Commentary on Revelation, Commentary on the Book of Revelation · Chapter 9 · Part 1 · Summary
A Recapitulation or ſummarie repetition of the third Viſion, hitherto expounded.
BEcauſe we have for-borne a while (upon ſome occaſion) the interpretation of the eleventh Chapter, wherin (as we have before ſhewed) is contained the third and fourth Act of the third Viſion touching the ſeven trumpets: therfore, to make way the better, for what remaines to be handled, it wil be worth our labour in a brief way to cal to memorie the ſumme of this Viſion.
We diſtinguiſhed the ſame for methods ſake into four Acts. The firſt whereof Chap. 8.9, was a propoſition of the calamities of the Church under the ſounding of ſixe trumpets, that is, by Romane tyrants, until the time of Conſtantine, and from thence by hereticks and ambitious Biſhops, unto Gregorie, and at length by the Weſterne Antichriſt the king of Locuſts, unto the council of Conſtans, as alſo by the Mahumetan tyranny, until the overthrow of the Eaſtern Empire, & taking of Conſtantinople.
The ſecond Act was contrarie to the former, as treating of the conſolations, during the whole time of the Churches afflictions, the which the godly ought to oppoſe unto their calamities, that they might not be diſcouraged in regard of the long continuance of the croſſe Chap. 10. The ſumme was: Iohn ſaw a mighty Angel deſcending from heaven, having a booke open in his hand, ſtanding with his right foot upon the ſea, & his left upon the earth: crying with a great voyce like a roaring Lyon, inſomuch as ſeven thunders uttered their voyces, lifting up his right hand to heaven, and ſwearing by the living God that the time of afflictions should be no more, but that even now at the ſounding of the ſeventh trumpet an end of labours, and the accompliſhment of the judgement of God were at hand, To be ſhort commanding Iohn to eat up the booke that was open, and againe to propheſie before the end. By all which things we are taught, that in the midſt of the rage of enemies and greateſt diſtreſſes of the godly, Chriſt doth deſcend from heaven, not leaving his Church as an orphant, but holding in his hand the open booke of his word, that it might not be altogether ſuppreſſed: ſets his feet upon the earth and ſea, that every where ſome remnants of the faithfull might be preſerved: By his Lionlike voyce he ſtirs up the thunders which utter their voyces, that is, ſome ſincere preachers oppoſing themſelves againſt Antichriſt, although their voyces remained ſealed, nor profited much for a ſeaſon: Confirms by oath the deliverance of the godly, and deſtruction of the wicked, that Antichriſts rage might not alwayes continew: To be ſhort, gives a commandment to Iohn to eat up the booke, & againe to propheſy, that the godly might conſider that the groſſe darkneſſe of Antichriſts kingdom ſhould be expelled in theſe laſt times, the Church reformed, & his tyranny diminished by propheſie renewed, as by a clear light breaking forth. This is the ſecond Act Chap. 10.
The third Act is an amplification of the calamities of the Church under Antichriſt: deſcribing new combats of the faithful with the Beaſt, their deliverance, & the clearing of doctrine, and a future reformation of the Church by the two witneſſes of Chriſt. Chap. 11. in the firſt 14 verſes.
The fourth Act, at the ſounding of the laſt trumpet ſhalbe a joyful change of things: For then both Antichriſtian kingdomes ſhalbe deſtroyed, and the adverſaries caſt into hell, but the godly everlaſtinglie rewarded: from v. 15. unto the end.
This is the ſumme of the third viſion, the which it behooveth us to have before our eyes, that the coherence & ſenſe of the Propheſy concerning the two witneſſes may the better be underſtood.
Now I have ſhewed before, that the third Act concerning the reformation of the Church is propounded two manner of wayes: Firſt generally, where Iohn is commanded with a meaſuring reed to mete the temple of God, the altar, and the worſhippers therein: yet not to meaſure the inward court, but to caſt it forth, becauſe both it and the holy city alſo was given unto the Gentiles to be troaden under foot 42 moneths: In which we obſerved, that the meaſuring of the temple doth ſhadow out the repairing of the Church oppreſſed by Antichriſt, & to be effected chiefly in the laſt times by the reed of Gods word: The which reformation the inward court or clergie ſhould not admit: as refuſing to bee meaſured: And therfore ſhould be caſt out, that is, declared not to appertaine unto the Church, becauſe Antichriſt hath troden down the ſame with more then heatheniſh idolatrie and tyrannie.
