A Key of Knowledge to Open Revelation, Part 4 · Chapter 6 · Notes 13
Notes vponupon Chap. 16.
Verſ. 1. Heere Iohn ſheweth, how the Angels prepared, were now commanded to execute their charge. A great voice out of the Temple: Either the Lords voice, as chap. 9. 13. or the important vrging of the faithful, who being now inflamed with the zeale of God, deſired the deſtruction of that Antichriſtian kingdome; for in, and from the Temple, neither is, nor commeth any voice, but the Lords voice, and the voice of his faithfull ſeruants. Saying to the ſeuen Angels: thoſe before in chap. 15. 1. 6. The vials of the wrath of God: of which in chap. 15. 7. they are alſo called the plagues of God, chap. 15. 1. being the tokens and effects of Gods wrath: herein is an alluſion from the plagues in Egypt, as in the former chap. verſ. 3. was an alluſion of the Churches deliuerance from Egypt. VponUpon the earth: that is, vponupon the falſe Church, the Antichriſtian kingdome, as the words following tell vsus. For the plagues fall vponupon the marked ones, verſ. 2. and vponupon the beaſts throne, verſ. 10. alſo the Dragon, beaſt, and falſe prophet take it grieuouſly, verſ. 13. 14. and ſeeke to reuenge their wrongs by warre. The word Earth, here comprehendeth the whole ſtate of Antichriſt, and containeth vnderunder the ſame, all thoſe particulars following, becauſe all the ſeuen Angels are commanded to poure out their vials vponupon the earth, and yet onelyonly the firſt poureth his viall vponupon the earth, the other vponupon the other things; which muſt therfore needs belong vntounto this earthly kingdome of Antichriſt, as the particulars of that ſtate. The plagues of theſe vials by degrees doe anſwere the trumpets, that looke how Antichriſt by his riſing, was a plague to the Chriſtian world; ſo in like manner theſe plagues light vponupon him, from the loweſt to the higheſt, as in the following verſes ſhall bee ſhewed.
Verſ. 2. All commanded to poure out their vials, but yet doe execute the ſame by degrees. For the firſt went and poured his viall vponupon the earth. By this firſt Angell is meant all inſtruments raiſed vp of God to execute this plague, and ſo vnderſtand by the 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Angell, not one onelyonly inſtrument, but all and eueryevery one vſed and employed to bring that plague vponupon the Antichriſtian ſtate, in the ſeuerall particulars, in order here ſet downe. Earth was before taken generally for Antichriſts earthly ſtate; heere earth is put for one part and degree thereof, and anſwereth to the commodities of that ſtate, by which it roſe and was vpheld, and now begun to decay. For after the Goſpell became to be publiſhed, and the wickedneſſe of that ſtate diſcouered, the earthly profits and the wealth thereof began to be leſſened; this is the viall poured out vponupon the earth; this is the euill which befell their wealth, riches, and earthly poſſeſſions, euen gotten from Princes and people, only to waxe proud, to lord it, and to tyrannize ouer them, and to liue after their owne luſts, in all pleaſurable fulneſſe of earthly things. And there fell a noyſome and grieuous ſore: The effect of this euill: It is an alluſion to one of the plagues vponupon the Egyptians, Exod. 9. 10. heere a noyſome and grieuous ſore in the mind of the men, which had the marke of the beaſt. It vexed theſe marked men, and them that worſhip the Image, at the very heart, as a ſore plague, and as a painfull boyle vponupon them, to ſee this miſchiefe to befall them; their conſcience alſo accuſing them for their deuouring and vnſatiable auarice. The words cannot bee taken after the letter; for who euer heard yet of any taking a cup, hauing ſuch licour in it, as the ſame poured out on the very earth, ſhould fill mens bodies with grieuous ſores? And when hath any man read and ſeene the prime ſeruants of Antichriſt to be full of ſcabs & ſores? Neither hauehave the 4. beaſts ca. 4. 7. any ſuch cups, with any ſuch licour, to giuegive to any, as they do theſe vials, ca. 15. 7. Such inſtruments we reade not of, nor of ſuch marked mēbers of the Romane Clergie, and prime perſons of that ſtate to be ſo, all of them plagued with botches. To auoid therfore abſurdities & falſhood, the text enforceth a taking of the words figuratiuely, and to vnderſtand hereby a ſpirituall ſore of the mind, for their earthly loſſes. And as this is ſpirituall, ſo vnderſtand the reſt, which the very text will make vsus of neceſſity to grant.
