The Revelation Revealed, Preface
The Preface.
GOD ſpake at ſundry times in old time to our Fathers, after a diverſe manner by his Servants the Prophets: but now in theſe later dayes hee ſpeaks unto us by his Son, and his Ambaſſadours, the Apoſtles and Miniſters of Chriſt: And hee that would deſire to know the minde of God towards his people and Church, may by the bleſſing of God, and the Spirit of Grace moving on his endeavours, in ſearching, meditating, and inquiring into the Word of God, (both Old and New) not only finde out that Treaſure (where out floweth both New and Old things) that will make his ſoule wiſe unto ſalvation; but alſo hee ſhall finde a treaſure of wiſedom that will repleniſh his ſoule, (whiles here beneath in all the changes of this World,) with a great deale of Peace and Comfort. For what will add greater hopes, or be a ſurer prop to a ſoule in the time of its Affliction and mourning, then to fore ſee, know, and be aſſured, (next to its intereſt in Chriſt) of the day of it's deliverance? This hath been the Ordinary portion and Lot of every ſoule that is truly Intereſſed in Chriſt Jeſus thorow their ſeverall Generations, for the Servant muſt not look to be greater then his Maſter; Chriſt entered into his glory by Sufferings, Temptations, ſorrows, and the way of the Croſſe; his members muſt drink the ſame cup with him, whiles here militant, though not, to the ſame meaſure, nor to the ſame ends; for herein they are not made mighty to bear: his ſufferings were to give ſatisfaction to Divine Juſtice, that hee that knew no ſin might be made ſin for us, that we thereby might become the Sons and Children of God. Our ſufferings are for the Exerciſe of our graces, and to fullfil the remainder of the ſufferings of the Myſticall Body of Chriſt in our ſelves, in our Journying towards our Celeſtial Canaan. And this hath not only been the portion of particular members but of the whole Body, the true Church of God in all ages, as appeares by the Hiſtory thereof. Yet notwithſtanding, our gracious God to manifeſt his Fatherly overſight, and faithful providence and goodneſs, which hee without Intermiſſion diſpenſeth towards his Church and people, hath often, for a Comfort to the Godly, and warning to the wicked, not only delivered them from their oppreſſours, and ſet them above them; but ſo prefixed the time of their diſtreſſes and deliverances, that both they and their enemies themſelves, in obſerving the events, muſt needs acknowledge the All-wiſe hand of Gods providence, to the one for good, to the other in wrath and Judgment. God hath promiſed hee will not be angry with his for ever, God hath his acceſſes and his receſſes, his comings in, and his withdrawings towards his Church: Some are conditional, as if we keep with God hee will be found of us; but if we forſake him, he will forſake us. Some again are abſolute, and out of Soveraignty, as that, I will be found of them that ſought me not, &c. Yet however, Gods purpoſe of doing good to his Church is ſo ſtedfaſt and unalterable, that though many of them run upon the performance of ſome precedent conditions or qualifications in his people, yet he will in faithfulneſs perform his promiſes towards them in their deliverance, either by making them a fit people for ſo great a mercy by working the condition in them, and ſo will make them a willing people in the day of his power: or otherwiſe rather then any of the promiſes ſhall fall to ground unaccompliſhed will do it abſolutely of his good will and pleaſure.
1. Before the Floud God gave 120. years reſpit to the old World before he would execute his Judgment upon them, Gen. 6.3. When this time was expired his Spirit would contend with them no longer, but God came with the Floud and deſtroyed all living, except Noah, and what was with him in the Ark.
2. God declared to Abraham that his ſeed ſhould bee a ſtanger in a Land that was not theirs, in Aegypt, and ſhould ſerve them and they ſhould afflict them for 400. years, but withall that Nation whom they ſhould ſerve hee would judge, and afterwards they ſhould come out with great ſubſtance, Gen. 15.13, 14. &c. Which promiſe God did fulfill moſt faithfully unto them in its due time, and after the expiration of the ſaid Terme hee brought out his people with a mighty and ſtrong Arme, in drowning the Hoſt of Pharaoh in the red Sea.
