A Key of Knowledge to Open Revelation, Part 4 · Chapter 6 · Notes 11
Notes vponupon Chap. 14.
Verſ. 1. Here the true Lambe Ieſus Chriſt is ſet againſt the counterfeit Lamb, chap. 13. 12. that the Lambe heere is the Sonne of God, is cleere from theſe words his Father. A lambe ſo called by alluſion to the Lambe, his type in the Law; alſo for that hee patiently endured hitherto the Dragons ſubſtitute the Beaſt, and falſe Prophets wickednes and rage. Stand, as now one readie prepared againſt his enemies. Or vnderſtanding this of the time of the Churches hidden eſtate, it noteth, that Chriſt ſtood vp, and by him and with him his people, when all the reſt of the world fell downe and worſhipped the Beaſt. On mount Sion: An alluſion to the place where the Temple was built, here meant, the Church of God, Heb. 12. 22. 23. 24, euen the ſame which was called before, the Temple, cap. 11. 1. and the Woman in the wilderneſſe, chap. 12. 6. 14. and 144000 the ſame in chap. 7. the number of twelue times twelue. Of which before in the ſeuenth chapter, and in the former chapter. His fathers name, called alſo the name of his God, chap. 3. 12. This no doubt was the marke they were ſealed with in chap. 7: his fathers name is to bee their God, and to hauehave this written in their foreheads, (an alluſion to Exod. 28. 38.) is either to make a conſtant outward profeſſion of their faith in God thorough Chriſt, as that full notice might bee taken thereof: or it is their ſpiritual ſon-ſhip and adoption, which they had as certaine, as a thing written, and as euident teſtimonie thereof, as a marke in the foreheads, for children beare the fathers name: and this expoſition ſeemeth the better, for the name written in their foreheads is rather the act of another on them, as is ſhewed by the ſealing, chap. 7, then any act of their owne, as the former expoſition implieth. In this verſe, is the Lambe with his number alſo, and name and marke or ſeale, chap. 7. oppoſed to the Beaſts number, name and marke.
Verſ. 2. From heauen: That is, the true Church of God, the ſame in chap. 4. as appeareth here by the mentioning of the foure Beaſts, and foure and twentie Elders, which are ſaid to bee in heauen, that is, the true Church here vponupon earth, chap. 4. 3. A voyce: This is the ſound of Gods word, for the voyce from the true Church is no other but Gods voice, for the true Church ſoundeth out only Gods word, as Chriſt commanded, Matth. 28. 18, and as the hiſtorie in the Acts doth ſhew, and S. Paul in his Epiſtles: now how commeth this voyce and word of God from the Church, but by the Miniſters of Chriſt? Therfore here is the ſound of Gods word preached by the meſſengers of Chriſt going out into the earth, ſet out in a three-fold degree thereof in the hearts of the hearers. The firſt is as the ſound of many waters, which is a mightie great voyce, but being a confuſed voyce teacheth nothing diſtinctly to the mindes of the hearers; it only worketh a wonder and admiration at the preſent, as Chriſts preaching did in many, Mar. 1. 22. 27. Matth. 7. 28. Luk. 4. 32. Ioh. 7. 46; but for want of diſtinct apprehenſion, it is only as a noiſe of many waters to them, they doe learne nothing, yea the eares of ſuch become deafe many times with hearing at the length. Some expound theſe words (many waters) for the ſundrie ſorts of people, as in chap. 17. 15, but they conſider not the plaine difference: Here it is ſaid, the womā ſitt…th vpō many waters, verſ. 1, without any word of ſimilitude, which here is with a word of ſimilitude, as the voyce of many waters; and therefore waters muſt be here taken properly as the word thunder after, elſe it were not a plainly expreſſed ſimilitude to illuſtrate the voyce by. Let the ſpeech of a plaine ſimilitude, and without ſuch a ſimilitude, be well obſerued in this booke of the Reader. The ſecond degree is, as the voyce of a great thunder, which is ſtrong and loud in the hearts of men, like the terror of Gods voyce in giuing of his Law; which in the conſciences of vnregenerate men is ſo fearfull, as it maketh them to tremble as Felix, (Act. 24.) and to flie from the word, as not being able to heare the ſame. The third and laſt is, the voyce of harpers harping with their harpes, an alluſion to the ſweete melodie in the Temple at Ieruſalem. This is the effect of the word in the godly, which maketh them to take as it were harpes, inſtruments of praiſes, to become Harpers, ſpirituall Muſitians filled with ſweete peace and ioy of the holy Ghoſt, by the word of the Goſpell; in which the Saints accord, and with full concord of heart-ſtrings, as harp-ſtrings, from the comfortable promiſes of God, doe praiſe him melodiouſly.
