Annotations Upon the New Testament, Revelation · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
IF we compare this description of the Beast in this Chapter with that in the 17. we shall easily perceive that by both Beasts the Romane State is represented, but yet not of the same time. This designes old Rome, or the Romane State,Down Diat. de Antich. parte 14. l. 1. c. 5. as it was especially under the heathen Emperors, although Antichrist be not excluded from that description. For the perfect Beast is propounded having seven heads, the last of which is Antichrist. The 17th. Chapter describes Rome as it was after.
The first Beast representeth the persecuting Emperours, and is described in the beginning of the Chapter. The second Antichrist, and begins at ver. 11. and so forward to the end of the Chapter.
Vers. 1. And I saw a Beast arise up out of the Sea, having seven heads, and ten hornes, and upon his heads ten Crownes] Rise up] Signifyeth to get strength, Dan 4.8. and 8.8.Quod Johannem hanc bestiam vidit è mari ascendere, eo significatur Romanum imperium ex multis populis confluentibus extitisse, Apoc. 17.15. & ad fastigium illud pervenisse. Gerhard. Out of the Sea.] That is, of many and divers peoples which it had vanquished. Crownes for dignity, hornes for power, and heads for subtilty. The seven Heads are seven Hills, and ten Hornes are ten Governments. Mr Dod.
The hornes of the Beast are crowned and not his heads, because the Romane Empire hath alwaies more prevailed by power than by policy, but the Dragon hath his heads crowned and not his hornes,Deut. therefore he hath alwaies done more by policy & subtiltie than by power and strength.
Vers. 2. And the Dragon gave him his power] viz. That Dragon mentioned 12.3. the Devill that old Serpent, 12.9. whom Moses also set forth by the Serpent, Gen. 3.1. The Dragon hath something of the Serpent, but flying is added to it, that is, swiftnesse of moving.See 2 Thes. 2.9.
Vers. 8. Whose names are not written in the Booke of the life of the Lambe, slaine from the foundation of the world] Some thinke this is not spoken of Election, since Christ as Mediatour was elected, but of those which the Father gave to Christ in the Covenant before the world.He speaks (say they) of the eternal transactions between the Father and the Son. Si quis bene contulerit locum hujus libri. 17.8. inveniet trajectionem hic esse vocum, & ipsum librum dici foreign, ab origine mundi, conscriptum scilicet, similitudine sumta à bene moratis civitatibus, ubi ab initio conditae urbis extant perpetua monumenta quae civium nomina continent. Merito autem hic liber ab eo nomen accepit qui ab aeterno erat destinatus ut omnium Sanctorum, inter quos eminent martyres, caput esset. Vide Heb. 11.40. Grotius.
Others refer this from the beginning of the world to the book of life (as Apoc. 17.8.) rather than to the Lambe slaine,Causaub. of the Incarnation of Christ. not as though there were any absurdity or incongruity in the speech (as Ribera) being so justifiable by the parrallell places of Scripture.
Weemes, and other learned men say from the beginning (not from eternity) in reference to that promise, Gen. 3.15. the death of Christ being then publisht,Mr Ball on the Covenant. Nempe sacramentaliter sub sacrificiis & Agno Poschali. Wollebius. Vide Pareum. Per Agni librum intelligit constantissimam Domini de suis salvandis Sententiam, illustratam foreign, perlibri Allegoriam ut ex praxi nostra in iis memoria tenendis, quae nolumus excidere; concludemus, Agnum illorum, quos in librum suum retulit, nunquam futurum esse oblitum. Dr. Prid. in orat. 4ta. that is, slaine as well then as now, not only in the Counsell and Decree of God whereby he is borne and slaine in all times and places, nor only in regard of the eternall power, efficacy, and merit of his death; but also in respect of the heart of the Beleever, whose faith makes that which is locally absent after a sort truly and really present. Mr Perkins.
In regard of Gods acceptation of it, for Belleevers, in the types and shaddows of it, whereof the Ceremoniall Law was full. Dr Tailor.
