An Exposition of Revelation, Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII. Viſion 6. Act. 1.
Verſ. 1. And there came one of the ſeven Angels which had the ſeven Vials, and talked with me, &c.].
EIther that Angel which poured out his Vial upon the ſeat of the beaſt, or the laſt who by his Vial raiſed the earthquake to the deſtruction of all; and talked with me, ſaying, come hither; behold the readineſſe of theſe miniſtring ſpirits, to do any good to the Saints, and with what joy they are imployed about things for our conſolation; what familiarity between them and the Saints, noted in that expreſſion, he talked with me, ſaying, come hither.
And I will ſhew thee the damnation, &c.] not any longer nakedly deſcribe the beaſt, but ſet forth plainly the beaſt and whore before thy eyes (yet in a viſion).
The judgment] Not only the temporall upon the city, but eternall, of which anon.
Of the great whore that ſitteth upon many waters] Not Jezabel, chap. 2. but doubtleſſe Rome an inſatiable ſtrumpet. Now by whoredom, not common fornication is noted, for ſhe is a City, but ſpirituall fornication, viz. apoſtacy from God, perfideouſneſſe, Idolatry. The true Church is Chriſts Bride and Spouſe; he is married to her in faithfulneſſe, righteouſneſſe, judgment, Hoſ. 2.19. and her Apoſtacy is ſpirituall fornication and whoredom oft in Scripture. See Ezekiel 16.9, 25, 26.
Verſ. 2. With whom the Kings (of the earth to wit) committed fornication.] She enticeth them, pretending her being the only Catholique Church and Spouſe of Chriſt, to receive her ſuperſtition and Idol-worſhip; bewitching them as Dalilah did Sampſon, ſo that they have made themſelves and kingdoms tributaries and ſlaves to this whore of Rome.
Not only Kings but inhabitants of the earth] Sworne vaſſals of Antichriſt, and enemies of the Goſpel commit this fornication with a whore. None of the Saints (whoſe names are written in heaven) are finally thus overtaken. 'Tis compared to wine,
1, Becauſe of its ſpecious pretences of holineſſe.
2. Becauſe it bewitches and beſots mans corrupt nature, and even makes him drunk of the waters in verſ. 15. Wine is ſweet but proves deceitfull: So Idolatry is to mans corrupt nature, but brings wrath and judgment at laſt.
Now the Act begins.
Verſ. 3. And he led me away in the Spirit] John then was not in one continued extaſy, but ſeverall times in the Spirit; neither ſaw he all in one place, but formerly in heaven, now in the wilderneſſe, the fitteſt place to ſee a Church that was a wilderneſſe. Formerly Iohn ſaw a chaſt matron in heaven clothed with the Sun; now a whoriſh woman riding upon a beaſt in the wilderneſſe. Behold he talked that of ſucceſſion of moſt venerable Popes, called a whoriſh woman in the wilderneſſe!
And I ſaw a woman ſitting upon a Scarlet coloured beaſt, &c.] It is much, women uſually are afraid of cruel beaſts, but this woman rides on one. The woman ſignifies the Church, as is noted chap. 12. v 1. the whoriſh woman notes the adulterous Church, her ſcarlet notes her Kingly, Majeſtick power, giving laws to all: for Kings and Emperours weare ſcarlet. The Beaſt is the Empire of Rome, with whoſe ſpoils ſhe is adorned. Thus as a whore ſhe is an adulterous Church, having uſurped power, as a Beaſt or Monarch ſhe hath a temporal ſword, and command, as is noted, chap. 13. yet but one Antichriſt.
Full of blaſphemies] Or blaſphemous doctrines. See chap. 13.6. againſt God, his Tabernacle, and them that dwell therein.
Having ſeven heads and ten horns] So tis the ſame breaſt or Antichriſt, chap. 13. who had ſeven heads and ten hornes, ver. 1. deceiving the men of the earth as this doth, ver. 2. by which I oft noted Antichriſtian vaſſals are meant; of the heads and hornes anon.
