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The eleuenth Chapter
SAinct Iohn goeth forwarde in this chapter in describinge those thinges which re∣maine to be vttered in the sowndinge of the trumpet of the sixt Aungell, & in the end of this chap. vers. 15. he describeth the trumpet of the seuenth Angell which is a messenger of the re∣surrection and last iudgement.
Vers. 1.There was giuen me a reede like to a rodde. &c.
NOw it is declared vnder this figure, to what ende the A∣postle is commaunded to vtter forth the litle booke of the heauenly word, (which he had eaten) in prophesiyng diligently. Verely because ye Christ wil yet alwaies byld vp his Church yt it should not vtterly be destroyed, although it be greiuously op∣pressed with the tyranny of Antichrist, threatninge present de∣struction and vtter cuine. But chiefly he signifieth that ye ruine of the same shall be repayred toward the ende of the world, euē as this figure perteyneth to the trumpet of the sixt Angell. For the measuringe is referred to ye byldinge, like as in other places of the holye scriptures, Ezechiell 40. Zachar. 1•• there is the lyke metaphor.
And the Aungell stoode by, sayinge arise and meat the tē∣ple of God and the alter and thē that worship therein. &c. Although in certeyne copies these words (and the Angell stode by) are not founde yet I doubt not but Iohn vnderstandeth that this was the speach of that noble Aungell Christ whiche he had described in the chapter going before. For Christ is the maister bylter of his Churche. Vnder whome all the ministers of the woorde labour in preaching and spreadinge abroade of the gos∣pell to the bylding vp of the same holy temple. Therefore Christ cōmaundeth to measure the temple of God, the alter and those that worship in the temple: By which signe he teacheth that he wil haue a care, that the whole church, which is signified by the temple, that the true worship of God whiche is figured by the alter, & that all the parts & members of the Church, which are shadowed by those whiche worship in the temple, shall for euer