Exposition on the Catholic Epistles, Revelation · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
WHat is figured out by this Beaſt, Queſt. Verſ. 1.whereof it is ſaid, I ſaw a beaſt aſcending out of the Sea, hauing ſeuen heads and ten hornes, and vponupon his hornes ten crownes, and vponupon his heads the names of blaſphemy. Verſ. 2. And hee was like to a Leopard, &c.
Anſw. There is great difference amongſt Expoſitors here, ſome holding this beaſt to be a figure of the Turke, Viterbienſis.both becauſe he riſeth out of the Sea, and waters afterwards are expounded to ſet forth peoples and Nations, Chap. 17.15. for the Turkiſh Empire conſiſted of diuers peoples, Arabians, Turkes, Saracens, Tartarians, &c. and the ſimilitudes agree of a Leopard, becauſe he hath the Kingdome of the Grecians in Daniel figured out by a Leopard, and of the Perſian figured out by a Beare, and of the Aſſyrians figured out by a Lion: for euen the Perſians and Aſſyrians are Mahumetans, though vnderunder another King; the blaſphemies alſo of this ſtate againſt Chriſt and the warres with all Chriſtians, and the inuincible power doe all agree. But for ſo much as this beaſt is ſaid to hauehave ſeuen heads,Chap. 17.9, 10. which are interpreted Chap. 17. to be ſeuen Mountaines and ſeuen Kings, whereof fiue are fallen, one is now (in the writing of this) ſaid to be, and the ſeuenth yet for to come, it cannot poſſibly be applied vntounto the Turke, but vntounto Reme, famous for the ſeuen hils and the diuers manners of gouernment like ſo many Kings. Againe, one of theſe heads is wounded to the death and yet liueth againe; and the ſecond beaſt comming with wonders to deceiue the world cauſeth men to worſhip this beaſt, which can no way agree vntounto the Turkiſh State.
Tertul. Ieronim. Euſebius. Oroſius. Bullinger. Fox. Oſiander. Iunius. Aretius. Whitaker. Graſſer. Seb. Meyer. Aug. Marlorat. Primaſius. Rupertus. Haimo.Others therefore will hauehave this beaſt to be a figure of the heathen Emperours of Rome, ſet forth in Dan. 7.8. by a beaſt with ten hornes, and with a mouth ſpeaking great things. The ſeuen heads ſome will hauehave to bee ſeuen ſorts of gouernment in that ſtate, viz. of Kings, Conſuls, the Decemuiri, Dictators, the Triumuiri, Emperours and Popes, as Petrus Artopaeus, and Fulke. Some ſeuen particular perſons who gouerned that ſtate, either the firſt from Romulus to Tarquinius, or from Iulius to Nero, or from Nero to Nerua, as Bullinger and Dauid Chytreaus. The ten hornes ſome apply to all the Kings vnderunder this Empire, who ioyning their forces together, ſought to root out Chriſtianity. Some to the Conſuls reigning in ſeuerall Prouinces, who had power like Kings, as Borrheus and Chytreus, and ſome to thoſe …en Tyrants in ſpeciall, who ſtirred vp the ten perſecutions, Nero, Domitianus, Traianus, Antoninus, Seuerus, Maximinus, Decius, Ʋalerianus, Aurelianus, Diocleſianus and Maximinianus together, as Fox. Dent.And this Empire, ſome ſay, is likened to a Leopard for velocity in conquering as the Grecian was,Alphonſus. Fox. to a Beare for voracity as the Perſian was, and to a Lion for courage and audacity in attempting, as the Aſſyrian was, or ſimply becauſe theſe rulers were as outragious againſt the people of God, as theſe wilde beaſts vſually are. For other circumſtances about this beaſt, they ſhall be further conſidered by and by.
*Irenaeus. Ambroſe. Proſper. Methodius. Arethas. Andreas. Bellarmin. Gagneus. Ribera.There is a third opinion of ſuch as hold Antichriſt to be figured out here both by the firſt and ſecond beaſt, affirming that they are both one and the ſame, but in diuers reſpects ſaid to be one and another, for which they bring diuers reaſons. Firſt, becauſe the deſcription of this beaſt & of the little horne in Daniel, which by the conſent of all is a figure of Antichriſt doth notably agree. Secondly, becauſe the beaſt out of the bottomleſſe pit, Chap. 11. which is Antichriſt, and this out of the ſea is all one. Thirdly, becauſe that beaſt, Chap. 17. which is Antichriſt, and this is all one. Laſtly, whatſoeuer is to be expected in Antichriſt for blaſpheming, for vniuerſall reigning, and for being followed and adored, is attributed to this beaſt. Hitherto therefore euen the moſt learned amongſt the Romaniſts agree: but when it is more particularly determined who this Antichriſt is, they part: for they expect one to come, and ours hold that he is the Pope of Rome, with the whole ſucceſſion of that Sea euer ſince Phocas granted vntounto him to bee vniuerſall Biſhop.
Theſe two opinions, howſoeuer they may ſeeme either of them ſo probable, as that it is hard to except againſt them, yet if ſome circumſtances be conſidered, they doe neither fully ſatisfie, but there is need yet to finde out ſome other expoſition of theſe viſions. For firſt, that of the Heathen Emperours cannot be ſo well approued, becauſe the Deuils fight by his inſtruments againſt the Church in her deſolate eſtate is here ſet forth, as is moſt plaine from the laſt words of the twelfth Chapter, which as it hath beene proued, muſt needs be referred to the times of Popery and not of Heatheniſme, and the time of two and forty moneths, and the circumſtance of making warre with the Saints doe ſo agree with the beaſts making warre with the two Witneſſes, and the holy Cities being trodden vnderunder foot two and forty moneths, Chap. 11. as that it is doubtleſſe the ſame vnderunder another figure and in other words. Againe, for that of the Roman Antichriſt, howſoeuer he be here ſet forth, yet I cannot ſee how two beaſts riſing out of diuers places at ſeuerall times and ſhapes ſhould be one & the ſame. It is true indeed, after mention here once made of two, both in the end of this Chapter and afterwards Chap. 17. we reade but of one, yet this proueth not that they are both one, for the word is varied, Chap. 17. and that which is here another beaſt with two hornes, is there a woman ſitting vponupon the beaſt, and Chap. 19.20. the falſe prophet, and ſo likewiſe Chap. 20.10. For the beaſt and the falſe prophet are caſt into the lake of fire. It ſeemeth therefore to mee that by the firſt beaſt is to be vnderſtood the Imperiall Roman ſtate, diffuſed thorowout ſo many Countries and Nations, all ouer which Antichriſt reigneth: and by the ſecond, which is afterwards ſaid alſo to be a woman and a falſe prophet, the Hierarchy of Rome, which as Antichriſt ſwaieth all againſt the truth of Chriſt, cauſing men rather to reuerence and to ſtand in awe of his greatneſſe, which conſiſteth in the beaſt whereupon he rideth, and which hee weildeth and ordereth at his pleaſure. And to this Pareus in effect plainly commeth,Pareus. Chap. 17.8. when as hauing found ſome incongruities in the expoſitions of all others about the beaſt, of which it is ſaid, It was, and is not, and yet ſhall aſcend, he determineth that Antichriſt was in the Heathen Monarchy of the Romans, becauſe that Monarchy afterwards became Antichriſts, and yet hee is ſaid not to be, that is, in Saint Iohns time, becauſe he had not yet that power. And according to this, all circumſtances will well agree, neither can any exception be iuſtly taken againſt it. The beaſt comming out of the Sea ſetteth forth the Roman Empire generally to be conſidered from the firſt ariſing thereof euen vntounto the end, with a ſpeciall reference to that which ſhould be done therein in the two and forty moneths, or 1260. daies, or a time, times, and halfe a time of Antichriſts iuriſdiction, when the Church ſhould be moſt indangered, for the better knowledge of which Antichriſt, this ſtate wherein he ſhould gouerne is ſo fully deſcribed. So that if any man ſhall obiect that the order of theſe viſions, this being after the perſecuting of the woman who fled into the Wilderneſſe, will not beare ſuch an expoſition as whereby it ſhould be vnderſtood of the Roman Empire from the beginning, which was long before, it is eaſily anſwered; that for ſo much as the thing intended is not to ſhew when this Empire began, or what was anciently done therein, but only ſo farre forth as might auaile to giuegive light into thoſe paſſages that properly concerned after times, which could not without propounding a generall view of that eſtate from the beginning be ſo well conceiued of, order may well admit ſuch a figure to be brought vponupon the ſtage, as whereby things long before paſt are repreſented, being auaileable to helpe to the vnderſtanding of the figures of things afterwards to come. For the ſimilitude of a beaſt it is vſuall, and it was before in Daniel, by a beaſt to repreſent a Monarchy, which is againſt the truth, becauſe ſuch hauehave no more vnderſtanding than a beaſt, and as a monſtrous beaſt deuoureth and deſtroieth moſt cruelly. It is ſaid to riſe out of the Sea becauſe it is conſtituted of many peoples, as was ſaid before, for waters are afterwards expounded to be peoples. The ſeuen heads are the ſeuen ſorts of gouernment in that Monarchy, for thus it will agree beſt, as I ſhall afterwards ſhew, Chap. 17. the ten hornes crowned are the Prouinces wherein Conſuls with a regall power ruled. The names of blaſphemy were the arrogant titles that ſome Emperours in this ſtate tooke to themſelues,Chron. Laurentij L…berg. Nero & Domitianus prodijs immort-ſe adorari iubent, & de Domitiano ſcriptum reperitur, ſic dominus Deus noſter Domitianus iubet, ſic & Diocleſianus. as the title of God vſurped by Caius Caligula, and to make men the rather to beleeue him to be a God, to thunder and lighten by deuices which he had: for this is commonly counted blaſphemy, as we may ſee in the Goſpell, where they ſaid that Chriſt blaſphemed, becauſe being man he made himſelfe God, when as God, he forgaue ſinnes.
