Revelation 8-11
1599 Geneva Bible
8 1 After the opening of the seventh seal, 3 the Saints’ prayers are offered up with odors. 6 The seven Angels come forth with trumpets. 7 The four first blow, and fire falleth on the earth, 8 the sea is turned into blood, 10, 11 the waters wax bitter. 12 and the stars are darkened.
1 [a]And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about half an hour.
2 [b]And I saw the seven Angels, which [c]stood before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
3 [d]Then another Angel came and stood before the Altar, having a golden censer, and much odors was given unto him, that he should offer with the prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar, which is before the throne.
4 And the smoke of the odors with the prayers of the Saints, [e]went up before God, out of the Angel’s hand.
5 And the Angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the Altar, and cast it into the earth, and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and earthquake.
6 [f]Then the seven Angels, which had the seven trumpets, prepared themselves to blow the trumpets.
7 [g]So the first Angel blew the trumpet, and there was hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast into the earth, and the third part of trees was burnt, and all green grass was burnt.
8 [h]And the second Angel blew the trumpet, and as it were a great mountain, burning with fire, was cast into the sea, and the third part of the sea became blood.
9 And the third part of the creatures, which were in the sea, and had life, died, and the third part of ships were destroyed.
10 [i]Then the third Angel blew the trumpet, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell into the third part of the rivers, and into the fountains of waters.
11 And the name of the star is called [j]wormwood: therefore the third part of the waters became wormwood, and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
12 [k]And the fourth Angel blew the trumpet, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars, so that the third part of them was darkened: and the day was smitten, that the third part of it could not shine, and likewise the night.
13 [l]And I beheld, and heard one Angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the sounds to come of the trumpet of the three Angels, which were yet to blow the trumpets.
9 1 The fifth Angel bloweth his trumpet, 3 and spoiling locusts come out. 13 The sixth Angel bloweth, 16 and bringeth forth horsemen, 20 to destroy mankind.
1 And the [m]fifth Angel blew the trumpet, and I saw a [n]star fall from heaven unto the earth, [o]and to him was given the key of the [p]bottomless pit.
2 [q]And he opened the bottomless pit, and there arose the smoke of the pit, the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun, and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit.
3 [r]And there came out of the smoke Locusts upon the earth, and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
4 [s]And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree: but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
5 And to them was commanded that they should not kill them, but that they should be vexed five months, and that their pain should be as the pain that cometh of a scorpion, when he hath stung a man.
6 (A)Therefore in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it, and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
7 [t]And the form of the locusts was like unto horses prepared unto the battle, and on their heads were as it were crowns, like unto gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.
8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
9 And they had habergeons, like unto habergeons of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots when many horses run unto battle.
10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails, and their power was to hurt men five months.
11 [u]And they have a king over them, which is the Angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is named Apollyon, that is, destroying.
12 [v]One woe is past, and behold, yet two woes come after this.
13 ¶ [w]Then the sixth Angel blew the trumpet, [x]and I heard a voice from the [y]four horns of the golden altar, which is before God,
14 Saying to the sixth Angel, which had the trumpet, [z]Loose the four Angels, which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
15 [aa]And the four Angels were loosed, which were prepared at an hour, at a day, at a month, and at a year to slay the third part of men.
16 And the number of horsemen of war were twenty thousand times ten thousand: for I heard the number of them.
17 And thus I saw the horses in a vision, and them that sat on them, having fiery habergeons, and of hyacinth, and of brimstone, and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions, and out of their mouths went forth fire, and smoke, and brimstone.
18 Of these three was the third part of men killed, that is, of the fire, and of the smoke, and of the brimstone, which came out of their mouths.
19 For their power is in their mouths, and in their tails: [ab]for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads wherewith they hurt.
20 [ac]And the remnant of the men which were not killed by these plagues, repented not of the works of their hands that they should not worship devils, and (B)idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood, which neither can see, neither hear, nor go.
21 Also they repented not of their murder, and of their sorcery, neither of their fornication, nor of their theft.
10 Another Angel appeareth with a cloud, 2 holding a book open, 3 and crieth out. 8 A voice from heaven commandeth John to take the book. 10 He eateth it.
1 And [ad]I saw [ae]another mighty Angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, and the rainbow upon his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire.
2 And he had in his hand a [af]little book open, and he put his right foot upon the sea, and his left on the earth,
3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
4 [ag]And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: but I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, [ah]Seal up those things which the seven thunders have spoken, and write them not.
5 And the Angel which I saw stand upon the sea, and upon the earth, [ai]lift up his hand to heaven,
6 And sware by him that liveth for evermore, which created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things that therein are, [aj]that [ak]time should be no more.
