The Sealed Book Opened, Commentary · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
The Sense and Explication.
AFter the former generall prevailing of Antichrist by ignorance and errour, followes now the prediction of his fall and ruine.
The parts of this Chapter are two, 1. We have the description of him who makes the prediction, and the prediction it selfe to the eighth verse, and 2. The type of these in the person of John, by whom this prediction of Antichrists ruine shall be accomplished, from the eighth verse to the end.
Verse 1 AND I saw another mighty Angel come downe from heaven, cloathed with a cloud, and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the Sun, and his feet as pillars of fire.
FIRST then he is s…id to be an Angel, not created, but that great Angel of the Covenant Christ Jesus, as Primasius and sundry with him acknowledges. Next he is called a mighty Angel, in opposition to the forenamed mighty enemies of his Church; whom by his Almighty power he shal in the end subdue. Thirdly, he is said to come down from heaven, not by local motion, but by the manifestation of his might and power in this great work which he has in hand. Fourthly, he comes downe from heaven bringing light with him, whereas Antichrist comes up out of the bottomlesse pit bringing darknesse with him. Fifthly, he is cloathed with a cloud, to signifie his glory, veiled with our nature, and who is said to dwel in a cloud 1 King. 8.10. and shall come in the clouds at the last day. Sixthly, he has a rainbow on his head, signifying the Covenant of peace which he has made with his Church. As also to assure her, that the deluge of Antichristian ignorance and errour, which he was to abate and dry up, should never overflow the earth againe. Seventhly, his face was as the Sun, to shew that he is that Sun of righteousnesse who was to bring light, comfort and deliverance to his Church, and by the bright shining of his Gospel was to dispel the former smoake of the bottomlesse pit. Eighthly, his feet were as pillars of fire, signifying, 1. His stability whom none can overthrow, or where he sets his feet none can remove them. 2. That he was not only to establish his Church, but tread downe his enemies. and 3. Not onelyonly to tread upon them, as Psal. 110.1. but also to consume them altogether, as it were with fire.
Verse 2. And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot upon the earth.
Moreover, the weapon of his Victory is set downe, that he had in his hand a little book, by which book is understood the Bible or Holy Scripture, called little 1. Because of the little regard and estimation that many men, and chiefly his enemies has to it, branding it with imperfection and obscurity, &c. 2. Little in comparison of the Popish voluminous decretalls, counsels, legends and such like.
Next, he is said to have this little book in his hand, 1. To shew thereby from whom all Scripture doth come, as is clear, 2 Tim. 3.16. 2. That the truth therein he will maintaine. 3. That this is the weapon wherewith he is to overcome Antichrist and consume him even with the breath of his mouth, and 4. That his hand or power must concurre with this book or Ministery of the Word for conversion of soules.
In like manner, this book is said to be open, to shew, 1. That no longer shall it be closed up from Gods people in an unknowne tongue, and by Popish prohibition kept up from their reading thereof. 2. As also that it shall be plainly preached, and the meaning thereof opened up by the Ministery of the Gospel.
Thereafter the posture of his feet is set downe, to wit, that he set his right foot on the Sea, and his left foot on the earth, to shew, 1. His power over both, which no created Angel hath. 2. That he is to tread downe his enemies wherever they be, and that they shall not be able to flie any where, where he shall not reach them. 3. There are two maine enemies of his Church that are described hereafter, c. 13. the one whereof comes out of the Sea, the other out of the Earth, both which he shall tread under, who has his right foot on the Sea, and left foot on the earth.
Vers. 3. And cryed with a loud voice, as when a Lyon roareth: and when he had cryed, seven thunders uttered their voices.
Followes here the right wielding of this weapon, to wit, of the little book, which is, after he had been long silent, as Psal. 50.21. patiently beholding the insolence of his enemies, and sufferings of his Church: he now crys aloud, by the powerfull and avowed preaching of the Gospel, so that his voice is no more heard in secret onelyonly among his hid and sealed ones, but is proclaimed as it were on the house tops, which (to show how terrible it shall be to Antichrist and his locusts to the shaking of his Kingdome,) is therefore compared to the roaring of a Lyon.
