Revelation
From the 1599 Geneva Bible Notes
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Re 1:1
1:1 The {1} {a} Revelation of
{b} Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things
which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel
unto his servant John:
1 AD The dragon
watches the Church of the Jews, which was ready to travail: She brings
forth, flees and hides herself, while Christ was yet on the earth.
34 AD The dragon
persecutes Christ ascending to heaven, he fights and is thrown down: and
after persecutes the Church of the Jews.
67 AD The Church of
the Jews is received into the wilderness for three years and a half.
70 AD When the
Church of the Jews was overthrown, the dragon invaded the catholic church:
all this is in the twelfth chapter. The dragon is bound for a thousand years
in chapter twenty. The dragon raises up the beast with seven heads, and the
beast with two heads, which make havock of the catholic church and her
prophets for 1260 years after the passion of Christ in Re 13:11 .
97 AD The seven
churches are admonished of things present, somewhat before the end of
Domitian his reign, and are forewarned of the persecution to come under
Trajan for ten years, chapter 2,3. God by word and signs provokes the world,
and seals the godly in chapter 6 and 7. He shows examples of his wrath on
all creatures, mankind excepted in chapter 8.
1073 AD The dragon
is let loose after a thousand years, and Gregory the seventh, being Pope,
rages against Henry the third, then Emperor in chapter 20.
1217 AD The dragon
vexes the world for 150 years to Gregory the ninth, who wrote the Decretals,
and most cruelly persecuted the Emperor Fredrick the second.
1295 AD The dragon
kills the prophets after 1260 years, when Boniface the eighth was Pope, who
was the author of the sixth book of the Decretals: he excommunicated Philip
the French King.
1300 AD Boniface
celebrates the Jubile.
1301 AD About this
time was a great earthquake, which overthrew many houses in Rome.
1305 AD Prophecy
ceases for three years and a half, until Benedict the second succeeded after
Boniface the eighth. Prophecy is revived in chapter 11. The dragon and the
two beasts question prophecy in chapter 13. Christ defends his Church in
word and deed, chapter 14, and with threats and arms, chapter 16. Christ
gives his Church victory over the harlot, chapter 17 and 18. Over the two
beasts, chapter 19. Over the dragon and death, chapter 20. The Church is
fully glorified in heaven with eternal glory, in Christ Jesus, chapter 21
and 22.
(1) This chapter has two
principal parts, the title or inscription, which stands in place of an
introduction: and a narration going before the whole prophecy of this book.
The inscription is double, general and particular. In Re 1:1 the general
inscription contains the kind of prophecy, the author, end, matter,
instruments, and manner of communication the same, in Re 1:2 the most
religious faithfulness of the apostle as public witness and the use of
communicating the same, taken from the promise of God, and from the
circumstance of the time, Re 1:3
(a) An opening of secret and hidden things.
(b) Which the Son opened to us out of his Father's bosom by angels.
Re 1:4
1:4 {2} John to the seven
churches which are in Asia: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, {3} from him {c}
which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from {4} the {d} seven
Spirits which are before his throne;
(2) This is the particular
or singular inscription, in which salutation is written to certain churches
by name, who represent the catholic church: and the certainty and truth of
this is declared, from the author of it, in Re 1:8 .
(3) That is, from God the Father, eternal, immortal, immutable: wholly
unchangeable, John declares in a form of speech which is undeclined. For
there is no incongruity in this place, where, of necessity the words must be
adapted to the mystery, not the mystery corrupted or impaired by the words.
(c) These three, Is, Was, and Shall be, signify the word Jehovah, which is
the proper name for God.
(4) That is, from the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
This Spirit is one in person according to his subsistence: but in
communication of his power, and in demonstration of his divine works in
those seven churches, perfectly manifests himself as if there were many
spirits, every one perfectly working in his own church. Which is why in Re
5:6 they are called the seven horns and seven eyes of the Lamb, as if to
say, as his most absolute power and wisdom. In Re 3:1 Christ is said to have
those seven spirits of God, and in Re 4:5 it is said that seven lamps burn
before his throne, which also are those seven spirits of God. That this
place ought to be so understood, it is thus proved. For first, grace and
peace is asked by prayer from this Spirit, which is a divine work, and an
action incommunicable in respect to God. Secondly, he is placed between the
Father and the Son, as set in the same degree of dignity and operation with
them, besides, he is before the throne, as of the same substance with the
Father and the Son: as the seven eyes and seven horns of the Lamb. Moreover,
these spirits are never said to adore God, as all other things are. Finally,
this is the power by which the Lamb opened the book, and loosed the seven
seals of it, when no one could be found among all creatures by whom the book
might be opened Re 5:1-10 ; Of these things long ago Master John Luide of
Oxford wrote to me. Now the Holy Spirit is named before Christ because a
long speech about Christ follows.
(d) These are the seven spirits, which are later called the horns and eyes
of the Lamb in Re 5:6 and are now acting as a guard waiting on God.
Re 1:5
1:5 And from Jesus Christ,
{5} [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and
the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us
from our sins in his own blood,
(5) A most ample and
honourable commendation of Christ, first from his offices of the priesthood
and kingdom: secondly from his benefits, as his love toward us, and washing
us with his blood, in this verse, and communication of his kingdom and
priesthood with us: thirdly, from his eternal glory and power, which is
always to be celebrated by us; Re 1:6 Finally, from the accomplishment of
all things once to be effected by him, at his second coming, at which time
he shall openly destroy the wicked, and comfort the godly in the truth; Re
1:7 .
Re 1:7
1:7 Behold, he cometh with
clouds; and every {e} eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him:
and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Re 1:8
1:8 {6} I am {f} Alpha and
Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was,
and which is to come, the Almighty.
(6) A confirmation of the
greeting earlier, taken from the words of God himself: in which he affirms
his operation in every single creature, the immutable eternity that is in
himself, and his omnipotence in all things: and concludes in the unity of
his own essence, that Trinity of persons which was spoken of before.
(f) I am he before whom there was nothing, indeed, by whom everything that
is made, was made: and I shall remain though everything else should perish.
Re 1:9
1:9 {7} I John, who also am
your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of
Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is {g} called Patmos, for the word of God,
and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(7) The narration, opening
the way to the declaring of the authority and calling of John the evangelist
in this singular revelation, and to procure faith and credit to this
prophecy. This is the second part of this chapter, consisting of a
proposition, and an exposition. The proposition shows, in Re 1:9 first who
was called to this revelation, in what place, and how occupied. Then at what
time, and by what means, namely, by the Spirit and the word, and that on the
Lord's day, which ever since the resurrection of Christ, was consecrated for
Christians: that is to say, to be a day of rest, as in Re 1:10 Thirdly, who
is the author that calls him, and what is the sum of his calling.
(g) Patmos is one of the islands of Sporas, where John was banished
according to some historians.
Re 1:10
1:10 I was in the {h} Spirit
on the {i} Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
(h) This is a holy trance
expressed, with which the prophets were entranced, and being carried out of
the world, conversed with God: and so Ezekiel says often, that he was
carried from place to place by the Spirit, and that the Spirit of the Lord
came on him.
(i) He calls it the Lord's day, which Paul calls the first day of the week;
1Co 16:2 .
Re 1:12
1:12 {8} And I turned to {k}
see the voice that spake with me. {9} And being turned, I saw seven golden
candlesticks;
(8) The exposition,
declaring the third and last point of the proposition (for the other points
are evident of themselves) in which is he first speaks of the author of his
calling (till verse 17), and secondly, of the calling itself Re 1:17-20 .
First of all the occasion is noted in this verse, in that John turned
himself towards the vision, and after he sets down the description of the
author, in the following verses, Re 1:13-16 .
(k) To see him whose voice I had heard.
(9) The description of the Author, who is Christ: by the candlesticks that
stand about him, that is, the churches that stand before him, and depend
upon his direction. In Re 1:13 he is described by his properties, that he is
provided with wisdom and dexterity for the achieving of great things, and in
Re 1:14 with ancient gravity and most excellent sight of the eye. In Re 1:15
he is described with strength invincible and with a mighty word, and in Re
1:16 by his ruling of the ministry of his servants in the Church by the
sword of his word, and enlightening all things with his countenance, and
mightily providing for everyone by his divine providence.
Re 1:17
1:17 {10} And when I saw him,
I fell at his feet as dead. {11} And he laid his right hand upon me, saying
unto me, Fear not; {12} I am the first and the last:
(10) A religious fear, that
goes before the calling of the saints, and their full confirmation to take
on them the vocation of God.
(11) A divine confirmation of this calling, partly by sign, and partly by
word of power.
(12) A most elegant description of this calling contained in three things,
which are necessary to a just vocation: first the authority of him who
calls, for he is the beginning and end of all things, in this verse, for he
is eternal and omnipotent Re 1:8 . Secondly the sum of his prophetic calling
and revelation Re 1:9 . Lastly a declaration of those persons to whom this
prophecy is by the commandment of God directed in the description of it Re
1:20 .
Re 1:19
1:19 {13} Write the things
which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be
hereafter;
(13) The sum of this
prophecy, that the apostle must write whatever he sees, adding nothing, nor
taking away anything Re 1:2 . Here there are two parts: one is a narration
of those things which are, that is, which then were at that time, contained
in the second and third chapter: the other part is of those things which
were to come, contained in the rest of this book.
Re 1:20
1:20 {14} The mystery of the
seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden
candlesticks. The seven stars are the {l} angels of the seven churches: and
the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
(14) That is, the thing
which was mystical signified by the particulars of the vision before going.
(l) By angels he means the ministers of the Church.
Re 2:1
2:1 Unto {1} the angel of the
church of Ephesus write; {2} These things saith he that holdeth the seven
stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden
candlesticks;
(1) The former part of this
book is comprised in a narration of those things which then were, as John
taught us, in Re 1:19 it belongs wholly to instruction, and in these two
next chapters, contains seven places, according to the number and condition
of those churches which were named before in Re 1:11 shown in Re 1:12 and
distributed most aptly into their pastors and flocks, Re 1:10 which verse of
that chapter is a passage to the first part. Every one of these seven
passages has three principal parts, an introduction taken from the person of
the reprehension of that which is evil: an instruction, containing either an
exhortation alone, or a dissuasion opposite to it, and a conclusion stirring
to attention, by divine promises. This first passage is to the pastors of
the church of Ephesus.
(2) The introduction in which are contained the special prayers of Christ
Jesus the author of this prophecy out of Re 1:6,13 .
Re 2:2
2:2 {3} I know thy works, and
thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil:
and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast
found them liars:
(3) The proposition first
condemning the pastor of this church Re 2:2,3 then reproving him Re 2:4
after informing him, and threatening that he will move the church to another
place Re 2:5 . This threat of divine vengeance Christ mitigates by a type of
correction, calling to mind the particular virtue and piety of the Church,
which God never leaves without recompense Re 2:6 . Concerning the
Nicolaitans, see Re 2:15 .
Re 2:4
2:4 Nevertheless I have
[somewhat] {a} against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Re 2:7
2:7 {4} He that hath an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh
will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in {5} the midst of the {b}
paradise of God.
(4) The conclusion
containing a commandment of attention, and a promise of everlasting life,
shown in a figure; Ge 2:9 .
(5) That is, in paradise after the manner of the Hebrew phrase.
(b) Thus Christ speaks as he is mediator.
Re 2:8
2:8 {6} And unto the angel of
the church in {c} Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last,
which was dead, and is alive;
(6) The second passage is
to the pastors of the church of the Smyrnians. The introduction is taken out
of Re 1:17,18 .
(c) Smyrna was one of the cities of Ionia in Asia.
Re 2:9
2:9 {7} I know thy works, and
tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of
them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan.
(7) The proposition of
praise is in this verse, and of exhortation joined with a promise, is in Re
2:10 .
Re 2:10
2:10 Fear none of those
things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you
into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have {8} tribulation ten days:
be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
(8) That is, of ten years.
For so commonly both in this book and in Daniel, years are signified by
days: that God by this might declare, that the space of time is appointed by
him and the same very short. Now because John wrote this book in the end of
Domitian the Emperor's reign, as Justinus and Ireneus do witness, it is
altogether necessary that this should be referred to that persecution which
was done by the authority of the emperor Trajan: who began to make havock of
the Christian church in the tenth year of his reign, as the historians do
write: and his bloody persecution continued until Adrian the emperor had
succeeded in his stead: The space of which time is precisely ten years,
which are here mentioned.
Re 2:11
2:11 {9} He that hath an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall
not be hurt {10} of the second death.
(9) The conclusion, as in
Re 2:7 .
(10) See Re 10:6 .
Re 2:12
2:12 {11} And to the angel of
the church in {d} Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp
sword with two edges;
(11) The third passage is
to the pastors of Pergamos. The introduction is taken from Re 1:16 .
(d) Pergamos was the name of a famous city of old in Asia, where the kings
of the Attalians were always resident.
Re 2:13
2:13 {12} I know thy works,
and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan's seat [is]: and thou holdest fast
my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in {e} those days wherein Antipas
[was] my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
(12) The proposition of
praise is in this verse, of reprehension in the two following, and of
exhortation joined with a conditional threat Re 2:16 . Now this Antipas was
the angel or minister of the church of Pergamos, as Aretas writes.
(e) The faith of those at Pergamos is so much the more highly commended,
because they remained constant even in the very heat of persecution.
Re 2:14
2:14 But I have a few things
against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam,
who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to
{f} eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
(f) That which is here
spoken of things offered to idols, is meant of the same type which Paul
speaks of in 1Co 10:14 .
Re 2:15
2:15 So hast thou also them
that hold the doctrine of the {13} Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
(13) Which follow the
footsteps of Balaam, and such as are abandoned to all filthiness, as he
showed in the verse before, and is here signified by a note of similarity,
and thus also must Re 2:6 be understood. For this matter especially Ireneus
must be consulted as well.
Re 2:17
2:17 {14} He that hath an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that
overcometh will I give to eat {15} of the hidden {g} manna, and will give him
a {h} {16} white stone, and in the stone a new {17} name written, which no man
knoweth saving he that receiveth [it].
(14) The conclusion, by way
of exhortation as before, and of promise.
(15) The bread of life, invisible, spiritual, and heavenly, which is kept
secretly with God, from before all eternity.
(g) He alludes to Ps 105:40 Joh 6:26-59 .
(h) Arethas writes that such a stone was given to wrestlers at games, or
else that such stones did in old time witness the leaving of a man.
(16) Which is a sign and witness of forgiveness and remission of sins, of
righteousness and true holiness, and of purity uncorrupted after the sin
nature is destroyed.
(17) A sign and testimony of newness of life in righteousness and true
holiness, by putting on the new man, whom no one inwardly knows, but the
spirit of man which is in him, which is not praised by men, but by God; Ro
2:28 .
Re 2:18
2:18 And unto {18} the angel
of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath
his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet [are] like fine brass;
(18) The fourth passage is
to the pastors of Thyatira. The introduction is taken from Re 1:14,15 .
Re 2:19
2:19 I know {19} thy works,
and charity, and {i} service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and
the last [to be] more than the first.
(19) The note of praise is
in this verse, and in Re 2:20 reprehension, for they tolerated with them the
doctrine of unrighteousness and ungodliness. In Re 2:21 , though they were
called back to God, they did not repent. To this he adds even stronger
threats and in Re 3:2-5 he gives a conditional promise and an exhortation to
hold fast the truth
(i) So he calls those offices of charity which are done to the saints.
Re 2:20
2:20 Notwithstanding I have a
few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which
calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit {k}
fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
(k) Often in the scripture,
by fornication they mean idolatry.
Re 2:24
2:24 But unto you I say, and
unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have
not known the {l} depths of Satan, as they speak; I will {m} put upon you none
other burden.
(l) He points out the
bragging of certain men, who boasted of their deep, that is, plentiful and
common knowledge, which nonetheless is devilish.
(m) I will speak no worse thing against you, being content to have showed
you what I require to be in you.
Re 2:26
2:26 {20} And he that
overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give {21} power
over the nations:
(20) The conclusion, in
which Christ assures to his servants the communion of his kingdom and glory,
in this verse, and that following: and commands a holy attention in the last
verse Re 2:29 .
(21) That is, I will make him a king, by communion with me, and my fellow
heir, as it is promised; Mt 19:28,25:34, Ro 8:17, 1Co 6:3, Eph 2:6, 2Ti 2:12
.
Re 2:27
2:27 {22} And he shall rule
them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to
shivers: even as I received of my Father.
(22) The brightness of
greatest glory and honour nearest approaching to the light of Christ, who is
the Son of righteousness, and our head; Mt 4:14,16 .
Re 3:1
3:1 And unto the angel of the
church in {a} Sardis {1} write; These things saith he that hath the seven
Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a {b}
name that thou livest, and art dead.
(a) Sardis is the name of a
most flourishing and famous city, where the kings of Lydia kept their
courts.
(1) The fifth passage is to the pastors of Sardis. The introduction is taken
from Re 1:4,16 .
(b) You are said to live, but are dead indeed.
Re 3:2
3:2 Be watchful, and
strengthen the things which remain, that are {c} ready to die: for I have not
found thy works perfect before God.
(c) Other things, whose
state is such, that they are now going, and unless they are confirmed, will
perish without delay.
Re 3:4
3:4 Thou hast a few names
even in Sardis {3} which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk
with me in {4} white: for they are {d} worthy.
(3) That is, who have with
all religion guarded themselves from sin and moral corruption, even from the
very show of evil; Jude 1:23 .
(4) Pure from all spot, and shining with glory. So it is to be understood
always hereafter, as in Re 3:5 .
(d) They are suitable and proper, that is, because they are justified in
Christ, as they have truly showed it: for he who acts righteously is
righteous in the same way that a tree bears good fruit; Ro 8:18 .
Re 3:7
3:7 {6} And to the angel of
the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that
is true, he that hath the {e} key of David, he that openeth, and no man
shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
(6) The sixth passage is to
the pastors of Philadelphia. The introduction is taken from Re 1:18 .
(e) All power of rule in commanding and forbidding, in delivering and
punishing. The house of David is the Church, and the continual promise of
David's kingdom belongs to Christ.
Re 3:8
3:8 {7} I know thy works:
behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou
hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
(7) The note of praise is
in this verse of promises, and Re 3:9 to bring home again them that wander,
in Re 3:10 to preserve the godly and in Re 3:11 to exhort.
Re 3:9
3:9 Behold, I will make them
{f} of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do
lie; behold, I will make them to come {8} and worship before thy feet, and to
know that I have loved thee.
(f) I will bring them to
that case.
(8) That is, fall down and worship either you civilly, or Christ religiously
at thy feet (this is how I would rather take it) whether here in the Church
(which seems more proper to the argument here) or there in the world to
come, for Christ shall truly fulfil his word.
Re 3:10
3:10 Because thou hast {g}
kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of
temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon
the earth.
(g) Because you have been
patient and constant, as I would have my servants be.
Re 3:12
3:12 {9} Him that overcometh
will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out:
{10} and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of
my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God:
and [I will write upon him] my new name.
(9) The conclusion which
contains a promise, and a commandment.
(10) That is, the new man shall be called after his father, mother, and his
head Christ.
Re 3:14
3:14 {11} And unto the angel
of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the {h} Amen, the
faithful and true witness, the {i} beginning of the creation of God;
(11) The seventh passage is
to the pastors of the Church of Laodicea. The introduction is taken out of
Re 1:5 .
(h) Amen sounds as much in the Hebrew tongue, as truly, or truth itself.
(i) Of who all things that are made, have their beginning.
Re 3:15
3:15 {12} I know thy works,
that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
(12) The proposition of
reproof is in this verse, and in Re 3:16 a threat while in Re 3:17 a
confirmation declares the same. To faith and repentance in Re 3:18,19 a
conditional promise is added in Re 3:20 .