3. To that Captivity in Babylon God ſets a period of 70. years, Jerem. 29.10. when that time was accompliſhed; God ſtirred up the Spirit of Cyrus King of Perſia to let the people go.
4. To Daniel God ſhewed, that 70. weeks, viz. weeks of years being 490. years were to bee determined, in which time the Meſsias ſhould come and be cut off, and at length the City of Jeruſalem deſtroyed, Dan. 9.24, 25, 26. verſes. And how all theſe things were fully accompliſhed is moſt evident to every one that knows any thing of Gods dealings towards his Church and people.
5. In like manner there is a certain time ſet and determined upon the Church of God in the new Teſtament, how long ſhe ſhall be expoſed to perſecution and when ſhe ſhall be delivered from it, which is expreſſed in the Prophet, Daniel 7.25. and the 12.7. They (the Saints) ſhall be given unto the fourth Beaſts hand untill a time, times, and the dividing of time. Which Propheſie of Daniel does anſwer that of Rev. 12.14. The Woman which is the Church of God ſhall be in the Wilderneſs and trodden under foot by the power of the Beaſt for a time, times and half a time, which is to ſay, as it is explained in the ſixth verſe of the ſame Chapter 1260. dayes or years, which terme for the comfort of the Saints the power of the Beaſt cannot exceed. For he that hath ſet a bound and period to all Kingdoms and Empires in this World hath ſaid it, hither thou ſhalt go & no farther. And that Angel in the Prophet Daniel 12.7. held up his right hand and left hand to Heaven, and ſware by him that liveth for ever that it ſhould be but for a time, times, and half.
It being then clearly evinced that God will in his appointed time viſit his Church with ſure mercy, and having prefixed in all ages the time and continuance of their Diſtreſſes and perſecutions, and that in the day of his viſitation, he will come with a certain deliverance to his people, and ruine to his enemies: it is matter of great Joy & comfort to his people to be forewarned of this time, & fore ſee it though long before it come to bear up their Spirits in there greateſt afflictions and diſtreſſes: Abraham ſaw Chriſts day and bleſſed God, though ſeeing it afar of by faith. This God hath more eſpecially done in this Book of the Revelation, it being a diſcovery unto the Apoſtle John in Prophetical repreſentations and Hierogliphique figures of all the Empires, States and Kingdoms, both Ethnick and Antichriſtian, with their ſeverall uſurpations and oppreſſions over the Church of God, which ſhould happen from Iohn's time unto the end of the World, together with the iſſue thereof, the finall deſtruction of the one and the exaltation of the other before the ultimate end of all.
But here by the way it will be objected and ſaid that this Book is full of hidden myſteries and ſealed, and very difficult to be underſtood, and therefore moſt of thoſe that have eſpouſed their ſtudies to the opening of this Book, have come of with loſſe in their over bold undertaking.
