Annotations Upon the New Testament, Revelation · Chapter 2
CHAP. XII.
THis twelfth Chapter sets forth clearely the State of the Church,Fata imperii & fata Ecclesiae. as the sixth did that of the Empire.
It hath six principall parts.
1. A lively description of the true Church, v. 1, 2.
2. A description of the Devill her chiefe and furious assailant, v. 3, 4, 5.
3. The fierce battaile between these two parties, v. 7.
4. The victory of the Church and the Dragons overthrow, v. 8, 9.Dr Taylor.
5. The triumph of the godly for that victory, v. 10, 11, 12.
6. The fury of Satan renewing the assault, v. 13. to the end of the Chapter.
Vers. 1. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven] By wonder or signe is meant a new vision; or an unusuall type of a strange battell, and marvellously to be wondred at.
By Heaven commonly in this Booke is meant the true militant Church, and the members of it here upon earth, v. 4.
Starres of heaven] Are Ministers of the Church, v. 12. rejoyce yee heavens, that is, beleevers and members of the true Church on earth, so v. 3. & 7.Dr Taylor.
A woman] The woman is the Church, resembled to a woman partly for her weaknesse, but chiefly because the Scripture sets it forth by the Spouse of Christ,Woman in this booke signifieth three things 1. Idols, because they are as enticing and alluring as wanton women. 2. Idolaters goe a whoring after them, as uncleane persons after light women. 14.4.2. The City of Rome, the seat of Antichrist. 17.3. 1. Because in her outward pompe and glory she is opposed to the chaste spouse of Christ, whose glory is all with in. 2. Because with her the great Kings of the earth have committed fornication. 17.2.3. 3. The true Church, and so is the word taken here. Dr Taylor. Cant. 4.10.
Clothed with the Sun] That is, Christ, Psal. 84.11. Mal. 4.3. He resembleth it in its properties and effects, Frst, properties, 1. In unity, there is but one Sun in the world, and but one sun of righteousnesse in the Church, Ioh. 1.14. 1 Tim. 2.5. 2. Light, Rev. 1.16. 3. Purity. 4. Power and sufficiency. Secondly, Effects. 1. Illuminates. 2. Directs. 3. Refresheth. The righteousnesse of Christ is imputed to the Church. See Cant. 6 10.
Shee is cloathed with it. cloathes serve for 1. Covering. 2. Shelter. 3. Ornament; so Christs righteousnesse. and the Moon under her feet] The Moon signifieth either Temporary and Transitory things, as Dr. Tailor and others, it being both the cause and embleme of change; or the ceremoniall rights, because the Jews festivals were ordered by the motions of the Moon, as Mr. Burrh. on Esay. 66.10. from Mr Mede. And up…n her head a crowne of twelve starres] That is, The shining doctrine of the twelve Apostles.
VnderUnder feete] For subjection, and contempt.
Vers. 2. And she being with childe, cryed] Cryed] Two wayes, in her prayers to God. and her apologies to men, Mr. Arrowsmith.
The Church hath 1. Its originall from heaven 2. Its tendence is to heaven. Heb. 11.14.16. 3. The Churches conversation is in heaven. Phil. 3.20. 4. It is dependent upon heaven. Iames 1.17. Mr Arrowsmith.Ver. 3. And there appeared another wonder in heaven, and behold a great red Dragon, &c.] Here wee have a description of the Churches adversary, under the name and type of a Dragon.
By the Dragon is meant, 1. The Devill, for so it is expounded v. 9. to be that old Serpent called the Devill and Satan.
A forma in qua apparuit, & ab estutia atque officio, est enim omniumastutissimus, & omnium imptarum astutiarum auctor. Zanchius. Dr T…ilor. foreignThe Devill is called metaphorically a Serpent or Dragon.
