The Whole Revelation of John in Two Treatises, Treatise 1 · Proposition 5 – Proposition 13
5 PROPOSITION. The ſpace of the fift trumpet or vial containeth 245. years, and ſo much alſo, eueryevery one of the reſt of the trumpets or vials doe containe.
SEing at the powring out of the fift vial, or ſounding of the fift trumpet, the Turkes began their dominion vnderunder Zadok, in Anno Chriſti 1051. by the thirde propoſition: & by the fourth propoſition, at the ſounding of the ſixt Trumpet, & powring out of the ſixt Viall, the whole foure nations Mahometanes began their great Empire in anno Chriſti 1296. Therefore, the fift Trumpet or Viall indured from the 1051. yeare, to the 1296. yeare, which is the ſpace of 245. yeares. Nowe, that euerie one of the reſt of the Trumpets or Vialles doeth containe the ſame ſpace, it is probable by theſe reaſons. Firſt, becauſe in euerie diſtribution, aequalitie is moſt apparant and probable, and ſo theſe ſeuen ages, termed by trumpets and vialles, appeare to hauehave no reaſon, why one ſhould bee longer and another ſhorter, but rather all alike. Secondlie, as in thoſe 245. yeares the effectes of the fift Trumpet and Viall were performed (as now is prooued) ſo by our paraphraſticall and hiſtoricall Diſcourſe you ſhall finde, that in the former 245. years, the effect of the fourth Trumpet and Vial, and in the 245. yeares before theſe, the effect of the third Trumpet or Viall was perfourmed: and conſequently, the effects of eueryevery one of the reſt of the trumpets or vials were perfourmed in their owne ſpace of 245. yeares, ingendering ſo in theſe intervals of 245. yeares a perfect harmonie & analogie betwixt the propheſie and hiſtorie. Thirdly, becauſe every one of theſe ages are tearmed and diſtinguiſhed by the ſounds of trumpets here, as the Iubelees were inLeuit. 25, 9 Leviticus. For there, at the end of every 49. year, and beginning of the 50. yeare the trūpets ſounded, making betwixt everie ſounding thereof 49. yeares preciſely for a Iubelee interuall without any oddes, as the name Iubileus betokens, which ſignifieth a Trūpet or Cornet: Therfore, muſt thoſe ages alſo contain certain whole Iubelee interualls,Hier. de int. nominum. preciſelie without any ods: otherwiſe, apparātlie, they woulde not hauehave bene limited here by the ſoundes of Trumpets, as the Iubelees are. Then, if euerie one of theſe ages doeth containe foure Iubelees, which is 196. yeares, or ſixe Iubelees, which is 294 yeares, the one ſhall be ſo few, and the other ſhal bee ſo manie, that the hiſtorie could not agree thereto: Therefore, fiue Iubelees, which is 245. yeares (as the middeſt betwixt extremities) agreeth exquiſitlie. Fourthlie, it is found in hiſtories, that great mutations of Empires followed 245. years one after another: as, Ieruſalem was deſtroied An. 71. An. 316. Conſtantine trāſported the Imperiall ſeat from Rome to Byzantium, and in Rome Pope Sylueſter began the Papiſticall kingdome. Anno 561. or thereabout, Totila king of Goths burned Rome, & vſurped the dominion thereof. Anno 806. Charlemaign receiued the newe Empire of Germanes and Romanes. Anno 1051. Zadok began the firſt dominion of the Turkes. Anno 1296. Ottoman began the firſt Empire of the foure nations Mahometanes. Laſt of all, about the year 1541. aroſe our true profeſſors againſt the kingdō of Antichriſt. And euerie one of theſe great mutations followed 245. yeares one after another. And this moueth Carion, and other Hiſtoriographers, to affirme by diuers obſeruations, that fiueCarion. lib. 4. de Henr. 4. Imp. hundred yeares (as groſlie they thinke, or rather exactlie, 490. yeares) is fatalis periodus imperiorū: the fatal period of Empires, for that it is about twiſe 245. yeares. Fiftlie, 245. yeares, is the juſt halfe of the greate Iubelee, or ſeuentie weekes of Daniel, containing 490. yeares: And becauſe the worlde would not ſtand whollie ſeuen of theſe great Iubelees; therefore S. Iohn by the Spirite of God deuideth ſeuen halfs of the great Iubelee, among the ſeuen Trumpets, or vials. Sixtlie, ther are books of the Iewes, containing (as they alledge) doctrines proceding frō the mouthes of the Patriarches, affirming eueryevery great Angel of ſeuē to rule the world 490. yeares: which wee (wanting the warrant of Scripture) can neither affirm nor condemn. Alwaies (if it be ſo,) the halfe thereof, to wit, 245. years is taken in ſteade of the whole, becauſe (as is ſaide) the time to come to the worlds end, woulde not containe ſeuen whole, and to containe fewer diuiſions than ſeuen, that had bene repugnant to the propheticall manner, that deuides all by ſeuen: as ſeuen ſeales, ſeuen trū pets, ſeuen vials, ſeuen thunders, &c. So then, for concluſion, euerie trumpet or viall endureth 245. yeares.
