Prelections Upon Revelation, Chapter 11

Prelections Upon Revelation · Chapter 11

The eleuenth Chapter

SAinct Iohn goeth forwarde in this chapter in describinge those thinges which remaine to be vttered in the sowndinge of the trumpet of the sixt Aungell, & in the end of this chap. vers. 15. he describeth the trumpet of the seuenth Angell which is a messenger of the resurrection and last iudgement.

Vers. 1.

There was giuen me a reede like to a rodde. &c.

NOw it is declared vnderunder this figure, to what ende the Apostle is commaunded to vtter forth the litle booke of the heauenly word, (which he had eaten) in prophesiyng diligently. Verely because y^e Christ wil yet alwaies byld vp his Church y^t it should not vtterly be destroyed, although it be greiuously oppressed with the tyranny of Antichrist, threatninge present destruction and vtter cuine. But chiefly he signifieth that y^e ruine of the same shall be repayred toward the ende of the world, euē as this figure perteyneth to the trumpet of the sixt Angell. For the measuringe is referred to y^e byldinge, like as in other places of the holye scriptures, Ezechiell 40. Zachar. 1… there is the lyke metaphor.

And the Aungell stoode by, sayinge arise and meat the tē ple of God and the alter and thē that worship therein. &c. Although in certeyne copies these words (and the Angell stode by) are not founde yet I doubt not but Iohn vnderstandeth that this was the speach of that noble Aungell Christ whiche he had described in the chapter going before. For Christ is the maister bylter of his Churche. VnderUnder whome all the ministers of the woorde labour in preaching and spreadinge abroade of the gospell to the bylding vp of the same holy temple. Therefore Christ cōmaundeth to measure the temple of God, the alter and those that worship in the temple: By which signe he teacheth that he wil hauehave a care, that the whole church, which is signified by the temple, that the true worship of God whiche is figured by the alter, & that all the parts & members of the Church, which are shadowed by those whiche worship in the temple, shall for euer p. 68be buylded vp and preserued in safety the which woulde all sodenly vanishe away, except by his ayed and defence, and by the ministery of the word, they shold be propped vp, euen as it were with pillers.

Verse. 2.

But the court which is with out the temple cast out and meat it no… for it is geuen vntounto the gentils. &c.

SEinge the readinge of this place is doubtefull in the greeke books, for when some hauehave (without) & some (with in) we can a poynct nothing for certeynty, but that hauinge respect to the forme of the olde temple of the Iewes, which was deuided into three partes, I rather encline to that readinge, whiche hath (without) for there was no inner court that I know, but the holy and the holy of holiest. Although I leaue it indifferente whether way it is to be red. Yet this is certeyn y^t by this court, whether we read the (inner) or the (vtter) is signified the felowship and congregatiō of hypocrits, which though they proudly boast them selues in the glorious title of the Church, yet they are not comprehended in the bosome of the true Churche. But rather as bastardes and degenerate children, they are refused, cast out and banished, and no other wise then the temple of the Iewes, by the Romaine gentils is destroyed in such sort y^t not on stone is left vponupon an other: So these when they are banished & cut of from y^e people of God, shalbe gathered & ioyned to the prophane gentils, of whose number they are. Therfore least that S. Iohn might thinke that Christ comprehended vnderunder the name of the temple and those that worship there in, all, as many as beast in an outwarde s…ew and vision of Christ and the Church, he slatlye forbiddeth him to accompt that vtter courte, that is, heritiques and schismatiques, and all the other rablement of the secte of Antichrist, amonge those whome the Lord will receiue to be builded vp into an holy temple, whereof he himselfe is y^e corner stone, he pulleth away y^t visor therfore from y^e faces of the papistes and other heritiques which hauehave nothing els in ther mouthes but the Church, the Church, when he cōmaundeth thē to be cast forth, as those that are neclected and despised.

