Commentary on Revelation, Abstract
A brief View of the Series of the whole Book of the REVELATION.
THis whole Book is formed by way of an Epistle.
Beside some generall circumstances,Chap. 1. the matter of the Book generally is divided (Chap. 1.) in these two, 1. The things that then were, or the present state of these Churches especially. 2. The things that were to come on the Church in general, to the end of the world.
Chap. 2,Chap. 2, and 3. and 3. contain the first part, the present condition of these seven Churches, set out in seven several Epistles, shewing their case, and reproving or commending accordingly, as was requisit: and withall, adding directions, warnings, threatnings and consolations suitable to their respective conditions, which though expresly directed to these, yet are alike usefull to all in such cases to the end.
Chap. 4.Chap. 4. and 5. and 5. contain the Preface introductory to the main and propheticall part of this Book: where God the Creator, is set on His Throne, and His glory, as absolute supream Lord of all, is set down, having all events determined in His Counsel, as in a Book that is sealed, in the which no creature can pry to reveal them, except Jesus Christ, who, by the executing of His Office of Mediatorship, is found worthy to be admitted on Gods eternal secrets concerning the Church, Who therefore in that fifth Chapter receiveth these as in a book, sealed with seven seals, which he openeth distinctly (keeping the same comparison) in the Chapters following, which contain three principal and other three explicatory Prophesies; the three principal Prophesies of Seals, Trumpets and Vials, deducing the events from that time to the end by several steps, and the explicatory Prophesies, clearing what was more shortly or obscurely set down in the other, and contemporating with them, or some part of them.
Chap. 6.Chap. 6. We have the first principal Prophesie of the Seals, which setteth forth the state of the Church under its first period, to wit, of heathenish persecution. In it the Church, is, first, discovered as flourishing in respect of the Gospels thriving, Seal 1. Then as bloudy in respect of persecution, Seal 2. After that as decaying and losing much of its beauty, not only by the persecution of enemies, but by the contests and failings that were in and amongst her friends, Seal 3. After which, persecution came to a vehement height, as if death had been loosed against the Church in the last part of the ten persecutions, Seal 4. whereupon the souls cry to God, as being at an uttermost strait, Seal 5. Upon which followeth Gods judgment upon these persecuters, Seal 6, at which the first period of the Churches condition, and the first principal prophesie of Seals do end.
The Church having now gotten outward prosperity and peace,Chap. 7. and not having made good use of it, there are (Chap. 7.) other sorts of winds ready to blow, and fearfull heresies to set on her, especially that defection of Antichrist: all which she is to be advertised of by the Trumpets; but because that exercise would be more sifting and carry moe of the visible Church away than open persecution did, Therefore before the Trumpets sound, the Lord giveth a little view of the future state of the Church in reference to the two following principall Prophesies. The first part is to ver. 9. showing Gods care in guarding His Elect against that storm before it came: this belongeth to the Trumpets. The second showeth the good outgate that the Church should have after that storm, from ver. 9. to the end: and this giveth a hint of the Vials.
The Lord Christ having thus provided against these evils by this consolation, Chap. 7. and having first interposed by His intercession in the beginning of this Chap. 8.Chap. 8. Then He giveth order to the Angels to sound their Trumpets. These do contain the second principal Prophesie, and belong to the second period of the Church, to wit, from the Churches begun peace, after heathenish persecution, till Antichrist come up by his steps to his height. This is contained in the 8, 9, 10, and 11. Chapters. The first Angel foretelleth the rising of a violent heresie, to wit, Arianism, whereby the beauty of the Church was exceedingly defaced. The second foretelleth the great pride and contention that was to follow among Church-men, which should be no little stirring to many, and make way for the working of the mysterie of iniquity. The third forwarneth of the corrupting of the principal doctrines and fountain-truths of Grace and the Gospel. The fourth holdeth forth the more general decay of piety, purity and simplicity in the Church, in the age before Antichrists revealing, though not yet at its height; and when warning is given of three greater woes than any of these, the eighth Chapter is closed.
Chap. 9.In Chap. 9. two of the last great woes are set down: the first, or fifth, Trumpet, describeth Antichrists Kingdom, and by the description thereof, and names given to him, the evil that cometh thereby to the Church, is expressed. The second great wo, or sixth Trumpet, setteth out Gods severe judging of a great part of the Christian world for that defection, by letting loose the Turks upon it, which with great Armies destroyed many, and overcame a grea… part of the Empire: yet these that were spared did not repent, nor forsake their idolatry and superstitions for all that, but Popery grew in its corruption, even as the Turks grew in their Dominion.
