Exposition on the Catholic Epistles, Revelation · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
AFter much time ſpent in the ſeuen preceding Chapters in propheſying of the beaſt and the falſe prophet, now this propheſie being brought to an end, it is requiſite that we ſhould bee acquainted with the caſe of the Dragon, who was left perſecuting the womans ſeed, that is, the faithfull, Chap. 12. and from that time nothing more hath beene yet ſpoken of him, but that hee gaue vntounto the beaſt his throne, and great power, Chap. 13. Wherefore in due time here is ſhewed what becommeth of the Dragon, he is caſt into a priſon, and bound, and faſt locked vp by an Angell a thouſand yeeres, and then let looſe a ſhort time againe. For the better vnderſtanding of all the paſſages in this Chapter, I will make vſe againe of my former method, viz. by propoſing queſtions as they ariſe in order, and anſwering them, I will endeuour to cleare all the obſcurities here.
Queſt. 1. What Angell this is that is ſaid to deſcend from heauen hauing the key of the bottomleſſe pit, Queſt. 1 Verſ. 1, 2, 3.& a great chaine in his hand to binde and locke vp the Deuill? when doth the time here ſpoken of, a thouſand yeeres, wherein the Deuill ſhould continue locked and tied vp from the deceiuing the nations, begin? and what time is that little time, of which it is ſaid, he ſhould be looſed for a little time againe after this?
Anſw. By this Angell ſome vnderſtand Chriſt,Pareus. Dent. chaining and locking vp Satan by the preaching of the Goſpell, before which idolatry,Brightman. the Deuils worſhip fell in all places. Some will hauehave Conſtantine the great to be meant by this Angell. Some vnderſtand the order of the holy Apoſtles,Bullinger. who as they went forth preaching the Goſpell, may well bee ſaid to hauehave chained and locked vp Satan.Napier. Laſtly, ſome vnderſtand as the words ſound, that God by the miniſtery of his Angell bound vp Satan all this time. Let the Reader chuſe which liketh him beſt of all theſe, for the difference is little, but I incline rather to that of Conſtantine in particular, whom God did ſingularly vſe in this ſeruice of binding Satan, when by his authority and example, Kings, Princes, Gouernours and people in all places did more generally imbrace the Chriſtian religion, which before they perſecuted, and the Temples of idols were ſhut vp and their worſhip was prohibited.
Touching the time of the Deuils impriſonment there is greater difference. Some will hauehave an indefinite time meant, viz. all the time from the firſt going forth of the Goſpell till Antichriſt his reigne,Aug de Ciu. Dei. lib 20. cap. 7. Ribera. Viegas. Beda. Rupertus, &c. Bullinger. a thouſand yeeres being often put for a long time, but not preciſely ſo many, as Iob 9.3. Pſal. 91.7. 1 Sam. 18 7. Pſal. 90.4. All this time they ſay, Satan is bound vp from deceiuing the Gentiles, becauſe their idolatry and ſuperſtition falleth before the Goſpell eueryevery where. Some hold, that preciſely a thouſand yeeres are here meant, but they differ much about the beginning of this time. Some ſet downe three remarkable times, holding that it is indifferent to begin it at one of them. 1. At the paſſion of Chriſt, ann. 34. and ſo it is determined, ann. 10 34. in the time of Benedict the ninth, who was a coniurer, and was taken away by the Deuill, hauing firſt ſold his Pontificallity vntounto Gregory the ſixt. 2. When Paul preached the Goſpell at Rome, ann. 60. and ſo it is determined ann. 1060. in the time of Nicolas the ſecond, when by the meanes of Gregory the ſeuenth there was much trouble in the world, as if the Deuill were againe broken looſe. 3. From the deſtruction of Ieruſalem, ann. 73. at what time the obſtacle by the malicious Iewes being remoued, the Goſpell was more generally diſperſed amongſt the Gentiles, and ſo it is determined ann. 1073. in the time of Gregory the ſeuenth called Hildebrand, in whom many Hiſtorians affirme that the Deuill reigned ſo ſtoutly, did hee oppoſe himſelfe againſt goodneſſe and further euill.Pareus. Iunius. Dent. Some pitch particularly vponupon the laſt of theſe times, holding that theſe thouſand yeeres were expired in Pope Hildebrands time. Some reckon from the natiuity of Chriſt to the time of Silueſter the ſecond, about ann. 1000. yea one of the Popes ſide,Aretius. Benno Cardin Chytraeus. Cardinall Benno computeth this time thus. Some pitch vponupon the firſt particular time before mentioned, viz. the paſſion and reſurrection of Chriſt. Laſtly, ſome begin this time at Conſtantine the great,Brightman. Forbs. Napier. ann. 300. and end it ann. 1300. at what time the Deuill did ſeeme more euidently to be looſed than at any time before, ſince the perſecuting Emperours, both in the Pope and Turke, the one in the Weſt perſecuting the Waldenſes, and all others that ſince that time hauehave dared to oppoſe his vſurped authority and ſuperſtitions; the other in the Eaſt inuading and ſubduing the Gretian Empire, profeſſedly making warre againſt Chriſt and Chriſtians. There is another opinion which is ſcarce worth the naming, that theſe thouſand yeeres begin not till the Pope be vtterly deſtroyed, and then the faithfull ſlaine in the time of Popery ſhall be raiſed againe in their bodies, and being receiued into heauen ſhall reigne with Chriſt all this time after which the generall reſurrection of all others ſhall be. This differeth not much from the opinion of the old Chiliaſtes, who held, as Auguſtine relateth it,Aug lib. 20. de Ciu. Dei cap. 7. The errour of antiquity. that as the world was ſix dayes in making, and vponupon the ſeuenth was the Sabbath, ſo after ſix thouſand yeeres expired ſince the creation, there ſhould be a Sabbath of a thouſand yeeres here to the faithfull, which had ſuffered for Chriſt, who riſing then in their bodies, ſhould enioy, during this time, all worldly delights of meats and drinks, &c. And of this he ſaith Papias was the Authour,Papias. whom Ireneus and Ierom report to hauehave beene a diſciple of the Apoſtles: howſoeuer indeed he was not, as appeareth by his owne confeſſion in the beginning of his worke, where he ſaith, that he neuer heard or ſaw with his eyes any of the holy Apoſtles. Yet ſo reuerent eſteeme was giuen vntounto him for his ſuppoſed antiquity, that many of the Ancients were intangled with this his errour, as Iuſtin Martyr dialogo cum Triphone. Irenaeus lib. 5. Nepos Epiſc. Aegypts, Tertull. lib. 3. contra. Marcior. Lactant. l. 5. inſtitut. c. 23. Victorinus Pictanienſis in Apoc. and Auguſtine himſelfe confeſſeth, that he alſo was ſomtime of the ſame opinion. But this of the old Chiliafts can by no meanes ſtand,Ioh 3.29. 