may make some advance to the setling of the beginning of the Gentiles Months For if these 2300 years are a Line of Time reaching from the first year of Cyrus to the cleansing of the Sanctuary Then if we gain the true Epoch of Cyrus's First Year we may by consequence find out the Period of these Years and the beginning and end of the 1260 years of the Witnesses and of the Forty Two Months of the Gentiles And here because the Reasonings of Chronologers are very dubious and their Epochs very different and of an uncertain Foundation as (a) Epitom Baron pag. 11. Spondanus with just reason complains I shall only desire this one equitable Postulatum to be granted me viz. that the Scripture Accounts of Time as they are given us in the Hebrew (a) Hanc supputationem recentiores Chronologi qui post Scaligerum Floruere uno ferme consensu complexi sunt Anton. Pagi Appar Chronol Pag. 1 2. Text may be received as Authentick when they are supported by reason evidence from profane History and the consent of the latest Chronogers amongst whom I shall pitch upon Spanhemius (b) Chronol Introduct ad Eccles Histor. as one of the latest and the most accurate in his accounts consulting others as there shall be occasion Now if we guide our selves by this Postulatum we shall perhaps find this following Scripture Calendar to be most exact   Years A. M. From the Creation to the Flood 1656. 2083. From thence to Abraham's coming out of Chaldea Spanhem à pag. 135 ad 140. 427. 2513. To the Israelites coming out of Aegypt Spanhem pag. 142. 430. 2993. To the beginning of the building of the Temple in the fourth of Solomon 1 King 6.1 Spanhem à pag. 143-145 480. 3029. To Solomon's death and the revolt of the Ten Tribes immediately upon it in the first year of Rehoboam 1 King 6 1.11 42. Spanhem 149. 36. 3459. ante Chr. 528. From the First Year of Rehoboam to the First of Cyrus's Reign over Babylon which was the End of the 70 Years Captivity 430. This Number is gathered by adding the 390 Years of Ezekiel's bearing the sin of Israel to the Forty Years of his bearing Judah's sin Ezek. 4.4 5 6. In which Chapter the Prophet shews 1. That Jerusalem would be besieged and the Temple and City burnt according to what Jeremiah had prophesied the Truth of which the People beginning to call in question there having passed now Five Years since their Captivity without any appearance or likelihood of it the Prophet is commanded Verse 3. to lay siege to Jerusalem in a Type to be a sign to them of the real siege approaching 2. The Prophet is also commanded Verse 9. to lie 390 Days appointed by God himself to signifie Years Verse 6. upon his left side to bear as in a Type the Years of the Punishment of the House of Israel or the Ten Tribes And then is expresly commanded to lie again Verse 6. on his right side to bear the Years of the Punishment of the House of Judah Forty Days after he had accomplished the Three Hundred and Ninety thereby plainly shewing the Forty to be different from the Three Hundred and Ninety and not included in them as Interpreters generally make them with plain Violence to the express Words of the Text. 3. It is evident from the 13th Verse that the penitential and course Dyet prescribed to the Prophet during the streightness of the Siege a freer Dyet perhaps being permitted him the remaining Forty Days after it is not only a Type of the Famine and Misery they were to suffer but also of the defiled and polluted Bread they were to eat among the Gentiles during their Captivity which is there evidently referred to and not only the Siege of Jerusalem 4. By the mention of the House of Israel and Judah separately and distinctly from each other and by God's assigning a distinct Term of Years to each is plainly intimated that they are represented in this Vision as in a divided state 5. The Years therefore of their Iniquity Verse 5. which the Prophet was to bear must be the Years of their Iniquity whilst they continued in a divided state which can be no other then the Years from their first Division and Idolatry under Jeroboam until the End of the Captivity some of them were then under particularly referred to Verse 13. So that the Prophet does here in a Vision shew them in Prophetical Days for Years how long their Captivity should last and that it should not be ended untill Four Hundred and Thirty Years were compleated from the time of their Division and Idolatry which was the Iniquity for which they were carried Captive and for which he was to bear their punishment in a Vision shewing the time from their Defection to the End of the Captivity Concerning which Prophetical and Symbolical Line of Time it is also further to be noted 1. That the greater Number of Years of Punishment are allotted to the Ten Tribes because they were First in the sin and deepest in the Guilt Whereas the Two Tribes because they walked (a) 2 Chronicl 11 17.12 1. Three Years after the Division in the ways of David and Solomon and were less guilty then the other have their punishment assigned them after the other and that of a less continuance And the Prophet when he bears their Guilt is commanded to lie on his right side to shew the greater Esteem God had of them whereas he was bid to lie on his left when he bore the Iniquity of Israel which being the less worthy side of the Body thereby is denoted the less value God had for them 2. It may be observed that this Number Four Hundred and Thirty is made up of Two Numbers 1. Of Forty which is the time that the Children of Israel were to bear the punishment of the Apostasy of their Fathers Forty Days each Day for a Year Numb 14.33 34. And 2. (a) 390 7 2730 Of 390 a Number which if multiplied by Seven makes up 2730 Days for Years the exact Sum (b) 390 40 2300 2730 of the 390 and 40 Days in Ezekiel and of the 2300 Evenings-Mornings in Daniel whereby is signified by the multiplying the first Term of their punishment by the Number Seven that the Jews should lie under a State of punishment for their Iniquities for 2730 Years a multiplication of punishment by seven times being the proportion of punishment settled by God with respect to his people Levit. 26.18 21 24 28. and that after the fulfilling of that Term of Years allotted to their bearing of their Iniquity God would restore them to their Land and remember his Covenant according to what God hath promised Levit. 26 40-46 Whereby the Extent of the 2300 days of Daniel to the End and to the last End of the indignation Verse 19. and to the cleansing of the Sanctuary is wonderfully exemplified And now from hence we have
gained a Line of Time of 430 Years from Solomon's Death to the end of the LXX Years Captivity which is the first of Cyrus which is made out also by Dr. Beverley from a distinct Enumeration of the Reigns of the Kings of Israel and Judah and the fourteen Years assigned to the Visions of Ezekiel's Temple and does not much differ from the Calculations of the latest Chronologers who make this time to amount to 437 or 439 years at furthest although they confess after all their Pains that this Line of Time is very uncertain and obscure for Reasons collected by (a) Introduct Chronol ad Hist Eccles pag. 150-159 Spanhemius And therefore amidst so much doubt and difficulty where can we find a surer rest then in Scripture whose accounts of time will after all be found the most exact and that when Profane History and Chronology is most in the Dark if we take in Prophetical Time as well as Historical And now having settled the beginning of Cyrus's Reign or the Epoch of the Medo-Persian Monarchy we have obtained the beginning of the 2300 years and withal a Line of Time from it to the Cleansing or Justifying of the Sanctuary i. e. of the Christian Church Typified thereby from all Idolatry and Antichristianism when the Holy Place which is now shut will appear open in Heaven Rev. 11.19 Which Account stands thus A. M. 5759 A.D. vulg 1772. From the beginning of the Medo Persian Empire by Cyrus to the cleansing of the Sanctuary Dan. 8.13 14. 2300 Which will end in the 5759th year from the Creation and the 1772 year after Christ according to the common Account From which if you take Daniel's 75 years you come to the end of the 42 Months and the 1260 days and so by a regressive order to the Epoch or beginning of them at A.D. 437 as hath been already shewn on Paragr 5. pag. 210. All which is deduced by particular Accounts and after a most accurate manner by Dr. Beverley in his several Treatises called Scripture Lines of Time and stand as they are proved by him in this Order  Years 1. From Cyrus to Daniel's 70 weeks 75 2. Daniel's Weeks 490 3. The time between the Weeks and the 42 Months 400 4. The 1260 days or 42 Months 1260 5. The 30 and 45 Years of Daniel 75 Which amounts to years 2300 3 And I will give Power i. e. Commission and Ability of Testimony and Prophecy unto my two 13 Witnesses raised and sent on purpose to testify to the Truth and to denounce Judgments against the Apostasy and they shall Prophesie i. e. declare and Preach 14 against it and foretel Judgments a thousand 15 two hundred and threescore days of years cloathed in Sackcloath 16 i. e. in a Despicable Afflicted and Mournful condition 13 To Witness signifies to give Testimony to the Truth against Errors and Corruptions as the word is used Is 55.4 John 18.37 Acts 26.16 and also to pronounce God's Judgments against sinners as the word signifies Malach. 3.5 And the Witnesses are Two because Two Witnesses at least were required under the Law for confirmation Deut. 17.6.19 15. and to shew that a small number but a sufficient one should be made use of to confirm the Truth But chiefly in Correspondence to the Types in the Old Testament where these Witnesses are generally Two and accordingly God here raises up Two Witnesses to Witness and denounce Judgments against the Idolatry of the Christian Church as Moses and Aaron did against the Idolatry of Pharaoh Egypt Balaam and Moab as Elijah and Elisha did against Baal Ahab Jezebel and Ahaziah and as Zerobabel and Joshua were Witnesses in Babylon during the Captivity 14 So the Word Prophesie signifies frequently in the New Testament Although the Proper import of it here seems to be the Foretelling of the Encrease and Ruin of Antichrist and of the Coming of Christ's Kingdom to destroy him which being the Future Events of this Vision the Prophesying or Foretelling here mentioned must relate unto them particularly to the Kingdom of Christ the Chief Subject of all the Prophecies of the Old Testament which being not to begin to come into Event until the Expiration of the 1260 Days it is until then under Prophecy as a Future State And the Witnesses prophesie of it not only in their Discourses and Writings but by the mournful State they are in which is also of it self a signification that Christ's Kingdom is under a Delay a Sealing or a Prophecy which are words of like import 15 These Days begin with the Forty Two Months of the Gentiles and reach to the End of Antichristian Times running parallel along with them God taking care that as soon as Gentilism came into the Church there should be Witnesses raised up to testifie against it and to instruct the people in the contrary Truth by their Preaching and their Sufferings See num 12. 