Exposition on the Catholic Epistles, Revelation · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV.
AND behold a Lambe ſtanding vponupon mount Zion, Queſt. 1 Verſ. 1.and with him an hundred forty and foure thouſand, hauing his Fathers name written on their foreheads, &c. Who are theſe, and to what time is this to be referred? What is that muſicall voyce which commeth from heauen, and the new ſong ſung there, which none could learne but theſe one hundred forty and foure thouſand? And what is meant by ſaying that they are virgins, and follow the Lambe, and that they are the firſt fruits vntounto God, and that no guile is found in their mouth, &c.
Anſw. I will not delay the Reader much here with diuerſity of expoſitions, for this place, as I take it, is parallel to that in the ſeuenth Chapter, ſo that as there after much violence and bloud-ſhed of the ſeruants of God ſpoken of before, it is added as a comfort, that of eueryevery tribe were ſealed twelue thouſand, making vp all together this number of one hundred forty and foure thouſand,In calling him the Lambe he taketh vp the ſpeech vſed Chap. 7.8. All worſhip the beaſt whoſe names were not written in the booke of life of the Lambe. which ſtood faſt vntounto the truth of God notwithſtanding the danger of thoſe perſecuting times: ſolikewiſe here, after the beaſts bloudy proceedings againſt all that would not worſhip him ſpoken of in the fore-going chapter, this comfort is added, that the Lambe Chriſt Ieſus all the time of Antichriſts reigne ſtandeth vponupon mount Zion, that is, is vigilant ouer his Church to preſerue it from periſhing, and hee hath ſtill with him, euen in theſe times of greateſt ſtreights, and hundred forty and foure thouſand followers, that is, many thouſands thorowout the twelue tribes of his whole Church diſperſed ouer the world, ſet forth thus in alluſion to the old Church of God vnderunder the Law. And theſe followers of his are vnmoueable as mount Zion, that is, moſt fixedly adhering to his truth, for ſo the firme ſtanding of the faithfull is deſcribed by the Pſalmiſt, ſaying,Pſal. 125.1. They that truſt in the Lord ſhall be as mount Zion, that can neuer be remoued. And they hauehave Gods name in their forehead, to ſet forth their conſtant & confident profeſſing of the truth of God, all ſuperſtitions of Popery, which are a marke vponupon the forehead of thoſe that follow the beaſt, being vtterly abandoned. And as after the ſealing there, an infinite multitude are brought in with white robes and palmes praiſing God, with whom the Angels ioyne making a moſt ſweet conſent, it being a repreſentation of the ioyfull condition in heauen of ſuch as hauehave ſuffered for Chriſt in this world, but now are triumphing there, that the languiſhing ſpirits of ſuch as are yet militant vponupon earth might be recreated, the more cheerefully to beare the terrible brunts of hotteſt perſecutions, who were before ſet forth by the ſealed ones: ſo here is an intimation of an infinite multitude already reioycing in heauen, in that he ſaith, that hee heard the voyce, as it were, of many waters, and of a great thunder, and of harpers, which ſung a new ſong: for theſe ſpeeches may well ſet forth an infinite multitude, whoſe noiſe is as the noiſe of great waters and great thunders, but this ſeemeth to be ſpoken of their congregating together to this heauenly harmony, which is performed, as it were, by harpes, and ſinging of a new ſong, that is, a moſt rare and excellent ſong of the praiſe of God, and of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, which ſong the faithfull here doe learne, but none elſe, becauſe none but they doe praiſe God, all others magnifie the beaſt, but theſe by their praiſing of God from honeſt and ſincere hearts ſanctified by the truth, begin euen now to come into the quite of heauen, to which they and none but they ſhall be vndoubtedly ioyned at the laſt, praiſing God for their deliuerance perfected, as now they doe for the fountaine and beginnings hereof, the Lord Ieſus Chriſt and his ſpirituall graces, and the ioy of the holy Ghoſt reſulting here-from, whereby they doe euen now, as it were, ſit together in heauenly places.
And as there an Angell is brought in queſtioning with Iohn, and telling him who theſe were, and of their perfect holineſſe through the bloud of the Lambe, ſet forth by white robes waſhed therein, and of the Lambes being in the midſt of them, and leading them forth to the waters of life: ſo here Iohn is directly informed, that theſe one hundred forty and foure thouſand of the Church militant are moſt excellent and worthy perſons, all immaculate and vnſpotted before God, both for that he imputeth no ſinne vntounto them, being iuſtified by faith in the bloud of the Lambe, and for that they hauehave kept themſelues virgins vntounto God, not hauing committed fornication with the beaſt by idolatry, who is afterwards called alſo the great whore, and hauehave a ſimple honeſt heart, like Nathaneel, who is ſaid to be without guile, ſo that they could not be blamed, either for the common vice of others by fornicating in ſuch manner, nor for hypocriſie and double dealing in profeſſing the truth, as aiming at ſome ſiniſter end, or by yeelding in ſhew vntounto thoſe idolatries, thinking that as long as their hearts were right, they might in ſhew be ſuch for the ſafeguard of their liues. Theſe were not too blame any of theſe wayes, for they were ready, in giuing witneſſe to the truth, to lay downe their liues. And they are ſaid to be redeemed from the earth, and from amongſt men, to note the power from whence they were inabled vntounto this, & in what a moſt happy condition different from other men they are, when others, as men of the earth, periſh at the deſtruction of the earth and earthly things, theſe are by the Lambe deliuered, and made partakers of that fulneſſe of ioy that makes their fellow ſeruants, who went into heauen before, to play and ſing in ſuch an admirable harmony. And theſe are led forth by the Lambe, for they follow him whither ſoeuer he goeth: they follow him in ſuffering, and they follow him into glory, that where he is they may alwayes be.
