away the daily Sacrifice and tread down the Sanctuary v. 13 14. about Ann. 167. before the Nativity of Christ and the residue must come after and thus would not expire till about Ann. 2133. But I conclude that those 2300 Days did begin and end with Antiochus I would not absolutely determine that the Conversion of the Jews will be before the Fall of Rome but offer some Reasons for it This seemeth plain that the Jews will not return to their own Land or be called till the Resurrection of the Witnesses For as the time times and half and 1260 Days so the three Days and half of the Witnesses lying dead are all of them times of the Gentiles Rev. 11. 2 3 9. and it is expresly said Luk. 21. 24. They shall fall by the edge of the Sword and shall be led away Captive into all Nations and Jerusalem shall be trodden down How long until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled And they are not fulfilled till the Death of the Witnesses is over seeing the Gentiles hold them under their death If the Tenth part that falleth at the Witnesses rising or ascending should not be Rome but another of the Ten Horns as some would have it then seeing there is but one blow more after that Triumph Rev. 19. 1 2 c. Why may not Rome be the Babylon that cometh into Remembrance at the Seventh Vial let the Event determine I do not pretend to immediate Revelation or such a Spirit of Prediction for the foretelling things to come but only compare Scripture with Scripture I did compose this Ann. 1665. and see no Cause yet for Variation in the Substance only now I have much abbreviated it with a few Alterations and a little Addition especially as to the Number of the Beast and this Review â—ath added much to my Confirmation and Satisfaction in these things The Day of the Lord is near let us exercise Faith in Prayer that if Jesus Christ should come at Midnight yet we may be always found watching THE CONTENTS Chap. I. OF the general Scope of the Revelation and Enemies of the Church Pag. 1 Chap. II. Of the Ten-horned Crowned Beast Rev. 13. 1. Not the Pope p. 8 Chap. III. Of the Two-horned Beast the Pope Rev. 13. 11 p. 21 Chap. IV. Of the Little Horn p. 37 Chap. V. Of the first rising of the Ten-horned Beast p. 39 Chap. VI. Of the Epocha of the Mystical Numbers 42 Months and 1260 Days p. 50 Chap. VII Of what ensueth the End of the 1260 Days Of the Witnesses Death and Resurrection p. 68 Chap. VIII Of the Seven Vials that they are not all under the Seventh Trumpet p. 91 Chap. IX Of the Vials and how many are already poured out p. 98 A Conclusion of what was unaccomplished Anno 1680. p. 127 An Appendix Shewing I. That Pagan Rome was not the First Beast nor Mystical Babylon Rev. 17. p. 145 II. That the 1000 Years did not begin at Constantine the Great p. 155 III. That the Restoration and Conversion of the Jews and Ten Tribes is still to be Expected p. 156 THE Revelation unvailed c. CHAP. I. Of the general scope of the Revelation and the Enemies of the Church especially the Dragon IT is a singular demonstration of the Love of Christ to his Church that he hath vouchsafed the Book of the Revelation which affordeth not only useful Moral Observations but â—ropheticâ—â— Conclusions of the great Events from 〈◊〉 days of John until the end of all things Rev. 1. v 1 3. It is called a Prophecy of what was shortly to come to pass and that until the general Resurrection Rev. 20. v. 10 11 12. when â—esus shall sit on his great white Throne and the dead small and great shall be judged according to their works Here is a Prediction of the state and condition of actions and passions doings and sufferings both of the Church and People of God and also of their Enemies during that whole time And note there are 1. Seven Seals Rev. 6. six of which lasted during the time of Pagan Emperours till after Anno 300. See Mr. Mede And the seventh delivered it self into 2. Seven Trumpets Rev. 8. and 9. Some of which began to sound Judgment against the Roman Empire before Ann. 400. 3. Seven Vials or lâ—â—t Plagues Rev. 15. and 16. and all other dispensations are for time reducible to some of these That the Roman State or Empire is the chief boundary of all these matters is evident seeing the description undeniably agreeth to that and â—o no â—o other Place or State in the World for Rome was that great City Rev. 17. v. 18 which was built upon seven Hills or Mountains v. 9. and had seven heads seven several supream Governments v. 10 five of which were fallen in the days of John viz. 1. Kings 2. Consulâ— 3. Tribunes 4. Decem-viâ—i 5. Dictators and it 's said one is viz. 6. Caesars or Emperours And another was yet to come viz. 7. Popes And in that Territory were the ten Horns or Kings viz. that after received power as Kings which in the days of John they had not The principal Enemies here described are four 1. A Dragon Rev. 12. 3. 2. A ten-horned Beast Rev. 13. 1. 3. A two-horned Beast Rev. 13. 11. â— A Whore Rev. 17. Seven Heads and ten Horns the Dragon had and so the Beast crowned and upon the Beast the Whoâ—e rideth Rev. 17. 7. and therefore all of them belong to the Roman Empire The Church till after Ann. 300. is deciphered by a Woman clothed with the Sun Rev. 12. 1. and then the red Dragon was her grand Enemy v. 3. Afterward she is described under the notion of two Witnesses Rev. 11. and of 144000 sealed ones Rev. 7. and 14. 1. and then her great Enemies were the first and second Beast and the Whore Rev. 13 and 17. The grand Opposite to the true Church is the Whore of Mystical Babylon which therefore must be the corrupt Church of Rome Rev. c. 17. v. 1 to 6. For who else can these Characters agree to Who else did sit upon many Waters with whom the Kings of the Earth committed Spiritual Fornication Is the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth and drunk with the Blood of the Saints Who else hath sate upon the Scarlet-coloured Beast with seven Heads and ten Horns Yea it is expresly said v. 18. The Woman 〈◊〉 the great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth which could not in the days of John be asserted of any other in the World but only the City of Rome and so the Romish Church is here intended For the right understanding or clearing of these Prophetical Mysteries I shall lay down divers Rules with the proof of the 〈◊〉 Rule 1. That the Dragon notifieth Pagan Rome persecuting or such as are not professedly Christian As a Key to a considerable part of thâ— Prophecy I take Dragon throughout the Revelation for Satan 〈◊〉 iâ—
them Where note It was not by the Dragon i. e. not by any of the Ten Persecutions in the First three hundred Years after Christ under Pagan Emperours but by the Beast who was the Dragon's Successor he is the slayer of the Witnesses and not the second Beast the Pope though it may be by his Instigation but by the first Civil Persecuting Ten-horned Crowned Whore-ridden Beast for it is by him which ascendeth out of the bottomless Pit Compare Rev. 17. v. 3 7 8. with Rev. 13. 1 2. and 11. 7. And it is by a War not a meer worldly literal War but a Spiritual Mystical War by a difference stated between the Witnesses and the Bestians and so not where the power of the Beast hath wholly prevailed but where Christ hath a potent party to make opposition And not any War soon after the rising of the Ten-Horned Beast or during the 1260 days but when the Witnesses have finished their testimony as to time and work and are overcome and the War ended and hence this Death of the Witnesses was not by any National distresses and calamities which equally betide Bestians and the true Witnesses nor could the Death of the Witnesses be before or at the Smalcaldian War nor at the Council of Trent Ann. 1546. nor at the Massacre at Paris Ann. 1572. for from the rising of the Horns to those times the 1260 days could not be ended or testimony finished and so the Witness-killing War was not then so much as begun Prop. IV. That it is in an open place of Mystical Babylon that the Witnesses lie dead How long this Witness-killing War lasteth the Scripture doth not determine but the event must but it leaveth Spiritless Lifeless Rev. 11. 8. their dead bodies shall lye in the Street of the great City which Spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was Crucified This great City is Mystical Babylon see Rev. 14. 8. and 16. v. 19. and 17. v. 18. and 18. v. 10 16 18 19 21. and the description agreeth to that for it is Spiritually i. e. not literally but mystically called Sodom for spiritual Whoredom and Idolatry Rev. 17. 5. and Egypt for tyranny and cruelty Rev 17. 6. where our Lord was Crucified which was under Pontius Pilate a Roman Deputy and in that Jurisdiction It cannot be literally Jerusalem for that was not a great City in the days of John nor ever after till the New Jerusalem Rev. 21. 10. after which there will be no more sorrow or death v. 4. Zâ—ph 3. 15. Zâ—ch 9. 8. Amos 9. 14 15. Ezekiel's measuring is after restauration not before Ezek. 40. 17 19 20. and 48. 15 16. and therefore that is under the Seventh Trumpet after which they will not lye dead and therefore that is not the same nor at the same time with Johns measuring for that and the death of the Witnesses is before the end of the Sixth Trumpet Rev. 11. 