The Ruin of Rome, Commentary on Revelation · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
THis chapter dooth wholy appertaine vntounto the opening of the ſixt ſeale. It ſheweth generally how God in the middeſt of all the broiles which happened vnderunder the opening of the ſixt ſeale, yet did preſerue his church, and mercifully prouide for his owne people.
This ſeuenth chapter may very fitly bee deuided into three parts.
Firſt, it ſheweth, that as God did moſt fearefully puniſh the world with viſible & ſenſible iudgemēts, as we hauehave heard before: ſo now he would ſet vponupon them with inuiſible and ſpirituall plagues, which are of all other moſt grieuous and intollerable. verſ. 1
Secondly, it ſheweth the ſtate and condition of the Church militant here in earth, as before was ſhewed vnderunder the opening of the fift ſeale the ſtate of the Church triumphant in the heauens; verſ. 2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9. namely, that it is ſealed and ſet in ſafetie from all daungers.
Thirdly, it ſheweth the bleſſed and happie eſtate of all Gods elect, verſ. 10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17. and their feruent praiſes and zealous worſhip of God, who thus mercifully did prouide for their ſecuritie in the middeſt of greateſt perils and extremities.
verſ. 1 And after that, I ſaw foure Angels ſtand on the foure corners of the earth, holding the foure winds of the earth, that the windes ſhould not blowe on the earth, neither on the ſea, neither on any greene tree.
Theſe foure angels are angels of darkneſſe, or foure diuels, which is proued by this reaſon, that they holde the foure windes from blowing on the earth: that is, ſtop the courſe of the Goſpell, which is a ſpirituall plague.
They are ſaid to ſtand vponupon the foure corners of the earth, becauſe power was giuen them to plague not ſome one or two countries, but the vniuerſall world, both Eaſt, Weſt, North and South.
The blowing of the windes, doth very fitly repreſent the preaching of the Goſpell, and that heauenly inſpiration and breathing of the holy Ghoſt which goeth with it. Winde is ſo taken, Ioh. 3. where our Lord Ieſus ſaith; The wind bloweth where it liſteth, &c: Cant. 4.16.So is eueryevery man that is borne of the ſpirit. And again in the 4. of the Cantic. in theſe words; Ariſe ô North, and come ô South and blowe on my garden, that the ſpices thereof may flowe out. Where it plainly appeareth, that the Church craueth the inſpiration of the ſpirit, that her fruites may abound: For what can be meant by theſe windes which ſhe wiſheth to blow vppon her garden, but the heauenly breathings of Gods holy ſpirit and word. It followeth then, that if the blowing of the windes in the ſcriptures doo ſignifie the breathing of Gods grace, and holy ſpirite, that the ſtopping of the windes by a reaſon of the contraries doth here ſignifie the ſtopping of the ſame, and the depriuation of all heauenly bleſſings. So that it is cleare, that a ſpirituall plague is heere repreſented, which alſo is the more apparant, becauſe here is ſuch ſpeciall prouiſo and care had for the churches ſafetie, that it might not be infected with this ſpirituall contagiō. Now all this doth plainly fore-propheſie, not only the ſtopping of the courſe of the Goſpell: but euen the vtter taking of it away from the world, for their great contempt thereof, and the horrible murthering & maſſacring of all the true profeſſors of it: according as it came to paſſe afterward in the preuailing firſt of hereſies, and afterward of the Popiſh and Mahometiſh religion, as in the two next Chapters following ſhall plainly appeare.
And I ſawe another Angell come vp from the Eaſt, verſ. 2 which had the ſeale of the liuing God, and he cried with a loud voice to the foure angels, to whome power was giuen to hurt the earth and the ſea, ſaying:
Hurt yee not the earth, neither the ſea, verſ. 3 neither the trees, till wee hauehave ſealed the ſeruants of our God in their foreheads.
This Angell is Ieſus Chriſt, who by the Prophet is called the Angell of the couenant. Mal. 3.1.That Angels do repreſent & ſuſtaine the perſon of Chriſt their head, is ſo common & vſuall a thing in the ſcriptures, that I ſhall not neede to ſtaie in it.
That this Angell is Chriſt, it doth plainly appeare by the things heere attributed vntounto him, which can agree to none other. Firſt, in that he hath the ſeale of the liuing God (which is the ſpirit of adoption) to ſet vponupon all the elect, for hee is the onelyonly keeper of this great ſeale, and this priuie ſeale. Hee onelyonly hath authoritie to ſet it vponupon whom he will.
Secondly, becauſe hee is ſaide to come vp from the Eaſt: that is, hee is the onelyonly ſonne of righteouſnes which ariſeth vponupon his Church eueryevery morning, and with his bright beames expelleth all darkneſſe from it.Luk. 1.78. According to that of Zacharias in his propheticall ſong: Through the tender mercy of our God the day ſpring from an highe hath viſited vsus.