Chap. 10.11.In Chap. 10. and 11. because these were sad evils, whereby the Church was brought low, and were to be of longer continuance than any of the former, lesser woes, therefore, before the seventh Angel sound, the Lord setteth down a twofold consolation, Chap. 10. and till ver. 15. of the 11. where the seventh soundeth, meeting with two objections: first, men might think shall enemies then get their will, and the Church be thus still obscured, when the seventh Trumpet cometh, what will come of her? the Lord by an oath (Chap. 10.) assureth His People, that it shall not be so; but that the Church shall be revived, and that that seventh Trumpet shall bring judgement on her enemies and quite turn the chase. And because it might be yet further doubted if there were a Church during that time till the seventh did sound, it is shown (Chap. 11.) that there should be a Church, and some Ministers still adhering to the former principles of the Gospel, whom all enemies, no not the beast Antichrist, should be able to overcome, till they should be at the close of their testimony, and God have others to take it off their hand. Then the seventh Angel soundeth when their testimony is finished, and a very great and most glorious change is wrought, which is generally hinted at here, but more fully expressed by the Vials, which are the third principal or typical Prophesie of this Book and contain the last period of the militant Churches condition, to wit, Antichrists decay, and her enlargement after she hath been at her lowest, and he at his height: a little view of it is given here before the seven Vials be explained, because he is to interpose the explication of what was past, in the three Chapters following.
But before he set down the vials upon the blowing of the seventh trumpet (as he had set down the trumpets on the back of the seven seals,) the first explicatory prophesie is interjected, Chap. 12, 13, and 14. and that in a different stile. This serveth to clear the two principall prophesies past, and maketh way exceedingly for understanding what was coming; and in this, the same troubles, and state of the Church, formerly prophesied of, are here again touched in thir several steps of her difficulties with their respective outgates.
1. The Churches wrestling with heathen persecution, that was described by the seals, is set out by the similitude of a travelling woman, pursued by a red Dragon;Chap. 12. her outgate is under the expression of delivery, when her birth is exalted, vers. 5. of Chap. 12. which war is more fully prosecuted, with its outgate, to vers. 13. by this the devil is dethroned from the publick authority he had in the world while Emperours were heathen, and authority is now on the Churches side. The second step, is the Churches troubles that followed on the back of that outgate: it is hinted, ver. 6. that she fled or began to flee, (to shew the connexion of this decay with the former liberty) but is prosecuted, from ver. 13. where the devils device to drown her, by spewing out of his mouth a floud of filthy errours after her, is marked, whenas by violence or authority he could not master her: the outgate from this, is vers. 16. the Lord provideth a way to drain these errours that they should not drown her; the earth, that is, the then declining visible Church, that continued still visible (called earth, because of her declining from that heavenly simplicity she appeared in, vers. 4. under heathen persecution, becoming now earthly-like in pomp, and so distinguished from these that keeped their former purity) did still keep the Doctrine of the God-head of the Father, Son and Spirit, pure; so that the pure Church now fleeing (as it were) hath these cruel blasts kept off her, and so diverted from her, as the earths drinking-in of rain suffereth not the flouds to encrease.
This is contemporary with the first four trumpets or lesser woes, Chap. 8. When this doth not the devils businesse, ver. 17. he goeth to his last refuge of stirring up Antichrist and bringing of him to his height, which is the first great wo, Chap. 9. And because this is the great design, to hold him forth, and thereby to make way for clearing what was spoken, Chap. 11. and what followeth to the end.
Therefore,Chap. 13. Chap. 13. he more fully insisteth in describing this enemy, 1. in his nature by a double type of two several beasts: the first, showing what really he should be, and what the Church should suffer by him; the second shewing how he should attain to that height, and by what means he should prosecute his designs upon the world, and against the Saints. And then when he hath described his nature, rise, reign, practices, continuance and manner of proceeding, &c. he cometh to shew the outgate,Chap. 14. Chap. 14. which contemporareth with the last part of Chap. 11. and is again insisted on by the vials.