1 Cor. 15. both becauſe according to it, other plaine places teaching the reſurrection of all mens bodies at one time, ſhould be falſe if the bodies of all the Martyres be raiſed before: and alſo becauſe it doth abhorre from all Chriſtian reaſon, that the faithfull being raiſed againe ſhould wallow in carnall pleaſure, growing now diſſolute, when as in the infirmity of the fleſh they were ſo ſtrict and abſtemious before. And it is worth the no…ing, how God hath let vsus to liue to ſee this errour confuted by experience, for they reckoned the birth of Chriſt to bee anno mundi 5199. ſo that ann. Dom. 80 1. the time of their ſuppoſed ſix thouſand yeeres was expired, and ſo the ſeuenth thouſand of this pleaſant life, after that ſuppoſed reſurrection ſhould hauehave begun 824. yeeres agone, it being now the yeere of our Lord 1625. And as for the latter Chiliaſts, who hold a reſurrection firſt of the Martyrs after Antichriſts ouerthrow, that they may in body and ſoule liue in heauen, before the generall reſurrection theſe thouſand yeeres. They erre with the other about the generall reſurrection, making two times, whereas the Scriptures make but one only, and they plainly contradict the Text ſpeaking of the ſoules that riſe againe and not of the bodies. And laſtly, by their opiniō the world ſhould continue a thouſand yeeres after Antichriſt vtterly deſroyed, whereas hee ſhall bee aboliſhed by the brightneſſe of Chriſts comming. Let vsus therefore conſider of the other expoſitions, and firſt of the firſt, taking theſe thouſand yeeres for a time indefinite, although it cannot be denyed, but a thouſand yeeres are ſometime thus put, yet here ſo many yeeres are preciſely meant, becauſe the word a thouſand yeeres is often repeated, and that with an affix foreign, theſe thouſand yeeres, as is not vſed any where to expreſſe an indefinite time. Beſides, where the words may be properly taken, as here they may without any abſurdity, wee muſt not flie vntounto a figure. And without all doubt this expoſition is erroneous, becauſe the time ſet forth by a thouſand yeeres, according to it ſhould be expired before Antichriſts reigne, whereas his reigne muſt needs be included in a great part within the compaſſe of this time, ſeeing they which reigne with Chriſt in his time are particularly deſcribed by their not worſhipping of the beaſt, v. 4. which could not hauehave beene ſpoken of them, if the beaſt had not beene till after their dayes. Let vsus come therefore to thoſe that hold preciſely a thouſand yeeres to be meant here, amongſt whom I cannot ſubſcribe to them that will hauehave this begin either at the birth, paſſion, or reſurrection of our Sauiour Chriſt, at the preaching of Paul, or the deſtruction of Ieruſalem, becauſe the Dragons perſecuting of the Church deſcribed, Chap. 13. muſt needs be yeelded to hauehave beene before this, both becauſe it is in order ſet forth before, and in reaſon the Dragon muſt hauehave done ſomewhat vnderunder the Goſpell, for which as a malefactor he ſhould be apprehended and caſt into priſon, before that hee could be thus proceeded againſt. The perſecutions of the Primitiue Church therefore muſt needs precede this ſhutting vp of the Deuill, and ſo the time cannot well be begun till the dayes of Conſtantine the great, about an. 300. For till then, howſoeuer Satan had not that liberty to deceiue, by meanes of the Goſpell, yet he ſeduced ſtill the Kings and Princes and great ones of the earth, which being the heads of the reſt, and drawing a world of people after them, the Deuill cannot well be counted to hauehave beene ſhut vp from the deceiuing of the Gentiles, till that they, or the moſt of them being enlightened by the truth, abandoned idolatry, and became embracers of the holy Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus. And if we begin this time then at an…. 300. and end it at an. 1300. the euent will notably anſwer to the Prophecy. For the Deuill was then plainly ſhut vp, when the Temples of idols were ſhut vp, and the true Religion was commanded to be receiued eueryevery where, hindring him from deceiuing the world any more, as formerly he hath done. And he had his priſon ſet open to him againe, when the Turke brake in vponupon the Eaſterne Empire, wanne Conſtantinople, and made it the ſeat of his Empire, ſeeking to draw the world of people, which came vnderunder his iuriſdiction from Chriſt vntounto the impoſtour Mahomet, which was ann. 1300. And when corruptions in the Church being long in hatching were growne to that height, that they which were ſeduced by them, might as well be counted to be deceiued by the Deuill, as the Gentiles of old were, ſeeing the like idolatries with images, Maſſes and Crucifixes were daily committed, and a Queene of heauen was alſo ſet vp, the bleſſed Virgin Mary, &c. which was alſo about the ſame time, as I hauehave ſhewed more at large in my booke called An Antidote againſt Popery, pag. 66. Since that time the Deuill hath notoriouſly raged againe by the Turkes in the Eaſt, and the Pope in the Weſt, but for our comfort it is called but a ſhort time, wherein they ſhall thus proceed, and then by the finall iudgement they ſhall all be cut off, and receiue according to the deſerts. It is not to be taken for a ſhort time according to man, but according to the diuine phraſe directed thus for conſolation, it being indeed but a ſhort time with the Lord, though in our account it be long, 324. yeeres being already paſt ſince, and God knoweth how long this rage ſhall yet endure. If it be obiected, that it ſeemeth contradictory in it ſelfe to hold that the Deuill was impriſoned, and at the ſame time Antichriſt his great Lieutenant was in the world, the Pope and Turke, it muſt be conſidered, that their beginnings were ſo ſlender, both of the Turke for want of that power, and of the Pope whoſe myſtery of iniquity was long in comming to a full height, as it ſeemed not good vntounto the Spirit of God to point at their firſt beings, through the inſtigation of Satan, but at ſuch a ſtate, as wherein Satan might euidently appeare to hauehave broken out of hell againe, to abuſe the world, as hee did in the time of Heatheniſme.
