Annotations Upon the New Testament, Revelation · Chapter 17
CHAP XVII.
THe ninth and eighteenth verses are the key for the opening of this Prophecie, concerning the beast and the whore.
Down. Diat. de Antich. l. 1. c: 5.The Whore in this Chapter is Rome, the Beast the Romane State, the last head of the Romane State Antichrist.
The name of the Beast is taken in this Chapter two wayes, either for the whole body of the Beast, as v. 3. where the woman is said to sit on the Beast, in which sense the Beast is the same with many waters,Id. ib. v. 1. viz. people, nations, languages, subject to the Romane Empire, or for the head which is Antichrist. See. 11, 12, 13, 17. verses.
Vers. 3. And I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast] First it is to be observed that St Iohn here and 13.1. according to the example of the Prophet Daniel, Dan. 7.3. doth by the tearm of a beast import some earthly kingdome, state*Regnum aut Imperium Romanum.and government, therefore named a beast to signifie the same to be led wholly with beastly and carnall affection to these things that concerne the flesh and savour of the flesh.
Abbot against Bishop.2. By a woman, a harlot, he noteth a City, which is the place and palace of such a state given to fornications, both spirituall by idolatry, and corporall by wantonnesse, which sitteth and hath advancement by the preheminence of that kingdome, state and government; thus the Angell plainely distinguisheth the woman and the beast, v. 7. Though sometimes they are used indifferently for the same, v. 1. Compared with 15. and 18. but there was no City that reigned over the Kings of the Earth, and over those many nations and people, but onelyonly the City of Rome; therefore she is here meant, v. 9. further confirmes it. The City of Rome is famous for seven hilles. Septimontium nominatur ab his septem montibus in quibus vrbs sita est. Vrbs Septi. collis is its common Epithere.Varro de lingua Latina l. 5.
I heard one in Cambridge, wittily argue thus from the letters of Papa, P. Poculum. A. Aureum. P. Plenum. A. Abominationum, to which the respondent no lesse wittily replyed. Profecto Domine hoc est literatissimum argumentum.Ver. 4. Having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations] Pareus saith by this golden cup the golden titles of the Pope are meant, in which he hath hitherto drunke the wine of his fornication to the world, as Papa, Pater Patrum, Pater sanctissimus, Sanctitas, Christi vicarius, Petri successor, &c.
Full of abominations, and filthinesse of her fornication] Gold without, but poyson within. He understands the wicked blasphemous Doctrines, and filthy sins, with which the Whore of Rome hath made drunke the Christian world.
Vt summus olim Pontifex. Exod. 28.36. in frontali inscriptum gestabat titulum hunc Sanctitas Jehovae: Ita Romanus Pontifex in sua tiara, hoc ipsum nomen, mysterium. Down. Diat. de Ant. l. 1. c. 7. Vide Quistorpium. Alsted.Vers. 5. And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery] One saith, he saw a mystery engraven in the Popes Myter or Crown. It is called mystery, because Rome was raised in a mystery, that is, she got up to her height insensibly and cunningly.
Babylon the great] Not long after the time of the foundation of the Church of Rome did Saint John write this Book of the Revelation, wherein he revealeth that the City of Rome is Babylon, according to the generall consent of their own Jesuites and Divines.
B. Mortons appeale. ch. 4. Sect. 15. Babylon mysticall here is the fear, or chiefe City of Antichrist, resembling the Assyrian Babylon in pride, idolatry, filthiness, and especially, in most cruel persecution of the Church of God Down. concerning Antichrist ch. 2. see more there.Babylon Apocalyptica est Romana. Bellarmine, l. 3. de Pont. c. 12. & lib. 2. c. 2. Ribera & Vega in Apoc. 14. And not only Rome as it was Ethnicall in the daies of the heathenish Emperours, but Rome Papall; see Rhemists on Apoc. 17.5. because say Ribera, and Viega, the Spirit warneth all that were in her to depart, 18.4. but there were then no faithfull in the heathenish Rome, and they are commanded to come out of her for feare of being consumed with fire.
