A Key of Knowledge to Open Revelation, Part 4 · Chapter 6 · Notes 8
Notes vponupon Chap. 11.
Verſ. 1. Giuen mee a reed: The alluſion is from Ezech. 40. 3. That Prophet, liuing in the captiuity of Babylon, after that the Temple and Ieruſalem was deſtroyed, was foretold of the reedifying and building therof againe, by taking meaſure of all & eueryevery part therof; ſo now the Church of Chriſt being in ſpirituall Babylon at this time (not when Iohn wrote, but when the Lord raiſed vp now his faithfull teachers, and commanded to meaſure the Temple), heere is prophecied and foretold how God would reſtore againe his people, and bring them out of Babylon, in which they were by the fall of the ſtarre, and the power of that Angell of the bottomleſſe pit, chap. 9. 1. 11.
A reede: It is the truth of Gods word, receiued and learned out of that little book, the holy Scriptures; for before Iohn had eaten it, hee could not meaſure this Temple, altar, and worſhippers, neither can there be either other rule or line but it, to meaſure heauenly things by. This Reede here, is alſo a line, in Ezech. 40. and that line is the faithfull and Apoſtolicall preaching of Gods word; ſo is a line taken (Pſalm. 19. 4.) by Saint Pauls expoſition, Rom. 10. 18. It is called a golden Reede, (chap. 21. 15.) vſed about the meaſuring of the Temple, Altar, worſhippers and City of God, ca. 21. 15. which can be nothing elſe but Gods word, for onelyonly by it know we Gods Church, his worſhip and people. It is the onelyonly Canon to walke by, Philip. 3. 15. 16. Galath. 6. 16. by it onelyonly doe we truly know, the length, heighth, and breadth of theſe ſpirituall things, as Moſes knew by God, his owne preſcribed paterne, how to ſet vp the meaſure of the Tabernacle, Exod. 25. 9.
Like vntounto a rod: Rod in Scripture, is a note of ſoueraignty, which is a ſcepter, Eſter 4. 11. ſo is Chriſts word called a rod, Pſal. 110. 2. and is his Scepter, Pſal. 45. 6. noting that Chriſt will rule with this Reede, as with a Rod.
And meaſure: This is the vſe to which the Reede is to be put; now meaſuring, in Ezech. 40. & Zach. 1. 16. and in Ierem. 31. 39. ſheweth a re-edifying and building of that which was deſtroyed, in a ſure and certaine proportion, Zach. 1. 16. where the ſtretching out of a line, and building, are put for one; and vponupon the hauing of a meaſuring line, to goe to meaſure Ieruſalem, the Lord doth promiſe that Ieruſalem ſhall be inhabited, Zach. 2. 1. 2. 4. So here is prophecied, that the true Church and people of God, captiuated in ſpirituall Babylon, ſhall certainly be reſtored to their liberty.
The Temple of God: Heere is not meant the Iewes Temple, now deſtroyed before this time, but here is ſet out the true Chriſtian Church, alluding to the Temple of the Iewes, the place wherin the Lord is worſhipped, cap. 7. 15. Into that place, where the Altar was in the Iewiſh Temple, came onelyonly the Prieſts to doe their ſeruice, and to worſhip God, Luk. 1. 9. Now all true Chriſtians are the Lords Prieſts, chap. 1. 6. and his Temple, 1. Cor. 3. 2. Cor. 6. Epheſ. 2. The Altar typeth out the worſhip of God, a part for the whole; for ſo it is taken for the worſhip exhibited there, 1. Cor. 10. 18. Matth. 5. 23. 24. This cannot type out Chriſt, for this is to bee meaſured as well as the Temple, by the Reed. Now in that Iohn hath the Reed giuen to meaſure the Temple, Altar, and them that worſhip therein, it is to fore-tell that God would raiſe vp Iohns, that is, faithfull Preachers, endued with knowledge of the heauenly truth of Gods word; to meaſure, that is, to deſcribe and ſet out thereby, as by the only true rule, the true Church of Chriſt, his true worſhip, and his ſincere worſhippers therein, whom the Lord tooke care of & ſealed, (ch. 7.) and here meaſureth out for his owne peculiar people from all other.
Verſ. 2. The Court: Eſay 1. 12. This is the place, into which the multitude came to pray in the time of the Law; this is the place without the Temple, Luk. 1. 10. and Ezech. 44. 19. This is that which is called the great Court, 2. Chron. 4. 9. where Salomon and all the people were, 2. Chro. 6. 13. called Salomons porch, Act. 3. 11. and 5. 12. and the Temple, Matth. 21. 12. In this were the buyers and ſellers, which were caſt out by Chriſt. Hereby is typed out the viſible Church of common Chriſtians, ſuch as bore the name of Chriſtians, but were caſt out as excommunicated of God, and not meaſured; the Lord would not take it for his owne Church, it was none of his building, the Reed of his word ſquared it not out, neither were the ſeruants of God to eſteeme of it, by meaſuring to bring it into any holy account with (the Temple) the true Church.