Verſ. 4. And ſhe was arrayed in purple] The Beaſt was in ſcarlet; ſo they be alike yet attired, both in ſcarlet and purple. It followes.
And decked with gold, precious ſtones and pearles] Noting the riches and pride of the Roman Church, which are to be ſeen in her Churches, Altars, Idols, Robes, Palaces; or noting how her attire is like a Queen as ſhe boaſts her ſelf to be, chap. 18. v. 7. I ſit a Queen. Thus as ſome reall whore, ſhe adornes her ſelf to entice her lovers to fornication. This alſo her ſcarlet and wine (one being delightſome, the other pleaſing and ſweet) note; for under moſt ſpecious pretences of being the Catholique moſt holy Church, Chriſts Spouſe and Peters ſeat, ſhe bewitcheth the Kings of the earth, and Inhabitants thereof.
And had a golden cup in her hand] Read the deſcription of the whore in Prov. 7. By this cup all Romes glorious pretences are meant to entice people; as that her Orders, Sacraments, Miniſters, ſucceſſion are only right; That ſhe is the Queen of Churches, the Pope the father of fathers, and only cheif ſhepherd —out of this cup (which John ſaw in the Viſion) ſhe makes the Kings of the earth drink.
Full of abominations, &c.] Gold without, but filthineſſe and poyſon within; fair in pretences, wicked and adulterous in practice. This is not heatheniſh Rome, for ſhe enticed none, —but ſerved the gods of all nations; but Popiſh Rome with whom even all Kingdomes have once committed fornication.
Verſ. 5. And upon her fore-head a name written] In the Viſion; It notes how openly this whoriſh woman ſhews her ſelf to be another Babylon, but in a myſtery.
A myſtery, that great Babylon] So Rome in a myſtery is Egypt, Hieruſalem, Sodom, chap. 11. and now Babylon, keeping the inhabitants of the earth in ſpirituall bondage. Indeed all Romes religion is myſterious, full of myſteries; openly the Pope cals himſelf Chriſts Vicar, and the Church of Rome Chriſts Spouſe; myſtically hee's Antichriſt, and ſhe the whoriſh woman.
The mother of fornication] Rome brags of her being the mother of Churches, but indeed ſhe is the mother of Idolatry or ſpirituall fornication; For all abominations that ever were in the Chriſtian world came from Rome. You heard before of a chaſt Matron, the mother of the Martyrs and man-child; now of the mother of fornication and whoredoms. Thus as openly, (as if it were written in her forehead) yet in a myſtery doth Rome ſhew her ſelf to be the ſpouſe of Antichriſt, and the mother of fornication, another Babylon. —
Verſ. 6. I ſaw the woman drunken with the blood of Saints] Either full of blood which ſhe had ſhed (as the book of Martyrs can teſtifie.) See chap. 11. (of the witneſſes) ſo that ſhe even raged and was drunken as one with wine, or becauſe as one drunk, ſhe ſhall not be ſenſible of many of her judgments.
And of the Saints and Martyrs of Jeſus] Their blood ſhe ſhed by warring againſt them, chap. 13. for whom Chriſt out of love ſhed his; no wonder then a judgment follows for this and her fornication, chap. 16.6. The blood of the Saints and Prophets is ſaid to be ſhed alſo; the word Prophet is there to be taken for a teacher; as Prophecy is for teaching, chap. 11. the Witneſſes ſhall Prophecy, elſe Antichriſt came not neer the time of Prophets. Severall Maſſacres prove this point, and what is ſaid, chap. 11. and 13. of her burning the Witneſſes and warring with the Saints. Now Iohn in the Viſion ſees the woman drunken with blood; becauſe by her means, inſtigation and doctrine, Kings have raged againſt the people of God. Heatheniſh Rome did thus againſt the Saints openly, but Antichriſt in the myſtery only; whoſe rage agrees with the time ſpoken of; ſo doth not heatheniſh Rome.
