The Key of the Revelation, Part 1 · Section
The firſt Part of the Coment upon the REVELATION, according to the rule of the Apocalyptique Key upon the firſt Prophecie, which is contained in Seales and Trumpets. Something concerning the Apocalyptique Theater premiſed.
ENdevouring to finde out the meaning of the viſion… in the Revelation, I muſt firſt handle that heavenly Theater, whereupon Iohn is called to behold them as upon a State: afterwards the prophecies themſelves, ſeverally examined by the Apocalyptique Key.
O Chriſt the wiſedome of God, to whom the *Revel. …. 1.Revelation is given of the Father, that thou ſhouldeſt declare to thy ſervants things to come, enlighten my minde with thy ſun beames, clenſe my uncleanneſſe with thy blood. Grant that by thy favour, and the guide of thy Spirit, I may diligently conſider theſe hidden myſteries, and declare them to others.
The Apocalyptique Theater, I call that Emperiall Seſſion of God and of the Church deſcribed in the fourth Chapter: and exactly framed according to the forme, of *Numb. 1.52. and thence to the end of the ſecond Chapter.that ancient encamping of God with Iſrael in the wilderneſſe: which will plainely appeare by comparing the order of both between themſelves.
For in the midſt of the tents of Iſrael was placed the Tabernacleor throne of God. Round about the Tabernacle the Levites pitched their tents neereſt. Then after the Levites, the reſt of the hoaſt of Iſrael was ſeated in foure ſtanderds, towards the four climates of the heaven: to wit, three tribes placed under one ſtanderd, and bearing the name of the chiefe tribe of their companie. And every ſtanderd did bear an enſigne, whereof although Moſes doth onelyonly generally make mention, nor doth at all expreſſe what figure was pourtraid to every ſtanderd: yet the Hebrews out of the ancient tradition of the Elders, (in this not raſhly to be contemned) doe deſcribe the matter wholly after this manner.
At the Eaſt the Standerd of Iuda, with his fellow Tribes with the ſigne of a LYON.
At the Weſt the Standerd of Ephraim, with the ſigne of a BVLLOCK.
At the South the Standerd of Reuben, with the ſigne of a MAN.
At the North of Dan, with the ſigne of an EAGLE. Aben Ezra at the 2. of Numbers foreign our Elders have ſaid, that the figure of a man was in the ſtanderd of Reuben, becauſe of the Mandrakes found (ſaith hee but this is Gen. 30.14, Gen. 49 9.idle.) In the ſtanderd of Iuda the figure of a Lyon, becauſe Iacob likened him hereto. In the ſtanderd of Ephraim the figure of a Bullocke; according as it is ſaid, *Deut. 33. 17.the firſtling of a bullocke. And to conclude, in the ſtanderd of Dan the figure of an Eagle. The ſame things here hath Bar Nachman, and Cha… kuni at the third Chapter.
If any happily more curiouſly aske, wherefore the effigies of theſe living creatures were born rather then others, beſides that reaſon which is wont to be taken not unfitly from the bleſſings of Iuda and Ephraim, at the leaſt, the Talmudiſts ſeeme to give the reaſon thus, four things ſay they, *Schindler, p. 266. ….are proude (or which excell) in the world; the Lion among the wilde beaſts, the bullock amongſt cattell, the Eagle amongſt birds, and a man whom God hath endued with beautie above all, that hee may command all. Howſoever the reaſon hold, this tradition of the Jewes may be confirmed out of the foure fold face of the Cher…bims (take heed thou doe not conceive ſo many heads) in Ezekiel; by which is ſignified that it was the Lord, and king of the foure bands or campes of Iſrael which was carried on them. For as the Chariots of Princes doe gliſter with the enſignes of their Lords; ſo here the Cherubims with the enſignes of JEHOVA, the King of the Tetrarchies of Iſrael. Neither will it be very difficult, to gather out of the poſition of Ezekiel and the Cherubims in this viſion one againſt another, which climate of the world each face of the Cherubims looked towards. For when Ezekiel, his face being turned toward the north, beheld the Cherubims as it were Ezek. 1.4.coming againſt him, certainly that which did then preſent it ſelf directly over againſt him, was the former and direct face of the Cherubims, to wit the face of man; and therefore the face of a man looked toward the ſouth. Whence it followeth that that face of the Lion which is ſaid to be on the right hand of the ſame Verſe 10.Ezekiel looked towards the Eaſt, and that on the left hand of him, of a bullock looking toward the Weſt: and laſt of all the face of an Eagle looking toward the North.
