Revelation 13

Revelation 13:1

The vision of the two beasts, and the outrages co Rev. XIII. throughout.

REVELATION XIII. 1.

AND I stood upon the sand of the sea, as I apprehended in the vision, and saw a fierce and savage beastᵃ ascending out of the sea, having seven heads, and ten horns ; to intimate the city of Rome standing upon seven hills, and the ten kingdoms into which its dominions were to be divided : and upon his horns [were] ten diadems ; to signify the royal power that was to be found in each : and on his heads [there were] names of blasphemy,ᵇ such names as it was most profane and blasphemous to assume.

And the beast which I saw, was, as to the form of the greater part of its body, like a leopard, and its feet [were] like those of a bear, to signify its exceeding great fierceness ; and its mouth was like the mouth of a roaring and furious lion : and the dragon, who still appeared on the visionary scene, that is, the devil, gave him,

ᵃ Savage beast.] This I understand of the papal power, as exercised by the bishop of Rome, supported by his regular clergy, and by those secular princes, who have given up their name and power to him. And when the dragon is said to give him his power and throne, &c. ver. 2, it intimates, that he should have his seat or residence there, where the dragon had reigned, even at Rome ; which had been the seat of idolatry and persecution during its a ran state.

ᵇ Names of blasphemy.] They must have very little acquaintance with the arrogant titles which have been assumed or admitted by the popes, who discern not in them a very remarkable illustration of this circumstance of the prophecy. Instead of ergen, the common reading, I think crown, names, in the plural, which is supposed by the authority of the Alexandrian, and other manuscripts, to be preferable.

f its heads, being wounded, is healed again.

by solemn delegation, his power, and his throne, and great authority in his kingdom; so that this beast seemed to be constituted his vicegerent; however he might pretend to represent a very different person.

*And I saw one of his heads wounded, as it were, to death; that is, in such a manner, that a recovery seemed impossible; to signify those early efforts, which should be made, to put a stop to the usurpation, cruelties, and blasphemy, represented by these heads, and the names written on them. And yet its mortal wound, as one would have thought it must have proved, was unaccountably healed. And the whole earth wondered at so strange an event, [and] they [followed] after the wild beast, thinking a greater argument of its extraordinary power arose from its cure, than could have taken place, had he never been wounded at all.*ᶜ And they, that is, the inhabitants of the earth, worshipped the dragon, who gave his authority to the wild beast; and they worshipped the wild beast, even as with Godlike adoration, saying, Who, that pretends to Deity in heaven, or earth, [is] like unto the beast? or who can ever presume to make war against him, since his power is so well established, without hazard of immediate or certain destruction? And there was given to it, that is, to this monster, a mouth speaking great things, and blasphemies, as with a human voice; to signify that it was influenced by that being, who assuming the form and organs of a brute, had used the power of speech for the most mischievous purposes. And there was also given unto it power to make warᵈ with the saints with some apparent advantage, for the term above mentioned, of forty two

ᶜ Never been wounded at all.] It is certain that ineffectual efforts, to recover the liberty and purity of the church, have sometimes been improved into occasions of further usurpations; and many have been intimidated by them from making any further attempts. Yet they are not entirely destitute of their good effects, as they at least deliver the souls of those who have exerted their utmost ability in

making them; and may afterwards be productive of better fruits and consequences.

ᵈ Power to make war: πονέμαι πονέαι.] Our translators have followed those copies, which omit the word, πολεμαι, and have rendered πολεμαι continue: a sense which, it must be owned, it sometimes bears, particularly, Acts xv. 33; xx. 3, but I have chosen to rely on those copies which retain the word πολεμαι. See ver. 7.

VOL. 6.

It makes war with the saints.

months; that is, one thousand twelve hundred and sixty prophetic days or years. And he opened his infernal mouth to utter blasphemy against God, even to blaspheme his holy and venerable name, and his tabernacle pitched among men; and, not only did he speak malignant things against the inhabitants of the earth, but even against those that dwell in heaven. (Compare Dan. xi. 36.) And it was, by Divine permission, given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them for a time; and so universal was the success of his pernicious undertakings, that it seemed, as if there was given to him power over every tribe, and tongue, and nation. And all the inhabitants of the earth shall be so deluded with his artifices, or intimidated by his terrors, that they shall worship him, that is, all whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb, who was slain, for some were registered in that book even from the foundation of the world; and they shall, by a secret energy, be preserved in the midst of so general and ruinous a defection. If any one has an ear to hear, let him attentively hear this; for it is a matter of a most important nature, and the most surprising phenomenon which can be imagined, that such an idolatrous and persecuting power should arise in the Christian church, and that

Those that dwell in heaven.] It is very injurious to the saints and angels, when they are represented as desirous of attracting to themselves, that worship which ought to be appropriated to God; and nothing worse can be imagined of them, than that they should be delighted with such services as are paid them in the Romish ritual.

