Cardinal Points of Heaven 12 For so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ought to be translated as it is Ezek. 1.5 that so they may be the better distinguished from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Antichristian Beast These Four living Creatures are called Cherubims Ezek. 10.2 By which is meant Active Beings of an Angelical Nature employed in the Ministration of God's Providence as appears from their Description given by Ezekiel Now the Representations here given figuring something analogous to them in the Church they cannot be supposed to signifie any thing more properly than the pure Christian Church represented by the Apostles who were so extraordinarily active in the propagating of the Gospel into the Four Quarters of the World and were Twelve making up Four Ternaries of Living Creatures or Zealous Active Ministers of Christ according to the Number of the Four Ternaries of the Twelve Tribes under the Four Standards in the Wilderness For we are to take notice that this Representation of the Throne of the Majesty of God or this Theatre or Stage of the Apocalyptick Visions as Mr. Mede calls it exactly answers the Encampments of the Israelites God's Throne being here placed in the middle as the Tabernacle was there the Four and Twenty Elders next to answer the Station of the Priests and Levites and the Four Beasts at each Angle Diametrically opposite to each other against the Four Cardinal Points of the Wind representing Christians in the Four Quarters of the World in analogy to the Four Standards of the Camp of the Israelites having in them Figures of these Four Living Creatures taken from the Cherubims of the Chariot or Glorious Throne of Almighty God 1 Chron. 28.18 For which see Mr. * Pag. 437 594 917. Mede Dr. Hammond on the Place Grotius on Numb 10.15 and Mr. Ainsworth on Numb 2. where he has given us the Figure of the Encampments and has discoursed largely on them and Dr. ‖ De legibus Hebraeorum lib. 3. Dissertat 5. Spencer 7 And the first Beast or living creature was like a Lion 13 denoteing the Power and strength of the Gospel and Apostolical Ministry Gen. 49.9 Psal 103.24 and the second Beast like a Calf 14 or Ox denoting their Laboriousness and Usefulness Prov. 14.4 and the third Beast had the face of a Man 15 signifying Reason and Prudence and the fourth Beast was like a flying Eagle 16 noteing their activity and quick-sightedness into the Mysteries of the Gospel 13 This was the Standard of Judah on the East side compared to a Lyon Gen. 49.9 And the Qualities of these Living Creatures do denote the like Gifts and Graces required in the Ministry which were after an extraordinary manner eminent in the Apostles the Representatives of the Christian Church and of its State in the Kingdom of Christ to which this appearance relates 14 The Standard of Ephraim on the West side of the Camp who is resembled to an Ox Deut. 33.17 15 Reuben's Standard on the South side 16 The Standard of Dan on the North side 8 And the four Beasts had each of them six 17 Wings noteing their speed their Reverence in God s Presence and their humble sense of themselves Isa 6.2 about 18 him and they were full of Eyes within 19 to observe themselves as well as to be vigilant over others and they 20 rest not day and night but are constant and incessant in the Worship and Service of God Isa 60 11.62 6. saying Holy 21 Holy Holy i. e. infinitely and superlatively Holy Isa 6.3 Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come Rev. 1.4 17 With Two they covered their Faces out of Reverence with Two their Feet or Nakedness out of a sense of their own shame and impurity and with Two they flew to execute God's Commands Isa 6.2 18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 round about them that is perhaps at several Distances on each side as the Israelites are said to encamp 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or round about the Tabernacle that is at distant Points of the several sides of the Square encompassing it So here each of the Living Creatures is said to have Six Wings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is on each side Three one against another one pair on their Shoulders with which they flew another on each of their Breasts stretched upwards to cover their Faces and the Third about their Hips to cover their less honourable parts or appearances Andreas Caesariensis reads as our common Copies do but if 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be to be joyned to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Grotius and Dr. Hammond think then their Exposition may be consulted as more commmodious 19 The inward Eyes of these Creatures were represented unto John the Figure or Appearance which was perhaps diaphanous being contrived accordingly 20 This was the Practice of the Apostolical Church as appears from Acts 2.42 46.20 31. Luke 2.37 2 Tim. 4.2 21 Here it is acknowledged by the Apostolical Church with the Joynt Consent of the Israelitish Church that God is a Supereminent Being and that he is to be worshipped incommunicably according to his most eminent and unparallell'd Holiness and perhaps the Divine Being in Father Word and Spirit may be intimated in the Threefold Repetition of the Word Holy But howsoever in this First Doxology the Lord God Almighty who is Father Son and Holy Ghost God blessed for ever is only mentioned and not the Lamb to shew that the Belief of One God who created all things is the First Fundamental Principle of Religion Christ as Redeemer the Lamb slain being not acknowledged and worshipped until the Second Doxology after he had appeared before the Throne of the Father and had received his Kingdom acccording to the Original Model of these Visions in the Book of Daniel where Chap. 7. the Son of Man is brought near to the Father and then had Dominion and Glory given him 9 And when soever these Beasts 22 or representatives of the Apostolical pure Church give or shall and are wont to give glory i. e. acknowledgment of God's glorious Majesty and Excellency and Honour to God's Authority and Preheminence and thanks for his bounty and gracious gifts to his Church to him that sat on the Throne who liveth for ever and ever i. e. to the Eternal and Living God not a dead Idol who will open his Kingdom of Eternal Life to all true Christians 22 At the fourth Verse the Twenty four Elders are placed before the Living Creatures to signifie the Primogeniture of the Jewish Church Here they are placed after them to signifie that the Truths here acknowledged were first clearly made known to the Christian Church and shall be at last communicated by them to the Jewish which shall be excited and provoked to Jealousie by them and shall at their Conversion joyn with them in an acknowledgment of these and all other Truths of Christianity 10 The four and twenty Elders or Heads of the pure Jewish Church testifying
Successions the Office of Witnessing must needs belong to the Churches of Pergamus and Thyatira Chap. 2. because they are the only Successions wherein Antipas or Christ's faithful Antipapal Witness is mentioned and are the Churches which were to witness against the Antichristian Balaam and Jezebel as Moses and Aaron Elijah and Elisha the Types of Christ's Witnesses did witness against the Literal Balaam and Jezebel under the Old Testament 19 To stand before signifies to be ones Servant in Scripture Phrase And hereby is signified that these Churches served God purely nothing but what is pure being able to stand in his sight Chap. 14.5 and continually as the Angels do who stand before him to receive and obey his Commands Chap. 8.2 5 And if any man will knowingly and wilfully hurt i. e. oppress injure or hinder them in the course of their Prophecy Fire 20 proceedeth out of their Mouths i. e. the Efficacy of God's Word and his Judgments and fiery Indignation shall attend their Prayers and their Preaching Is 4.4 Jerem 23.29 Malac. 