The Whole Revelation of John in Two Treatises, Treatise 2 · Chapter 16
CHAP. 16.
THE ARGVMENT.
Hauing praemitted the former chapter, as a preface to the prophecie of the ſeuen ages, now to be repeated vnderunder the tearmes of vials. In this chapter he proſecutes out, in due order of time, the plagues of the whole ſeuen vials, correſpondent & agreeable in purpoſe, ſenſe, and almoſt in tearmes with the ſeuen trumpets, before expreſſed, whereby moſt ſurelie, the one may bee vſed as a commentarie to the other.
The Text. 1 ANd I hard a greate voice out of the temple, ſaying to the ſeuē Angels, Goe your waies, & poure out the ſeuen vialles of the wrath of God, vponupon the earth.
Paraphraſtical expoſition 1 ANd I hard the mightie decre of God, directed frō the Temple of his treuth, to his miniſtring Spirites of the ſeuen ages, commanding them to paſſe, & pour out the cups of his wrath of theſe ſeuen ages, vponupon the a people of the earth.
Hiſtorical application. 1 AT the appointment of God, there are ſeuen ages to the worlds end, in euerye one of the which, ther ar ſeueral plagues poured foorth, for the iniquities of the world.
The Text. 2 And the firſt went, and poured out his viall vponupon the earth, and ther fell a noyſome and a grieuous ſore vponupon the men, whiche had the marke of the beaſt, & vppon them which worſhipped his image.
Paraphraſtical expoſition 2 And his meſſengers of the firſt age paſſed, and powred out the cups of God his wrath vponupon the great Empire of the earth, & there came a cruell and horrible plague vponupon al people that profeſſed obedience to it, and vponupon them that reverenced that Empire and the degenerate Princes therof.
Anno Chriſti. 71 The firſt Vial, or age.
Hiſtorical application. 2 In the firſt age, frō the yeare of God, 71. to the 316. yeare, the Empire of Rome and Roman Monarchie began to decay: For, the ſubjects of that Empire, and all who obeyed the degenerate Princes thereof, were ſomtime plagued and oppreſſed by their tyranny, and by the tyrannie of the thirty tyrants, that then raigned vnderunder thē: Others, ſomtime were ouerrun by ſtrangers, through the effeminate lenitie of theſe Emperours,
The Text. 3 And the ſecond Angell poured out his viall vponupon the ſea, and it became as the blood of a ded man: and euerie liuing thing died in the ſea.
Paraphraſtical expoſition 3 And the Meſſengers of the ſecōd age powred foorth their cuppes of God his wrath vppon a certaine b ſea coaſt, peninſull or lande, named by the ſea: and that lande became full of bloudſhed and murther: and all the people, that ſometime liued wealthilie in that Peninſull, were for the moſt part ſlaine and deſtroyed.
Anno Chriſti. 316 The ſecond Viall.
Hiſtorical application. 3 Wherethrough, & becauſe in the ſeconde and next age, beginning about the yeare of God, 316. the Emperour Conſtantine trāſported the imperiall ſeat to Conſtantinople, it came to paſſe, that the towne of Rome, and whole Peninſull of Cittim, which is (ex Hieronymo de interpretat nominum) interpreted the gathering or toſsing of the ſeas, and nowe is called Italie, is left a praie to the Huns, Gothes Vandales, and other barbarous nations, who ſlewe and deſtroyed of the inhabitants of that country at their pleſure.
The Text. 4 And the thirde Angell poured out his viall vponupon the riuers & fountaines of waters, and they became blood
Paraphraſtical expoſition 4 And the Meſſengers of the third age poured out their cups of Gods wrath c vponupon the wholſom floudes and liuelie fountaines of pure doctrin, and the doctrine became corrupt, tending all to d bloudſhed & murther.
Anno Chriſti. 561 The third Viall.
Hiſtorical application. 4 Then begins in the yeare of God, 561. the third age, in the which, the wicked Mahomet aroſe & taught the damnable doctrin of his Alkaron, among the Chriſtian Churches of the Orient, wherethrough theſe Eaſterly countries became altogether corrupt with his bloodie hereſie.