Ver. 3. The 2. Angell: that is, the 2. ſort of inſtruments raiſed vp of God, hauing their vial from one of the beaſts, ca. 16. 3. They poure it vponupon the ſea: This 2. degree of the Popes downfall, anſwereth to the 2. degree of his riſing, in ca. 8. 8. wher the word ſea, & turning into blood, are expounded. An alluſion to Exo. 7. 20. 21. Here frō the inſtruments of the true Church, a miſchiefe befalleth their common worſhip and ſeruice; it is made to bee abhorred, and as lothſome as the blood of a dead man, and becommeth mortal and deadly. The words cannot be vnderſtood of the ſea properly, that it became blood, and that eueryevery fiſh died in it; as the Ieſuite Ribera will hauehave. This literall expoſition is full of abſurdities; for here the ouerthrow of the Antichriſtian ſtate is foretold, and that by the true Chriſtians: now what great harme had that ſtate particularly receiued by this viall more, then all the world beſides, if it were after the letter? And how can this bee a reuenge from God for his Churches ſake, (which is in all theſe plagues intended) if it be taken litterally? How ſhould not this alſo be a miſchiefe to the Church? Here muſt be a plague vponupon the Roman and Antichriſtian kingdome, effected by ſuch as the Lord raiſeth, comming out of the Temple, and it muſt be an anſwerable reuenge for the euill, which y• Antichriſt in his riſing brought vponupon the Chriſtian world, noted in cap. 8. 8. Now what euil hath ye ſea (taken litterally) done to Gods people, by the Popes means, in his creeping vp? & what reuenge is it in ye Churches behalfe to plague the ſea? It is a moſt abſurd apprehenſion to take it litterally, & moſt falſe. For neuer ſuch a thing euer was: who euer heard that the ſea hath bin as the blood of a dead mā, & that all the fiſhes died therin? Or who can imagine euer any ſuch thing here foretold to come to paſſe hereafter? Neither can it be vnderſtood of battels fought by ſea. This is a ſea, which muſt become as the blood of a dead man, thicke, blacke, and lothſome; and here is no ſpeaking of men dead vponupon the ſea, but of eueryevery liuing thing in the ſea; that is, euen eueryevery ſoule maintained by the ſea to liue, as the fiſhes naturally be in the waters of the ſea. To take vp the true ſenſe and meaning of this plague, three things are to be well weighed. I. What is meant heere by the ſea? II. How by any of the true Church of Chriſt, (ſuch as come out of the Temple) it can be made like the blood of a dead man? III. How eueryevery liuing thing hereupon dyeth in that Sea? My coniecture is this, that as earth ſets out the wealth, riches, reuenewes, and poſſeſſions of that ſtate, vponupon which the firſt viall was poured; ſo by Sea, (another thing of that ſtate, and the next vntounto the earth to be conſidered of) is meant the Popes eccleſiaſticall lawes, Church-ſeruice, and common worſhip; a ſea of euils, of a ſalt and briniſh taſt to all Gods people, in which none can liue, which hauehave drunke ſoundly of the ſweet and liuely waters of life. A ſea, more for trade and trafficke to theſe eccleſiaſticall merchants, then to bee drunke of any, to quench the thirſt of the ſoule▪ It became as the blood of a dead man: by ſuch as are of the Temple receiuing true doctrine and inſtruction frō the faithfull meſſengers of Chriſt, when they that come out of the Temple, being potent perſons, do iuſtly (by wholſome lawes) condemne the ſame for Antichriſtian, Idolatrous and Hereticall; and when ſuch liuing ſoules, that is, ſuch Eccleſiaſticall perſons, and others, as do ſtand for the ſame, (ſeducing Chriſtian ſubiects from their true allegiance), be by their lawes made worthy of death, and by due execution thereof are made to die in this their ſea; elſe how are they made to drinke blood, verſ. 6? And this they doe in the righteous and iuſt iudgement of God, verſ. 5. 7. for the blood of the Saints which they ſhead: by which words we may ſe…, what by liuing ſoules in this third verſe is meant; ſuch liuing ſoules, as could ſhead the blood of the Saints; theſe bee the fiſhes … ſhould hauehave ſeene, and himſelfe among them; but they will not ſee themſelues by any meanes in this prophecie.