Verſ. 3. And they ſung as it were a new ſong: Theſe words doe ſhew, that the former verſe is not to be vnderſtood of the voyce of the Church hidden in the Temple, and fled into the wilderneſſe; for the ſtate thereof affoorded not this new ſong, neither in that ſtate is the Church called Heauen, but when it commeth foorth to bee, in ſome ſort at leaſt, viſible; ſo is heauen taken, chap. 12. 7. It is therefore to be vnderſtood of the Church breaking out, whē the two Prophets before ſlaine did aſcend vp, cap. 11. 12. Then ſang this Church this new ſong; for in Dauids Pſalmes a new ſong, is of new occaſions offered, and new matter of reioycing. Before the throne, &c. See for this the Elders and beaſts, in the fourth chapter. And no man could learne that ſongue but the 144000. that is, none but the choſen number ſealed of God, and were his people, cap. 7. Which were redeemed from the earth: that is, from the falſe Church, and earthly ſtate of Antichriſt.
Verſ. 4. Defiled with women: This ſpeech cannot be meant of marriage, as Papiſts would hauehave it; for marriage is honourable among all, and the bed vndefiled, Heb. 13. 4. and no where by Gods word called a defilement. If it were ſo, how could it be a Sacrament, as our enemies would hauehave it? The words may bee an alluſion to the Iſraelites, whereof many were inticed by the Midianitiſh women to Idolatry, Numb. 25. but many were kept from them, and from that ſinne againſt God: ſo this 144000; that is, all the faithfull and elect of Chriſt, when the Locuſts with womens haire, (ca. 9. 8.) thoſe effeminate inſtruments and ſpirituall adultereſſes for Antichriſt, enticed the world to worſhip the beaſt, and his Image, theſe were not defiled by them. Theſe women then are theſe Locuſts of Antichriſt, and to be defiled with them, is to be corrupted by their doctrine, and idolatrous ſeruice, that which is plagued by the Turkes armie, chap. 9. 20. for the text ſaith, theſe were not defiled with women: as ſpeaking of that now which they had eſcaped, and were before in danger of; neither is it noted of one, or ſome of them, but that they all had eſcaped the pollution of theſe women of the earthly Church, from which they were redeemed, when the foure Angels ſtood vponupon the foure corners thereof, holding the winds from blowing thereupon, chap. 7. 1. Theſe be women of that earthly ſtate, from which was withheld the inſpiration of Gods ſpirit, and to which the ſtarre fell, chap. 9. 1. The king of theſe womaniſh Locuſts, with whom theſe 144000. hauehave not been defiled, in the words (cap. 7.) is to be vnderſtood a ſpirituall preſeruation; and ſo here ver. 3. a ſpirituall redemption from the earth; for otherwiſe the 144000. were liuing vponupon the earth, but in a ſpirituall ſafety in the Temple, chap. 11. 1. in the wilderneſſe, chap. 12. and on mount Sion here with Chriſt, verſ. 1. Therefore alſo here muſt bee vnderſtood a preſeruation from ſpirituall defilement. For if women be here taken in the proper ſenſe, then muſt they be either honeſt women, or diſhoneſt; but to ſay that they were not defiled with honeſt women, is to imply an abſurdety and falſhood, that by honeſt womē they might be defiled; and that either they inticed honeſt women to vncleanneſſe, or honeſt women them, which cannot be, if theſe be holy, and the women honeſt. To ſay they were not defiled by diſhoneſt women, is too meane a praiſe for theſe holy Saints with Chriſt on mount Sion; for here muſt be vnderſtood a ſingular praiſe of them in this particular, but it were no rare praiſe in this, ſo vnderſtood; for that many Heathen, and meere ciuill men among Chriſtians, who neuer aſcended vponupon mount Sion, neither were ſealed for Gods elect by the ſpirit of adoption, may hauehave this praiſe, that they were neuer defiled with diſhoneſt women, whores and harlots. Laſtly, note that this is