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. XV. (Book 15)

HEnce, is the story of the last wrath, for finall destruction of the enemies, to the peace of the Church, that the kingdoms of the world may be Gods * 1.1 and Christs. Vpon obstinate impeni∣tency against sixe trumpets, Chapt. 9. 21. The fulfilling of this wrath was sworne to come in the daies of the seuenth trumpet, Chap. 10. Vpon sounding of the seuenth trumpet, sum∣marily denounced, Chap. 11. And summary executing thereof proponed, Chap. 14. in the end. Whereof here, the larger narration, hath the executers, Chap. 15. Their execution in order, Chapt. 16. Cleared more largely, Chapters 17. 18. 19. and 20. Whereupon the gracefull condition of the Bride victorious, is magnifickly set downe, Chapt. 21. and 22. This whole matter, is that other great signe seene in heauen: to distinguish this part of story, from the preceding in the last three Chapt. called also a signe in heauen. This is that, which Mat. 24. is called, the signe of the sonne of man. For hee and his iudgements, now are made manifest. As not in∣conueniently, the other might be called the signe of the Dragon.

2 In this Chapter, from the beginning to the fifth verse, is set downe the greatnesse of the erand: thence to the end, the disposing of the instruments for executi∣on thereof: the greatnesse of the matter, is first summa∣rily proponed in this, that hee saw a signe, a great, yea, a maruellous signe, and, in heauen. That Chap 12. was a great signe; but this is both great and wonderfull:

euen the signe of the sonne of man in heauen. This great wonderfulnesse, is shewed in the Ministers, Angels: their number, seuen; their imployment, to bee executors of God his last wrath, for finishing of the mysterie, Chapt. 10. For his spirit would no longer striue with men, vers. 1. Next in the effect and end of their worke, to the 5. verse. Which are, the destruction of Antichrist: that the Saints, victorious ouer him, may praise God; and by the greatnesse, equity, and truth, of his iudgements manifested, all men may feare, glorifie, and worship him, who onely is holy. For expressing of this effect and end, the Church and her condition, in, and vpon this executi∣on to follow, (ioyfully vpon sight of the instruments pre∣pared, precōceiuing the certaine euent) is set down, in the victory and song thereof. In the victory, are the meanes whereby, and the party ouer whom. The meanes, are a glassie Seamingled with fire: the pure word of God mingled with the vertue of the holy Ghost, Chap. 4. The victory, is ouer the Beast, his image, his marke, and num∣ber of his name: to shew it now, full and perfit. In their song, are first, the quality, that it is a song of praise, for a maruellous deliuerance, and ouerthrow of a great ene∣mie: such as Moses, vpon such a case, did sing at the red Sea, Exod. 14. Secondly, it is in praise of the Lambe, through whom they obtaine this victory, and in whom the Father is glorified: and not in praise of Moses, who is the seruant of God, Heb. 3. 3. Chapt. 22. 9. and 19. 10. Thirdly, their disposition is noted, in that they haue the harpes of God, giuen by him, for his praise: that is, well tuned hearts, filled with ioy and loue, in con∣science of his benefits, and bursting out in thanksgiuing. For hee onely putteth a new song in the mouthes of his seruants. Lastly, the tenor of their song is in two: the praise of God his works and waies; and the sequell ther∣of. The praise of his workes, is, that they are great and maruellous: according whereto, hee hath a competent title, Lord God almighty. The praise of his waies, is

that they are iust and true: and competently thereupon, he hath the title of King of Saints. In infinite authori∣ty and power, yet to hold euer a iust and true way, is a great praise. Now, the sequell hereof is, that he one∣ly be feared, glorisied, and worshipped of all. And that for two reasons. First, because he onely is holy, and not the Beast, who sacrilegiouslie busketh his head with that blasphemie. Next, his iudgements are now made mani∣fest to all: so as, who before, worshipped and wonde∣red after the Beast, as hauing none equall, or able to fight with him: now, in his iust and manifest ouerthrow, may know, and praise God only holy. For Christ now sitteth on a white cloude iudging him. Compare this 4. verse with the 7. of Chap. 14 and see what wisdome.

3 Before wee enter in the second part, in the dis∣posing of the instruments for this great execution: the interpretation giuen of the glassie Sea mingled with fire, is to be cleared.