1. In allusion to that story, Gen. 3. Because under this forme and representation hee deceived mankind.
2. For his poison and malice whereof hee is full.
3. For his exceeding strength and power to hurt and destroy.
4. For his slighnesse, subtiltie and craft, Gen. 3.1. See 9. v. of this Chapter. This his nature is couched in his name, draco foreign, acutè cernere, to see piercingly, for he is subtile, acute and quicke sighted to discerne a farre off his prey, and advantage against us. The Greeke word here used, translated red, is emphaticall, noting him to be a fiery Dragon, fiery red, set on fire and all enflamed with an hellish flame of wrath and cruelty against the Church of God.
2. By the Dragon is also meant the instruments of Satans fury, Ier. 51.34. Ezek. 29.3. Psal. 74.13.
3. Some more speciall instruments, the Heathen persecuting Emperours of Rome.
Dr Tailor.Having seven heads] The head is the seate of prudence and policie: the number of seven heads notes the manifold subtilties of the Devill and his instruments. Others by seven heads understand the seven hilles of Rome where the Dragon lived: or the seven kinds of governments in the Romane Monarchie.13. ch. 2.
And ten hornes] The Dragons power and strength is here called ten hornes. Horne in Scripture is commonly taken metaphorically,Id ib. The Dragon employed the seven heads and ten hornes, that is, the policie and strength of the Romane state especially to suppress the true religion, and overthrow the Church. and signifies strength, might, power, kingdome, glory. The number ten is here taken indefinitely for all those Kings, Princes and Captaines under them who banded themselves against the woman, which by the perfect number of ten, are noted to bee exceeding many. See 13.1.
And seven Crownes upon his heads] By which is meant the supremacie of the Romane Empire, subduing under it the Princes, Provinces, Nations, by innumerable victories, but especially prevailing against the Church, and primitive Christians, as so many Conquerors.
Vers. 4. And his taile drew the third part of the Starres of heaven] By Starres are meant the Ministers of the Gospell,Pro trahebat. Graecè est foreign, quod significat caudae ictibus devol vere, indéque mittere in terram, ut casu elidantur & occidantur. à Lapide. because 1. They are set in their severall stations (as the starres in their orbes) by God. 2. Because they give light to the Church by doctrine and holy example. Matth. 5.14. 3. They are eminent and in high place.
Of heaven] Mysticall; they were removed from their holy doctrine and heavenly hope.
His taile] That is, the power and policie of the Devill.
And the Dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered] The Text hath reference both to the Serpents standing before Eve the woman, that is, the Mother of the world and Church, to seduce her; and to Pharaoh called the Dragon of Aegypt, watching the destruction of the male children of the Church, so soone as the Mothers should be delivered of them. This standing before the woman implieth, 1. His readinesse and nearnesse. 2. His instance and diligence.
Vers. 5. And shee brought forth a man child] Some understand it of Christ. See Psal. 2.9. and Rev. 2.27. and 19.15. Dr Tailor *In loc.gives good reasons against this exposition. Others of Luther, many of *Brightman.Constantine the great a godly Christian Emperour. Dr. Tailor understands by it not one singular person, but some potent Princes or speciall deliverers, whom God stirred up to succour and relieve the Church against those Tyrannicall Romish Emperours and persecutors;Dr Tailor. ib. By whom the Dragon was defeated and disappointed, whose aime was to devour all the seed of the woman, for these were
1. Sonnes of the Church.
2. A man child, stout, strong, valiant.
3. Ruled over the Nations with a rod of Iron, viz. an unresistible power, and over-ruling the nations and Princes that were enemies to the Church.
4. Was taken into the throne of God] That is, advanced into chiefe government for the refreshing and defence of the Church, and curbing the rage of those imperiall Dragons.
Vers. 6. And the woman fled into the wildernesse] This verse is here inserted by the Spirit of God, by anticipation, it was done after, though it be here mentioned,Woman signifieth here a multitude, the Church mili…ant. it properly belongs to the 13. and 14.*Idem ubi supra.verses. It seemes to be an allusion unto Israels flying into the wildernesse from Pharoah that red and bloudy Dragon pursuing them even to destruction. The wildernesse is nothing else but an afflicted and solitary condition of the woman, excluded from her former glory, forced now to hide her face from the world, and to live in poverty and exile, and in a private and solitary condition.