The Text. 5 And I hard the Angell of the waters ſay Lord, thou art juſt, Which art and Whiche waſt, and Holie, becauſe thou haſt judged theſe thinges.
Paraphraſtical expoſition 5 And I perceiued the Meſſengers and Miniſters of the true doctrine, extolling Gods juſtice, ſaying, Thou Lord, who is, and euer was holie, art juſt, and haſt judged righteouſly in this cauſe:
Hiſtorical application. 5 Herein doeth God his juſtice and moſt juſt judgement appeare: for that men had then contemned the true doctrine.
The Text. 6 For they ſhed the blud of the Saintes, and Prophets, and therefore haſt thou giuen thē blood to drinke: for they are worthy.
Paraphraſtical expoſition 6 For theſe people hauehave ſhead the blood of thy holie Saints & Miniſters, and therefore haſte thou ſuffered them ſpirituallie to drinke bloodie doctrin, exhorting bloudſhed, for they wer no better worthy.
Hiſtorical application. 6 And ſhed the blood of Gods ſeruants; therfore did God ſende among them this Mahometicke doctrine, which cruellie exhorteth men to mak war and bloodſhed, & falſly promiſeth the kingdom of heauen to al thoſe, that valiātly fight in their quarels.
The Text. 7 And I hard another out of the Sanctuarie ſay, Euen ſo, Lorde, God Almighty true and righteous are thy iudgments.
Paraphraſtical expoſition 7 And I conſidered from the Sanctuarie, euen from among them, that entered into the ſecret meditation of Gods myſteries, the ſame alſo confeſſed and approued, ſaying, O Lord God almighty true and righteous are thy judgments.
Hiſtorical application. 7 And this, all that contemplate the myſteries of Gods juſtice, vnderſtand to be iuſtly deſerued at the handes of the almightie, who is true and righteous in al his judgments.
The Text. 8 And the fourth Angell poured out his viall on the Sun, & it was giuē vntounto him to tormente men with heat of fire.
Paraphraſtical expoſition 8 And Gods Meſſengers of the fourth age, powred out the cup of Gods wrath, againſt the e ſpirituall Preachers: and God ſuffered them to ſtirre vp arrogant opinions, and to vex and grieue men with their ſophiſmes, and furious fire of their hote contentions.
Anno Chriſti. 806 The fourth Viall.
Hiſtorical application. 8 Then beginneth in Anno 806. the fourth age, about the whiche time, the Spiritualtie & Papiſticall Clergie, induced manie contentious arguments, and ſophiſticall reaſonings, as the captious diſtinctions of foreign, excuſing their idolatry, and newe erection of Imagerie, eſtabliſhed latelie before, in the ſeuenth counſell of Nice, againſt certaine Godlie Emperors of Grece, who had demoliſhed Imagerie: Alſo, the curious ſophiſmes and contentious arguments of tranſubſtantiation, to excuſe their foreign and adoration of the bread.
The Text. 9 And men boyled in gret heat, and blaſphemed the name of God, whiche hath power ouer theſe plagues, and they repented not to giuegive him glorie.
Paraphraſtical expoſition 9 And men were meruelouſlie chafed and puft vppe with f contentious argumentes, defending blaſphemies againſt the name of God, who onlie had power to reueale the trueth, & to remoue theſe plagues of bitter contention, neither repented they thereof, that they might glorifie God.
Hiſtorical application. 9 And with theſe, & ſuch like fires of contentions, they kendled vp men in ſtrife, ſmothering the trueth, and blaſpheming the name of God, by calling it God, that was not god, and perſevered in theſe errours, without repenting, or glorifying of the name of the true & almightie God.
The Text. 10 And the fift Angel powred out his viall vponupon the throne of the beaſt, and his kingdom waxed darke, and th…y gnewe their tongues for ſorrow.
Paraphraſtical expoſition 10 And the Meſſengers of the fift age, powred out their cuppes of God his wrath, againſte the Antichriſtian & imperiall throne, and other more g puiſſant Conquerours, obſcured and ſtained their monarchie, ſo that they orped and gnaſhed their tongues for ſorrow.
Anno Chriſti. 1051 The fift Ʋiall.
