Commentary on Revelation, Lecture 1
LECTURE I.
CHAP. XI.
Vers. 1.
ANd there was given me a reed like unto a rod, and the Angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2.
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not: for it is given unto the Gentiles, and the holy city shall they tread under foot fourty and two moneths.
THe Lord hath discovered the first part of the consolation against the two first woes, to wit, a comfortable outgate which the Church should have from under them, and a reviving again of the Gospel after that: a type and confirmation whereof, was Iohn's eating of the little book; but seing this is suspended untill the sounding of the seventh trumpet, and it might be a doubt, what became of the Church till then, or if there were any during the time of Antichrists prevailing, In this Chapter to Verse 15. the estate of the Church in reference to that time, is particularly described: wherein is shown, that even then there should be a Church provided for by God, and that there should be Prophets and Preachers of the Gospel, although both Pastors and People should be few and in a low estate outwardly.
That this doth relate unto the condition of the Church under Antichrist, and belongeth to that time as contemporary with the fifth and sixth trumpets, will appear. 1. This belongeth to the state of the Church immediately preceeding the last wo, or seventh trumpet, by which Antichrists fall beginneth; and it doth describe the estate of the Church for the fourty two months immediately before his fall: and therefore must necessarily contemporate with his dominion and height, which doth immediately also for the same space of time preceed the seventh trumpet. 2. This part of the Prophesie holdeth forth that triall of the Church, when her Prophets prophesie in sackcloth, and have war with the beast: which triall endeth with the beasts prevailing over them, and their rising again and being taken up to heaven; but that triall, in the continuace of it, a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes, is the same with the beasts dominion, Chap. 13. and closeth with his begun fall: and therefore must belong to the same time. 3. These times of fourty two months, one thousand two hundred threescore dayes, time, times, and half a time, &c. five times mentioned, Chap. 11, 12. and 13. being all of equal extent, must be understood to be contemporary one with another; for, that successively they should follow one another, cannot be thought, beside the agreeablenesse of the same matter and state of the Church under all of them, and the common beginning and rise which all of them have: but it is certain, that fourty two months (Chap. 11.) relate to the Antichristian tyranny: therefore we must understand this giving of the outer Court to the Gentiles, and this prophesying for the like time, vers. 2. and 3. of the same also. 4. The measuring of the Temple and treading of the outer Court, do contemporate and belong to the same time; for, when the Temple is to be measured, the outer Court is cast out, & contra, the outer Court is left out, when the Temple is measured: and therefore seing the leaving out of the outer Court belongeth to the time of Antichrist, That part of the measuring of the Temple must contemporate with it also: for, the describing of the Church, by comparing it to the Temple and to the outer Court, is not to distinguish the visible Church in respect of time successively; but to distinguish some in it at the same time from others, that should be really differenced before God, as the Temple and outer Court used to be in respect of the ceremonial differences that were between these two; Beside, the scope formerly laid down, and other circumstances of the exposition being well considered, it will be found that the intention of the spirit is not to delineat the Christian Church from its beginning, but from this time of Antichrists rise, that contemporateth with the Prophets their prophesying in sackcloth.
The state of the Church then is two wayes set down, First, More generally in respect of the condition of the Church her self, vers. 1, 2. Secondly, More particularly in respect of her Prophets, unto vers. 14. That by putting these two together, it may be seen what posture she was to be in. Both these descriptions are set down with allusion to phrases in the Old Testament. The state of the Church in respect of her self, during that time, is again two wayes set out, 1. With reference to the true worshippers, vers. 1. 2. With reference to false and hypocriticall corrupted worshippers, vers. 2. That we may understand it, there is a threefold allusion in the words. The first, is to the description of the materiall Temple, where there were (as we may gather from 2 Chron. 4.9. and what goeth before) three several courts, the one called the most holy, into which the high Priest, only once a year entred. The second without that, was called the court of Priests. The third is called the great court, or court of the people, which was without all, and next to the city: unto this court the multitude of professing worshippers had accesse at their solemn times: and this allusion holdeth forth, that as the inner court, being compared with the outer, was small: and as many had accesse to this, which were not admitted to the former; so, during this time, the number of true worshippers shall be few, though the multitude of nominall Professors shall be great, because the Lord will set apart some few to himself, and disown the rest, even as if under the Old Testament he had appointed the outer court to be divided from the inner, the greater part had been rejected, but the better part reserved; so shall it be in the Gospel-church at that time, some few like the Temple shall be ordered and set aside for himself, and the visible body of Professors left out without any such speciall care: which leaving, or casting out, we conceive to be the same, as not to be sealed, and so taken notice of by God, Chap. 7. And this measuring will be sound to belong to the same persons who are sealed.