16 This was the Habit of Prophets when they denounced Judgments particularly of Elias one of the Witnesses under the Old Testament 2 Kings 1.8 Zech. 13.3 4. Matth. 3.4 And thus Mattathias and his Sons put on Sackcloth when the Gentiles prophaned the Sanctuary under Antiochus 1 Maccab. 2.14 4 These two Witnesses are or are signified by what in the Anti-type is represented by the two Olive 17 Trees Zach. 4 and the two Candlesticks 18 o◠〈…〉 Rev. 1.20 19 standing before or Ministring unto the 〈…〉 the Earth Zach. 4.14 17 The Types in this Verse are plainly taken from Zech. 4. And the Witnesses are called Olive-Trees upon these Accounts 1. Because they are to be anointed ones Zech. 4.14 or Kings and Priests in Christ's Kingdom 2. Because as the Olive Branches Zech. 4.12 they empty the Golden Oyl out of themselves into the Candlesticks or Churches That is impart to them the Fruit of those Gifts and Graces which they had received from the Spirit of God and were as fully replenished with as an Olive Tree is with Oyl Whereupon Christians are said to be anointed by God and the Holy Spirit and the Effects of it are called The Vnction in Scripture 2 Cor. 1.21 1 John 2.20 27. 3. Because the Witnesses were to perform the same Offices in the Christian and against the Antichristian Church as Joshua and Zerubbabel did for the Jewish and against Babylon the Type of Antichrist who is called a Mountain Zech. 10.4 And according to the Type in Zechariah the Witnesses are two anointed or chosen Servants of God replenished with his Spirit Verse 6. who are to level the Mountain of Antichristianism Verse 7. and to finish establish and build up the pure Church Verse 9. and that out of small things Verse 10. that is small beginnings and a Sackcloth or contemptible and afflicted condition 18 From hence it plainly appears that the Two Witnesses are Two Churches which are signified by Candlesticks in this Prophecy Chap. 1.20 as Grotius hath most appositely remarked on the place And amongst the Candlesticks or Church
our Saviour's Continuance in the Grave which is said by the Evangelist Matthew Chap. 12.40 to be Three Days although he lay in the Grave only one whole and entire Day of them For he was not enterred until after Three a Clock in the Afternoon of the Day in which he was crucified Matth. 27.57 and rose again in the Evening of the Lord's Day according to the Reckoning of the Jews who begin their Natural Day at Evening or to make use of those Heathenish Names of Days which we unnecessarily retain that I may be the better understood on Saturday-Night just before the Morning of the Lord's Day he being already Risen as the Evangelists testifie Matth. 28.1 John 20.1 before Day whilst it was dark when the VVomen came to the Sepulchre on the first day of the Week So that according to our Reckoning only a part of Friday and that a small one to wit from Three in the Afternoon until Evening when the Sabbath-day began in the Account of the Jews Friday Night and all Saturday until towards Sunday-Morning are called (a) Dr. Hammond on Matth. 12.40 and the Expositors on the 5th Article of the Creed Three Days and Three Nights i. e. Three Natural Days in Scripture altho they consist only of the middle one entire and but of a part of the First and Last Day And from hence it is that a very Sagacious (b) Dr. Beverley's Vision of the Witnesses slain See Alcazer in Apocalyps pag. 439. Person thinks that the Three Days and a half in this place are to be reckoned after the same manner making them to be only proportionable parts of the 1260 Days and of the Times and a half of the Beast as the Three days of our Saviour's being in the Grave are only parts of the Three Natural days of his continuance under death which proportionable parts he calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Season intimate and pregnant Time and Time within Time For as Christ's Death was towards the End of the First day so is the First Day of the death of the VVitnesses to be begun from about the End of the First Time or 360 Years reckoned from A. D. 437. where he begins the First Time as hath been shewn on Chap. 10. num 13. which he places at A.D. 787. when the VVitnesses were killed and were dead as to all open power and liberty of witnessing upon their being Excommunicated by the Second Council of Nice after a long War about Images called in correspondence to Prophecy Iconomachia And then this being the First of the Three days and a half in proportion to our Saviour's being in the Grave the whole Sabbath day he makes the two whole Times consisting of 720 Years to answer the two whole Days of the VVitnesses unburied State which will reach to A. D. 1507. within Ten Years of the Reformation begun A. D. 1517. when the half time to which the half day is parallel begun as hath been before shewn Upon which in proportion to our Saviour's Rising at the beginning of the third day some of the Witnesses began to rise and were called Protestants A. D. 1524. which Name he thinks although grounded only upon a particular Protestation made by some of the Princes of Germany against the Edict might be designed and brought about by an over-ruling Providence to signifie that they were VVitnesses against the Beast or Protesters just then risen and appearing to give Testimony by way of Protestation against the declining Antichristianism there being a mysterious and fatal signification in some Names and Appellations unforeseen by those that gave them who might perhaps ground them upon idle and insignificant Reasons which point out some Remarkable Events then unthought of And from hence he dates the Rising of the VVitnesses in the beginning of the Half time or Half day said yet to be after three days and a half as our Saviour is said Mark 8.31 in the very same words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to rise again after three days although it were but at the beginning of the third day and that very early as soon as so much of the Night was past as that it might be called the third day although he thinks it to be a partial and an imperfect one suitable to the dark Evening for so it was John 20.1 of the third day when our Saviour arose and to the imperfections of Half time During which there are to be continual Advances of the Reformation and Endeavours after a higher pitch of perfection which yet shall not be compleat nor shall there be an entire Resurrection of all the Witnesses until the End of the last half time which he determines at 1697. upon Reasons given before even as our Saviour who was seen before only by some few appeared not unto all his Disciples until Evening Joh. 20.19 Now this Hypothesis is so agreeable to the other parts of this Vision and so gracefully proportionable to the Type of our Lord's Death and Resurrection and so strongly supported by several Remarkable Passages of History as the VVar about Images the Decree of the second Council of Nice establishing them and the Reformation appealing just at the Half Time or Half Day that I cannot but give my Assent to it and that after much deliberation and tryal of the truth of it Only I cannot but also do so much Justice to the contrary Opinions of some Famous Men as to give the Reader a View of them and to place them in the best light I can 1. It is the Opinion of (a) Mede's Works pag. 483 760 766 850 924. Mr. Mede and of Bishop Vsher That the whole Body of Protestants should be oppressed and totally subverted for a short space and that towards the End of the 1260 days when they shall be finishing and compleating their Testimony Which Opinion is refuted by Dr. Moor in his Appendix to Daniel and seems to me to be highly improbable because it supposes that the Witnesses had never been slaughtered before nor lain dead in the Streets of the Apostate City which is utterly contrary to all History 2. Monsieur Jurieu and other Famous and Judicious Persons have thought that the Churches of Piedmont and of France are the Two Witnesses and have accordingly remarked several things relating to their Rising after three years and a half Concerning which Opinion these following things may be observed 1. That these Two Churches are of a very Ancient Original probably planted by Apostolical Men in the First Ages of Christianity the former being the Remains of that part of the Churches of the Diocess of Italy which were under the Bishop of Turin who are commonly called the Waldenses and the latter not called Albigenses until after the Council at Alby in Languedock A. D. 1178. being the Successors of the Ancient Churches of Gaul For which see Learned Mr. Allix's Accounts of those Two Churches 2. These two Churches have maintained from the beginning their Independency
Eph. 1. VVhereas the Books of Reprobation are many because that depends upon the many Evil Actions of Men which Justice particularly weighs and considers and upon the Multitude and Diversity of Sinners which are to be convicted and condemned according to the Sins each of them had particularly committed So that there is to be a◠it were a particular Book of Conscience for each of them And it is Another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Book or a Book of another sort or kind to shew that the Elect shall be justified and saved by Free Grace and not for their VVorks nor even according to their own VVorks but those which Christ had wrought in them 13 And or for the Sea 45 gave up or had before given up to Death 46 and Hell the Dead which were in it viz. at the beginning of the Day of Judgment when the Dead Wicked were raised to Condemnation and Death and Hell i. e. the common Receptacle of the Wicked where they were under Confinement and Punishment during the Thousand Years delivered up now at this last Act of Judicature the Dead which were in them i. e. all the Wicked which had been under their Confinement and they i. e. the Dead Wicked were judged every man according to their Works 47 which were not found written in the Book of Life and which they had lately done against the Camp and City of God as well as for all their other wicked Deeds which they had done whilst they were in the Flesh in this present World 45 Grotius and Piscator render the VVord had given up which must refer to the rising of the Dead Wicked at the beginning of the Thousand Years when because there was to be No Sea in the New Earth the Sea gave up its Dead 46 For the Dead Wicked were condemned at first to the Four Corners of the Earth which were as a kind of Hades or Common Receptacle of the Dead answerable to the Hamonah or City of Dead Carcases in Ezekiel Chap. 38 and 39. See on Verse 8. and Mr. Mede pag. 57 1. and Bishop Vshers Answer to the Jesuites Challenge concerning Limbus Patrum 47 Their Works in the former Verse are represented as written in Books because being committed long before they were thereby to be put in remembrance of them and therefore the Books are opened unto them But here being no mention of Books opened it may well be concluded that these Works were those which they had newly committed against the beloved City Verse 9. which being fresh in their Memories there needed not any writing of them in Books in order to their conviction 14 And Death 48 and Hell or the Grave the last Enemies to be destroyed 1 Cor. 15.26 55. were cast into the Lake of fire i. e. Mortality and all Places of Punishment except that designed for the Eternal Torment of the Wicked were annihilated there being now no further use of them and they having delivered up the Dead which were in them This casting into the Lake is the 49 second Death i. e. Death Eternal Matth. 