Commentary on Revelation, Lecture 3
LECTURE III.
Vers. 6.
—And when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
7.
And the Angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvell? I will tell thee the mysterie of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
8.
The beast that thou sawest, was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit, and go into perdition, and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, (whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world) when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
THe third part of the Chapter, to wit, the interpretation of the former vision, followeth: and before we come to it, there is the occasion of it set down, and the undertaking of the Angel, vers. 6, 7.
The occasion is the effect which that vision had on Iohn, he wondered with great admiration. This wondering is not as the world wondereth, vers. 8. (which, of such a one as Iohn was, cannot be said) but he wondered to see that beast and the woman so linked together, and desidered in himself to know the meaning of it, as the Angels words imply, vers. 7. a wondering what it might mean, such a type of a beast he saw formerly, Chap. 13. yet the exposition of some parts of the description is left till now, that it might hence appear that the knowledge of this mysterie should not altogether, but piece and piece be manifested, and that the revealing of Antichrist is especially reserved to the last dayes of his begun ruine, and therefore it is no marvell that many of the Fathers speak obscurely and wildely concerning him.
The Angel, vers. 7. propoundeth to clear four things, 1. the woman. 2. the beast that carrieth her. 3. the seven heads. 4. the ten horns which agree to her, as now under the last head. And he beginneth at the beast, because we know by this who that whore is, by knowing who supporteth her. The woman being spoken of last, We come to the first thing followed, vers. 8. to wit, the description of the beast in generall, under the notion of his last head: for, Iohn, in a prophetical vision, getteth a sight of this backslidden Church, and the Empire or dominion that supported her, as she is a whore; for, that is in the words, vers. 8. The beast thou sawest: Now, the beast he saw was that which supported the whore, called (vers. 11.) the eighth head, pointing at the last state of this Empire. So this answereth a seeming contradiction, how this beast can be said not to be, and yet to be, vers. 8. for, it is not to be understood simply that it is not: (for in the end of the verse it is said, It yet is, which maketh the wonder the more; and (vers. 10.) there was one King, head to that beast, even in that time) but the opposition is to be understood in some respect, that is, it was formerly a large Empire, but is not the Empire under that Government and form which is here intended: in that respect, it is but to come, which is verified in the state of this beast which Iohn saw and the Angel describeth.
More particularly, this beast is described in a threefold respect, 1. as to the time past, it was, that is, this is an Empire which is not now to begin simply, but long hath had dominion in the world, though differing from this under the last consideration: for, 1. It was under Kings, Consuls, Emperours and other lawfull civil Governours; this ascendeth from the pit. 2. It was a civil Government, governing by power and force of Arms; now its Ecclesiastick, bearing rule by Religion and pretext of Christs horns. 3. It was openly heathenish and idolatrous, avowedly persecuting Christians; now it is not so, a pretended Christian, but really idolatrous, and an enemie to all true Christians.
2. It is described in respect of the present time, It is not, that is, in respect of this last state which was coming, and is opposed to all the former, in that respect it is not come, as it was to be antichristian, and as the Roman city is not yet an whore; So this Government, which is the last of that beast, is not now in the world, because it is under the seventh, head, and the sixth was then, vers. 10. for though the mysterie of iniquity began to work very soon, yet this birth was not then brought forth. So it is in vain to seek this beast amongst the formes then existing, though that same Empire was in other respects in being even then.
Here also it would be adverted, That this was, and is not, looketh to Iohns time, and is to be made a truth then, as the word in the future, but shall arise, cleareth: But was, and is not, in the end of the verse, looketh to the time after his rising and becoming the object of the earths admiration, which is the cursed priviledge of the last head that then was to arise from the pit.
3. It is described in reference to the time to come, and or but (as often) shall arise: though he be not yet come, yet he shall come, and because there was most difficulty to know him that was to come, and it is most concerning also to Gods people, That future state is set out also in a further description in these four, 1. in his rise, He shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit: where two things are insinuated, 1. Concerning his nature and kind. 2. Concerning his order or manner of rising. By his originall, from the bottomlesse pit, We understand the same thing, as Chap. 9. of his being Angel of the bottomlesse pit. His arising from thence, Chap. 11.7. and his getting power from the devil, Chap. 13.5. All which imply, not only that he should be of a hellish disposition, but that his power or form of it, which was to succeed that which then was, should have a rise, specially from hell, that is, should be no civil Government of any sort (all which, Rom. 13. are Gods Ordinances,) nor meerly a power abused by the devil in oppression and persecution; for, that had not been any peculiar mark to this beast, or this state of the beast, for all the former almost were such, and so it would not reach the Angels scope, It must then be understood of a Government unwarranted by God, and a medling in things not put in mens power, an office not acknowledged in the Word (such as Papacy is) but in effect, a power especially plotted by the devil, and brought out of hell to supply the Dragons place, when he should be dis-throned in the heathen Emperours. By which it appeareth, that this is a singular dominion in respect of its rise, as being specially obliged to the devil for that, and singular in its usefulnesse to him, which can be spoken of no ordinary Government, though the persons be sinfull that are in it.
