A Plain Explanation of Revelation, Part 1
APOCALYPS, CAP. 1.
The Reuelation of IESVS CHRIST, which God gaue vntounto him, to ſhew vntounto his Seruants things which muſt ſhortly be done, which he ſent, and ſhewed by his Angell vntounto his ſeruant IOHN, &c.
AS the Prophet Daniel, in his time was raiſed vp of the Lord as an inſtrument to reueale to the Church of God in thoſe dayes, the difficulties to come vntounto the Church of the Iewes, that thereby the Church might be armed againſt thoſe troubles, as alſo to comfort them in the good iſſue thereof. So here the Apoſtle is ſtirred vp as an Inſtrument of the ſame, vntounto the Church of the Chriſtians, which he doth by the prophecie contained in this Booke.
In the beginning of this Booke is firſt ſet downe the excellencie of the Prophecie herein contained, and the inſtrument of the deliuery of it; which is, the Angell, and of the penning of it, which is Iohn himſelfe.
The excellencie of the Booke is ſet downe by the diuers commendations, to the inflaming of the mindes of the hearers to a diligent obſeruation of the matter contained in it.
Firſt, in that it is called a Reuelation, he noteth, that it is ſuch a thing, as that the wit of no man or Angell can attaine vntounto it without the ſpeciall manifeſtation of God.
Secondly, it is that which God giueth, and therefore muſt be a moſt excellent thing; and further, as it is Gods gift, ſo it was giuen by God the Father to Chriſt, to giuegive vntounto his ſeruants; namely, as hee was Mediator, and in that regard onelyonly it was reuealed to him: for, as he was God, he was equall to his Father in knowledge; now God the Father would giuegive nothing to Chriſt, but that which was moſt excellent.
Thirdly, it is commended in regard of the matter to be reuealed, to wit, that which was to come ſhortly or quickly, namely, in a ſhort time, before the end of the world, both in regard that they ſhould begin out of hand, and eſpecially in regard of God, for though in regard of vsus it ſhould ſeeme to be long, yet it is ſhort vntounto God.
The inſtrument by whom God declareth it to Iohn, is ſaid to be the Angell, to wit, the Angell of the couenant; which is Chriſt the Sonne of God, which is here ſaid to be Alpha and Omega, which is alſo a further commendation of the Booke.
Another argument of commendation is, that it was giuen to Iohn, a notable Miniſter, Apoſtle, and Witneſſe of the Miſtery of the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus, to whom all the Scriptures are directed.
Another reaſon of the excellencie of it, is drawne from the effects of it, to wit, that the knowledge of this ſhould make them bleſſed which did heare it, and keepe the things herein contained.
Further, it is commended in regard of the time wherein it was deliuered to Iohn, to wit, when he was exiled, for the Goſpell ſake, into the Ile of Pathmos, which argueth that it was a notable thing, ſeeing it was to be a matter of great comfort to him in ſuch a diſtreſſe: And more particularly, that it is ſaid to be reuealed on the Lords day; wherein God vſeth to deliuer more excellent things, concerning his will and counſell, then at other times: And as the Sabbath giueth commendations, and credit, and authority vntounto the Reuelation, ſo this Reuelation alſo giueth authoritie to the Sabbath.
And firſt, Iohn beginneth with a Salutation, that it might draw attention, and be the more accepted of the hearers. In the ſalutation, hee wiſheth Grace and peace from the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghoſt.
The Father is ſet out to be Hee that was, is, & ſhal be, that is, euerlaſting. The holy Ghoſt is ſet down next, by the name of ſeauen Spirits, as hauing relation vntounto the ſeauen Churches, making as it were a conformity of the Spirit with thoſe ſeauen Churches hereafter mentioned, wherein his Miſtery moſt eſpecially lay.
The cauſe wherefore he did chuſe ſeauen Churches and no other number, it is▪ for the number of perfection, for ſeauen is a perfect number: and therefore he ſaith, the holy Ghoſt is as ſeauen Spirits, to poure out his grace effectually in all the Churches, becauſe he is as effectuall in all, as in one, for his ſtrength is not diuided. And by ſeauen Churches he alſo vnderſtandeth all the reſt.
Next the holy Ghoſt, is ſet downe the Sonne of God: The reaſon why the ſecond Perſon is ſet after, is, firſt becauſe the Scripture is wont to ſet that in the laſt place, which it vſeth to intreate longeſt of, now therefore the Apoſtle Saint Iohn being here principally to ſpeake of our Sauiour Chriſt, ſetteth him in the laſt place.
In the Salutation, he wiſheth grace vntounto the Churches, with the fruit thereof, which is peace, which are ſet downe by their end, to wit, that God might be glorified.
Chriſt is here deſcribed by his offices; firſt, in that he is called the faithfull Witneſſe, ſignifying that hee is a Prophet to teſtifie the truth to his people.
Secondly, he is deſcribed by his Prieſt-hood, in that he is called the firſt begotten of the dead; ſhewing thereby, that he was offered vp in ſacrifice for his Church, and was riſen from the dead.
