A treatise, touching Antichrist VVherein, the place, the time, the forme, the workmen, the vpholders, the proceeding, and lastly, the ruine and ouerthrow of the kingdome of Antichrist, is plainly laid open out of the word of God: where also manie darke, and hard places both of Daniell and the Reuelation are made manifest. By Lambert Danæus.

VVhether besides the fourth and Romane Mo∣narchie, there remaine any other, a fift, to be erec∣ted, where a verie hard place of Daniell is expounded.

The 33. Chapter.

THirdly, and lastly, that which out of the former dis∣course is to be gathered, is this, that héere-after there remaineth no other Monarchie to be erected in the world, after time that of Rome, and this Image thereof, (that is the Romane Antichrist) is decayed: and so we may sée, that what-so-euer was to come and fall out, from the first beginning of Monarchies, vnto the ende of the world, was made knowne before-hand vnto Daniell, Cap. 11. There∣fore vpon the ende and accomplishment of those things which are spoken of in that Chapter, immediatly, the last resurrec∣tion is not only mentioned, but also the estate and condition thereof, to the great comfort of the godly, is described, Cap. 12. And yet should not the faithfull in regard héereof be the more slack in assaulting the kingdome of Antichrist, as though their labour should be frustrate, and to no purpose. Nay assu∣redly, their indeauours shall take good successe, and by little, and little, they shall cast downe that, which God would not haue to fall at a moment, or without one blow. Therfore they that do either sincerely preach, or faithfully embrace the Gos∣pell, do dayly grinde, waste, knap off, and to be short, they al∣wayes diminishe some-what of the Antichristian kingdome. But against this our third and last collection, that seemeth to be obiected which is in Daniell Cap. 11. vers. 40. and those that follow, which are these.

[verse 40] And at the ende of time shall the King of the South push at him, and the King of the North shall come a∣gainst him like a whirle-winde; with Chariots, and with horse-men, and with many Ships: and he shall enter into the Countries, and shall ouer-flowe, and

passe through.

[verse 41] He shall enter also into the pleasant land, and many countries shall be ouerthrowen: but these shall escape out of his hands, Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Amon.

[verse 42] He shall stretch forth his hand also vppon the coun∣tries, and the land of Aegipt shall not escape.

[verse 43] But he shall haue power ouer the treasures of Gold and Siluer, and ouer all precious things of Aegipt, and of the Lybians, and of the Black-Moores, where hee shall passe.

[verse 44] But the tidings out of the East, and the North shall trouble him: therefore hee shall go foorth with great wrath, to destroy and roote out manie.

[verse 45] And hee shall plant the tabernacles of his palace be∣tweene the Seas, in the glorious and holie mountaine: yet hee shal come to his ende, and none shal helpe him.

This place of Daniell, if any other be, is doubtles, verie in∣tricate and obscure. Wherby it hath happened, that the iudge∣ments of expositours, haue bin discrepant and diuers among them-selues. For some expounde it so, as that they refer it vnto Tigrenes and Mithridatis who made inuasion vpon the Ro∣mane Empire. Some againe had rather refer it vnto An∣tiochus. And againe some vnto Pompey the great, and Iulius Caesar. But, there bee many thinges which will not admit of anie of these interpretations. The latter writers, refer it on∣lie to the Kinges of Asia, and Aegipt, who are spoken of in al that chapter. The which iudgement, and interpretation, as I doe not surelie reiect: so am I withall resolute in this, that those two Empires are tipes, and figures to the Churche, of such thinges as shoulde befall, euen after the comming of Christ. Therefore this is mine opinion: First that those two Kingdomes (whereof Daniell speaketh in the last place) are neither said should be Monarchies, neither are they so called, but onlie kingdomes: the which two, shall ouerturne, al what∣soeuer shall bee left remaining, of the Romane Empire in the

South and East. And of these two Kingdomes or Kings, the one, saith Daniell shall come out of the South, the other from the North. And this Northerne fellowe shall strike the grea∣ter terrour into this said Monarchie. Yet both these Kings, or Kingdomes, shall with shippes, Chariots, and Horsemen, that is, by sea and land, assaulte the fourth Monarchie; and the remnaunts thereof. And againe, either of these Kings shall successiuelie, one after an other, lay hould vpon Aegipt, that is, subdue the same, and thereof possesse great treasures of Gould and Siluer. Lastlie, they shall possesse Lybia, that is, the Region of Cyren, and Aethiopia, which is Arabia. These pointes therefore I take to be vttered by Daniell, as indiffe∣rentlie touching, and concerning both the said Kingdomes, but not respecting the fourth Monarchie, and Kingdome of the Romans. Afterward, in the 44 verse, these two king∣domes are compared together, and that of the South is saide should be disturbed by that of the North, which lieth Eastern∣lie. So that the Southerne Kingdome should be in time the first, and that of the North the latter. And as for both of them, they shoulde pitch their tents betweene two Seas, and the holie hill, that is towards Iudaea: but in the ende, they shall come to their ende, and finall destruction, and none shall yeald them succour.