Where there is a place prepared of God that they should feed her] Alluding to the feeding of the Church of the Jews in the wildernesse. The word (They) standeth in relation to some persons spoken of before, viz. 11. ch. 2. The two witnesses shall feed her, for the time of both fitly agreeth.
A thousand two hundred and threescore dayes] By these dayes are meant so many yeares,Ezek. 4.5, 6. for all things almost in the Revelation are expressed according to the manner of ancient Types. It is the same with times, time, and halfe a time. 14. v. and 42. moneths. 11.2.
Vers. 7. And there was a battell in Heaven] That is, in the Church militant. Some speciall and notable part of that Warre which in the spring of the Evangelicall Church Satan raised to the overthrow of the salvation of it.
Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon, and the Dragon fought and his angells] This Michael is Christ, it is so expounded, v. 10. 2. This place is an allusion to Dan. 10.13. and 21.3. 3. The composition of the word of three Hebrew particles, Mi-ca-el, Dr Tailor ubi supra.who is like or equall to the Lord, that is onelyonly Christ, Phil. 2.6. 4. We read no where in Scripture of this name but Christ himselfe must be understood, Iude 9. Which place alludes to Zach. 3.2.
His angels are not onelyonly those which are Angels by nature and office,See Iosh. 5.5.14. & Rev. 9.11. but also such persons and instruments as stand with them in the defence of Christian Religion, and in warre with the Dragon both in ecclesiasticall and politicall states, godly Princes and Rulers, and also godly Pastors, holy Martyrs, zealous professors, all to whom sometimes the name of Angell is ascribed in Scripture.
1. Because they are all sent from him, on his errand.
2. They are called his Angels by speciall propriety.
3. Their whole service is due to him their Lord.
The Dragon, the Generall, is the chiefe of Devils and head of wicked Angels, B…elzebub; his Angels are wicked spirits, & wicked men, they sight by open force & secret fraud.
Vers. 8. But they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven] By heaven here the Church of God is meant, in which the Dragon sate and exercised his Tyranny. The phrase not to have his place is taken out of Dan. 2.35. The Dragons had no more place in the Church to domineer and tyrannize against the Saints, as they had done, but they are now conquered and expelled out of heaven. A generall overthrow is not here properly meant, but a speciall victory of some speciall Dragons that rose up to waste the Church, because this is a prophecie after St Iohns time.
Vers. 9. And the great Dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the Devill and Satan, Dr Tailor. Draco iste vocatur magnus, 1. Ob potentiam in impios, Eph. 2.2.2. Ob regni amplitudinem, ad quod pertinent omnes impii. Gerh.which deceiveth the whole world] The Devill is a Serpent,
1. Because he hid and covered himselfe in the serpent, in his first stratageme against our first Parents, Gen. 3.1.
2. Because of his serpentive disposition in his poyson and malice against Christ and all Christians, and in his winding by his slie flattery and subtilty, and in his accursed condition.
2. An old Serpent.
1. Because he is as old as the World, and at the beginning deprived our first Parents of their happinesse.
2. His malice is inveterate, as ancient as the world.
3. Is growne wonderfull cunning by experience.
foreign.The Devill] So called for his crimination, accusation and calumination. Hee is that egregious caluminiator, whose incessant delight and practice is in accusing and calumniating.
1. God to man of envy, injustice. Gen. 3.3.
2. Man to God, Ioh. 1.
Satan] So called for his hostility; he is an adversary,
1. To God. 2. Good men. 3. Good actions.
Hee seduceth or deceiveth the whole world] To seduce is to draw a man aside from the right way into some by-way; a metaphore taken from travellers; the Devill drawes men from the true worship of God, to Idolatry and false worship of Idols and heathen Gods.
He incessantly labours in this as the *foreign.participle of the present tense noteth, even a perpetuall action of drawing men from the way of truth, to errour and false Religion.