10.28 See on Verse 6. 48 These are the Enemies of Christ which according to Doctrinal Scripture in full concurrence with Prophetical are to be destroyed by him at last just before the delivery of his Kingdom up to the Father 1 Cor. 15.25 26 54 55 56. 49 As that Expression Verse 5. this is the first Resurrection seems to denote that it was to be at the beginning of Christs Kingdom so does this parallel Expression intimate that this Second Death was to be at the End and last Appearance of it These Two being as it were solemn Inscriptions on Two Pillars shewing the Two Bounds of Christ's Kingdom beginning in a First Resurrection of Saints and a First Death of the Wicked and ending in a Second Resurrection to Glory of the former and a Second Death of the latter as Absolute Final and Immutable as the Life of the former 15 And 50 whosoever was not found written in the Lamb 's Book of Life i. e. whosoever was not a Living Member of Christ's Kingdom during the Thousand Years of Life and Blessedness was cast into the Lake of Fire i. e. was punished with Eternal Torments 50 The Reprobate are not only judged according to the Rules of Justice by their own works but the Book of absolute soveraign and free Grace is looked into when they are condemned to shew the Agreement there is betwixt God's Decrees and the proceedings of his Rectoral Justice in condemning Sinners according to their own demerits there being none left out of the Book of Life and Grace who shall not be shewn to have justly deserved to be condemned for their own sins And hitherto hath been a Description of the Wicked their City in the four Corners of the Earth their Actions and Final Condemnation There follows now in the next Chapters a Description of the City of the Saints and of their Final Reward in the Eternal Kingdom of God All in All. CHAP. XXI The Text. 1 1 AND I saw a New 2 Heaven and a New Earth i. e. the Seat of the Kingdom of Christ wherein the Saints Reign with him a Thousand Years Chap. 20.4 6. 2 Pet. 3. Isa 65 17.66 22. Matth. 19.28 Acts 3.19 for the first Heaven and 2 the first Earth i e. the Heavens and the Earth which are now 2 Pet. 3.7 were 3 passed away with a great Noise burnt up and dissolved by Fire 2 Pet. 3.10 11 12. and there was no more 4 Sea Annotations on CHAP. XXI 1 Here according to the custom of the Sacred Writers a particular Account is given of the Generations as the Scripture speaks Gen. 2.4 of the New Heaven and New Earth which he had before Chap. 20 11. seen fly away at the Consummation and End of all things when Christ shall deliver up his Kingdom to the Father 1 Cor. 15.24 28. it being usual as appears from Gen. 2. for the holy Penmen to give a particular Description afterwards of what they had before either briefly hinted or only described in general who are wont also to pursue the matter they have in hand quite throughout before they resume its more particular consideration as appears from the former Chapter where the duration of the Kingdom of Christ is continued from its beginning in the Resurrection of the Saints to its End in the Destruction of Death his last Enemy and to the flying away of the very New Heavens and Earth when Christ's Mediatory Kingdom being at an end the Eternal Kingdom of God All in All is to succeed 2 The preceding Vision plainly relating to the Resurrection and the last Day of Judgment the New Heavens and Earth here described must accordingly be understood concerning those mentioned by the Apostle Peter 1 Ep. 3.13 which are to succeed the general Conflagration of the present Heavens and Earth to be dissolved at the very first Appearance of Christ at his second Coming who is to be manifested or
on Gal. 4.25 29. the Corrupt Party hath stood most upon its Purity Honour and Preheminence and hath Persecuted and Despised the pure one Now the Church of Smyrna comprehending that Succession of the Church in which the great Persecutions happened and in which a Crown of Life was at last given them at the Empires becoming Christian The Blasphemy here reprehended refers chiefly to the latter State of that Succession when Honours and Riches Flowing into the Church corrupted the purity of their former poor and suffering condition and the reverence at first innocently paid to Martyrs and the introducing of Pagan Rites by degrees under pretence of winning the Heathens gave a great encrease to the growing Apostasy iniquity under the covert of a Mystery i. e. of Piety Religion and well meaning Zeal making daily progress in the Church until it arose to an Antichristian Synagogue or Congregation of a prevailing party amongst them Which phrase is made use of in opposition to the Title given the Jews in the Old Testament who are called Numb 31.16 The Congregation or Synagogue of the Lord which the corrupt party of this Succession had forfeited by its Antichristian or Satanical Innovations as the Jews also did upon their Apostasy under Jeroboam 2 Chron. 11.15 who are thereupon said to have Sacrificed unto Devils or Satan And it is worth Observation that the last degeneracy of the Jewish Church when as it appears from the Gospels it became a Satanical Synagogue consisted chiefly in vain Traditions in Affecting Titles Honours and Prehemency in neglecting the Spiritual Service of God and in expecting a present Worldly Kingdom of the Messias instead of a Future Heavenly State of it and of the Kingdom of God within us consisting in inward Righteousness and Peace and lastly in Cruelty and Persecution and in casting out of the Synagogue of the Lord the true and faithful Servants of Christ. Now in whatsoever Age of the Church there may be found such a Temper and Spirit Prevailing so much may it be said to have of the Synagogue of Satan in it Much of which was visible in this succession in the strifes amongst Bishops about the Superiority and the Prehemenency of their Sees in their rash Censuring and Excommunicating one another for slight Matters as appears evidently in the Behaviour of Pope Victor in the Oppositions made in this period to the Doctrine of the Antient Chiliasts and in the introducing a great number of Ceremonies Rites and Customs into the Church to bring over the Jews and Pagans to the Christian Religion 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer For behold the Devil 22 shall by evil Men as his Instruments cast some 23 of you who have the courage not to deny me into prison i. e. various and grievous Tortures and Persecutions that ye may be tryed fully whether ye be perfect and entire James 1.2 3. 1 Pet. 1.7 and you shall have Tribulation that is one most notable Persecution 24 ten days of years Be thou faithful unto the suffering of death and I will give thee a crown 25 of Life i. e. Freedom from Persecution Rewards and Honours 22 Persecutors do the Devils Work Eph. 2.2 and to him Justin Martyr frequently attributes the Pagan Persecutions because they were promoted and set on by his Instigation 23 For many fell away in the Times of persecution 24 Days in Prophetick account are frequently put for Years as is evident from Numb 14.34 Ezek. 4.6 and Dan. 9.24 where the Days of the Seventy Weeks are understood by most Interpreters of Years For a Day being the First and most Natural Measure of Time depending upon the constant and most known Revolution of the Sun is put in all Languages and particularly in the Hebrew to express indefinitely a length or continuance of Time as the Days of Herod signifie in Scripture the Time of his Reign and is limited to some certain continuance by circumstances or according to the Will of Him who makes use of it as it is by God in Scripture restrained to signifie a Prophetical Year as is evident from the places I have quoted against which Grotius has Objected nothing material as Dr. Moor has fully proved in his Mystery of Godliness Book 5. Chap. 15. Now the last and greatest Persecution of the Church under Diocletian lasting according to all Chronologers exactly ten Years It is evident that this place must refer unto it especially if we consider that the Vision of the Souls under the Altar which is Contemporary with this Succession immediately preceeds the great Earthquake or change of Things under Constantine and that no Example could be brought by Grotius or Dr. Hammond of a ten days Persecution in the Times to which they limit this passage and that Ten does not denote in Scripture a short time when put indefinitely but is always put for one of a long continuance it being as it were the plentitude of simple Numbers as is evident from Numb 14.22 Job 19.3 1 Sam. 1.8 Eccles 7.19 Furthermore seeing that the things referred to in this Prophecy being for the use of the whole Church ought to be illustrious parts of History and not References to something not Transmitted unto us with which shift Grotius puts off his Reader what more Notable part of History could be referred to than that of the ten Years Persecution which gave Date to the Aera Martyrum and is a most famous Character of Time exactly answering in its ten Years Duration to the Prophetical way of Accounting a Day for a Year and fit to be made use of by the Holy Ghost in Transmitting so remarkable a Period of the Church down to after Ages 25 A Crown denotes Regal and Triumphal Honours and a Crown of Life is opposed to the Deaths and Martyrdoms they had before Suffered And hereby is plainly set forth the Freedom from Persecution they Enjoyed under Constantine at the end of the Tenth Persecution which according to the Accurate Computation of Mr. Pagi in his Critical Annotations upon Baronius began Feb. 23. A.D. 303. and ended June 13th A. D. 313. when the famous Epocha was Instituted of the Churches Freedom from Persecution mentioned by Eusebius in his Chronicon and by the Author of the Alexandrian Chronicon From which Time we may date their Crown of Life Constantine daily proceeding to advance and secure the Church which enjoyed great Freedom bating only some short Persecutions particularly that under Julian until it came to its highest pitch of External Peace and Honour under Theodosius the Great who died at Milan A. D. 395. on Jan. 17. or Feb. 24. after he had given Paganism its deadly Blow by his Famous Defeat of Argobastes and Eugenius A. D. 394. 11 He that hath an Ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches Verse 7. And He i. e. that person who overcometh the Persecutions and Evils of this Church-State and perseveres unto the End in the Precepts of the Gospel