1 7 14. They lye dead in the great City the Roman dominion not in the whole compass of it but in a Street thereof where some eminent testimony was held for Christ and his Kingdom against the Beast not in Streets Yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though distinguished from City as being only a part thereof Luk. 10. 10. and 14. 21. noteth a publick broad and open place in opposition to what is private as Mat. 6. 5. and 7. 13. wide is the Gate Rev. 21. 21. and 22. 3. So that the Witnesses shall lye dead in the Street i. e. in a most open place of Mystical Babylon exposed to the view of all even of Enemies The openness of it is such as v. 9. they of the People Kindreds Tongues and Nations shall see their dead bodies and not suffer them to be put in the Grave Denying Burial to the Dead generally soundeth disfavour and being barbarous Am. 8. 3. Psal 79. 2 3. Jer. 16. 4 6. and 22. 19. and 25. 33. but if it be an act of favour here securing them from utter destruction yet it is a very publick business the sadness of their condition is notoriously known to those of various Nations and Kingdoms by the dead Witnesses being personally present there And so either they are slain in diverse Nations and Kingdoms or else after dead they are transported exiled banished and by flight dispersed and driven for refuge thither and finding welcome there by their kindness are sheltred and secured from burial from utter ruin and destruction Or else as some think military men of all gatherings of several Nations Kindreds and Tongues will have power over them and hold them under their death and the Bestians are expressed under the same notions Rev. 13. 7 8. and the Earth-dwellers rejoice over them Rev. 11. 10 and to be sure these are Enemies Prop. 5. That when the Witnesses have lain dead three years and half they shall be eminently revived and advanced Rev. 11. 11 12. After three days and half the Spirit of life from God entred into them and they heard a voice from Heaven saying unto them Come up hither It is a determinate time else it might have been said as well after three or four days if only a short uncertain time had been intended whereas it is three days and half and so twice mentioned Nor can they be Natural days for the Earth-dwellers could not so congratulate one another at a distance in three natural days and half Nor are they the same with the 1260 days For who can imagine that so many days should signifie no more than three days and half in the same breath And besides they are different states the one of Sackcloth the other of Death Neither are they dead when they begin their testimony as that would have it nor till they finish it It remaineth then that the time of the Witnesses lying dead is three years and half not to be counted from the first beginning of trouble that is longer for the witness-killing War bringeth trouble but from the end of the War when it can be said Now the Witnesses are overcome and killed are able to make no more considerable opposition against the Bestians but are Spiritless their power is gone thence begin those days And hence where the Witnesses remain in the same deplorable and sad condition or go into a worse a longer space as four or six years that is not the time of the Witnesses lying dead For it is said After three days and half the Spirit of life from God entred into them Rev. 11. 11. Some extraordinary if not immediate hand of God beyond all expectation before the fourth year is come giveth some reviving removeth that wherein the Death of the Witnesses did consist And they stood upon their feet they were fallen down but now are recovered into a better posture to the affrightment and astonishment of Spectators Great fear fell upon them which saw them This second step followeth not long after their reviving a resurrection Afterwards they
Rev. 11. 13. and so their rising cannot be under the fourth or fifth or seventh Vials for then they repented not but blasphemed God Rev. 16. 9 11 21. Their Resurrection and Ascension then must be under the sixth Vial. It must be before the seventh Vial at Armageddon For at the seventh Vial the whole fourth Kingdom of the Beast falleth whereas at the rising of the Witnesses it is but a tenth part that falleth and that upon an Earth-quake under the sixth Trumpet Rev. 11. 13. after which there is another and the greatest Earthquake under the seventh Trumpet v. 19. Whereas the seventh Vial is the last of the last Plagues and bringeth the greatest Earth-quake Rev. 16. 18. and so cannot be that at the rising of the Witnesses for that is not the last nor greatest And further after the destruction of the Whore there is an interval for the lamentation of some of her friends which survive Rev. 18. 9 10. and for the rejoycing of others her Enemies and making themselves ready Rev. 19. 8 9. when the great supper at Armageddon by the seventh Vial is to come ver 19 20. Only we must distinguish between the destruction of Babylon at Rome which is at the Earth-quake near the rising of the Witnesses under the sixth Vial Rev. 11. 13. and the Perdition of Babylon as extending into the Nations or the whole compass of the Roman Dominion which is not till the Earth-quake at the seventh Trumpet Rev. 11. 9. and at the seventh Vial when the Cities of the Nations fall Rev. 16. 19. and then great Babylon cometh into remembrance to give her the fiercest wrath but Babylon at Rome was destroyed before Rev. 18. Some not observing this distinction run upon mistakes either to think that Rev. 18. belongeth to the seventh Vial which is the last wrath whereas that Rev. 19. 19 20 cometh after Or else say that the Turks and Constantinople are the Babylon mentioned under the seventh Vial which I dare not think they being no where called Babylon in the Apocalyps but rather belong to the Beast or Dragon And it is untrue for the Ten-Horned Beast carrieth the Whore of Babylon Rev. 17. 3 5 7. whereas the Ten-Horned Beast never carried the Turks nor did the corrupt Church of Rome Ride upon the Turks neither was Constantinople the great City which in the days of John did Reign over the Kings of the Earth v. 18. but Rome was that City and stretching into the Nations so it is the Babylon mentioned in the seventh Vial. And here observe that this slaying or lying dead of the Witnesses three days and half cannot be successively in one Kingdom after another For at their Resurrection or Ascension the tenth part of the City falleth Rev. 11. 13. the sixth Trumpet passeth v. 14. and soon the seventh Trumpet soundeth v. 15. that notion would make divers slaughters resurrections and falls whereas the Scripture maketh but one slaughter one resurrection one Earth-quake one fall of the Tenth part neither can the sixth Trumpet pass or the seventh sound in one Kingdom after another for when that soundeth not onely one Kingdom but the Kingdoms of the World become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ v. 15. Prop. VII That the Death of the Witnesses Ann. 1680. was not past but to come There are various thoughts among learned Men whether this black and dismal day of the Witnesses Death be past or yet to come I think it is near approaching not only because the days of their Sackcloth in all probability are finished and the Warring time seemeth near at an end but because the sixth Trumpet hath sounded a long time above 200 years if it began when the Turk obtained Constantinople Ann 1453. therefore the conclusion of it cannot be far off I do not think the Church to be the proper subject which the Trumpets sound judgment against but the Civil State of the Roman Empire and clearly the seventh bloweth good to the Church Rev. 11. 15. I shall refer the Reader to Mr. Mede and others to see how and when the several Trumpets sounded All things concerning the sixth agree to the Turk and if the hour day month and year Rev. 9. 15. notifie the time allotted to the Turkish Tyranny then the end of his work is hastening for the time must be counted not from the time of their being prepared but of their being loosed to do the work of slaying the third part of Men v. 14 15. This loosing of four Angels or Sultans seemeth to be before Ann. 1300. for then they fell into one Ottoman Family however taking a day for a year as elfewhere the time for that Woe will expire within a few years which is after the Witnesses Resurrection and Ascension But my opinion is that the Death of the Witnesses is yet to come 1680 I should be glad herein to be mistaken my grounds are these I. Vntil the 1260 days and the Warring State be at an end their death-state is not come for it is after finishing their Testimony that the Beast maketh War with them and killeth them Rev. 11. 7. So long as their Testimony is not finished and the War not ended so long they are not Dead nor the three days and half begun And therefore Ann. 1680. their Death was yet to come It 's true in the time of their Death there may be Edicts or Acts as after the Death of Christ Sealing the Tomb to hinder the Witnesses Resurrection but till there be a suppression of their Testimony they are not dead II. The Condition of the Witnesses since finishing of their testimony hath not been for three years and half far worse than it was before by a greater suppression of Testimony and other unparallelled sufferings therefore Ann. 1680. their Death was not past but to come The consequence is clear because the Death-state is far worse than the Sack-cloth-state as death is far worse than life though in a mournful condition this hath been proved before Prop. 2. III. Whatever the Death of the Witnesses consisteth in some recovery out of that is the immediate issue of the three days and half For else they must be longer dead whereas Rev. 11. 11. after three days and half the Spirit of life from God entred into them c. This life standeth in opposition to the Death and no medium between them no moment wherein they are not either dead or alive at the expiration of these days before the fourth day they live If their Death consisteth in an unparallell'd cessation of Testimony then there is some recovering into witnessing work again before four years be expired and so whatever else their Death may be placed in But no such recovery out of that which is their Death or no removal of that wherein it doth consist hath been the immediate issue of three years and half of any supposed time for their death already past and so that is yet to come I see no Scripture