Note, that before God they are beaſts and monſters, and no men, how great ſoeuer they bee, which are void of the knowledge of God and of his truth,Note. and ſhall certainly goe into perdition for that which they doe wickedly in their ignorance as this beaſt did, that no man may be drawne by the pompe and outward glory of ſuch men to admire them as happy, or to follow their wicked examples, but auoid them as monſters amongſt men.
Queſt. 2. What meaneth the diuers figure of this beaſt, where it is ſaid,Verſ. 2. He was like to a Leopard, and his feet as the feet of a Beare, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion, &c.
Anſw. Theſe ſimilitudes are borrowed from Daniel 7. where the foure Monarchies of the world are compared to foure beaſts, the firſt a Lion, the ſecond a Beare, the third a Leopard, and the fourth diuers from all theſe, and therefore not aſſimilated to any creature, intimating a certaine compound thing of many, which in all likelihood is the ſame with this or ſuch another, but there the aſſimilation is concealed, here declared to be compounded of thoſe three, becauſe that whatſoeuer ſauage and brutiſh qualities were in all the Monarchies before deſcribed, doe all concurre in this alone, or becauſe in the long continuance of time wherein this Empire hath ſtood, there hauehave beene thus many metamorphoſes, it being ſometime Heatheniſh, ſometime Arrian, and ſometime Popiſh. The Dragon, that is, the Deuill, is ſaid to giuegive him his power and Throne in reſpect of the large extent of this dominion into all Countries and Nations, as hee ſaid ſometime vntounto Chriſt when he ſhewed him all the Kingdomes of the earth, All theſe are mine, and to whom I will I giuegive them: Mat. 4.and becauſe as a Vice-gerent of the Deuill, this Empire hath almoſt in all ages, but ſpecially in the time of Antichriſt, who is chiefly aimed at here, maintained the worſhipping of the Deuill, for ſuch idolatry is,Reuel. 2.13. ſee Chap. 9.20. and where wickedneſſe reigneth it was ſaid before that Satans Throne is.
Queſt. 3. What head is this, whereof it is ſaid, One of the heads was wounded to death, and his deadly wound was cured, and all the earth wondred after the beaſt, &c.
Anſw. Pareus mentioneth diuers opinions; firſt,Pareus: Graſſerus. Bullinger. of ſome that hold Iulius Ceſar to hauehave bin this head, who was killed in the Senate, but liued againe as it were in Auguſtus. Secondly, of ſomewhat hold Nero to hauehave beene this head, becauſe in his death the family of the Ceſars was extinct, and after him three others, Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, were cut off in a few moneths, whereby there ſeemed now to be an end of the Emperours: but in Veſpaſian, who ſucceeded next, this wound was cured. Thirdly, of ſome that hold Heraclius in the Eaſt to hauehave beene this head, in whoſe daies by the Turkes in the Eaſt, and the Barbarians in the Weſt, the Imperiall State became deſperate: but it was cured by Charles the great. And at lenghth he deliuereth his owne opinion, that the Pope is this head, who was deadly wounded when the diuiſion hapned betwixt the Italians and the French, the Italians chooſing for Pope Vrban the ſixth, the French Clement the ſeuenth, about ann. 1390. after whom two Popes, and laſtly, three continued till the Councell of Conſtance, ann. 1417. when by the conſtituting of one againe, Martin the fifth, and the depoſition of the three this deadly wound was cured. The two firſt he confuteth rightly, becauſe thoſe things hapned before this Reuelation; whereunto it may be added that particular Emperours were not the heads here ſpoken of: for then the beaſt ſhould hauehave had not ſeuen, but many more heads. The third ſhall be further conſidered afterwards.
Touching his owne opinion, I cannot ſee how it can ſtand, becauſe that after this all the world is ſaid to follow after the beaſt, and warre is made with the Saints who are ouercome, and power is giuen to the beaſt to doe two and forty moneths, whereas after the Councell of Conſtance many that had followed the Pope within a few yeeres fell from him, and warres were made againſt him with ſucceſſe in diuers places, neither is his time halfe ſo long, if we reckon the 42. moneths, as in Chap. 11.
Alphonſus Mantuanus an Italian referreth this wound to the time of the breaking forth of the light of the Goſpell,Alphonſus Mantuanus. whereby diuers Countries in a ſhort time fell from the Pope, by which as by a deadly wound he ſeemed, as it were, to lye a dying, but reuiued againe by proſpering in his warres vndertaken againſt the Reformers: but neither doth the time agree to this.
There is another opinion,Fox. that this mortall wound was giuen by the Goths and Vandals, whoſe Hiſtory, and how deadly they wounded the Roman State, ſee vponupon Chap. 9. vnderunder the fift Trumpet. This wound beganne ann. 469. and laſted till that Totilas being ouercome by Narſes, a Captaine ſent by Iuſtinian Emperour in the Eaſt, about ann. 560. there was an end put to the Kingdome of the Goths, and this they count the healing of this wound; one part of the ſtate being brought to miſery by theſe barbarous people, but the other remaining whole ſtill vnderunder the Emperours of the Eaſt, and ſuccouring it thus in proceſſe of time. And when the Longobards had againe brought a great part in ſubiection to them reigning 204. yeeres, they were expelled by Charles the great, being ſtirred vp hereunto by the Pope, and thus this wound was perfectly cured.
Others agreeing in the wound,Forbs. hold that the cure was made by the Popes of Rome working by flattery, and the pretence of ſanctity ſo effectually euen with the Conquerours, that they brought their necks vnderunder their yoke, and ſo reigned ouer all in the priſtin ſplendor of the old Roman Empire. And ſome conſent that Iuſtinian beganne the cure,Brightman. not onelyonly by repreſſing thoſe Barbarians, but alſo by decreeing that the Biſhop of old Rome ſhould be the chiefe Prieſt of all,Conſtitut. Iuſtiniani 131. Decernimus ſecundum ſacrarum ſynodorum decreta ſanctiſ: veteris Romae Epiſcopum primum eſſe omnium ſ… cerdotum. and Phocas perfected it about 50. yeeres after, when he made him vniuerſall Biſhop.
