Exposition on the Catholic Epistles, Revelation · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
THE whole compaſſe of time from the beginning of the Goſpell to the laſt end of the world, hauing beene ſet forth with the moſt remarkable accidents in one kinde of viſion, Chap. 6, 7. here followeth another vponupon the opening of the ſeuenth ſeale, which yet remained in this eighth, and the ninth, tenth, and eleuenth Chapters. Wherein, after preparation to attention, and a preludium of Gods gracious acceptance of the prayers of the Saints, and of his terribleneſſe to the wicked, ſeuen Angels ſound their trumpets to call on the hoſts of Gods iudgements, to waſte both land and ſea, to infect their waters whereof they dranke, and the aire wherein they breathed, his hoſts of hurtfull beaſts comming out of the bottomleſſe pit, and of men brought from afarre vponupon horſes for their deſtruction; the laſt of the ſeuen, ſummoning all to iudgement, and making the very dead to come forth: for then the trumpet ſhall blow, 1 Cor. 15.and the dead ſhall riſe. In the particular opening of the ſeuerall paſſages, there is very great difficulty.
Queſt. 1. And when he had opened the ſeuenth ſeale, Verſ. 1.there was ſilence in heauen, as it were halfe an houre. What is meant by this ſilence?
Anſw. Some that will hauehave theſe viſions to ſet forth things done ſucceſſiuely,Brightman. aſſigne the opening of this ſeale to Conſtantines time, when the Church had peace and quietneſſe for a ſhort time, being broken off againe by the Arrians. Some referre it to the time after Antichriſts deſtruction, when they ſay the Church ſhall bee quiet fiue and forty dayes before the dry of iudgement,Rupertus. Beda. Anfelm. Richard. de Sancto Victore. Pannonius, &c. grounding vponupon that of Daniel 12.11. where 1290. dayes hauing beene ſpoken of for the cenſing of the daily ſacrifice, hee is pronounced bleſſed, that attaineth to 1335. Some referre it to the time of Iulians perſecution, which was not by fire and ſword, but by other ſubtill meanes;Blaſ. Viegas nameth thi… expoſition. yet they were debarred from all publike ſeruice of God, and ſo there was ſilence in the Church, but it was a very ſhort time, he reign…ng but two yeeres.
Others vnderſtand this ſilence of attention,Bullinger. Pareus. Forbs. Viegas. F…x, &c. or a kinde of ſtupour making all ſilent for a time at the appearing of the ſeuen Angels with their trumpets, the iudgements to come, when they ſhould blow, being ſo great and ſtrange, as that the beholders were in ſome ſort a ſtonied hereby and interrupted in their heauenly harmony, as it is wont to be with vsus when any ſtrange thing happeneth, and as it was with Iobs friends comming to viſit him, they ſate downe in ſilence by him ſeuen dayes.
Laſtly, one addeth further,Fox. that the generall peace when Chriſt is borne, is hereby ſignified. To this of admiration and attention do I ſubſcribe, but I doe not thinke any other ſignification to bee in this ſilence. The peace of the Chureh cannot be hereby meant for a time, becauſe the future troubles are not of the Church but of the wicked, as is plainly expreſſed vnderunder the fift trumpet, the Locuſts hurt onelyonly ſuch as had not the marke of God in their forehead: much leſſe can it bee vnderſtood of the quiet after Antichriſt deſtroyed, for then the day of iudgement ſhould immediatly hauehave ſucceeded, as it doth not, but ſix trumpets firſt. As for Iulians time, it were too great a leape to come to that at the firſt of this viſion, all the time preceding being omitted:Auguſtine. Primaſius. Marlorat. and whereas ſome expound it of the reſt to come, that being euerlaſting, it cannot be ſo taken. Note, that the iudgements againſt wicked perſecutors of the Church and people of God are ſo ſtupendious, that the very Saints and Angels in heauen ſtand amazed at them, being but in figures repreſented vntounto them.
Queſt. 2. And I ſaw the ſeuen Angels which ſtand before God. Verſ. 2.Who are theſe Angels?
