Commentary Upon Revelation, Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
THe ſeuenth Trumpet ſounding, the effect thereof was ſummarily foreſhewed in a congratulatorie ſong, & ſignes expreſſing the maine points of the euent to enſue, in the end of the laſt Chapter. Now hence through this Booke (to the generall concluſion of al) that is largely and particularly exponed: in the ſtory of two great wonders or ſignes in Heauen. The firſt in the 12. 13. and 14. Chapters: the other thence to the end. The firſt ſigne or wonder hath the ſtory of the enemies, and condition of God his Church oppreſſed by them, & in ſome degrees comming out vnderunder that bondage. The ſecond hath the ſtory of full victory, in the perfect ouerthrow of the aduerſaries, and the Church her goodly and gracefull ſtate thereupon. The firſt in the 12. 13 and 14. Chapters, is of one time with that ſtory, which in the fixe ſeales and ſixe trumpets of the ſeuenth hath beene ſhewed: but yet is not the ſame. And where it would appeare to hauehave but one and the ſame matter; yet the purpoſe and reſpect of handling is much different, wherof ſee more vponupon Chapter 14. Sect. 10. And here this Narration commeth exceeding fitly, both for time and matter. For time, becauſe, albeit it be of things fallen out before the ſeuenth Trumpet, yet ſo cleare a ſight of them was not got, till vponupon the blaſt of it the Tabernacle of teſtimony opened in heauen, afforded to God his children a more plaine ſight of the enemies, their courſe & ſucceſſe of working. For matter, becauſe, that vponupon the ſouuding of the ſeuenth Trumpet, ſo great a ioy of the Church vttered in ſuch a ſong, vponupon preception of ſo great a deliuerance to her ſelfe, and deſtruction of her enemies, requireth for cleare vnderſtanding thereof, and how great the worke is, that theſe enemies be knowne, and their dealings: and to endeare the more to the Church her owne; deliuerance, that her troubles and wreſtlings with theſe enemies bee alſo ſeene: that ſo, both the equity of the former iudgements, and ſpecially of this laſt and finall wrath to come on them, may bee cleare. Till now the Story hath beene of wrath vponupon the world, from which the ſealed ones were free, the Church her ſufferings nothing, or but ſparingly touched: the Story of the Witneſſes, Chapter 11. being deliuered but as they were a Woe vponupon the world; but now in theſe three ſubſequent Chapters, the Story of the Church her ſufferings, and of the parties by whom, (vponupon whome, and for which came all the former woes, and now finall wrath is denounced) is moſt pertinently, both for time and matter inſerted. The not aduerting of this purpoſe of the holy Ghoſt hath bredde to many in reading this Booke great obſcurity, while they tooke not vppe the ſweet and plaine way thereof, ſo ledde, as falling in againe, in the end of the ſoureteenth Chapter, to the point where it left in the end of the eleuenth, (for inſerting of this neceſſary Story) the ſummary execution is, their preponed of that which in the end of the eleuenth Chapter, was ſummarily denounced. And ſo in the ſecond great Wonder or Signe ſeene in Heauen, throughout the fifteene, ſixeteene, ſeuenteene, eighteene, nineteene and twenty Chapters, this effect of the ſeuenth Trumpet, as touching the deſtruction of enemies, and Church her victory is largely exponed, and in the twenty one, and twenty two, as touching her gracefull and peaceable ſtate thereupon.
2 The firſt wonder or ſigne is double, according as therein the enemies inuaders, and partie aſſailed, are expreſſed. The party aſſailed is the woman and her ſeed, firſt and laſt. The aſſailing enemy, is the Dragon, by himſelfe openly, and by his Lieutenant, the beaſt of his power, couertly. Againſt the woman and her firſt ſeede, is ſet the Dragon, directly in this Chapter. Againſt her in her other ſeed, the beaſt of his power, throne and authority, in the next Chapter. This is that warre proclaimed in Paradiſe. Gen. 3. 15.In this Chapter are; firſt, the deſcription of the parties by their habit, and diſpoſition to doe. Secondly, the euent; which maketh way to the next enemy in the next Chapter. The party aſſailed, is the woman, in habit clothed with the Sunne, treading the Moone, crowned with twelue Starres. In diſpoſition of preſent endeuour, big with child, trauelling, pained, and crying through paine. The aſſailing party, for habit, is a great redde Dragon, hauing ſeuen heads crowned, tenne hornes, and a taile. His endeauour to doe, is, he caſteth ſtars from heauen with his taile, and ſtandeth before the woman to deuoure her child with his heads.