shall not be hurt of the second death but shall escape it Rev. 20.6 12 And to the Angel of the Church in Pergamos 26 write These things saith he who hath the sharp 27 Sword of the Word and the Spirit with two edges to inflict severe and sharp Judgments chap. 1.16 26 Pergamos is distant from Smyrna Northwards about five hundred and Forty Furlongs and there are in it now but a few Families of miserable Christians and but one Church although it was anciently the most Famous and Chief City of Asia the Less having been the Seat of the Attalidae who were rich and potent Kings and of the Roman Proconsuls For which Reason as well as in Allusion to its Name it may be put to denote here The exalted State of the Church High and Lofty Fabricks and Things being called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Asiaticks And because of its (a) Andr. Caesar in locum excessive Idolatry it is a fit Type of the Apostate state of this Succession in which the Apostasy was exalted to a Throne 27 Corruptions daily encreasing under this State the Styleis here changed and Christ is represented with a sharp sword in his Hand 13 I know thy good works and where thou dwellest even where Satan's 28 Seat or Throne is i. e. under the Dominion of the Antichristian Apostasy and I know that nevertheless thou holdest fast or retainest the profession of my Name and hast not renounced it by becoming Antichristian and hast not denied my Faith or Gospel no not even in those days or Times of Darkness and Cruelty wherein Antipas 29 i. e. the Opposers of Popery was my faithful Martyr or Witness who was flain by Decrees Anathemas and frequent Deaths among you or under your Jurisdiction where Satan or Antichrist dwelleth or has his constant Residence in great State and Power 2 Thes 2.4 9 28 The Apostasy is now called Satan's Seat or Throne because that upon the Churches Exaltation under the Christian Emperors a Worldly Kingdom and a Paganizing Christianity arose by degrees especially at Rome to such an heighth that it became at last to have a Supremacy or a Throne in it to which Satan's power in this World is likened in Scripture viz. Isa 14 12-14 Luke 10.18 John 12.31 With which the History of those Times agrees it being evident that from about the year 400. and odd the precise year I shall endeavour to determine hereafter when Satan's Synagogue seems to have arrived to its maturity that the Apostasy daily increased chiefly upon the Growth of the Papacy which came to have a Throne about the year 606 when Boniface the Third Usurped the Title of Vniversal Bishop 29 There might have been perhaps a Martyr of this Name at Pergamus although the Story of him related in the Greek Menologies is vehemently to be suspected as Grotius has well noted a Brazen Bull being not a Punishment amongst the Romans whose Laws were then observed at Pergamus and the Relations of those early Martyrdoms being justly called in question by some of the Learnedst Men of the Romish Church But howsoever the Names made use of in this Book having constantly a mystical signification this also must be understood after the same manner and it will then plainly denote The Opposer of the Pope that is by a Figure usual in this Prophecy the whole Body or succession of those who during this period witnessed against the Apostasy of that See a Catalogue of whom you may find in Illyricus Vsher and other Authors For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies against or contrary and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the Old Word for Father from whence by a Reduplication of Letters comes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Pope or Holy Father for which consult what is said by the Etymoligists out of Eustathius And the Word Antipas is made use of and not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because this was a Common Name which the others were not And because those Names would have given a too open intimation of the Mystery designed designed by them contrary to the Holy Secrecy and Reserve usually observed in this Prophecy 14 But yet I have a few or some little small things to object against thee because thou hast 30 there where thou dwellest and amongst you them or a prevailing Party that hold profess and practise the Doctrine Precept and Counsel of 31 Balaam i. e. the False Antichristian Prophet who taught Balack i. e. the Princes subject to Antichrist to cast a stumbling-block or an Occasion to commit Sin before the Children of Israel that is the Christians of that Age the Spiritual Israel to * eat things sacrificed unto Idols and to commit Spiritual Fornication which is Idolatry 30 Although the Apostate Church had the Throne that is the Antichristian Power and Preheminence yet the pure Church-State is here blamed for having them or that prevailing party amongst them although they could not help it because that it had not arrived to that perfection of Gifts and Graces as must necessarily have cast out the corrupt party by its power and efficacy Thus the Apostle blames the Corinthians 1 Cor. 5. and 2 Cor. 7. that they had not mourned that the incestuous person might be cast out from among them and for want of vehement Affections of godly Sorrow Desire Revenge c. by which alone they could approve and clear themselves in that matter 31 Concerning this wicked advice of Balaam who counselled Balack to draw the Israelites to Idolatry by enticing them with the Conversation of strange Women you may read the 22d 23d 24th 25th Chapters of Numbers and the 16th Verse of the 31st as also Micah 6.5 2 Pet. 2.15 and Jude 11. together with the Expositors on those places Whereby is plainly signified the wicked Counsel of the Antichristian Party especially of the Papacy which like Balaam pretends to Prophecy and Infallibility whereby the Secular Powers Represented by King Balack were perswaded to entice the people to Idolatry by worshipping Bread and Saints and Images So that this Period comprehends the Times in which these Doctrines were controverted and at last imposed and seems to reach until about the year 1100. when Antipas or the faithful Witnesses against these and other Errors which had been before slain by the Anathemas of several Councils and lay mostly concealed and hid within the Apostate Church began to unite into an open and visible Body and to appear under the Name of the Waldenses and Albigenses in a more direct Opposition to that Satanical or Antichristian Authority which had hitherto over-powered them Upon which as History testifies vast Numbers of all Ranks and Qualities united themselves unto them * To eat things sacrificed unto Idols as appears from the Apostles Discourse 1 Cor. 8. and 12. was accounted by the Corinthians no fault and was defended by them as Grotius notes upon the place by very subtile Distinctions not
very favourable to the Christians 6 And I heard a Voice 13 in the midst of the Four Beasts i. e. from Christ in his Apostolical Church Chap. 5. 6. say A 15 Measure of Wheat for a penny and Three Measures of Barley for a penny i. e. let exact care be observed about necessary Food for eating and see thou hurt or diminish not the Oil and the Wine i e. let no Fraud be used in Drinks and 16 Medicines 15 A Famine cannot be here described because that scarcity could not be great where Barley and Wheat were not wanting nor even Wine and Oyl which are rather the Comforts of Life than the Necessaries And therefore this Verse refers to the strict Justice and diligent Care observed by Severus and Alexander about publick Provisions for which they are signally remarkable in History But this Voice being heard so remarkably amongst the Four Beasts that is as spoken by Christ who is represented as in the midst of them Chap. 5.6 seems to intimate something relating to Christ's Church and that very remarkable which I shall endeavour to explain by what is offered by Dr. Beverley a Person of deep thought and of great insight in these matters He thinks then that by the Ballances in the Rider's hand is figured Christ's weighing the Churches Purity in the exact Ballances of the Sanctuary according to what is prophesied of him by Ezekiel Chap. 25.9 10-25 that he the Prince shall take care in the New Jerusalem state there prefigured that their Oblations or Worship shall be exact according to the Old Standard of the Sanctuary from which they had swerved of which Worship or Daily Service Wheat Oyl and Wine are the Symbols they being the constant Attendants of the Daily Sacrifice as appears from Exod. 29.40 Numb 28.7 Barley also denoting the Christian Oblation in the Sacrament and their Praises and Thanksgivings because Barley was used in no Oblation except in that of the suspected Wife Numb 5.15 but in the Oblation of the First Fruits of their Harvest Lev. 23.9 which was a Type of the Christian Eucharistical Oblations as Mr. * Book 1. Disc 51. and in his Christian Sacrifice Mâ—de has shewn And 2dly He thinks that the whole Time of the Seals is as it were weighed in the Two Scales of this Ballance the one half of it being run out at the time when these Ballances appeared to wit A. D. 235. when Alexander Severus's Death put an End to this Seal for the first Seal beginning at the Resurrection A. D. 33. if you add to that 202 years the Moyety of the whole Seals the first half-Time will fall upon the year 235. the other half extending to 437 where he dates the beginning of the 1260 Years of the Apostasie which will be made out more fully in the Process of these Annotations 16 Wine and Oyl were also used in the curing of Wounds and for Medicines Isa 1.6 Luke 10.34 7 And when he had opened the fourth Seal I heard the Voice of the foâ—rth Beast 17 say come and see what Judgments God will bring upon the Heathen Empire for their impenitence 17 The Church continues still Apostolical because the Living Creature still speaks although the Thunder or mighty Power and Efficacy of the Gospel was departed from it And the Apostolical Ministry here calls upon him to consider the Obstinacy and Impenitency of the Pagan Empire notwithstanding the Gospel had been preached amongst them for so long a time and that