7 But in the days of the [al]voice of the seventh Angel, when he shall begin to blow the trumpet, even the mystery of God shall be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the Prophets.
8 [am]And the voice which I heard from heaven, spake unto me again, and said, Go, and take the little book which is open in the hand of the Angel, which standeth upon the sea, and upon the earth.
9 So I went unto the Angel, and said to him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up, and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth as sweet as honey.
10 Then I took the little book out of the Angel’s hand, and ate it up, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey: but when I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
11 [an]And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again among the people and nations, and tongues, and to many Kings.
11 1 The temple is commanded to be measured. 3 The Lord stirred up two witnesses, 7 whom the beast murdereth, 9 and no man burieth them. 11 God raiseth them to life, 12 and calleth them up to heaven, 13 the wicked are terrified, 15 by the trumpet of the seventh Angel the resurrection, 18 and judgment is described.
1 [ao]Then was given me a reed like unto a rod, and the Angel stood by, saying, Rise and [ap]mete the Temple of God, and the Altar, and them that worship therein.
2 [aq]But the [ar]Court which is without the Temple [as]cast out, and mete it not: for it is given unto the [at]Gentiles, and the holy city shall they tread under foot, [au]two and forty Months.
3 But [av]I will give power unto my two witnesses and they shall [aw]prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These [ax]are two olive trees, and two candlesticks, standing before the God of the earth.
5 [ay]And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouths and devoureth their enemies: for if any man would hurt them, thus must he be killed.
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophesying, and have power over waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with all manner plagues, as often as they will.
7 [az]And when they have [ba]finished their testimony, [bb]the beast that cometh out of the bottomless pit, shall make war against them, and shall [bc]overcome them, and kill them,
8 And their corpses shall lie in the [bd]streets of the great city, which [be]spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, [bf]where our Lord also was crucified.
9 And they of the people and kindreds, and tongues, and Gentiles, shall see their corpses [bg]three days and an half, and shall not suffer their carcasses to be put in graves.
10 And they that dwell upon the earth, [bh]shall rejoice over them and be glad, and shall send gifts one to another, for these two Prophets [bi]vexed them that dwelt on the earth.
11 [bj]But after [bk]three days and an half, [bl]the spirit of life coming from God, shall enter into them, and they [bm]shall stand up upon their feet: and great fear shall come upon them which saw them.
12 And they shall hear a great voice from heaven, saying unto them, [bn]Come up hither: And they shall ascend up to heaven in a cloud, [bo]and their enemies shall see them.
13 [bp]And the same hour shall there be a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city shall fall, and in the earthquake shall be slain in number seven thousand: and the remnant were sore feared, [bq]and [br]gave glory to God of heaven.
14 [bs]The second woe is past, and behold, the third woe will come anon.
15 [bt]And the seventh Angel blew the trumpet, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, [bu]The kingdoms of the world are our Lord’s, and his Christ’s, and he shall reign for evermore.
16 [bv]Then the four and twenty Elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces and worshipped God.
17 Saying, We give thee thanks, Lord God Almighty, Which art, and which wast, and which art to come: for thou hast received thy great might, and hast obtained thy kingdom.
18 [bw]And the Gentiles were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the Prophets, and to thy Saints, and to them that fear thy Name, to small and great, and shouldest destroy them, which destroy the earth.
19 Then the Temple of God was [bx]opened in heaven, and there was seen in the Temple the Ark of his covenant: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and earthquake, and much hail.
Footnotes
- Revelation 8:1 He returneth to the history of the seals of the book, which the Lamb openeth. The seventh seal is the next foresignification, and a precise commandment of the execution of the most heavy judgments of God upon this wicked world: which foresignification being understood by the seal, all things in heaven are silent, and in horror thorough admiration until commandment of execution be severally given of God unto the ministers of his wrath. So he passeth unto the third member of which I spake before in Rev. 6:1, which is of the execution of those evils wherewith God most justly determined to afflict the world.
- Revelation 8:2 Now followeth the third branch of the common history, as even now I said: which is the execution of the judgments of God upon the world. This is first generally prepared unto verse 6, then by several parts expoundeth according to the order of those that administered the same unto the end of the Chap. following. Unto the preparation of this execution are declared these things: first, who were the administers and instruments thereof in this verse. Secondly, what is the work both of the Prince of Angels giving order for this execution, thence unto verse 5, and of his administers in verse 6. The administers of the execution are said to be seven Angels: their instruments, trumpets, whereby they should as it were sound the alarm at the commandment of God. They are propounded seven in number, because it pleased God not at once to pour out his wrath upon the rebellious world, but at divers times, and by piecemeal, and in slow order, and as with an unwilling mind to exercise his judgments upon his creatures, so long called upon both by word and signs if happily they had learned to repent.