3 The euent hereof is (according to the ordinary forme of Scripture) firſt Summarilie proponed in the 5. and 6. verſes. And next, thenceforth more largely cleered. And this euent is double. The childe is borne and exalted: and the woman flieth. In the ſummarie propoſition of this double euent, the childe his quality, dignity, and exaltation to high eſtate is proponed: and the womans flght, by the place, whither; her condition in it, and time of this her condition, is deſcribed.
4 Hauing, thus ſummarily in the 5. and 6. verſes, proponed this double euent: he ſheweth after, how it fell out, and by what meanes. And firſt how it came, that the childe ſo narrowly watched, and by ſo ſtrong an enemie, yet, not onelyonly eſcapeth, but is exalted to great honour. This, of the childe commeth by a great battell in heauen. wherein are the Captaines of either ſide, their Armies, and the euent of the conflict. The Generall Captaine of the one ſide is Michael: his Armie, are his Angels. The Captaine and Army oppoſite, are, the Dragon and his Angels. The euent of their conflict, is, the Dragon is foild, and the degree of the foile is, that he and his Angels are ſo deiected, as they hauehave no more place in heauen. This is cleared by two contrary effects. The one, in the heauenlie Citizens of ioy: the other, in the Dragon of rage. The ioy of the heauenly Citizens is ſet foorth in their ſong of victory: which victorie, is amplified by the greatneſſe, cruelty, ſubtiltie, maliciouſneſſe, enmity, and peruerſe diligence of the Dragon, who is ouercome: by the nobleneſſe of the victorie, for the price of it: by the Souldiers conſtant ſuffering to attaine it, which endeareth it the more: and laſtly, by the miſerable condition of the earthlie ſort through this his foile. Thus, is declared how the child eſcaped, and was exalted. Next is ſhewed, how the ſecond part of the generall euent, that is, the womans flight, did come. The Dragon his rage for his foile, and miſgiuing endeauour againſt the Childe, ſtirreth him to peiſecute the woman. Thereupon ſhee flieth, being healped thereto by the meanes giuen her of two winges, Of that great Eagle. And her flight, heere, as before in the ſummarie propoſition, is cleered by the place of her retrait, her condition there, and the time thereof. This rage of the Dragon againſt the woman, hath two degrees. The firſt is, hee perſecuteth her, wherethrough ſhee is brought to flie, by the meanes giuen her of the winges. The ſecond degree is, his endeuour, for her ouerthrow in her flight: the floud caſt out againſt her. This double rage is eluded; the firſt, by the wings; the ſecond, by the helpe of the earth, which ſwalloweth the flood. This generall euent of all this miſgiuing endeauour againſt childe and woman, worketh in the Dragon increaſe of rage, whereby he is ſtirred to make warre againſt the reſt of her Seede. Againſt theſe (hauing miſgiuen in his open dealing againſt her firſt ſeede) he ſtirreth vp that beaſt, whoſe riſing and working to behold, Iohn ſtandeth on the Sea ſhoare.
5 I hauehave ioined together, and at length, the reſolution of this Chapter, the miſtaking whereof, in my iudgement, hath marred all the accommodation heere, and much obſcured all the reſt of this Propheſie. The right accommodation ſhall yet bee the more cleare, if wee obſerue after what manner, in this Propheſie, the holy Ghoſt deſcribeth the enemies of the Church, and whence the whole frame of ſpeech, in this Chapter, is taken. Firſt, then, the courſe of the Church her ſufferings, and her enemies, by whom, is framed to the courſe of the old Teſtement: wherein, the firſt great enemie was Phaaro. The ſecond great foe was Babel, and theſe Beaſtes in Daniel. Ezech. 48. & 49. & Dan. 7. & 11.Of which, the laſt extreme enemy, was Gog and Magog, euen the Kings of Syria: and of them, moſt of all, Antiochus Epiphanes. To theſe their enemies, and the old Churches ſufferings by them, that heere in the ſtory of the Chriſtian Church her foes and ſufferings, the Spirit alludeth, it is moſt cleare. To moue vsus to compare and finde not onelyonly light heere, but to ſee alſo that theſe former were ſtamps of greater things to come. Now all the ſpeech of this Chapter, is from the ſtate of the Church in Egypt: which, in her infancy there, was as a woman big with childe, and crying through cruell burdens: Pharao that great Dragon, euen that great Leniathan, firſt Pſal. 74. 13. 14. Iſai. 51. 9. Exod 1. 10. 16 Exod. 12.wrought, wiſely with them, as with his taile, and next ſtood cruelly, ready to deuoure all her Male Children. But Michael fought for them, and in the blood of the lambe, they ouercame, and all the firſt borne of Egypt are ſlaine. The Church flieth, as carried vponupon Eagles winges, to the wilderneſſe where ſhe is fed with Manna. In her flight, Deut. 32. 11.the Dragon Pharao minded to hauehave drowned her in the redde Sea, but the earth helped her: for earthlie Pharao and his earthly Army dranke vp that floud. And all this is to make vsus vnderſtand, by conformity of caſe, that here, the firſt great enemie and ſufferings of the Chriſtian Church, in her infancy are ſet forth.