Re 3:17
3:17 Because thou sayest, I
am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not
that thou art wretched, and miserable, {13} and poor, and blind, and naked:
(13) The spiritual misery
of men is metaphorically expressed in three points which are matched as
corresponds to those remedies offered in Re 3:18 .
Re 3:19
3:19 As many as I love, I
rebuke and chasten: be {k} zealous therefore, and repent.
Re 3:20
3:20 Behold, I stand at the
door, and knock: {14} if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come
in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Re 3:21
3:21 {15} To him that
overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame,
and am set down with my Father in his throne.
(15) The conclusion,
consisting of a promise, as in Re 2:26 and of an exhortation.
Re 4:1
4:1 After {1} this I looked,
and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard
[was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and
I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
(1) Hereafter follows the
second part of this book, altogether prophetical foretelling those things
which were to come, as was said in Re 1:19 . This is divided into two
histories: one common to the whole world, till Chapter 9 and another unique
to the Church of God, till Chapter 22. These histories are said to be
described in several books Re 5:1,10:2 . Now this verse is a passage from
the former part to this second: where it is said, that heaven was opened,
that is, that heavenly things were unlocked and that a trumpet sounded in
heaven, to stir up the apostle, and call him to the understanding of things
to come. The first history has two parts: one the causes of things done and
of this whole revelation in this next chapter, another of the acts done in
the next four chapters. The principal causes according to the economy or
dispensation of it, are two: One the beginning, which none can approach,
that is, God the Father, of whom is spoken in this chapter. The other, the
Son, who is the secondary cause, easy to be approached, in that he is God
and man in one person; Re 5:5-9 .
Re 4:2
4:2 And {2} immediately I was
{a} in the spirit: {3} and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and [one] sat
on the throne.
(2) The manner of
revelation:
(a) See Re 1:10 .
(3) A description of God the Father, and of his glory in the heavens,
explained to men by his office, nature, attending company, effect,
instruments and events that follow afterwards. In this verse he is presented
in office as a judge as Abraham said; Ge 18:25 which is declared by his
throne as sign of judgment, and his sitting on it.
Re 4:3
4:3 {4} And he that sat was
to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and [there was] a rainbow
round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
(4) By his nature, in that
he is the Father, most glorious in his own person, and with his glory
outshining all other things.
Re 4:4
4:4 {5} And round about the
throne [were] four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty
elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns
of gold.
(5) By the company
attending about him in that, as that most high Judge, he is accompanied with
the most honourable attendance of prophets and apostles both of the old and
new Church, whom Christ has made to be priests and kings; Re 1:6,5:10 .
Re 4:5
4:5 {6} And out of the throne
proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and [there were] seven lamps
of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
(6) By effects, in that
most mightily he speaks all things by his voice and word, Ps 29:3 and with
the light of his Spirit and prudence peruses and passes through all.
Re 4:6
4:6 {7} And before the throne
[there was] a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne,
and round about the throne, [were] four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
(7) By instruments used, in
that he has both a most ready treasury and a workhouse excellently furnished
with all things, to the executing of his will, which things flow from his
commandment, as repeated in Re 15:2 and has also the angels ready
administers of his counsel and pleasure to all parts of the world,
continually watching,
(in this verse) working by reason otherwise than the instruments without
life last mentioned, courageous as lions, mighty as bulls, wise as men,
swift as eagles Re 4:7 most apt to all purposes as furnished with wings on
every part, most piercing of sight, and finally, pure and holy spirits
always in continual motion Re 4:8 .
Re 4:8
4:8 And the {b} four beasts
had each of them six wings about [him]; and [they were] full of eyes within:
and they rest not {8} day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God
Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
(b) Every beast had six
wings.
(8) By events, in that for all the causes before mentioned, God is glorified
both by angels, as holy, Judge, omnipotent, eternal and immutable and also
after their example he is glorified by holy men Re 4:9 in sign and speech Re
4:10 .
Re 4:9
4:9 And when those beasts {c}
give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for
ever and ever,
(c) God is said to have
glory, honour, kingdom, and such like given to him, when we godly and
reverently set forth that which is properly and only his.
Re 4:10
4:10 {9} The four and twenty
elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that
liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
(9) Three signs of divine
honour given to God, prostration or falling down, adoration and casting
their crowns before God: in which the godly, though made kings by Christ,
willingly empty themselves of all glory, moved with a religious respect for
the majesty of God.
Re 4:11
4:11 {10} Thou art worthy, O
Lord, {11} to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all
things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
(10) The sum of their
speech: that all glory must be given to God: the reason, because he is the
eternal beginning of all things, from whose only will they have their being,
and are governed: and finally in all respects are that which they are.
(11) That is, that you should challenge the same to yourself alone. But as
for us, we are unworthy, that even by your goodness we should share in this
glory. So far has been discussed the principal cause unapproachable, which
is God.
Re 5:1
5:1 And {1} I saw in the {2}
right hand of him that sat on the throne {3} a book written within and on the
backside, sealed with seven seals.
(1) A passing to the second
principal cause, which is the Son of God, God and man, the mediator of all,
as the eternal word of God the Father, manifest in the flesh. This chapter
has two parts: one that prepares the way to the revelation, by rehearsal of
the occasions that occurred in the first four verses Re 5:2-5 . Another, the
history of the revelation of Christ, from there to the end of the chapter Re
5:6-14 .
(2) That is, in the very right hand of God.
(3) Here are shown the occasions for which the principal cause, and this
revelation was also necessary: the same are three, the first a present
vision of the book of the counsels of God, concerning the government of this
whole world, which book is said to be laid up with the Father as it were in
his hand: but shut up and unknown to all creature, in this verse. The second
is a religious desire of the angels of God to understand the mysteries of
this book 1Pe 1:12, Re 5:2 . The third is a lamentation of John and all the
godly, moved by the same desire Re 5:4 when they saw that it was an
impossible thing for any creature to do: which is declared in Re 5:3 .
Re 5:3
5:3 {4} And no man in heaven,
nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to
look thereon.
(4) Thus neither of them
that are in heaven, nor of them who are in the earth. Now this counting of
parts, is sufficient to the denying of the whole; For of the creatures, one
sort is in heaven, above the earth: another in the earth, and another under
the earth in the sea, as is later declared in Re 5:13 .
Re 5:5
5:5 {5} And one of the elders
saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the {6} Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root
of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals
thereof.
(5) The second part of this
chapter, in which is set down the revelation of the Son, as was said before.
This part contains first a history of the way God prepared John to
understand this revelation, in this verse. Secondly, the revelation of the
Son himself, to Re 5:6,7 . Thirdly, the events of this revelation in the
rest of the chapter. The manner now, is here described in two parts: one
from outside him, by speech, in this verse: another within, by opening the
eyes of John (which before were shut) that he might see, in the verse
following.
(6) That is, most mighty and most approved Prince: according to the use of
the Hebrew speech.
Re 5:6
5:6 And I beheld, and, lo,
{7} in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the
elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes,
which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
(7) The sum of this
revelation: Christ the mediator takes and opens the book Re 5:6,7 .
Therefore this revelation describes the person of Christ. The person is
described this way: Christ the mediator between God, angels and men, as the
eternal word of God, and our redeemer: as the Lamb of God, standing as slain
and making intercession for us by the power and merit of his everlasting
sacrifice, is armed with the Spirit of God, that is, with the power and
wisdom of God effectually to the government of this whole world.
Re 5:7
5:7 {8} And he came and took
the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
(8) The fact of Christ the
Mediator: that he comes to open it. That he opened it is first expressed Re
6:1 .
Re 5:8
5:8 {9} And when he had taken
the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the
Lamb, having every one of them {10} harps, and golden vials full of odours,
which are the {a} prayers of saints.
(9) Now follows the end,
the events of the revelation previously spoken of: that all the holy angels
and men sang to him: both the chief Re 5:9,10 and common order of angels Re
5:11,12 and of all things created Re 5:13 the princes of both sorts agreeing
to it, Re 5:14 .
(10) The symbols or signs of praise, sweet in savour and acceptable to God;
(a) See Re 8:3 .
Re 5:9
5:9 And they sung a {b} new
{11} song, saying, {12} Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the
seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood
out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
(b) No common song.
(11) That is, composed according to the present matter, the Lamb having
received the book as it were with his feet and opened it with his horns, as
it is said in the Song of Solomon
(12) The song of the nobles or princes standing by the throne, consisting of
a publication of the praise of Christ and a confirmation of the same from
his blessings, both which we have received from him (as are the suffering of
his death, our redemption upon the cross by his blood, in this verse: and
our communion with him in kingdom and priesthood which long ago he has
granted to us with himself and which we hereafter hope to obtain, as our
kingdom to come, in Christ, Re 5:10 .
Re 5:11
5:11 {13} And I beheld, and I
heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the
elders: {14} and the number of them was {c} ten thousand times ten thousand,
and thousands of thousands;
(13) The consent of the
common order of angels, answering in melody to their princes that stood by
the throne.
(14) A finite number, but almost infinite, as in Da 7:10 .
(c) This means a great number.
Re 5:12
5:12 Saying with a loud
voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to {d} receive power, and riches, and
wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
(d) To have all praise
given to him, as to the mightest and wisest
Re 5:13
5:13 {15} And every creature
which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in
the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and
glory, and power, [be] unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the
Lamb for ever and ever.
Re 5:14
5:14 {16} And the four beasts
said, Amen. And the four [and] twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that
liveth for ever and ever.
(16) A confirmation of the
praise given before, from the consent of the nobles, expressed in word and
signs, as once or twice before this.
Re 6:1
6:1 And {1} I saw when the
Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder,
one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
(1) This is the second part
of this first history (which I said was common and of the whole world) of
the works of God in the government of all things. There are generally three
parts to this: the forewarning, the caution, and the execution of all the
evils which God sends on this world, which was scarcely postponed by him.
The forewarning is set down in this chapter, the caution for preserving the
Church is in the next chapter, and the execution is described in Re 8:9 In
each part of the forewarning, there are three points: the distinct and
express calling of John to prepare himself to take knowledge of the things
that are to be showed to him in the opening of the seals, the sign, and the
word expounding the sign. Though the express calling of John is used in only
four of the signs, yet the same is also to be understood in the rest that
follow. The author of the forewarnings is the Lamb as that word of the
Father made the Mediator, opening the seals of the book. The instruments are
the angels in most of the visions, who explain the sign and the words of it.
Now this first verse contains an express calling of John to record the
opening of the first seal.
Re 6:2
6:2 And {2} I saw, and behold
a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto
him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
(2) The first sign, joined
with a declaration, is that because of the sins and horrible rebellion of
the world, God will invade the world: and first of all will suddenly,
mightily, and gloriously, as if with arrows of pestilence from a distance,
beat down the same as Judge, and triumph over it as conqueror.
Re 6:3
6:3 And {3} when he had
opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
(3) The second sign joined
with words of declaration (after the express calling of John as before) is,
that God being provoked to wrath by the obstinacy and hard heartedness of
the world, not repenting for the former plague: as setting on the same at
hand, will cause disputes among men, and will destroy the inhabitants of
this world, by the swords of one another.
Re 6:5
6:5 {4} And when he had
opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I
beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in
his hand.
(4) The third sign with
declaration is that God will destroy the world with famine, removing all
food: which is by Synecdoche comprehended in wheat, barley, wine and oil.
Re 6:6
6:6 And I heard a voice in
the midst of the four beasts say, A {a} measure of wheat for a penny, {5} and
three measures of barley for a penny; and [see] thou hurt not the oil and the
wine.
(a) It is here signified
how little grain there was, for the word used here is a unit of measure for
dry things, about an eighth of a bushel, which was a typical daily ration
given to servants.
(5) I would rather interpret and read the words this way, "And the wine and
the oil you will not distribute unjustly." In this sense likewise the wine
and the oil will be sold a very little for a penny. You will not distribute
unjustly, namely, when you measure out a very little for a great price: so
are the times evident: otherwise it would be true, as the wise man says,
that whoever withholds the grain will be cursed by the people; Pr 11:26 .
Re 6:7
6:7 {6} And when he had
opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and
see.
(6) The fourth sign joined
with words of declaration is, that God will devote a quarter of the world to
death and hell, or the grave, by all those methods at once, who individually
and in order he had summoned to change their minds. To these are also added
the wild and cruel beasts of the earth Le 16:22 . Thus according to his
wisdom, God dispenses the treasures of his power, justly towards all,
mercifully towards the good, and with patience or longsuffering towards his
enemies.
Re 6:9
6:9 {7} And when he had
opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain
for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
(7) The sixth sign is that
the holy martyrs who are under the altar, by which they are sanctified, that
is, received into the trust and teaching of Christ (into whose hands they
are committed) shall cry out for the justice of God, in a holy zeal to
advance his kingdom, and not from any private disturbance of the mind, in
this and the next verse, and that God will comfort them in deed, sign and
word; Re 6:10 .
Re 6:11
6:11 And {8} white robes were
given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest
yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren,
that should be killed as they [were], should be {b} fulfilled.
Re 6:12
6:12 {9} And I beheld when he
had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun
became black as {c} sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
(9) The sixth sign, a
narration, has two parts: the sign and the event. The sign is that the
earth, heaven, and the things that are in them, for the horror of the sins
of the world after those most heavy warnings from God, and complaints of the
saints shall be shaken most severely, trembling in horrible manner, and
losing their light, in this verse: things falling from heaven Re 6:13
withdrawing themselves and fleeing from the greatness of the trouble Re 6:14
. So completely do all creatures depend on the will of God, and content
themselves in his glory.
(c) So they called in old time those woven works that were of hair.
Re 6:15
6:15 {10} And the kings of
the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and
the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the
dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
(10) The event of the sign
before: that there is no man who will not be amazed at that worldwide
upheaval, fly away in fear and hide himself in this verse, and wish to die,
because of the exceeding horror of the wrath of God, and of the Lamb, at
which before he was amazed. Now this confusion is not on the part of the
godly but of the wicked, whose portion is in this life; Ps 17:14 . Not that
sorrow which is according to God, which works repentance to salvation, of
which a man shall never repent him, but that worldly sorrow that brings
death; 2Co 7:9 as their wishes declare: for this history of the whole world,
is separated from the history of the Church, as I have showed before. See
Geneva "Re 4:1"
Re 6:16
6:16 And said to the
mountains and rocks, {11} Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that
sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
(11) These are words of
those who despair of escape: of the cause of this despair there are two
arguments, the presence of God and the Lamb provoked to wrath against the
world, in this verse: and the awareness of their own weakness, feeling that
they are not able to survive the day of the wrath of God Re 6:17 as it is
said in Isa 14:27 .
Re 7:1
7:1 And {1} after these
things I saw four angels standing on the {a} four corners of the earth,
holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the
earth, nor on the sea, {2} nor on any tree.
(1) The second part of this
section is a preventing of danger, as we distinguished before in Re 6:1 that
is, of the caution of God ahead of time to provide for his, after the
example of the Israelites; Ex 8:23 the faithful are exempted from the
plagues of this wicked world. This section is a dialogue and bringing in for
this whole chapter by occasion of the prediction and argument of the sixth
seal. For first harm is withheld from the elect, Re 7:1-9 . Then thanks are
given by the elect for that cause Re 7:10-12 . Lastly, the accomplishment of
it is set forth to the end of the chapter. The first verse is a transition,
speaking of the angels who keep the lesser parts from harm, until God
commands. For, as in Eze 10:19 , their faces and their wings reach up,
continually waiting on and watching the countenance of God for their
direction and every one of them goes into that part that is right before his
face: wherever the Spirit goes, they go, they do not step out of the way,
not so much as a foot breadth from the path commanded to them by God.
(a) On the four corners or coasts of the earth.
(2) That is, neither into the air, into which the trees grow.
Re 7:2
7:2 {3} And I saw {4} another
angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried
with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth
and the sea,
(3) Now God provides
against the danger of his elect, by his commandment Re 7:2,3 , and by sign
or figure, both for those of the nation of the Jews and also for the
Gentiles Re 7:9 .
(4) Not only another, or differing number from the common angels of God, but
also in essence, office and operation exceeding all angels: that is, Christ
Jesus the eternal angel or Word of God, and mediator of the covenant, see Re
8:3,10:1,5 .
Re 7:4
7:4 And I heard the number of
them which were sealed: [and there were] sealed {5} an hundred [and] forty
[and] four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
(5) That is, of the Jews a
number certain in itself before God, and such as may be numbered of us: for
which cause also the same is here set down as certain. But of the elect who
are Gentiles, the number indeed is in itself certain with God, but of us not
possibly to be numbered, as God, Ge 15:5 . This is spoken with respect, when
a certain number is put for one uncertain. Compare with Re 7:9 .
Re 7:7
7:7 Of the tribe of Simeon
[were] sealed twelve thousand. {6} Of the tribe of {b} Levi [were] sealed
twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar [were] sealed twelve thousand.
(6) Here the tribe of Levi
is listed with the rest, because all the Israelites were equally made
priests with them in Christ by his priesthood Ro 12:1 1Pe 2:9 Re 1:6, 5:10 .
Dan is not mentioned, because the Danites long before forsaking the worship
of God, were fallen away from the fellowship of God's people, to the part of
the Gentiles: which evil many ages before Jacob foresaw Ge 49:17 see Geneva
"Ge 49:18", and because of which no mention is made of this tribe in the
book of Chronicles.
(b) He skipped Dan, and reckons Levi.
Re 7:8
7:8 Of the tribe of Zabulon
[were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of {c} Joseph [were] sealed twelve
thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin [were] sealed twelve thousand.
(c) Of Ephraim, who was
Joseph's other son, and had the birthright given him, of which he is called
Joseph.
Re 7:9
7:9 After this I beheld, and,
lo, a great multitude, {7} which no man could number, of all nations, and
kindreds, and people, and tongues, {8} stood before the throne, and before the
Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
(7) See Geneva "Re 7:4"
(8) As priests, kings and glorious conquerors by martyrdom: which is noted
by the signs in this verse.
Re 7:10
7:10 {9} And cried with a
loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and
unto the Lamb.
(9) The praise of God,
celebrated first by the holy men, in this verse, then by the heavenly
angels, in the two verses following Re 7:11,12 .
Re 7:13
7:13 {10} And one of the
elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white
robes? and whence came they?
(10) A passage over to the
explanation of the vision, which the angel enquires of John to stir him up
in this verse and John in the form of speech, both acknowledges his own
ignorance, attributing knowledge to the angel, and also in a humble manner
requests the explanation of the vision.
Re 7:14
7:14 And I said unto him,
Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, {11} These are they which came out of
great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the
blood of the Lamb.
(11) The explanation of the
vision, in which the angel tells first the acts of the saints, that is,
their sufferings and work of faith in Christ Jesus, in this verse. Secondly
their glory: both present, which consists in two things, that they minister
to God, and that God protects them Re 7:15 and to come, in their perfect
deliverance from all annoyances Re 7:16 and in participation of all good
things which the memory of past hurts shall never be able to diminish Re
7:17 . The cause efficient and which contains all these things is only one,
the Lamb of God, the Lord, the Mediator, and the Saviour Christ Jesus.
Re 7:15
7:15 Therefore are they
before the throne of God, and serve him {d} day and night in his temple: and
he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell {e} among them.
(d) He alludes to the
Levites, who served day and night, for there is no night in heaven.
(e) Or, upon them, referring to God's defence and protection of those who
are as safe, as men in the Lord's tents.
Re 8:1
8:1 And {1} when he had
opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half
an hour.
