A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Revelation · Chapter 14 – Chapter 15
CHAP. XIV.
1. AND I looked, and lo, a Lamb ſtood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thouſand, having his Fathers name written in their foreheads.
1. Next the Vision ſhewed me Chriſt, as a Lamb, ſtanding on Mount Sion, &c. Theſe hundred forty and four thouſand, ſeem to be only the faithful Chriſtian Jews, that ſtuck to Chriſtianity through ſuffering; the number being the ſame, as ch. 7. and the number of twelve, which is the ſquare root of this number, noting a reſpect to the twelve Tribes, as the number of twelve Apoſtles did: Therefore the place is called Mount Sion, (their holy place;) whether it be in Heaven, or in the Catholick Church that they are ſuppoſed to be. Doubtleſs many Chriſtian Jews thought that the New Jeruſalem ſhould be in the place where the Old was at Chriſt's coming. The Name of God (and of the Lamb, ſay ſome Copies) in their foreheads ſignifieth their open Profeſſion of Fidelity to the Father and the Son, and God's gracious noting them for his own. And it helps us to expound what the mark of the Beaſt was, even ſome open ſignal obliging Profeſſion of Idol Worſhip.
2. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3. And they ſung as it were a new ſong before the throne, and before the four beaſts, and the elders, and no man could learn that ſong, but the hundred and fourty and four thouſand, which were redeemed from the earth.
2▪ 3. The voice of many Waters ſignified the multitu… of Converts that by the Goſpel were gathered to this Church on Mount Sion, who praiſed God with the … of Harps, or joyful Pſalmody: And it was new Pſalms of Praiſe for Man's Redemption, and the Grace of Chriſt which they ſung, as before God and the Cherubims, and the holy Church, which none of the Jews were fit to ſing, ſave the foreſaid choſen ſaved number.
4. Theſe are they which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins: theſe are they which follow the Lamb whither ſoever he goeth: theſe were redeemed from among men, being the firſt-fruits unto God, and to the Lamb. 5. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
4, 5. The Viſion being of thoſe in Heaven, as the Precedents of the Chriſtian Church at Jeruſalem, that ſhould afterward ſucceed them; they were the firſt-fruits of the Apoſtles Miniſtry, deſcribed Act. 1. & 2. & 3. & 4. who were eminent in Purity and Love, free from Idolatry and Fornication, as a People choſen out of the Jewiſh Nation unto Chriſt; and as they were holy on Earth, they are faultleſs and perfect now in Heaven.
6. And I ſaw another angel flie in the midſt of heaven, having the everlaſting goſpel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.
6. Whether the midſt of Heaven have the Myſtical ſenſes that divers give, or be only [ſent from Heaven to Earth] I know not: Some ſay, it is called the Everlaſting Goſpel, becauſe it was decreed from everlaſting; ſome, becauſe it dureth to everlaſting, or tendeth to life everlaſting. By the Goſpel ſome underſtand only the glad tydings of the Fall of the Roman Empire; ſome, the Doctrine of Reformation, and tydings of the Fall of Popery; and ſome, the common Doctrine of Salvation by Chriſt, as it was now more freely and univerſally to be publiſhed to the Gentile World.
7. Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment is come: and worſhip him that made heaven and earth, and the ſea and the fountains of waters.
7. Away with your Idols that are no Gods, and turn to and fear the true and living God, who made Heaven and Earth: For the time is come that he will judge and deſtroy Idolaters. Other expoſitions I omit.
8. And there followed another angel ſaying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, becauſe ſhe made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornification.
8. Another part of my viſion was another Angel, &c. implying a further revelation to me. Whether it ſignifie alſo another ſort of Preachers on Earth, and who; as ſome ſay, the Albigenſes and Waldenſes, or Luther, Zuinglius, or Illyricas and his century writers, let them tell that know.
Babylon is here deſcribed (and more fully after) to be that great City that drew all nations unto Idolatry, whether this were Rome as Heathen, or Rome as Papal, or Rome as containing both, ſee my Advertiſement.
9. And the third angel followed them ſaying with a loud voice, If any man worſhip the beaſt and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10. The ſame ſhall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out, without mixture, into the cup of his indignation, and he ſhall be tormented with fire and brimſtone, in the preſence of the holy Angels, and in the preſence of the Lamb:
9, 10. Thoſe that partake of the ſins of Idolatrous Babylon (or Rome) ſhall partake of her plagues; and the Judgment that overthroweth her ſhall extend to all her companions in Idolatry, and alſo the puniſhment in the life to come: And Chriſt and his Angels will execute and behold it, as juſt and good.