And the holy city they shall tread vnderunder foote two and fortye monethes. &c. The wicked and prophane gentiles shall tread vnderunder foote, that is shall greiuously oppresse, persecute, and afflict the Church of God, for the full space of two and forty monethes, that is for that time which Christ doeth graunt vntounto Antichrist to rage in cruelty against the godly. Some do count the number of monthes, from the first persecutions of y^e christians by the Romane emperoures, euen till the time of the emperoure Constantine which graunted peace, vntounto the churches. But lette them whiche maintaine that opinion see howe certeyne it is. But to me it semeth more playne that vnderunder nūbers the certeyne fixed, & determinate time of the persecution of antichrist is assigned, whiche he cannot pas, although he fret sume and rage neuer so much. For the Lorde hathe counted the same time by monethes dayes, & howers. The reason of the numbers semeth to be of this sort, this time which somtime is called two and forty monethes, somtime a thousande two hundreth & sixty daies, sometime a time two times and halfe a time, maketh in all, three yeares and an halfe, that is y^e one halfe of a propheticall weeke, which time also is called three daies and an halfe. And this place alludeth to the weekes of yeares in the 9. Chapter of Daniell. Wherevpon we gather to the great consolation of the Church, that a short time is appointed to Antichrist to wast the same, which is also shewed twise afterwarde in the 12. chap. and in the 20. y^• a shorte space of time is permitted to the deuill that he may s…riue with all his force to beat downe the Church, this interpretatiō as most simple and plaine pleaseth me best, those that seke more subtiler may follow there owne iudgement.

Verse. 3.

But I will geue power vntounto my two witnesses and they shal prophesy a thousand two hundreth and threscore daies. &c.

AFter that the Lord, in the figure going before of measuring the temple, hath promised that he will buylde vp his church nowe hee sheweth by whose industry and laboure he will performe p. 69the same verelye with the ministerie of his woorde and by those ministers, whiche he will alwaies raise vp to him selfe for this worke, yea euen in the middest of the stormes of persecutions. He promiseth therefore that he will raise vp to him selfe two witnesses at the least, which the lawe requireth for the confirmation of euerie cause, euen then when as the greatest multitude made droncke with the doting vaniti…s of Antichrist, would refuse sounde doctrine. They commonly interprete the two witnesses to be Heuoch, and Helias, when as we may rather by those thinges whiche follow in the sixte Verse gather that it is Moses and Helias. But it is absurde and against all reason to restraine to certayne persons those thinges, whiche are spoken of all the Ministers of the worde, which Christ hath promised that he will appoint euen in that perilouse, and daungerouse time, which are called two, not for the certayne number, but for the fewnesse sake. And yet he promiseth that he will furnish these with meete and agreable vertues, and giftes of grace, so that by the space of a thousande two hundred and sixtie dayes, they shall valiantlye. and boldlye execute the office and duetie of prophetes, in teaching, reprouing and comforting. That is for the space of 24. mo…ethes, whiles the holy citie is troden downe of the gentiles. He count…h the same time also by dayes, that we might not thinke that the Churche should be depriued and want her teachers, euen the smalest space of time. For although to Antichrist and his blinde proctors, and adherentes the doctrine of the Gos…ll semed to be buried, yet the Church had alwaies a… the … witnesses of Christ. Of which although y^e names of eueryevery one▪ by reason of the iniurie of y^e time, hauehave not come vntounto vsus, yet hystories do sufficien…ly witnesse that there hauehave alw…ies … some, as in England, Wickli…e, in Italy, Marcellius of …, in France the pore people of …ionse, in Bo… mia Ihon Huss…, and Hierom of Phrage and in other places diuers others.

Clothed in s…ckcloth &c. Perswading men by all meanes to repentance from Idolatrie and other workes of darkenes: moreouer Christ doth take to this so honorable an office of being his witnesses, not goldē popes, not purple Carbinals nor yet mytred byshops, but base men of the abiect people, clothed in sackclothe whose dignitie is to be estemed not by there apparail, which is very course, but by the office which is cōmitted vntounto them.

Vers. 4.

These are 2. olyue trees & 2. candelsticks before the god of y^e earth.

