The Revelation Unveiled, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Of the Two-Horned Beast the Pope, Rev. 13. 11▪
Rule 3. THAT the Two-Horned Beast is the Horn of Eccleſiastical Power is a falſe Prophet, by his ſecond Horn of Temporal Supremacy became the ſeventh Head of the Roman Empire.
This appeareth, for all the Characters of this ſecond Beaſt agree to the Pope, and to none elſe: As,
1. He aroſe out of the Earth, Rev. 13. 11. not from Heaven, but from below, from Satan and carnal earthly men and means. Not out of the Sea, or Confluence of People and Nations, as the other, v. 1. but had a mean Original, from a poor Biſhop at laſt aſcended to this dignity.
2. He hath Two Horns like a Lamb. Horns denote Power, Rev. 17. 12. Dan. 8. 5.
So the Pope uſurpeth a twofold Power, Temporal and Spiritual.
The firſt Horn of [Eccleſiastical Power] aroſe in the time of Phocas Anno 606. who made Boniface the Third Univerſal Biſhop. This was a new Inſtitution, and not only a Declaration, for Statuit he ordained. Hic (i. e. Phocas) ſedem Romanae & Apostolicae Eccleſiae caput eſſe omnium Eccleſiarum, quia Eccleſia Conſtantinopolitana, primam ſe omnium Eccleſiarum ſcribebat. P. W. Diacon. P. de Geſt. Longobard. l. 4. c. 37.
If Juſtinian a little before decreed that the Pope of Rome ſhould be the firſt of Prieſts to keep footing at Rome, or becauſe of Old Rome was the Imperial Seat, yet not as Peter's Succeſſor, for the ſame Juſtinian pronounced by Law the Church of Conſtantinople the Head of all the holy Churches.
And John Biſhop of Conſtantinople aſſuming the name of Ʋniverſal Biſhop about Ann. 590. Gregory Biſhop of Rome ſo diſclaimed this Title, as he concluded the time of Antichriſt to be at hand, becauſe John uſurped it. L. Dupleſſ. Hiſtor. of Pap. Cent. 6. Magd. c. 7. It being the Controverſie of that day, he obtained not that firſt Horn till the time of Phocas.
As to the ſecond Horn of [Temporal Supremacy] he obtained not that ſo early. Indeed Celeſtinus Biſhop of Rome about Ann. 424. began to aſpire after it [paſſing the bounds of his Prieſtly Order, preſumed to challenge unto himſelf Secular Power and Authority] Saith Socrat. Hiſt. l. 7. c. 11. He ſaith the ſame of the Biſhop of Alexandria, ib. & l. 7. c. 7.
But after Anno 500. Anaſtaſius ſent this Anſwer to Pope Horſmida [Imperatoris proprium eſſe Imperare, non imperata Pontificis accipere] Cent. 6. Magd. c. 7.
And after the Popes of Rome had Confirmation from the Emperors, Cent. 7. Magd. c. 7. Et ſuit ipſa Ʋrbs Roma non in Pontificum, ſed Imperatorum poteſtate & dominio, ib. Under Juſtinian by Narſes turning out the Goths, both Italy and Rome were annexed to the Eaſtern Empire.
His Temporal Power and Headſhip muſt have its firſt date either from the Donation of Rome to him (which of old was the Imperial Seat) or from his obtaining Superiority either over the Head of Emperors, or over ſome of the Ten Horns.
Now, about Ann. 725. the City of Rome came under the Power of the Pope. Leo the Emperor forbidding the uſe of Images in Churches, Pope Gregory forbad the Tribute of Italy and Rome: Removit Roman, & Italiam, necnon & omnia reip. quam Eccleſiaſtica jura in Heſperiis ab obedientia Leonis & Imperii ſub ipſo conſtituti—Romam cum tota Italia ab illius Imperio recedere faciens—Paul. Diacon. Anaſt. l. 21. Saith Platina, Leonem tertium Imperatorem Conſtantinopolitanum Imperio ſimul & communione fidelium privat, quiae Sanctas Imagines è Sacris adibus abraſiſſet. Which ſufficiently evidenceth that the pretended Donation of Conſtantine the Great, was but a fiction, they belonging to the Eaſtern Empire till now they were uſurped by the Pope, who made himſelf Prince of Rome: And afterward Pope Zechary depoſing Childerick, ſet up Pipinus the French King, who in requital compelled Aiſtulphus King of the Lumbards to reſtore all the Towns and Lands which he had taken, and by his Donation beſtowed on him the Exarchate or Princedom of Ravenna and Pentapolis, and a very large Dominion and Poſſeſſion which afterwards were confirmed by others, with Additions, as by Charles the Great Anno 800.