Some, to ſave their charity, ſay that damnation is not denounced to all that only have the Name of the beaſt, or the Number, but only to them that receive his Mark as his ſlaves, and worſhip him and his Image. But I think receiving his Name, and its Number, is included in receiving the Mark. But all my be pardoned to the penitent believers.
Whether this Angel be Luther, Chemnitius, Whittaker, and ſuch others, I leave to the proof of the affirmers: Its enough to me, that this additional revelation and puniſhment, is notified to John as by another Angel. Though many think that only temporal puniſhment is here meant; doubtleſs the ſame ſin deſerveth more.
11. And the ſmoak of their torment aſcendeth up for ever and ever. And they have no reſt day nor night, who worſhip the beaſt and his image, and whoſoever receiveth the mark of his name.
11. Though temporal calamity be here included, this ſeems plainly to mean Hell: And the Mark of his Name, is here made equal to [His Mark] verſe 9. O the reſtleſs miſery that is prepared for the impenitent!
12. Here is the patience of the ſaints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jeſus.
12. This miſery of impenitent Idolaters and Enemies of Chriſt, will ſhew the World, how wiſe and happy the Saints were, that by patient ſuffering did overcome, and kept to the end, the Commands of God, and the Faith of Jeſus Faith, Obedience and Patience, are all neceſſary to Salvation.
13. And I heard a voice from heaven ſaying unto me, Write, Bleſſed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth, yea, ſaith the Spirit, that they may reſt from their labours, and their works do follow them.
13. Though it be always happy to be at Reſt with Chriſt, the ſufferings of thoſe times will be ſo great, as will make it ſeem a ſeſonable bleſſedneſs, to go to that Reſt, where they ſhall no more labour or ſuffer, but receive the fruit of their labours and work performed for Chriſt on Earth. Some make this to be but a promiſe of after-freedom from Perſecution here: The Text proveth a Bleſſedneſs for ſeparated Souls before the Reſurrection: For [foreign] [henceforth] ſignifieth from this time forward. The Socinians therefore abuſe the Text, that make the Bleſſedneſs to be but Reſting in a ſtate of death, till the Reſurrection. For life, with God's ſervice and acceptance in a time of Perſecution, is a greater bleſſing than meer death.
14. And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and upon the cloud one ſat, like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a ſha…p ſickle. 15. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that ſat on the cloud, Thruſt in thy ſickle & reap, for the time is come for thee to reap, for the harveſt of the earth is ripe. 16. And he, that ſat on the cloud, thurſt in his ſickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
14, 15, 16. Some underſtand this of an Angel in the likeneſs of a man; but moſt of Chriſt, or an Angel like Chriſt. The other Angel ſeemeth to ſignify but another part of the Viſion, and execution Reaping the harveſt, is puniſhing ſinners ripe for deſtruction.
17. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he alſo having a ſharp ſickle. 18. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire, and cried with a loud cry to him that had the ſharp ſickle, ſaying, Thruſt in thy ſharp ſickle, and gather the cluſters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe. 19. And the angel thruſt in his ſickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and caſt it into the great wine-preſs of the wrath of God. 20. And the winepreſs was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepreſs, even unto the horſre-bridles, by the ſpace of a thouſand and ſix hundred furlongs.