Touching theſe three laſt, and the third before mentioned by Pareus, there is not much difference in them: for they all agree about the time when this wound was giuen, namely when the Goths and Vandals with other Barbarians preuailed ſo far, as that the Roman Empire was quite ouerthrowne & lay diuers yeeres for dead. And this is vndoubtedly the wound here meant, which cannot be applied to any particular perſon to be vnderſtood by this head, becauſe it reuiueth gaine, ſo as neuer did any particular Emperour; but to the Imperiall ſtate which had life again afterwards, & was more adored and admired than euer, as is here afterwards declared. The difference then is about the time of this cure and the perſon by whom it was wrought. And herein I prefer that expoſition which maketh the Pope the Chirurgeon, by flatteries & colourable perſwaſions, aduancing his Sea at Rome to as vniuerſall a ſouereignty as was ſometime that of the imperial ſeat in the ſame City, which was effected in the daies of Phocas. ann. 606. and more eſtabliſhed not long after by Pipin the French King, and vindicated from the moleſtation of the Longobards by Charles the great his ſonne, and in proceſſe of time by the Popes practiſes augmented, ſo as that this ſea reigned as well in the Eaſt as in the Weſt, euen as the old Roman Emperours were wont to doe. And thus, as this deadly wound was long in making, being begun when Conſtantine the great diuided the Eaſt from the Weſt, (which was a great weakening to this State, Rome reigning now but in theſe Weſterne parts, which was wont to reigne ouer all) and growing more deepe and deadly by the comming in of the Barbarians: ſo it was long in curing, the cure being begunne in the time of Phocas, and increaſed by a Councell at Conſtantinople in the time of Baſilius who ſlew his aſſociate Michael, Conſtantinop. Concil. the eighth. generall Councellthat he might reigne alone, ann. 871. and perfected in the time of Michael Paleologus, ann. 1273. when the Grecians alſo were by his perfidie ſubiected to the Sea of Rome. I doe not thinke it ſo fit to aſcribe this cure to any of theſe Emperours, becauſe howſoeuer they were helpes, yet the other beaſt ſpoken of afterwards is plainly intimated to be he that cured this wound, and this beaſt is the papall Sea, as it ſhall further appeare when I come to explaine thoſe words.Pet. du Moulin. The accompliſhment of propheſies. One, a learned Writer that came now to my hands, differeth from all others about the time of this wound, for he aſſigneth it vntounto the time of Aiſtulphus King of the Lombards, who he ſaith gaue this deadly wound vntounto one of the heads, when he deſtroyed the Exarchate of Rauenna, which had continued 200. yeeres from Narſes, as a Lieutenantſhip to the Emperours of the Eaſt: but he hauing now ſubdued the Exarch, challenged Rome alſo as a part of the Exarchate, ann. 750. Hereupon Steuen the ſecond being then Pope, craued aid from Pepin the Emperour, being vnable to helpe, and preuailed ſo farre that hee came into Italy the firſt and the ſecond time, ſubdued Aiſtulphus, tooke the Exarchate from him and beſtowed it vponupon the Pope, making him hereby Lord of Italy, ann. 755. This expoſition maketh the head here ſaid to be wounded to the death to remaine whole, euen when the Roman Empire ceaſed to be, becauſe there were Exarchs vnderunder the caſterne Emperours ſtill, whereas the Imperiall dignity of Rome being this head, it was certainly thus wounded notwithſtanding the continuance of an Exarchate of Italy. The beſtowing of this Lordſhip vponupon the Pope was not then the curing of the wound, but a perfecting of the cure begun long before, and now made more perfect ſeeing that from the time of Phocas at Rome there was exerciſed a kinde of imperiall power which in time grew more and more.
Queſt. 4.Verſ. 4. How is the whole world ſaid to admire after the beaſt, and to worſhip the Dragon that gaue power to the beaſt, and the beaſt?
Anſw. They admire after the beaſt, that out of a venerable opinion conceiued of the beaſt follow him:Brightman. Moulin. and ſo all the world in a manner being drawne to it by inſtruments ſent out from the Pope hauehave followed him. England in the daies of Gregory, firſt by Auguſtine a Monke; France, Friſland, Denmarke, Germany, Slauony, by Boniface or Venefrid, about ann. 720. about which time alſo Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Sweuia, Lituania, &c. were brought to venerate this power. They worſhip the Dragon, that is, the Deuill, who worſhip Idols, and the beaſt, that ſpeake and make account of this ſtate as of God and Chriſt Ieſus himſelfe,Brightman. Pareus. for infallibility of iudgement & immunity from all errour: yet ſome make theſe two to be one, the worſhipping of the Beaſt and of the Dragon, ſeeing in the Beaſt, the Dragon who doth ſet him vp is worſhipped.Bullinger. Some vnderſtanding all of the Roman Empire in the time of Heatheniſme, ſay that they worſhip the Beaſt who receiue the ſuperſtitious rites and ordinances of that Empire. But one thing here maketh it moſt plaine, that it is not the Heathen, but the Papall Empire. Now after the cure of this wound which is followed and worſhipped, viz. becauſe it is ſaid that they wondred after the beaſt, intimating that voluntarily they did ſubmit, ſo as they neuer did to the Emperours, but by compulſion being ouercome: neither did they generally attribute that diuine power vntounto them as being vnreſiſtable, as God is, as they hauehave done vntounto the Pope, euen all the earth, that is, ſuch as are led by earthly things, the honours and preferments of this world, they cry out, Who is like vntounto the beaſt, or who can warre with him?
Beda. Primaſ. Richard. de Sancto Victore. Haimo. Anſel. Tho. Aquin.Many Ancients, who are commonly followed by the Papals ſay, that Antichriſt ſhall feine himſelfe to bee dead three daies, and then reuiuing againe he ſhall ſtrike all men into an admiration, &c. But Viegas himſelfe doth ſufficiently confute this: becauſe it is not ſaid, hee ſeemed to be dead, but was wounded deadly, and therefore he rather holdeth that one of the ſeuen Kings which ſhall fight againſt Antichriſt, but afterwards ſubmit vntounto him, ſhall before ſuch his ſubmiſſion bee wounded, but after be cured againe: but this is as abſurd as the former, for not an oppoſite, but an head of this beaſt is wounded, and therefore no King fighting againſt him. Let them tremble that reade this paſſage, who admire after any man, and extoll and magnifie him as if he were a God, as the Papiſts doe the Pope: for in thus doing, they worſhip the Dragon, and ſhew themſelues plainly to be ſuch, as hauehave not their names written in the booke of life, as it followeth, verſ. 8.
Queſt. 5.Verſ. 5. How can the ſpeaking of blaſphemies be applied vntounto the Pope, the blaſpheming of God and of his Tabernacle, and of ſuch as dwell in heauen, when as he doth worſhip them all? And what time is this two and forty moneths, of which it is ſaid, Power was giuen him to make warre two and forty moneths?
Anſw. I hold herein with thoſe,Pareus. P. du Moulin. Brightman. that expound this blaſpheming of God of the Popes arrogating to himſelfe ſuch titles and abilities as belong vntounto God onelyonly; the titles of the head and husband of the Church, King of kings, the Lord of heauen, earth and hell, that hath all myſteries and lawes in the cloſet of his breſt, Iudge of all, and to be iudged of none, who hath all power in heauen and in earth, ſhutteth and no man openeth, openeth and no man ſhutteth, yea, and the Lord God: the abilities are to make ſomething of nothing, to make God, to make the word, to be free from all poſſibility of erring, to make decrees of the like certainty and authority with the Canonicall Scripture, to be ſuch a vniuerſall Soueraigne, as that all vponupon paine of damnation muſt be ſubiect vntounto him, to giuegive the kingdomes of the earth, &c. for all theſe are maintained properly to belong vntounto the Pope, and accordingly he doth take vponupon him. Now that this is a blaſpheming of God, it hath beene a tenent ſo ordinary and common, as that when our Sauiour Chriſt did take the like vponupon himſelfe, as to be the Sonne of God, and ſo God; the Iewes cryed out, hee hath blaſphemed: neither can a man ſpeake greater things of himſelfe, and more blaſphemous againſt God than theſe. He blaſphemeth his Tabernacle, which is his Church; by vaunting that the Church whereof he is the head is the onelyonly true Catholike Church, arrogating thus vntounto his Apoſtaticall Synagogue that which is proper to the true Church of God, and as for the true Church indeed, he ladeth it with moſt ignominious names of hereticall, ſchiſmaticall, infidell, deuilliſh and damned. The Church is called the Tabernacle in alluſion to the Tabernacle of the Iewes, wherein God ſometime dwelt in the middeſt of them. Hee blaſphemeth the Saints in heauen by making idoll Gods of them, affixing them to certaine Temples, where the old idols of the heathen ſometime dwelt, and aſſigning them ſuch offices, ſome to be ouer hogs, ſome ouer horſes, ſome ouer this particular diſeaſe, ſome ouer that, &c.P. du Moulin. Pareus. Brightman. Theſe expoſitors doe alſo mention another inter pretation of heauen, being taken for the Church, and ſo the Saints there for the godly here, whom the Pope blaſphemeth by imputing vile names vntounto them, and laying to their charge vile actions: but certainly wee muſt make a diſtinction betweene the Tabernacle of God here mentioned and heauen, otherwiſe the word ſhould not hauehave beene varied, but as it was ſpoken of blaſpheming the Tabernacle, ſo it ſhould hauehave been added, and the Saints that dwell in this Tabernacle, but it is the Saints in heauen which may wel be properly vnderſtood, and therefore this ſenſe is the rather to be preferred. They make alſo the blaſpheming of them, the aſcribing of diuine properties vntounto them, as when the Virgin Mary is prayed vntounto by the name of Queene of heauen, our Lady, our onelyonly hope, our ſaluation and mediatrix: and when of her and other Saints is begged helpe, comfort, deliuerance from ſinnes, and from damnation. This is indeed a blaſpheming of God, by aſcribing that vntounto his ſeruants which is peculiar to his maieſty, but how it ſhould be termed a blaſpheming of them I cannot ſee, for it is rather an ouer-honouring of them.
