The Ruin of Rome, Commentary on Revelation · Chapter 20
Chap. 20.
SAint Iohn hauing in the former chapters, plainely and plentifully ſet down the vtter ouerthrow both of the beaſt & the falſe prophet, that is, the Romane empire, and the papacie, doth now in this chapter ſet forth the condemnation of the dragon, their graund captaine, which ſet them all on worke. For there hath as yet, beene no motion of him, which hath beene the beginner and raiſer vp of the reſt, and the great worker of all miſchiefe, therefore now commeth his iudgement and condemnation, now becauſe hee hath beene a more generall worker, and his miſchiefe hath extended larger then the kingdome of Antichriſt, therefore in this 20. chapter ther is an hiſtorie of him, ſet foorth by it ſelfe. Firſt how he ſeduced the nations before the comming of Chriſt: afterward how Chriſt at his comming bindeth him, by the light of his Goſpell, from ſeducing the nations, and ſo holdeth him ſhut vp, for the ſpace of a thouſand yeeres, in which the Church did flouriſh greatly, and many were raiſed vp, vntounto the ſpirituall life. But when the thouſand yeeres were expired. Sathan was let looſe and went foorth againe to ſeduce, and by the great Antichriſt, & the Turk, gathered innumerable multitudes into his armies, to fight againſt the Church, which armies are called Gog and Magog.
But they are all ouercome and deſtroyed, and that olde ſerpent himſelfe is caught, and together with his inſtruments the beaſt, and the falſe prophet is caſt into hell fire, to bee tormented for euer. And this is the ſumme and principall drift of this Chapter.
It containeth fiue principall things, as it were the fiue parts thereof.
The firſt is, the binding, ver. 1.2.3. and chaining vp of Sathan, by our Lord Ieſus, for the ſpace of a thouſand yeeres.
The ſecond is, the flouriſhing of the Church, ver. 4 5.6. during the time of Sathans captiuitie.
The third is, ver. 7 8.9. the looſing of Sathan after the thouſand yeeres expired, and the wofull effects thereof.
ver. 10 The fourth is, the caſting of the Diuell into a lake of fire and brimſtone, where the beaſt and the falſe prophet were.
ver. 11.12.13.14.15. The fift is a glorious deſcription of the laſt iudgement, wherein eueryevery man ſhall bee iudged according to his workes.
The text.
ver. 1 AND I ſaw an Angell come downe from heauen, haueing the key of the bottomleſſe pit, and a great chaine in his hand.
ver. 2 And he tooke the dragon that old ſerpent, which is the diuell and Sathan, and bound him a thouſand yeeres.
ver. 3 And caſt him into the bottomleſſe pit, and hee ſhut him vp, and ſealed the doore vponupon him, that hee ſhould deceiue the people no more, till the thouſand yeeres were fulfilled: ſo after that hee muſt bee looſed for a little ſeaſon.
This Angell heere ſpoken of, is our Lord Ieſus, who is therefore ſaid to hauehave the key of the bottomleſſe pit, becauſe he hath power and authoritie ouer hell and death, as we hauehave heard before.
chapter 1.18. By the chaine in his hand, is meant the doctrine of the goſpell.
The time when Sathan was thus taken & bound, was, when Chriſt firſt preached the Goſpell, and his Apoſtles after him, to all nations.
The cauſe why hee was now bound and chained vp, was, for that hee had a long time ſeduced all nations, and raigned as King and Lord ouer the Gentiles, and greatly ſeduced the Iewes alſo.
The time of his impriſonment is ſet downe, to be a thouſand yeeres, that is, all the time frō the preaching of Chriſt, and his Apoſtles, vntill Gregory the ſeauenth, & other monſtrous Popes, which did let Sathan looſe againe. Which ſpace of time is gueſſed by the learned, to be a thouſand yeeres or thereabouts. But heere it is to bee obſerued, that this binding of Sathan, is not to bee taken ſimply, and abſolutely, as though Sathan was ſo bound and chained vp, for this thouſand yeere, that hee could not ſeduce at all, or doe no miſchiefe at all, after the preaching of the Goſpell by Chriſt, and his Apoſtles: I ſay this is not to bee taken ſimply, but afrer a ſort, that is, that hee could not ſo generally and vniuerſally ſeduce all nations, as hee had in former time, before the comming of Chriſt. For otherwiſe it is well knowne, that euen after Chriſts time, hee did greatly perſecute the Church, bring in many errors and hereſies, and harden and blind many mens hearts: but yet all this was nothing, in compariſon of that which hee had wrought in former ages, when hee was euen as it were the god of the world, and the Gentiles worſhipped him as God, as the Apoſtle teacheth,1. Cor. 10. that all the worſhip of the heathen nations, was the worſhip of diuels. And againe, that God in times paſt ſuffered all the Gentiles to walke in their owne waies. Act. 14.16.And then was Sathan a great prince indeede.Luke. 10.18. But now commeth a chaine for him: For Chriſt preacheth the Goſpell, and ſendeth foorth his diſciples vvith power, and therevpon ſaith, I ſaw Sathan fall downe like lightning: For the preaching of the Goſpell, beateth downe the kingdome of Sathan and ſinne.
