Candle shall shine no more at all in thee i. e. thou shalt be perpetual Darkness and Desolation without the least comfort Jer. 25.10 and the Voice of the Bridegroom and of the Bride shall be heard no more at all in thee i. e thy Polity and Society shall be no more propagated but shall utterly cease together with all the Joy of thy former Solemnities and Festivities Jerem. 7 34.16 9. and all this shall come upon thee for or because thy Merchants who proselyrted Souls to their destruction and made Gain of Godliness were the great 21 men of the Earth i. e. were Lordly Worldly Ambitious and Sensual and also because or for by thy Sorceries i. e. Idolatry and Superstition were all Nations deceived 21 See on Chap. 6.15 It is an Expression taken from Isa 23.8 where it relates to the Merchants of Tyre a Crowning or Imperial City and a Type of the Antichristian City whose Worldly and Ambitious Clergy are here signified 24 And in her was also found the guilt of the blood of Prophets or Witnesses and of Saints or Holy Persons and of all 22 that were slain upon the Earth i. e. she was found guilty of Persecution and Bloodshed as well as Idolatry and all which had been shed during the Times of Christianity was laid to her charge because she was the Off-spring of Persecuting Parents had approved her Fore-fathers wicked Deeds and had filled up the measure of their iniquities Jerem. 2.34 Matth 23.29 39. 22 This is to be understood in the sense our Saviour uses the like Expression concerning Jerusalem upon whom he charges all the Blood that had been spilt from Abel Matth. 23 29-39 See also Zech. 5 5-11 where the Land of Shinar or Babylon is represented as having the House and Basis or Foundation of all Wickedness in it as if she had been guilty of all manner of sins and all sinners were to be punished in the Lake of her Burnings See Note 19. CHAP. XIX The Text. 1 AND after 1 these things i.e. the things seen in the precedent Chapter I heard a great Voice of much people in Heaven i. e. of the innumerable Company which stands before the Throne and before the Lamb Chap. 7.9 saying 2 Alleluja i. e. Praise ye the Lord Salvation from all evils especially those suffered under Antichristianity and Glory and Honour and Power be ascribed unto the Lord our God and to him alone for he is the sole Author of all good Annotations on CHAP. XIX 1 From the First to the Tenth Verse there is a Vision of a Triumphant and Joyful Appearance in Heaven for the Judgment upon the great Whore described in the Two preceeding Chapters and for the Marriage of the Lamb and the near Approach of his Glorious Kingdom 2 This Word is first used Psalm 104.35 to express the Psalmist's Joy upon the prospect of the Accomplishment of his Prediction or Desire that sinners might be consumed out of the Earth And it is here also made use of accordingly upon the Judgment executed upon Antichrist God's Chief Enemy and upon a prospect of the Old Earth's being utterly consumed together with the wicked people of it and a New Earth's succeeding in its place 2 For true and righteous are his Judgements and therefore is he to be praised for he hath judged and punished the great whore or the Idolatrous City and Church which did corrupt and destroy Jerem. 51.25 the Earth with her Fornication or Idolatry and hath avenged the Blood of her servants at her hand i. e. hath rewarded her abundantly according to her demerits for shedding the blood of his Faithful Witnesses and Servants chap 18. 20. 3 And again or the second time they said Alleluja to testifie their Joy upon the sight of the smoke the sign and token of her everlasting burnings And her smoke rose up or was then in its ascent and that for ever and ever i.e. she was punnished with an everlasting Destruction 4 And the four and twenty Elders 3 and the Beasts i e. the representatives of the Jewish and Christian Church chap. 4. fell down and worshipped God that sat on the Throne saying Amen Allelujah i. e. there was a very great appearance and manifestation of Christ's glorious Kingdom and the justice of God's Judgments was acknowledged with Praise and Thanksgiving 3 The Elders of the Church of Israel are placed first in this Appearance of the Divine Confessus or Sanhedrim from whence it may be concluded that this was a Vision of the New Jerusalem-State in which the Israelites as the First Born are to have the Preheminence who according to all Prophecy and Rom. 11. are to be converted and restored to their own Land as hath been before observed And perhaps for this Reason also is the Hebrew word Allelujah here retained 5 And a voice 4 came out of the midst of the Throne from Christ See chap. 5 6. 7 17. saying by way of holy Excitement and Encouragement praise our God my God as well as yours John 20.17 Rev. 3.12 all ye his Servants and ye that fear and worship him both small and great i. e. of whatsoever Nation Quality and Condition ye are for God is no respecter of Persons Psalm 115.11 13. Acts 2 5.10 34 35. Gal. 3.28 4 This Voice seemes to be an Heavenly Excitement to all the Saints upon Earth Gentiles and Jews small and great of all Nations now converted to joyn with the Heavenly Assembly in rendring Praises to God 6 And immediately upon this efficacious Exhortation from out of the Throne I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude and as the voice of many waters and as the voice of mighty Thundrings i. e. there was a mighty appearance of Christ's Kingdom and powerful Communications from the Heavenly Throne to all his Servants upon Earth that fear'd him and Heaven and Earth joyned in praises saying Alleluja for the Lord 5 God Omnipotent now reigneth and that Gloriously Isa 4.23 5 These Words are taken from Isaiah 24 21-23 where it is prophesied That the Lord God of Hosts or the Lord God Omnipotent should Reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before his Ancients or Elders of the Christian Church and that Gloriously after he had punished and shut up in Prison the Kings of the Earth Which is a clear Proof that the Reign of God here mentioned has a Respect to the Reign and Kingdom of Christ after the punishment of the wicked Kings and Nations of the Earth Chap. 20. 7 Let us be glad and rejoyce exceedingly and give honour or praise Luke 17.18 to him alone For the Marriage 6 of the Lamb Christ with his Church 2. Cor. 11.2 Eph. 5.32 is now actually come in and by the coming of his Kingdom Psalm 45. Matt. 22 11.25 1-13 Luke 12.36 and his Wife hath made her self ready i. e. the new Jerusalem state is now coming down from God out of Heaven Rev. 21.2 6 Christ is represented frequently (a)
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Opposite representations in it Of which the Reader is here presented with a general Scheme the particulars which are very many being to be carefully observed and gathered out of the Book it self The Church of Ephesus (a) Chap. 2. 1-8 See pag. 20. 32. is contemporary with the four first Seals and reaches from the Resurrection A. D. 33. to the beginning of the Persecution under Dioclesian A. D. 303. The Church of Smyrna (b) Chap. 2. 8-12 in which the Synagogue of Satan arose is contemporary with the fifth sixth and seventh Seal and lasts until the sounding of the first Trumpet A. D. 437. The Church of Perganus (c) Chap. 2. 1â—-15 begins to Witness in Sackcloath at the entrance of the Apostasy A. D. 437. and is contemporary with the five first Trumpets and part of the Sixth and with the progress of the Apostasy to a Throne and the slaying of the Antipapal Witnesses by Excommunications and Persecutions until about the 12th Century or between A. D. 1100 and 1200. Then arose the Church of (d) Chap. 2. 18. c. Thyatira witnesing against the depths of Satanical Corruptions which continued during the first Slaying of the VVitnesses and the progress of the Mahometan Wo of the sixth Trumpet (a) Chap. 10. until the Reformation A. D. 1517. The Church of Sardis together with some low appearances of the Philadelphian State kept under by those of the Synagogue chap. 3. 9. are contemporary with the Reformation and are to last until some more perfect Church State shall appear of which if the Calculations (c) See the Notes on Chap. 10. 7. on Chap. 11. 2 11. frequently mention'd in the following Book prove true there will be some more than ordinary appearance about A. D. 1697. when the Beasts Months end The Philadelphian (d) Chap. 3. 7-13 State the Church of Thyatira (e) Chap. 2. 19. in its last works the undefiled (f) Chap. â— 4. Names in Sardis and those also of that State whom this Prophecy calls Them of the Synagogue chap. 3. 9. who shall come and unite themselves to the Church of Philadelphia carry on the whole series of things during the (g) See Chapters 14 Voices and the Vials from the rise of that Sate until the Glorious Millenium that is if the Calculations here advanced (b) Chap. 3. 1-7 prove true from A. D. 1697. until (a) See Chapters 14. and 16. A. D. 1727. and from 1727 to 1772. After the Millennium Satan is loosed for a short season Gog and Magog compass the City but are destroyed and all the Enemies of Christ are Judged and perfectly Subdued with which the Laodicean (b) Chap. 3 14-22 Chap. 20. State of the Church is cotemporary But besides these Synchronisms betwixt the Church Prophecy and the Book Prophecy it is very observable that there are very many Visions in the Book Prophecy which Synchronize one with another as is frequently observed in the Annotations of which here is given a short Specimen referring the Reader to the Book it self for a larger account of them Synchron 1. The Seals and many particulars in the twelfth Chapter are contemporary as will appear to any one who compares the sixth Chapter with the twelfth Synchron 2. The Barbarous Nations chap. 8. 7. entring as Gentiles into the outward Court the Worshippers in the inward Temple the Witnesses in Sackcloath and the Church actually flying into the Wilderness are also contemporary See Chapters 8. c. 11. c. 12. Synchron 3. The Beast rising out of the Sea coming into his Succession and into his forty two Months and the ten Kings receiving Power all one Hour with him are contemporary with the Extinction of the Western Empire upon the Sounding of the Third Trumpet because when the former Government was expired Another must needs immediately come into Succession Synchron 4. The Witnesses lying Dead and the Woman hid in the Wilderness from the face of the Serpent are Synchronous Synchron 5. The ending of the two Times the beginning of Half Time the Thunders Voices Uttered and then Sealed are contemporary See Chap. 10. Synchron 6. The full rising of the Witnesses the Fall of the tenth of the great City the passing away of the second Wo and the beginning of the seventh Trumpet to sound are contemporary with the End of the three Days and an Half of the three Times and Half and of the 1260 days and forty two Months which are in an equal Duration Synchron 7. The seventh Trumpet the Voices and the Vials the Judgment on the Whore the Beast and the False Prophet the Lamb's Wife making her self ready are contemporaries Synchron 8. The thousand Years of Sathan bound the first Resurrection the Blessed Participation of it the New Jerusalem the New Heaven and New Earth are contemporaries Synchron 9. The thousand Years expired Sathan Loosed the Gog and Magog are together in time Synchron 10. The Fire coming down from Heaven Sathan's casting into the Lake the Dead Judged and with Death cast into the Lake Synchronize with the White Throne the Laodicean Saints sitting down with Christ upon it The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Opposites are cheifly these The Kingdom of Christ and of his Saints The Kingdom of Satan carried on in the fourth or Roman Monarchy first as Pagan then as Antichristian The Church of Ephesus as Apostolical The Church of Ephesus having left its first Love Chap. 2. 