The second allusion of measuring respecteth that vision, Ezek. 40.41, &c. And it may signifie, 1. the Lords putting a difference amongst Professors of that time; and that profession will not be sufficient to make men passe, but they must be tried and put to the touchstone; and that the Lord will do so. 2. It holdeth out the Lords setting apart of some for himself in opposition to others who are neglected; thus the land was to be measured, Ezek. 47.18. and for this cause Israel is often called the rod of Gods inheritance, Psal. 74. 2. Ier. 10.16, &c. as measured by to him, in opposition to all other Nations. 3. It signifieth a care and special oversight of the Lords in reference to these in the Temple beside others, as if he were building and preparing a house for them, even like a little Sanctuary to rest in during that time. Thus, measuring of the Temple here is opposed to the casting out of the outer court to the Gentiles, which is not to be measured, or so taken notice of by the Lord; and this agreeth with that, Chap. 12.14. of providing a place for the woman (i.e. the Church) during the same time. And lastly, this measuring of the Temple, is opposed to the opening of it, Chap. 15. And opening of it there being to be understood of an enlarged estate of the Church, and bringing of the Gospel to open light, This here must signifie a secret retired state of the Church wanting that splendor and visibility of Ordinances which it had before this time, and which after the seven trumpets sounding it was to have.
A third allusion is unto Daniels prophesying of Antiochus his making desolate of the materiall Temple, Dan. 7.13. and so the meaning will be, That as the Church of the Iews and their Sanctuary was tread upon, during such a time under Antiochus; so shall the visible face of the Church be abused and overrun by Antichrists followers during his tyranny over the same. Yet still will the Lord preserve a remnant as in that former case.
Vers. 1. Now it will be easier more particularly to clear the words: Wherein there is, 1. Something done. 2. Something said. And there was given unto me a reed like unto a rod. A reed is used in measuring, either to find out the quantity of a thing, or the regularity of a thing, or for the dividing and setting apart of it. It is given to Iohn, not only to signifie the smallnesse of that number which should be set apart for God, (for as numbering importeth fewnesse, so measuring doth smallnesse) and the regularnesse of their worship beside all the rest of the world; but to shew, that the Church during this time was not to be reckoned by the multitude, but that the rule behoved to be applied for discerning of it, and these who were furnished by a measuring reed should find it out and none other. That which is said, may be taken up in these three, 1. What he should measure. 2. What he should not measure. 3. Why? His direction what to do, is, Rise, and measure the Temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. The Temple here, is that which we called the Court of Priests, where the altar stood; it is opposed to the outer Court in the following Verse. These that worship therein, point out true worshippers, who rest not in the outer Court with the multitude (to whom they are opposed, vers. 2.) but like Priests to God they worship him in the Temple where the altar is, signifying the continuance of the prescribed worship in opposition to the will-worship of others, particularly their continuing to make use of Christs sacrifice, which is signified by the altar which the multitude did not enquire for. These are to be set apart (after they are tried and found) for God Himself. The second part of the direction, is, what should not be measured, and that is the Court without the Temple, leave or cast it out, and measure it not, saith He: by which is understood the visible face of the Christian Church, which in respect of externall Professors is like unto the outer Court, during the Jewish service. This not measuring of it, implieth a slighting and misregarding of it, and not setting it apart as the former, as the following words do clear. 3. The reason of this, is, for it is given to the Gentiles, and the holy city shall they tread under foot fourty and two moneths. Where, 1. the state of the outer Court is set down to be given to the Gentiles. 