The City of God, Exposition of Revelation · Chapter 20 · Introduction – Outline
Chriſt's Kingdom in the thouſand years Reign, before his Perſonal appearing, aſſerted from the 20th of the Revelations, &c.
THis Chapter contains the laſt Hiſtorical, propheſie of the Dragons diſaſter. The twelfth foretels his being ſubdued by Michael, and caſt unto the Earth: This, of his being taken by the Angel, and caſt bound into the bottomleſs pit, &c. being the Epilogue and laſt act of the whole warfare of the Church, as it is ſubject to dangers and diſtreſſ s, he being the laſt of her three capital Enemies, that here goes off the Stage.
In the 16th Chapter John hath diſcovered to him the conſederacy and conjunction of Dragon, Beaſt, and Falſe-prophet in their call to and combination with the Kings of the Earth, and whole world to oppoſe Chriſt, and his Saints in the great battle: In the 19th is the iſſue of this great undertaking declared, viz. a total overthrow and deſtruction of that great Army, the Kings, Captains and Mighty men, the taking of the Beaſt and Falſe-prophet, and caſting them alive into the lake of fire burning with Brimſtone: And in this 20th you have the account of the Dragons Fate in this great Cataſtrophe, viz. of his taking and how as a wretched Captive he was bound, and made cloſe priſoner (for a ſeaſon,) then after a ſhort Releaſe, how brought to judgment, and ſentenced to the lake of fire with his Companions, together with the bleſſing and advantage, that accrues hereby to the Church of Chriſt.
A Portion of Scripture worthy our moſt ſerious ſearch and enquiry, containing moſt ſeaſonable and neceſſary truths, and of ſuch import, that a late learned Author ſaith thus of it. That it contains the Cataſtrophe, Reſult, and Deſign of all, that God hath ſpoken before in the Old Teſtament, and no leſs than a Golden Key to unlock the Bible, eſpecially the Old Teſtament. Though expreſſed in ſuch miſtical Allegories and Types, ſuch Figurative and Tropical Terms, as makes it very abſtruſe, and difficult, and to that degree, ſo that Brightman ſaith, that a man may ſee by the commentary of Interpreters, how greatly they are puzled and toyled in the interpritation of this Chapter, being like an intricate Maze and Labyrinth, where there is no winding of a mans ſelf out. And Mr. Mead calls it the moſt abſtruſe of all the Prophetical Scriptures and moſt to be admired, and ſo miſterious, that he dares not enlarge himſelf into that curious ſearch of the Reaſons of ſeveral Circumſtances, leſt that of Solomon be laid to his charge (Prov. 10.19) In the multitude of words there wanteth not ſin. And another thus; The particulars contained herein are moſt abſtruſe and miſterious, and that to be too poſitive and definitive about them, and the miſteries intended in them, would argue too much boldneſs and temerity.
The conſideration whereof calls therefore for the greater circumſpection, watineſs, and ſobriety.
The Method propounded in ſearch after the miſteries contained in this Chapter ſhall be.
Firſt, To lay down the Analiſis and parts of the Chapter: then treat of each material thing contained in the parts, and that by certain known rules as helps and way-marks to ſteer herein, with ſome remarks upon the ſame, and a brief Paraphraſe upon it.
The Parts of the Chapter.
THis Chapter contains the doom and judgment of the Dragon, as diſcovered to John in three parts or periods.
Firſt, In his binding and conſequents thereof.
Secondly, In his looſing with the effects of it.
Thirdly, In his final and utter judgment, and what follows thereon.
Firſt, Of his binding, wherein is conſiderable.
1 The Agent by whom, an Angel; And I ſaw an Angel come down from Heaven, having the Key of the bottomleſs pit, and a great chain in his hand.
2. The actions of the Angel.
1. In apprehending of him; And he laid hold on the Dragon, that old Serpent, which is the Devil and Satan.
2. In binding of him, and how long; And bound him a thouſand years.
3. In Impriſoning of him ſet forth, partly by the place (and caſt him into the bottomleſs pit) partly by his ſecure way of proceeding, And ſhut him up and ſet a ſeal upon him.