3.11 and Devoureth their Enemies i. e. convinces or confounds opposers Is 44.26 Jerem 1 10.5 14. and if any man 21 will hurt them he must for it will certainly come to pass in this manner 22 be killed by Spiritual and not by Carnal Weapons Zech. 4.6 20 In this Verse there is a plain allusion to what Elijah did 2 Kings 1. Whereby is signified that God will certainly avenge them and that according to the Threats and Judgments they denounce by his Spirit and according to his Word 21 This Repetition assures the Certainty of the Event according to what the Scripture observes concerning the doubling of Pharaoh's Dream Gen. 41.32 22 To wit Spiritually at the 8th Verse intimates this Prophecy is to be understood after the manner that Prophets are used to destroy that is by denouncing God's Judgments as Jeremiah Chap. 1.10 is set over Kingdoms to root out and to destroy that is to foretel and prophesie their Destruction Compare Jerem. â—8 7 9. and Ezek. 32 18.43 3. Hosea 6.5 and Dr. Pocock on that place 6 These Witnesses have power to shut 23 Heaven i. e. to denounce this Judgment Jerem. 1.10 that it rain not i. e. that there be a Spiritual Droughth and Famine of the pure Word of God Isa 5.6 Amos 8.11 in the Days of their Prophecy Vers 3. and have power over Waters i. e. People and Nations to turn them to Blood i. e. to embroil 24 them in Wars and Confusions and to smite the Earth i. e. the Worldly and Antichristian part of it with all Plagues viz. by preaching and denouncing them Jerem 1.10 as often as they will denounce them according to the Will and Word of God 23 A plain Allusion to what Elijah did 1 Kings Chap. 17 1.18 1 41. as in the next Words there is to Moses's turning the Waters into Blood Exod. 7.17 24 Which will be the Event of God's Word preached purely and efficaciously not of it self but consequentially upon supposition of the sins and passions of wicked men and the corrupt interests of the Antichristian Apostasy as our Saviour who was the Prince of Peace yet saith that he came to send a Sword upon Earth Matth. 10.34 7 And when they shall 25 have finished their 26 testimony the 27 Beast that ascends out of the bottomless Pit i. e. the Antichristian Apostasy now in its Ascent or Rise to the heighth of a Satanical Power and Kingdom Chap 2 14. 9 1 2. Chap 13. and 17 8. shall make War against them i. e. oppose and persecute them after a more open and cruel manner than he had done before Dan. 7 21 8.9-12 and shall at 28 last overcome them i. e. prevail and prosper and shall 28 afterwards kill them by Anathema's and Persecutions and by 29 suppressing and extirpating the Professors of the pure Religion 25 This seems to be the most Natural Interpretation of these Words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being often rendred by postquam in (a) Matth. 9.15 Luke 14.8 John 8.28 Scripture and the (a) Poli Synops in loeum Aorist of the Subjunctive Mood being often put for the past Tense and accordingly the Words are thus rendred in the Vulgar Latin the French and other Versions 26 They prophesie the whole 1260 Days but their Testimony is finished before the Beast makes War with them during which War they also prophesied from whence it is evident that their Testimony is some way distinct from their Prophecy and is to end before it Now the proper Notion of prophecying in this Vision relating to the foretelling of Judgments upon Antichrist Verse 5 6. and of what belongs to the Kingdom of Christ by which he is to be destroyed the Witnesses may prophesie in that sense when they are dead that is anathematized and deprived of Church-Priviledges and the greater their Persecutions are the more remarkable is the prophetical State they are in and even when they are literally killed they may prophesie in the sense that the Blood of our Saviour and Abel being dead yet speaketh Heb. 11 4.12 24. But Testimony supposing an Ability to appear openly and to be heard believed and credited the Testimony of these Prophets may be said to be finished when they were excommunicated and could not appear and be heard any more in the capacity of Witnesses giving Testimony but only in that of Prophets 27 A Methaphor taken from Daniel where Idolatrous Monarchies and Kingdoms are represented by (b) Vid. Mori Oper. Theol. pag. 598. Grot. in Dan. 2 31. 7 3. Matth. 20.26 Beasts And that the Idolatrous Roman Apostasy or Pagano Christian Monarchy is understood in this Prophecy by the Beast will be more conveniently shewn (c) On Chap. 13. and 17. hereafter In the mean while the Reader may consult Dr. Cressener's Learned and Judicious Treatise concerning the Beast in the Revelation where he will find this great Truth evidently demonstrated From the (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reduplication of the Article in the Greek it may be inferred That the Beast was become Notorious and Famous and from his being represented as actually ascending in the Present Tense it may be concluded that the Accomplishment of the Testimony was when the Beast was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the Rising or Ascending Beast out of Satanical Depths and the bottomless Pit into a Throne of Supremacy which was about 606. as hath been shewn on Chap. 9.1 28 For all this was not done at once but by degrees and not until after a long War and doubtful Combats according to the Description of the Rise of Antichrist in Daniel who was at first a Little Horn and then waxed Great but did not prevail but by degrees so far as to magnifie it self against the Prince ef the Host and as to cast down the Truth to the Ground 29 This is most properly the Death of a true Church which happens when it ceases to be what it
latest and best Chronologers after a doubt concerning it What else could Connect the Saracenick Wo with the Idolatry of the Christian Church as a Scourge to it and foresee that Mahomet a Counter-Antichrist to the Papal One should arrive to a Supremacy in the East soon after the Christian (c) See page 136 137. Chalifs or pretended Vicars of Christ had Usurped one of another Nature in the West What but (a) Is 41 21-29 44 6 7.45 21. Wisd 8. 1. that infinite Wisdom which reacheth from one end to another and doth sweetly Order all things could thus declare the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things which are not yet done and unite together so many distant Events in agreement with the Prophecies and Types of the Old Testament and the Truth of all Profane History and make them conspire to One End the Kingdom of his Son Let the Oracles of the Heathens shew any thing like this or the most daring Wit demonstrate and no less evidence ought to satisfy him of the contrary how this could otherwise come to pass And if this Book be of Divine Authoriâ—y why should the Divinity of our Saviour be doubted of Who is expressly called (b) See Chap. 1. 8 14.3 21.5 6 c. 17 14 19 9 10 12 13.20 6 12.21 6 7.22 6 13. God in it receives Divine Worship from Angels and Men and has the same Attributes given him with God the Father and is always represented in it as One with him For such plain Testimonies ought to outweigh the contrary prejudices which proceed chiefly from the Imperfection of our finite and limited Understandings and their utter inability to comprehend an Infinite Being But as this Prophecy is Instructive in great Truths so does it afford satisfaction also in many doubts For from hence men may learn not to be too much disquieted at great Changes and Revolutions in Churches and States and may the more readily be induced to submit to what is not evidently sinful in them because they are from God and that all such great Events are some way or other conducive to Christ's Kingdom God often makeing use of the Sins of Men to bring to pass the Wise and Good but Mysterious Counsels of his Will And from hence also much may be learnt with relation to the Government (a) Read the Epistes to the Seven Churches Chap. 2. and 3. And Chapters 5. 6. 7. 10. 13 18. 21 10-27 VVorship and Reformation of the Church and to the abating of the warm Contentions about them amongst Protestants for seeing that all Church States are as yet imperfect and like the Jewish Dispensation but Temporary Ordinances until the time of the Reformation in order to the Kingdom of Christ the best ought to bear with the worst because they themselves are but Imperfect and instead of violent Heats and Animosities should endeavour to shew each other the Pattern Form and Fashion of God's House the Apostolical Model frequently mentioned in this Prophecy that so they may all according to the expressions of Ezekiel (a) Chap. 43. 