And when I ſaw her I wondred, &c.] To ſee a whoriſh woman upon a beaſt, ſo ſtrangly attired, &c. for otherwiſe he had ſeen the beaſt before. c. 13.
Verſ. 7. And the Angel ſaid to me, wherefore didſt thou marvell? &c.] The Angel obſerving Iohns deſire by his countenance to know the meaning of his ſight, doth of his own accord open to him the myſtery, ſaying, I will tell thee. —
Verſ. 8. The beaſt which thou ſaweſt, was, and is not,] To the Beaſt the Angel aſcribes four ſtates according to times.
Was] Or has been, viz. formerly in Monarchicall power in Kings, Conſuls, Dictators and the like; for thus the Beaſt had been when Rome was governed by theſe, for the Pope by force took this power to himſelf by degrees, and now reignes as an Emperour or King; thus ſomething of the Beaſt had been, to wit, the ſecular power, which he made more his own afterwards.
And is not] In the time of the Revelation, when the poor Biſhops of Rome dream't not of any Monarchicall power, but ſuffered martyrdome under it 300 years.
And is to aſcend out of the bottomleſſe pit,] To wit, when Boniface the third invaded the Eccleſiaſticall Monarchy, Anno 606. See chap. 9. v. 1. of the bottomleſſe pit, and chap. 11. expounded verſ. 3. of Antichriſts time of ariſing Stephen the ſecond alſo laid hold on the ſecular power 649 years from this Prophecy; Thruſting the Greek Emperours out of Italy, depriving the French King Helderick of his Kingdom, admitting Pipin (to whom he gave the Kingdom of France) to kiſſe his feet. Thus the Beaſt aroſe out of the bottomleſſe pit by degrees.
Out of the bottomleſſe pit, &c.] The Beaſt may be ſaid to come from hell, becauſe his working is after the working of Satan. Hell is ſaid to have no bottome, becauſe none ever returne thence, but are as it were continually ſinking into miſery.
And ſhall go into perdition] Here the laſt ſtate of the Beaſt is treated of. The Antichriſtian Church decreaſes dayly and ſuddainly will arrive at the Armegeddon of deſtruction.
And they that dwell upon the earth ſhall wonder] As is expounded chap. 13.4▪ 8. none of the Saints, who were elected before the foundation of the earth in Chriſt to glory, whom it is impoſſible to deceive, Matth. 24.24. the non-elected are in miſerable condition.
Beholding the Beaſt which was] Before Iohns time in Kings, Conſuls — who are fallen a ſleep. verſ. 10,
And is not] Becauſe Roman Biſhops in Iohns time had not uſurped (not dream't) of any great power.
And yet is] In reſpect of the imperiall power of Caeſars then (which the Popes ſhould uſurpe) when Iohn was alive.
Verſ. 9. Here is the minde having wiſdome] In the things that remaine to be expounded touching the heads and hornes greater myſteries lye did then ordinary, which are above mans reach or wiſdeom; Therefore the Angel ſomewhat explaines it to Iohn, ſtirring up our attention and deſire, leſt we be ſlothfull in knowing and ſhunning the Beaſt.
The ſeven heads are ſeven mountains] That is, ſignify ſeven mountains; as the Rock was Chriſt, that is, ſignified Chriſt.
On which the woman ſitteth] To wit, the whoriſh woman or great City, verſ. 18. or Rome, ſeated on ſeven hils (as every man knows) one mountain is called Capitolinus, 2 Palatinus 3 Caelius, 4 Aventinus, 5 Aeſquilinus, 6 Viminalis, 7 Quirinalis of which ſee Mr. Godwin in his Roman Antiquit. Queſt. Why did, not Chriſt by the Angel plainly name Rome? Becauſe men ſhould the more ſtudy to find out the myſtery; alſo if the Antichriſtians had been plainly named, perchance they would have (in rage) burnt the Prophecy, and many more inconveniences would have followed. The Jeſuits begin to ſay this is Rome, yet heatheniſh Rome as under heatheniſh Kings and Emperours; but 'tis plain Iohn ſpeaks of things to come, of Rome as it was to be Antichriſts ſeat, not the Emperours then,
Ʋpon which the woman ſitteth] She ſits upon waters, verſ. 1. as commanding people, tongues, nations called waters, ver. 15. upon the Beaſt or Roman Empire, as commanding and ruling the Empire, for ſitting notes Dominion upon the mountains, as Antichriſts dwelling place and ſeat; now thus the Pope ſits even in Antichriſts ſeat: therefore hee's Antichriſt.