Some vnderſtanding all of the old Roman Emperors,Bullinger. Fox. ſay that they ſpake great things when they boaſted of their great victories, and blaſphemed by preferring their idols before the God of Iſrael, & the Tabernacle which was amongſt the Iews, by vilifying it, and the Saints by ſpeaking vily of the holy Prophets, and other ſeruants of God. But ſeeing this is after the wound giuen and healed in the Popes ariſing to the Imperiall State, as hath beene already ſhewed, the order will not permit this expoſition.
Andreas.Some by the Tabernacle of God vnderſtand the body of Chriſt, which is blaſphemed by the Popes taking vponupon him to make it in the Maſſe, affirming that the Bread is his true ſubſtantiall body, and therefore to be adored as Chriſt himſelfe.
Gagnaeus. Gorran. Blaſ. Viegas. Beda. Haimo, &c.As for the expoſitions of thoſe that apply all things here to Antichriſt yet for to come, holding that hee ſhall blaſpheme God by ſaying that he is no God, & that himſelfe is God, that he ſhall blaſpheme his name in ſpeaking againſt the life & Doctrine of Chriſt, his Tabernacle, that is, the Church militant dwelling here, as it were, for a time in Tabernacles, and the Saints in heauen by ſaying that they are all damned: Theſe, I ſay, and the like, whereby the ancients hauehave beene carried away in times paſt, I omit to confute, as falling together with that tenent of Antichriſts reigning but three yeeres and an halfe, reiected long before in this our expoſition.
As for the time wherein it is giuen him to doe, Verſ. 5.or to make warre, (for in ſome copies it is read the one way, and in ſome the other) viz. two and forty moneths, this is the ſame time which was mentioned before,Chap. 11.2. Chap. 11. and is to bee computed likewiſe, the reader therefore may hauehave recourſe thither. Some expound it of the continuance of the Roman Empire,Beard. as it was gouerned by Emperours and Kings, &c. till the comming in of the Gothes and Ʋandals: for from the building of Rome till the birth of Chriſt, were ſeuen hundred and fifty yeeres; from thence, till the ouerthrow of that Empire, about fiue hundred yeeres, in all neere vponupon one thouſand two hundred and threeſcore, ſet forth by theſe two and forty moneths.
Some expound theſe moneths,Fox. as Daniels Sabbaths of yeeres, and ſo reckon them to bee two hundred ninety and foure, all which time the Roman Empire did by perſecution, as here it is ſaid to bee giuen him to doe: for from the impriſonment of Iohn the Baptiſt, when this perſecution may be reckoned to begin, to the time of the Churches deliuerance at the death of Licinius, who was ouercome by Conſtantine the great, were iuſt two hundred ninety and foure yeeres.
Some holding,P. du Moulin. as I hauehave already ſaid, that the time here deſcribed, is the ſame with that Chap. 11. viz. one thouſand two hundred and threeſcore yeeres of the Papall perſecution, begin it not till ann. 755. and extend it to 2015. which is almoſt 400. yeeres hence.
And laſtly,Brightman. ſome taking this time for the whole time of Antichriſts birth, growing, wounding, and recouery, that he might be able to exerciſe his malice againſt the Church of God, begin it ann. 304. when ambition firſt crept into the Church through the bounty of Conſtantine the great, and end it ann. 1546. at what time the Councell of Trent hauing ſo plainly oppoſed it ſelfe againſt the light then breaking out, the forces of the Papacy were broke;, men beginning eueryevery where to reuolt from the obedience of that Sea: but becauſe that part of this time the Pope could doe little or nothing, viz. all the time of the Empire of the Gothes, which was one hundred and forty yeeres, they hold that this ſpace of time is to be added to one thouſand fiue hundred forty and ſix, wherein he ſhall ſtill hauehave power, that is, vntounto ann. 1686. but then there ſhall bee a full end of his greatneſſe, and in this time is his fight with the two witneſſes mentioned Chap. 11. Whilſt I was conſidering of theſe diuers expoſitions, I heard a man of great note for his accurate calculating of theſe times, handling this very point; his opinion was, that this time ought to be begun when the head ſpoken of in the Text was deadly wounded by the irruption of the Gothes, Vandals, and Rugians, which becauſe it was not all at once, but at three moſt remarkable times, firſt vnderunder the conduct of Alaricus King of the Gothes, ann. 414.2. VnderUnder Genſericus King of the Vandals, ann. 445. or 459.3. VnderUnder Odoacer King of the Rugians, ann. 476. he determined it to bee vncertaine when this time of the beaſt ſhall bee fully ended, euen as the ending of the ſeuenty yeeres captiuity ſpoken of by Ieremiah was vncertaine, till the accompliſhment vponupon the like reaſon of three ſeuerall times of captiuity, from either of which it might bee reckoned. And thus the neereſt time ſhould bee ann. 1658. reckoning by the Aegyptian account, the next 1689. and the furtheſt of all, 1710.
But this beginning of the time cannot ſtand, becauſe to hauehave power to doe, argueth life and ſtrength, and not a languiſhing eſtate, as of one deadly wounded; and in the order of the Text, it is after the healing of the wound againe, that this power is giuen to the beaſt, and not in the time that he lay bleeding vnderunder the wound. Againſt that of Brightman I hauehave ſhewed my reaſon before, Cha. 11.2. and it is improbable that this time of two and forty moneths ſhould be interrupted, and ſo to be made vp by one hundred & forty yeeres following after: and if it be taken together, & ſo ended at the time of the Councell of Trent, the Pope hath farre exceeded his limited time, ſeeing he hath made ſo much ſtirre about religion, now foureſcore yeeres ſince, and ſtill preuaileth mightily, and ſo here were little ſolid comfort in the prophecy. The errour in Du Moulin is in that he beginneth this time too high, long after the wound healed, whereas the time of any Potentate is to bee reckoned, not from his comming to an height and perfection of power, but from his very firſt beginning to reigne, though more weakly. The reſt that apply theſe moneths to the old Roman Empire, conſider not the wound made and healed, after which the computation ought to begin, and whereas the ſcope of this Reuelation is chiefly to comfort vsus againſt the Roman Antichriſt by ſetting a bound to his reigne, by this their expoſition applying this time another way they leaue it boundleſſe. Other expoſitions there are, but leſt I ſhould be ouer tedious, I omit to recite them, reſoluing moſt confidently, that this time began ann. 606. as I ſhewed before vponupon Chap. 11.2. when the deadly wound of the Roman Empire might well bee ſaid to be healed in the Popes riſe and firſt attaining to ſuch vniuerſall authority.
Touching that Epiphonema verſ. 10, 11, 12.Verſ. 10, 11. it is agreed that it is added to ſtirre vp men to a diligent enquity about Antichriſt, that finding him out, they may take heed of being carried on with others to worſhip him to the deſtruction of their ſoules: the comfort is, that Antichriſt who hath tyrannized for a time, by killing with the ſword, and bringing his oppugners to great miſery, ſhall finally periſh moſt miſerably himſelfe, at what time the Saints who hauehave ſuffered vnderunder him ſhall hauehave perfect deliuerance. And this is the end that faith and patience ſhall hauehave, after the greateſt troubles and miſeries, and the end that cruelty and oppreſſion ſhall hauehave, though it goeth on vnreuenged a long time.
