The Whole Revelation of John in Two Treatises, Treatise 2 · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
THE ARGVMENT.
The Spirite of God, for our full inſtruction, minding to repeat, amplifie and expound in this laſt part of the book, ſuch matters as hath bene ſummarlie and obſcurelie treated of in the former part, of the which this laſt Eccleſiaſtical hiſtorie being the chiefe: He therfore beginneth in this twelfth chapter again, to expound and repeate the ſame after the maner of a battel betwixt Chriſts Church, holie Spirit, Word, and true profeſſours on the one part: and the Deuill, the Antichriſtian & Romā Empire on the other part: In which is deſcribed the ſtrife & malice that Sathā, by his Antichriſt, executed againſt the viſible, Apoſtolik & primitiue Church, which firſt conceiued, imbraced, & preched forth Gods word, & againſt that holie vvord, which they preached foorth. So that the true Church became latent and inuiſible, and God kept and reſerued his holie vvord in puritie, in the hearts of that inuiſible and true latent Church, by meanes of his holie Spirite working in them, whereupon followed out a ſpirituall battell, the ſpirit of Sathan ſtriuing in the minds of the elect by falſe doctrine, and other entiſements againſt the Spirit of God. But Sathan ſeeing that hee preuailed not in that ſpiritual battel, againſt the ſoules of the elect number, hee raiſeth, by his Antichriſt, perſecution corporally, againſt the bodies of euerie particular profeſſour.
Hiſtoricall application.
Hiſtoricall application. 1 IN the daies of Saint Iohn, the true Primitiue Church of Chriſte flouriſhed, the Euangel increaſed ſhining as the Sun, ſo that the profeſſours thereof, deſpiſed the glory and dignities of this worlde, caſting down al their rents at the feet of the Apoſtles; to be diſtributed in cō mō to the whol Church (Act. 4.35) having no other crowne of glorie, thā the croſſe of chriſt, and doctrine of his Apoſtles. Gal. 6.14.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 1 AND there was ſhewed to mee the great & mervelous viſion of Chriſt his heauēlie a ſpouſe and true Church, ouerſhadowed euerie where, with the bright light of his Evangel, ſhining as the Sun, & ſhee contemned & trode vnderunder her feet, all the glories of this world which are as mutable as the Moone, & ſhee was crowned with the triumphant doctrin of the twelue Apoſtles.
The text. 1 AND there appeared a great wonder in heauen: A woman cloathed with the Sunne, and the Moone vvas vnderunder her feete, and vponupon her he…de a crown of twelue ſtarres.
Hiſtoricall application. 2 Altogether bent in their hearts, to coceiue and contemplat Gods true word, and in their mouthes and works to teach the ſame, and expreſſe the fruits therof;
Paraphraſt. expoſition 2 And within her bowels, ſhe cōceiued & meditated b Gods true word, and with her mouth preached and proclaimed out the ſame, & was preaſed by the Spirite of God, to yeeld foorth and teach the ſame, as a woman is preſſed to yeelde foorth her birth.
The text. 2 And ſhee was with childe and cried, traueiling in birth, and was pained readie to be deliuered.