therefore God had resolved utterly to destroy them after he had tried whether he could reclaim them by his severe Judgments amongst whom yet he preserved a Remnant of Christians to be a Holy Seed according to God's Denunciations in a parallel Case Ezek. 14 12-23 Now the voices of the living Creatures or of the Apostolical Representatives of the Christian Church still continuing we may reasonably conclude that the Ephesine or Apostolical Succession lasted during these four first Seals amongst the Apostolical Ministry of which Succession we may justly reckon not only the Apostles and Apostolical Men but the Primitive Writers and Witnesses of these times from Justin Martyr to Origen who by their Apologies exemplary Lives and Deaths and Learned Writings Justified the Christian Religion confuted Judaism and Paganism and called upon the Empire to Repent many of them foreteling its fall and the rise of Antichristianism upon it and speaking plainly concerning the Thousand Years Kingdom of Christ for which see Mr. Mede Dr. Burnet's Theory of the Earth and Dr. Cressener 8 And I looked and beheld a 18 pale Horse i. e. great slaughter and mortality and his Name that sat thereon was Death and Hell or the grave followed with him as his Attendant and power was given unto them over the fourth 19 part of the Earth i. e. the Roman Empire to kill with the Sword i. e. by War and with Hunger i e. by Famine and with Death i. e. by the Pestilence Jer. 9.21 and with the Beasts of the Earth 18 The State of the Empire from Maximin to Diocletian that is from A. D. 235. to A. D. 284. is here plainly Characterised For 1. Maximin was a Thracian whose Countrey lay Northward according to the Station of the Fourth Beast the Eagle 2. In that small space of time there were above Twenty Emperours not reckoning the Thirty Tyrants under Gallienus most of them very short-lived and coming to untimely Ends which is very appositely represented by Death's sitting upon a pale Horse instead of a Rider 3. Besides the persecution of the Christians the whole Roman Empire was then grievously harrass'd by Cruel and Barbarous Emperours by Civil VVars and Forreign Invasions the Persians and Asiatick Scythians breaking in upon the Eastern part of the Empire and the Goths about the same time invading the Western after a most terrible manner about the beginning of the Reign of Gallus A. D. 251. (a) Pagi in Baron or 252. as Zozimus observes 4. In this Period there was a dreadful Plague that lasted for Fifteen Years together which beginning in Aethiopia went through most of the Provinces of the Roman Empire upon the occasion of which Cyprian wrote his Books de Mortalitate and against Demetrian where that Holy Gospel-Witness attributes that Mortality to the impiety and persecution of the Pagans and not to the Innocent Religion of the Christians and seriously exhorts the Heathens to a speedy Repentance And there was a Famine also as Dionysius (b) Euseb 7.22 Alexandrinus testifies who lived at that time After which Desolations it was a frequent thing in those Countries for the Wild Beasts to ravage and to break in into their very Cities and commit great Slaughters which is a Judgment threatned in Scripture Lev. 26.22 Deut. 32.24 Ezek. 14.15 19 The Roman Empire seems to be called the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Fourth of the Earth because it was the Fourth Earthly Monarchy prophesied of by Daniel after which the Heavenly Kingdom was
(c) â—â—â—ck on Joel 1.19 word in Scripture for all manner of Mischiefs and Destructions 4. This Victory was followed with the entire Destruction of Heathenism in which appeared an extraordinary Manifestation of Christ's Kingdom of which Thunderings and Lightnings and an Earthquake are usual Forerunners in this Prophecy 5. This Victory was obtained at the Prayers of the Christians Theodosius having solemnly prayed to God for it in a Publick Church when he set forward to the Army and earnestly begging it at the Hands of God upon his Knees at the Head of his Army in the very Day of Battel the whole Church in the mean while observing solemn Fasts and putting up their united Prayers to God for his Success which being their constant Custom was without doubt observed on this extraordinary occasion as seems to be intimated by (a) Lib. 7.24 in fin Sozomen All which is manifestly here typified by the Offering of the Prayers and Incense of all Saints and its Ascent before God 6 And the seven Angels which had the seven 9 Trumpets prepared 10 themselves that men might repent during the time of that preparation to sound an Alarm of Judgments Jerem. 4.19 Ezek 33 1-6 9 Trumpets (b) See Ainsworth on Numb 10. and Pocock on Joel 2.1 15. were used amonst the Jews on several occasions as 1. In the several Journeyings and Removes of their Camp in the Wilderness whereby is not unfitly typified the several Motions of the Church in its Wilderness-Condition upon the sounding of the Trumpets by the Angels in this Prophecy 2. In calling the Ordinary Assemblies and on Feast Days and New Moons and on their Fast Days when they were according to the Observation of Maimonides to sound Trumpets for Fasting and Prayer because of the Enemies of Israel which were coming against Israel and because of the Approaching Winds Rain and Earthquakes Wars of Heathens with Heathens and Pestilences Locusts and Caterpillers and because of other Distresses mentioned out of him by Ainsworth So that the Trumpets given to the Angels and their preparation to sound may be as an Admonition to the Empire to Repent in order to the diverting of Judgments Lastly Trumpets were used in sounding Alarms in time of War whence they signifie in the Prophets a Denunciation of Judgments and a warning of the imminent Approach of them as they do in this place 10 They had Trumpets given them Verse 2. and here they prepare to sound by taking as it were their Trumpets into their Hands and putting them to their Mouths whereby a Respite and Delay is signified from the actual Execution of the Judgment or some lesser Judgments preparatory to the great and fatal ones according to the proceedings of the Merciful but Just God who after Judgments threatned gives time and space of Repentance and punishes lightly before he comes to utter Excision 7 And after some short space of Quiet and Respite Vers 1. The first Angel sounded and there followed 11 Hail and Fire mingled with Blood i. e. a wasting and bloody Devastation and they were cast upon the 12 Earth i. e. the Roman Empire and the third 13 part of 14 Trees i. e. the great ones Isa 2.13 Zach. 11.2 was burnt up and all green Grass i. e. the common People 11 This is a Description of a Thunder-storm in which there is Blood instead of Rain to make the Type more dreadful And it is an Allusion taken from the Plague of Hail in Aegypt Exod. 9 22-35 whereby is signified a Furious and Bloody Irruption laying all things waste before it as Fields and Trees are wont to be by a raging and blasting Tempest The like Scheme of Speech is made use of by Isaiah Chap. 28.2 in describing the Invasion of the King of Assyria which he likens to a destroying Tempest of Hail and an overflowing Flood of mighty Waters only Blood is here added instead of Water to shew the Greatness of the Slaughter which should attend it And what fitter Metaphors could be used to set forth the terrible Inundations of the Barbarous Nations upon the Roman Empire which happened in the Course of this Trumpet For we are to understand that the (a) Grotii Prolegom ad Procop. Sherringham de Anglorum Origin Loccennius de Gothorum Sueon Orig. Howel 's History Part 4. Cap. 1. Goths which seems sometimes to be used as a General Name for these Barbarous People were originally a People of Scythia who coming from thence and having seated themselves in Scandza or Scanzia which comprehends Sweedland Norway and the vast Tracts of Land adjoyning at length in process of time about Three Hundred Years before Christ upon the occasion of a Famine Wars their great increase or the desire of a better Soil the usual Causes of the Transmigration of Nations left that Countrey and after long Wanderings from whence they were afterwards called Vandals that is Wanderers through Germany and Sarmatia as far as the Palus Maeotis one part of them setled there and were called Getae and the other but the greatest part of them returned from thence and took up their Habitation in Dacia and Thrace from whence they seem to have made their first Incursions under (b) Pagi in Baron Philip or Decius about A. D. 251. After several Fights with them in the Times of Constantine Valens and Valentinian immediately upon the Death of Theodosius the Great they fell like a mighty Torrent into the Roman Empire They first harrassed the Eastern parts of it under Alarich about A. D. 395. for about five Years together and about A. D. 405. a vast number of them under Radagaisus invaded Italy who was followed by Alarich who took Rome on the 24th of August A. D. 410. a great multitude of them mixt with other Barbarous People having over-run Gaul Spain and Africk at the instigation of Stilicho about the same time that Alarich first invaded Italy A. D. 406. From the Invasion begun by Alarich Italy enjoyed but little Quiet daily steps being made to its utter Ruine some of which were as Preparations to the sounding of the Trumpets first by the Goths then by the Huns under Attila and by the Vandals under Genserick who from the Year 430. miserably wasted Italy and the Provinces especially about A. D. 455. when Genserick took Rome which is accounted a fatal (a) Howel 's Histor. Part 2. Pag. 692 693. Mr. Mede Pag. 659. Year and stiled by some the Year of Vengeance But upon the Death of Aetius Provinces were daily lost to the Barbarians and the Roman Empire which declined from the Death of Theodosius received a Mortal Wound under which it lay languishing until it expired under Augustulus about A. D 476. So that we have here a famous Period of Time from the Victory of Theodosius upon which his Death ensued A. D. 395 until 476 which seems to be called One Hour or One entire Space or Line of Time for so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Ch. 9.15