The inhabitants of the earth shall worship him.] The extravagant idolatry here mentioned, is very suitable to the temper and practice of those, who, in order to avoid persecution, comply with the claims and demands of the papal power, contrary to their conscience; for, it is the language of such a compliance, that the wrath of men is more to be dreaded than that of God himself.

Registered from the foundation of the world.] I am well aware of what has been said to justify the sense which these words must have, if taken in connection

with those which immediately precede them; but, after all, it is very harsh to say, Christ was slain from the foundation of the world. He is in another place called simply, the Lamb slain, Rev. v. 12, and kingdom is said to be prepared for good men from the foundation of the world, Mat. xxv. 34. And, laying these things together, I think it abundantly sufficient to justify the interpretation I have here given, especially when compared with another passage in this book, chap. xvii. 8, whose names were not written in the book of life, from the foundation of the world. Mr. Peirce thinks it is an allusion to the custom of registering the actions of worthy persons, as Mal. iii. 17, undoubtedly is; and, that this book of life is, as it were, the catalogue of good men that have lived in all ages. Peirce on Phil. iv. 3. But I cannot be of opinion, that this exhausts the full meaning of the expression.

Another beast ariseth out of the earth :

God should suffer it so far to prevail. Nevertheless, God will not forget the injuries his people sustain; but, if any one lead [them] into captivity, he shall be led into captivity himself by a superior power, which he shall not be able to resist; and, if any one slay others with the sword of injustice and cruelty, he shall himself be slain with the sword of Divine vengeance, when God comes to make inquisition for blood. In the mean time, while they are waiting for his appearance, here is a sufficient exercise for the patience and the faith of the saints: it is the greatest trial to which they were ever brought; let them therefore consider themselves as called out by God to it, and be assured that he will limit it both as to its duration and degree, in a manner answerable to the purposes of his infinite wisdom, and of his peculiar love to them. And, to represent a very crafty and insidious power, which should join with the former, and greatly abet its sanguinary persecutions, I saw another beastʰ ascending out of the earth;ⁱ and it had two horns like a lamb; but, whatever gentleness there might be in that circumstance of its appearance, it spake like a dragon. And such is the nature of their alliance, that it exercises all the power of the first beast, in its presence; and it makes the earth, and those that dwell in it, to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed, whose interest, which seemed so much endangered, was greatly revived, being thus powerfully abetted and supported. And he, in order to confirm his subtle pretences, to lord it over the consciences of men, does great miracles,ᵏ so as even to make fire come down from heaven to earth before men; strange artifices he has,

ʰ Another beast.] As I look upon the former to be the papal power, I am ready, with the best critics I know, to interpret this of the religious orders of the church of Rome, (particularly that of the Jesuits,) who have many of them temporal estates and jurisdictions added to their spiritual, and thus have greatly supported the papacy.

ⁱ Out of the earth.] This beast is said to ascend from the earth, whereas the other ascended from the sea, to make the

distinction between them the more remarkable; but what other mystery may be suggested, I cannot conjecture.

ᵏ Great miracles.] The artful impostures, which the regular clergy, that is, the several orders of monks, and especially the Jesuits, have used to persuade the people of the truth of their pretended miracles and revelations, seem to be finely delineated by this otherwise amazing description.

And causeth all to receive his mark.

to persuade them of his being endowed with more than natural powers, and that the vengeance of heaven will be armed against all that oppose him! And he deceiveth the inhabitants of the earth by the signs which it is given him to do before the beast; commanding the inhabitants of the earth to make an image of the beast, that had the wound of the sword, and yet lived; that is, he teaches men to extol, and almost adore, that, which in itself is most contemptible and detestable. And it was given to him, by a Divine permission, to give spirit and breath, as it were, to the image of the beast,¹ that the image of the beast might speak with an audible voice. And, so zealous and powerful is he in abetting this cause, that by this its oracle, he should cause as many as will not worship the image of the beast, to be put to death. And he causeth all, of every rank and condition, both small and great, rich and poor, freemen and slaves, to receive the mark of this detestable power, on their right hand, or their foreheads, in token of becoming its subjects and property. And, so rigorously is this enforced, that no one should be able to buy, or sell, but one who has some such trace of the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number, which is equivalent to the numeral letters of his name, and which I thought, in the vision, I saw impressed on the hands and foreheads of many. Herein is a great effort of wisdom; let him, therefore, whoever he be, who hath an enlarged and penetrating understanding, beyond what is common, compute the number of the beast; for