the praiſe of the whole 144000. euen all the people of God, women as well as men; vnleſſe wee will ſay, that Gods number conſiſteth onelyonly of men, and theſe alſo of the Clergie only, as they muſt needs be, if the Papiſts fooliſh conceit were true; and ſo all the laity excluded out of Chriſts flocke, which to thinke is moſt falſe, and a mercileſſe conceit, to bee abhorred. For they are virgins: Pure worſhippers of God, and not hauing committed Idolatrie, or declined to crooked pathes, to bee corrupted in mind by Antichriſt or his inſtruments, but hauehave ſtucke vntounto Chriſt in the ſimplicity of the Goſpell of truth, in the generall Apoſtaſie. In this caſe the Church is a chaſt virgin to Chriſt, 2.▪ Cor. 11. 2. and the whole company of the faithfull are called virgins, Pſal. 45. 14. Theſe are they which follow the Lambe, &c. The world followeth after the beaſt, and worſhippeth him, acknowledgeth none but him for their head and guide. Theſe are redeemed from among men: before from the earth, now from among men. This expoundeth the former; earth, being men in an earthly ſtate, from which Chriſt tooke out his, and from which he yet calleth them, chap. 18. 4. The first fruits, &c. An alluſion to the words of the Law; Deut. 18. 4. the high Prieſts due, ſo are theſe his elect, the Lords portion.
Verſ. 5. No guile: So like Nathanael true Iſraelites, not like the equiuocating Antichriſtian Locuſts, Prieſts, Ieſuites, and our Church-papiſts, in whoſe mouthes guile enough is found. Without fault: They being accepted in Chriſt, and walking as Zacharie and Elizabeth, in all the Lords waies blameleſly, Luk. 1. 6.
Verſ. 6. Here is the breaking out of the light of the truth ſet out, in three degrees, in three Angels; three ſeuerall types of ſo many ſorts in the Miniſtery at that time, conteſting againſt the Romane beaſt. Another, in reſpect of that in cap. 8. 13. this being the next following, and not the ſame, though both flie in the middeſt of heauen, chap. 8. 13. that foretelling the euils to come vponupon the earth, and this the comforts now to the Church. Angel, the type of the firſt ſort of Preachers, meſſengers of Chriſt called Angels, Mal. 4. chap. 1. 20. and 2. 1. One repreſenteth all of the ſame ſort. Fly, noting the readineſſe and earneſtneſſe of the teachers, and the ſpeed they made in ſetting forth the truth, after God raiſed them vp, for it went abroad very ſwiftly at the firſt breaking forth of the light. In the middeſt of heauen, ſee chap. 8. 13. Here alſo noting, that now it was not to be hindred by humane power vponupon the earth; hauing the euerlaſting Goſpell: This ſheweth that the Angell was Chriſts Miniſters, for they preach the Goſpell, called euerlaſting, becauſe it was ſaid, cap. 11. 15. that Chriſt now was to raigne and to ſubdue his enemies, and that by his word, which now ſhall for euer preuaile more and more againſt that man of ſinne, conſuming his kingdome, and encreaſing the power and kingdome of Chriſt. The Goſpell (in the time of Antichriſtian darkneſſe) did ſeeme to bee loſt, but now againe preached, ſhould be no more eclipſed. The euerlaſting Goſpell, not an euerlaſting Goſpell, as ſhewing it to be no new Goſpell, but the ſame that was before, the enduring word for euer, 1. Pet. 1. 25. That dwell on the earth, and to eueryevery nation▪ &c. Here beginneth that which was giuen Iohn in charge, chap. 10. 11. not to performe the charge in his perſon, as heere wee may ſee, but as a type of the Miniſters of the Goſpell, receiuing the charge which they heere now put in execution. This ſo large a commiſſion to preach, ſheweth the Goſpell was to bee againe ſpread ouer the dominion of Antichriſt, who had brought vnderunder him nations, &c. chap. 13. 7. and 17. 1. 15. and the people of God, by the onelyonly preaching of the Goſpel to bee recouered from vnderunder his power.