These things are thus set downe in Daniell: the which if we doe vnderstand as some do expound them, of Pompey and Caesar: they are then most obscure and darke, and nothing a∣greeing with the course of thinges that haue happened. But being vnderstood as I haue directed, then are they most plaine, and agréeing with the issue of things that are done. And to be∣gin withall, these thinges can at no hand bee referred to the Romans, because they were first made possessours of Lybia and Affricke, before they set foote in the holie Lande, that is Judaea: (for so doeth Daniell according to the manner of his time, call that Region, as also their Neighbours and people, bordering vppon them by their peculiar names, such as were well knowne in those dayes: the

Ammonites, and Moabites, although his prophecie tendeth vnto those times, and those things, which he fore-sheweth should then be accomplished, when as neither Iudaea should be called the pleasant land, nor the Ammonites, and Moabites, should be tearmed by those names: which point, we are to ob∣serue, least otherwise these titles do trouble vs, and least we thinke that those things where-of Daniell speaketh, were to be taken, and then only to be fullfilled, while both Iudaea had as yet the promises of God, and the Moabites were knowne by that name or title. He speaketh therefore of those Regions but in that manner, and with such names, as where-by in those dayes they were knowne to the Iewes to whome he wri∣teth. But yet the things, which he fore-telleth, were then to come to passe, when as neither Iudaea was any more the place of Gods rest, nor the house that contained the people of God, the which at the last fell out and came to passe, after the Gos∣pell was once published, and Christ had suffered death.

This mine opinion is heereby confirmed, for that he spea∣keth of such things as should fall out in the latter daies, that is, in the last age of the world; after the accomplishment where-of, the Angell in the Reuel. 10.7. telleth of no time that should succeed, that is, after the fullfilling of these things: there is no time prefixt or set downe by the Spirit of God, which we should looke for. For after the voice of the seauenth Angell, the mysteries, or hidden things of God, which are re∣ueiled in the Prophets, especially in this place of Daniell, Cap. 11. vers. 40. and so foorth to the ende of the Prophe∣cie, are to be finished. And so do I vnderstand the words of Daniell, At the end of time, Cap. 11.40. as also, Cap. 12.9. & 1. that in the last time, and as you would say, the last age of the world, there should these two last Kingdomes spring vp, which heere he describeth and pointeth out, where-of the one should rise out of the South, the other out of the East & North. And these two shall, (as I said,) quite ouerthrowe, what-so-euer shall remaine in the South and North-East of the fourth Monarchie, that is, of the Romane Empire, the

which they shall distresse by Sea and Land. True it is, Da∣niell speaketh of both these newe Kingdomes together, ioy∣ning them (as it were) in one word: because he doth but only glaunce at, and briefly shut vp a storie farre distant from his time, and the same very obscure, whereas notwithstanding they should be seuered asunder both in time and place, where∣of the one should arise first, and the other after: as appeareth out of the very text. And that this my iudgement is true, it appeareth hereby, for that afterward these two kingdomes are compared together, as distinct and diuers, as namely be∣ing two, whereof the one is sayd should ouerthrow the other, to wit, that of the North-east should vanquish the Southern, the which also it selfe should in the end meete with his end and ruine. Lastly, wheras Dan. saith ver. 45. Lehar tseuhi-Codesh In the glorious and holie mountaine: he poynteth out a place, namely Iudaea, as Zech. 14.4. Therefore those two Seas, within the which those two kingdomes should pitch their Palace, Pauilion, or Seat royall; are set out by Daniel, and are sayd to be not Westerne Seas, such as are y^e French, the Italian, the Adriaticke, or the Spanish Seas, because they bend not towards Iudaea: but they are more Easternly, run∣ning along all that coast which lieth betweene the Syriacke, or Aegaean, and the red Sea. For those two Seas do border out the vpper Countries, and lie towards Iewrie (as euery man may easilie perceiue by Cosmographie.) And to make short, Asia and Syria, are sayd to bee all that region, wherein the Lord fore-telleth these two kingdoms should arise, which shall bring to nought the remainders of the Romane Mo∣narchie: whereof the one should rise in the South, towards the East and North-east. For so do I referre indifferently vnto either of these kingdomes, that which Daniell vttereth in the singular number. Therefore those two shall ouerthrow the fourth Monarchie in those places where they shall pitch their tents, and in that part of the world which is contayned betweene those two Seas, namely, that called Aegaeum or Syriacum, and the red Sea, or Elaniticum, lying by South,

