Commentary on Revelation, Vision 7
The Preface of the Seventh ƲISION.
Which is a Summary Repetition of the former, touching the binding, unlooſing, and judging of the DRAGON: And of the Heavenly Ieruſalem, Contained in CHAPTERS 20.21.22.
THe laſt Viſion doth ſummarily repreſent the Vniverſall Hiſtorie of the Church, from the publishing of the Goſpell among the Gentiles, untill the glorification of the Church, under the type of a Dragon bound a thouſand years in hell: afterward let looſe: at laſt with all the ungodly caſt into the lake of fire: alſo of the new heaven and earth, and of the Heavenly Jeruſalem built with ineffable magnificence, from Chap. 20. unto verſe 6. of Chap. 22.
This Viſion therefore being as it were a Recapitulation of the former, doth anſwer indeed in reſpect of all the four Acts, unto the three Vniverſals of the ſecond, third, and fourth: but as it reſpects the two latter Acts, the two particulars of the fift and the ſixt: Laſtly unto all in reſpect of the laſt Act, which is the Cataſtrophe of the condition of the wicked, and the calamities of the Church, becauſe it propoundeth the ſame very clearly by a far more evident Hypotypoſis or deſcription of the laſt judgement, the torments of the wicked, the redemption and glorification of the Saints.
The firſt Act of this Viſion is a Propoſition, touching the overthrow of Paganiſme through the coming of Chriſt, and the propagation of the Goſpell unto the Gentiles, Satan being bound by the hand of Chriſt, that hee might no longer ſeduce them: and of the various condition of the Church, partly bloody under the Romane Tyrants, by whom many millions of the Saints were ſlaine with the ſword for the Goſpels ſake: partly moſt corrupted and afflicted under the Romane Antichriſt, who forced all to worship him and his Image, and to receive his Character: all that worshipped not, or received not his character he moſt cruelly perſecuted.
This Act is contained in the foure firſt verſes of this Chapter: The analogyand in the firſt part indeed touching the binding of the Dragon, that hee might no more ſeduce the Nations, it anſwereth to the firſt Seale of the ſecond Viſion, where Chriſt riding on the white horſe of the goſpell, conquered among the nations, Chap. 6. ver. 2. but in ſpeciall to the woman traveling to bring forth the man-child, and to Michael fighting for the woman and overcoming the Dragon, in the third Viſion, Chap. 12. But in the other part touching them that were beheaded, it anſwereth to the ſecond Seal of the ſecond Viſion, where there came forth a red horſe, the Church as it were being in blood, Chap. 6. ver. 4. and to the three former Trumpets of the third Viſion, Chap. 8. ver. 7. Laſtly in the third part, touching them that worshipped not the Beaſt, it anſwereth to the fift Trumpet of the third Viſion, Chap. 9. ver. 1. and to the raging of the Beaſt in the fourth Viſion, Chap. 13. ver. 1.
The ſecond Act is an Antitheſis of the Propoſition, ſo far as it reſpects the two latter parts, declaring the conſolation of the godly that were beheaded for the teſtimony of Ieſus, and killed by the Beaſt for denying to worship him, that they ſhould live and reign with Chriſt in bleſſedneſſe.
This Act is mingled with the former, The Analogy.ver. 4. and is continued verſ. 5.6. and anſwereth partly to the fift Seale of the ſecond Viſion, where white robes were given to the ſoules of the Martyrs, crying under the Altar, &c. Chap. 6. v. 9. partly to the joyfull multitude of the Sealed ones, in the ſame Viſion, Chap. 7.10. and to the ſaid multitude of Sealed ones ſtanding with the Lamb on the mountaine, in Viſion fourth, Chap. 14. ver. 1. as alſo to the multitude of harpers ſtanding upon the Sea of glaſſe and ſinging to God, in the Fift Viſion, Chap. 15. ver. 2.
The third Act is an amplification of the calamities and Combats of the Church after the thouſand yeeres, and the looſing of the Dragon under both Antichriſts, viz. the Weſtern, who by the ſeducement of Satan, shall under the name of Chriſt bring in new Pagamſme: the Eaſtern alſo, who under the name of Gog and Magog shall moſt grievouſly trouble the Chriſtian world yet he shall not be able to overthrow the Church, God from Heaven protecting the ſame, and caſting fire upon the adverſaries, Chap. 20. verſe 7.8. and the firſt part of verſe 9.
This Act anſwereth to the Sixt Trumpet of the third Viſion, The Analogy.touching the foure Angels let looſe at Euphrates, and with an innumerable Army waſting the third part of the earth, chap. 9.14.
Laſtly the fourth Act shalbe the Cataſtrophe, or end of the State of all things, terrible indeed and mortall to the Wicked: becauſe they shall all be caſt with their head, the Dragon, into the lake of fire, that they might ceaſe to rage againſt Chriſt, and that in the laſt judgement, which is repreſented by a moſt evident Type, from the latter member of the ninth verſe of the twentieth Chapter, unto the end of the ſaid Chapter. But joyfull and plauſible to the church and godly, becauſe, the face of heaven and earth being renewed in the heavenly Ieruſalem, they shall enjoy eternall happineſſe and glory with God and the Lamb: Chap. 21. the whole, and the firſt five verſes of Chapter 22.
This Act therefore hath two parts: in the former touching the punishments of the ungodly it anſwereth to the Harveſt and Vintage of the fourth Viſion, ch. 14. and to the ſeventh Viall of the haile like Talents, in the fift viſion chap. 16.21, and to the victory of Chriſt caſting the Beaſt and the Falſe-prophet, and Kings of the Earth with their Armies into the lake of fire and brimſtone, in the ſixt Viſion, Chap. 19.20. In the other part touching the felicity of the godly, it anſwereth unto the end of the ſecond Viſion, deſcribing the bleſſedneſſe of the godly before the throne ſerving God day and night, Chap. 7.
This is the true Order of the laſt Viſion, which indeed ſeemes to be exceeding obſcure in the three firſt Acts thereof, and hath diverſly troubled all Interpreters: But being compared with the former, after the manner which I have shewed, it shall receive much light, that wee may not curiouſly or dangerouſly grope in darkneſſe.