(1) He returns to the
history of the seals of the book, which the Lamb opens. The seventh seal is
the next sign, a precise commandment for the execution of the most severe
judgment of God on this wicked world, and being understood by the seal, all
things in heaven are silent, and in horror through admiration, until the
command to act is given by God to the ministers of his wrath. So he moves to
the third part which I spoke of before in Re 6:1 which is the enacting of
those evils with which God most justly determined to afflict the world.
Re 8:2
8:2 {2} And I saw the seven
angels which {a} stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
(2) Now follows the third
branch of the common history, as even now I said: which is the execution of
the judgments of God on the world. This is first generally prepared, down to
Re 8:3-6 . The administers of the execution are seven angels: their
instruments, trumpets, by which they sound the alarm at the commandment of
God. They are seven in number, because it did not please God to deliver all
his wrath on the rebellious world at once, but at various times, in
segments, and in slow order, and as if unwilling to exercise his judgments
on his creatures, so long called on both by word and signs, if perhaps they
should decide to repent.
(a) Who appear before him as his ministers.
Re 8:3
8:3 {3} And another angel
came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto
him much incense, that he should offer [it] with the prayers of all saints
upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
(3) This is the great
emperor, the Lord Jesus Christ, our King and Saviour, who both makes
intercession to God the Father for the saints, filling the heavenly
sanctuary with most sweet odour, and offering up their prayers, as the
calves and burnt sacrifices of their lips, in this verse: in such manner as
every one of them (so powerful is that sweet savour of Christ, and the
reliability of his sacrifice) are reconciled with God and made most
acceptable to him, Re 8:4 . Then also out of his treasury and from the same
sanctuary, the fire of his wrath descends on the world, adding also divine
signs to it: and by that means (as of old the heralds of Rome did) he
proclaims war against the rebellious world.
Re 8:4
8:4 And the smoke of the
incense, [which came] with the prayers of the saints, {b} ascended up before
God out of the angel's hand.
(b) Our prayers are worth
nothing, unless the true and sweet savour of that only sacrifice be
especially and before all things with them, that is to say, unless we are
first of all justified through faith in his Son, acceptable to him.
Re 8:6
8:6 {4} And the seven angels
which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
(4) This is the work of the
administers. The angels, the administers of Christ, by sounding trumpet and
voice (for they are heralds) effectually call forth the instruments of the
wrath of God, through his power. Until now, things have been general. Now
the narration of specific things follows, which the angels fix in number
wrought in their order, set out in Re 8:7 and is concluded with the
declaration of the event which followed these things done in the world, and
in chapters ten and eleven.
Re 8:7
8:7 {5} The first angel
sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were
cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green
grass was burnt up.
(5) The first execution at
the sound of the first angel, on the earth, that is, the inhabitants of the
earth (by metonymy) and on all the fruits of it: as comparing this verse
with the second part of Re 8:9 does plainly declare.
Re 8:8
8:8 {6} And the second angel
sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the
sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
(6) The second execution on
the sea, in this verse and all things that are in Re 8:9 .
Re 8:10
8:10 {7} And the third angel
sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp,
and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of
waters;
(7) The third execution on
the floods and fountains, that is, on all fresh water, in this verse: the
effect of which is, that many are destroyed by the bitterness of the water,
in the verse following.
Re 8:11
8:11 And the name of the star
is called {8} Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and
many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
(8) This is spoken by
metaphor of a commonly known bitter herb: unless perhaps a man following
those that note the derivation of words would rather explain it as an
adjective for that which cannot be drunk because of its bitterness, causing
the liquid it is made into to be more bitter than any man can drink.
Re 8:12
8:12 {9} And the fourth angel
sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the
moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was
darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night
likewise.
(9) The fourth execution on
the lights of heaven, which give light to this world.
Re 8:13
8:13 {10} And I beheld, and
heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice,
Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of
the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
(10) A lamentable
prediction or foretelling of those parts of the divine execution which yet
are behind: which also is a passage to the argument of the next chapter. Of
all these things in a manner Christ himself expressly foretold in Lu 21:24
and they are common plagues generally denounced, without particular note of
time.
Re 9:1
9:1 {1} And the fifth angel
sounded, and I saw a {2} star fall from heaven unto the earth: {3} and to him
was given the key of the {a} bottomless pit.
(1) The first execution on
the wicked men inhabiting the earth
(as the angel said before) wrought by the infernal powers is declared from
here to Re 9:2-11 and after the sixth execution to Re 9:12-19 and lastly is
shown the common event that followed the former execution in the world, in
the two last verses Re 9:20,21 .
(2) That is, that the angel of God glittering with glory, as a star fallen
from heaven. He may be Christ, who has the keys of hell by himself and by
princely authority, Re 1:18 or some inferior angel who has the same key
entrusted to him and holds it ministerially, or by office of his ministry,
here and Re 20:10 so the word "falling" is taken; Ge 14:10, 24:46, Heb 6:6 .
(3) The key was given to this star. For those powers of wickedness are sent
to hell, bound with chains of darkness and kept there until damnation,
unless God lets them loose for a time; 2Pe 2:4, Jude 1:6, Re 20:7 the
history of these agrees with this chapter.
(a) By the bottomless pit, he means the deepest darkness of hell.
Re 9:2
9:2 {4} And he opened the
bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a
great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of
the pit.
(4) To this is added, the
smoke of the hellish and infernal dark spirits, darkening all things in
heaven and in earth. The spiritual darkness is the cause of all disorder and
confusion: For the devil at a certain time sent these spirits into his
kingdom, that he might at once and with one action overthrow all things and
pervert if it were possible the elect themselves. By this darkness, all
spiritual light, both active as of the sun and passive as of the air which
is lightened by the sun, is taken away: and this is that which goes before
the spirits: it follows of the spirits themselves.
Re 9:3
9:3 {5} And there came out of
the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the
scorpions of the earth have power.
(5) A description of the
malignant spirits invading the world, taken from their nature, power, form
and order. From their nature, for that they are like certain locust, in
quickness, subtilty, hurtfulness, number, and such like, in this verse. From
their power, for that they are as the scorpions of the earth, of a secret
force to hurt: for our battle is not here with flesh and blood, but with
powers Eph 6:12 This place of the power of the devils, generally noted in
this verse, is particularly declared afterwards in Re 9:4-6 .
Re 9:4
9:4 {6} And it was commanded
them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green
thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in
their foreheads.
(6) Here the power of the
devils is described according to their actions and the effects of the same.
Their actions are said to be limited by the counsel of God: both because
they do not hurt all men, but only the reprobate (for the godly and elect,
in whom there is any part of a better life, God guards by his decree) whom
Christ shall not have sealed, in this verse: and also because they did not
have all power nor at all time, no not over those that are their own, but
limited in manner and time, by the prescript of God in Re 9:5 . So their
power to afflict the godly is none, and for the wicked is limited in act and
in effect, by the will of God: for the manner was prescribed to them that
they should not slay, but torment this wretched world. The time is for five
months, or for a hundred and fifty days, that is, for so many years, in
which the devils have indeed mightily perverted all things in the world: and
yet without that public and unpunished license of killing, which afterwards
they usurped when the sixth angel had blown his trumpet, as shall be said in
Re 9:13 . Now this space is to be accounted from the end of that thousand
years mentioned in Re 20:3 and that is from the reign of pope Gregory the
seventh, a most monstrous Necromancer, who before was called Hidebrandus
Senensis: for this man being made altogether of impiety and wickedness, as a
slave of the devil, whom he served, was the most wicked firebrand of the
world: he excommunicated the emperor Henry the fourth: went about by all
manner of treachery to set up and put down Empires and kingdoms as he liked:
and did not hesitate to set Rodolph the Swedon over the Empire instead of
Henry, sending to him a crown, with this verse annexed to it: "Petra dedid
Petro, Petrus diadema Rodolpho" that is, "The Rock to Peter gave the Crown,
and Peter Rodolph doth renown". Finally, he so finely bestirred himself in
his affairs, as he miserably set all Christendom on fire, and conveyed over
to his successors the burning brand of the same who enraged with like
ambition, never ceased to nourish that flame, and to kindle it more and
more: by which cities, commonwealths and whole kingdoms set together by the
ears amongst themselves by most expert cut-throats, came to ruin, while they
miserably wounded one another. This term of a hundred and fifty years, ends
in the time of Gregory the ninth or Hugolinus Anagniensis (as he was called
before) who caused Raimond his chaplain and confessor to compile the
writings of Decretals, and by permission of the kings and princes, published
them in the Christian world, and established them as Law: For by this trick
at length the popes gave themselves licence to kill whom they would, while
others were unaware: and without fear established a butchery out of many of
the wicked Canons of the Decretals, which the trumpet of the fifth angel had
expressly forbidden and had hindered until this time. The effects of these
bloody actions are declared in Re 9:6 that the miserable world languishing
in so great calamities, should willingly seek death and prefer the it over
life, by reason of the severity of the miseries that oppressed them.
Re 9:7
9:7 {7} And the shapes of the
locusts [were] like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads
[were] as it were crowns like gold, and their faces [were] as the faces of
men.
(7) The form of these
hellish spirits and administers, is outlined by signs and visible figures in
this manner: that they are very expert and swift: that wherever they are in
the world, the kingdom is theirs: that they manage all their affairs with
cunning and skill, in this verse: that making show of mildness and tender
affection to draw on men with, they most impudently rage in all mischief:
that they are most mighty to do hurt Re 9:8 that they are freed from being
hurt by any man, as armed with the colour of religion and sacred authority
of privilege: that they fill all things with horror, Re 9:9 that they are
fraudulent: that they are poisonous and extremely offensive though their
power is limited. Re 9:10 . All these things are found in the infernal
powers and communicated by them to their ministers and vassals.
Re 9:11
9:11 {8} And they had a king
over them, [which is] the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the
Hebrew tongue [is] Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath [his] name Apollyon.
(8) The order of powers of
maliciousness: that they are subject to one infernal king, whom you may
call, The Destroyer: who drives the whole world both Jews and Gentiles into
the destruction that belongs to himself. I cannot tell whether this name has
respect to the etymological interpretation of Hildebrand, by a figure often
used in the Holy Scripture: which albeit it may otherwise be turned of the
Germans (as the sense of compound words is commonly ambiguous) yet in very
deed it signifies as much as if you should call him, the firebrand, that is,
he that sets on fire those that are faithful to him.
Re 9:12
9:12 {9} One woe is past;
[and], behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
Re 9:13
9:13 {10} And the sixth angel
sounded, {11} and I heard a voice from the {b} four horns of the golden altar
which is before God,
(10) The sixth execution
done on the world by the tyrannical powers of it, working in the four parts
of the earth, that is, in most cruel manner execution their tyrannous
dominion through out the whole world: and killing the miserable people
without punishment, which before was not lawful for them to do in that sort,
as I showed in Re 9:4 . This narration has two parts: a commandment from
God, in Re 9:14 and an execution of the commandment, in Re 9:15 .
(11) The commandment given by Christ himself, who is governor over all.
(b) He alludes to the altar of incense, which stood in the court which the
priests were in, opposite the Ark of the Covenant, having a veil between
them.
Re 9:14
9:14 Saying to the sixth
angel which had the trumpet, {12} Loose the four angels which are bound in the
great river Euphrates.
(12) As if he should have
said, these till now have been bound by the power of God, that they could
not freely run over all men as they lusted, but were held and restrained at
that great river of Euphrates, that is, in their spiritual Babylon (or this
is a paraphrase of the spiritual Babylon, by the limits of the visible
Babylon long since overthrown) that they might not commit those horrible
slaughters, which they long breathed after. Now go to it, let loose those
four angels, that is, administers of the wrath of God, in that number that
is convenient to the slaughtering of the four quarters of the world: stir
them up and give them the bridle, that rushing out of that Babylon of
theirs, which is the seat of the wicked ones, they may fly over all the
world, therein to rage, and most licentiously to practise their tyranny, as
God has ordained. This was done when Gregory the ninth by public authority
established as Law, his own Decretals, by which he might freely lay traps
for the life of simple men. For who is it that sees not that the laws of
Decretal, most of them are snares to catch souls with? Since that time (O
good God) how many great slaughters have there been? How many great
massacres? All history is full of them: and this our age abounds with most
horrible and monstrous examples of the these.
Re 9:15
9:15 {13} And the four angels
were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a
year, for to slay the third part of men.
(13) The execution of the
commandment is in two parts: one, that those butchers are let loose, that
out of their tower of the spiritual Babylon they might with fury run abroad
through all the world, as well the chief of that crew who are most prompt to
all the work, in this verse: as their multitudes, both most copious, of
which a number certain is named for a number infinite Re 9:16 and in
themselves by all means fully furnished to hide and to hurt Re 9:17 as being
armed with fire, smoke and brimstone, as appears in the colour of this
armour, which dazzles the eyes to all men, and have the strength of lions to
cause pain, from which (as out of their mouth) the fiery, smoky, and
stinking darts of the pope are shot out Re 9:18 The other part, that these
butchers have effected the commandment of God by fraud and violence, in the
two verses following Re 9:16,17 .
Re 9:19
9:19 For their power is in
their mouth, and in their tails: {14} for their tails [were] like unto
serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
(14) That is, they are
harmful on all sides: on whatever part you put your hand to them, or they
touch you, they do hurt. So the former are called Scorpions, Re 9:3 .
Re 9:20
9:20 {15} And the rest of the
men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of
their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and
silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear,
nor walk:
(15) Now remains the event
(as I said on the first verse), see Geneva "Re 9:1" which followed so many
grievous judgments in the most wicked world, namely an impenitent
affirmation of the ungodly in their impiety and unrighteousness, though they
feel themselves most vehemently pressed with the hand of God: for their
obstinate ungodliness is showed in this verse: and their unrighteousness in
the verse following Re 9:21 . So far has been the general history of things
to be done universally in the whole world: which because it does not so much
belong to the Church of Christ, is therefore not so expressly distinguished
by certainty of time and other circumstances, but is woven, as they say,
with a slight hand. Also there is no other reason why the history of the
seventh angel is passed over in this place, then for that the same more
properly appertains to the history of the Church. But this is more
diligently set out according to its time, Re 11:16 as shall appear on those
places.
Re 10:1
10:1 And {1} I saw {2}
another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed 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:
(1) Now John passes to the
other prophetical history, which is of the Church of God, as I showed that
this book should be distinguished Re 4:1 . This story goes from here to Re
22:1 . This whole chapter is a transition from the common history of the
world to that which is particular of the Church. There are in this
transition or passage, two preparatives as it were, to this Church story
comprised in this whole chapter. One is the authority of Christ revealing
his mysteries and calling his servant, to Re 10:7 . The other is John, his
calling proper to this place, and repeated from before to the end of this
chapter. Authority is given to this revelation, by these things: first, by
the appearing from heaven in this habit and countenance, strong, ready
glorious surveying all things by his providence, and governing them by his
omnipotence Re 10:1 . Secondly, that he brought not by chance, but out of a
book, this open revelation, set forth to the eye, to signify the same to the
sea and land, as the Lord over all Re 10:2 . Thirdly that he offered the
same not whispering or muttering in a corner (as false prophets do) but
crying out with a loud voice to those who sleep, and with a lionish and
terrible noise roused the secure: the very thunders themselves giving
testimony to it Re 10:3 . Lastly, for that he confirmed all by another Re
10:5-7 .
(2) Christ Jesus, see Re 7:2
Re 10:2
10:2 And he had in his hand a
{3} little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and [his] left
[foot] on the earth,
(3) Namely, a special book
of the affairs of God's Church: For the book that contains things belonging
to the whole world, is said to be kept with the Creator Re 5:1 but the book
of the Church, with the Redeemer: and out of this book is taken the rest of
the history of this Apocalypse.
Re 10:4
10:4 {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, {a} Seal up those things which the seven thunders
uttered, and write them not.
(4) A godly care is
laudable, but must be married with knowledge. Therefore nothing is to be
done but by the calling of God, which must be expected and waited for by the
godly.
(a) Keep them secret.
Re 10:5
10:5 And the angel which I
saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth {b} lifted up his hand to heaven,
(b) This was a gesture used
of one that swears, which men do now use.
Re 10:6
10:6 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, {5} that there should be {c} time no longer:
(5) Neither time itself,
nor the things that are in time: but that the world to come is at hand,
which is altogether of eternity, and beyond all times.
(c) There shall never be any more time.
Re 10:7
10:7 But in the days of the
{6} voice 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.
(6) See Re 11:15, 16:17 .
Re 10:8
10:8 {7} And the voice which
I heard from heaven spake unto me again, 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.
(7) The other part of this
chapter concerning the particular calling of John to the receiving of the
following prophecy, which is enjoined him, first by sign, in three verses,
then in plain words in the last verse Re 10:9,10,11 . To the setting forth
of the sign belong these things: That John is taught from heaven to ask for
the book of the prophecy in this verse: for these motions and desires God
inspires that asking for the book, he is charged to take it in a figurative
manner, the use of which is expounded in Re 10:9
(as in) Eze 2:9 whence this similitude is borrowed: lastly that John at the
commandment of Christ took the book, and found by experience that the same
as proceeding from Christ, was most sweet, but in that it foretells the
afflictions of the Church, it was most bitter to his spirit.
Re 10:11
10:11 {8} And he said unto
me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues,
and kings.
(8) A simple and plain
declaration of the sign before, witnessing the divine calling of John, and
laying on him the necessity of it.
Re 11:1
11:1 And there {1} was given
me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and {2} measure
the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
(1) The authority of the
intended revelation being declared, together with the necessity of that
calling which was particularly imposed on John after which follows the
history of the estate of Christ his Church, both conflicting or warring, and
overcoming in Christ. For the true Church of Christ is said to fight against
that which is falsely so called, over which Antichrist rules, Christ Jesus
overthrowing Antichrist by the spirit of his mouth: and Christ is said to
overcome most gloriously until he shall slay Antichrist by the appearance of
his coming, as the apostle teaches in 2Th 2:8 . So this history has two
parts: One of the state of the Church conflicting with temptations until
Chapter 16. The other of the state of the same church obtaining victory,
thence to Chapter 20. The first part has two sections most conveniently
distributed into their times, of which the first contains a history of the
Christian Church for 1260 years, what time the gospel of Christ was as it
were taken up from among men into heaven: the second contains a history of
the same Church to the victory perfected. These two sections are briefly,
though distinctly propounded in this chapter, but both of them are
discoursed after in due order. For we understand the state of the Church
conflicting, out of Chapters 12 and 13, and of the same growing out of
afflictions, out of Chapters 14 to 16. Neither did John unknowingly join
together the history of these two times in this chapter, because here is
spoken of prophecy, which all confess to be but one just and immutable in
the Church, and which Christ commanded to be continual. The history of the
former time reaches to Re 11:2-14 , the latter is set down in the rest of
this chapter Re 11:15-19 . In the former are shown these things: the calling
of the servants of God in Re 11:4 the conflicts which the faithful must
undergo in their calling, for Christ and his Church, thence to Re 11:5-10
and their resurrection, and receiving up into heaven to Re 11:11-14 . In the
calling of the servants of God, two things are mentioned: the begetting and
settling of the Church in two verses, and the education of it in two verses.
The begetting of the Church is here commended to John by sign and by speech:
the sign is a measuring rod, and the speech a commandment to measure the
Temple of God, that is, to reduce the same to a new form: because the
Gentiles are already entered into the Temple of Jerusalem, and shall shortly
defile and overthrow it completely.