6 PROPOSITION. The firſt Trumpet or Viall began at the Iubelee, in anno Chriſti 71.
SEing by the third Propoſition, the fift trumpet or viall began in Anno 1051. And that by the fift propoſition euerie trumpet or viall containeth 245. years, it muſt needs followe by juſt count, that the firſt trumpet or viall began in Anno 71. The ſecond in An. 316. The third in An. 561. The fourrh in An. 806. The fift (as is already prooued) in An. 1051. The ſixt alſo in An. 1296. The ſeuenth in An. 1541. And that this 71. yeare of Chriſt, and conſequentlie, the firſt yeare of euerie trumpet or viall was Iubelee, you may conſider by the Diſcourſe of Ioſephus Scalig… de emendat. temporum.
7 PROPOSITION. The laſt of the ſeuen Seales, and firſt of the ſeuen Trumpets or Vials, begin both at once, in An. 71.
THis appeareth euidentlie, for euen by the text (cap. 8.) the ſeuenth ſeale being opened, that verie hour the ſeuen Angels receiued their trumpets to blowe; for hauing ſaid in the firſt verſe, and when hee had opened the ſeuenth ſeale, there was ſilence in heauen about halfe an houre: he ſubjoyneth immediatelie (ver. 2.) And I ſaw the ſeuen Angels, &c. receiue their ſeuen Trumpets. And further, after he hath ſhewed (ver. 5.) how Chriſt powred out the fiery coales of his wrath, in reuenge of the blood of his Saintes (which doubtles, was vponupon Ieruſalem, which ſhead it) incontinent hee ſubjoyneth (verſe 6. and 7.) that then the ſeuen Angels prepared themſelues to blowe. And the firſt blewe his Trumpet, &c. So therefore, juſtlie at this deſtruction of Ieruſalem, in Anno Chriſti 71. make wee both the laſt ſeale, and firſt Trumpet or Viall to beginne. And this is alſo confirmed by the former calculations, which come backwarde from the fift Trumpet or Viall preciſelie, to the yeare of this deſtruction.
8. PROPOSITION The firſt Seal beginneth to be opened, in Anno Chriſti 29. compleat.
THis is prooued by this reaſon. The opening of the firſt Seale (cap. 6.) and outgoing of one riding vponupon a white horſe, &c. is interpreted to bee the word of God, in the 19. chap. verſ. 13. which paſſed out victoriouſlie, conquering and piercing our heartes with the arrowes of feruencie and godlie zeale. This behooued onlie to beginne at that time that Chriſt was baptized, and began to preach and open vp the ſealed doctrin of our ſaluation, which was in the end of the 29. yeare of the age of Chriſte: and about the beginning of his thirtieth yeare (as Luke teſtifieth) So,Luke. 3, v. 23 then conſequentlie, the firſt ſeale beginneth to be opened about the end of the ſaid 29. yeare of the age of Chriſt.
9. PROPOSITION. Euerie Seale muſt containe the ſpace of ſeuen yeares.
THe firſt Seale beginning to bee opened in Anno Chriſti 29. as by the former propoſition is prooued, we ſay, that the ſecond ſeal beginneth in An. Chriſti 36. The third beginneth in An. 43. The fourth in An. 50. The fift in An. 57. The ſixt in An. 64. And finallie, the ſeuēth beginneth in An. 71. proceding ever aequally by ſeuen yeares interual, for theſe reaſons. Firſt, becaus in al diſtributions, aequalitie is moſt apparant and probable: and trueth it is, that the firſt ſeale could not begin at the terme and yeare of Chriſt 29. proued by the former propoſition, & the ſeuēth ſeal at the term of the yeare of Chriſt 71. prooued by the ſeuenth Propoſition, and proceed aequallie: vnleſſe that euerie ſeale containe ſeuen yeares. Secondlie, becauſe in proceeding, and giuing ſeuen yeares to euerie ſeale, ye ſhall finde the effect of euerie ſeale to bee perfourmed within the ſeuen yeares of that ſeale: And ſo the harmonie to bee perfect betwixt theſe ſeales and the juſt hiſtorie, as in our paraphraſticall and hiſtoricall Diſcourſe ſhall appeare more at large. Thirdlie, becauſe all comptes of yeares within a Iubelee, were reckoned among the Leuits and Prophets by weekes of yeares,Exod. 23 Leuit. 25 euerie weeke containing ſeuen yeares, as the Iewes doe obſerue yet vntounto this day: and this ſpace of ſeals opening, proceeding from the yeare of Chriſt 29. to the Iubelee in An. 71. is leſſe than a Iubelee interuall, for it is but 42. od yeares: and therefore, the diuiſion ought of neceſsitie to fall by weekes of yeares, or by ſeuen yeares. Fourthlie, the Angell in Daniel reckoneth 70. weekes of yeares betwixt the commandement to build Ieruſalem, Dan. 9.24and the latter deſtruction of Ieruſalem, including the Meſſias comming. And this Angell calleth his wordes cloſed & ſealed, Sermones clauſi & ſignati: words cloſed & ſealed: Dan. 12.9wher by juſtly theſe 70. weekes may be called ſealed weekes. Now, becauſe theſe 42. od yeares of the ſeales are certainlie a part of the ſeuen ſealed weeks of Daniel: Therefore, wee may juſtlie affirme theſe ſeales to bee ſealed weeks, and ſo conſequentlie euerie one of them to containe ſeuen yeares.
