Prelections Upon Revelation, Chapter 19
¶ The nynetenth Chapter.
LIke as in the Former chapter there are brought in Kinges, marchauntes & the companie of shipmen, miserably bewaylings the fall of Babylon: so in this Chapter is described the ioye, & exultation of all the heauenly orders, that nowe when the whore is abolished, Christ shall nowe shortelye be ioyned to his spouse. Lastly is prophecied, the last battell of Antichrist against Christ and his Gospell, after which at length followeth his eternall damnation.
Vers. 1.
And after these thinges I heard a great voice of a great multitude in heauen saying, halleluyah, saluation, and glorie and honour & power, be to the lord our God. &c.
THe holy ghost a litle before exhorted the heauē and all that dwell therein that they shoulde reioyce with gladnes for the fall of Babylō. Now therefore Iohn heareth a great voice in heauen, of those which reioysed were glad and song eternall praises to God, for the sharpenesse of his Iudgement, whiche he hath shewed forth against the whore. Whiles the Papistes therefore mourne, wepe & houle for ye ruine of there most deare mother the sinagoge of Rome, there is one voice of the whole church of Christ, wherwith they being wholly filled wt heauē ly ioye reioyce for them selues, and geue thanckes to God for the destruction of the abominable whore. And this verielye is there triumphing song, Halleluiah, saluation, glorie, honour, and power be to the Lord our God, the Hebrew woorde Halleluiah is a voice that doeth exhorte stirring vp to praise God, afterwarde they expresse by what meanes god is praised, verely, if to him alone all our saluation be attributed, if all honour▪ glorie, and power, of beginning, continuing and perfitting of this most magnificall worke, be ascribed to God alone.
Vers. 2.
For true and righteouse are his Iudgement. &c.
LEast they shoulde seeme rashly and without cause of great ioye to reioyce, as common the peopel are often wont to do they expounde what abundant matter of gladnesse is offered vntounto them, that God hath executed the office of a true and iust Iudge, in reuēging the wickednes of the great whore. He often times threatned her, the deserued destruction, whiche shee deserued bycause he differred the same, she accused God & his prophetes of lying, but when a while after it had fallen vponupon her head, she perceyued and felt that god is true, which admonished her that she should repent. But when she despised the admonitions of God, and would make no end of committing whoredome, rauening, and killing, at the length, she knewe by profe the Iust Iudgement of God, which can not alwaies suffer, so cruell and monstrouse sinnes vnreuenged.
For he hath condemned the great Whore which did corrupte the earth with her fornication and hathe auenged the bloud of his seruauntes shed by her hande. &c. Bycause he hath pronoūced the sentēce of eternall dānation, against ye most impudēt & shamlesse harlotte ye Church of Rome, which wt fornicatiō, aswell spirituall as corporall hath corrupted ye whole earth, so yt their hath scarce remayned any corner pure frō her dealinges Which cruelly slew the seruants of God the martirs of Christ dayly withe her and sw…orde, and exquisite tormentes, euen as it were shepe appoincted to the slaughter: whose most innocent bloude he hath now by good righte reuenged, whereas he hathe condemned her to eternall tormentes.
Vers. 3.
And againe they sayed Halleluiah. &c.
THose heauenly spirites do not once onelyonly but with often repeated voices singe praises to God, and they stirre vp and prouoke all others also to yeald the same obedience to the Lord. We see therefore that they celebrate the name of God withoute any irkesomnes or werines at all, which burne wt a sincere louelove towards him & that the blessed orders of heuenly spirits do satisfie thēselues wt no praises or thanckes geuing, yt they may shew themselues not to be vnthankfull, for the benefit receiued of the deliuery of the Church from the defilings, & cruelty of the great whore. We bee here admonished of oure duetye, that we are bound withe vnwearied studye and indeuoure to magnifye the infinite goodnes of god, both for all other his benefits bestowed vppon vsus, and also chiefly for the lighte of the Gospell spronge vp vntounto vsus, whereby the cloudes of Poperye beinge daylye more and more driuen a way, the western Babylon is brought very nere to vtter ruine.