1. I Anſwer, this Book of the Revelation of S. Iohn is indeed full of myſteries which will ſo remain untill the accompliſhment thereof do diſcover them unto us, and make them manifeſt: But when we by the obſervation of the events do ſee before our eyes the effect of each Propheſie, and what by this and that thing hath been meant, it is now no longer a myſtery unto us. It is now obvious to every eye what is meant by myſtery, Babylon the great, the Mother of Harlots, Rev. 17.6. This the Spirit of God doth clear up in the ſame Chapter to be, the City with ſeven heads raigning over the Kings of the earth: And few or none do heſitate, but do acknowledge, yea even the learneſt of the Jeſuites themſelves as Bellar. Lib. 2. de Pontif. Rom. Chap. 2. Blaſius Viegas in Chap. 17.18. Apoc. 5. Sect. 3. Ribera. in Apoc. Ch…p. 14. Page 144. &c. That by this great City here is meant Rome, likewiſe, all interpreters of the Reformation do harmoniouſly accord that by the Beaſt of ſeven heads and ten horns, Rev. 13 1. muſt be meant the Romiſh Empire divided into ten Kingdoms. And the Beaſt with two horns like a Lamb, Rev. 13.11. yet ſpeaking like a Dragon, to be the Popiſh Antichriſtian Hierarchy, and if events hath plainly evidenced theſe without contradiction ſo to be underſtood and interpreted, as in the progreſſe of this diſcourſe will more fully appear, why then ſhould if ſeem ſtrange that the reſidue of the myſteries of this Book ſhould be unlocked and made obvious as well as the former? Since the Spirit of God it ſelf in the 17. Chapter hath laid the firſt ground work, from whence as from a ſure foundation we may have a view of the whole Revelation, by collating Hyſtories, times and paſſages one with another, and lay them to their ſeveral characters and periods which the Spirit hath affixed to every remarkable revolution, paſſage and Propheſie in this Book as a ſure token and touch-ſtone to finde them out, and make them manifeſt. So that now the Revelation is no longer a myſtery, but a Book of Hiſtory of memorable Acts and paſſages. Wherein is fore told the ſeveral changes that ſhall befall to the ſecular State or Roman Empire, and to the Church of Chriſt under the Dominion of that Empire, untill it ſhall, as that ſtone propheſied of in Dan. 2. Smite the Image on his feet and become it ſelf a great Mountaine and ſet up upon the top of all Mountains. And if we compare the Hiſtoryes and changes that hath hapned in the Romane Empire with the Revelation, we ſhall diſcover clearly how far the accompliſhments reacheth, and what we may expect ere long: So that the things repreſented in this Book are no more myſteries and hidden things, but as clear and accompliſhed Acts unto us.
2. The very Title and firſt entrance into the firſt Chapter, firſt verſe of this Book denies it to be a hidden miſtery, no farther then before the events do diſcover themſelves; for it is called the Apocalypſe or the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt which God gave unto him to ſhew unto his Servants which ſhortly muſt be done, which hee ſent and ſhewed by his Angel unto his Servant Iohn. Beſides it is contrary to the clear letter of the Text that it ſhould be a Book ſhut and ſealed; for in the 6. Chapter verſ. 8. The Lambs is found worthy to open the ſealed Book, and ſo diſcoveries are made unto Iohn: and by him to all the Church of God.
3. That little Book mentioned in Chap. 10. which more eſpecially containes the fate or deſtiny of the Church to the end of the World was an open book, and the Son of God in the end of the Revelation, Chap. 22.10. plainly prohibiteth to ſeale the ſayings of the Propheſie of this book for the time is at hand.
Therefore this hence clearly follows, to ſet a check upon our ſupine and overly looking on this book: We would rather have it ſealed and hidden, (though the Son of God teſtifies the contrary) then to beſtow our induſtry with the help of the Spirit of God to ſeeks out the minde of the Spirit in it. Truths are like treaſures got by the foreſt labours, are moſt ſweet and precious, but with all ſuch ſlowbellies that think there is a Lyon in the way, I leave with them theſe conſiderations. Is it the Book or Word of God or not? If it is (as I hereafter ſhall clearly evince) then ſtudy it; Some good will come to the ſoule by it: No Word of God is of private interpretation, or written in vain, it will ſtand in great ſtead. Yea in the Alpha of this book and the Omega thereof, in the firſt and laſt Chapters, there is a bleſſing ſtored up for them that read, and they that learn the words of this Propheſie, and keep thoſe things which are written therein, for the time is at hand, Chap. 1. ver. 3. and Chap. 22. ver. 7. And ſhall there a bleſſing be promiſed to all theſe that read, hear and keep the words of this Propheſie, and he that hath promiſed being moſt faithful to perform? Yea theſe things ſaith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flaming fire Revel. 2.18. Theſe things ſaith hee that is holy and true, Chap 3.7. Theſe things ſaith the Amen, the faithfull and true wittneſſe, Chap. 3.14. And ſo cloſes in the laſt Chapter ver. 6. that theſe ſayings are faithfull and true, Heaven and earth ſhall firſt paſs away before one jota or tittle of the Word of God, ſhall fall to the ground unaccompliſhed, I ſay ſhall there a bleſſing be promiſed upon ſo faithful grounds, and wilt thou not look after it? I ſhould judge bleſſedneſs worth the looking after ſeeing that hee that hath promiſed is moſt ready, willing and able to perform.