- Revelation 8:2 Which appear before him as his ministers.
- Revelation 8:3 This is the great Emperor, the Lord Jesus Christ our King and Savior: who both maketh intercession to God the Father for the Saints, filling the heavenly Sanctuary with most sweet odor, and offering up their prayers, as the Calves and burnt sacrifices of their lips, in this verse: in such sort as every one of them (so powerful is that sweet savor of Christ, and the efficacy of his sacrifice) are held in reconcilement with God and themselves made most acceptable unto him, verse 4. And then also out of his treasury, and from the same sanctuary poureth forth upon the world the fire of his wrath, adding also divine tokens thereto: and by that means (as of old the Heralds of Rome were wont to do) he proclaimeth war against the rebellious world.
- Revelation 8:4 Our prayers are nothing worth, unless that true and sweet savor of that only oblation be especially and before all things with them, that is to say, unless we being first of all justified through faith in his Son, be acceptable unto him.
- Revelation 8:6 This is the work of the administers. The Angels the administers of Christ, only by sounding trumpet and voice (for they are only as Heralds) do effectual call forth the instruments of the wrath of God, through his power. Hitherto have been things general. Now followeth the narration of things particular, which the Angels fix in number wrought in their order set out in verse 19 of the next chap., and is concluded with the declaration of the event which followed upon these things done in the world, and in chapters 10 and 11.
- Revelation 8:7 The first execution at the sound of the first Angel upon the earth, that is, the inhabitants of the earth (by Metonymy) and upon all the fruits thereof: as the comparing of this verse with the second member of verse 9 doth not obscurely declare.
- Revelation 8:8 The second execution, upon the sea in this verse and all things that are there in the next verse.
- Revelation 8:10 The third execution upon the floods and fountains, that is, upon all fresh waters, in this verse: the effect whereof is, that many are destroyed with the bitterness of waters, in the verse following.
- Revelation 8:11 This is spoken by Metaphor of the name of a most bitter herb, and commonly known, unless perhaps a man following those that note the derivation of words had rather expound it adjectively, for that which by reason or bitterness cannot be drunk, or which maketh the liquor into which is poured more bitter than that any man can drink the same.
- Revelation 8:12 The fourth execution upon these lightsome bodies of heaven, which minister unto this inferior world.
- Revelation 8:13 A lamentable prediction or foretelling of those parts of the divine execution which are yet behind: which also is a passage unto the argument of the next Chapter. Of all these things in a manner Christ himself expressly foretold in Luke 12:24, and they are common plagues generally denounced, without particular note of time.
- Revelation 9:1 The first execution upon the wicked men inhabiting the earth (as a little before the Angel said) wrought by the infernal powers, is declared in this place unto the eleventh verse. And after the sixth execution thence unto the nineteenth verse. And lastly is showed the common event that followed the former execution in the world, in the two last verses.
- Revelation 9:1 That is, that the Angel of God glittering with glory, as a star fell down from heaven. Whether thou take him for Christ, who hath the keys of hell himself, and by Princely authority, Rev. 1:18, or whether for some inferior Angel, who hath the same key permitted unto him, and occupieth it ministerially, or by office of his ministry, here, and Rev. 21, so the word falling, is taken, Gen. 14:10, and 24:64, and Heb. 6:6.
- Revelation 9:1 The key was given to his star. For those powers of wickedness are thrust down into hell, and bound with chains of darkness: and are there kept unto damnation, unless God for a time do let them loose, 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 1:6, and of this book, Rev. 20:20, the history of which chapter hath agreement of time with this present chapter.
- Revelation 9:1 By the bottomless pit, he meaneth the deepest darkness of hell.
- Revelation 9:2 Unto this is added, the smoke of the hellish and infernal spirits, all dark, and darkening all things in heaven and in earth. The spiritual darknesses are the causes of all disorder and confusion. For the devil at a time certain (whereof the fifth verse) sent these darknesses into his kingdom, that he might at once and with one impression overthrow all things, and pervert if it were possible the elect themselves. By this darkness all spiritual light, both active as of the Sun, and passive, as of the air which is lightened by the Sun, is taken away: and this is that which goeth before the spirits: it followeth of the spirits themselves.
- Revelation 9:3 A description of the malignant spirits invading the world, taken from their nature, power, form and order. From their nature, for that they are like unto certain locusts, in quickenness, subtlety, hurtfulness, number, and such like in this verse. From their power, for that they are as the scorpions of the earth, of a secret force to do hurt. For our battle is not here with flesh and blood, but with powers, etc., Eph. 6:12. This place of the power of the Devils generally noted in this verse, is particularly declared afterwards in the three next verses.