3. The end of his judicial proceſs with the Dragon, viz. That he ſhould deceive the Nations no more till the thouſand years were fulfilled, amplified by the Dragons releaſe for a little moment; (After that he muſt be releaſed a little ſeaſon.)
Then the conſequents of the Dragons binding, and as one main reaſon thereof, viz. the Churches happy and glorious condition, wherein is conſiderable.
Firſt, The Reſurrection and Reviving ſtate, under the denomination of Martyrs; And I ſaw the ſouls of them that were beheaded for the witneſs of Jeſus, and the Word of God, and which had not worſhiped the Beaſt, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their right hands.
Secondly, Their Enthroning or Reigning; And I ſaw Thrones and they ſat upon them, and judgment was given to them, And they lived and reigned with Chriſt a thouſand years.
Then their ſaid ſtate and condition is amplified three ways,
1. By the oppoſite condition of their Enemies; But the rest of the Dead lived not again, till the thouſand years were finiſhed.
2, By the denomination given to this condition of the Revived Martyrs; This is the firſt Reſurrection.
3. By their happineſs and holineſs, partly in reſpect to the evil, they are exempted from: partly the good they are called to enjoy; Bleſſed and holy is he that hath part in the firſt Reſurrection: on ſuch the ſecond Death hath no power▪ But they ſhall be Prieſts of God and of Christ, and ſhall reign with him a thouſand years.
Secondly, Of the looſing of the Dragon out of Priſon, wherein is conſiderable.
1. The time when; But when the thouſand years are expired Satan ſhall be looſed out of Priſon.
2. The ſubtile practiſes of the Dragon declared in the ſeducing, and ſtirring up new Enemies againſt the Church; And he ſhall go out to deceive the Nations: deſcribed by the extent of of the places whence to be gathered; From all the Quarters of the Earth. 2ly By their denomination (Gog and Magog.) 3ly By their number (As the ſand of the Sea.) 4ly The intent of the gathering; For Battle againſt the Saints.
3. The hoſtile acts of theſe ſeduced Enemies, partly going up every way againſt them, partly ſurrounding them on every ſide: And they went up on the breadth of the Earth, and encompaſſed the Camp of the Saints about, and the beloved City.
Then nextly, The effects of this great gathering, and what became of this Dragonical deſign and mighty Hoſt: And fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them.
Thirdly, His final and utter judgment, which is deſcribed.
1. By the Cauſe; And the Devil that deceived them.
3. By the place; Was caſt into the lake of fire.
2. By his Companions in Torment; Beast and Falſe-prophet.
4. By the extremity and endleſneſs of it; And ſhall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Then what follows the damning of the Dragon, viz. The general judgment, wherein is to be conſidered.
1. The Majeſtical Enthronement of the Judge upon his Tribunal or Judgment ſeat, partly by the glory thereof; partly by the power of his preſence: And I ſaw a great white Throne and him that ſat upon it, from whoſe face the Earth and Heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them.
2. The order and manner of his judicial proceeding.
1. By his conventing all before his Tribunal, that were to be judged; And I ſaw the Dead both ſmall and great ſtand before God, the Sea giving up the dead which were in it, and the Graves delivering up the dead which were in them.
2, By his final dooming or ſentencing of them, wherein note,
1. The matrer of fact.
2. The evidence produced for coviction; And the Books were opened, and another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life, and the dead were judged out of thoſe things, which were written in the Books according to their works.
3. The Exccution of the judicial ſentence, both upon Things and Perſons, 1. Things: And Death and Hell were caſt into the lake of fire:
This is the ſecond Death. 2. Perſons, And whoſoever was not found written in the Book of Life, was caſt into the lake of fire.