6 The woman, is the Primitiue Apoſtolike Church, glorious in the cleare light of the ſunne of righteouſneſſe, whom ſhe put on for her wiſdome and iuſtification. Treading all borrowed, ſpotted, changeable, tranſitory and light things vnderunder foot: glorying onelyonly in the Chap. 21 14.light miniſtred by the twelue Apoſtles, which is her crowne. Shee is big with childe of all peoples, whom ſhe was begetting to God, through obedience of faith in Chriſt. For her great troubles and ſufferings, ſhe is ſaid to Gal. 5. Iſai. 66. 7. Iſai. 54. 1. Mich. 4. 10.be in trauelling and to cry of paine, trauelling in birth of all nations, till Chriſt ſhould be formed in thē. The ſpeech is frō the Prophets, with whō it is ordinarily in this ſenſe.
7 Now, againſt this woman, according to the old warre proclaimed in Paradiſe, is ſet in apparance, a very vnequall match, but that Michael fighteth the battell. This aduerſary, is Satan. (for ſo the ſpirit interpreteth verſe 9.) Hee is a great Dragon, for great malice, force, and ſubtilty. He is red, for his cruell and bloudy diſpoſition: as who was a murtherer from the beginning Ioh. 8. 44.Hee hath ſeuen heades and tenne hornes (the armes of Rome) becauſe of this the Diuell his fury, againſt the Chap. 17.Primitiue Church, the Emperours of Rome were the inſtruments and executors. And therefore, to ſhew Rome in that ſtate of perſecuting Emperours, the heades are crowned, for an euident diſtinction of Rome then, from Rome thereafter in the beaſt. The heads and hornes are put in both, that we may know what ſtate the ſpirit deſigneth: but by the different note of theſe heades and hornes. To take vp the different time, and condition in time. Againſt the Primitiue Church, the Diuell, albeit working by Rome, is made the direct enemie, becauſe then, Chriſtianity was directly oppugned, and open rage practiſed againſt the name of Chriſt: Heatheniſme, and worſhip of Diuels, plainely maintained. From which open dealing and licentious murthering, Satan being tyed vp afterwards by power of the Goſpell: hee dealt more couertly by the beaſt of his authority, vnderunder name and profeſſion of Chriſtianity, and pretence of Chriſt his power, deceiuing men of the world: till, after a thouſand yeeres, the reuiued light of the Goſpell breaking out a freſh, and diſcouering the deceit of the beaſt, hee is ſo chafed, as hee falleth to murthering of Saints. In which reſpect the Dragon is ſaid to be looſed Chap. 20.the ſecond time, Chap 20. and thereby the beaſt falling to open murther, becommeth of his colour, Chapter 17. Of theſe heades and hornes, ſee vponupon the 13. and 17. Chapters.
