The Whole Revelation of John in Two Treatises, Treatise 2 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
THE ARGVMENT.
In theſe two former chapters, being deſcribed howe God adornes the throne of his truth and true religion, both with the preſent doctrine of ſaluation, and with the prophetical admonitons of al things needfull to be foreknowne. The firſt being taught by the 24. Elders, and four beaſts, and other books and lamps of the new Teſtament: This booke of prophecies was adioyned in the ſecond place, wherof the firſt part hiſtorical, now in this chapter, begins at Chriſts baptiſme, An. Chriſti 29. & contineweth from thence 42. od years, euen to the deſtruction of Ieruſalem, in the yeare of Iubilee in Anno Chriſti 71. vnderunder the termes of ſeuen Seales, whereof the hiſtorie of ſix ſeales is orderlie ſet downe in this chapter: The reſt, to wit, how from the ſeuenth ſeale, in the yeare of Chriſt 71. continues the ſeuen trumpets or vials, to the year of Chriſt 1541. and how from thence to the latter day, continews the ſeuen thunders, in the chapters hereafter following ſhal be declared. Now firſt of the ſeuen Seals.
Hiſtorical application. 1 Firſt Chriſt in his compleat age of 29. yeares is baptized, beginnes to open and preach the Goſpel. In theſe ſeuen years Matthew writes his Hebrue Evangell, and publiſheth it.
Yeares of Chriſt. 29 Sabboth year The weeke of the firſt Seale.
Paraphraſe. 1 THerafter I ſaw when Chriſte opened the ſealed doctrine of our redemptiō, in this firſt ſealed week. One a of the four Euangeliſts in the mightie ſtile of Gods thundring Spirite ſet out the ſame, willing vsus to approch & cōſider it
The Text. 1 AFter, I beheld whē the Lambe had opened one of the ſeals, and I heard one of the foure beaſtes ſay, as it vvere the noiſe of thunder, Come and ſee.
Hiſtorical application. 2 Chriſt & his Diſciples paſſe ouer al the world, bearing the teſtimony of the goſpel, and true word of God; which by Chriſtes doctrine, miracles, death, and glorious victorie ouer death, ſo touched and mooued the harts of all the faithfull, that ſodainlie it ſpread, encreaſed, and triumphantlie it got victory ouer all the world.
Paraphraſe. 2 And as wee beheld and conſidered that Evangel, lo, the b pure and holy teachers and Apoſtles, ſpeedily went forth, ouer all the worlde, bearing with them Gods word, ſhoting the arrowes of zeale to pierce all godlie hearts: & this word of God was crowned with victory, for it paſſed ouer all the world, ouercōming and conquering.
The Text. 2 Therefore, I behelde, and loe, ther vvas a white horſe, & he that ſate on him, had a bowe, and a crowne was giuen vntounto him, & he went foorth conquering that hee might ouercome.
Hiſtorical application. 3 Nowe after this firſte ſeed of the Evangell once ſowen, beginneth perſecution, about the ſix and thirtieth yeare of Chriſtes age. Within theſe ſeconde ſeuen yeares Marke writeth the ſecond Euangel; in comforte of the afflicted Church.
Yeares of Chriſt. 36 A ſabbaoth or year of reſt The weeke of the ſecond Seale.
Paraphraſe. 3 And as Chriſt by his Apoſtles, opened the doctrine of our redemption, in the ſecond ſealed week, the ſecond Euangeliſt ſpak out his goſpel, that al mē might come and ſee it.
The Text. 3 And when hee had opened the ſecond ſeale, I hearde the ſecond beaſte ſay, Come and ſee.
Hiſtorical application. 4 And Saint Steuen ſuffered martyrdome for Chriſtes ſake, and Iames the brother of Iohn, likewiſe was beheaded (Act. chap. 7. and chap 12.) for euen then, and from thence foorth, the Roman magiſtrates, and Synagogue of the Iewes neuer ſtinted from perſecuting and putting to death by fire and ſworde, all true Chriſtians.
Paraphraſe. 4 And that time proceeded c tyrannous & bloody Magiſtrats; ſitting in the ſeat of tyrannie, to whō power was giuē to perſecut Gods Saints on earth, and to depriue them of peace, by cauſing all men to kill thē, abuſing ſo the ſworde of juſtice, that God had giuen them.