BYcause the worlde doth scornefully receyue those, which… are sent of the Lord except being adorned w^t outward pompe & glorie, they may drawe mens eyes vponupon them, therefore Christ sheweth in how great price & estimation they are with him. They are sayeth he 2. olyue trees alwaies fresh florishing & greene, such as Dauid glorieth y^t he will be after he hath eschewed y^e false accusatiō of Doeg, & alwaies dropping down… the oyle of holsome doctrine vponupon the Church, they are sayeth he, two candelstickes susteyning and holding vp the lighte of the Gospell in this darcke world, of what sort soeuer they seme to be earthly men, they are of this sort to God & the Lorde of the earth & the whole world. The ministers of the Churche may here be admonished of what sort they ought to be if they will be alowed of Christ as his witnesses.

Vers. 5.

And if any man will hurte them, fire proceaded oute of their mouthes and deuoureth there enemies: for if any man would hurte them thus must he be killed. &c.

THat the world might not scape vnpunished in despisinge there simplicitie, the lord pronounceth that there worde against the reprobate shalbe like fire, which may burne them to ashes, & deliuer them to be burned with infernall flames. For it is the sauour of death vntounto death to those y^t perish. In vaine therefore doth the pope commit the bodies of the Sainctes to be burned with corporall flames, seeing that he himselfe shalbe much more grieuously tormented for euer, with there fiery spirite. This place doth teache with what earnest zeal the godly preachers ought to burne with all against the wicked enemies of the Church of Christ, & not to feare there crueltie, seying they hauehave in a readinesse the vengeaunce that is to be taken against all vngodlines.

Vers. 6.

These hauehave power to shut the heauē, y^t it raine not in the dayes p. 70of there prophesiynge, and hauehave power ouer waters to turne them into bloud, and to smite the earth with all manner of plagues, as oft as they will. &c.

IT is no doubt but that he alludeth to y^e history of Elias which fore tolde of the three yeares brought in the daies of Achab. 1 kinges. 17. chap. like as also in the other part of y^e vers. to Moses which stroke the land of Egipte w^t diuers and sundry plagues, as we may read in y^e. 7.8.9.10. chap. of Exod. By which … he signifieth, y^t his witnesses shalbe endewed w^t the zeale of Moses and Elias, whose contempt the lord will reuenge w^t moost grieuous punishments, as Egipt felt, as Israell felt, which escaped not vnpunished for despising Moses and Elias: and the popish Church daily feleth, the wrath & vengeaunce of God denounced by these witnesses, to fall vponupon them armed w^t many and sondrye plagues, and at length shall feele vtter destruction. Furthermore, to the great consolation of his Church and establishinge the authority of his witnesses, Christ compareth thē to the most clear lights of the old Church, that y^e congregatiō of y^e faithful may beleue, y^t Moses & Elias, are as it were returned frō death and come vntounto them, for the singuler giftes of mind & spirituall graces of y^e holy ghost which God hath bestowed vpō y^e same his witnesses. Hereof it is y^t we so highly honour y^e wonderfull vertues of Luther & Caluine and others, that we thinke them to be inferiour to none which hauehave liued since y^e Apostels time, God graunt that we may be thankefull for so good giftes and that we may vse them well.

Vers. 7

And when they hauehave finished there testimonie. &c,

THe deuil can do nothing, Antichrist can do nothing against the witnesses of God, so long as they hauehave not finished there testimonie, that is not before they shall hauehave runne the course prefi…ed them of God and shall fulfill the office and duety committed vntounto them. They neede not therefore feare the madnes of y^e persecutors, but boldly to geue testimony to christ & his gospell, so lōg as it semeth good to y^e Lord, & at length whē they hauehave discharged there duty to permit thēselues to his wil & pleasure.

The beastes that commeth out of the bottomeles pit shall make warre against them, and shall ouercome them and kyll them. &c. The cruell and vnreasonable beast Antichrist, which shall come forth of hell to establishe the kingedome of the deuill which is inferiore to them in spirituall battaile, yet their superiore in carnall warre, shall oppresse, ouercome, and slea the holye Martyres of God.

Verse. 8.

And there▪ corpses shall lye in the streates of the great citye. &c.

ANtichrist puffed vp with so greate a victory, shall triumphe ouer their dead bodies with barbarous cruelty, the streates of the greate city shall be scattered with there slaine members. EueryEvery where through oute the whole dominion of Antichrist, howe wide and large so euer it be, shall be seene, the dead bodies of the sainctes, which thinge how true it is, the history of the former times and experience of oure owne age, doth sufficiently, teache.