Queſt. 2. And I ſaw thrones and them that ſate vponupon them, &c. Who are they which are ſaid here to ſit vponupon thrones,Verſ. 4. and to hauehave the iudgement committed vntounto them? What is the liuing againe of thoſe that were ſlaine for the truth, and their reigning with Chriſt a thouſand yeeres, and when ſhall this time be? Who are the reſt of the dead that ariſe not till after theſe thouſand yeeres expired?Verſ. 5. And why is this called the firſt reſurrection, and they pronounced bleſſed that hauehave part in it, are there any more reſurrections than one, or are they only bleſſed that ſuffer death for the truth? And are all the reſt of the dead without this bliſſe?
Bullinger. Pareus. Arethas.Anſw. Some will hauehave thoſe that ſate vponupon thrones, and had iudgement giuen vntounto them to be all one with the ſoules ſpoken of immediatly after, for theſe ſoules liue and reigne with Chriſt a thouſand yeeres, which is all one with ſitting vponupon thrones, and hauing iudgement giuen vntounto them: for it is written, GiueGive thy iudgements (O Lord) vntounto the King, becauſe he that ſitteth vponupon the throne is wont to iudge, and to hauehave the power of iudging from God, is to rule and reigne. They vnderſtand this therefore of the glorified eſtate of the ſoules of the faithfull, who either ſuffered vnderunder the heathen Emperors, or in this time of a thouſand yeeres. For being conſidered altogether as one myſticall body, they may bee ſaid to reigne a thouſand yeeres, though ſome of them came ſo late into this bliſſefull condition, as that they were not therein aboue a hundred, fifty, twenty, or ten yeeres before the expiration of this time. As a man may ſay of any family to which an eſtate hath remained from generation to generation fiue hundred yeeres, this hath beene their inheritance fiue hundred yeeres, though ſome of them came not to it till twenty or ten yeeres agone. And it is to be noted, that not they onelyonly who ſuffered death came within the compaſſe of this number, but alſo all thoſe that keepe themſelues in the midſt of Popiſh corruptions vndefiled with them: for it is added, and whoſoeuer hauehave not worſhipped the beaſt, nor his image, &c. For that which is further added, the reſt of the dead liued not againe till the thouſand yeeres were expired. Verſ. 5.They vnderſtand it in a ſpirituall ſenſe of all that were corrupted in religion that were void of true grace, for they which are ſo, are dead, and theſe liue not againe till the thouſand yeeres ended, that is, neuer: for though they ſhall liue againe, yet they ſhall not liue as the liuing of the faithfull is ſpoken of, in ioy and glory, for onelyonly ſuch as hauehave part in the firſt reſurrection are thus bleſſed and happy, that is, they which receiue the truth into honeſt and beleeuing hearts, and cleaue to it, not hauing any tang of the leauen of the common corruptions in religion.
Some others agreeing in this▪ Brightman. Forbs.that the ſoules here ſpoken of, are they that ſit in thrones, yet differ in the expoſition of this their ſitting, and liuing and reigning, for they apply all to liuing and reigning by grace, and cleaning to Chriſt in the acknowledgement and profeſſion of his truth: for this is truly to liue and reigne with Chriſt, though outwardly they were poore, deſpiſed, and perſecuted, ſeeing by grace wee are made to ſit together in heauenly places; but withall, they ſay, that the flouriſhing eſtate of the Church is here ſet forth in this time, the Deuill being put downe in remouing the rule and dominion from Heathen to Chriſtian Emperours, in whoſe time the ſoules of ſuch as ſuffered in the dayes of the Heathen are ſaid to liue and reigne, becauſe they were honourably eſteemed of, and reuenge was now in ſome part taken vponupon their aduerſaries. And of theſe, one in particular, viz. Brightman ſeemeth to hold, that the thouſand yeeres here ſpoken of, are a different time from the former thouſand yeeres, beginning ſoone after ann. 2300. for he ſaith, that of them three hundred yeeres are now expired. And Pareus maketh mention of ſome that held the ſame.
Others expound this ſitting vponupon thrones,Aug. de Cin. Dei lib. 20. cap. 7. Dent. of the Preachers of the word of God, and Eccleſiaſticall Gouernours now being lifted vp, and exerciſing their diſcipline with authority.