And ſurely the ſame reaſon perſwadeth, that we may eſteeme that thoſe Cherubims alſo, which did overſhadow the Arke of God in the moſt holy place of the Temple were alike, that is, of a foure faſhioned face; eſpecially ſince thoſe which were engraven upon the walles of the temple were ſo, as that which is read in the ſame Ezekiel, chap. 41. verſ. 19. concerning their half carving doth witneſſe, where, two of their faces being drunk up, (as it muſt needs be in ſuch engraving) on the plaine of a wall, yet the other two, of a man and of a lion, are ſaid to appeare looking toward the Palme-trees, repreſented on this ſide and on that ſide, both wayes. And wherefore I pray you, ſhould the Cherubims be engrauen in another forme then they were of?
Adde hereunto that ſome doe take that of Pſal. 68. 11. foreign thy congregation hath dwelt therein, to bee meant of thoſe four living creatures, being the enſignes of ſo many bands of Iſrael; which ſurely Ierome, in that tranſlation which hath its name to be according to the Hebrew truth, hath thus tranſlated: *Chap. 4.animalia tua habitaverunt in ea; thy living creatures dwelt therein; to wit, as went before, in thy inheritance, that is, in the camp of thy people which thou leddeſt thorow the wilderneſſe. Likewiſe the Septuagint, and the vulgar which is tranſlated thereout of hath foreign, animalia tua, thy living creatures. And ſurely that which went before this and the former verſe plainly ſheweth, that here that time is hādled: O God when thou wenteſt forth before thy people, when thou wenteſt thorow the Deſert the earth ſhooke, and the heavens dropped at the preſence of God, &c. Likewiſe that which followeth concerning the plentifull raine, the raine if I be not deceived, of Manna, and therefore to be tranſlated, a plentifull raine or liberall, thou haſt ſent O God [wherewith] thou haſt comforted thine in haeritance, even when it was weary. To ſay nothing of that; the beginning of this Pſalme is borowed from that forme of prayer which Moſ…s vſed [Numb. 10.35.] in the ſetting forward of the campes of Iſrael. Ariſe O Lord and let thine enemies be ſcattered.
We have beheld the …ncamping of God among the Iſraelites: let chap. 4.….us now further ſee, how the Apocalyptique ſeſſion doth in every point anſwere the ſame.
And I was ſaith Iohn, in the ſpirit, and behold a throne was ſet in heaven; and one ſa…e on the thr…ne. 3. And he that ſate to look upon was like a Jaſper ſton… and a Sardine; and there was a rainebow round abou… the throne in ſight like to an emrald.
4. And round about the throne 24 ſcates; and upon the ſcates 24 Elders ſitting, cl…th…d in white raiment, and they had on their heads crownes of gold.
5. And …t of the throne proceeded lightnings, and voice, and thund rings; aad there were ſeven lampes of fire burning before the throne which are the ſeven ſpirits of God, a…d before the throne there was a ſea of glaſſe like …to cr…ſtall.
6. And in the mideſt of the throne and round about the throne foure Beaſts, full of eyes before and behinde. 7. And the firſt Beaſt was like a Lyon; an… the ſecond Beaſt like a Bullock; and the third Bea…t having a face as a Man; and the fourth Beaſt like a flying Eagle.
8. And the foure Beaſts, had each of them ſix wings about him, and they were full of eyes within; and the rested not day and night Chap. 4.ſaying, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
9. And when thoſe Beaſts give gl…ry and honour and thankes to him that ſa…e on the throne who liveth for ever and ever: 10 The 24 Elders fall down before him that ſa…e one the throne, and worſhip him that liveth for ever and ever, and caſt their crownes before the throne, ſaying 11. thou art worthy, O Lord our God, to rec…ave glory and honour and power: for thou haſt created all things, and forthy pleaſure they are and were created.