2. The height and continuance of their tyrannie is expressed, the holy city shall they tread under foot fourty and two moneths. By the Law, Gentiles were inhibited the congregation and assembly of the people in this outer Court; so this giving to the Gentiles, must suppose a profaning of the visible Church, and corrupting and mixing of publick Ordinances and Worship, even as admission of Gentiles to the outer court would have been under the Law; for which Paul was complained of, Acts 21. By Gentiles is to be understood not properly Pagans, for they are not capable to possesse the visible Church, and to partake its name: for, it continueth to be the outer Court, even while it is given to them, and is tread on by them. Beside (as was hinted) the time of their treading of it, will fall under the time of Antichrists sitting in the Temple of God, and therefore it must be understood of his vassals and followers. They are called Gentiles in this respect, that although they seem to bear the name of Christians, and so did not destroy, but possesse the outer Court, and retain the name of the Christian Church; yet in respect of their defection from the purity of the Gospel, and of the superstitious and idolatrous worship propagated by them, they are rather to be accounted Gentiles than Christians; in which respect, their head Antichrist (Chap. 13.) is said to have a name of blasphemy, even as the Pagan heads had which went before him. This is further explained in the following expression, the holy city shall they tread under foot fourty and two moneths. What he called the outer Court formerly, here he calleth the holy City, to wit, the visible Christian Church, whereof Ierusalem (called the holy City for the Ordinances of God in it) was a type. They shall tread upon it, that is, shall possesse it, brook the name of it, pollute it, marring the beautie of it, and that with an high hand, as the Temple was polluted during Antiochus his tyrannie.
3. What is meaned by the time, fourtie and two moneths, is not so easie to determine: we think in all this there is an allusion to Dan. 7.24, 25, &c. where Antiochus his trampling Ierusalem, was limited to a time, to wit, one year; times, to wit, two yeares; and the dividing of a time, to wit, halfe of a year, or some odd time more than three years: which holdeth forth in generall, that as Antiochus got great power over the Iews and their Temple, so Antichrist shall get great power over the Church. 2. That as the people of God, His Ordinances and Service were brought very low by him (who may well be Antichrists type) so shall the Church be by Antichrist. 3. That as that cruelty was limited and bounded for years; yea, for dayes, so shall Antichrists be, who in many things is described from Antiochus for that end, as changing times, having a mouth speaking blasphemous things, &c. And that there is an allusion to this time of Daniel in all these times, Chap. 11.2, 3. 12.6. and 13.5. it appeareth by Chap. 12.14. where, what was spoken (vers. 6.) of the womans flying, by dayes, he expresseth thereafter in Daniel's words, time, times, and half a time, &c. all coming to one sum. So that as Antiochus for so long, till the time set of God expired, trod on Ierusalem, Temple and Ordinances, so shall Antichrist during his appointed time: with this difference, the inner Court is reserved from Antichrist; though he cometh very near it, yet he wasteth not all: even as in Iezebels persecution (which probably was three years and an half) there were seven thousand reserved. The reasons moving us to expound times throughout this prophesie by a generall indefinit time, rather than particularly to determine, are, not because they are not determined by God, for that is meaned certainly; But, 1. because He hath reserved the discovery of times and opportunities especially in His own power, Acts 1.6. neither think we it edifying so much to insist in these. 2. Because there are so many difficulties in applying them particularly; for, it is not certain how many dayes ought to be assigned to every monethmonth, if to all thirty, after the Grecian account, or to some thirty one, after the Iulian account, which goeth to make up the year to us: yet that doubt is helped here by the alteration of moneths into dayes, &c. 3. Because Historians differ in their setting down of events and matters of fact, some ascribing them to one year, some to another, whereby application particularly must be exceeding various, as men choose what history to follow or whose reckoning to lay weight on. 4. In taking times definitly, it will be very hard to agree men with themselves, as, whether to take them all literally and properly, or all prophetically and improperly: For, the thousand years in the 20. Chap. is by the most part taken literally. Again, 1260. dayes is expounded for so many years; and why it should be understood properly in one place and prophetically in another, is hard to give the reason, especially considering that these places, Numb. 14. and Dan. 9. and Ezek. 4. whereon this opinion of dayes for years is built, seem not sufficient to bear it; for, these places are particularly expounded by the Lord to signifie so many years, and so to be understood, and so cannot be a precedent except