Verſ. 10. And there are ſeven Kings] That is, governments (at Rome) where the ſeven mountains were, as is moſt remarkable; to wit, by Kings, Conſuls, Dictators, Decemvirs (which laſted but two years) Tribunes, Emperors, Popes. Now no Kingdome can ſhew ſuch ſeven mountains and ſeven Kings, but this Rome the now ſeat of Antichriſt.
Five are fallen] To wit, the former five now reckoned.
One is] To wit, Emperours, Domitian then raigned who baniſhed Iohn.
One is not yet come] To wit, the Pope; for though there was a Biſhop of Rome then, yet he did not Lord it, or uſe any Papal juriſdiction; thus Brightman; but according to him the ſeventh muſt be Antichriſt, being however but part of the eighth, as will appear; the ſeventh is the Government by Conſtantine and Chriſtian Emperours, for now the face of the Empire began to be new, and another in ſome ſenſe; for he left the mountains of Rome and went to the Eaſt, to wit, Byzantium, calling it after his own name, Conſtantinople, or the City of Conſtantine. Thus he remained a ſhort time, to wit, at Rome; the ninteenth yeer of his reign, departing thence to Byzantium; neither in ſome ſenſe did the ſeventh Government continue long, being ſwallowed up by Popes in the Weſt, and Turks in the Eaſt.
Verſ. 11. The Beaſt that was, and is not, even he is the eighth] The ſeventh was but part of him, Conſtantine and his ſucceſſors removing from Rome; the Popes (ſeeing the Emperours even weary by reaſon of warres and incurſion of Barbarians) began to begge, and after to uſurpe Kingly authority at Rome, which was the old ſeat of the Empire.
Thus the Beaſt that was] In Johns time in Monarchical power of five Kings.
And is not] Neither an Eccleſiaſtical nor ſecular Monarch in Johns time, to wit, in the Pope.
Even he is the eighth] To wit, regiment conſiſting of an Eccleſiaſtical and Civil Monarchy, as Prieſt and Caeſar.
And is of the ſeven] Heads, to wit, or Kings, borrowing power of them; he is not one of the ſeven heads; but of them, as exerciſing himſelf all the power that had been in the ſeven Kings or Governments (whether Prieſtly, as the Romane Emperours had done (for they were called after Auguſtus, the greateſt Prieſts) or Kingly.) Thus the ſeventh King was not Antichriſt, but the Chriſtian Emperours, who made way many wayes for him.
And goeth into perdition] He hath been going apace a good while, ever ſince the Witneſſes began chap. 11. to prophecy, and will ſuddenly arrive at his Armegeddon.
Verſe 12. And the ten horns which thou ſawest are ten Kings] Horns are not the heads, but ſomething of the heads. Now as theſe horns grew out of the heads in the text; ſo thoſe Kings (whether more or leſſe it matters not, for by ten many are underſtood) who receive power with the beaſt in one houre, and afterwards hate the Whore, are thoſe who ſprang out of the ſeventh Beaſt, or Chriſtian Caeſars and Emperours, in place of whom ſucceeded the Emperour and ſeveral kings of the Weſt, as Spaine —and her King — The beaſt then, though he devoured the ſeventh head, yet he exerciſes all his authority under the name of Chriſts Vicar and general Biſhop, ſuffering the Emperour to keep the name.
Who have received no kingdome yet] To wit, when John writ the Revelation, but ſince.
But receive power] That is ſhall receive power.