Hiſtoricall application. 3 But ſodainly after the primitiue Church, the deuill ſtirred vp his inſtruments, euen the mighty empire of Rome that great citie, that is ſituate vponupon the ſeuen notable hils Palatinus, Coelius, Ianiculus, Auentinus, Quirinalis, Vminalis, & Eſquilinus, & hath theſe ten Chriſtiā kingdomes, Spaine, France, Lombardie, Englād, Scotland, Denmarke, Sweden, The kingdome of the Gothes in Italie, and of the Hunnes in Pannonia or Hungary, and the Exarchat of Ravēna; cō federat with it, & hauehave their Empire governed by ſeuen eſtates, all ruling ſucceſsiuelie after other as kings, to wit, 1 Kings, 2 Conſuls, 3 Dictators, 4 Triūvirs, 5 Tribuns, 6 Emperors, 7 Popes.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 3 Then on the contrarie part, I behelde amongſt Gods heauenlie and holie elect and lo, the devil c that horrible and bloodie dragon (in the perſon of that Empire, whoſe ſeate and citie ſtandeth vponupon ſeuen hilles, and hath vnderunder it tenne confederate kinges, and hath had ſeuen princelie eſtats gouerning it)
The text. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heauen: for beholde, a greate red dragon, hauing ſeuen heds and ten hornes, & ſeuē crownes vponupon his heads:
Hiſtoricall application. 4 By meanes of the which Romane & Papiſtical Empire, the deuill hath drawne after him, much of Europe & of Aſia, euen the large third part of the world, cauſing their Paſtours and Miniſters to leaue their heauēlie doctrin, and to teach Antichriſtian Apoſtaſy, for louelove of dignities, rents, and earthlie benefices: for the deuil was ſo ready, that how ſone the true word of God was ſowen by the primitiue Church, incontinently he raiſed vp the Papiſtical antichriſt to devour & confounde the ſame with falſe gloſſes, & ſiniſter interpretations.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 4 With the poyſon of his taile, drew after him the third part of Chriſtians, from their heauenlie contemplation, to earthlie affetions: and this dragon and his members awaited vponupon Gods Church & holie Spouſe, that preached and expreſſed out the fruit of Gods word, that how ſoon ſhe had preached out that word, hee might choke the ſame, and deuoure the fruite thereof.
The text. 4 And his tail drewe the third part of the ſtars of heauen, and caſt them to the earth. And the dragō ſtood before the women, which was readie to be deliuered, to deuour her childe when ſhee had broght it forth.
Hiſtoricall application. 5 But contrary to their expectation, that pure doctrin of the Euangel, preched by the primitiue Church, was reſerued by God amōg the inviſible Church, til at length, it ſhuld rule ouer al the kingdomes of the earth, & ſo God preſerued his worde in puritie.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 5 And ſhe deliuered & expreſſed forth her fruit, and increaſe of the true dincarnat Worde, Chriſt Ieſus, who ſhal rule and governe all nations vnderunder the ſcepter of his ſervitude: And God accepted this fruit of his holy Word vnderunder his protection, & authoriſed it among his holie elect.
The text. 5 So ſhee brought foorth a man childe, which ſhoulde rule all nations with a rod of yron: and her ſonne was taken vp to God, & to his throne.
Hiſtoricall application. 6 But his viſible Church was banniſhed and made inviſible among a few godly perſōs, who ſucceſsiuely after other intertained the truth al the daies of the Antichriſt, from the daies of Pope Sylueſter the firſt, to theſe our daies, euen 1260 years.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 6 Whereof the viſible number, euen Gods true Church & Spouſe was chaced away, and e remained inviſible and ſolitarie among certaine priuate perſons, predeſtinated and elected of God: where ſhee was nouriſhed, and foſtered with their godlie praiers and ſecret meditations, during the ſpace f of 1260 yeares.
The text. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderneſſe, where ſhe hath a place prepared of God, that they ſhulde feede her there a thouſand, two hundreth and thre ſcore daies.
Hiſtoricall application. 7 For at the Pentecoſt after Chriſtes aſcenſion was the holie Spirit and thirde comforter ſent, downe to dwell in our mindes, and therein to fight and withſtande all the priuate temptations and motions of the deuil, vſed againſt the chriſtian Church. For the deuill hauing firſt ſeduced the outward, viſible, & Antichriſtian Church, now ſtriueth againſt the Spirite of God, in the inward mindes of the inviſible Church.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 7 Hereupon proceeded a greate and heauenlie ſtrife, for God the g holie Spirit and third comforter, by his miniſtring Angels and godly inſpirations, fought againſt the deuill, that old dragon; who with his wicked ſpirites & temptations fought, & withſtood the ſpirit of God within vsus
The text. 7 And there was a battell in heauen. Michael and his Angels fought againſt the Dragon, and the dragon fought and his Angels.
