Revelation 17

Revelation 17:1

THe great whore] so is the spiritual Babylon and all her state called, not onely for her idolatries and superstitions, but also for her arts and practices with the Kings and Nations of the earth, onely to satisfie her unsatiable covetousnesse of goods and honours, see Isai 23. 15, 17. That sitteth] that is to say, as the ancient Babylon was situated upon the great river Euphrates, Jeremiah 51:13. so the spiritual Babylon hath dominion over many People and Nations, verse 15.

Revelation 17:3

Into the Wildernesse] the Italian, into a Wildeinesse] so seemes to be meant, the state of the Church, desolated by the foresaid damnable Dominion A Scarlet coloured beast] which signifies the great City or state, which is the seat of that great whore Of blasphemy] that is to say, usurping the titles, which belong onely to God, and to Christ see 2 Thessalonians 2:4. Seven heads] see v. 9. & 12.

Revelation 17:4

Filthinesse] namely, of the spirituall pollutions of Idolatry, and adherence to her selfe, to which she induceth the world, stupifying it as by Witchcraft, or by a love-drinke, such as strumpets use to compound of abominable ingredients.

Revelation 17:5

Mystery] it may be this sheweth, that the following names ought to be understood mystically, that is to say, not in a litterall, but in a figurative and spirituall sence, see Revelation 11:8. or that her whole state is a mystery of iniquity, 2 Thessalonians 2:7. that is to say, A form of religious state, which hath outward seemings, clean contrary to her inward state. As Gods mysteries have weake and corporall appearances in their signes; but inwardly have their power and being altogether divine, spirituall, and heavenly: this contrariwise hath a religious out-side, but the inward being and end is altogether wicked and worldly Babylon] named so figuratively, for the oppression of the Church, for its pride, and for its pretence to the universall empire over all the world The mother] that is to say, The great mistresse of idolatries, and arts, to captivate and ensnare mens spirits into her love.

Revelation 17:8

Was] for the Angel shewed that great City to Saint John in a vision, no more as a heathen City, but as the head of Apostasie And yet is] because that the Roman Empire is in a manner revived by this second beast, Revel. 13. 11, 12.

Revelation 17:9

Here is] that is to say, in these things it is necessary to be enlightned by the Spirit of divine wisdom, to understand them, and to gather the fruit of instruction out of the revelation that is given of them Seven mountains] this particular doth sufficiently declare of what place he notoriously speaks.

Revelation 17:10

Kings] that is to say, Divers forms of government, which may be gathered out of Histories One is] namely, now at this present that I speak unto thee, which was the Monarchiall form of government And the other] namely, that other form, pointed at Revel. 13. 11, 12.

Revelation 17:11

The eighth] the Italian, an eighth King; that is to say, an eighth form, in as much that though it be grounded upon the seventh, yet it is by reason of its new, absolute, and infinite usurpation, so far different, that it is become, as it were, a new beast And goeth into] that is to say, I will in this vision readily shew thee her future destruction.

Revelation 17:12

Ten Kings] he seems to mean the Kingdoms which are framed in the western parts out of the ruines of the Roman Empire, whether he take the number of ten for a certain and definite number: or whether he meane it for an indefinite number, according to that which is said, Daniel 7:7; Daniel 7:24.

Revelation 17:13

These have] that is to say, all these kingdoms shall voluntarily submit themselves to the foresaid domination.

Revelation 17:14

Shall make warre] namely, by persecutions and oppressions of the truth, and of the Church of Christ, untill the time prefixed for their conversion, vers. 16, 17 Shall overcome]namely, in the end, the obstinate by destruction, and others by a sweet spirituall subjection And they that] namely, his true Church, which is as it were his armie, by which and with which Christ spiritually fighteth against the powers of the world.

Revelation 17:16

These shall hate] the Italian, are they that shall hate; that is to say, Doe also signifie those same Kings, who either through conversion to Christ, or for some offences received, or for some other reasons, shall turn against the whore, and shall destroy her And shall eat] a figurative terme taken from wilde beasts which are taken in hunting.

Revelation 17:17

And give] that is to say, as he had for a time suffered them to submit themselves to the beast, so when the terme of the accomplishment of Gods counsels, and of the prophecies shall be come, he shall stir them up to war against it.

Revelation 17:18

That great] namely, the state and empire that hath its seat there: because otherwise the city is the beast, and the woman is the state, vers. 3.