Which spiritually is called Sodom and Egipte where oure Lord also was crucified. &c. He sheweth which is that great city, the see of Antichrist, which falsely bosteth her selfe to be the holy city Ierusalem, that is the Church of god, when as yet for there cursed wickednes and filthy abomination it rather deserueth to be called Sodom, and for the persecution and bondage which it laieth vpō y^e saincts, to be named Egipt, neither doth it resemble Ierusalem in any thinge, except in cruelty against the godly which as it killed all y^e prophets, so likewise it slew christ himselfe the head of y^e Church w^t a shamefull death. And here he doeth plainely euen as it were poynct at the sea of Rome with the singer, when as hee calleth it the greate citye in which our Lorde was crucified. For Hierusalem of the Iewes, deserued not by any reason to be called the greate city, muche lesse when Iohn receiued this vision, when as it was vtterly raised of the Romaines and made euen with the grounde. But seinge that the holy ghost doeth after warde manifestlye by the great citye interpret Rome, it is certeyn y^t the same city is also vnderstode in this place. And it fitly agreeth, that the Romaine tyrannye p. 71is called the great citie, not onelyonly bycause the citie of Rome is the head of the whole Romayne Empire, but bycause the citie it selfe is increased vntounto suche meruailouse greatnesse, that it became a Monarchia, which was not in the other three Monarchies, the beginning whereof were taken of kinges, and not of anye citie. And it is not amisse to saye, that Christ was crucified at Rome, seeing hee was condemned to death of the Romayne presidente as the enemie of Cesar, the Emperour of Rome, hee was deliuered vp and slayne by that kinde of death, which was established by the lawes of the Romanes Ihon Chapter. 19.

Vers. 9.

And they of the people and kindereds and tonges and gentiles shall see there corpses three dayes and an halfe, and shall not suffer there carcaseis to be put in graues. &c.

THere shalbe no nation subiecte to the tyrannye of Rome, whiche shall not see the slaughter of the holy witnesses of Christ, the space of thre daies and an halfe, that is for halfe a weeke. For they shall not long feede there ferce eyes with this cruell sight, but God euen in the middest of y^e heat will breake the persecutiō, but yet in tho meane time so long as they hauehave power, they will persecute the godly with suche hatred, that they will also shew there crueltie ouer the verie dead bodies, and shall not suffer them to be buried, but will shewe them open to all men, as it were signes, and tokens of there victorye.

Vers. 10.

And they that dwell vponupon the earth, shall reioyce ouer them, and be glad and shall send giftes, one to an other, for these two Prophetes vexed them that dwelt vponupon the earth. &c.

THe wicked inhabitantes of the earthe reioysed with themselues and were ioyfull for the destructiō of the prophetes. For those two prophets although they were but few in nūber, yet they grieuously tormēted all the wicked inhabitants of the earth, whiles they thundred y^e thretning of gods worde against their vngodlines. The wicked therfore do testify by this ioy, w^t how great prickes of conscience they were tormented, whē as there sinnes and offences were reproued, and corrected of the godly pastors and teachers. For such is the force of gods worde, that it tormenteth euen the contemners of the same, withe due deserued punishments.

Vers. 11.

But after three dayes and an halfe. &c.

THE wicked shall not alwaies triumphe ouer the martirs of Christ which they hauehave cruelly slayne, but they shall perish thēselues, sooner thē they suppose. For all power shall be taken frō Antichrist, which he hath ouer y^e Saincts, which although his flatterers and peuish adherentes do boast, shalbe eternall, yet Christ measureth it here by the space of three daies and an halfe. Which verelye pertayneth bothe to the beatinge downe the pride of the wicked, when as they heare that there kingdome shall indure, but a few dayes, and also to the comforting of the afflicted seruauntes of Christ, and to teache and instructe them to patience, when as they vnderstande that in short space of time the tyranny of Antichrist shalbe taken from among them.