And when he had cryed, seven thunders uttered their voices, signifying againe the terrour from heaven that is to come upon all his enemies; as also, as thunder goes before great rain, foreshewing the terrible tempest of Gods judgment that is to come upon them in the pouring out of the seven vialls that are set downe hereafter.
Ver. 4. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Seale up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and writ them not.
Followes Johns intention for the benefit of Christs Church to write what the seven thunders uttered, and Christs inhibition in the contrary; whereupon the Rhemists, and the Jesuit Ribera, would ground an argument for their unwritten traditions, some things being here revealed to John which he is forbidden to write: but this place affoords them no patrocinie. For, 1. Our controversie is, concerning dogmaticall points of faith, none whereof are left uncertain to unwritten tradition. 2. He is forbidden onelyonly to write these propheticall predictions which the seven thunders uttered in this place, but thereafter more amply they are written in the seven vialls that were poured out, whereof these thunders were a denouncing.
Vers. 5. And the Angel which I saw stand upon the Sea, and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven.
After his description who makes the prediction of Antichrists ruine, and who is the principall efficient cause thereof himselfe followes in the three following verses the prediction and manner thereof it selfe. The manner whereof is by oath, because of the seeming incrediblenesse of Antichrists overthrow, his Kingdome being so strongly setled, Rev. 18.7. In which oath we have, 1. The ceremonie thereof, and 2. The oath it selfe, and what is sw…rne. The ceremony then is the lifting up of the hand, which is used sometimes by man when he sweares to God, or before God, as we see, Gen. 14.22. Sometimes it is ascribed to God, when for confirmation, he sweares to man, as Deut. 32.40. and here; to shew thereby, that what he speaks with his mouth, he shall assuredly performe with his hand.
Verse 6. And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer.
Next to the ceremony we have the oath it selfe, and by whom he sweares, to wit, by God allanerly, who is described, 1. From his eternity before and after all time, who lives for ever and ever, and whereby he is distinguished both from dead Idolls by which Idolat…s sweare, as also from all mortall creatures. 2. From the work of creation of heaven, earth, and sea, and all things that are therein, and whereby both his wisdome, power and goodness does appeare, as also his glory, Ps. 19.1.
Next, the thing that is sworne, is, that time should be no longer, to wit, of Antichrists prevailing, nor of the delay of the performance of Gods Word both in the promises of deliverance of his Church, and execution of judgments on her enemies.
Ver. 7. But in the dayes of the voyce of the seventh Angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the Prophets.
But in the dayes of the voice of the seventh Angel, when he begins to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, that is, the full deliverance of Christs Church, and finall confusion of her enemies should be accomplished, which is called a mystery, because the world understands it not, nor will they believe the same, wh…ch mysterry is said to have been declared to his servants the Prophets, as we may see, Dan 12.1, 2. and Mat. 3.18, &c.
Verse 8. And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me againe, and said, Go and take the little Book which is open in the hand of the Angel which standeth upon the sea, and upon the earth.
Followes in the person of John the type of all true Pastours by whom the ruine of Antichrist shall be accomplished, whose calling is first set downe to be specially from God, as ministerially from his Church, for none such run unsent, therfore says John, I heard a voice from heaven. Next, that whereto he is called, is to go and take the little …ook that is open in the Angels hand, shewing thereby that, that which is concredit committed and commanded to all faithful Pastours to preach unto their people by God, is only that truth and doctrine which is in holy Scripture.
Vers. 9. And I went unto the Angel, and said unto him, Give me the little Book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up, and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
Vers. 10. And I took the little book out of the Angels hand, and ate it up, and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and assoone as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
Here Johns ready obedience is set down to the heavenly calling; which whersoever it is ei…her to office or grace effectually, it begets a ready obedience. Next as John went, so he sought the book from him who had it, to shew whoever they be who would enter into that holy function, they should seek the open book, that is, the sanctified understanding thereof from Jesus Christ, and this, two manner of ways, both by pains, and prayer. Unto which seeking of it by John from the Angel is subjoyned, 1. His concession or grant the…eof. 2. His direction how to do therewith, and 2. His prediction or warning of him what should be the effects thereof.