10 PROPOSITION. The laſt Trumpet and Viall beginneth anno Chriſti 1541 and ſhould end in anno Chriſti 1786.
SEing by the third Propoſition, the fift Trumpet or Viall began in Anno 1051. And by the fift propoſition, euerie Trumpet or Viall containeth 245. yeares: it muſt needes followe, that the ſeuenth Trumpet or Viall began in Anno Chriſti 1541. and conſequentlie it ſhould end 245. yeares after: which is in Anno 1786. Not that I meane, that that age, or yet the world ſhall continew ſo long, becauſe it is ſaid,Mat. 24, 22 that for the Elects ſake, the time ſhall be ſhortned: but I meane, that if the world wer to indure, that ſeuenth age ſhould continew vntill the yeare of Chriſt 1786.
11 PROPOSITION. The ſeuen Thunders, whoſe voices are commanded to bee ſealed, and not written (cap. 10.4.) are the ſeuen Angels, ſpecified cap. 14. verſ. 6.8.9.14.15.17.18.
THis tenth chapter doeth agree with the twelth of Daniel almoſt in euerie point: there doth he likewiſe ſhewe, that thoſe verie ſelfe ſame myſteries are ſealed, yet but for a time, ſaith the Angell, in theſe wordes,Dan 12, 4. & 9.13. Tu autem Daniel, claude ſermones, & ſigna librum vſque ad tempus ſtatutum, &c. But thou, O Daniel, cloſe vp the vvordes, and ſeale the booke, vntill the appointed time. And againe, he ſaith, Vade Daniel, quia clauſi ſunt ſignatique ſermones, vſque ad praeſinitum tempus. Goe thy vvay, Daniell, for the vvordes are cloſed and ſealed vntill the appointed time. This time that theſe myſteries were cloſed, appeareth to be the time of darkneſſe alreadie paſt, vnderunder the Antichriſtiā errors, now hope we in God, that thoſe myſteries ar able to be found out, ſeing that time is expired. Thē to our purpoſe, let vsus confer the tokens of the ſeuē Thunders, with the tokens of the ſeauen Angels, ſpecified Chap. 14. And wee ſhall finde them to agree. For firſt, at the comming of the ſeuen thunders, Chriſt doth offer the open book of his truth. So cap. 14. the firſt of the ſeuen Angels bringeth the euerlaſting Goſpel, and openly precheth out the ſame. Secondly, cap. 10. Chriſt by the mightie voice of his worde,Apoc 10.2.8 9.10.11. Apoc. 14.9 as a roaring Lion in the mouthes of his preachers, proclaimed the trueth: then came the ſeuē thunders; ſo alſo (cap. 14.) the voice of Gods heauenly elect is heard as the mightie ſounde of waters, and as thunder (verſ. 2.) Then came orderlie the ſeuen Angels (ver. 6.8.9.14.15.17. and 18.) Thirdlie, (cap. 10.) the ſeuen thunders are ſealed vp as a myſterie. So likewiſe (cap. 14) thoſe ſeuen Angels are preparers and reapers of Gods greate harueſt, and what myſterie is more ſealed than that, as teſtifieth Marke Mark. 13.31.ſaying, De die autem illo vel hora, nemo ſcit, neque Angeli in coelo, neque Filius niſi Pater: But of that day and houre knoweth no man, no not the Angels which are in heauen, neither the Sonne but the father: And Paul to the 1. Cor. ſaying, Ecce, 1. Cor. 15.5….myſterium dico vobis, &c. Behold I ſhewe you a myſterie, &c. Fourthlie, (cap. 10.) the thunders are commaunded to be ſealed & not to be written plainly. So (cap. 14.) they are ſo ſealed, that they are neither named dulie with their former name of thunder; neither are they placed in their due place, which ſhould hauehave bene in the tenth chapter, but here are called Angels, and placed in the 14. Chapter. Fiftlie (chap. 10.) they be called thunders and yet are ſealed: So (chap. 14.) though they be ſealed with the name of Angels,Apoc. 14.2. yet for a token that they be the ſeuen thunders, hee deſcribeth the ſounde of great thunder going before them. Then for a concluſion, in reſpect of the harmonie betwixt the ſeuen thunders, & ſeuen Angels of Gods great harueſt, we conclude them both to be one.
