Revelation 13

Revelation 13:1

SAw] This Vision hath a plain relation to the Roman, heathenish Empire, to which may be applied many qualities of that of Antiochus, Daniel 7:8; Daniel 7:20-21. Out of the sea] figure of the world, for its vastnesse, confusion, and continuall agitation A beast] namely, an Empire and state, according to the propheticke stile, Dan. 7. 3. and 8. 3, 4, 20, 21 Ten hornes] This is attributed to heathen Rome, conformable to that which is said of the kingdom of the Seleucides and Antiochus, Daniel 7:7. and is expounded, Revel. 17. 9, 12. The name] he seemes to have a relation to that, there was a God-head attributed to the Citie of Rome, and it was called, The everlasting Citie, head of the world, &c.

Revelation 13:2

A leopard] The three severall figures of the Beasts which represented the Monarchies of the Chaldeans, Persians, and Grecians, Daniel 7:4-6. are all put together to describe Rome, as if it were a gathering together, of the tyrannie, crueltie, and ravenousnesse of all the former Empires Gave him] in as much as by Gods permission the devill is prince of the world, and of the adverse part to God and to his Kingdom, he made this Empire as it were his great Lieutenant, and gave it all the meanes as he himselfe had, to obtain, maintain, encrease, and exercise his tyrannie, see Luke 4:6.

Revelation 13:3

One of] it is likely that here is meant one of the seven formes of Government of the Roman Empire; namely, that of the People and Senate which was subverted by the Emperours, see Revelation 17:9. And his] the Italian, but his; that is to say, this so dangerous alteration, did not for all that overthrow the state of Rome, yea the Monarchie confirmed it, and made it flourish, and powerfull as before.

Revelation 13:4

Worshipped] that is to say, the Roman Empire did greatly confirme and amplifie the worship of idols, in which the devill is alwayes worshipped, Revelation 9:20.

Revelation 13:5

There was given] that is to say, God by his secret Providence suffered it to rise to a great height of commanding and threatning, even to opposing it selfe, against God and his kingdom, and to maintain and establish the devils kingdom, Daniel 7:20; Daniel 7:25. To continue] other Texts have it, To war, namely, with the Church, which seemes to agree best with the figure of Antiochus. Fourty and two] according to the letter, they are the three yeares and an halfe of Antiochus his persecution, Dan. 7. 25. and 12. 7, 11. but being referred to Rome, this terme seemes to be indefinite, to signifie the whole time of Gods patience in suffering of heathen Romes persecution.

Revelation 13:6

His Tabernacle] that is to say, his Church And them that] namely, Christ, and all his, who were gathered up in glorie.

Revelation 13:7

Given unto him] that is to say, he was permitted To overcome them] namely, in the world, and corporally for a time.

Revelation 13:8

Of the Lambe] the Italian, whose names are not written from the foundation of the world, in the Book of life of the Lambe, who was slain, shall worship him; namely, of Christ, 1 Peter 1:19-20. to whom this Booke of life is attributed, whether it be because that in Christ all Gods children are chosen, Ephes. 1. 4. or whether it be because that he is prince and authour of everlasting life, whereunto they are chosen. Others set down the words of the Text in this manner, Whose names are not written in the Book of life of the Lambe, who was slain from the foundation of the world, that is to say, in Gods decree and foresight, and in the efficacie of his death, which hath been present to God from all eternitie.

Revelation 13:10

He that] A summarie and obscure description of the Roman Empire, through Gods just judgement Is the] that is to say, one ought to shew and exercise it, in persevering constantly in the faith, and in bearing all manner of assaults, expecting the time which God hath appointed.

Revelation 13:11

Another] this can apparently belong to no other but to a power used under the Name of Christ, which hath brought in and established it selfe, by meanes of and after the ruine of the Roman Empire Two hornes] that is to say, usurping two powers, Secular and Ecclesiasticall, even as Christ is both King and High-priest; or counterfeiting the mildnesse of Christs Kingdom, which proceedeth not with outward force, nor violence of armes, even as the hornes of a lambe are not good to butte with, or to do any harme He spake] that is to say, he used an absolute command over the consciences, raised himselfe through devilish pride, and execrable boasting, Revelation 18:7.

Revelation 13:12

Before him] The Roman Empire subsisting yet a long time after the being of this second Beast, especially in these Easterne parts To worship] that is to say, to have religious conceits of the place where Rome stood, as being consecrated to a perpetuall presence of God, and to yield divine honours, and religious obedience to it Whose deadly wound] This seemes to be another wound then that of verse 3. and to have a relation to the desolations of Rome by the Northerne Nations.

Revelation 13:13

Fire come] this seemes to be meant by thunders darted out, as it were, in God and Christ his Name, whereby the world hath oftentimes been set on fire with warres, and troubled with terrible confusions.

Revelation 13:14

That they should make] namely, that they should establish a new forme of Roman politicke Empire, which should have some name and resemblance of the ancient Empire which was ruined And did live] namely, by the establishment of the universall Empire, pretended to be spirituall.

Revelation 13:15

To give life] the Italian, to give spirit; that is to say, force and vigour to command Speak] that is to say, make Lawes and statutes, with penalties to the disobedient, and to the contemners of the majestie of this new Empire, stiled sacred by its adherents.

Revelation 13:17

That no man] that is to say, forbidding all manner of commerce and communication with those that did not acknowledge this power.

Revelation 13:18

Count the] This is very obscure and doubtfull. A Christian Authour of the ancientest hath left in writing, or peradventure by tradition, that this was the name Latine, as the Grecians write it; for the Grecians using letters in stead of cyphers of numbers do out of the foresaid name make up the number which is here set down, and indeed this number can have no relation to yeares, for that as hath been said, Revelation 15:2.