First then, we see that readily he grants it unto him, saying, take it.
2. His direction is, to eat it up, or devoure it wholly; by which eating it up, is meant, 1. The studying of it diligently with such affection thereto, and holy appetite or greedinesse, as hungry men have toward meat. 2. To have no part thereof unknowne to them, but to be furnished with the knowledge of the whole that the man of God thereby may be perfectly furnished unto every good work. 3. That they should apply it, as meat to themselves first, and make it their owne by meditation and practise.
3. He warnes him of the effects thereof, or what it should be unto him, to wit, (as v. 10. he found it,) Psal. 19.10. and 119.103. sweet in his mouth as honey, in the study and meditation thereof, but which made his belly bitter, 1. Because let downe in the soul, and applyed for mortification of our corruption, it proves bitter to flesh and blood, as a wholesome potion is, which is taken for expelling vitious humours. 2. Because as a bitter thing in the stomack cannot rest till it be cast up againe, so (as Jeremy tells us, c. 20 9.) the Word of God cannot be contained in the brests or bowells of faithful and zealous Pastours, but it must like fire burst out, as v 11. and be disgorged by them, and 3. It made his belly bitter, shewing that bitter persecution should ensue upon the preaching of the truth, as we see in the next Chapter.
Verse 11. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesie againe before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and Kings.
This impossibility to Gods faithfull servants who are called thereto, to containe themselves from publishing the word of truth upon all hazard, is declared here, in the person of John; and as many Peoples, and Nations, and Tongues, and Kings, were seduced by Antichrist, and drawne from that truth which was at fi…st de…ivered to the Saints, so that these faithfull teachers, the true successors of the Apostles, should againe prophesie or preach the same truth to them for their conversion, and coming out of Babel.
Lessons or Application, on the tenth Chapter.
Ver. 1. THe Gospel and Church of Christ has mighty enemies, such as c. 18. are Princes and the great men of the earth, Psal. 2. yet here is her comfort, that she has a mighty Angel, even that great Angel of the Covenant, Christ Jesus, the Almighty God for her, to deliver her, and confound her enemies, in the hight of her pride, for as is said, Rev 18.8. Strong is the Lord God that judgeth them.
2. By this mighty Angels coming from heaven, we see whence and whereby shall be the ruine of Antichrist, to wit, not from the earth or the arm of flesh, but from heaven, and the heavenly power of the Word of God, which is that breath of Christs mouth that shall consume that man of sinne, and that sound of the trumpet that shall bring downe Jericho.
3. He comes clothed with a cloud, (as Moses because of the shining of his face covered it with a vaile,) to shew the manner of his manifestation to his Church in his Word and Sacraments, and that her knowledge of him on earth is but obscure and only in part.
4. By the rainbow on his head we see, that as the dove returned to Noahs Ark with the Olive Leafe in her mouth, so he comes to his Church with peace, and the assurance of the Covenant thereof, and so shall he come in like manner to every humbled soul.
5. His face is said to be as the Sun, whereby we see th…t as Antichrist comes with darknesse and the smoake of errour: so on the contrary …hrist comes ever with light and brightnesse of truth. Long also to see that face.
6. His feet as pillars of fire, to tread downe and consume his enemies, serve as a just and dreadfull terrour to his foes, but as a sweet and singular comfort to his elect ones, who are here trode upon by them, and cruelly used.
Ver. 2. The weapon tha… Christ here is to use against Antichrist, we see is the little book, which Eph. 6. is called the sword of the Spirit: it is this therefore, for that end, which all faithfull Pastours should diligently wield.
2. It is called little; whereby we see, by that which the enemies of Christ think little of, and despise, as Goliah did David and his sling; for their greater confusion, and his own greater glory, the Lord gives them the overthro… O let none then think little of Gods holy Word!
3. This book is said to be open then; now we see that ignorance of any is inexcuseable: also this is to shew us that the holy Scripture in all things needful to salvation is not obscure, like a cla…ped or sealed book, as the Papists affirme; but open, cleer and manifest, and therefore should be read by Gods people and perused.