Thirdly, by his kingdome, in that he is called Prince of the Kings of the earth: that is, he to whom all power belongeth, and to whom all Princes are ſubiect, as of whom they receiue their Scepters.
Afterward the Apoſtle ſhewes that he did not ſet downe this Reuelation by himſelfe, but by the calling of Chriſt; and therefore bringeth in the author of his calling, which was Chriſt, whom he ſetteth downe by his comming in the clouds; which he ſaith, ſhall be ſo glorious, that eueryevery one ſhall ſee him: and that this authority may be more effectuall, he bringeth in Chriſt, ſpeaking in his owne perſon, ſaying, I am Alpha and Omega.
And laſtly, the Apoſtle bringeth in himſelfe, deſcribing himſelfe to be a Brother, that is, a member of Chriſt, and one that waited for deliuerance by him. And againe, that hee was a Labourer in the Church, and therefore was perſecuted for the Truths-ſake, for which cauſe hee was now driuen into the Iſle of Pathmos: And heere hee ſaith, hee was rauiſhed in the ſpirit, and heard a voice as of a Trumpet: In that he ſaith he was rauiſhed in the ſpirit, he ſignifieth that his minde was withdrawne from all worldly cogitations, and was addicted and bent vntounto thoſe holy meditations which it pleaſed the Lord to miniſter vntounto him. Where we ſee that hee with-held himſelfe from all other things, to the end hee might better attend vponupon all good occaſions, to learne any thing concerning the will of God.
Which teacheth vsus in holy exerciſes, eſpecially which concerne the will of God, to ſeparate our ſelues from any thing that may hinder vsus, or withdraw our mindes from the ſame; and more principally ought the Miniſters ſo to doe, when they are to be occupied in the ſtudy of the word of God, and in deliuering the will of God vntounto the people.
And hee looked to ſee the Voice: Not that the voice could be ſeene, but he looked from whence it ſhould come, and who ſhould ſpeake it. Then hee ſheweth what hee ſaw (which is the preparation of the two Chapters following:) that which he ſaw was ſeauen Candleſtickes, which note the ſeauen Churches; for the Candleſtickes are of Gold, ſignifying the glory and puritie of them; ſo that wee ſee that albeit the Church in the world ſeemeth to be contemptible, yet with God it is moſt precious.
Afterward the Apoſtle doth notably deſcribe Him, whom he ſaw; and firſt, by his apparell, in that hee had a long Garment; noting, that hee was a great Councellor: for, amongſt the Iewes, Councellors vſed to weare ſuch manner of Garments. This noteth, that Chriſt is infinitely wiſe, and therefore able to giuegive counſell to his Church.
Secondly, his paps girded, noting, that as he is wiſe ſo he is ready to helpe his ſeruants ſpeedily with his counſell. A ſimilitude taken from the cuſtome of thoſe Countries of the Eaſt, who when they would make haſt in doing any thing, they would gird vp their Cloathes to their breaſts, leſt they ſhould be any hinderance vntounto them, that they might more ſpeedily doe that they went about,
His head white; declaritg his grauity, as gray haires are ſignes of age.
His eyes flaming; that is, piercing and entring into the hearts of men, laying open, and ſeeing all things whatſoeuer, though neuer ſo ſecret.
His feete Braſſe; ſhewing his power and maieſtie, as being able to tread his enemies, and all that is contrary to his will, or that oppoſeth it ſelfe to him, in peeces vnderunder his feete.
After follow his effects; and firſt, by his voice, which is ſaid to be like the ſound of many waters, ſetting down thereby the maieſtie of his voyce; noting, how terrible Chriſt is to his enemies: Then hee is ſaid to hauehave ſeauen Starres in his hand, which ſignifieth the Miniſters, who are the lights of the Church: And whereas they are ſaid to be in his hand, it noteth, that the Miniſters of the Word, are in the cuſtody of Chriſt, being vpheld, maintained, and gouerned by him.
Out of his mouth went a ſharpe two-edged ſword; Which is his Goſpell: And whereas it is ſaid to hauehave two edges, it declareth the double vertue of the word of God, which either cutteth and healeth vntounto life, or woundeth to death.
His face ſhining as the Sunne; either ſetting forth the fulneſſe of his Maieſtie, or elſe his enlightning of the earth with the light of the Goſpell, like as the Sunne with his beames.
Afterward, Iohn ſaith, that he fell downe at the ſight hereof; which he did partly in reuerence, and partly in feare: But the Lord raiſeth him vp, and vpholdeth him, bidding him not to feare. And in a word, interpreteth all the miſtery, and ſetteth downe briefly the ſumme of the whole Booke following, which was then to be reuealed vntounto him: namely, that it was either of things preſent, or of things to come.
The things preſent, were thoſe which were then done, though Iohn knew not of them: which are contained in the three firſt Chapters of the Booke.
The things to come, are thoſe which afterwards ſhould be done vntounto the end of the world: and doe follow in the reſt of the Booke.