Giuen to the Gentiles: An alluſion to the Babylonians treading downe the holy Citie for a certaine time, or to the place of Daniel, concerning Antiochus Epiphanes, Dan. 7. 21. Gentiles are ſuch Chriſtians, which become as Gentiles. Here cannot bee meant Gentiles properly: but as by Iewes and Ieruſalem the holy Citie, are vnderſtood true faithfull Chriſtians and the Church of Chriſt: ſo by the out-Court, Babylon, and Gentiles, falſe Chriſtians or Antichriſtians. Theſe Gentiles are not the perſecuting Heathen, for Iohn ſpeaketh here of things to come to paſſe after his time, chap. 4. 1, and after the fall of the ſtarre, chap. 9. 1. Yea he ſpeaketh of ſuch Gentiles, as heere hauehave the out-court giuen them, and ſuch as liue the whole time of the beaſt, for he ſhall continue 42 moneths a blaſphemous Enemie, and bloudie aduerſarie to Gods Church, chap. 13. 5: and theſe Gentiles, as here we ſee, ſhall ſo long tread the holy Citie vnderunder foote. Theſe Gentiles are therefore the worldly ſort of Chriſtians, mentioned in chap. 13. 5, following the beaſt, and reioycing at the killing of Chriſts ſeruants, as here is noted, verſ. 9, being angrie at the ſucceſſe of the Goſpell. The word is in verſ. 18, tranſlated Nations, but better Gentiles, for the word is in both places one. Theſe then bee the Papiſts, (as the Beaſt is the Pope and Papacy) which are called Gentiles, by an alluſion to the ſtate of Gods ChurchRibera the Jeſuite expoundeth theſe of Antichriſt and his armie in his Comment▪ on this place. vnderunder the Law, in which the Lords people were called Iewes, and all other Gentiles, which were not Gods people; alſo for that they are like Gentiles in leading (like Babylonians) Gods people into Captiuitie; in treading vnderunder foote (as wicked Antiochus did and his companie) the holy Citie certaine yeeres, ſo theſe the true Church for a certaine time; and becauſe in their ſeruice, worſhip, and other their abominable waies they be as the Gentiles, of whom S. Paul ſpeaketh, 1. Cor. 10. 20, and ſuch are theſe Antichriſtian Gentiles, chap. 9. 20.
Fourtie and two moneths: Of the times in this Reuelation, ſee before in this book, 4. part, chap. 5, Conſideration 7. This number is one & the ſame with 1260 daies, for ſo many moneths are ſomany daies, and ſo theſe 1260 daies make the number of the moneths. An alluſion vntounto Antiochus in Daniel ſo long treading downe Ieruſalem, Dan. 7. 25.
Verſ. 3. Two witneſſes: Theſe be not Enoch and Eliah, (ſee this Popiſh opinion ouerthrowne by our moſt learned Soueraigne in his Highneſſe Apol. pag. 62. 72) but the true Preachers of Gods word ſent to preach throughout the kingdome of Antichriſt; for as he had power ouer kindreds, tongues and nations (chap. 13. 7, and 17. 3. 15.) which took part with him, (verſ. 9.) ſo to thē muſt theſe preach, chap. 10. 11, and 14. 6.) to regaine Chriſts owne from among them. Here is ſet down the execution of the cōmandement giuen in the former cap. verſ. 11. Two, is a certaine number put for an vncertaine, ſo in 1. King. 17. 12, and is here an alluſion to Zachary and Haggai the Prophets, prophecying when God raiſed vp Iehoſus and Zorobabel, returning with the Iewes to Ieruſalem from Babylon, to comfort and encourage the people in the Lords worke, as alſo to ſet them forward to the ſame: or Two, becauſe of the fewneſſe of ſuch faithfull Teachers at the firſt; or Two, becauſe two witneſſes are a competent number to iuſtifie a truth, Deut. 17. 6. Therefore the Lord ſends two, Moſes and Aaron to bring Iſrael out of Egypt; and Chriſt ſends his Diſciples out by two and by two, Mark. 6. 7. Here cannot bee meant properly two; for how could peoples, kindreds, tongues and nations ſee their bodies? By two then are all thoſe, which God raiſed vp to preach in all the Popes iuriſdiction and dominion, as farre as the authoritie of that great Citie vnderunder Antichriſt extended.