And the smoke of her torments rose vp for euermore. &c. Euen here the heauenly spirites gathered to themselues sounde matter to ioy quietly that they see the smoke of Babylon being set on fier, ascend vp for euer, when God hathe deliuered her vp to be tormented withe the euerlastinge tormentes of hell fier. We maye learne here that the hope of the papistes concerninge the restoring of the dignity of there Church is but vaine, whose Iuste condemnation when we knowe by the woorde of God, we are taughte by the same woorde, that her burninge shall be for euer.
Vers. 4.
And the foure and twenty elders, and the foure beasts fell downe and worshipped God that sat on the throne sayinge Amen Halleluiah. &c.
WE hauehave often noted before, with how great reuerence y• honorable senate of the 24. elders, with the foure Cherubicall beastes, do come to celebrate the glorie of God. For they fall vponupon there faces, whereby they acknowledge them selues to be vnworthy, which should magnify, and set forth the honour of god, they cast downe there crownes, & bowing downe worship god, whiche sitteth vponupon the seate of maiestie & glorie for euer. Which thing as we see, they do in this place. After therefore yt they hauehave testified there humilitie wt such submission as was meete, they aunswere to the most holy song of the angels, which they song in the name of ye whole Church, Amen, Halleluiah. By which truely they do signifie, yt they desire nothing more in there mindes with ardent prayers, then that god alone may hauehave his soūd & perfect glorie, & yt all may acknowledge, what a bēefite god bestowed vpō his church, whē he toke vengeaunce vponupon the great whore. And therefore these do also exhorte all the faithfull to ascribe praise, glorie, honour & power to God alone. This voice Halleluiah so often repeated, doth teache that the desire to praise God is easely slacken of among vsus, excepte one of vsus often stirre vp an other to this office.
Vers. 5.
Then a voice came out of the throne saying praise our god all ye his seruauntes, & ye that feare him both small and great.
THis voice proceaded either frō the 4. beastes whiche beare vp the throne of God, or els from those infinite millions of Angels, which compas the throne aboute admonishinge, that god is to be extolled with due praises, of all his seruāts which feare him vnfeinedly whether they be small, or great. As many therefore as will be coūted for the seruantes of god, ought not to be slouthfull in this office, but to labour with indeuour, that his glorie may be celebrated through ye whole earthe. For this voice doth speake aswell to the great, as the small, yt is of what state or condition soeuer they shalbe, least any might suppose yt he should be free from this office. Afterwarde it also teacheth, who are in verie dede the seruantes of God, when as instede of an exposition he added, this, they yt feare & reuerence his cō maundemēts frō there hart. All do in words acknowledg god to be there father & lord, but as the Lord doth expostulate, with the Iewes in the first Chapter of mathewe. If I be father wher is mine honoure if I be a Lord where is my feare? so this voice by the feare of God definith his seruaunts.
Ver. 6.
And I heard like a voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of stronge thundringes, saying halleluiah, for our lord god almighty hath receiued. &c.
THis voice which he hath described so diligently semeth, that it was ye voices of all ye heauenly companies, ioyned in one with this acclamation concluding ye songe and saying, halluiah for our lord god almighty hath raigned the whole church being taught of our sauiour Christ doth desire ye the kingdome of God may come, when as all his enemies beinge vanquished ye dominiō of God alone may excell in the sight of all creaturrs. The heauenly voice doth testifie, ye kingdome hath now come, when as the Church of Antichrist beinge abolished & destroyed, God alone dothe rainge in the congregation of the faithfull, because now the subuersion and ouerthrone of all the enemies of God & his church is at hand, when as a litle after the beast being ouercome in battell is apprehēded, and the deuill him selfe at length together withe the beast and the false prophete is throwen hedlonge into the burninge lake of fier.
Vers. 7.
Let vsus be glad and reioyce and geue glory to him. &c.
TO our selues say they let vsus reioyce for so happye a victorye, and let vsus in the meane time with delectation vse our owne ioye, but let vsus not forget to yelde due honoure to God if we aske what new cause of ioye there is 2. the aunswere.