Hiſtorical application. 10 Then the fift age being begun in An. 1051 That yeare Zadok was made firſt Dominatour of the Turks, whoſe dominion aroſe daylie ſo gret, & ſo diminiſhed the Roman Empire, that they of the Empire ar greatlie aſtoniſhed and grieued.
The Text. 11 And blaſphemed the God of heauē for their pains and for their ſores, and repented not of their works.
Paraphraſtical expoſition 11 And yet inſiſted, blaſpheming the God of heauen euen the more, becauſe of theſe plagues and griefes, & repented not them ſelues of their wicked works.
Hiſtorical application. 11 And yet continue they ſtill in their former impieties, idolatries and ſchiſmes, without repenting the ſame, or crauing pardon of God for their wicked works.
The Text. 12 And the ſixt Angel poured out his viall vppon the greate riuer Euphrates, & the water ther of dried vppe, that the way of the kinges of the Eaſte ſhould be prepared.
Paraphraſtical expoſition 12 And the meſſengers of the ſixt age, powred out their cups of Gods wrath, toward the people that remayned about Euphrates that theſe kings & princes of the Eaſt, may mak ready way ouer Euphrates, and tak journey againſt the people of the Weſt.
Anno Chriſti. 1296 The ſixt age or Viall.
Hiſtorical application. 12 Afterward, begins the ſixt age, in An. 1296. About this time, euen in An. 1300. Ottoman being crowned the firſt Mahometan Emperour, it pleaſed God in his wrath, to ſtir vp frō that time forth the foure nations Mahotans, Turks, Tartarians, Saracens and Arabians, that dwel beyond and about Euphrates, with the ſaide Ottoman and his vnderkings of the eaſt cuntries, to com ouer Euphrates, & raiſe warre againſt thē of the whol Roman empire.
The Text. 13 And I ſaw three vnclean ſpirites, like frogs, come out of the mouth of the dragon, & out of the mouth of the beaſte, & out of the mouth of the falſe prophets
Paraphraſtical expoſition 13 So I conſidered out of the deuiliſh h mouths of the great Empire, and of the falſe Prophet to proceede three ſpecial exhortatiōs and wicked entiſements, as vile vermin or frogs, creeping frō their pool.
Hiſtorical application. 13 At this time, the devill ſtirs vp falſe teachers on both the ſides, euen the Legats of the Pope & Romā ſeat on the one ſide; and the doctours of the Mahometick hereſies, on the other ſide; to ſeduce and ſtir vp their ſubjects of the whole worlde, three waies: to wit, in moſt furious wrath and crueltie, the one againſt the other. 2. To ſtand obſtinately in their heretical doctrin. 3. To be illuded with vaine hope, to obtaine auaritiouſly, both the whol kingdoms of the world, & alſo the kingdom of heauen hereafter, if they fight valiātly in theſe their holie wars, as they cal thē.
The Text. 14 For they are the Spirits of deuils, working miracles, to go vntounto the Kinges of the earth, and of the whol world to gather thē to the battell of that greate day of God almightie.
Paraphraſtical expoſition 14 Theſe be i deuiliſh inſpirations intiſing men by lying wonders, & entered into the heartes of all the Princes of the world, to entiſe & ſtir thē vp to mak warr together, in this time of the horrible vēgeāce of almighty God.
Hiſtorical application. 14 And by theſe deuiliſh intiſements, cōfirmed ſom times with lying wonders, they ſtirred vp al the princes of the world by Eaſt, & about Euphrates, againſt thoſe that ar by weſt, in cōtinual warfare al this ſixt age
The Text. 15 (Beholde, I come as a theefe. Bleſſed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, leaſt he walk naked, & men ſee his filthineſſe.)
Paraphraſtical expoſition 15 Behold (ſaith the Lord) I come at vnawares to puniſh: bleſſed is he that abideth praying, and watching from ſin, and keepeth his clothings of righteouſnes, leaſte hee beeing ſtripped thereof, al his horible iniquities appeare diſcouered, to his eternall ſhame & confuſion.