4. Smyrna A Synagogue of Satan Chap. 2. 9. Pergamus and Antipas The Throne of Satan Balaam and the Nicolaitans Chap. 2. 13 14 15. the false Prophet Chap. 16 13. Thyatira The Depths of Satan Jezebel or the false Prophetess Chap. 2. 20 14. The undefiled names in Sardis Those of the Synagogue Chap. 3. 3 4 9. Philadelphia The Laodicean Luke-warmness The Lamb. The Dragon the Beast the other Beast with two Horns like a Limb. Chap. 13. 11. The Bride the Lamb's Wife chap. 19. 7. The Whore chap. 17. Christ's sealed ones and witnesses The Marked Slaves of the Beast chap. 13. 16. The great City the Holy Jerusalem the beloved City the Camp of the Saints c. 20 9.21.10 Babylon the great City reigning over the Kings of the Earth c. 17. and the City of Gog and Magog at the four corners of the Earth c. 20.8 Twelve the Apostolical Number c. 7.4 Twenty five the Antichristian name mark number c. 13. 18. Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords chap. 19. 16. The Kings of the Earth chap. 19. 19. The Armies which come in the Heaven with Christ c. 19.14 The Armies of the Kings of the Earth and their Nations Gog and Magog Chap. 19. 15 19. 20 8. ERRATA PAg. 6. l. 29. read 16. p. 9. l. 5. of the of this World p. 13. l. 16. r. denote p. 14. l. 24. r. full of p. 21. l. 16. r. Rom. 2. p. 27. l. 27. r. Goods p. 22. l. 32. r. 58. p. 41. l. 8. f. the r. that
and knowest not such is the ignorance of Man when left to himself that thou art wretched or The wretched full of wants and defects and miserable or The miserable in a helpless condition and poor in grace and glory and blind or ignorant seeing not thy wants nor the remedy of them and naked or iâ— a shameful condition in respect of the former now the Bride and her Husband are retired and God dwelleth not with thee Rev. 20 11.21 2 3 4. 39 Here is shewn the Ground of their Lukewarmness and the Reason why Christ would spew them out because they thought that their present State was as Glorious as their former and as much to be chosen as that which had the full Glory of the New Jerusalem 18 And therefore I counsel thee out of my Love to thee verse 19. to buy or obtain and procure of me what I will freely give thee if thou will be sensible of thy own unworthiness and inability of thy self to procure it Isa 55.1 2. Gold tried in the fire i. e. the most precious and most pure Wisdom of my Kingdom in Heaven above Prov. 2 4.3 14. Zeck 13.9 Math. 13.44 45 46. 1 Pet. 1.7 that thou mayest be rich in good and perfect works before God Luke 12.21 1 Tim. 6.17 18. and white raiment i. e. unspotted and perfect Holiness such as is required in my Kingdom that thou mayest be Cloathed with my Righteousness Rev. 19.8 and the shame of thy nakedness or thy shameful nakedness do not appear when I come to Judgment Rev. 20 12-15 and anoint thy eyes with Eye-Salve i. e. with clear knowledg that thou mayst see and discern betwixt the dark and imperfect state thou art in and the glorious entire light and perfection of the former Rev. 21.23 24.22 5. 19 Thou art the Camp of my Saints upon Earth and the beloved City and therefore have I permitted the Nations to gather themselves to Battel against thee and to encompass thee Rev. 20.8 9. for as many as I Love and whom I Love I Love unto the end John 13.1 I rebuke as I have done thee for thy lukewarmness and chasten by afflictions as thou hast been by the coming up of Gog and Magog against thee Rev. 20.8 9. be zealous therefore after a higher and a more glorious state and that in Heaven and repent of thy lukewarmness for to this end have I rebuked and chastened thee 20 And to shew what Love I have for thee Behold and let it be taken special notice of I stand waiting with an unwearied patience at the door of the Heart and Conscience of each person amongst you and 40 knock or use frequent and loud importunities by the motions of my Holy Spirit Cant. 5.2 Prov. 1.20 if any 41 man or any one of the Saints of this beloved City for to them and concerning them I now speak and not of their Church State which I will certainly spew out of my Mouth hear and obey my 40 voice and all that I have loved will do so John 10.27 28 29.13 1. and open the door of his Heart by removing all wilful impediments I who have now withdrawn my glorious presence will come unto him and will sup with him and he with me i. e. I will dwell with him possessing his Soul with my Gifts and Graces and will communicate my self after a friendly and a familiar manner unto him in my Heavenly Kingdom Luke 14.15 John 14.20 23. Rev. 19 9.21 3. 40 40 It was the antient custom to knock and call aloud at the same time 41 Christ before spoke to the Church of Laodicea here he speaks to the Members of it to whom he promises higher and more intimate communications of himself altho he had resolved to ease himself of their imperfect Church State 21 To him or that person that overcometh the evils of this State by hearing and obeying my voice and opening unto me will I grant to sit with 42 me in my Throne in my Kingdom whilst I judg the Nations Satan Death and Hell and then to reign with me to all Eternity John 17 22-24 Rev. 20 8-15 even as I also overcame Temptations Sin Death and Hell and am 43 set down with my Father in his Throne in Heaven John 17.5 42 Here Christ and his Saints are represented as sitting in one and the same Throne in allusion to the Thrones of the antient Eastern Kings which were very large and in the form of a Bed or Couch so that many persons might sit in them at once Cant. 3.7 43 Mr. Mede (a) Pag. 905. observes on this verse that although the glorified Saints are said to sit here with Christ on his Throne that yet none but Christ God-Man is said to sit with the Father on his Throne because no Creature is capable of the priviledge of sitting on God the Father's Right Hand in his Throne that being a Godlike Royalty altogether incommunicable 22 He that hath an ear to hear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches CHAP. IV. The Text. 1 AFter this * first Prophetick Vision of the Seven Churches I looked or I was seeing 1 in a Prophetical Vision Dan. 4.10 and behold a door was opened in Heaven i. e. a Discovery was made of Divine secrets and the first voice or the former 2 voice of Christ which I heard at first Chap. 1.10 was as of a Trumpet i. e. full of Power and Authority Chap. 1.10 talking with me which said come up hither unto me to have a nearer access to and participation of Heavenly Secrets and I for none else can will shew thee in Symbols and representations things which must be hereafter in a Succession one after another Annotations on CHAP. IV. * The foregoing Vision contained in the Second and Third Chapters may be called The Church-Prophecy because that in it the several successive States and Periods of the Church from the beginning of it at Christ's Resurrection until the Kingdom of Christ and the End of all things are represented under the Types of Churches the most proper Emblem of them and that the following Vision which may be called the Book-Prophecy from its Events being represented in a Book with Seals to which this and the next Chapter are a Preface is of the same signification and extent shall be argued hereafter as occasion shall require and may at present be gathered from some Congruities observable in the Prefaces to each of them as that John is spoken to here by a Trumpet as he was in the former Preface in the first Chapter and is in the like Spiritual Extasie as he was then in which being Circumstances peculiar to these Two Visions may argue them to be of the like Nature and Import And here it is not improper to observe that in this and the following Chapter is chiefly contained 1. A Representation of the Throne Divine Consistory or Court of Judicature of Almighty God which is to pass Judgment upon the State of
to be set up See on Chap. 8.7 9 And when he i. e. the Lamb Christ had opened 20 the fifth Seal I saw under the Altar 21 of sacrifice Lev. 4.7 i. e. under the Power in the presence of and in Communion with God and Christ the Souls of them see on Chap. 20.4 that were slain for the word of God and for the Testimony which they held i e. the Christian Martyrs especially under Diocletian Chap. 2 10.20 4. 20 The Beasts Voice or the Apostolick Ministry here ceases to shew that Satan's Synagogue was now rising in the Smyrnaean Succession upon the Honours paid to Martyrs under this Seal 21 When Altar is put indefinitely the Altar of Sacrifice is usually understood where the Blood of the Sacrifice was wont to be poured out and by being under the Altar is signified the happy state of Martyrs under the protection and in the presence of God and Christ as appears from Heb. 13.10 Colos 3.3 4. compared with 2 Maccab. 