But if it demanded, what is the advantage? what is this bleſſing that may accrue in reading, hearing and keeping the words of this Propheſy? I anſwer much every way, both to every particular ſoule and to the whole Church of Chriſt.
Firſt if there were no more in it, but the detecting and making manifeſt of the Antichriſtian whore or ſtate and the pollutions thereof, and ſo give a warning to all Gods people to come out of her, and not to partake of her iniquities leaſt they be partakers of her plagues. Is it not a bleſſing to keep their ſouls undefiled from Antichriſts pollutious, and to be delivered from judgments due thereunto? Was it not a great bleſſing for Lot to be fore told and delivered out of the deſtruction of Sodom and Gomorrah? So is it not a ſingular bleſſing and mercy unto us and the Church of Chriſt to be delivered, and freed from the divine wrath that is gone out againſt ſpirituall or miſticall Babylon?
2. Is it not a great priviledge and bleſſing to the people of God, to know the cataſtrophe and reſult of all their troubles, and to have a ſure word of Propheſie, for their deliverance from the oppreſſions and cruelties of their enemies, and that they ſhall one day triumph over them to their vtter ruine and deſtruction? Is not this able to beat up their Spirits in all their fiery Tryals, to ſee that their deliverance draweth nigh? Is it not a bleſſing in the day of affliction, in the day of mourning to be kept faithfull witneſſes unto our God? And though Satan and his deputized Antichriſt have power over us to overcome and afflict us, yet we are theſe that are ſealed in the foreheads with the mark of the Lamb?
3. Is it not a bleſſing to know that Antichriſts raign is but 42. moneths a certain definite time, which is now drawing to its period? Is it not a bleſſing to know that the time of the woman in the Wilderneſs, and the witneſſes mourning in ſackcloth, the treading down the true Church of Chriſt and the Profeſſours thereof is but for 1260. dayes, which term is alſo neer expiring? Is it not a great bleſſing after all the troubles and afflictions of the Church and Saints here on earth to be aſſured, that Chriſt their head with Myriads of his Angels and Saints departed, will appear to the finall deſtroying of all their enemies and giving them peace and reſt, cauſing them to raign on earth.
Laſtly, is it not a great bleſſing to have a promiſe of the enjoyment and Communion of Chriſt and his glorified Saints, here on earth for a thouſand years? When mortality ſhall put on immortality, when we ſhall ſee and know all the myſteries of God in Chriſt as we are ſeen and known, when that which is perfect is come, that which is imperfect ſhall be done away, when we ſhall ſee no longer in a glaſs, through weak and dark ordinances, but then we ſhall ſee face to face, when all our ordinances will be in a higher and more ſpiritual key, when ſorrow, ſin, and death ſhall be ſwallowed up of victory, when we ſhall walk in the light of the new Ieruſalem the Lambs Wife that comes down from Heaven, wherein dwelleth true righteouſneſs. And ſhall all thoſe things be diſcovered in this Book of the Revelation, with a promiſe thereof, and of bleſſedneſs to all thoſe that keep the words of this Propheſy, and yet will any be ſo ſtupid to conclude, that this is a dry uſeleſs book? That treats of Chriſtianity from its very riſe to the conſummation thereof, full fraught with aboundance of uſefull Obſervations to ſteer our feet aright in our militant courſe here, untill we ſhall all come to the full ſtature of Chriſt.
And whereas ſome ſay it is a moſt difficult Book to interpret, and that many able Expoſitors have come off with loſs in their ſtudies about it.
