An exquisite commentarie vpon the Reuelation of Saint Iohn VVherein, both the course of the whole booke, as also the more abstruse and hard places thereof not heretofore opened; are now at last most cleerely and euidently explaned. By Patrik Forbes of Corse.

CHAP. XI.

HEere, the effect in some degree is shew¦ed, of that which typically was spo∣ken of Iohn in the last verse of the for∣mer Chapt. in that the little booke, being eaten, giueth to the eaters, a fa∣culty to discern the true Church from the false; by assistance and instigation of the great Angel who giueth it. And this is, by apply∣ing the rule and measure thereof (sound and straight as a reede, strong, apt, and maniable as a rod, and as Aaron his rod, which deuoured the rods of the Inchanters) whereby the body of the true Church is found to bee small, as the Temple in comparison of the Court and Ci∣ty: and hid, as the Temple, wherein none entred but the Priests, as a small center in the midst of a large cir∣cumference, and closed vp within it. The Ministers in number few, beeing but two, the smallest of numbers, and yet sufficient for witnessing of a truth. In calling, witnesses, and of diuine things, being Prophets and stan∣ding before God. In condition, afflicted, as doing it in sackecloth, in much heauinesse and many teares. In this condition, yet hauing great and diuine power: towards the Temple, dispersing plentie of grace as oliues, and true light as candlestickes: and outward, hauing vengeance in readinesse against all disobedience, as Elias and Mo∣ses, hauing, nor vsing, against their enemies, no armour but spirituall, and that for the space of a 1260. daies, al the while the Gentils occupy the Court and holy City and tread them vnder foot, that is, all the time, Anti∣christ possesseth the name and title of the visible Church (defacing and downe treading therein true worshippe) which therefore is cast out, and hath not with God, the account of his true Church, now-onely closed vp within

the Temple. The frame of speech is from the Iewes Tem∣ple, thereby to expresse the condition of the Christian Church, vnder and within the compasse of Antichrist, vsurping the title, and glorying in multitude and visibi∣lity: who therefore, after the same frame of speech, hath with his false Church, the name of Gentiles, obtaining a good space, the whole City & Court of the Temple; euen that beast, who worketh 42. moneths, Chapt. 13. All which time, God had his owne Church, albeit small and not seene of men, euen within the bowels of the Anti∣christian vsurpation, as the Temple is within the City and Court. Which true Church, hee intertained in the life of God, by a hidde, but powerfull dispensation of grace, of a secret vnknowne and small number of true Ministers. Whose state and condition, in course of time and Antichrist his opposition, is threefold. First, they prophesie long and powerfully, and albeit in sackcloth, yet without bloudshed beeing hid in the Temple. Se∣condly, the Angel of the bottomelesse pit, King Abad∣don, smelling them out, they are openly murthered, and cruelly and barbarouslie intreated, euen with applause and congratulation of the world, in all parts of the Antichrist his power (the great City) so as they seemed to bee vtterly vndone and extinguished: and the earth, and earthly men thereupon, reioysed as freed of them, who by the light, reprooued their darke workes, and thus tormented them: not as the Locusts tormented men, Chap. 9. But as Elias and Micheas did Ahab: Ieremias, the Land; and Amos Israel. Thirdly, the spi∣rit of life from God, which neuer can be killed, (for the truth can neuer be bound) raiseth them, that is, others, hauing the same spirit and power: who stand vp on their feet, that is, stoutly and vigorously set themselues to fight against Antichrist, so as hee shall then beginne to be af∣fraid, and his former great mirth shall be troubled: and that so much the more, when hee and his sectators shall see (to their great both griefe and feare) these few, hid,

afflicted, slaine, & mocked ones, (of whom, they thought they had beene rid for euer) by diuine calling, called vp to heauen, that is, separated from the fellowship and all communion with Antichrist and his earthly sort, to bee, with account & protection acknowledged and seene the true Ministers of God his true Church, which now, from vnder Antichrist his darkenesse (vnder which it lay vailed as the Temple within the Court) shall become visible, in a degree euen to the enemies. Whereupon immediate∣ly, ensueth a great commotion and stirre: so as a part of Antichrist his kingdome falleth, and the power thereof is much impaired, by ouerthrow of a great number and conuersion of others. And thus, way is made to the se∣uenth trumpet; wherein, not a part, but all Babel falleth an eternall fall.