7.36 Psalm 27.5 Phil. 2.17 And here is given a plain Character of this Seal from the Voice of the Blood of the Martyrs and from the change of Things immediately following it in the next Seal whereby is evidently signified the great Persecution under Diocletian whereupon the Aera Martyrum was instituted and the overthrow of Paganism under Constantine from whence also it is very manifest that the Smyrnaean Succession is contemporary with this Seal from the like appearances Chap. 2.10 10 And they 22 cryed instead of the Apostolical Voices with a loud Voice thereby shewing their Number their Zeal and the importance of their Complaint saying How long O Lord Christ holy and therefore hateing Cruelty and Bloodshed and true to thy promises of avenging thy people Luke 18.7 8. dost thou not judge and avenge our Blood to vindicate thy Honour and thy Truth on them that dwell on the Earth i. e. the Pagan Empire for our Persecution has been long and cruel Revel 2.10 22 As Abel's Blood did Gen. 2.10 Heb. 12.24 11 And white Robes denoting Reward Honour and Purity Chap. 3.4 were given unto every one of them and it was said unto them that they should rest yet in quiet patiently expecting the time of God's Vengeance for a little season until their Fellow Servants also and their Brethren in Christ that should be killed as they were should be fullfilled 23 i. e. until the Times and the Number of Martyrs determined by God should be compleated 23 Hereby is signified the Martyrdoms which were to follow under Licinius Julian the Arrians and the Apostasie until God's signal and last Vengeance upon the Antichristian Tyranny under the Vials 12 And I beheld when he had opened the Sixth Seal and lo there was a great Earth-quake 24 i. e. a great commotion and a strange change of Affairs Hag. 2.6 7. Heb. 12.26 and the Sun 25 i. e. the chief God of the Pagans and the Heathen Emperour the chief Magistrate became black 26 as sackcloath of hair Isa 50.3 and the Moon i. e. the next in dignity became as 27 Bloâ—d i. e. were Eclypsed and lost their former Glory 24 It will not be altogether unseasonable to remark in this place what * Histor 4.11 Socrates the Ecclesiastical Historian notes from frequent Observation that Earthquakes are the Signs and Forerunners of Changes and Commotions in the Church 25 Here by Metaphors taken from the Prophetical Descriptions of the Day of Judgment and the last Conflagration of the World to which several of them seem plainly to refer as Dr. Burnet has observed in his ingenious Theory of the Earth and when the things described here by several Prophetical Accumulations shall be fully verified God's Judgments under Constantine and his Successors upon the Heathen Religion and Empire are set out unto us Although the Political World being described in Scripture by Metaphors taken from the Natural as appears from Isa 51.16 Dan. 8.10 the Heavens here may denote what is superiour in it and the Earth what is inferiour and the Sun may be taken for the Supreme in the State the Moon for the next and the Stars for those which are next in order unto them according to the Ancient Symbolical and Hieroglyphical Learning of the Eastern Nations of which we have an Example Gen. 37.9 10. Where Joseph's Dream concerning the Sun Moon and Stars is interpreted by Jacob of himself as Father and Chief of the Family of his Wife as next and of his Children as subject unto them And Sun Moon and Stars Hills and Mountains being the Objects and Places of Idolatry Hereby may be also signified the final Overthrow of Pagan Idolatry as well as of the Pagan Civil Powers 26 A Metaphor taken from an Eclipse in which the Sun appears black and the Moon of a dark Red like black Blood 13 And the Stars of Heaven i. e. the inferiour Deities and Magistrates fell unto the Earth i. e. were cast out and displaced by the mighty Power of God even as a Figtree casteth her untimely Figs Nahum 3.12 when she is shaken of a mighty wind e.e. as easily and in as great abundance Isa 34.4 14 And the Heaven i. e. the whole superior State of the Heathen World Civil and Religious departed 27 out of sight as a scroll that is rolled together so that they could not be seen i. e. they had no Authority nor Esteem and every Mountain i. e. all the places of Idolatry and of great strength and security Isa 2 14-18 Jerem. 51.25 Zech. 4.7 and Island 28 i. e. all their Provinces and Places beyond the Seas were moved out of their places i. e. the Government and Religion of them was changed and overturned 27 A Metaphor from the Ancient Manner of Writing upon one long Scroll which being rolled up according to their Custom what was written in it could not be seen 28 The Jews called all Maritime Places Islands and all places beyond the Mediterranean Consult the Interpreters on Gen. 10.5 and Mr. * Book 1. Disc 49. Mede And hereby is meant that no places escaped altho never so strong or remote 15 And the Kings 29 of the Earth i. e. the supreme Powers subject to the Roman Empire Isa 10.8 Acts 4.26 and the great men or Nobles Dan. 4.36 Mark 6.21 and the rich men and the chief Captains and the mighty men or Soldiers Judg. 5.22 and every bond man and every free man i. e. all of every rank and quality hid themselves for fear Isa 2.19 in the dens and rocks of the Mountains i. e. the most secret and most inaccessible places Judg. 6.2 29 Here by an enumeration of the several Ranks and Degrees of Men according to the Scripture-Phrase all the Members of the Roman Empire are reckoned up From a due consideration of these Six Seals it will be manifest that they are Synchronous with the two first Churches ending in that of Smyrna when that Period received a Crown of Life under Constantine and his
Rev. 17.12 And therefore about half of that space seems here to be signified by about half an hour which will reach from 395 unto 437 which is about the half of this whole Line of Time and falls upon that Time when the Barbarous Nations who had been before often successfully repulsed began to make their most Furious Impressions upon the Roman Provinces on all sides under the weak Government of a Woman Placidia the Empress and her Son Valentinian who was a Child when he began to Reign insomuch that Genserick came then to be so powerful as that he severely persecuted the Orthodox from the very Year (b) Ricciol Chronol 437. unto 476. when he died And furthermore it is very remarkable that about 430 and odd the Apostasy which began in Image-Worship about 360. palpably increased as Mr. (c) Pag. 589. Mede has observed So that the Year 437. is very remarkable on all Hands as being about the middle Point or about half of the whole Hour or Aera reaching from the entire Defeat of Heathenism to the entire Fall of the Western Empire and because it may be justly accounted the Exact Year from which the actual sounding of the Trumpets are to be reckoned which were but in preparation from 395. until that time and also because it may be with great Reason thought to be the beginning of the Antichristian Apostasy which from that time generally increased until it gained a Kingdom with the Ten Kings arising out of the Ruines of the Roman Empire A.D. 476. and that at One Hour that is One entire Hour made up of Two Halves the first reaching from 395 to 437. the latter at the End of which this Kingdom began from thence to 476. See on Chap. 11 2.13.5.17 12. 12 The Fourth Kingdom which is the Roman Empire is called Dan. 7.23 The Kingdom upon the Earth to distinguish it from Christ's Kingdom the Heavenly and Everlasting Kingdom and Luke 2.1 it is called all the World or Earth because most of the then Known World was subject to it 13 It is the Opinion of Mr. Mede that by the Fourth of the Earth Chap. 6.8 is meant almost all the Roman Empire which upon due Compute says Dr. Moor was then one third part of the Earth upon which account they take the Third part to be the Symbolical and Cabbalistical Character of the Roman Empire according to the Genius of this Mystical Book and the Custom of the Ancient Eastern Nations who gave Characters from Numbers and Proportions But to interpose a Conjecture not altogether groundless I am apt to imagine that as the Roman Empire is called the Fourth Chap. 6.8 whilst it had its Imperial Seat fixed at Rome the Head then of the Fourth Kingdom So that after Constantine removed the Seat of the Western Empire to Constantinople it is called the Third because its Imperial Seat was then in the Greek or Eastern part of the Roman Empire which was the Third Kingdom of the Earth in Daniel From which time Constantinople or New Rome became the Chief Seat of the Civil Empire Old Rome being abandoned to the New Ecclesiastical Empire of the Pope the Western Emperours seldom coming at it and by degrees leaving it to them So that even the Western Empire may be Charactered by the Third because that Old Rome the Chief Seat of it and of the Transactions of this Vision had lost its Civil Imperialism over the Fourth part of the Earth and was now forced to truckle to the third part or Constantinopolitan Roman Empire where the Chief Majesty of the Empire was seated Old Rome being never able to gain its Preheminence and the Ruin of its Civil Jurisdiction being owing to this Action of Constantine which will appear also the more probable if we consider that the Rise and Fall of Empires is dated in Prophecy from the like Fate of the Imperial Seats of them See Chap. 9 15.12 4. 14 This is taken from Exod. 9.25 where we read that the Thunder Storm of Hail smote every Herb of the Field and broke every Tree of the Field By which is here signified all the Members and People of the Roman Empire denoted by Metaphors taken from those things which suffer most by Storms And Trees here according to the Prophetical Scheme of Speech signifie the Great Ones and Grass by the like Analogy signifies the Common People 8 And the second Angel sounded and as it were a great 15 Mountain or City Jerem. 51.25 burning with fire was cast into the Sea and the third part of the Sea i. e. the Roman Empire became Blood 16 i. e. was ravaged with bloody Wars Exod. 7.17 18. 15 This Type is taken from Jerem. 51.25 where it is used concerning Babylon by which all along in this Book Rome is understood A Mountain denotes a Kingdom or a City from its Strength and Lofty Edifices and Towers as Annotators have observed on Isa 13.2 Jerem. 51.25 Zechar. 4.7 And the Sea signifies a Body Politick because Seas are in Scripture-Phrase a gathering together of Waters which in this Book are put to denote People and Multitudes as appears from Chap. 18.15 And therefore by the Type in this Verse the Confusions and Desolations represented by the Psalmist Psalm 46.2 by Mountains carried into the midst of the Sea which the State and City of Rome then lay under may be fitly signified it being at this time as a great Mountain burning in the Sea but not actually burnt that is in a consuming Condition but not utterly destroyed For 1. (a) Zosim Oros August Civit. 5. 23. Radagaisus was entirely defeated by Stilicho and he himself and almost his whole Army was destroyed by Sword or Famine Stilicho being made an Instrument by God of preserving the Empire when he designed nothing but his own Interest and the usurping of it which appeared also in another Memorable Instance when he (b) Zosim Oros Hieron Rubeus Hist Raven lib. 2. saved the Empire from total ruine by succouring Saul the General of the Army under him at the very time that he was put to flight by Alarick 2. When (a) Oros lib 7. Socrat. 7.10 Sozom. 9 6-9 Jornand Cap. 30. Alarick took Rome he sackt indeed and rifled it but burnt only some part of it and that contrary to the wonted Custom of the Goths as Jornandes hath particularly observed and left the large Church of Peter entire for an Asylum for the Christians 3. When Athaulphus the Goth not long after had pillaged Rome and was resolved entirely to root out the whole Roman Power he was opportunely diverted by Placidia the Emperour's Sister and perswaded to make a (b) Petav. Ration Temp. lib. 6. Peace and retire into Spain where he married her A. D. 414. 4 Attila the Hun and Genserick the Vandal were both hindered from firing and destroying Rome by the Eloquence and Prudent Behaviour of Leo the Great And (c) Procop. pag 359 360 398 474. ex ed.