Hiſtorical application. 15 So hath the Almighty broght this great & ſuddē vengeance vpō the Papiſtical Chriſtians for their defectiō. Bleſſed ar they that abide conſtant, for God ſhall deliuer them from ſhame and confuſion.
The Text. 16 And they gathered thē ſelues togither into a place, called in Hebrewe, Armageddon.
Paraphraſtical expoſition 16 And theſe people ſhal gather themſelues together, to fight in the k mountain of gods Euangel, evē in the land of his choſē fruit, & chriſtian elect people.
Hiſtorical application. 16 And this wicked multitude of the whol world, euen the Roman & Papiſtical princes frō the weſt, & Mahometik Princes frō the eaſt convened, & fought manie battels in Chriſtendō both in Aſia wher S. Iohn had plā ted thoſe ſeuen Chriſtian Churches, & in ſuch partes alſo of Europe, where other Apoſtles had preached.
The Text. 17 And the ſeuenth Angel powred out his viall into the aire and there came a loud voice out of the Temple of heauen frō the throne, ſaying, It is done.
Paraphraſtical expoſition 17 And the Angelles of the ſeuenth age, powred foorth their vials of Gods wrath againſt the volving ayre, euen the changeable eſtat of things: and there paſſed out a mightie decree and ordināce from Gods throne, and Temple of his treuth among his faithfull, ſaying, l all is done, euen al mortall thinges, in this age ſhall end.
Anno Chriſti. 1531 The ſeuenth Ʋiall, and laſt age.
Hiſtorical application. 17 Laſt of all, begins the ſeuenth age, in Anno Chriſti, 1541. in the whiche age the worlde ſhall end.
The Text. 18 And ther were voyces, and thunderings, & lightnings, & there was a greate earth-quake, ſuche as was not ſince men were vponupon the earth, euen ſo mightie an earth-quake.
Paraphraſtical expoſition 18 And vntil that end, ther ſhal be gret ſhewes & foretokens of tempeſtuous troubles, rumors of wars and Gods juſt judgmēts thundred out, & ſuch a commotiō ſhal come in the gret Empire of the earth (which ſemeth more ſtable thā the erth) that ther came m neuer ſo great a commotion therof, ſince firſt men were vponupon earth.
Hiſtorical application. 18 In the mean time there ſhall be great and tempeſtuous troubles of all ſortes, and ſpeciallie, the greate Romane Empire, and Papiſticall kingdome ſhall (God willing) quite bee ouerthrowne, and the Monarchie therof ſo vtterlie deſtroyed, as neuer Monarchie was, ſince the beginning of the world.
The Text. 19 And the gret citie was deuided into three partes, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remēbrāce before God, to giuegive vntounto her the cup of the wine of the fierceneſſe of his wrath.
Paraphraſtical expoſition 19 And the whol people that n dwelt in Chriſtendom, became of three ſorts, of opinions, and al the Ethnick religions wer aboliſhed, & then the greate o Antichriſtian citie, ſucceſſour of Babel, cam in remēbrāce before the Almightie, to giuegive her nowe to drink in his juſtice, the cup of his wrath and bitter indignation.
Hiſtorical application. 19 At this time the whole people that remaine in Chriſtendom, ſhal either profeſſe Proteſtantrie, Papiſtrie, or a pretended Chriſtian Neutralitie: for as touching the publike profeſsion of anie Ethnicke religion, there ſhall bee none within Chriſtendome: then ſhall that Papiſticall ſeat and citie of Rome, in Gods wrath and juſt judgement be deſtroyed.
The Text. 20 And euerie Ile fledd away, and the mountaines wer not found.
Paraphraſtical expoſition 20 And eueryevery Ilād revolted from her, & her mighty kingdomes of main lād wer diſſolued
Hiſtorical application. 20 Englande, Scotland, and other Ilands ſhall reuolt from her, and leaue her Papiſtry: her mightie and confederat kingdoms of Germanie, France, Spaine, and others: ſhal either bee ruined and diſſolued themſelues, or then ſhall diſſolue their league with her.