Queſt. 6. And I ſaw another beaſt riſe out of the earth, Verſ. 11.which had two hornes like the Lambe, and ſpake like the Dragon, &c. What beaſt is this, and what is meant by his riſing out of the earth, by his Lambe-like hornes, and Dragon-like voyce?
Anſw. This beaſt is the Pope of Rome, who doth no more differ from the firſt beaſt, but that the ſtate whereof hee is the head is repreſented by it, and hee the head ruling in that ſtate by this. They which by the firſt beaſt vnderſtand the old Roman Emperours, by this doe generally vnderſtand the Popes reuiuing that decaying Empire: but they which make both theſe beaſts one and the ſame,Pareus. Forbs. interpret the firſt of the Pope the head, and this ſecond of his guard of ſpirituall perſons conſidered together with him, who endeuour by all meanes to aduance him in the hearts & deuotions of the people. Why the firſt beaſt may not be taken for the Roman Emperours of old, I hauehave already ſhewed, and touching this guard, or theſe inſtruments helping to aduance the beaſt, I cannot ſee how they ſhould bee here repreſented:Brightman. He hath equall power with the beaſt, ſo as no inſtrument of the Popes hath or euer had. for it is not any body but an head which the Spirit of God doth altogether apply himſelfe to deſcribe here; this beaſt therefore doth ſet forth the Popes when they came to an Imperiall dignity, thus putting life againe into that ſtate altogether ruined by the irruptions and preuailings of the Barbarians.
That which is here repreſented doth ſerue to declare, how & by what meanes the deadly wounded head was healed, & after that preuailed ſo wonderfully: for ſomething hauing beene ſhortly ſpoken of the Roman State, as it was from the beginning thereof, that Antichriſt, whoſe deſcription is chiefly intended, might be the better vnderſtood; it is ſhewed firſt, that after this head wounded, he ſprang vp by the healing of it againe, verſ. 4.5, &c. and then more at large this Antichriſt the Authour of ſo great a cure is deſcribed, and what powerfull meanes he vſed to effect it.
Ribera. Pareus.The Pope who is this Antichriſt, is ſaid to riſe out of the earth, becauſe from a poore and meane beginning he attained to ſuch an height of dignity, being but lately a poore Biſhop, and ſubiect to Emperours, Kings and Princes, hee ſuddenly roſe vp aboue them all. He hath two hornes like the Lambe, becauſe the Lambe the Lord Ieſus is his pretence, he boaſteth himſelfe to bee his Vicar: but hee hath onelyonly two of his ſeuen hornes, to intimate his weakneſſe in compariſon of the fulneſſe of Chriſts power. Hee ſpeaketh like the Dragon, that is, like the Deuill, for the Dragon hath been before ſhewed to be the Deuill; concerning whom, howſoeuer we reade nothing before of his ſpeaking, yet that he had a mouth to ſpeake is intimated, in that the firſt beaſt being reuiued, to whom he gaue his throne and power, is ſaid alſo to hauehave giuen vntounto him a mouth to ſpeake great things and blaſphemies, verſ. 5. His ſpeech then is added, that he might bee the better diſcouered, as the Aſſe of Cuma marching in the Lions skin was diſcouered by his braying. If a man ſhould looke at nothing but his hornes like the Lambes, that is, his goodly pretence of ſetting forth Chriſt and the right gouerning of his Church, he might eaſily be deceiued, but attend his ſpeech ſo full of pride, arrogancy and blaſphemy, whereof it hath beene ſpoken before,Brightman. and thou mayeſt eaſily diſcerne him to bee Antichriſt. Some expound his riſing out of the earth, of his riſe by the helpe of ſecular powers aboue them all, and his two hornes of Charles and Pipin ſubduing the Longobards, and other enemies vntounto him, applying this his riſe vntounto thoſe times wherein he did ſo much differ from that which hee was before, that he is, as it were, another beaſt for the acceſſion of more authority. He ſpeaketh like the Dragon alſo, ſay they, in that as the old Emperours,Nappier. ſo hee depoſeth and ſetteth vp for Kings whom he willeth. Some by the two hornes vnderſtand the double power of the Pope, ſpirituall and temporall. But I reſt in the former expoſition as moſt ſimple, and agreeing to the drift of this viſion, which is to ſhew the faire pretence vnderunder which the Pope ſhould aſcend to his height of honour. Note, that this is a certain marke of one which hath no cōmunion with Chriſt, how much ſoeuer he pretendeth him, if he be of an arrogant ſpeech magnifying himſelfe aboue others: for this ſheweth a proud heart, ſith out of the abundāce of the heart the mouth ſpeaketh, whereas the humble only hauehave communion with Chriſt, and with ſuch the Lord dwelleth, Eſa. 66.2.
Queſt. Verſ. 12, 13, 14, &c.6. How doth the Pope exerciſe all the power of the beaſt, and how doth he cauſe all to worſhip the firſt beaſt? How doth he make fire to come downe from heauen? What image is it that hee cauſeth the inhabitants of the earth to make to the firſt beaſt, and how doth hee giuegive life vntounto it to ſpeake, that it might bee worſhipped, hee deſtroying all that refuſe to worſhip it, and not ſuffering any to buy or ſell, that had not his marke, &c.
Anſw. They that by the firſt beaſt vnderſtand the Roman Emperours, expound theſe things thus;Bullinger. Arethas. Verſ 12. Graſſerus. He exerciſed all the power of the firſt beaſt before him, that is, as the Roman Emperours who were before the Popes, made account that all kingdomes were their owne to diſpoſe of as they thought good; ſo the Popes repreſented by this beaſt, doe both challenge and vſurpe a power ouer all kingdomes. Witneſſe Steuchus the Popes Library-keeper, who put out a booke, wherein hee ſheweth out of the Regiſter of Gregory, that the kingdomes of Spaine, England, France, Denmarke and Pannonia, &c. are held of the Sea of Rome, & that the kings holding them are but vaſſals of that Sea. And as the old Emperours made warre vponupon all that refuſed to be ſubiect vntounto them, filling all parts with ſlaughters and bloud-ſhed, ſo doe the Popes, as all the world knoweth. He maketh all the inhabiters of the earth to worſhip the firſt beaſt: that is, either the Roman Empire now ſwayed by the Pope, in that they hauehave brought it to paſſe, that this Empire is now eueryevery where accounted ſacred and diuine, and accordingly reuerenced: or idols, whereby the Roman religion being receiued by their ſubiects, the Emperors are ſaid to be worſhipped, and ſo now the Popes by their images, which are the ſame in effect, conſtituting in a great part the Roman Catholike religion.
And doth great wonders, Verſ. 13.ſo that hee maketh fire to come downe from heauen in the ſight of men: that is, many lying ſignes either by the fraud of Monkes and Prieſts, or by ſome euill art. The fire is ſpoken of in alluſion to Elias, 2 King. 1.who called for fire from heauen to conſume the Captaines with their fifties who were ſent to fetch him. Popes hauehave cauſed fire to come downe from heauen, partly by pretending to giuegive the holy Ghoſt, who is compared to fire,Act. 2. and once came ſo downe from heauen; and partly by their excommunications like lightnings, in that vntounto them are added fire-brands, and candles burning, which together are throwne downe from an high, as if fire came downe from heauen to ſmite the excommunicated. This is ſaid to be done firſt in the ſight of men, then verſ. 14. in the ſight of the beaſt, which is all one; for moſt men, yea and the beaſt himſelfe, that is, the Empire wherein the Pope doth this, is deceiued by theſe ſignes.
Saying to them that dwell on the earth, Verſ. 14. Napier.that they ſhould make an image to the beaſt, &c. The image of the firſt beaſt was the new re-erected Empire in Charles the great ann. 800. being crowned Emperour by Leo the third, when as the Empire had beene void from the time of Auguſtulus by the ſpace of three hundred yeeres and vpward. And it is ſignificantly ſpoken, he ſaid to the inhabitants of the earth, or to the earthly minded men who were ruled by him, that they ſhould make this image, becauſe the Pope did no act towards it, but ſpake and ſo ſtirred others vp to eſtabliſh a new Empire by appointing ſeuen Electours to chuſe one at eueryevery time of vacancy, which yet was but an image in compariſon of the old Roman Empire, ſo far did it come ſhort of it in glory and power. And he had power to giuegive life vntounto the image of the beaſt, Verſ. 15.&c. that is, to this reerected Empire: for all the life of it is from the Pope, and whatſoeuer it ſpeaketh or decreeth is by his direction. And cauſed that they which would not worſhip the image of the beaſt ſhould be killed; that is, which would not receiue the ordinances and Lawes of this Empire touching the Roman Catholike religion, for by embracing that religion the image is worſhipped: all then that refuſe to be Papiſts, they take order to put to death.