One houre with the Beaſt] Though God be the doner of Kingdomes, yet theſe ten Kings through the wicked means of the Beaſt obtained their Kingdomes; for his raſhneſſe tranſlated the Greek Empire unto the French: but God by his ſecret juſt working ordered it (as in the tranſlation of the ten tribes, 1 Kings 12.24.)
With the Beaſt or from the Beast] For here the ſpirit ſeems to point at the Popes creating Kings, Emperours, as Leo did. Theſe Kings then raigned by the Popes favour.
As Kings] Noting their dependency on the Pope, whoſe vaſſals they are, holding their kingdomes as farmes from him, having the name of Kings though it may be well ſaid in all the Popiſh dominious Antichriſt only reigns, whom theſe Kings obey rather then reign.
One houre] That is, as they received the faith by degrees, (for they were Barbarians who received theſe Kingdomes, which belonged once to the Chriſtian Emperours,) ſo they raigned accordingly with the Beaſt, or the ſucceſſours of the Beaſt: by one houre, a ſtrict time is not noted. England, France, Spaine, Germany, — by degrees raigned with the Pope, and by his leave being once all Papiſtical (one houre.)
Verſ. 13. Theſe have one mind] All had their kingdomes in ſome ſenſe from the Beaſt, offering up their kingdomes to be ruled ſpiritually by him, acknowledging his ſupremacy, (for the defence of which, our witty (otherwiſe) Sir Thomas Moor loſt his head in England) & had one mind; all Popelings to be of one mind is not commendable, but only in thee truth. Thus even at onetime all the Kingdoms of the Weſt compared to horns (becauſe ſpringing out of the ſeventh head of Chriſtian Emperours) either received their power from the Beaſt, as tributaries really, or acknowledged his ſuperiority.
Having all one mind] Nay, and prayed all in one tongue, viz. the Latine. Though theſe Kings might have private differences among themſelves, yet when the Popes matters were a foot, they wonderfully agreed in the proſecution of them.
Giving him their power] Help and Aid to advance Idolatry and Superſtition. Here obſerve how theſe inhabiters of the earth wondred after the Beaſt, as chapt. 13. Admiring and Reverencing the Popes, and Idolatry of Rome.
Verſ. 14. Theſe ſhall make warre with the Lamb] They by conſequence make warre with Chriſt, who defend the falſe Vicar of Chriſt, and his Idol-worſhip. This warre the Kings began with the Lamb, as ſoon as they received their kingdomes, above eight hundred years, and ſhall be moſt cruelly proſecuted by the Kings of the earth gathered to Armageddon, by the enticement of the three impure ſpirits, after the ſpiritual Euphrates of Rome is diverted by Chriſtian Kings and States; obſerve then, many of theſe ten Kings ſhall give out.
Being overcome by the Lamb] Convinced by the truth; and hate the whore; the reſt ſhall with the kings of the earth continue the warre againſt the Lamb till the laſt day.
Yet he ſhall oveecome them] Not only finally then, but before (even before the ten Kings gave out) partly by the word, gaining and winning ground; Partly by the couragious ſufferings of the Martyrs. For the Leader is Lord of Lords,—they that are Partners in the fight, are 1. Elect. 2. Called. 3. Faithful, therefore through Chriſt Conquerours.—
Chriſt being God and King of Kings, is ſure enough to conquer Kings and Kingdomes; the houſe of Saul decreaſes, and the Kingdome of our David increaſeth daily.
Verſ. 15. And he ſaid to me, the Waters which thou ſaweſt where the woman ſitteth, are People, Nations, Multitudes—] That is, they repreſent People, Nations,—thus the Chaldaean army, Jerem. 47.2. is called the Waters of the North. Waters are raging and unconſtant, ſo are People and multitudes; Rome in Johns time had many nations under her, ſo hath the whore now, and had more when Antichriſt was at the higheſt.
