The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

REVEL. Chap. I, II, III.

THE three first Chapters refer to that present time when John wrote: and they contain the story of his obtaining this Revelation, and of the condition of the seven Churches of Asia at that time: declared in the Epistles directed to them.

John travelling in the Ministry of the Gospel up and down from Asia Westward, com∣eth into the Isle Patmos, in the Icarian Sea [Vid. Strab. lib. 10.] an Island about thirty miles compass [Plin. lib. 4. cap. 12.] and there on the Lords day he hath these visions, and an Angel interprets to him all he saw.

He seeth Christ clothed like a Priest, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ver. 13. [See the LXX in Exod. 28. 4.] and girded over the paps, as the Priests used to be, with the curious girdle. His appearance full of Majesty and gloriousness, described in the terms of Daniel, Chap. 7. 9. & 10. 5, 6. Amongst other his Divine titles he is called Alpha and Omega, terms ordinarily used by the Jews [only uttered in their Hebrew Tongue] to signifie the beginning and the end, or the first and the last. Midr. Tillin. fol. 47. 2. Abraham and Sarah performed all the Law from Aleph to Tau. Marg. tripl. targ. in Deut. 18. 13. He that walks in integrity is as if he performed all the Law from Aleph to Tau.

He directs Epistles to be sent to the seven Churches of Asia: who are golden Candle∣sticks though very full of corruptions [it is not a small thing that unchurches a Church] and inscribed to the Angels of the Churches: This phrase translates 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Sheliahh Tsibbur, the title of the Minister in every Synagogue, who took care for the publick reading and expounding of the Law and Prophets: And these Epistles are sent accor∣dingly to the Ministers of the several Churches, that they might be read openly in their Congregations.

There are seven several Epistles to the several Churches, dictated immediately and sent by Christ, and another general one from John to them all, in which he shews the warrant and way of writing those seven.

He terms the Holy Ghost, the seven Spirits, according to the Jews common speech, who from Isa. 11. 2. speak much of the seven Spirits of Messias: and speaking of Christs com∣ing with clouds, Chap. 1. 7. from Dan. 7. 13. and from the words of Christ himself, Matth. 24. 30. He at once teacheth that he takes at Daniel, and speaks of Christs coming and reigning, when the four Monarchies were destroyed, and especially referreth to the first most visible evidence of his power and dominion, in coming to destroy his enemies the Jewish Nation, and their City. And here is one reason that induceth me to suppose this Book written, before that City was destroyed.

Coming to read the present condition of these Asian Churches in the Epistles written to them, we may pertinently think of that saying of Paul, 2 Tim. 1. 15. This thou know∣est that all they that are in Asia are turned from me: A great Apostacy: of which there is too much evidence in these Churches, as also mention of some sad fruits of it, and means and instruments inducing to it. As 1. unbelieving Jews which the Holy Ghost all along calls A Synagogue of Satan: with these the Church of Smyrna was pestered, and more especially Pergamus, where their mischievousness is stiled the very throne or seat of Satan: and where they had murdered Antipas a faithful Martyr already. 2. False Apostles and seducers: some that pretended Apostolick power and commission, and it may be colour∣ed their pretences with Magical wonders, that they might act more Apostle like. These the Church of Ephesus was troubled with, but had discovered their delusions and found them liars. 3. Other seducers that, it may be, came not in the demonstration of such devilish power, but answered that by their horrid devilish doctrines, the doctrines of the Nicolaitans, which taught to eat things sacrificed to Idols, and to commit fornication. In Thyatire a woman seducer, cried up this doctrine, a whore and witch, a Jezabel: where∣fore she and her children, that is, her Disciples, are threatned to be destroyed by the plague: the vengeance upon the fornicators with Baal Peor.