Napier. Pareus. Brightman. Fox, &c.That this is parallel to that in Chap. 7. moſt conſent, and it ſetteth forth the number of ſuch as were not carried away with the common ſtreame of corruptions preuailing in the time of Popery, and the Lord Ieſus appeareth moſt ſignificantly as a Lambe, becauſe he yet ſuffered his enemies in their perſecuting, but he ſtandeth to ſhew his vigilant care ouer his Church.Arethas. Some thinke that this is a diuers thing from that in Chap. 7. there being ſet forth the ſealed amongſt the Iewes, here the ſealed amongſt the Gentiles: ſome hold,Alcaſar. that the faithfull vnderunder the perſecuting Emperours are ſet forth, but all things ſo fitly agreeing, and this comming immediatly after the deſcription of the beaſt, as a thing contemporanean with him, I can ſee no ground of ſuch opinion.
It is a notable place for ſatisfying that queſtion,Note. what became of the Church all the time that the Pope preuailed, if the Roman Catholike Church bee not the true Church? As in the dayes of Elijah there were ſeuen thouſand ſcattered thorowout the tribes of Iſrael, who were vnknowne;1 King 19. ſo in theſe times there were many thouſands, ſome in one countrey, and ſomein another that did diſtaſte the idolatries and ſuperſtitions of Rome, preſerued by the care of the Lambe, when the roaring Lion, the Deuill, deuoured moſt.
Touching this company with the Lambe, and the harpers, whoſe muſicke is heard, and the found in heauen as of many waters, there are ſome that vnderſtand the ſeruants of God vponupon earth by them all,Bullinger Napier. Fox. the multitude of whom is ſet forth by the voyce of many waters, their bold threatning of iudgements againſt ſinne by thunder, and their ioy in the middeſt of trouble by ſinging, and playing vponupon harpes that new ſong of redemption by the bloud of Chriſt, ſet forth in the Goſpell; not an old ſong, ſuch as was wont to bee ſung vnderunder the Law, though this ſong be alſo to be applied vntounto the Saints in heauē. And one more particularly vnderſtādeth the noiſe as of many waters,Brightman. of the teaching of the Doctors that liued in the time of the womans firſt beginning to be in the wilderneſſe, ſuch as Auguſtine, Ambroſe, Ierom, &c. who made a confuſed noiſe like to that of many waters, not diſtinctly ſetting downe the points of faith, the noiſe of thunder of Wickliffe, Iohn Huſſe, Ierom of Prague, Luther, &c. who ſtirred vp men in diuers parts as the cracking thunder, and the harpers ſinging, of the reformed Churches after obtaining a liberty of the true religion in Heluetia, Sueuia, Geneua, &c. where God was praiſed for the light breaking out amongſt them.Lyra. One telleth a tale of an hundred forty and foure thouſand Monkes ſlaine by the Hagarens in Syria and Antioch about the end of Heraclius his reigne.Ribera. Some vnderſtand ſuch a number of the Iewes which ſhall be conuerted when Antichriſt ſhall come, or part Iewes, and part Gentiles. But Pareus is of the ſame minde, and agreeth with this our expoſition, diſtinguiſhing the company with the Lambe, and thoſe of whom the noiſe is heard; and indeed to vnderſtand it otherwiſe is to confound things diſtinguiſhed, ſeeing after the hundred forty and foure thouſand ſpoken of vponupon mount Zion with the Lambe, this noiſe is heard from heauen, and theſe vponupon earth ſtill learne their ſong, which none elſe could doe, becauſe as none but the faithfull hauehave the Spirit of God, and feele that ioy, which is in the grace of God, ſo none but they can produce the true effects of this ioy by heartily magnifying Gods holy Name.
Heartily to praiſe God then, being affected with his mercy in Chriſt,Note. is a propriety of ſuch as belong vntounto Chriſt, the praiſes of others are but the harſh ſounding of the inſtruments of an orall voyce, without the grace of the conſent of the animall voyce, wherein onelyonly is life and ſweetneſſe.
Touching the deſcription of theſe hundred forty and foure thouſand,Bullinger. Toſſanus. Pareus. Fox. Aug. non polluerunt ſe m…l. cribu…, l. …u…ciau…rāt carnal cupiditat. bus, nec adhaſcrunt idolis, d…js alients, l…ae…ius aut ei…ori…us, ſed ſunt virgines ſpirituales, quorum ſpoaſus Chriſtus eſt. Theſe hauehave not defiled themſelues with women, &c. moſt of our new Writers conſent to that which hath beene ſaid, that whoredome committed with the great whore is ſpecially meant, from which they hauehave beene free, though ſome apply it vntounto chaſtity alſo, in reſpect of the body both in the ſingle and married eſtate. And not onelyonly our new Writers, but the ancient Fathers vnderſtand ſpirituall pollution by idolatry here, as Auguſtine ſaying, They hauehave not defiled themſelues with women, that is, they hauehave renounced carnall concupiſcences, neither hauehave they cleaued to idols, to ſtrange Gods, hereſies or errours, but are ſpirituall Virgins, whoſe huſband is Chriſt.
And Ambroſe ſaith vponupon that ſpeech of the Apoſtle, I hauehave prepared you for one man, that I might preſent you a pure Virgin vntounto Chriſt. He will hauehave them to be virgins in faith, ſuch as Iohn doth deſcribe being with Chriſt in the Reuelation, where he ſaith, theſe are they that hauehave not defiled themſelues with women. It is moſt abſurd to hold here with the Hieracite, a ſort of Heretikes of old, who condemned marriage, as ioyned with pollution, and many Popiſh Writers now adayes, that apply this vntounto votaries that leade a ſingle life, and therefore one of them, Alcaſar being aſhamed of this,Alcaſar. conſenteth with vsus that they are the Virgins here meant, who hauehave not corrupted themſelues by an inordinate affection towards the creature. And indeed, if Virgins properly vnderſtood ſhould be meant, many abſurdities would follow thereupon. 1. None of the Patriarkes could be followers of the Lambe, becauſe they were all married, as were diuers of the Apoſtles alſo. 2. Gods owne ordinance ſhould be an hindrance to the following of the Lambe. 3. All that are truly religious muſt needs be ſingle, becauſe all that are redeemed and ſaued, are here ſet forth, &c.