- Revelation 9:4 Here that power of the devils is particularly described according to their actions and effects of the same. Their actions are said to be bounded by the counsel of God: both because they hurt not all men, but only the reprobate (for the godly and elect, in whom there is any part of a better life, God guardeth by his decree) whom Christ shall not have sealed, in this verse: and also because they neither had all power not at all times, no not over those that are their own, but limited in manner and time, by the prescript of God, verse 5. So their power to afflict the godly, is none, and for the wicked is limited in act and in effect by the will of God: for the manner was prescribed unto them that they should not slay, but torment the wretched world. The time is for five months or for an hundred and fifty days, that is, for so many years in which the devils have indeed mightily perverted all things in the world: and yet without that public and unpunished license of killing, which afterward they usurped when the sixth Angel had blown his trumpet, as shall be said upon verse 13. Now this space is to be accounted from the end of that thousand years mentioned, Rev. 20:3, and that is from the Popedom of that Gregory the seventh, a most monstrous Necromancer, who before was called Hildebrandus Senensis: for this man being made altogether of impiety and wickedness, as a slave of the devil, whom he served, was the most wicked firebrand of the world: he excommunicated the Emperor Henry the fourth: went about by all manner of treachery to set up and put down empires and kingdoms as liked himself: and doubted not to set Rodolph the Swedon over the Empire instead of Henry before named, sending unto him a Crown with this verse annexed unto it: Petra dedit Petro, Petrus diadema Rodolpho: that is, The Rock to Peter gave the crown, and Peter Rodolph doth renown. Finally, he so finely bestirred himself in his affairs, as he miserably set all Christendom on fire, and conveyed over unto his successors the burning brand of the same: who enraged with like ambition, never ceased to nourish that flame, and to enkindle it more and more: whereby Cities, Commonwealths, and whole kingdoms set together by the ears amongst themselves by most expert cut-throats, came to ruin, whiles they miserably wounded one another. This term of an hundred and fifty years, taketh end in the time of Gregory the ninth, or Hugolinus Anagniensis (as he was before called) who caused to be compiled by one Raimond his chaplain and confessor, the body of Decretals, and by sufferance of the Kings and Princes to be published in the Christian world, and established for a law. For by this sleight at length the Popes arrogated unto themselves license to kill whom they would, whiles others were unawares: and without fear established a butchery out of many of the wicked Canons of the Decretals, which the trumpet of the fifth Angel had expressly forbidden, and had hindered until this time. The effects of the bloody actions are declared upon the sixth verse: that the miserable world languishing in so great calamities, should willingly run together unto death, and prefer the same before life, by reason of the grievousness of the miseries that oppressed them.
- Revelation 9:7 The form of these hellish spirits and administers, is shadowed out by signs and visible figures in this sort: that they are very expert and swift: that wheresoever they are in the world, the kingdom of theirs: that they manage all their affairs with cunning and skill, in this verse, that making show of mildness and tender affection to draw on men withal, they most impudently rage in all mischief: that they are most mighty to do hurt, Verse 8, that they are freed from being hurt of any man, as armed with the color of religion, and sacred authority of privilege, that they fill all things with horror, Verse 9, that they are fraudulent: that they are venomous and extremely noisome, though their power be limited, Verse 10. All which things are properly in the infernal powers, and communicated by them unto their ministers and vassals.
- Revelation 9:11 The order of the powers of maliciousness: that they are subject to one infernal King, whom thou mayest call in English, The Destroyer: who driveth the whole world both Jews and Gentiles into the destruction that belongeth unto himself. And I cannot tell whether this name belongeth unto the Etymological interpretation of Hildebrand, by a figure often used in the holy Scripture: which albeit it may otherwise be turned of the Germans (as the sense of compound words is commonly ambiguous) yet in very deed it signifieth as much as if thou shouldest call him the firebrand, that is, he that setteth on fire those that be faithful unto him.
- Revelation 9:12 A passage unto the next point, and the history of the time following.
- Revelation 9:13 The sixth execution done upon the world by the tyrannical powers thereof working in the four parts of the earth, that is in most cruel manner executing their tyrannous dominion through the whole world, and killing the miserable people without punishment, which before was not lawful for them to do in that sort, as I showed upon the fourth verse. This narration has two parts: a commandment from God, in verse 14, and execution of the commandment, in the verse following.
- Revelation 9:13 The commandment given by Christ himself, who is governor over all.
- Revelation 9:13 He alludeth to the altar of incense, which stood in the Court which the Priests were in, over against the Ark of the Covenant, having a veil betwixt them.