Verſ. 4. Two Oliue trees, and the two Candleſtickes: An alluſion to Zach. 4. 3. 11. 14: Oliue trees affoord oyle out of themſelues; oyle vnderunder the Law was to bee brought of the people to the Prieſts for the continuing of the lights, Exod. 27. 20: but now here is not oyle, but Oliue trees themſelues, which hauehave oile (by Gods bleſſing) in themſelues; to ſhew vntounto vsus, in this extraordinary time, the Lords giuing of the graces of his Spirit ſupernaturally: for Oyle is put for the holy Spirit and the gifts thereof, Pſal. 45. 7, and 89. 20. Act. 10. 38. Oliue trees ſhew, how the Lord furniſheth theſe his Prophets and Teachers, not by the helpe of others, but by his owne hand, to be full of his ſpirit and graces therof, to cauſe light in the Temple of God to be euer ſhining, in the darkneſſe of the Antichriſtian ſtate. In Zachary are but two branches emptying golden oyle out of themſelues, chap. 4. 12; but heere bee whole trees; ſo much greater grace the Lord giueth to reſtore the puritie of Religion, and his true worſhip from vnderunder Antichriſt and ſpirituall Babylon, then for the reedifying the Temple, and ſetting vp of the worſhip at Ieruſalem, after the Iewes returne from Babylon. They be alſo Candleſtickes, a name giuen to Churches, chap. 1. 20, Miniſters are candles, Matth. 5. 25, and not Candleſtickes, yet here ſo called, becauſe they were as Candleſtickes bearing foorth the light; for in the beginning of reformation, the Candleſtickes were to be found out by the lights; where the Lord raiſed vp faithfull Preachers, there was both the candles and the Candleſticke, by them were the Churches to bee diſcouered. So then they were Candleſtickes by bearing foorth the light, as alſo that by them the Churches were to bee found, and the ioyning vntounto them was an adioyning of mens ſelues vntounto the Churches of God.
God of the earth: Thus the Lord himſelfe is intituled, Zach. 4. 14. and 6. 5, who is the God of heauen, and the God of the earth, Geneſ. 24. 3. And this title was moſt fit for the Churches comfort, to ſhew, that howſoeuer Antichriſt ſwaied, and the world wondred after him on earth, chap. 13. 3: yet the Church ſhould know, that God ruled the whole earth.
Verſ. 5. Fire proceeded out of their mouth: In this and the next verſe is an alluſion vntounto two Prophets, Moſes and Elias; the one bringing the children of Iſrael out of bondage in Egypt, the other reſtoring the Law, and deſtroying the idolatrous prieſts; by both came great plagues & vengeance vponupon their enemies. The words are not to bee expounded after the letter, for ſuch wonders were neuer done by any againſt Antichriſt; but hereby is to bee vnderſtood the great power of the Miniſtrie, the contempt whereof the Lord would no more ſuffer, then hee did the contempt of the miniſtrie of thoſe former Prophets; but that vengeance ſhould be taken of the aduerſaries of theſe, as was before of their enemies, as we may ſee Exod. 7 20. 2. King. 1. 10.
Verſ. 7. The beaſt: Who this is, is before ſhewed in chap. 4.—of this preparatiue, and is one and the ſame with the beaſt in chap. 13. 1; an alluſion to Dan. 7. 21.
Verſ. 8. Great Citie: Chap. 17. 18. and 18. 2. 16. Hereby is meant not onelyonly a Citie within walles, but the dominion thereof; this is Rome with her rule and dominion. It is called Babylon for captiuating Gods people; Sodoma, for her filthineſſe, Geneſ. 19. and Ezech. 16. 49, vexing the righteous hearts of holy. Lots; and Egypt for her crueltie, and deſire to keepe in bondage Gods people; ſuch is the whole kingdome of the Papiſts.
Where alſo our Lord was crucified: Theſe words ſhew, that by great Citie, muſt be meant not a walled place, but the whole dominion thereof, for elſe Chriſt could not be ſaid to be crucified there: this alſo ſheweth plainly what Citie here is to bee vnderſtood, euen Rome: for vnderunder Pontius Pilate the Romane Deputie was Chriſt our Lord (for a Romane quarrel pretended by Scribes and Phariſies, Ioh. 19. 12.) crucified; ſo here Rome is made guilty of the bloud of Chriſt, and of the bloud of all his ſeruants and Saints ſlaine vponupon the earth, chap. 18. 24.