Touching the time of the XLII moneths I have ſhewed diverſe opinions of learned men about it: among which two may be received as moſt probable: by ſuppoſing each monethmonth to containe thirtie dayes, which make as in v. 3. 1260 (not aſtronomical but) prophetical daies, by reckoning a day for a yeere, as in Ezech. 4.6. And in this ſenſe the yeeres of Antichriſts treading down the Church are 1260. But where to begin, or where to end them God knoweth: perhaps the time cannot be calculated & defined by any man. Therfore moſt learned interpreters dare ſay nothing of certainty about this, for howſoever the time of this treading down be defined by the counſel of God: yet is not to be ſearched into by us a priori, nor known for the preſent. In this ſenſe they hold that the number of yeeres are definite in Gods decree & as revealed to Iohn, but ſo far as concerneth us and our knowledge indefinite: for it is not for us to know the moments which the father hath kept in his own power.
Notwithſtanding if any thing were by us to be defined from hiſtories, then the time of this treading down began, when the Romiſh Antichriſt firſt manifeſted himſelf unto the world by ſtepping into the chaire of univerſal peſtilence under the Emperour Phocas anno 606. And in this ſenſe the treading down from that time unto this hath dured 1036 yeeres, two hundred twenty & four yeeres yet remaining unto the end: But far bee it from us, that we ſhould dare pronounce any thing peremptorily of Gods ſecrets. Theſe things generally touching the meaſuring of the Church v. 1.2.
Secondly, the Churches reformation is more ſpecially declared, as by whom, how, with what ſucceſſe and event it ſhould be don.
Chriſt ſhalbe the author thereof: The two witneſſes his adminiſtrators, I, ſaith he, will give unto my two witneſſes, and they ſhall propheſie, &c.
The two witneſſes according to the common conceit are to be Enoch & Elias, who ſhall deſcend from heaven, & propheſie againſt Antichriſt, and be killed by him. But the vanitie of this Iewiſh fable hath been ſhewed by us.
Concerning the conjectures of others we have alſo ſpoken.
At laſt we conſented to that opinion as the moſt ſafe, by which the two witneſſes are partly definitely, & partly indefinitely underſtood.
Firſt Indefinitely, of ſuch ſound teachers rayſed up by the Lord in theſe laſt times during the greateſt oppreſſion, for to purge the doctrine of the Goſpel, from the filth of poperie. Theſe are ſaid to be two, not individuallie (for what can be more abſurd then to thinke that Chriſt ſhould have onelyonly two witneſſes, Antichriſt having in the mean while many thouſands of Locuſts.) But two, that is, a few, who ſhould ſuffice to hold forth the truth in all times, even as in judgement, by the teſtimonie of two (or three) every thing is eſtabliſhed.
Secondlie two definitely: becauſe as God of old was wont to uſe the miniſterie of two worthies in the execution of his ſingular and ſpecial workes, one of them commonly being a civill, the other an eccleſiaſtical perſon: Thus he ſent Moſes & Aaron to Pharaoh: Ioſhua & Caleb to ſpie the land: Elias & Eliſha unto Ahab: Zerubbabel and Ioſhua to bring back the people out of Babylon, & to reſtore the worſhip & temple of Ieruſalem, unto whom there is here a manifeſt alluſion in v. 4. ſo he raiſed up under Antichriſt for the moſt part two ſpeciall inſtruments among his witneſſes for the maintenance of his truth: as Iohn Huſſe & Ierome of Prague, whom the Locuſts of the Councill of Conſtans moſt cruelly burnt againſt the publick faith: In our Fathers dayes Luther and Melanchthon in Saxonie: At Argentine Bucer and Cariton: In Helvetia Zwinglius and Oecolampadius: In France Farellus and Calvin: and ſo others in other places.
Furthermore he deſcribed the power of the witneſſes by many excellent and wonderfull phraſes taken out of the hiſtorie of the chiefe prophets: viz. Their enemies that would hurt them, they ſhall devour by the fire of their mouth, as did Elias and Ieremie: ſhut heaven that it raine not for three yeeres and ſixe moneths, as did the ſaid Elias: Turn waters into blood, and ſmite the earth with all manner of plagues, as Moſes and Aaron ſmote Aegypt: by which allegories is ſignified, that at length the preaching of the Goſpell ſhould goe forth with ſuch force & efficacie as that no oppoſite power or threatnings ſhould be able to hinder the ſame.
Notwithſtanding however they ſhall finish their teſtimony, yet they ſhall prevaile little againſt the Beaſt: for the Beaſt ſhall warre againſt them, overcome and kill them by drawing out both ſwords, as we have declared.