¹ [Image of the beast.] What the image of the beast is, distinct from the beast itself, I confess I know not; and therefore interpret the expressions, making an image, and giving it breath, &c. of idolizing the power of the Pope, and compelling persons to pay homage to it, and obey the edicts it published. And all the enormous fury of the inquisition, which is managed by one of the regular orders included in this interpretation, namely, the Dominic in, is a remarkable verification of the following part of the prophecy, of its causing all that would not worship it to be put to death.

² [Receive the mark.] I have elsewhere observed, (Serm. to young people, Serm. iv. p 79.) that it was customary to mark soldiers and slaves with some impressions, either on their hands or foreheads, by which they might be known to belong to their respective masters or commanders; and idolaters, with the signature of the god they worshipped. Perhaps this may particularly refer to the sacraments which the people are obliged, on the highest penalty, to receive from the Romish priests, and which none can receive without such superstitious and idolatrous rites, as are, in effect, worshipping the image of the beast.

Reflections on the two beasts.

number of a man; and his number is six hundred three score and six.

it is the number of a man, or the numeral letters in the name of a man, and his number is, and amounts on the whole, to six hundred and sixty six; which I leave to the intelligent reader to decipher.

IMPROVEMENT.

WHOEVER is the beast intended, and whatever be meant by his image, his character, beyond all controversy, is very odious and detestable; for he is represented as blaspheming the name of God, and his tabernacle, and as making war with the saints. 6,7 There have arisen such impious monsters in the Christian church, and none among them have been more openly and enormously wicked and profane, than those who have made the loudest pretensions to be the vicegerents of Christ, and invested with his whole authority. Many of the saints of God have seemed to have been overcome by this antichristian tyranny; many have been led into captivity; many have been slain with the sword: but those who took them captive, continuing impenitent, shall be taken, and the slayers slain. O, may our names be written in the Lamb’s book of life! then shall we be secure in the midst of all these formidable evils; and, from every trial of our faith and patience, shall come out as gold seven times purified. Let us not be troubled and offended, to discern these usurpations in the course of Divine Providence prevailing, and the time actually come, in many parts of the world, in which men can neither buy nor sell, nor are permitted to enjoy any other natural or civil privilege, if they will not give up their names to the beast, receive his mark, and implicitly submit to his authority. The prophecy justly removes all offence which might be taken at the event; and, discerning its accomplishment, we may embolden our hopes, that the triumphs of Divine justice over these ministers of the dragon, as

The number of a man, &c.] Of all the various interpretations given to this text, which it would be endless to enumerate, and much more to canvas, I find none that pleases me so well, as that of Sir Isaac Newton; that the words κάλυψε and πηγή, the man of Latium, or of Rome, whose numeral letters, taken together, make 666, are here referred to. And I suppose this number is mentioned to signify, that the appearance of that power, whose efforts were to continue 1260 years, (compare chap. xii. 6, note 4,) was to happen about 666 years after the date of the revelations, A. D. 96. And this I take to be the grand key by which the era of the fall of Babylon is to be calculated,

as it fixes the rise of the beast to the year 756, or thereabouts, when, upon the destruction of the exarchate of Ravenna, the Pope became a temporal monarch; that is, in prophetic language, a beast. See many other conjectures in Limborch’s Theol. 7 xi. 19 Mr. Potter thinks the number referred to is the cube root of 666, namely, 25, (which has led Dr. More to fix upon number 12, relating to the church of Christ, and number 25, relating to anti-Christ;) and concludes further, that the exact cube is not mentioned, to prevent too sudden a discovery. Compare More’s Theol. p. 134 Grotius’s referring it to Trajan is very ungrounded, in every view.

The Lamb is represented as standing on mount Sion,

they are also foretold, will be fulfilled with the like punctuality. xvi. And O, may the church of God be secured from their artifices, verse and fortified against their terrors; and in his own due time, may 13, 14 he break the jaw bone of the wicked! May he utterly disarm all the power and policy of those who take counsel together against 12 the Lord and his anointed; and though their confederacies may seem to mock all human opposition, yet, at his appearance, they shall melt away as snow before the sun, when the time to remember Sion, yea, the set time is come. (Psal. cii. 13.)