A Key of Knowledge to Open Revelation, Part 4 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
Of the order and methode of this booke.
THE ſecond thing for the vnderſtanding of this booke, next the ſcope, is the order and methode which the holyThe methode and order is to be obſerued after the ſcope. Ghoſt hath kept, in reuealing to vsus the things herein contained. For the order being knowne will carrie vsus a long, and will be, as it were, a guide leading vsus by the hand to the view of eueryevery thing in their due places. And to hauehave a full ſight of this, the ſtudious herein muſt looke to three things.
I. He is to take a view of the whole worke, andThe firſt thing to be done for to vnderſtand the order and methode. lay it out in his principall parts analitically, that ſo the outward frame and proportion of this worke in the maine parts may bee eaſily ſeene, and that ſo the chiefeſt matters and ſcope may be vnderſtood; in which ſome lateſt expoſitors hauehave taken paines, which the godly reader may take for his helpe herein, till hee be able to diſcerne the platforme of the worke himſelfe, and ſo hee with his owne pen ſet downe his owne iudgement before his owne eyes. Many in reading think they ſee fully enough, what by others is laid before them; but when they come to the worke themſelues, to draw that out, which in conceit before, they iudged themſelues skilfull in, they ſhall often finde that they come ſhort of their conceit by many degrees.
II. Hee is to conſider the generall contents ofThe ſecond thing to be noted. eueryevery Chapter, and the orderly laying downe of things ſucceſſiuely therein; which will marueilouſly hearten an intelligent reader to the ſtudie of this booke: for hee ſhall ſee a delightſome coherence of one thing with another, and a pleaſant paſſing-on of the propheticall narration, with a reaſon of eueryevery Chapter following orderly one another. Which for better incouragement to ſuch as will take paines in this holy and bleſſed prophecie, I hauehave thought fit here to ſet downe, Chapter by Chapter vntounto the end, onelyonly omitting the three firſt, as more eaſie and well knowne to eueryevery one; except only perhaps in this thing that they be ſet out as ſo many types of the vniuerſall condition of the Churches of the Gentiles, and ſo hauehave in them ſome future thing to bee conſidered of, as well, as that preſent ſtate of eueryevery one of them then in Iohns daies. Which I leaue, whether any ſuch thing be ſo or no, to the wiſedome and learning of the godly-wiſe in ſuch myſteries. The future ſtate of the Church is ſet out, from the beginning of the fourth Chapter, whence, for the order of the propheticall narration, I will begin.
The fourth Chapter ſheweth vsus the Lord GodChap. 4. of heauen ſitting vponupon his Throne in the heauen, his Church, and all his Saints and ſeruants round about him; which godly type of him & his Church is to bee conſidered of in the firſt place, to whom and for whoſe ſake, he reuealeth his ſecret counſell in this Reuelation, and which alſo hee carrieth through all troubles, with a ſtrong and out-ſtretched arme, as Iſraelites through the red ſea, and bringeth them ſafe to their reſt.
The fifth ſheweth the meanes by which thisChap. 5. Church becommeth acquainted with her future ſtate, to wit, by this booke of the Reuelation, the opening whereof none but Chriſt Ieſus could obtaine at the hands of his Father, who gaue it him, (chap. 1. 1.) and hee here tooke in hand to open to the ioy of all, both men, Angels and other creatures, bleſſing God therefore.
The 6. ſheweth to vsus his Church, how in the openingChap 6. of the ſix ſeales of the book, the Lord with variety of plagues, would puniſh y• heathen world vnderunder the perſecuting tyrants of Rome, til the Dragō ſhould be caſt out of heauē, (cap. 12) & that heathē Empire be ouerthrowne, for murthering of Chriſtians, profeſſing ſo cōſtantly Chriſt & his Goſpell.