Hiſtoricall application. 8 But he by his temptations & intiſements, is no waies able to ouercō the mightie force of Gods Spirit, working in our Spirits, far les to poſſes the ſouls of the faithful and heauenlie elect.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 8 But Sathan prevailed not, neither obtained any place amongſt Gods heauē lie and faithfull elect to ouercome them.
The text. 8 But they preuailed not, nether was their place found any more in heauen.
Hiſtoricall application. 9 So that now in Chriſt his paſsion hat craftie Seducer & accuſer, & his mēbers, hauing no power againſt theſe electe ſoules doeth moſt cruellie extend his tyranny againſt their fleſhlie bodies onelyonly.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 9 And ſo that wicked dragon and olde ſerpent, who juſtly is called an accuſer and odious, who deceiues all the whole world, (now reſtrained from overcōming the faithfull and heauenlie elect ſouls) is caſt out, he, his members and inſtruments, hauing only permiſsion to tempt, trie, and perſecute their earthlie bodies.
The text. 9 And the greate dragon, that olde Serpent, called the deuill and Sathan, was caſte out, which deceiueth all the world: hee was euen caſte into the earth, and his Angels were caſte out vvith him:
Hiſtoricall application. 10 Therfore, with vsus, and for our cauſe, al the Angels of heauen doe yeeld praiſe and thanks to God eternal, ſaying, Nowe is there ſaluation in heauen prepared for Gods elect, and the ſtrength and kingdome of our God, and power of his Sonne Chriſt Ieſus, is enlarged ouer all: for the accuſer of the elect ſouls (who are euen as brethren vntounto vsus his Angelles) is caſte downe and diſplaced: for continuallie, ſince the fal of the firſt Adam, he accuſed thē therefore in Gods juſtice:
Paraphraſt. expoſition 10 For which delivery of our ſouls, ther wer voices of thankſgiuing and great joy among al the Angels of heauen, ſaying, Nowe is there ſaluation in heauen prepared for Gods elect, and the ſtrength and kingdome of our God, and power of his Sonne Chriſt Ieſus, is enlarged ouer all: for the accuſer of the elect ſouls (who are euen as brethren vntounto vsus his Angelles) is caſte downe and diſplaced: for continuallie, ſince the fal of the firſt Adam, he accuſed thē therefore in Gods juſtice:
The text. 10 Thē I hard a loud voice ſaying, Nowe is ſaluation in heavē, and ſtrength, & the kingdom of our God, & the power of his Chriſt: for the accuſer of our brethren is caſt down, which accuſed them before our God day & night.
Hiſtoricall application. 11 But now they hauehave ouercome this their accuſer, in the blood of the ſecond Adam, Chriſt Ieſus, and in the conſtant teſtimonie they did beare of him, not regarding their liues, but being contented to ſuffer martyrdome for his ſake.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 11 But now they hauehave ouercome this their accuſer, in the blood of the ſecond Adam, Chriſt Ieſus, and in the conſtant teſtimonie they did beare of him, not regarding their liues, but being contented to ſuffer martyrdome for his ſake.
The text. 11 But they ouercame him by the blood of the Lamb, & by the word of their teſtimonie, & they loued not their liues vntounto the death.
Hiſtoricall application. 12 Therefore, rejoyce all yee godlie and coeleſtiall creatures: but woe be vntounto you, that doe fixe your foelicitie on earthlie glorie and affections, and do plunge your ſelues in the muddie ſeas & tumbling cares of this worlde, for the deuill is ſent down amongſt you, raging in great furie, knowing his time to be ſhort, for that the world draweth neere to an end.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 12 Therefore, rejoyce all yee godlie and coeleſtiall creatures: but woe be vntounto you, that doe fixe your foelicitie on earthlie glorie and affections, and do plunge your ſelues in the muddie ſeas & tumbling cares of this worlde, for the deuill is ſent down amongſt you, raging in great furie, knowing his time to be ſhort, for that the world draweth neere to an end.