(2) Either that of Jerusalem's, which was a figure of the Church of Christ,
or that heavenly model in Re 11:19 but I like the first better, and the
things following all agree to it. The sense therefore is, you see all things
in God's house, almost from the passion of Christ, to be disordered: and not
only the city of Jerusalem, but also the court of the Temple is trampled
under foot by the nations, and by profane men whether Jews or strangers: and
that only this Temple, that is, the body of the Temple, with the altar, and
a small company of good men who truly worship God, do now remain, whom God
sanctifies and confirms by his presence. Measure therefore this, even this
true Church, or rather the true type of the true Church, omitting the rest,
and so describe all things from me, that the true Church of Christ may be as
it were a very little centre, and the Church of Antichrist as the circle of
the centre, every way in length and breadth compassing about the same, that
by way of prophecy you may so declare openly, that the state of the Temple
of God, and the faithful who worship him, that is, of the Church, is much
more upright than the Church of Antichrist.
Re 11:2
11:2 {3} But the {a} court
which is without the temple {b} leave out, and measure it not; for it is given
unto the {4} Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot {5} forty
[and] two months.
(3) As if he should say, it
is not your place to judge those who are outside, 1Co 5:12 who are
innumerable: look to those of the household only, or to the house of the
living God.
(a) He speaks of the outer court, which was called the peoples court,
because all men might come into that.
(b) That is counted to be cast out, which in measuring is refused as
profane.
(4) To profane persons, wicked and unbelievers, adversaries to the Church.
(5) Or a thousand, two hundred and sixty days, as is said in Re 11:3 : that
is, a thousand two hundred and sixty years, a day for a year, as often in
Ezekiel and Daniel, which I noted before see Geneva "Re 2:10". The beginning
of these thousand two hundred and sixty years, we account from the passion
of Christ, by which (the partition wall being broken down) we were made from
two into one Eph 2:14 . I say, one flock under one shepherd in Joh 10:16 and
the end of these years precisely falls into the reign of pope Boniface the
eighth, who a little before the end of 1294, entered Rome in the feast of
Saint Lucie (as Bergomensis says) having put in prison his predecessor
Coelestinus, whom by fraud, under colour of Oracle, he deceived: for which
cause it was well said of him, "Intravit ut vulpes, regnavit ut leo, mortuus
est ut canis." That is, "He entered like a fox, reigned like a lion, and
died like a dog." For if from 1294, you subtract the number of years Christ
lived on the earth, you will find there remains just one thousand two
hundred and sixty years, which are mentioned in this place and many others.
Re 11:3
11:3 And {6} I will give
[power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall {7} prophesy a thousand two
hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
(6) I would rather
translate it "illud" than "illam" the temple than the city: for God says, I
will give that temple, and commit it to my two witnesses, that is, to the
ministers of the word, who are few indeed, weak and contemptible: but yet
two, that is, of such a number as one of them may help another, and one
confirm the testimony of another to all men, that from the mouth of two or
three witnesses every word may be made good among men; 2Co 13:1 .
(7) They will exercise their office enjoined by me by the space of those
1260 years, in the midst of afflictions though never so lamentable, which is
figuratively shown by the mourning garment.
Re 11:4
11:4 These {8} are the two
olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
(8) That is, the ordinary
and perpetual instruments of spiritual grace, peace and light in my Church,
which God by his only power preserved in this Temple. See Zec 4:3 .
Re 11:5
11:5 {9} And if any man will
hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies:
and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
(9) The power and surety of
the holy ministry, which is truly evangelical, is declared both in earth and
in heaven, protecting the administers of it, and destroying its enemies, in
this verse, divine power, most mightily showing itself forth in heaven,
earth and the sea in Re 11:6 as it is described in 2Co 10:4 according to the
promise of Christ in Mr 16:17 . This is the second place (as I said before)
of the combats which the servants of God must undergo in the executing of
their calling, and of the things that follow the same combats or conflicts
are these things to overcome, in these two verses: to be overcome and killed
in Re 11:7 After the slaughter follow these things, that the carcasses of
the godly, laid abroad in Re 11:8 and being unburied, are scorned, together
with cursing and bitter abhorrance Re 11:9 and that therefore
congratulations are publicly and privately made in Re 11:10 .
Re 11:7
11:7 {10} And when they shall
have {c} finished their testimony, {11} the beast that ascendeth out of the
bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall {12} overcome them, and
kill them.
(10) That is, when they
have spent those 1260 years mentioned in Re 11:2,3 in publishing their
testimony according to their office.
(c) When they have done their message.
(11) Of which after Chapter 13, that beast is the Roman Empire, made long
ago of civil, ecclesiastical: the chief head of which was then Boniface the
eighth, as I said before: who lifted up himself in so great arrogancy, (says
the author of "Falsciculus temporum") that he called himself, Lord of the
whole world, as well in temporal causes, as in spiritual: There is a
document of that matter, written by the same Boniface most arrogantly, shall
I say, or most wickedly, "Ca. unam sanctam, extra de majoritate & obedientia."
In the sixth of the Decretals
(which is from the same author) many things are found of the same argument.
(12) He shall persecute most cruelly the holy men, and put them to death,
and shall wound and pierce through with cursings, both their names and
writings. That this was done to very many godly men, by Boniface and others,
the histories do declare, especially since the time that the odious and
condemned name amongst the multitude, first of the brethren Waldonenses or
Lugdunenses, then also of the Fraticels, was pretended, that good men might
with more approbation be massacred.
Re 11:8
11:8 And their dead bodies
[shall lie] in the {13} street of the great city, which {d} spiritually is
called Sodom and Egypt, {14} where also our Lord was crucified.
(13) That is, openly at
Rome: where at that time was a most great crowd of people, the year of
Jubile being then first ordained by Boniface to the same end, in the year
1300, an example of which is read in chapter 1 "Extra, de poenitentys &
remissionibus." So by one act he committed two wrongs against Christ, both
abolishing his truth by restoring the type of the Jubile, and triumphing
over his members by wicked superstition. O religious heart! Now that we
should understand the things of Rome, John himself is the author, both after
in the seventeenth chapter almost throughout, and also in the restriction
now next following, when he says, it is that great city (as he calls it) Re
17:18 and is spiritually termed Sodom and Egypt: and that spiritually (for
that must here again be repeated from before) Christ was there crucified.
For the two first names signify spiritual wickednesses: the latter signifies
the show and pretence of good, that is, of Christian and sound religion.
Sodom signifies most licentious impiety and in the most confident glorying
of that city, as it were in true religion, being yet full of falsehood and
ungodliness. Now who is ignorant that these things do rather, and better fit
Rome, than any other city? The commendations of the city of Rome for many
years past, are publicly notorious, which are not for me to gather together.
This only I will say, that he long since did very well see what Rome is, who
upon leaving, used these verses: "Roma vale, vidi, Satis est vidisse:
revertar, Quumleno, meretrix, scurra, cinadus ero." "Now farewell Rome, I
have seen thee, it was enough to see: I will return when as I mean, bawd,
harlot knave to be"
(d) After a more secret type of meaning and understanding.
(14) Namely in his parts, as also he said to Saul in Ac 9:5
Re 11:9
11:9 And they of the people
and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies {15} three
days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
(15) That is, for three
years and a half: for so many years Boniface lived after his Jubile, as
Bergomensis witnesses.
Re 11:10
11:10 And they that dwell
upon the earth {16} shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send
gifts one to another; because these two prophets {17} tormented them that
dwelt on the earth.
(16) So much the more shall
they by this occasion exercise the hilarity of their Jubile.
(17) The gospel of Christ is the affliction of the world, and the ministry
of it, the savour of death to death, to those that perish, 2Co 2:16 .
Re 11:11
11:11 {18} And after {19}
three days and an half {20} the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and
they {21} stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
(18) The third passage, as
noted before, is of the rising again of the prophets from the dead, and
their carrying up into heaven. For their resurrection is shown in this
verse: their calling and lifting up into heaven, in the verse following.
(19) That is, what time God shall destroy that wicked Boniface.
(20) That is, the prophets of God shall in a manner rise again, not the same
in person (as they say) but in spirit: that is, in the power and efficacy of
their ministry, which John expressed before, in Re 11:5,6 So the prophecy
that is spoken of Elijah, is interpreted by the angel to be understood of
John the Baptist Lu 1:17 . For the same Boniface himself, who sought to kill
and destroy them, was by the fire of God's mouth (which the holy ministry
shows and exhibits) devoured and died miserably in prison, by the endeavour
of Satra Columensis and Nagaretus a French knight, whom Philip the fair King
of France sent into Italy but with a very small power.
(21) That is, the most grievous heat of afflictions and persecution shall
stay for a while, for the great amazement that shall arise on that sudden
and unlooked for judgment of God.
Re 11:12
11:12 And they heard a great
voice from heaven saying unto them, {22} Come up hither. And they ascended up
to heaven in a cloud; {23} and their enemies beheld them.
(22) They were called by
God into heaven, and taken out of this wicked world, into the heavenly
Church, which also lies hidden here in the earth, to exercise their calling
secretly: of whom this wretched world was unworthy; Heb 11:38 . For the
church of the wicked is by comparison called the earth, or the world: and
the Church of the godly, heaven. As it was in ancient times among the godly
Israelites: so among the Jews in the days of Manasseh and other kings, when
the earth refused the heirs of heaven, we read that they lay hidden as
heaven in the earth.
(23) Yet they could not hinder the secret ones of the Lord (as the Psalmist
called them) Ps 83:3 but they prospered in his work.
Re 11:13
11:13 {24} And the same hour
was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the
earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted,
{25} and {e} gave glory to the God of heaven.
(24) Bergomensis said, in
1301, "This year a blazing star foretelling great calamity to come, appeared
in heaven: in which year during the feast of St. Andrew, a great earthquake
occurred as never before: it continued for many days, and overthrew many
stately houses." This he said of the year following the Jubilee: which John
many ages before, expressed word for word.
(25) They were indeed broken with present astonishment of mind, but did not
earnestly repent as they ought to have done.
(e) Glorified God by confessing his name.
Re 11:14
11:14 {26} The second woe is
past; [and], behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
(26) He passes to the
second history, which is the second part of this chapter. John calls these
the second and third woe, see Re 9:12 .
Re 11:15
11:15 {27} And the seventh
angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, {28} The
kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his
Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
(27) Of whose sounding the
trumpet Christ expressly foretold in Re 10:7 and this is the second part of
this chapter, containing a general history of the Christian Church, from the
time of Boniface to the consummation of the victory declared by voice from
heaven. In this history there are three branches: a preparation by the sound
of the angels trumpet: a narration by the voice of heavenly angels and
elders and a confirmation by sign.
(28) The narration has two parts: an acclamation of the heavenly creatures
in this verse, and both an adoration by all the elders in Re 11:16 and also
a thanksgiving in Re 11:17,18 . The sense of the acclamation is, "Now the
Lord has entered his kingdom and has restored his church in which most
mightily recovered from the profanation of the Gentiles, he may glorify
himself." Namely that, which the Lord ordained when he first ordained his
Church, that the faith of the saints does now behold as accomplished.
Re 11:16
11:16 {29} And the four and
twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and
worshipped God,
(29) As before in Re 7:11 .
This giving of thanks is altogether of the same content with the words going
before.
Re 11:18
11:18 {30} And the nations
were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should
be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets,
and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest
destroy them which destroy the earth.
(30) A speech of the Hebrew
language, as if to say, as Gentiles being angry, your inflamed wrath came on
them, and showed itself from heaven, occasioned by their anger and fury.
Re 11:19
11:19 And the temple of God
was {31} opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his
testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an
earthquake, and great hail.
(31) This is the
confirmation of the next prophecy before going by signs exhibited in heaven,
and that of two sorts, of which some are visible, as the passing away of the
heaven, the opening of the temple, the ark of the covenant appearing in the
temple, and testifying the glorious presence of God, and the lightning:
others apprehended by ear and feeling, which bear witness in heaven and
earth to the truth of the judgments of God.
Re 12:1
12:1 And {1} there appeared a
great wonder in heaven; {2} a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under
her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
(1) Until now it has been
the general prophecy, comprehended in two parts, as I showed in Re 11:1-19 .
Now will be declared the first part of this prophecy, in this and the next
chapter and the latter part in the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth
chapters. To the first part, which is about the conflicting or militant
Church belong two things. The beginning and the progress of the same in
conflicts and Christian combats. Of which two the beginning of the Church is
described in this chapter, and the progress of it in the chapter following.
The beginning of the Christian Church we define as the first moment of the
conception of Christ, until the time in which this church was weaned and
taken away from the breast or milk of her mother: which is the time when the
Church of the Jews with their city and temple was overthrown by the judgment
of God. So we have in this chapter the story of 69 years and upwards. There
are three parts to this chapter. The first, is the history of the conception
and pregnancy in Re 12:1-4 . The second, a history of the birth from Re
12:5-12 . The third is about the woman who gave birth, to the end of the
chapter. These several parts each have their conflicts. Therefore in the
first part are two verses: and another of the lying in wait of the dragon
against the child about to be born, in the next two verses. In the first
point are these things, the description of the mother Re 12:1 and the pains
of childbirth in Re 12:2 all shown to John from heaven.
(2) A type of the true holy Church which was at that time in the Jewish
nation. This Church (as is the state of the Catholic church) did in itself
shine with glory given by God, immutable and unchangeable, and possessed the
kingdom of heaven as the heir of it.
Re 12:2
12:2 And {3} she being with
child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
(3) For this is the barren
woman who had not given birth; Isa 45:1, Ga 4:27 . She cried out with good
cause, and was tormented at that time, when in the judgment of all she
seemed near to death, about to die because of her weakness and poverty.
Re 12:3
12:3 And there appeared
another wonder in heaven; {4} and behold a great red dragon, having {5} seven
heads and ten {6} horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
(4) That is the devil or
Satan, see Re 12:9 , mighty, angry and full of wrath.
(5) By this to withstand those seven churches spoken of, that is, the
catholic church, and that with kingly objects and tyrannical magnificence:
signified by the crowns set on his heads, as if they belonged to him by the
proper right, without controversy: as also he boasted to Christ; See Mt 4:9
Re 13:1 .
(6) More than the horns of the Lamb, or than the churches are: so well
equipped does the tyrant brag himself to be, to do all manner of wickedness.
Re 12:4
12:4 (7) And his tail drew
the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the
dragon (8) stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for {9} to
devour her child as soon as it was born.
(7) After the description
of Satan follows this action, that is, his battle with the Church partly to
that which is visible, in which the wheat is mingled with the chaff, and the
good fish with that which is evil: its good part, though in appearance it
shined as the stars shine in heaven, he is said to thrust down out of
heaven, and to pervert: for if it were possible he would pervert even the
elect Mt 24:24 and partly to the elect members of the holy catholic church
in the second part of this verse. Many therefore of the members of this
visible Church (says John) he overthrew and triumphed on them.
(8) He withstood that elect Church of the Jews which was now ready to bring
forth the Christian Church and watched for her to give birth. For the whole
Church, and whole body is compared to a woman: and a part of the Church to
that which is brought forth, as we have noted in So 7:6 .
(9) Christ mystical (as they call him) that is, the whole Church, consists
of the person of Christ as the head and of the body united to it by the
Spirit, so is the name of Christ taken on 1Co 12:12 .
Re 12:5
12:5 {10} And she brought
forth a man {11} child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and
her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne.
(10) The second history of
this Church delivered of child: in which first the consideration of the
child born, and of the mother, is described in two verses Re 12:6 : secondly
the battle of the dragon against the young child, and the victory obtained
against him in the three verses following Re 12:7-9 : last of all is sung a
song of victory, to Re 12:10-12 . Now John in consideration of the child
born, notes two things: for he describes him, and his station or place in
this verse.
(11) That is Christ the head of the Church joined with his Church (the
beginning root and foundation of which is the same Christ) endued with
kingly power and taken up into heaven out of the jaws of Satan (who as a
serpent did bite him on the cross) that sitting on the heavenly throne, he
might reign over all.
Re 12:6
12:6 {12} And the woman fled
into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that {13} they
should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days.
(12) The Church of Christ
which was of the Jews, after his ascension into heaven, hid itself in the
world as in a wilderness, trusting only in the defence of God, as Luke
witnesses in Acts.
(13) Namely the apostles and servants of God ordained to feed with the word
of life, the Church collected both of the Jews and Gentiles unless any man
will take the word "alerent" impersonally after the use of the Hebrews,
instead of "aleretur" but I like the first better. For he has respect to
those two prophets, of whom Revelation 11:3 speaks. As for the meaning of
the 1290 days, see the same verse Geneva (7) "Re 11:3".
Re 12:7
12:7 And there was war in
heaven: {14} Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon
fought and his angels,
(14) Christ is the Prince
of angels and head of the Church, who bears that iron rod Re 12:5 . Also see
Geneva "Da 12:1". In this verse a description of the battle and of the
victory in the two verses following Re 12:8,9 . The psalmist noted this
battle as did Paul; Ps 68:9 Eph 4:8 Co 2:15 .
Re 12:8
12:8 {15} And prevailed not;
neither was their {a} place found any more in heaven.
(15) The description of the
victory, by the denying of the thing in this verse, and by affirming the
opposite in Re 12:9 . As Satan gained nothing in heaven, but was by the
power of God thrown down into the world of which he is the prince, Christ
himself and his elect members standing still by the throne of God.
(a) They were cast out so, that they were never seen any more in heaven.
Re 12:10
12:10 And I heard a loud
voice saying in heaven, {16} Now is come salvation, and strength, and the
kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our
brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
(16) The song of victory or
triumph containing first, a proposition of the glory of God and of Christ
shown in that victory: secondly, it contains a reason for the same
proposition, taken from the effects, as the enemy is overcome in battle, in
this verse, and the godly are made conquerors (and more than conquerors) Ro
8:37 . Thirdly a conclusion, in which is an exhortation to the angels, and
to the saints: and to the word, a prophecy of great misery, and of
destruction obtained by the devil against mankind, since he himself will
soon be miserable Re 12:12 .
Re 12:11
12:11 And they overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they {b}
loved not their lives unto the death.
(b) He is said in the
Hebrew tongue, to love his life, who values his life more than anything
else: and on the other side, he is said not to love his life, who does not
hesitate to risk it, if need requires it.
Re 12:13
12:13 And when {17} the
dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which
brought forth the man [child].
(17) The third part: a
history of the woman delivered, consisting of two parts, the present battle
of Satan against the Christian Church of the Jewish nation, in Re 12:13-16 :
and the battle intended against the Church of the Gentiles, which is called
holy by reason of the gospel of Christ in Re 12:17 .
Re 12:14
12:14 {18} And to the woman
were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness,
into her {c} place, where she is nourished for a {19} time, and times, and
half a time, from the face of the serpent.
(18) That is, being
strengthened with divine power: and taught by oracle, she fled swiftly from
the assault of the devil, and from the common destruction of Jerusalem and
went into a solitary city beyond Jordan called Pella as Eusebius tells in
the first chapter of the third book of his ecclesiastical history: where God
had commanded her by revelation.
(c) Into the place God had prepared for her.
(19) That is, for three and a half years: so the same speech is taken in see
Geneva (q) "Da 7:25". This space of time is reckoned in manner from that
last and most grievous rebellion of the Jews, to the destruction of the city
and temple,for their defection or falling away, began in the twelfth year of
Nero, before the beginning of which many signs and predictions were shown
from heaven, as Josephus wrote, lib.7, chap.12, and Hegesippus lib.5,
chap.44, among which this is very memorable. In the feast of Pentecost not
only a great sound and noise was heard in the Temple, but also a voice was
heard by many out of the Sanctuary which cried out to all, Let us depart
from here. Now three and a half years after this defection by the Jews
began, and those wonders happened, the city was taken by force, the temple
overthrown, and the place forsaken by God: and the length of time John noted
in this place.
Re 12:15
12:15 {20} And the serpent
cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause
her to be carried away of the flood.