Moreouer, it is to be noted, that notwithſtanding all Sathans power and might, craft and ſubteltie, yet this Angell vvhichwhich hath the key of the bottomleſſe pit, doth apprehend him and ſhut him vp, and ſeale the dore vponupon him: ſo that he cannot get abroad to ſeduce ſo generally, as in former time.
But S. Iohn ſaith, that after a thouſand yeeres, he muſt be looſed for a little ſeaſon: that is, the time vvherein the great Antichriſt ſhould beare the ſway: vvhichwhich vvas ſome 4. or 5. hundred yeeres. For the Goſpell did preuaile in ſome meaſure, in the world, a thouſād yeeres after Chriſt, & the principles & groūds of true religion cōtinued in the church, vntil the ful looſing of Sathan, though vvith many blotts, corruptions, and abuſes. For after the firſt ſix hundred yeeres, the cleere ſinceritie of the truth vvas much dimmed vvith errors and hereſies: but yet the maine grounds dyd remaine till the full expiration of the thouſand yeeres. Now vve know that the Goſpell hath bene preached in theſe laſt daies, aboue three ſcore yeeres. Therefore it followeth, that the ſtrength of Popery continued not much aboue 500. yeeres: Which heere the holy Ghoſt for our comfort, calleth a little ſeaſon: chapter 11.2. of vvhichwhich vve hauehave heard before, and therefore I doe heere omit it.
And I ſaw ſeates, and them that ſate vponupon them, ver. 4 and iudgement was giuen vntounto them. And I ſaw the ſoules of them that were beheaded for the witneſſe of Ieſus, and for the word of God, and which did not worſhip the beaſt, neither his Image, neither had taken his marke vponupon their foreheads, or on their hands, and they liued and raigned with Chriſt a thouſand yeere.
But the reſt of the dead men ſhall not liue againe, ver. 5 vntill the thouſand yeeres be finiſhed: this is the firſt reſurrection.
Bleſſed and holy is he that hath part in the firſt reſurrection. For on ſuch the ſecond death hath no power. ver. 6 But they ſhalbe the Prieſts of God, and of Chriſt, and ſhall raigne with him a thouſand yeere.
Heere now is ſet foorth the ſtate of the Church millitant, for the ſpace of the thouſand yeere, wherein Sathan vvas chained vp. For it is ſayd heere, that the Church dyd grow and flouriſh: yea, and greatly exerciſe her power and aucthoritie, during that time. And therefore Saint Iohn ſaith, that he ſaw ſeates, and they ſate vponupon them, and iudgement was giuen vntounto them. Whereby he meaneth, that the Apoſtles and their ſucceſſors, had their chaires, ſeates, and conſiſtories, vvherein they did both preach the vvord, and execute the Church cenſures: as the Scribes and Phariſeies beefore had ſit in the chaire of Moiſes, and I take it, the latter part of the fourth verſe, is to be referred to the firſt clauſe, to vvit, that the Church dyd liue and raigne with Chriſt, a thouſād yeeres. Which is not to be vnderſtood of the Church triumphant, as ſome doe take it, & all the reſt of this fourth verſe, but of the flouriſhing eſtate of the Church militant, during the time of Sathans captiuitie: for all the faithfull do after a ſort liue, & raigne with Chriſt, euen heere in the earth, when they ouercome the world by faith, and ſubdue Sathan & ſinne, by the power of grace.
Now where it is ſaid that Iohn ſaw the ſoules of them that were beheaded, for the witneſſe of Ieſus, &c. It is to bee vnderſtood of thoſe, which in the time of the perſecuting empire, and growing of the papacie, vvere ſlaine for the truth. For the ſecond beaſt, which is the dominion of Popes, raigned not in thoſe thouſand yeere, in the which Sathan vvas bound, but yet did grow by degrees towards their height, and vſed great tyrannie againſt the ſeruants of God, before Sathans full looſing.