Secondly, This, and shall ascend, &c. implyeth, 1. a great height this beast should come to from small beginnings, as Chap. 13. 2. That gradatim, or piece and piece, he should come to it: not all at once at an height, but one step of usurpation after another, till the height were come unto, but in a covert way, as papacy arose: so that there seemeth to be some intervall, as it were, between the beast that was, and is, his evanishing in that shape which he then had, and the last beasts appearing: in which respect, it is said, Chap. 13. peculiarly of this change, that one head was wounded, and discerned to be so, before it was recovered by this last. For the time and manner of this rise, see more Chap. 9. and Chap. 13. Only here it appeareth, that the future state of the Roman Empire, which should be in its nature and rise different from the former states thereof, is the state that is set out by this beast, and all know that this is the Papacy, or Pontificatus.
2. This last state of the beast (which in this Chapter is called commonly the beast) is set out in his ruine, as he was under that form to succeed what had gone before, so that there should be none after him; for he shall go into perdition, 1. Implying an evanishing of this beast under this head, and not only the changing of this state; for that had not been peculiar to it, but common with the former. All by gone states are comprehended in what was; and this future state or consideration of the beast, taketh in all which was to come of him. 2. It implieth a peculiar destruction waiting for him, different from the former. 3. A slownesse in its on-going, though there be a certainty of its fulfilling, yet not at once. If Papacy be … this head then, we cannot look for an Antichrist to succeed it, seing it hath succeeded to the state that then was. It may also mean an active perdition in respect of destroying others, in which respect (Chap. 9.) he is called Apollyon, and (2 Thess. 2.) the son of perdition: for this describeth him best in his nature, and is like one who cometh from that fountain from which he hath his rise.
3. He is described by the welcome he should have in the world when he arose, or the effect he should have on the world, They that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names are not written in the Lambs book. This setteth out the absolutenesse of his reception, or the obedience that should be given him, in four. 1. in extent, the whole world, almost all the Roman Empire, (except some Elect ones by God keeped from that impurity, as also, Chap. 13.) it is as broad as ever it was in any form before. 2. There is the kind of subjection, expressed by wondering, a superstitious subjection to him as to some Deity, and not meerly as to a civill Governour, as in the former heads, (for, such subjection many Elect children gave) but this is an Idolatrous adoration, such as Papists give to their Popes. 3. It setteth out the degree of subjection, this of admiration is more nor ordinary, and is to be wholly at the beck and command of this beast; under this consideration, it is a superstitious devotednesse to him. 4. There is the motive of all this, it is willingly; they admire him, not by constraint of arms, but by a mistaken devotion, they of themselves give up and enslave themselves to him, as is said of the Kings, vers. 13. they shall give their power to the beast, and vers. 17. they agree to do it. They were now out of temporall subjection, the Empire having become weak, and they upon that had got their Kingdom, yet this admiration had such influence on them, as to make them universally yeeld to this beast upon this account, more willingly than Armies had made them do to the former.
The exception put in a parenthesis, (whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world) not only holdeth forth that compliance to be an exceeding sinfull defection, even such as the Elect should not, yea, to the end cannot continue in it: But, 1. It sheweth there is a difference made by Jesus Christ of Elect and Reprobate, as if by name they were written in distinct Books. 2. It sheweth it is eternall, and so without dependance on our free wills, it is before the world. 3. It sheweth, that our standing and being keeped clean, is a fruit of Election, and not our Election a fruit of our foreseen faith, or works. It is, they admire not, because they are written in the Lambs book; and not, they are written, because they admire not. 4. It sheweth a suitablenesse in the end and midses; these Elected to glory are brought to it by Holinesse, (Eph. 1.4.) and Sanctification, 2 Thess. 2. vers. 13. in being keeped from such filthinesse, as others fall in, and which otherwise they would have fallen in; and on the contrary they go to destruction, falling in sins, which are the causes of their damnation, though not of their reprobation, yet the decrees in respect of their ends are not without respect to these midses, although not grounded on them.