Meccha who threatned him for endeavouring to usurp over them and for introducing a New Doctrine amongst them for although many of them had been converted to the Christian Religion in and before the Reign of (c) Socrat. 4.36 Sozom. 6.38 Valens yet the Arabs were by this time mostly (d) Abul-Pharajai pag. 101. Idolaters worshipping the Stars whose Motions and Influences they understood which was all (d) Abul-Pharajai pag. 101. the Skill and Knowledge they had in their State of Ignorance as the Mussulmen call the Times before their Conversion to Mahometism They are mentioned by (e) Hist Nat. 6.28 Pliny and by none before him as far as I can find under the Name of Saracens and are placed by him and Ptolemy in Arabia Felix and that rightly for Meccha (a) Gabriel Sionita de Morib urbib Orient Thevenot's Travels Dr. Hyde's Itinera Mundi pag. 87. is not a City of Arabia Deserta as is commonly thought but is situated over against the middle of the Red Sea about a Days Journey from it betwixt Jaman and Higjaz in Arabia Felix about seven and Thirty Days Journey from Grand Caire and about Ten Days Journey or Two hundred and seventy Miles from Medina the place of this false Prophet's Retreat where he lived about Eight Years and made the greatest part of his Alcoran During this thâ—â—â— he had many Battels with his Neighbours especially the Kâ—rcishites the Chief Tribe of those Parts and propagated his Doctrine and Dominion in many parts of Arabia but not much farther After his Death which was A. D. 631. as Abul Pharajai affirms or according to Elmacinus A. D. 632. his Successors made swift and prodigious Conquests over-running Persia Syria Aegypt and Palestine in a very few Years insomuch that about the (b) Roderici Ximenes Archiepisc Toletan Histor Arab. cap. 12. Mr. Mede on the place Abul-Phar Pag. 129. Camerarit Narrat Turcic ex Sausovin pag. 77. Year 729. in Fourscore or an Hundred Years at furthest they had subdued most of the Kingdoms and Provinces of the Known World extending their Arms into India beyond the Bounds of the Roman Empire About 643. (c) Abul-Pharajai pag. 115 116. they invaded Africk and from thence fell into (d) Elmacinus lib. 1.13 pag. 85. Roderic Tolet. cap. 9. Petav. ad An. 712. Spain about A. D 711. which in Two Years space they wholly conquered About A. D. (e) Theophan Paulus Diacon Sigon de Rogno Italiae pag. 60. 716. as Abulpharajai and Elmacinus both agree they besieged Constantinople with a vast Army and Ravaged and over-run Languedoc Provence and several parts of France from A. D. (f) Mezeray's History of France Petav. Ration Temp. Sigon de Regno Ital. pag. 66. 721. to A. D. 738. when they were totally vanquished and beaten out of those parts by Charles Martel About A. D. (a) Petav. Ratiâ—nar 828. they took Sicily and from thence infested Italy pillaging Rome (b) Anasias vit Gregor 4th the Year following and A.D. 846. they came from Africk as the Locusts (c) Plin. Nat. Hist 11.29 are wont to do into Italy and again fell upon (d) Anasias in Leon. 4to Sigon de Regno Ital. pag. 120. Rome burning the Famous Churches of Peter and Paul and carrying away many of their Ornaments with them into Campania where they pillaged several Monasteries but whilst they were returning with their Spoils into Africk they were dispersed by a mighty Tempest and the greatest part of them were cast away They afterwards harrassed Italy for several Years until they were subdued and beaten out of it first by Otho about 980. who was called the Death of the Saracens and then by the Emperour Henry the Second and the Normans betwixt the Years (e) Petav. Rationar pars 1. lib. 8. 1014 and 1022. not long after which time viz. A. D. (f) Elmacinus pag. 336. 337. Abul-Phar 226 227. 1055. their was an End put to their Empire by Tangrolipix or Tugrol-Beg who fixed his Seat at Bagdad the Imperial City of the Saracens whereby that Empire devolved upon the Turks he being installed Sultan there A. D. 1057. by the Saracenick Chalif Two Hundred Ninety Three years after its being built for their Imperial Seat by Al-Mansur A. D. 762. as both (g) Abul pag. â—43 Elmac. pag. 122. Abul-Pharajai and Elmacinus agree 4 And it was said or commanded * them by God who raised them up and sealed the True Christians whilst Antichristianity only was exposed to hurt that they should not hurt by perverting them from their Religion the Grass or Herb of the Earth neither any green thing neither any Tree i. e. no Christians who had any Spiritual Life in them and shewed it by its Fruits and Effects Psalm 1 5.52 8. Matth. 3.8 10. Rev. 7 1.8 7. but only those men which have 6 not the Seal of God in their Foreheads i. e. the Apostasy for a pure Apostolical Church was to be preserved in secret Chap. 7. * And to this End were they raised by Providence which miraculously preserved them from being destroyed by the Romans as Dr. (a) History part 3. pag. 283. Howel hath judiciously observed 6 God was pleased to preserve a pure Church in secret during the great Inundation of these Barbarous People as appears from the Catalogues of Witnesses to the Truth in this Age although the whole Apostate Church both of the Eastern and Western parts severely felt the Scourge of this Plague which fell mostly upon them that their Fault might be known by the very providential timing of their punishment during some Remarkable Instances and Workings of the Apostasy When the Saracens first appeared A. D. 622. the World was much given to Image-Worship Heraclius (b) Tyrius de Bello sacro lib. 23.30 the Emperour having newly then recovered the Cross from the Persians and restored it to the Temple of the Sepulchre from which it had been taken and upon that instituted or at least celebrated the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross When they invaded Sardinia about 720. Luitprandus King of the Lombards bought the Relicks of St. Austin at a great price of them and went out to meet them in a solemn Procession and being struck with the Wonder of the Greatness of the Miracles which had been done by them worshipped them says (c) Sigon de Regno Ital. pag. 61. Sigonius with Divine Honour And it is very remarkable that the great Quarrels betwixt Leo the Emperour and the Popes Gregory the Second and the Third about Images were upon the Saracens objecting Image-Worship as Idolatry to the Emperour and that the greatest and fiercest assaults of the Saracens upon the Empire were during the Time that Contest was hottest to wit from the year (a) Spanhem Histor Imagin 713. when the Controversie with the Monothelites ceased and the only one which then exercised the World was that about Images about which time they conquered Spain and
besieged Constantinople and fell into Italy not long after the Worship of Images was established by a Law in the Second Council of Nice A. D. 787. 5 And to them it was given that they should not 7 kill them or utterly destroy even the Apostate Antichristian Roman Empire but that they should be 8 Tormented five Months of yeats and their Torment was as the Torment of a Scorpion when he striketh a man i. e. very 9 vexatious and painful Prov. 23.32 Ezek. 2.6 7 To kill a Body Politick is as (b) De Jur. Bell. Pac. lib. 2. cap. 9. Grotius has observed to make it cease to be either by utterly destroying the people of it or by subjecting it to a New Authority whereby it ceases to be what it was before Neither of which were the Saracens able to do in the Eastern or Western Roman Empire for although they often besieged Constantinople yet they could never take it and they tormented Rome and Italy by frequent and sudden Incursions but had never possession of the former nor any long quiet settlement in any part of the latter But as (c) Histor Insabr pag. 115. Putean remarks Their Incursions into Italy were like a sudden Tempestuous Wind which vanishes after it has done its Mischief So that as to the Chief and Capital parts of the Roman Empire they never had power to kill them or reduce them under their Authority and could not fix the Seat of their Empire in any of its Imperial Cities as the Turks afterwards did theirs at Constantinople which is expresly called slaying or killing the Third part of Men Vers 15. but seated themselves first at Damascus in Syria afterwards at Bagdad 8 Here is a manifest Allusion to the time that Locusts are wont to live which (a) Bocharti Hieroz pag. 495. Naturalists observe to be Five Months which we are to understand according to the Prophetical way of reckoning of which there hath been mention already made on Chap. 2.10 of Months of Years Now if we consider the whole length of the Duration of the Saracenick Empire we shall find it to be precisely 435. Years reckoning from A. D. 622. the Aera of Mahometism unto A. D. 1057. when the Turkish Empire succeeded as (b) Lib. 3.7 pag. 336 337. Elmacinus and Dr. Pocock in the Margin of Abul-Pharajai has particularly noted Which Line of Time consists of a Ternary of Five Months of Years each of them amounting to an Hundred and Forty Five Years reckoning (c) See the Notes on Chap. 11.2 Twenty Nine Years of Days to each Month of which Two Five Months being allotted to their tormenting and hurting of Men the first in this Verse and the second in the tenth the remaining five months must be understood to belong to their declining and decaying condition when they could not torment others And with this there is a wonderful Agreement in History which dates the Decay and Division of this Empire from about 290 or 300 years after its Rise For Elmacinus divides his History into Three Books as we do the Duration of their Empire into a Ternary of five months treating in the first Book of the Original and Encrease of their Empire which he extends from A.D. 622. to about A.D. 746 in the second Book of the Declension of it and in the third of its Distraction and Dissipation placing the fatal (a) Elmacin pag. 255. Abul-Phar pag. 175. Division of it about A. D. 936. not much above twice five months after its first appearance when he confesses that the Power of the Chalif was diminished and the Kingdom weakned his Revenues taken away and nothing but a Name left him the Turks prevailing daily at Bagdad from A. D. 863. and deposing the Califs very frequently And with 〈◊〉 Account agrees the Observation of (b) Histor. pag. 409. edit Parisiens Leunclav Histor Musulman pag. 67. Cedrenus who relating the Prediction of a Famous Alexandrian Astronomer who foretold that the prosperous Power and flourishing Dominion of the Saracens should be but for Three Hundred and Nine Years judges him to have erred indeed but not very much in his Calculation And therefore I cannot but upon this occasion recommend the Study of Scriptural especially Prophetical Chronology to all Learned Men no ways doubting but that they will find that the greatest Difficulties may be cleared up by it 9 Bochartus (c) Hieroz pag. 639 640 642. notes That the Torment of Scorpions is very grievous and of all other the most vexatious whence troublesome Persons are likned unto them Ezek. 2.6 Ecclus 25 15.26 7. and observes that they also as well as the Locusts hurt only for five months Now that the Torment of the Saracens was not only of the like duration but of the like Nature History sufficiently testifies especially as to what concerns the Two Imperial Seats Rome and Constantinople which as the next Verse clearly sets forth with which History accords were frequently tormented with fresh Alarms of their Incursions and Invasions 6 And in those days shall men seek death and shall not find it and shall desire to die and death shall flee from them i. e. they shall be tormented with continual Invasions so that they shall desire Conquest and Death rather than such a mischievous and unsetled condition Joel 2.6 Jerem. 