2 Consider now, how distinctly and clearly ••heere, Antichrist his whole dealing in the diuers degrees there∣of, and the true Church her case all the while, is euen painted out before the eies of any that is not blinde. So great light commeth by the little booke eaten, and rod applied. The first of the three conditions was, of the Church before this time of application of the rod, but the measuring and finding it out, is of this time. The other two conditions, come now, vpon this applying of the rod, by such as through eating the little booke were inabled thereto: which Antichrist perceiuing, they are killed and lie dead, &c. And as, for course of time and story, this Chapter is orderly put, so also exceeding per∣tinently for order of matter. For where, by the resto∣ring of prophesie, in the last Chapt. it might bee presu∣med that no true Church could bee before, seeing, that where no prophesie is, the people perish; and this doubt, might greatly trouble the resolution of a godly soule: for clearing this doubt, and shewing how alwaies, euen in the midst of Antichristian darkenesse, when no such thing appeared to the eies of men, yet the rodde rightly applyed, made the applyers to see, that God alwaies had

a true Church, in which was a dispensation of grace, though vnseene. And this Church breaking out, first in few, and outwardly weake persons, albeit it receiued so hard entertainement by Antichrist, as it seemed euen vt∣terly extinguished in the rising; yet still it preuailed by euident degrees, till manifestly at last the Temple was opened in heauen, and the Arke of the Testimony seene. The accommodation hereof sheweth it self: and the two last cases are so much the more cleare, as they were seen, and are of recent memory. To cleare the first state and secret dispensation of grace, and light when it appeared impossible, a speech is taken from Zacharie, and hauing allusion to the Temple of Ierusalem, as hath all this Alle∣gory. For as light in the Temple by burning lampes of the Candlesticke, was ordinarily entertained through bringing in oyle, dayly to keepe them burning; so the Temple being closed, and not onely the City, but euen the Court of the Temple (except through which no pas∣sage was thereto) being possessed and trod downe so long of the Gentiles; it might appeare impossible that any light could hee preserued in the Temple; thus clo∣sed and compassed. Therefore in this estate God com∣pareth the Ministers of grace to two oliue trees growing vp by the sides of the Candlesticke within the Temple, and letting drop from their branches oile in the lamps. Oh, how sweetly the spirit expresseth that which the foolish world can neuer learne, while still they cry, where was your Church? Neither by an Armie, neither by strength, but by my spirit, saith the Lord.

3 For more clearing of this matter, as before, Chap∣ter 9. in the time of fiue Monethes, the state of the Locusts and their working was much cleared; so here▪ to the whole rage of Antichrist during which, the Lord had still his owne witnesses, a time is attributed, that by comparing the places and cases from which this time is taken, and to which the holy Ghost here purposely al∣l••••••th, wee may learue great wisdome. And to leade vs

hereto, wee haue not onely the like time, but also the like speeches: the spirit as it were pointing to vs, whi∣ther hee will haue vs to goe. The time then attributed to Antichrist his whole rage, is forty two monethes, all one with the 1260. dayes of the two Witnesses prophe∣sying (to shew that all that time God had them, and continually, therefore is the time counted by dayes) and all one with the time, times, and halfe a time of the wo∣man her abode in the wildernesse, Chapter 12; all alike making vp halfe a weeke of yeeres, or three yeeres and a halfe. And thus the spirit counting one and the same time, by all the spaces of time, yeeres, monethes and dayes, to shew euidently, that the yeeres are of mo∣nethes, and both yeeres and monethes are of dayes, as al∣so that the dayes are properly to be taken, it is wonder, how learned men could haue so farre mistaken them. Now in all the Scripture wee shall not find a condition of the Church, with any circumscription of time answe∣rable in condition, and points of Antichrist his dealing, here pointed at, (that is, wherin the true worship is so defaced, as in place thereof, a false worshippe is ere∣cted, and truth trod vnder foot) but the two here al∣luded to, as in the speeches brought hither from both is more then manifest, of treading vnder the holy City, pro∣phesying in sacke, killing with fire, shutting of heauen that it raine not, &c. The one is of the time of Elias his lur∣king and famine vpon Israel three yeeres & a halfe, when God his worshippe was ouerthrowne, his Prophets kil∣led, and worshippe of Baall erected, no true Church appearing to bee left in Israel, euen to the Prophet; who yet all the while tormented the aduersaries, no rain com∣ming but at his word. The other, is that of remouing the dayly sacrifice by Antiochus Epiphanes, and the ab∣homination of desolation, set vp in place thereof for a time, times, and halfe a time, Dan. 7. 25. so long our Sa∣uiour vnder great affliction and contempt preached in the dayes of his flesh, euen halfe a weeke, and was ••ast

out of the Synagogue: the Priests, Scribes and Phari∣sees all the while obtaining the name and account of the true Church. To the second condition of these wit∣nesses in this whole rage of Antichrist, are attributed, three dayes and a halfe, that is halfe a weeke of dayes, as the whole is of yeeres: onely to keepe thus the allusion to the halfe weeke: but so as therein to imply this con∣solation, that howsoeuer the whole time of Antichrist were long, which yet should haue an end, as had these miserable times of Iez••bel and Antiochus: and that all that long time, the true witnesses should bee in af∣fliction and heauinesse: yet that time of cruell and open murthering, and barbarous ferity should bee but short, as is halfe a weeke of dayes in comparison to half a week of yeeres. And this in story is most cleare. For as their cruell and open murthering beganne with the reuiuing and new breaking out of the Gospell, what time Sathan was loosed the second time, Chapter 20. And the beast became of his colour, Chapter 17. So, as the truth pre∣uaileth by increase of light, they are faine to relent though nothing in malice and rage, (which groweth more and more, they euen blaspheming and gnawing their tongues for sorrow) yet from vnbrideled libertie, in murthering the Saints in this degree. To the last condition is attributed no circumscription of time, be∣cause it is the beginning of that victory to the Saints, & fall to Babell, which shall haue no end of time. For right vnderstanding of these times, see more Chapt. 9. Sect. 5. as likewise for this, that here is said (The second woe is past) see, there Sect. 8. Now here is well to bee consi∣dered, that what in this Chapter is shewed of Antichrist his rage against the Church, and her suffering by him, is here handled, but by the way, and not of purpose, to shew that Story (which commeth in the 12. 13. and 14. Chapters) but onely so farre as was requisite for clea∣ring the story of the witnesses, how the world is plagued