which it came to be called the third part whereupon the Grecian Monarchy was cast to the ground it 's very Seat and Power becoming thereupon Roman Constantine (b) Cave's Introduct to the Lives of the Fathers vol. 2. pag. 13. Rycaut's Pref. to the Lives of the Popes commanding by a Law that it should be called New Rome and having Peopled it with the best Families he could draw from Old Rome and the Inhabitants of it being called Romans 13 Here is implied that the fourth Empire Subdued all the rest and bore Rule over all the Earth after it had Subdued the Grecian Monarchy which stood in competition with it according to what was foretold by Daniel chap. 2. 39 40. 7 7 19 32. 14 This refers to the Persecutions which fell upon the Christian Church by the Instigation of the Devil and his Instruments in the Roman Empire especially to their last and most cruel Effort in the ten Years Persecution under Dioclesian when the Woman was as it were teeming with a Glorious Church State in a Christian Empire which was brought forth under Constantine as a short Specimen and imperfect Representation of the Kingdom of Christ as hath been shewn on chap. 7 9.-17 5 And yet notwithstanding all his opposition Psal 2. she brought forth a 15 Manchild i. e. Christ reigned then as King and Lord of his Church and there was on Earth a lively and manly representation of him and his Kingdom for a short time Psal 2.7 8. Is 9 6.66 7 8. Acts 4 23.-30 who was to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron i. e. was to have an universal Kingdom Psalm 2 8-12 and her Child was caught 16 up unto God and to his Throne i. e. Christ and his Kingdom were advanced and his Church was in a State typical of his glorious Kingdom which yet not long continued Psal 110.1 15 Here the Kingdom of Christ is plainly set forth in Expressions chiefly taken from the second Psalm which contains a Description of it as all Interpreters agree And by the Man-child is meant 1. Christ himself who is said to be brought forth or born because he at this time obtained as King of his Church a Conquest over Paganism and a great increase to his Kingdom whereby he was begotten in the Phrase of the Psalmist Psalm 2.6 7 8. that is the holy Child Jesus was manifested and declared to be Lord and King 2. The Church and Christian Empire under Constantine may be called the Man-child as Cyrus is called the Lord's Christ or Messias Isa 45.1 because he was a Type of Christ and as Christians are said to be Christ's Body and to have Christ formed in them Gal. 4.19 And if the Roman Empire it self may in some sense as Grotius has well noted on Dan. 7.13 be not unfitly called an Image or Type of Christ much more may the Christian Empire under Constantine who was a greater Restorer of Christ's Kingdom than Cyrus was be styled a Mystical Christ and be an Emblem of his Glorious Kingdom on Earth 16 Christ after his Resurrection which is called his Birth in Scripture was taken up into heaven as we also shall be caught up thither 1 Thes 4.17 where the same word is used insomuch that this Phrase is taken from Christ's Ascent into heaven and alludes to it And its import may be 1. That Christ was then actually King of the Roman Heathen Empire which he had newly conquered signified by his being caught up to the Throne of God whereby some Ascents of his Throne in the Heavenly Places or Advancements of his Kingdom may be signified in which he was installed and inaugurated at his Ascension when he was caught up into Heaven 2. Hereby may be signified also the advancing of the Christian Religion to the Imperial Throne as Christ was advanced at his Ascension to the Throne of his Father at his Right Hand Psalm 110.1 But as Christ was of a sudden taken up in a Cloud out of the sight of the Apostles whilst they were looking on him Acts 1.9 so may also hereby be signified the short space of the continuance of the Roman Christian Empire Rev. 17.10 answerable to Christ's being seen of the Apostles only for Forty Days Acts 1.3 and the sudden depravation of Religion by a growing Antichristianism upon its advancement by Constantine whereby in a short time the true Primitive and Apostolical Christianity was obscured and could not be seen pure and unmixt which as (a) And on John 1.1 Grotius has noted on the place may be signified by being caught up to God those things being said in Scripture to be with God which are invisible and appear not unto Men. 6 And 17 or but yet it was not long before the Woman or Church thus delivered from Persecution and advanced in the Christian Empire * fled into the Wilderness 18 i. e. was in a secret and obscure state and condition in the midst of the encreasing Apostasy where she hath a place prepared by God i. e. she is secured by him that they 18 should feed her there or that she should be nourished and preserved there after a wonderful manner a thousand 19 two hundred and threescore days i. e. Years See chap. 11. 2 3. 17 When Christ was caught up to God and the Heavenly State he designed became thereupon invisible the Church soon retired into the Wilderness i. e. into an obscure and invisible State too as being bereft of that Presence and Power of Christ which was necessary to advance it into that perfect and heavenly State which his Kingdom requires Here the Flight which was after the War in Heaven is mentioned before it by a Prolepsis or Anticipation frequent in (a) Grot. in Gen. 1.27 Ecclus 48.1 Scripture and in this (b) See Pererius on the Revelations Grot. on Rev. 21.2 Prophecy the Holy Spirit being wont to hasten to the chief point it is about and to mention what intervenes of lesser consequence afterwards as is manifest from the History of the Creation where Paradise which was planted on the Third Day is not described until afterwards in the second Chapter and the full and particular Relation of the Creation of Mankind but briefly touched upon in the first Chapter is deferred unto the second which Figure is here observed to shew that the Man child Christ's Kingdom was not to succeed upon the Glorious Pre appearance of it Verse 5. and that the Church the Woman was to be in an obscure condition and that immediately after her Delivery and that she was presently to prepare for her Flight she being not to appear in Visible Glory until 1260 Years after it * So the Children of Israel went up in haste out of Aegypt Exod. 12.31 33 39. 18 This Type is taken from the Children of Israel's sojourning in the Wilderness after they had escaped out of the hands of Pharoah who is expresly called Psalm 74.13 14. Isa 51.9 the Dragon or Crocodile lying
the former which being perfectly and directly Satanical was a State of things more agreeable to the Devil which when he lost he might very well be said to be cast from Heaven to which the Pagans had exalted him in their Worship to Earth that is to an inferiour sort of Authority and Power in the VVorld and an Idolatry less Diabolical 10 And upon this Sentence and Judgment obtained in Heaven I heard a loud 24 Voice of praise and thanksgiving saying in Heaven and in the Church thus delivered and exalted now is come Salvation i. e. deliverance from Satan's Claim Power and Kingdom as a God upon Earth under the Divine Justice upon a faln World and from Persecution and strength i. e. the manifestation of God's Power in destroying his Enemies and the Kingdom of our God i. e. the glorious advancement of his Religion and the manifestation of the Power of his Christ in advanceing his Church for the accuser of our Brethren before God and in the time of Persecution under the Pagan Empire is cast 25 down or thrown down upon the Earth which accused 26 them before our God day and night i. e. was their indefatigable and inveterate enemy and false accuser 24 This Verse and the following contain an Epinicion or a Song of Thanksgiving to God upon the Conquest of Paganism and the (a) Chap. 7. n. 23. and n. 1. of this Chapter Appearance of Christ's Kingdom in the Empire now become Christian which yet lasted but for a short space before the Glory of it was Eclipsed by Antichristianism Chap. 17.10 Concerning the downfall of Paganism see Dr. Cave's Learned Introduction to the Lives of the Fathers of the Fourth Century 25 A Metaphor taken from wrestling as Grotius notes And here we may observe that when Idolatrous and wicked Men are cast out of Rule and Authority it may be very well said that the Devil is cast out because he acts and governs in and by them 26 Expressions taken from Job 1. and the 4th and Zech. 3. where the Scripture speaking according to the manner of Men represents Satan as accusing good and pious men before God Which he does by aggravating their real Faults and Imperfections and by exciting the Wicked Men of the World to raise False Accusations against them as they Notoriously did against the Primitive Christians see Dr. Cave's Primitive Christianity Part 1. Chap. 1-4 But perhaps this Accusation may relate to Satan's appearing at this Judiciary Tryal alledging the Faults of the Brethren and demanding that they might be delivered unto him the Executioner of God's Justice which he might urge was not yet satisfied 11 And they 27 i. e. our Brethren overcame him in this judiciary Tryal before the Throne of God and all his subtile arts and powerful instruments in the times of Persecution by the Blood of the Lamb i. e. by Faith in Christ's Blood and by his Merits and Passion alone and by the word of their Testimony i. e. by the Gospel which they Preached purely and Efficaciously and the Testimonies they had given under the four first Seals and because they Loved not their Lives no not unto the Death but despised them and willingly and chearfully laid them down for Christ and his Gospel's sake Chap. 4. 9 10 11. 