8.3 7 And the Shapes of the Locusts were like unto 10 Horses prepared to bâ—â—iel i. e. they were stout and swift Joel 2.4 Job 33 23-25 and on their Heads were as it were 11 Crowns of Gold signifying their Victories and Success and the many Kingdoms should submit unto them and their Faces were as the 12 Faces of men i. e. they had seemingly rational and plausible pretences Rev. 4.7 Dâ—n 7.4 8 And they had Hair as the 12 Hair of VVomen i. e their Pretences were insinuating enticing and deceitful Canticl 4 1.6 5. and their Teeth was as the Teeth of Lions i. e. cruel and devouring not white and clean Canticl 4 2.6 6. Joel 1.6 10 (a) Hieroz pag. 474. Bochartus observes that Locusts represent Horses not only in their Swiftness which is here chiefly pointed at the Conquests of the Saracens being carried on with prodigious and almost incredible speed but also in the shape of their Heads the Figure of which may be seen in (b) Pag. 177. Ludolphus's Notes on his Aethiopick History 11 As their rapid success is described before so have we here represented the great Number of Kingdoms which they over-run for as Mr. Mede has truly noted no Nation ever had so large an Extent of Dominion or ever subdued so many Kingdoms in so short a space 12 12 (c) Hieroz pag. 456. Bochartus notes That there are some hairy and rough Locusts and Mr. Mede observes that the ancient Arabians or Saracens were Famous for (d) Plin. 6.28 Ammian Marcel pag. 654. Hieronym in vit Malchi wearing long Hair and having their heads attired like women But these
pag. 22. 302. was in Conception in the Womb when the Apostle Paul wrote the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians probably 25 Years after the Resurrection 58 A. D. 2. He was forming (b) See from page 22-38 93 94 112 124 125. from 204 to 215. from that time by the workings of the mystery of Iniquity in the lower parts of the Earth as the Womb is called Psal 139.15 Eph. 4.9 during the Ephesine and Smyrnaean Succession in which the Synagogue of Satan arose until he was brought forth and the Gentiles Months began about the middle space betwixt the Death of Theodosius and the Fall of the VVestern Empire just when Cyril was setling the Lunar Year 437 A. D. 3. From that time the (a See on Chap. 8 10 11. 9 1 2 3. 11 1 2 3. and Chapters 13. and 17. and 2 Thes 2. Gentiles i. e. the people newly converted to Christianity Paganized it by introducing Heathen Notions and Customs and thereby prepared the way for this Man of Sin 's becoming the Beast or the Seventh Head and Eighth King upon the Fall of the Western Empire when he was revealed in his own Time and the Beast arose with his Ten Kings according (b) See the Author de Excid Antichr pag. 184. to all History and his Months began 475 or 476 A. D. 4. This Man of Sin was indeed the King of Rome according to the Course of Succession laid down in Prophecy at 476. when the Christian Emperours ceased but he did not arrive to his Vniversal (c) See on Chap. 9. 1 2. and Chap. 13. and Chap. 17. 8. and Heidegger Histor Papat Chap. 2. Morney's Mystery of Iniq. Supremacy over all Churches until A. D. 606. according to the general Consent of Protestants in agreement with Prophecy Chap. 9. 1 2. 17 8. which was prepared for him by the Eastern and Western Divisions of the Empire called the other Beast with Two Horns like a Lamb Chap. 13. 606 A. D. 5. At 606 he fell as a Star from Heaven to Earth and became an Earthly or Antichristian Monarch over all Churches and from thence by degrees proceeded to kill and overcome until he came to be an (d) See on Chap. 13 14-18 and Chap. 11. 7. Image or to have a Supreme Idolatrous Power established fully at the End of his First Time 797 A. D. 6. From (a) Heidig Histor Papat Chap. 4 5 6. that Time the Popes advanced themselves by degrees especially by the means of Hildebrand as is clear from all History until they came into a full possession of Dominion and Power in Temporals which they had long strove and struggled for 1157 A. D. 7. After that (a) Heideg Histor Papat Chap. 4 5 6. time altho with some Variety of Foâ—tune according to the Temper of the Popes and the Princes they were to contest with they exercised the Power they had gained over Princes and Emperors sitting in the Temple of God as God and opposing and exalting themselves above all that is called God by Deposing and Excommunicating Princes absolving their Subjects from their Allegiance dispensing with God's Laws arrogating Infallibility to themselves and filling the World with Slaughter and Confusion and with scandalous and abominable Doctrines and Practices until the Reformation when their Power in Spirituals and Temporals was broken 1517 A. D. CHAP. XVIII The Text. AND after these things i. e. immediately after the distinct Representation of the Woman and her whole State in the foregoing Chapter I saw another Angel or Minister of God's Judgment distinct from him who appear'd Ch. 17. 1. come down from Heaven in the Name of God and with a Commission from him having great power as being to effect great matters and the Earth was lightned with his Glory i. e. the Judgment and Ministration was very Terrible and Glorious and accompanied with abundance of Light and Knowledge Ezek. 43.2 2 And he cried mightily with a strong 1 Voice to shew the greatness of the Judgment saying Babylon the great i. e Papal Rome Chap. 14 8. 16 19. 17 5. is fallen is fallen i. e. will now be totally and finally overthrown and that as certainly as if it were already fallen Isa 21.9 Jerem. 51.8 and is become the Judgment being now actually in execution the Habitation of 2 Devils and the 3 hold of every foul Bird and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird i. e. it is desolate for ever Jerem. 51.62 See Note 19 Annotations on CHAP. XVIII 1 This Angel gives a particular Representation of the Divine Judgment upon Babylon or Papal Rome according to the general importance of the seventh Vial Chap. 16. 19. And this Voice or Angel may probably be the same with the Angel of the seventh Voice Chap. 14. 18. which had pow-over Fire for his Appearance is illustrious and Bright like that of Fire and the glorious Execution of the Judgment is as the loudest Voice 2 Its Destruction is here described by Expressions taken from the Prophets particulary from Isa 13 19-22.34 14. Jerem. 51.37 which are Allusions to the popular Notions and Opinions then common amongst Men for which see the Commentators on those places and Grotius on this Verse and on Matth. 10.1 and Matth. 12. 3 A Military word says Grotius signifying the Stations or VVatches of Soldiers 3 For 4 all Nations have drunk of the Wine of the Wrath of her Fornication and the Kings of the Earth Verse 9. have committed Fornication with her and the Merchants of the Earth Verse 11. are waxed rich through the abundance of her 5 Delicacies i. e. the several Members of the Papal Communion have through her Means been guilty of the foulest Idolatry Cruelty and Sensuality See Chap. 14. 8-11 and Chapters 13. and 17. 4 Here is declared the Cause of her Ruin 5 See Doctor Hammond on 1 Tim. 5.11 4 And I heard another Voice or Angel distinct from the former Verses 1 2. from Heaven saying 6 Come out of her i. e. out of Mystical Babylon the Papal City and Communion my 7 people who have not defiled your selves with her Idolatry that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues or punishments which are now actually in Execution Gen. 19 12-26 Numb 16.26 6 These Words are taken from Isaiah 48.20 Jerem. 50 8.51 6 45. and they are a Divine Admonition to all Ages especially since the Reformation and the clearer discovery of Babylon and its Corruptions by it to forsake that Communion as they tender their own Safety and Deliverance from Sin and Judgments the Consequents of it They do also express the Grace and Mercy of God by which he gathers his People from amongst the Wicked and calls them out of Danger into places of Retreat and Safety as he now does those whom he had hitherto witheld from Antichristian Errors and was about to secure after a most glorious manner 7 Hence it appears that God may have people
in an Idolatrous Communion who are not of it who yet are obliged actually to leave and forsake such a Communion at some times and in some Cases as Protestants have shewn in their Discourses upon that Controversie of which Cases a Fear of being guilty of its Idolatry is the Chief by which the Title and Priviledge of being God's People is forfeited 2 Cor. 6 14-28 5 For her sins have 8 reached unto Heaven i. e. have been extraordinarily Clamorous and have cryed aloud for Vengeance and God hath 9 remembred her Iniquities i. e. doth now punish her acc rding to her deserts Chap. 16. 19. 8 This is an Allusion to the crying sins of Sodom Nineveh and other wicked Cities which when they are extraordinarily notorious are said to reach Heaven in Scripture Gen. 4 10.11 4.18 20 21.19 13. Jonah 1.2 James 5.4 9 As God's Forgiveness of sin is called his forgetting of it in Scripture so his Punishment of it is called Remembring of it 6 Remember 10 her ye my people even as she rewarded you and double unto her double i. e. abundaâ—tly and utterly destroy her Jerem 17 18.50 14 15. according to her abominable evil works in the cup of Affliction which she hath filled to others fill to her double for she hath impenitently and irreclaimably sinned against me as well as injured you and therefore a double punâ—shment is justly due 10 This Verse refers to the Triumphs and Acclamations of the Saints upon God's Just Judgments on his malicious and irreconcilable Enemies and to their Concurrence in inflicting of them as far as can be thought proper for them See Psalm 58 10. and 137. 2 Thes 1.6 2 Tim. 4 14. 