Rome is termed Babylon in many resemblances, and one egge is not liker another.Dr. Taylor. 1. Babell was the great City that must rule over all Nations, Gen. 10.10. and Rome is the great City that must rule over all Cities and Churches. 2. At Babell was the first confusion of Tongues, Gen. 11.7. In and from Rome is the first confusion of Tongues, and of errours, one not understanding another in the Word or Sacraments, or other their Services. 3. At Babell was horrible superstition and wickednesse in Priests and People, and thence it spread all abroad. Rome is a sinke of superstition and filthinesse, and all Nations have drunke of her Cup. 4. Babell held the Church in slavery seventy yeares; so the Church of Christ hath been oppressed a long time under the tyranny of the Romish Church. 5. Babell robbed and spoiled the Church of her Treasures, and the Temple of God, and horribly polluted it. Rome hath robbed the Church of the Word, Sacraments, the Offices of Christ, and most comfortable doctrine, the chiefe dowrie and revenew that Christ her head gave her. 6. Babell most miserably intreated the Church, Psal. 137.1. so all is full of cruelty in the Romane Church.
Vers. 5. The mother of Harlots, and abominations of the earth] Because she infecteth all Nations that adhere unto her with her Idolatries and superstitions. See ver. 2.Hoc est, inventrix, confirmatrix, propagatrix & propugnatrix quarumvis idolomaniarum, doctrinarum damnabilium. Glas. Rher. Sac.
Vers. 6. And I saw the woman drunken with the bloud of the Saints, and with the bloud of the Martyrs of Jesus] Papists say that bloud was not shed in Rome but in Jerusalem where the Lord was crucified. Rev. 11.8.
That place in the 11. ch. is not meant of Hierusalem, as Hierome saith, but may well be understood of Rome; Christ was crucified there, either because the authority whereby he was crucified was from the Romane Empire, or else because Christ in his members was and is there dayly crucified, though locally in his own person he was crucified at Hierusalem.Perkins.
Vers. 8. The beast that thou sawest, was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit] For the darke and deepe schoole-learning,Symonds Pisgah Evangelica. or profoundnesse of Satan which it teacheth, leaving the plaine and easie Doctrine of the Scriptures.
Vers. 9. The seven heads are seven mountaines, on which the woman sitteth] The mountaines are sufficiently known out of Poets and Histories. Neither could any more famous marke be brought to describe Rome, saith Grotius.
Septem urbs alta jugis, toti quae praesidet orbi.
The City mounted on seven hills, overruling the whole world] The names of these hills are commonly known, and usually named in Romane Authors, viz. Palatinus, Capitolinus, Quirinalis, Caelius, Esquilinus, Viminalis, Aventinus.
Vers. 10. And there are seven Kings] Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespatian, Titus. So Grotius. Others interpret it of seven severall Regiments,Down. Diat. de Ant. l. 1. c. 4. & alii. or Heads of Government, to which the State of Rome was successively subject, that is to Kings, (which also were seven) Consuls, Decemvirs, Tribunes, Dictators, Emperours, and Popes; of these five ceased before Johns time, the sixth which was of Emperours was now, the seventh which was of Popes, was not yet.
Vers. 11. The eighth head, which is also one of the seven,Down. of Ant. l. 1. c. 3. is the Empire renewed by the Pope, and is said to be the Beast, which was and is not though it be, whereon the Whore of Babylon sitteth.
Vers. 12. With the beast] or after the beast, as others read it, that is, Antichrist.
Vers. 13. And shall give thei… power and strength unto the beast] foreign. Their naturall power the power of armes, and their civill power, the power of authority.
Vers. 14. And the Lambe shall overcome them] Not by destruction but conversion, he will make use of them after to overthrow Antichrist.
Vers. 15. The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations] That very universality which the Romans are wont so much to brag of.
Vers. 16. The ten Kings or Kingdomes of Europe, some reckon up to be these, England, I am perswaded that Popery shall never be established againe in this Kingdome, because the everlasting Gospell shall spread still more and more through all the Kingdomes of Europe, as appeareth 14.6. otherwise how shall Rome fall? How shall the Jews ever be converted? Deut.Scotland, Germany, France, Spaine, Denmarke, Sweveland, Poland, Russia, Hungarie, that tooke part with Rome, and shall pull her down. They are compared to horns, because they were the strength and defence of the Romane Empire and Papacy.
Vers. 17. And give their kingdome unto the Beast] That is, all the strength and warlike force, and the authority and Laws.
Vers. 8. That great City, which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth] Rome was only that famous City, called therefore Vrbs by an excellency, and here with great Emphasis, that great City. Rome papall, that monarchie was then the only monarchie in the world.
Mart. l. 12. Epig. 8. Down. of Ant l. 1. c. 2.Terrarum Dea Gentiumque Roma
Cui par est nihil, & nihil secundum.
By this title of great City thoughout the Apocalypse is meant Babylon or Rome, as appeareeth by conference of these places, Apoc. 14.8. and 16.19. and 18.10.16.18.19.21. but especially by this place here.