The Text. 21 And ther fel a great hail like talents out of heauen vponupon the men, & men blaſphemed God, becauſe of the plague of the haile: for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
Paraphraſtical expoſition 21 That time the p cold & tēpeſtuous hail of ſelf-louelove, & lacke of zeal and charitie, fell down, as frō on high, and in aboundance amōg the people of the world; ſo that they diſpiſed and blaſphemed god throgh their coldnes of charity & zeal, for that plague of cold zeal doth eueryevery where increaſe
Hiſtorical application. 21 In this time, zeale to God, and charitie to our neighbours ſhall grow cold, and ſelfe louelove ſhall abound among al people, whereby the moſt part ſhall neglect and deſpiſe God, and follow their auarice, ſelf-louelove, and partiall affections, for vndoubtedlie, to the worldes end, theſe vices ſhal euer encreaſe.
Notes, Reaſons, and Amplifications.
a The earth, in al the Reuelation, is not onlie taken for the people of the earth in generall, but for the Antichriſtian and vniuerſal Empire of the earth, euen the Romane Monarchie in ſpeciall, as appeareth here plainlie by theſe ſeuen plagues, which here are ſaide to be powred foorth vponupon the earth, and fell indeed againſt the Romane Empire; and chieflie, where he ſaith, the firſt Viall was powred foorth vponupon the earth, he ſubjoyneth in continent, and there fell a noyſome and grieuous plague on them that did beare the marke of that Antichriſtian beaſt or Empire: as meaning, by the falling of that plague on the earth, the falling therof on the empire of the earth, and conſequentlie, the earth meaneth the Empire of the earth, or Romane Monarchie: and therefore earthquake doth euer meane commotions of the Empire, both actiuelie and paſsiuelie, as you ſhall find through all our Paraphraſe, to agree with the hiſtorie.
b Why juſtlie we interprete the ſea to mean Italie, read the note d Apoc. 8.
c That fountains & flouds mean doctrin, read the note g Apo. 8
d This doctrine is juſtlie called bloudie, ſeeing the Mahomet preached and proclaimed warre againſt all men, and promiſed the kingdome of heauen to them, that fight valiantlie in his cauſes.
e That the Sunne, for the moſt part, meaneth the ſpirituall eſtate, read Apoc. 6. note h thereof.
f This heat that the Cleargie, at this time, both chafed themſelues and others with, agrees verie wel, by hiſtories of that time, to be both the contentious arguments, and opinions, conteined in our hiſtoricall application, whereby they troubled and vexed Chriſtians, as alſo the pride and ire of the Pope and his Cleargie, which at this time roſe ſo hie, that they, by the hand of Charlemain, bereft the Exarchat from the Emperour of the Orient, & the kingdome of Lombardie from the Lombardes, and doe brooke both to this day, and then, & euer ſince, hauehave ſtirred vp the world in ſtrife.
g This plague, that here makes againſt the Romane ſeate, in this fift Viall, prooueth the plague of the fift Trumpet, not to meane the Pope (as ſome beleeue) but rather the Turke, as in our 3. propoſition is prooued more at length.
h Theſe three vncleane Spirites, that here are ſaide to proceede foorth of the mouthes of the Deuill, of the Antichriſtian beaſt, and of the falſe Prophet, are called (Apoc. 9.17.18.) three plagues of fire, ſmoke, and brimſtone, that proceeded out of the mouthes of the Mahometanes: wherethrowe of neceſsitie, they muſt meane ſuch three common heads of doctrine, as both the Pope and the Mahomet do ſeduce their ſubjectes with. Such as, firſt, their ire and tyrannie: for, the Pope proclaimed hauocke of all Mahometicke blood. So doe the Mahometanes with Chriſtians. Secondlie, hereſie: For the Pope preſſeth by al meanes poſsible, to ſpread his Papiſticall hereſie vniuerſallie: ſo do the Mahometans their wicked hereſie of their Alkaron. Thirdly, bitter and ſulphurious auarice: For either of them aſpired to be Monarch of the whole worlde. The Pope charging the Empire, and his vnderunder kinges to fight his holy warres, (as he tearmeth them) for the augmenting of S. Peters patrimonie. The Mahomet charging his Saracens to take vp the whol kingdomes of the world, as promiſed to thē by God (Gen. 13.16) as being the ſonnes of Abraham, euen Agarenes indeed, and Saracens (as they think) by adoption, and therfore, promiſing the kingdome of heauen to them that fight valiantlie in that quarrell: and ſo for concluſion, theſe deuiliſh plagues, and inſpirations of ire, hereſie, and auarice, do ſeeme to be the three plagues and deuiliſh intiſements, that here both moueth Papiſticall and Mahometicke kinges to this great bloudſhed and warfare.