It is the praiſe of thoſe that hauehave beene ſeparate from Popiſh abominations, they as pure virgins are of the ſociety,Note. and make the Spouſe of Chriſt, others that are corrupted by error hauehave nothing to doe with him, no more than impure with pure, darkeneſſe with light, Belial with God.
Touching their following of Chriſt whitherſoeuer he goeth, it is well expreſſed further by ſome,Bullinger. Brightman. that if hee will hauehave them goe after him to the loſſe of their goods, of their good name, yea of their life by any kinde of moſt cruell death, yet they are ready thus to follow him. They are a firſt fruits vntounto God that is moſt holy, and but a few in compariſon of the great multitude that ſhall come in, as the truth ſhall further inlarge it ſelfe, Antichriſt being more and more conſumed and confounded, euen as the firſt fruits of corne are conſecrated vntounto God, and are but a little quantity in compariſon of the whole crop.
This allegory is moſt ſignificant to ſet forth the ſmall number of thoſe that ſhall be ſaued, and their praiſe before going,Note. which is alſo their happineſſe, ſerueth notably to ſhew the Chriſtian reſolution of this number, they are ready bent to follow Chriſt thorow the greateſt troubles, and worldly miſeries, ſo that if any will be a follower of him, but onelyonly ſo farre forth as may ſtand with his eaſe, profit or preferment, he is excluded out of this number.
Queſt. 2. And I ſaw another Angeli flying thorow the midſt of heauen, Verſ. 6, &c.hauing an eternall Goſpell to preach to all the inhabitants of the earth, and to eueryevery nation, tongue, and people, &c. What is ſet forth by this Angell and the two Angels following, whereof the one proclaimeth the fall of Babylon, the other the puniſhment of ſuch as worſhip the beaſt?
Brightman. Pareus.Anſw. Some very particularly by theſe three Angels vnderſtand three rankes of Preachers ſet out at three ſeuerall times. 1. About ann. 1371. when Wickliffe preached againſt the Pope and Popiſh idolatries and ſuperſtitions, with whom ioyned Richard Killington, and Robert Langland here, and in Italy, Dantes, Marſilius, Patauinus, and Franciſcus Petrarcha, and a little after, viz. about thirty yeeres, in Bohemia, Iohn Huſſe, and Ierom of Prague, and Nicolas de Clemangis. 2. About ann. 1500. when Luther, and Zwinglius, and Oecolampadius began in Germany and Heluetia. In the third ranke they place all the zealous Preachers of the Goſpell, which hauehave beene ſince Luther in d…uers countreys, as Bucer, Capito, Hedio, Brentius, &c. in Germany, Bullinger, Pellican, Gualter, &c. in Heluetia, Farrell, Ʋirell, Caluin, &c. in Geneua, and in England, Cranmer, Hooper, Latimer, &c. in Denmarke, Palladius, Hemingius, &c. in Italy, Martyr, Zanchy, Tremellius; in Poland, Iohn à Laſco; in Hungary, Michael Statinus, Stephanus, Szedegenus, Paulus, Thurius, &c. And becauſe after this no more Angell appeareth, but the next thing is Chriſts comming in a white cloud to iudgement, therefore they hold that the Preachers which now are, ſhall neuer be put downe, but continue to maintaine the truth brought to light, till the ſecond comming of the Lord.
Others taking theſe Angels for three of the ſeuen, which are afterwards ſhewed to powre out their vials,Napier. vnderſtand by the firſt, the forenamed prime Preachers, Luther, Zwinglius, &c. by the ſecond, a great ruining of the Popiſh Empire, about ann. 1590. and by the third, the vtter fall of the Pope, about ann. 1639. after which time, ſome will ſtill remaine in the dregs of their old ſuperſtition, but if they doe, here is the portion which they are to expect, to bee tormented for euermore.
Others more generally vnderſtand the breaking out of the Goſpell againe,Bullinger. Fox. Forbs. Graſſerus. after that all had beene corrupted by Popery, the light of which Goſpell breaking out ſhould extend as the truth did at the firſt to all nations, becauſe ſome in all countreys ſhould be ſtirred vp to publiſh the ſame, although all receiue it not, no more than they did in the Apoſtles times carrying the light forth at the firſt into all countries, for although many ſtill were idolaters, yet we heare the Apoſtle affirming,1 Tim. 3. Col. 1. that the Goſpell was then preached all ouer the world.
Amongſt all theſe differences, it is agreed in the maine thing, that the breaking out of the light of the truth, which now, by Gods grace, ſhineth in England, Scotland, Denmarke, &c. is here figured out, oppoſite vntounto which, is Babylon, that is, Rome ſtill labouring to hold men in the darkneſſe of Popiſh ſuperſtition. But touching the particular application of theſe figures, either as Brightman and Pareus doth to three diſtinct times, the laſt of which is not diſtinct, for from Luther, &c. hath beene onelyonly a continuation of thoſe happy beginnings, and therefore I doe not thinke, that according to that diſtinction the Preachers of the truth are figured out. Neither doe I ſubſcribe to Napier, that the third Angell ſetteth forth the Preachers which ſhall be when the Pope is quite put downe, becauſe killing of the Saints is ſtill ſpoken of for not worſhipping the beaſt, and they are comforted with the bleſſing that ſhall follow vponupon ſuch a death. Nor yet doe I thinke, that generally onelyonly the breaking out of the light is here ſet forth, but becauſe here are three Angels ſucceeding one another in order, I hold that three things are here figured out, which experience hath taught vsus that liue in theſe dayes.