8 This Dragon then, imployeth head and taile, that is, cruelty and lies: for, hee was a lier and murtherer from the beginning. By his taile, that is, by his alluring deceit, whether effectuall error, or deceitfulneſſe of honours, riches, and worldly luſts, hee inſinuateth himſelfe amongſt theſe, who ſeeme ſhining ſtarres of heauen, and draweth them to fall from light and grace, and to become earthly: ſuch as goe out of the Church (that is heauen) but were not of it. Marke alwaies, that Satan his firſt attempt againſt the Church, is with his taile amongſt the ſtarres. Thus he ſtirreth his taile. With his heads, that is, his power and force, hee ſetteth himſelfe, firſt, againſt the childe, to deuoure him in the bearing. Whereby, the fury and rage of Satan, by the Romane Emperours, to keepe the Church of Chriſt from riſing, is ſignified: notwithſtanding whoſe malice and cruelty, the Iſai. 66. 7.childe, and a man childe (alluding to the ſtory of Aegypt, and alſo, for that, as Chriſt was in perſon, and as the paſchall Lambe, and other expiatory ſacrifices of the flocke; ſo all Chriſtians, in Chriſt Ieſus are conſecrated as males, for perfection of ſtrength and ſpirituall vigor) is borne, that is, the Church is brought foorth to the partaking of the honour, firſt proper to Chriſt, and in him to all his Pſalm. 149. 9.members. To rule all Nations with a rod of iron, Chapt. 2. 27. And not onelyonly thus brought foorth, but, in euident preſence and power of God ruling in and amongſt them, eſtabliſhed here in earth againſt all Satan his fury, and viſibly ſeparated to God, from the reſt of the world; becomming Kings and Prieſts to God, in Chriſt: ſo as, according to Chriſt his owne prediction, the ſonne of man was ſeene come in his Kingdome with power, by his Church raiſed in the world. The throne, as the iron rod, is firſt and properly Chriſt his right, but it is alſo the honour of the Saints in him, to whom hee giueth a Kingdome, as he hath receiued one of the father: and to whom Iohn 17. 22. Chap. 3. 21.he giueth to ſit in his throne, as he ouercame and ſitteth in his fathers throne. For euen here, we ſit with him in the higheſt places. So the taking vp of the childe, is the erection of the Church amongſt men viſibly: in that ſame ſenſe that the two Witneſſes were bid come vp hither, Chap. 11. And the caſting of the Dragon from heauen, is all one thing with this. For the exalting of the childe, is the deiecting of the Dragon from heauen: and the deiection of the Dragon, is the vptaking of the child. Satan is ſaid to be in heauen, when, ſo by lies and error he hath preuailed in the viſible Church, as no apparant, or very ſmall face thereof is ſeene. Like as the Church, is in the earth (euen where Satan his throne is) when it is ſo compaſſed with error and ignorance, as it appeareth Chap. 2. 13.not, till it be ſaid, come vp hither: that is, till God, by purity of worſhip and open profeſſion thereof, make his true Church viſibly ſeparated from the contagion of the worldy ſort. And euen in this caſe, Satan is deiected from heauen, and ſent amongſt his owne earthly ones. He is ſaid to fight in heauen, when by ſlight and might, he laboreth to keepe downe ſo the true Church, as it can not bee diſcerned from his company: and is deiected thence, when truth openly in the Church is maintained, ſo as he can hauehave no place for dominion, but amongſt the Mat. 8. 31.children of diſobedience. For beeing caſt out of men, hee goeth madlings in the ſwine of the world, and ſhut out of God his houſe, he furiouſly miſtrāmeth his owne: putting forth his rage where hee may, ſeeing hee cannot where hee would. Woe to the Inhabitants of the earth. This is it, which maketh, that where euer the Goſpell is purely preached, there immediately by Sathan are raiſed ſtirres and tempeſts. For, while hee brooketh all peaceably, Luke 11. 21.hee is at eaſe: but when that ſtronger commeth, who ſpoileth his houſe, then hee chafeth and becommeth mad in his Inſtruments. This euent Chriſt in theſe ſame words foretelleth; ſo as we need not doubt of the right ſenſe. Now is the iudgement of this world, now ſhall Iohn 12. 31.the Prince of this world bee caſt out. And in another place ſpeaking of the effect of the Goſpell truely preached. I ſaw Sathan fall from the heauen like lightning.Luk. 10. 18.
9 This victory is by Michael and his Angels fighting in heauen, that is, by Chriſt who is Michael our Prince, and the Angels of the Churches, Apoſtles, and faithfull Paſtors fighting by the powerfull preaching of Dan. 10. 21.the Goſpell againſt Sathan & his Miniſters of darkenes, heathen Philoſophers, heretikes and all ſuch: for Chriſtianity, is a warfare againſt Principalities and powers, & againſt beaſts, wherin we muſt all fight the good fight of faith; and ſtriue for that victory which ſtandeth in ſaluation of the elect from God in Chriſt, and in the foile of Sathan, and that by the bloud of the Lambe, apprehended by true faith in the word of Ieſus his Teſtimony, with perſeuerance, and a ready offering of liues for his honour.