Verſ. 7. The Sermon which hee preached, or the ſumme of that which was taught by theſe faithfull men, raiſed vp at the firſt to vndermine the beaſts kingdome; they onelyonly ſought to bring the people to the true knowledge of God, and his worſhip, which was almoſt cleane put out by Antichriſt. The true knowledge of God then, while he wholly raigned, was blotted out of mens minds almoſt, and his true worſhip troden vtterly vnderunder foote. Theſe two things are theſe firſt Miniſters ſent to repaire in the firſt place, as the only meanes indeed to vndermine Babylon, and to make it fall. The words are plaine and eaſie, as the common truthes in other Scriptures; onelyonly note this in them, that what here men are exhorted vntounto, that had been neglected, and the contrary done; no feare of God, but of men; no glory to God, but to the works and merits of men; no worſhip to him, but to ſtockes, ſtones, Angels, men departed, and ſo to diuels, chap. 9. 20.
Verſ. 8. Another Angell: A type of a ſecond ſort following vponupon the reſt, by whoſe miniſtery (the ſumme whereof is here ſet downe) it appeareth, that they ſaw the Popes kingdome by the other Angels miniſtery, ſore ſhaken, and to begin to totter; therfore theſe plainly and certainly, by the doubling of the words, foretell the fall thereof. Babylon is heere ſpoken of, as a knowne thing by theſe Preachers, and yet no mention before, but of the beaſt, chap. 11. 7. and 13. 1. 7. It ſeemeth, that by the truth taught by the other Angell, Rome was diſcouered to bee no more the Church of Chriſt, but Babylon, which in chap. 17. 1. 2. &c. is fully deſcribed; the words here following, giuing the reaſon of her fall, leade vsus thither, ſee that 17. chapt. verſ. 2.
Verſ. 9. The third Angell: The third type of Chriſts Miniſters ſetting themſelues againſt the Romane Beaſt, and his miſerable ſubiects. Saying with a loud voice: The degrees in proceeding is worthie noting; and withall, the manner of handling the buſines. The firſt teach plaine doctrine, and moſt neceſſary truthes, vndeniable of either ſide; and therefore doe it with a loud voice. The ſecond ſort (after the truth taught) begin to ſpeake directly and plainly againſt the ſtate of the beaſt, calling it Babylon, and foretelling the deſtruction thereof; but here is no mention of any loud voice, they doe their dutie faithfully, but yet more warily, for awaking too much the bloody beaſt. This third (as the firſt ſort) dare bee ſtout with a loud voice, to denounce plagues againſt the ſubiects of Antichriſt for following of him. The denunciation is moſt terrible, as the words ſufficiently declare, in the 10. and 11. verſes: but yet note, that eternall vengeance is ſo ſeuerely threatened onelyonly againſt them that worſhip the beaſt, and his Image, and receiue his marke, omitting them that hauehave his name, and the number of his name; not that they are not in danger, (ca. 18. 4.) but for that theſe are not ſo imbowelled (as I may ſay) in that ſtate as the other be, which know the deepneſſe of Satan, and are Antichriſts darlings. The iudgements threatned are after, and according to the ſinne of that ſtate. They made others to drinke, ſo ſhall they bee made to drinke; others hauehave they burnt, ſo ſhall they be; others hauehave found no mercy at their hands, no more ſhall they at Gods hand.