10-12 in whom there is a Type of Christ's pure Church whatsoever some triumphant VVriters may with scorn enough have said to the contrary be ashamed of what they have done and of their Iniquities and Deviations from it And in the mean time until God shall reveal even this unto them what should they do but in obedience to the Apostolical Precepts Bear one anothers Burthens please others rather than themselves in Honour Prefer one another do all their things in Charity and to edification and Peace as well as for Truth Decency and Order And let not any sincere and conscientious person of the Romish Communion be offended at some harsh expressions he may find in this Book for they are no other then the Holy Spirit makes use of to give them a true and just Idea of the deformity and odiousness of Idolatry Cruelty and Church Tyranny in God's sight that so they might be the more effectually deterred from them and to create in the minds of Protestants a due abhorrence of such Practises by Notions and Symbols apt to raise a just indignation against them which have also by God's Providence been so deeply imprinted in the minds of the Vulgar that all endeavours of some Learned Men to the contrary have been unsuccessful and sometimes of fatal consequence and why should men speak peace where God does not and give complemental Names to those whom the Holy Ghost hath stigmatized and made infamous So that if the Romish Church be Idolatrous Usurping and Cruel he bringeth not a railing accusation against it but speaketh the words of Truth and Soberness who applyeth to it the Titles of Beast Whore and Antichrist And altho this charge against the Church of Rome hath been managed by diverse arguments yet I think by none more successfully than by those which are taken from this Prophecy which I hope ingenuous Men of that Communion and many such are there of it will be pleased to read and consider for I dare promise them that they will meet with many (a) Especially Chapters 13. and 17. clear and unexpected Proofs in it and such as may give them satisfaction for I can truly say that I have experienced their efficacy for the removing of some of their Prejudices which I lay under As for the present performance altho I find upon a cursory review some mistakes and many Imperfections in it which cannot be avoided in a work of so great length and difficulty yet I can assure the Reader that the utmost sincerity hath been used and all the diligence possible amidst frequent indispositions of Body and many avocations And as for the main gounds upon which the Interpretation proceeds viz. The gradual defection of the Church the Antichristian Apostasy especially of the Romish Church and the future glorious Kingdom of Christ I hope that they have been fully and plainly proved in their several places (a) Read especially Chapters 2. 3. 7. 13. 17. 20. 21. 22. but other less material or abstruse things must take the common Fate of such disquisitions and all that I shall desire from the Reader is that he use diligence in search read the Book throughout and be true to his Convictions and then I Hope Pray and Believe that he will not miss of Satisfaction humbly desiring him to remember him in his Prayers who hath spared no Pains nor cost in this matter for his good God's Glory and the Promoting of Christ's Kingdom AMEN Even so come Lord Jesus THE Argument THis Book is a Dramatick Prophecy wherein is represented as in Visionary Scenes the great Events belonging to the Church of Christ from his Resurrection (a) Chap 1. 10. pag. 11. In Comaedia sive Tragaedia nequaquam Spectatur Tempus illud quo Actio datur sed potius tempus rei ipsius cujus datur Actio Alcas pag. 6. to the Delivery (b)
full Glory may be understood by the Bright Morning-Star And therefore by the Morning-Star in this place is understood the Remnant or the rest of this Succession which shall last until the Succession of Christ's Kingdom begins and who shall as the Morning-Star riseth before the Sun give notice of his Approach by some more than ordinary works and Manifestations of it Which we hope and pray that the Lord will soon accomplish and if he has vouchsafed to his Servants any Knowledge of Times and Seasons it cannot be far off by raising the poor oppressed Churches of the Valleys who were the Morning-Star or the first Visible Body of Witnesses before the Reformation and we hope will arise and that speedily before Christ's Appearance in his Glorious Kingdom for they have hitherto shined according to their own Mysterious (a) Mr. Leger Histoir des Vaudois Device which is a lighted Taper in a Candlestick environed with Seven Stars in a dark place with this Motto Lux lucet in Tenebris amidst the Darkness of the Apostasie And may Christ give unto them and that quickly the Morning-Star of his Glorious Presence Amen Amen come Lord Jesus come quickly 29 He that hath an Ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches i e. this is a Mysterious Truth worthy the utmost Consideration CHAP. III. The Text. 1 AND unto the Angel of the Church in 1 Sardis write These things saith he that 2 hath the Seven Spirits of God see Chap. 1.4 and the Seven Stars Chap. 1.16 and 2 1. I know and observe thy Works that thou hast a Name 3 or a more than ordinary Repute that thou livest according to Christ's Doctrine and art zealous in the Outward Profession of it 4 and or but art indeed dead 5 as to the perfect Purity of Religion and its Life and Power over thy Faith and Manners Eph. 2.1 1 Tim. 5.6 2 Tim. 3.5 James 2.20 Annotations on CHAP. III. 1 Sardes or Sardis is distant about Thirty Three Miles from Thyatira Southward It was antiently as appears by its Ruines a Magnificent Splendid and Proud City as being the Seat of King Croesus for which Reason as well as from an Allusion to the Precious Stones of that Name which (a) Hist Lib. 37.8 Pliny asserts were called so from this Place as being first found there it may typifie a splendid and stately Church-succession which has a Name or a Repute in the World It is now as the Learned Doctor (b) Notit Septem Asiae Eccles pag. 133. Smith an Eye-witness testifies who could not but weep at the sight of it a most miserable Village inhabited only by Shepherds and Herdsmen and a few ignorant Christians without Church or Priest whereby may be providentially set forth the Real Deadness of this Church-state and the Desolation it is to suffer 2 Sardis is thought to be the Type of the Churches of the Reformation under the Favour and Protection of Reformed Princes in a condition of External Splendor Because 1. It succeeds that of Thyatira which is the Type of Reformed Churches under the Tyranny of Popish Princes to which State the Reformation succeeded begun by Luther A. D. 1517. 2. Because there is no mention made of Balaam or Jezebel or Nicolaitism in this Succession which shews that they had escaped from under the power of the Apostasy typified by them 3. Because the same Title is given to Christ here as is made use of in the Ephesine Succession the Type of the Apostolical Church whereby seems to be intimated that the Church began now to be Reformed according to the First Primitive and Apostolical Pattern only it is here Remarkable that it is not said that Christ holdeth the Seven Stars in his Right Hand but barely that he hath them to shew perhaps by the Omission of those Remarkable Words that they had departed from the True Apostolical Model which Christ had or held in his Right Hand that is had in great Honour Neither is this to be taken for a groundless and a loose Interpretation or a Licentious Fancy as Dr. Hammond calls the like Conjectures of Mr. Brightman seeing that in such a Concise Prophecy God whose Glory it is to conceal a thing Prov. 25.2 hath given us sometimes but slender hints or intimations of great Truths and that the Addition or taking away of but a Letter in a Name as in the Names of Abraham Sarah and Jeconiah for which see Grotius on Jerem. 