I anſwer firſt, that all things to the ſluggard indeed are difficult; The pith, marrow and ſubſtance of the Revelations is not to be found out by a courſary reading thereof, it is not obvious to every ey: And this is intimated in that 3. verſ. of Chap. 1. wherein is obſervable, that bleſſedneſs is entailed to reading, hearing and keeping the words of the Propheſy: it is not a bare reading or hearing that will entitle to this bleſſedneſs, but it muſt be keeping, treaſuring up, pondering and digeſting before it will produce the happy fruits of bleſſedneſs. Indeed there are, foreign, the depths for Elephants to ſwim in, as well as ſhallows for Lambs to wade thorough in the Word of God, as God hath diſpenſed various gifts and abilities in his Saints, ſo God hath ſowne in his Word ſeveral meaſures of truth ſutable thereunto, none may complain for want to exerciſe their Spirits in. The weakeſt may ſee ſo much as ſhall make him wiſe unto ſalvation, and the higheſt capacity can attain no more, and when it hath done all yet it muſt needs confeſs that it is not omniſcient, but that there are ſome miſteries in the Word of God, that will be ſtill miſteries unto it until the day of the Revelation of Chriſt ſhall come, wherein hee will teach us all things.
It was a ſaying of Proſpers, Parvuli, magni, fortes, infirmi,
Habent in Scripturis unde alantur & ſatientur.
No age ſo young which Scripture doth not fit,
There's milk for Babes, and meat for ſtronger wit.
2. It is difficult to all ſuch that are not verſed in the old and modern Romane Hiſtories, not knowing how to apply the figures and repreſentations of this Propheſy to their ſeveral times and periods: Neither knoweth how to diſtinguiſh the times of the revolutions and changes, but confound ſeveral things ſpoken of diverſe States one with another: Not obſerving where mention is made of the ſecular or civil ſtate, and whereof the eccleſiaſtick, conceiving that the Revelation is as a continued Hiſtory, or Relation of events ſucceeding one another in the ſame order and cauſe as the viſions are reveiled in: And for want of due obſervation herein many interpreters have ſtumbled, and ſo confounding, perverting and diſturbing the whole method and harmony of the Revelation, in making ſeveral epacts and periods of time, ſo placing things which muſt come to paſs after the deſtruction of Babylon and the Beaſt before it: Whereas the paſſages of the Revelation are ſo related one to the other, though written in order one after another, that many thereof do concur in one and the ſame time; ſo that hee that goeth about to deſcribe them in order of time as they lye in the book; in order of place, without the obſervation of the methd, oharmony and connexion which is to be obſerved in all the paſſages of this book, falling under the ſame ſyncroniſme or concurrencies of times, indeed to ſuch this Book of the Revelation muſt needs remain full of difficulty, miſtery and obſcurity: And ſo the whole order of the Revelation together with themſelves are rendred in-extricable and confounded. Whereas indeed the Spirit of God in this Book as a wiſe and well verſed Hiſtorian is wont to do in the deſcription of humane actions, does rightly diſtinguiſh of all the Revolutions and changes both of the civil and eccleſiaſtick ſtates, and though many of them are done and acted together and at the ſame time by diverſe and ſundry Perſons, yet cannot be declared together, but ſeverally one after another. So theſe Propheſies though revealed and ſet down in order of place one preceding the other, yet in vain do they go about to interpret them that obſerve not the peculiar characters and hidden miſteries of numbers ſyncroniſing, and meeting in one and the ſame time: which is indeed the great key of the Revelation, which makes all the paſſages and Revolutions therein, though at the firſt ſight they ſeem abſtruſe and diſturbed, yet by collating one to the other they become plain and revealed to us, which in the ſubſequent diſcourſe will manifeſt it ſelf. And theſe have been ſome of the reaſons that ſome former interpreters have come off with loſſe in their ſtudies and expoſitions of this Book: when as they have applied diverſe paſſages in this book, to their own times, when they had no relation to them: and ſometimes interpreted as they are in order ſet down in the Book following one another, whereas they ſhould be interpreted as they are Relata and …orrelata, and belonging to one and the ſame time and period though diſperſed here and there thorough the whole book, and ſo the harmony of the whole is kept ſome and entire. For wee ſee that the order it ſelf is not to be conformed to every aptneſs of interpretation