27 In this Verse is shewn the Way how Paganism was overthrown which is in a manner contrary to that which Antichristianism makes use of viz. by the Blood and Merits of Christ alone and not of Saints by the preaching of the Gospel and not by Vnwritten Traditions and by the Christians chearful and patient Suffering not by Resistance VVars and Murther Chap. 11.7 Although perhaps the Chief and Principal Import of this Verse may be to set forth the Grounds and Just Proceedings of God against Paganism and of the Victory here mentioned which was obtained by the Blood of Christ the great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Fundamental and principal Cause who prevailed by his Blood to open the Seals which were so many preparatory Judgments to this End and by the Testimony of the Living Creatures the Gospel-Ministry and Witnesses of the Four First Seals and by their Deaths and Martyrdoms under the Fifth Seal after which ensued the Ruine of Paganism under the Sixth Seal 12. Therefore rejoyce ye Heavens and ye that dwell in them i. e. ye Angels and Saints whose joy encreases according to the advancements of Christ's Kingdom on Earth and ye good and heavenly minded Christians which are faithful Members of the Church now in an exalted state although but for a short time wo to the Inhabitants of the Earth i. e. the earthly minded and Antichristian part of the Empire and of the Sea i. e. the wicked multitude of the Empire Jude 13. for the Devil is come down from Heaven or his exalted State unto you upon the Earth having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short 28 time i. e. in respect of his former Reign 28 The Pagan Religion was overthrown by Theodosius the Great and made only some feeble Efforts under Arcadius and Honorius and Theodosius the Younger but with little Advantage and therefore that being at an End the short time here mentioned must be meant concerning the Antichristian Empire which Satan knew was to have an End and that in a short time in respect of the several Thousand Years of his past Reign in the World from the beginning of Idolatry 13 And when the Dragon i. e. the Devil saw that he was cast upon the Earth out of his former Empire and Dominion he Persecuted * the Woman i. e. the Church which brought forth the Man-child i. e. the Kingdom of Christ * Here the History of the VVoman is resumed and the Persecution here mentioned must relate to the Incursions of the Goths and other Barbarous Nations Chap. 8. because they are the only Persecutions which immediately succeeded upon the Dragons being cast upon the Earth by the Overthrow of Paganism which Judgments designed as a Chastisement by God were intended by Satan who stirred up those Nations by the permission of Providence as a Persecution upon the Church so that the Trumpets which are contemporary with this Persecution were Divine Judgments in the Hands of the Angels upon the Empire and the Antichristianizing Party but in the Designs of Satan a Persecution of the pure Church 14 And to the Woman i. e. the true and pure part of th Church were given i. e. prepared by God's Providence ver 6. two 29 wings of a great Eagle i. e. effectual means of a speedy and safe delivery from this Danger notwithstanding all difficulties and in despight of all oppositions that she might fly into the Wilderness i. e. be in an obscure invisible condition verse 6. into her place prepared of God verse 6. where she is nourished or preserved for a 30 Time and Times and half a Time chap. 10 6. 11 2 3 9 11. from the face or sight and
Mede ou the place to the deep and flowing waters of a Man's Mouth and the Mahometans having been peculiarly described by their Subtilty as well as their Power and Force Chap. 9. 7 8 10 19. 2. Because this their violent and sudden Invasion like that of a Torrent or water as a Flood was just before the Death of the Witnesses at the second Council of Nice when the Woman was flying into her closest and most retired state answerable to that of the sealed or secured from the hurt of the Mahometan Locusts Chap. 9.4 for she was as yet visible to the Serpent when he cast the flood after her and was then flying into her invisible state the Church being as is plain from hence sometimes totally over-spread with thick darkness and at other times more or less Visible as the Sun is in cloudy days or the Stars in overcast Evenings when they can scarcely be discerned but by a piercing and stedfast Eye or through Telescopes 16 And the Earth i. e. the corrupt and apostatized part of the Church helped the Woman by opposing this inundation and the Earth 33 opened her Mouth and swallowed up the Flood which the Dragon cast out of his Mouth i. e. received and suffered the mischeif of their invasions 33 These words are taken from Numb 16.32 and allude to what has sometimes happened in Earthquakes in which Rivers have been swallowed up by the Earth And it may be observed that it is not said that the Earth swallowed the waters which might indeed denote the conversion of the Barbarous Nations and their incorporating into the Apostasy but that it swallowed up the Flood whereby the Mischief of the Waters or People is more properly signified which indeed fell severely as hath been observed on Chap. 9. on the Idolatrous Apostasy whilst the pure Church was sealed or secured and preserved from the hurt of the Locusts 17 And the Dragon was wrath with the Woman i. e. the pure Church and he went to make War by means of the Beast chap. 11 7. to whom he gave his Authority chap. 13.2 with the small remnant 34 of her seed i. e. the Witnesses who became visible by separating from the Apostasy chap. 11. which keep the Commandments of God purely and entirely without additions and corruptions and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ which is the Spirit of Prophecy chap. 19.10 i. e. are Witness Churches chap. 11.3 34 The Seed of the woman are plainly the Witnesses Chap. 11. which small Remnant was warred with and killed whilst the Church in general or the Woman was preserved by God CHAP. XIII The Text. 1 AND 1 John stood upon the 1 sand of the Sea and saw in Vision a 2 wild savage 3 Beast i. e. an Idolatrous cruel and persecuting Body of Men under a Chief Head rise up out of the 4 Sea i. e. taking its beginning out of the Commotions and Confusions of Nations and People Dan. 7.2 3 having seven 5 heads or Forms of Government Chap. 12 3.17 10 and ten horns or Kingdoms Chap. 5 6.12 3.17 12. and upon his horns ten 6 crowns or Diadems to denote their Soveraign Power and upon his heads the name of Blasphemy signifying that they were Idolatrous Governments Chap. 2.9 Annotations on CHAP. XIII 1 The most proper place to receive a Vision of a Beast rising out of the Sea 2 So the Word should be translated for it is of a distinct signification from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which also ought to be rendred Living Creature and not Beast 3 It appears plainly from Dan. 7.3 17 23. that this is the true (a) See Grotius on Dan. 7.3 Mat. 20.26 Moor's mystery of Iniquity Part 2. in the Word Beast Scriptural Notion of a Beast in general 4 This is taken from Dan. 7.3 where Four great Beasts or Kingdoms are represented as coming up out of the Sea upon which the Winds had striven whereby a Troublesome state of Affairs is aptly signified out of which Empires and Kingdoms have generally risen See num 6. 5 From hence it appears evidently that this Beast is the Roman Empire which was under seven Forms of Government See on Chap. 12 3. 17 10. 6 These Horns are the Kingdoms into which the Roman Empire was divided as appears from Chap. 17.10 which are here represented as Crowned to denote that this was the State of the Empire under which that Division should come to pass whereby it is distinguished from the State of the Empire given as Pagan in the foregoing Chapter where its Ten Horns are not Crowned For although Prophecy with Respect to the Vision in Daniel Chap. 7.8 generally represents the Fourth Beast or Roman Empire in its full and compleat Portraiture as well with Relation to what it was to be as to what it actually was at the time of each Vision yet that a distinction of the Times of its particular States and Conditions might he the better observed each Representation is generally diversified by some particular circumstances relating to it Whereupon the Ten Horns are represented as Crowned to shew that this was the Beast with which the Ten Kings were to receive Power From whence it appears that this Beast is the Papacy as is shewn on Rev. 17.12 which also rose out of the Sea or out of the Confusions of the Roman City and Empire when it was cast like a burning Mountain into the Sea Chap. 8.8 It being plain from (a) Morney du Plessi's Mystery of Iniquity pag. 81 85. Heidegger Histor Papatus pars 1. cap. 2. Bp. Overal's Convocat Book pag. 291 292. History that the Papacy rose upon the Ruines of the Empire which beginning with the the Invasions of the Northern Nations about 400 we may well date its first rising out of the Sea from about that time when (a) Epist ad Gaudentium in Prefat ad libr. Didym de Sp. S. where by the See thing Pot out of the North he understands the Northern Nations Jerom expected Antichrist whom (b) This is confessed by Bellarmine de Roman Pontif. 3. 5. See Mornay's mystery of Iniquity Downham of Antichrist B. 1. c. 3. Dr. Cressener's Append. to his Demonstrat of the Apocal. he and the Ancient Fathers believed should rise upon the Fall of the Empire which they took to be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or that which withheld the Man of Sin 2 And the Beast which I saw was in its Body like unto a 7 Leopard which represents the Grecian Monarchy Dan. 7.6 and his Feet were as the Feet of a 7 Bear the Emblem of the Medo-Persian Monarchy Dan. 7.5 and his Mouth as the Mouth of a 7 Lion which was the Symbol of the Babylonian or Assyrian Monarchy Dan. 7.4 and the 8 Dragon i. e. the Pagan Roman Emperours Chap. 12. 3 9 13. gave him i. e. the Beast his 9 power i e. his Diabolical Arts and Forces to entice and constrain Men to Idolatry his 10 Seat or Throne i. e. his
constant Attendants of the Lamb in his Heavenly Tabernacle and the first partakers of that exalted State of his Kingdom here Visionally represented by Mount Zion 5 And in their mouth was found no 8 guile i. e. they were not found guilty of the great Lye of Antichristianism and Idolatry for they are without Fault before the 9 Throne of God i. e. they are acquitted and justified by God although they had been condemned and anathematized by Antichrist 8 Idols are called Lyes in (a) Jerem. 16.19 Am. 2.4 Grotius and Mede on the place Scripture and Lying as Grotius observes on the place is a constant Concomitant of Idolatry and hereby this Apostolical Number of Christ's Followers are distinguished from those which belonged to Antichrist whose Religion is but an Image or Counterfeit of Christ's and is thereupon also justly called a Lye 9 Hence it appears that this is the Vision of some exalted State of Christ's Heavenly Kingdom seen as before the Throne of God or the Divine Sanhedrim and Court of Judicature coming down as it were on Mount Zion where the Witnesses who are the 144000. who had been killed by the Beast appear and are as it were adjudged by God as worthy the exalted State they enjoy with Christ and which they had obtained under his Conduct and for his Sake which Appearance shall have also as hath been all along observed a parallel one on Earth in the Philadelphian State of the Church 6 And I saw 10 anoth r Angel or Gospel-Ministry Chap. 1. 