- Revelation 9:14 As if he should have said, These hitherto have been so bound by the power of God, that they could not freely run upon all men as themselves lusted, but were stayed and restrained at that great flood of Euphrates, that is, in their spiritual Babylon (for this is a Paraphrase of the spiritual Babylon by the limits of the spiritual Babylon long since overthrown) that they might not commit those horrible slaughters which they long breathed after. Now go to: let loose those four Angels, that is, administers of the wrath of God, in that number that is convenient to the slaughtering of the four quarters of the world: stir them up and give them the bridle, that rushing of that Babylon of theirs, which is the seat of the wicked ones, they may fly upon all the world, therein to rage, and most licentiously to exercise their tyranny, as God hath ordained. This was done when Gregory the ninth by public authority established for law his own Decretals, by which he might freely lay trains for the life of simple men. For who is it that seeth not that the laws Decretal most of them are as snares to catch souls withal? Since that time (O good God!) how great slaughters have there been? how great massacres? All histories are full of them: and this our age aboundeth with most horrible and monstrous examples of the same.
- Revelation 9:15 The execution of the commandment is in two points: one, that those butchers are let loose, that out of their tower of the spiritual Babylon they might with fury run abroad through all the world, as well the thief of that crew which are most prompt unto all assays, in this verse: as their multitudes, both most copious, of which a number certain is named for a number infinite, Verse 16, and in themselves by all means fully furnished to hide and to hurt, Verse 17, as being armed with fire, smoke and brimstone, as appeareth in the color of their armor, which dazzleth the eyes of all men: and have the strength of Lions to hurt withal, from which (as out of their mouth) the fiery, smoky, and stinking darts of the Pope are shot out, Verse 18. The other point is, that these butchers have effected the commandment of God by fraud and violence, in the two verses following.
- Revelation 9:19 That is, they [are] harmful every way: on what part soever thou put thine hand unto them or they touch thee, they do hurt. So the former are called Scorpions, Verse 3.
- Revelation 9:20 Now remaineth the event (as I said upon the first verse) which followed of so many and so grievous judgments in the most wicked world: namely an impenitent affirmation of the ungodly in their impiety and unrighteousness, though they feel themselves most vehemently pressed with the hand of God: for their obstinate ungodliness is showed in this verse: and their unrighteousness in the verse following. Hitherto hath been the general history of things to be done universal in the whole world: which because it doth not so much belong to the Church of Christ, is therefore not so expressly distinguished by certainty of time and other circumstances, but is woven, as they say with a slight hand. Also there is none other cause why the history of the seventh Angel is passed over in this place, than for that the same more properly appertaineth unto the history of the Church. But this is more diligently set out according to the time thereof, Rev. 11 and 16, as shall appear upon those places.
- Revelation 10:1 Now Saint John passeth unto the other Prophetical history, which is of the Church of God, as I showed that this book should be distinguished, Rev. 4:1. This story reacheth hence unto the two and twentieth Chapter. And this whole Chapter is but a transition from the common history of the world unto that which is particular of the Church. There are in this transition or passage, two preparatives as it were, unto this Church story comprised in this whole Chapter. One is the authority of Christ revealing his mysteries, and calling his servants unto the seventh verse. The other is Saint John’s calling, proper unto this place, and prepared from before unto the end of this chapter. Authority is given unto this Revelation by these things: First, by the appearing from heaven in this habit and countenance, strong, ready, glorious, surveying all things by his providence and governing them by his omnipotence, the first verse. Secondly, that he brought not by chance, but out of a book, this open Revelation, set forth unto the eye, to signify the same unto the sea, and land, as the Lord over all, the second Verse. Thirdly, that he offered the same not whispering or muttering in a corner (as false prophets do) but crying out with a loud voice unto them which sleep, and with a lionish and terrible noise roused the secure: the very thunders themselves giving testimony thereunto, the third Verse. Lastly, for that he confirmed all by an oath, Verses 5, 6, 7.
- Revelation 10:1 Christ Jesus, see the seventh Chapter and the second verse.
- Revelation 10:2 Namely, a special book of the affairs of God’s Church. For the book that containeth things belonging [unto] the whole world, is said to be kept with the Creator, the fifth Chapter and the first verse, but the book of the Church, with the Redeemer: and out of this book is taken the rest of the history of this Apocalypse.
- Revelation 10:4 A godly care is laudable, but must be joined with knowledge. Therefore nothing is to be taken in hand, but by calling: which must be expected and waiting for of the godly.
- Revelation 10:4 Keep them close.
- Revelation 10:5 This was a gesture used of one that sweareth, which men do nowadays use.
- Revelation 10:6 Neither time itself, nor the things that are in time: but that the world to come is at hand which is altogether of eternity and beyond all times.
- Revelation 10:6 There shall never be anymore time.