Thirdly, becauſe he holdeth a ſoueraigntie and commaund ouer the diuels: for he chargeth them here to ſtaie their hands from doing any hurt, till he had prouided for his elect.
verſ. 2 Whereas it is ſaide, that power was giuen to theſe diuels to hurt the earth, the ſea and the trees: that is, the number of reprobates, we may note, that the diuels hauehave no abſolute power, but only by permiſſion: as appeareth in this,Iob. 1. Math. 8. that they could neither touch Iob, nor enter into the heard of ſwine, without leaue and licence.
verſ. 3 Whereas it is ſaid, Till we hauehave ſealed the ſeruants of our God in their foreheads, it doth plainely ſhewe that the puniſhments of the wicked are deferred till prouiſion be made for the elect.Gen. 7. The floud came not vppon the olde worlde till Noah and his family were receiued into the Arke. Gen. 19. Exod. 12.The Angels deſtroyed not Sodome till Lot was ſet in ſafetie. The plaguing Angell ſpared the first borne of Egipt, till the poſtes of the Iſraelites houſes were ſprinkeled with the blood of the paſchall Lambe. The ſixe Angels ſent to deſtroy Ieruſalem,Ezech. 9. are charged to ſtaie the execution, till the ſeruaunts of God were marked in their fore-heads.
All theſe examples do manifeſtly declare what tender care the Lorde in all ages hath had of his owne people, that they might be deliuered and ſet in ſafetie in the midſt of all extremities. Euen ſo heere we ſee that God is verie carefull, that his owne children might not be infected with thoſe damnable hereſies which now alreadie vppon the ſtopping of the courſe of the Goſpell beganne to be hatched, and afterward did ſpring and growe vp in the Church both thicke and three-folde.
And I heard the number of them that were ſealed, verſ. 4 and there were ſealed an hundred fortie and foure thouſande of all the Tribes of the Children: Of the Tribe of Iudah were ſealed twelue thouſand, &c.
Now Iohn heareth the number of them that were ſealed, and hee reckeneth vp the whole Church militant, conſiſting both of the Iewes, and Gentiles. Hee ſaith, that of the Church of the Iewes there were ſealed 144000. Wherein he putteth a certaine number for an vncertaine, and a definite number for an indefinite: for his meaning is not that there were iuſt ſo many, and neither moe nor leſſe ſealed: but this number doth ariſe of twelue times twelue, in that hee ſaith of eueryevery Tribe twelue thouſande: for twelue times twelue thouſande make an hundred fortie and foure thouſand. Neither yet may we thinke, that of eueryevery Tribe there were an equall number ſealed, not moe nor leſſe of one Tribe then an other: but this number of twelue, is vſed as the perfect and full number; in as much as the Church of the Iewes was founded vponupon the twelue Patriarkes: vntounto which our Sauiour had reſpect, when for to gather the diſperſed and loſt ſheepe of the houſe of Iſrael, he choſe twelue Apoſtles.
Now here we are to obſerue, that notwithſtanding the horrible perſecutions and calamities which fell out vponupon the opening of foure of the ſeales; yet God had his Church euen of the Iewes, which in the iudgemēt of reaſon, a man would hauehave thought long ere now, had bene vtterly extinct and aboliſhed.Rom. 11. But the Apoſtle ſaith: God hath not caſt off his people which he had choſen: that is, vtterly caſt them off.
It is therefore a moſt ſure and certaine poſition in diuinitie, that God hath alwaies his; that is, in all ages, in all times, in all places, in all countries, euen in the middeſt of all troubles and flames of perſecution, yet God hath his hidde and inuiſible Church euen vponupon the face of the earth. As it was in the daies of Elias. 1 King. 19.18. Math. 27.As was in Chriſts time, when the ſhepheard was ſmit, and the ſheepe ſcattered. And as it was in the daies of the great Antichriſt; as afterwarde wee ſhall ſee.
Moreouer, it is to be obſerued, that in the enumeration of the 12. Tribes, the Tribe of Dan is left out, and the Tribe of Leui taken in. The cauſe of the omiſſion and skipping of the Tribe of Dan, was their continuance in Idolatrie from the time of the Iudges,Iud. 18. (at what time the firſt fell into it) euen vntounto the captiuitie. This Tribe is alſo omitted in the Catalogue of the Tribes mentioned 1. Chron. chap. 2.3.4.5.6.7. Then the reaſon of this omiſſion, is firſt their vnworthineſſe. And ſecondly, that there might be a place and roomth for the Tribe of Leui to be taken in: which in this Catalogue, for ſingular reaſon, & a ſpeciall myſterie, might not be pretermitted. For although the Tribe of Leui had no portion or inheritance amongſt the other Tribes in the earthly Canaan, yet now the Prieſt-hood being transferred vntounto Chriſt, the holy Ghoſt doth expreſſely affirme, that the Tribe of Leui, as well as others, hath his part and portion in the heauenly inheritance, and the celeſtiall Canaan.
After theſe things, I behelde, and loe a grat multitude which no man could number, of all nations, verſ. 9 and kindreds, and people, and tongues, ſtood before the throne, and before the Lambe, cloathed with long white robes, and palmes in their hands; verſ. 10 and they cried with a loude voice ſaying: Saluation commeth of our God, &c.