22.24 is of great import in Scripture And of how much greater signification then may be the leaving out so material a part of Christ's Title in a Prophecy so brief and mysterious 3 From whence it appears that this Church has a Reputation in the World for its outward profession but is very much wanting in inward Life Truth and Holiness 4 So And frequently signifies in Scripture 5 Ephesus had only lost its First Love but this Church was really dead as to the True Spirit and Power of the Gospel and the perfect simplicity and purity of it 2 Be watchful in observing the Times and Seasons of Christ's coming Dan. 12.12 Matth 24 42-51 Rev. 16.15 and strengthen or uphold and sustain the things 6 which remain i. e. the necessary Truths which shall remain until Christ's coming and which thou hast kept entire but that are ready to die as to the Power and Life of them for I have not found thy works of Reformation according to the Gospel 7 perfect before God so as to be able to stand before the Glory of his Kingdom when it shall begin to appear or to endure the Severity of his Tryal whatsoever Esteem they may have amongst Men Luke 16.15 6 By 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the rest seems to be meant those Necessary Works and Articles of Belief which they had kept alive or entire and were to remain during the following Succession of the Church until Christ's Coming as being Necessary Truths which would endure Tryal and were essential to the being of it as a Church in which sense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken in this Prophecy as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies in Authors the remaining or succeeding part of the Day 7 Filled up or compleated as the Rude Lineaments of a Picture are said to be filled up by a Painter when he comes to draw it to the Life See Hammond on Matth. 5.17 Here this Church is blamed for not carrying on the Reformation to its utmost perfection and for suffering necessary Truths to decay and be almost ready to die 3 Remember 8 therefore how i. e. with what Sincerity and Zeal thou hast received and heard the Doctrine of Truth at the beginning of the Reformation and hold fast what thou didst then receive and repent of thy Deadness Verse 1. thy Negligence and imperfections Verse 2. and thy Departure from the Principles thou hast received and heard If therefore thou shalt not watch 9 and wait for the
interpreted thus to come and worship God before thy Feet according to a parallel place of the Apostle 1 Cor. 14.25 10 Because thou hast kept and observed the word 25 or precept of my patience i. e. of the Patience which I taught and practised especially in expecting with me the coming of my Kingdom and that in a low and mean condition I also will keep thee or this Church State entire from the hour or suddain and unexpected time of 26 Temptation or general Tryal which shall come upon all the World to try them that dwell on the Earth whether their Church States are pure or no and to purify some and destroy others Dan. 12.1 Malach. 3.2 3. 2 Pet. 2.9 1 Cor. 3 11.-15 25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a Precept or Doctrine of Patience in the sense that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Word is taken 1 Cor. 1.18 and to keep the Word as the Phrase is frequently used in John's Gospel is to observe that Precept and that chiefly with reference to a patient Expectation of Christ's Coming as the Phrase is taken 2 Thes 3.5 and Rev. 1.9 26 This I suppose is to be understood concerning the pouring out of the Vials as shall be endeavoured to be shewn when they come to be considered 11 Behold I come to try and judg them quickly or on a sudden after this period of the Church begins to appear hold that fast which thou hast received and kept that no man take 27 thy Crown i e. rob thee of that reward thou shalt have in my Kingdom 27 No Churches so perfect but that it is possible for them if left to themselves to be perverted and no Man so nigh the Goal but he may lose the Prize if he be not by the Grace of God made watchful and careful And here we are to observe that these Promises are taken from the New Jerusalem-state in Christ's Kingdom and that they are made after the most ample and plainest manner to this Church-state because of its greatest purity and patience in expecting that Kingdom and its fitness to receive it in the near approach of it in the New Jerusalem 12 For Him that overcometh the temptations of this poor and despised Church State will I make a 28 Pillar in the Temple of my God i. e. he shall be a Member of a strong fixt and stable Church State and he shall go no more out of it for it shall not be changed And I will write 29 upon him or upon this Pillar the Name of my God Jehovah and the Name of the City of my God The Lord is there Ezek. 48.35 which is 30 new Jerusalem i. e. the prefect Gospel State in Christ's Kingdom Hebr. 12.22 which cometh down out of Heaven from my God i. e. shall be established by God's more immediate Power and by abundant Manifestations of Gifts and Graces Ezek. 43.4 5 6 7 8. Gal. 4.26 see on Rev. 21.2 3. and I will write upon him my new Name Rev. 19.16.22 4. i. e. he shall be 31 a Member of my Kingdom who am King of Kings and Lord of Lords See before on verse 8. and Isa 56.5 Rev. 19.12 28 In allusion to the Two Pillars before Solomon's Temple called Iachin and Booz from their strength and stability 1 Kings 7.15 21. The Apostles also are called Pillars Gal. 2.9 and the Church the Pillar of Truth 1 Tim. 3.15 and Christians are compared to a Temple and its Stones or Pillars Eph. 2.21 1 Pet. 2.5 29 This may perhaps be an Allusion to the Inscriptions which were used to be put upon Pillars Hence the Title of the sixteenth Psalm is in the Greek rendred An Inscription upon a Pillar and Absalom's Pillar 2 Sam. 18.18 might have probably his Name graven on it 30 New is often in Scripture put for excellent or perfect And this State may be called New because the visible Glory of it did then first appear and it was a strange or new thing it being known or believed before by few 31 For to be called and to be are of the same import in the Hebrew Phrase 13 He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches 14 And unto the Angel of the Church of the 32 Laodiceans write these things saith the Amen 33 i. e. The God of Truth Isa 65.16 who will perform what he has promised 2 Cor. 1.20 and will in this period put a final end to all things the Faithful and True Witness who hath performed punctually what hath been hitherto promised by the Father and will go on to do so to the end although the Truths he hath delivered may seem never so incredible Chap. 1.5 the beginning 34 of the Creation of God i. e. of the First Creation of all things and of the New Creation or Constitution of things after the Resurrection of which he was the first Born from the Dead Col. 1.18 Rev. 1 5.21 1. 32 This State succeeds the Philadelphian State and therefore must be after the Thousand Years Kingdom of Christ or the New Jerusalem of which Philadelphia is a Type as appears from Verse 12. It seems to be a State in which there was a great Remissness of the extraordinary Zeal which was shewn in the former Succession during Christ's Kingdom and its Name denoting as Grotius remarks The Judging of the People it may from thence be probably concluded that it is that State during which the great Judiciary Act of Judging the People or Nations is to be performed Rev. 20 8-15 where occasion will be given of discoursing more largely of this Matter It was once a most Famous and Rich City as this Church-state is described to be at the seventeenth Verse but is now only a heap of Ruines and inhabited by none but wild Beasts so that Monsieur Spoon after all his search could not find out where its Church stood Christ having spewed it utterly out of his Mouth 33 Amen signifies Truth and denotes also the End or Conclusion and being put before what follows concerning the beginning of the Creation of God implies that what concerns the End of Church-states is the chief thing typified by this Church 34 Christ is said to be the beginning of the Creation of God 1. Because he was in the beginning with God when all things were made by him John 1.1 as being the first born of every Creature that is being above and before all Creatures whatsoever and the Cause of them Col. 1 15-17 2. because he was the beginning of the New Creation or Constitution of things under the Gospel Col. 1.18 2 Cor. 5.17 and the Author of the New Heavens and New Earth or the New and Excellent State of things in his Kingdom upon Earth And 3. because he is the Beginning the First Born from the dead Colos 1.18 which Title he here takes because this Church-Period extends until the End of all Earthly Things when follows the beginning of the New Creation or Constitution of