in such cases, where by circumstances we may evince the same to be intended in that particular application: yea, by this opinion, it will be hard for a man to reconcile his thoughts, as, compare this time of Antichrists reign with that of the devils restraint, Chap. 20. it is hard to say the devil is restrained when Antichrist his speciall Minister and Mahomet prevaileth, and he in them reigneth, yet there cannot be so many years as to allow strictly to each of these so long a time by particular application, except they fall in one time together; for, it would take 2260. years successively. If it be alledged from the common rule, that whole, compleat, and even numbers in reckonings of this and other prophesies, as ten dayes or times, two hundred thousand thousand horsemen, Chap. 9. and the like, are to be taken indefinitly, but not so of broken numbers as 1260. dayes, three dayes and an half, &c. Ans. 1. What reason can be given from the Scripture to prove the one is definit and not the other, 1260. more than ten dayes. 2. All odd times may be resolved in some whole, odd years in whole moneths, or in dayes or so many hours. 3. Why rather are fourty two moneths here to be understood prophetically than five before, Chap. 9? and why not five there, as seven, Ezek. 39? 4. Even many odd numbers are indefinit in other things, as seven thousand men were killed, vers. 13. a thousand six hundred furlongs, Chap. 14. yea, of broken times, Chap. 8. half an hour, and 144000. that were sealed, are odd; even these who make the rule take sometimes unbroken times definitly, as that of the thousand years, Chap. 20. And can there be a solid application of three dayes and an half, in which the witnesses are dead, to any definit time, more than to shew a short time in comparison of their prophesying? yet, that all is determinatly known to God, is not to be disputed: yea, why the number of dayes more than the number of horsemen, armies, spirits, &c. so frequently mentioned in particular numbers in this Book, should be definitly taken, will not easily appear? Beside, if all these numbers were definitly to be taken for so many years, then supposing the beginning of them to be known (which seemeth possible, otherwayes the particular determination of the time would be for no end) it would follow that men might know to a year, month or day, the continuing of Antichrists reign and the performing of other great effects mentioned in this prophesie, which yet seemeth not usuall to the Lord in such prophesies, who even in this respect hath reserved times in His own Power, as was said. If any thing were objected from the Lords determining seventy years for the captivity by Ieremiah, and such like. Ans. That is in a particular, and was rather to dash the presumptuous expectation of a sudden delivery, and therefore was particularly and plainly revealed for that end. All which maketh us account it most safe to hold in the indefinit which is certain, and to gather the definit time rather from other grounds laid down in this prophesie, especially compared with the event and numbers here mentioned, than to settle upon them alone. And therefore because this number (which is so often repeated here in so various terms) is not altogether to be slighted, we shall shew what seemeth most probable to us on the matter afterwards.
Only, if any ask, why fourty and two months or three years and an half is pitched on rather than any other time, for all these troubles of the Church, the Prophets prophesying, Antichrists reign? &c. Answ. That time is pitched on with respect to former trials of the Church, and includeth this consolation, That as God limitted such and such enemies, and closed such troubles, so will he do this. Antichrist is compared with Antiochus, the Churches hiding to Elias fleeing while seven thousand were hid, See Iam. 5.17. The Prophets prophesying alludeth to Christs performing His Ministrie for three years and an half, His suffering and rising the third day; so it is with them, their suffering shall have an happy outgate also.
From which allusions we may gather, 1. That the Church during Antichrist shall be in a very mean outward condition. 2. That yet there shall be some pure Professors reserved by God. 3. That there should be a great multitude professing the name of Christians and claiming the title of the visible Church, yet exceeding grosse and superstitious in their worship. Lastly, That for all their confident asserting themselves to be the only true Church, yet even then should they indeed be disclaimed by God, and as the outer court, being possessed by Gentiles could not ground an interest in Him, so neither should an externall profession and pretension to the visible Church be a ground of any real interest in Christ to these pretended Christians.