Neither ſhall the Beaſt be ſatiated by oppreſſing the witneſſes: but ſhall caſt forth their dead bodies as dung to the ſcorne of the common people into the ſtreetes of Rome, the great citie, which is ſpirituallie, that is, allegorically called Sodome, becauſe of Sodomiticall filthineſſe reigning therin: Aegypt, becauſe of their Aegyptian idolatrie, darkneſſe and obſtinacie againſt Chriſts ambaſſadours: and Ieruſalem becauſe of their wicked cruelty, daylie crucifying the Lord Ieſus Chriſt both in his members, as alſo (as much as in them is) deſtroying him now glorified in the heavens in their daylie ſacrifice of the Maſſe. Thus far we formerly went in our interpretation. Now we goe forward.
9. ANd they of the kinreds ſhall ſee] The publick rejoycing of the Chriſtian world in the contumelious oppreſſion of the witneſſes of Chriſt, is here ſignified: for they are ſo far from commiſerating of them, as on the contrarie they altogether approve the Beaſts cruelty, in ſulting & triumphing over their dead bodies, as conquered enemies. This is the ſumme of the two verſes: in which is aggravated both the cruel inhumanitie of the Beast & his followers: and the ignominious condition of the witneſſes. But wherefore? To the end that ſeing it to come ſo to paſſe, we ſhould not be offended, as if ſome ſtrange thing happened unto us. For the ſpirit here foretelleth it, as Chriſt alſo ſaid unto his diſciples: yee ſhall mourn, but the world ſhall rejoyce: Ioh. 16.1.2.Yea the time commeth that whoſoever killeth you, will thinke that he doth God ſervice. But the comfort, by which the witneſſes ſhould raiſe up themſelves, is annexed. Let us conſider the words.
And ſhall ſee] to wit, the men of this world: for Antichriſts rage ſhall not be ſecret, but he will publickly oppoſe, & warre againſt the witneſſes of Christ: neither ſhal a few onelyonly ſee it: But they of the people, and kinreds, and tongues, and nations] to wit, all people &c. Which Ribera rightlie interprets of all thoſe nations which ſhall cleave unto Antichrist: And therefore it is falſe that the Iewes onelyonly ſhall cleave unto him. For his kingdom ſhall be ſpread over all peoples, nations, and tongues, that is, the whole Chriſtian world ſhal cloſe & joyne with him. Let us not therefore be moved with the vain boaſting of the Papiſts, becauſe of the largeneſſe of their Church, & that all kings, princes, great men, and peoples of the Chriſtian world follow the Pope: a few poore and obſcure men onelyonly excepted, who profeſſe the Goſpell. As if the multitude of ſtrayers could excuſe errour: or that it had not been foretold by the ſpirit, that ſo it ſhould come to paſſe.
The word foreign ſhall ſee, here uſed, is changed in 11 verſ. into foreign ſignifying, to contemplate diligently & with pleaſure. So that they ſhall ſee the dead bodies of the Saintes with great delight & joy: for all ſhall applaud their king: as if his tyranny were juſt and righteous, yea and that in killing of hereticks he did a divine worke. But how long ſhal they ſee them?
Three dayes and an halfe] For ſo long their carkeiſes ſhal lie unburied.
Romiſh writers doe not agree about this time.What is meant by the three dayes and an halfe.
Lyra applies this whole hiſtorie of the witneſſes unto Iuſtinian an Eutychinian Emperour, who by Belizarius baniſhed Pope Sylverius, & impriſoned Mena the Biſhop: and this he will have to be the three yeeres and an half.
Rupertus doth ſcarſelie agree with himſelf, for one while he takes it definitely for three yeeres and an halfe: another while indefinitely for a ſhort time.
Ribera underſtands it properlie of three dayes and an halfe.
Alcaſar applying it to the Iewiſh perſecution leaves it indifferently to be taken either for ſo many yeeres, or moneths.
But to take it in any of theſe wayes, The fable of Antichriſts reigning three & an half yeere refuted.the fiction of Antichriſts three and an halfe yeeres reigne is thereby refuted. For if Antichriſt even after that the witneſſes are ſlaine (who had propheſied during the three yeeres and an halfe of his kingdom) ſhall ſee & rejoyce three dayes (or yeeres) and an halfe over their dead carkeiſes: then it muſt needs be falſe, tha the is preciſely to reigne three yeeres and an halfe: for by that account he ſhall either reigne ſeven yeeres, or at leaſt more then 1260 dayes.
Our interpreters alſo are not of one minde about it: yet agree in the maine argument & ſcope.
Io: Foxe applies it to the councill of Conſtans, which preciſely dured three yeeres and an half. So long therefore the carkeiſes of the two witneſſes Iohn Huſſe, and Ierome of Prague, did lie in the ſtreetes of the great city, that is, the council gathered out of all nations, peoples, tribes and tongues: And ſo long the Fathers of the councill rejoyced over the witneſſes beeing dead.