Beast and appeared for the restoration of the Church It is when they rejoice with singing for redemption from and victory over Antichristian Pollutions v 2 3 4. which plainly must be at the beginning time of pouring out the Vials for then a like Song of Moses and the Lamb is sung upon the same account Rev. 15. 1 2 3. for victory over the Beast his Image and Mark and the number of his Name it was then after some getting out of Spiritual Egypt So that the imposing the Mark of the Beast and the Churches first restoration by the Fathers name on their foreheads in an open profession are of the same date beginning at the first Vial and thence the number of the Beast is 666 years to the time of his Fall And the first Vial I think began about the time of Berengarius whose opinion was condemned by Popish Councils at Vercellis and Rome about Ann. 1049 or 1050 c. therefore his 〈◊〉 â—rofession was before how many years 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—udge CHAP. IV. Of the Little Horn. Rule 4. THAT the Two-Horned Beast the Pope is the Little Horn Dan. 7. Note that there is a little Horn Dan. 8. 5 9. growing on the Hee-Goat which is expressly there said to be the King of Graecia v. 21. that Horn is Antiochus Epiphanes But the Little Horn Dan. 7. groweth on another Beast the fourth Monarchy v. 7 8 19 20 24. and all the Characters of him agree to the Pope therefore he is that Little Horn. As the Pope in his Original or Rise was a little Horn v. 8. a poor Bishop yet grew in his looks more stout than his fellows v. 20 25. he did grow up among the ten Horns and was diverse from them v. 8 24. Another had Eyes like a Man i. e. full of Policy and Wisdom hath a mouth speaking great things against the Most High v. 8. 11 25. making himself supream Judge in matters of faith a Vice God He Warreth with the Saints by Persecutions and prevaileth v. 21. weareth out the Saints as a Garment by long rubbing fretting and ill using of them And he thinketh to change Times and Laws i. e. change Gods Laws for his own as in Doctrine Worship and Discipline particularly in Marriages Meats Festivals all which obviously agree to the Pope and also 1. The little Horn prevaileth against three of the other Dan. 7. 8. before him three of the first Horns were plucked up by the Roots and v. 20. fell V. 24. he shall subdue three Kingdoms This agreeth to the Pope for he was a means of rooting out the Grecian Exarchs the Lombards and also the Goths who ruled in Italy and had Soveraignty over Rome Silverius the Bishop brought this to pass saith Evagr. l. 4. c. 18. and these were precisely three and this doth not lessen the number of Horns or reduce them to seven but giveth him more Power at Rome Or Mr. Parker thinketh they were three Mahumetan Kings viz. Solyman in Asia Cassianus in Syria the Egyptian Caliph in Judea which were subdued by the Pope who raised the War and this was one of the greatest acts that ever he did and these are precisely three and properly subdued by him and these were of the Ten Horns or their Territory belonging to Daniels fourth Beast 2. The Little Horn continueth until a time times and the dividing of time wearing out the Saints Dan. 7. 25. yea after till he overcometh them v. 21 22 27. Neither doth the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 until deny its being longer as one observeth donec signifieth Consecutionem non exceptionem vel exclusionem futuri temporis Genebr in Psal 109. So until is not exclusive Psal 110. 1. and 57. 1. Cant. 2. 16 17. Mat. 12. 20. And besides the Little Horn is up Dan. 7. 22. Until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was given to the Saints of the Most High and the time came that the Saints possessed the Kingdom which is not till after the Death and Resurrection of the Witnesses and sounding of the seventh Trumpet Rev. 11. 14 15. Daniels Beast is comprehensive of the whole fourth Monarchy from first to last and so may clearly enough be distinguished from the little Horn as Dan. 7. 11. though the Pope be it he hath but a part thereof not all the Ten Horns CHAP. V. Of the first rising of the Ten-Horned Beast Rule 5. THat the first rising of the Ten Horned Beast in all probability was in the time of Valens however before Ann. 400. It is a great mistake that a knowledge of the day of his Birth will give a certain knowledge of the day of his death for he may not so early be in that work which giveth the first date to the Prophetical numbers and he surviveth some of these viz. the 42 months which many would have to be the whole of his time yet seeing he must be up before he can act it is of great importance to enquire after the time of his first rising and take it thus 1. When the Roman State or Empire became like a troubled Sea after the Dragons downfal then did the Beast arise and this was before Ann. 400 I saw A Beast rise out of the Sea Rev. 13. 1. Sea is the gathering together of Waters Gen. 1. 10. and Rev. 17. 15. Waters are people and multitudes and Nations and Tongues Ammianus Marcâ—llinus who lived at the very time of Valens and Valentinian and was a Souldier then useth these words At this time as if the Trumpets had sounded the Battel throughout all the Roman World most Fell and Savage Nations rose up in Arms and Invaded the next limits to them the Alemanes wasted at once both Gaule and Rhaeâ—ia the Sarmaâ—ians and Quadi made spoil in Pannonia both the one and the other The Ticts Saxons Scots and Allacots infested the Brittains with continual troubles The Anstorians and other Manrite Nations made Rodes more fiercely than they had wont into Africk certain Bands of Gothick Brigands and Rovers rifled and ransacked Thracia the King of Persia laid violent hands upon the Armenians c. thus far he lib. 26. cap. 5. And now judge whether the Roman Empire was not at this time like a troubled Sea and so whether the Beast did not rise out of it especially seeing some of the Horns were Crowned in this time of Valens about Ann. 376 and 378. as is proved Antichristi excidium But further the Alemanes brake through the limits of Germany provoked thereto with a more mischievous mind than usually c. about that time or not long after Procopius in the East rose up in arms and plotted to usurp the Empire c. There were most woful Tempests and Storms up in both parts of the Empire at one and the self same time in the same Months both in the West and also in the East part of the World c. Ib. lib. 26. c 6. See much more lib. 27. c. 8. The State of Rome
and the Saints possessed the Kingdom i. e. until the Seventh Trumpet And further to confirm this after the time times and half it is added Dan. 12. 7. and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the Power of the holy People all these things shall be finished viz. Daniel's People the Jews shall be delivered v. 1. So then the accomplishing to scatter the Power of the holy People is after the time times and half are expired And seeing we read not of any new scattering of the Jews and this belongeth to the Fourth Monarchy and is a Gentile Number it may possibly refer to Gentile Christians and be in part expressive of the way of slaying the Witnesses by a scattering them and their Church-Assemblies after these times or 1260 days are expired Also John in the Revelation clearly placeth what concerneth the Death of the Witnesses after the 1260 days are ended Revel 11. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when they have finished their Testimony then and not before doth the Witness-killing War begin I had rather render it so in the time past being in the Aorist than when they are about to finish And their Testimony was not finished till the 1260 days of their Prophesying expired seeing the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophesie Rev. 19. 