Meccha who threatned him for endeavouring to usurp over them and for introducing a New Doctrine amongst them for although many of them had been converted to the Christian Religion in and before the Reign of (c) Socrat. 4.36 Sozom. 6.38 Valens yet the Arabs were by this time mostly (d) Abul-Pharajai pag. 101. Idolaters worshipping the Stars whose Motions and Influences they understood which was all (d) Abul-Pharajai pag. 101. the Skill and Knowledge they had in their State of Ignorance as the Mussulmen call the Times before their Conversion to Mahometism They are mentioned by (e) Hist Nat. 6.28 Pliny and by none before him as far as I can find under the Name of Saracens and are placed by him and Ptolemy in Arabia Felix and that rightly for Meccha (a) Gabriel Sionita de Morib urbib Orient Thevenot's Travels Dr. Hyde's Itinera Mundi pag. 87. is not a City of Arabia Deserta as is commonly thought but is situated over against the middle of the Red Sea about a Days Journey from it betwixt Jaman and Higjaz in Arabia Felix about seven and Thirty Days Journey from Grand Caire and about Ten Days Journey or Two hundred and seventy Miles from Medina the place of this false Prophet's Retreat where he lived about Eight Years and made the greatest part of his Alcoran During this thâ—â—â— he had many Battels with his Neighbours especially the Kâ—rcishites the Chief Tribe of those Parts and propagated his Doctrine and Dominion in many parts of Arabia but not much farther After his Death which was A. D. 631. as Abul Pharajai affirms or according to Elmacinus A. D. 632. his Successors made swift and prodigious Conquests over-running Persia Syria Aegypt and Palestine in a very few Years insomuch that about the (b) Roderici Ximenes Archiepisc Toletan Histor Arab. cap. 12. Mr. Mede on the place Abul-Phar Pag. 129. Camerarit Narrat Turcic ex Sausovin pag. 77. Year 729. in Fourscore or an Hundred Years at furthest they had subdued most of the Kingdoms and Provinces of the Known World extending their Arms into India beyond the Bounds of the Roman Empire About 643. (c) Abul-Pharajai pag. 115 116. they invaded Africk and from thence fell into (d) Elmacinus lib. 1.13 pag. 85. Roderic Tolet. cap. 9. Petav. ad An. 712. Spain about A. D 711. which in Two Years space they wholly conquered About A. D. (e) Theophan Paulus Diacon Sigon de Rogno Italiae pag. 60. 716. as Abulpharajai and Elmacinus both agree they besieged Constantinople with a vast Army and Ravaged and over-run Languedoc Provence and several parts of France from A. D. (f) Mezeray's History of France Petav. Ration Temp. Sigon de Regno Ital. pag. 66. 721. to A. D. 738. when they were totally vanquished and beaten out of those parts by Charles Martel About A. D. (a) Petav. Ratiâ—nar 828. they took Sicily and from thence infested Italy pillaging Rome (b) Anasias vit Gregor 4th the Year following and A.D. 846. they came from Africk as the Locusts (c) Plin. Nat. Hist 11.29 are wont to do into Italy and again fell upon (d) Anasias in Leon. 4to Sigon de Regno Ital. pag. 120. Rome burning the Famous Churches of Peter and Paul and carrying away many of their Ornaments with them into Campania where they pillaged several Monasteries but whilst they were returning with their Spoils into Africk they were dispersed by a mighty Tempest and the greatest part of them were cast away They afterwards harrassed Italy for several Years until they were subdued and beaten out of it first by Otho about 980. who was called the Death of the Saracens and then by the Emperour Henry the Second and the Normans betwixt the Years (e) Petav. Rationar pars 1. lib. 8. 1014 and 1022. not long after which time viz. A. D. (f) Elmacinus pag. 336. 337. Abul-Phar 226 227. 1055. their was an End put to their Empire by Tangrolipix or Tugrol-Beg who fixed his Seat at Bagdad the Imperial City of the Saracens whereby that Empire devolved upon the Turks he being installed Sultan there A. D. 1057. by the Saracenick Chalif Two Hundred Ninety Three years after its being built for their Imperial Seat by Al-Mansur A. D. 762. as both (g) Abul pag. â—43 Elmac. pag. 122. Abul-Pharajai and Elmacinus agree 4 And it was said or commanded * them by God who raised them up and sealed the True Christians whilst Antichristianity only was exposed to hurt that they should not hurt by perverting them from their Religion the Grass or Herb of the Earth neither any green thing neither any Tree i. e. no Christians who had any Spiritual Life in them and shewed it by its Fruits and Effects Psalm 1 5.52 8. Matth. 3.8 10. Rev. 7 1.8 7. but only those men which have 6 not the Seal of God in their Foreheads i. e. the Apostasy for a pure Apostolical Church was to be preserved in secret Chap. 7. * And to this End were they raised by Providence which miraculously preserved them from being destroyed by the Romans as Dr. (a) History part 3. pag. 283. Howel hath judiciously observed 6 God was pleased to preserve a pure Church in secret during the great Inundation of these Barbarous People as appears from the Catalogues of Witnesses to the Truth in this Age although the whole Apostate Church both of the Eastern and Western parts severely felt the Scourge of this Plague which fell mostly upon them that their Fault might be known by the very providential timing of their punishment during some Remarkable Instances and Workings of the Apostasy When the Saracens first appeared A. D. 622. the World was much given to Image-Worship Heraclius (b) Tyrius de Bello sacro lib. 23.30 the Emperour having newly then recovered the Cross from the Persians and restored it to the Temple of the Sepulchre from which it had been taken and upon that instituted or at least celebrated the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross When they invaded Sardinia about 720. Luitprandus King of the Lombards bought the Relicks of St. Austin at a great price of them and went out to meet them in a solemn Procession and being struck with the Wonder of the Greatness of the Miracles which had been done by them worshipped them says (c) Sigon de Regno Ital. pag. 61. Sigonius with Divine Honour And it is very remarkable that the great Quarrels betwixt Leo the Emperour and the Popes Gregory the Second and the Third about Images were upon the Saracens objecting Image-Worship as Idolatry to the Emperour and that the greatest and fiercest assaults of the Saracens upon the Empire were during the Time that Contest was hottest to wit from the year (a) Spanhem Histor Imagin 713. when the Controversie with the Monothelites ceased and the only one which then exercised the World was that about Images about which time they conquered Spain and
gained a Line of Time of 430 Years from Solomon's Death to the end of the LXX Years Captivity which is the first of Cyrus which is made out also by Dr. Beverley from a distinct Enumeration of the Reigns of the Kings of Israel and Judah and the fourteen Years assigned to the Visions of Ezekiel's Temple and does not much differ from the Calculations of the latest Chronologers who make this time to amount to 437 or 439 years at furthest although they confess after all their Pains that this Line of Time is very uncertain and obscure for Reasons collected by (a) Introduct Chronol ad Hist Eccles pag. 150-159 Spanhemius And therefore amidst so much doubt and difficulty where can we find a surer rest then in Scripture whose accounts of time will after all be found the most exact and that when Profane History and Chronology is most in the Dark if we take in Prophetical Time as well as Historical And now having settled the beginning of Cyrus's Reign or the Epoch of the Medo-Persian Monarchy we have obtained the beginning of the 2300 years and withal a Line of Time from it to the Cleansing or Justifying of the Sanctuary i. e. of the Christian Church Typified thereby from all Idolatry and Antichristianism when the Holy Place which is now shut will appear open in Heaven Rev. 11.19 Which Account stands thus A. M. 5759 A.D. vulg 1772. From the beginning of the Medo Persian Empire by Cyrus to the cleansing of the Sanctuary Dan. 8.13 14. 