1. That the light of the truth ſhould breake out, whereby men ſhould be warned againſt Popiſh idolatry and ſuperſtition, as it did by Wickliffe firſt in England, as England had firſt a Chriſtened King Lucius, ſo hauing the honour firſt to hold out the light diſpelling the miſts of Popiſh darkneſſe: but almoſt contemporanean with Wickliffe were others mentioned before in other countreys alſo.
2. That the light ſhould ſhine ſo, as that the fog of Popery ſhould vaniſh in many countreys, and that the truth ſhould be ſo powerfully preached, that Babels wals ſhould bee ſhaken and ruined, which was done by Luther and the reſt of the Worthies in diuers countreys before ſpoken of.
3. That the vtter fall of the Pope ſhould yet after this bee deferred, he continuing ſtil where his power yet remaineth to kill and deſtroy his oppoſites. For why elſe ſhould the third Angell ſo ſeriouſly admoniſh men not to worſhip the beaſt, &c. adding,Verſ. 12. here is the patience of the Saints, and Bleſſed are the dead that die in the Lord, &c. but onelyonly becauſe the ſeruants of God in many places ſhould ſtill bee exerciſed with bloudy perſecution after the fall of Babel before ſpoken of in a great part. So things are like to continue in this ſtate a long time, onelyonly the comfort is, that wee are hence aſſured, that there ſhall bee Preachers to giuegive warning againſt the Pope and all falſe religions till the laſt comming of Chriſt vntounto iudgment, and hereby he ſhall be conſumed more and more, till the date of this time ſhall be quite out.
According to this expoſition then to expound eueryevery paſſage more particularly;Verſ. 6. He ſaith, I ſaw another Angell, when no mention is made, of any Angell in this Chapter before, hauing reference to the Angels of the tenth and eleuenth Chapters; flying thorow the midſt of heauen; Eullinger. Fox.that is, to expreſſe the ſwift and free paſſage of the truth hereby repreſented: That of Brightman expounding it of the imperfect knowledge of thoſe firſt Preachers, ſeemeth to me to be too far fetcht. The Goſpell which he bringeth,Pareus. is called the eternall Goſpell, to meet with the imputation of the Papiſts, who challenged them for broaching a new religion, when as indeed, they preached nothing but the eternall truth of God which was from the beginning. There was not long before this,Cent. Magdeburg. 13. a certaine fellow called Cyril a Carmelite Fryer, who made a booke, which hee intituled The eternall Goſpell, grounding vponupon this place, and the religious of thoſe times readily receiued it, becauſe it tended to the maintenance of their ſuperſtitions, affirming that the Goſpell ſet forth by the Apoſtles was at an end, and this was now to take place. A moſt blaſphemous tenent, when as this our Goſpel is ſaid to be ſuch, that if an Angel from heauen bring any other,Gal. 1.8. he is to be counted accurſed. It is none other Goſpell therefore which is here meant, but this only Goſpell, which being obſcured by the vaile of an vnknowne tongue, and by falſe Gloſſes and interpretations in the time of Popery, is now come to light againe; and that not in a corner, but in all countreys and nations of Chriſtendome, and ſhall, wee doubt not, be diffuſed into all other parts ere long. This is the ſame in effect with that Chap. 10. Thou muſt propheſie againe to Nations, and Kings, and many peoples.
Feare God, Verſ. 7.and giuegive glory to him, &c. this is all the effect of our preaching now, and the ſpeech is adaptated to the preſent occaſion: for in the time of Popery men feare the beaſt,Pareus. giuegive him glory, and worſhip him as moſt admirable, as was ſhewed Chap. 13. The chiefe thing therefore now to be preſſed, is to feare God and to worſhip him, by giuing ouer that fond admiration of the Pope, whereby they were drawne after him, truſting in him, and receiuing his Dictates as the Oracles of a God, which indeed is the worſhipping of him. And the phraſe here vſed, giuegive glory to God, doth fitly anſwer that in Chap. 11.13. where it is ſaid, that the great city being fallen, and ſeuen thouſand ſlaine, the reſt trembling gaue glory to God, that is, were conuerted from that ſuperſtition. The time of his iudgment is come, that is, is at hand, ſo that wee may gather hence, as Chap. 10. where after the open booke appearing, the Angell ſweareth that time ſhall be no more, &c. that now ſince theſe things hauehave come to paſſe, the deſtruction of the Pope, and Papacy, and of all wicked ones is very neere, euen at the doores.