Brightman referrs it to the Councill of Trent in which the Fathers likewiſe rejoyced three yeeres and an halfe over the treading down of the ſcriptures of the old & new Teſtament, which he maketh to be the two witneſſes. Now however theſe things be verie probable: yet I dare not conclude whither the ſpirit had reſpect hereunto.
I thinke it more ſafe to follow their opinion who underſtand the three dayes & an halfe indefinitelie of a ſhort time, in which the contumelie of the witneſſes, and triumph of the adverſaries ſhall endure, beeing ſcarſelie the halfe of a weeke: Es ist vmb drey oder vierthalb tag zu thun, ſo hat der Pfaffen tantz vnd jubiliren ein ende: that is, It is but to doe for three, or three dayes and an halfe, and then the Popes dancing & melodie ſhal have an end.
This circumſtance of time therefore is inſerted in way of comfort, as taken (which is uſuall unto the ſcriptures) from the brevity of their trouble and deliverance at hand. Io. 16.16. 2 Cor. 4.17. Cic. in LaelA little while and yee ſhall not ſee me, &c. Our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding waight of glory. Wherefore as Cicero ſaith: Omnia adverſa quantumvis magna, tolerabilia eſſe, ſi ſint brevia: all adverſities are tolerable, though great, if they be ſhort.
And their carkeiſes] The carkeiſes of the witneſſes we ſhewed to be not onelyonly their bodies, The carkeiſes of the witneſſes vnburied.againſt which Antichriſt rageth by the civill and ſpiritual ſword: but alſo their bookes, writings, families and eſtates. Theſe things ſhal lie unburied in the ſtreetes, that is, publickely expoſed as doung to all manner of reproach. And the reaſon is given.
For they ſhall not ſuffer them to be put in graues] The which cruelty is contrarie to nature, and the Law of nations. But who will not ſuffer it? The Beast with his mitred Locusts and the reſt of his followers. As by their Councils may be ſeen. Now here one ſort of the worſt of contumelies is put for all kind of reproaches, which hitherto in the Papacie (as hiſtories teſtifie) have been fulfilled according to the letter. For according to Popiſh lawes, ſuch as are hereticks, may not be buried, as beeing unworthie to be covered with earth: but rather to be conſumed in flames of fire: And therfore anno 1387 the Councill of Conſtans ordained, that the bones of Wickleffe ſhould bee taken out of the grave 28 yeeres after his death, and burnt, that ſo the aſhes therof might lie unburied in the ſtreets. The ſaid Council would not permit the carkeiſes of the two witneſſes Huſſe and Jerome to be put in graves, but to be burned, & the aſhes caſt into the River Rhijne: And the like cruelty the Beast hath exerciſed againſt infinite carkeiſes, writings, families and eſtates of Martyrs.
That the bodies of Luther, Melanchthon, & other witneſſes were not caſt forth in like maner, was not for any want of crueltie in the Beast. For had they fallen into his hands, they ſhould have had the like uſage. Now the ſpirit would not have us to be offended at this kinde of contumely: for it no way derogates from the ſalvation of the witneſſes: becauſe, precious in the eyes of the Lord, is the death of his gratious Saintes: and to be unburied is but a ſmall loſſe.
10. And the inhabitants of the earth ſhall rejoyce] The madnes and fury of Antichriſtians is here ſhewed, with the cauſe thereof.
Inhabitants of the earth] Thus in way of contempt (as in Chap. 6.10.) he calleth worldly men, the ſworn vaſſals of the Beaſt, the children of the earth, wholy given to worldly things. This is Antichriſts Catholick Church here upon earth. What ſhall they doe? They ſhall rejoyce over the dead bodies of the martyrs, and ſend preſents one to another in token of joy, as they uſe to doe in times of publick triumph and victorie. But this is an inhumane, not to ſay a diveliſh wickednes, for to rejoyce at anothers harme, and inſult over the afflicted. It is (ſaith Rupertus) a moſt foule ſin for wicked men to rejoyce in their evill, and ungodly actions. But wherat ſhall they laugh? even at their own wickednes, which is indeed madd mirth, and to be aſhamed of. During the Councill of Conſtans, were kept publick bankets and ſhowes at the burning of the martyrs, as if they had overcome their enemies. And to this day as often as the Locuſts condemn the Saintes unto the fire, they keep holy dayes (as they call them) and feaſtings, they ſing Te Deum Laudamus: and gratulate each other by ſending gyfts, and preſents one to another. We therefore ought not to be offended at this furious mirth of the Beaſt & his followers, but rather to be confirmed in the faith: for in this very thing, he doth manifeſtly ſhew himſelf to be the great Antichriſt.