2300 Which will end in the 5759th year from the Creation and the 1772 year after Christ according to the common Account From which if you take Daniel's 75 years you come to the end of the 42 Months and the 1260 days and so by a regressive order to the Epoch or beginning of them at A.D. 437 as hath been already shewn on Paragr 5. pag. 210. All which is deduced by particular Accounts and after a most accurate manner by Dr. Beverley in his several Treatises called Scripture Lines of Time and stand as they are proved by him in this Order  Years 1. From Cyrus to Daniel's 70 weeks 75 2. Daniel's Weeks 490 3. The time between the Weeks and the 42 Months 400 4. The 1260 days or 42 Months 1260 5. The 30 and 45 Years of Daniel 75 Which amounts to years 2300 3 And I will give Power i. e. Commission and Ability of Testimony and Prophecy unto my two 13 Witnesses raised and sent on purpose to testify to the Truth and to denounce Judgments against the Apostasy and they shall Prophesie i. e. declare and Preach 14 against it and foretel Judgments a thousand 15 two hundred and threescore days of years cloathed in Sackcloath 16 i. e. in a Despicable Afflicted and Mournful condition 13 To Witness signifies to give Testimony to the Truth against Errors and Corruptions as the word is used Is 55.4 John 18.37 Acts 26.16 and also to pronounce God's Judgments against sinners as the word signifies Malach. 3.5 And the Witnesses are Two because Two Witnesses at least were required under the Law for confirmation Deut. 17.6.19 15. and to shew that a small number but a sufficient one should be made use of to confirm the Truth But chiefly in Correspondence to the Types in the Old Testament where these Witnesses are generally Two and accordingly God here raises up Two Witnesses to Witness and denounce Judgments against the Idolatry of the Christian Church as Moses and Aaron did against the Idolatry of Pharaoh Egypt Balaam and Moab as Elijah and Elisha did against Baal Ahab Jezebel and Ahaziah and as Zerobabel and Joshua were Witnesses in Babylon during the Captivity 14 So the Word Prophesie signifies frequently in the New Testament Although the Proper import of it here seems to be the Foretelling of the Encrease and Ruin of Antichrist and of the Coming of Christ's Kingdom to destroy him which being the Future Events of this Vision the Prophesying or Foretelling here mentioned must relate unto them particularly to the Kingdom of Christ the Chief Subject of all the Prophecies of the Old Testament which being not to begin to come into Event until the Expiration of the 1260 Days it is until then under Prophecy as a Future State And the Witnesses prophesie of it not only in their Discourses and Writings but by the mournful State they are in which is also of it self a signification that Christ's Kingdom is under a Delay a Sealing or a Prophecy which are words of like import 15 These Days begin with the Forty Two Months of the Gentiles and reach to the End of Antichristian Times running parallel along with them God taking care that as soon as Gentilism came into the Church there should be Witnesses raised up to testifie against it and to instruct the people in the contrary Truth by their Preaching and their Sufferings See num 12. 16 This was the Habit of Prophets when they denounced Judgments particularly of Elias one of the Witnesses under the Old Testament 2 Kings 1.8 Zech. 13.3 4. Matth. 3.4 And thus Mattathias and his Sons put on Sackcloth when the Gentiles prophaned the Sanctuary under Antiochus 1 Maccab. 2.14 4 These two Witnesses are or are signified by what in the Anti-type is represented by the two Olive 17 Trees Zach. 4 and the two Candlesticks 18 o◠〈…〉 Rev. 1.20 19 standing before or Ministring unto the 〈…〉 the Earth Zach. 4.14 17 The Types in this Verse are plainly taken from Zech. 4. And the Witnesses are called Olive-Trees upon these Accounts 1. Because they are to be anointed ones Zech. 4.14 or Kings and Priests in Christ's Kingdom 2. Because as the Olive Branches Zech. 4.12 they empty the Golden Oyl out of themselves into the Candlesticks or Churches That is impart to them the Fruit of those Gifts and Graces which they had received from the Spirit of God and were as fully replenished with as an Olive Tree is with Oyl Whereupon Christians are said to be anointed by God and the Holy Spirit and the Effects of it are called The Vnction in Scripture 2 Cor. 1.21 1 John 2.20 27. 3. Because the Witnesses were to perform the same Offices in the Christian and against the Antichristian Church as Joshua and Zerubbabel did for the Jewish and against Babylon the Type of Antichrist who is called a Mountain Zech. 10.4 And according to the Type in Zechariah the Witnesses are two anointed or chosen Servants of God replenished with his Spirit Verse 6. who are to level the Mountain of Antichristianism Verse 7. and to finish establish and build up the pure Church Verse 9. and that out of small things Verse 10. that is small beginnings and a Sackcloth or contemptible and afflicted condition 18 From hence it plainly appears that the Two Witnesses are Two Churches which are signified by Candlesticks in this Prophecy Chap. 1.20 as Grotius hath most appositely remarked on the place And amongst the Candlesticks or Church
was before as to Outward Church Priviledges and Profession which is the visible Life of a Church 8 And their dead Bodies i. e. these Churches anathematized and suppressed shall lie unburied in the 30 Street of the great City i e. their Censures against them and suppressing of them shall be Publick Open and Notorious through the whole Extent and in the most conspicuous places of the Antichristian Jurisdiction which 31 spiritually i. e. in a mystical sense 1 Cor. 10.4 is 32 called by the Spirit of God in this Prophecy 33 Sodom for its Spiritual Uncleanness by Idolatry and Aegypt for its Tyranny and its innumerable Superstitions and Idolatries 34 where also or in which great City our Lord Christ was crucified 30 By Street in Scripture is meant the Broad Open and publick places of Concourse as the Word is used Matth. 5.6 and Esther 6.9 Whereby is intimated that some Churches in the most Conspicuous and Eminent Places of the Roman Territories which is the City concerned in these Visions and is called the (a) Chap 14 8.17 18 18 10. great City should be persecuted and anathematized by the Apostasy and that the Devastations made upon the Witnesses should be publick and in open view and that they should be capable of being raised and restored contrary to what the wicked are threatned with Job 18.17 that their remembrance shall perish from the Earth and they shall have no name in the Street 31 From hence it clearly appears that what is here delivered is to be understood in a Metaphorical sense by way of Mystical Allegory which was common then amongst the Jews and which the Sacred Writers especially the Apostle to the Hebrews makes frequent use of 23 Or is in a Spiritual and Mystical Sense for to call and to be are frequently used promiscuously in Scripture Although I presume the meaning of this place given in the Paraphrase to be the truest for as Gog was prophesied of by the Prophets under the Names of Edom Moab Leviathan and the other Chief Enemies of God and of the Jewish Church as the Prophet Ezekiel expresly declares Chap. 38.17 So are the Idolatrous Enemies of the Christian Church prophesied of under the Names of Aegypt Babylon and the like in this Book and in the Old Testament 33 Thus Jerusalem is called Sodom and Gomorrah Isa 1.10 34 Christ was crucified at Jerusalem which is here mentioned 1. To shew that this Slaughter of the Witnesses was to be under the Jurisdiction of the Romans Jerusalem being then under their Dominion and our Saviour being Crucified by their Authority Upon which account his Suffering under Pontius Pilate and his Crucifixion which was a Roman Punishment are mentioned in the Creed 2. Rome is called Jerusalem because it succeeded the (a) Mori Oper. Theol. 721 728 Synagogue in its Carnal Hypocritical and Persecuting Temper and is a City that killeth the Prophets and Witnesses of Christ as Jerusalem of old was wont to do 3. Our Saviour is said to be Crucified at Rome because he is crucified there in his (b) Matth. 