Anſw. There may ſeeme to be ſuch an analogy betwixt this and that Chap. 1.4. Seuen ſpirits before the throne, that theſe Angels and thoſe ſpirits may ſeeme to be all one, and that in the apocryphall book of Tobit ſoundeth likewiſe, Tobit. 12.15. I am Raphael one of the ſeuen Angels which preſent the prayers of the Saints, &c. But as I ſhewed there, thoſe ſeuen ſpirits are not Angels, but them anifold gifts of the ſpirit; and here by the ſeuen Angels, wee are not to vnderſtand ſuch a number onelyonly ſtanding before God, for thouſand thouſands ſtand before him and miniſter vntounto him, but ſeuen of them appointed now to this miniſtery, and therefore they hauehave trumpets giuen vntounto them. It is contrary to plaine Scripture, and derogatory from the Lord Ieſus, to hold that there are ſome Angels which hauehave an office, as it were, to receiue and preſent our prayers before God: for Chriſt onelyonly is our interceſſour in heauen, if the Angels and Saints doe any thing for vsus, it is out of their generall louelove and affection to the Church, a ſolliciting of the Lord for the good of vsus all in common, that aduerſaries may be confounded, the Goſpell may enioy a free paſſage, and the choſen of God may be gathered together, till their number be made vp.
Queſt. 3. And another Angell came and ſtood by the Altar, Verſ. 3.hauing a golden cenſer, &c. What Angell is this, who is ſaid ſo particularly to offer odours with the prayers of the Saints, and what is meant by the thunders, lightnings, and voices following vponupon his caſting of fire vponupon the earth from off the ſame Altar?
Anſw. Moſt Expoſitours agree, that Chriſt is figured out by this Angell: for he is called the Angell of the Teſtament, Malac. 3.neither can it agree to any Angell as an high Prieſt thus alone to goe to the Altar and offer there for all the Saints: the Altar ſome will hauehave alſo to be Chriſt, as Bullinger and Pareus, and Forbs; Bullingers. Pareus. Forbs. Beda. Primaſius. Haimo.ſome the Church of God, well called an Altar, becauſe a ſpirituall ſacrifice is herein daily offered to God, as Beda, Primaſius, Haimo, &c. The golden Cenſer ſome will hauehave to bee his humane nature, wherein he offereth, as both the ſame ancients before named, and Origen. Hom. 6. in Numeros, and Auguſt. Serm. 98. de tem. others vnderſtand his precious paſſions, as Bullinger, &c. The odours which were giuen vntounto him, they expound of the ſights and groanes of Gods ſeruants, or of his graciouſneſſe, which is as ſweet odours added to our prayers to make them the more acceptable. One hath a ſtrange conceit,Brightman. that Conſtantine is meant by this Angell, who was the Author of gathering together that famous Councell of Nice, wherein that confeſſion of ſaith ſo acceptable to God was concluded vponupon, but it became an occaſion of much contention, by reaſon of Arrius and his ſect.Lyra. Another more ſtrangely vnderſtandeth Pope Damaſus, ann. 384. who inſtituted Pſalmodies and glory to the Father, &c. which were added to the common prayers.Rupertus. Ribera. Some vnderſtand it properly of an Angell, ſuch as he that was preſent to Iaacob in his iournying, or Gabriel that appeared to Mary. For mine owne part, I ſee ſo much againſt the moſt common vnderſtanding of this of Chriſt, as that I cannot thinke him to bee meant here. For firſt, he appeareth ſtill as a Lambe; ſecondly, this is ſaid to be but another Angell; thirdly, Odours are giuen vntounto him, as Trumpets to the reſt, intimating an equality betwixt them; fourthly, that the Prieſt, the Altar, and the Cenſer, ſhould be all one, it ſeemeth very improbable; fiftly, the prayers of the Saints are ſpoken of by the ſame phraſe that Chap. 5. where the foure and twenty Elders are ſaid to hauehave golaon Vials full of Odours, which are the prayers of the Saints. Where by the prayers of the Saints, their praiſing of God in Heauen, and praying for our good in generall being vnderſtood, and not the prayers of the godly vponupon earth, why ſhould it not be vnderſtood here likewiſe? I thinke then, that nothing elſe is here meant, but as before any viſion of future things a preparation was made thereunto by a repreſentation of Gods Maieſty, and of the Lambe delighted in the deuotions of his ſeruants as in a ſweet perſume, but terrible to the wicked, and therefore iſſued thunders, lightnings, and voices from before him: ſo now the ſecond particular viſion being prepared