For the mariage of the lambe is come, and his wife hathe made her selfe readye. &c. For nowe the time is at hande, that Christe maye bringe the Churche whiche he espoused in time past to be his wife, home to his house, and the Churche euen now aboute to come into the moste acceptable imbracinges of her deare spouse, dothe adorne and decke her selfe, that she may receeue him when he commeth accordinge to his dignitye we are admonished here, that what space of time soeuer shall be remayne to the Churche, from the destru… tion of the Synagoge of Antichriste, euen to the ende of the world that the same is graunted vntounto her, that she beinge bewtifullye adorned with faith, godlines, and innocency of life, may come forth into his presence, whiche thinge I woulde to God we all diligently considered, yt the most filthy garmentes of the fleshe being cast a way, we may garnish our soules with ye new ornaments o… righteousnes and holines, yt we may be prepared to go forth to mete Christ in what hower soeuer he shall come.
Vers. 8.
And vntounto her was graunted that she should be araied with pure fine linen and shininge, for the fine linen is the righteousnes of the sainctes. &c,
THat the Churche should not come forthe naked, or couered with torne garments, seing of her selfe, she hathe no clenelines or shining bewty, he sheweth that mariage garmentes are otherwise prepared for her. For by the gift of God she is decked with fine linen pure shininge, whiche are ye righteousnes of the saincts that is those good works which are the testimonies of a liuely faith. For after that all the spots of the Churche are washed a waye in the bloude of the lambe, she is clothed with new righteousnes also, that she studieth to please God by good workes, and throughe Christ, her obedience is acceptable to God although it be vnperfect.
Vers. 9.
Then he saied vntounto me write, blessed are they which are called vntounto the lambes supper, and he saied vntounto me these wordes of God are true. &c.
WE hauehave sayed often, that as ofte as Iohn is commaunded to commit any thinge to writinge, after that fi…st commaundement, whiche he receiued in the beginninge that he shoulde write whatsoeuer thinges he saw, that it is a matter of greate weight which ought diligently to be weighed and considered of vsus. When the heauenly voice therefore pronounceth them blessed, which are called to the supper of the lambe he signifieth that they are happy, which by the preachinge of the gospell are called to the partakinge of the heauenlye life, so that they themselues do acknowledge there owne happines. Which how great it is it shall thē perfectly appeare, whē the day shall come, whiche is apointed for ye celebrating of the mariage of the lambe, and in y• he repeateth that these words of God are true, he doeth therfore yt with a…most waightie affirmatiō he might seale this doctrine concerning the felicitie of those which are made partakers of the calling of the gospell & verely we hauehave to much experience how necessarie this sealing is, when we see such prophane cō tempte of the Gospell euerie where to abounde.
Vers. 10.
And I fell before his feete to worship him, but he sayed vntounto me see thou do it not I am thy fellow seruant and one of thy brethrē, which hauehave the testimonie of Iesus, worship God, for the testimonie of Iesus is the spirite of the Prophecie. &c.
S. Ihon doth not dissemble his owne fall, seeing yt a profitable doctrine to the Church should follow thereof. For there was so great dignitie of person in the Angell, that Ihon was redie prepared to giuegive to him diuine honour. But the Aungell suffred not the glorie, which is due vntounto God to be transferred into him selfe, for he confesseth that he is not his Lord, but his fellow seruaunt, and one of his brethren, which beare testimonie of Christ. That god alone therefore is to be worshipped & not he, and therefore he declareth, that he is one of those whom god doth vse, to reuele his misteries to the prophetes, whiche they should expound to other men, for the testimonie of Iesus is the spirite of prophecie in bothe. For to this ende or marke are all prophecies referred, and that onelyonly is the true spirite of prophecie, which leadeth vntounto Christ. Of what sorte therefore is the spirite of the popish doctrine, which alwayes leadeth vsus away from Christ vntounto creatures, when as the Aungell being a most excellent creature, so earnestly refused the honour offered vntounto him. Shall wee therefore worship Images, Crosses, and reliques, seeing it is such abominable wickednesse to worship the Aungels them selues.
Vers. 11.
And I sawe heauen open, and beholde a white horse and he that sat vponupon him was called faithfull and true, and he iudgeth, and fighteth righteously. &c.