10. so long as they Prophesie though in Sackcloth it is not finished either for time or work And not only the import of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the Nature of the thing maketh that War and Death subsequent For during the 1260 days of their prophesying the Witnesses are Overcomers and their Enemies are killed Rev. 11. 5 6. if any Man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their Mouth and devoureth their Enemies and he must in this manner be killed and this in the days of their Prophesie Whereas the issue of this War is the Witnesses are overcome and killed v. 7. the Beast shall overcome and kill them Rev. 13. 7. Yea the Prophesying state in the very mentioning of it is inconsistent with the Death-state and the Death far worse than the Prophesying though in Sackcloth so long as they Prophesie they are alive not dead Neither do the Witnesses in the time of their lying dead torment the Earth-dwellers as they do in the time of their Prophesying v. 5 6 10. The Conclusion then is that the finishing of the Testimony however the Witness-killing War and the Death of the Witnesses are after the 42 Months and 1260 days are expired and at an end For the further discovering who are the Witnesses and what their Death how where and when they are to be Slain taken Seven Propositions Prop. I. That the Two Witnesses are faithful Ministers and pure Professors or Beast-opposing Churches For they are two Candlesticks Rev. 11. 4. which are interpreted Churches Rev. 1. 20 the seven Candlesticks are seven Churches and they are two Olive Trees which is but an Allusion to Zech. 4. 3 11 14. and cannot be confined to Magistrates and Ministers seeing they are never called a Candlestick and pure Professors and Churches are anointed ones Rom. 11. 17 18 19 20. 1 John 2. 20. 1 Pet. 2. 9. Yea these are such as Prophecy 1 Cor. 14. 24 31. Rev. 19. 10. and that 1260 Rev. 11. 3. not only making a Profession at large but bearing and finishing a Testimony for Christ and his Kingdom against the Beast as v. 7. so as he becometh their Enemy and maketh War with them The Two Testaments are their Testimony and so cannot be the Witnesses however it cometh to the same in Effect for if these or Magistrates and Ministers lye dead then so will such pure Professors and Churches also and so are to be deemed Witnesses Prop. II. That the Death of the Witnesses is an Extremity of Suffering Or it consisteth in an unparallell'd Cessation of Testimony and Deprivation of Means and Comforts of Life The various Phrases of overcoming and killing them may intimate its being attended with much Bloodshed but it is not chiefly a corporal Death for then such must be the resurrection or recovery out of it and that under the sixth Trumpet Rev. 11 11. 14. whereas the corporal resurrection is not until the seventh Trumpet v. 18. And their Enemies behold them with pleasure three Prophetical days or years and half which they could not do if it were a corporal Death It must then be a metaphorical Death by the Churches being in a state and condition full of Extremity of Affliction and Suffering which often is called a Death 2 Cor. 1. 10. and 11. v. 23. Psal 71. 20. and 80. 18. Isai 26. 19. Ezek. 37. 10. 35. Rom. 11. 15. It will not only be a civil death by deprivation of Publick Ministration and Employment as to the exercise of office but also a spiritual Death by an unparallelled Cessation of Testimony for they dye not meerly as Men but as Witnesses they lose much of their witnessing Spirit Rev 11. 7. Their state is far worse than in their prophesying time possibly by military Men having Power over v. 9 10. and forcibly disabling of them for former actual witnessing work and thus it will be not only their Sin but their Suffering that there is a failing of their Testimony And although Spiritual Life it self will not utterly fail yet they will in an extraordinary unpresidented way be cut short of external means for the support of it so as they are deemed as dead Corps v. 8 9. and their restauration or recovery is by the Spirit of Life from God entring into them which importeth a precedent want of it As the dead-state of the Jews or Israelites Ezek. 37. importeth not only the ruin of their City destruction of their Temple despoiling of them of outward Comforts Houses Lands Relations Accommodations but the Profaning of the solemn Worship of God the trampling under foot his Ordinances the casting down from Church-state or work and subjecting them to the wills of merciless Men and their own drawing up despairing Conclusions v. 11. our hope is lost we are cut off for our parts and the restoring of them is a recovery out of this condition v. 8. to 15. So the Death of the Witnesses importeth the like an unparallelled unwonted loss of a witnessing Spirit deprivation of the external Worship and Ordinances of Christ and Church-state by scattering loss of Communion and all aggravated with the triumphant Blasphemies of Enemies and Insultations over them Rev. 11. 10. and their own despairing Conclusions from their seeing no visible possibility of coming into a better condition afterward all which will be attended with a variety of other Afflictions and Sufferings rendring their conditions so deplorable as is hardly to be pre-conceived of before experienced Prop. III. That it is by a latter Victorious War of the First Beast that the Witnesses are slain Rev. 11. 7. The Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless Pit shall make War against them and shall overcome and kill
have an invitation or call into a more honourable condition v. 12. and they heard a great voice from Heaven saying Come up hither It is not the highest Heaven for the call thither is not till the end of the Seventh Trumpet but the Church is the Heaven they are called up to which they were greatly cast down from during the time of their Death now they are called to publick exercises again in a Church State of exaltation and advancement and they ascended their Resurrection is immediately after the half day but their Ascention may be some time after more gradual and in a Cloud i. e. with a great multitude as Heb. 12. 1. a Cloud of Witnesses a vast number who at their death seemed fewer what if this Cloud should be that fulness of the Gentiles coming in as an immediate fore-runner of the Jews return and Israels being saved Rom. 11. v. 25 26. and their Enemies beheld them Rev. 11. v. 11. 12. this expression at the second view differeing so much from the first v. 11. maketh me question whether the great fear after the resurrection of the Witnesses when they stand upon their feet be not of friends as Enemies answerable to that great fear at the Resurrection of Jesus Christ all alluding to him which fell upon those that kept the Watch to hinder his rising as well as upon those Disciples that sought him after risen Matth. 28. v. 2 3 4 8. Mark 16. v. 5 6 7. So after the Resurrection of the Witnesses at first hand not only those that have kept the Watch and by Edicts and Acts in the time of their Death sought to hinder their rising are struck into a pannick fear but as well many Friends and Witnesses may be filled with great trembling fear and amazement at the first hand by the Earth-quake and terrible dispensations The rising of the Witnesses at first may not be obvious to eminent Christians so as to deliver them from fear or great workings of unbelief but at their Ascention their exaltation by that call is so eminent and publick that then the Enemies of the Witnesses only fall under astonishing fears And observe that whilst the Witnesses lie dead there is a remnant that is secured from that death all the Witnesses in all places do not die it is not so general God hath a reserve in that day of a number that shall bear some testimony and not suffer at the rate that others do where the stage of this Tragedy is in the time of lying dead For those that lay dead all of them for ought I know are called up into Heaven into a state of exaltation Rev. 11. 12. and therefore there are others who give the call and not those that lay dead these do not call themselves but are called therefore there are others who did not fall under that Death but these Witnesses or Friends who are reserved shall not appear so eminently till about the time of their Ascension then the Witnesses had that call and they Ascended up to Heaven in a Cloud Prop. 6. That there is an Earth-quake or stupendious alterations to the desolating a famous tenth part of the City about the time of the Witnesses restoration Rev. 11. 13. and the same hour or day as in some copies there was a great Earth-quake i. e. at the same time with the Witnesses Resurrection possibly as a means of their rising it alludeth to Mat. 28. 1 2. or at their Ascension There was an Earth quake i. e. commotions or wonderful alterations in the face of things as Rev. 6. 12. and would hardly be called a great Earth-quake if it did not extend to many Nations and Kingdoms This seemeth to be a Turkish Earth-quake for it is closed thus Rev. 11. 14. The second Woe is past i. e. the Sixth Trumpet is over which sounded by the Turk as is generally granted and proved in that all matters of it aptly agree to him So that this is a sure direction to tell us where we are at the Witnesses Ascension viz. at the conclusion of the Sixth Trumpet And it is very observable that the fifth Trumpet is closed thus Rev. 9. 