif Rom. c. 2. l. 3 c. 5. and that by Babylon is meant the City of Rome is granted by Bellarmin himself It is added which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt i. e. mystically in a mysterious sense and resemblance another Sodom for its spiritual uncleaness and another Egypt for its Tyranny over Gods people Here note by the way when ever we read of the plagues of Sodom or Egypt in this book and the Visions of it we are to understand the same spiritually that is mystically For when the Roman state is subject to all these plagues it is Sodom or Egypt mystically we shall meet with something concerning the plagues of Egypt in the pouring out of the Vials as we did in the History of the witnesses and of the destruction of Sodoâ—â— in the judgement of the beast Chap. 19 and 20 and 10. vers the meaning of all which is to be opened with this key hence also it may be demonstrated that the Roman Dition is the subject of the Trumpets because some of those plagues are Egyptian plagues but to whom should Egyptian plagues be brought but to Egypt which the Holy Ghost here makes to be Rome So we see plainly what is meant by the great City but what is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Street of this great City is not so easie to unfold For certainly it cannot be meant of any Court Street or broad place within the City for these reasons 1. Because our Saviour Christ who is said to be crucified in this street was not crucified in any Street or market place either of the City of Rom or of Jerusalem but without the gate Heb. 13.12 therefore the stree of the great City is not any street or broad place within the walls of either City but a place without the City 2. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being put in the singular number doth note such a kind of state or Republique the City whereof hath onely one street not many but the streets in any great and famous City are more then one a City hath many streets 3. We must suppose the bodies of the witnesses to lye there where they are overcome but there use to be no meetings for War within the Walls of one City but if they do not meet in the Enemies Country yet they meet in the Countries and Provinces subject to the City 4. The dead bodies of the slain Witnesses lye three days and an half where they may be seen of people nations and tongues who will not suffer their bodies to be buried therefore they do not lye in the street or broad place of any great City but seem to be dispersed abroad through some of the Provinces to which for that reason the exposition of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ought to conform and agree If any shall say the Army of the beast whereby the Witnesses are slain may be made up of the people of several nations and tongues therefore they may easily see the bodies of them whom they have killed to this I answer by having recourse to the foregoing reason viz. that so great Armies do not use to meet within the Wals of a City For the words are altogether so to be interpreted especially when no reason of the Allegory or resemblance can be pretended so as there might be no absurdity in the literal sence What shall I need to say more by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then is to be understod the Regions or Territories subject to the Dominon of the great City Annotations upon the Bâ—ble called a great City because it hath large Territories or within the Dominion of the Roman Empire or in the outplaces thereof The word in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 signifies Qâ—icquid omnino extra sit sive extra urbem Job 5.10 Brightman makes the street here to be some part of the Roman Dition or Jurisdiction wherein this sad spectacle is exhibited to be seen other-some of the ten Kingdoms that have been in subjection to this great City though they are not at this present members of the Political state in the Roman Empire and yet it may be have some tye or dependance upon the Popish Roman Empire for the great whore sits upon many waters and raigneth over the Kings of the Earth Rev. 17.1.18 all which ad eundâ—m scopum proveniunt Now according to this Interpretation of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there will be no more obscurity in the following words where our Lord was crucified Christ is said to be crucified in the street of the City of Rome Non in urbe Roma sed intra ditionem Romanam Mede or where the bodies of the slain Witnesses are cast out viz. not in the City of Rome but within the Roman Dition or Dominion within which â—hrist was literally crucified thus much of this Verse now to proceed Vers 9. And they of the People kindreds and tongues c. shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves Concerning which word whether it may be taken for cruelty or kindness seems doubtful and cannot certainly be determined but by fulfilling the Prophecy Most Writers do interpret the words of the Enemies of the Witnesses who shall in this last persecution be so cruel to them as not to suffer their dead bodies to be buried fulfilling that Text Psa 79.2 Or rather the intention of the enemies in this civil killing is the more to expose them to contempt the bodies lye dead in the street like despised broken Idols in whom is no pleasure But I incline with Mede and others to think the words are to be understood of the friends of the Witnesses For their enemies are described vers 10. by the name of them that dwell upon the Earth that rejoyce at this slaughter c. But of those that will not suffer their dead bodies to be put into their Graves t is said they of the people kindreds and tongues by which they seem to be plainly distinguished one from another So then by them that will not suffer the bodies of the Witnesses to be buried understand the friends of the Witnesses which may be so many and so great a number Towards the end of Antichrists raign the everlasting