Vers. 9. If any man have an eare let him heare] A solemne preface before some great matter, and diligently to be observed, Mat. 11.15. and 13.9.43. Mark. 4.9.27. and 7.16. and 8.18. Luk. 8.8. and 14.35. See afore Ch. 11.7.11.29. that is, let him heare with his eare, let the eare do its work and not be idle.
Vers. 10. He that leadeth into captivity, shall go into captivity] Rome which had led captive the Christians, is become a Captive to the Goths and Vandales. For lead and goe there is an elegant para nomasia in the Greek.
He that killeth with the Sword must be killed with the Sword] Domitian which had slaine so many Christians with the Sword, he also was slaine by the sword, and 17 of his own Servants. So Grotius.
Here is the patience and faith of the Saints] That is, by this the patience and faith of the Christians is confirmed, because they knew that God would revenge their injuries.
Ver. 11. This Beast can be no other but the Pope of Rome who riseth out of the earth, that is, out of most base beginnings, and steppeth or riseth above the earth, and all earthly power;Servus servorum Dei, loquitur ut Draco, idem, ut Diabolus, Apoc. 12.9. hoc enim, sese effert super omnem qui dicitur Deus; quasi ipse totius mundi princeps esset. Episc. Down. he hath hornes like the Lambe, that is, professeth the meeknesse and innocency of Christ (which the Turke never did) but speakes like the Dragon, which is to be understood, partly of his blasphemous speeches which he doth utter, partly of the Doctrines of Devills which he doth teach, partly of those hellish Curses which he thundereth against the true professors of the faith, partly of those great promises, which like the Prince of the world, he maketh to those that do adore him. Down. of Ant. l. 1. c. 4.
The Pope of Rome with his Clergy, for the Pope by himselfe and alone though he may be tearmed a false Prophet, yet he maketh not up the Beast, except his Clergy be joyned with him,Mede. since the Beast doth signifie a company of men composed of a certaine order of members.
Vers. 12. Whose deadly wound was healed] All the Papists almost say, that Antichrist is understood by that Head which was wounded, who shall feigne himselfe dead,Down. Diat. de Antichrist. l. 1. c. 5. and shall rise againe by the devills helpe, And that they say is the common and received opinion of the Fathers.
Vers. 13. He maketh fire come downe from heaven on the earth] The Pope (say the Papists) doth not cause fire to come down from heaven, therefore he is not Antichrist.Receive the mark of the beast] That is, such as receive some indelible character of the Beast, as their Secular Regular priests, and all that receive religious orders from the Church of Rome, so 16.2.9. Cotton on Rev. 16. Such is the absurd perverseness of the Papists, that in other parts of Scripture which are simple and plaine they do hunt after mysticall and allegoricall senses: but in this Book of the Revelation which is most mysticall and allegoricall, without all reason they insist in the literall sence; as in this Chapter they understand the marke of a reall visible marke, and the image of a materiall Image animated and made to speake, and the fire of materiall fire brought down from heaven. Down. of Ant. This cannot be taken litterally, because the whole Chapter is mysticall; it is an allusion unto 1 King. 18.24. that is, Antichrist shall make his false Religion appeare to men to be the truth, as effectually, as if (like Elias) he should cause fire to come from heaven, for a confirmation of his Doctrine. Squire on 2d. of Thes.
Mr. Mede saith, Excommunication is meant, which is (saith he) not unaptly resembled to fire from heaven, or lightening. For what is it in the name of God to deliver any one over to that eternall fire, other than to call for fire from heaven, especially since that punishment of the wicked proceeding from God, is often in this Book set forth by the Lake of fire and brimstone, or Asphaltites, where Sodom and Gomorrah were burned with fire rained down from heaven.
If that fire which Antichrist shall cause to descend from heaven be litterally understood, it agreeth to the Pope,Down. of Ant. l. 1. c. 7. see more there. because in divers Popisth miracles there hath been (as they say) fire brought down from heaven. But it is rather to be understood mystically, and allegorically, as well as other Prophecies of the Revelation. Descending of fire from heaven in Scripture signifieth three things. 1. Gods approving of the Religion and Sacrifices of his Servants.Levit. 9.24. 1 Chro 21.26. 1 Chron. 7.1. Iohn saith in the sight of men. Not that they have done so indeed, but only that they have made men believe so. 2. His sending down of the graces of the Spirit upon his children, Act. 2.3. 3. His vengeance executed from heaven upon his enemies. Antichrist doth by such signes and wonders confirme that Doctrine and Religion which he professeth, as though God answered him by fire from heaven, 1 Kings 18.38.