- Revelation 10:7 Whereof Rev. 11:15 and 16:17.
- Revelation 10:8 The other part of this Chapter, concerning the particular calling of Saint John to the receiving of the prophecy following which is enjoined him, first by sign in three verses, then in plain words in the last verse. Unto the setting forth of the sign belong these things: That Saint John is taught from heaven to demand the book of the Prophecy in this verse: for these motions and desires God doth inspire: that demanding the book, he is charged to take it in a figurative manner, the use whereof also is expounded, the ninth verse, (as in the second Chapter of Ezekiel and the ninth verse) whence this similitude is borrowed: lastly, for that Saint John at the commandment of Christ took the book, and found by experience that the same as proceeding from Christ was most sweet, but in that it foretelleth the afflictions of the Church it was most bitter unto his spirit.
- Revelation 10:11 A simple and plain declaration of the sign before going, witnessing the divine calling of S. John, and laying upon him the necessity thereof.
- Revelation 11:1 The authority of the intended revelation being declared, together with the necessity of that calling, which was particularly imposed upon Saint John: hereafter followeth the history of the estate of Christ’s Church both conflicting or warfaring, and overcoming in Christ. For both the true Church of Christ is said to fight against that which is falsely so called over the which Antichrist ruleth. Christ Jesus overthrowing Antichrist by the spirit of his mouth: and Christ is said to overcome most gloriously until he shall slay the Antichrist by the appearance of his coming, as the Apostle excellently teacheth, 2 Thess. 2:8. So this history hath two parts. One of the state of the Church conflicting with temptations, until Chapter 16. The other of the state of the same Church obtaining victory, thence unto Chapter 20. The first part hath two members most conveniently distributed into their times, whereof the first containeth an history of the Christian Church for 1260 years, what time the Gospel of Christ was as it were taken up from amongst men into heaven: the second containeth an history of the same Church unto the victory perfected. And these two members are briefly, though distinctly propounded in this Chapter, but are both of them more at large discussed after in due order. For we understand the state of the Church conflicting out of Chapters 12 and 13 and of the same growing out of afflictions out of Chapters 14, 15 and 16. Neither did Saint John at unawares join together the history of these two times in this Chapter, because here is spoken of prophecy, which all confess to be one just and innumerable in the Church, and which Christ commanded to be continual. The history of the former time reacheth unto verse 14: the latter is set down in the rest of this Chapter. In the former are showed these things: the calling of the servants of God in 4 verses: the conflicts which the faithful must undergo in their calling, for Christ and his Church, thence unto verse 10, and their resurrection and receiving up into heaven unto verse 14. In the calling of the servants of God are mentioned two things: the begetting and setting of the Church in two verses, and the education thereof in two verses. The begetting of the Church is here commended unto S. John by sign and by speech: the sign is a measuring rod, and the speech a commandment to measure the Temple of God, that is, to reduce the same unto a new form: because the Gentiles are already entered into the Temple of Jerusalem, and shall shortly defile and overthrow the same utterly.
- Revelation 11:1 Either that of Jerusalem which was a figure of the Church of Christ, or that heavenly Example, whereof verse 19, but the first liketh me better and the things following do agree thereunto. The sense therefore is, Thou seest all things in God’s house almost from the passion of Christ to be disordered: and that not only the city of Jerusalem but also the court of the Temple is trampled underfoot by the nations, and by profane men whether Jews or strangers: and that only the Temple, that is, the body of the Temple, with the Altar, and a small company of good men which truly worship God, do now remain, whom God doth sanctify and confirm by his presence. Measure therefore this, even this true Church, or rather the true type of the true Church, omitting the rest and so describe all things from me that the true Church of Christ may be as it were a very little center, and the Church of Antichrist as the circle of the center, every way in length and breadth compassing about the same, that by way of prophecy thou mayest so declare openly, that the state of the Temple of God and the faithful which worship him, that is, of the Church, is much more straight than the Church of Antichrist.
- Revelation 11:2 As if he should say, it belongeth nothing unto them to judge those which are without, 1 Cor. 5:12, which be innumerable: look unto those of the household only, or unto the house of the living God.
- Revelation 11:2 He speaketh of the outward court, which was called the peoples court, because all men might come into that.
- Revelation 11:2 That is counted to be cast out, which in measuring is refused as profane.
- Revelation 11:2 To profane persons wicked and unbelievers, adversaries unto the Church.