Now what is the cauſe of their joy? Becauſe theſe two prophets tormented the in inhabitants of the earth] This indeed Antichriſt pretends, as if the martyrs were juſtly put to death, deprived of Buriall, and burnt to aſhes, becauſe they were troubleſome by their preaching, diſturbers of the publick peace, guilty of crimen laeſae majeſtatis, blaſpheming God and the Saintes, and oppoſing the Catholick Church. But it is a lying pretence, for the Goſpell is the doctrine of peace, Antichriſts falſe pretence for his tyranny.of comfort and life.
The witneſſes therefore labour by their doctrine to keepe the inhabitants of the earth from eternall torments, and to direct them into the way that leadeth to eternall ſalvation. Neither is it any fault in the witneſſes that the ungodly are offended at the doctrine of Chriſt, pricked in their conſciences, tormented and become ontragious, but it is by their own malice: who, becauſe they love falſhood, hate the light, as ſuch which have ſore eyes cannot endure the brightneſſe of the ſunne. The Goſpell therefore torments the wicked by accident, For in its ſelf it comforts, & makes glad the hearts of the faithfull.
Hence we learn, that it is the propertie of Antichriſtians, falſly to impute that unto the witneſſes of the truth, which is proper unto themſelves: For it ſaid is in Chap. 9.5. It was given to the Locuſts not to kill but torment men: ſo then it is the proper worke of the Locuſts to torment and vexe the conſcience by their deceits: And yet they are not aſhamed falſely to accuſe the witneſſes of Chriſt, as if they tormented the ſons of men.
11. But after three dayes] We have heard the martyrdome of the witneſſes, and the triumph of Antichriſtians thereat. Now let us heare the cataſtrophe or change. The witneſſes that were ſlaine are delivered and reſtored to life and glorie: the adverſaries amazed, tremble and periſh. Which ſerves to comfort us againſt Antichriſts crueltie: conſidering that unto us a certaine deliverance is here ſhewed, but confuſion to the adverſaries. Let us therfore patiently ſuffer his tyrannie, for it ſhal neither dure long, nor hinder our ſalvation. For being overcome we conquer. Euſeb. lib. 4. hiſtor. cap. 12.This cauſed Antoninus the Emperour to forbid the governours of Aſia, to draw the Chriſtians before their tribunals, and puniſh them: becauſe, ſaith he, by dying they overcome, for they rather chooſe to die for Chriſt, then to live.
After three dayes] That is, as Rupertus ſaith well: After a little while, although it ſeem long, ſee v. 9. Firſt the miraculous vivification & glorification of the witneſses is deſcribed. Secondly, the effects following upon the enemies.
For the firſt: The ſpirit of life] That is their vital ſpirit by an Hebraiſme, or life, that is, the ſoule or ghoſt which they gave up at the hour of death is ſaid, to enter into them from God (that is, by a divine miracle) and that they ſtood upon their feet: which phraſes ſeem to be taken out of Ezech. 37: and ſhew both Gods omnipotencie, by which he reſtores the dead to life as oft as he pleaſeth: as alſo the immortalitie of the ſoule, which though ſeparated from the bodie, yet is not killed by tyrants, but doth live with God, & ſhal return from him into its own bodie againe. Now to the ſenſe.
The Papiſts take it for the miraculous reſtauration of the two witneſſes Enoch and Elias from death to life after three dayes: Papiſts opinion touching the vivification of the two witneſſes.And Ribera diſputeth how the raiſing and glorification of the witneſſes agrees with that of Hebr. 11. That without us they might not be conſummated, or perfected. But their fabulous opinion touching Enoch & Elias hath often been refuted, the which is here alſo manifeſtlie contradicted, in that the two witneſſes are ſaid to have tormented the inhabitants of the earth. Now it is abſurd to imagine that two poore prophets ſhould torment all the tribes, peoples, nations and tongues of the whole earth in the ſpace of three yeeres.
So that this dualitie of the witneſses (ſo to ſpeak) cannot be reſtrained to two individuals, or unto two preciſely.
