The Image of Both Churches in Revelation, Chapter 15
The xv. Chapter.
NOt only for the common sinnes of the world doth ye Lord plague, but most of al for vnthankfulnes of al blasphemies the greatest. From that spurneth against knowlege & directly worketh against ye holy ghost. A double distruction or decay both of soule & bodye by ye righteousnesse of god must nedes followe the wilful cōtempt of his veritie manifestly shewed and openlye taught. Yet is ye Lorde so mercifull, yt hee willeth not ye dānation of a sinner. Such cōpassiō hath he euer our manifold weakenesse, yt he premonisheth vsus of hys moste terrible plagues, to call vsus backe by feare, if louelove will not doe it. As here consequently in the first vysion of this present reuelatiō to Iohn, which followeth after this sort in this xv. and xvj. Chapters.
THE TEXT.
1 And I saw an other signe in heuen, great and merueilous, 2. seuen Angels hauyng the seuen last plagues, 3. for in them is fulfilled the vvrath of God. 4. And I savve as it vvere a glassy sea, 5. mingled vvith fyre, 6. and thē that had gotten the victory of the beast, and of his Image, 7. and of his mark, and of the number of his name, 8. stande on the glassy sea, 9 hauing the harps of God, 10. And they sang the songe of Moyses the seruaunt of God, 11. and the songe of the Lambe, saying. 12. Great and merueilous are thy vvorkes, Lord God almightie, 13. iust and true are thy vvayes, thou king of Sainctes. 14. VVho shall not feare (O Lorde) and glorifie thy name? 15. For thou onelyonly arte holy, 16. and all gentiles shal come and vvorship before thee, 17. for thy iudgements are made manifest.
The Paraphrase.
1 And I sawe (sayeth sainct Iohn) by the secret goodnes of my Lord God, yet an other tokē in heauē, great & merueilous, straunge and wonderfull, For in the churches or congregation of God, are euermore vttered his wonderfull and déepe iudgementes, vntounto them only whome his grace appoynteth, as vntounto Iohn. And this is the token in mistery.
2 Seuen Aungels had in their hands the seuen last plagues. Some expositors hauehave taken these Angels for the right ministers in the .vii. ages of the christian church. Some hauehave thought them to be the peruerse prechers and vngodly ministers of all the sayde ages suffered of God strongly to delude the vnbeléeuers, that he wich hurteth should hurte stil, and that he wkich is in fylthines, should still be filthy. Unto eueryevery age corresponding an Aungell, to declare the nature of those deceitefull hyrelings and lying masters. And this maketh them so to vnderstande the texte. They are here expresly noted to be in heauen. Among the congregation of God are the false Prophets, and discembling Hipocrits euermore, as the chaffe among the corne, the teares among the wheate, and the filthy dregs, amonge the pure wine. For that kyngdome is as a net throwen into the sea and gatheringe all manner of fishes both good and bad. In all ages hath the wicked generaciō increased, to impugne the truth, and stifly s… to stande vp agaynste God and his Christ, whiche is none other after their mindes, than to minister the .vii. laste plagues here. For no poyson is to the soule so pestilent, nor yet venim so noyfull, as is false doctrine. No plage can be thought more deadlie nor violent, than to depriue vsus of that faith, of that veritie, & of that life whiche is in Christ Iesu, or to bring vsus out of ye way which he hath appointed. And al this séemeth no smal likelyhood of the iust vnderstanding of ye text here. Yet Frances Lambert geuith a far better iudgment, calling thē ye set sentēces or vnuariable decrées of god, difining his iudgments against the wicked in his latter age of ye world, at their appointed times to be vtterred. For all these thinges are iontely to be considered.
These Angles came not onelyonly from heauen, which is the congregation (as they hauehave mencioned) but also out of the celestiall temple of the tabernacle of testimonie, which is ye omnypotente God & his Christ, as the xxi. chap. hereof declareth.
They are also clothed with pure whit linnen, gyrded with golden girdles, they hauehave golden vials deliuered vntounto them by one of the iiii. beasts, and one of them commoneth with Iohn, declarynge vntounto him the iudgement and fall of the great whore. Whiche ar no arguments that they are here to be taken for ill preachers, though thei here minister ye last vii. plagues. Therfore shall we iudge them here to be Gods appoynted purposes or eternally decréed pleasures, against the wilfull obstinates and indurat rebellions to the end of the world.
These are called the last plagues, because they fall in ye last age of ye world whō Esay, Hieremy, Oseas & Micheas calleth ye last daies, Ihō ye last hour… & Paul ye ends of ye world. Seauen are they named here in a vniuersall respecte both of the times, parsons, places and peruerse doctrins of the whole world. And also because of the .vii. seales, and the .viii. trompets, to whose iudgementes they ioyntly agrée, as in the nexte Chapter following will appeare more largely.