The Chiliaſts or Millenaries, doe fondly gather from this ſcripture, that after the ouerthrow of Antichriſt, the Lord Ieſus would come & raigne vvith the faithfull, heere a thouſand yeeres vponupon the earth, and that in this time, that Chriſt ſhould ſo raigne, as a great and glorious king vponupon the earth, his ſubiects ſhould enioy all manner of earthly pleaſures, and delights. This fooliſh error is confuted by the words that follovv in the text; as wee ſhall ſee afterward.
Whereas hee ſaith, the reſt of the dead ſhall not liue againe. It is to bee vnderſtood, of ſuch as were ſpiritually dead, that is, ſuch as did deſpiſe the Goſpell, which vvas preached thoſe thouſand yeeres, & were not thereby reuiued and quickened vntounto eternall life, but did ſtill remaine, as men dead in ſinnes, and treſpaſſes.
Therefore the meaning of S. Iohn is, that as in the thouſand yeeres, many that heard Chriſt and his Apoſtles, and their ſucceſſors, were raiſed vp from the death of ſinne, to the life of righteouſneſſe, ſo many others were not quickened by their doctrine, but ſtil dwelt in their ſinnes, whom hee calleth the reſt of the dead: and hee ſaith, theſe ſhall not liue againe, meaning the life of God, or the life of grace, and whereas hee addeth vntill the thouſand yeeres be finiſhed, he meaneth neuer, or not at all, for ſo the word vntill, is often taken in the ſcriptures: and it is ſure, that after the expiration of the thouſand yeeres, they did not liue the life of God, and the life of the ſpirit. For then the diuell was let looſe vponupon the world, to worke his pleaſure, and to ſeduce with all efficacie of error and iniquitie.
Whereas it is ſaid, this is the firſt reſurrection, he meaneth the riſing from ſinne, to the life of righteouſneſſe, which was in the thouſand yeeres, of the goſpells preaching, and therefore hee addeth, that he is bleſſed that hath part in the firſt reſurrection, &c. and ſaith, that all ſuch ſhall raigne with Chriſt a thouſand yeers. Which is meant of the raigne of the faithfull, euen vponupon earth, for the ſpace of that thouſand yeeres, in which Sathan was bound: but yet excludeth not their eternall glory in the heauens.
ver. 7 And when the thouſand yeeres are expired, Sathan ſhall bee looſed out of his priſon.
ver. 8 And ſhall goe out to deceiue the people, which are in the foure corners of the earth, euen Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battaile, whoſe number is as the ſand of the ſea.
ver. 9 And they went vp vntounto the plaine of the earth, and they compaſſed the tents of the Saints about, and the beloued cittie: But fire came downe from God out of heauen, and deuoured them.
Now S. Iohn telleth vsus, that after the determination of the thouſand yeeres, Sathan ſhall be let looſe vponupon the world, for their vnthankfulneſſe, and contempt of the Goſpell, to ſeduce and deceiue, euen as much as euer hee did. No maruaile therefore, that the two great and monſtrous hereſies of Popery and Mahometrie, did now beginne mightely to grow and increaſe in the world. For what other thing can bee looked for, after this letting looſe of Sathan.
But wee are to obſerue, that as Sathan was bound by degrees, through the miniſtery of Chriſt, and his Apoſtles, and their immediat ſucceſſors: ſo alſo he was looſed by degrees, by the preuailing of hereſies, till the great Antichriſt was hatched, and brought into the poſſeſſion of his curſed chaire. For Sathan was not fully looſed, till the yeere of our Lord 998. At what time Silueſter the ſecond, came to bee Pope, who was in league with the Diuell. Stories doe report, that at his death hee called for the Cardinals, and confeſſed that hee had familiaritie with the Diuell, and how hee had giuen himſelfe vntounto him body and ſoule, ſo that hee might come to the papall dignitie.