12. One Woe is past but when he had mentioned much work of the sixth Trumpet v. 13 c. he doth not end the chapter in the same manner but suspendeth and deferreth that till he had mentioned some other eminent occurences chap 10 11. and then addeth v. 14. The second Woe is past i. e. the Witnesses being Risen Ascended and the Earth-quake over now the Turks have done their work of the sixth Trumpet the punishing the Romanists for their Idolatry Worshiping Images of Gold and Silver Rev. 9. 20 21. now the Turks will cease to be a Woe as formerly to them no more famous exploits of theirs against Papists are to be expected The Turks then may lose their dominion or much of it though their utter ruine and destruction may not be till afterwards and that upon the Mountains of Israel Ezek. 39. 4. but they will be much concerned in this Earthquake as the last part of their work against the Romanists Now this Earth-quake is signalized by the destruction of a vast number of Dignitaries either of the Turks or Romanists Rev. 11. 14. and in the Earth-quake were slain of men 7000. names of men i. e. men of Name and Office many more than of Enemies of the common sort possibly parallel to Rev. 18. 6 8 15 16. and by the Repentance of some Rev. 11. 14. And the remnant were affrighted and gave Glory to the God of Heaven and especially by the Destruction of a famous tenth part And the tenth part of the City fell To fall is to be ruined overthrown destroyed made desolate as Rev. 18. 10 17 19 21. This Tenth part which falleth some think to be one Kingdom where the Witnesses did lye Dead which is not proved and is unlikely seeing their Death and the effect of their Ascension reacheth other Kingdoms v. 15. it is then either Constantinople or some other famous Kingdom belonging to the Turks as Hungary or Greece Seeing the Turkish Woe now soon passeth and loseth ground before the seventh Trumpet Or else seeing it is a tenth part of the City I think it rather is Rome it self not upon Mr. M. too curious notion of that being but a tenth part now of what it was of old but as being emphatically the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and because its fall is an immediate fore-runner of the seventh Trumpet Rev. 11. 13 14 15 16 17 19 20. There is a Triumphant Song that the Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord aâ—â— of his Christ which is the same that is 〈◊〉 the destruction of the Whore of Babylon and by the same persons compare it with Rev. 19. 7 9 11 15 19 20. And hence Rev. 18. is an explication not of the fifth Vial but the sixth and the rather because after the Witnesses Restoration a remnant repented
evidence for a gradual reviving or resurrection yet there may be a gradual Ascension IV. There hath not been such a triumphant state of Earth-dwellers for freedom from former Torments which they felt by the Witnesses Prophesying as answereth Rev. 11. 10. They that dwell upon the Earth shall rejoice over them and make merry and shall send gifts one to another because these two Prophets tormented them It was by their Prophesying and Praying as Elias did that they tormented the Bestians Carnal Earthly minded Men and whilst the Witnesses lye dead the Earth-dwellers are in a very prosperous flourishing condition keep a Jubilee with more than ordinary signs of joy as the variety of Expressions intimates and this for freedom from their former Torments But no such triumphant State of Earth-dwellers hath been experienced in the time past since finishing their Testimony Therefore their Death is yet to come The like might be said of the Nations Kindreds and Tongues not seeing their dead Bodies so as to hinder their Burial v. 9. 5. Immediately after the reviving of the Witnesses from their Death-state there is such a restitution to their former Posture as is to the great affrightment of Spectators Rev. 11. 11 12. Great fear fell upon them which saw them But this is not yet experienced by Friends or Enemies and so their Death-state is not past but yet to come 6. There hath not been Ann. 1680. such a great Earthquake or Commotion as ushers in the Consequents of the Witnesses resurrection And so it is not past but yet to come Rev. 11. 13. The same Hour there was a great Earthquake There is not yet a fall of that famous Tenth part of the City nor the Slaughter of 7000. a vast number of Men of Name nor the Repentance of a Remnant so as to give Glory to God nor is the Turkish Wo yet past as v. 14. Therefore the Death Resurrection and Ascention of the Witnesses cannot be yet past but to come 7. The seventh Trumpet hath not yet sounded Therefore the Witnesses are not yet ascended For then that cometh quickly Rev. 11. 14 15. though not the same moment with their Resurrection yet very speedily after their Ascension and so their Death could not be at the time many fix upon as at the Council of Trent which are past above 100 years past It 's true the great Reformation about the time of Luther hath its place in the words of this Book so as one of the seven Vials I think the fourth Vial was then eminently poured out but that was not the sounding of the seventh Trumpet There are invincible Arguments to prove that the seventh Trumpet hath not yet sounded For when that doth begin to sound the Mystery of God is finished Rev. 10 7. as he hath declared to his Servants the Prophets And what can this be or is called so in Scripture that it can be applied to but the Conversion of the Jews Rom. 11. 25 26 And it is evident the Jews are not yet converted and saved And further the second Turkish Wo is not yet past they do not yet cease to be a Wo to the Roman Idolaters which must be before the sounding of the seventh Trumpet Rev. 11. 14 15. And there is a Resurrection and Ascension of the Witnesses before the sounding of the seventh Trumpet Rev. 11. 11 12 15. after which it can never be proved that they shall pass under a Death any more or such an extremity of Suffering as they are under at this day in France and elsewhere And once more immediately after the sounding of the seventh Trumpet not only a Jewish Nation but the Kingdoms of this World become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11. 15. and that so as he reigneth for ever and ever And therefore after the sounding of the seventh Trumpet Antichrist shall never recover to regain any of the Kingdoms to submit to him again as he hath done since the Reformation Therefore the seventh Trumpet hath not yet sounded and consequently the Witnesses are not yet ascended I have wondred that this seventh Trumpet beginneth thus and not with terrible Dispensations but possibly the aforementioned great Earthquake Rev. 11. 13. did much of the first destructive work so as to usher in this triumph v. 15 16 17. and so the first sounding of it is with Praises and much of the Wo of the Trumpet is reserved to the latter part of it v. 18 19. CHAP. VIII Of the seven Vials and that they are not all under the seventh Trumpet AS the seven Seals were several degrees of Judgment upon Rome Dragon or Pagan and the seven Trumpets sounded an Alarm of Judgment upon the Civil State of the Empire so the seven Vials are several degrees of Judgment coming upon it after its Papal State and also upon other Enemies of Jesus Christ at last Rev. 14 relateth to the time of the Vials For there is the Song of the Lamb v. 1. which answereth Rev. 15. 1. It referreth to a time of visible Separation from Antichristian Pollutions and Victory over the Beast and his mark Rev. 14. 1 4 9. So the Vials Rev. 15. 1 2 6. It relateth to the time of witnessing against and crying down Babylon Rev. 14. 8 9 10. Babylon is fallen if any Man worship the Beast he shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God and it is under the Vials that there is this Victory over the Beast Rev. 15. 1 2. It concerneth a time wherein an Angel hath Power over fire Rev. 14. 8. and this is the Angel of the fourth Vial Rev. 16. 8. And it mentioneth a Harvest and Vintage Rev. 14. v. 15. to the end which must relate to the latter Vials Rev. 16. 19. and 19. v. 15. And so Rev. 14. declareth the work of the Angels or how they pour out the Vials as well as the Condition of the Church under them As to Rev. 15. I take it to be no Prophesie of what shall be accomplished before the Vials begin to be poured out but it giveth a Compendium or general view of Matters relating to the Vials from the beginning to the end like the Contents of a Chapter set before it and it discovereth the State and Condition of the Church and People of God during the time of the Vials in a general way It containeth a Description of the Virgin Saints v. 2 3 4 5. by their Conquest over the Beast and triumphant Song for that Victory and a subsequent Privilege The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Heaven was opened v. 5. i. e. not before but after Vial Judgments v. 4. And the Vial Angels more particularly are described v. 5. 6 7 8. by their place from which they come not out of the World but the Church out of the Temple v. 6. by their Qualifications clothed in pure and white Linnen by the Instruments given them v. 7. golden Vials by the Persons from whom they receive these Vials v. 7.