3 For in them (sayeth the text) is fulfilled the wrath of God. The indignation of the Lord is in them wholy declared. For what hate can he shewe more vntounto a man, than to withdrawe him from him his grace, to leaue him to himselfe, to suffer him in his owne blinde iudgements, to geue him ouer to his owne fylthy lustes, and to sende him the operation of errour to his double damnation. A very fulfilling of Gods anger is it also to appoynte vsus a false Prophete or deceiuable curate a wanton Prince, or vngodly gouernour. These therefore with such like are those plagues, in whome is déepely accomplished the displeasure of God And they are here named the last plagues, for after them shall none other be séene, the latter day finishing and clearin all.
4 And I beheald (sayeth Iohn) in the same sayd vision, as it were a glassy sea, or a greate fllowing water in similitude of glasse, all myngled with fyre. None other is this sea, but the precious verity of the Lord, so cleare as glasse and so pure as christal. This sea gushed out of the harde rocke of stone, that was clouen a sonder in the desarte. When he sente forth his spirite, these waters flowed forth in abundaunce.
5 Most effectual and quick is this sea And therefore it is here noted and myngled with fyre, which signifyeth the holy ghost. For neuer is the verity without Gods spirite. A fierce fiery streame calleth Danyell this sea all fiery is the word Lord (sayeth Dauyd also) and therefore thy seruant loueth it. This is the fountayne of liuing water springing vp into the life euerlasting. Unto this water shoulde all they resort that are thirsty, thereof to take refreshing▪
6 Upon this glassy sea were they séene of saynte Iohn, that had obtayned victory of the beast, of his Image, of his mark, and of the number of his name. By whom are ment those constaunt christiās, which hath for al ages firmly affirmed the truth. For none aduersitie declining from it. Strongly hauehave these since the Apostles time resisted the aduersaries of God by his onelye word, persisting therin vntounto the death as did Stéeuen, Iames, and Antipas wt such other his faithful witnesses. Uictory hauehave they gotten by faith both of the beast and his Image, both of the great Antichrist and his supporters, of the pope and of Mahomet, with their maintainers Emperours, Kings, and maigistrates, and of al thē that vsurpe their title, name, seate, aucthorytie, pompe or power.
7 They hauehave blemished likwise by the said word not only the mark of the beast, which is corrupted faith, but also the number of his name, which is the denial of God. Them hauehave they to their rebuke vttered, and to their confusion declared.
They hauehave proued their orders …amnable, their doctrin deuilish, their religion, hipocrisie, & their spiritualty, playne wickednes, condemning them by the scriptures, as vngodly dissemblers denying the Lord which bought them. These are they whom the lorde tenderlye nourished, and graciouslye brought forth vponupon the refreshing waters cōuerting their soules to his godly feare and louelove.
8 These stand euermore on ye glassy sea, they set sure footing vponupon ye rocke stone. Unmouably they perseuer in … truth, neuer deniyng it afore men.
9 And they hauehave in their handes the harps of god, which are deuout mind… geuen all vntounto godlynesse, and reioysing in spirituall things.
10 Harmoniously they sing the tune… able song of Moyses the faithfull seruant of god, and the melodious swéet… song of the lamb Iesus Christ.
11 Of both testaments they make vtterance, declaring ye wonderful works and terrible iudgementes …ute of the olde lawe, and …ute of the Gospell of gladnesse the moste swéet… mercy of the Lorde. Withoute ceasing open they the the scriptures vntounto other inwardly reioysing in spirituall Himnes, and Psalmes, hauing this euermore for the standing tenour of the song.
12 Inestimably greate is thy goodnes and wonderfully maruelous are thy workes Lord God almighty.
13 Iust are thy promyses, and moste perfitely sure thy wayes, thou gloryous King of sayntes, & gracious g…ydt of the Godly beléeuers.
14 Who shall not euermore feare thée, a mighty Lord, who shall not alwayes in heart glorifye thy blessed name.
15 Thou alone art holy, iust, and perfite, for none is there good but thy selfe onelyonly. Thou arte our our only maker, redéemer, and comforter. None other hauehave we for our God but thée.
16 No doubt of it but the time will be that al kinds of people, both Iewes and gentiles, faythfull, and Heaten, shall seeke vntounto thée, and shall faythfully in verity and spirite worship before thée, acknowleging thée for their only Lord God.