i As God is in the trueth, and the trueth in him, and he is the trueth (Ioh. 14.6) So (â contrariis) the deuill is in deceit, and deceit in him, and he is deceit, and that ſo inſeperablie, that where the one is, there alſo is the other. Whereupon, theſe wicked and deceitfull intiſements, and three inſpirations of the deuil, are juſtlie called by the text, ſpirits of Deuils, becauſe the deuill goeth with them, and they with him conjunctlie, in taking of the which his perſonall preſence with them, hee confirmeth them oftentimes with lying wonders, and deceitfull miracles, as ſaith the Text. Of theſe falſe Papiſticall miracles, and Mahometicall enthouſiaſmes, diuers ar to be read in their hiſtories.
k That Armageddon ſignifieth the mountaine of the Euangel, or of the Elect fruit, read Hierome de interpretatione nominum. There is no reaſon here to read Geddon arma, as ſome doe, vnderunder pretēce of the Hebrew maner of reading backward: for if the Hebrew manner wer here to be obſerued, not only would the laſt word be firſt read, but euen likewiſe the laſt letters firſt, and eueryevery letter backward in his owne order, making Noddegamra, and not geddon arma
l Of this conſumation of all things, read the note q Apoc. 11.
m There came neuer ſo greate a change among the wicked Monarchies of the earth: for euer as one was deſtroyed, another as wicked aroſe, but now ſhal al wicked kingdomes be diſſolued, and ſhal giuegive place vntounto the eternall kingdome of Chriſt.
n This great citie, hauing neither the epithet of Holie, nor contrarilie, any Antichriſtian epithet ioyned to it, and yet apparantlie by the text, including no profeſſed Gentiliſme, muſt therefore, (as appeares) meane Chriſtendome, which neither is altogether Gods holie citie and ſpirituall Hieruſalem, neither yet altogether Antichriſtian, but partlie of both: but hauing no publike Gentiliſme profeſſed in it: for there is no religion publikelie profeſſed in it, but Chriſtian: yet by the craft of the deuill, the ſame is rent in peces, euen in three factions: one being Proteſtants, another Papiſts, the third, ignorant Neutrals, alike to both: who all cal themſelues Chriſtians: But of theſe three, the Papiſtical ſeat being the author both of their owne wilfull errours, as alſo of the ignorant peoples Neutralitie and doubtfulnes of faith, ſhal therefore (in the next verſe) goe to ruine.
o That this Babylon, that here is mentioned, is Rome, is prooued by our 23. propoſition: by deſtruction of the which Romane ſeate, here prophecied, occaſion of perſeverance is miniſtred to the Proteſtants, penitence to the Papiſts, and of perfect certaintie to the doubtfull and wauering Neutral: which becauſe theſe do not the more hereof acknowledge, and thākfullie accept, but for the moſt part, become al colde as haill (as in the next verſe is ſaid) therfore doth the Lord ſhorten the latter dayes, for final end of al iniquity.
p Of this cold and tempeſtuous haill of ſelf-louelove, and lacke of zeale and charitie, read the note ſ Apoc. 11. Here note the profeſſed Chriſtians, being of three ſortes, Proteſtants, Papiſts, and Neutrals: the Papiſts being the Authours, both of their owne wilfull errours, and of the Neutrals ignorant errours are therfore in the former verſe, firſt puniſhed: but becauſe, neuertheles, theſe ignorant Neutrals do encreaſe and augment daylie in ſelf-louelove, and their zeal and charitie euer freeſeth colder & colder to the worlds end, therefore, ſhall the Lord ſhorten the latter day, as appeareth by the teſtimonies cited in the ſaid note ſ Apoc. 11.