Verſ. 4. The third Ang…ll: that is, the third ſort of inſtruments raiſed vp of God, for his Church againſt the Romane ſtate: Poured …ut his viall: that is, did execute that vengeance by the power giuen them of God: VponUpon the riuers and fountaines of waters: This is the third degree of Romes ruine, and Antichriſts deſtruction, anſwering to the plague of his riſing, in chap. 8. 10. 11. and it is an alluſion to Exod. 7. 20. Riuers and fountaines come from the ſea, and returne thither againe, ſo the Antichriſtian, idolatrous, hereticall traitors, and rebellious doctrines doe flow from that ſea, and are put in practice to returne to the vpholding of that ſea againe; which iuſtly being condemned by true Chriſtian Princes, (theſe Angels pouring out the vials) and ſuch likewiſe as do bring them, and the receiuers alſo of them being iudged to bee worthie of death, they ſo become blood to them.
Verſ. 5. And I heard the Angel of the waters ſay: That is, the Angell before mentioned; for the word the Angell, and not an Angell, ſheweth it a knowne Angell before; now before was no other Angell of waters, but onelyonly this, that had the viall to poure it on the riuers and fountaines; who in the execution of the iudgement, and the effect thereof approueth of Gods righteous iudgement, as did Iehu, the auenger of Gods quarrell vponupon … … houſe, at the deſtruction of …, … 9. 36.
Verſ. 6. For they hauehave ſhea…, &c. This ſheweth ſtill plainly, that theſe plagues concerne the Antichriſtian chriſtian ſtate of Rome; for the beaſt & his Image is mentioned in the ſecond verſ. and here his murthering of the Saints, before ſhewed in chap. 13. 7. and 11. 7. and 17. 6. and 18. 24. And againe in this chapter is ſpoken of his ſeate, verſ. 10. and of Antichriſt that falſe prophet, verſ. 13. The degrees ſhew the downfall of the Pope and his kingdome, by ſtep and ſtep, and that agreeable to his riſing vp; which, according to the former expoſitiōs in theſe three, may appeare to eueryevery one to bee fulfilled; and vntounto vsus particularly in this nation, who before all other hauehave giuen them blood to drinke, by wholeſome lawes enacted againſt their traiterous Prieſts and Ieſuites, and the receiuers of them.
Verſ. 7. The conſent of another, affirming the Lord herein to be iuſt and true in his iudgements poured out of the vials of theſe Angels, vponupon the Antichriſtian ſtate, in the forenamed degrees therof, but eſpecially in giuing them blood for blood.