Having thus laid down the parts, the next thing to be conſidered and enquired into, is the meaning of the Spirit, and what is held forth to us by this Parabolical, and miſterious Prophecy. For this Book of the Revelations (as Mr. Mead well obſerves) is not uſually to be taken accoridng to the Letter only, as of a certain bare Hiſtory of things done, but as a Propheſie involved with Mysteries, Allegories, and Types. Therefore muſt we labour to get a right diſcerning of the meaning of thoſe Parables, and Prophetical Miſteries which for the moſt part are Figurative and Tropical, and in part borrowed from the Condition of affairs under the Old Teſtament, And that it is alike injurious to truth to take a miſterious Allegory in the Letter, as to make an Allegory of the plain Scripture; to Litterize the Allegory, as to Allegorize the Letter.
Bernard, p. 130. As it is compoſed of ſimilitudes, ſo the words are Figurative, the whole Propheſie full of Metaphors, and almoſt altogether Allegorical: ſo as we muſt take heed that we look further than into the Letter and naked Relation of things, as they are ſet down: Otherways the book ſhould be full of abſurdities, impoſſibilities, falſities, and flat contradictions unto other truths of Scripture, which are far from the words of Gods holy Spirit, which are ever holy and true▪ For who can believe a Lamb to have ſeven eyes, a mountain burning to be caſt into the Sea, and this thereby to become in a third part blood, a ſtar to fall from Heaven, Locuſts to be of ſo monſtrous a ſhape as is ſet down in Chapter 9 h, and Horſes with Lions heads; fire, ſmoke and brimſtone coming out of their mouths; Dragon and Beaſt with ſeven heads and ten horns, &c. Therefore we muſt not stick in the Letter, but ſearch out the Hiſtorical ſenſe, which is the truth intended. Alſo we muſt note this carefully, that all this whole propheſie is framed after the ſtate and condition of the antient people of God, the Jews; and after the words and viſions of the antient Prophets as we may ſee by comparing the words and viſions of this Book with Moſes and the Prophets, Firſt to their ſufferings under their three Enemies, as Pharaoh in Aegypt called a Dragon. 2. By Babel and the Beaſts noted in Daniel. 3. By Gog and Magog. 2. To their whole state, viz. By the twelve Tribes, the Wilderneſs, Thunder, Lightning, Earthquake, to the Tabernale, the Ark of his Teſtament, the Prieſts, to white Raiment, a Golden girdle about the paps, the Altar, Incenſe, Odours, Lamps, Candleſticks. Golden Cenſer, Temple, Singing, Inſtruments of Muſick, ſmoke filling the Temple, to the Trumpets, To Jeruſalem, Kings, Thrones, Crowns, Elders, &c.
Therefore for our better guide herein, theſe known neceſſary and approved Rules are laid down to be obſerved in the Expoſition of the difficult things in this Chapter, viz. That taking it for granted as previous to all, there is an abſolute neceſſity ofaJames 1.17. 1 John 1.20, 27 Prayer,bRev. 1.3. Acts 8.28, 29.30. Reading,cPſal. 1.12. Meditation,dDan. 12.4, 8, 13. Conference,eRev. 1.3. Pſal. 119.98, 99. John 7.17. Dan. 12.3. Practiſe, we muſt diligently obſerve.
Rule 1. Firſt, to compare any obſcure paſſage, or phraſe with other Scriptrues and Propheſies alledged, or alluded to, whereby much light will be gained to many dark places in this book, and ſo Scripture ſhall expound Scripture, which is the beſt Interpreter, as for inſtance, Rev. 11.4, 5, 6. Wherein the two witneſſes are compared to Moſes and Aaron, Numb. 16. to Elijah and …liſha, … Kings 1. to Zerubbabel and Joſhua. Zach. 73.11, 12, 14. The Song of Moſes, Rev. ….3. with Exod. 15.1. Pſal. 145.17. miſtical Babylon, Rev. 17.24. with litteral Babylon, Jer. 51.7. To ſeperate from her, Rev. 18.4. with Jer. 51.6. her deſtruction, Rev. 18.7, 8. with Iſa. 47.7, 8, 9. To rejoyce at it, Rev. 18.20. with Jer. 51.48. Saints coming forth in vengeance, Rev. 19.13. Iſa. 63.2 Rev. 19.15. with Pſal. 29. Iſa. 63.3. New Heavens and Earth, Rev. 21.1. with Iſa. 65.7. 2 Pet. 3.13, &c.