according to the will and pleaſure, of the interpreter, but according to the minde of the Spirit of God made clear by the Idea of their ſeveral and particuliar Characters for explanation thereof affixed thereunto. Now becauſe ſome expoſitours have herein gone aſtray, muſt there no farther inquiry be made into this Book? This would be a way to caſt of all the Books of God: for in which of them have not ſome expoſitors done amiſs. There is no promiſe of infallibility, but there is a promiſe unto the latter dayes, that many ſhould run to and fro, and knowledge ſhould be encreaſed? Dan. 12.4. do not arts grow in time to their foreign and perfection? And is it any diſparagement to thoſe that went before us, that we ſee farther then they did? Apigmy upon a …yants ſhoulder may ſee farther then the himſelf: So we being helped by the inſtructions and experiences of our predeceſſours upon their ſhoulders, it is no great advancing of our abilities if we ſoar a little higher. I would not be underſtood as if this my eſſay were perfect and ſo exact as nothing can be added thereunto: for herein I ſhould balk our proper attribute, Humanum eſt errare, ſince others that come after us will ſee farther then we of this preſent age comming neerer to the accompliſhment of the events of all. Only I leave this conſideration and propoſal with the judicious and pious Chriſtian, that if he can finde out a more commodious method of interpretation upon better reaſons and grounds then I have, for this Book of the Revelation, ſuiting with the minde of the Spirit, and preſerving the harmony of the whole Propheſies entire, and diſcovering the ſeveral paſſages and revolutions therein, how they do relate one to the other in their ſeveral proper characters, and ſyncroniſmes with more proſpicuity and fitter application of Hiſtory anſwering the truth of this Propheſy, I ſhould moſt willingly become a learner at his feet: in the mean time, I ſhall add that of the Poet. Horat.
Si quid noviſti rectius iſtis,
Candidus imperti, ſi non his utere mecum.
Object. Again others will object and ſay, That this way of interpretation ſavours too much of curioſity and impertinency: And the application of the Prophetical repreſentations, and of the Apocaliptique dayes and periods to the ſeveral times, and changes of the Church and State here on earth, is too preciſe and peremptory.
1. To which I anſwer, firſt I aſſert no more in this interpretation, the text being not at all forced, but as it is either literal or figuratively referred to the times and ſtates then in being, and that interpretation made clear and undeniable, by ſuch neceſſary and ſure arguments characters and notable tokens, as will make the true ſenſe and meaning of every notable miſtery obvious to every diſcerning ey: And herein I walk not alone, having M. Brightman, Napeir, Piſcator, Alſteed, and learned M. Mede, with ſome others in their ſeveral tractates, upon the Revelation, to be my leaders herein.
2. Thoſe figures and repreſentations which makes this interpretation dubious, difficult o… miſterious, being cleared out of the other places of the Revelation, and the Prophets of the old Teſtament, which being rightly applied to the civil and eccleſiaſtick States as the text and time doth require, ſhould wipe of the brand of impertinency and curioſity: what God hath ſanctified no man ſhould call unholy, what God hath revealed, no man ſhould judge himſelf too curious and impertinent to ſearch into; Unrevealed things pertain unto God, but revealed things are for the uſe and good of man.
3. I anſwer to the perciſeneſs of the time of the Apocaliptique periods, though I will not herein be too peremptory, well knowing that in matters of Hiſtory & Chronology, there is great variety of opinions and imperfection therein, as it is manifeſt in Scaligerde Emendatione temporum, and other accounts alſo treating upon the ſame ſubject: yet all this doth not hinder, but the times and periods are fixed in the predeterminate Counſels of God, which are higher then the Laws of the Medes and Perſians, unalterable and unchangeable. And though notwithſtanding there is difference and imperfection in moſt accounts of times, yet by a regular judgment drawn from the viſible tokens, characters, image and repreſentation of each time, which are either concomitants, contemporaries or immediate antecedents or conſequents of each great revolution and change: we may judge their periods either to be paſt, drawing nigh at hand, or yet to come. And this is no more then Chriſt himſelf hath done in ſetting down remarkable forerunning as Signes, of the deſtruction of Ieruſalem, and his leaſt comming in the 24. of Matth. and the 13. of Mark.