The text. 12 Therefore, rejoice ye heavens, & yee that dwel in thē. Wo to the inhabitants of the erth and of the ſea, for the deuill is come down vntounto you, which hath gret wrath, knowing that he hath but a ſhort time.
Hiſtoricall application. 13 So then, Sathan ſeing himſelf ſecluded frō anie farther power againſt the elect, but only a litle power ouer the earthlie bodies of the true Church, ſtirreth vp the Biſhops of Rome to vſurp temporal dignitie, and Antichriſtian ſupremacie, aboue all the viſible Churches, whereby theſe ſeuen Churches of Aſia, that S. Iohn wrot to, and other Apoſtolicall Churches, were ſtill perſecuted by that Roman Church, til their whol viſible nūber wer faine to imbrace the Romā Apoſtaſie, in ſted of that true word, that ſomtime was preached among them.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 13 Nowe Sathan perceiuing himſelfe ſo ouercome, that he had no more power but ouer the earthlings (as being Prince of this world) he in the perſon of the Antichriſte perſecuted the true and viſible primitiue Churche, and ſpouſe of Chriſt, who had procreated & brought forth the noble fruit & increas of Gods Word.
The text. 13 And when the dragon ſawe that he was caſt vntounto the earth, hee perſecuted the womā which had broughte foorth the man childe.
Hiſtoricall application. 14 So God from theſe daies forth, viz. from the yeare of Chriſt 316. hath withdrawne his viſible Church frō open aſſemblies, to the harts of particular godly men, wher ſucceſsiuelie it abode in puritie, inviſiblie all the daies of the Antichriſtiā raigne, euen to theſe our daies, the ſpace of 1260 yeares.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 14 But God armed her with the ſwift h winges of his protection, whereby ſhe became his inuiſible Church, & fled from the open aſſemblie, to the private heartes of particular godlie men, as to her deſart place, where ſhe (as is ſaid before) was nouriſhed with godlie meditations, for the ſpace of i a thouſande, two hundreth and three ſcore yeares, free from the poyſon of that dragons hereſie.
The text. 14 But to the woman were giuen two winges of a great eagle, that ſhee might flie into the wilderneſſe, into her place, where ſhe is nouriſhed for a time, and times, and halfe a time, from the preſence of the ſerpent.
Hiſtoricall application. 15 Then this deuiliſh Antichriſt, & Roman ſeat, fearing leaſt the ſmall ſparke of Gods inviſible Church ſhuld ſometime reviue, & extinguiſh their ſynagogue, preached & ſet out ſuch plauſible hereſie, as might trap & allure the inviſible church ſuch as merits, & workes of ſupererogatiō; deſeruing (as they ſay) more than heauen, with Indulgences, and pardons for ſins, although they ſhuld deſerue worſe than hell.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 15 Then ſpewed Sathan out of his mouth, a floode of k falſe doctrin and hereſie, that hee might ſeduce God his true Church therewith.
The text. 15 And the ſerpent caſt out of his mouth water after the woman like a flood, that hee might cauſe her to bee caried away of the flood
Hiſtoricall application. 16 Which, with manie more plauſible hereſies, their viſible Church hath whollie imbraced: yet euer ſom of the true inviſible Church hauehave remained in their puritie.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 16 And the earthly and viſible Church of the Antichriſt, did ſo drinke vppe and ſwallowe euerye droppe of that doctrin, that the true inviſible Churche, did abide pure, and did not gette one droppe of that poyſon, that Sathā had ſpewed out.
The text. 16 But the earth holpe the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and ſwallowed vppe the flood, which the dragon had caſt out of his mouth.