East, and North. Now, it was very behoofefull that the seate or soyle of these two kingdomes should bee set downe, and withall that it should bee expressed of what Seas this Pro∣phecie should be meant, (because that Rome it selfe is scitua∣ted betwéene two Seas: which notwithstanding in this place of Daniell, is in no case to bee vnderstood; and many places there are in the world which are inclosed within two Seas: as Greece, Peloponnesus, Pontus, and Asia the lesse) least therefore this speach should bee doubtfull and past finding out: he hath described the whole coast of those Countries by the soyles that front the same, and by the Seas that are ad∣ioyning. And agayne, the very knowledge of Geographie doth shewe in what coasts, and places of the world this ouer∣throwe should bee perfourmed by these two Kings or King∣domes that should arise: not assuredly in the West shall this ruine of the fourth Monarchie be brought to passe, but in the South and North, or rather North-east.

For, as for the Romane Monarchie, it had (as I haue said) two principall heads: the one lying Easternly at Constanti∣nople, the other Westerne in Italie: wherevpon the Empe∣rours themselues did so deuide the iurisdiction among them, that the one should bee Emperour and keepe his residence in the East, the other in the West.

And so also doth the Scripture make the like deuision. Zech. 14.8. That portion and head of the Romane Empyre that I called Easterne: contained al whatsoeuer the Romane Monarchie had lying in the Southerne regions, in the East; among the Scithians, or the Northerne people dwelling somewhat toward the East. And that other Westerne or Ita∣lian Empyre, possessed all the other Prouinces. Now, this Italian Empyre was ouerthrowne by the Gothes, and Ʋan∣dales, as I haue shewed before, and that long before the ouer∣throwe of the Easterne, almost sixe hundred yeares. But as for the Easterne or Constantinopolitane Empyre, which re∣mained of the Romane Monarchie: it was long after, name∣lie, about the ende of all things, and in the latter and olde age

of the world, somewhat shaken by the Saracens, and at last cleane shiuered by the Turkes. And vndoubtedly, in mine opi∣nion, these bee those two Kings here spoken of by Daniell. Whereof the one came out of the South, namely the Sara∣cens; the other from the North-east, to wit, the Turke. And these two people or Nations, the Saracens and Turkes, did so spread and ouer-flowe vpon the face of the earth (as Daniell speaketh, vers. 40.) that they cleane trampled vnder-foote whatsoeuer remained of the fourth Monarchie, either in the East, North, or South, the whole Westerne part being by others long before ouer-runne: In so much as in all Asia, Syria, Pontus, Aegipt, there doth not now so much as a print, or the least marke appeare of the maiestie and power, which the Romane Empyre once sustained.

And touching the ruine and ouerthrowe of this peece or part of the Romane Monarchie, or rather of this that lay Easternlie, than of the other occidentall Empire: God would haue it fore-shewed by Daniell to the Iewes, because the peo∣ple that inhabited the Easternlie head of the sayd Romane Monarchie, were better knowne to the Iewes, then those of the West, which dwell beyond the Syriacke Sea, and so were remoued farre of: neither had they as yet done any harme vn∣to the Jewes. As for the ouerthrow of the Italian or occidentall Empire, it is plainly reueiled in the Apoca. So that by com∣paring of both these together, I meane of Daniell and the Reuelation, we haue made knowne vnto vs whatsoeuer con∣cetnes the decay, either of the orientall and Constantinopoli∣tane, or the occidentall and Italian Empyre, or whatsoeuer else is behoofefull for vs to know for our comfort touching the state of the world, either in the East or West parts, euen to the end thereof.

Now let this mine exposition be compared with the euent or issue of things, which is the best interpretour that can be of diuine Prophecies, neither can the Spirit or true Prophet of God report an vntroath. This is it therfore which I affirme (which both is true and hath testimonie from stories) that y^e

Constantinopolitane or Easterly head and Empyre, which remained of the fourth Monarchie, was first impouerished by the Saracens, in that part of the North which looketh towards the East: but afterwards being made to stoope, (as more shrewdlie handled by them and brought to a low ebbe) it was quite dasht and defaced by the Turkes.