The ſeuenth Chapter commeth in by the wayChap. 7. of a preuention. For in the time of the heathen tyrants, the Diuell had hatched and prepared great miſchiefes, that, againſt the time that the world ſhould become Chriſtian, (by meanes of Conſtantine) and the heathen Empire bee aboliſhed, hee might thereby ouerthrow the Church; which miſchiefes were prepared and aduanced vnderunder the ſixth ſeale, but the power thereof not ſeene, till the opening of the 7. ſeale. Now for that the plagues vnderunder the ſeuenth ſeale, in the blowing of the Trumpets, ſhould be ſo great a plague to the earthly Chriſtian world by a fearfull apoſtacie, and that the Church might not doubt yet of her owne welfare, here in this Chapter is giuen vsus another general type of the Churches ſtate to the worlds end, ſhewing two things: I. That in the world of earthly Chriſtians apoſtating with Antichriſt, there ſhould be a ſealed number, though but a very few in number, certainly preſerued from falling from Chriſt, and ſo eſcape this plague and the miſchiefs which God brought vponupon the Chriſtian world for the earthlineſſe thereof, and for falling to Antichriſt and that Romiſh Whore; for in this time are theſe ſealed Ones a hidden number with Chriſt Ieſus on the Mount, (chap. 14. 1.) and with the Prophets in the wildernes (chap. 11.) whitherto the Woman was fled, chap. 12. II. That the Lord in his time would bring theſe hidden Ones to light againe, and by the word win an innumerable multitude vntounto the Church of all nations, kindreds and people and tongues, to worſhip him, and to ſerue him ioyfully without interruption.
The eighth Chapter ſheweth vnderunder the ſeuenthChap. 8. ſeale the breaking out of the miſchiefes reſtrained (in chap. 7. 1.) for a while; being from God ſo many plagues to the world, called Trumpets, and in themſelues the foure ſteps to the generall apoſtacie of that Romane Biſhop: for after the heathen perſecutors were taken away, the Diuell cauſed great contention among Chriſtians, ſet their mindes to ambition, and wrought effectually in many to make them damnable heretiques, and by part-takings was much bloudſhed. So that hereby found doctrine failed, ſincere worſhip decaied, and faithfull teachers were hard to be found, but in generall a darke miſt of ignorance began to ſpread it ſelfe ouer the Chriſtian world, which was an effectuall meanes for Satan to worke thereby, for the aduancement of his grand-child the ſonne of perdition, that Antichriſt the Pope of Rome.
The ninth Chapter ſheweth that the apoſtaſieChap. 9. was now come to a head; for here the fall is ſhewed, and the Angell of the bottomleſſe pit made a King, hauing his helliſh Locuſts to trouble and torment the earthly Chriſtians. Now was there a world of miſery vponupon men & manifold miſchiefes, the worſhipping of Diuels, and Idols the workes of mens hands, murthers, ſorceries, fornication, and thefts, for which God in his wrath ſent an horrible vengeance vponupon them by the Turkiſh power, his hoſts and armies furiouſly raging: which yet brought not any amendment to the Antichriſtian ſtate and apoſtating Church of Rome.
The 10. Chapter ſheweth how after long darkneſſeChap. 10. and defection, the Lord (as he did to the Iſraelites oppreſſed in Egypt) in merciemercy commeth downe to deliuer his people from this ſpirituall Egypt, (ſo called chap. 11. 8.) and doth furniſh with knowledge of Gods word ſuch as ſhould recouer by preaching of the truth from vnderunder the Antichriſtian apoſtaſie, many again vntounto the true religiō of Chriſt, euen people & nations, tongues & kinreds.
The 11. Chapter is a ſtorie, as it were, of theChap. 11. great troubles which fell out vponupon the Preachers executing faithfully their miniſtery, and in ſeeking to bring Chriſts people out of this Romiſh Babylon, as Moſes and Aaron did, in bringing the Iſraelites from vnderunder the bondage of Pharaoh. Which Preachers, after great perſecutions and troubles, at the length preuailed; for which the people of God reioyced, as wee may doe at this day. And here is the end of the ſixth Trumpet hitherto: the ſeuenth beginning to blow, Chriſt beginneth to raigne powerfully, and kingdomes become his from vnderunder Antichriſt.