All which argue that now the Pope was become not only a Temporal Prince by the Dukedom of Rome—but by getting power over ſome of the Crowned Horns, and oppoſing and overtopping Emperours ſo as without their conſent, by degrees, they had their elections, and ſwelled in their power, till at laſt they diſannulled the Inauguration, placing and diſplacing Emperours at their pleaſure. This appeared moſt manifeſtly in Hildebrand or Gregory the Seventh, Ann. 1073. who not only Excommunicated Henry the Emperour, but depoſed him, and gave away his Kingdom to Rodolphus Duke of Suevia. And now Emperours had their confirmation from Popes whereas of old the Popes had confirmation from the Emperours. Whether this were the firſt of his being Regnant (as ſome aſſert) or the time of his being Triumphant in the Temporal Power I leave it to others to judge.
3. He ſpake as a Dragon, ſo did Hildebrand and other Popes, not only in their Excommunications and Depoſitions, but alſo in thoſe they call Hildebrands Dictates or Canons and Decrees, as [That no Book may be accounted Canonical without his Authority.] [That he ought to be judged of none.] Vid. Onuphr. in vita Greg. 7.
4. He exerciſeth all the Power of the firſt Beaſt before him, and cauſeth the Earth to worſhip the firſt Beaſt, Rev. 13. 12. This the Pope doth by letting none be Emperours without his confirmation, depoſing Emperours, and ſending the Imperial Crown to others; as Rodolphus, ſetting up perſecuting Emperours at his pleaſure, and cauſing the Earth to obey their decrees, by influencing the Horns to perſecute: As Pope Martin perceiving the Goſpel prevailed in Bohemia, ſtirred up the Emperour and German Princes to making War againſt the Bohemians, and thus exerciſed the power of the firſt perſecuting Beaſt, and cauſed Earthly men to worſhip him.
5. He doth Wonders, ſo that he maketh fire come down from Heaven, and deceiveth the Earth with his Miracles, Rev. 13. v. 13. 14. So the Pope as a falſe Prophet pretendeth to Miracles. One ſaith that the garments of Hildebrand or Gregory after his death wrought Miracles.
Cardinal Benno (who lived at the ſame time) ſaith of Hildebrand, that when he liſt he would ſhake his Skirts and fire would come out like ſparks, and by ſuch Miracles he abuſed the eyes of ſimple People; and therefore when the Devil could not perſecute publickly Jeſus Chriſt by Painims, he diſpoſed himſelf fraudulently to deſtroy his name by this falſe Monk, under the ſhew and colour of Religion. Eſtate of the Church. p. 298. Benno in vit. Hildebrandi. Ʋſher Graviſs. Quaeſt. Hiſt. Explic.
Alſo to incourage Rodolph in War againſt the true Emperour Henry, which he had depoſed, Hildebrand, foretold that the falſe King, (whom he interpreted to be Henry) ſhould die the ſame year before the Feaſt of St. Peter. But Rodolph loſt his life before the day, and Henry lived after; and ſo Hildebrand not only by falſe Miracles but by foretelling what did not come to paſs was proved to be a falſe prophet, Deut. 18. 20, 21, 22. Rev. 19. 20. Matth. Paris. Onuphr. B. Ʋſher Graviſs. Quaeſt. Hiſtor. Explic,
6. He ſaith to them that dwell on the Earth, that he would or they ſhould make an Image to the Beaſt. Rev. 13. v. 8. 14▪
What this [Image] is, it is a great queſtion?
It muſt be an [Image] not of the ſecond, but of the firſt Beaſt that was Wounded, v. 14. and ſo it is not the firſt Beaſt it ſelf (and the rather becauſe the Beaſt and Image are made diſtinct, Rev. 14. 9.) but a repreſentation or reſemblance of him, yet ſuch as the falſe Miracles were to win Credit and Honour to this Image, v. 14. ſaying that they ſhould make an Image—(which in making is [to] when once made [of] the Beaſt, v. 15.) or that he had made it, and he urgeth worſhipping of it upon pain of death, v. 15.
This is not Image worſhip, for Images are dead things, but this is living, it can ſpeak and do, v. 15.
Therefore this [Image] muſt be either the Pope himſelf, or ſome new Conſtitution of his, or elſe the German Empire.
It ſeemeth not to be this ſecond Beaſt or Pope himſelf, for he maketh it, and ſo is before and is not it that is made, unleſs it noteth his exciting or cauſing others to give Imperial Honour and Dignity to him.