17 Because thy wonderfull iudgements that somtime were secret, are now to the world made openly knowē and manifest. Though this songe be litle and small, yet is there in contayned all veritye, that both Moyses and Christ confesseth at large. Moreouer whatsoeuer ye scriptures cōprehēdeth, either of the great omnipotency of god or of his most wonderfull works, eyther of his louing mercy, or of his benigne pittie towards man, of his glorious name or mighty power, or that he is to be magnified and feared, or how that the faithfull pertaineth only to his kingdome, or how that al people shall finally be conuerted vntounto him. Al is compendiously in this briefe songe here contained, what though it be not so word by word expressed. And as cō cerning yt is here last spoken, that his iudgements are made manifeste, it is to be vnderstāded of those faithful creatures whom he calleth, cleareth and iustifieth, & of none other. For vntounto them onelyonly are his heauenly veryties knowne, to whom he witsaueth to opē them. Though the other outwardely sée the iudgments of God, yet doe they not inwardly perceiue thē, though the b…st it neuer so much. For it is geuen them so to doe. They must hauehave eyes and not see, eares and not vnderstand.
The Text.
1. And after that I looked 2. And behold the tēple of the tabernacle of testimonie 3. Was opē in heauē. 4 and the vii. Angels. 5. came out of the tēple. 6. vvhichwhich had the .7. plagues. 7. Clothed in pure and bright linnen. 8, And hauing their breasts girded with golden girdles, 9. And one of the foure Beasts gaue vntounto the seuen Angels. 10. Seauen golden vials. 11. ful of the vvrath of god, vvhichwhich liueth for euermore 12 and the tēple was ful of smoke. 13. For the glory of God, and for his power. 14. And no man vvas able to enter into the temple. 15. Tyll the seauen plagues of the seuen Angels vvere fulfilled.
The Paraphrase.
1 And anone after that (saith S. Iohn) I loked yet more ad…sedly. And sodēly as it were, ye euerlasting tēple of ye tabernacle of witnes was opē in heauē.
2 A mistery this is very earnestlye to be marked, as a thīg of great waight. The Lord almightye is this eternall temple, he is ye temple not made with hands, vncreated, gloryous and ful of maiesty, cōprehending in him al thīgs & he within none againe comprehended. He is ye Lord of all. He measureth heauen with his span, he ouer reacheth all the world wt his iii. fingers. In him we liue, we moue, and hauehave our beyng. The tabernacle of witnes is the lambe Iesus Christ. He is that very tabernacle of God that was here amōg men, bearing yt faithful witnes which geueth wisdom to babes. He is the propiciatory or mercy seate, wherin we are hard and forgeuen. Neither was this tabernacle of this manner building, but much more perfecte and greater. This holy tabernacle is with in ye aforesayd temple, for Christ dwelleth in ye father, and the father in him.
3 Open is this temple in heauen, & the tabernacle séene, whan god is known by true preaching & christs doctrine beléeued. For he came into the world, & for yt purpose was borne, to beare witnesse vntounto ye truth, whō the father willed only to be hard concerning faith.
4 This temple and tabernacle open, or god and his worde once knowne in this latter age, the seauen Angels cō meth forth. The eternall decrées of gods secret iudgemets apéereth, & are fulfilled in their times. As Angels or messēgers of god thei hauehave in his eternitie theyr iust plagues in their season appointed to be exhibited.
5 And therfore are they sayd to come out from the temple whiche is God. Nothing hath he purposed to ye world, but he hath decréed it afore ye worldes constitution. For his purpose, minde, and pleasure, is as he is, euerlasting. And as it falleth to the world by hys assignement, it becommeth a messenger, going out of the temple. So many hath he sent out of such messēgers, as he hath fulfilled decréed purposes. And marueil not though they be here called angels, considering that it is the commō maner of the holy scriptures, euermore to call them Angels which vttereth the will, pleasure, and commaundement of God, as they doe here. After this sort are the priests called Angels, so is Aggeus the prophet, so is S. Iohn Baptist, so are Christes disciples, & also ye publique preachers.
9 What the plagues are that they shall shed out of their vials, will be shewed clearly in ye next chap. folowīg one after an other.
7 These Angels are apparelled in pure whit linnen, bright shininge as christal and girdels about theyr brests with girded of fine golde, whiche betokneth their sincere cleannes, & their gloryous perfitnesse. For what can be more pure & precious, than the eternall decrées of the lord. What can be more perfit and glorious than his prediffined purposes? The lawes of God are vndefiled, the testimonies are true the statuts are right, the waies are suer, the commaundements are cleare, ye iudgements are godly, the words are pure and precious. Yea, the gifts that come from the father of light are euer more perfit and good.
8 The gyrding of their breasts, is the streight spearing vp of the secret meaning of Gods iudgementes from our carnall vnderstanding, till such time as he openeth thē vntounto vsus by his spirit: for it belongeth not vntounto vsus to deserue such secrets as the father reserueth to his owne power.