Gospel going forth Rev. 14.15 should bring in a great Harvest to God and mightily increase the number of the Witnesses Shall see their dead bodies The word in the Greek doth import Rationem habere they shall have some cover over them as make their enemies affraid to proceed to great cruelties against them their enemies happily would starve them and their families but their friends will feed them their Enemies would banish them totally destroy them bury them under ground but the friends of the Witnesses will not suffer their persons nor names to be so dealt withal And their Enemies may see their interest so great in the hearts and affections of the people kindreds and tongues as may give some check to their violence for the wound being yet fresh and affayrs not well setled happily their Enemies would be loth to make them desperate or at least it may so come to pass by the secret favour and endeavour of some great person or persons things shall not be so carried against the Witnesses as there shall be no hope of a Resurrection Three days and an half i. e. three years and a half but here is to be noted the time here to be computed is not the killing but the time they shall iye dead and without life after they are killed but how long the war lasts Quam diu entem bellum ipsum durabit quantu â—â—que tempus dabitur prophetis interficiendis non nisi vaticinii complementum docebit Mede and how long time shall be given for the killing of the witnesses the fulfilling of the Propehcy will best tell us Verse 10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoyce ever them and make merry and send gifts one to another c. Of the manner of sending gifts in great rejoycings see Ester 9.19 20. They joy now they are rid of and avenged of these Witnesses who vexed and troubled their consciences As upon the news of the French massacre which begun on Bartholmew day a Jubilee was proclaimed at Rome the Cardinal of Lorain gave a thousand crowns to the messenger and the Pope caused the massacre to be painted in his Palace So no doubt such an eminent civil slaughter in Protestant Churches must needs fill all the Popish world with rejoycings and longs of triumph the Bestian party then accounting the day theirs and that they have obtained a compleat victory Further note the Beasts or Beastian parties triumph for three days and a half must necessarily be computed and estimated not from the end of the slaughter in all the Churches but from the slaughter that shall be in that Church wherein the Prophets shall be last slain Neither can we imagine it to be otherwise unless we should furmise the slaughter of the Prophets to end in all the Churches at once which to be done in so many several States and Nations at once is hardly possible But this joy of the Inhabitants of the earth i. e. the Antichristian world is but short for v. 14. there is a wo Trumpet co Antichrist and all his Creatures and Confederates and all the enemies of the Saints threatning the last and worst of woful destructions to them Wo saith Christ to them that laugh for they shall weep Thus much of the War against killing and the lying dead of the Witnesses Now of their Resurrection Ascention and the consequents thereof in the 11th and following verses Verse 11. And after three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into them c. Here beginneth now the third Period Period 3. where the enemies of the Gospel are quelled and therewith doth break forth the true peace and tranquillity of the Church When these three days or three years and a half come to an end then also together therewith do expire the forty two months of treading the holy City under foot ver 2. The 120 and 60 days of the Witnesses prophecying in sackcloth vers 3. The 1200 and 60 days of the woman in the wilderness chap. 12.6 the forty two months of the Beast and his blasphemies c. 13.5 The times time and half a time which is 1200 and 60 days of the Beast with ten hornes speaking great words against the most High and wearing out the Saints mentioned in the book of Daniel chap 7.21.12.6 But to come to the Text After three days and a half the spirit of life c. Such as the death of the Witnesses was such will be their resurrection from the dead viz. a restoring them to their former state and that not so much by any endeavour of their own or by any humane help as by the finger of God who is wonderful in all his works So much is intimated in these words The Spirit of life from God shall enter into them We have such an expression concerning the lews in the Captivity of Babylon I will put my Spirit within you and ye shall live and I will place you in your own land The same will befall he slain Witnesses God will lend them an unexpected help by such means as never entred into any mans mans thoughts God will revive them again And they stood upon their feet i.e. they appear again in the publick Congregations not as hearers onely but as Masters of the Assemblies and take possession of their places and publickly exercise their ministerial Office they are unbound and loosed from their grave-cloaths as Luzarus was when he came forth and stood upon their feet they are delivered from the bonds and cords and heavy yokes of humane laws and constitutions that killed them and kept them dead and hindred their resurrection And great fear fell upon them that saw them i.e. as there was great joy and exultation among the Beastian party at then killing and lying dead so there will be great terror when they shall fee this resurrection of the Witnesses to their former places and functions then will there be a lively example set before us of that which is written in the book of Wisdom chap. 5. Verse 12. And they heard a great voyce from heaven soying Come up hither That is The Witnesses are not onely restored to their former place and station but they are raised up to some higher degree of honour for so saith Mede their being taken up by a cloud into heaven signifies See Dan. 7.13 Isa 14.13 and 19. They shall be called up by the supreme Magistrate to higher honor and esteem then before And they ascend up to heaven i.e. they enter into their publick charges in the Church heaven and perform their ministry with great authority And their enemies beheld them i.e. they that did so before rejoyce at their sufferings wherein is verified concerning them what is threatned Jer. 50.11 to 13. Verse 13. And the same hour there was a great earthquake and the tenth part of the City fell and there were slain in the earthquake the names of men seven thousand At what time the Witnesses or Prophets ary