Verſ. 8. The 4. Angell: That is, the 4. ſort of Gods inſtrumēts types out in this one, poured out his vial wee hauehave heard, in chap. 15. 7. was full of Gods wrath, which is poured here vpō the Sun. This is the 4. degree of the deſtructiō of Antichriſt, anſwering to the like degree in riſing, ſet downe in cap. 8. 12. This Sun is a part of the Antichriſtian Kingdome, as the reſt before were. This point muſt be well marked, that here the Antichriſtian ſtate is ouerthrowne by degrees, in the parts therof beginning with the earth of it, then with the ſea of it, next with the Riuers and fountaines of it, and now with the Sun of it, that is, with that part or portion of it, which is as the ſunne in that ſtate. This cannot bee the ſunne properly, as ſome would hauehave it; for what man can ſmite the ſunne, or poure a viall vponupon it? And againe, how can the Church (if any one therof could doe it) make the ſunne in the firmament hurtfull to the Papiſts, and not alſo to themſelues? It cannot bee the light of the Goſpell, and holy Scriptures, as other conceiue it; for they are no part of the Antichriſtian Kingdome, as this ſunne is. And it is too groſſe to ſay, that the viall, that is, the plague of God is poured by the friends of the Goſpell, vponupon the light of the Goſpell, or vponupon the holy Scriptures, therewith to plague the enemies of the Goſpell, as this viall poured vponupon this ſunne muſt. Here the true Church of God, in the inſtruments thereof appointed by God, is to poure out a viall, (not throw vp a viall, as it ſhould hauehave bin ſaid, if it were the ſunne properly) vponupon the ſunne of that ſtate; ſuch a ſunne, as the appointed inſtruments for the Church may reach vntounto, and in ſome ſort be ouer, to poure the viall vponupon it. Now in that ſtate, what is ſo like the ſunne for glory and for brightneſſe, to cauſe that falſe Church ſo to ſhine, (as the ſunne in the firmament lighteneth the world) but only the Popes ſupremacie? which in that earthly orbe ſupplieth the office of the ſun, to that ſtate, as the glorious light of heauen doth to this earth wee tread vponupon. The pouring of the viall receiued from one of the beaſts, (chap. 15. 7.) vponupon this ſunne, what can it bee elſe, but Princes receiuing this doctrine of truth, that that ſupremacie is an Antichriſtian vſurpation, and ſo therupon begin to enact lawes vponupon extreame perill againſt it; and alſo to ſet vp the lawfull ſupremacie of Kings, Gods vicegerents in their owne dominions, to make men to ſweare thereunto; and in deteſtation of that Antichriſtian pride of the Pope (lifting vp himſelfe aboue al that is called God) to proclaime him openly to bee heerein that Antichriſt? By which this Angell, that is, theſe Princes and Potentates hauehave ſcorched the Pope and his men with fire; that is, made them burne with the rage of impatiencie ſo, as they blaſpheme euen God himſelfe, as the next words in the verſe following doe ſhew.
Verſ. 9. And they were ſcorched with great heate: That is, they were inraged in their harts with rancour and malice, as with a burning fire. And blaſphemed the name of God: euen as the beaſt doth, ca. 13. 6. For that ſtate of Rome now vnderunder Antichriſt and his ſubiects, are blaſphemers of God. And doe not we here in England find this true in their writings and ſpeeches? They ſpare not the workes of God, his immediate hand for vsus, (in deſtroying their Spaniſh Armado, in diſcouering their Gun-powder plot, and ouerthrowing them in all their trecherous, treaſonable, and rebellious attempts) ſaying, that it is by the helpe of the diuell; a helliſh blaſphemie! they ſpare not to blaſpheme his holy word, his worſhip, doctrine, and ſacraments with vsus; ſo inflamed with furie are they, when their Pope is challenged for that Antichriſt, in his proud and tyrannicall ſupremacie. Behold their heart ſcorched with heate, in their fierie malice againſt our Soueraigne, for his moſt rare and admirable Apologie; ſent out to the Emperours, Kings, Princes, and States of all Chriſtendome, touching this particular point. Thus farre I ſuppoſe the Lord hath executed his wrath in all theſe foure degrees, vponupon the preſent Antichriſtian Romiſh ſtate; the euents ſeeme fully to prooue the ſame.