(20) That is, he inflamed
the Romans and the nations that in persecuting the Jewish people with cruel
arms, they might at the same time invade the Church of Christ, now departed
from Jerusalem and out of Judea. For it is a normal thing in scripture, that
the raging tumults of the nations should be compared to waters.
Re 12:16
12:16 {21} And the earth
helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood
which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
(21) That is, there was
offered in their place other Jews, to the Romans and nations raging against
that people: and it came to pass by this that the Church of God was saved
entirely from that violence, that most raging flood of persecution which the
dragon vomited out being completely exhausted in the destroying of those
other Jews.
Re 12:17
12:17 {22} And the dragon was
wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which
keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(22) Being set on fire by
this means, he began to be more mad, and because he perceived that his
purpose against the Christian Church of the Jewish remnant was come to
nothing, he resolved to fall on her seed, that is, the Church of the
Gentiles, gathered by God and the holy members of the church. This is that
other part, as is said in Re 12:13 in which the purpose of Satan is shown in
Re 12:17 and his attempt, in Re 13:1 .
Re 13:1
13:1 {23} And I stood upon
the sand of the sea, and {1} saw a beast rise up {2} out of the sea, having
seven heads and {3} ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, {4} and upon his
heads {5} the name of blasphemy.
(23) That is, as a mighty
tempest he poured out on the whole world (whose prince he is) to raise the
floods and provoke the nations, that they might with their furious bellows
toss up and down, driven here and there, and finally destroy the Church of
Christ with its holy members. But the providence of God resisted his
attempt, that he might save the Church of the Gentiles, yet tender and
green. The rest of this story of the dragon is excellently presented by the
apostle John later in Re 20:1-15 . For here the dragon endeavouring to do
wickedness, was by God cast into prison.
(1) The apostle having declared the forming of the Christian Church, and the
state of the Church from which ours takes her beginning, now goes to the
story of the progress of it, as is shown in the beginning of the former
chapter. This history of the progress of the Church and the battles of it,
is recorded in this chapter, but distinctly in two parts, one is of the
civil Roman Empire, Re 13:1-10 . Another of the ecclesiastic or prophetic
body, there to the end of the chapter. In the first part these things are
shown: First the state of the Empire, in Re 13:1-4 then the acts of it in Re
13:5-7 after the effect: which is exceedingly great glory Re 13:8 . Last of
all is commended the use: and the instruction of the godly against the evils
that shall come from the same in Re 13:9,10 . The history of the state,
contains a most ample description of the beast, first entire in Re 13:1,2
and then restored after harm, Re 13:3,4 .
(2) On the sand where the devil stood practising new tempests against the
Church, in the verse next before going: at which time the Empire of Rome was
endangered by domestic dissensions and was mightily tossed, having ever and
again new heads, and new emperors. See Re 17:8
(3) Having the same instruments of power, providence, and most expert
government which the dragon is said to have had, in Re 12:3 .
(4) We read in Re 12:3 that the dragon had seven crowns set upon seven heads
because the thief claims to be proper lord and prince of the world, but this
beast is said to have ten crowns, set on several, not heads but horns:
because the beast is obligated to the dragon for all; Re 13:2 and does not
otherwise reign, then by law of subjection given by him, namely that he
employ his horns against the Church of God. The speech is taken from the
ancient custom and form of dealing in such ease: by which they that were
absolute kings did wear the diadem on their heads: but their vassals and
such as reigned by grace from them, wore the same on their hoods: for so
they might commodiously lay down their diadems when they came into the
presence of their sovereigns, as also the elders are said, when they adored
God which sat upon the throne, to have cast down their crowns before him in
Re 4:10
(5) Contrary to that which God of old commanded should be written in the
head piece of the high Priest, that is, "Sanctitas Jehova", Holiness unto
the Lord. The name of blasphemy imposed by the dragon, is that which Paul
says in 2Th 2:4 "He sits as God and boasts himself to be God" For this name
of blasphemy both the Roman Emperors did then challenge to themselves, as
Suetonius and Dion do report of Caigula and Domitian: and after them the
popes of Rome professed the same of themselves, when they challenged to
themselves sovereignty in holy things of which kind of sayings the sixth
book of the Decretals, the Clementines, and the Extravagants, are very full.
For these men were not content with that which Anglicus wrote in his Poetria,
(the beginning of which is "Papa stupor mundi" The pope is the wonder of the
world) "Nec Deus es, nec homo, sed neuter es inter utrungue." Thou art not
God, nor art thou man, but neuter mixed of both: as the gloss witnesses on
the sixth book: But they were bold to take to themselves the very name of
God, and to accept it given of other: according as almost a hundred and
twenty years since there was made for Sixtus the fourth, when he should
first enter into Rome in his papal dignity, a Pageant of triumph, and
cunningly fixed upon the gate of the city he should enter at, having written
upon it this blasphemous verse: "Oraclo vocis mundi moderaris habenas, Et
merito in terrs crederis esse Deus." That is, By oracle of thine own voice,
the world thou governest all, And worthily a God on earth men think and do
thee call. These and six hundred the like who can impute to that modesty by
which good men of old would have themselves called the servants of the
servants of God? Verily either this is a name of blasphemy, or there is none
at all.
Re 13:2
13:2 And the beast which I
saw was like {6} unto a leopard, and his feet were as [the feet] of a bear,
and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: {7} and the dragon gave him his power,
and his seat, and great authority.
(6) Swift as the leopard,
easily grabbing all things, as the bear does with his foot, and tearing and
devouring all things with the mouth as a lion does.
(7) That is, he lent the same power to the beast to use, when he perceived
that he could not escape, but must be taken by the hand of the angel, and
cast into the bottomless pit; Re 20:1-15 yet he did abandon the same power
completely from himself, but that he might use it as long as he could.
Re 13:3
13:3 {8} And I saw one of his
heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all
the world wondered after the beast.
(8) This is the other place
that pertains to the description of the beast of Rome: that besides that
natural dignity, and breadth of the Roman Empire, which was eluded to in the
two former verses, there was added this also as miraculous, that one head
was wounded as it were to death, and was healed again as from heaven, in the
sight of all men. This head was Nero the Emperor, in whom the race of the
Caesars fell from imperial dignity, and the government of the commonwealth
was translated to others: in whose hands the Empire was so cured and
recovered to health, as he seemed to all so much the more deeply rooted and
grounded fast, than ever before. Hence follows those effects, which are next
spoken of: First an admiration of certain power, as it were, sacred and
divine, sustaining the Empire and governing it: Secondly, the obedience and
submission of the whole earth, in this verse: Thirdly, the adoration of the
dragon, and most wicked worshipping of devils confirmed by the Roman
Emperors: Lastly, the adoration of the beast himself, who grew into so great
estimation, as that both the name and worship of a God was given to him, Re
13:4 . Now there were two causes which brought in the minds of men this
religion: the show of excellency, which brings with it reverence: and the
show of power invincible, which brings fear. Who is like (say they) to the
beast? Who shall be able to fight with him?
Re 13:5
13:5 {9} And there was given
unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given
unto him {10} to continue forty [and] two months.
(9) The second part
containing a history of the acts of the beast, as I said see Geneva "Re
13:1". The history of them is concluded in two points: the beginning, and
the manner of them. The beginning is the gift of the dragon, who put and
inspired into the beast both his impiety against the godly and those that
were of the household of faith, in Re 13:5 The manner of the acts or actions
done, is of two sorts, both impious in mind, and blasphemous in speech
against God, his Church and the godly in Re 13:6 and also most cruel and
injurious in deeds, even such as were done of most raging enemies, and of
most insolent and proud conquerors in Re 13:7
(10) Namely his actions, and manner of dealing. As concerning those two and
forty months, I have spoken of them before. See Geneva "Re 12:6"
Re 13:6
13:6 And he opened his mouth
in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, {11} and his tabernacle, {12}
and them that dwell in heaven.
(11) That is, the holy
Church, the true house of the living God.
(12) That is, the godly who as a group hid themselves from his cruelty. For
this bloody beast charged those holy souls falsely with innumerable
accusations for the name of Christ as we read in Justin Martyr, Tertullian,
Arnobius, Minutius, Eusebius, Augustine and others: whose example the latter
times followed most diligently, in destroying the flock of Christ: and we in
our own memory have found by experience, to our incredible grief. Concerning
heaven, see in Re 11:12
Re 13:8
13:8 And all that dwell upon
the earth shall worship him, {13} whose names are not written in the book of
life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
(13) That is, such as are
not from everlasting elected in Christ Jesus. For this is that Lamb slain;
Re 5:6 . These words I do with Aretas, distinguish in this manner: whose
names are not written from the laying of the foundation of the world, in the
book of Life, of the Lamb slain. This distinction is confirmed by a similar
verse in Re 17:8 .
Re 13:9
13:9 {14} If any man have an
ear, let him hear.
(14) The conclusion of this
speech of the first beast, consisting of two parts, an exhortation to
attentive audience, in this verse: and a foretelling, which partly contains
threatenings against the wicked and partly comfort for those who in patience
and faith shall wait for that glorious coming of our Lord and Saviour
Christ; Re 13:10
Re 13:11
13:11 {15} And I beheld
another beast coming up out of the earth; {16} and he had two horns like a
lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
(15) The second part of the
vision, concerning the ecclesiastical dominion, which in Rome succeeded that
which was politic, and is in the power of the corporation of false prophets
and of the forgers of false doctrine. Therefore the same beast, and the body
or corporation is called a false prophet by John; Re 16:13,19:20 . The form
of this beast is first described in this verse, then his acts in the verses
following: and the whole speech is concluded in the last verse. This beast
is by his breed, a son of the earth (as they say) obscurely born, and little
by little creeping up out of his abject estate.
(16) That is, in show he resembled the Lamb (for what is more mild or more
humble then to be the servant of the servants of God?} but indeed he played
the part of the dragon, and of the wolf; Mt 7:15 . For even Satan changes
himself into an angel of light; 2Co 11:14 and what should his honest
disciples and servants do?
Re 13:12
13:12 {17} And he exerciseth
all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them
which dwell therein {18} to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was
healed.
(17) The history of the
acts of this beast contains in sum three things, hypocrisy, the witness of
miracles and tyranny: of which the first is noted in this verse, the second
in the three verses following: the third in the sixteenth and seventeenth
verses. His hypocrisy is most full of lies, by which he abuses both the
former beast and the whole world: in that though he has by his cunning, as
it were by line, made of the former beast a most miserable skeleton or
anatomy, usurped all his authority to himself and most impudently exercises
the same in the sight and view of him: yet he carries himself so as if he
honoured him with most high honour, and did truly cause him to be reverenced
by all men.
(18) For to this beast of Rome, which of civil Empire is made an
ecclesiastical hierarchy, are given divine honours, and divine authority so
far, as he is believed to be above the scriptures, which the gloss upon the
Decretals declares by this devilish verse. "Articulos solvit, synodumque
facit generalem" That is, "He changes the Articles of faith, and gives
authority to general Councils."
Which is spoken of the papal power. So the beast is by birth, foundation,
feat, and finally substance, one: only the Pope has altered the form and
manner of it, being himself the head both of that tyrannical empire, and
also of the false prophets: for the empire has he taken to himself, and to
it added this cunning device. Now these words, "whose deadly wound was
cured" are put here for distinction sake, as also sometimes afterwards: that
even at that time the godly readers of this prophecy might by this sign be
brought to see the thing as present: as if it were said, that they might
adore this very empire that now is, whose head we have seen in our own
memory to have been cut off, and to be cured again.
Re 13:13
13:13 {19} And he doeth great
wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the
sight of men,
(19) The second point of
the things done by the beast, is the credit of great wonders or miracles,
and pertaining to the strengthening of this impiety: of which signs some
were given from above, as it is said, that fire was sent down from heaven by
false sorcery, in this verse. Others were shown here below in the sight of
the beast, to establish idolatry, and deceive souls: which part John sets
forth, beginning (as they say) at that which is last, in this manner: First,
the effect is declared in these words, "He deceives the inhabitants of the
earth". Secondly, the common manner of working, in two sorts: one of
miracles, "for the signs which were given him to do in the presence of the
beast", the other of the words added to the signs, and teaching the idolatry
by those signs "saying to the inhabitants of the earth, that they should
make an image to the beast, which etc." Thirdly, a special manner is
declared, "That it is given to him to put life into the image of the beast"
and that such a type of quickening, that the same both speaks by answer to
those that ask counsel of it, and also pronounces death against all those
that do not obey nor worship it: all things which oftentimes by false
miracles through the procurement and inspiration of the devil, have been
effected and wrought in images. The histories of the papists are full of
examples of such miracles, the most of them false, many also done by the
devil in images, as of old in the serpent; Ge 3:5 . By which example is
confirmed, not the authority of the beast, but the truth of God and these
prophecies.
Re 13:14
13:14 And deceiveth them that
dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do
in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they
should make an {20} image to the {21} beast, which had the wound by a sword,
and did live.
(20) That is, images, by "enallage"
or change of the number: for the worship of them ever since the second
Council of Nicea, has been ordained in the Church by public credit and
authority, contrary to the Law of God.
(21) In the Greek the word is in the Dative case, as much to say, as to the
worship, honour and obeying of the beast: for by this maintenance of images,
this pseudo-prophetical beast mightily profits the beast of Rome, of whom
long ago he received them. Wherefore the same is hereafter fittingly called
the image of the beast, for images have their beginning from the beast, and
have their form or manner from the will of the beast, and have their end and
use fixed in the profit and commodity of the beast.
Re 13:15
13:15 {22} And he had power
to give {a} life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast
should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of
the beast should be killed.
(22) The papists books are
full of these miracles of the images of the beast, (that is, which the beast
ordained to establish idolatry) which miraculously speak, and give judgment,
or rather astonishingly, by the fraud of the false prophets.
(a) To give life, as Jannes and Jambres imitated the miracles that Moses
did.
Re 13:16
13:16 {23} And he causeth
all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive {24} a {b}
mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
(23) The third point is a
cruel exercise of power, as was said before, usurped over men, in this
verse: and over their goods and actions, in the next verse. For he is said,
to bring on all persons a cruel slavery, that as bondslaves they might serve
the beast. Also he is said to exercise over all their goods and actions, an
abuse of indulgences and dispensations (as they term them) among their
friends and against others, to use most violent prohibitions, and to curse,
even in natural and civil, private and public contracts, in which all good
faith ought to have place.
(24) That is their consecrated oil, by which in the ordinance
(as they call it) of confirmation, they make servants for themselves, the
persons and doings of men, signing them in their forehead and hands. They
make the sign left by Christ, see Re 7:3 and the ordinance of baptism
useless. For whom Christ has joined to himself as signified by baptism this
beast challenges with his greasy consecrated oil, which he does not hesitate
to prefer over baptism, both in authority and value.
(b) The mark of the name of the beast.
Re 13:17
13:17 And that no man might
{25} buy or sell, save he that had the {26} mark, or the name of the beast, or
the number of his name.
(25) That is, have any
trade or dealings with men, but only those who have this annointing and
consecration of Clearkely shaving of the head, as they call it, read Gratian
"de Consecratione, distincione tertia.c.omnes.cap spiritus, etc." of these
matters.
(26) Here the false prophets require three things, set down in the order of
their greatness, a character, a name, and the number of the name. The
meaning is, that man that does not have their first annointing and clerical
shaving of the head: secondly holy orders, by which is communicated the name
of the beast: or finally has not attained that high degree of pontifical
knowledge, and of the law (as they call it) canonical, and has not made up
in account and cast the number of the mysteries of it: for in these things
consists the number of the name of the beast. This is excellently set forth
in the next verse.
Re 13:18
13:18 {27} Here is wisdom.
Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the
{28} number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred threescore [and] six.
(27) That is, in this
number of the beast consists that popish wisdom, which to them seems the
greatest of all others. In these words John expounds the saying that went
before the number of the beast, what it has above his distinctive mark and
his name. These things, says John, the mark and the name of the beast, is
wisdom: that is, only the wise and such as have understanding, can come by
that number: for they who would attain it must be knowledgeable doctors, as
the words following declare.
(28) How great and of what denomination this number of the beast is by which
the beast accounts his wisdom, John declares in these words, "Do you demand
how great it is?" It is so great, that it occupies the whole man: he is
always learning, and never comes to the knowledge of it: he must be a man in
deed that does attain to it. You ask what denomination it is? Truly it is
six throughout, all the parts of it in their denominations (as they term
them) it stands of six by units, tens, hundreds, etc. There is not one part
in the pontifical learning and order, which is not either referred to the
head, the top of it, or contained in the same: so fitly do all things in
this hierarchy agree with one another, and with their head. Therefore that
cruel beast Boniface the eighth, does commend by the number of six those
Decretals which he perfected: in the sixth book. "Which book (he says) being
to be added to five other books of the same volume of Decretals, we thought
good to name Sextum the sixth: that the same volume by addition of it,
containing a senary, or the number of six books (which is a number perfect)
may yield a perfect form of managing all things, and perfect discipline of
behaviour." Here therefore is the number of the beast, who empowers from
himself all his parts, and brings them all back to himself by his discipline
in most wise and cunning manner. If any man desires more of this, let him
read the gloss on that place. I am not ignorant that other interpretations
are given in this place; but I thought it my duty, with the good favour of
all, and without the offence of any, to propound my opinion in this point.
For this cause especially, since it seemed to me neither profitable, nor
likely to be true, that the number of the beast, or the name of the beast
should be taken as the common interpreters take it. This number of the beast
teaches, gives out, imprints, as a public mark of those who are his, and
esteems that mark above all others, as the mark of those whom he loves best.
Now those other expositions seem to be far removed from this property and
condition of that number: whether you respect the name Latinus, or Titan, or
any other. For these the beast does not teach, nor give forth, nor imprint,
but most diligently forbids to be taught, and audaciously denies: he does
not approve them, but reproves them: and hates those that think so of this
number, with a hatred greater then that of Vatinius.
Re 14:1
14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a
Lamb {1} stood on the mount Sion, and with him {2} an hundred forty [and] four
thousand, having his Father's {3} name written in their foreheads.
(1) The history of the
Church of Christ being finished for more than a 1300 years at which time
Boniface the eighth lived as has been said: there remains the rest of the
history of the conflicting or militant church, from there to the time of the
last victory in three chapters. For first of all, as the foundation of the
whole history, is described the standing of the Lamb with his army and
retinue in five verses, after his worthy acts which he has done and yet does
in most mighty manner, while he overthrows Antichrist with the spirit of his
mouth, in the rest of this chapter and in the two following. To the
description of the Lamb, are propounded three things: his situation, place
and attendance: for the rest are expounded in the former visions, especially
in the fifth chapter.
(2) Prepared to do his office see Ac 7:56 , in the midst of the church,
which mount Zion pictured before.
(3) This retinue of the Lamb is described first by divine mark
(as before in) Re 7:2 in this verse. Then by divine occupation, in that
every one in his retinue most earnestly and sweetly Re 14:2 glorify the Lamb
with a special song before God and his elect angels. Flesh and blood cannot
hear this song, nor understand, Re 14:3 . Lastly by their deeds done before,
and their sanctification in that they were virgins, pure from spiritual and
bodily fornication, that is, from impiety and unrighteousness. They followed
the Lamb as a guide to all goodness, cleaved to him and are holy to him, as
by grace redeemed by him. In truth and simplicity of Christ they have
exercised all these things, sanctimony of life, the guidance of the Lamb, a
thankful remembrance of redemption by him and finally (to conclude in a
word) they are blameless before the Lord, Re 14:4,5 .