THE Revelation Unvailed OR An Essay towards the Discovering I. When many Scripture Prophesies had their Accomplishment and turned into History II. What are now Fulfilling III. What rest still to be Fulfilled with a guess at the time of them WITH An APPENDIX PROVING That Pagan Rome was not Babylon Rev. 17. and that the Jews shall be Converted Dan. 12. 4. Many shall run to and fro and Knowledge shall be increased By SAMVEL PETTO Minister of the Gospel at Sudbury in Suffolk London Printed for John Harris at the Harrow in the Poultry MDCXCIII THE PREFACE IT is a Duty of high Concernment unto Christians to be searching the Scriptures Joh. 5. 39. one part as well as another all being given by Divine Inspiration and profitable to high and glorious Ends. The last Prophetical Book would never have obtained the Name and Title of Revelation if an understanding of the Mind and Will of God therein had been unattainable Nor would there ever have been such a precious Promise in the Front of it Rev. 1. 3. Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophesie if it had been un-intelligible Who should share in this Blessedness if none could arrive at the Knowledge of what they Read Neither should any take Discouragement for this search because some have been mistaken in their Computations of time for they may as well reject the Study of other Scriptures on that account seeing many Wise and Learned Men have been grosly mistaken about great Matters of Eaith or Doctrines of the Gospel Indeed the Enquiry is the more necessary that at last the Truth may be found out I am not peremptory in fixing the time but offer different Epocha's with the Grounds and let these or the Event determine which is the Truth And besides the Mystical Numbers there are other Signs of the times as the sleepiness of Virgins may speak that the coming of the Bridegroom is not far off Mat. 25. 1 c. and some Events may discover what are next to follow as some former Seals open'd tell us what were yet to come and some Trumpets sounding tell us which are next to sound Also know that there are other Matters besides the times yet to come to be enquired after even what is already past that we may discern what an answerableness there have been in Events in the several Ages to what is contained in the Prophesies which is indeed the great Scope and Design of this Discourse to give a discovery of Here we may see how Prophesies have been turned into History And there is enough in this to recompence all the labour of any serious Observer and Enquirer and to fill him abundantly with Admiration Here is Matter not only knowable but of great importance to be known for receivers of the Mark of the Beast in the forehead or hand openly or secretly are severely threatned Rev. 14. 9 10. They shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God which is poured out without mixture and shall be tormented with fire and brimstone for ever A Discovery of the Enemies of the Church I accounted necessary else what followed would not have been Established I confidently conclude the Pope to be the second Two-horned Beast Rev. 13. 11. who is the Giver of this Mark and so the least Compliance with him as such is very perilous and desperately dangerous That Mark may not only be what I have particularly mentioned but may extend to some other Act or Badge Tessera Sign of Token which he giveth of their belonging to him As to the First Beast Rev. 13. 1. I think him not to be the Pope or Seventh Head but another persecuting Beast as I have evinced Herein I confess I differ from other Interpreters yet I account it the Truth and this may be a salvo for their supposed mistakes about the Mystical Numbers some of them might be righter in their Computations as to the End than themselves were aware of two things which I have proved being considered 1. That the Epocha of the 42 Months and 1260 Days is to be fetched from a Persecution of the first Ten-horned Crowned Beast Rev. 13. 1 5. Not from the Pope nor from any Apostacy of his or other Romish Corruptions some of which were too early to begin those Days with 2 Thess 2. 7. and others too late if they were to Commence from the very first Moment of time when Rome lost the Essentials of a true Church and turned into the Whore of Babylon 2. That the 42 Months and 1260 Days are not expressive of the whole time either of the Beasts continuance or Dominion It is a great mistake to think that immediately after the expiration of those Days the Beast must be destroyed or the Churches Trouble come to its End It 's true the Sackcloth or Wilderness-state then ended but after that the Witnesses having finished their Testimony there a is Witness-killing War and the Death-state of the Witnesses and their Resurrection ensueth before the reign of the Beast cometh to an end Rev. 11. v. 7. to 15. As to the 2300 Days Dan. 8. 14. I think they are not Prophetical Days i. e. Years but Natural Days not only because expressed by Evenings and Mornings v. 26. but because they are limited and confined to the little Horn which groweth on the Hee-goat v. 8. which is declared to be the King of Grecia v. 21. And so that Little-horn was Antiochus Epiphanes who did grow out thence as v. 9. in the latter time not of the World but of the Four Kingdoms which sprang from the Grecians or which that was split into as v. 23. And this Antiochus did take away the daily Sacrifice and cast down the Sanctuary v. 11 12. And it being asked How long it should be till that was cleansed v. 13. The aforesaid days are given as the Answer v. 14. And sutably was the Event according to Josephus and the Maccabees which may be esteemed as other humane Histories though not as Scripture For from Antiochus first Persecution in his own person in the 143 Year of the Greeks to his Death in the 149 Tear is about that time 1 Maccab. 1. 20 21. and 1 Macc. 6. 16. Or from Menelaus who intended to Revolt to the Religion of the Greeks and had a License from Antiochus to Erect a place in Jerusalem in the 142 Year to the time of cleansing the Sanctuary in the 148 Year is about 2300 Days Joseph lib. 12. c. 6. 1 Maccab. 4. 41 43 52. In vain therefore do many perplex themselves seeking the expiration of these 2300 Days in the times of the New Testament And if they were so many Years yet they could not begin before the Vision it self which hath its first Date at the Ram Dan. 8. 3. noting the Kings of Media and Persia v. 20. and the first Year of Cyrus was about 528 Years before Christ nor indeed could they Commence before that little Horn Antiochus did take
his to dwell in he would cease spoiling of the Country Honorius not knowing how to recover France and Spain from the Suevians Vandals c. giveth Alaricus Power to go into France confirmed this Grant with an Oath Alaricus steering his Course towards France Stiâ—ico against the Covenant followeth him and made a great slaughter Alaricus not the least suspecting it before Hereupon the Goths snatching up their Arms and Alaricus exasperated by this injury and violation of Covenant turned back into Italy wasâ—ing with Fire and Sword and at last Rome it self was taken by him Socrat. 1. 7. c. 10. Cent. 5. c. 16. Funccâ—â—â— And whereas some grant that the sixth Head of Emperours was wounded and would have the Popes obtaining Headship to be the healing I confess I understand not how a wound in one Head should be healed by the rising up of another I think the wound is never healed unless the same Head that was wounded recovereth again But this is a granting the thing for it is not a Head of the Dragon but a Head of the Beast that is wounded Rev. 13. 3. One of his Heads and therefore if it be the sixth Head of Emperours that is wounded then that first Beast is not the Roman State under the seventh Head but under the sixth Head of Emperours 4. The first Beast is the Whore-ridden Beast Rev. 17. 3. I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast v. 4. 