vntounto, it is ſet forth in the figure of this Angell, ſtanding at the Altar and offering Odours with the prayers of the Saints which come vp before God, how acceptable the ſeruice is which by the godly is done vntounto God; and in the fire taken and caſt vponupon the earth, producing voices, thunders, &c. how terrible he will be to the wicked of this world. For the Altar and Cenſer, it is beyond the intent of this place particularly to deſcant vponupon them, the ſeruice which is done vntounto God being doubtleſſe thus ſet forth in alluſion to the old manner of worſhipping. In the former repreſentation, Prayers are called Odours, here Odours are added vntounto them, Odours to Odours to ſhew yet further their extraordinary ſweetneſſe: their voices and thunders, &c. iſſue forth, here is ſhewed by what meanes, viz. coales taken from the Altar, ſignifying that howſoeuer the holy fire with ſweet Odours maketh a pleaſant ſmell, yet without Odours it yeeldeth a thundring and terrifying noiſe, the wicked that pray not can expect nothing but terrour and affrighting from the Lord, who is moſt comfortable to the godly, frequenting him with their prayers. As for that expoſition of ſome,Beda. Haimo. Bullinger. Pareus, &c. vnderſtanding the ſending downe of the holy Ghoſt in the likeneſſe of fiery tongues, whereupon ſome were terrified as by thundring, ſome inſtructed as by voices, ſome conuerted as the earth is moued in an earthquake: I cannot ſee how it agreeth to the terrible things following,Fox. ſome way whereunto is made in this paſſage. I aſſent therefore to thoſe rather who expound it of terrour, as I hauehave already ſaid: neither is it ſtrange that the prayers of the Saints comming vp before God, the fire of his anger ſhould be ſtirred vp againſt the wicked world, occaſioning ſo many ſighs and grones to come from them.
Queſt. 3. And the firſt Angell ſounded, Verſ. 7, &c.and there was haile and fire mingle with bloud, &c. Becauſe there is a noted diſtance betwixt the foure firſt Trumpets and the other three, and theſe foure doe immediatly follow one after another, it will be fitteſt to handle theſe together. What therefore is figured out by the things appearing at the ſounding of theſe foure?
Anſw. Some will hauehave theſe ſeuen Angels to repreſent the Miniſters of the Goſpell at ſeuerall times and ages of the world: for as they ſounded forth the Word of truth, aduerſaries ſoone ſprung vp, who ſought by their fierce oppoſitions to ſuppreſſe it.Haime. Caelius. Pannonius. Richard. de Sancto Victore. Zeger, &c. The firſt were the Apoſtles, at whoſe preaching there was great tumult in the world, to the ſhedding of the bloud of many, ſet forth by haile, and fire, and bloud mingled with them, the trees & graſſe burnt vp were ſuch, as for feare fell frō the Religion which they had imbraced: or elſe by the haile, &c. they vnderſtand a mixed company of good and bad Chriſtians gathered together from the reſt of the world; of which the bad, which are the third part, are burnt vp, that is, periſh by Gods iuſt iudgement, and are called trees becauſe of their inſtabilitie in times of winds, and graſſe for their frailtie.
The ſecond ranke of Preachers ſet forth by the ſecond Angell, where the ſucceſſours of the Apoſtles in the next age, againſt whom the Deuill, as a great burning mountaine falleth, and the third part of the ſea is turned into bloud by the deſtruction of the faithfull, the fiſhes die by the reuolting of the wauering, and many teachers who as ſhips had carried on others, through the greatneſſe of the perſecution fall away.
The third ranke ſet forth by the third Angell, are the Preachers of the next age, to trouble whom Heretikes riſe vp, theſe are the Star falling from Heauen, giuing light in times paſt; but now making bitter, by their hereticall doctrine, the fountaines of holy Scriptures and the riuers of the Fathers, by corrupting them to maintaine their hereſies thereby.
The fourth ranke ſet forth by the fourth Angell, are the Preachers of theſe laſt times, who are troubled by Hypocrites and falſe Prophets, that vnderunder a pretext of holineſſe broach new opinions, whereby it commeth to paſſe, that a good part of the true knowledge of Chriſt is obſcured, which is the darkning of the Sunne to the third part; and the true Church, which is the Moone, much diſtminiſhed; and the Doctors, which are the Starres, giuegive not ſo cleare light through this meanes as before.