This is to bee vnderſtood of the Church of the Gentiles, & they are ſaid to bee an innumerable multitude of all countries & natiōs. For although the church of God in reſpect of the reprobates, is very ſmall, and as an handfull vponupon the face of the earth: yet in it ſelfe ſimply conſidered, it is very great and large: for euen out of Adams curſed race, God hath choſe many thouſands to life. And here ſtill we are to obſerue the great goodnes and merciemercy of God, that notwithſtanding; former perſecutions, & the great blindnes which afterward did inuade the Church in the preuailing of errours and hereſies: yet Iohn heareth and ſeeth ſuch an huge number ſealed vp to ſaluation through Chriſt, both of the Iewes and Gentiles.
The Church of the Gentiles exceeding in number the Church of the Iewes, are here ſaid to hauehave lōg whiterobes, in token of their puritie and innocencie; and Palmes in their hāds, in ſigne of their victorie ouer the world, fleſh, and the diuell. For Palmes in auncient time were enſignes and badges of victorie.
After this, is ſet downe how the whole Church of the Gentiles do praiſe & worſhip God freely, verſ. 10 acknowledging ſaluation to be onelyonly of him, through Chriſt. verſ. 11 verſ. 12 And all the Angels of heauen do applaude, ſubſcribe, & ſay Amen to the ſame: as we hauehave heard before in the 4. chapter.
verſ. 11 The 4. beaſts are here mentioned againe, whereby is meant the Angels, both becauſe they are ſaid to hauehave wings, chap. 4. which agreeth to none but Angels, Eſa. 6. and alſo becauſe they are expreſſely named & interpreted to be the Cherubins, Ezech. 10.
If any man muſe why the Angels ſhould bee called beaſts, let him be reſolued with theſe 4. reaſons. Firſt, becauſe they are compared to beaſtes before, as the Lyon,Ezech. 1. Calfe, &c. Secondly, becauſe Ezechiel calleth them ſo; in as much as they draw Gods charriot of triumph.Zach. 1.8. Thirdly, becauſe the Prophet Zacharie compareth them to red, ſpeckled, and white horſes. Fourthly,Zach. 6.2. Zach. 6.1. becauſe the ſame Prophet calleth them Gods coach-horſes, and the multitudes and ſocieties of them, hee calleth Gods chariots, which came out of two mountaines of braſſe: that is, they went forth at his decree (which ſtandeth as faſt & vnmoueable as a mountaine of braſſe) to comfort and deliuer his Church out of the captiuitie of Babilon:Zach. 6.6. Zach. 6.8. and alſo to ſuccour and helpe the remnant which were left behinde in Iudea. Now in the Prophets, theſe chariots and chariot-horſes are ſaide to carrie the Almightie moſt ſwiftly throughout all the world. And therfore in Zacharie it is ſaid of the Angels: Theſe are they which goe through the whole world. In Ezechiel it is ſaid,Zach 1.10. Ezech. 1.14. that the beastes ranne, and returned like lightning. And againe, verſ. 7 that they ſparkled like the appearance of bright braſſe: and the wheeles of Gods chariots were moued with vnconceiueable ſwiftneſſe, euen as faſt as the Angels did flye. Let theſe reaſons and ſcriptures then ſatisfie vsus touching this, that the Angels are called beaſtes.
After all this, one of the 24. verſ. 13 Elders asketh Iohn what they were, & from whence they came, which were thus araied in long white robes? Which queſtion is asked of the Elder, not as being ignorant thereof; but to ſtirre vp Iohn, being ignorant, to enquire of the matter, that he might inſtruct him therein. And therfore when Iohn confeſſed his ignorance, deſiring to be inſtructed therein, the Elder telleth him the whole matter; namely, verſ. 14 that they were ſuch as were come out of great tribulation. For none can enter into life, but through many afflictions:Act. 14.22. as the Apoſtle ſaith.
After this againe, the militant and viſible church is deſcribed and ſet forth, not according to their preſent ſtate, but according to that which is to come: verſ. 16 verſ. 15 for they are here ſpoken of, as if they were alreadie in the poſſeſſion of heauen, and that for infallible certaintie and aſſurance thereof. Therfore the Apoſtle ſaith, that euen already they do ſit together in heauenly places. Epheſ. 26.And here they are ſaid to be in the preſence of the throne of God, verſ. 16 &c. to hunger and thirst no more, &c. to hauehave all teares wiped from their eyes, verſ. 17 and to be ledde by the Lambe vntounto the fountaines of liuing waters. All which dooth very plainely and plentifully expreſſe that infinite glory and endleſſe felicitie which is prepared for all the true and faithfull worſhippers of God. Many good leſſons and obſeruations might be gathered out of all this. But I do of purpoſe omit them, becauſe in this worke I do chiefly and almoſt altogether aime at interpretation, therein alſo ſtudying breuitie, ſoundneſſe, and plaineneſſe.