NOw remayneth the last battaylle to be foughte against the wicked, in which the strength and furniture of all the enemies being ouerthrowen and slaine Christ alone hath the victorie, and extreme tormentes are layed vponupon the reprobate. Ihon therefore seeth the heauen open, from whence we looke for our Lord Iesus Christ, which with the breath of his mouth shall destroye Antichrist, and by the brightenesse of his comminge shall abolishe him. And the white horse goeth oute of heauen, whiche representeth the ministrie of the Gospell pure and sincere from all the dregges, and spotes of peruerse doctrine, whose office is to carie Christ, to this last battail which he will fighte against Antichrist. For by the preachinge of the gospell Antichrist is ouercome. Others by the white horse vnderstande the white cloude, in which Christ will come to iudgemente, but I thinke this vision is to be expounded not of ye iudgement, which is described in the next Chap. following, but of the victorie of Christ againste all his ennemies, whiche goeth immediatlye before the last Iudgemente. He that sitteth vppon this horse is called faithefull, and true, for the helpe whiche he promiseth, he will bringe vntounto his, hee bringeth in due time, and he Iudgeth and fighteth in righteousnesse, by cause hee hathe not withoute Iust causes taken the warre in hande, as the Princes of the Worlde, for lighte or no causes doe oftentimes take greate battailes in hande: But here he dothe nothinge rashely, nothinge headlonge, but all thinges with Iudgemente and accordinge to the rule of equitye. Therefore beinge prouoked withe innummerable iniuries by Antichrist, hee proceadeth forthe into battaille to vanquish and ouercome him.
Vers. 12.
And his eyes were as a flame of fire. &c.
THe sharpenesse of his eyes is more percinge, then any fire, and maketh passage to it selfe euen vntounto the innermoste, and depest thoughtes of the harte. No Hypocrisye therefore, no subtilties can deceyue the quicke sharpenesse of his sighte. If Antichrist fayne a thousande times that hee promoteth the glorie of God, and acknowledge Christ for his Kinge: Yet he shall neuer flie the iudgement of Christ, which will drawe all his dissimulation in to lighte.
And on his head were manye crownes. &c. Antichrist of Rome against whō he proceadeth furnished vntounto battaill with great sacraledge vsurped to him self many crownes as though he had all the rule alone in heauē, earth & hell. But Christ by good right of inheritaunce, hath his head crowned with many crownes, as he to whome the father hath graunted the rule of all thinge, as he himselfe witnesseth saying, all power is giuē to me both in heauen and earth Matth. 28. Hee shall require vengeance of Antichrist bycause hee so trayterously vsurpeth the ensignes of his power, when as neuerthelesse he is endewed with no diuine vertue or strength.
And he had a name written that no man knewe but him selfe. &c. When as he is partaker of the same essence, maiestie, and glorie, with the father, and the holy ghost, whiche dignitie no creature can by vnderstanding throughly comprehende, he is sayd to hauehave a name, whose force he alone, which is the wisedome of the father doth vnderstand. Excepte peraduenture he allude to that saying of Christ in the 11. Chapter of Math. When he saieth, that no man knoweth the sonne, but the Father, neither that any man knoweth the father but the sonne, and they to whome the sonne will reueale him, yet the former exposition liketh me best.
Vers. 13.
And he was clothed in a garment dipte in bloude. &c.
THey are deceyued as I Iudge which by the garment dipte in bloud, vnderstand the manhoode of Christ, in which by his bloud, he hath purchased the merciemercy and fauour of God towardes vsus. For here Christ is described as a warriour, and Iudge, which hath put on suche armour as should make him terrible to his enemies. And it is a manifeste alluding to the vision of Esay Chapter 63. Whiche bringeth in the Lorde, all bloudie and red by the slaughter of the Edomites. Christ therefore weareth a garment dipped in bloud, that he might throughly feare his aduersaries when as they are admonished by this signe what slaughters he made in time past vponupon the enemies of his Churche, that they maye knowe that the like or greater hangeth ouer there neckes.
And his name is called the woorde of God. &c. Before he sayd that his name was knowne to him selfe alone, nowe hee sheweth that he is called the woorde of God. Therefore we maye vnderstande the former name, of his incomprehensible essence, but this name of his office, in asmuch as he doth vouchsafe to reueale him selfe vntounto vsus in the person of the mediator. He is therefore that worde of God begotten of the father before all worldes, which in the time determinate by the heauenlye counsell, was made man, and wroughte the wonderfull worke of mans redemption in our fleshe.