4 That the glassie Sea is the type of the pure word, and pure worshippe according thereto, see vpon the 4. Chap. Heere the allusion is to that storie, Exod. 13. and 14. When Moses and Israel with him hauing past the red Sea, standing on the shore thereof, and seeing Pha∣rao and his host drowned therein, they praise God, sing∣ing the song of Moses, &c. Of this allusion, while men marke not narrowlly all the points of conueniencie, the place is diuersly mistaken. Some taking this Sea ming∣led with fire to be but the type of great troubles, thorow which the Church now hath escaped; according to the speech Psalm. 66. Thou hast brought vs thorow water and fire. But this is not all whereto heere the spirit will lead vs. Others, take it for the treasure of meanes, which God hath euer in readinesse, as before his throne, to de∣stroy his enemies. But this is too generall. For here, a speciall treasure is meaned of the meanes, whereby, as Antichrist is ouerthrowen and drowned, so God his Church is saued. And this is, the treasure of the pure

word of God, and power of his spirit mingled there∣with. For, we must all, be begotten of the word and of the spirit; and be baptized with water and with fire. And by this word and spirituall vertue thereof, must Anti∣christ bee foiled. As in the red Sea, the people of Israel were baptized, 1. Cor. 10. wherein Pharao was drowned. And as Israel was baptized vnder the cloude, which to them, was a pillar both of a cloud and of fire (of refresh∣ment and light) but to the Aegyptians a pillar of darke∣nesse. In which respect, the red Sea, wherein, and the pillar, vnder which they were baptized, were types of the true word and spirit, whereby the true Israel of God are begotten to immortality, and the enemies ouerthrowen. So, by allusion thereto, the Church••victorious ouer An∣tichrist, and that great City, which spiritnally is called Aegypt, is said to stand at a glassie Sea mingled with fire: that is, in the cleare light of the word mingled with the vertue of the holy Ghost; whereby they are victorious, and furnished with the harpes of God: but Antichrist therein is drowned, 2. Thess. 2. From this Sea, they la∣bor to diuert vs to cisternes of their own digging, which are full of bloude. But heere, is our victory and wis∣dome, whereby to count the number of the Beast his name; and so, to ouercome him, his image, his chara∣cter, name, and number. The Sea of the Fathers in a third part is bloud, Chapt. 8. So as thence, wee may (if wee bee not wise to discerne) draw death als well as life. The Sea againe of the Church of Rome, in latter state, is all bloudy worsum, Chap. 16. This Sea, hath this diffe∣rent note from that, Chapter 4. that this is mingled with fire. The fire is there also, but set out in seuen burning lampes distinct from the Sea: heere the fire is mingled therewith, and that of purpose, to leade vs to take vp a great point of wisdome in the diuersity of God his dis∣pensation in this last cleare light of the Gospell, for An∣tichrist his ouerthrow, from that first, in the Apostolike times, for casting the Dragon on the earth. At the first

going out of the Gospell, to conciliat thereto the more credit, and to shew plainly whence the vertue, accompa∣nying it came, there was then a distinct dispensation of the spirit, in outward & visible signes, as clouen tongues, and fire: extraordinary effects and operations: as gifts of tongues, healings, and working of miracles: and by a singular and visible manner of donation, as, imposition of hands of the Apostles. But, in this last reuiuing of the Gospell, the word should be cleare and pure as at the first, and accompanied with the force of the spirit: yet the dispensation, donation, and operation of the holy Ghost should not bee in that manner, but should bee mingled with the word: the spirit and vertue thereof, accompa∣nying the preaching of the Gospell; yet so, as no visible or distinct symbol thereof should bee as at the first, (for now, the preachers are feated by swallowing of the little booke, Chapt. 10.) no miraculous operations: finallie, no donation but such as, with the word and by the word preached, the spirit should worke in the Saints. So as miracles, in these last times, are no notes of true preach∣ers. And this diuersity of dispensation is exceeding wise, and requisite for the times. At the first the Gospell was not, onely to bee opened, to the world lying in darke∣nesse, but also confirmed, to be from God. Now, it hath that credit with all; but beeing buried in ignorance, was to bee cleared. Neither must wee take this so, as if at first, the preaching of the Gospell had wanted that ac∣companying vertue. For euen then it was not in words * 1.2 but in power, and was mingled with fire. No doubt, but Iohn his doctrine and baptisme, had with it the vertue of the spirit in those that beleeued: for faith is the effect of this fire. And out of all question, Apollos had the spirit in some good measure, when hee knew but the baptisme of Iohn. And these Samaritanes, who by the preaching of Philip receiued the Gospell and were baptized, had the spirit before the downe-comming of Peter and Iohn. But at the beginning, were ioyned the visible symboles,