Lyra. Bullinger. Aretius.Some vnderſtand Heretikes and hereſies of ſeuerall ages, to encounter with whom the faithfull are ſtirred vp by theſe Trumpets ſounded. For firſt, Arrius infected the third part of the world with his hereſie. Secondly, Macedonius infected the Sea with his hereſie, denying the holy Ghoſt to bee God; the Sea is the Church, ſo called by reaſon of baptiſme; the fiſhes, Chriſtians, who died by this hereſie, &c. Thirdly, Pelagius fell like a Starre from preaching the truth to that hereſie of free will, which was as bitter worm-wood, as being contrary to the ſweet Doctrine of iuſtification by the grace of Chriſt.
Fourthly, Eutiches darkned the third part of the Sunne, by reaching that there was but one nature in Chriſt, obſcuring thus his Diuinity. Bullinger differing ſomewhat from this, maketh the firſt Angels ſounding to be in the time of the Nazarens, and Hebionites, who maintained that iuſtification was not by faith onelyonly, but partly by the Law, the haile of corrupt doctrine being thus mingled with the fire of pretended zeale. The ſecond in the time of the Valentinians, Mannichees, and Montaniſts, who as a burning mountaine ſought to ouerwhelme all things. The third, in the time of Arrius, and Samoſatenus. The fourth in the time of Pelagius.
Others parallel theſe Trumpets with the Seales, at the opening whereof,Pareus. Gloſſa. iſſued firſt a white horſe, here is fire and haile mingled with bloud, as the effect of the Apoſtles preaching amongſt the wicked Iewes. Secondly, a red horſe, here is a burning mountaine, hot perſecution ſtirred vp by the Heathen Emperours to the deſtruction of many. Thirdly, a blacke horſe, here a Starre falleth from Heauen, ſetting forth the Authors of bitter hereſies. Fourthly, a pale horſe, here the Sunne, Moone, and Starres are ſaid to be darkned, all things growing corrupt in the Church. Some interpret theſe ſeuen Trumpets of ſeuen great iudgements, which hauehave beene vponupon the world ſince the beginning: firſt, by the Floud; ſecondly, by fire in Sodome; thirdly, by the red Sea, drowning Pharaoh and his hoſt; fourthly, of the Canaanites expelled, &c. as Aretius ſaith.
Some vnderſtand them of the degrees, by which Antichriſt grew vntounto his height of impiety:Forbs. firſt, there were hot contentions; ſecondly, great ambition; thirdly, corrupting of the holy Scriptures by falſe gloſſes and interpretations; fourthly, groſſe ignorance like darkneſſe following after this, eueryevery of theſe euils being more dangerous than the preceding one, as the ſea is not ſo groſſe as the earth, and the riuers are purer than the ſea, and the Sunne, Moone, and Starres yet aboue all: ſo in the corrupting of one of theſe there is more danger than in the other. When fire and haile are caſt vponupon the earth, it is grieuous; but when a burning mountaine is caſt into the Sea, it is more grieuous, &c.
Some particularly referre the haile and fire to the contentions in the Councell of Nice, Brightman.the burning Mountaine caſt into the Sea to the Canons made in the ſame Councell, touching the dignity of Archbiſhops and Metropolitans, &c. the Starre called Worm-wood, to the reuiuing of Arrianiſme after Conſtantines time, and the darkning of the third part of the Sunne, &c. to the moſt bloudy perſecution of the Vandals in Affrita vnderunder Genſericus, ann. 438.