But I would deſire alwayes to be underſtood, when I ſet down the exact epacts and periods of time, it may vary as unto us in preciſeneſs of account in reſpect of the imperfection of our Chronology, but long time it cannot miſs, every notable revolution and ſeaſon having their own proper characters and tokens, to point them out as it were with a finger: which will notably help us peremptorily to conclude (in the foreſaid limited ſenſe.) This time is the time of Antichriſts birth and riſing: this of his raign, this of his ruine and deſolation. Conſider to this end that of the Angel in the Prophet Daniel, Chap. 12.7. Who held up his right hand, and left hand unto Heaven, and ſware by him that liveth for ever, that it ſhall be for a time, times and half. And the Son of God in the Revelation 13.14. hath ſhewed that the Beaſt and falſe Prophet ſhall have power over the Saints for 42. moneths, and that the time of the woman in the Wilderneſs, and the time of the witneſſes Propheſying in ſackcloth to be 1260. dayes. Theſe things ſaith the Amen, the faithfull and true witneſs: who would not then believe him? Seeing that Antichriſts raign, and the time of the Saints mourning is in the Eternall decree of God limited and prefixed, and that which the Angel and the Son of God do teſtifie with a great oath, we have no reaſon to doubt of, but that they will come to paſs in their ſeveral periods and appointed ſeaſons.
Again, againſt the definite demonſtration of the laſt times, and ſeaſons and the great changes and revolutions, held forth in this Book of the Revelation, two Scriptures offers themſelves, that of our Saviours to his Diſciples in Mark 13.32. ſpeaking of the laſt day and of his ſecond comming. But of that day and houre knoweth no man, no not the Angels which are in Heaven, neither the Son but the Father, the other is that of the Act. 1.7. Wherein Chriſt anſwereth his Diſciples queſtion, wilt thou at this time reſtore again the Kingdom unto Iſrael? And hee ſaid unto them it is not for you to know the time and the ſeaſons which the Father hath put in his own power, ſo the objection lyes thus. If no man, no not Chriſt the Son of Man, nor the Angels of Heaven knows the laſt day, but that times and ſeaſons are left alone in the power of the Father, how then commeth it to paſs that there is a diſcovery of times and ſeaſons, and of the laſt day it ſelf and end of all made out unto John, in this Revelation by Chriſt himſelf?
I anſwer firſt, we muſt know that in Chriſt, there was two natures diſtinct and unconfounded to make up one Perſon of a mediatour, and the property of each nature did remain entire unto each: hee was true God and true Man: and as hee was Man or the Son of Man, it is no derogation at all unto him to affirm that he knew not all things, and that according to the underſtanding of Man to be ignorant of ſome things, and ſo of the laſt day. But to affirm it as he is God being one in Counſel, nature, and eſſence with the Father from all eternity, it would be no leſs then blaſphemy to affirm it, for ſhall the Creatour of all things be ignorant of his handy-work?
2. It was not the injunction or command of his Father on him whiles he converſed here on earth, to diſcover unto the World what ſhould happen in the latter dayes. Of the ſame comfort is that Scripture, Mark. 10.40. being an anſwer to the Sons of Zebedee, to ſit on his right hand or his left was not his to give, yet in Revel. 3.21. he promiſeth to him that overcommeth that he ſhall ſit down with him in his Throne. This Scripture gives a fair light to an interpretation of the former: for whiles he was here beneath perfecting the work of our redemption here on earth; the Revelation was not given unto him, from the Father to diſcover times and ſeaſons: nor to give Thrones, Powers and Kingdoms into the hands of his Saints, untill after his reſurrection when all power was given unto him by the Father, and all things were then given into his hand by right of purchaſe. And this is that that is clearly intimated in the Revel. 5.9. &c. When none was found worthy to open the Book, then the 24. elders before the Throne ſang a new ſong, ſaying, thou art worthy to take the book and to open the ſeales thereof, for thou waſt ſlain, and hath redeemed us to God by thy bloud of every kindred, tongue, people and Nation. The opening of this book being as it were referred to the merit of his death and paſſion, ſo that it ſhould not ſeem ſtrange that he knew not the day of his ſecond comming, neither having not as yet ſuffered nor entered into his glory. The Revelation of all things being reſerved by the Father for Chriſt unto that day.