1 20 fly in the midst of Heaven to denote the Swift Publick and Universal Public tion of the Gospel of the Kingdom Chap. 8.13 having committed unto him 2 Cor. 5.19 the 11 Everlasting Gospel of the Kingdom spoken by the Mouth of all his Prophets since the World began which was to bring in Everlasting Righ eousne s Dan. 9.24 Acts 3 21-26 Rev. 16.7 to preach unto all them tha dwell on the Earth and to 22 every Nation of Pagan Mahometan and Antichristian Gentiles and Kindred or Tribes of Israeli es and Tongue or the various People of several Languages amongst them and People i. e. to the whole multitude of each 10 There being no Angel mentioned before but only a Voice Verse 2. By another Angel here must also be understood another Voice which Word imports Vtterance of Doctrine as John the Baptist is called The Voice of one crying in the Wilderness And this Voice is here called an Angel because it was pronounced by an Angelical Voice or Speaker who was seen whereas the former was only heard so that this is another or a distinct Voice or Angel from the former Whereby a certain Order of Voices is plainly represented which being also Seven in Number and distinctly reckoned up may very well be accounted the seven Thunders opened into loud and distinct Voices 11 The Gospel of Christ's Glorious Kingdom being the main Subject and Scope of these Visions it must therefore be here referred to which is called Everlasting 1. Because it was the Doctrine or Mystery designed by God from everlasting praefigured in all the Types of the Old Law and preached or spoken by the Mouth of all the Prophets since the World began by which Phrase Eternity is signified in Scripture See Acts 3 21-26 Rom. 16.25 26. 1 Cor. 2.7 Rev. 10.7 2. Because it was to bring in the Everlasting Righteousness mentioned Dan. 9.24 or the way of becoming Righteous in the Account of God by Christ alone which will then be fully manifested to be no New Doctrine as the Apostasy at the Beginning of the Reformation asserted it to be but the way which was from Everlasting and shall be until the End of all Things I think it may not be unfit to observe in this place That the Apostasy that it might be a perfect Antichristian Counterfeit of Christ's Kingdom did pretend to a New Gospel called the (a) Bishop Stillingfleet of Idol Chap. 4. p. 238-246 Eternal Gospel containing many Extravagant and Blasphemous Opinions and asserting that the Scriptures contained not the Gospel of the Kingdom but were to give way to a New Gospel which should take place in A. D. 1260. Six Years after the preaching of it which Gospel was so much favoured by the Popes and the Court of Rome that a Book written against it was burnt by their Order And although they were at last forced to burn the Eternal Gospel also yet it was done secretly and with much unwillingness 12 This is a Pleonasm or a Figure wherein by a Redundant Accumulation of many Particulars is expressed the preaching of the Everlasting Gospel for the bringing in of all Nations whereby Ethnicks or Gentiles of all sorts are meant in Scripture and of all the Tribes of Israel to the Kingdom of Christ according to Hosea 6 1-3 Matth. 24.14 Rom. 11.25 26. which is to be near the End when the Deliverer shall come out of Sion and after Two days in the Third Day which Dr. Pocock on Hosea extends even to the End of the World but others with more Reason to the End of (a) See on Chap. 11. 9 11. Antichristian or Gentile Times when Christ's Kingdom shall appear and they who have known something of Christ's Kingdom shall follow on to know the Lord more fully and perfectly by the preaching of this Everlasting Gospel Hos 6.3 7 Saying with a loud Voice i. e. after a zealous and most powerful manner fear God and not Idols Isaiah 8.12 13. and give Glory to him alone and not to Creatures Angels and Saints for the Hour or precise time and appointed Season of his Judgment Government or 13 Kingdom and of his Judgments on all manner of Idolatry Pagan and Antichristian which he will no longer wink at is come and worship him therefore the Creator of all things that made Heaven 14 and Earth and the Sea and the Fountains of Waters of the Great Deep Gen. 7.11 13 So Judgment often signifies in the Old Testament as Psalm 72.1 2. and in other places of Scripture 14 The Heathens worshipped all the parts of Nature even the Seas Rivers and Fountains as is clearly proved by (b) De Idolatr Vossius which the Antichristian (b) Dr. Moor's Mystery of Iniquity part 2. lib. 1.17 Bishop Stillingfleet's Fourth Conference concerning Idolatry Apostasy also having imitated in appointing Tutelar Saints and Angels to most of the parts of the Creation and in introducing a Worship which is but an Image or a New Model of Paganism Do their Idolatries may be here meant 8 And there followed another 15 Angel or Gospel-Ministry saying i. e. preaching and denouncing this great Truth 16 Babylon i. e. Antichristian or Papal Rome is 17 fallen is fallen i. e. will as certainly fall in a short time as if it were a ready fallen that great City of a large Juri diction and Head of the Roman Empire because she made all Nations drink of the Wine of the 18 wrath
and gather by raising them the clusters of the 38 Vine of the Earth i. e. the Children of the Wicked one Matth. 13.30 38 41 49 50. Joel 3.13 Deut. 32.32 for her Grapes are fully ripe for Destruction 37 It is the Opinion of Dr. Lightfoot That here is an Allusion to a Custom amongst the Jews who were not wont to put in the Sickle until the Priests who sate in the Temple gave Order and Command for it But I presume the Reason given in the Paraphrase to be more apposite 38 The Wicked and the Antichristian Church are represented by an Earthly Vine whose Clusters and Grapes are bitter like the Vine of Sodom and Gomorrah Deut. 32.32 33 as the True Church and the Righteous Members of it are by the Vine of the Lord and of Christ Isaiah 5. Psalm 80. John 15. Now if the Reaping of the Harvest signifies the Gathering of the Saints at the First Resurrection then the Gathering of the Vintage must signifie the Resurrection of the Wicked to whom it is expresly referred by the Prophet Joel Chap. 3.13 Concerning which see what is discoursed on the Three last Chapters 19 And the Angel thrust in his Sickle into the Earth and gathered the Vine of the Earth and cast it into the great Winepress of the Wrath of God i. e. into exquisite Torments 20 And the Winepress was trodden i. e. these Judgments were executed without 39 the City of the New Jerusalem Chap. 21.2 Isa 66.24 in the Valley of Decision Joel 3 2 12 14. Rev. 16.16 and blood came out of the Winepress even to the Horses Bridles i. e. the Destruction was very bloody and apparent to them with Christ on White Horses Rev. 19.14 by the space of a thousand and six 40 hundred furlongs i. e. it was Universal Joel 3.2 Rev. 16.14 30 The New Jerusalem the beloved City the Camp of the Saints which they came to compass Rev. 20.9 but could not enter being discomfited in a place without it called Jehoshaphat by Joel whereby is signified that Gods Judgments shall be executed upon them which is the meaning of the Word Jehoshaphat in the places to which the Wicked shall be confined by God during the Thousand years of the New Jerusalem 40 Four the Square (a) Four times four hundred amount to sixteen hundred Root of 1600 is a Symbol of Vniversality taken from the Four Corners or Winds of Heaven which denote the whole Heaven and the whole Earth in Scripture and perhaps also upon other Pythagorical and Cabbalistical Reasons which may be seen in Dr. Moor's Commentary on this place And here is to be noted what a Learned Friend suggested unto me That Four being a Square Number and Furlongs being the Measure of the Four Square City the New Jerusalem Chap. 21.16 Hereby may be fitly signified that this Vengeance described here as a Four square one if I may so speak coming out of the Four square City was not only Vniversal in the Four Quarters or utmost Corners of the Earth the Seat of the Wicked Nations Revel 20.8 but also Perfect and Regular as a Four-square City is agreeable to God's Holy and Righteous Admensurations of Justice towards All Men the Wicked as well as the Saints CHAP. XV. The Text. 1 AND I saw in Vision another sign or (a) Matth. 16.1 prodigious appearance more 1 wonderful than the former seen Chap. 12.1 in 2 Heaven great and marvellous for the Events signified by it 3 seven Angels the immediate Ministers of this Judgment having in their Vials Verse 7. the seven 4 last plagues or Judgments for in them is filled up or finished the wrath of God and therefore they are the last Annotations on CHAP. XV. 1 For in the former Paganism fell and the Kingdom was only adjudged to Christ but in this Antichristianism falls and the glorious Kingdom of Christ it self appears whereas there was before only an Emblem of it upon Earth which being a State of things more perfect than the former is here called not only a great but a marvellous Portent 2 Three things in this Prophecy are more particularly seen as in Heaven 1. The Divine Court of Judicature or Grand Synedrium Chap. 4. 2. The Downfal of Paganism and the Appearance of the Christian Empire Chap. 12.1 3. The present Judgment upon Antichristianism All of them referring to the Kingdom of Christ in the New Jerusalem but this to an high State of it now approaching 3 The Sabbatick Number of Seven is all along used in this Prophecy to shew that the End and Issue of all things in it is with respect to Christ's Kingdom at the Seventh Thousand Year of the World as hath been before observed 4 Hence we may note 1. That these Plagues relate to the Seventh Trumpet out of which they must issue because they are the last Plagues and that the last We at the first sounding of which the Wrath of God came Chap. 11.18 which is by these Plagues filled up or accomplished 2. That the last Plagues must refer to the last Division of Time in Daniel Chap. 12.12 to wit the last Forty Five Years which being added to the Twelve Hundred and Sixty Years make them up the One Thousand Three Hundred and Thirty Five Days of Years there mentioned 3. That the last Portion of Apocalyptick Time necessarily supposes that there is a constant Order or Connexion of Time in this Book from First to Last viz. from the First Seal to the Seventh and Last Trumpet out of which first the Voices and then the Vials issue which are the Last Plagues after which according to Daniel the Blessed State of Christ's Kingdom in Glory begins until when none could enter the Temple Verse 8. 2 And I saw as it were a Sea of Glass representing the pure State of the Church and Kingdom See on Chap. 4.6 mingled with 5 Fire to denote the Fiery Indignation of God to be poured out of the Vials and them that had gotten the Victory over the Beat and over his Image and over his Mark and over the Number of his Name i. e. who had overcome and escaped out of the Temptations of the Antichristian Profession See Chap. 13 15-18 14 11. stand 6 on the Sea of Glass in a Posture and State of Victory and happy Security from the Vengeance of the Vials having the 7 Harps of God i. e. most Excellent Holy and Heavenly Musick with Joyful and Thankful Hearts 5 This has a reference to the Red Sea through which the Israelites passed being made up as it were of the Christalline Sea Chap. 4.6 and the Red Sea Exod. 14. this Verse and some others in this Chapter containing an Allusion to that Memorable Story 6 As the Israelites Exod. 14.29 30. stood on the shote of the Red Sea in safety viewing the Overthrow of the Aegyptians the Type of the Antichristian Party for to stand on the Sea signifies to stand on the shore of it 1 Kings 4.20 Exod. 15.22 Whereby
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.