Or this [Image] may be eſpecially the Cardinals, who are ſaid to ſucceed in the place of Conſuls, and to be Principes mundi & veri mundi Cardines, reſembling Emperours in their Habit and power; and who obtained a new Principality of Election of Popes about Ann. 1059 or 1061. When Nicolaus Papa ſancit Pontificem Eligendum à Cardinalibus; and bear ſuch Authority as threatneth thoſe with death who will not ſubmit. B. Ʋſher ib. and others.
Or elſe the German Empire is this [Image] as wanting diverſe Kingdoms that did belong to it, yet is an Image of the old Roman Empire by a Conſtitution of Otho the third, and Pope Gregory the fifth, ſeven Electors were Erected, and and as ſaith Hondy, ten, Provinces or Circuits, reſembling the old Seven Heads and TenHorns. And the Pope hath inſtigated Emperours as Sigiſmond againſt the Bohemians to perſecute, and ſo he giveth life to the Image and maketh it ſpeak terribly againſt his oppoſers.
7. He cauſeth as many as would not worſhip the Image of the Beaſt to he killed, Rev. 13. 15. So the Pope not only excited others, but himſelf, raiſed Wars, killing many as in the time of Leo the ninth: And Pope Ʋrban had a great hand in that which is called the Holy War, Ann▪ 1099. for gaining Jeruſalem. Alſo by his Thunderbolts, Anathema's, Excommunications, Canons and Decrees, ſeeketh to exterminate thoſe which yield not ſubjection to him. Poteſtates ſeculares perpetui vel temporales jurare tenentur univerſos haereticos ab eccleſia damnatos pro viribus exterminare. Decret. Gregor. lib. 5. Ti. 7. Lateran Council Ann. 1215.
And accordingingly the Council of Conſtans Ann. 1414. condemned and burnt John Huſs and Jerom of Prague as Hereticks, notwithſtanding the Emperours ſafe Conduct. Thus they that yield not obedience to him are killed.
8. He cauſeth all, both ſmall and great, rich and poor, free and bond to receive a Mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads, Rev. 13. v. 16. So as none muſt hold Communion, buy or ſell without it.
So the Pope hath his foreign or univerſal Character in various notes of diſtinction of his followers from others, ſome in [the forehead] by an Open Profeſſion that they are Roman Catholicks, it was one of Hildebrands Decrees or Dictates, Catholicus non habeatur qui non concordat Romanae Eccleſiae; Others in [the hand] more privately, or by [the number of his name] ſo reſembling him, his ways and cuſtoms as they are to be deemed of that number, though they do not own the name. Such Marks are his Confirmation, Tranſubſtantia…ion▪ the Sign of the Croſs, &c. Their Council of Trent ſaith, Si quis dixerit in tribus Sacramentis Baptiſmo ſcil. Confirmatione & Ordine non imprimi Characterem in anima, hoc eſt, ſignum quoddam Spirituale & indelebile unde ea iterari non poſſunt Anathema ſit. Seſs. 7. Can. 9. They then make Confirmation to be one Character or Mark.
The firſt impoſing this Mark was not at the firſt riſing of the Beaſt, but at the firſt eminent reſtoration of the Church. The Beaſt marketh his for diſtinctions ſake from the oppoſite numerous party of the Lamb, compare Rev. 13. 16. with Rev. 14. 1.
As to the Popiſh Chriſme or Confirmation which they call a Sacrament conſecrated by a Biſhop compounded of Oyl Olive and of Balm to be applyed to the perſon baptiſed upon the forehead with the ſign of the Croſs—This is witneſſed and declared againſt by the Barbes or Paſtors of the Valleys, as having no ground in Scripture. See Mr. Morlands Extract of Treatiſes and Antiquities; where many other Romiſh corruptions are diſcovered about Ann. 1120.
Alſo of that confirmation ſee Decret. Gregorli. 1. Ti. 15. Referring to the times of Innocent 3.
As to Tranſubſtantiation, that they have made that another Mark or Teſt is undeniable. The Martyrdom of Hundreds in Queen Mary's time, by Fire▪ and Faggot for denying it, as well as their …ateran Council, aſſerting it as a ſpecial buſineſs under Innocent the third Ann. 1215. is a ſufficient proof of it.
And it was a Mark long before; For, it is ſaid Berengarius aroſe Ann. 1039. and Ann. 1049. and 1050. And after there were Councils called by Pope Leo the Ninth, Benedict and Nicholas, for the condemning that Hereſie (as they call it) of Berengarius who denyed Tranſubſtantiation.
Some ſay that Pope Nicholas the Second aſſembled a Council called the Council of Lateran, Ann. 1059. and in the ſame Council was hatched and invented the new found device and term of Tranſubſtantiation. Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. p. 217.