Others holding two ſeuerall things here ſet forth,Napier. expound the ſitting in thrones of the Popes dignity, in the dayes of Pope Silueſter, ann. 315. to whom Conſtantine the Great gaue the iudgement, when he ſet him vp ſo high, and his ſucceſſors after him: and the ſoules, the ſoules of ſuch as were by the Popes appointment afterwards put to death, viz. all true hearted Chriſtians.
They which ſtand for a different time from the thouſand yeeres ſpoken of before, are certainly in an errour, becauſe by all circumſtances in the Text, the time is all one. For the Deuils being bound and looſed againe, is alſo here mentioned as the boundary of this time, as it was of the former. Moreouer, here were a ſtrange gap opened into an expectation of this world to laſt yet ſeuen hundred yeeres, which is againſt all probability.
That expoſition which referreth the thrones to the Pope, cannot ſtand in reaſon: for Satan being bound, it is not to bee thought that his Lieutenants, the Popes, aduancement ſhould be ſhewed, but rather the aduancement of ſuch as withſtood him. Neither can I ſubſcribe to that of the glorified eſtate of the Saints departed, vntounto whom the reſt of the dead are oppoſed, who liued not againe, till the thouſand yeeres expired: becauſe ſome viſible alteration is here doubtleſſe ſet forth at the binding of the Deuill, ſeeing otherwiſe the accompliſhment of this Prophecy could not hauehave beene conceiued of by the faithfull vponupon earth for their comfort, when as it was without doubt ſet forth for this end and purpoſe. And as for that expoſition, whereby theſe things are applied vntounto the Prelates and Rulers of the Church, the deſcription of being ſet vponupon thrones and hauing power of iudgement, is too glorious to agree vntounto them. Wherefore I preferre that of the ſenſible moſt happy alteration in the ſtate of the world, in the dayes of Conſtantine the Great: for then thrones were ſet for Chriſtians, and they had the power of iudging, who before were iudged: and in this time the ſoules of the faithfull who had beene put to death for the Chriſtian religion in the time of perſecution, might well bee ſaid to liue and reigne with Chriſt, becauſe they had beene ſet forth as lying vnderunder the Altar, and crying for reuenge vponupon thoſe that ſhed their bloud, Chap. 6. verſ. 9. all the time that the Heathen reigned. And whoſoeuer worſhipped not the beaſt, as they departed out of this life, they had communion with them in this their erection all theſe thouſand yeres, that is, the body of the Saints being conſidered as one, but not eueryevery particular member. For they all and eueryevery of them liued and reigned in this time of a thouſand yeeres, though ſome a longer, ſome a ſhorter part of it. Their liuing and reigning then here ſpoken of, muſt needs hauehave reference to their lying and crying before mentioned, and therefore as that was ſpoken of, to ſet forth times of perſecution without any appearance of a deliuerer that might reuenge that innocent bloud, ſo here is nothing elſe ſet forth, but a deliuerance of the Church, and a putting of power into the hands of the faithfull to reuenge themſelues vponupon the heathen, as was ſometime giuen to the Iewes by thē meanes of Heſter Eſter 8.and Mordecai. For although the ſoules of the faithfull did liue and reigne with Chriſt before, mmediatly after their ſeparation from the body, yet becauſe vntounto perfect dominion it is not onelyonly requiſite to be in glory and ioy with the Lord, but to hauehave our enemies beaten downe and deſtroyed, they are not ſaid to liue and reigne with the Lord till this accompliſhed. Touching the reſt of the dead, who are ſaid not to riſe againe till theſe thouſand yeeres ended, I cannot thinke that it is meant of the dead in ſinne and ſuperſtition, who riſe not till then, that is, neuer: becauſe they which were before ſpoken of, are corporally dead, for they were ſlaine; and theſe are plainly a part of them, for hee ſaith, the reſt of the dead, and therefore corporally dead alſo. I ſuppoſe then, that by the reſt of the dead, the innumerable company of them that hauehave died ſince the beginning of the world, are meant, the time of whoſe reſurrection is not to bee expected till after theſe thouſand yeeres, leſt when we heare of ſome liuing and reigning with Chriſt, and of thrones ſet, and the iudgement giuen, we ſhould imagine the generall reſurrection, and Chriſts comming to iudgement to be here meant.
This is the firſt reſurrection. Verſ. 5.Ʋerſ. 6. Bleſſed and holy is hee that hath part in the firſt reſurrection, &c. This may ſeeme to bee plaine, for a bodily reſurrection maintained from this place by the Chiliaſts, becauſe the liuing of the ſoules before ſpoken of, being here reiterated, is called a reſurrection, which cannot bee taken but for the riſing againe of the body, ſeeing the ſoule falleth not at all. But it is to bee vnderſtood, that theſe words are metaphoricall and not proper, the riſing of the Church from vnderunder perſecution to ſuch an eſtate, as wherein the truth is propagated with authority, is, as it were, a reſurrection from the dead, and therefore is ſo called: and becauſe of the life that vniuerſally came then into the world, by meanes of the Goſpell, thus propagated, it is called the firſt reſurrection: as the conuerſion of the Iewes which ſhall be, is called by the Apoſtle,Rom. 11.15. Life vntounto the world from the dead, which is all one as if he had ſaid with our Prophet here, a reſurrection. They are ſaid to be bleſſed and holy that hauehave part in this reſurrection, that is, the faithfull of theſe times are aboue others bleſſed in this, that they rule and reigne, the world being now Chriſtian, and are not vnderunder the dominion of their enemies, neither ſhall the ſecond death ſeize vponupon them, as vponupon none elſe that are in the like condition, that is, by the power of the Goſpell and ſpirit raiſed vp from the death of ſinne to the life of righteouſneſſe. For of a bodily reſurrection it cannot poſſibly be vnderſtood, as I hauehave already proued, but being thus vnderſtood, all things will moſt excellently agree. I ſaw thrones ſet, and them that ſate vponupon them, &c. that is, it was repreſented vntounto me, how in the time of Conſtantine the Great, the faithfull ſhould begin to rule and reigne in this world. And I ſaw the ſoules, &c. that is, and at that time it was ſhewed me by the altered condition of ſuch as had giuen their liues for the truth, who before were ſet forth as crying, but now as ruling and reigning, in token of an end put to thoſe calamities, and a beginning made of proſperity, that the caſe of the Church was altered, and this laſted a thouſand yeeres. This is the firſt reſurrection, &c. that is, this the faithfuls being aduanced to rule and reigne here, being a meanes to conuert ſo many millions in all parts to the truth, is, as it were, a generall reſurrection going before that at the laſt day, againſt which they are well prepared that hauehave their part in this, by being quickened in grace, for the ſecond death ſhall neuer ſeize vponupon ſuch: but they ſhall reigne with Chriſt a thouſand yeeres by the proſperous and flouriſhing eſtate which the Church enioyeth here, and afterwards for euer, by being actually poſſeſſed of the kingdome of heauen in body and ſoule for euermore.
