CHAP. III.
WHo opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sus in the Temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
This verse gives us a description of those actions which give the esse formale to the Antichrist; for 'tis not the person, but the sinne makes the Antichrist formally so to be. This text is Anti∣christ's looking-glasse, wherein he may see himself face to face.
His prodigious sin is the slaying of the Witnesses, and this is the sin which the text sets forth.
In the words there are three generall parts. 1 Antichrist's acts. 2 The object of these actions. 3 The end of his acts.
1 His acts are set forth under two names or titles given to him. 1 He opposeth. 2 He exalteth himself.
2 The objects of these actions are, 1 All that is called god. 2 Or that is worshipped.
3 In the end of his actions we have, 1 The ambitious aimes of the Antichrist laid open, 'tis to make himself supream. [So that he as God] there's his Supremacy. 2 We have the place where Antichrist makes himselfe King and Supream, and that is in the Temple of God, in the true Church of God [Sits in the Tem∣ple of God.]
3 We have also his kinde of title to all this greatness, described [shewing himself that he is God] 'tis a self-created title that he hath to his Supremacy: he shewes himselfe, he displayes his own colours: the meaning is, he is an Usurper, he hath no title, but what he gives himself.
[Who opposeth and exalteth himselfe,] so our Translation renders it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Beza translates it [sese opponens] the Vulgar, [qui adversatur] the Syriack, [qui adversarius] the particle [•…•…]* 1.1 is restrictive in this place; and therefore the expression is to be considered absolutely, [that person opposing, or the adverse per∣son.] The word comes from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, contra jaceo; it