by them: which is here the scope of the spirit, See vpon Chap. 14 Sect. 10.

4 Thus was the sixth Trumpet, and the second great woe, followeth the seuenth: to which we see how faire a way is made in the sixth; to make vs vnderstand, that euen in time of the second woe, and greatest height thereof by the Mahometanes let loose againe from their binding; this last woe was working in such degrees as haue beene shewed; as in like manner in the sixth seale was giuen a view of the mischiefe of the Trumpets, to learne vs, that euen then, before the ouerthrow, and shaking of the Empire, the mystery of iniquity was wor∣king. And in all God sheweth his power and proui∣dence, that euen with the sinne and wickednesse of men, hath his iudgements preparing long before, for their due punishment in time. Now maruaile not that, here that which is to the Saints, chiefe ioy, is a woe to the World: for our victory is the worldes ruine.

5 Vpon the blowing of the seuenth Trumpet, the effect thereof is, in the rest of this Chapter, summarily denounced, by a gratulatory song of praise of the Church to God for the ioyfull effect to them, though wofull to the world, which now they preconceiue is to ensue. And this effect summarily here denounced, is through the rest of all the Propheticall narration expo∣ned at large. The summe and matter of their fong, which stirreth them to thanksgiuing is in this, that God now raigneth. And this raigne is cleared by two great effects, the one is the destruction of all enemies, the o∣ther is a sequell hereof, the good estate of God his chil∣dren, the time of whose reward now is come. The Iu∣stice of God in the destruction is shewed, in that these enemies were angrie, and had in their fury destroyed the earth, and murthered the Saints: so as now God had iust reason to be angry in his course, and to iudge and reuenge his dead fully on the world, by prosecuting

still his, now begunne wrath and iudgements against the aduersaries, till they be closed vp in euerlasting torment: and redressing the estate of his Church in continuall de∣liuerance and encrease of grace, till as a Bride fully pre∣pared, shee be receiued to glorie; all being here perfor∣med now in the dayes of this Trumpet whatsoeuer by the Prophets was foretold, either of the Church her perfection in grace and peaceable state, or of the enemies destruction. And this is that finishing of the mysterie sworne, Chapter 10. this is that vengeance promised to the slaine soules, in the 5. Seale, but which they were to attend till the rest of Saints were slaine: and this the Gentiles in their anger hauing performed (hauing trod downe the holy City, euen that beast that worketh forty two monethes, making warre with the Saints, and o∣uercomming them, Chapter 13.) Now the Lord com∣meth in great indignation to repay the world their cru∣elty. This double euent thus denounced, is by figne also forshewed, to signifie the rising of the Church in great light and deepe sight of the most hid mysteries, the Tabernacle is open in heauen, and the Arke (which stood in the most holy place) is openly seene. Here is a great degree of knowledge. In the end of the sixt Trumpet, was a great measure, euen that first visible separatiō from Babel, and her earthly ones, when to the witnesses it was said, Come vp hither: but her clearenesse of light is ad∣uanced greatly, and the truth hereof is euident All praise to him who hath taken his Kingdome; for since the se∣uenth Trumpet began to blow, the Antichristian king∣dome thinketh light of the sixt Trumpet, and now this is their heauiest woe, as wil appeare in the effects of the Vials; but it is our song. The signe of the other effect, in the destruction of the enemies, and God his horrible iudgements to that end, are thunderings, lightnings voi∣ces, earthquake, and much haile See vpon Chapter 4. Sect. 10. thus, Babel, whereof, but the tenth part fell, at the first essayes, in the time of the sixth Trumpet, now at

the sound of the seuenth, taketh a totall ruine, as did Ierico at the seuenth Trumpet, for to that is the allu∣sion.

Notes

• Exod 7. 12.
• Deut. 17. 6. & 19. 15. Iohn 8. 17.
• Chap. 14. 2. 3.
• In orbe Roma∣no qui sunt Ci∣ues sunt Roma∣ni. Lex Anto∣nini Pij. Bodin in metho. histo∣riae. cap. 6.
• See Chap. 12. Sect. 8.
• Zach. 4.
• 1 King. 17. 1. Luk. 4 25. Iam. 5. 17. 1. Kin. 19. 10.
• Ioseph. lib. 1. de bello Iudaic••. Dan. 127.
• Ios. 6. 16.