Verſ. 9. Three daies and a halfe: The ſpace and time of the Antichriſtian crueltie from the beginning of his open murthering of Chriſts ſeruants, vntounto the time that God raiſed vp ſuch, as he would take ſpeciall protection of, to deliuer them from the bloudy hands of their enemies: for here the beaſt warreth and ouercommeth the Saints, which is, when hee hath gotten his great authoritie ouer people, nations and tongues. as this verſe and cap. 13. 3. 7 doe ſhew. Theſe Prophets lie dead till the ſpirit of life enter into them, that is, till God raiſe vp other to defend the truth; which is here called the ſpace of three daies and a halfe, the whole time of bloudy perſecution, till there came to be a viſible ſeparation from Antichriſt. For theſe three daies and a halfe, is not the time of their prophecying; but of the furious rage of the beaſt, and the triumph of his ſubiects ouer the ſeruants of Chriſt, vntill God had ſtirred vp other like them, aſcending vp in the ſight of their enemies, making a viſible ſeparation from them, the words in the text from verſe 7 to the 12, ſhew this.
Verſ. 12. And they aſcended vp to heauen in a cloud: That is, now theſe Prophets raiſed vp were by Gods power exempted from the power of Antichriſt. Now the Lord erecteth vp a viſible Church, his true ſeruice and worſhip; but yet as in a cloud. This word is vſed either to ſet out the Prophets honour, or their imperfect knowledge (as yet) of thoſe things which belonged to the heauenly congregation and Church of Chriſt. The words cannot be vnderſtood literally of the ſame parties before murthered, ſuch a bodily riſing is not till the laſt day; and for the aſcending of their ſoules, the wicked could not ſee. Iohn ſpeaketh of things to be done, chap. 4. 1. Heauen is heere the true Church, their aſcending is Gods raiſing vp of others, (endued with the ſame ſpirit of life frō God) to bring his people from Babylon by preaching the truth, as wee ſee in chap. 14. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11; which the enemies tooke notice of with rage and ſorrow, as the ſtories in Luthers time, and after doe ſhew.
Verſ. 13. The effect of this their aſcending, euen a great Earthquake: That is, a great commotion; for vponupon a more cleere light of the truth, and ſome viſible ſeparation made by the Lords ſeruants, there was great ſtirres, troubles and warres, as hiſtories tell vsus. And the tenth part of the Citie fell: By the Citie (as before) is meant the popiſh dominion, which now (by the preaching of the Goſpell, and the great troubles that roſe thereabout) came to be diminiſhed, and there was a decay of the ſame Antichriſtian iuriſdiction; God begun now to ruine that ſtate, which had ſo tyrannically ruled ouer the world. In a tenth part: That is, a great part. This number is mentioned to ſhew, wherein this raine was, to wit, in the meanes of their Churches maintenance. Becauſe a tenth was appointed vnderunder the Law for the Prieſts ſeruice, which theſe claime for their ſeruice; or for that there is the number of Ten giuing their power to that Beaſt, (chap. 17. 12.) of which a tenth now fell away. Slaine 7000: A deſtruction of the aduerſaries, a certain number for the vncertain, (as 1. King. 19. 18. Rom. 11. 4.) the Spirit being pleaſed to vſe this number more often then any other, euen 37 times in this booke. The words are in the originall, were ſlaine the names of men 7000: It may bee for that this deſtructiō lighted vponupon men of note, loſing their dignities, honours, and reuenewes, by which they did before liue.
Verſ. 19. The Temple: Here is that which was called the Oracle, the moſt holy place, where the Arke was put, (1. King. 6. 19. & 8. 6.) into the which none went but the high Prieſt once a yeere. This noteth to vsus, that at this time the myſteries of ſaluation (ſhut vp before by the Antichriſtian darknes) ſhould now bee made knowne and become common to all Gods people, as they were before to the learned eccleſiaſticall perſons. And therfore the 24 Elders (without mētioning the foure beaſts) a type of all faithfull Chriſtians, doe praiſe God, (ver. 16.) as being now to be in riched with heauenly graces, to know the holy things of God hid before. The alluſion is to the Temple at Ieruſalem. The Court, that is, the mixt multitude had now poſſeſſed a long time; the Prophets and faithfull witneſſes had gotten the reed to meaſure the Temple; ſome of the Clergie-men God had raiſed vp to teach the people: the moſt holy place, that is, the more ſecret and hidden things of God, were little knowne; only as it were the high Prieſt was admitted to enter therein, that is, a few of choſen inſtruments made acquainted therewith, and had wiſedome to ſee thoſe heauenly myſteries; but now at this time were they to be laid open, and made knowne vntounto all. Of Lightening, Voices, and Thunders, ſee chap. 4. 5. Earthquake and Haile, ſet out Gods terrible iudgements vnreſiſtable, Eſay 29. 6. Exod. 9. 25. Eſay 28. 2. Haile, in chap. 16. 21. is called a plague.