the beast that is described Chap. 18 and 19. doth altogether precede the destruction of the beast and the False Prophet as is manifest in the Text. To sum up all in a word happily it may so come to pass that that first destruction of Babylon viz. of the City of Rome may be without any very great slaughter at least without the total destruction of the Citizens for though the City be utterly destroyed yet a great part of the Citizens may fly from the destruction of the City timely consulting their own safety or for some other cause which the event will make manifest and thus the doubt or scruple concerning the small number of the slain may be satisfied 2. And will yet more fully if we consider what number may be designed in the words names of Men. Names of men may be taken for eminent and renowned Men high and great persons cheif heads of Noble Families Names of men is as much as to say men of name An Hypallage frequent in Scripture as silver Shekels for Shekels of silver Levit. 5. the Law of righteousness for the righteousness of the Law Rom. 9. Riches of grace for rich grace Ephes 1. So names of men may here be put for men of name persons of great honor and dignity in opposition to men without name base and ignoble Persons Job 30. According to this interpretation which nothing can be said against Names of Men signifing high and great persons suppose they be of the Popish Ecclesiastical Order whom we call Church men by great names and titles distinguished from the inferiour Clergy if 7000 of these be slayn how many of a lower rank and order which the Holy Ghost would not so much as count or reckon Besides this there may another interpretation be given of Names of Men viz. Companies and Societies of men which are wont to be called by proper names as well as particular men as Cities Towns Parishes Villages Monasteries and Nunneries and what are these if we consider the Matter but names of men as the Roman name is put for the Romans themselves the Thebane Polity is called the Thebane name what is therefore the Names of those humane Societies whether they be either of Rome or in that they call the Church State be the 7000 in this great Earthquake to be slain i. e. subdued by the adverse power which the Scripture useth to call death but we must not rashly determine any thing in a thing to come the best commentary of a Prophecy is the fulfilling of it but I bring these things to shew that of these words a larger sense may be given then is commonly conceived When the word Name in Scripture doth not use to be restrained to one single signification neither are Names of men joyned together in any place of Scripture but in this neither is the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Names taken simply for particular single persons but onely in two places Acts 1.15 Rev. 3.4 in other places it hath several significations It follows And the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of Heaven i. e. the rest of the Bestian party are amazed and terrified and thereby compelled to acknowledge the just judgements of God which he hath poured out upon them and to confess their sins which to do is to give glory to God Vers 14. The second we is past and be bold the third we cometh quickly The Second we is past the meaning is this great Earthquake continues to the end of the second we or of the sixth Trumpet together with which is to be finished the Prophecying of the mourning Witnesses For after so great a Victory over the beast and their ascending up into the Church-Heaven with so great honour they put on their mourning weeds no more But now if this second wo or plague of the sixth Trumpet be the Turks from Euphrates flowing in upon and over-running the Roman Empire in times past as was interpreted Chap. 9. it cannot be but the passing away of this second wo must be the overthrow of the Turkish Empire the drying up of the waters of Euphrates at the end of the pouring out of the fifth Vial whereby way is made for the coming of the Kings of the east cap. 16.12 At which coming of the Kings of the East least there should be left too wide a space betwixt both Trumpets the seventh Trumpet seems to begin Hiatus And so the wonderful preparation of the beast and false Prophet to the Armageddon Battel Cap. 16.13 together with the event thereof at the pouring out of the last Vial vers 17. must be made to begin at the sounding of the seventh trumpet And truely it seems very congruous that the preparation to the Battel as well as the battel it self should appertain to the same Trumpet but here an objection must be removed out of the way viz. Object Whether the Beasts 42 months and the Witnesses 1200 and 60 days are one and the same terme but now these days of the mourning Witnesses ending at the passing away of the sixth trumpet plague or second we It may very well be asked why the months of the beasts may not be supposed to be longer when after this time so great a part of the beast still remaines not to be quite abolished till the beginning of the seventh Trumpet It may be answered Answ This may be either because at the calling of the Jews there called the Kings from the East a new kingdom begins Or because in the duration of the beasts reign there is an ey or respect chiefly to the Empire of the City of Rome but now this great Royal City of the Beast in this Earthquake is taken demolished So that the Beast from thenceforth shall have changed his form when he is driven from his Metropolis it can no longer be counted which is the signification of his other seven heads a seven-mountained Kingdom Behold the third wo comes quickly This begins at the sound of the seventh Trumpet Wherefore these words immediately follow Verse 15. And the seventh Angel sounded And the seventh Angel sounds a Jubilee and then there be great proclamations and acclamations in heaven Called by some Divines the wo-joy Trumpet that the kingdoms of the world are the kingdoms of Christ and whereas before the Devil Dragon and Beast and his horns reigned now Christ takes to himself his great power and reigneth for which the whole Church under the type of 24. Elders praise him though the Nations be angry as they ever are when Christ puts forth his just power Verse 15 16 17 18. He now gives reward unto his servants the Prophets c. and destroys them that destroyed the earth that is he ruines the wicked and Idolatrous generation of Antichrist who wasted his Church before ver 18. His tabernacle is now open in heaven and the ark of his testimony seen ver 19. i.e. Christ represented by the ark is clearly manifested before