- Revelation 11:2 Or a thousand and two hundred and threescore days as is said in the next verse: that is a thousand two hundred and threescore years, a day for a year as often in Ezekiel and Daniel, which thing I noted before, 2:10. The beginning of these thousand two hundred and threescore years, we account from the passion of Christ, whereby (the partition wall being broken down) we were made of two one, Eph. 2:14. I say one flock under one Shepherd, John 10:16 and the end of these years precisely falleth into the Popedom of Boniface the eighth who a little before the end of the year of Christ a thousand two hundred ninety four, entered the Popedom of Rome, in the feast of S. Lucie (as Bergomensis saith) having put in prison his predecessor Coelestinus, whom by fraud, under color of oracle, he deceived: for which cause, that well said of him, Intravit ut vulpes, regnavit ut leo, mortuus est ut canis. That is, he entered like a fox, reigned like a lion, and died like a dog. For if from a thousand two hundred ninety four years thou shalt take the age of Christ which he lived on the earth, thou shalt find there remaineth 1260 years, which are mentioned in this place and many others.
- Revelation 11:3 I had rather translate it illud than illam, the Temple than the city: for God saith, I will give that Temple, and commit it unto my two witnesses, that is unto the Ministers of the word, who are few indeed, weak and contemptible: but yet two, that is, of such a number as one of them may help another, and one confirm the testimony of another unto all men, that from the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be made good amongst men, 2 Cor. 13:1.
- Revelation 11:3 They shall exercise their office enjoined by me by the space of those thousand two hundred and sixty years, in the midst of afflictions though never so lamentable which is figuratively showed by the mourning garment.
- Revelation 11:4 That is, the ordinary and perpetual instruments of spiritual grace, peace and light in my Church, which God by his only power preserved in this Temple. See Zech. 4:3.
- Revelation 11:5 The power and efficacy of the holy ministry, and which is truly Evangelical, is declared both in earth and in heaven, protecting the administers thereof, and destroying the enemies in this verse, virtue indeed divine most mightily showing itself forth in heaven, earth and the sea, verse 6, as it described, 2 Cor. 10:4, according to the promise of Christ, Mark 16:17. And this is the second place (as I said before) of the combats which the servants of God must needs undergo in the executing of their calling, and of the things that follow the same combats. In the combats or conflicts are these things: to overcome, in these two verses: to be overcome and killed, verse 7. After the slaughter follow these things, that the carcasses of the godly are laid abroad, verse 8 being unburied, are made a matter of scorn together of cursing and bitter execrations, verse 9, and that therefore gratulations are publicly and privately made, verse 10.
- Revelation 11:7 That is, when they have spent those thousand two hundred and sixty years, mentioned verses 2 and 3, in publishing their testimony according to their office.
- Revelation 11:7 When they have done their message.
- Revelation 11:7 Of which after Rev. 13. That beast is the Roman Empire, made long ago of civil, Ecclesiastical: the chief head whereof was then Boniface the eighth, as I said before: who lifted up himself in so great arrogancy (saith the author of Falsciculus temporum) that he called himself Lord of the whole world, as well in temporal causes as in spiritual: There is an extant of that matter, written by the same Boniface most arrogantly, shall I say, or most wickedly, ca. unam sanctam, extra de majoritate & obedientia, and in the sixth of the Decretals (which is from the same author) many things are found of the same argument.
- Revelation 11:7 He shall persecute most cruelly the holy men, and put them to death, and shall wound and pierce through with cursings both their names and writings. And that this was done to very many godly men by Boniface and others, the histories do declare, especially since the time that the odious and condemned name amongst the multitude first of the brethren Waldenses or Lugdunenses, then also of the Fratricels, was pretended, that good men might with more approbation be massacred.
- Revelation 11:8
That is, openly at Rome: where at that time was a most great concourse of people, the year of Jubilee being then first ordained by Boniface unto the same end, in the year of Christ a thousand three hundred, example whereof is read, Rev. 1. Extra, de penitentys & remissionibus. So by one act he committed double injury against Christ, both abolishing his truth by the restoring of the type of the Jubilee, and triumphing over his members by most wicked superstitions. O religious heart! Now that we should understand the things of Rome, Saint John himself is the author, both after in the seventeenth Chapter almost throughout, and also in the circumscription now next following, when he saith, it is that great City (as Rev. 17; 18 he calleth it) and is spiritually termed Sodom and Egypt: that spiritually (for that must here again be repeated from before) Christ was there crucified. For the two first appellations signify spiritual wickednesses: the latter signifieth the show and pretence of good, that is, of Christian and sound religion. Sodom signifieth most licentious impiety and injustice: Egypt most cruel persecution of the people of God: and Jerusalem signifieth the most confident glorying of that city, as it were in true religion, being yet full of falsehood and ungodliness. Now who is ignorant that these things do rather, and more agree unto Rome than unto any other city? The commendations of the City of Rome for many years past are publicly notorious, which are not for me to gather. This only I will say that he long since did very well see what Rome is, who taking his leave thereof, used these verses:
Roma vale, vidi, Satis est vidisse: revertar,
Quumleno, meretrix, scurra, cinadus ero.
