A Revelation of the Apocalypse, Chapter 17 · Analysis
The Analyſis.
THVS farre hath bin the diſtinct Prophecy of the laſt Period, divided in to his ſeven articles after the manner of the Seales and trumpets: ther followeth a continual narration, and more large explication of the three laſt vials, as which are of greateſt waight and ſpecial moment. The fift of which is handled in this chapter, and alſo in the whole chapter following, and in the firſt five verſes of the nineteenth: the ſixt is comprehended in the next fifteene verſes of the ſame nineteenth chapter, unto the twentith verſe. The ſeventh is continued through chap. 20. and 21. and unto the ſixt ver. of the two and twentieth. And from thence followeth the concluſion of the whole book. It maketh much for perſpicuity, to know what things agree to the time, and nature of the matter. As touching the fift, it is wholly beſtowed againſt the throne of the Beaſt (as in the chapter afore ver. 10.11.) partly in declaring what and of what ſort this throne is in this whole chapter: partly in relating what things doe goe togither with the ruine of it in the chapter following, and in the beginning of the nineteenth. The declaration of the throne hath firſt a preparation inviting to know the damnation of the whore, ver. 1.2. And the better to know it carying him away into the wilderneſſe, ver. 3. Secondly a deſcription by a double type, one of the Beaſt, ver. 3. the other of a woman ſetting on the Beaſt, ſumptuous, and moſt filthy, ver. 4. the mother of all whoredomes, ver. 5, a Murtherer of the Martyrs, ver. 6. The interpretation wherof is ſet forth by the occaſion of it, which Iohns wondering miniſtred, ver. 6.7. afterward it is propounded in very deed, shewing what the Beaſt is, in reſpect of his whole ver. 8: attention being ſtirred up, the diſcloſing might not paſſe without fruit, ver. 9. Secōdly in reſpect of the parts and heads, ver. 9.10.11. and hornes, whoſe riſing up is shewed in verſe 12. the humble ſervice which they ſhall giv to the Beaſt, ver. 13. and at length their overthrow by the Lambe, ver. 14. Such is the Beaſt. Of the woman, the interpretation is firſt of her dominion. both flouriſhing, ver. 15. & alſo afflicted by ten hornes as inſtruments, and the will of God as the principal cauſe, ver. 16.17. afterward of her palace ver. 18.