Verſ. 12. There be heere two ſentences in this verſe, which are vttered vponupon the conſideration of the troubles and great perſecutions, which (vponupon the forenamed Angels miniſtery) the beaſt ſhall raiſe vp againſt the Saints, ſet out in chap. 11. 7. and 17. 7. For theſe words heere, and in the next verſe, are to be referred to the troubles of thoſe times. Here is the patience of the Saints (vnderſtood) to be tried: as if he had ſaid, ſo furiouſly ſhall the beaſt rage, as it will trie the faith and patience of all the true ſeruants of Chriſt. Heere are they that keepe the commandements of God, and the faith of Ieſus (vnderſtand) to be knowne, for by ſuch fiery perſecution the chaffe and wheat ſhall be ſeuered, the droſſe from the pure gold.
Verſ. 13. A conſolation to ſuch as ſhall be killed and ouercome of the beaſt, as it is ſaid, chap. 11. 7. and 13. 7. They ſhall be bleſſed. Henceforth, that is, as well in dying in this quarrell of Chriſts againſt the beaſt, as formerly they were bleſſed in dying againſt the Dragon; this is the meaning of henceforth. And this ſentence of comfort now was more neceſſary to be vttered then before; for men were put to death vnderunder the Dragon for profeſſing Chriſts name by the Heathen Tyrants, and therefore was there no doubt to be made of their happie and iuſt ſuffering and bleſſedneſſe after death: but now vnderunder the beaſt, though men die for the truth, yet ſhould they be condemned generally as Heretickes, by ſuch as ſhould beare the name of Chriſtians; yea and would alſo bee held the beſt Chriſtians too, the onelyonly Apoſtolicke, the onelyonly Catholicke Chriſtians, which might ſhake the faith of many, and make them forſake their place and ſtanding.
Verſ. 14. At the ſound of the ſeuenth trumpet, chap. 11. 15. great ioy was foretold to bee in the Church, for that Chriſt tooke vponupon him then ſo to rule, and to ſubdue the beaſt and his ſubiects in that manner, as they ſhould thereat be wroth, verſ. 18. and therefore here in this verſe, which is to bee annexed to that there, is Chriſt ſet out triumphantly, through whoſe ſoueraigne power, is brought to paſſe by his inſtruments that which the ſecond Angell, verſ. 8. proclaimed, to wit, the ruine of Babylon, of the deſtruction whereof, and the vengeance now ready to bee executed, is a briefe ſumme laid downe from the beginning of this preſent verſe, to the end of this chapter. A white cloud: the ſpeech is from Eſa. 19. 1. In the chap. 20. and 11. verſe of this Prophecie, is a white throne; white, noteth cleerneſſe and purity, cloud, eminency and maieſty, as a throne, on which ſate, as Iudge, or rather as a kingly Soueraigne, one like the ſonne of man, which is Ieſus Chriſt, chap. 1. 13. on his head a golden crowne: this ſheweth, how hee was now inſtalled, and did take vponupon him to rule, as in chap. 11. 15. is foreſhewed; for hitherto was he not ſet out with a crowne, whileſt hee ſuffered others to rule and raigne. And in his hand a ſharpe ſickle. A ſickle among the Iewes (to whoſe cuſtomes in this prophecie eueryevery where the ſpirit alludeth) was an inſtrument to cut downe corne, Deut. 16. 9. and 23. 25. and the branches of the grapes, Eſa. 18. 5. The Hebrew word there, is the ſame that is tranſlated ſickle here. It is heere figuratiuely put for the meanes of ready and ſharpe vengeance, which Chriſt will vſe to cut off the wicked with, as the reapers doe the corne, off from the earth with a ſickle.