donation, and miraculous effects of the holy Ghost, to procure reuerence and credit to the Gospell, and to shew whence commeth all spirituall vertue, to faith or con∣uersion: and the outward healing of diseases, to lead vs to know the power of the word and spirit, in the quick∣ning and life of the inward man, and curing spiritual dis∣eases of the Soule. Neither must wee imagine that now the spirite is so tyed to the word, as who euer heareth it, receiueth necessarily the spirit. For many heare whom it profiteth nothing, because it is not mixed with faith: but * 1.3 the gift of the holy Ghost is now no other way dispen∣sed, but by the word preached: wee feeling the force thereof, but neither seeing whence it commeth, nor whi∣ther * 1.4 it goeth. So, whatsoeuer spirit one pretend without * 1.5 the word, it is the spirit of errour.

5 Now, how these Ministers of the last wrath are fea∣ted and prepared to this great execution, is shewed from the fifth verse to the end. And first, whence they are, 2. How disposed, 3. Wherewith instructed, and by whom. 4. By what power it is, that so great a worke is effectu∣ate. They come out of the Temple of the Tabernacle of Testimony in heauen, now opened, that is, out of the true Church militant (this is implyed in the word Taberna∣cle) now made patent and visible. This first note shew∣eth, both what they are, and of what time. They are members of the true Militant Church, who by the light of the Gospell, the Church being reformed and opened, are stirred to the worke. For God turneth the hearts of Kings, who earst gaue their Kingdomes to the Beast, and were his hornes; to hate now the Whore, and eate her flesh, Chapter 17. For her fall shall not be by Kings of the East or Mahometans, but by reformed Christians: where∣of wee see already good degrees, praised be the King of Saints. This note also pointeth the time of this execu∣tion, to be in the dayes of the seuenth Trumpet, accor∣ding to the Oath, Chapter 10. Vpon the sounding of which, Chapter 11. followed the opening of the Tem∣ple

in heauen, and cleare sight of the Arke of the Testi∣mony, and thereupon lightnings, thundrings, &c. Now here, these seuen Angels, Ministers of God his last wrath come forth of the Temple opened, and goe to exe∣cution. Thus the spirit by cleare notes, leadeth vs to couple rightly the course of this Prophesie. Which, from the beginning hath so plaine a way, as all being compre∣hended in seauen Seales, sixe thereof bring the first sor∣rowes,: the seuenth opened, yeeldeth seuen trumpets, whereof, sixe bringing the second euils: and these wor∣king but further induration, Chapter 9. The seuenth Trumpet sounding, yeeldeth these seuen Angels with seuen Cuppes of the last wrath. Whose storie by the narration, wisely and exceeding purposely in the 12. 13. and 14. Chapters interiected, was till now delayed.

6 The disposition of these Angels is shewed in their apparrell, which is linnen, and that both pure and bright, and girded to thē with a golden girdle about the breast. White linnen apparrell is the garment of all Saints: who in Christ are made Priests to God, by putting on and girding to, or applying Iesus Christ to their hearts by the girdle of faith, more pretious then gold to righteous∣nesse and holinesse. But here in these Angels, this com∣mon * 1.6 garment hath a speciall relation to their speciall calling, To shew that this execution should bee iust & vpright, not only in respect of God the iust Iudge, whose wayes are iust and true, but euen in respect of the Mini∣sters also, who in the light and assurance of faith, should in the zeale of God and of his worship bring downe An∣tichrist. For blessed shall hee be called that rewardeth her as she hath serued vs. * 1.7