Now however the vivification of the witneſses ſhall literallie come to paſſe in the end of the world, yet unto that the ſpirit here hath no reſpect at all. But by this vivification is ſignified a perpetuall reſtoring of witneſses unto the Church militant, viz: that in ſtead of ſuch whom Antichriſt puts to death, the Lord will raiſe up others to hold forth the teſtimonie of Chriſt, and ſtrongly oppoſe the Beasts kingdome. For when Antichriſt ſhal thinke that all Chriſts witneſſes are ſuppreſſed, then others reſtored to life ſhall renew againe the battle againſt him. As therfore Elias is ſaid to have lived againe in John Baptist, not by a Pythagorean foreign, or tranſmigration of the ſowle out of one bodie into another: but in condition or nature of office: becauſe John came in the power and ſpirit of Elias preparing the way for Chriſt: So the two witneſses: As for example, John Huſſe, and Jerome of Prague being killed by the Beast, they lived againe after three dayes & an half in Luther, Melanchthon, & others, &c. And to this purpoſe that of Huſse being led to his martyrdom doth excellently ſerve: At the end, ſaid he, of an hundred yeeres (which before God are ſcarſly three dayes) yee ſhall anſwer to God and to mee. He ſaid alſo, now indeed ye burn a Gooſe (for Huſse in the Bohemian tongue ſignifies a gooſe) but out of his aſhes ſhal ariſe a ſwanne, which yee ſhall not be able to rost. Foretelling that which afterward came to paſſe, for juſt ſo many yeeres after Huſſe was burned, Luther begane to oppoſe Popiſh pardons, which was the beginning of reformation, and bringing down of Popery.
This reſtoring of the witneſſes to life, ſerves for the conſolation of the Church militant: feeing there ſhall alwayes, (notwithſtanding all Antichriſtian perſecution) be ſome faithfull profeſſours of the truth, who ſhall ſtrongly fight for the glorie of Chriſt. So then if Antichriſt kill the two witneſſes, God will againe vivifie them, and make them to ſtand upon their feet, by raiſing up others in their place.
That which is added touching the Glorification of the witneſſes ſerves alſo to comfort us. For to whom Antichriſt ſhall deny the fellowſhip of men, to them God will vouchſafe a heavenly fellowſhip: ſuch as he ſhal exclude out of the world, God wil receive them up into paradiſe: they whom here he will not admit to be honourablie buried, them God will crown with the glory of everlaſting life. This is that which followeth v. 12.
12. And they heard a great voyce from heaven, ſaying unto them, Come up hither. And they aſcended up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies beheld them.
13. And the ſame houre was there a great eartquake, and the tenth part of the citie fell, and in the earthquake were ſlaine of men ſeven thouſand, and the remnant were afrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14. The ſecond woe is paſt, and behold, the third woe commeth quickly.
12. And they heard a great voyce] Not the enemies, but the witneſſes reſtored to life, heard this voyce. This ſhall be Chriſts voyce, who according to his promiſe will call his witneſſes unto him into glorie. It ſhalbe Great, becauſe of the power thereof: for it ſhal bring the witneſſes to glorie, and ſtrike a terrour into the adverſaries.
Come up hither] To me into my glory, that where I am, yee may be alſo. Ioh. 17.24.
And they aſcended up into heaven in a cloud] After Chriſts example, who aſcending into heaven was taken up and received by a cloude. 1 Theſſ. 4.17.And often the cloudes are called Gods chariot. Chriſt alſo ſhall return in a cloude to judgement: And we ſhall be caught in the cloudes to meet the Lord in the aire. Now to ſeek for other allegories in this cloude is needleſſe. Moreover this glorification of the Martyrs begins preſently at their departure out of this life, when their ſpirit goes unto the Lord: but ſhall be comſummated in the laſt day, the which was ſhadowed out before in Chap. 6. under the fift ſeale.
Moreover this alſo ſerves for the honour & credit of the witneſſes that the Lord will wonderfully preſerve their doctrine though condemned by Antichriſt as hereticall, and propagate the ſame far and neere in ſpite of all adverſarie power whatſoever. Thus the world ſhall know, that they were no deceivers, but the true witneſſes of Ieſus Chriſt. And therefore in this place the ſpirit doth animate the profeſſours of the Goſpel, leaſt being terrifyed by the tyrannie of Antichriſt they ſhould propheſie the more remiſſely. If he labours to put them to death, God wil reſtore them to life. If he caſt reproach on them in this world: God will crown them with glorie in heaven: For bleſſed are yee when men perſecute you: rejoyce, for great is your reward in heaven, ſaith Chriſt, Matt. 5.12.
And great fear ſhall fall upon them] He rehearſeth ſixe kindes of effects touching the enemies.