Doth not every ſeverall things anſwere other here; for firſt as concerning the tabernacl…; the throne here which God ſate upon being ſet in the midſt that it was none other then the temple or taberna…l… (for the deſcription (here) is fitted (which is a thing obſervable) …o the hiſtory of both) as well the ſeven lampes burning before it, is alſo that glaſſy Sea, like un…o Chriſtall do ſhew. whreof thoſe preſent the candleſtick of thoſe ſ…ven lampes burning before the Oracl…; this that great lavour in the temple of Salomon called the Sea: but with this difference, that that of Solomon was of braſſe but this of ours of a glaſſe and tranſparent matter, yet I know not whether we may ſuppoſe the alluſion hereto be to that more auncient lavour of Moſes Taber…acle; ſince that alſo is ſaid to have binne made of I Know not what matter of looking-glaſſes; to wit, of the looking-glaſſes of the women aſſembling at the doore of the tabernacle Exod. 38.8. But you may ſee the temple ſet fo…th by the name of the throne of God Eſay. 6. verſe. 1. I ſaw the Lord ſitting upon a throne high and lif…d up, and his ski…ts filled the Temple. Alſo …er. 17. 12. A glorious high thr…ne from the beginning is the place of our ſanctuary. And Ez… 43.7. The place of my throne, and the pla… of the ſtepps of my feet, where I dwell in the midſt of the children of Iſrael for ever, &c.
And that it was ſuch a throne, which Iohn ſaw placed in the midſt of the Elders, and Beaſtes, the Revelation hath it every where for g…anted. For where could he have openly ſeen the Chap. 4.Altar, and vnderunder it the ſoules of them that were ſla…ne for the word of God, chap. 6.9. except in the temple; whenc… (appe…ed) to him the the golden Altar of incenſe be ore the throne, chap. 8. 3. except the t…mple or Tab…rnacle had binne that throne. Or what other thing will the fouer horn…s of the golden Altar, which is in the ſight o… God intimate. chap. 9, 13. what the temple, the courts of the temple and Altar parte…y to be me…ſu…ed wi…h the Angels reed, partly, to be caſt our, chap. 11. 1. what foreignthe temple of God opened in H…aven; and therein, the Arke of the teſtimonie expoſed to ſight, c…ap. 11. 19. what the Angels comming out of the Temple, chap. 14.15. 17.18. and that alſo in heaven verſe, 18. what the …arpers ſtanding upon the brimm… of t…e Sea or lavour of glaſſe, and ſingi…g the tryumphant Songe chap. 15. 2. and that alſo in heaven, verſe 1. what in the ſame place verſe 5. The Temple of the Tabernacle of the teſtimony, opened in heaven, and the ſame temple ve…ſe. 8. filled with ſmoake Verſe. 3.from the majeſty of God: But that chap. 16. verſe. 17 putteth the matter out of all queſtion. And there came a great voice foreign, that is, out of the temple of heaven from the throne.
Furthermore in this throne or temple, leaſt happily thou ſhouldeſt be any thing doubtfull, the place of Gods Seſſion, or (as the Septuagnits 1. king. 10. 19. ſpeake of the throne of Salomon) foreign was the Inner and moſt holy parte of the temple, wherein was laid up the Arke of the covenant with the propitiatorie. For there God is ſaid to dwell, and to ſit between Chap. 4.the Cherubins of glory. For which cauſe finally both the ſeven lampes here, as alſo the golden Altar of Incenſe afterward…s are rightly ſaid to have binne before the throne, to wit, before the oracle of the temple; as it is found concerning both plainly in ſo many and the ſelf ſame wordes, 2. Cron. 4.20. and 1. King, 6, 20. in the former of which the ſeptuagints have foreign (ſo the Oracle is called in Hebrew) in the other foreign, in meaning right with the Relveation, foreign verſe. 4.foreign So the other partes, either of the temple or of the tabernacle, wilbe partly for ſtayes, partly for ſtepps, partly for a footſtoole to the throne peculiarly ſo called ſuch kinde of parts or appurtenances, that emperiall throne of Salomon is ſaid to have had. So much of the throne.