to gather them together from all parts to 28 Battel i. e. to oppose persecute and destroy Christ's Kingdom upon Earth the 29 number of whom is as the Sand of the Sea i. e. exceeding great Ezek 38.8 9 15 16. 26 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (a) Grot. in Matth. 5 7. Eph. 2.11 12. that is Gentiles or Aliens from the New Jerusalem State banished as it were from that happy Society into the Four Quarters or Corners of the Earth and living there as without God in the New World of the Messias beleiving indeed but as the Devils do with trembling which is a Spiritual Death who were typified by the Hamonah and Multitude of Nations Ezek. 38 8 9 15 16.39 11 16. who are to come up against the New Jerusalem in the latter Days after the Resurrection Conversion and Return of the Jews and their Vnion with the Gentiles into One Church as appears from Ezek. Chapters 36 37 38 39. Now whatsoever is meant by these Nations in Ezekiel it is plain that in this place they can be no other than some of those to whom the Thousand Years are here assigned who are the whole of Mankind and seeing that it cannot be supposed that the Saints of any kind can be possibly engaged in such a design against Christ's Kingdom as being the saved and healed the Living the Sons and Partakers of the first Resurrection and secured by Christ the Second Adam in a State of Righteousness who will lose none that are his as the first Adam did it will follow that by these Nations must be understood the remnant slain the rest of the Dead who lived not again or the Dead-Wicked raised to a state of Condemnation and continuing under the Awe and Terror of it during the Glories of Christ's Kingdom who are now stirred up by Satan their Head and Ringleader to attack the Camp of the Saints upon Earth whom he thought he might easily overcome now the more immediate Presence and Assistance of Christ was withdrawn from them And to this sense agree many Expressions in Ezekiel who calls them the Multitude or Nations of the Dead Chap. 39 8-17 and also the general scope of this Chapter which has a relation as is granted by all Interpreters to what will come to pass at the last Judgment and the Resurrection * In the Four Corners or Angles of the New Earth which is represented as a square City or Camp without which as it were at the Four Angles and Corners of it the Wicked are placed here and Chap. 22.15 in allusion to the Custom amongst the Jews of executing Offenders without the Camp and City and of excluding and excommunicating all unclean persons out of it Numb 5 1-4 Heb. 13.11 12 13. 27 This is a plain proof that these Nations are typified by the multitude of the Dead in Ezekiel who calls them Gog and the Land of Magog by which the (a) Ezek. 32 26.38 15.39 2. The Mogul-Tartars above the Wall of China are called so by the Arabian Writers Dr. Hyde Epist de mensuris Sinens See Mr. Mede pag. 574. and Ep. 41. Northern and Scythian Nations are understood in Scripture a Type of the Enemies of God's Church and Kingdom prophesied of in Old Time by the servants of God the Prophets of Israel under the Names of such Nations as were the Chief Enemies of the Jews in the particular Times of each Prophet Ezek. 38.17 So that Gog and Magog seems to denote the whole multitude of God's Enemies in each Age which admirably agrees with what hath been discoursed already to wit that these Nations are the Wicked dead of every Age of the World raised to Condemnation 29 This Battel is distinct from that at Armageddon which was before the Thousand Years Neither will it appear incredible that the Faln Angels and the Damned should again attempt such a Design and that after they had experienced the power of Christ's Wrath for a Thousand Years If we consider that the Devils retain the same Enmity against God notwithstanding their many Ages of Punishment and their Expectation of an Eternal Doom and that this Attempt was under the wise Permission and Order of Almighty God at a time when his more immediate Glorious Presence was withdrawn from the New Earth of his Saints and the Laodicean state of Coldness and Indifferency to the Glories of Christ's Kingdom began For the Wicked Nations as they went down to Hell according to the Expressions of Ezekiel Chap. 32.26 27. with their Weapons of War that is with the same Enmity to Christ in which they lived and laid their Swords under their Heads in a readiness to act the same Wickedness over again so are they raised with the same Passions only the more enraged for their Punishments and may very well be supposed out of Envy and Revenge for their long confinement under a State of Punishment and Infamy to engage in this Attempt 29 Although the Number of the Wicked who shall be raised to Condemnation will be very great yet there will not be any inconvenience to our Assertion from thence as if the Earth would be incumbred with so vast a Number of wicked persons because no very great space will be required for their confinement if that be true which is asserted by Sir William (a) See his Essay in Political Arithmetick concerning the Growth of the City of London Petty That half the Island of Ireland would afford not only Footing to stand upon but Graves to lye down in for the whole Number of Men now living and also for those that have died since the beginning of the World To which may be added that their Bodies shall be spiritual they being to partake of the spirituality of the Resurrection although not of the Purity and Blessedness of it 9 And they went up in Battle array 1 Kings 10.1 from the Quarters and Corners to which they were confined on the breadth of the Earth i. e. to assault the Kingdom of Christ which had spread it self over the whole Earth Isa 8 8.49 6. Psalm 72.8 and compassed or besieged the Camp 30 of the Saints who reign with Christ Verse 6. and the 31 beloved City i. e. they endeavoured to destroy Christ's Kingdom and the New Jerusalem State on Earth See on Chap. 21.2 3. and 32 or but Fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them i. e. they were suddenly and miraculously discomfited by God and most severe Judgments were inflicted upon them by God's fiery Wrath and Indignation Ezek. 38.22 23.39 6 9 10. 30 A Metaphor from the Camp of the Israelites in the Wilderness a Type of the Church and Kingdom of Christ See Ainsworth on Numb 2.27 31 Jerusalem is called God's Beloved Psalm 60 5.108 6. which was a Type of the New Jerusalem State the Holy City the Bride and Beloved of her Husband Chap. 21. 32 The Israelites are represented by Ezekiel Chap. 38.11 as living in unwalled Villages without Bars and Gates
whole space of the Blessed Millennium Rev. 20. 7. The Bodies of the Dead Saints being raised are caught up into the Air and the Saints which come with Christ appear in them together with him in the Heavens and probably continue with him there in Glory during the Thousand Years the Heavens being purged and purified as it were by Fire and the (c) Luke 10.18 Eph. 6.12 Evil Spirits falling down like Lightning from the Air which had been so long possessed by them whereby these High and Heavenly Places are as it were prepared for the Reception of Christ and his Saints For Righteousness must dwell in the New (a) 2 Pet. 3.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.22 23. Heavens as well as the New Earth and the whole Creation groans and waits for this Redemption But this shall be further made out as occasion offers upon the following parts of this Vision 8. The Living Saints will be (b) Malach. 3 1-3 1 Cor. 3 10-16 purged and purified as Gold and Silver and many of them shall be saved at this Day with great Difficulty but all shall be preserved by God who knoweth how to deliver the Godly as he did Lot and the Three Children in the Fiery Furnace which are Types of this Last and Great Deliverance 2 Pet. 2.9 in the general Conflagration and their Bodies being changed they shall Reign with Christ on the New Earth the (c) Rom. 8 19-24 Burnet 's Theory 4 7-9 former being unfit through the Vanity and Corruption it is subject to for such a purpose And this is that State of the Earth which it earnestly expects and groaneth after and for which it was designed by God who seems to declare by the Prophet Isaiah Chap. 45.17 18. that he created it not in vain or to be such a Chaos and subject to so much Vanity Rom. 8.20 as it now is but to be inhabited by the Mystical Israel of all the Earth Isa 45.17 21 22. who shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting Salvation 9. All this will come to pass at the very beginning of Christ's Coming whose Proceedings will be very sudden and swift Malach. 3.5 1 Cor. 15.52 in which (a) Malach. 4 1-4 Psalm 110.1 the Wicked shall be burnt up and trod down and be as Ashes under the Soles of the Feet of the Saints lying at the Footstool of Christ's Throne whilst the Living Saints Reign with him on the New Earth and the Raised Saints in the New Heavens 10. At the End of the Thousand Years upon Christ's withdrawing some of his more immediate Presence and Glory Satan will stir up the Wicked Nations who had been all that while in a State of Contempt and Punishment Malach. 4 1-4 to endeavour to destroy Christ's Kingdom on Earth upon which he will catch up his Saints into the Air and give them incorruptible Bodies and the whole Body of Saints with Christ their Head shall finally Judge the wicked world and the New Heavens and Earth shall disappear and fly away the Son shall deliver up his Kingdom to the Father and the Saints shall remain with him to all Eternity whilst Satan and all the Wicked remain in the Lake for ever which is a place of Punishment represented as a Lake made out of the Liquefaction and Dissolution of the present Earth burnt with Fire And this is a brief Scriptural Account of this great Transaction against (b) See Dr. Beverley's Vniversal Christian Doctrine of the Day of Judgment which although many Objections may be raised yet there are few which may not be as plausibly alledged against the Day of Judgment as it is usually understood by Divines 2 And 5 I John the Apocâ—lyptick Apostle unto whom Christ had sent and signified and shewn things to come thereby testifying that I was a Servant of his and greatly beloved by him Rev. 1 1. Dan. 9 23.10 7 11 19. saw and let it be observed diligently for these words are true and faithful Verse 5. the 6 Holy City or Polity of Saints New Jerusalem above the Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 Heb. 11 10 16.12 22 23. coming down with Christ into the Regions of the Air 1 Thes 4 14-18 See on Chap. 19.7 8 9 14.19.20 4. from God the Father out of Heaven before whose Throne it had hitherto been in various degrees of Exaltation See on Chap. 12 1.14 1. prepared and arrayed in Christ's Righteousness as a Bride adorned for her Husband which is the Lamb Christ that he might present to himself a Glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle and at last perfectly unite it to God in his Eternal Kingdom Eph. 5.26 27. Rev. 19.7 8 9 5 He does not say simply as in the former Verse I saw but I John saw by that Emphatical Expression shewing the great Importance of the Vision and likewise more earnestly affirming the Truth of that which was to be of so great use and consolation to the Saints hereby imitating the Beloved Prophet Daniel who frequently makes use of the same Phrase upon the like Occasions 6 From a due compare of this place with the places quoted in the Paraphrase it appears 1. That the Holy City is no other than the Bride or Saints those Armies which come with Christ in the Air to Judgment in his Kingdom the very They who sit in Thrones and Reign with him a Thousand Years Chap. 20.4 as hath been before proved and often observed 2. That this New Jerusalem is in the New Heavens or Heavenly Places of the Air as they are called in Scripture into which the Saints come or descend from Heaven with Christ as hath been before observed and consequently that the New (a) Dr. Burnet 's Theory 4.3 8. Heavens and New Earth are the Seat of the Thousand Years Reign of Christ and the Saints the Inhabitants of it because they are here represented as coming into it as into a place newly prepared for them by God Verse 1. 3. That this New Jerusalem State coming down from God is the Kingdom of Christ in its Highest and most Exalted State which had been hitherto represented in this Vision as before the Throne of God in divers States and Degrees of Exaltation according as Christ's Kingdom increased and his Enemies were subdued by God the Father at whose Right Hand he was to sit in a patient Expectation of this Kingdom until all his Enemies were made his Footstool which being now performed he comes down from God out of Heaven with his Bride or Church purified and perfectly sanctified into his glorious Kingdom in the New Heavens and New Earth the Seat of the Blessed Millennium For thus Heb. 12.22 compared with Rev. 14.1 the Saints first come unto Mount Sion and then unto the City of the Living God the heavenly Jerusalem or the Archetypal State of Christ's Kingdom in Heaven to which there is one always correspondent on Earth the Metropolis of the Christian Worship which had its Original from thence Heb.