Note,Note. that the onelyonly way to be ſafe from euerlaſting deſtruction in hell, is by making a reſurrection before the laſt reſurrection, that is, a reſurrection vntounto grace, which is only when the Word doth powerfully operate in the heart to make a man come out of his ſinnes. For a man may liue in the time of this reſurrection, and yet not hauehave part in it, if after the manner of moſt men he contenteth himſelfe with an outward profeſſion and name of a Chriſtian, not caring to hauehave grace in his heart, whereby he may proue that he hath attained to a new life.
Queſt. 3. And when the thouſand yeeres ſhall be expired, Verſ. 7, 8, &c.the Deuill ſhall be looſed out of his priſon againe, and ſhall goe forth to deceiue the nations in the foure corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, &c. How, or in whom is this accompliſhed, who are Gog and Magog gathered in ſuch innumerable multitutes by Satan vntounto the battell, what is the Campe of the Saints, and the beloued city which they compaſſe about, at what time God ſendeth downe fire to deſtroy them, when alſo the Deuill, who deceiued them, is caſt into a lake of fire and brimſtone?
Anſw. Forbs.Some by Gog and Magog vnderſtand the enemies of the Church indefinitely, whatſoeuer they ſhall bee in the laſt dayes, who ſhall make their laſt attempt againſt the truth, but ſhall then be vtterly deſtroyed.
Some vnderſtand the Turkes by Magog, Brightman.and the Scythians, who are now called the Tartars by Gog, being both of one ſtocke;Gen. 10.2. for Magog was one of the ſonnes of Iaphet, of whom came the Scythians, who are all one with the Turkes and Tartars, for they ſpring from the Scythians, but they are thus diſtinguiſhed into Magog, ſetting forth the Turke, and Gog the Tartar, becauſe Magog doth containe in it Gog and more, as the dominion is now in the Turkes, the Tartars ſeruing only vnderunder them in their warres. Which they ſeeke to proue alſo by the place ouer which Magog is ſaid to be the chiefe Prince, viz. Meſech and Tubal, Ezech. 38.2.that is, Cappadocia and Ibenia the ancient ſeat of the Turkes, till that ann. 1300. they further enlarged their bounds. The campe of the Saints, is the true Church of God in Europe, which is ſo ſmall in compariſon of the Turkes, as that they may well be ſaid to compaſſe them about, as in a ſiege: the beloued City, is the company of the Iewes which ſhall bee conuerted to the faith, but being oppoſed by the Turkes then, God ſhall miraculouſly deſtroy the Turkes, and preſerue them; as if he ſent fire downe from heauen vponupon them, and then the Emperour of the Turkes ſhall hauehave no place but in hell any more, which is ſet forth by the Deuils being caſt into the lake of fire and brimſtone. And as touching the time when this ſhall bee, it is the ſame with the battell mentioned before in Harmageddon, Chap. 16.16.which ſhall bee fought, and then all enemies of the truth ſhall bee quite ouerthrowne at the end of Daniels 1335.Dan. 12.12. yeeres which will bee abbout anno Dom. 1690. Hitherto Brightman. Bullinger. Parcus.Others vnderſtanding the Turkes alſo, yet goe another way in expounding this place. The Deuill being let looſe againe goeth out to ſeduce the nations, partly by the increaſe of Popery, which now little differeth from Heatheniſme, and partly by Mahumetiſme, which after this looſing of Satan preuailed wonderfully, in ſo much, that thoſe parts in which were famous Churches of Chriſtians, are now turned into places of Turkiſh ſuperſtition, few Chriſtians that vnderſtand and profeſſe the truth remaining. Moreouer, he ſtirreth vp the moſt cruell and deadly enemies of Chriſtians to the warres, viz. the Turkes, which wars were begun firſt about the holy Land, & hauehave continued euer ſince innumerable armies, as the ſands of the ſea ſhore, being gathered together to deſtroy the Church of God. But they ſhall at the laſt be confounded at the comming of the Lord in flaming fire to take vengeance vponupon all the wicked, at what time the Deuill, the ſtirrer vp of theſe and all other troubles ſhall be for euer ſhut vp in hell.
Napier. Dent. Maſon.Others according to the etymology of the name, expound Gog of the Pope, and Magog of the Turke: for Gog ſignifieth couered, and Magog vncouered, ſuch as the Pope and Turke are; he a ſecret, this an open enemy to the truth. Againe,1 Chron. 5.4. Gog was an Iſraelite comming of Reuben; Magog an Heathen,Gen. 10.2. comming of Iaphet: ſo the Pope is of Iſrael, bred in the boſome of the Church, and the Turke an Heathen.