The Text. 4 And there went out another horſe, that vvas red, and power was giuen to him that ſate thereon, to take peace from the earth, and that they ſhoulde kill one another, & there was giuen vntounto him a great ſword.
Hiſtorical application. 5 Notwithſtanding this perſecution, the Euangel ever more and more, is opened & encreaſed, ſo that within theſe third ſeuen years beginning in the yeare of Chriſt, 43. Luke alſo wrote the third Evāgel & publiſhed it. At this time there fell a greate famine vniuerſallie,
Yeares of Chriſt. 43 A ſabbaoth The weeke of the third Seale.
Paraphraſe. 5 And while as the third ſealed week (after Chriſt began to open his doctrine,) came, the d thirde Evāgeliſt wrote forth his Euangel, that all men might come & ſee the ſame: thē beholde, there came a deadly plague of famine, & therewith ſuch skarſitie, that victuals wer weighed by weight.
The Text. 5 And when he had opened the third ſeal, I hard the third beaſte ſay, Come and ſee. Then I behelde, and loe, a black horſe, & hee that ſate on him, had ballances in his hand.
Hiſtorical application. 6 Wherof Agabus prophecied, & foretold to the Euangeliſts & Diſciples, & whol Church (Act. 11) and they contributed among them, & gaue ſuccor to their poore brethren: in this dearth, the buſhell of wheat was ſold for fiue accuſtomed prices, and the buſhel of barley for three: Of this dearth ſheweth Suetonius and Dion, and other: but of the skarſity of other victualles we read not.
Paraphraſe. 6 So that it was foreſpoken of, and came to paſſe amōg the midds of the Evangeliſtes and Diſciples of the primitiue Church, that the meſure of wheat was ſold for no leſſe than fiue ordinarie prices, and the meaſure of barley for three ordinarie prices, but there was no skarſitie of wine nor oyle.
The Text. 6 And I heard a voice in the middes of the foure beaſts ſay, A meaſure of wheat for a pennie, and three meaſures of barley for a penny, and oyle, and wine hurt thou not.
Hiſtorical application. 7 Then, after the 50. yeare of Chriſt, in this fourth ſeuen yeares, S. Iohn wrote the fourth Euangel, and publiſhed it, beginning at the deſcription of Chriſts Diuinitie,
Yeares of Chriſt. 50 AſabbaothThe weeke of the fourth Seale
Paraphraſe. 7 And when the fourth ſealed weeke (after Chriſt firſt opened his doctrin) cam: the fourth Evangeliſt ſhewed forth his Evā gel, that al mē might come and ſee it.
The Text. 7 And when hee had opened the fourth ſeale, I hard the voice of the fourth beaſt ſay, Come and ſee.
Hiſtorical application. 8 Expreſlie againſt certaine Heretiks, for there aroſe manie in thoſe daies, as Cerinthus, Nicolaus, and Ebion, and (in the Acts chapt. 13. and chap. 15.) Elymas the ſorcerer, and certaine Phariſaicall heretikes, and others, procuring GOD his plagues againſt Iudaea, and other partes of Aſia, where they reſorted.
Paraphraſe. 8 And beholde, at that time cam in e hereſies among the people, bringing therewith the death of the ſoule, and procuring hel and aeternal damnation: and through that quarter of the earth, wher theſe hereſies raigned, God gaue thē ouer to the ſworde, to famine, to death, and to the f tyrants of the world.
The Text. 8 And I looked & behold, a pale hors, & his name that ſate on him was Death, and Hel followed after him, and power was giuē vntounto thē ouer the fourth parte of the earth, to kill with the ſworde, and with hunger and with death, & with the beſts of the earth.
Hiſtorical application. 9 Then in the fift ſeuen yeares, euen the yeare of Chriſt 57 aroſe the tyrant Nero, on whome, and on whoſe bloodie ſeate, and ſucceſſours, the blood of Saint Steuee and Saint Iames, martyred by his predeceſſours, and other Saintes martyred by himſelf,
Paraphraſe. 9 And when the fift ſealed weeke (after Chriſt firſte opened his word) came, then (ſome newe tyrāt being riſen) there appeared proſtrate before the ff juſtice ſeat of God, the ſouls of them that had bin martyred for the worde of God, and for the teſtimonie of Chriſt Ieſus, which they did beare.
The Text. 9 And whē he had opened the fift ſeal, I ſaw vnderunder the altar the ſoules of them, that were killed for the worde of God, and for the teſtimony which they maintained.