Verſ. 15. Chriſt being ready prepared to take vengeance, which he had (chap. 6. 11.) hitherto deferred, but now the time being come, here another Angell, beſides the three former in verſ. 6. 8. 9.—Commeth out of the Temple, of which in chap. 11. 1, thoſe in the Temple were the true Saints and ſeruants of Chriſt, as appeareth chap. 7. 15. and thoſe alſo that were the hidden ſealed number with the Lambe on Mount Sion in verſ. 1 of this Chapter. Therefore this Angel is a type of the faithful ones, renewing the ſuite of the ſoules vnderunder the Altar, (chap. 16. 11.) that God would execute vengeance vponupon the earth. And is ſaid to come out of the Temple, as being now by the miniſterie of the other Angels imboldened to come abroad, and openly to make prayers and earneſt requeſt vntounto Chriſt to proceed againſt that Antichriſtian ſtate. Thruſt in thy ſickle: The words are from Ioel. 3. 13. Reaping, is here put for cutting off the wicked. The harueſt of the earth is ripe: The harueſt ripe, is the fit time of vengeance not to be deferred, Ier. 51. 33. Of the earth: That is, of the falſe Church or Antichriſtian ſtate; for of this here is ſpoken, as all that before from the beginning of the 13 chapt. hitherto, and the chapters following ſhew. The Earth is the place where the beaſt ruleth, chap. 13. 8, out of which the counterfeit Lambe commeth, in the ſame chap. 13. verſ. 11: and they that dwell on the earth now to be reaped, are the Antichriſtians, the worſhippers of the beaſt and makers of his image, verſ. 14. of that 13. chapter.
Verſ. 16. The requeſt granted, and by the thing ſucceſſiuely executed, a riddance was made of the falſe Church.
Verſ. 17. The words in this chapter from verſ. 14 to the end, ſetting foorth ſummarily the iudgement executed vponupon the falſe Church, the Spirit doth it by a double ſimilitude▪ the one, by reaping of the harueſt; the other, by the gathering of the Vintage. In the former, Chriſt himſelfe at the earneſt ſupplication and prayers of the Church is made the Actor, ſhewing (as I conceiue) that there ſhall be two degrees of this vengeance; the one (like the reaping of ye harueſt) more eaſily done by men, yea the deſtruction ſhal come vponupon the beaſt and his ſtate with ſo little violence and force on mans behalfe, as all may behold the immediate hand of Chriſt himſelfe, obtained by the prayers of his people. And indeed ſo hath it been hitherto in the downfall of the Popedome by the power of Chriſt, and almoſt no power of man at al, but done as eaſily as a ſickle cuts downe corne. And therefore we ſee the plagues and iudgements vponupon the beaſt to bee aſcribed vntounto the Lord, chap. 16. 5. 7. and the enemies took it to be his very hand (ver. 9) in the firſt ſorts of plagues. In the latter ſet out by the vintage. Another Angell, that is, a type of the inſtruments of Chriſts comming from among the faithfull out of the Temple in heauen, that is, from thoſe of the hidden number conſtantly faithfull now in the viſible aſſembly, hauing alſo a ſharp ſickle, that is, being appointed in Chriſts ſtead to auenge his quarrell, into whoſe hands he had put the ſickle, that is, effectuall meanes, to execute his wrath vponupon the Antichriſtian ſtate; ſo as now he will work the deſtruction thereof by men in a more apparent and forcible manner, then afore had been done, that is, by ſword, warre, and bloud, typed out by the figuratiue ſpeeches heere drawne from the Wine-preſſe, this is the ſecond degree of his vengeance. The firſt of the harueſt being ſet out in the fiue firſt vials, chap. 16. 1. 11. and this of warre and bloudſhed, ſet out in the ſixth and ſeuenth viall, chap. 16. 12. 17. and 17. 16. and chap. 18. & chap. 19. In all which what is meant by this wine-preſſe, and by this bloud running out thereof, is fully explaned.