Laſtly, Gog was the chiefe Prince of Meſheeh and Tubal, of one of which, viz. Tubal, came the Iberi, which are the Spaniards, ſubiect to the Pope: and of Magog came the Scythians, who are the Turkes and Tartars, ſubiect to the Emperour of the Turkes.
Auguſtine ſaith the ſame in effect wth the firſt expoſition,Auguſt. that no certaine people are here ſet forth, but all the enemies of the truth at large, in whō, whilſt the Deuill lurketh,Gorran. they are rightly called Gog, that is, tectum an houſe, but when he breaketh out into violence, Magog, detectū, vnhouſed. The Papiſts generally hold, that ſuch as ſhall aſſiſt Antichriſt againſt true Chriſtians, are here ſet forth, and that they ſhall come out of Scythia, Bellarmine.and ſome, that Gog is Antichriſt.Iudaei. The Iewes hold that Gog and Magog are the Northerne people ſhut vp beyond the mountaine Taurus by Alexander the great, who ſhall at the laſt come forth and waſte Ieruſalem by their warres, but then the Meſſias ſhall come and ſtay them, according to the Prophecy of Ezechiel. And the Alchoran of the Turkes alſo hath ſomething touching Gog and Magog, a little different from this.
…unius. Tremel.Some deriue theſe names from Gyges the king of the Lydians, who built a City in Aſia the leſſer, and called it after his owne name Gog-kartah, that is, the City of Gog or Gyges, and hereby was afterwards vnderſtood the whole Country of Aſia the leſſer, and Syria, from whence aroſe the chiefe enemies of the Iewes after their returne from their captiuity, viz. Ptolomeus, Seleucus, Antigonus, Caſſander, &c.
Hauing thus ſet downe the diuers expoſitions which I find vponupon this place, I come now by the helpe of them to determine. By the Deuill, I vnderſtand the Deuill properly, and not the Emperour of the Turkes, becauſe he is the Author of ſeducement to ſuch as are ſeduced, and he, not the Turke, was ſhut vp a thouſand yeeres: but now getting looſe, hee goeth out to deceiue the Nations in that wherein hee was hitherto reſtrained, viz. by idolatry and ſuperſtition, through the meanes of the Turke and Pope his chiefe inſtruments. For the idolatry of Popery and their ſuperſtition, and the ſuperſtition of the Turkes began to increaſe mightily about ann. 1300. Neither was this all that the Deuill laboured in, but that there might be none to oppoſe theſe things, he gathereth Gog and Magog together, whoſe number is as the ſand of the Sea-ſhore, that is, he ſtirreth vp the Pope a ſecret enemy in the Weſt, and the Turke an open enemy in the Eaſt, by fire and ſword to deſtroy the company of thoſe that ſtand for the truth, which howſoeuer it hath beene in a great part fulfilled already, yet the moſt remarkable time is to come, wherein being gathered together in greateſt multitudes, they ſhall be by the immediate hand of God deſtroyed as with fire from Heauen, ſo that they ſhall neuer be able to make head againe, as was before ſet forth vnderunder the ſixt Viall,Chap. 16.16. by the place called Harmageddon, into which they ſhould bee gathered. Which time, the Deuill being concluded in hell, ſhould not in ſuch manner ſeduce any more till the comming of the Lord to iudgement, which is next ſet forth. And I hold with thoſe, that ſay the phraſe here is borrowed from Ez…echiel, becauſe of the ſimilitude of that which was then done and now. Then the people of God being returned from the captiuity were aſſaulted by Seleucus and Nicanor and Antiochus, &c. out of Aſia Minor and Syria, but were mightily deliuered by Iudas Machabeus, and his brethren, being extraordinarily ſtirred vp and aſſiſted from Heauen:Ezech. 38.22. Ezech. 29.6. and therefore their ouerthrow that came againſt them is ſet forth by fire and brimſtone; and againe, by a fire which the Lord threatneth to ſend vponupon Magog. For in like manner the people of God in theſe latter daies, being come out of the captiuity of Popery, are aſſaulted with innumerable enemies, but the Lord doth mightily preſerue them and diſappoint their enemies of their purpoſe; and will, we doubt not, when greateſt need ſhall be at the laſt, yet more miraculouſly ſaue his by deſtroying their enemies both Turkes and Papiſts when they ſhall be in an higheſt attempt againſt them. That the Scythians came of Magog, who are the preſent Tukes and Tartars, is agreed by all Writers, and that Meſhech and Tubal, ouer which Gog is ſaid to be the chiefe Prince, are Iberia, that is, Spaine and Cappadocia, Ieron. de inter Heb. nom.Ierome ſheweth De interpr. nominum Hebr.
Touching other expoſi…ions, and firſt for that of enemies in generall, it is too large, and taketh away from the light giuen here to ſee more particularly into this matter: for that which reſtreineth it to the Turkes onelyonly, ſeeing two names are here vſed, I ſee no reaſon why both ſhould be referred to one ſort of enemies, eſpecially there being two that continually infeſt the Church of God ſo aptly figured out by them. Touching the fire, and the caſting of the Deuill into the lake of fire and brimſtone, I cannot thinke it is to bee meant of the laſt iudgement, and of the fire of that great day of the Lord, becauſe when that day ſhall come, there ſhall be a generall ſecurity, eating and drinking, marrying and giuing in marriage, and not warring and ſighting, for if an end of theſe warres ſhould be made by the Lords comming to iudgement, how ſhould the faithfull hauehave time here to reioyce and to giuegive thankes vntounto to God for their greateſt enemies ouerthrowne. It is true, there may be ſome relikes of the Antichriſtian Sect after this,2 Theſſ. 2.8. in regard of which it is ſaid, that Antichriſt ſhall bee aboliſhed by the brightneſſe of the Lords comming: but that hee ſhall ſtand to be able to make ſo great a power as is here deſcribed, is moſt improbable. The Turkes hauehave had hitherto great ſucceſſe in their warres againſt Chriſtians, but they whom they hauehave fought againſt, hauehave beene as bad as themſelues or worſe, and therefore they hauehave beene armed to become a ſcourge vntounto them, as was ſhewed chap. 9. But when they ſhall come in their greateſt power againſt the true Chriſtians of the Reformed Religion, though the Papiſts ſhall ioyne with them to make their Armies innumerable, God will from Heauen fight againſt them and confound them. In confidence whereof let vsus be reſolute, and comfort our ſelues, if we ſhould ſee greater preparations of warre made by all our enemies, for we ſhall vndoubtedly triumph ouer them all at the laſt.