4. And lastly, he is in this last consideration described by the ground of this admiration, which pointeth at the state it agreeth unto. This is proposed by way of ridle, When they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. This is to be understood with respect to the time of the beasts actuall existing under the last consideration, wherein he is admired, and seen by the inhabitants of the earth, and so not only was, and is not, as in the former part of the Verse, when this state was to come; but now it is: so it differeth in the notion of timing it, from what it was formerly: and is thus to be understood, They see now an Empire, which being before that time, was exceeding different from this, 1. in form. 2. in nature or kind, ut supra: the heads then were crowned, Chap. 12. now the horns. 2. It is not, that is, it is a Dominion, but it is not the former which was, it is spirituall, and so admired. 2. It lordeth and ruleth over ten Crowned Kings, the former did over ten Legats, Proconsuls, or Governours of Provinces. 3. It useth not arms directly, but Excommunications, Censures, &c. 4. It was openly heathenish and idolatrous, now it is secret under pretext of Christs Vicar, so that old forme is away.
[For, this beast may be two wayes conceived, 1. in its generall complex consideration. 2. more particularly, in its heads and horns. In the generall consideration, he compareth the whole beast in its Ecclesiastick nature complexly with the whole beast considered as a temporall Empire (considered also complexly,) as under any of its first six heads; so this last beast, which supporteth the whore upon an Ecclesiastick account, is opposed to its civil consideration as a civill power which went before. In this sense there are but two states of this beast, one that was present, and to passe when this last succeeded, another to come. But when he considereth again the beast more particularly in respect of its heads and horns, and compareth the Governments among themselves, vers. 10, 11. there are seven forms, whereof five were past, one present, and one to come. Hence it is, that he calleth this Ecclesiastick state of this beast the eighth, looking to its distinct nature from the former; and also the seventh, as it is, upon the matter, the same power, continuing the Dominion of Rome in one series with the former forms, even as the two beasts were distinguished, Chap. 13. upon that diverse account, though upon the matter one. So this first was, and is not, is no contradiction; for, the beast, i. e. the Empire then was, yet was not this power come as the supporter of the whore, but was to come, in which respect he is looked upon as distinct from all the other heads.]
The third step, is, and yet is, that is, though it now differ much from what it was, yet it is really that same Dominion, upon the matter, by other spirituall weapons, 1. ruling as amply as ever their predecessors did 2. having as full and absolute rule as ever it had. See for this, two sayings of Bellar. lib. 3. de Pontif. cap. 21. pag. 301. cited Chap. 13. 3. It ruleth as tyrannously as any of the former, encroaching on others liberties, till it bring them under, and when it hath done that, it exerciseth its power also cruelly, especially against the Saints, as, vers. 14. and Chap. 13. 4. It keepeth the former throne and seat, though under another form, it getteth the Dragons seat and Authority, Chap. 13. and these people, Nations and Languages, and Kings that formerly had the former beast for their temporall lord, they have Papacy for their spirituall. 5. in respect of its blasphemous idolatry and superstitions, which though they differ someway in kind, yet for number they are as many, for guilt as great, for effects of wrath as dangerous; so that who would compare the many images, dayes and Temples before applied to the idols of the heathens, which now are called and turned into images, dayes and Temples of the Saints, they might say the idolatry, upon the matter, is the same, though the names be changed, even as their Churches are. See, Chap. 13. This, upon the matter, is the new formed image of the beast, spoken of there. In all which respects, though it might be said that this beast is not the former, in some respect, yet materially it is in being, as the Text saith.
Hence this argument may be formed, That Government or Dominion in the world, which in some respect, to wit, as civill, was before Iohns time governing all; yet, as such, that is, as Ecclesiastick and under a different consideration, was not come in his time, but shortly was to succeed that which then was over Rome, yet as differing from it; and in its rise and nature to be no ordinary civill power, but an unwarrantable Ecclesiastick power, at which the world was to admire, and unto which they were willingly to give a more absolute and divine subjection than to any of the former powers; under that Government Rome is the antichristian whore, That Government is antichristian, and the head and supream Governour thereof is Antichrist: But the Papacy is that Government, which was not in Iohns time, yet succeeded to that which then was, in amplitude of Government, and to which men willingly yeeld, and have yeelded such an obedience and subjection, which now is begun to go into perdition, &c. Therefore that Church is the whore, that Government antichristian, and that head and Governour is Antichrist: for he immediatly succeedeth to that which was in Iohns time, and according to Bellar. de Pontif. lib. 3. since the Gospel came to light, goeth into perdition; and all these marks agree to him only. Therefore he is the state pointed at by these. Or, thus, That form of Dominion over the Roman Empire, which is not in kind one with what it was in Iohns time, but immediately succeedeth to that, and yet in respect of amplitude of Government, and degree of subjection to it, is the same with, or more ample, than the former, though upon a different consideration and account; that Dominion or Empire under that form, is the beast, seen by Iohn: But Papacy is such a Government, and the Empire of Rome under it, is such. Therefore it is the Dominion described by him, as the antichristian Kingdom.