Rule 2. Secondly, To conſider, what viſion or obſcure paſſage the Holy Ghoſt hath interpreted in the Revelation it ſelf. For of all ſuch the Expoſition is undoubted and infallible, and ſo will the Revelation be the beſt Expounder of the Revelation, and from thoſe Expoſitions proportionably borrow light, for the diſcovering of other obſcure paſſages depending thereupon, relating thereto, or contemporaneous therewith: As for inſtance, Rev. 1.20. The miſtery of the ſeven Stars in his right hand, and of the ſeven Golden Candleſticks interpreted by Christ, viz. The ſeven Stars are the Angels of the ſeven Churches: and the ſeven Candleſticks are the ſeven Churches. So Rev. 17.7. The miſtery of the Woman and of the Beaſt that carryeth her, which hath the ſeven heads and ten horns, and of the waters ſhe ſat on, explained and expounded by the Holy Spirit: The Woman is interpreted to be the great City, that then reigned over the Kings of the Earth: And the waters where the Whore ſiteth to be People, Multitudes, Nations, and Tongues: The Beaſts ſeven heads to be ſeven Mountains, and ſeven Kings; Ten horns to be ten Kingdoms, concerning which interpretation Mr. Mead hath this Remark, viz. This is ſingular in this place, nor to be paſſed over, with a ſlight obſervation: That this viſion concerning the great Whore and the Beaſt bearing her, is opened to John and to us by the Angel (contrary to his wonted manner) with a moſt plain interpretation without boubt to this end, that by the benefit of the interpretation thereof, as being the chiefeſt viſion of all the reſt, the other Miſteries contained in the Revelations, hitherto indeed ſhut up, but depending upon it with a wonderful Artifice, might be revealed. Here therefore give all attention: and leaſt the Angel ſhould take this pain in vain, as far forth as it concerneth thee: Remember this right well, right well, I ſay.
And another thus; This propheſie thus lively diſcloſed, may deſervedly be ſtiled the Divine Key of the Revelation, whereby many miſteries of this book may be unlocked, and the Top-Tower, or Turret of the Revelations, whence the ſecrets of this Book may be peculiarly and certainly diſcovered on every ſide.
Rule 3. Thirdly, Moſt diligently to obſerve the ſcope, order, and harmony of the Prophecies.
In the next place we come to conſider the Phraſes and Terms, that call for explanation and unfolding in this Prophecy, which we ſhall take in order as they lye in the ſeveral parts of the Chapter, viz.
Firſt, Who the Dragon? 2ly What by his apprehending? 3ly Who the Angel that thus lays hold upon him, that comes from Heaven? and what by Heaven? 4ly What by the Dragons binding, impriſoning, and ſealing in the pit? 5ly What by the bottomleſs pit? 6ly What the thouſand years, and how to be taken whether definitely and indefinitely? 7ly What this living of the Martyrs, or firſt Reſurrection: 8ly What this Reigning with Chriſt? 9ly What this ſecond Death? 10ly What by the reſt of the Dead, that lived not again? 11ly What to be Prieſts of God and of Chriſt? 12ly What by the Dragons looſing, or releaſe and deceiving the Nations? 13ly Who Gog and Magog? 14ly What the beloved City: 15ly What the fire that comes down from Heaven to deſtroy the Enemies? 16ly What by the general judgment? And of theſe we ſhall endeavour to ſpeak diſtinctly with inlargement ſuitable to the point before us.