Queſt. Verſ. 11.4. What is meant by the appearance of a great white Throne, and the comming together of all before him that ſate vponupon it, and the fleeting away of Heauen and Earth from before him? what are the Bookes, and the other booke called, The Booke of life, according to the contents whereof all were iudged, and according to their workes? and how are death and hell caſt into the lake of fire?
Anſw. Brightman.There is no great difference amongſt Expoſitors here, onelyonly ſome turne all that is ſaid into an allegory of the conuerſion of the Iewes, holding that by the dead here ſet forth to riſe together, they are meant who hauehave beene all this time dead as it were in infidelity. But the place is ſo plainly of the generall reſurrection at the laſt day, and the arguments ſo ſleighty to cauſe vsus to vary from the common receiued expoſition, which is of the generall reſurrection, and the expoſition which applyeth it to the Iewes in the particular paſſages here is ſo wreſted and forced,Pareus. as one, a learned Writer hath well noted, as that this may by no meanes be admitted. The chiefe reaſon of this interpretation is drawne from that which followeth, Chap. 21.22. becauſe the Authour of it conceiueth; that the deſcription of the new Ieruſalem with the circumſtances cannot agree to the ſtate of the Church triumphant in heauen, and therefore a famous Church to come vponupon earth muſt needs be pointed at there: but how theſe may be applied to the ſtate of the Church triumphant in heauen ſhall appeare in their proper place. In the meane ſeaſon I follow the common expoſition of all Writers, holding that the generall reſurrection and proceedings which ſhall bee at the laſt day are here ſet forth: for eueryevery place of Scripture is properly to be vnderſtood, vnleſſe there be a neceſſity of admitting a figure, becauſe otherwiſe either ſome abſurdity will follow, or it will not agree with the analogy of faith, neither of which can be iuſtly ſaid here. He that ſitteth vponupon a great white Throne is the Lord Ieſus, who appeareth thus to ſhew his glory, for white is a ſigne of glory, Mat. 17.1. the heauen and earth are ſaid to fly away from before him, to declare the fierceneſſe and intolerableneſſe of his anger at that day, which is ſuch, that neither earth nor heauen are able to beare it, a circumſtance very vnfit to bee applied to that moſt notable worke of grace in bringing the Iewes home to the faith. They ſhall fly away in regard of their externall forme and figure, for they ſhall be changed as a veſture, the heauens melting with heat, and the earth flaming with fire, but their ſubſtance ſhall ſtill remaine after this called a new heauen and a new earth, as moſt hold. The dead that ſtand before the Iudge, are both great and ſmall, eueryevery one riſing in that ſtature of body, wherein he fell; againſt the Ieſuites conceit, that all ſhall be of ſuch a ſtature as one is ordinarily at his full age. The bookes that are opened, are according to ſome, the bookes of men conſciences, according to others, the bookes of holy Scripture, but according to Auguſtine both, which I thinke to be righteſt; for eueryevery mans conſcience ſhall then be made manifeſt, whether it be good or euill, foule or cleare, and according to the bookes of holy Scripture all ſhall be iudged, as they hauehave receiued and obſerued the things therein contained or not. The other is according to ſome,Napier. Par…us. the booke of predeſtination, for then it ſhall be made manifeſt who were elected, and who reprobate: according to ſome,Bullinger. the booke of faith, for he that beleeueth hath life, to beleeue is to liue; the booke of life then is the booke of faith, for he in whomſoeuer a true faith is found ſhall then liue, the reſt ſhall be caſt into hell. I ſubſcribe to the booke of Predeſtination, for this of faith was ſpoken of before amongſt the bookes, and becauſe it is hidden from vsus who are written in this Booke, God only knoweth that a thing well knowne to vsus is further ſpoken of, viz. Workes, eueryevery man is iudged according to his workes, for good workes alwayes are in ſuch as bee written in this booke. It is not ſaid according to their faith, becauſe that is more latent, and there is more deceit in it, neither is it ſaid, for their workes, but all that were not found written in the booke of life, that is, that were not elected, are caſt into the lake of fire, but yet iuſtly, for their euill workes deſerue it: on the contrary ſide therefore, they which are ſaued, are ſuch as be written in the booke of life, here is the originall of their ſaluation, God hath elected them, and good reaſon there is, in reſpect of men, that they ſhould be ſaued, for their works hauehave beene good, whereas the workes of the reprobate hauehave beene euill, and to good workes God hath promiſed a reward, as he hath threatened iudgement to euill workes, yet in reſpect of God, there is no reaſon of merit in the beſt works, becauſe it is our duty to doe them, and being examined by the rule of Gods righteouſneſſe they are defectiue, when wee doe them in the beſt manner that we can; but there is good reaſon of merit of death in euill workes, becauſe vponupon paine of death they are forbidden, ſo that he ſhall be well worthy to die that committeth them, euen as a murtherer or robber is worthy to be hanged; but on the other ſide, he that doth good workes is not well worthy of euerlaſting life, though it bee promiſed that he ſhall be thus rewarded, no more than a dutifull ſubiect is