brightness of his Father's Glory and the express Image of his Person See Bishop Pearson on the Creed and Dr. Bull 's Defensio Fidei Nicaenae 24 And the 37 Nations of them which are (a) Isa 45.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sunt ilii ex Gentilium reliquiis quos Diluvium Ignis non inundaverit Innelliguntur ni fallor qui cladem illam in Christi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saturam evaserint quando venturus est ad hostes Ecclesiae suae perdendos Mede's Works pag. 915. saved i. e. those Living Remaining Saints who shall have escaped the Sword of Christ's Mouth and the Fire for the Perdition of the Ungodly Isa 4 2-5 45 20.60 3 11. See the Notes on Chap. 20.6 shall walk in the Light of it i. e. shall partake of the Glories of the New Jerusalem in the New Heaven where Christ and the Dead raised incorruptible Reign together Isa 2 5.60 2 3. See the Not s on Chapter 20.4 and the Kings and Priests of the New Earth i e. the Saints living upon the New Earth and reigning with Christ a Thousand Years Chap. 20 6.21 1. do bring their Glory and Honour into it i. e. acknowledge all their Glory and Happiness to be derived from that State above and shall at last be caught up into it See on Chap. 20. Psalm 68 29.62 10. 1 Thes 4.17 37 Called Nations of the saved to distinguish them from the Wicked Nations Chap. 20.8 the Slain and Dead killed by the Sword of Christ's Mouth and devoured by Fire from Heaven Chap. 19 21.20 8 9. See the Notes on the former Chapter It is acutely observed by Mr. (a) Ep. 20. Mede That the State of the New Jerusalem and the State of the Nations which shall walk in the Light thereof are different as is plain because the Nations and Kings of the latter walk in the Light of the former and bring their own Glory to it as to a State different and distinct from it by the former of which seems plainly to be meant the Jerusalem above which comes down from God out of Heaven with Christ and his Saints into the New Heaven and by the latter the Camp of the Saints upon Earth those Living Remaining Saints who shall dwell in the New Earth for a Thousand Years partaking of the Glories and Happiness of the Sainâ—s above with Christ who Reign in the New Heavens as in a Palace of Glory from whence the Divine Light transfuses it self upon the Saints below who walk and rejoyce in it being directed and influenced by it until by Degrees those Assistances and powerful Communications being abated and withdrawn they began to be too much in love with their State upon Earth and did not so earnestly long to be caught up to be with Christ for ever Whereupon Satan was loosed and the wicked Nations drew together against them Which is the Laodicean State of the Church described in the Third Chapter and will appear to be the true meaning of this place to any one who will diligently compare it with what hath been discoursed on the former Chapter 25 And the 38 Gates of it shall not be shut at all by day but shall be open continually Isa 60.11 for although Men shut their Gates at Night yet there shall be no night there and therefore the Gates need never be shut because God and the Lamb are the Light of it Verse 23. 38 This seems to refer to the Free Communications there shall be in this State betwixt the Saints upon Earth and the Saints above in the Heavenly Jerusalem with Christ who may (a) Et si in nonnullis solenniis se praesens sistat Christi numen circumstantibus Angelorum turmis c. Burnet Theor. Tellur lib. 4. 7. perhaps descend sometimes upon Earth and ascend again to Heaven according to what is typified by Jacob's Mystical Ladder Gen. 28.12 26 And they i. e. the 39 Kings of the Earth shall bring the glory and honour of the Nations into it i. e. the whole Body of the remaining and Living Saints who are the saved of the Nations shall acknowledge all their Glory to be from this Heavenly New Jerusalem and shall at last be caught up into it Verse 24. 39 The Body of Saints upon Earth are a Kingdom of Saints which to shew the Universality of them and the Polity which will be in that State are represented as Naetions under Kings as Heads and Governours 17 And there shall in no wise enter into it any the least thing whatsoever that defileth i. e. it shall be a State of perfect Holiness Isaiah 35.8 neither any thing whatsoever that worketh abomination or Idolatry or maketh a Lye i. e. the great Lye of Antichristianism but they which are written in the Lamb's Book of Life i. e. none shall enter into this State but those who are amongst the Living and are either raised to Life or are alive and remain unto the Coming of the Lord. See the Notes on Chap. 20. CHAP. XXII The Text. 1 1 AND he i. e. the Angel Chap. 21.9 shewed me a pure 2 River of Water of Life clear as Chrystal i. e. abundance and even ful ess of Purely Spiriâ—ual Divine and Heavenly Life Gifts Graces and Refreshments Psalm 36.8 Ez. 47.1 Joel 3 18. Zech. 14.8 John 7.37 38. proceeding out of tâ—e 3 Throne of God and of the 4 Lamb as out of its Head or Fountain Gen. 2.10 Psalm 36.4 Chaâ— 21.6 Annotations on CHAP. XXII 1 This Chapter to Verse the 6th ought not to have been separated from the former as being one continued Description of the City in the midst of which this River was Verse 2. â— This is in allusion to the River of Paradise which went out of Eden as out of its Head and Fountain to water the Garden Gen. 2.10 VVhereby as also by the Tree in the midst of this City is intimated that this State will be Paradisaical 3 In Ezekiel's Vision the River cometh out of the Temple and Altar But there being no Temple in this New Jerusalem the Throne of God is put in the place of it to shew that this State shall be wholly Divine 4 The Lamb's Throne is the distinct and peculiar Throne of Christ as the Son of Man in his Glorious Kingdom in which State the Divinity will so dispense it self to the Humane Nature as that it shall have a distinct Glory of its own although derived from the Divine and the Son may be said not to be subject 1 Cor. 15.28 because he is a King even as in Christ's State of Humiliation the Divinity did not generally manifest it self so gloriously and illustriously in the Humanity but that Christ might be said to have emptied himself of his Divine Glory Phil. 2.6 7. See pag. 441 442. and Chap. 21.5 2 In the midst of the street or broad places whereby is signified the Assembly of the whole Body of the Saints Chap. 20.9 of it i. e. of the City and of either
side of the River was there the 5 Tree of Life i. e. this was a Paradisiacal State in which the Saints raised and changed could dye no more but were made equal to the Angels Luke 20.36 1 Cor. 15. which bare Twelve manner of Fruits i. e. afforded perfect 6 Pleasures and Consolations to this 6 Apostolical Israelitism and yeilded her Fruit every Month i. e. Variety and Fullness of Joy for 7 evermore Psalm 1. and 16 11.92 12 14. Ezek. 47.7 12. and the 8 Leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the Nations of the saved who were to walk in the Light of the New Jerusalem State that is the Living Saints were to be preserved during the Thousand Years in Bodies changed which should afterwards be made incorruptible See on Chap. 20. and 21.24 5 Or A Tree of Life viz. one on each side at just and convenient distances for they were very many as appears from Ezek. 47.7 12. and from the Expression here used at the Bank of the River on the one side and on the other and yet they are here represented as One Tree because they were all of One Kind viz. of the same kind with the Tree of Life in the midst of Paradise by which Life was Sacramentally conveyed to our first Parents and a Symbol was given of the Immortality of the renewed Paradisiacal State of Christ's Kingdom 6 For the Number Twelve is a Symbol of Perfection of Apostolicalness and of the True Israel of God now united into one Body in this State 7 The Year being the measure of all Time bearing Fruit as oft as there be Months in the Year must needs signifie the continual constant fruitfulness of it Dr. Hammond on the place 8 The (a) Ezek. 47.12 to which place this Verse alludes Fruit of this Tree is for Meat i. e. for solid Nourishment and ordinary Food but the Leaves of it are only for medicine or healing from whence it follows that the Nations here mentioned had some Remains of Corruptibility left which required Care and needed Preservation by Medicines by which is admirably set forth the different State of the raised Saints caught up immediately to Christ into a State of Incorruptibility and that of the living Saints on Earth the very Nations mentioned Chap. 21 24 26. whose Bodies are only changed but not made incorruptible at first as hath been (b) 451 452. already frequently observed and therefore are represented as living indeed Chap. 20.6 but with some Principle of Corruptibility in them which stood in need of Healing whereas the Dead Saints being raised to a Life of Incorruptibility are very aptly represented as fed and nourished with the very Fruit of she Tree of Life that is by immediate Communications of Incorruptibility from God and Christ who is Life John 1 4.5 26. and Chap. 6. 3 And there shall be no more curse or no Effects of Sin in this New Paradise as there were in the first Gen. 3.14 c. but the Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in 9 it by glorious Manifestations and Communications and his 16 Servants which were sealed See Chap. 7.4 shall serve him perfectly in this State and never fall from it as our first Parents did but shall be Kings and Priests to God for ever 9 This whole City or State as well that on Earth as in the Heavens shall be replenished with Communications from the Throne of God and of the Lamb which shall be in the City on the New Earth by its Light shining on it from the New Heaven Chap. 21.24 10 This Relative Particle respects both God and the Lamb and yet is of the Singular Number to shew the Vnity of the Godhead and the Equality of the Father and the Son the Lamb as one with the Eternal Word 4 And they shall see his Face i. e. partake of the Nature and Glory of God and of Christ Matth. 5.8 1 Cor. 13.12 1 John 3.2 and his Name shall be in their Foreheads i. e. they shall be manifestly known to be his Servants who were wont to be marked on the Forehead and they shall be Holiness to the Lord according to the Inscription on the High-Priests â—râ—ntlet See the Notes on Chap. 7 3 4.14 1. 5 And there shall be 10 no night there i. e. no impuriâ—â— and 〈◊〉 interruption of Happiness and Comfort â—sâ—lâ— â—6 ◠〈◊〉 Johâ— â— 5 6 7. and they need no Candle 〈…〉 â—ither â—ighâ—â—f the Sun i. e. no Natural Light of which the Sun is the Fountain for the Lord God giveth them Light i. e. affoâ—deth them hiâ— glorious Presence and Consolations and thâ—◠〈…〉 for ever and ever i. e. after the Thousand Years Mâ—diâ—â—oâ—y Kingdom they shall reign with Christ for ever in the highest Heavens for Christ's Kingdom is an Eternal Kingdom and of it there shall be no end Luke 1.33 See Chap. 3 21.5 10.20 4 6. 10 This and the foregoing Verses contain a Repetition of what had been said before either by way of (a) Gen. 41.32 â—hil 3.1 Assurance and Confirmation as is usual in Prophecy or with reference to the Saints upon Earth upon the mention of them Verse 2. or with respect to the Persons to whom that is now accommodated which had been before spoken concerning their City or State Compare Chap. 21.23 25. with the fifth Verse of this Chapter 6 And he i. e. the first of the Seven Angels which had the Seven Vials Chap. 21.9 said unto me 11 these sayings of the Prophecy of this Book Verse 7. are faithful and true i. e. important certain and infallible Truths See on Chap. 19.9 And the Lord 12 God of the Holy Prophets i. e. Christ who spake by them and whose Spirit inspired them Acts 3.21 1 Pet. 1.10 11 12.3 19. 2 Pet. 1.21 sent or did send at first Chap 2.1 and all along in this Prophecy his Angel or Minâ—string Spirits to shew unto his Servants the things of this Prophecy which must shortly after the Day of the (b) See the Notes on Chap. â— 1â— Resurrection the time when this Vision was seen and from whence it commences begin to come to pass in order one after another See on Chap. 1.1 11 Here begins the Conclusion or Epilogue of this Sacred Drama wherein the Angel says Dr. Hammond in his Paraphrase on the place began to conclude and fold up his Discourse and to sum up what I had seen in this Vision telling me that all this as strange and as glorious as it was should certainly come to pass And the Vision ends as it began with a Declaration of the (a) Chap. 1.5 Truth and Importance of the Prophecy and of its (b) Chap 1.1 speedy issuing into Event and of the most remarkable things contained in it 12 Here is a plain Assertion of the Divinity of Christ concerning whom these words are to be understood as is manifest by comparing them with Chap. 1.1 and Verse 16. of this Chapter 7 Behold