5. Rev. 13. 1. Now the Pope is rather carried by the Whore than the Beast that carrieth her and therefore this Beast is not the Pope Nor is the Turk this first Beast for this Whore doth not ride upon the Turk nor is Constantinople the City which in the days of John reigned over the Kings of the Earth nor did the Turk arise the same hour with the Crowning of the Horns as Rev. 17. 12. but hundreds of years after yet I deny not that the Turk may belong to the Beast after he obtained some Territories belonging to the Horns of the Beast It is therefore a Civil State of the Roman Empire 5. The Beast is both an eighth King and of the seven Heads Rev. 13. 1. And Rev. 17. 3 11. The Beast that was and is not even he is the eighth and 〈◊〉 the seven There were but six when the 〈◊〉 did arise and the wound was of the sixth 〈◊〉 as I have proved and so must the eiâ—â—th be some distinct new kind of Government and if the 〈◊〉 Beast Rev. 13. 1. were Popes and the sevâ—â—th Head at his first rising then the Beast could not be the eighth and of the seven For I ask what distinct kind of Government or State of the Empire came after Popes to make an eighth King If it be said the Christian Emperours before the rising of the Beast I add that it was the same State of Government under Pagan and Christian Emperours though the qualifications and Actions of Governours were different both were Emperours And seeing after the sixth Head of Emperours two Beasts so different each from other are mentioned Rev. 13. 1 11. It is to me a wonder that men should not seek a way how the other six might by these two Beasts be made up eight Kings Thus the first Beast Rev. 13. 1. hath Ten Crowns upon the Horns or Kingly Government there which made a different sort of Government from the other six and so may be deemed a seventh King or sort of Government or an eighth if we will count it after Popes who maketh another as 2 Pet. 2. 5. God saved Noah the eighth Person the meaning is that there were seven saved besides Noah he was not the last of them in order but did make up that number So Rev. 17. 11. The Beast is the eighth that is there are seven besides seven others and so with him there are eight The Beast is the eighth in number not necessarily that he is eighth or last in order Hence he aâ—deth and of the seven he doth not say he is the seventh so warily doth the Apostle speak here It is said of this Beast it was is not and yet is Rev. 17. 8 11. was in its Ten Horns crowned before the deadly Wound is not in respect of perfect Headship when wounded for the Head is said to be wounded as it were unto death Rev. 13. 3. and yet is when the Wound was healed Rev. 13. 3. 6. The Pope obtained not any Civil Supremacy over the Empire till hundreds of years after the Horns were crowned and so after the first Beast was â—â— therefore the first Beast Rev. 13. 1. is not the Pope or seventh Head For the crowning of the Horns or their receiving Power as Kings is the same hour or the first hour with the Beast Rev. 17. 12. All the former Heads were Civil Heads as Kings Consuls c. and therefore so must the seventh be also And indeed how is it possible that Popes should be reckoned a Head of the Roman State or Civil Monarchy or succeed and come in the place and stead of the sixth Head of Emperors which was a Civil Head until they obtain a Civil Supremacy as Emperors and others had â—hocas his constituting Boniface the third Universal Bishop Anno 606. is evidence enough that the Bishop of Rome had not then obtained a Civil Supremacy but was under the Head of Emperors still seeing he was beholden to them even for his Ecclesiastical Supremacy and yet the first Ten Horned Crowned Beast was up long before this Indeed there is evidence that a long time after the crowning of the Horns yet Emperors were the Supream Head and the Popes of Rome subordinate or subject to them Bonifacius writing to Honorius saith God hath given you the Regiment of worldly things and the Priesthood to me Even the Councils for spiritual matters were called by the command of Emperors many years after as Phil. Morney Knight in his Mystery of Iniquity hath largely proved And claiming Supremacy or aspiring after Civil Headship is no obtaining it any more than John Bishop of Constantinople his claiming and assuming the Title of Universal Bishop about Anno 590. did make him Ecclesiastical Head over the Bishop of Rome in that day The Temporal Supremacy of the Pope cannot be proved until a long time after and so he could not be the first Beast And to say that his Ecclesiastical Power made him the first Beast and his Temporal the second is to invert the Order of Rev. 13. 17. which ascribeth that to him as a second Beast 7. All the other Characters of the first Beast agree to the Civil State of the Empire with ten Horns crowned persecuting and so the complex body of them or as headed by Emperours make that Beast Rev. 13. v. 3 4. When the Wound was healed then all the World wondred after the Beast Charles was called the Great because then he was so much admired And they worshipped the Beast To worship him is eidem
Matrons how many Godly Virgins and comely and noble Bodies were Mocking-stocks to those Beasts he speaketh of barbarous Nations The Bishops taken and divers Orders of the Clergy slain c. Ubique lucuts ubique gemitus plurima mortis imago In these People the chief were the Goths and Vandals whereof seeing part were Strangers to Christianity and given to the Superstition of the Gentiles taking some occasion they did not only extreamly persecute Christians but also endeavoured utterly to abolish them but part although in Profession they were numbred among Christians yet because they were Infected with the Poison of Arius they also did no less sharply oftentimes afflict the Church There is every where a meeting of Pagans there are heard Roarings and Blasphemies against the Christian Faith Complaints of the Neglect of the Religion of their Forefathers therefore so great Evils hung over them because omitting the Ancient Rites of sacrificing and rejecting their Father's Gods many imbraced Christ Immediately therefore leaving all things they consult of reiterating their Sacrifices of repairing of Altars and restoring wholly all the Idolatry of the Ancients and devise to abolish Christianity every where Paul Diacon Oros About the same time the Churches also of France sustained great Persecutions for the Vandals over-running destroying France overturned many both Cities and Churches and made many famous godly Men Martyrs c. See also Jerom Epist ad Geront Also the Churches in Spain experienced their Calamities and Afflictions for the Vandals about 16. Honor. occupied Spain and when some of them were Arians and others Gentiles Catholicos more suo afflixerunt c. See more Cent. 5. c. 3. And now Judge whether the Woman was not in Sackcloth and the holy City trodden and persecuted by a revengeful Dragon turned into a Beast with Crowned Horns at that Day and so whether the 42 Months and 1260 Days were not begun 2. The Church also in the East Empire under Arcadius sustained like Persecution about the very same time Cent. 5. c. 3. Gainus a Barbarous Cruel and Military Man of the Nation of the Scythians troubled the Church before An. 400. being by Profession an Arian desired one Temple of the Emperour within the Walls Chrysostom told the Emperour it must not be to Blasphemers Gainus did get an Army he going by Thracia destroyed all as he went Constantinople was in eminent danger A little after Chrysostom saw the most corrupt state and dissolute Discipline of the Churches and began the Correction of these things he was deposed and twice banished and at last died in Banishment presently after he was gone out of the City there was a great Fire which they laid to the Charge of Chrysostom's Followers they take and Imprison many some were carried to Chalcedon Prison and