17, 18, 19, 20. Of the difference between the Harveſt, and the Vintage and the two Angels and their executions, opinions are various. Some make it to be two degrees of o… plague, ſome to be two; ſome ſay conjunct, ſome ſay d…ſtant. Some ſay one is the deſtruction of the Turkiſh Empire, and the other (the Vintage) of the Roman Papacy before Chriſt's coming. Some ſay, the firſt is the compleating of the Elect as converted, and the latter the deſtroying of Antichriſt. Some ſay, it fosaketh of the laſt Judgement, ſome, of the Fall only of Hearthen Rome, and ſome, of other E…ecutions. It is clear that it ſpeaketh of divers degrees of …ecution of God's Judgments on the Idolaters, ſignified as by divers Angel appearance, words and deeds: But whether it meant any beſide the Roman Heathen Idolatry, and their conſenting Countries ſufferings; and whether the ſixteen hundred Furlongs ſignifie any more than diffuſed Plagues, and whether it was meant of Trajan's Executions in Syria, &c. as Grotius thought, or of the Country about Rome, or any determinate ſpace, and where, and which of the ſix or ſeven ſenſes of [power over Fire] is right, beſides a meer deſtroying power, are all things which I cannot determine. Mr. Brightman hath found England to be the thouſand ſix hundred Furlongs, and Cranmer to be the Angel that had power over Fire, becauſe he held his right hand to be burnt, and Thomas Cromwell to be the Executing Angel: And ſome that can make themſelves believe, that ſo ſmall a ſpot of ground as England, is it that this Tragedy is acted on, have thought that they found here the killing of the two Witneſſes (Magiſtracy and Miniſtry, and the two Beaſts, and the number of their Names, in the Letters here mentioned, foreign (ch) foreign (x) foreign (ſt) and the wounding and the healing, and the mark of the Beaſt PER, as referring to Ch. (Church) and St. (State;) and in a word, that almoſt half the Revelation ſpake of England. But unleſs they can prove that the two Beaſts have their Off-ſpring, who bear their Fathers Image, and are diſperſed as Cains off-ſpring was, ſo that the ſame thing is acted over by them, in ſeveral lands and ages, which was acted by the firſt, I ſhall, rather than this, confine the expoſition to that empire and ſtate, that the Church ſuffered under when John wrote.
CHAP. XV.
1. ANd I ſaw another ſign in heaven, great and marvellous, ſeven angels having the ſeven laſt plagues, for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
1. Seven plagues, which are all to be poured out on the Idolatrous perſecuting Empire, as it were by ſeven Angels.
2. And I ſaw as it were a ſea of glaſs, mingled with fire, and them that had gotten the victory over the beaſt, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, ſtand on the ſea of glaſs, having the harps of God.
2. I ſaw a ſea like that in the Temple, ſignifying purity and the multitude of worſhippers; mingled with fire, ſignifying the Altar Sacrifices, and their zeal, and Gods acceptance, and them that by patient ſuffering had overcome, by keeping themſelves undefiled from owning the Roman Idolatry, by owning the Idol, or his Image, or Mark, or the numeral Letters of his name; And they ſtood on this ſea, having the harps on which they ſang the praiſes of God, as was uſed in the Temple.
3. And they ſing the ſong of Moſes the ſervant of God, and the ſong of the Lamb, ſaying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, juſt and true are thy ways, thou king of ſaints.
3. And they, being many of them the firſt Chriſtian Jews, ſang Moſes's ſong after the drowning of Pharaoh, the caſe being like their deliverance from the Roman Tyrants, and the ſong of Chriſt, ſuited to the joyful Praiſes of God, for the work of mans Redemption and Salvation; ſaying Great, &c. Thou gloryfieſt thy Power in conquering the greateſt proudeſt enemies, and delivering thy Servants from the great dangers, even by miracles of providence; And thy Juſtice and truth, O moſt Holy Lover, and King, of Saints, are magnified in thy avenging them on their cruel enemies.
4. Who ſhall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorifie thy Name? for thou only art holy: for all nations ſhall come and worſhip before thee, for thy judgments are made manifeſt.
4. This demonſtration of thy Greatneſs, Holineſs and Juſtice, ſhall move the nations to fear and Glorifie thee, as the only moſt Holy God, and to fear and worſhip thee, becauſe of thy Judgments.
5. And after that I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the teſtimony in heaven was opened; 6. And the ſeven angels came out of the temple, having the ſeven plagues, clothed in pure and white linnen, and having their breaſts girded with golden girdles.
5, 6. The Holy place and Gods Decree ſeemed to be opened; And ſeven pure and Glorious Angels, honourably girded to execute Gods will, came forth with the ſeven laſt plagues that are to finiſh the deſtruction of the Idolatrous, potent, perſecuting, Roman Empire.
7. And one of the four beaſts gave unto the ſeven angels ſeven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
7. Thoſe that undertake to tell whom theſe Angels, and this Living Wight, ſignified on Earth, go further than I can, who know no more but that the ſeven plagues were thus repreſented.
8. And the temple was filled with ſmoke from the glory of God, and from his power, and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the ſeven plagues of the ſeven angels were fulfilled.
8. And the dreadfulneſs of Gods wrath, as a conſuming fire, ſtriking even his worſhippers with fear, and in the execution diſturbing the Churches peace, was repreſented to me by the filling of the Temple with ſmoke, from the Glory of God, &c.