12 PROPOSITION The firſt of the ſeuen thunders, and the ſeuenth and laſt Trumpet or Viall, begin both at once in An. 1541.
IN the eleuenth Chapter it is ſaide, that at the blaſt of the ſeuenth trumpet, the kingdome of the worlde becommeth Chriſt his kingdome: that is, the kingdom of the Antichriſt, and all other prophane kingdomes ſhall fall, and Chriſt his kingdome ſhall bee ſpread and enlarged ouer all: And this can no other wayes come to paſſe, but by the preaching of the Euangell, which was of new opened vp, and preached at the comming of the firſt Angell, whome the Text ſaith, to hauehaveApoc. 14.6 Euangelium aeternum, vt euangelizaret ſedentibus ſuperterram An euerlaſting Evangell, to preach vntounto them vvhichwhich dwell vppon the earth. Which Angell, by the former propoſition, is prooued to be the firſt of the ſeuen thunders: Therefore, it followeth conſequently, that the newe reſtoring of the Evangell, the ſeuenth Trumpet or viall, and the firſt Thunder or thundering Angell, come all at once. And therefore, by the tenth Propoſition they began in anno Chriſti 1541. For confirmation hereof, after the end of the ſixt Trumpet, completed in the ende of the ninth chapter: in the beginning of the tenth Chapter, where the ſeuenth Trumpet appeareth to beginne (the ſixt being newly ended) yee ſhall finde there declared, howe Chriſt proffereth the open booke, and manifeſt doctrine of the Evangel, and then immediatelie that very time, while as Chriſte by his Miniſters, preached and proclaimed out that manifeſt word, as with the mightie voice of a Lyon: incontinent (I ſay) that verie time (verſe 3.) the ſeuen thunders began to vtter their voice: And ſo the beginning of the voice of the ſeuen thunders, or voice of the firſt thundering Angell commeth at once with the completing of the ſixt trumpet, and beginning of the ſeuenth; although though the verie latter blaſt of the ſeauenth Trumpet be not then come.
13 PROPOSITION EueryEvery one of the firſt three thundering Angels containeth a Iubelee, and then the laſt foure al at once compleateth the day of iudgment.
THE firſt part of this propoſition, is at the command of the Angell inDan. 12.9 Apoc. 10.4 Daniel, and in the Reuelation ſo ſealed and cloſed, that be no part of thoſe textes may it be gathered, how long every thunder or Angell of the greate harueſt doth follow after other: yet after the cuſtome, both of the Leuites and Prophetes, who deuide all greate dates by Iubelees: and ſmall dates by weekes of yeares, wee judge moſt apparantly, this laſt age to be deuided by Iubelees: and ſo euerie thunder or Angell of theſe three, that ar ſaid in the text (cap. 14 ver. 6.8. and 9.) to preceede Gods great harueſt, to containe 49. yeares, beginning the firſt (by the former propoſition) at the yeare of Chriſt, 1541. who verſ. 6. and 7.) preached his euerlaſting Euangell to the yeare of God, 1590. Which yeare, beginneth the ſecond thundering Angell (verſe 8.) and continueth proclaiming the finall decay and fall of Babylon, to the yeare of Chriſt 1639. Which yeare, the thirde thundering Angell beginneth, who (verſe 9.) is ſtiled the third Angell, and he continueth exhorting and threatning theſe of the laſt dregs of the Antichriſt to repentance, to the yeare of Chriſt, 1688 VVhere the fourth thundering Angel, euen Chriſt himſelfe (v. 14. & 16) enters actually vntounto his great harueſt, to gather vp his elect, at the warning of the fift Angell, euen Gods holy ſpirit (verſe 15) Like as contrarilie, the ſixt thundering Angel, executer of Gods fierie and fierce wrath (mentioned v. 17. & 19) is admoniſhed and warned (v. 18) by the ſeuenth angel cōmander therof, to cut down & tread out the vines of the earth, in the winepreſſe of Gods wrath: And ſo by theſe laſt foure Angels or Thunders (to wit, by Chriſt himſelfe, and by his whole miniſtering Angels, vnderunder the figure of theſe laſt Angels) all the whole great day of Gods harueſt, and latter judgment is accompliſhed.