The spirite of life which came from God entered into thē and they stoode vp vponupon there feete. &c. According to the maner of the prophetes he vseth the time paste for the time to come, and the meaning is, that we should not thinke that they are vtterly lost and destroyed, which Antichrist by a diuilishe crueltie hath slayne and taken away, they which semed to lye as dead, for the space of three daies and an halfe, at length whē the power of there aduersaries is taken awaye, and God geuing them a new life, and standing vprighte vponupon there feete, shall proue and shewe that they were not dead, but that they slept onelyonly for a certeyne time. Whiche thinge shall clearlye be seene in the resurrection of the iust, although this place maye well and fitly be vnderstood of a new raising vp of ministers, which y^e Lord will place in y^t roomes of those which are crowned with martirdome, but chiefly in the ende of the worlde after that the man of sinne is reuealed, which we see is come to pas in this oure age.

And great feare came vppon them which sawe them. &c. The wicked muste needes be stryken with an horrible teare p. 72and terrour, when as they shall see them restored againe to life whome they slew, where vponupon they certeynly vnderstand that they warred against God. For when as preciouse and deare in the sight of the Lord is the death of his sainctes. Psalm 116. They can not but be grieuousely tormēted with feare of gods vengeaunce, which they perceyue that they hauehave prouoked against them selues with blinde madnes and rage.

Vers. 12.

And they herde a great voice from heauen saying vntounto them come vp hither. &c.

WHiles feare and terrour of eternall damnation, with the greatest horrour of wicked conscience doth occupy & posses there aduersaries, they are called vp to heauenly ioyes, with a swete voice and full of consolation. This rewarde is layed vp for the faithfull martyres of Christ, that out of prison, tormentes, and death it selfe, being raised vp to a blessed life, they shal receyue a crowne of glorie in the kingdome of heauē, with him, whome they hauehave witnessed in earth. This hope nourisheth there mindes in the greatest tormentes, least they should fainte for any paynes or punishments of the bodie, which fight againste the wicked and hauehave eternall happines for there rewarde.

And they ascended vp to heauen in a clowde. &c. Like as Christ our head ascended in a clowde, and we also shalbe taken vp in the clowdes to meete Christ as the Apostle witnesseth, so those two prophetes the witnesses of God are sayeth to ascend vp into heauen.

And there enemies saw thē &c. Like as they shall see Christ which perced him thorough, euen so shall they see his mēbers the holy martyres lifted vp to heauenly ioye, whiche despised, afflicted, and slew them in earthe, when as they them selues being thrust into the dongeon of hell, shall be tormented for euer not onelyonly with there owne euils, but also with the blessed estate of there aduersaries. So the riche Glutton saw Lazarus in the bosome of Abraham, whome hee despised as a most vile creature whiles he was liuing, neither cared hee to feede him at the least with the cromes y^t fell frō his table. Luke. 16.

Vers. 13.

And in that hower there was a great earthquake. &c.

WHen as the ripe and full time shall come in whiche God will take vengeance vponupon Antichrist and his folowers, mens matters shalbe shaken with a mightie great motion, all thinges shalbe moued, with warres, with treasons, and with seditions, neither shall Antichrist any lenger inioye his kingdome peacibly which beinge sore troubled with this horrible commotion as it were shaken with an earthquake, shall shortly after fall to vtter ruine. We may suppose that this earthquake hath happened in our age, for we hauehave partly before our eyes, & partly we beare in freshe memory, with what motions through the cause of religion, all christendome is shaken. And the other thinges which follow in this verse, are playnly sene in this oure time. And the tenth part of the citie fell. &c. There is no mā which knoweth not, how great a deminishing and decay of it selfe the Church of Rome hathe suffered, from which very many natiōs hauehave vtterly departed, & forsaken it. And also superstition it selfe hath fayled in the tenth parte amonge the papistes, and they them selues are constrayned to leaue and forsake many of there toyes and trifles, and to confesse certayne errours with which in time past they bound verie straightly the faith of the people.

And in the earthquake there were slayne the names of 7. thousand men. &c. To a great multitude of men, this earthquake shall not onelyonly be troublesome, but also mortall, by the violent force whereof seuē thousand men shalbe destroyed: cō cerning the numbers, of ten, & seuen, we hauehave often sayed before that they are referred to fulnes & perfection. As this number of 7. thousand comprehendeth all those, whō God hath appointed & ordeyned to punishment in this grieuouse cōmotiō of the world. For as many as are not humbled with the scorges of God and called to repentaunce, those being hardened in there vngodlinesse shall at length beare the deserued punishments of there heynouse offences.