Re 14:6
14:6 {4} And I saw {5}
another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to
preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred,
and tongue, and people,
(4) The other part (as I
said in the first verse) see Geneva "Re 14:1" is of the acts of the Lamb,
the manner of which is delivered in two sorts, of his speech and of his
facts. His speeches are set forth to Re 14:7-13 , and his facts to the
sixteenth chapter. In the speech of the Lamb, which is the word of the
Gospel, are taught in this place these things: The service of the godly
consisting inwardly of reverence towards God, and outwardly of the
glorifying of him: the visible sign of which is adoration Re 14:7 . The
overthrowing of wicked Babylon, Re 14:8 and the fall of every one of the
ungodly who worship the beast, Re 14:9,10,11 . Finally the state of the holy
servants of God both present, Re 14:12 and to come, most blessed, according
to the promise of God in Re 14:13 .
(5) This angel is a type or figure of the good and faithful servants of God,
whom God especially from the time of Boniface the eighth has raised up to
the proclaiming of the gospel of Christ, both by preaching and by writing.
So God first, near the time of the same Boniface, used Peter Cassiodorus an
Italian: after, Arnold "de villa nova", a Frenchman, then Occam, dante,
Petrarch, after the "Johannes de rupe casa", a Franciscan: after again, John
Wycliff an Englishman, and so continually one or another to the restoring of
the truth, and enlarging of his Church.
Re 14:7
14:7 {6} Saying with a loud
voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come:
and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of
waters.
(6) That is, Babylon is
destroyed by the sentence and judgment of God: the execution of which John
describes in chapter 18. This voice of the ministers of Christ has continued
since the time that Babylon (which is Rome) has by deliberate counsel and
malice questioned the light of the gospel offered from God.
Re 14:8
14:8 And there followed
another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because
she made all nations drink of the wine of the {a} wrath of her fornication.
(a) Of her fornication, by
which God was provoked to wrath.
Re 14:9
14:9 And the third angel
followed them, saying with a loud voice, {7} If any man worship the beast and
his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
(7) That is, will not
worship God alone, but will transfer his divine honour to this beast,
whether he do it with his heart, or counterfeiting in show. "For he (says
Christ) that denies me before men, him will I deny before my Father and his
angels" Mt 10:32 . This is the voice of the holy ministry, which at this
time is used of the holy and faithful servants of God. For having now
sufficiently found out the public obstinacy of Babylon, they no longer work
to speak out against the same: but to save some particular members by terror
(as Jude speaks) and to pluck them out of the flame: or else lead them away
by vehement commiseration of their state, they set before them eternal death
into which they rush unaware, unless they return to God in time, but the
godly who are of their own flock, they exhort to patience, obedience and
faith to others.
Re 14:12
14:12 {8} Here is the
patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and
the faith of Jesus.
(8) The patience,
sanctification and justification by faith: the results of which are rest,
happiness and eternal glory in the heavenly fellowship of God and his
angels.
Re 14:13
14:13 And I heard a voice
from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die {b} in the
Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their
labours; and their {c} works do follow them.
(b) That is, for the Lord.
(c) By works, is meant the reward which follows good works.
Re 14:14
14:14 {9} And I looked, and
behold a {10} white cloud, and upon the cloud [one] sat like unto the Son of
man, {11} having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a {12} sharp
sickle.
(9) The second part of this
chapter as I said see Geneva "Re 14:1", of the actions of Christ in
overthrowing Antichrist and his church by the Spirit of his divine mouth.
Seeing that having been called back by word both publicly and privately to
his duty and admonished of his certain ruin, he does not cease to maintain
and protect his own adherents, that they may serve him: and to afflict the
godly with most barbarous persecutions. Of those things which Christ does,
there are two forms: one common or general in the rest of this chapter
another specific against that savage and rebellious beast and his
worshippers in chapter fifteen and sixteen. The common form is the calamity
of wars, spread abroad through the whole earth, and filling all things with
blood and without respect of any person. This is figured or shadowed in two
types, of the harvest and vintage. Have you seen how since the time that the
light of the gospel began to shine out, and since prophecy or preaching by
the grace of God was raised up again, horrible wars have been kindled in the
world? how much human flesh has been thrown to the earth by this divine
reaping? how much blood (alas for woe) has overflown for these 100 years
almost? all history cries out, and our age (if ever before) is now in horror
by reason of the rage of the sickle which Antichrist calls for. In this
place is the first type, that is of the harvest.
(10) Declaring his fierceness by his colour, like that which is in the white
or milk circle of heaven
(11) As one that shall reign from God, and occupy the place of Christ in
this miserable execution.
(12) That is, a most fit and convenient instrument of execution, destroying
all by showing and thrusting through: for who may stand against God?
Re 14:15
14:15 {13} And another angel
came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud,
Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the
harvest of the earth is ripe.
(13) Christ gives a
commandment in this verse, and the angel executes it in Re 14:16 .
Re 14:17
14:17 {14} And another angel
came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
(14) The other type (as I
said in) see Geneva "Re 14:14" is the vintage: the manner of which is the
same as that which went before, except for this, that the grape gathering is
more exact in seeking out everything, then is the harvest labour. This is
therefore a more grievous judgment, both because it succeeds the other, and
because it is executed with great diligence.
Re 14:20
14:20 And the winepress was
trodden without the city, {15} and blood came out of the winepress, even unto
the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand [and] six hundred furlongs.
(15) That is, overflowed
very deep, and very far and wide: the speech is exaggeration to signify the
greatness of the slaughter. These are those pleasant fruits truly, of the
contempt of Christ, and desiring of Antichrist rather than him, which the
miserable, mad and blind world reaps at this time.
Re 15:1
15:1 And {1} I saw another
sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven {2} angels having the seven last
plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
(1) This is that other
passage of the acts of Christ, as I noted before see Geneva "Re 14:14". Now
therefore is shown a singular work of the judgment of God belonging to the
overthrow of Antichrist and his forces, of which divine work the preparation
is described in this chapter: and the execution in the next. The preparation
is first set down generally and in type in this verse: and is after
particularly set forth in the rest of the chapter.
(2) Of which Re 8:9 in sending forth the plagues of the world: for even
these plagues do for the most part agree with those.
Re 15:2
15:2 {3} And I saw {4} as it
were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and {5} them that had gotten the
victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, [and] over the
number of his name, {6} stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
(3) There are two parts of
the narration: one, the confession of the saints glorifying God, when they
saw that preparation of the judgments of God, to Re 15:3,4 , another the
vocation, instruction, and confirmation of those instruments which God has
ordained for the execution of his judgments, in Re 15:5-8 .
(4) This part of the vision alludes to the sea or large vessel or brass, in
which the priests washed themselves in the entrance of the temple: for in
the entrance of the heavenly temple (as it is called) in Re 15:5 , is said
to have been a sea of glass, most luminous and clear to the commodity of
choice mixed with fire, that is, as containing the treasury of the judgments
of God, which he brings forth and dispenses according to his own pleasure:
for out of the former, the priests were cleansed of old: and out of this the
ungodly are destroyed now in Re 4:6 .
(5) That is, the godly martyrs of Christ, who shall remain faithful even in
miracles to that beast; see Re 13:17, 14:9,10
(6) Glorifying God, from the particular observation of the weapons and
instruments of God's wrath, floating in the sea of glass.
Re 15:3
15:3 And they sing {7} the
song of Moses the {a} servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, {8}
Great and marvellous [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true [are]
thy {b} ways, thou King of saints.
(7) That song of triumph,
which is Ex 15:2 .
(a) So is Moses called for honour's sake, as it is set forth in De 34:10 .
(8) This song has two parts: one a confession, both particular, in this
verse, and general, in the beginning of the next verse Re 15:4 , another, a
narration of causes belonging to the confession, of which one kind is
eternal in itself, and most present to the godly, in that God is both holy
and alone God: another kind is future and to come, in that the elect taken
out of the Gentiles (that is, out of the wicked ones and unbelieving: as in
Re 11:2 were to be brought to the same state of happiness, by the
magnificence of the judgment of God, in Re 15:4 .
(b) Thy doings.
Re 15:5
15:5 {9} And after that I
looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven
was opened:
(9) The second part of the
narration (as was noted in) see Geneva (4) "Re 15:2" in which first the
authority of the whole argument and matter is figured by a forerunning type
of a temple opened in heaven, as in Re 11:19 namely that all those things
are divine and of God, that proceed from thence in this verse. Secondly, the
administers or executors, come out of the Temple in Re 15:6 . Thirdly, they
are furnished with instruments of the judgments of God, and weapons fit for
the manner of the same judgments; Re 15:7 . Finally, they are confirmed by
testimony of the visible glory of God, in Re 15:8 . A similar testimony to
which was exhibited of old in the law; Ex 40:34 .
Re 15:6
15:6 And the seven angels
came out of the temple, having the {10} seven plagues, clothed in {11} pure
and white linen, and having their breasts {12} girded with golden girdles.
(10) That is, commandments
to inflict those seven plagues, by way of metonymy.
(11) Which was in old time a sign of the kingly or princely dignity.
(12) This girding was a sign of diligence, and the girdle of gold was a sign
of sincerity and trustworthiness in taking in charge the commandments of
God.
Re 15:7
15:7 And one of the {13} four
beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God,
who liveth for ever and ever.
Re 15:8
15:8 And the temple was
filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; {14} and no man
was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels
were fulfilled.
(14) None of those seven
angels could return, till he had performed fully the charge committed to
him, according to the decree of God.
Re 16:1
16:1 And {1} I heard a great
voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out
the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
(1) In the former chapter
was set down the preparation to the work of God: here is delivered the
execution of it. In this discourse of the execution, is a general
commandment, in this verse, then a particular recital in order of the
execution done by every of the seven angels, in the rest of the chapter.
This special execution against Antichrist and his crew does in manner agree
to that which was generally done on the whole world, chapters eight and nine
and belongs (if my conjecture fail me not) to the same time. Yet in here
they differ from one another, that this was particularly effected on the
princes and ringleaders of the wickedness of the world, the other generally
against the whole world being wicked. Therefore these judgments are more
grievous than those.
Re 16:2
16:2 {2} And the first went,
and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous
sore upon the men which had the {3} mark of the beast, and [upon] them which
worshipped his image.
(2) The history of the
first angel, whose plague on the earth is described almost in the same words
with that sixth plague of the Egyptians in Ex 9:9 . But it does signify a
spiritual vicar, and that torture or butchery of conscience seared with a
hot iron, which accuses the ungodly within, and both by truth of the word
(the light of which God has now so long shown forth) and by bitterness stirs
up and forces out the sword of God's wrath.
(3) See Re 13:16
Re 16:3
16:3 {4} And the second angel
poured out his vial upon the sea; and it {a} became as the blood of a dead
[man]: and every living soul died in the sea.
(4) The history of the
second angel, who troubles and molests the seas, that he may stir up the
conscience of men sleeping in their wickedness; Re 8:8 .
(a) It was turned into rotten and filthy blood, such as is in dead bodies.
Re 16:4
16:4 {5} And the third angel
poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became
blood.
(5) The story of the third
angel striking the rivers, in this verse, who proclaiming the justice of
God, commends the same by a grave comparison of the sins of men, with the
punishment of God: which is common to this place, and that which went
before. Wherefore also this praising is attributed to the angel of the
waters, a name common to the second and third angels, according as both of
them are said to be sent against the waters, though the one of the sea, the
other of the rivers, in Re 16:5,6 .
Re 16:7
16:7 {6} And I heard another
out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous [are] thy
judgments.
(6) A confirmation of the
praise before going out of the sanctuary of God, whether immediately by
Christ, or by some one of his angels, for Christ also is called another
angel; Re 3:8,7:2,12:1
Re 16:8
16:8 {7} And the fourth angel
poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men
with fire.
(7) The story of the fourth
angel, who throws the plague on the heavens and on the sun, of which Luke
notes the effects in Lu 21:26 . The one peculiar, that it shall scorch men
with heat in this verse. The other proceeding accidentally from the former,
that their fury shall so much more be enraged against God in Re 16:9 , when
yet (O wonderful mercy and patience of God) all other creatures are first
stricken often and grievously by the hand of God before mankind, by whom he
is provoked: as the things before declare.
Re 16:10
16:10 {8} And the fifth angel
poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of
darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
(8) The story of the first
angel, who strikes the kingdom of the beast with two plagues abroad the
darkness, with biles and distresses most grievous, throughout his whole
kingdom that by this he might wound the conscience of the wicked, and punish
the perverse obstinacy of the idolaters: of which arose perturbation, and
thence a furious indignation and desperate madness, raging against God and
hurtful to itself.
Re 16:12
16:12 {9} And the sixth angel
poured out his vial upon the great river {10} Euphrates; and {11} the water
thereof was dried up, {12} that the way of the kings of the east might be
prepared.
(9) The story of the sixth
angel, divided into his act, and the event of it. The act is, that the angel
cast out of his mouth the plague of a most glowing heat, in which even the
greatest floods, and which most were accustomed to swell and overflow (as
Euphrates) were dried up, by the counsel of God in this verse. The event is,
that the madness with which the wicked are enraged that they may scorn the
judgments of God, and abuse them furiously to serve their own turn, and to
the executing of their own wicked outrage.
(10) The bound of the spiritual Babylon, and to the fortresses of the same
Re 9:14 .
(11) So the Church of the ungodly, and kingdom of the beast is said to be
left naked, all the defences of it in which they put their trust, being
taken away from it.
(12) That is, that even they who dwell further off, may with more
convenience make haste to the sacrifice, which the Lord has appointed.
Re 16:13
16:13 And I saw {13} three
unclean spirits {14} like frogs [come] out of the mouth of the {15} dragon,
and out of the mouth of the {16} beast, and out of the mouth of the {17} false
prophet.
(13) That is, every one of
them focus their whole force, and conspired that by wonders, word and work
they might bring into the same destruction all kings, princes and potentates
of the world, cursedly bewitched by them by their spirits, and teachers of
the vanity and impunity of the beast that committed fornication with the
kings of the earth. This is a good description of our times.
(14) Croaking with all importunity and continually day and night provoking
and calling forth to arms, as the trumpets and furies of wars, as is
declared in Re 16:14 .
(15) That is, the devil; Re 12:3
(16) See Re 13:1 .
(17) That is, of that other beast; Re 13:11 , for so he is called also in Re
19:20,20:10 .
Re 16:15
16:15 {18} Behold, I come as
a thief. Blessed [is] he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk
naked, and they see his shame.
(18) A parenthesis for
admonition, in which God warns his holy servants, who rest in the
expectation of Christ, always to think of his coming, and to look to
themselves, that they be not shamefully made naked and circumvented of these
unclean spirits, and so they be miserable unprepared at the coming of the
Lord; Mt 24:29,25:13 .
Re 16:16
16:16 {19} And he gathered
them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue {20} Armageddon.
(19) Namely the angel, who
according to the commandment of God, was to do sacrifice: nonetheless that
those impure spirits do the same wickedly, as servants not to God, but to
the beast that has seven heads.
(20) That is, (to say nothing of other expositions) the mountain itself, or
mountain places of Megiddon. Now it is certain by the Holy Scripture, that
Megiddon is a city and territory in the tribe of Manasseh, bordering on
Issachar and Asher, and was made famous by the lamentable overthrow of king
Josias; 2Ch 35:22, Zec 12:11 . In this mountain country God says by figure
or type that the kings of the people who serve the beast shall meet
together; because the Gentiles did always cast that lamentable overthrow in
the teeth of the Church of the Jews, to their great reproach and therefore
were persuaded that that place should be most fortunate to them (as they
speak) and unfortunate to the godly. But God here pronounces, that that
reproach of the Church and confidence of the ungodly, shall by himself be
taken away, in the same place where the nations persuaded themselves, they
should mightily exult and triumph against God and his Church.
Re 16:17
16:17 {21} And the seventh
angel poured out his vial into the {22} air; and there came a great voice out
of the temple of heaven, from {23} the throne, saying, {24} It is done.
(21) The story of the
seventh angel to the end of the chapter, in which first is shown by sign and
speech, the argument of this plague, in this verse: and then is declare the
execution of it in the verses following.
(22) From whence he might move the heaven above, and the earth beneath.
(23) That is, from him that sits on the throne, by metonymy.
(24) That is, Babylon is undone, as is shown in Re 16:19 and in the chapters
following. For the first onset (as I might say) of this denunciation, is
described in this chapter: and the last containing a perfect victory, is
described in those that follow.
Re 16:18
16:18 {25} And there were
voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such
as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, [and] so
great.
(25) Now is declared the
execution (as is said) in Re 16:17 and the things that shall last come to
pass in heaven and in earth before the overthrow of the beast of Babylon:
both generally in Re 16:18 and particularly in the cursed city, and such as
have any familiarity with it, in the last verses.
Re 16:19
16:19 {26} And the great city
was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations {27} fell: and
great {28} Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of
the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
(26) The seat or standing
place of Antichrist.
(27) Of all who cleave to Antichrist and fight against Christ.
(28) That harlot, of whom in the next chapter following. Now this phrase "to
come into remembrance" is from the Hebrew language, borrowed from men, and
attributed to God.
Re 16:20
16:20 And every island fled
away, and the mountains {29} were not {b} found.
(29) That is, were seen no
more, or were no more extant. A borrowed Hebraism.
(b) Literally "appeared not"; Ge 5:24
Re 16:21
16:21 {30} And there fell
upon men a great hail out of heaven, [every stone] about the weight of a {c}
talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the
plague thereof was exceeding great.
(30) The manner of the
particular execution, most evidently testifying the wrath of God by the
original and greatness of it: the event of which is the same with that which
is in Re 9:12 and that which has been mentioned in this chapter, from the
execution of the fourth angel till now, that is to say, an incorrigible
pertinency of the world in their rebellion, and a heart that cannot repent;
Re 16:9,10 .
(c) About the weight of a talent, and a talent was sixty pounds, that is,
six hundred groats, by which is signified a marvellous and strange weight.
Re 17:1
17:1 And {1} there came one
of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto
me, Come hither; I will shew unto {2} thee the {a} judgment of the great whore
that sitteth upon many waters:
(1) The state of the Church
militant being declared, now follows the state of the church overcoming and
getting victory, as I showed before in the beginning of the tenth chapter.
This state is set forth in four chapters. As in the place before I noted,
that in that history the order of time was not always exactly observed so
the same is to be understood in this history, that it is distinguished
according to the people of which it speaks, and that the stories of the
people are observed in the time of it. For first is delivered the story of
Babylon destroyed in this and the next chapter (for this Babylon out of all
doubt, shall perish before the two beasts and the dragon). Secondly, is
delivered the destruction of both the two beasts, chapter nineteen and
lastly of the dragon, chapter eighteen. In the story of the spiritual
Babylon, are distinctly set forth the state of it in this chapter, and the
overthrow done from the first argument, consisting of the particular calling
of the prophet (as often before) and a general proposition.
(2) That is, that damnable harlot, by a figure of speech called "hyppalage".
For John as yet had not seen her. Although another interpretation may be
thought of, yet I like this better.
(a) The sentence that is pronounce against this harlot.
Re 17:3
17:3 {3} So he carried me
away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a {b}
scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten
horns.
(3) Henceforth is
propounded the type of Babylon, and the state of it, in four verses. After,
a declaration of the type, in the rest of this chapter. In the type are
described two things, the beast (of whom chapter thirteen speaks), in this
verse and the woman that sits on the beast in Re 17:4-6 . The beast in
process of time has gotten somewhat more than was expressed in the former
vision. First in that it is not read before that he was apparelled in
scarlet, a robe imperial and of triumph. Secondly, in that this is full of
names of blasphemy: the other carried the name of blasphemy only in his
heads. So God teaches that this beast is much increased in impiety and
injustice and does in this last age, triumph in both these more insolently
and proudly then ever before.