25.40 45. Acts 9.4 Members to whom whatsoever is done he imputes as done to himself Whereupon he asked Saul why he persecuted Him when he persecuted his Disciples And because the Apostacy Reigns there which sin is particularly called the Crucifying of Christ afresh and the putting him to an open shame Heb. 6 4-8 9 And they or some of the People and Kindreds and Tongues and Nations who shall be disposed to attend to and take notice of this matter shall see or diligently consider their dead Bodies i e. the deplorable and ruinous State of these desolate Churches three days and an half see num 37. and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in 35 Graves i. e. to be buried in utter Oblivion and to be in an irrecoverable condition out of all hope of being restored Ezek. 37 11-14 Hos 6.2 35 The same Metaphors that are here made use of are also used in the same sense by Ezekiel Chap. 37 1-14 and by Hos 13.14 where by dry bones in an open Valley and by dead bodies in Graves is meant a hopeless condition without the least expectation of Recovery 10 And they that dwell upon the Earth i. e. the more sensual and earthly part of the Kingdom of the Beast shall rejoice over them and make merry and shall send gifts one to another as in time of publick Joy Hest 9.19 22. Nehem. 8 10-12 because these two Prophets 36 tormented by their Reproofs denouncing of Judgments contrary Life and Conversation and the progress of their Doctrine amongst the people Hos 6.5 Judg. 16.6 Jon. 4.9 them that dwell on the Earth i. e. the Antichristian People 36 As the Prophets and particularly Elijah one of the Witnesses of the Jewish Church are said to trouble wicked Kings and People 1 Kings 18.17 18.21 20. 11 And after three 37 days and a half the Spirit 38 of Life from God entred into them i. e. they were wonderfully revived Ezek. 37.5 8 9 10 13 14. Hos 6.2 and they stood 38 upon their feet i. e. were in a posture of Service and Defence and appeared with Courage and Readiness to perform their Duty Ezek. 2 1-3.37 10. and great fear 39 fell upon all them which saw them revived so wonderfully to the Joy of their Friends and the Consternation of their Enemies 37 It is observed by the Lord Napeir that besides the Common Prophetical Day which is taken for a Year in Prophecy There is also a great and extraordinary Day in Scripture which signifies not a Year but any Time to be determined by Circumstances as the Word Day is used in the Day of the Lord and in Man's Day Now if Day signifie Time in Scripture it may very well (a) Lord Napeir on the Revel Prop. 1.15 Mori Oper. Theol. pag 179. and his Appendix to Dan. pag. 284-293 signifie so in this place where it seems to be necessary that Three Days and an half should be brought to comport with Three Times and a half 1260 Days and Forty Two Months All which being of the same signification there seems to be no reason but that the Three Days and a half should be of the same Nature too especially if we consider that the Woman in the Wilderness which is the Church or Witnesses collectively taken from whom it differs only in Notion as the Body doth from its Members hath Three Times and a half allotted her as well as 1260 Days to which there must be something porportionable in the Times of the Witnesses which are her Seed and are coaeval with her and the Three Days and a half are of the same Extent with 1260 Days and Three Times and an half if you account the Days for Years and then again resolve those Years into Days denoting so many Years But for the clearer stating of this Matter it is to be observed that here is a plain Allusion to the time of
upon this happy and glorious change of things 50 Here is an Acknowledgment of Praise and Thanksgiving to God according to the usual manner in this Prophecy as hath been before frequently observed and that made by the Twenty Four Elders the Representatives of the Jewish Church and by Voices in the former Verse which perhaps proceeded from the Four Living Creatures who are the Voices or Speakers in the sixth Chapter 17 Saying We give thee thanks O God Almighty which art and wast and art to come i. e. the Eternal Jehovah because thou hast taken 51 unto thee thy great or extraordinary power which hath been hitherto usurped by Satan Mahometism Antichistianism and the wicked Powers of this World and hâ—th reigned visibly and powerfully in Truth and Judgment without any rival 51 Here is declared the Succession of Christ's Kingdom as it is the manner to proclaim the Succession of Princes 18 And or although 52 the Nations or Gentiles that is the Paganizing Christians verse 2. were angry for being cast out of the visible Church which they had defiled and usurped verse 2. Psal 2. and 99.1 and or but 52 thy wrath 53 is come or is ready to be poured forth and executed upon the living and the time of the Dead is come that they should be Judged both good and bad according to their Deeds and that thou shouldst in that time of Judgment give reward unto thy Servants the Prophets or Witnesses of the Jewish Church or Ministers Dan. 12.3 and to the Saints or eminently holy Persons of the Christian Church and to all them that fear thy Name in every Nation according to the light and talents God hath given them Acts 10.2 34 35. small and great in Office or Graces who shall be rewarded according to what they have received and the use they have made of it Mat. 25. and shouldst destroy them of all sorts which destroy or corrupt the Earth by their Tyranny Wickedness and Antichristian Apostasy 52 In both these Senses the Article is used in Scripture according to its Acceptation in the Hebrew of the Old Testament Gen. 15 10.17 5. Job 17.10 Jerem. 11.17 and in several other places 53 This Verse relates to the Time of Trouble mentioned Dan. 12.1 and the great Battle Rev. 16. and the Resurrection and Judgment mentioned in the last Chapters which shall be particularly discoursed of in their proper places 19 And the Temple of God i. e. his pure Worship was opened in Heaven i. e. became visible in the Church and there was now seen in his Temple which before was measured sealed and shut up verse 2. the Ark 54 of his Testament i. e. the greatest Mysteries of Religion which were before obscured by Antichristianism were most clearly made known and there were lightnings and voices and thundrings and an Earthquake and great hail i. e. high and clear Manifestations and signs of Christ's Kingdom Mat. 24 Rev. 4 5.8 5. 54 The Ark of the (a) Numb 4.5 20. 1 Sam. 6.19 Exod. 25. Testament was always kept secret and covered and was to be seen only by the High Priest once a year whereby the Mysteries of Religion are Typified which the Angels desire to look into and were not Revealed unto them but by the Church 1 Peter 1.12 Ephes 3.10 Now these Mysteries called here the Ark of His that is Christ's Testament or New Covenant which were mightily obscured and perverted under the Reign of Antichristianism appear opened that is clearly manifested unto all Jews as well as Christians now united into One Body from whom also they had been for a long time hid by Types and Veils and a Judicial Blindness 1 Cor. 3 13-16 Rom. 11.25 Which Temple here opened and the Ark seen it are more fully and largely prophesied of by Ezekiel from Chapter the 40th to the End of his Prophecy CHAP. XII The Text. 1 AND * there appeared in vision a great wonder or prodigious sign portending great things in Heaven †or in the pure Primitive Church State a Woman i. e. the Church the Spouse of Christ Isa 54.1 2 Cor. 11.2 Eph. 5.32 cloathed or Environed wich the Sun beams shining all about her i. e. full of Communications of Glory Purity and Holiness from Christ the Sun of Righteousness Malac. 