The Name Mark and Number of the Beast, Title page – To the reader 1
A Plain and Easie CALCULATION Of the NAME, MARK, and NUMBER of the Name Of the BEAST. Wherein these three Points are declared: First, The Name (in the Apocalyptical style) is no other, but the Universal Headship of the Beast, opposed to the Name, Power, and Headship of the Lamb. Secondly, The Number, in the same style, is the Number of Years to the setting up of this Name or Headship; in which respect it is called, The Number of the Name. Thirdly, The Truth of the Exposition is cleared, by agreement of all Particulars, both in the Text, and in the whole Prophecy; and by the Event of things, a sure Interpreter of Prophecy.
Humbly Presented To the studious Observers of Scripture-Prophecies, GOD'S Works, and the Times, By NATHANIEL STEPHENS, Minister of Penny-Drayton in Leicestershire.
Whereunto is prefixed, A Commendatory EPISTLE, written by Mr. Edm. Calamy.
LONDON: Printed by Ia. Cottrel, for Matth: Keynton, at the Fountain; Nath: Heathcoat, at the gilded Acorn, and Hen: Fletcher, at the three gilt Cups in S. Pauls Church-yard, 1656.
To the Reader.
THat which one faith of the Book of Leviticus, Hier. in Levit. Quot verba, tot mysteria; quot syllaba, tot sacramenta.may be also truly said of the Book of the Revelation, That it contains as many Mysteries as Words, and as many Sacraments as Syllables. Hence it was, that Calvin, P. Martyr, Bucer, Melancthon, and Luther, profess, That they durst not adventure upon the Interpretation of it, because of the difficulty they found in it. Hence it is also, that so many, by adventuring into this Sea, have made Shipwrack not onelyonly of their own Credit, but also of the Truth; and have rather revealed their own weakness, then the meaning of the Revelation. And yet notwithstanding, I dare not but much commend and incourage those that soberly, humbly, diligently and devoutly endeavor to finde out the meaning of this Book; especially when I consider that saying of the holy Ghost, Blessed is he that readeth, and… … they that hear the words of this Proph…y, and keep those things which are written therein.
OnelyOnly I crave leave to suggest, That whosoever will undertake to unfold these heavenly Mysteries, must carefully avoid three Rocks.
1. He must take heed of indulging too much to Fancy: For Fancy is not a sure Foundation to build Divine Interpretations upon. Many men have deceived themselves and others, by trusting too much unto the Luxuriancy of their Fancy. There is a learned man, that makes Eight Chapters (from the 4th to the 12th) to be Predictions of the Destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, &c. And he pleaseth his Fancy, making the Seals and the Trumpets to agree to this Conceit of his. But if those Visions were presented to Saint John in Domitians time, when he was Banished into Patmos (which was after the Destruction of Jerusalem) then surely this Fancy of his will prove a meer Dream and Delusion. Now that John was banished in Domitians time, and that he then had these Apocalyptical Visions made known to him, is the Opinion of Irenaeus, Tertullian, Eusebius, Hierome, and diversIren. lib. 2. c. 39. l. 3. c. 3. …us. l. 3. c. 23. Epiph. Haeres. 51. others. Indeed Epiphanius saith twice, That he was banished in the time of Claudius the Emperour: But Petavius, that Comments upon him, saith, That he was herein greatly mistaken. Paraeus saith, It was foreign Epiphanii, in putting down Claudius for Domitianus. Now to build such No…el Interpretations upon a Mistake of Epiphanius, must needs it self be a great Mistake.
2. He must take heed, that he doth not appropriate what is spoken in general concerning the Churches of Christ in the world, unto that particular Church and Nation in which he liveth. This hath been a common Error of many Interpreters. Hence it is, that a learned man makes one of the Angels that poured out the Vials, Rev. 16.to be Queen Elizabeth; another, The Lord Cecil, Lord Treasurer of England. Hence it is also, that we have been so much deceived in Expounding of the meaning of the two Witnesses, and of their eminent slaughter at the end of their prophesying in Sack-cloth: Every Nation, according to the several Persecutions which it hath been under, labouring to make the eminent slaughter of the Witnesses, to Syncronize with its sad condition. Some say, It is past: Others say, It is yet to come. And if I may be so bold as to interpose my judgement, I should conceive, That the latter of these two Opinions is the truest. For if what this Author not onelyonly saith, but solidly proves, be true, That the Roman Antichrist did not arise till 606 years after Christ: And if Antichrist must reign 1260 years; and if this eminent slaughter must not be till toward the end of the Prophecy of the Witnesses: then it will necessarily follow, That it must be many years before this eminent slaughter will happen.
3. He must take heed, that he be not too peremptory in determining of Times and Seasons; especially of such times which are yet to be fulfilled. Our Saviour Christ saith,Acts 1. 7. It is not for you to know the Times or the Seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. And we finde by sad Experience, That they that have been most confident in defining the time when the Jews shall be converted, and when Antichrist shall be destroyed, have been wofully deceived. One learned man makes the Conversion of the Jews to be in the year 1650: But we have lived to see this bold Assertion confuted. Another will have it to happen 1655; but this also we now know to be false. Another, upon very weak grounds, concludes, That it will be in the year 1656. Another in the year 1665. Such peremptory Assertions and Conclusions, argue great confidence, but are built upon such weak Foundations, that in the issue it will appear, That they have deceived both themselves and others.
The Reverend and Learned Author of this ensuing Tractate, hath undertaken a great and difficult task; that is, To unriddle not onelyonly the Name and Mark of the Beast, but also the Number of his Name: which he hath performed with so much Modesty, Humility, Industry, and Exquisite Care, that I am much assured, That whosoever will vouchsafe to read what he hath written, though it may be he will not accord with him in all that he saith; yet he will much commend his pains and learning, and bless God for the good he receiveth by it. It cost the Author (no doubt) a great deal of time to compose it: And it is pity that so much pains and study should not be exposed to Publick view. If Renowned and Learned Mr. VINES (to whom this Author was well known, and who had the perusal of this Work) were now alive, it should have had his publick Approbation: But he is now with God. And therefore give me leave in his stead (Christian Reader) to commend it to thy diligent perusal, and to accompany it with my Prayers to God, That that Holy Spirit which at first made known the Revelation unto Saint John, would reveal the meaning of it to thee, and me,
Your Servant in the Work of the LORD, Edm: Calamy.