Vers. 14.
And the warriers which were in heauen followed him vponupon white horses, clothed with fine linnen white & pure.
ALthough alone he treadeth the wine fat of Gods wrathe, as we are taught in the next verse folowing, and alone is of mighte to subdue his enemies, yet hee ioyneth to him selfe companions of warre, euen all the heauenlye Armies, that is the faithfull ministers of his Churche, and professours of his Gospell, which he leadeth forthe, not so much to beare part of the labour, as that he taketh them to the participation of the victorie. Which we may easely perceyue by there deckinge, for after the maner of those that triūphe, they sit vponupon white horses, and are clothed in fine linnen white and pure, whiche as we heard before are the righteousnesse of the Sainctes, & whē they are indued with these ornamentes, that is, with faithe, and innocencie, they dare go forth into battell, as it were sufficiently armed against death and woundes.
Vers. 15.
And out of his mouth went a sharpe sworde. &c.
THis sworde as we also heard before in the first Chapt. signifieth the worde of God, whose trueth and certentie proceadeth oute of his mouthe: he teachethe therefore with what weapon Christ will fight against Antichrist, verely euen with a spirituall swoord, by the preaching of his worde: this place maketh that I can not fitly interprete this battaill of the last Iudgement. And S. Paule to the Thessalo. Seemeth to foretell two degrees of his victorie, the one whereby he is slayne with the breath of Christes mouthe, the other when wich the brightnesse of his comming he shalbe vtterly abolished.
That with it he should smite the heathen: for he shall rule them with a rod of Iron: for he it is that treadeth the wine presse, of the fercenesse and wrath of almightie God. &c. According to the prophecie of Dauid reciting the ordināce of god Psalme 2. That he should smite the rebelliouse heathen; with a sword & should breake the raging people in peaces with an Iron rod, as it were the potters vessels. And Christ him selfe also is the ruine of yt reprobate, which treadeth the wine presse of the wrath of almightie God, that is hee shall condemne all the reprobate, beinge ouercome by his power, to the eternall tormentes of hell. The emphasis of euerie worde is here to be noted, which is put to terrifie the wicked. And he alludeth to the prophecie of Esay in the 63. Chap. concerning the slaughter of the Edomites, as we sayed before, in which Chapter of Esaye, there are almost the same woordes concerning the treading of the wine presse.
Vers. 16.
And he hath vponupon his garmentes & vponupon his thighe a name writen, the kinge of kinges and Lord of Lordes. &c.
THat all may acknowledge his inuincible power, he hath a name openly writtē in his garmentes and vpō his thighe, which declareth his maiestie and Dominion, verely that he is king of all kinges, and lord of all lordes. Whosoeuer therefore chalenge to them selues a kingdome or Lordship in the whole world, are his subiectes, but if that of there owne accorde, and willinglye they doe not acknowledge his rule ouer them, will they, nill they, they shalbe drawne to his obediēce. In vaine therefore is Antichrist proude wt the insolent titles of kingedome and Lordship, bycause hee must be made subiecte to the yoke of this chiefe and highest king of kinges. For he sitteth at the righte hande of God vntill all his enemies be made his foote stole, Psalme. 110.
Vers. 17.
And I sawe an Aungell stande in the sunne who cried with a loude voice, saying to all the fowles that flyed by the middest of heauen come and gather your selues together vntounto the supper of the great God. &c.
IT is wonte to be vnlucky amonge men to singe the triumph before the victory, and the enemies as yet not beinge vanquished to thinke of the spoyles and the pray is ridiculous. But the matter is far otherwise in those battels whiche Christ sighteth. For he being alwaies sure of a happy end, may boldly triumph ouer his enemies. Like as this Aungell which exerciseth the office of a heralde takinge his place in the sunne, as it were in the midle market place of the world, or theater proclaimeth with a loude voice yt victory of Christ obteyned against antichrist and that there shalbe made suche a slaughter of his aduersaries, that with greate diligence, he biddeth all the fowles as many as flye through the middest of heauen, to the supper of the greate God, whiche he hath prepared for them withe so innumerable deade carkases of his enimies which are ouerthrowen.