The persons that are seduced are the whole world, alluding to his generall seduction of all men in our first Parents, and also the generall corrupting of true Religion in the dayes of Noah. Dr Taylor.But by the whole world or earth are meant the reprobates or earthly minded men, who mind earthly things with contempt of heavenly.
He was cast out] By the members of Christ.
1. By casting out and resisting Paganisme, Idolatry, Blasphemy, Impiety, and all Injustice.
2. By the preaching and promulgation of the Gospel, which is like lightning, quick, piercing,Luke 10.18. and irresistable.
3. By open profession and maintenance of the faith and truth of the Gospell.
Into the earth] 1. To manifest and cleare the certainty of his overthrow, and the Churches victory; as Goliah was seene to bee overthrowne, when David threw him down to the ground.
2. More specially, to shew, who they bee whom the Devill now tyrannizeth over, among reprobates, carnally, and earthly minded men.
And his angels were cast out with him] That is, the power of al wicked persons (by whom the Devill putteth forth his power against the Church) was so broken as they could never prevaile against the salvation of any member of the Church,Dr Taylor. nor against the happy proceedings of the Christian Religion in the infancy of the Church.
Vers. 10. And I heard a loud voyce] The cherefull noise of innumerable Citizens of the Church militant, provoking themselves to sound forth the Majesty and praise of God, for his great mercy to his Church, and his great judgements against the Dragon and his Angels.
In heaven] That is, the Church militant.
Now is come salvation] That is, safety and externall security of Gods people by their deliverance from cruell tyrants, Ex. 14.13. Strength] That is, the mighty arme of God which beares up all things,Psal. 118.16. and subdues all contrary things to his will and power.
And the kingdome of our God] The kingdome of grace which the Dragon specially opposeth.
And the power of his Christ] His Christ, 1. For distinction, other Kings were annointed and set up by men.Psal. 2. 2. For eminence. 3. For neare relation.
For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night] This foreign signifieth not any kind of accuser,Weemes. but such an accuser who accuseth before a King, here before the Lord.
Night and day] Incessantly. See Zach. 3.3.
Vers. 11. And they loved not their lives unto the death] That is, they slighted, contemned, yea, despised their lives, and rather exposed them to hazard and losse, than to be removed from their holy profession.
Thus are they said not to love their lives, that love Christ and his truth more.Hoc est, sponte & imperterrito animo sese propter sanguinem agni morti & martyrio subjecerunt: seu ut Beza vertit, animae suae prodigi fuerunt usque ad mortem. Animam hoc est vitam diligere dicitur qui nihil habet hoc vita Charius. Contrà non diligere animam suam, qui non dubitat illam perticulis & morti ipsi objicere; si gloria Christi & necessitas ita flagitat. Glas. Grammat. Sac. l. 3. Tract. 3. Vide Bezam.
Vers. 14. A time, times, and halfe a time] A finite number for an indefinite; So Dr. Taylor, Mede, and Brightman say; by time is meant a yeare, by times two yeares,Per tempus tempora & dimidium temporis intelliguntur anni tres cum dimidio. Gerh. Dan. 7.2. and 12.7. by halfe a time, halfe a yeare, a yeare, two yeares and a halfe.
Vers. 15. And the Serpent cast out of his mouth water as a floud] Multitudes of people which he stirreth up to persecute the Church.That is, the Arrian Heresie, see Pro. 28.15. Triplex flumen denoratur. 1. Tentationis, quae fit per blanditias, ampla promissa bonorum temporállum & voluntatum hujus saeculi. 2. Persecutionis. Psal. 65.8. Psal. 124.4, 5.3. Haeresium. Gerh.
Vers. 17. With the remnant of her seed] This phrase is a metaphor taken from Tradesmen, who having cut out a whole peece of cloath,Rom. 9.29. leave some small remnant or remainder; even so the true professors of the Gospell are but a small remainder of the whole peece and people of the world. Beside, it is but the remnant of her seed: As a little seed-corne is reserved out of a great heape for store,Dr. Taylor. which is nothing to the whole Crop; so is the small number of true Beleevers, reserved by grace, to the whole field and crop of the world.