The 12. chapter beginneth the more large explanationChap. 12. of ſuch things as were but obſcurely handled before, in chap. 6. touching the Romane Heathen Empire (vnderunder the type of the great red Dragon) and of the ouerthrow thereof, that hereby we might more cleerly ſee, when the out-Court (chap. 11. 2.) was giuen to the Gentile-like Chriſtians, the Romiſh Antichriſtians; and alſo when the true Church, the heauenly woman fled into the wilderneſſe, and when Antichriſt ſucceeded in the place of that Dragon.
The 13. chapter is a continuing-on of the explanation,Chap. 13. amplifying that ſhort and briefe mentioning of the beaſt, in chap. 11. 7. the very ſame that is heere now ſet out at large, ſubſtituted in the Dragons roome, ſo as now the old Pagan Empire, is turned into an Antichriſtian Popedome; the tyrannizing Emperours, into tyrannizing Popes; and the lawfull ciuill authority, into an vnlawfull Hierarchie, and eccleſiaſticall Regencie: in which his originall, the meanes of his riſing vp, the power and properties of him, are fully laid open.
The 14. chapter goeth on to tell vsus more largely,Chap. 14. what became of the ſealed number mentioned in cap. 7. where they were, and with whom, in that Antichriſtian Apoſtacie; then is ſhewed more amply alſo what was foreſhewed ſummarily concerning the miniſtery of the word, (in cap. 10. 11. &c. cap. 11. 3.) the Miniſters doctrine, the power and effect therof againſt Antichriſt, his Babyloniſh ſtate, and that whoriſh iuriſdiction.
The 15. chapter ſheweth, how the Church (beingChap. 15. by the former miniſtery, and powerfull efficacie thereof, ſet free from the Romane beaſt, and his Antichriſtian power) now doth exceedintly reioyce, and is riſing vp into a preuailing eſtate, hauing now receiued vials of wrath, and power from heauen to plague that ſtate, which ſo long time had wickedly ruled ouer the people of God.
The 16. chapter declareth in order, how fromChap. 16. the Church, the inſtruments of Gods anger doe poure forth their vials of plagues, and doe execute vengeance according to the power and commandement from God, with the effects and euents thereof.
The 17. chapter ſheweth the reaſon, why theChap. 17. Angels of theſe vials did ſo plague this Antichriſtian ſtate, therefore is it, that one of them informeth Iohn of their doings, and expoundeth what is meant by the great City, and by Babylon, which the Preachers ſo preached againſt, in chap. 14. as alſo, what the beaſt is, which is mentioned in cap. 13. that we might know plainly Rome to be Babylon, and the Pope certainly to bee that Antichriſt, with the wicked conditions, pride, and cruelty of that whoriſh Church, for which ſhe, and all her aſſociates receiued ſuch plagues, and deſerued ſo iuſtly to be puniſhed and hated of all Gods people.
The 18. chapter foretelleth, how vponupon the vialsChap. 18. poured out; alſo vponupon the liuely diſcouery of her, not to bee the true Church, but that whore of Babylon; and withall, vponupon their forſaking of her, who gaue their power and kingdome formerly vntounto her, ſhe ſhould come to vtter ruine and her place and ſeat to be found no more.
The 19. chapter foretelleth, how great ioy theChap. 19. Church of Chriſt ſhould conceiue at this deſtruction of Rome, ſinging aloud praiſes vntounto God for the ſame, being formerly exhorted thereunto, in cap 18. 20. and which here they performe, exhorting one another to praiſe the Lord, for this his righteous iudgement vponupon this Babylon, and whoriſh ſtate; after which, for further encreaſe of ioy, is foreſhewed the full victory ouer the beaſt and falſe prophet, with their finall damnation.
The 20. chapter falleth in, to ſpeake of the Dragon,Chap. 20. mentioned in chap. 12. and chap. 16. 13. ſhewing firſt what was become of him ſince his caſting out of heauen, and ſince the beginning of the raigne of his grand-child, the Antichriſt, ſet vp in the Dragons ſeat, cap. 13. 3. that hee was chained vp, and kept from his open rage a long time, but at length let looſe againe; and then ſecondly, after that his looſing, and now alſo Antichriſts deſtruction, what his vtmoſt and laſt attempt ſhould be, to wit, open force, and what alſo ſhould be the euent thereof, euen his owne and their deſtruction alſo, (which were deceiued by him) and that euerlaſtingly.