9 And one of the foure beastes or congregations (saith S. Iohn) delyuered vntounto the aforesayde .vii. Angels .vii. golden vials replenished wt the wrath full displeasure of God which liueth for euermore. Though the congregations be in the first chapter .vii. & in ye fourth .iiii. vnderstanded by the foure beastes, yet are they héere in this place brought all vntounto one, and called one of the iiii. or els of the foure made one, for so muche as the vniuersall christian church is of one consent, one faith, one baptim, one god, and pertayneth to one Christe. For so much also as it confesseth, beléeueth and teacheth one doctrine of health. One is my doue saieth the holy ghost, one is my dearelye beloued darlyng. A beast is it here noted, as liuing in the flesh, and not yet mortified by death.
10 The vials of Gods wrath are the vngodly reprobates, fit onelyonly for destruction. Golden are thei here named, because they appeare gloryous in the worldly iudgementes of men. Uerye paynted tombs are the dissembling hipocrits, within full of stinking bones. A shining name of life hauehave thei & yet are they inwardly dead. For all that they do is to be séene of men.
11 Full of wrath are they, wherby is ment a sinfull vnderstanding, wt damnable doctrins. For very swift ar thei to al vngodlynesse. The .vi. properties hauehave they which the Lord hateth, and ye seuenth which he vtterly abhoreth. A proud looke, a dissembling tongue, bloudy hands, a wicked hart, féet redy vntounto mischife, wayes to practise lyes, & sowings of dissenciō amōg brethren. These are geuen of the true christen congregation to the vii▪ Angels, or decréed purposes of God to be iudged as thei hauehave eternally diffined. For none other is their continuall prayer, but yt his wyll be fulfilled, and that his predifined intentes againste the peruerse multitude be finished at theyr conuenient times. None other is it to put into the Angels handes, the vials of gods displeasure, than thus to commit them by faithful prayer to his purposed decrées or fore set ordinaunces.
12 B…t because that commonly whan gods iudgements begin to wax knowen all thinges are commoned & troubled, therfore is it said here conseqently that the temple was full of smoke, by reason of the maiestie of God, and of his gloryous power. This smoke are certayne misteries, representing vntounto vsus the hidden maiestie of gods eternall presence. Whose brightnesse can no frayle vnderstanding abide. Not al the world could not sustaine it if all thinges were opē & playne cōcerninge it. In no wise could Moyses presently sée ye face of God, only might he be suffered to sée his backe partes, for no mā can se God & liue. Only is he sene here in this life as in a glasse, or vnderunder a dark speking. He appereth vntounto vsus here in a mistical smoke, like as he dyd to the patriarck Iacob in sléepe, to Moises in ye flaming bush, to Helias in ye horle winde, to the Apostles in fyery tōgs, & vntounto Ananias in a secret visiō.
13 Under ye shadow of figurate locuciō is his glory for the elect persons, and faithful beléeuers knowne. The vnfaithful reprobats beholdeth ye smoke, but neither perceiue thei in it the glory of god, nor ye maiestie of his presēce. They neither con…eiue his wonderfull workes, nor yet his Godly iudgements. Their folish harts are so darkned, that though they know God, yet glorifye they him not.
They sée ye smoke & perceyue ye world troubled (as it is alwaies when ye verity appeareth) but neuer ye more faith nor godly knowlege hauehave they. But ye whiche is vntounto the faithfull a rayse is vntounto thē a ruine. That is vntounto ye other ye power of God vntounto health, is vntounto them slander and folishnesse. And that is vntounto ye other a sauoure of life vntounto life, is vntounto them a sauour of death vntounto death. They remember not yt the Lord came down in fyre vntounto Moises vponupon Mount Synay when it smoked altogyther like a burnyng furnace, & therfore beare they away no glorified faces, or conciences depured by a true perfecte fayth.
14 And no man was able (saith ye text) to enter into the temple, til ye vii. deadly plages of ye .vii. Angels were wholy fulfilled. For though ye true beléeuers perceiue in ye misteries of ye scriptures, the present maiestie & mightie power of GOD, yet enter they not into full knowledge of him, being as yet subiect vntounto vanitie. For héere is there knowledge vnperfect, and their prophecying also. And therfore acknowledging their imbesilitie, and also wayting for ye reuelation of the children of God, they say with Saincte Paule. O the wonderfull déepenesse of the wisdome and knowledge of God. How incomprehē sible are his iudgements, and how vnsearcheable his wayes.
15 And at this point shal they stil be tyl the last iudgement day finish all. For the ful entring into the temple is none other then a whole perfect or consummate knowledge of God and hys mysteries. Which can not fully be had, till that which is vnperfect be done away, the creature deliuered from bondage of corruption. And til death be swalowed vp, ye vessell of corruption becommyng incorruptible, & the mortall body becō ming spiritual. The rightuous shal thā shine as doeth ye sunne in ye kingdom of their father, & glister as doth the bright stars world without end. What ye vij. plagues are, & what is their fulfilling, wil in this Chapter folowing appeare.