3. That place of the Acts 1.7. is nothing to the purpoſe. It was not for his Diſciples to know then the fitteſt and moſt meet time, which God thought good at that time not to make known, to reſtore the Kingdom unto Iſrael, he doth not anſwer them that he will not reſtore the Kingdom unto Iſrael. But it was not now fit for them to know the time and ſeaſon thereof; Chriſt here ſpeaks of de tempore Tempeſtivo, of the opportune and fit time and ſeaſons, which the Father does reſerve in his own power, and will not reveale unto his people.
4. I anſwer that in this eſſay, I do conſider the time of the riſe, progreſſe and period of Antichriſt and other the great events, Syncronizing with the ſame in an Indefinite and more general way, not in an exact, definite preciſe day and hour, here I only conſider the years in a more general way, which now the Father hath not reſerved as a ſecret in his own power, but revealed them to us by his Son in this of the Revelation and other books of God.
Laſtly accounting it as labour loſt to anſwer the vain interpretations and gloſſes of the allegorizing and Chymical Scripturiſts, to wit the Familiſtical Notioniſts, who can extract quidlibet ex quolibet, and ſo make the Revelation indeed a miſtery and book ſealed to the wiſeſt Chriſtian, therefore I ſhall not at all meddle with them, when as they interpret according to the miſtical fan…ies of their own confuſed brains, and not according to the leaſt meaſure of ſound knowledge. For indeed if this book be not opened according to the Prophetical viſions, with their peculiar characters rightly applied to their ſeveral times and ſeaſons, we ſhall not know what tollerable ſence or expoſition to ſet upon it.
It is well that the Spirit of God it ſelf doth clearly diſcover, and demonſtrate in the 17. Chap. the beaſt with ſeven heads and ten horns to be a government or Empire, that ſhould ariſe under ten Kings: And that miſtery of Babylon the great, and the woman ſitting upon many waters, to be that great City ſcituated upon ſeven hils, and which doth raign over the Kings of the earth. Now if the Spirit of God it ſelf hath holpen us with this key to unſhut in part the miſteries of the Revelation, it ſhould not be accounted preſumption in us to fall on the ſame method, in opening the reſt of the Prophetical repreſentations and figures of this book, when as the Spirit of God hath given us ſome firſt fruits thereof it ſelf, as ſure footſteps to tread in: From which diſcovery of the Spirit, we may as from a watch-tower, take a full veiw of the reſt of the Revelation, and ſo a ſcanding of the whole book otherwiſe in it ſelf inacceſſible.
And that thy Servant, O Chriſt who in himſelf is too weak for ſuch a work may be fitted in ſome meaſure, from thy ſelf who art the Wiſdom of God, and to whom the Revelation of all things is given of the Father, becauſe thou art found worthy, O do thou enlighten his minde with true Light from above: And remove all impediments, his iniquities out of thy ſight, by the waſhing of thine own bloud, then thou maiſt diſcover thy minde unto thy poor Servant, being hallowed by thy ſelf to a fruitful reception thereof: Grant O Chriſt that by thy favour and the guidance of thy good Spirit, he may diligently conſider the miſteries of this Book, and that unto ſobriety, and declare it forth unto others, that the Church of God, may receive ſome advantage by him. And if thy Servant, O Lord, hath herein through weakneſs, built any hay and ſtubble upon thy precious ſtructure, O let it be conſumed, but ſo as that thy Servant may be ſaved in the great day of the Lord God Almighty, but if any of thine receive good hereby, to thee for it, as moſt due, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty, be praiſe, glory and Dominion, for ever and ever. Amen.