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THe seven spirits standing before Gods Throne (after caled, seven Lamps of burning fire, Rev. 4. v. 5. and the Lambs seven horns▪ and seven eys, Rev. 5. v. 6.) are faithful zelous Ministers of the Word, which wait before the Throne of God and Jesus Christ.
The seven golden Candlesticks, are seven Churches in lesser Asia ther named; Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamus, Thyatira,
Sardis, Philadelphia▪ Laodicea; to whom John is bid by God to write in a Book what he saw.
The seven Stars which the Son of Man held in his right hand (out of whos mouth went a sharp two edged Sword, and his Face shone at the Sun) are the Angels of thos seven Churches, al Diocesan Bishops.
The whit Stone given to him that overcometh, with a new Name writen which no Man knows sav he that receivs it; beto∣kens purity of Faith and integrity of Conscience. Haply it relats to an old custom at Rome, to giv Men acquited a whit stone, and the condemned a black, that their Officers might dispose of them accordingly: wherof Ovid.
The twenty four Elders sitting on twenty four seats, clothed in whit with gold Crowns on their Heads round about Gods Throne; are holy Prelats, for number answering to the Priests and Levits twenty four courses of attendance in the Temple.
The four Beasts in midst of the Throne and round about it (being ful of Eys before and behind to shew sagacity, ech of which had six Wings implying agility to execut Gods commands) are the Israelits four Ensigns at their incampings in the Wilder∣nes: 1. Like a Lion, for Juda's Camp on the East: 2. A Bul∣lock for Reubens on the South: 3. With a Mans face for E∣phraims on the West: 4. A flying Eagle for Dans on the North side.
The Book writen within, and sealed with seven Seals on the back side (which the Lamb only was found worthy to open) shews the various changes and chances of the secular Roman Empire til the end or dissolution therof.
The Lamb slain from the beginning, Which stood in midst of the Throne; and of the four Beasts and Elders (having seven Horns, and seven Eys) is the Lord Jesus Son of God and Man, That taketh away the sins of the World by his Death.
The seven seals which the Lamb opened in order, are plagues or punishments inflicted by God on the World: wherin he useth the ministry of Angels.
The one hundred forty four thousand which were sealed of Israels twelv Tribes (twelv thousand or twelv times one thou∣sand in ech) are Christs elect Church, caled afterward unde∣filed Virgins, which folow the Lamb wherever he goeth Rev. 14. 1, 5.
The great multitud which none could number (clothed with whit Robes and Palms in their hands) are the numberless Na∣tions, Kindreds, People, Tribes and Toungs, which cam out of tribulation singing praises to God.
The seven Angels with seven Trumpets given them (which sounded in order when the seventh Seal was opened) are holy heavenly Messengers, sent to denounce Gods heavy Judgment on the Earths Inhabiters.
The great Star burning like a Lamp or Torch which fel from Heaven into a third part of Rivers and Fountains (caled Worm∣wood which made the Waters bitter that many died) is Augu∣stulus Romes last Emperor: who fel from his high Throne, and bittered a third part of Waters, being a Prince of much bale∣ful bitternes, anguish, and affliction to al his folowers.
The Angel flying through midst of Heaven, and crying aloud Wo, Wo, Wo to the Earths inhabiters; is an Usher or forerun∣ner of three others ready to sound great Woes.
The Locusts or long winged Grashopers, coming from the bot∣tom less Pits smoke; are Mahometans derived from Arabia the Country of Locusts, which plagued Egypt.
The King of Locusts (caled in Hebrew Abaddon, in Greec Apollion the destroier) is the Angel of the bottomless Pit, stiled before Satan the old Serpent, the Dragon, the Devil; and af∣terward the Accuser.
The four Angels bound at the great River Euphrates (which the sixth Trumpeting Angel loosed) are the Tures four Sultanies or Signiories: who lay long confined neer that River: but long ago let loos into the Eastern Empire, which it hath since swalowed, with much of West.
The litle open Book which a mighty Angel (Christ) had in his
hand, and made Johns belly bitter, being bid to eat it; declares the Churches destinies.
The Temple or inner Court to be measured, is the primitiv Churches State under persecution of Pagan Emperors, before Constantines conversion.
The outer Court not to be mesured, but given to the Gentils (who shal tread the holy City under foot forty two Annal months or 1260. yeers) is the same Church given to new Idolaters or Image-worshipers caled Gentils.
The two Witnesses clad in sack-cloth, which shal Prophecy 1260. annal dais (being two Oliv trees and two Candlesticks) are Patrons or Preachers of divine truth: caled two becaus in the Law every Word shal be established by two Witnesses, and in regard of Gods two Testaments which they use in prophecying. Thes are compared to three famous Pairs in the old Testa∣ment viz. Moses and Aaron in the Wildernes, who turned Waters into Blood; Elias and Eliseus under the Baalitic A∣postacy, who shut Heaven from rain; and Zerobabel with Jesua at the captivity, who recovered the Jews liberty.