7 They are instructed hereto with golden Vials or Cuppes full of wrath, euen the wrath of God that li∣ueth for euer. Golden cuppes were also holy vessels of the Sanctuary to shew hereby likewayes this to bee a pure worke like gold, and holy, and acceptable. And the wrath powred out is euerlasting, as hee whose wrath it

is; for according to his name, so is his feare: and as is the man, so is his strength. Hereto also serueth the kind of Instrument. At the iudgements by the sixe Seales, some cry was alwaies ioined to waken, if it had beene possi∣ble men to learne. The Trumpets sounded loud, in sixe of them God giuing Iezabel time to repent, Chapter 3. and 9. Hereupon obstinate impenitency, out of golden bowles, wrath without noise is tumbled. The seueral de∣grees whereof, in God his patience, Chap. 16. yet more argueth and aggrauateth the obstinacy of the enemies stil more and more endured to endlesse wrath.

8 These cuppes are giuen to the Angels by one of the foure Beasts, that is, by the true Pastors of the church, Chapter 4. to shew, that through the cleare light of the Gospell preached, Antichrist being laide open, the hearts of God his faithfull seruants shall bee filled with holy indignation and zeale to imploy their power to God his honour, in his ouerthrow, stirred there to by the prea∣chers of the truth. Reward her as shee hath rewarded you, &c. according to the Cup shee filled to you, fill her * 1.8 the double. This was summarily touched in the end of the 14. Chapter, when the Angell from the Altar ha∣uing power ouer fire, stirred the other to cut downe the grapes of the earth: the which same thing is here more largely explaned. That this is said to bee done by one of the foure Beasts, as it sheweth them to be the stirrers to worke, so (according as their diuers faces expressed diuersity of gifts, as for diuers times and cases is requi∣site) to signifie the imployment at this time of such as were fittest, whether for wisdome, as Men to spie out the Beast, or rather (that being already done) for leonine courage, roaring and thundering, Chapter 10. to encou∣rage and terrifie. How it be, what of one of them is done, is done of all.

9 The power, whereby this great execution is borne out, that it cannot bee stayed, is God his glorious and powerfull presence in his owne true Church opened and

made visible, before fuming in wrath against Antichrist: so, as neither dare these Ministers but execute their charge: The feare and loue of God, and knowledge of his terrour stirring them: neither any enemy impede the course of God his iudgements till they bee finished. For the Beast must goe to destruction: and the Whores louers shall stand a backe afraid at her burning, Chapter 18. And what is it else, that miraculously hath and yet doth beare out against Antichrist his power and ma∣lice; Who, if the Lord were not on our side, would haue ea∣ten * 1.9 vs vp, and as mighty flouds haue ouerwhelmed vs in the depth: but the Lord is our helper. Peoples heare it, * 1.10 and are afraid. Sorrow commeth on the Iuhabitants of Palestina. Now this type is not so put, as if the Saints this time should be debarred from the presence of God in his Church. But by allusion to the 40. of Exodus, 1. Kings, 8. Isai 6 to shew a great and powerfull presence of God in his Church, newly reerected from vnder An∣tichrist his tyranny, where through the execution shal haue no let. It is true, that the resort (albeit very fre∣quent and dayly encreasing) shall not bee such during the plagues and smoking wrath of God, as when Eu∣phrates is dried vp, the high places taken away, and Baal destroyed. When the twelue Ports of the new * 1.11 Ierusalem shall be cast open continually to receiue from all quarters both Iewes wakened by a voyce from the * 1.12 Throne, and the Kings of the East with them comming to worshippe Iehouah the Lord of hostes, who then shal be the onely one Lord in the earth, and his name one. To which, the sixt Cup shall in the owne time prepare the way, and which in the seuenth shall bee fulfilled, and so the mystery finished, in the accomplishment of all fore∣••old * 1.13 by the Prophets, Chapter 10.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chap. 11. 14.
• * 1.2

  1. Cor. 4. 20.
• * 1.3

  Heb. 4. 2.
• * 1.4

  Iohn 3. 8.
• * 1.5

  Isai 59. 21.
• * 1.6

  1 Pet. 1. 7.
• * 1.7

  Psal. 137.
• * 1.8

  Chap. 18. 6.
• * 1.9

  Psal 124.
• * 1.10

  Exod. 15. 14.
• * 1.11

  Chap. 21
• * 1.12

  Chap. 19. 5. Chap. 16. 12. Zach. 14. 9.
• * 1.13

  Act. 3. 21.