Laſtly, not to weary the Reader with more varieties, ſome vnderſtand the iudgemets of God at foure ſpeciall times executed vponupon the Iewes and wicked Heathen for perſecuting the Church and ſeruants of God: firſt,Fox. the deſtruction of Ieruſalem; ſecondly, a fearefull peſtilence waſting many Prouinces in the time of Antoninus Ʋerus, a bloody perſecutor, chiefly Rome and Italy, and warres thorowout all the Eaſt,Beda. Aurelius Victo. Euſebius. and Illiricum at the ſame time, with earth-quakes, plagues, ouerflowings of waters, &c. ſo that nothing which might make the world miſerable was wanting in his daies. Thirdly, the Peſtilence of ten whole yeeres raging all ouer the world in the daies of Galitenus, who together with his father Valerianus, had beene a moſt bloudy perſecutor. It beganne in Ethiopia, Pomponius.and hauing conſumed the people in the ſouth, it ſpred into the Eaſt, and other parts of the world, exhauſting the greateſt part of the inhabitants, and leauing ſome places altogether without inhabitants. At the ſame time alſo great ſtirre was in all parts of the Roman Empire except Italy, Euſebius. Sabellicus.ſo as it was not a long time before. Cilicia, Syria, Cappadocia, were waſted by the Perſians. Pontus, Aſia, Macedonia, and Grecia, by the Gothes. The Pannonians by the Quadi and Sarmatians, &c. and vntounto theſe he ioyneth the miſeries in the daies of Diocleſianus and Maximianus, who ſtirred vp the greateſt perſecution that euer was, after that the Church had enioyed liberty foure and forty yeeres, viz. from the death of Valerianus to the nineteenth yeere of Diocleſianus. All the ten yeeres of this perſecution there were great commotions of peoples,Euſebius. and ſuch a famine accompanied with peſtilence, that an infinite multitude died hereof. Then they would giuegive their moſt precious things for a little food, and ſelling their poſſeſſions for food, became very poore. Some are graſſe and hurtfull weeds, and ſome noble women went out of Cities into the country to beg. Some going about like ſhadowes ready to fall here and there, ſtretching out their hands craued ſomething to be giuen to them, who were ready to die for hunger, and the ſtreets and market-places lay full of dead bodies, there being none to bury them. And ſuch of the wealthier ſort as eſcaped the danger of the famine, were conſumed by the Peſtilence. Fourthly, the irruptions of the Vandals, Goths, Longobards, and of other barbarous people into the Eaſt and Weſt, from the yeeres 475. deſtroying the Emperours, and preuailing till the time of Carolus Magnus.
Amongſt ſo many varieties it is hard to determine. But ſeeing it is moſt apparant, that the iudgements which ſhould come vponupon the wicked world are here figured out, in that vnderunder the fift Trumpet they only are ſaid to be hurt by the Locuſts, who had not the ſeale of God in their foreheads; and vnderunder the ſixt, that notwithſtanding all which they ſuffered, they repented not of their idolatries and murthers, &c. whence it may be more than probably gathered, that the foure firſt Trumpets tend to the ſetting forth of the like. I cannot aſſent to their expoſitions, which apply theſe things either to perſecutions or hereſies, or hypocriſies, or to the degrees by which Antichriſt aroſe. And ſeeing the purpoſe of theſe viſions is not to ſhew things paſt, but to come, that expoſition referring the great iudgements of former ages hither, is to bee reiected. I doe therefore partly aſſent to the laſt expoſition, applying theſe terrible euents vponupon the ſounding of theſe foure Trumpets, vntounto the grieuous puniſhments inflicted vponupon wicked perſecutors, at foure moſt remarkable times: firſt, at the deſtruction of Ieruſalem; ſecondly, in the time of Antonius Ʋerus; thirdly, of Galienus; fourthly, of Diocleſianus. For whereas he maketh the two laſtone, and bringeth in the Vandals and Goths for the fourth; I hold, that there being ſuch a diſtance of almoſt forty yeeres, there ſhould be a diſtinction of theſe iudgements alſo. But how doe theſe apparitions agree to theſe iudgements, being almoſt eueryevery one alike, the Sword, Famine, and Peſtilence, where as in the figures firſt there is haile, and fire, and bloud vponupon earth, then a burning mountaine in the ſea, &c. eueryevery one differing greatly from another? I anſwer, that the Lord did not reſpect ſo much the diuerſity of euils to come, as the number of them and the greatneſſe, able to make all men to turne their eyes to behold and bee amazed at them. And more particularly, theſe are made choiſe of to ſet them forth after the manner of the Prophets, who are wont to allude vntounto ſome remarkable Hiſtory of things paſt, in foretelling of things to come, though they be not of the very ſame kinde: for vponupon the Egyptians theſe things were done almoſt according to the letter, there was haile and fire mingled together, their Riuers were ſo ſmitten, as that they could not drinke of them without dying, there was darkneſſe of three dayes and three nights; and finally, the red Sea like bloud, falling vponupon them as a huge mountaine, became their deſtruction, being like fiſhes tumbled vp and downe in the deepe. To ſhew then that theſe profeſſed enemies and perſecutors of Chriſtianity ſhould be deſtroyed by Gods Iudgements, as Pharaoh and the Egyptians were, theſe figures are taken vp, and becauſe they had many waies to torment Chriſtians, the Lord ſheweth that they alſo ſhould be plagued many waies, and be deſtroyed with ſtrange iudgements before vnheard of. For it is Gods manner to puniſh ſinners in their kinde; the Sodomites, who burnt with ſtrange luſts, with a burning fire from Heauen; the builders of Babel, who ſought them a name, with confuſion; and the enemies of the Chriſtian Religion, who ſought out ſtrange tortures, with a burning mountaine and worme-wooddy Starre, &c. iudgements ſtrange and terble. And the third part of the Sea, and the third part of trees, &c. are ſaid to bee affected with theſe iudgements as I thinke, becauſe it was but a third part of the whole world where theſe tragedies were acted, if the parts vnknowne till of late, and yet vnknowne be conſidered.