The great City (spiritualy caled Sodom and Egypt, afterward great Babylon and the Whore) wher our Lord was crucified; is Rome, in whos Street or Province (for so street is often taken) they shal be slain, as our Saviour also suffred.
The Woman travelling with Child, clothed with the Sun (of Righteousnes) having the Moon (the lawish Pedagogy, and Eth∣nic Idolatry) under hir feet; and on hir head a Crown of twelv Stars; is Gods tru primitiv Church then in continual partu∣rition of spiritual Children.
The great red Dragon with seven Heads and ten Horns, and seven Crowns on his heads; whos Tail cast a third part of the Stars to Earth, watching the Woman to devour hir Child,; is Heathen Rome worshiping the Devil, which subjected three parts of the then known World to hir rule or Empire: whos rednes denots hir embruing in Saints blood, laying wait for the Child, as Pharaoh did for Israel, and Herod for Christ.
The Manchild who was to rule al Nations with a rod of Iron, is mystical Christ (or Son of the Church) formed in his Members as shal be shewed.
The Womans Child caught up to God and his Throne, is not Christ Theanthropos the Virgin Ma••ies Son (as many mista∣kingly maintain) who is properly and personaly lift up to Gods Throne, sitting at his right Hand: but mystical Christ (or annointed) Son of the Church, analogicaly advanced to the imperial Throne, as al higher Powers are of God: which is meant and realy fulfilled by Constantine and his Christian Successors.
The Angel Michael, who with his Angels fought against the Devil and his il spirits; is not Christ (as som suppose) but one of the chief Princes or seven Archangels specified by Daniel, caled the great Prince, which stands for the Children of Gods People; being a principal Patron or Protector of the Faithful against Satan, whom he here overcam: to whos honor the primitiv Church consecrated September 29. day.
The great Eagle, whos two Wings were given the Woman to fly into hir place in the Wildernes to be nourished for a time, times, and half; is the Roman Empire divided into East and West: which protected hir in an Erimitical estate from the Dragons fury in perfect tranquility, for 1260. annal dais: but tossed with a flood of Heresies cast from the Serpents mouth to se∣duce hir.
The Beast rising out of the Sea with seven Heads and ten Horns, having on his Horns ten Crowns, and on his Heads the name of Blasphemy; is the secular Empire, which had Blasphe∣mous new devised Idolatry on his seven Heads at Rome: which was shared into ten Kingdoms or dominions, and al worshiped the Dragon, becaus he gav his power, seat and great authority to this Beast for worshiping or serving him.
The Beast coming out of the Earth, which had two Horns like a Lamb, but spake as a Dragon; is the Spiritual Roman power or whol Papacy: whos two horns of a Lamb, signify (as Mr. Mede opines) the power of binding and loosing: but as o∣thers aver) the two Keis and two Swords born before the Pope to typify his spiritual and temporal Jurisdiction; which seems properer and probabler: but his Doctrins are the voice of the Dragon.
The Image of the ten-horned Beast, which was wounded and did
liv or reviv; is the West Empire or seven headed Beast of Rome, which lay suppressed long, but restored by Pope Leo 3, who ereated Charlemaign Emperor, and his Successors enjoied it for six descents, til it was translated into Germany.
The Beasts mark or name (which is al one, as 'tis after caled the mark of his name, Rev. 14. 11.) without which none could buy or sel; is Papal Ana••hema or Excommunication (as Master Mede maintains) which excluds Men from civil Commerce, company, and communion; but this, by his leav, is a prohibi∣tiv brand to exclud such as hav it; not permissiv, to admit such as hav it, and repel only thos that hav it not: Nor can it be ap∣plyed as a name or mark. Why not rather Roman Catholic, being a name which al the Beasts Folowers arrogat as their pe∣cul••ar mark or badg? nor can any sav such communicat.
The number of his name (666) being the number of a Man, becaus set in numeral letters, is the two horn'd Beast, whos name (wherin that number is infolded) is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which grew up when Theodosius divided the Empire into East caled Greecs, and West clyped Latins or Rome, which name (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) subducting the letters of number (as Hebrews, Greecs, and Latins use in Chronograms) by fatal instinct make 666. Vicarius Dei generalis in terris (subtracting the Roman numeral letters) import 666: but this is a periphrastic title, no personal name as the other.