Vers. 18.
That ye may eat the flesh of kinges, and the flesh of the hygh captaines, and the fleshe of the mighty men, and the fleshe of horses and thē that sit on them, and the fleshe of all free men, and bonde men, and of smale and greate. &c.
THat the fowles mighte know withe how deintye …here they shoulde be welcomed in the supper of the great God, the angell nūbreth vp, that they shall be filled with the fleshe of noble men, of kinges, of dukes, of stronge captaines, of horsemen and of horses, and moreouer with the carkases of all both free & bond both smale & great. By which similitude he would signify how horrible a slaughter should be brought vpō antichrist, yt the men of no state or condition, whiche came to ayed him, should …ly frō his torment whether they were princes; or whether the cōmune people, whether they were smale or great. For yt ther shall none remaine of ye whole army of antichrist, or yt shold be raunsomed wt mony, but yt all shold be slaiē & not on left, we are here also admonished in yt he calleth Christ ye great God, against y• blasphemouse cauils of Arrians, like as paule also in the second chap. to tytus, speakinge of his secōd coming. For in either place yt holy ghost vnderstādeth christ to be most great & equall, wt the father whom he setteth forth and honoreth by ye name of ye great God.
Vers. 19.
And I saw the beast and the kinges of the earth and there warriours gathered together to make battell against him that sat on the horse and against his souldiours. &c.
NOw beginneth the most grieuouse battaile, for now Antichrist, with his wicked confederate Princes, & with there whole army setteth him selfe against Christ ye victoriouse Captayne. We read before in the sixtenth Chapter that by the common counsell of the Deuill the pope and his cleargie, Legates were sent forth, which like frogges boasting nothinge, but bubles and a vaine croking, yt by there babling they would stirre vp Princes that they might set them selues in armour against Christ. Nowe therefore in this last battaile they fighte vnderunder Antichrist, whiles they studie by all meanes to establish his tyrannie, which God will hauehave abolished, and with great labour they desire to ouerthrow ye kingdome of Christ which is spread abroade by the Gospell. They fighte therefore with all there force against Christ and his army, that is against the preachers and professours of his trueth, as we dayly see before oure eyes.
Vers. 10.
And the beast was taken, and with him that false Prophet… that wrought myracles before him, with which he deceyued them that receyued the beastes marke, and them that worshipped his. Image, these both were cast quicke into a lake of fire, burninge with brymstone. &c.
THe two verses which remayne of this Chapter do teache, what ende there shalbe of this last battaill, and firste what remayneth for the captaynes thē selues. They are taken saieth he (all there armye beinge ouerthrowen) euen the beast and the false Prophete, that is the Romane Antichrist and his false Propheticall clergie, whiche with feyned signes & myracles seduced the nations into errour, that they mighte bringe into there mindes to professe bondage to the beast, and to worship his Image. These two therefore after there infinite abominations, at length beinge taken, are cast headlonge a liue into a lake that burneth for euer with brymstone: that is, they are condemned to the most grieuouse damnation of all, verely to bee tormented with so muche more grieuouse tormentes, as they hauehave excelled, other men in more haynouse sinnes. This shalbe the ende of the tyrannie of Antichrist.
Vers. 21.
And the remnant were slayne with the sworde of him that sat vponupon the horse, which sworde proceaded out of his mouthe and all the fowles were fylled with there fleshe. &c.
ALthough a most sharpe sentence be vttered vpō the heades of this wicked conspiracie against Christ, yet the members there of shall not escape for as many either kinges, or magistrates, as hauehave made them selues ministers of the furie of Antichrist, with all the rest of the men of what state or condition so euer, which had rather yt Antichrist should raigne then Christ: All they are slayne with eternall death by the sworde of Gods worde, which they would not obey that they might liue. And that they should not please them selues in there multitude all the fowles of the ayre shal fill them selues euen to satisfey with there slaine karkasses. This ende, this Iudgemente tariethe for all the Prophane contemners of the Gospell, whiche the most mercifull God tourne from vsus through his sonne Christ Iesus. Amen.