And he cauſed all, Verſ. 16.both great and ſmall, free and bond, &c. to receiue a marke in their right hand, or in their forehead. This is added the better to know this beaſt, his marke or character muſt needs be receiued, that is, a publike and open profeſſion muſt be made, that a man is a Roman Catholike, and beleeueth all their new Articles touching the Supremacy, Tranſubſtantiation, Purgatory, &c. for to beleeue in Chriſt, and to hold all Articles of the Apoſtles Creed, and to receiue the word and Sacraments, are nothing worth without this,Summa angel. in titulo confirmat. neither is Baptiſme of any force without the Character of Chryſme in confirmation giuen by the Biſhop. Such may neither buy nor ſell, that is, as excommunicate perſons others may not hauehave communion with them: for neither Turkes nor Iewes are dealt ſo hainouſly withall as poore Proteſtants, no place is allowed vntounto them, nor any being in the world. The marke, the name, and the number of the beaſts name is all one, hee that hath the marke hath them all. Hitherto out of Bullinger. Others not differing much here-from,Fox. expound the Popes exerciſing of all the power of the firſt beaſt, of his cruelty againſt the faithfull, as great as euer that of the heathen Emperours was: his miracles in general only of ſundry ſtrange miracles related to hauehave been done for the eſtabliſhing of Popery, his cauſing men to worſhip the image of the firſt beaſt, of his compelling all to the obedience of the Roman Sea, otherwiſe they ſhall beare none office, nor bee ſuffered to hauehave communion with men, &c. as hath beene already ſaid.
They that by theſe two beaſts vnderſtand one Antichriſt,Pareus. Napier. which is the ſucceſſion of Popes in the Sea of Rome, expound the power of the firſt beaſt exerciſed by this in the ſight of the firſt, of his blaſpheming, warring againſt the Saints, and reigning ouer eueryevery tribe and nation, which the Pope doth by his Legats and ſubordinate officers; and ſo it is ſaid to be done in the ſight of the firſt beaſt, becauſe his agents doe it at his becke, and they doe many great wonders to draw the world to the veneration of the Pope. Hee maketh fire to come downe from heauen, that is, as was before expounded, by giuing the holy Ghoſt, and by his excommunications, and this kinde of miracle is the rather ſingled out, as anſwerable to a ſpeech in vſe amongſt the Iewes euen till this day, If any man ſhall make fire to come downe from heauen, and deny the Law of Moſes, let him be accurſed. The image to the firſt beaſt is the image of Chriſt, the Virgin Mary, and the holy Apoſtles at the Popes command made, ſet vp and adored by earthly people, theſe are enliued by the impoſture of Prieſts and Fryers, and made to ſpeake, laugh, frowne, and ſweat. The marke in Greeke is foreign, not foreign, ſetting forth more at large any note or marke,Heb. 1. whereas foreign is the image or reſemblance of a thing, ſo Chriſt is called foreign: it is not any externall viſible marke vponupon the forehead or right hand indeed, but the profeſſion of being a Roman Catholike, and a readineſſe with all the might to defend that Religion.D. Abbot. This Character is double, as there are two ſorts of men of that Religion; firſt, of the common people, the Chryſme, Holy water. Agnus Dei, Crucifixes, &c. ſecondly, of the Religious, their vow to propagate and maintaine it to the vttermoſt, and therefore by a wonderfull prouidence it is come to paſſe that ſuch profeſſe an indelible Character to be imprinted vponupon them in their ordination.
Others expound his cauſing men to worſhip the image of the firſt beaſt,Brightman. of the Popes ſeeking honour to himſelfe vnderunder the colour of antiquity: his miracles of making fire to come downe from Heauen of the Popes ſmiting men with his Excommunications, as if it were with fire from Heauen. Hildebrand a Pope, in his Epiſtle to the Germans ſaid, that Henry the fourth being ſmitten with his Excommunication was blaſted with lightning. A certaine Biſhop reprouing him for his heart-burning againſt Henry, Cent. 11. Auent. annal. l. 5.periſhed by lightning, and giuing vp the ghoſt cryed out, Oh wretch that I am, alas I am carried bound with a fiery chaine to hell, &c. The Image which he would hauehave men to make vntounto the firſt beaſt, is the acknowledgement of the ſame power and authority in him that was in the Biſhops of Rome of old before the deadly wound giuen. In other things there is no difference.
Others that expect Antichriſt yet to come,Bellarmin. Viegas. Ribera. who they thinke ſhall be but one particular man, reckon vp three notes whereby he may be certainly knowne; firſt, his reuiuing againe after death as Chriſt did; ſecondly, his cauſing of fire to come downe from Heauen, as Chriſt ſent the holy Ghoſt in the likeneſſe of fiery tongues; thirdly, his giuing life to an image which hee ſhould cauſe to bee made, as Chriſt gaue life to dead bodies by his diuine power, which becauſe they cannot rightly bee applied vntounto the Popes of Rome, they maintaine that they cannot be Antichriſt, but ſome other yet to bee expected. But the expoſitions of ours already ſet downe make it plaine that theſe things doe moſt fitly agree vntounto the Popes, wherein though there be a little difference, yet it is agreed amongſt vsus all in the maine, that the Antichriſt of Rome is here painted out in his liuely colours. And it is indeed abſurd to imagine the fulfilling of theſe things according to the letter, for ſo Antichriſtianiſme ſhould be no myſtery, neither ſhould there need ſuch wiſdome by the number of his name to finde out Antichriſt. That the Pope is this Antichriſt it is no new coniecture of ours out of malice, but a very ancient opinion maintained by ſundry learned and godly men in diuers ages of the world, that no time ſince his ſpringing vp might want a teſtimony hereof. Gregory the firſt, called the great,Greg. lib. 4 regiſt, Epiſt. 38. Rex prepe eſt, & quod di… eſt ne… as, ſace… d…tum ei paratur exercitus, quia ceruici militant elationis qui ad hoc poſiti ſunt, vt ducatum praeberent humilitatis. about ann. 600. plainly foretold of his being at hand, ſaying the King is at hand, and which is horrible to ſpeake, an army of Prieſts is prepared for him, becauſe they warre for the maintenance of pride who were ſet to leade the way of humility. Herein he ſpake moſt truly and ſignificantly when Antichriſt was euen at the doores: for the very next Pope to him after Sabinianus, namely Boniface the third beganne to fulfill this prediction when hee obtained the title of vniuerſall Biſhop. Arnulphus Biſhop of Aurelia, in the Councell of Rhemes, about an. 900 brake out into this ſpeech touching the Biſhop of Rome, What thinke ye of him that fitteth in his high Throne,Concil. Rhemenſ. clad in Scarlet and glittering with gold, what thinke ye him to be? Verily, if he be deſtitute of charity, he is Antichriſt. Ann. 1340. a Councell was held at Ratisbone againſt the tyranny of the Roman Biſhops, wherein Eberhardus Archiepiſe. Salisburg. riſing vp ſaid, VnderUnder the title of the high Prieſt we may perceiue, if we be not blinde, a Wolfe in the coat of a Shepheard. Hildebrand, Auentin. annal. lib. 7.like an Antichriſt 170. yeeres agone laid the foundation of this Empire, and beganne the warre, which hath beene continued by his ſucceſſors euer ſince. Theſe high Prieſts of Babylon deſire to reigne alone, they cannot beare an equall. Beleeue me, they will not ceaſe till that all powers being put downe they ſit in the Temple of God, and exalt themſelues aboue all that is worſhipped. He changeth Lawes and eſtabliſheth his owne, that wretched man whom they are wont to call Antichriſt doth contaminate, kill and deſtroy, &c. Abbas Ioachim, who alſo liued about the ſame time, called the Pope Antichriſt. Ann. 1158. Gerhardus and Dulcimus taught, the Pope to bee Antichriſt, and Rome with the Clergy there to be Babylon. Ann. 1160. was Waldus who taught the ſame, Ann. 1370. Francis Petrarch, an eloquent Italian, wrote many inuectiues to the ſame effect. Who ſo deſireth to ſee more, let him looke into Catelogus teſtium veritatis.