The Lamb standing on Mount Sion, and with him 144000 undefiled Virgins, having his Fathers and his name writen in their foreheads, who folow the Lamb wherever he goeth; is the Lord Jesus and his impolluted Church, which hated spiritual whordom or Image-worship, and continued constant in the tru Faith amidst Papal p••rsecution, as a pure Virgin under Ba∣bylon; being the Apostle•• genuin Progeny.
The name or marke of the Lamb and his Father; is the sign of the Cross in Baptism, as a Seal of their Faith, and Ensign of Christian Profession, to discern them from Infidels; maugre the malice of al Snarlers, Scoffers, or Slanderers.
The Harvest ripe to be reaped, into which the Son of Man thrust his Sickle; is the cutting down of mystical Babylon, or destruction of the Romis•• Beasts whol dominion.
The Vintage or Winepress of Gods wrath without the City, from which cam blood to the Horsbridles, by the space of one thou∣sand six hundred furlongs; is the final fatal perdition of the Beast and fals Prophet, with al their Complices, Comrads, and Confederats; which shal be acted or accomplished with hor∣rid slaughter at the battle of Armageddon, one thousand six hundred furlongs (or two hundred miles) without the City: but whether in Palestine or the Popes Territory, is not reveled.
The seven golden Phials of Gods wrath, which seven Angels having the seven last Plagues, received from one of the four Beasts; are so many degrees of punishments preceding the An∣tichristian Beasts ruin, even as it grew up gradualy to greatnes: as ther must be a paralel proportion in al things.
The three unclean Spirits of Devils like Frogs, coming out of the mouths of the Dragon, Beast, and fals Prophet working miracles, are Papal Emisaries or Ambassadors sent to sommon the Kings and Potentats of the whol World to the battel of that great day of God Almighty: wherin the Dragon shal assist the Beast and fals Prophet, with al his warlike powers, worldly plots, and wily policies: but the seven Angels poured out their seven Phials of Gods wrath.
The Woman in rich attire (sitting on a Scarlet Beast ful of names of Blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns) on whos forehead was writ a Mystery, Great Babylon, Mother of Harlots, drunken with the blood of Saints and Martyrs of Jesus; is Romes Papacy which rides on the Empire in the seven headed City; being both but as one head (the seventh and last) consisting of the Temporal and Spiritual State; which is even the eighth, yet one of the seven reigning jointly together.
The Man which sat on a whit Hors in Heaven, caled the Word of God, who was clothed with a Vesture dipt in blood, having on it and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords; is our Lord Jesus, who shal smite the Nations, ruling them wi••h a rod of iron, and subdu al with great slaughter.
The Beast and fals Prophet which shal be tormented in a lake of fire and brimstone for ever; is the whol Papacy and Anti∣christ the Pope, head of that State or Society.
The holy City, new Jerusalem, prepared as a Bride adorned for
hir Husband; is the Company of Elect ever ready to receiv hir Bridegroom or best beloved Lord.
The Lambs Bride or Spous that great City holy Jerusalem; is Christs Militant Church on Earth; which jointly with the tri∣umphant in Heaven, makes Christs Spous.
Thes new notions of names (forty four in number) never vented til now, wil, if wel digested, make the meaning more ob∣vious in most mysteries. Many mo circumstantial terms are sparsed in the Text, which are amply unveled in the insuing Commentary: but this short Index shal serv to lead strangers steps in this Labyrinth.
Precog••••••s. ••ev. 1. v. 4.
••••ib. v. 11, 12, 20.
Ibid. v. 16, 10.
Rev. 2. v. 17.
Rev. 4. v. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
Ibid v. 6, 7, 8,
Rev. 5. v. 1:
Ibid. v. 6.
Rev 6. per to∣tum.
Rev. 7. v 3. to 8.
Ibid. v. 9, 14
Rev 8. v. 1, 2.
Ibid. v. 10, 11.
Ibid. v 13.
Rev. 9 v. 3. &c.
Ibid v. 11.
Ibid. v. 14. &c.
Rev. 10. v. 2, 30.
Rev. 11. v. 1.
Ibid. v. 2.
Ibid v. 3. 4 5.
Ibid 〈◊〉〈◊〉 8.
Rev. 12 v. 1. &c.
Ibid. v. 3. 4.
Ibid v. 5.
Identice v. 5.
Ibid. v 7.
Ibid. v. 14, 15.
Rev. 13 v. 1, 2.
Ibid. v. 11, 12,
Ibid. v. 14, 15.
Ibid. v. 16. 17.
Ibid. v. 18.
Rev. 14. 1, &c.
Iden••ice.
Ibid. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
Ibid. v. 17. ad finem.
Rev. 15▪ v. 7.
Rev. 16. v. 13▪ 14.
Rev 17 v 3. &c.
Rev 19 v 11, &c.
Rev 20. v 10.
Rev. 21. vers. 2
Ibid. v. 9, 10.