Queſt. 4. And I ſaw and heard an Angell flying thorow the midſt of Heauen, ſaying with a loud voice, Woe, Verſ. 13.&c. What Angell was this, and why is this cry interpoſed here?
Anſw. The vulgar Latine, and Arias Montanus, for Angell reade Eagle, I ſaw an Eagle flying, but in all other Copies it is an Angell.Lyra. Petr. Damaſ. Viegas. Ribera. Hereupon ſome ſtand to finde out why an Eagle ſhould be vſed to cry thus, and reſolue that it was one of the foure animals like an Eagle, and ſome Iohn himſelfe, who was hereby figured out, and ſome the Preachers of the laſt times, or ſome ſingular Preacher, who ſhould foretell the iudgements of thoſe daies. Beda, Arethas, and Ticonius follow the vulgar: but there is the like paſſage againe afterwards, Reuel. 14.6. where it is ſpoken of an Angell, putting it out of doubt that it is an Angell here alſo.Forbs. Brightman. Pareus. Some will hauehave this Angell to be Gregory the great, who gaue warning of the Ant… chriſt not aboue three yeeres before, lib. 4. Epiſt. 34. The king of pride is at hand, and which is horrible to ſpeake, an army of Prieſts is prepared, Epiſt. 38. He iterateth the ſame, and addeth, He is Antichriſt that ſhall challenge to himſelfe to be vniuerſall Biſhop.
Not much aboue three yeeres after, Boniface the third tooke vponupon him this title, and his ſucceſſors likewiſe to this day, plainly declaring the Pope to be Antichriſt euen by their owne rule, which is, That the Pope cannot erre. And therefore Pope Gregory erred not in thus ſaying, but it was truth which he ſo ſeriouſly and often affirmed, Hee that will be vniuerſall Biſhop, is Antichriſt. This, howſoeuer it be true, yet it hath no place here, for the woes proclaimed are not againſt the Church, but the inhabitants of the earth, by which name wicked ſhedders of the innocent bloud of Chriſtians are complained againſt vnderunder the fift Seale. It is more genuine therefore by this Angell to vnderſtand an Angell properly, as in ſpeaking of other Angels, who flyeth thorow the midſt of the Heauen, that the ſound of his denunciation might bee heard eueryevery where, hee giueth warning of greater plagues yet to come. Hitherto terrible iudgements againſt profeſſed enemies of Chriſtianity riding vponupon the red horſe had beene repreſented, now the caſe of heretikes and of corrupters of Religion in the Papacy commeth to bee deſcribed in the fift and ſixt Trumpets, and the finall deſtruction of all the wicked in the ſeuenth: and becauſe theſe indgements ſhould yet be more grieuous than the former, it is cried, Woe, woe, woe, as there were three times of execution yet to come, that if it were poſſible, mens hard hearts might be pierced, and many being brought to repentance might eſcape theſe euills. For it is Gods vſuall manner to giuegive warning before hee ſtriketh, which if it be not taken, the heauier will the iudgements bee when they come.