10 Now Sathan ſo deiected in rage, that thus againſt all his endeauors, the Church riſeth, ſetteth himſelfe to cruelly perſecute the ſame. For except in diſtinct conſiderations, the woman and child are all one: but that the holy Ghoſt will thus expreſſe, how Sathan firſt by craft and cruelty laboured to deſtroy the Church in the riſing that it ſhould not ſpread: whereof miſgiuing, and ſhee multiplying wonderfully, hee inforceth ſtill thereupon ragefull perſecution, The firſt and ſecond both are more then cleare in the perſecuting Emperours, and ſtate of the Church in that time. Now this ſecond endeuour againſt the Church is eluded, and the woman retired from his fury, but yet ſo as ſhee goeth to the wilderneſſe, this is to ſhew, how by the protection & maintenance of Conſtantine the Great, and his Succeſſors becomming Chriſtians, and who according to the Phraſe of the Prophets, are called that great Eagle (as the doubled Ezech. 17. Dan. 7. 4.Article foreign, and Conſtantine his peculiar ſurname, foreign, proue clearely) this open and furious perſecution was ſtayed, the ſoules receiuing long white robes, Chapter 6. but yet ſo as the great honour and riches, wherewith as with wings hee vponupon good intention endowed the Church as an occaſion to make her flie to the wilderneſſe, all true and ſincere religion, by degrees decaying in the viſible Church. And ſo by Sathan his craft (who now is bound vp a thouſand yeers) the beaſt ſtealeth in and ſitteth in the Temple of God. The true Church in the meane time lurking in the wilderneſſe, as Elias in the time of famine: and no more any face of true worſhippe appearing, then was in Iſraell Chap. 11. Sect. 3.that while; or then when the dayly ſacrifice was remoued, and the abhomination of deſolation erected in place thereof for a time, times, and halfe a time. Now, this flight was not in an inſtant, but by long and yet Dan. 7. 25. & 12. 7.ſenſible degrees. And therefore wee hauehave an other degree of Sathan his fury againſt the woman, after he ſeeeth her ſo furniſhed with wings, as he (being now chained Chapter 20.) could no more perſecute openly, or come at her. Hee caſteth a great floud out of his mouth after her to drowne her in her flight. This muſt bee a filthie floud which ſpringeth from ſo foule a fountaine. Hereby then is meaned not onelyonly that inundation of barbarous Nations, which in Sathan his intention no doubt were ſet forth to drowne the woman: but alſo all theſe poiſonable hereſies, whereof vponupon this reſtraint he ſpued out an Ocean: both which by God his prouidence turned to the deſtruction and puniſhment of the earthly ſort. For the bloody Romane Empire was ouerturned by theſe Nations; and the wicked of the worlde poiſoned with theſe hereſies. Thus, then Sathan miſgiuing of all his attempts againſt the woman and her firſt ſeed, and finding ſo little ſucceſſe in open dealing, from which alſo hee is now bound vp: hee prepareth a beaſt of ſtrange working to deceiue the world, and to make warre againſt the ſeed of ſucceeding times. Whereof Chapter 13. So as the whole ſumme of this Chapter is this. Sathan (ſeeing the Primitiue Apoſtolike Church by the cleare light of the ſunne of righteouſneſſe miniſtred by the Apoſtles, whereby all borrowed, ſpotted & tranſitory light was trod vnderunder, like to bring Nations to the obedience of faith; and ſo, to bring forth a church in the world, as hee who had long miſcarried all men, was now by the light of the Goſpell to be deiected from his place) hee vſeth all both craft and violence to impede the ſucceſſe of the Goſpel, and notwithſtanding it is ſo fruitfull through Chriſt his power, and endeauour of faithfull Miniſters, that the ſonne of man commeth in his Kingdome with power, and Sathan is dethroned. This maketh him in ragefull deſpite, not onelyonly to raiſe terrible broiles in the world to the earthes great woe, but to enforce alſo cruell perſecution againſt the Church: againſt which ſhee is armed with that great Eagle his wings, ſo as Sathan is reſtrained from open rage. His next endeauour therefore againſt her, thus protected is by inundation of barbarous nations, and poiſonable hereſie to drowne her: but this the Lord turneth on the world; yet ſo as the Church goeth to the wildernes and lurketh. Where-through the Beaſt in the next Chapter ſtealeth in to occupie City and Court, Chap. 11.