Hiſtoricall application. 17 Wherupon the devill, in that Romiſh Antichriſt, is ſo inraged, that whereſoeuer particularly theſe diſperſed children of Gods true inviſible Church, their works and books are apprehended, they are al burned together, and perſecuted with fire and ſword.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 17 And the deuill raged in ire againſt that inuiſible Church, & proceeded in perſecuting the reſidue of her childrē, which from thence-forth do obſerue the cō mandemēts of god and do beare truelie and conſtantly, the teſtimony of Ieſus Chriſt.
The text. 17 Thē the dragon was wroth with the woman and went, and made warr with the remnant of her ſeed, which keepe the commandements of God, and hauehave the teſtimonie of Ieſus Chriſt.
Hiſtoricall application. 18 And theſe thinges did S. Iohn foreſee, & further, as followeth, ſtāding on the ſeaſhor of Pathmos.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 18 And I ſtood on the ſea l ſhore of Pathmos, beholding the viſiō, which followeth.
The text. 18 And I ſtood on the ſea ſand.
Notes, Reaſons, and Amplifications.
a That this woman clad here with the Sunne, &c. is the true Church of God, is prooued by the 22. propoſition.
b How the true Church euer traueled to procreate more children to God, in whome Chriſt is continually conceiued, formed, and ſpiritually borne: ye ſhal read the Galathians. 4.19. where Paul calleth the Galathians his little children, of whome he trauelled again in birth, that Chriſt may be formed and ſhapen in thē: where by it is evident, that the Church of God is this Woman, & Chriſts true word is the fruite and birth, that ſhee formes and produceth into the hartes and bowels of the elect.
c That this Dragon is the Deuill, it appears plainly by the 9. verſe hereof following: and that this ſhape and figure of his, of ſeuen heades and ten hornes, and that the 1260. yeares of his raign are the proprieties and notes of the Latine or Roman empire, is prooued by the 24. propoſition. Hereby then is meant, that the deuil, in this ſtrife againſt Gods Church, vſed or clothed himſelfe with the perſone of the Romane or Latine empire.
d This man-child that ruled al nations with a rod of yron, is called (Pſal. 2.) Chriſt the ſonne of God, and (Reuel. 19.13.) he is called the vvord of God, which ar both one, ſeeing that word tooke fleſh, and was incarnate, Iohn 1.14. Gods Church then, and true ſpouſe, is ſaid to produce this birth of this man-childe, when they preach forth the true worde of God, and his ſonne Chriſt Ieſus, reade hereof Gal. 4.19. howe Chriſt muſt be formed and ſhapen in vsus, &c.
e Seeing by the opinion of Methodius and Primaſius, and diuers old writers, theſe notes of this woman agree not with the Virgin Marie in particular, but with the whole Church of Chriſt in generall: Therefore, and by theſe wordes of this text, and by our 16. propoſition, it is certaine, that the Church of Chriſt muſt lurke & abide inviſible. 1260. yeares, vnderunder the Antichriſt, where through they are deceiued, that think the true Church to be euer viſible, patent, and publike, or yet the publik and viſible Church to be euer Gods true Church.
f That 1260. daies in prophecies, ſignifie 1260. years is prooued by our 1. and 16. propoſitions, and that theſe years beginne at Sylveſter the firſt, about the year of Chriſt, 316. is proued in the 36. propoſition.