Touching the ſecond Angell proclaiming the fall of Babylon, Verſ. 8.it is plaine, that by Babylon here the old city of the Aſſyrians ſo called is not meant, both becauſe this Babylon is deſcribed to be ſuch as had dominion in the time of Saint Iohn ouer the Kings of the earth, Chap. 17.18. and becauſe the people of God are bidden to come out of this Babylon, where they had not beene fiue hundred yeeres before the time of this Prophecie. But ſome hauehave held, that by Babylon the world is meant, wherein there is ſo much confuſion by reaſon of the Deuils reigning in it. But this cannot ſtand,Ambroſ. Beda. Arethas. Haimo. Primaſius. Anſel. becauſe this Babylon is ſpoken of but as a part of the world: for with her all nations hauehave committed fornication, and when it is fallen, yet the world of the wicked remaine, for they are threatened with euerlaſting torments by the next Angell. And laſtly, wee are bidden come out of Babylon, which we cannot doe, if by Babylon the whole world be vnderſtood. If wee looke backe to Chap. 11.8. we ſhall finde a great city mentioned, which before was called the holy City, verſ. 2. trodden vnderunder foot by the Gentiles two and forty moneths, in which city it is ſaid the Lord was ſlaine and his two witneſſes, their dead carkaſſes being caſt out, and all nations and kindreds beholding them, which city all men know according to the letter is Ieruſalem, but ſpiritually the Text ſaith, it is Aegypt or Sodome. This city I ſhewed there, ſetteth forth the Church of the Gentiles ſometime holy, but by Popery and Mahumetiſme in time corrupted wonderfully, and therefore called Aegypt or Sodom; and the fall of it in part is alſo there ſpoken of verſ. 13. Now the ſame is called Babylon, another great city, and of great note for rule and dominion, and of infamy for idolatry and cruelty; and becauſe Rome is the head of this corrupted Church, and the chiefe city of the world, the Papall Empire reſiding there, but extending it ſelfe into all parts, it is meant by this Babylon, the name being aptly changed from Aegypt or Sodom to Babylon, Ribera.to expreſſe this imperiall Babel-like power. Ribera the Ieſuite acknowledgeth Rome to be meant by Babylon here, alleging many worthy Writers, who affirmed the ſame. As Auguſtine, Auguſt. de Ciuit. Deid. 8.6.22.who ſaith that Babylon falling, Rome was built; the daughter of Babylon, and another very Babylon: ſo likewiſe Euſeb. lib. 2. cap. 14. Beda, Oecumen. Victorinus, Ieronym. in Eſa. 24. Tertull. lib. 3. contra Marcion. Sixtus Senenſis, Ludonicus Ʋiues, Lindanus, Bellarmine, &c. But hee will not hauehave Rome, as the ſtate thereof now ſtandeth, to be Babylon, but as it was vnderunder the perſecuting heathen Emperours. But this is a moſt vaine defence, 1. Becauſe Antichriſt was not come whilſt heathen Rome ſtood, who by the conſent of all muſt be come before this fall of Babylon. 2. Becauſe from this Babylon ſpirituall fornications, that is, idolatries are deriued to all countreys and nations, whereas it was neuer ſo with heathen Rome, for then all countreys were ſuffered to enioy their owne religions, but the Chriſtian onelyonly. 3. Becauſe none of the Authors alleged, except Tertullian, liued whilſt heathen Rome ſtood, and therefore could not call Rome Babylon; meaning heathen Rome. Laſtly, becauſe this Babylon is afterwards called The great Whoore, noting a ſtate apoſtatizing from the truth ſometime receiued, to goe after Idols: for in the holy Scriptures Iſrael only and Iudah are taxed for whoredome and not either Countries, becauſe they were married as it were vntounto the Lord, and yet they fell from him to the ſeruing of Idols. Other Nations which were neuer taken in for Gods peculiar, though they were full of Idols, could not properly be ſaid to goe a whooring, no more could heathen Rome, but the Popiſh ſtate now iuling there may juſtly be thus charged. Ribera ſeeing that it is but a ſhift to apply this to Heathen Rome, at the laſt leaueth it and ſaith, That Rome is meant as it ſhall be, when in the time of Antichriſt it ſhall forſake the Pope and the Catholike Religion as he laboureth to make it probable that it ſhall doe. But who ſo is wiſe will eaſily ſee that this is but a ſhift to elude a plaine euidence.
To Rome that now is, and to the Pope who hath his ſeat there, all circumſtances doe ſo agree, as that we are ſure this Propheſie thus taken is already verified, a ſtate falling from the Pope there and returning to their old heathen idolatry is but a phantaſma, like the man in the Moone, which none but fooles will beleeue to be ſo indeed. Here is now the Empire ouer Kingdomes and Nations, here are miracles and ſhewes that draw the world after the Pope. After a long time of deluſion by faire pretences, the eternall Goſpell is come to light againe, and this ſtate hath beene much ſhaken this thouſand yeeres and vpward, and is in a great part fallen, but yet murthereth and deſtroyeth the Saints according to their old manner; from hence are idolatries and ſuperſtitions deriued into all Countries, and laſtly now ſtandeth that reuiued head which was deadly wounded being the ſeuenth, which was to come after Saint Iohns time, for of the ſeuen fiue were fallen, one that is Emperours then ſtood, and the ſeuenth, that is the Pope, was to come. And the Ieſuite in yeelding that Rome ſhall fall away to heathen idolatry from the Catholike Religion doth quite forget himſelfe of that grand Maxim, that the Church cannot erre, and is alwaies viſible; whereas if this ſhould befall the Church of Rome, which they hold to be the onelyonly Catholike Church, it ſhould both erre fowly, and the Church ſhould ſometime be ouerthrowne by the gates of Hell and put downe from the viſibility; into ſuch contradictions doe they plunge themſelues that are contradictors of the plaine and euident truth of Gods Word.
Touching the third Angell threatning eternall deſtruction to the followers of the beaſt,Verſ. 9. enough hath beene ſaid already, to ſhew to what time it is to bee referred, and as for the torments here mentioned and the comforts propounded to the faithfull, it is eaſie for any man of himſelfe to render the ſenſe thereof.
Note from all that hath beene ſaid,Note. that the doctrine of the reformed Churches at this day is the very doctrine of Gods Angell: for we teach to aſcribe all glory and to giuegive all worſhip …o God only, and not to make any a parta…er with God herein, and in theſe points not to feare the tyranny of the Pope and his adherents, but in the feare of God to perſiſt herein to the end, which is the very effect of the Angels teaching, To this tendeth our impugning of Images, and the worſhipping of Saints departed, our denying of the merit of workes and ſupererrogations, the Popes power of pardoning ſinnes, our aſcribing all to grace in the conuerſion of a ſinner, and holding no vertue to be in croſſing and holy water, &c.
Againe,Note. ſee a plaine euidence that this is the truth, and the Roman Catholike ſtate (Babylon) falling before it in diuers Countries, and which ſhall be vtterly razed to the foundation, ſo that a ſtone ſhall not be left vponupon a ſtone.
