To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
THE third Prophecie of this Booke begin∣neth* 1.1 at the twelfth chapter, and continueth to the end of the twentieth. It is more Particular then any of the former; for in it the Spirit of God passing by all other enemies, or then in it touching them very lightly, insists at more length* 1.2 then hee hath done in any of the two preceding Prophecies, to fore-warne his Church of the troubles she was to suffer vnder Antichrist. And
this, the Aduersaries themselues are forced to confesse, that this Prophecie, from the twelfth chapter forward, is a prophecie of Antichrist; so Viega and Ribera doe affirme before their Com∣mentarie on the twelfth: and it is necessarily to bee obserued, for that which (God willing) after we shall heare.
The order obserued in this Prophecie, is this,* 1.3 shortly: first the Capitall and Arch-enemie of the Church, to wit, Satan, the Serpent, that old Dra∣gon, is at length described in the twelfth chapter: His restlesse fighting against the Church, figured there by a Woman, without intermission, or yeel∣ding, euen when he is ouercome, is plainely set downe in fiue seuerall Battels. Here let mee re∣member the Christian Reader, for commendati∣on, and confirmation of our Methode, that those Interpreters, who follow on this Prophecie by one continuall course of time, when they come to the twelfth chapter, are forced to go back againe to the daies of Christ: the Booke maketh so plaine and easie methode for it selfe, that men cannot winne by it.
Next, in the thirteenth chapter, wee haue de∣scribed* 1.4 Satan his two principall Instruments, by whom he fighteth against the Church: these are figured by two Beasts, the one Beast hauing seuen Heads and ten Hornes, described from the first verse to the eleuenth: This Beast signifies the* 1.5 Whole State of Rome, opposite vnto Christ, vnder whatsoeuer Title, Head, or Name: and this man∣ner
of way, that whole State opposite to Christ, being considered in one Incorporation, as making* 1.6 vp one Beast, the Apostate Pope is described in the first Beast, and maketh vp the seuenth, and the last Head thereof.
But here two things are to be considered, that* 1.7 albeit the troubles of the Christian Church pro∣ceed from the two last heads of the first Beast, to wit, from persecuting Emperours, and persecuting Popes, for in the daies of S. Iohn, the first fiue Heads of the Beast were gone, and away, as he witnesseth, chapter 17. verse 10. Yet that the Beast might be the better knowne, he is described with all his Heads, whereof persecuting Emperours, gouerning the State Romane, opposite to Christ, was the sixt Head, and persecuting Popes comming in the Em∣perours place, when he was turned away, made vp the seuenth Head.
The other thing to be marked here, is, that al∣beit* 1.8 the Pope be described in the first Beast with se∣uen Heads and ten Hornes, as being the seuenth Head of the Beast, yea, and the Mouth thereof; yet because the Lord Iesus fore▪ saw, that the Pa∣pall Power was to be the last, the longest, the greatest, & most dangerous enemy of the Church, vnder the shadow of a Christian profession, it pleaseth the Lord, for the greater comfort, and confirmation of his Church, to figure that King∣dome of Popes in a Vision by it selfe, and that vn∣der the type of another Beast, hauing two Hornes like the Lambe, but speaking like the Dragon.
The plaine, and particular Prophecie of Anti∣christ,* 1.9 or Apostate Popes, in their Kingdome, opponing themselues coueredly, and by a conse∣quent; for hee as a Mysticall enemy, is described from the thirteenth verse of the eleuenth chap∣ter, to the end thereof, hee is described from his originall, from his qualities, from his working power, from his great successe, and from his my∣sticall name. His beginning was base, but by de∣grees he grew to that heighth, that He caused all,* 1.10 both small and great, rich, and poore, free, and bond, to receiue his marke in their right hand, or in their forehead; And that vnder no lesse paine, then the losse of life, or liberty. Here the Pope is at his heighth, and in the very top, and ru•…•…fe of his pride.
But from the end of the thirteenth chapter, to* 1.11 the end of the twentieth, commeth in a Prophe∣cie of the fall, and destruction of the Pope. In the thirteenth chapter, the Beast looking like a Lambe with his two Hornes, seemed to ouer-rule all, a few excepted, whose Names are written in the Lambs booke of Life: there wee saw him in such* 1.12 grandeur, that all the world followed him, won∣dered at him, and worshipped him: But in the foureteenth, there appeares a party against that counterfeit Lambe, to wit, the true Lambe of God, The Lord Iesus, standing on Mount S•…•…on, with his Warriours; fewer by many, then the followers of the two horned Beast, but more worthy.
And this Prophecie of the Pope his destructi∣on,
we haue it: first, in typicall, or figuratiue speech,* 1.13 to the end of the sixteenth chapter: Next, in more plaine, and simple speeches, from the end of the twentieth, to the one and twentieth, inclusiue; for* 1.14 the first, the true Lambe enters into battell with the counterfeit, and ouercomes him.