Verſ. 10. The fifth Angell: That is, the fifth ſort of choſen inſtruments typed out by this, poured out his viall vponupon the ſeat of the beaſt. This is the fifth degree of his ruine, anſwering the fifth trumpet, and to the Popes earthly vpriſing, in his falling from heauen, and becomming the king of the Locuſts; for there is he called a king, chap. 9. 11. and heere is attributed to him a kingdome; and as there was darkneſſe, ſo heere; and as the Locuſts did torment men, ſo heere now are they againe tormented. His ſeate is Rome, chapt. 13. 2. vponupon this muſt wrath come by the Angels out of the Temple, and then that Popedome ſhall bee full of darkneſſe, that is, full of miſerie; whereupon ſhall follow their deſperate ſorrow, expreſſed in theſe termes, they ſhall gnaw their tongues for paine; and yet continue obſtinate, blaſpheming without repentance, verſ. 11. This viall is not yet poured forth, but is next in order, and not long to; let Rome ſee to it, and Gods people come out of her.
Verſ. 12. And the ſixth Angell poured out his viall vponupon the great riuer Euphrates: This anſwereth to the ſixth trumpet, chap. 9. 14, where out of the riuer came foure Angels to plague the world; this is now here to be dried vp for a plague to Antichriſt, and is an alluſion to the drying vp of the riuer, before the winning and deſtruction of Babylon, of which Ieremy ſpeaketh, chap. 51. 32. From this verſe to the end of the chapter, it is of things to come; and prophecies are beſt knowne when they are fulfilled. I will therefore intreate the Reader, if he be deſirous to know what men coniecture here, to looke vponupon the labours of others, eſpecially thoſe that hauehave written the very lateſt, who declare their minde to the full, and perhaps truly too; the euent which wee muſt expect will ſhew it in time; I for my part will onelyonly ſet downe, according as in the text is deliuered, what we are to obſerue and looke for to come to paſſe. By Euphrates, an alluſion to the riuer of Babylon, is meant lets withholding to come at that myſtical Babylon, mentioned in verſ. 19, vponupon which, the viall, that is, a iudgement, is poured; which is here called the drying vp of the waters thereof, that is, the remouing of the impediment, and ſo making a way for the Kings of the Eaſt.
Verſ. 13. The beſtirring of the inſtruments of the Romiſh Church foretell vsus, that the drying of Euphrates, and the prepared way for the Kings, is againſt that ſtate, & for the good of Gods Church. The Dragon not ſpoken of, hitherto, but in chap. 12, is now one with his ſubſtitute the Beaſt, and with the falſe prophet; they all ioyne in one, and ſend out their meſſengers.
Verſ. 14. Here is ſhewed, what theſe frogges be, what they doe, to whom they goe, and wherefore. Though they be likened to frogges, and are called vncleane ſpirits, and ſpirits of Diuels, yet are they men, as wicked as Diuels, ſtirring vp to battell the Kings of the earth, that is, all their fauourits generally from al parts of the world.
Verſ. 15. The certaintie of theſe things is heere ſet downe, and a watchfulnes commanded in godly puritie vponupon a conſideration of theſe daies, ſo full of calamitie. The inſerting of the words here, and interrupting of the courſe of the prophecie (as in Geneſ. 49. 18.) ſhew the greatnes of the danger, and the neceſſitie of this admonition to take heed before hand, as in a deſperate perill.
Verſ. 16. Mention is made in verſ. 14 of God Almightie, and here is ſaid (alluding to Eſai. 24. 21. 22.) hee gathered them, whom the three vncleane ſpirits went to gather; ſo as the whole matter is at the Lords guiding, his prouidence ruleth, and his counſell ſhall ſtand. The place of this great battell is called Armageddon in Hebrew; not that there is ſuch a place, but ſo according to the interpretation of the word, har, being a mountaine, and Megaddo the place of Bar…c his victorie; that is, a place as a mountaine of defence to the godly, but to the enemies deſtruction: as it came to paſſe, at the waters of Megeddo, when the Lord gathered the Armie of Siſera together to ouerthrow them, for his Churches full deliuerance, Iudg. 5. 19, to which here is the alluſion.