Laſtly,Note. all proſperity and preuailing is not to be expected by the ſeruants of God vponupon the firſt falling of Babylon: for ſhe maketh head ſtill and putteth many to death, whoſe comfort yet is, that they are bleſſed and reſt with the Lord, whereas if cowardly they ſhould for feare turne to the beaſt, they muſt be tormented miſerably for euermore. But why is this word from henceforth put in, are not all the dead that die in the Lord at any time bleſſed? Yes doubtleſſe, but there is an opinion of Popery, by which men were carried away in times paſt, touching the paines of purgatory fire to be ſuffered after death which is ſecretly here glanced at, as if it ſhould hauehave beene ſaid. Hitherto a long time it hath beene thought that there is no r…ſt in death to the godly, but further pangs yet to be endured in Purgatory, but the vani…y of this tenent being now diſcouered by the preaching of the Goſpell ſet forth vnderunder the type of the three Angels, no ſuch thing ſhall henceforth b…feared, but they ſhall comfort themſelues in the expectation of immediate reſt and ioy.
Queſt. 3. And behold one like vntounto the Sonne of man ſitting vponupon the cloud, Verſ. 14.hauing vponupon his head a crowne of gold, and in his hand a ſharpe ſickle, &c. Who is this and what are the Angels next mentioned; whereof one comming out of the Temple calleth to him to put his ſickle into the harueſt: and a ſecond comming out of the Temple alſo hauing a ſharpe ſickle, to whom a third comming out from the Altar that hath power ouer fire, calleth to put his ſickle into the Vintage, which is cut downe and trodden in a Winepreſſe without the City, the bloud comming out vp to the bridles of the horſes by the ſpace of 1600. furlongs.
Anſw. Almoſt all Expoſitors agree, that the comming of Chriſt to iudgement is here repreſented: for hee is like the Sonne of man, though a great Iudge, he ſhall come in the Clouds, 1 Theſ. 4. and the conſumma ion of the world is likened vntounto the cutting downe of the Harueſt, Mat. 13. and both to the Harueſt and Vintage, Ioel 3.13. from whence this phraſe ſeemeth to bee taken. But ſome vnderſtanding Chriſt by one like the Sonne of man as it is commonly taken,P. du Moulin. yet hold that ſome other iudgements vponupon Babylon are here ſet forth to be applyed to the times of the three Angels going before, the firſt whereof come with the eternall Goſpell, ann. 1039. in Berengarius, oppoſing tranſubſtantiation, and preuailing ſo farre, that France, Spaine, Guil. Noribrigenſ. Eng. …iſt. lio. 2 chap 13.Italy & Germany were full of men holding the ſame with him, for William Noribrigenſ. ſaith, that they were as the ſands of the Sea, but they were perſecuted for this, whereupon the Lord being offended ſent his Angell with a ſharpe ſickle of iudgement, ann. 1076. About the time of Berengarius his death, by a quarrell ariſing betweene Henry and Gregory the ſeuenth, named Pope Hildebrand, betwixt whom forty bloudy battels were fought, and all things were filled with confuſion and miſery.
The ſecond Angell came with threatnings againſt Babylon by Peter de Bruis, and Henry de Tholouſe, ann. 1130. and by Iohannes de Waldo of Lions, ann. 1158. for they called Rome Babylon, and exhorted all men to goe out of her: but Innocent the third then Pope, cauſed the Croiſado to be preached, and by that meanes within a few moneths 200000. of them were ſlaine in Prouence, Ioh. Caſſanion Hiſt.Languedoc and Guienna. Hereat God being againe offended, ſent another ſharpe ſickle by Fredericke Barbaroſſa his armies and the Popes, by reaſon of which the miſeries were ſo great as that no Pen can expreſſe them ſufficiently. For whilſt theſe warres laſted, the Moores waſted Spaine together with the Sarazens, murthering all the Chriſtians which they could finde, and the Saladine deſtroyed the Kingdome of Ieruſalem, which had coſt ſo many millions of mens liues to conquer it. The third Angell came with admonition to beware of worſhipping the beaſt by the Preachers of theſe times, againſt which when the Papacy ſhall grow moſt outragious, ſome greater iudgement then euer yet ſhall come vponupon them to the effuſion of ſo much bloud, that it ſhall come vp a wonderfull great ſpace of ground to the very horſe bridles, which is not yet effected.
Forbs. Graſſerus.Others hold, that here is ſet forth the increaſe of ſuch as ſhould ſtand for the truth, it being firſt vpheld by the immediate power of Chriſt ſet forth by his comming in a cloud with a ſharpe ſickle, but afterwards diuers Countries being conuerted, his Angels dare be bold to be ſeene to ſtand for the truth, both temporall Kings ſet forth by the Angell with his ſharpe ſickle, and ſpirituall Miniſters comming from the Altar, who by their exhortations and preaching ſtirre vp the other againſt Babylon, ſo that here in briefe is ſet downe what is more at large deſcribed vnderunder the ſeuen Vials powred out by the ſeuen Angels following.
Some more particularly by one like the Sonne of man vnderſtand the proteſtant Princes in Miſnia, Brightman.Haſſia, Pruſſia, &c. ſuch as Fredericus Saxo, Mauritius, Philippus Lantgranius, Iohannes Brunſwicenſis, &c. by the firſt Angell comming out of the Temple, Iuſtus, Ionas, Melancthon, Ambroſius, &c. who were a meanes to ſtirre vp thoſe Princes to aboliſh the Maſſe and to reſtore the truth, vntounto the yeere 1530. By the other Angell with a ſickle, the Lord Cromwell here in England in the time of King Henry the eight, who did much againſt Popery, and by the Angell comming out from the Altar. Thomas Cranmer Archbiſhop of Canterbury in thoſe daies, who is ſaid to hauehave power ouer the fire, becauſe hee triumphed in his ſuffering in the fiery flames for the truth, and hee ſtirred vp the Lord Cromwell out of his great zeale to put downe ſuperſtition. And the diſtance of the place where the bloud out of the Wine-preſſe ouer flowed being 1600. furlongs doth notably agree, for in our Engliſh miles this is two hundred, for although the length of England be three hundred miles, yet one hundred in reſpect of the coldneſſe and barrenneſſe may well be cut off, as where there was no ſuch great Vintage of religious perſons, who ſtill gathered to the fatteſt places of the land. I cannot approue of any of theſe expoſitions, becauſe not particular iudgements but the generall iudgement, which at laſt ſhall be executed vponupon Babylon is here figured out, vntounto which alſo all the circumſtances may be very well fitted, as by and by ſhall bee ſhewed. And where any thing in words agreeing with the generall current of the holy Scriptures may well beare a ſutable interpretation, it is but curioſity to inuent ſingular interpretations. Brightman hath beene much taxed for his making one like the Sonne of man comming vponupon a cloud to be an earthly Prince, neither doth that of his touching Cranmer agree, ouer whom the fire did rather preuaile than he ouer the fire, in that for feare he recanted for a time, though afterwards hee conſtantly ſuffered martyrdome, to ſay nothing of the hundred miles more in England than the ſpace here ſet forth, which in vaine he ſeeketh to reconcile.