First, 1 The feare of the adverſaries.a great fear fell on them. On whom? VponUpon the beholders] A paraphraſe of the adverſaries: before they beheld the dead witneſſes with delight: but ſuddenly they ſhall tremble at their vivification. What is the cauſe of this great fear? becauſe they ſhall feele (but to late) that they warred not with poore man, but with God himſelfe. And therefore they ſhall ſtand in fear of their kingdome, treaſures, praebends, and kitchins. They ſhall dread the judgement of God, but not eſcape it. This is wonderfull in our eyes: The wicked when they moſt rage, do then tremble, & are forced even to fear them whom they proſecute with all manner of hatred. Thus the Scribes perſecuting Chriſt, were afraid, Ioh. 11.47.What ſhall we doe? for this man doth many miracles: If we let him thus alone all men will beleeve on him, and the Romanes ſhall come, &c. Thus likewiſe the chiefe Prieſts feared the Apoſtles whō they perſecuted: What ſhall we doe (ſay they) to theſe men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been don by them is manifest, neither can we denie it, &c. Thus therefore howſoever convinced in their conſciences, yet they beleeve not the Goſpel, but hate it the more by how much they are affraid: becauſe they ſee that their lyes and impoſtures are diſcovered and confuted by the truth and light of the Goſpel. Therfore why ſhould we feare the Antichriſtians, who though they ſeem outwardly to carie forth the matter with a high ſpirit: yet inwardly they tremble, and are tormented with the wound of an evill conſcience. Now ſuch fears are not prolonged: For what the wicked fear, that comes ſuddenly upon them.
And their enemies beheld them] The ſecond effect of the witneſſes glorification, The aſtonishment of the adverſaries.is the aſtoniſhment of their enemies. For ſeeing them reſtored from death to life, and their reproach turned into glory, they ſtand amazed: alluding (as ſome thinke) to that in Wiſd. 5.1. The just man ſhall ſtand with great boldneſſe before the wicked, who ſeeing it ſhall be troubled with terrible feare, and ſhall be amazed at the ſtrangeneſſe of his ſalvation, ſaying is this he whom we had ſometimes in deriſion and a proverb of reproach: How is he numbred with the children of God, and his lot is among the Saintes? Thus the wicked ſhall ſee Chriſt whom they have crucified with amazement, becauſe beeing convicted of their ungodlines and confounded with ſhame, they ſhall feel his revenging hand. Hitherto the Romiſh Antichriſts have ſeen the martyrs whom they burnt at Constance, to be againe reſtored to life in Luther, Melanchthon, Martyr, & Calvin. They ſee them with amazement at this day glorified in their doctrine, the which is both lifted up (they in vain reſiſting the ſame) and dayly propagated far and neere to the honour and glory of God through diverſe provinces of the Chriſtian world.
13. And there was a great earthquake the ſame hour] The third, fourth and fift effects doe ſhew the great deſtruction which Antichriſts kingdome receiveth by the reſtauration of the witneſſes, as alſo declare the cauſe of the feare and trembling of the wicked. They are afraid leaſt that ſhould come to paſſe, which already is, viz. that the propheſying beeing renued, a ruin ſhould befal their kingdom, as it is at this day.
The ſame houre] Some copies have it the ſame day (to wit) the witneſſes were vindicated, that is, a little after the witneſſes were ſuppreſſed by Antichriſt, God reſtored them again.
A great earthquake] In Chap. 6.12. at the opening the ſixt ſeal, Antichriſt rayſed a great earthquake againſt Chriſt: A great earthquakewhen Pope Boniface the third being declared VNIVERSAL Biſhop of the Church by Phocas the tyrant, cauſed an horrible ſhakeing of the Chriſtian world by bringing all Biſhops and Churches under his yoak. For thereupon followed an univerſall change and miſerable deformitie of the Church. But in the laſt times Chriſt likewiſe will raiſe a great earthquake againſt Antichriſt, when by the preaching of the Goſpell he ſhall ſo ſhake his kingdome, as that it ſhall totter and come to ruin, howbeit he had by his deceit and tyrannie formerly ſo eſtabliſhed it, as if it had been invincible.
To this earthquake appertaine the ſeditions, warres, tumults, diſputations, alterations of opinions & great contentions raiſed up about religion throughout the whole Papacie after the reſtitution of the Goſpel. And indeed ſuddenly after the Councill at Conſtance, an earthquake grievouſly ſhooke the Papacy. For the Bohemians to revenge the cruel death of their two witneſſes, fell in a hoſtile manner upon the Popiſh Clergy, ſuppreſſing the armies of the Empire ſent againſt them, and obtained many ſingular victories over their adverſaries. It is true the earthquake ceaſed a little while after the Councill of Baſil by the COMPACTATA (as they called them) graunted unto the Bohemians: But not long after by the preaching of Luther in Saxonie: of Zwinglius in Helvetia: of Viret in France, there followed a more grievous ſhaking, accompliſhing that which here followeth.