4.2 and the Moon 1 i. e. Antichristianism under her feet i. e. in comtempt and in subjection to her and upon her Head a Crown 2 of twelve 3 Stars representing the twelve Apostles chap. 1.20 Annotations on CHAP. XII * The Beast having been but just mentioned in the former Chapter Verse 7. the Holy Spirit doth here according to the Custom of Scripture which takes occasion from the bare mention of a thing to give a larger Account of it begin to set forth who he was and from whence he had his Original and how he came to be so powerful as to make War with and kill the Witnesses which Subject is prosecuted in this the following and the seventeenth Chapter And here we may observe that the Vision of the VVoman is Cotemporary with the Fifth Seal Chap. 6.9 when the pangs of Persecution were at the heighth the Child being brought forth in the Christian Empire in the next Seal †Heaven as hath been cursorily observed on Chap. 11.12 num 41. is not to be understood always in this Book only and perhaps not primarily of the Church-State on Earth but of the Archetype or State of it now in Heaven there seeming to be in Heaven a Kingdom of Christ and an Heavenly Tabernacle and Sanctuary which is an Archetypal and Exemplar State of what is to be performed on Earth in the Church Whereupon a Door was opened to John in Heaven Chap. 4 1. and the Temple of God was opened in Heaven Chap. 11.19 Which Interpretation will be much strengthned by a due Consideration of Hebr. 9. where the Apostle distinguishes betwixt a VVorldly (a) See Grotius on Heb. 9. and Mr. Dodwell of One Altar Sanctuary and a Heavenly one and calls the Jewish a pattern of things in the Heavens And there is also in this Book a Consessus Synedrium or Seat of Judgment in Heaven described in the Fourth and Fifth Chapters before which Satan as God and Prince of this VVorld was as it were tryed and after his Accusation of God's Servants and Defence of himself adjudged to be cast from the power of Godship which he had in those parts of the World which are concerned in this Prophecy Whereupon there is Joy in Heaven verse 12. upon the Brethrens being acquitted upon Satan's Fall from the Rule he had by God's Justice over the wicked World the Glory which accrued to God by his Wise and Holy Administrations and the present Advance of Christ's Kingdom Upon the increase of which the Saints may receive increase of Glory in that Heavenly Tabernacle which shall come down from Heaven in the New Jerusalem State 1 Worldly things because of their Mutability may be reprseented by the
of Antichrist upon whose destruction this Glorious Kingdom or Glorious State of Christs Kingdom is to begin And that there shall be a glorious state of Christs Church such as hath not hitherto been is a Truth so apparent in Scripture that those (b) Pocock on Micah pag. 24 29 32 42. who are most wary of interpreting the Scriptures to this Sense lest thereby any advantage might be given to the Jews cannot but confess that many Passages of the Prophets which relate to this State are not as yet clearly nor fully compleated but that they are still in fulfilling and more may be expected in the latter times which Dr. Pocock extends to the second Coming of Christ. And although we ought to be cautious how we administer occasion of hardening the Jews in their Infidelity by forcing Texts of Scripture to this Sense which may be meant concerning the first Coming of Christ yet the want of due distinguishing betwixt his first Coming in a way of Humiliation and Sufferings and his second Coming in Glory and that to erect a Kingdom upon Earth and under the Heaven as is expresly affirmed Dan. 7.27 Rev. 5.10 in a State of perfect Righteousness Peace and Prosperity has been no mean cause of Offence to the Jews and is the occasion of many Errors amongst Christians But that there shall be such a Kingdom of Christ which may be called his Mediatory Kingdom distinct from the Kingdom of Eternity of which the Man Christ Jesus is the Eternal King as he is united to the Eternal Word and from his Spiritual and Evangelical Kingdom will appear evident from these following Considerations 1. Because the many (a) Psalm 2.8 Isa 2 2-4 Micah 4.1 Mr. Mede Disc 25. 29. 36. Prophecies foretelling a Glorious Constant and uninterrupted Visibility and Vniversality of Christ's Church not yet accomplished do require such a Future State For the Church hath been seldom gloriously visible never constantly and uninterruptedly so neither hath it been at any time in possession of much above the sixth part of the known World so far hath it fallen short of the Vniversality prophesied of in Scripture 2. Many (b) Isa 11 6-9.65.17-25 Ezek. 48.35 Micah 4.3 Justin Mart. Dial cum Tryphon Dr. Burnet's Theor 4.5 7. Jurieu's accomplishm of prophec Tom. 2. Chap. 18 24. Grot. de Verit. Relig. Christ 5.18 Quaedam vero etiam definite sine conditione promissa si impleta nondum sunt adhuc possunt expectari Constat enim etiam apud Judaeos Tempus sive Regnum Messiae durare ad finem seculorum Prophecies relating to the Temporal and Spiritual Happiness of Christs Church are not yet at all fulfilled or only in part and therefore there must be some Future State in which they are to be accomplished Such as those which foretel its perfect peace prosperity holiness and the divine presence resting and remaining in it which can by no Art be so interpreted as to make out that they are already fulfilled 3. Many of the (c) Jurieu T. 3. Ch. 19. Types of the Old Testament prefigure and signifie such a State of Christ's Church and Kingdom such as Paradice the New World after the Flood the coming of the Israelites into Canaan out of Aegypt the Type of the Antichristian Apostasy their Return from their Captivity in Babylon into a peaceable possession of their Land the Kingdom of (a) 2 Sam. 7 8-29 and 23 3-8 See the Notes on Chap. 14.1 David in which he was established upon his Conquest over the Heathens and not until after many Troubles and Distresses wherein it was an Eminent Type of Christ's Kingdom as it proceeded from weak small and troublesome beginnings to strength and a lasting Peace after great Victories over the Sons of Belial and the Heathen Nations This Kingdom is also Typified by (b) Psalm 72. Solomon's Kingdom and his Marriage in the Book of Canticles and most eminently by the (c) See on Chap. 1.4 and what follows in the next Note Sabbatism or Rest of God in the seventh day after six for finishing his Works wherein the seventh Thousand Year designed for Christ's Kingdom is evidently prefigured for Christ's Kingdom being the main design of God to be accomplished in order to his Eternal Kingdom and the chief means conducing to it was the primary thing in his intention from the beginning and was not only foretold by all the Prophets but was prefigured by the (d) Ezek. Chap. 40 c. Heb. 8 5.9 9 10.10 1. Types which shall be perfectly and fully compleated in that State 4. (e) Dan. Chapters 2 and 7. 2 Thes 2.8 Burnet 's Theory B. 4. 8. Antichrist is not yet destroyed neither are the (f) Isa 11. and 14.1 2.25 8.56 8. Chap. 60.65 17-25 Ezek. 28 24-26.36 25-38 37 15-28 Hos 3.4 5. and Dr. Pocock on the place pag. 162. Zech. 9 9-17 10 5-12 and Chapters 12 13 14. Amos 9 11-15 Mic. 2.12 13. Rom. 11.2 Cor. 3.16 Grot. in Luc. 21.24 Mr. Mede Ep. 17. and pag. 891 Mons Jurieu's accomplishm of prophec Tom. 2 Chap. 17. Jews called nor is the (f) Isa 11. and 14.1 2.25 8.56 8. Chap. 60.65 17-25 Ezek. 28 24-26.36 25-38 37 15-28 Hos 3.4 5. and Dr. Pocock on the place pag. 162. Zech. 9 9-17 10 5-12 and Chapters 12 13 14. Amos 9 11-15 Mic. 2.12 13. Rom. 11.2 Cor. 3.16 Grot. in Luc. 21.24 Mr. Mede Ep. 17. and pag. 891 Mons Jurieu's accomplishm of prophec Tom. 2 Chap. 17. fullness of the Gentiles as yet come in nor are (a) Psalm 110.1 Cor. 15 24-29 Heb. 2 5-9 all things as yet subdued unto Christ all which yet according to plain Scripture are to come to pass some of them before Christ's Kingdom others before it be delivered up to the Father whence it is evident that this Kingdom is not yet come much less already past as some imagine 5. Christ is not yet come in his Glory and therefore his Kingdom is not yet come For the (b) Compare Isa 53. and 63. with many other places of Scripture For there are twenty Texts which speak of his Second Coming to Glory for one which speaks of his First Coming See Mons Jurieu and Dr. Burnet's Theory Scriptures evidently distinguish betwixt Two Comings of Christ the one in a State of Humiliation already past the other in a State of Glory and most commonly (c) Matth. 16 28.25.31 Luke 19 13 15.23 42. 2 Tim. 4.1 joyn his Second Coming and his Kingdom together 6. The Scriptures joyn the Resurrection and the Coming and Kingdom of Christ together Whence it is evident that this Kingdom is not come because the general Resurrection is not past For thus 1 Cor. 15.23 24. Christ's coming plainly refers to his coming to the Kingdom at the General Resurrection he having all the while from his Ascension sat at the Right Hand of the Father in the patient Expectation of this his Glorious Kingdom Psalm 110.1 Heb.