The 21. and 22. chapters, after this deſtructionChap. 21. and 22 of theſe enemies; do ſet out the gracefull and moſt happie eſtate of Chriſts Church, in the gloriouſeſt manner that may bee, and ſo thereupon concludeth this prophecie. And thus from chapter to chapter, wee ſee a moſt heauenly order obſerued, which being well marked and vnderſtood, will giuegive to the godly and ſtudious reader, a great inſight into the chiefe and principall things laid downe in this propheticall narration. If any doubt whether yet this be the order, courſe, and progreſſe hereof thus laid downe chapter by chapter: Let ſuch, (as I myſelfe hauehave done) painfully examine the truth by the matter in the chapters, and by the generall parts of the whole prophecie, and ſee whether this will ſtand, or another more agreeing to the text, and the truth of ſtory; if ſo, I imbrace the truth gladly, but if not, let this be accepted.
III. He that would vnderſtand the order yetThe third thing to be obſerued, for the knowledge of the method. more at large in particulars, he muſt make a literall analyſis of eueryevery chapter, following the guiding of the ſpirit in his owne order, word for word. By which, this benefit ſhall hee reape, that the text ſhall become familiar vntounto him, and the order of things more apparantly ſeene, and the circumſtances better obſerued, and through Gods mercy, ſhall he ſee, (as I may ſay) round about him, that he miſtake not groſſely in giuing the ſenſe and meaning of a place (as ſome hauehave done) contrary to the cleere light before them, in the very words of the text, which was for want of obſeruing this courſe, and withall, by an vnaduiſed ruſhing vponupon the text, with a haſty interpretation, or with a receiued opinion, but vnexamined, to the great preiudice of the truth. By this courſe ſhall he come to the firſt degree of the knowledge of this propheticall narration exactly; for it is to be noted that there is a double knowledge, or rather a twofoldA twofold knowledge of a prophecie or rather two degrees thereof. degree of vnderſtanding of the words of a prophecie. The firſt degree is this, to know what is foretold in the very letter and words, without any particular application, further then in the text is laid open plainly, and alſo without the conſideration of the accompliſhment and fulfilling therof. The ſecond is to know the fulfilling, and to bee able rightly to accommodate to the text, the truth of ſtory, to declare the verity of it, according as in the words it is laid downe. The firſt is eaſie to almoſt eueryevery one; as to tell for example, that the 12. chapters ſpeaketh of a woman thus and thus arrayed; alſo how ſhe was with child and trauelled, and that there was a red Dragon watching, &c. In like manner, chap. 17. there is mention made of a whore, and how ſhee is apparelled, and ſits on a beaſt in glorious rayment, with a cup in her hand, and ſo forward, as it is in the text. This may ſeeme an idle labour, which yet will not proue ſo to him that endeauours ſeriouſly to attaine to the ſecond degree, which indeed is wiſdome; but this other is in the firſt place to bee obſerued, that wee may know what to expect and looke for to be fulfilled. This firſt degree the holy and ancient people of God ſought after in the old Prophets, reading them diligently before they were fulfilled, expecting and waiting for the accompliſhment. The ſecond was the wiſedome in Chriſt and his Apoſtles, applying fitly the Prophets ſayings, as theyMatth. 2. were fulfilled; the former vnderſtanding had the Scribes and Phariſies, who could readily tell by the words of the Prophet, where Chriſt ſhould be borne, and did expect his comming, but had not the knowledge to apply the ſame to the time, and to the perſon fulfilling the ſame, according to the prophecie of the place, where he was to be borne; and ſuch vnderſtanding may now alſo the Romane high-prieſt, his Scribes and Phariſies hauehave, but the latter is the wiſedome of Gods ſeruants, to whom the Lord is pleaſed to make knowne his will. And thus much for the order, the ſecond thing to bee obſerued, to come to the knowledge of this diuine prophecie.