Having put-by this explication, and given a key of all in this prophecy, he returneth to prosecute where he left, Chap. 11. and more fully to shew the events of the seventh trumpet in the seven vials, which is the third principal and typicall prophesie, prosecuting the story (to say so) from Antichrists height and begun ruine to the end, which is the third period of the Church. Therefore (Chap. 15.Chap. 15.) the preparation to it is set down (as the preparations to each of the former principall prophesies, whereas, Chap. 4. and 5. to the seals, and Chap. 7. to the trumpets) and is, upon the matter, the same with what is Chap. 11. vers. 16, &c. to shew that it is the continuation of the same matter. This (I say) is the third period of the Church.
Then (Chap. 16.Chap. 16.) followeth the prophesie it self. The four first vials are lesser, and more insensibly (as it were) carry on Antichrists ruine (as the four first trumpets did more insensibly encrease his rise:) the fifth vial overturneth Rome his seat, as the fifth trumpet seated him there, and revealed him. The sixth overturneth Turks, Popes, and the rest of that Kingdom, bringeth in the Iews, and setteth the Gospel at its full brightnesse. The seventh vial (sometime after that) bringeth the end upon all enemies, Gog and Magog, and fully overturneth the devils Kingdom in the world: as the three last trumpets are greatest, so are the three last vials of longest continuance. And because these events are notable, he proceedeth to clear especially the last three vials in two explicatory prophesies or visions, wherein he abstaineth the expression of types and sevens which he had used in the principall prophesies, and in an explicatory way, goeth on, as in Chap. 12, &c. The first, is Chap. 17, 18, 19. the other thence to the end.
Chap. 17.He had described Antichrist himself, Chap. 13. Here (Chap. 17.) he describeth his seat, his Kingdom and himself together, that he might shew what is the object of the vials, especially of the fifth: which is, in a word, Rome, then the chief City of the earth. The more expresse explication whereof, is Chap. 18.Chap. 18. shewing what the seat is, that is destroyed by the fifth vial; and what lamentation shall be over it, when Rome (called Babylon) shall be brought to such desolation.
Chap. 19.And having described this, he proceedeth, (Chap. 19.) to clear the events of the sixth vial, and battell of Armageddon, which is notable from two singular events, the one in the conversion of the Iews in the first part, the other in the destruction of the beast and his helpers (probably the Turk) in the last part thereof, whereby the beast having fled from Rome, is now wholly over-turned, so that the name of Pope ceaseth by this, as Rome his seat did by the former.
Antichrist being destroyed, he cometh to shew the events of the seventh vial,Chap. 20. in the last vision, Chap. 20, 21, 22. and to make it the more clear and comprehensive of the Churches victory over the devil, he sheweth (Chap. 20.) first, how the devil was again restrained after he had been loose, Chap. 12, 13. (and so ascendeth as high as the first vial) during which time the Church formerly persecuted, had a most flourishing condition (in respect of what formerly it was) and that for a long time, set out by a thousand years. 2. He sheweth that after that, even when the beast is away by the sixth vial, yet a new enemie ariseth, called Gog and Magog, which shall mar the Churches peace: and because this event belongeth to the seventh vial, it was necessary to premit Satans binding by the preceeding vials, to it, that it might be the better discerned what was intended by this his new loose. 3. The Churches victory over this enemy is expressed, which we conceive is the proper event of the seventh vial: whereupon followeth the universall Resurrection, consummation of all things, dissolution of heaven and earth, the last Judgement and finall sentence upon Reprobates and Elect: that which concerneth Reprobates is set down, verse last, what was their portion after this Judgement, and sentence eternally, they were cast into the lake.
Chap. 21. and 22.Then Chap. 21. he proceedeth more fully to describe the happy estate of the Elect in the beauty they should be glorified with, the place wherein, the priviledges which they should enjoy, and the persons admitted to it only, which is to vers. 6. of Chap. 22.
And having put-by the propheticall part, he closeth (as he began) with two generals, commending this prophesie, and advertising of Christs second coming, on the back of all this, warning that His Word be not diminished from, nor any thing added thereunto; withall inviting all to come, and promising Himself to come, as His last farewell: whereupon the Church welcometh it with a new So be it, knowing there is no more to be expected but His coming, which she heartily longeth for. After all, Iohn closeth the Epistle with a salutation, as he had begun it with an inscription.