4. We see still how opposite the practise of Antichrist is unto Christ: the one comes with the book of holy Scripture closed up from Gods people in an unknowne tongue and under inhibitions to read the same; but the other comes with this book open, recommending to all, the searching of the Scriptures, and to arme themselves with the sword of the Spirit.
5. By the setting of his right foot on the Sea, and his left on the Land, is showne his dominion over all, and that no where can his enemies escape: which serves to the great comfort of the godly, and warning of his enemies, by speedy conversion to him to flie onelyonly from his wrath to come, Matth. 3.7, 8.
Ver. 3. By his crying with a loud voice, we see that the Word of Gods truth will not ever be supprest and borne down in silence, but at last will burst forth openly in power and boldnesse, as the light of the Sun after an Eclipse or a dark over-clouding.
2. When he cryed, then seven thunders also uttered their voices: whereby we see when God begins to work any great work, all creatures in their kinde concur, and offer him rheir service, as we see, Gen. 6. and 19. Exo. 10.22. Josh. 10 11. and Judg. 5.20.
Ver. 4. Johns inhibition to write what the seven thunders uttered, according as he intended, shews, that our good intentions should be no warrant to our actions, or will-worship, but Gods command and direction.
Ver. 5, 6. The oath of God concerning Antichrist his prevailing no longer, serves not only for confirming the faith of the godly herein, but shews the Follie of all his emissaries, the Frogs or Jesuits c. 16. bestirring themselves so busily by all meanes to recover the ample dominion, and lustre of that Kingdome of darknesse which it had before.
2. By the example of this Angels swearing, we see, against the Anabaptists, that oaths are lawful, being circumstantiate, a… made according to the conditions set down, J…r. 4.2.
3. He sweares by God only who made all the creatures, therefore so should we, and by no creature whatsoever.
Ver. 7. The full and merciful reward of the godly, and the final and just punishment of the wicked at the resurrection, is here called a mystery We see then as mysteries has their own time to be made manifest, even so to the comfort of the godly and terrour of the wicked, a day is coming when the glory and happy estate of the godly who are despised and afflicted here shall appeare, and the woful and wretched estate of the wicked shall be seen, who triumph here, and insult over th m.
Ver. 8. By this voice which John heard, bidding him go, and take the little book which was i… the Angels hand, we see that none without a calling from God, evident to their own conscience, ought to enter into the function of the holy Ministery, as we see Heb. 5.4. and Rom. 10.14.
Ver. 9. By Johns ready obedience here, all such who have the forenamed calling are taught the like, that as they should not run before they be sent, so when they are sent, they should not repine.
2. By his seeking the little book from the Angel, Pastors who are called, and obey, as is said, are taught by earnest prayer to seek the sanctified and saving knowledge of Go…s Word from Christ, who only has the …ye salve, and that key of opening the understanding; that so being taught of God, they may be the fitter teachers of men.
3. The Angels ready grant is a great encouragement to prayer, and seeking of spiritual things especially.
4. By eating up the book, Pastors aye likewise taught, with earnest prayer to joyn also diligent study and pains: and as by eating, the stomack is furnished with meat for nourishment of the body; even so b… study and meditation to furnish and fill their mind with old store and new out of both Testaments, for nourishment of the souls of Gods people concredit to their charge.
Ver. 10. The sweetnesse of the book being eaten up, as honey to the mouth, shews the spiritual and right taste which the godly have, whereby Gods Word relishes so unto them, whereas the wicked like those who are dead, have no taste at all, or else are like those who are in a deadly fever, to whose distempered taste that which is sweet seemes to be bitter.
2. Whereas it made his belly bitter (where the greatest filthinesse and grosse corruption of the body lies.) we see that it is no marvel, that, that which is sweet to the spiritual taste, that by wo king on our corruption to mortifie the same, it be bitter to flesh and blood, or the unregenerate part of man, whereof the godly consist so long as they are here, as well as of the regenerate, Rom 7.23.
Ver. 11. By Johns Prophecying again before many peoples, &c. we see in his person the end wherefore God calls Pastours, and fits them with gifts, as also the end of their own fitting of themselves, (as has been said) by prayer, study and meditation, all is, to shine unto others by preaching of Gods Word to all sorts, and thereby to seek how many by their talent they may gain unto Christ.