Hiſtorical application. 10 Cried vp to the heauens to God, to revenge their blood, vppon theſe tyrant Emperors of this bloody duplicate page duplicate page Empire, but as God is euer holie and juſt,
Yeares of Chriſt. 57 A ſabbaoth The weeke of the fift Seale
Paraphraſe. 10 Crying vehemētly to God, holie and true, to judge and reuēge their blood, on theſe that had ſhead the ſame vponupon the earth.
The Text. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, ſaying, How long, Lord, holie and true, doeſt not thou judge and auenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth.
Hiſtorical application. 11 So within a ſhort ſpace after this, euen whē Peter and Paule, & othere of gods ſeruāts had likewiſe ſuffered martytdom vnderunder the ſame tyrant Nero, then poured out GOD his greate vengeance on him, his ſeate, familie, and ſucceſſours, as followeth,
Paraphraſe. 11 Theſe hath God clothed with his g innocencie, and willeth them to abide a litle while, vntil the number of their brethren & fellow ſeruants that muſt likwiſe ſhortly be martyred for the Evāgel were alſo fulfilled.
The Text. 11 And long white robes wer giuen vntounto euerie one, & it was ſaid vntounto them, that they ſhould reſt for a little ſeſon, vntil their fellow ſeruants, and their brethren that ſhuld be killed, euen as they were, were fulfilled.
Hiſtorical application. 12 To wit, after the yeare of Chriſt, 64. euen in the ſixt ſeuen yeares, a great change and defection came in al eſtates of the Roman Empire: for, now Nero raiſed great perſecutions againſt the true ſpiritual profeſſors, to hauehave vtterly darkened and extinguiſhed the light of the Goſpel, as alſo, hee became a vile inceſtuous tyrant and paricide, a polluter of his whole Empire, and eſtates thereof, with blood and tyrannie,
Yeares of Chriſt. 64 A ſabbaoth The weeke of the ſixt Seale.
Paraphraſe. 12 And when the ſixt ſealed weeke after Chriſt, firſt opened, his word came, then is the gret empire of the earth ſhaken, & the Spiritualtie and bright light of the Goſpel, darkned with perſecution h & ſecular princes and Magiſtrates nowe are become bloody butchers.
The Text. 12 And I beheld when he had opened the ſixt ſeal, & loe, there was a gret earthquake, and the ſun was as black as ſackcloth of haire, and the Moone was like blood.
Hiſtorical application. 13 Namelie, of Gods Saints, Peter and Paule & other martyrs, throwen downe without merciemercy.
Paraphraſe. 13 And Gods miniſters are yet throwen down as ſhaken fruite.
The Text. 13 And the ſtarres of heauē fel vntounto the erth as a fig-rree caſteth her greene figs, when it is ſhaken of a mightie wind.
Hiſtorical application. 14 So that the true Church of God is forced to lurk in ſecret; for revēge wherof, & of the blood of other martyrs ſhead by other Emperours before God: mooueth the kingdomes of France, Spain, and Ile Britaine, to revolt from this tyrant.
Paraphraſe. 14 And God his Church lurketh, as a cloſed letter: wher fore, euen now God ſtirred vp gret kingdomes of k maine landes, and Ilandes to revolt from the the obedience of that Empire.
The Text. 14 And heauē departed away, as a ſcrolle, whē it is rolled, and eueryevery mountain and yle wer moued out of their places.
Hiſtorical application. 15 And theſe kingdōs with the Princes, Tribunes, Cōſuls, Senators & people of Rome, fled frō his tyranny, and left him & al his race of the Caeſars blood,
Paraphraſe. 15 And the kings that wer vnderunder that great Empire of the earth, with the Princes, Tribunes, and members thereof, ſmall and great, free and bond, hid and abſented thēſelues, among obſcure people from their Emperours preſence, and fled vnderunder the protection of newe heads-men, & barbarous nations,
The Text. 15 And the kings of the erth and the greate men, and the rich men, & the chief captaines, and the mightie men, and euerie bond-man, and eueryevery freeman, hid themſelues in dennes, and amōg the rocks of the mountaines.
Hiſtorical application. 16 And choſed Galba, a ſtranger, to be their Emperour, againſt Nero, whereuppon Nero (after hee had burned his town of Rome, murdered his Senators, mother, & chief kinſmen) horribly ſlayeth himſelfe.