g That both in Daniel 10.13.21, and Daniel 12.1. and alſo in this place, Michael is taken for one of the perſones of the Trinitie, euen either for the Sonne, or for the holy Spirite, it is certaine, by the properties conteined in theſe textes, for there is Michael called one of the firſt Princes and our Prince, and ſo, is both Chriſt and the holy Spirit, the firſt Prince before all beginning, & the laſt after all ending, euen α. and ω. and is alſo prince ouer vsus, yea, hee is a Prince for vsus that are his elect, who (as ſaith Daniel there) ſtands for Daniels people, euen for the true and ſpirituall Iſraelites, and ſo ſtandeth both Chriſt in heauen as our Mediator with God, and the holy Spirite on earth with vsus, as our defender and gouerner: Againe, with the name of Michael, which is to ſay, vvho is like God, or otherwiſe, Deus percutiens, a beating or ſtriking God, (ex Hieronymo de interpretatione nominum) doth both the perſone of Chriſt and the holy Spirite agree, for both with the father are one God, and none is like to that God, whereof all the three perſons beate and ſtrike downe Sathans tyrannie, and fighte for vsus. The queſtion therefore is, which perſon of the Deitie doth Michael ſignifie, in theſe forenamed textes: though ſome think he meane Chriſte, for the properties aboue written, agreeing to Chriſt: yet in reſpect (as is ſaid) the ſame alſo doeth agree with the holy Spirit, and in ſome points agreeth not to Chriſt. Therfore, (in my judgment) Michael meaneth the holy Spirit, and not the perſon of Chriſt: for ſeeing the man, or one like vntounto the Son of man that appeared to Daniel. (10.) is prooued Apoc. 1. note ſ thereof, and Apoc. 10. note a thereof, to be vndoubtedlie Chriſt: How can it be, that Chriſt there (Dan. 10.13.21.) ſaith that Michael helped him, except that Michael be taken for the holie Spirit? For the Deitie diſtinguiſhed in three perſons (although eſſentiallie inſeparable) euerie perſon is ſaid in the Scriptures, to help one another, as the Father by the Sonne created the vvorld (Col. 1.16. & Iohn. 1.3.) The Sonne ſent by the Father, redeemed the world. (Luk. 4.43.) The holie Spirit ſent both from the Father and the Sonne cō forteth, defendeth, and regenerateth his elect of the worlde: And the Angels are not ſaid to help, but to ſerue and miniſter to the Deitie. But contrarilie, to deuide one perſon of the Deitie in two names, & to make Chriſt named with the one name, to help chriſt named with the other name, ſeemeth altogether improper: Wher by, Michael that helped Chriſt, appeareth euidentlie, not to be Chriſt, but the holie Spirite: and this I ſpeake of theſe forenamed Textes onelie, and not of Michael in the Epiſtle of Iude, where hee repreſenteth an Archangell, who durſt not himſelfe, but referred it to God, to rebuke Sathan, neither of other parts of Scripture where Michael is the proper name of a man.
h Theſe Eagles winges doe meane Gods mightie protection, becauſe (Deu. 32, 11) As the Eagle flotereth ouer her yong, & ſtretcheth out her vvings, and carieth them on her ſhoulders: ſo the Lord hath alſo kept and preſerued his owne. Furthermore, theſe two Eagles winges may be taken for the two Teſtamentes, the olde and the new, with the which Gods true inuiſible Church clothes her ſelfe, and therewith flieth from the Antichriſtian ſynagogue and aſſemblie, to her priuate meditations.
i That this time, times, and halfe a time meaneth a thouſand, two hundred and three ſcore yeares, is prooued by our 16. propoſition, beginning that date about the yeare of Chriſt 316. by the 36. propoſition.
k That theſe Waters and floods mean doctrin, conſider by the not g of the 8. chap. hereof.
l Some read this Text to bee ſpoken of the Dragon, in theſe wordes, And it ſtood vponupon the ſea ſhore, and ſo it may bee interpreted to meane, that Sathan ſtands readie betwixt ſea and lande (according to the 12. verſe hereof) to oppreſſe them both: that is, to ſeduce all thoſe, that fixe and repoſe their foelicitie on earthlie pleaſures and eaſe on the one part: and theſe on the other part who as the waltering waues of muddie ſeas, plaie the tyrants, reving to themſelues the kingdomes of the world: But I rather aſſent to thoſe other, who read, And I ſtood on the ſeaſhore, as if S. Iohn would ſignifie to vsus, that he ſtood on the ſhore or ſea coaſt of the Ile of Pathmos, while as he ſawe the viſion following of the beaſt ariſing out of the ſea. The like is ſaid in Dan. 10.4. that he ſtood on the banke of the riuer Tigris, where he ſaw his viſion.