He that doth not wilfully blindfold his eyes cannot chuſe but ſee the Pope to bee Antichriſt, here deſcribed by the ſecond beaſt: for he hath all the power that euer the Roman Empire had, whereunto the Deuill gaue his Throne, ſetting vp Kings and depoſing Kings, ruling and reigning farre and wide, and all this is done before that beaſt or in his ſight, that is, before the people of this Empire in whom it conſiſteth, for verſ. 13. that which is ſaid to be in the ſight of the beaſt, is ſaid to bee in the ſight of men. He cauſeth the firſt beaſt to be worſhipped, that is, his owne greatneſſe to be admired and reuerenced, which is the ſame with the ancient maieſty and dominion of this Empire: for in the ſtate ouer which the Pope doth now rule ſet forth by the firſt beaſt there were two things, the peoples of diuers Countries and Nations, and the imperiall authority exerciſed ouer them; in reſpect of the firſt, hee is ſaid to doe theſe things in the ſight of the firſt beaſt, in reſpect of the ſecond, to cauſe all men to worſhip the firſt beaſt by being obedient to this authority now tranſlated to himſelfe.
Touching the great wonders and fire brought downe from Heauen,Verſ. 13. I ſubſcribe to Pareus and Brightman, who hauehave ſufficiently illuſtrated this paſſage. Touching the image of the beaſt which he cauſeth the inhabiters of the earth to make, I cannot approue of that expoſition which applyeth it to Images deceitfully inclined,Verſ. 14. becauſe this image that he ſpeaketh of here hath power to put to death all that will not worſhip it, ſo as a Popiſh Image hath not, neither doe I thinke that the preſent Emperours are meant, who are but Images in compariſon of the old Emperours, for the Pope is not ſo eager to hauehave them worſhipped by the people, but rather to debaſe them, that he alone may goe away with all the honour: but it is a religious kinde of worſhip which is here meant, and the Pope himſelfe is this Image, and he doth ſay vntounto men, That they ſhould make this Image by teaching it to bee neceſſary vntounto ſaluation to hauehave the ſucceſſor of Saint Peter in the Sea of Rome for vniuerſall Emperour of the world: for this is in effect to reare vp an Image of the firſt beaſt, that is, of the old Imperiall authority: and becauſe that if the Pope had no more but this title without any liuely Imperiall power, hee ſhould be but as it were a dead Image and expoſed to contempt, he bringeth it about by his bewitching doctrine, that he is thus eſteemed in the hearts of men who are all ready to fight for his honour as for the diuine Maieſty, and to ſuppreſſe all oppugners, and thus he putteth life into this Image, &c. For this beaſt is both a beaſt and a falſe prophet; as he is ſet forth by the name of a beaſt, his authority is intimated, that he is a great ruler and commander; as he is a falſe prophet, hee raiſeth vp his Empire and command by his deluſions to ſuch an height, as that he becommeth a very liuely Image of the ſupreme Roman Maieſty, not ſuffering himſelfe to be neglected any more than the old Emperours did. The wofull experience of theſe times doth ſhew the truth of this propheſie, there being nothing whereof the Pope is ſo tender as of this Vniuerſall honour, not ſparing ſex or age, but killing all that will not giuegive it vntounto him.
Touching the marke which all are cauſed to receiue on their forehead or right hand,Verſ. 16. Pareus. though Bullinger and ſome others hold, the marke, the name, & the number of the name to be all one, yet ſome diſtinguiſh them, expounding the marke of the indelible Character, which Prieſts and religious perſons are ſaid to receiue in their ordination, when lifting vp their right hand they ſweare fidelity to the Pope, and by anointings and raſures they are marked in the forehead for his: and the name and number of his name, of the marke, which all others of that Religion receiue, which is to be called Roman Catholikes. Some a little diuers from this,Brightman. by the marke vnderſtand the oath and publike profeſſion of ſuch as are in holy orders, and of Princes and great perſons to defend the Roman Catholike Church and Pope; and by the name, the title whereby the common ſort of the Papals are knowne, as Pontificians, Catholikes, or Papiſts, from the Pontifex, Catholike Biſhop or Pope; by the number of the name, ſuch as are more remote from the Pope, and yet dare not renounce all obedience to his ſea,Napier. as the Grecians. Napier conſenteth vntounto Bullinger, that the marke, name, and number are all one, and therefore readeth it, Chap. 15.2. The marke of the number of his name. I cannot ſee how the diſtinction before named ſhould ſtand, becauſe the very marke is receiued by all great and ſmall, rich and poore, and therefore not by Princes and the Clergy onelyonly. And if the marke were a diuers thing from the name or number of the name, it would hauehave beene as needfull to ſet men a worke to finde out all three, as this one of the number of the name. I ſubſcribe therefore to Bullinger and Napier touching the identity of theſe three. Touching the name, and number of the name, wee ſhall ſee more in the next queſtion.
Note from that which hath beene already ſaid,Note. that the curſed inſtruments of the deuill can goe farre in ſhewing ſignes and doing acts of great power, and therefore wee ought to take heed of being deluded hereby, yea, by Gods permiſſion, they kill and ſhed the bloud of ſuch as withſtand them, whereby we may gather a certaine marke of an Antichriſtian ſpirit communicating with the great red Dragon, and by conſequence, of the communion that the bloud-ſucking Papacy hath with him.
Queſt. 7. What name is ſet forth by theſe Greeke letters foreign,Verſ. 18. which are ſaid to be the number of the name of the beaſt, and yet the number of a man?
Anſw. Before we come to the reſolution of this queſtion, ſomething is to be premiſed touching the words of the Text: Firſt it is ſaid to be the number of a man, Richard. de Sancto victore. Pareus.according to ſome, becauſe man may compute it, theſe numbers being to betaken not as myſticall numbers, as ſome others in this booke of the Reuelation; but for ſo many as theſe numerall letters doe by the vſuall account of men ſet forth, and therefore one expoundeth theſe words as an explication of what was ſaid before, let him that hath wiſdome finde out the number,Ribera. for to number is the point of a man, not of any other creature which is void of vnderſtanding: according to others, the number of a man,Arethas. becauſe a familiar and ordinary name amongſt men: according to others, the number of a man,Beda. not of any deuill or other creature, for no ſuch is to be vnderſtood, though he hath beene hitherto ſpoken of as a beaſt; and to this laſt doe I ſubſcribe, as plainly thwarting that fond popiſh conceit, that Antichriſt ſhould be begotten by the Deuill; for as touching his generation, he ſhall be but an ordinary man as others are. An ordinary name it is vnlikely that it ſhould be, becauſe by it Antichriſt is to be knowne from others, ſo as he could not be by his name, if it were common to other men alſo: neither needed there any ſuch caution to ſay, that the number is of a man, as hee doth vſually vnderſtand numbers, which other creatures doe not, for this is a thing commonly knowne without admonition, and it is implyed in the words before that he muſt be a man and a wiſe man that can caſt vp this count.
Secondly, touching the numbers foreign, Pareus maketh mention of ſome that reade it foreign,Iren. lib. 5. c. 25. but all Greeke Copies are otherwiſe, ſome reade it in words at length, foreign, as all Latine Copies and Arias Montanus. But Ireneus affirmeth, that theſe letters are found in all Copies, and inueigheth againſt the changers of the letter.