7 How much she hath gloried her self in her Authority and lived deliciously in Pride and Luxury so much torment and sorrow give her as a just Recompence of her sins 2 Thes 1.6 for she saith 11 or hath said in the Pride Carelesness and wantonness of her heart I 12 sit as a Queen i. e. have supream and uncontroulable Authority and am no Widow i. e. I have many Kings and People to defend me and am the Mother and Chief of Cities and Churches Isa 47.7 8. Zeph. 2.15 and shall see no sorrow in the loss of Children or People but shall continue the Seat of Ecclesiastical Power and of Empire 11 This refers to her Pride and Boastings in the Days of her Prosperity and Security 12 Words full of Insolence and Blasphemy and which especially as they lye in the places of the (a) Isa 47 10-15 Zeph. 2.15 Prophets from whence they are taken can be properly spoken only by God alone and plainly refer to the insolent pretences of the Papacy to Supremacy Infallibility and Indefectibility 8 Therefore because of her Pride Security and arrogant pretence to what properly belongs to God alone shall her Plagues come in one day i e. unexpectedly and suddenly Isa 47 9-11 Death and Mournin g and Famine i. e. Variety of punishments which shall bear a conformity to her sins and she i. e. Rome the mystical Bnbylon shall be utterly burnt with 13 fire i. e. shall be utterly destroyed and consumed for strong and powerful is the Lord who judgeth her and therefore able to inflict the severest punishment on her as incredible as the thing may seem to her or others 13 See Dr. Burnet's Theory B. 3.10 9 And the Kings 14 of the Earth who have committed Fornication or Idolatry and lived deliciously with her or in her Communion Verses 3 7. shall bewail her when they shall see the smoak of her burning i. e. the signs of her Torment Gen. 19.28 Ezek. 26 15-21 14 The Ten Kings shall hate the Whore and burn her as is expresly asserted Chap. 17.16 and therefore by these Kings must be meant either some who shall adhere to her even after the punishment inflicted by the Ten Kings or else rather the Kings who died Impenitently in her Communion who are raised to Judgment and first behold her punishment with Terror and then partake with her in it of which see more on the following Chapters 10 Standing afar off for the Fear of her Torment which they know they have deserved and must shortly feel saying in the anguish and horror of their Minds Alas alas that great City Babylon or Rome that once mighty or powerful City for in one hour or suddenly is thy Judgment come and therefore ours cannot be far off 11 And the 15 Merchants of the Earth i.e. the worldly Factors for the Roman Church and those who had compassed Sea and Land to gain advantages by it and Proselytes to it shall weep and mourn over her for or because no man buyeth her 15 Merchandize any more i. e. they could have no more advantage by her Matth. 10 8.23 15. 2. Pet. 2.3 2 Cor. 2.17 Matth. 21.13 12 The Merchandize of Gold and Silver and precious Stones and of Pearls and fine Linen and Purple and Silk and Scarlet i. e. whatsoever was precious and for Ornament the highest Preferments and most gawdy Pomps and Ornaments of that Worldly Church and all Thyne Wood or Sweet Wood for Images Incense and Temples and all manner Vessels of Ivory and all manner Vessels of most precious Wood and of Brass and Iron and Marble i. e. Utensils and Materials of all sorts for their Temples 15 15 This and the following Expressions are taken from Isa 47.15 and Ezek 27. where the Destruction of Babylon and of Tyre Types of the Antichristian City is represented after the same manner And by Merchants of the Earth are meant all the busie and deceitful Negotiators and Factors as the Word is taken Hosea 12.7 for the Papacy who any ways contributed to her Grandeur Idolatry and Superstition whatsoever might serve to those ends being to be understood by the Merchandize here mentioned 13 And Cynamon and Odours and Oyntments and Frankincense i. e. all things gratifying the Senses and to be used in Censings and Unctions and Wine for the Idolatrous Chalice and Oyl for Chrism and fine Flower for the Idolatrous Wafer and Wheat and Beasts and Sheep i. e. necessary Provision and Tithes and Oblations for her Clergy and Horses and Chariots i. e. what belonged to her outward Pomp and Equipage and Slaves i. e. hired (a) See Dr. Ham. on the Place Servants and Attendants and whosoever gives them bodily Service and 16 Souls of Men i. e. those who served them with their Wit and Understanding their Craft and Cunning and were Slaves to them in Soul as well as Body 13 This is taken from Ezek. 27.13 where Slaves or Bondmen are called Souls of Men and hereby may be meant those who served them with their very Souls who pawned their Consciences for them and enslaved their very Souls to them serving them with the utmost of their Craft and intellectual Capacities in contradistinction to them who served them with their Bodily Service only called Bodies or Slaves all sorts of (a) See
that the Apostle might not seem to contradict what he had said just before concerning the Dead rising first the surviving Saints should be caught up in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air to be with him to all Eternity in Heaven Which is also asserted by the Apostle at the 15th Verse where he says that the Saints who shall be alive at the Day of Judgment shall not prevent them which are asleep that is shall not rise before them or shall not (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nequaquam assequemur sive attingemus Ludov. de Dieu attain the same State of Incorruptibility and Immortality they shall enjoy at the very moment of the sounding of the last Trump until afterwards which distance of Time is not determined by the Apostle and may be many Years for ought that is asserted in this place by him because the same word is used 1 Cor. 15.23 concerning the distance betwixt Christ's Resurrection and that of the Dead Saints which is now almost the space of seventeen hundred Years And although the Apostle 1 Thes 4.17 seems to assert that the Living Saints shall be caught up together with the Dead Saints yet those words must not be so understood as if the Living Saints were caught up at the same moment that the Dead Saints rise for then the Apostle would contradict himself but must be understood according to the acceptation of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 3.12 viz. that they shall be caught up in their own Order and Time as well as the other and be in the like State with them or else do rather refer to the last joynt Ascent of both together into the higher Regions of the Air the appearance of Christ hitherto having been perhaps in some lower parts of it in order to their being for ever with the Lord. This and such like Parallels betwixt the Doctrinal and Prophetical parts of Scripture as to this Point of the Resurrection did incline me to understand it in a litteral Sense which I was for a long while averse to as I since find Mr. (a) Pag. 770. Epist. 20. Mede was until by a more close consideration of what Dr. Beverley hath discoursed on this Point I was fully convinced 22 By Second Death is meant Final Eternal Punishment to distinguish it from the First Death of the slain with the Sword of Christ's Mouth for at the very beginning of Christs Kingdom the Wicked are slain by the Conviction Sentence and Condemnation of Christ's Gospel and Appearance which is called the making of his Foes his Footstool Psalm 110.1 1 Cor. 15.25 Rom. 16.20 Heb. 2 5-9 whereby the first Act of Christ's Regal Power at his first sending of the Rod of his strength out of Zion to bring his Enemies under the Footstool of his Throne seems to be signified under which they lie in a state of Death that is Condemnation and Inability to act any thing against Christ's Kingdom until the Thousand Years are accomplished when they are permitted to break forth into open Enmity and Hostility and are at last utterly subdued and cast into the Lake to suffer Eternal Punishments and the Son shall put down 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or abolish and bring to naught all his Enemies even Death it self the last Enemy to be subdued 1 Cor. 15.24 26. But those who are partakers in the first Resurrection being found alive at Christ's first appearing in his Kingdom are continued in that State and suffer no Death at all neither the first proceeding from the Convictions of Christ's Gospel and Judgments nor the second of final Condemnation 23 They may be said to Reign with Christ in the sense that we are said to be crucified with Christ and to live with him for the Personal (a) See Dr. Homes and Mr. Mather de Signo Filii Hominis Reign of Christ upon Earth cannot be proved from Scripture whatsoever Glorious Appearances may be of his Humanity from his Throne in the Clouds and the possession of the Kingdom is given to the Saints in Daniel of which more hereafter as occasion offers 24 Here it may be observed 1. That the same individual Thousand Years are meant throughout the whole Chapter as appears from the Greek Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereby reference is made to each foregoing Thousand Years and it is shewn that they are the same For Satan is bound a Thousand Years Verse 2. and is restrained Verse 3. from deceiving the Nations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 during the same thousand Years The Dead Saints and Martyrs live and Reign with Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the same space of Years Verse 4. during which also the Wicked are in a state of Death Verse 5. The Living Saints are partakers in the first Resurrection during a Thousand Years Verse 6. at the End of which very Thousand Years Satan is loosed Verse 7. Whence it will follow that the Thousand Years during which Satan was bound are the same with those during which the Living Saints Reigned with Christ and that they are the same with the Thousand Years assigned to the Dead Saints raised and the Dead State of the Wicked because they which agree in one Third must agree amongst themselves 2. That there are but three sorts of Mankind to whom the Thousand Years are assigned viz. The Dead-raised Saints and Martyrs The Dead Wicked raised to a Spiritual and Political Death and the Living Saints changed for there are only so many parts or sorts of Mankind in the state of the Thousand Years and it is not assigned to any Living-Wicked who shall live wickedly and then die because whatsoever liveth at all shall live Ezek. 47.9 7 And when the foregoing Thousand Years during which he had been bound and restrained from deceiving the Nations Verse 2 3 were expired Satan shall be 25 loosed out of his Prison i. e. his close Restraints from all power and liberty of Temptation shall be taken off 25 Satan who was always a Prisoner and in everlasting Chains under Darkness unto the Judgment of the Great Day was more peculiarly restrained during the Thousand Years from all power of Temptation which he had exercised notwithstanding his Chains of Darkness from the time of his Fall from his first Estate until then when he was closely confined by the Glorious Appearance of Christ and his Kingdom in the New Heaven and Earth but when that Appearance was withdrawn from the New Earth then Satan was as it were loosed and at liberty to tempt which he could not do whilst the Holiness Righteousness Truth and Justice of Christ's Kingdom appeared in their full Power and Glory 8 And shall go out of his Prison and Restraints to and fro in the Earth seeking whom he may devour to deceive the 26 Nations which are in the four * quarters or Corners of the Earth Gog 27 and Magog i. e. the Enemies of God and his Christ Ezek. 38.2 3.39 8. Rev. 19.18 19 21.