2. The fouer and twenty Elders compaſſe next about the throne, which repreſent the Biſhops, and pr…lates of the churches; Ver. 6.…and do anſwere both in place and order to the Levites and Preeſts in the campes of Iſrael: and their number of 24 to ſo many courſes of Preiſts and Levits, or which cometh to the ſame paſſe to the chief of the courſes whereupon, beſides that they are neereſt to ſee Ezech. …, Exod, 34, 19 Levit, 8. 17, and elſe where 40 times.God, they alſo have their thrones; moreover they weare crownes; which are ſignes of dignity, and power given from God.
3. Thirdly, a meete diſtance after the Preeſtes where the lines drawne through the midſt of the throne, doe twiſe divide the ſides of the throne, every way to the fouer corners of the heaven, fouer living creaturs appeare: the firſt in the ſhape of a Lyon; the ſecond of a Bullock (for foreign with the ſeptuagints is Bos a bullock) the third in the ſhape of a man, the fourth of a flying Eagle repreſenting the chriſtian Churches through the four quaters of the world; and they anſwere to the foure campes of Iſrael, bearing in their ſtanderds the ſame Beaſtes. That which in the text of the Revelation is ſomthing more obſ…urely ſaid, foreign in the mideſt of the throne, and round about the When by two words one things is ſignifyed.throne, ought to be expounded by the fig…re foreign familiar with the Hebrewes, as if indeed it had binne ſaid foreign, that is foreign, in the midſt of the circuit or compaſſe of the throne; and that in this ſenſe. If to the throne, for example as being ſquare, thou draw about, a para…ell fo…re ſquare figure, with a meete diſtance from the throne and Elders compaſſing it about, foure Beaſts did ſhew themſelves in or, at the midle of the ſides of every quadrangle (for foreign is to be taken diſtributively;) to Chap. 4,wit in the mideſt of every ſide one.
Furthermore thoſe Beaſts are deſcrib…d, full of eyes before and behind, having moreover ſix wings aboute, and thoſe full of eyes within. So many …yes do ſet forth the multi…ud of Sharpſighted verſe. 8.me…, and full of knowledge of the myſteries of God; ſuch as are in the Beaſts, that is, the churches, which the … do repreſent. The wings, agili…y and a lacrity: o put in ex…cution the commandement of God. The wings full of eyes, z…ale joyned with knowledge and faith. To conclude the ſix wings a…out, doe ſet them forth flying every way that is, moſt ready univerſa…ly and wholly to fulfill the commandements of God.… ▪ 9, 10, 11,
Laſt of all is added, what the office of both of them ſhould be, aſwel of the B…aſts as of the elders about the throne, to wit this, th…t as aften as t…e Beaſts ſhould give glory and honour and thankſgivi…g to him that ſitterh on the …hrone, that is as often as the Churches ſhould performe their holy ſe…vic… ſo often the 24 Elders going before the Beaſts according to their function, uſed to fa… downe before God, ſaying, Thou art worthy O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power, becauſe thou haſt created all things &c. This interpreta…ion being admitted, the ſa…ing of Ioh…, which moſt do accuſe here of incongruity, as abuſing the futures …foreign, for the praete perfect; will eaſily maintaine it ſelf: ſince with the H…brewes (whoſe notion the Apoſtle every where vſeth) the futures are wont to denote an act accuſtom'd …rdue: ſo as Iohn is not at all to be thought here to relate, Chap. 4.what then in the viſion is done by the Beaſts and elders; but what occaſion required ſhould be done, and what he afterwards in the progreſſe of viſions if at any time occaſion of prayſing God ſho…ld happen, he ſaw done by them.
And ſo (that at length I may end) I conceive I have plainly ſhewed that the throne in this …mperiall ſeſſion anſwereth to the Tabernacle or Temple; the elders to th… Levites and Prieſts; the four Beaſts to the four camp… of Iſrael; that is the whole ſeſſion, to be the type of the ancient encamping in the w…lderneſſe, wh…ch thing was ſo much the more largely by me to be handled, becauſe …o ſerved the reaſon of the moſt type… …n the Revelat…on to depend chiefly upon the knowledge thereof; wherein I dou…t not …ut any will be of the ſame minde with me▪ who ſhall throughly conſider the matter.