neighbouring places and others carried beyond Sea to divers Islands being first vexed with divers Torments others fled The Governour because a Pagan and out of Hatred of that Religion took great Pleasure in the Misery of Christians many had great Tortures and were tormented unto Death and not only in the City but in other places was Trouble The Friends of Chrysostom could not communicate with his Enemies and therefore a great Persecution was raised against the Churches of God by the instinct of Atticus and there was a Law made for their Banishment lb. Cent. 5. c. 3. out of Sozom. Nicephor And since there hath been a Continuation of the Persecution of the Beast by its Heads or Crowned Horns As The cruel Vandals passing out of Spain into Africk under Genserick their Captain an Arian about An. 427. as Calvis or 430 as others being one of the Crowned Horns raised a sore Persecution against the Christians they wasted and destroyed all before them with Fire and Sword but especially raged against the Churches the Bishops and Ministers they destroyed with many kinds of Torments When he had taken Carthage all the Ministers were thrust into weather-broken Ships and so banished all in the Province were despoiled of all their Substance and turned out of their Churches After Genserick his Son Hunnerick succeeded who also used Tortures and became a great Persecuter he banished into the Wilderness of Bishops Ministers Deacons and other Members of Christ 4976. By an Edict in one day he caused all Christian Churches throughout Africk to be shut up giving to the Arians all the Goods and Churches of the Orthodox and some of them were told that they should be banished into the Wilderness He also sent abroad through all Africk his cruel Tormentors so that no Place no House remained free from Lamentation Screeching and Out-cryes These things and many more are written by Victor Bishop of Utica who lived at the same time and was himself a Sufferer under this Persecution And it is remarkable that the Suffering is once and again expressed by being in the Wilderness which is the very Notion it is under Rev. 12. 6. 14. as if it were literally to be fulfilled Attila King of the Hunns when he wasted both Empires did also not a little trouble the Church 9000 Virgins were made Martyrs and many others Cent. 5. c. 3. So Anastasius Emperour about Ann. 492. raised great Persecutions See Cent. 6. c. 3. It were almost endless to mention the After-Persecutions under Emperours and Crowned Horns But whether any Acts of either aforementioned or some other Acts did give the first Date to the 1260 days I must leave to others to judge I am comfortably perswaded that these days of their Sack-cloth state are come to their Period and end some Years since As a small Act Ishmael's Mocking might be the Epocha of the 400 Years Gen. 15. 13. so some less obvious Act possibly might begin these Prophetical Days CHAP. VII Of what Ensueth after the 1260 Days are at an End IT is confidently concluded by many Writers that exactly and immediately after the Perioding of the 42 Months and 1260 Days there is an end of the Dominion of the Beast and of the Sufferings of the Saints whereas I am confident they are mistaken in both another Event was to be expected It 's true then the Witnesses come out of their Sackcloth-state but soon after they pass into a worse state as will appear under the next Rule Rule 8. That after the Expiration of the 1260 Days and finishing of the Testimony there is a Witness-killing War the Death and Resurrection of the Witnesses and a great Commotion before the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet This appeareth For It 's clear that Daniel's little Horn continueth after the time times and half Dan. 7. 25 26. the Judgment shall sit and they shall take away his Dominion to consume and destroy it to the End Therefore his losing his Dominion and his Destruction will be by a Consumption after those times which are the same with 1260 Days are ended Yea he is prevalent thinketh to change Times and Laws How long v. 21 22. until the ancient of days came
grounds as 1. From the number of Vials already poured out indeed the accomplishments of foregoing Prophesies are indications of what events are next to follow and a sure guiding thread for our direction to discover where we are 2. The state and condition of the Turks when the Turks cease to be a woe to the Roman Idolaters to scourge whom they were raised up Rev. 9. 13. to the end then the second Woe passeth Rev. 11. 14. and then the next revolution will be the Jews will appear and v. 15. the Kingdoms of the World will become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ this must be either by a Peace with the Turk which may delay the work or else by losing much of his Dominion and if Rev. 9. 15. denote his time of prevailing a month in the Revelation being 30 days then if we begin their Empire with Oguzians Ann. 1294. then his time allotted to slay the third part of men expired Ann. 1685. since which time he hath been losing ground and it is hopeful his further fall may be approaching Leonicus Chalcoconditos 3. Especially the death of the Witnesses by the darkness and dreadfulness of it together with their Resurrection and the consequences thereof are the most sure prognosticks and most signal marks of the approaching glorious state Rev. 11. 7. to 16. And if any should inquire whether the death of the Witnesses be yet past I answer if remarkable occurrences since Ann. 1680. by Persecutions in Germany Hungary England Scotland and Ireland and especially in Savoy and in France in the unparallell'd sufferings of the Protestants there did not amount to the Death of the Witnesses then that fatal black and gloomy day is yet to come No preceding time which men have fixed upon can answer the character of it but when I consider the marvelous and almost miraculous return of the Vandois to their places together with the wonderful liberty here established in England by Law and else where with some other matters I have some hopes that it is past and that the Resurrection of the Witnesses is begun until I see to the contrary Neither doth the darkness of some present dispensations altogether dash my hopes for Luke 18. when the Son of Man cometh there will be distress of Nations so as it will be hard to find Faith without fainting on the Earth I have now answered the desire of friends in publishing these sheets and if any will be contentious I think not to reply without great necessity if this may put others upon enquiring further into these prophesies to the encreasing a knowledge of the times and the encouraging the faith of Christians I have my design and they may lift up their heads for the redemption draweth near FINIS ADVERTISEMENT * ⎠* THE Life and Death of that Old Disciple of Jesus Christ and Eminent Minister of the Gospel Mr. HANSERD KNOLLYS Who Died in the Ninety Third year of his Age. Written with his own Hand to the Year 1672. and continued in General in an Epistle by Mr. William Kiffin To which is added his last Legacy to the Church Price Stitcht 6 d. or bound 8 d. Errata Corrigenda IN the Preface Pag. 15. Marg. Lin. 7 8. read P. 103 104. P. 24. l. 7. r. been P. 53. l. 11. r. his P. 60. l. 26. r. Roast P. 62. l. 8. r. Man In the Contents Pag. 5. Lin. 8 9. read Schecinah In the Book Pag. 3. Marg. Lin. 18. dele sine P. 17. l. 4. r. as are not P. 35. Marg. l. 22. r. caviâ— P. 50. l. 25. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 58. l. 3. del of P. 70. l. 20. r. prevails P. 75. Marg. l. 25. r. Baptizari in P. 80. l. 14. r. Harmoniously P. 91. l. 3. del fore and in the same line r. offered for P. 92. â— 27. r. were P. 93. Marg. l. 4 5. r. 48. 53. P. 94. Marg. l. 3. r. 46 47. P. 100. Marg. â— 4. r. 94. P. 120. Marg. l. 16. r. instituto P. â—27 l. ult r. Antipaedobaptistic P. 133 l. 3 4. r. Obstacle P. 136. l. 21. del they P. 138. l. 15. del the