And the tenth part of the great citie fell] This Ribera purpoſely paſſeth by: The ruin of the tenth part of the city.for he would not expound that, which evidētly happened unto the Papacy by the preaching of the Goſpel. For the great city is the kingdome of the Romane Antichriſt, wherof Rome, Babylon & Sodome is the head, the which indeed was not wholy overthrown by the preaching of Luther & other miniſters of the Goſpell, but the tenth part thereof fell, that is the juriſdiction, religion and tyranny of the Pope was much diminiſhed through Germany, together with his revenues, annuities, Commendums & holy tribute. For Germany by embracing the Goſpel returned from Antichriſt to Chriſt, & hence worthily is accounted the tenth pa… of the great city.
But thou wilt ſay, Germany is not wholy fallen off from the Pope: For it yet hath very many Archbiſhops, Biſhops, & others of the hierarchy, ſworn Vaſſals of Antichriſt. What then? ſeing ſom other whole kingdoms, as Great Brittain, Denmarck, & Sweden: or in part, as France, Poland, Pannonia, have ſupplyed that defect, by rejecting the Pope and embracing the faith. Theſe things are ſo cleare as that they cannot be denyed. The fift effect followeth.
Alcaſar here underſtands this great earthquacke to be the converſion of Ieruſalem unto the faith. But indeed he rightly laughs at the fiction of the ruin of the tenth part thereof at Antichriſts comming.
And there were ſlaine ſeven thouſand names of men] Names, are here put, The ſlaughter of Antichriſtian.for perſons as Chap. 3.4. A definite number, for a great many: for the number ſeven, is perfect: as in the hiſtory of Elias, God ſaith, he had reſerved to himſelf ſeven thouſand, who had not bowed their knees to Baal, that is, very many. Now theſe names are the Antichriſtian adverſaries, who periſhed by the ruin of the tenth part of the city. But how? ſome underſtand it of the bloody warres & commotions which Antichriſt to his own hurt hath rayſed up againſt the Goſpel. For many millions of his followers have been conſumed by this meanes, to the exceeding loſſe of the great city. But perhaps not leſſe, but rather more blood of the Saintes hath been ſhed by Antichriſtians in the civil warrs of France, Spaine, England, the Low countries and other where.
Others therfore do rather underſtand it of the ſpiritual deſtruction of the adverſaries by the preaching of the Goſpel: for by it many of the Papiſts beeing the more blinded, hardened and enraged have eternallie periſhed.
Brightman interprets it of the Popiſh Clergy, who by the riſing of the Goſpel being ſpoiled of the revenues & yeerly profits of their Monaſteries & Colleges, were bereaved of their delight & former luxuriouſnes, & put to ſuch an exigent, as either to labour, or ſtarve for hunger: But I rather allow the former, becauſe of that which followeth.
And the remnant were afrighted] The laſt effect is good, The converſion of many to the faith of the Goſpel.noting the converſion of the …eſt of men from Popery unto the faith of Chriſt. For the ruin of the tenth part of the great Antichriſtian eity, ſhall be the building of Chriſts little city. Many therfore in the forſaid provinces obſerving the wonderful work of God in preſerving & propagating the Goſpel, were afraid any lōger to reſiſt the truth, but gave glory to God by forſaking the lies & idols of the Papacy. Now touching theſe things we may behold them as in a table, by which we have a plain deſcription the very events, partly in the hiſtories of our times, and partly by what we dayly ſee with our own eyes, ſo that we need not have recourſe unto ancient commētaries.
14. The ſecond woe is paſt] This is a tranſition from the third Act unto the fourth.
Woe] He notes the calamities by the effect: for calamities cauſe woe unto the fleſh. In Chap. 8.23. an Angel flying through the midſt of heaven proclaimed three woes to happen under the ſounding of three trumpets. The first woe under the fift trumpet were the calamities of the Godlie under the Weſtern Antichrist, even from the time of his riſing until the Council of Conſtance. The ſecond woe of the ſixt trumpet is yet to this day under both Antichriſts viz. the Turke in the East, and the Pope in the West.
The first did praefigure the calamities of the godly alone. The ſecond the calamities commō both to the godly & the wicked. Now followes the third woe, only belonging unto the wicked, & which ſhal come to paſſe under the laſt trumpet.
Is paſt] Not in event, ſeeing it was then to come, but in viſion & deſcription, as if he ſhould ſay, hitherto I have deſcribed the ſecond woe: the third remaines to be deſcribed.
Commeth quickly] For ſhall come. This he oppoſeth to the ſecurity of the Antichriſtians, as Chap. 1. v. 1.3. And if then they were not far off, how much neerer are they now to us after ſo many ages, the ſeventh Angel being at hand, to ſummon men to judgment by the laſt trumpet.