The Theater being prepared in th…s manner, …he which ſate upon the throne, reacheth forth in his right hand, a book written Chap. 5.wi…hin and on the backſide, cloſed with …aven ſeals; and therewithall Verſe …, 2,an Angel coming forth upon the ſtage, with al…ud voice proclaim…th; that, …f power were given to any to open it, whereby thoſe things might be ſeen and read that were therein contained, he ſhould take it i…to h…s hands, and endeavour it, a thing without doubt if he ſhall perform, would be very acceptable to all that are enflam…d with a deſire of ſecret things.
And in truth the book was moſt worthy, that any one ſhould ſtrive with a…l the powers …f his wiſdom and induſtry to o…en it: as a book of propheſies or of the the councells of God, wherein is contrived the ſeries and order of thi…gs to be done till that ſecond and glorious c…mming of Chriſt. For of ſuch ſorte certainly that double prophecie following of things to come which that booke did containe, appeareth for to be which is the cauſe …nles I be deceived, why Iohn going about to ſet forth his viſions, prefixed in the fronte of …is hiſtory the deſcription of that gloriou… comming, as …t were the bond of the Apocalyptique race. Behold, Hypotypoſi…. Chap. 5.ſaith he chap. 1.7. he commeth with the cloudes of heaven, and every eye ſha…l ſee him; they alſo which pierced him, and all tribes of the earth ſhall waile over him; as if he ſhould ſay: this is the ſcope, his is the the bound of the viſions, which ſhall declare.
But wh…n no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the Verſe 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.earth, was able to open the book, and …he mat…er ſeemed now to be paſt help; ſo that Iohn brake forth into weeping for griefe: behold a Lambe; ſeeming as it had be…n ſ…in, that is bearing the ſignes and of his by paſt death, roſe up in the midſt of the throne Skartsof elders and Beaſts, and took the book to unſeal and open, as who alone above all had deſerved the power to do it.
Now this being ſeen, forth with the Quire of Beaſts, and elders, Verſe 8.together with the Angels ſtanding round about, and all creatures in generall, being full of joy ſing a ſong of praiſe to the Lamb and to his father. Wherein I thought good to obſerve that alone, that they plainly refer the power of opening the book to the merit of the paſſion of the Lamb. Thou art worthy, ſay they to open Verſe 9.10.11. 12.13, 14.the book and the ſea…s thereof, becauſe thou waſt ſlain…, and haſt redeemed us to God with thy blood, out of every tribe and people and tongue and nation. Out of which perhaps light may come to the ſaying of our Saviour, neither having as yet ſuffered, nor entred into his glory: of that day and houre (ſuppoſe of his ſecond Mat. 42. 36.coming, whether it ſhould b… ſooner, or later:) no man knoweth, no not the Angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the father onelyonly. For why, as yet the Revelation was not given to Chriſt of the father, nor the order of things to be done un…ill his coming opened. I affirme nothing raſhly, let the reader way the matter well with himſelfe.
The Lamb thus opening the book, at every ſeverall ſeal thereof, Chap. 6.ſingular types of things to come are exhibited: the body whereof runneth through the whole Apocalyptique race, and ſo concludeth Syſtema.the firſt univerſall proph…cie. The interpretation whereof now, by the favour of him that ſitteth on the throne and of the Lamb, we will undertake.Chap 6.
Concerning the two Apocalyptique prop…eces.
The firſt prophecie of the ſeales, comprehendeth the deſtinies of the Empire. The other of the little book, the deſtinies of the foreignChurch or of chriſtian religion; untill at length both ſhall be united in the Church raigning; the kingdoms of this world becoming Chap 11. 15.our Lords and his Chriſt. For as in the old teſtament Daniel, did foreſhew as well the coming of Chriſt, as alſo did digeſt the deſtinies of the Iewiſh church, according to the ſucceſſions of Empires: ſo it is to be conceived that the Apocalyps, doth meaſure the ſtate of Chriſtanity by the affairs of the Romane Empire which ſhould yet remain after Chriſt. Neither doth the event croſſe it. For the interpretation of the firſt prophecie out of this generall ſuppoſition thus proc…ed…th.