And the remnants were afraied and gaue glorie to the god of heauen. &c. God hath alwaies his remnantes, which according p. 73to electiō being drawne out of the greatest flames, are preserued and kept to the glorie of his name. The rest thereof being tamed with the rods of God, and taught by the fall and ruine of the other, are instructed to repentaunce, & being striken with an earnest feare of god forsaking the filthy worshipping of Idoles, will apply them selues to yelde vp due glory to the God of heauē. We see very many such in our age, which being werie of the errours of Antichrist, do acknowledge the true religion of Christ, and magnifye the God of heauen with y^e other godly worshippers. Here we ought to reuerence the coūsels of god, which are farre aboue y^e capacitie of our reason, when as the third part of mē was slaine by the army of y^e horsemen as we read, in the 9. chap. none repented, but here when the 7. thousand are destroyed, y^e rest returne to a better minde.

Vers. 14.

The second wo is past & behold the third wo will come anone.

THe seconde wo of those thre, which were foretolde to pertayne to the trumpet of the thre last Aungels, when as the 6. trumpet hath receyued an end, the holye ghost sheweth that the last wo shall shortly come, which is eternall wo, to all the reprobate, which shalbe published by y^e trūpet of y^t 7. Aungell. Therfore if we se all things fulfilled which pertayne to the 6. trumpet, y^e next thing is that we shortly after wait for to heare the sound of the last trumpet in the comming of Christ.

Vers. 15.

And the seuenth Aungell blew the trumpet and there were great voices in heauen. &c.

CHrist affirmed with an othe in the tenth chapter. That the trumpet of the 7. Aungell shold be last, vnderunder which y^e misterie of God shold be finished, as he hath declared to his seruaunts y^e prophetes. Therefore when the sound of this trūpet was herd, Thou sheweth y^t the praises of God, & of his Christ were song with meruailouse ioy of the heauenly spirites.

Saying the kingdomes of this world are our Lordes and his Christes. &c. The heauenly spirites be ioyfull with God, now when Antichrist and his patrone the deuill, which exerciced tyrannie in the world, be vanquished, all the kingdomes of the world are become gods and his Christes to whome they properly pertayne▪

And he shall raigne for euermore. &c. They do not acknowledge an earthly and transitorie kingdome of God, but an eternall Dominion, which indureth throughout all ages. But it may be demaunded whether God doth not now also raigne & alwaies hath raigned in the whole world? verely the chiefe gouernement hath alwaies bene Gods, and all things are ruled at his will and pleasure. But now Sathan, and Antichrist by his permission and sufferance obteyne principalitie ouer the darckenes of this worlde, whose power in the daye of the last iudgement shalbe vtterly abolished. Therefore God shall then raigne with his Christ, when no aduersaries shall molest or trouble the happines of his Churche. And in this song wee may beholde the right holy and godly nature of the heauenlye spirites, that they do not so much reioyce for there owne eternall blessednes, as that they triumphe for the magnifyinge of gods glorie, of which (if we wilbe like vntounto them) it becommeth vsus to be more carefull then of our owne saluatiō. More ouer this place is of force to ouerthrow the errour of the Chi…iastes, which shut vp the kingdome of Christ in the space of a thousand yeares, when as that voice doth clearly confesse that he shall raigne for euer and euer.

Vers. 16.

Then the 24. elders which sat before God on there seates fell vponupon there faces and worshipped God. &c.

THe reuerende companie of the 24. elders, whiche beinge placed in seates before the throne of god doe represente the whole felowship of gods elect, do not omitte there duetie, but falling prostrate before the throne, they humbly worship god with all earnest affection of minde.

Vers. 17.

Saying we geue the thankes o Lord. &c.