worthy for that ſeruice which his Prince commandeth him, and promiſeth to reward with the marriage of his daughter, and making him his ſonne, can be ſaid to be worthy of it. For it was of grace that his Prince made him ſuch a promiſe, to whom he ought that ſeruice without a reward, neither could it bee worthy of ſo great a reward, though greatly deſeruing, and therefore it came of grace, not of his merit. But if of merit, yet there is a great diſproportion betwixt the ſeruice of any ſubiect to his Prince, and the actions of a Chriſtian towards God: for the Prince doth meerely command and furniſh his ſubiect with neceſſaries to doe that ſeruice which hee putteth him vponupon, but it is his owne valour and wiſdome, whereby he performeth it without any inabling further from his Prince in the very doing: for notwithſtanding his furniſhing of him, hee may as well miſcarry as effect that which hee goeth about. But God inableth his to that which he requireth, He worketh the will and the deed of his owne good pleaſure. Philip. 2.13.Againe, the greateſt reward of a Prince is but the reward of a man to a man, a temporany reward, and ſo happily the benefit that redoundeth to him by that ſeruice may be equall to the reward: but euerlaſting life, which is the reward of God, is farre more excellent than any thing that any man can doe, or the benefit hereby redounding vntounto God which is none; for, If thou be righteous, thou art righteous for thy ſelfe, Prou. 9.12.if thou bee wicked, thou alone ſhalt ſuffer. The Papiſts therefore, that from hence and from the like places ſeeke to eſtabliſh the merit of good workes, doe greatly ſtraine and force ſuch places againſt all ſenſe and reaſon. By death and hell, which are ſaid to bee caſt into the lake of fire, ſome vnderſtand the Deuill,Auguſt. Napier. who by his temptations becommeth death and hell to the wicked, for that he draweth them on to ſuch a courſe as tendeth to death and damnation.Dent. Bullinger. Pareus. Some vnderſtand all ſuch as to whom death and hell belongeth, all the reprobate and wicked; and ſome, whatſoeuer is obnoxious and hurtfull, ſo that after this, nothing remaineth to hinder the perfect bleſſ…dneſſe of the new Ieruſalem, which commeth next to bee ſpoken of. And this ſeemeth to bee moſt probable, becauſe the Deuils damnation was ſpoken of before, verſ. 10. and the reprobates damnation, verſ. 15. Here therefore may fitly be brought in the vtter deſtruction of death and hell in reſpect of the faithfull, ſo that they ſhould not be in any feare of them any longer: for according to this it is promiſed,1 Cor. 15.16. The laſt enemy which ſhall be deſtroyed is Death, & Cha. 21.4. Death is ſaid to be no more after this, this caſting into the lake then is but a periphraſes of deſtructiō. But me thinkes there may be another more agreeing ſenſe yet rendered, if by a Metonymy we vnderſtand by death and hell, ſuch as death and hell were ſaid before to giuegive vp; the wicked which hitherto lay dead and buried, the continent being put for the content, as wee call the inhabitants of an houſe, the houſe. For if hell ſhould bee meant as the word ſoundeth, then hell ſhould bee ſaid to bee caſt into hell, which cannot ſtand; if the heires of hell, then the ſame word ſhould be vſed in another ſenſe, as it were with the ſame breath; that is not likely, but being taken, as I hauehave ſaid, it doth well correſpond vntounto the words before going, and the argument of the wickeds deſtruction, which onelyonly is here ſet forth, is fitly proſecuted, the comforts of the faithfull being reſerued to be ſpoken of in the next Chapter.
Touching death and hell, which are ſaid to giuegive vp their dead,R bera. I hold it not amiſſe with Ribera to expound it of ſuch as hauehave died ordinarily, or extraordinarily hauehave beene ſwallowed vp, and gone aliue, as it were, into the pit. St. Auguſtine will hauehave it meant of the bodies in the graues, and of the ſoules of the wicked in hell.
This is a notable place to ſhew both the vniuerſality of the iudgement that ſhall be,Note. and the terribleneſſe of the Iudge to the wicked, ſo that nothing ſhall be able to abide his preſence, and the iuſt proceedings according to which all ſhall bee ſentenced, becauſe they ſhall be by bookes, and according to mens workes: and laſtly, the wofull eſtate of all that hauehave done euill, after this time, they ſhall be caſt into the lake of fire, and the ioyfull eſtate of thoſe that hauehave done well, death and hell is aboliſhed vntounto them, ſo that they ſhall ſtand in feare of theſe enemies no more. What is written in the booke of life is kept ſo ſecret that wee cannot know it, but they whoſe workes are euill, may be ſure that they are not therein written, the booke of life and the regiſter of mens workes doe parallel one another. Wouldeſt thou then ſee into this great ſecret? goe to thy workes, and conſider them, if they be good, thou art aſſuredly written in the booke of life, otherwiſe thou mayſt bee ſure that thou art not, and then the lake of fire gapeth for thee.Pſal. 34.12. Be not deceiued therefore by thy faith, but wouldeſt thou liue long and ſee good dayes? refraine thy tongue from euill, and thy lips that they ſpeake no guile, ceaſe to doe euill, ſeeke peace and enſue it. Attend to that direction of our bleſſed Sauiour, giuen to him that asked what he ſhould doe to be ſaued,1 Tim. 6.7. keepe the Commandem…nts, and if thou be rich, forget not to diſtribute of thy goods to the poore, and ſo lay vp to thy ſelfe a good foundation.