We know by the Romane histories, that there were dead∣lie and continuall warres betweene the Constantinopolitane Emperours and those of Parthia, and after with the Persians who did succeede the Parthians. For after the death of Alex∣ander the great, when as for a while the Parthians had liued vnder the obeysance of his successours, namely, the sonnes of King Saleucus: they then began, vnder the conduct of Arsa∣ces, by plucking their necke out of yoke, to enfraunchize them selues into libertie, and to reare vp a kingdome among them, calling the Kings of the Parthians, Arsacides, after the name of their first Captaine. These raigned vnto the time of Alex∣ander sonne of Mammaeus, Emperour of Rome, and to the fourth yeare of his kingdome, which was in the yeare after the birth of Christ 228. In which very yeare one Artaxerxes a Persian, killed Artabanus King of the Parthians, the last of the race of the Arsacides. This man therefore snatching to himselfe the Empyre and kingdome of Parthia, conueighed it vnto Persia. And the posteritie of this Artaxerxes and Per∣sian Empyre, continued vnto the daies of Heraclius the first, Emperour of Constantinople, which was in the yere of Christ sixe hundred thirtie sixe, and so lasted in the whole almost thrée hundred twentie nine yeares. About this time now began the kingdome and Empyre of the Saracens. For in the daies of Heraclius and Mahumetes raigned Syrochas the last Persian King saue one: at whose hands Heraclius by compo∣sition, recouered whatsoeuer his Auncestours had at any time before taken from the Empyre of Constantinople. So these two kingdomes of the Parthians, and of the Persians, which mutually succeeded each other, were terrible indeede for the time, as appeareth by histories, vnto the Romane

Monarchie, and to the Constantinopolitane Emperours: but yet they neither sacked, nor greatly shaked the Easterne, or Constantinopolitane Empire: nay, the Emperours of Constantinople heald it out lustely with them at euen hand, and stoutly made their part good against them. But the first batterie that made the said Constantinopolitane Empire to stoupe, was (as I said) in the East, South, and North, perfourmed by the Sarracens, who make the first of these two Kingdomes, spoken of by Daniell, which was to rise from the South, and so spread it-selfe ouer the face of the earth, in such sort, as it should assaile the fourth Monarchie, both by Sea and by land, in Asia, Syria, and the North-East. And in truth, the Sarracens did so sore annoy the said Ea∣sterne Empire, that it was neuer able afterwards to recouer it-selfe, but began there-vpon by little and little to droupe and drop away: for they with great expedition, euen like light∣ning, ouer-ranne Syria, Cilicia, Cappadocia, and Mesopota∣mia, all which prouinces, they puld and possest from the Con∣stantinopolitane Emperours: where-in, the verie words which Daniell vseth, Cap. 11.40. speaking of the Kingdome of Sarracens, are to be obserued. This nation (saith he) shall come and shall ouerflowe and passe ouer, and shall spee∣delie ouer-runne the countries of the East and South: for so was it perfourmed by them, after a verie strange and miraculous manner, and with wonderfull expedition (as the words of Daniell being ioined and set together, do purport) like vnto that speach of Iulius Caesar, I approacht the place, I viewed it well, and got the field: as if they did flie, and were not stopt in their passage, either by defenced Cities, or deapth of Seas, or force of men: for within the compasse al∣most of threescore yeares, the Sarracens became possessours of all the East, as also of Aegipt. Againe, they ouer-ranne all Affricke, and lastly, tooke view of Spaine, & of whole Fraunce: only the westerne people (excepting only a part of Spain) these Sarracens did rather assay then subdue thē: but as for those of the East and South, which pertained to the Constantino∣politane

Empire, by force and armes they made a plaine con∣quest of them, and heald them in subiection, as namely, Ae∣gipt, and also Lybia, which is Cyrene, where-in for a great space they bare rule: in so much as at that time the Sarra∣cens hauing slaine Hormisda, the last King of the Persians, defaced vtterly the mightie Persian Empire. They also made inuasion vpon Iudaea, and that pleasant land, which Daniell calleth the place of desire, and grieuously afflicted the same, for as then was Iudaea subiect vnto the christian Emperours, to wit, those of Constantinople. In such sort, as they heald the same in their possession a long time as they did Aegipt, and enioyed the gold, siluer, and all the treasures that were to be desired of those nations by the space of 192. yeares, and vnto the yeare of our Lord 1051. what time they were themselues vanquished by the Turks. Nowe that the Sarracens are a Southerne people, there is no man that is ignorant. Thus therefore standeth that which Daniell affirmeth of the first kingdome, which should ouerthrowe the Romane and fourth Monarchie, and that in the East and South. And this tem∣pestuous stuxre happened in the world, and came from the Southerne coast there-of, where-as the Countries of the Agarens, or Sarracens do lye.