There are two men much accounted of for Learning, whose expositions and applications I have never touched:Grotius, & Hammond. not because I thought them not absurd, But, because, 1. Their whole strain is to divert Readers (to say no more) from the true scope of this Book, and that not in one vision or prophesie, but in an universall strain more oppositely to orthodox Writers than any Papist that ever wrote of it; the following whereof could not but prove nauseating to any Reader. And, 2. Because who will read them, and soberly compare the Writings of others with the Text, may yet need more direct Writing to evidence the dissonancy of these Commentations, I do professe my self unable to satisfie them, I shall therefore but say these few words,
1. That their application is dissonant from the scope of this Book, which is cleared to be, 1. to shew things to come, Chap. 1. ult. 2. Things belonging to the Church and Christs servants peculiarly, as the inscription, repetition of blessednesse to the Readers and Observers, with the several circumstances, will clear. 3. To shew especially the trials of the Church from inward enemies, as the hiding of the Elect from the hurt thereof, the description of the enemies and spirituall hurt and defection that is foretold to come on the Church, especially that great defection of the great Antichrist, whereof the Scripture speaketh so much, confirmeth it. 4. The scope is to shew the Churches condition under these, to the end of the world: For, 1. it is still usefull to his servants as a prophesie, and usefull to the end, and they are blessed that shall make use of it as such, at the end, as well as now. 2. It closeth with the last Judgement and the Reprobates casting in hell, Chap. 20. and the Elects glorification, Chap. 21.22. with many promises of His last coming; and the prophesie preceeding the day of Judgement is in a series knit with it, which will not admit of many hundred years rent; and that that speaketh of the day of Judgement, the description of it, and the sentence upon all the Reprobate, who are not written in the Lambs book, will clear it.
Now, these men in their Writings wholly enervat all these, 1. They say it speaketh of things but for a short time (from that word, Chap. 1. vers. 1. shortly to come to passe, &c.) which is the ground of all their opinion, yet it inferreth it no more than when He saith, I come quickly.
2. They make it of things, for the most part, past, and that of civil things in the Roman Empire, or what concerneth the Iews, without great respect to the Church.
3. Little or no mention is made of spirituall enemies and hereticks, save that they apply to Simon Magus what is spoken of the three years and an half: there is not one word of Antichrist in it all, nor of the Pope or Church of Rome, as if that were not of concernment to the Christian Church, whether we should condemn him or approve him. This is the more strange, that although they draw the thousand years from Constantine's time, they reckon the Church all the while to have peace, and moveth only an objection from Iuliey, as if to other enemy had ever been to interrupt that peace.
2. We say it is inconsistent in respect of the matter they apply it to: for, to what purpose is it to apply that of the two witnesses, Chap. 11. to the two Bishops of Iews and Gentiles at Ierusalem, when there is no story for such a thing at Ierusalem? or though it were, yet, what is that to such a concerning event so oft spoken of there? and what is that of Simon Magus in comparison of the worlds wondering, that is Chap. 11, 12. and 13, &c? How will the heathenish idolatrous high Priests be said to have horns like the Lamb, which must be Christ in that place? Chap. 13 11. How impertinent is it that is said of the seven Kings, whereof one was to come in Iohn's time? Beside, that all these were past before Iohn wrote the prophesie, as hitherto hath been received from History?
3. We say it is inconsistent with all that ever have written, ancient and modern; even Papists, who though, no question, they would gladly receive such an interpretation to liberate their Pope, yet durst they never hazard on it till these his new patrons stept out.
4. It is also repugnant to themselves: for although much be builded on this, that the effects are suddenly to be brought to passe, because of that word, Chap. 1. ver. 1. shortly to come to passe; yet do they both expound Gog and Magog (Chap. 20.) of the Turks, which to them riseth after the 1300 years, and say that their destruction, as yet to come, is prophesied of there; yea, Chap. 21, and 22. are applied to a state of the Church on earth after the Turks ruine. 2. They (especially the last) seem to offend at particular application to men, yea, to Nations and times, alleaging that these events are of more universall concernment; yet, what is their application but a most strait, particular and narrow one to such Armies and Commanders of the Romans, to Simon Magus (who was of little note in the world in respect of some After-heresiarchs that troubled the Church) to a particular Bishop or two Bishops of Ierusalem, as if only they were the Witnesses? These being obvious, and many such, we conceive it not needfull to draw every thing into particular examination.
FINIS.