It is ſaid then Berengarius was driven to a Recantation: Others ſay he never Recan… ed.
If Eleutherius Archbiſhop of Sens did begin it, as Binius affirmeth, yet that might be more privately, how long before the time aforeſaid it became viſible and publick I leave to others to judge.
Now by Berengarius and others the oppoſite party appeared openly with the Lamb on Mount Sion, as Rev. 14. 1. and that with the full number 144000 (which were all that were long before ſafely ſealed, Rev. 7. 4.) and that [having his Fathers name on their foreheads] in oppoſition to their foregoing more latent State: For before, though the Church did not utterly fail, (as Rom. 11. 4.) yet it was [more private.] It was a horrid time of darkneſs as to Religion in the World, ſome Hundreds of years till after Ann. 1000. But then about Thirty or Fourty Years after there began the firſt open reſtoration of the Church when they had the name of God upon their [foreheads] i. e. publickly, openly, and as in Nick-name they were called Berengarians; ſo the Beaſt by Councils—By Marks differenced his from theſe.
Alſo it's ſaid that in Alexander the third his time an Oath of fidelity was impoſed on Biſhops, by which they did ſwear Obedience to the Papacy, to maintain the Church of Rome in all Councils, in all Times and Places; was not this a mark in oppoſition to the Waldenſes?
And that Lateran Council further ſaith, the Catholicks that taking the Badge of the Croſs, ſhall give themſelves to the exterminating of Hereticks, ſhall injoy indulgence—And they Decree to Subject to Excommunication the Believers and Receivers, Defenders and Favourers of Hereticks—Not to be admitted to any publick Offices or Councils, nor to chuſe any to ſuch, or to be a witneſs, and let him not have power to make a will—And if any after ſuch [a mark] by the Church ſhall contemn to avoid them be ſmitten with the Sentence of Excommunication.—
What is the meaning of all this? but that none ſhall have Commerce, buy or ſell without being marked by the Beaſt?
9. He hath the number of the Beaſt 666. Rev. 13. v. 18. Various interpretations hereof differing each from other, yet agree to the Pope▪
Ireneus would find the meaning in the numeral Letters in the name Latinos, but ſome anſwer, this is too Cabaliſtical and agreeth to Heathen Rome as well as Antichriſtian, and to many other names as Mahometes, Genſericus, Titan—Neither is there any warrant to take other Numeral Letters making up the ſame with foreign and then conclude them Synonymous.
I cannot aſſent to the way of learned and ingenious Mr. Potter, making the ſquare root of 25 the Beaſts number; for few Chriſtians are ſuch Arithmeticians as to find out the myſtery by the extraction of Roots, nor are they obliged to be ſuch; whereas all Chriſtians are bound to count and apply this number, ſo as to avoid compliance with the Beaſt or being of his number, [Here is Wiſdom let him that hath underſtanding Count.—]
And that we may find out the true meaning of this difficult Text, obſerve; it is [the number of the Beaſt] not only [the number of his name] (which ſome confound with it) but of the Beaſt himſelf, which is diſtinct from the name, Rev. 15. 1. Victory over the Beaſt is one thing, and over the number of his name is another. And it is known by computation [let him—count] it muſt then be found out by reckoning or counting, and ſo is a real number. And it is [The number of a Man] i. e. commonly in uſe among men as, Rev. 21. 17. [The meaſure of a man] is that which man is wont to uſe, and ſo it muſt not be a myſtical, prophetical number, a day being put for a year as elſewhere in this propheſy, but the very number, 666.
It remaineth then that it muſt (according to Scripture denote either the number of perſons the followers of the Beaſt, or elſe a number of his years a time.
If it be a deſcription of the Beaſt by the number of his followers, it is applied to him not as if they were preciſely ſo many, for it is known they are many, many more in Nations, Kindreds, Tongues and People; but as an oppoſite number to that of the Lamb, Rev. 14 1. and there 144000 is fixed on, not for its own ſake, but for the ſake of 12 as the Baſis of it, for it is not imaginable that every Tribe parcelled out (Rev. 7.) had exactly 12000. But 12 is befitted to all the concernments of the Lamb both great and ſmall, all matters of Faith and Worſhip are meaſured by 12 the doctrine of the 12 Apoſtles, hence ſo many things run upon 12. as Rev. 21. v. 12, 14, 17, 19, 20, 21. there 12 Angels, 12 Gates, &c.