Vers. 16, 17, 18. Some hold that the marke, the name of the Beast,Down. Diat. de Ant part. 1. l. 6. c. 4. Every resolv'd papist hath the marke of the Beast, his name, and number of his name. and the number of his name, is one and the same thing, and that the latter of all these is the exposition of the former. The marke of Antichrist is nothing else but the name of the former Beast containing the number of 666. therefore Rev. 14.9.11. & 20.4. He reckons not these three as distinct, but mentions the marke alone.
Vers. 16. To receive a marke in their right hand, or in their foreheads] Gerhard saith, the marke in the right hand is an oath by which the Clergy is bound to the Pope,In the forehead] That is by outward profession, and in the right hand] that is, by operation, as the ordinary gloss expounds it. Subjection to the Pope, and acknowledgment of the See of Rome. See Down. of Ant. l. 1. c. … the Popes Vassals are named after him, even as Children beare the name of their Fathers, and must be called of the Pope, or Papa, Papists. The number of his name, that is, to live in subjection to the See of Rome and to profess themselves to be Romanes. and the marke in the foreheads notes the subjection of the Lay people to the Pope. Mede interprets marke his name, therefore it is said, the marke or name of the Beast, and in the Chapter following, the marke of his name. For he alludeth to the old custome, by which servants were wont to be marked with the names of their Masters, Souldiers the names of their commanders, the first especially in the forehead, the other in their hands. Therefore the followers of the Lambe also 14.1. that they may be contrary to the followers of the Beast, are written in their forehead with the names of the Lambe, and his Father; with the same meaning of the Type in both, to shew who is the Lord, and for whom each Company fighteth: Those professing themselves servants of the Beast, and his Image, these of … and his Father.
Vers. 17. And that no man might buy or sell] That is, live among them, or enjoy the benefits of humane Society.
Romana ececlsia unde Antichristus sit proditurus. de Dieu. Accommodatissimum sane nomen, siquidem in Italia dominatur, in qua olim Latinorum erat regnum. Latina Biblia fontibus praefert. Latinè ministri ejus cultum sacrum administrant. Latinè bullas suas scribunt. Wollebius. Vide Pareum.Vers. 18. His number is sixe hundred threescore and sixe] foreign Lateinos, the Letters of which exactly expresse the number of 666. λ is 30. α 1 τ 300. … 5. ι 10. ν 50. … 70. … 200. all joyned together make up the aforesaid summe.
Irenaeus (whose Master Polycarpus had been Saint Johns Disciple) an ancient Father of the Church, mentions this word, as the name of the Beast, and affirmeth, that it was a common received opinion in his time,Saxonicè Marin Louther; Graecè David Chytraeus. Hebraicè Johannes Calvinus. uti & Beza Antitheos reddere hunc numerum 666 annotarunt Lindanus & Bellarminus. à Lap. that the Beast should be so called. The name of the Beast is not the name of Antichrist properly,*Down. Diat. de Aut. part. 1. l. 6. c. 4.but of the Romane or Latine State, the last Head of which is Antichrist, which yet hath not been observed by some learned men who have diligently considered this place. It is said to be the number of the name because the letters (of which the name consists) comprehend that number, for the Hebrews & Greeks use their letters for notes of numbers according to the order of the Alphabet.
It is called the number of a man, either because men do number, or because it is obvious and usuall as occurring more than once in Scripture, or because the name of the Beast containing this number is also the name of a man.Ezra 2.13. 1 Kings 10.14. Episc. Down. ubi supra. It may be questioned, whether the number of the name be to be computed according to the Hebrew or Greek letters; if the name of the Beast be to be written in Greek letters, which is very probable, because the Revelation was written in Greeke, then the name shall be foreign, as was before exprest.Romane, or Latine.