Paraphraſe. 16 Crauing theſe Barbares to raigne ouer them, and to couer them frō the horrible tyranny of theſe Emperours, who repreſēted the face of Gods wrath & of Chriſt Ieſus.
The Text. 16 And ſaide to the montains and rockes, Fall on vsus, and hide vsus from the preſence of him that ſitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lambe.
Hiſtorical application. 17 That ſame yeare the Emperours Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, cruellie murther ech other with manie thouſande Romanes, in ſigne and token of Gods angrie face & vnreſiſtable vē geance.
Paraphraſe. 17 For the great day of their wrath, and time of revēge, is come, and none is able to withſtand the the ſame.
The Text. 17 For the gret day of his wrath is come, & who can ſtand?
Notes, Reaſons, and Amplifications.
a That this beaſt is Matthew, the order of time prooueth, for that in that time, he wrote the firſt Evangel in Hebrue: & therfore, is Matthew (vnderunder the term of a mans face) firſt in order by Ezechiel (as is ſaid in our 19. propoſition) and though he be third in Iohns former viſion (Ap. 4) for that his Greek Evangel was third in order, yet here muſt the account be made by his firſt Ebrew Evāgel, becauſe it was that work that firſt paſſed out vntounto the Iewes, and Ebrew Church: and began that Chriſtian victorie, wherof the text here ſpeaketh. The reſt read in the ſaid 19. propoſition.
b That by this rider on the white horſe, is meaned the word and teſtimonie of God, which his ſervantes doe beare and profeſſe, is evident by the 19 chapter hereof.
c That this red hewe meaneth bloodſhed, read Eſay 63.1. & how perſecution muſt follow Chriſts doctrin, read Matth. 10.34.
d This third beaſt agrees to be Luke two waies, both for that he wrot his Evangel that time, as alſo, for that he writes that hiſtorie in his book of the Acts. chap. 11. ver. 28.29.30.
e This muſt needs be falſe doctrine and hereſies, which (beſide temporal puniſhments) procured both death and hell.
f That theſe beaſts be earthly kinges and tyrantes, read Ezech. 34. and Dan. 7. and Dan. 8.
ff It were vnproper here, and chap. 8.5. and chap. 9.13. & chap. 14.18. to interprete this altar to be Chriſt, ſeeing Chriſt was the Sacrifice, that was offered vponupon the altar of Gods juſtice, for full ſatisfaction of his wrath. Therefore, as the Arke and couerture thereof, doth repreſent Gods merciemercy ſeat, Exod. 25. So muſt the altar repreſent his juſtice ſeat, for that the altar was the place of fire and bloodſhed.
g This is a metaphore taken from them, that by the raſh furie and ouerthrow of their enemies, hauehave bene ouertrode, and their garmentes pudled and defiled, & afterward knowne guiltles, are reſtored to cleane garments, betokening their innocencie: read thereupon, Apoc. 7.14.
h The Sun for the moſt part is taken for the ſpiritual eſtat, be it pure or corrupt: as in Eſa. 24.23. & Eſa. 30.26. & here, & in diuers other places: And ſometimes alſo, it is taken for thoſe thinges good or evil, that are adjoyned to the ſpirituall▪ eſtate, as (Apoc. 12.1.) for the light of the Evangell, and (as in Mark. 4.6.17.) for perſecution: whereof read the note i in the ſeuenth chapter following. As touching the Moone, ſhe is ſomtime taken for the changeable world, as Apoc. 12.1. but ofteſt for the ſeculare eſtate therof, as here, and in Eſay, in the verſes aforeſaid: and that both becauſe of the great mutabilitie, of that eſtate, as alſo, becauſe al ſeculare lawes and ciuil ordinances, are borrowed from the ſpirituall Lawe of God, and miniſtred to the people, as the Moone borrowed her light from the Sun, & reflexeth the ſame to the earth.
i That Starres betoken Gods Miniſters, reade Dan. 12.3. and Apoc. 1. and notes q and x thereof. And that heauen betokeneth Gods Church here on earth, conſider by Apoc. 19. conferred with the premiſſes.
k Mountaines to meane kingdomes and kinges, is evident by Eſay, chap. 2. where hee expreſſeth the kingdome of Chriſt, to become erected aboue al kingdomes, by terme of mountaines. Farther, the kingdomes of the Chaldaeans & Idumeans ar called mountaines. Iere. 51.25. and Ezech. 35.3.