Anſwerably the number of the Beaſt 666 is choſen for the ſake of ſix, which is diametrically oppoſite to 12 the number of the Lamb, and can neither by Multiplication or Diviſion be reduced to 12 the Apoſtolical number; the Beaſt (ſome obſerve) had ſix books of Decretals, and his matters great and ſmall in Faith and Worſhip are not ſquared by the Rule of the Scriptures or the 12 Apoſtles, and ſo run upon ſix an oppoſite number.
Or ſay ſome, Numerus homi…is is an Hebraiſm, homines numeri a great multitude, as Gen. 34. 30. Deut. 4. 27. and 33. 6. Iſa. 10. 19.
But 666 may be a number of years of this ſecond Beast, yet cannot denote the whole time of his duration, for I have evidenced that he hath already been up longer than ſo in both his Horns of Spiritual and temporal power.
Some refer it to the time of his beginning others to the time of his end.
Of the former ſort, Mr. Stephens finding that the Pope had his Title of Univerſal Biſhop, Ann. 606. looketh back 60 years before Chriſt, when the Romans ſubdued the Church of the Jews, to make up the number.
But I cannot aſſent to it, for as I cannot find any Scripture where numbering applied to any perſon referreth to the beginning, but to the end, as Dan. 5. 26. God hath [numbred] thy Kingdom and finiſhed it; ſo I ſee no warrant for Faith to count from that Epocha of the Romans or Pompey. 666. is none of Daniels numbers, nor is there a ſyllable in the Revelation putting upon counting thence; rather the contrary, Rev. 1. 1. The things were to come, therefore it is wholly groundleſs. If it muſt note the time when the Beaſt began, I ſhould much rather take the Epocha from the time of John's writing the Revelation in Patmos, about Ann. 89 and add 666. it bringeth us to Ann. 755. about which time ſome think the Pope obtained from Pepin King of France his ſecond horn of Temporal Power and began to be an Earthly Prince, and ſo became a two-horned Beaſt.
Some referring it to the time of his Fall had raiſed expectations on the year 1666. ſuppoſing that John left out the Millenary number, but time hath confuted this, that year being paſt and he not fallen; unleſs you will begin either at the Paſſion of Jeſus Chriſt, or the time of writing the Revelation, which yet is ungrounded.
I rather think it referreth to the time of his End, for the reaſon aforeſaid from Dan. 5. 26. and that the Epocha of the 666 when it beginneth is not from the firſt riſing of the Beaſt, but from his firſt marking time: from the Beaſts making War with the firſt reformed Churches, or firſt cauſing his followers to receive a Mark in their forehead or hand, a note of diſtinction of the Beſtians from the oppoſite party appearing againſt him openly with the Lamb in Mount Sion.
None that I know of have obſerved this notion, yet methinks the Text it ſelf giveth great countenance to it; for immediately after he had mentioned cauſing thoſe that would not Worſhip the Image of the Beaſt [to be killed] Rev. 13. 15. (which is by his Warring againſt them) and his [cauſing all his to receive a mark in their Foreheads or Right-hand] v. 16, 17. immediately it follows [Here is Wiſdom—count the number of the Beaſt—] i. e. count from this time of his open marking his followers to difference them from others, and thence to the time of his fall or of receiving ſome deadly blow will be 666 years.
And further to confirm this, as the next thing after mentioning the mark and number of the Beaſt, he ſubjoineth or addeth by way of oppoſition as of the ſame time that an oppo ſite party were viſibly, openly marked for Chriſt, Rev. 14. 1. And I looked, and lo a lamb ſtood on Mount ion and with him 144000. having his Fathers name written on their foreheads. So that this referreth not to the time when a few, but a vaſt number appeared for Chriſt, even 144000 and not privately, but publickly in Sion, in the Church, with the Fathers name upon their foreheads, and not when they were firſt ſealed, but when they made the firſt open ſeparation from the Beaſt, and appeared for the reſtoration of the Church. It is when they rejoice with ſinging for redemption from, and victory over Antichriſtian Pollutions, v 2, 3, 4. which plainly muſt be at the beginning time of pouring out the Vials, for then a like Song of Moſes and the Lamb is ſung upon the ſame account, Rev. 15. 1, 2, 3. for victory over the Beaſt, his Image and Mark and the number of his Name—it was then after ſome getting out of Spiritual Egypt. So that the impoſing the Mark of the Beaſt and the Churches firſt reſtoration by the Fathers name on their foreheads in an open profeſſion are of the ſame date, beginning at the firſt Vial and thence the number of the Beaſt is 666 years to the time of his Fall.
And the firſt Vial I think began about the time of Berengarius whoſe opinion was condemned by Popiſh Councils at Vercellis and Rome about Ann. 1049 or 1050 &c. therefore his … …rofeſſion was before; how many years … …udge.