Others that are for the laſt iudgement of Babylon when Chriſt ſhall come at the end of the world, expound theſe things diuers waies. Some will hauehave Chriſt repreſented here twice: firſt, like the Sonne of man; ſecondly, by the name of an Angell with a ſickle, becauſe he is the Author of the deſtruction of the wicked, and this vindicatiue power is origin…lly and vertually in him, but inſtrumentally in the Angels which are implored therein. The Angell comming out of the Temple calling to him to put in his ſickle into the harueſt, they expound of ſome prime Angell who entreateth him thus to doe, and ſo likewiſe the Angell comming out from the Altar who hath power ouer the fire, that is, to execute Gods vengeance by fire as it ſhall be at the laſt day. This is mentioned by Fox in part, who alſo addeth, that they hold that two ſimilitudes are here vſed to ſet forth one and the ſame thing, that of the harueſt to ſignifie the gathering together of the Elect, this of the Vintage to ſignifie the gathering together of the reprobate.Pareus. And part of it is Pareus his, who will hauehave a prime Angell meant eueryevery time that an Angell is mentioned here, alſo he doth iuſtifie that expoſi…ion of the Angell with a ſharpe ſickle of Chriſt before conſidered in himſelfe, here in the Miniſters of his iudgement, as Ioh. 4. Chriſt is ſaid to baptize more Diſciples than Iohn, though he baptized not but his Diſciples.Fox. Fox holdeth that two ſickles are mentioned, though thence be but one and the ſame ſickle of Chriſt, in alluſion to that in Ioel 3.13. where ſickl…s are ſpoken of, and whereas an Angell ſpeaketh vntounto Chriſt to put in his ſickle, hee holdeth that nothing elſe is hereby ſignified but that Chriſt commeth to iudgement at the laſt day by the counſell and appointment of the Father, of whom hee ſaid, that of the day and houre knoweth no man but the Father. And that two ſimilitudes are vſed the more amply to ſet forth the proceedings which ſhall be at this great day of iudgement. I will not weary the Reader by producing more expoſitions, but rather come directly to ſhew what I conceiue by comparing all their expoſitions together to bee the true meaning of this apparition.
I thinke it to be without doubt, that Chriſts comming to iudgement is meant by one vponupon a white Cloud like the Sonne of man, and ſpecially againſt Babylon, whoſe caſe more particularly is acted here: for Fox affirmeth that this was conſtantly held by all without contradiction till his time.Act. 1. Mark. 13.26. It was ſaid that he ſhould come ſo as he went vp into Heauen, that is, in a Cloud, and that he ſhould come in the Clouds, and his golden Crowne is a plaine demonſtration that hee is the King of Heauen. In that an Angell comming out of the Temple biddeth him put his ſickle into the harueſt, for the time is come. Bullinger ſeemeth to me moſt rightly to reſolue it that this is ſpoken parabollically,Bullinger. wherein all things are not to bee ſtreined, but only the ſcope to be reſpected, and ſo an Angell is brought in telling him that the harueſt is ripe; as if a mans ſeruant comming out of the Corne field, ſhould tell him it is time to ſet on workemen to cut downe his Corne, for it is ripe and beginneth to ſhed in the field: and if any man will needs goe further in expounding all particulars here,Fox. that of Fox is the moſt probable, that hereby is ſet forth that the particular appointing of this time is at the will of the father, who becauſe when hee declareth himſelfe hee is wont to doe it by ſending an Angell, is ſaid to ſend out from his preſence an Angell here, for he commeth out of the Temple, a fit type of Gods preſence.
