The harmony, chronicle and order of the New Testament the text of the four evangelists methodized, story of the acts of the apostles analyzed, order of the epistles manifested, times of the revelation observed : all illustrated, with variety of observations upon the chiefest difficulties textuall & talmudicall, for clearing of their sense and language : with an additional discourse concerning the fall of Jerusalem and the condition of the Jews in that land afterward / John Lightfoot ...

REVEL. CHAP. VIII.

THe opening of the seventh Seal lands us upon a new scene: as a new world began when Ierusalem was destroyed and the Jews cast off. The six Seals in the two former Chapters, have shewed their ruine, and the appearing of the Church of the Gentiles, and now the seven Trumpets under the seventh Seal give us a prospect in generall of the times thence forward to the end of all things. I say in generall, for from the beginning of the twelfth Chapter and forward to the end of the nineteenth they are handled more particularly.

Silence in heaven for a while, and seven Angels with seven Trumpets may call our thoughts to Ioshua 6.4, 10. and intimate that the Prophetick story is now en∣tred upon a new Canaan, or a new stage of the Church, as that businesse at Ie∣richo was at Israels first entring on the old: Or it may very properly be looked upon as referring and alluding to the carriage of things at the Temple, since this Book doth represent things so much according to the scheme and scene of the Tem∣ple all along.

And in this very place there is mention of the Altar and Incense and Trumpets, which were all Temple appurtenances. It was therefore the custom at the Temple that when the Priest went in to the Holy place, the people drew downward from the Porch of the Temple, and there was▪ a silence whilest he was there, [yea though the people were then praying] incomparably beyond what there was at other times of the service, for the Priests were blowing with Trumpets or the Le∣vites singing: The allusion then here is plain. When the sacrifice was laid on the Altar, a Priest took coals from the Altar, went in to the Holy place, and offered incense upon the Golden Altar that stood before vail, that was before the Ark, and this being done, the Trumpets sounded over the sacrifice. Here then is first intimation of Christs being offered upon the Altar; then his going into the Holy place as Mediatour for his people: and then the Trumpets sound∣ing and declaring his disposals in the world. His taking fire off the Altar and casting it upon the earth, ver. 5. is a thing not used at the Temple, but spoken from Ezek. 10.2. which betokeneth the sending of judgement, which the Trumpets speak out.

These seven Trumpets, and the seven Vials in Chap. 16. in many things runne very parallel, how farre they Synchronize, will be best considered when we come there.

The first Trumpet sounding, brings hail and fire and blood upon the earth, and destroys grasse and trees a third part of them. Fire and hail was the plague of Egypt, Exod. 9.23. but fire and blood, with hail, is a new plague. By these seemeth to be intimated what plagues should be brought upon the world, by fire, sword, dreadfull tempest, unnaturall seasons and the like.

The second Trumpet sounds, and a great burning mountain is cast into the sea, and the third part of it becomes blood. The sea in the Prophetick lan∣guage, doth signifie multitudes of people: as Ierem. 51.36.42. And Babylon that was Monarch was a burning mountain in the same Chapter, ver. 35. So that the Imperiall power seemeth to be the mountain here; which made bloody and mischievous work, not only by the persecution of Christians, but even among their own people. As Nero at present, Vitellius instantly after, Domi∣tian, Commodus, and indeed generally all of them either bloodily destroy their

own people, or at least for their covetousnesse, ambition, revenge or humour, bring disquietnesse, oppression, misery, Warres and blood, upon all the world, in one place or other.

The third Trumpet, brings the starre Wormwood upon the rivers and fountains of waters: which seemeth to denote the grievous Heresies that should be in the Church, which should corrupt and imbitter the pure springs of the Scripture and fountains of Truth. A starre in the language of this Book is a Church-man, Chap. 1.20. [Ben Cochab was such a Wormwood starre among the Jews, called most properly Ben cozba the lier.] And the phrase, A starre falling from heaven, alludes to Isa. 14.12. How art thou fallen from heaven O Lucifer! &c.

The fourth Trumpet shews the darkning of the Sunne and Moon and Starres for a third part.

By which seems to be understood the wane and decay, both in the glory of the Church, by superstition, and of the Empire, by its divisions within, and enemies from without, and this before the rising of the Papacy, which appears under the next Trumpet: and these things were great advantages to its rising. The dark∣ning of the heavenly luminaries in the Prophets language signifieth the eclipsing of the glory and prosperity of a Kingdom or people, Isa. 13.9, 10. Ioel 2.10. How it was with the Church and Empire in these respects, before that time that the Pa∣pacy appeared, he is a stranger to History, both Ecclesiasticall and Civil, that re∣membreth not upon this very hint.

The three Trumpets coming are the Trumpets of Wo, wo, wo: though these things past were very wofull; but those much more that are to come.