THose also do meruailously reioyce, that all the enemies of god being ouerthrowen, hee hathe his sound and perfecte glorie: And thry sing a long of thankesgeuing saying. We giuegive thee thankes o Lord. Bycause he hath nowe shewed himselfe to be a reuenger of his owne glorie, as though they had receyued some notable and singuler benefite, they agree that praise and thankes are to be ascribed to god. And not withoute iust p. 74cause, for nothing ought to be so deare to the sonnes of God, which louelove him with there whole harte, as the glorie of there heauenly father, yf neclecting all other thinges they woulde diligently seeke, they should both shewe them selues to be indeede begotten of God, and also they shoulde the best prouide for there owne health yea eternall blessednesses.

Lord God almightie, which art and which was, and which are to come. &c. We hauehave spoken at large before in the first and fourth Chap. of these speaches, by which they attribute all Dominion power and eternitie to God.

For thou hast receyued thy great might and hast obteyned thy kingdome. &c. The heauenly spirites do praise God, that now at length when all his enemies are vanquished he hathe receyued the soueraigne rule and gouernement which was alwaies due vntounto him, and also hath happely begunne that most peaceable kingdome against which none of all the aduersaries dare oppose and set them selues. For so long as the deuill and Antichrist exercised tyranny in the world, they semed to raigne alone in y^e earth, & they chiefly laboured in this one thing, that the kingdome of Christ might not stande, but after y^t god hath now opēly exercised & declared his great power which before lay hid, whē sathā is subdued & y^t kingdom of Antichrist abolished, y^e glory of god shall alone excell, & shine ouer all his creatures.

Vers. 18.

And the gentiles were angry. &c.

IN my iudgemēt they allude to the beginning of y^• 99. psalm. The lord shall raigne although y^e people be angrie. That is in spite of all the prophane enemies, thou onelyonly dost obtayne the empire & Dominiō. For the wicked gentiles folowing y^e campe of Sathā hauehave set thē selues against the kingdome of Christ as much as they could, but Dauid himself foresaw as we read in the 2. Psalm, that all there enterprises should he in vaine.

And thy wrathe is come and the time of the deade, that they should be iudged, & that thou shouldest geue reward to thy seruantes the prophets & to the sainctes, & to them that feare thy name, to smale and to greate. &c. Nether to the wrath of the wicked gentiles, heretiques, Turkes, hypocrites hath raged againste thee, and the members of thy bodye, and now on the other side the time of thy wrath is come, that thou mayest destroy all thine enemies: For now is that daye come which is terrible to the wicked, in which the dead beinge raised to life, may feele the seueritie and sharpenesse of thy iudgement: in which also a rewarde not due or deserued, but promised frely may be geuen to thy seruants. Not onelyonly to those which thou hast raised vp to the gouernement of thy Church, whome thou hast endued with the spirite of prophecie, but also to all the rest of the sainctes, whiche worshippe the in true faith, and reuerence thy name, as well to the small as to the great.

And shouldest destroye them, that destroye the earth. &c.

THey pronounce with one worde that the horrible & manifolde wickednesse of the reprobate shalbe punished withe grieuouse tormentes & paynes: and together therewith they shew, how equall and iust it is, that God should for euer destroy those, which studied nothing else, but to destroy y^e whole worlde with there wickednes.

Vers. 19.

And the temple of God was open in heauen, and there was scene in his temple the arcke of his couenannt, and there folowed lightninges and voices, and thunderinges, and earthquake, and muche hayle. &c.

SOme doe ioyne this verse with the Chapter folowing, that it might be the beginning of the next vision, but it semeth to me to be the cōclusion and shutting vp of this vision. So that Ihon doth teache that after the praises of God were songe of the heauenly companie, the execution of his iudgement, which they so often published abroade, should folowe. Verely when as the temple was open in heauen into which the true worshippers of God were receyued, and the arcke of couenaunt openlye shewed, that is Christ, by whose mediation they shoulde be receyued, for the rest, it shoulde straitwaye lighten. thunder, and hayle from heauen vponupon: the reprobate and all the army of Sathan, by which terrours the wicked being driuen to madnes, should be thrust downe to the euerlasting paynes p. 74of hell. And he doth briefly comprehend in this place the forme and maner of the last iudgemente, which he would afterwarde in the ende of this Prophecie, prosecute more at large.