Touching the other Angel comming out of the Temple alſo with a ſharp ſickle,Verſ. 17. I aſſent vntounto them that hold the ſame thing to be the ſecond time hereby repreſented, for the more ample declaration of the proceedings wch ſhall be at the day of iudgement, a thing not vnuſual in the holy ſcriptures, & particularly in Ioel 3.13. whereto it is alluded here. It is intimated therfore by this double deſcription, that as men doe in the time of harueſt, and in the Vintage time, they cut down their Corne, they cut their Grapes, ſo all the people of the earth ſhal be cut down at the laſt day. Now whereas amongſt them ſome are good & ſome bad, it is left to be ſought out elſewhere what ſhall become of the good, and according to the ſcope of this place, which is to terrifie the wicked adherers to the Whoore of Babylon, the proceedings againſt them only are deſcribed, they ſhall be cut downe as the Corne in the time of harueſt, and as the Grapes in the Vintage time, that is, they ſhall be deſtroyed from out of this world, neither ſhall that be all, but after this they ſhall be caſt into the Wine-preſſe of Gods wrath, there to be cruſhed and ſqueeſed in infinite multitudes an infinite long time, ſet forth by the bloud running out in ſo great abundance, arguing both many grapes and a long time of preſſing. There is no ground by the reaping of the harueſt to vnderſtand the gathering in of the godly as ſome would hauehave it taken, for Tares are amongſt the Corne, and this ſimilitude, howſoeuer it doth ſometime ſet forth the putting of an end to this temporall life in all men, yet ſometime with a particular reſpect vntounto the wicked only as here, and Ioel 3.13. and then it is only to be ſo farre forth applied, as it ſetteth forth a cutting off or deſtroying from off the face of the earth, and if wee ſhall goe a little further in applying it, it muſt be in that which is vnderſtood, but in other places further added, viz. in reſpect of that part of the harueſt which is to be burnt with fire, the tares and the chaffe which it may be is alſo intimated here by the Angell which is ſaid to be ouer the fire, whoſe office haply it was when the other Angell had deſtroyed the world temporally to caſt the bundles of tares into vnquenchable fire, and the grapes which were ſharpe and ſowre into the Wine-preſſe of Gods wrath for euermore. And this Angell commeth from the Altar fitly, becauſe fire is vſually taken from thence for the deſtruction of the wicked, as Chap. 8.5. from whence haply he may be thus deſcribed, as afterwards hee that powreth out his Viall vponupon the waters is ſaid immediatly to be the Angell of the waters, Chap. 16.5. ſo this the Angell of the fire or that had power ouer the fire. If any man ſhall further demand, but why doth not Chriſt appeare the ſecond time like the Sonne of man, but an Angell is ſaid to appeare, if both apparitions ſerue to expreſſe the ſame thing. I anſwer, that in the deſtruction of the world at the laſt day two things are to be conſidered, the Iudge by whoſe power and authority it ſhall be acted, and the inſtruments which ſhall be imployed herein; the firſt, is the Sonne of man, the ſecond, the Angels ſpoken of as one here, to ſhew their going about this miniſtery as one, and according to this twofold conſideration there are two diuers appearances of the Sonne of man ſitting and crowned, and of an Angell neither ſitting nor crowned, whereby wee are to vnderſtand the Lord and Maſter of this great Harueſt and Vintage is Chriſt Ieſus, hee onelyonly giueth power to cut downe, and a fruit of his iuſt wrath is the wickeds ſuffering of endleſſe torments: but hee doth inſtrumentally act both the one iudgement and the other by his holy Angels, the ſentence giuing is omitted here, the iuſt manner of the whole proceeding at that day being ſufficiently declared elſewhere. He ſhall come in a Cloud hauing a ſharpe ſickle in his hand, that is, being ready to condemne the wicked world and to cut them off with the breath of his mouth as with a ſharpe ſickle, then the Angels with all readineſſe as his Miniſters ſhall deſtroy the world, and after ſentence by him giuen leauing the godly who are inuited into the Kingdome of Heauen, they ſhall caſt the wicked into their place of torment in innumerable multitudes. And thus I thinke that all hitherto is made moſt plaine. There remaineth only the ſpace of ground without the City where the Wine-preſſe is trodden, being 1600. furlongs to be conſidered: touching which, I finde that moſt Expoſi…ors content themſelues with this generall, that here is ſet forth the great abundance of thoſe that ſhall be deſtroyed, ſo that if men on horſebacke would looke out to it, their bloud couereth the ground ſuch a diſtance and ſo deepe as that it commeth vp to the horſe bridles, it being alluded vntounto Eſa. 66.24. where ſomewhat a like phraſe is vſed.
But one beſides Brightman before ſpoken of,Napier. who applieth it to England, expoundeth it particularly of the time when this great iudgement ſhall be, viz. ann. 1600. from the time of this viſion, that is, about ann. 1699. But here is nothing to intimate any time but the greatneſſe of the place where this Wine-preſſe ſtandeth.Rabbi Menahen. Rabbi Menahen vponupon Gen. fol. 60. ſaith, that the land of Canaan was 1600. furlongs in length, now for ſo much as all things are carried here on in an Allegory to the Temple, the Altar and the holy City which were of the Iewes, I doubt not but in this ſpace without the City it is alſo alluded vntounto that Country, ſuch an innumerable multitude are deſtroyed, as if ſuch a ſlaughter of men were made as would ouerflow in this depth all the whole land of Canaan.
The valley of Iehoſhaphat hath beene of old ſet forth to be the place of iudgement, and Tophet, Ioel 3. Eſa. 30.which is in that Country, to be wide and large, where there is wood enough, and the breath of the Lord as a riuer of brimſtone kindling it. It is without the City of the Saints, which is much greater, euen 12000. furlongs ſquare, Chap. 21.16. not for that the number with ſhall be tormented together is leſſe than the number of thoſe that ſhall be ſaued, but becauſe to be ſtreightened is an addition to paine, to be inlarged an addition to ioy and comfort.
Touching the Angell of the fire, I doe not thinke with ſome, that either here or Chap. 16. where the Angell of the waters is ſpoken of, it can be iuſtly gathered that diuers things are aſſigned to diuers Angels to rule ouer, for they together are miniſtring Spirits to execute the will of God, ſometime in one kinde, and ſometime in another; and becauſe this Angell before, Chap. 8.5. is ſaid to take a Cenſer full of fiery coales from the Altar, he may now be brought in by this Periphraſis, tacitly implying what ſhall become of the harueſt of the wicked before ſaid to be reaped, and hee that afterwards is called the Angell of the waters, is plainly ſo called becauſe he powred out his Viall vponupon the waters.
Note,Note. that when the godly who hauehave ſuffered and beene toiled in this world ſhall reſt moſt ſweetly from all trauell and labour, the wicked followers of the beaſt of Rome, and all wicked perſons come to burning and preſſing with intolerable pangs, neither can there be any auoiding of it, becauſe the Lord Ieſus and his holy Angels, from whom none can lie hid (and not men who may be deceiued) ſhall be actors in adiudging and compelling them into the Wine-preſſe.