Now farewell Rome, I have thee seen: It was enough to see:
I will return when as I mean, bawd, harlot knave to be.
- Revelation 11:8 After a most secret kind of meaning and understanding.
- Revelation 11:8 Namely in his members, as also he said unto Saul, Acts 9:5.
- Revelation 11:9 That is, for three years and a half for so many years Boniface lived after his Jubilee as Bergomensis witnesseth.
- Revelation 11:10 So much the more shall they by this occasion exercise the jollity of their Jubilee.
- Revelation 11:10 The gospel of Christ, in the affliction of the world, and the ministry thereof, the savor of death unto death to those that perish, 2 Cor. 2:16.
- Revelation 11:11 The third place as noted I before, is of the rising again of the Prophets from the dead, and their carrying up into heaven. For their resurrection is showed in this verse: their calling and lifting up into heaven, in the verse following.
- Revelation 11:11 That is, what time God shall destroy that wicked Boniface.
- Revelation 11:11 That is, the Prophets of God shall in a sort rise again, not the same in person (as they say) but in spirit, that is in the power and efficacy of their ministry, which S. John expressed before verses 5 and 6. And so the prophecy that is spoken of Elijah, is interpreted by the Angel to be understood of John the Baptist, Luke 1:17. For the same Boniface himself, who sought to kill and destroy them, was by the fire of God’s mouth (which the holy ministry showeth and exhibiteth) devoured and died miserably in prison, by the endeavor of Satra Columensis, and Nogaretus a french knight, whom Philip the fair King of France sent into Italy but with a small power.
- Revelation 11:11 That is, the most grievous heat of afflictions and persecution shall stay for a while, for the great amaze that shall arise upon that sudden and unlooked for judgment of God.
- Revelation 11:12 They were called by God into heaven and taken out of this malignant world, into the heavenly Church, which also lieth hidden here in the earth, to exercise their calling secretly: as of whom this wretched world was unworthy, Heb. 11:38. For the Church of the wicked is by comparison called the earth or the world: and the Church of the godly heaven. So in ancient time amongst the godly Israelites: so amongst the Jews in the days of Manasseh and other Kings, when the earth refused the heirs of heaven, we read that they lay hidden as heaven in the earth.
- Revelation 11:12 Yet could they not hinder the secret ones of the Lord (as the Psalmist called them, Ps 83:4) but they that went on forward in his work.
- Revelation 11:13 Bergomensis saith, in the year of our Lord 1301, this year a blazing star foretelling great calamity to come, appeared in heaven, in which year upon the feast of S. Andrew, so great an earthquake arose, as never before: which also continuing, by times, for many days, overthrew many stately houses. This saith he of the year next following the Jubilee: which S. John so many ages before, expressed word for word.
- Revelation 11:13 They were indeed broken with present astonishment of mind, but did not earnestly repent as they ought to have done.
- Revelation 11:13 Glorified God by confessing his name.
- Revelation 11:14 He passeth unto the second history: which is the second part of this Chapter. S. John calleth these the second and third woes, having respect unto Rev. 9:12.
- Revelation 11:15 Of whose sounding the trumpet Christ expressly foretold, Rev. 10:7, and this is the second part of this Chapter, containing a general history of the Christian Church, from the time of Boniface 8 unto the consummation of the victory declared by voice from heaven. In this history there are three branches: a preparation by the sound of the Angels trumpet: a narration by the voice of heavenly Angels and Elders: and a confirmation by sign.
- Revelation 11:15 The narration hath two parts: an acclamation of the heavenly creatures, in this verse, and both an adoration by all the Elders, verse 16, and also a most ample thanksgiving, verses 17, 18. The sense of the acclamation is, Now the Lord is entered on his kingdom, and hath restored his Church, in which most mightily recovered from the profanation of the Gentiles, he may glorify himself. Namely, that which the Lord ordained when first he ordained his Church, that the faith of the Saints doth now behold as accomplished.
- Revelation 11:16 As before, 7:11. This giving of thanks is altogether of the same content with the words going before.
- Revelation 11:18 A speech of the Hebrew language, as much to say, as Gentiles being angry thine inflamed wrath came upon them and showed itself from heaven, occasioned by their anger and fury.
- Revelation 11:19 This is the confirmation of the next prophecy before going by signs exhibited in heaven, and that of two sorts, whereof some are visible, as the passing away of the heaven, the opening of the Temple, the Ark of the covenant appearing in the Temple, and testifying the glorious presence of God, and the lightning: others apprehended by ear and such dull senses which bear witness in heaven and in earth to the truth of the judgments of God.
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