(b) A scarlet colour, that is, with a red and purple garment: and surely it
was not without cause the romish clergy were so much delighted with this
colour.
Re 17:4
17:4 And {4} the woman was
arrayed {5} in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious
stones and pearls, having {6} a golden cup in her hand full of abominations
and filthiness of her fornication:
(4) That harlot, the
spiritual Babylon, which is Rome. She is described by her attire,
profession, and deeds.
(5) In attire most glorious, triumphant, most rich, and most gorgeous.
(6) In profession the nourisher of all, in this verse and teaching her
mysteries to all, Re 17:5 setting forth all things most magnificently: but
indeed fatally besetting miserable men with her cup, and brings upon them a
deadly giddiness.
Re 17:5
17:5 {7} And upon her
forehead [was] a name written, MYSTERY, {8} BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF
HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
(7) Deceiving with the
title of religion, and public inscription of mystery: which the beast in
times past did not bear.
(8) An exposition: in which John declares what manner of woman this is.
Re 17:6
17:6 {9} And I saw the woman
drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of
Jesus: {10} and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
(9) In manner of deeds: She
is red with blood, and sheds it most licentiously, and therefore is coloured
with the blood of the saints, as on the contrary part, Christ is set forth
imbued with the blood of her enemies; Isa 63:1 .
(10) A passage to the second part of this chapter, by occasion given of
John, as the words of the angel do show in the next verse.
Re 17:7
17:7 {11} And the angel said
unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the
woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten
horns.
(11) The second part or
place as I said in See Geneva "Re 17:1". The narration of the vision
promised in the verse following. Now there is delivered first a narration of
the beast and his story, to verse fourteen. After, of the harlot, to the end
of the chapter.
Re 17:8
17:8 {12} The beast that thou
sawest {13} was, and is not; and {14} shall ascend out of the bottomless pit,
and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose
names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world,
{15} when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
(12) The story of the beast
has a triple description of him. The first is a distinction of this beast
from all that ever have been at any time: which distinction is contained in
this verse: The second is a delineation or painting out of the beast by
things present, by which he might even at that time be known by the godly:
and this delineation is according to his heads in Re 17:12-14 . This beast
is that empire of Rome, of which I spoke in see Geneva (15) "Re 13:11"
according to the mutations and changes of which then had already happened,
the Holy Spirit has distinguished and set out the same. The apostle
distinguishes this beast from all others in these words "the beast which
thou saw, was and is not." For so I expound the words of the apostle for the
evidence's sake, as I will further declare in the notes following.
(13) The meaning is, that beast which you saw before in Re 13:1 and which
you have now seen, was (was I say) from Julius Caesar in respect to
beginning, rising up, station, glory, dominion, manner and family, from the
house of Julius: and yet is not now the same, if you look to the house and
family: for the dominion of this family was translated to another, after the
death of Nero from that other to a third, from a third to a fourth, and so
on, was varied and altered by innumerable changes. Finally, the Empire is
one, as it were one beast: but exceedingly varied by kindreds, families, and
persons. It was therefore (says John) in the kindred or house of Julius: and
now it is not in that kindred, but translated to another.
(14) As if he should say, "Also this same that is, shall shortly not be: but
shall ascend out of the depth, or out of the sea" (as was said) in Re 13:1
that is, shall be a new stock from among the nations without difference and
shall in the same state go to into destruction, or run and perish: and so
shall successively new princes or emperors come and go, arise and fall, the
body of the beast remaining still, but tossed with many frequent
alterations, as no man can but marvel that this beast was able to stand and
hold out, in so many mutations, verily no empire that ever was tossed with
so many changes, and as it were with so many tempests of the sea, ever
continued so long.
Re 17:9
17:9 {16} And here [is] the
mind which hath wisdom. The {c} seven heads {17} are seven mountains, on which
the woman sitteth.
(16) An exhortation
preparing for the readers in the same argument, as that of Christ "He that
hath ears to hear let him hear". I would rather read in this passage "Let
there be here a mind, etc". So the angel passes to the second place of this
description.
(c) Children know what the seven hilled city is, which is so much spoken of,
and where of Virgil thus reports, "And compasses seven towers in one wall",
that city it is, which when John wrote these things, had rule over the kings
of the earth. It was and is not, and yet it remains to this day, but it is
declining to destruction.
(17) This is the description of the beast by things present (as I said
before) by which John endeavoured to describe the same, that he might be
both known of the godly in that age, and be further observed and marked of
posterity afterwards. This delineation has one tip, that is, his heads, but
a double description or application of the type: one permanent, from the
nature itself, the other changeable, by the working of men. The description
permanent, is by the seven hills, in this verse, the other that flees, is
from the seven kings, Re 17:10,11 . Here it is worthy to be observed, that
one type has sometime two or more applications, as seems good to the Holy
Spirit to express, either one thing by various types, or various things by
one type. So I noted before of the seven spirits in see Geneva "Re 1:4". Now
this woman that sits on seven hills, is the city of Rome, called in times
past by the Greeks, "upon a hill" i. of seven tops or crests and by Varro, "septiceps"
i. of her seven heads (as here) of seven heads, and by others, "septem
collis" i. standing upon seven hills.
Re 17:10
17:10 {18} And there are
seven kings: {19} five are fallen, {20} and one is, {21} [and] the other is
not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
(18) The beginning of these
kings or emperors is almost the same as the beginning of the Church of
Christ, which I showed before in see Geneva (2) "Re 11:1". Namely from the
25th year after the passion of Christ, at which time the temple and church
of the Jews was overthrown. In this year it came to pass by the providence
of God, that that saying "The beast was, and is not" was fulfilled before
the destruction of the Jews immediately following, came to pass. That was
809 years from the building of the city of Rome at which time John counted
the emperors who had been, when he wrote these things, and foretells two
others next to come: and with this purpose, that when this particular
prediction of things to come should take effect, the truth of all other
predictions in the Church, might be the more confirmed. God in ancient times
mentioned this sign in the Law and Jeremiah confirmed it in De 18:1-22, Jer
28:8 .
(19) Whose names are these: the first, Servius Sulpitius Galba, who was the
seventh emperor of the people of Rome, the second Marcus Salvius Otho, the
third Avlus Vitellius, the fourth, Titus Flavius Vespasianus, the fifth,
Titus Vespasianus his son, of his own name.
(20) Flavius Domitian, son of the first Vespasian. For in the latter end of
his days John wrote these things, as witnesses Irenaus; Lib. 5 adversus
hareses.
(21) Nerua, The empire being now translated from the family of Flavius. This
man reigned only one year, four months and nine days, as the history writers
tell.
Re 17:11
17:11 {22} And the beast that
was, and is not, even he is {23} the eighth, and is {24} of the seven, {25}
and goeth into perdition.
(22) This is spoken by
synecdoche, as if to say, as that head of the beast which was and is not,
because it is cut off, and Nerua in so short time extinguished. How many
heads there were, so many beasts there seemed to be in one. See a similar
speech in Re 13:3 .
(23) Nerua Traianus, who in various respects is called here the seventh and
the eighth.
(24) Though in number and order of succession he is the eighth yet he is
counted with one of these heads, because Nerua and he were one head. For
this man obtained authority together with Nerua and was Consul with him,
when Nerua died.
(25) Namely, to persecute the Churches of Christ, as history agrees, and I
have briefly noted see Geneva "Re 2:10".
Re 17:12
17:12 {26} And the ten horns
which thou sawest are {27} ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet;
but receive power as kings {28} one hour with the beast.
(26) The third place of
this description, as I said in see Geneva "Re 17:8" is a prophetical
prediction of things to come, which the beast should do, as in the words
following John does not obscurely signify, saying, "which have not yet
received the kingdom, etc". For there is an antithesis or opposition between
these kings, and those that went before. First the persons are described in
this verse, then their deeds, in the two verses following.
(27) That is, arising with their kingdoms out of that Roman beast: at such
time as that political empire began to fall by the plotting of the popes.
(28) Namely, with that second beast, whom we called before a false prophet,
who ascending out of the earth, got to himself all the authority and power
of the first beast, and exercised the same before his face, as was said in
Re 14:11,12 . For when the political empire of the west began to bow
downwards, there arose those ten kings, and the second beast took the
opportunity offered to usurp for himself all the power of the former beast.
These kings long ago, many have numbered and described to be ten, and a
great part of the events plainly testifies the same in this our age.
Re 17:13
17:13 {29} These have one
mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
(29) That is, by consent
and agreement, that they may conspire with the beast, and depend on his
call. Their story is divided into three parts, counsels, acts, and events.
The counsellors some of them consist in communicating of judgments and
affections: and some in communicating of power, which they are said to have
given to this beast, in this verse.
Re 17:14
17:14 These shall make war
with the {30} Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords,
and King of kings: and they that are with him [are] called, and chosen, and
faithful.
(30) With Christ and his
Church, as the reason following declares, and here are mentioned the facts
and events which followed for Christ's sake, and for the grace of God the
Father towards those that are elected, called, and are his faithful ones in
Christ.
Re 17:15
17:15 {31} And he saith unto
me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, {32} are peoples,
and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
(31) This is the other part
of the narration, as I said in see Geneva "Re 17:7" belonging to the harlot,
showed in the vision, Re 17:3 . In this history of the harlot, these three
things are distinctly propounded, what is her magnificence, in this verse,
what is her fall, and by whom it shall happen to her, in Re 17:16,17 : and
lastly, who that harlot is, in Re 17:18 . This passage which by order of
nature should have been the first, is therefore made the last, because it
was more fit to be joined with the next chapter.
(32) That is, as changing and variable as the waters. Upon this foundation
sits this harlot as queen, a vain person, on that which is vain.
Re 17:16
17:16 And the ten {33} horns
which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make
her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
(33) The ten kings, as Re
17:12 . The accomplishment of this fact and event is daily increased in this
our age by the singular providence and most mighty government of God.
Therefore the facts are propounded in this verse, and the cause of them in
the verses following.
Re 17:17
17:17 {34} For God hath put
in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto
the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
(34) A reason rendered from
the chief efficient cause, which is the providence of God, by which alone
John by inversion of order affirms to have come to pass, both that the kings
should execute on the harlot that which pleased God, and which he declared
in the verse before: and also that by one consent and counsel, they should
give their kingdom to the beast, etc. Re 17:13,14 for as these being blinded
have before depended on the call of the beast that lifts up the harlot, so
it is said, that afterward it shall come to pass, that they shall turn back,
and shall fall away from her, when their hearts shall be turned into better
state by the grace and mercy of God.
Re 17:18
17:18 And the woman which
thou sawest is that {35} great city, which reigneth over the kings of the
earth.
(35) That is, Rome that
great city, or only city (as Justinian calls it) the king and head of which
was then the emperor, but now the pope, since the condition of the beast was
changed.
Re 18:1
18:1 And {1} after these
things I saw another {2} angel come down from heaven, having great power; and
the earth was lightened with his glory.
(1) The second passage (as
I said before) see Geneva "Re 17:1" of the history of Babylon, is of the
woeful fall and ruin of that whore of Babylon. This historical prediction
concerning her, is threefold. The first a plain and simple foretelling of
her ruin, in three verses Re 18:2,3 . The second a figurative prediction by
the circumstances, from there to Re 18:4-20 . The third, a confirmation of
the same by sign or wonder, to the end of the chapter Re 18:21-24 .
(2) Either Christ the eternal word of God the Father (as often elsewhere) or
a created angel, and one deputed to this service, but thoroughly provided
with greatness of power, and with light of glory, as the ensign of power.
Re 18:2
18:2 {3} And he cried
mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen,
and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and
a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
(3) The prediction of her
ruin, containing both the fall of Babylon, in this verse, and the cause of
it uttered by way of allegory concerning her spiritual and carnal
wickedness, that is, her most great impiety and injustice, in Re 18:3 . Her
fall is first declared by the angel, and then the greatness of it is shown
here, by the events when he says it shall be the seat and habitation of
devils, of wild beasts, and of cursed souls, as in Isa 13:21 and often
elsewhere.
Re 18:4
18:4 {4} And I heard another
voice from heaven, saying, {5} Come out of her, my people, that ye {6} be not
partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
(4) The second prediction,
which is of the circumstances of the ruin of Babylon: of these there are two
types: one going before it, as beforehand the godly are delivered, to the
ninth verse Re 18:5-9 : the other following on her ruin, namely the
lamentation of the wicked, and rejoicing of the godly, to the twentieth
verse Re 18:10-20 .
(5) Two circumstance going before the ruin, are commanded in this place: one
is that the godly depart out of Babylon: as I mentioned in chapter twelve to
have been done in time past, before the destruction of Jerusalem: this
charge is given here and in the next verse. The other is, that every one of
them occupy themselves in their own place, in executing the judgment of God,
as it was commanded of the Levites in Ex 32:27 and that they sanctify their
hands to the Lord.
(6) Of this commandment there are two causes: to avoid the contamination of
sin and to shun the participation of those punishments that belong to it.
Re 18:5
18:5 For her sins have {a}
reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
(a) He uses a word which
signifies the following of sins one after another, and rising one of another
in such sort, that they grow at length to such a heap, that they come up
even to heaven.
Re 18:6
18:6 {7} Reward her even as
she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the
cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
(7) The provocation of the
godly, and the commandment of executing the judgment of God, stand on three
causes which are here expressed: the unjust wickedness of the whore of
Babylon, in this verse, her cursed pride opposing itself against God, which
is the fountain of all evil actions, Re 18:7 and her most just damnation by
the sentence of God, Re 18:8 .
Re 18:7
18:7 How much she hath
glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her:
for she saith {b} in her heart, I sit a queen, and am {c} no widow, and shall
{d} see no sorrow.
Re 18:8
18:8 Therefore shall her
plagues come in {e} one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be
utterly burned with fire: for strong [is] the Lord God who judgeth her.
(e) Shortly, and at one
instant.
Re 18:9
18:9 And {8} the kings of the
earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall
bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
(8) The circumstances
following the fall of Babylon, or the consequences of it (as I distinguished
them in) see Geneva "Re 18:4" are two. Namely the lamentation of the wicked
to Re 18:5-19 and the rejoicing of the godly in Re 18:20 . This sorrowful
lamentation, according to those that lament, has three parts: the first of
which is the mourning of the kings and mighty men of the earth, Re 18:9,10 :
The second is, the lamentation of the merchants that trade by land, to the
sixteenth verse: Re 18:11-16 . The third is, the wailing of those that trade
by sea, in Re 18:16-18 . In each of those the cause and manner of their
mourning is described in order, according to the condition of those that
mourn, with observation of that which best agrees to them.
Re 18:11
18:11 {9} And the merchants
of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their
merchandise any more:
(9) The lamentation of
those that trade by land, as I distinguished before.
Re 18:14
18:14 {10} And the {f} fruits
that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were
dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at
all.
(10) An apostrophe, or
turning of the speech by imitation, used for more vehemence, as if those
merchants, as mourners, should in passionate speech speak to Babylon, though
now utterly fallen and overthrown; Isa 13:9 and in many other places.
(f) By this is meant that season which is before the fall of the leaf, at
which time fruit ripens, and the word signifies such fruits as are longed
for.
Re 18:17
18:17 {11} For in one hour so
great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in
ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
Re 18:20
18:20 Rejoice over her, {12}
[thou] heaven, and [ye] holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you
on her.
(12) The other consequence
on the ruin of Babylon, is the exultation or rejoicing of the godly in
heaven and in earth as was noted in this verse.
Re 18:21
18:21 {13} And a mighty angel
took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast [it] into the sea, saying,
Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be
found no more at all.
(13) The third prediction,
as I said see Geneva "Re 18:1" based on a sign, and the interpretation of
it: the interpretation of it is in two sorts, first by a simple proposal of
the thing itself, in this verse, and then by declaration of the events, in
the verses following.
Re 18:22
18:22 {14} And the voice of
harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more
at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft [he be], shall be found
any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all
in thee;
(14) The events are two,
and one of them opposite to the other for amplification sake. There shall be
no mirth nor joy at all in Babylon, he says in this and the next verse, Re
18:23 but heavy and lamentable things, from the bloody slaughters of the
righteous and the vengeance of God coming on it for this.
Re 18:24
18:24 And in her was found
the {15} blood of prophets, {16} and of saints, and of all that were slain
upon the earth.
(15) That is shed by bloody
massacres, and calling for vengeance.
(16) That is, proved and found out, as if God had appointed a just inquiry
concerning the impiety, unnaturalness and injustice of these men.
Re 19:1
19:1 And {1} after these
things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, {a} {2}
Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
(1) This chapter has in
summary two parts, one transitory or of passage to the things that follow,
to the tenth verse, Re 19:2-10 , another historical of the victory of Christ
over both the beasts, to the end of the chapter Re 19:11-21 , which I said
was the second history of this argument, Re 17:1 . The transition has two
places, one of praising God for the overthrow done to Babylon in Re 19:4 :
and another likewise of praise and prophecy, for the coming of Christ to his
kingdom, and his most royal marriage with his Church, thence to the tenth
verse Re 19:5-10 . The former praise has three parts, distinguished after
the ancient manner of those that sing: an invitation in Re 19:1,2 , a
response or answer in Re 19:3 , and a close or joining together in harmony
in Re 19:4 , all which I thought good of purpose to distinguish in this
place, lest any man should with Porphyrius, or other like dogs, object to
John, or the heavenly Church, a childish and idle repetition of speech.
(a) Praise the Lord.
(2) The proposition of praise with exhortation in this verse, and the cause
of it in Re 19:2 .
Re 19:3
19:3 And again they said, {3}
Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
(3) The song of the
Antiphony or response, containing an amplification of the praise of God,
from the continuous and certain testimony of his divine judgment as was done
at Sodom and Gomorrah, Ge 19:1-38 .
Re 19:5
19:5 {4} And a voice came out
of the {5} throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that
fear him, both small and great.
(4) The second place of
praise, as I said see Geneva "Re 19:1" which first is commanded by God in
this verse: and then is in most ample manner pronounced by the creatures,
both because they see that kingdom of Christ to come, which they desire, Re
19:6 and also because they see the Church is called forth to be brought home
to the house of her husband by holy marriage, to the fellowship of his
kingdom, Re 19:7,8 . Therefore John is commanded to write in a book the
acclamation together with a divine testimony, Re 19:9 .
(5) Out of the temple from God as in Re 11:19 .
Re 19:6
19:6 And I heard {6} as it
were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as
the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent
reigneth.
Re 19:7
19:7 Let us be glad and
rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his
wife hath {7} made herself ready.
(7) Namely, to that holy
marriage, both herself in person in this verse, and also provided by her
spouse with marriage gifts princely and divine, is adorned and prepared in
the next verse.
Re 19:8
19:8 And to her was granted
that she should be arrayed in {8} fine linen, clean and white: for the fine
{9} linen is the {b} righteousness of saints.
(8) As an ensign of kingly
and priestly dignity, which Christ bestows on us in Re 1:6 .
(9) This is a gift given by the husband for marriage sake, and a most choice
ornament which Christ gave to us, as to his spouse.
(b) Good works which are lively testimonies of faith.
Re 19:9
19:9 {10} And he saith unto
me, Write, Blessed [are] they which are called unto the marriage supper of the
Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
(10) Namely the angel, as
it appears by the next verse.
Re 19:10
19:10 {11} And I fell at his
feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy
fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the {c}testimony of Jesus:
worship God: for the testimony of {d} Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
(11) The particular history
of this verse is brought in by occasion, and as it were besides the purpose
that John might make a public example of his own infirmity and of the modest
sanctimony of the angel, who both renounced for himself the divine honours,
and recalled all the servants of God, to the worship of him alone: as also
Re 22:8 .