After him ſucceeded ſundry other Popes, which were notorious monſters, ſome of them murderers, ſome poiſoners, ſome ſorcerers, ſome coniurers. By whom the diuell was fully looſed, all light of the goſpell, and true religion being in a manner cleane put out, & moſt abhominable Idolatrie, & all manner of villany ſpreading ouer the face of the earth, & therefore S. Iohn ſaith, that Sathan being thus fully looſed, hee went forth to deceiue the people, which were in the foure corners of the earth, euen Gog and Magog, &c. This ſeducing by Sathan, heere ſpoken of, is the ſame with that which is ſpoken Chapter 13. onelyonly this excepted, that this of Gog and Magog is more generall. Wee reade there how all nations, kindreds, and tongues, were made to worſhip the image of the beaſt, and to receiue his marke: but that is to bee extended no further, then to thoſe kingdomes which were ſubiect to the papacie. But heere by theſe armies of Gog and Magog, are vnderſtood all the chiefe enemies of the Church, in theſe laſt daies, ſince the looſing of Sathan, both open and ſecret, both Turk and Pope: for the Turk is an open enemie: the Pope a more cloſe enemie. Gog ſignifieth couered, Magog vncouered, wherby is noted the Pope & the Turk. For the Pope cōmeth couered vnderunder the name of Chriſt, and Chriſts vicar, Peters ſucceſſor &c. But the Turk commeth vncouered, for hee openly denieth, and impugneth Chriſt.
Moreouer the names of Gog and Magog, are heere ſet downe to note of what countries theſe chiefe enemies ſhould ſpring: to wit, out of Scithia, Siria, Arabia, Italy, and Spaine. For Magog was the ſonne of Iapheth, Gen. 10. ver. 2. of whom came the Sythians. Gog was the name of a great Captaine in the leſſer Aſia, which built a citie, and named it after his owne name Gogkartah, that is, the citie of Gog. And it is put in the propheſie of Ezechiel, Ezechiel. 38.for the whole region of the leſſer Aſia, and Siria. Whereby the prophet did foretell, that the great enemies of the Church ſhould ariſe out of thoſe coaſts. As in very truth they did, for out of Egipt, Scithia, Siria, and the leſſer Aſia, did ſpring vp Ptolomeus, Silencus, Antigonus, Caſſander, and the reſt of Alexanders poſteritie, which vexed and oppreſſed the Iewes, by the ſpace of 294. yeeres, euen vntill the comming of the Meſsias, at what time the deuided Greeke empire was ouerthrowen, and tranſlated to the Romanes.
Furthermore it is to bee noted, that the prophet Ezechiell ſaith, that Gog is the chiefe prince of Meſech, and Tuball. Gen. 10.2.By Meſech hee meaneth Arabia, and by Tuball Italy and Spaine: noting thereby the countries and kingdomes from whence the great perſecutors of the Church, from the returne out of the captiuitie of Babylon, vntill the comming of the Meſsias ſhould ariſe. For aſſuredly thoſe enemies, were collected of diuers nations, but ſerued chiefely vnderunder the princes of Aſia the leſſer, of Siria, and of Scithia. Now then to conclude: Gog and Magog in Ezechiell, are put for the princes of thoſe coūtries, which were the chiefe Captaines in gathering great and mightie armies vntounto battaile, againſt the children of Iſraell, after they were come out of the captiuitie of Babylon. And the prophet there in one ſumme vnderunder the armies of Gog and Magog, comprehendeth all the enemies that fought againſt them, from time to time, after the captiuitie, vntounto the comming of Chriſt. And now for the application of this, vntounto the enemies of the Church, vnderunder the Goſpell, wee muſt firſt note, that through this booke, the figures and phraſes of ſpeech are taken out of the law & the prophets. Now therefore, when the Lord would ſet foorth in one ſumme all the enemies of the Church, which Sathan muſtereth, after the time of his looſing out of priſon, before the comming of Chriſt to iudgement: there is no one place more fit, to ſet foorth all theſe armies, then thoſe armies of Gog and Magog, & therefore the names, euen Gog and Magog are heere brought in, to ſet foorth theſe huge ar…ies of the Turk, and of the Pope, and of all the enemies of the Church, in theſe laſt daies, which ſhould gather thēſelues to battaile, being in number as the ſand of the ſea: as S. Iohn ſaith, yea, did couer the whole face of the earth with their multitudes, and compaſſe the tents of the Saints about, and the beloued citie, that is, did make warre againſt the Church and people of God, which in compariſon of them, were but as a few tents, or ſome little citie. But marke vvhat followeth, and conſider the iſſue of the battaile. The holy ghoſt ſaith expreſſely, that fire came downe from God out of Heauen, and deuoured them. Which doth plainely ſhew that the armies of Gog & Magog, though neuer ſo huge, ſhalbe deſtroyed by the fire of Gods vvrath.