Verſ. 18. The former Angell is a type of thoſe inſtruments, which the Lord will prepare to this his buſineſſe, which ſhall performe the ſame, as verſ. 19—ſheweth; but yet muſt firſt ſome be moued by the Lord to encourage them thereunto. Another Angell, a type of faithfull Paſtors, who is ſaid to come out from the Altar, for that they were ſtirred vp in the cauſe of the Saints ſlaine and lying vnderunder the Altar, (chap. 6. 9.) to ſtirre vp others to auenge their quarrell; as alſo to ſhew that they came with authoritie from Chriſt, who had obtained by his ſacrifice vponupon the Altar peace with God for his elected ones, and that now their cauſe might be reuenged. Which had power ouer fire: To hauehave power ouer any thing what is it els, but to be able to reſtraine that thing, and to hauehave it at commaund? Fire is put for vehement contention, Iudg. 9. 20. Ouer this had this Angell great power, that is, God by his miniſterie wrought ſo, as peace was among Proteſtant Princes, and ſuch as were to riſe vp againſt the beaſt; God was reconciled to them, and they among themſelues. This Angell is the type of thoſe faithfull Paſtors, who now therefore cried with a loud crie, that is, with all vehemencie of ſpirit and boldly without feare; and exhorted the Angell with the ſharp ſickle, that is, thoſe that they ſaw made fit inſtruments by Chriſt, to fall to the execution, which is the thruſting in of the ſickle or hooke. Vine is a Church: of the earth, the falſe Church: Cluſters, the diſtinct orders, ſocieties, and brotherhoods of the ſame: to gather them, is to take them away: grapes, the fruites of that Church; fully ripe, is (as it was ſaid of the Amorites) their ſinnes come to the height, and may now no longer be forborne and paſſed ouer.
Verſ. 19. The execution, according to the word of exhortation and proſperous ſucceſſe thereof; gathered the vine, not onelyonly the cluſters and branches, but Babylon her ſelfe is deſtroyed, chap. 18. Caſt into the great wine-preſſe of the wrath of God. The words taken from the Iewes cuſtome, who had a wine-preſſe readie, when they had gathered the grapes to caſt them into. Theſe words ſhew this Angell to be the type of the inſtrument of Gods wrath againſt the Antichriſtians.
Verſ. 20. The ſimilitude is followed; for when grapes are caſt into the wine-preſſe, then are they troden, Iudg. 9. 27, and the iuyce of them runneth out of the ſame, Nehem. 13. 15. Eſai. 63. 3. 4: The wine-preſſe is the place, where the Antichriſtians are troden downe: without the Citie, as did the Iewes tread their wine-preſſes without Ieruſalem. This noteth the true Church to bee without danger, when this ſlaughter ſhall be made of the enemies. And bloud came out of the wine-preſſe euen vntounto the horſe-bridles: Theſe words and the other following, are to expreſſe the greatnes of the ſlaughter of an exceeding multitude of enemies, as chap. 16. 14, and 19. 18 ſhew: for I ſuppoſe heere to be vnderſtood that battell, which ſhould make ſuch a ſlaughter of them, as that Chriſt is ſaid to weare a garment, after the ouerthrow of theſe enemies, dipt in bloud, chap. 19. 13. By a thouſand and ſixe hundred furlongs, Thus farre the bloud muſt runne: as the vine, the wine-preſſe, and manner of treading out the grapes, is an alluſion to the cuſtome of the Iewes, and the Citie to Ieruſalem; ſo theſe words are an alluſion to the length of the land of Canaan, which, as ſome write, is 1600 furlongs; which was, as it were ſpread ouer with bloud, being made the Lords wine-preſſe of his wrath once by the hand of the enemie, whether we vnderſtand the deſtruction of that nation by the Chaldeans, or after by the Romans.