Before the battell there goe; first, foure Pro∣clamations,* 1.15 made by heauenly Heraulds in the foureteenth chapter. After them, in the foure∣teenth verse, hee who before appeared like a Lamb, commeth out a crowned King, armed with iudiciarie power against his enemies. Then in the fifteenth chapter, before hee proceed to iudge∣ment, Saints in most comfortable manner are se∣cured first, and Angels, Messengers, and Execu∣tors of Gods wrath vpon the Beast, are called, prepared, and furnished for that worke. All this preparation being made before, then in the sixe∣teenth followes the execution; the Vials of Gods wrath, according to the tenour of his proclama∣tion, are powred out vpon the Beast, and them that worship him. There, by degrees, a man may see the Kingdome of Antichrist to decay, as he grew by degrees. The seuenth Trumpet brings with it the consummation of all, and concludes the first Prophecie of Antichrist his destruction, fore-told vnder typicall and figuratiue speeches.
The other Prophecie of his destruction, is, in* 1.16 speeches more simple, plaine, and more pungent then the other; and this reacheth from the seuen∣teenth chapter, to the end of the one & twentieth.
It pleaseth the Lord Iesus to double this Prophe∣cie, because it concernes vs most in these last times, that hee might leaue this comfort with his Church, and assure his seruants that Babylon shall fall; yea, is fallen. Rome, the Seat, and Throne of the Beast, shall be ouer-turned, and made desolate, euen in this present life.
Naturall men, and blinded Papists make a scorne* 1.17 of this, when they heare it; yea, they thinke it im∣possible, considering that the Whore of Babel hath so many confederates, euen the mighty Kings, and Monarches of the earth, who haue deuoted them∣selues to defend and maintaine the Church of Rome. Vpon these hopes, the Church of Rome is confident, and contemneth this Prophecie. In her owne minde she sitteth, as her Grand-mother in the East, Old Babel did, like a Queene, and thinks* 1.18 with her selfe, I shall neuer be moued: But the Lord •…•…re hath said the contrarie; and not onely hath said it, but confirmes it: for, a mighty Angel ta∣keth* 1.19 vp a stone, like a great Milstone, and casteth it* 1.20 into the Sea, saying, Thus, with violence, shall the great Citie Babylon be throwne downe, and shall bee sound no more at all. When they raise that Mil∣stone againe out of the Sea, then shall I thinke it possible that they may repaire the ruines of their Babel: but that can neuer be. If they will consider how within these hundred yeeres, the Waters of* 1.21 their Euphrates haue beene dryed; and how the Lord hath darkened the Throne of the Beast, they might learne of that which is past, what they may
looke for in the time to come. Their Dagon is fal∣len* 1.22 before the Arke, they do what they can to set him vp againe, but he shall fall more and more; and his last fall shall be the greatest.
Certaine it is, that this Babel spoken of in the* 1.23 Reuelation, is Rome; which the greatest Doctors of the Romish Church are forced to acknow∣ledge, and themselues see it will be made desolate, and the Pope cast out of it: but this Babel is the whoorish Church of Rome, which, God willing, shall be made plaine hereafter. They glory in their new conquest of Romane Catholiques, among the Indians, and our Antipodes: they do well, in time to prouide a Temple for their Dagon, and a new Palace for their Pope, sith Rome cannot retaine him. If Wickednesse should haue a house, it is* 1.24 meetest she build in Shinar, not in Sion. Their Pope will be most honoured, where he is least knowne: Not in these parts, where the light of the Gospell hath discoured his hypocrisie, and declared him to bee a rauening Woolfe, vnder Sheeps clothing.
Let not them therefore flatter themselues in* 1.25 their riches; in the multitude of their friends, and blind followers; or, in their confederate Kings, and Princes: Let them not, vpon these motiues, put the euill day farre from them: For her plague* 1.26 shall come in one day, death, mourning, and famine, and she shall bee vtterly burnt with fire. Let Papists, priding themselues in the power of flesh, marke what followeth, Strong is the Lord
who iudges her. Where the Lord pursues, is the strength of man able to protect or defend? This is the summe of the third Prophecie, which wee pray the Lord hasten to performe, for the glory of his Name, and comfort of his poore af∣flicted Church.
The third Pro∣phecie is Par∣ticular.
In it troubles of the Church by Antichrist, are particular∣ly fore-told.
For this, Satan in his restlesse opposition to the Church, is first described in the twelfth chapter.
Then his two instruments figured by two Beasts in the 13. chapter.
Whereof the first is Rome, vnder Empe∣rours.
The other is Rome vnder Popes.
Why the Beast is described with seuen Heads, seeing two of them onely trou∣bled the Chris∣tian Church.
The Pope is the seuenth Head of the first Beast, and yet described in the second Beast by him∣selfe.
The Pope in the second Beast, is descri∣bed in the last part of the 13. chapter.
Reuel. 13. 16.
At the foure∣teenth, a par∣ty appeares to the Pope, whereupon followes the Popes de∣struction.
Reuel. 13. 8.
The Prophe∣cy of the Pope his destructi∣on is two-sold.
1 It is set down in speeches Typicall.
Where, first there pre∣ceeds prepa∣ration, then there followes execution, in the 15. and 16. chapters.
2 It is set down in speeches simple.
The presump∣tion of blin∣ded Papists, scorneth at the ruine of Rome.
Reu. 18. 7.
Reuel. 18. 21.
But the de∣struction ther of is conclu∣ded by the Lord.
Reuel. 16. 1:
1. Sam. 5. 3.
Iesuits do wel, in time to en∣quire for a new Seat for their Pope.
Zach. 5. 11.
A warning to Papists.
Amos 6. 3. Reuel. 18. 8.