Verſ. 16. And the ten horns which thou ſaweſt upon the Beaſt, &c.] Meaning ten Kings of the Weſt, of which already, ſhall hate the whore. (when God ſhall put it into their hearts) The occaſion of theſe horns of the Beaſts hating the Beaſt and Whore, was the Lambs victory, convincing them of the truth. God be thanked all kingdomes (Spain and Italy excepted,) more or leſſe, hate the whore and oppoſe Idolatry.
Shall make her deſolate] By leaving the great City, and with their Kingdomes and Dominions turn to Chriſt.
And make her naked] Detect her abominations by confeſſion, writing, and keeping back her gold, riches, pearle, &c. that ſhould adorn her.
And ſhall eat her fleſh] Her fleſh here, is her annuities, riches, rents, poſſeſſions, (wherewith ſhe was fatted) which they ſhall imploy upon their own territories, Churches, and ſeveral better uſes.
And ſhall burn her with fire] Rome, to wit, the neſt of Antichriſt and whoriſh Seat; So that the Pope ſhall flie to ſome of the Kings of the earth for ſhelter, (as the Spaniard perchance, who may be called one of the Kings of the earth, contradiſtinct to the Kings of the Eaſt, and may joyn with the other named Kings of the earth to his deſtruction) now Antichriſt is not thus to be quite ruined though his Palace be, but in the ſucceſſion of Popes ſhall live ſome where or other till Chriſts coming to judgement, 2 Theſ. 2.8. whoſe brightneſſe ſhall deſtroy him, and the remaining Kings of the earth.
Verſ. 17. For God hath put it into the Kings hearts] They were ready enough elſe to have continued in idolatry with Antichriſt, ſo that God muſt have the glory. Here England, Germany in part, Scotland, Swethland, and other places recovered from Antichriſt, and hating him, may be thought on, once of the ten Kings.
Obj. What is putting into their heart? and how it is done?
Anſw. God moves the heart of them by his divine cooperating ſpirit effectually, ſo that it cannot but act, yet leaves it free, becauſe the divine determination hinders not the judgement of reaſon about chooſing or refuſing; note
God put it into their hearts, firſt to do his will or pleaſure in executing his mind for the Beaſt, as chap. 13. to agree and give their Kingdome to the Beaſt, (of which largely, verſ. 13. of this chapter) fighting with their might for his ſpiritual Empire.
Ʋntill the Words of God were fulfilled] That is, his decree touching the riſing of Antichriſt in this book, and in the Apoſtles often. Now he hath altered their minds, convinced their conſciences, and they do his Will in executing his judgements upon the Whore, after ſhe was at the height, and the Word of God was fulfilled, that Antichriſt ſhould ſit in the Temple of God or in the Church for God and oracle, and after the Worſhippers had admired after the Beaſt. The Lord put it into more of their hearts to their ſalvation. Amen.
Ver. 8. And the woman which thou ſawſt is that great City, which reigneth over the Kings of the earth] To wit, Rome: for no other city in Johns time (mark it) had dominion over the Kings of the earth (to whom they were tributary) but Rome. And thus the Church of Rome at her height held all and ruled all, either by the ſword or under pretence of Religion; note God by his revealed Will (grace coworking) put it into theſe kings hearts to fulfil his will; formerly God put it into their hearts to do his will in ſerving the Whore. The action and motion materially is from God always, the forme or obliquity of the action is from Satan and mans corrupt nature, in which, and by which God hath a ſecret working and end.
If a man ride well upon a lame horſe, the going or action is good as from the man, the lameneſſe is from the horſe; ſo the action in the Kings (when they were for the Whore) is from God, the lameneſs and pravity of it (ſerving the Whore) is from their corruption; by which however God wrought his pleaſure.
The ſumme is, the Angels, or Preachers and Kings ſhall divert Euphrates of Rome (the Preachers noted by Angels having made Rome weak in part and odious before;) then the three unclean ſpirits gather the Kings of the earth to helpe her, but her former Vaſſals ſhall many of them hate her, and burne Rome; yet the Pope with the Kings that are left ſhall be gathered to battle againſt Chriſt and theſe converted ones; but the bloody feild of Armageddon, or the day of judgment ſhall overtake them —