(c) Who are commanded to bear witness of Jesus.
(d) For Jesus is the mark that all the prophecies shoot at.
Re 19:11
19:11 {12} And I saw {13}
heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called
Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
(12) The second part of
this chapter (as I said in) see Geneva "Re 19:1" is of the victory gained by
Christ against both the beasts: in which first Christ is described as one
ready to fight, to the sixteenth verse Re 19:12-16 , then the battle is
shown to begin, there to the eighteenth verse Re 19:17,18 , lastly is set
forth the victory, to the end the chapter Re 19:19-21 . In this place the
most excellent properties of Christ as our heavenly judge and avenger shine
forth, according to his person, company, effects and names.
(13) Properties belonging to his person, that he is heavenly, judge,
faithful, true, just, in this verse, knowing all things, ruling over all, to
be known by no one, Re 19:12 , the triumpher and in essence, the Word of
God, in Re 19:13 .
Re 19:14
19:14 {14} And the armies
[which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen,
white and clean.
(14) The company or retinue
of Christ, holy, innumerable, heavenly, judicial, royal and pure.
Re 19:15
19:15 {15} And out of his
mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he
shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the
fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
(15) The effects of Christ
prepared to fight, that with his mouth he strikes the Gentiles, rules and
destroys.
Re 19:16
19:16 {16} And he hath on
[his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF
LORDS.
(16) The name agreeing to
Christ according to the former qualities, expressed after the manner of the
Hebrews.
Re 19:17
19:17 {17} And I saw an angel
standing in the {18} sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the
fowls that fly in the {19} midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves
together unto the supper of the great God;
(17) The second part, as I
said in see Geneva "Re 19:11". A reproachful calling forth of his enemies
into battle: in which not themselves (for why should they be called forth by
the king of the world, or provoked being his subjects? for that is not
comely) but in their hearing, the birds of the air are called to eat their
carcasses.
(18) That is, openly, and in sight of all, as in Nu 25:4, 2Sa 12:11 .
(19) That is, through this inferior heaven, and which is nearer to us: a
Hebrew phrase.
Re 19:19
19:19 {20} And I saw the
beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make
war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
(20) The third part (as was
said in) Re 19:11 by the victory obtained by Christ. Two things pertain to
this: his fighting with the beast and his forces, in this verse: and the
event most magnificent, described after the manner of men, in the verses
following. All these things are plain.
Re 19:20
19:20 And the beast {21} was
taken, and with him {22} the false prophet that wrought miracles before him,
with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them
that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire
burning with brimstone.
(21) Namely, that beast
with seven heads; Re 13:1, 17:3 .
(22) That is, that beast with two heads; Re 13:11, 16:14 .
Re 20:1
20:1 And {1} I saw an angel
come down from heaven, having the key {2} of the bottomless pit and a great
chain in his hand.
(1) Now follows the third
part of the prophetic history, which is of the victory by which Christ
overcame the dragon, as I noted in Re 7:1 . This part must necessarily be
joined with the end of the twelfth chapter and be applied to the correct
understanding of it. This chapter has two parts, one of the dragon overcome,
to Re 20:2-10 : the other of the resurrection and last judgment to Re
20:11-15 . The story of the dragon is twofold: First of the first victory,
after which he was bound by Christ, to the sixth verse Re 20:1-6 . The
second is of the last victory, by which he has thrown down into everlasting
punishment, there to the fifteenth verse Re 20:7-15 . This first history
happened in the first time of the Christian Church, when the dragon thrown
down from heaven by Christ, went about to molest the new birth of the Church
in the earth, Re 12:17,18:1 . For which cause I gave warning, that this
story of the dragon must be joined to that passage.
(2) That is, of hell, where God threw the angels who had sinned, and bound
them in chains of darkness to be kept till damnation, 2Pe 2:4
Re 20:2
20:2 And he laid hold on the
dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him {3} a
thousand years,
(3) The first of which
(continuing this history with the end of the second chapter) in the 36 years
from the passion of Christ, when the Church of the Jews being overthrown,
Satan attempted to invade the Christian church gathered from the Gentiles,
and to destroy part of her seed, Re 12:17 . The thousandth year falls
precisely on the times of that wicked Hildebrand, who was called Gregory the
seventh, a most damnable necromancer and sorcerer, whom Satan used as an
instrument when he was loosed out of bonds, from then on to annoy the saints
of God with most cruel persecutions, and the whole world with dissentions,
and most bloody wars: as Benno the Cardinal reports at large. This is the
first victory gained over the dragon in the earth.
Re 20:3
20:3 And cast him into the
bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should
deceive the nations {4} no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled:
and after that he must be loosed {5} a little season.
(4) Namely, with that
public and violent deceit which he attempted before in chapter 12 and which
after a thousand years (alas for woe!) he most mightily achieved in the
Christian world.
(5) Which being once expired, the second battle and victory shall be; Re
20:7,8 .
Re 20:4
20:4 {6} And I saw {a}
thrones, and they sat upon them, and {7} judgment was given unto them: and [I
saw] the souls of them that were {8} beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and
for the word of God, and which {9} had not worshipped the beast, neither his
image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their
hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
(6) A description of the
common state of the Church of Christ in earth in that space of a thousand
years, during which the devil was in bonds; in which first the authority,
life, and common honour of the godly, is declared, Re 20:4 . Secondly,
newness of life is preached to others by the gospel after that time; Re 20:5
. Finally, he concludes with promises, Re 20:6 .
(a) For judgment was committed to them, as to members joined to the head:
not that Christ's office was given over to them.
(7) This was a type of the authority of the good and faithful servants of
God in the Church, taken from the manner of men.
(8) Of the martyrs, who suffered in those first times.
(9) Of the martyrs who suffered after both the beasts were now risen up,
chapter 15. For there, these things are expounded.
Re 20:5
20:5 {10} But the rest of the
dead {11} lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [is]
the first resurrection.
(10) Whoever shall lie dead
in sin, and not know the truth of God.
(11) They shall not be renewed with newness of the life by the enlightening
of the gospel of the glory of Christ. For this is the first resurrection, by
which souls of the dead do rise from their death. In the second resurrection
their bodies shall rise again.
Re 20:6
20:6 Blessed and holy [is] he
that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the {12} second death hath
no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, {13} and shall reign
with him a thousand years.
(12) That by this both body
and soul, that is, the whole man is condemned and delivered to eternal
death; Re 2:11 .
(13) A return to the intended history, by resuming the words which are in
the end of the fourth verse Re 20:4 .
Re 20:7
20:7 {14} And when the {15}
thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
(14) The second history, of
the latter victory of Christ, as was said in Re 20:1 . In which are
summarily described the work, overthrow, and eternal punishment of Satan.
(15) Of which I spoke. See Geneva "Re 20:2" Then there will be given to him
liberty to rage against the Church, and to molest the saints for the sins of
men: to whom the faithful shall have associated themselves more then was
fitting, tasting with them of their impurity of doctrine and life.
Re 20:8
20:8 {16} And shall go out to
deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog,
to gather them together to battle: the number of whom [is] as the sand of the
sea.
(16) The work or act of
Satan (which is the first part, as I distinguished in the verse before) to
deceive the whole world, even to the uttermost nations of it: to arm them
against the people of God, in this verse and to besiege and oppress the
Church, with his whole strength, in the verse following.
Re 20:9
20:9 And they went up on the
{b} breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the
beloved city: and {17} fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured
them.
(b) As if he said, in so
much that the whole face of the earth, however great it is, was filled.
(17) The wrath of God, consuming the adversaries, and overthrowing all their
enterprises; He 10:27 . This is the second part mentioned see Geneva "Re
20:7", in the overthrow of Satan.
Re 20:10
20:10 {18} And the devil that
deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast
and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and
ever.
(18) The third part,
eternal destruction against those that are overcome: as I noted in the same
place.
Re 20:11
20:11 {19} And I saw a great
{20} white throne, and him that sat on it, {21} from whose face the earth and
the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
(19) The second part of
this chapter, in which the judge is described in this verse, and the last
judgment in the verse following.
(20) That is, a tribunal seat most princelike and glorious: for so does the
Greek word signify.
(21) That is, Christ, before whom when he comes to judgment, heaven and
earth shall perish for the greatness of his majesty; 2Pe 3:7,10 .
Re 20:12
20:12 And I saw the dead,
small and great, stand before {22} God; and the {23} books were opened: and
another book was opened, which is [the book] {24} of life: and the dead were
judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their
works.
(22) That is, Christ the
judge; 2Co 5:10 .
(23) As it were, his books of reckoning or accounts, that is, the testimony
of our conscience, and of our works, which by no means can be avoided.
(24) The book of the eternal decree of God, in which God the Father has
elected in Christ according to the good pleasure of his will, those that
shall be heirs of life. This also is spoken according to the manner of men.
Re 20:13
20:13 {25} And the sea gave
up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which
were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
(25) This is a reply or an
answer to an objection: for some man will say, "But they are dead, whom the
sea, death and the grave has consumed, how shall they appear before the
judge?" John answers, by resurrection from death, where all things (however
repugnant) shall minister and serve at the commandment of God, as in Da
12:1,2 .
Re 20:14
20:14 {26} And death and hell
were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
(26) The last enemy which
is death shall be abolished by Christ
(that he may no more make any attempt against us) 1Co 15:16 and death shall
feed on the reprobate in hell for evermore, according to the righteous
judgment of God, in the next verse Re 20:15 .
Re 21:1
21:1 And {1} I saw a new
heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed
away; and there was no more sea.
(1) Now follows the second
part of the history prophetic of the future estate of the Church in heaven
after the last judgment, to Re 21:2 - Re 22:5 . In this are two things
briefly declared. The station, seat, or place of it, Re 21:1 . Then her
state and condition, in the verses following. Before the state of the Church
described, is set down the state of the whole world, that there shall be a
new heaven, and a new earth; Isa 65:17, 66:22, 2Pe 3:13 and this is the seat
or place of the Church, in which righteousness shall dwell.
Re 21:2
21:2 {2} And I John saw the
holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a
bride adorned for her husband.
(2) The state of this
glorious Church is first described generally to Re 21:3-8 , and then
specially and by parts, in the verses following. The general description
consists in a vision shown afar off, Re 21:2 and in speech spoken from
heaven. In the general these things are common, that the Church is holy,
new, the workmanship of God, heavenly, most glorious, the spouse of Christ,
and partaker of his glory in this verse.
Re 21:3
21:3 {3} And I heard a great
voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and
he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall
be with them, [and be] their God.
(3) The Church is described
by the speech, first of an angel, in two verses, then by God himself, in
four verses. The angel's speech describes the glory of the Church, by the
most intimate communion with God, by giving of all manner of good things
according to the covenant, in this verse: and by removing or putting away of
all evil things, in the verse following Re 21:4 .
Re 21:5
21:5 {4} And he that sat upon
the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write:
for these words are true and faithful.
(4) In the speech of God
himself describing the Church, is first an introduction, or entrance. Then
follows a magnificent description of the Church, by the present and future
good things of the same, in three verses following Re 21:6-8 . In the
introduction God challenges to himself the restoring of all the creatures,
Re 21:1 and witnesses the calling of John to the writing of these things, in
this verse.
Re 21:6
21:6 And he said unto me, {5}
It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto
him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
(5) The description of the
Church is in three parts, by the abolishing of old things, by the being of
present things in God, that is, of things eternal: and by the giving of all
good things with the godly. If so be they shall contend manfully; Re 21:7 .
But the reprobate are excluded from there; Re 21:8 .
Re 21:8
21:8 But the fearful, and
unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and
sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their {a} part in the lake
which burneth with fire and
(a) Their lot, and
inheritance as it were.
Re 21:9
21:9 {6} And there came unto
me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last
plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride,
the Lamb's wife.
(6) A transition to the
describing of the heavenly Church, by the express calling of John in this
verse, and his enrapturing by the Spirit, in confirmation of the truth of
God in the verse following.
Re 21:10
21:10 And he carried me away
in the spirit to a great and {7} high mountain, and shewed me {8} that great
city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
(7) He means the place and
stately seat of the Church, foreshadowed in a mountain.
(8) A type of that Church which is one, ample, or catholic, holy celestial,
built by God, in this verse: and glorious in the verse following Re 21:11 .
This type propounded generally, is particularly declared; Re 21:12 .
Re 21:12
21:12 {9} And had a wall
great and high, [and] had {10} twelve gates, and at the gates {11} twelve
angels, and names written thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes
of the children of Israel:
(9) A particular
description of the celestial Church, first, by its essential parts, compared
to a city down to verse 22, Re 21:12-22 . Secondly, from the outside, to the
end of the chapter Re 21:23-27 . Thirdly, by the effects, in the beginning
of the next chapter, the essential parts are noted the matter and the form
in the whole work: of these the superstructure and foundation of the wall
are entire parts (as they use to be called) which parts are first described
in figure, to the 14th verse afterwards more exactly.
(10) According to the number of the tribes. For here the outward part is
attributed to the Old Testament, and the foundation of the New Testament.
(11) He means the prophets, who are the messengers of God, and watchmen of
the Church.
Re 21:14
21:14 And the wall of the
city had {12} twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles
of the Lamb.
(12) That is, foundation
stones, according to the number of the gates, as is shown in Re 21:19 .
Re 21:15
21:15 {13} And he that talked
with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the
wall thereof.
(13) A transition to a more
exquisite description of the parts of the Church, by finding out its size,
by the angel that measured them.
Re 21:16
21:16 {14} And the city lieth
{b} foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the
city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and
the height of it are equal.
(14) The measure and form
most equal, in two verses.
(b) A foursquare figure has equal sides, and outright corners, and therefore
the Greeks call by this name those things that are steady, and of
continuance and perfect.
Re 21:17
21:17 And he measured the
wall thereof, an hundred [and] forty [and] four cubits, [according to] the
measure of a man, that is, of the {c} angel.
(c) He adds this, because
the angel had the shape of a man.
Re 21:18
21:18 {15} And the building
of the wall of it was [of] jasper: and the city [was] pure gold, like unto
clear glass.
(15) The matter most
precious and glittering, which the presence of God makes most glorious.
Re 21:21
21:21 And the twelve gates
[were] twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the {d} street
of the city [was] pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
(d) By street, he means the
broadest place of the city.
Re 21:23
21:23 {16} And the city had
no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God
did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof.
(16) The second form of
particular description (as I said) see Geneva "Re 21:12" from exterior and
outward actions which are these, light from God himself, to this verse glory
from men, Re 21:24 . Finally such truth and incorruption of glory Re 21:26
as can bear and abide with it, nothing that is inglorious, Re 21:27 .
Re 22:1
22:1 And {1} he shewed me a
pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of
God and of the Lamb.
(1) Here is absolved and
finished the description of the celestial Church (as I showed before) see
Geneva "Re 21:12" by the effects in Re 22:5 , and then this book is
concluded in the rest of the chapter. The effects proceeding from God, who
dwells in the Church, are these: the everlasting grace of God, in this
verse, the eternal life of the godly, as in Re 2:7 the eternal fruits which
the godly bring forth to God, themselves and others, Re 22:2 , freedom and
immunity from all evil, God himself taking pleasure in his servants, and
they likewise in their God, Re 22:3 . The beholding and sight of God, and
sealing of the faithful from all eternity, Re 22:4 the light of God and an
everlasting kingdom and glory, Re 22:5 .
Re 22:6
22:6 {2} And he said unto me,
These sayings [are] faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets
sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be
done.
(2) This whole book is
concluded and made up by a confirmation, and a salutation. The confirmation
has three parts: the words of the angel Re 22:15 , the words of Christ, Re
22:16,17 and the supplication made by John from divine authority, Re
22:18-20 . By the speech of the angel this prophecy is confirmed to Re
22:7,8 , and then he speaks of the use of this book in the verses following.
The prophecy is first confirmed by the angel from the nature of it, that it
is faithful and true: Secondly, from the nature of the efficient cause, both
principal, which is God, and instrumental, which is the angel in this verse.
Thirdly, from the promises of God concerning his coming to effect all these
things, and concerning our salvation; Re 22:7 . Fourthly, from the
testification of John himself; Re 22:8 . The rest of the speech of the angel
rending to the same end, John interrupted or broke off by his unadvised act
of worshipping him, in the same verse, which the angel forbidding, teaches
him that adoration must be given not to him, but only to God, as for
himself, that he is of such nature and office, as he may not be adored:
which thing also was in like manner done; Re 19:10 .
Re 22:10
22:10 {3} And he saith unto
me, {4} Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at
hand.
(3) The angel returns to
his former speech: in which he teaches to use of this book both towards
ourselves, in this and the next verse: and in respect of God for declaration
of his truth, there to the fifteenth verse Re 22:11-15 .
(4) That is, propound this prophecy openly to all and conceal no part of it.
The contrary to that which is commanded in Isa 8:16, Da 8:26 .
Re 22:11
22:11 {5} He that is unjust,
let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and
he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him
be holy still.
(5) An objection
anticipated, but there will be some that will use this occasion for evil,
and will wrest this scripture to their own destruction, as Peter says. What
then? says the angel, the mysteries of God must not be concealed, which it
has pleased him to communicate to us. Let them be harmful to others, let
such be more and more vile in themselves, whom this scripture does not
please: yet others will be further conformed to righteousness by this, and
true holiness. The care and reformation of these may not be neglected,
because of the voluntary and malicious offence of others.
Re 22:12
22:12 {6} And, behold, I come
quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work
shall be.
(6) The second part
belonging to the use of this book, as I said see Geneva "Re 22:10". Also
(says God by the angel) though there should be no use of this book to men:
yet it shall be of this use to me, that it is a witness of my truth to my
glory, who will come shortly, to give and execute just judgment, in this
verse; who have taught that all these things have their being in me, Re
22:13 , and have pronounced blessedness to my servants in the Church, Re
22:14 and reprobation to the ungodly Re 22:15 .
Re 22:14
22:14 Blessed [are] they that
do his commandments, {7} that they may have right to the tree of life, and may
enter in through the gates into the city.
(7) The blessedness of the
godly set down by their title and interest there: and their fruit in the
same.
Re 22:16
22:16 {8} I Jesus have sent
mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and
the offspring of David, [and] the bright and morning star.
(8) The second passage of
confirmation (as I said) is the speech of Christ ratifying the vocation of
John, and the authority of his calling and testimony, both from the
condition of his own person being God and man, in whom all the promises of
God are Yea and Amen; 2Co 1:20 and also from the testimony of other people,
by the acclamation of the Holy Spirit, who here is an honourable assistant
of the marriage of the Church as the spouse: and of each of the godly as
members; and finally from the thing present, that of their own knowledge and
accord, they are called forth to the participation of the good things of
God; Ge 22:17 .
Re 22:18
22:18 {9} For I testify unto
every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man
shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are
written in this book:
(9) The supplication of
John (which is the third part of the confirmation) joined with a curse of
abhorrence, to preserve the truth of this book entire and uncorrupted in two
verses.
Re 22:20
22:20 {10} He which
testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come,
Lord Jesus.
(10) A divine confirmation
or sealing of the supplication first from Christ affirming the same and
denouncing his coming against all those that will put their sacrilegious
hands here: then from John himself, who by a most holy prayer calls Christ
to take vengeance on them.
Re 22:21
22:21 {11} The grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen.
(11) The apostolic
salutation, which is the other part of the conclusion, as I said see Geneva
Re "22:6" and is the end of almost every epistle; which we wish to the
Church, and to all the holy and elect members of it, in Christ Jesus our
Lord, until his coming to judgment "Come Lord Jesus" and do it. Amen, again
Amen.