For the ſeuerall expoſitions of this number, it were but loſt labour to recite all; I will therefore name ſome onelyonly, referring him that deſireth to ſee more to other Writers.Bullinger. Balaeus lib. 3. de act. Pontif. Some thinke that this number ſetteth forth the time when Antichriſt began: but that being ann. 606. here are threeſcore yeeres more, neither could by the time, the marke of the beaſt be found out and his name, as by this number. Moſt therefore hold that theſe be the numerall letters of his name, not preciſely to be found therein letter for letter,Pareus. Fox. Napier. P. du Moulin. Graſſer. &c. Brightman. but ſuch letters as amount according to the Greeke numbring to this number, and hereupon diuers men hauehave inuented diuers names which I ſpare to mention, but that which the moſt learned and iudicious of our ſide doe generally reſt vponupon is, foreign valet foreign found firſt in Ireneus, and the name foreign comming to the ſame number. Fox findeth this number in this name in Hebrew, foreign valet foreign and in Greeke, foreign valet foreign This I confeſſe doth moue me much for the reuerence of ſo many and graue Authors: but ſeeing this number of 666. is not ſet forth in words, as the number of them that follow the Lambe, chap. 14. and of the ſealed ones, Chap. 7. I cannot be perſwaded that the Spirit would hauehave vsus looke barely to this number, but to the very letters here vſed. And indeed, as long as we goe this way to worke in finding out this number, we ſhall neuer be able to conuince the aduerſary, there being ſo many names more containing this number, though all circumſtances here conſidered, ſome name agreeing to the Pope is moſt probably the name here meant.Forbs. It is not without cauſe therefore, that one doth ſo much wonder that ſo many graue and learned men ſhould be carried away in this manner; howſoeuer I like not his coniecture neither, that the number of the name of the beaſt is compounded of ſixes in oppoſition to the number of thoſe that follow the Lambe who are counted by twelue thouſands,Chap. 14. Chap. 7. of eueryevery of the twelue Tribes, intimating that the followers of the beaſt are not any of this number, but rather a building reared vp by Satans chiefe inſtrument, as ſometime the golden Image of threeſcore cubits height and ſix cubits bredth ſet vp by Nebuchadnezzar, and not of that building called the new Ieruſalem, Chap. 21. conſiſting altogether of twelues. For the ſcope of ſetting downe this number is not to ſhew that the followers of the beaſt are oppoſite to the followers of the Lambe, or of the Deuils ſtirring vp, for this hath beene already made plaine enough, in that the Dragon is ſaid to giuegive the beaſt his power, and all are ſaid to follow him but onelyonly ſuch as hauehave their names written in the Booke of Life. But the intent here is to teach vsus a marke or name whereby all that are wiſe may certainly know him and beware of him.Viegas. Bellarmine. The Papals to keepe men from ſearching too farre herein teach, that it is impoſſible to know his name before that he be come, which time taking for granted that it is not yet, all ſearch hereafter after may ſeeme to be vaine. For they ſay, that as the name Ieſus could not be knowne till his comming, although one of the Sibils did foretell the number that ſhould be in his name in theſe Verſes, Nam que octo monadas, totidem decadas ſuper iſta: Lib. 1. Sibil. carminum.atque hecatont adas octo infidis ſignificabit, Humanis nomen, that is, 8. ones, 8. tens, and as many hundreds, that is 888. which are found in the name foreign valet 10. foreign ſo the name of the beaſt ſhould not be knowne till his comming: but blinde men that they are, whilſt they affirme a truth, being miſtaken in the time, they cannot ſee him who is moſt eaſie to be ſeene to be diſciphered out by this name and marke.Primaſius. Ambsbert. It hath bin an ancient opinion, that the compend which is vſed to expreſſe the name Chriſt ſhould bee the marke of Antichriſt, which compend is this, ☧ the lower part of which is τ, the vpper part ρ, the Croſſe intermingled with the τχ, together χρτ, Chriſt. And herein Ambsbertus is ſo confident, that he ſaith it was reuealed vntounto him. Somewhat anſwerable vntounto this is that which ſome hauehave deliuered touching the marke of the beaſt, which they ſay is the ſigne of the Croſſe, for that is made in diuers figures, two of which our Lords Croſſe ✝ and St. Andrewes Croſſe ☓ as they call them, are plainly in this compend. Now the name is ſomewhat more than the marke, for when a man ſetteth his marke vponupon any thing he doth it by a letter or two, ſo the marke here is but one letter χ or τ, but the name hath in it three letters of note, χξς, not much different from the forenamed compend of Chriſt, for in ſtead of ς being as much as ſt, there is τ the laſt letter of this name, and in ſtead of χ.ρ which as one hath well noted, if it be written thus, x, Napier.as it often is, it doth not differ from the letter, which in Latine is equiualent to ξ in Greeke, for ſometime x is written thus, and if otherwiſe, as is more vſuall, it is thus, χ, and ſo is moſt ſutable to the marke before ſpoken of. And it is to be thought that the Spirit of God purpoſely altered the middle letter, putting χ in ſtead of ρ, that we might take occaſion to ſeeke in another language the myſtery that lieth more cloſe vnderunder the Greeke ξ, but is moſt apparant in the Latine X, and ſo in the Latine ſtate find the beaſt here pointed at, which in all things pretendeth Chriſt, but in truth is altogether for ſuperſtitious croſſings and other vaine humane inuentions, the true foreign, or root of truth, Chriſt, ſignified in ρ being put out, or quite hidden through the multitude of ſuperſtitions.
To conclude then, I hold, that the number of the beaſts name conſiſting in three letters, is the number of the moſt reuerend Name of Chriſt, with the alteration of the middle letter into one equiualent to the Roman X. being a Croſſe, which is vſually by the Popes and Roman Catholikes affixed at the end of this or any other name of Chriſt, as thus foreign but hath not beene thus vſed by the Euangeliſts or Apoſtles: ſo that where we find a chiefe ruler aboue all others glorying in the bare name of Chriſt, and in the figure of the Croſſe, we may confidently affirme there is Antichriſt, for euen very ancient Writers hauehave held, that he ſhould come vnderunder the faireſt pretence of holineſſe. And where can wee elſe finde ſuch an one in all the world, but in the Sea of Rome, the Biſhop whereof calleth himſelfe Chriſts Vicar, and carrieth himſelfe as if he were Chriſt, forgiuing ſinnes, and pretending to bee the husband of the Church, and the rocke where-vponupon ſhee is built, the very peculiars of Chriſt Ieſus; and as for the figure of the Croſſe, it is alwayes carried before him, all his Buls of pardon are guarded with many Croſſes, and he maketh Croſſes to bleſſe himſelfe and the people. By a ſingular diuine art therefore is hee ſet forth by theſe letters, which are all the letters numerall both in the Greeke and Latine Alphabet, repreſenting the Croſſe, for χ is a plaine Croſſe, and τ the laſt letter of ς, and if you take it together it doth alſo ſignifie the Croſſe, which is foreign, and therefore may well be marked out by ς the firſt letters thereof, and ξ taken in the letter equiualent thereto amongſt thoſe to whom it properly pertaineth is χ the figure of a Croſſe, or take it together with χ, and it may well ſet forth the Croſſe, which is Crux, or more barbarouſly written, as it is ſometime, Chrux, ſeeing theſe two χ ξ are the firſt and laſt letters of the word, which in ſhort writing are vſed for the whole word.
Conſider this (O ye Papiſts) and be confounded, for your head thus plainly ſhewed to be the beaſt that ſhall goe into perdition with all ſuch as are deceiued by him. Doe not with Ribera ſeeke to elude this,Ribera. by holding that Antichriſt ſhall giuegive for his marke in his ſeale, the forme of a Dragon: for his owne fellow Viegas confuteth this; neither with Viegas, or Gagnaeus, by ſaying that this name, & what it meaneth, cannot yet be knowne, eſpecially againſt one of your owne ſide, Amſbertus, who moſt ſeriouſly profeſſeth, that it was reuealed vntounto him what the marke of Antichriſt was, whereby much light is giuen to his name, as hath beene already ſhewed. Why will ye beleeue other reuelations of other your writers if not this, being conteſted vntounto by grounds of truth? If it ſhall be ſaid, then wee in the Church of England hauehave the badge of Antichriſt, becauſe we hauehave croſſes in Baptiſme, vponupon our coine, and in ſundry places; I anſwer, it is not the bare vſing of a Croſſe that maketh this badge, but the aſcribing of vertue thereto to bleſſe eueryevery thing, as we doe not, and glorying in the externall forme, which is farre from vsus.
It is the point of eueryevery wiſe man to enquire into theſe things, for he that hath wiſdom is bidden to count the number;Note. and if we be not of the number of the wiſe, but fooliſh, God will not acknowledge vsus for his, no more than the fooliſh Virgins. Let all then make conſcience to ſearch and enquire into this number:Matth. 25. and if my labours herein may be any helpe to the Reader, let him vſe them, or enquire out better reaſon; in the meane ſeaſon this doth fully ſatisfie me, and God open the eyes of all his people eueryevery where, that they may not ignorantly bee ſeduced by this beaſt any more, to the deſtruction of their ſoules; and giuegive courage and reſolution to vsus, who through his mercy are made to ſee, that wee may neuer yeeld to beare the beaſts marke, but rather with the Saints yeeld to bee killed here, that wee may liue with the Lambe hereafter.