Further, this kingdome of the Sarracens pitched his tents betwéene those two Seas, the Syriacke, and the red Sea, where of Daniell speaketh: for they kept their princely pal∣laice, and chiefe prouinces in that part of the world, which is inclosed within these two Seas. And where-as heere obiec∣tion is made, that the Sarracens had two Emperiall places of abode, the one at Babylon, the other in Cairus, which was Memphis, a Citie of Aegipt: it maketh no matter. For the chiefe and principall regions of their Empire, lay in that coast which is inclosed with those two Seas. Againe, their chiefe kingdome and longest regiment was in Syria and Arabia, which by Daniell is called Aethiopia, where is the Citie Meschita, and the temple or sepulchre of that abhominable Mahumet.

But now we are to talke of the Turks, to the end that this whole place of Daniell, which no doubt is verie darke and obscure, may be made manifest. For these make that second Kingdome, which was to rise out of the North-East, and which vtterly brought to nought the fourth Monarchie in the East, South, and into the other regions which were enuiro∣ned with the foresaid Seas: which also set foote into Aegipt, opprest Iudaea, and enioyed golde, siluer, and the pleasant things of the whole world, by the space now almost of 300. yeares. These therefore wasted by Sea and land, with won∣derfull successe the Easternely head of the said fourth Monar∣chie. And these also pitched their tents, and kept their chiefe Pallaice & place of residence in that part of the world, which is inclosed within these two Seas, where-of I haue spoken, about the hill Taurus and Syria of Damascus, before the com∣ming of the Tartarians, and before they had surprized Con∣stantinople. For in that part, at first, the greatest part of the Turkish Empire was established. Now there is none that maketh doubt that the Turks are risen of the Scithians that dwell in the East. And these were more terrible to the Ro∣manes, then were the Sarracens, as also Daniell describeth, who also are reported should succéede, and in time to come af∣ter the said Sarracens: for the kingdome that is said should come out of the North-East, is spoken of by Daniell in the second place. And this prophecie agreeth with the storie of things done. For the Turks did suppresse the Empire of the Sarracens, at what time they were by Hormisda King of Per∣sia stirred vp and allured out of their countries: and afterward (which also Dan. fore-tould should come to passe) they were made fellow-partners of the Empire, by Mahumet the Sar∣racen, being Sowdan of Persia, Sogdiana, and Media, because he was not able to match in power with Calipha, the Saracen of Babylon. Thus therefore the Sarracens being set by the saddle, the Turks enioyed the Empire, and raigned in Asia & Syria full out the tearme of 192. yeares, but afterwards, be∣ing molested by the Tartarians, and Assumbeans, Kings of

the Parthians, their power was some-what appalled, and almost brought to the last cast. After that, in the yeare of our Lord 1300. vnder the raigne of Romanus Diogenes, Emperour of Constantinople, the house of Ottoman restored the Turkish Empire to his former dignitie, the recouerie where-of, was the full and finall ouerthrowe of the Easterne and Constantinopolitane Empire. So, the boundes of the Turkish Empire, are now become the very same, which were the limits of the Orientall Empire of the Romanes, but as for the Occidentall and Italian, he shall neuer say his fingers on it, because this portion of the fourth Monarchie, seemeth in the Reuel. Cap. 13.12.13. &c. to be allotted vnto Anti∣christ. And where as it is further added in Daniell, vers. 45. that none should become an helper either to the Sarracens or to the Turks, experience hath proued it true: for God did so raise vp, and aduance these Kingdomes, as that they were not holpen by the power or furniture of any other forraigne nation, (nay, they were rather hated of all others) but they vsed and rested vppon their owne only aide and prouision, wherein the worke of God appeareth the greater, by the swift and suddaine promotion of these Kingdomes. And it is sayd of Ismaell, Genesis 16.12. of whome, no doubt the Sara∣cens are descended, His hand shall be against euerie man, and euerie mans hand against him: he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

To conclude, where-as the last obiection is made out of the Reuelation 20.8. touching Gog, and Magog, whiche should conspire with the false Prophet, I confesse I am as yet ignorant what Nation is thereby signified. Certaine it is, that Gog is a prowde people, such as are all the enemies of Christ, and of the Church: and this manner of speach is taken out of Ezech. 38. & 39. And as for Magog, it appea∣reth he came of Iaphet, Genes. 10.2.