Verſ. 17. And the ſeuenth Angell poured out his viall on the aire: The laſt degree of deſtruction bringing an end to all the attempts of the aduerſarie, as chap. 15. 1: and alſo the laſt words (it is done) doth ſhew. The words, it is done, (alluding to Ezech. 39. 8.) hauehave reference to chap. 10. 7, by which is noted, that a finall end ſhal be made of the enemies, (of which in chap. 19. 20. and 20. 10.) and alſo the Church of God ſhall be gloriouſly exalted to a moſt gracefull and peaceable eſtate for euer, chap. 21. 6.
Verſ. 18. Heere is foretold the iudgement of God, and of a great Earthquake, ſuch a commotion and alteration, and as it were a ſhaking of all things, the like was neuer before; ſuch a ſpeech in Dan. 12. 1. Of the words in particular, ſee chap. 4. 5. and 11. 13. 19.
Verſ. 19. The effect of theſe iudgements and this Earthquake vponupon whom it ſhall fall, and who ſhall feele the ſame. The great Citie and Babylon here is one, for theſe words, and great Babylon came in remembrance, &c. is put expoſitiuely, ſhewing what is meant by the great Citie, (of which ſee chap. 17. 18.) and why ſuch a deſtruction now befell the ſame, which had ſo long continued in great pompe and glorie. And the cities of the Nations: What is meant by nations, ſee chap. 11. 2, for the ſame there and here is all one. There is ſummarily ſet downe, what ſhall come to paſſe vnderunder the ſeuenth trumpet; of which here this, & the reſt of the ſeuen vials are the parts, fully explaining what is there briefly noted. So then the cities of the nations, are all the places depending vponupon, and containing the ſubiects of the great Citie; the deſtruction whereof is their ouerthrow; it was diuided and they fell therwith, through that great Earthquake; theſe Nations and Antichriſtian Gentiles tread vnderunder foote the holy Citie, chap. 11. 2, but now are they themſelues troden downe, and rewarded for their wickednes.
Verſ. 20. And eueryevery Iland fled away, and the mountaines were not found: In the deſtruction of the Heathen Empire, they are ſaid to be moued out of their places, in chap. 6. 14: but here, to be no more at all. Hereby no other thing is meant, but as the great Citie periſheth, and the Cities of the nations; ſo alſo the Iles and mountaines, that is, the moſt defenced places, and the ſtrongeſt places; in a word, all the whole dominion of Antichriſt ſhall vtterly periſh. There ſhall no where be any more footing vponupon earth for the ſame; there ſhal not be an Iland to receiue it, nor mountaine to defend it. Thus ſhall the whole earth be purged cleane (one day) of this Pope and Papacie, and no where be found.
Verſ. 21. Hauing ſpoken of the places, now hee ſheweth what ſhall become of the men. And there fell vponupon men a great haile, an alluſion to Ioſua 10. 11, out of heauen; ſhewing hereby, that it is the Lord himſelfe that ſhall deſtroy theſe men, and fight for his people, as hee did for Ioſua and the Iſraelites: EueryEvery ſtone about the weight of a talent. In Ioſua, chap. 10, they are called great ſtones; but here is noted an incredible weight, only to ſhew, that, moſt deadly vengeance in a moſt incredible manner (yet as certaine as Iohn telleth the weight of theſe ſtones) ſhall light vponupon theſe men to deſtroy them. This plague, ſaith the text, ſhall be exceeding great; yet wil obdurate hearts ſtill blaſpheme. The Popiſh generation are ſo bewitched in their way, as they become obdurat and obſtinatly hardhearted againſt all Gods plagues, continuing in rage and blaſphemie.