Now from this I gather, that as the armies of the Pope ſhall goe downe ſtill more and more, as formerly hath bene ſhewed, and as experience in the laſt yeeres good ſucceſſe both in Ireland, Netherland, and againſt Spaine alſo, hath partly prooued, (Gods moſt holy name be praiſed) ſo alſo the armies of the Turk ſhalbe ouerthrowen, ſo farre foorth as they fight againſt the true Church, or at leaſt be ſo kept back, that they ſhall not be able to compaſſe the tents of the Saints, as vve ſee and feele this day, God be thanked.
ver. 10 And the Diuell that deceiued them, was caſt into a lake of fire and brimſtone, where that beaſt, and that falſe prophet are and ſhalbe tormented, euen day and night, for euermore.
Heere is ſet downe the Diuells doome: to vvit, that he ſhalbe caſt downe into the infernall pit, as vvell vvorthy both for his ſeducing all nations, and ſtirring vp the armies of Gog and Magog, againſt the Church, euen to roote it vp, if it vvere poſſible. Therefore Saint Iohn telleth vsus, that foraſmuch as he is the author of all miſchiefe, and he that hath ſet all the reſt a vvork, therefore both he and his inſtrumens the beaſt, and the falſe prophet, Gog and Magog, ſhall all drinck of the ſame cup of Gods eternall vvrath, and be all throwne downe together into one cloſe priſon, vvhichwhich is that gaſping gulfe and infernall lake, that burneth vvith fire and brimſtone, for euer.
Loe then, vvhat ſhalbe the end of the diuell, the Pope, the Turk, the Emperour, the King of Spaine, the Cardinall, and all other the diuels inſtruments, vvhichwhich heere in earth hauehave perſecuted the Church, and compaſſed the tents of the Saints, and the beloued Cittie.
Now after all this in the fiue laſt verſes, Saint Iohn entreth into a liuely and cleere diſcription of the laſt iudgement. Firſt noting the terror and maieſtie of the Iudge himſelfe, in this, ver. 11 that from his face both Heauen and earth fled away: that is, no creature ſhalbe able to endure his angry countenance, in that daye: and yet vvithall ſetting downe the puritie and vprightneſſe of his iudgement and iudgement ſeate, calling it a white Throne. ver. 12 And after this, the generall citing and perſonall appearing of all men before him, of vvhat degree, eſtate, or condition ſoeuer. For both death and hell, ſea and graue, did deliuer vp their dead. And all vvithout exception, came to iudgement. And the bookes of their conſciences vvere opened, (for euerie mans vvorke is engrauen vponupon his cōſcience, as it vvere in letters of braſſe, or vvith the point of a Diamond:Ier. 17.2. Ver. 13. as the Prophet ſpeaketh.) And they were iudged of thoſe things which were written in the bookes, according to their workes, and according to the teſtimonie of their owne conſciences: And death and hell, ver. 14 that is, all the heires of death and hell, euen all the ſocietie of reprobates, both papiſts, Atheiſts, and all vnbeleeuers, yea, whoſoeuer were not found written in the booke of life, were caſt into the lake of fire, ver. 15 which is the ſecond death. Now, heere I would hauehave it dilligently obſerued, that the holy ghoſt hath three ſeuerall times in this booke, deſcribed the laſt iudgement, to wit, in the latter end of the 11. Chapter, in the latter end of the 14. Chapter, and now in the latter end of this Chapter. And moreouer I would hauehave the order and cauſes of theſe deſcriptions, well waighed. For in the 11. Chapter hauing before deſcribed the kingdome of the Pope, and the Turk, with their ouerthrow, and alſo the preaching and preuailing of the Goſpell in theſe laſt daies: hee commeth to deſcribe the laſt iudgement In the 14. Chapter hauing ſet downe, that the euerlaſting goſpell ſhould be plētifully preached in this laſt age, & the ouerthrow of Babylon, immediately following, forthwith hee proceedeth to the diſcription of the laſt day. In this Chapter hauing before concluded of the vtter ouerthrow of Rome, of the beaſt, and the falſe prophet, of Gog and Magog, and all aduerſary power, at length hee proceedeth to this deſcription of Chriſts ſecond comming, which wee hauehave heard of. And out of all this, I do gather, that the vtter ouerthrow of the Pope, & all his adherents, ſhall be in this life, a little before the comming of Chriſt vntounto iudgement.