Revelation 12

Unto the apostle is shewed the vision of a woman that is in travel 3 And of a red dragon tat stood before her to devour her child 5 but the child is taken up before throne of God and the woman fleeth into the wilderness where a place is prepared for her 1260 days 7 war ariseth in heaven between Michael and the dragon 9 but the dragon is overcome an cat upon the earth 10 whereupon there followeth a song of praise in heaven 13 the dragon persecuteth the woman who receiveth eagles wings to fly into the wilderness 15 after whom the dragon casteth forth the floods of waters which the earth drinketh in 17 And the dragon maketh war against the remnant of her seed. 18 And John standeth on the sea shore.

1. And there was seen a great token in heaven [that is a vision which signified great things which is therefore said to have been seen in heaven because it was shewen in heaven that was opened though the things themselves where for the most part done upon the earth] namely a woman clothed with the sun and the moon was under her feet [here beginneth the forth vision and many are of opinions that were likewise beginneth the second part of this revelations wherein the estate of Christ church from the apostle time unto the end of the world and rising and reign of the antichrist with the final ruin is somewhat more fully or more largely described because it was briefly done in the former vision by this woman some understand the virgin Mary that bare Christ and fled with Christ into Egypt which Christ Satan persecuted unto death as seemeth to be implied in the words following who was afterwards taken up into heaven and seeteth there at the right hand of God and his father and ruleth the nations with an iron rod but for as much as this was already come before this revelation was come before this revelation was made into John and here properly is prophesied of things that were yet to come s is testified chapter1.1 and 4.1 and is related hereafter chapter 22.6 and many things here cannot well be applied to the virgin Mary therefore the greater part of the interpreters understand by this woman the church of Christ to whom according to the example Christ her head and the bridegroom these things wee befallen that are here understood as the similitude as will appear in the sequel by the sun here is signified the faith in Christ the sun of righteousness wherewith the child of Christ is clothed adorned and enlightened see Galatians 3:27 Ephesians 3:17 and 5.14 by the moon some understand the ceremonies of the old testament which wee very often ordered and framed according to the changes of the moon and which the coming of Christ were grown weak and were abolished Colossians 2 verse 14 but hereby are fitly understood all mutable and worldly things which often change like the moon and which the true church of Christ hath under her feet and counteth them vile and base in respect of the eternal immutable and heavenly things 1Corinthians 7 verse 30,31 and 2 Corinthians 4:18] and upon her head was a crown of twelve stars [that is the doctrine of the twelve apostles and whereof she alone glorieth and which she holdeth to her crown and ornament to hereafter chapter 21 the foundation of the heavenly Jerusalem are compared to twelve precious stones upon which were graven the names of the twelve apostles.]

2. And she was with child and cried travelling in birth [namely to bear Christ y the gospel and to give him a form of heart a Gods elect throughout the whole world as the apostle speaketh Galatians 4.19which though it be always true of the universal church yet it was effectually fulfilled in the times of the old and for some hundred year after the time of the apostles wherein the apostolically primitive church not withstanding the opposition of Satan and his instrument hath propagated the doctrine of Christ throughout the world and hath brought many particular churches as her own children as the apostle speaketh thereof Galatians 4 on verse 26,27 out of Isaiah 54:1] and the being in vain to be delivered [that is here added because of great care sorrows and anguish which the church of Christ the faithful ministries oftentimes have to beger children unto God and to gather them out of the world whereof see an example in Paul 1Corinthians 4.11&c.]

3. And was seen another token in heaven and behold there was a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns and seven royal hats [Gr diadomata of which see chapter 13.1] upon his heads [that is the dragon is the devil and the Satan is shewed hereafter verse 9 and he is said to be great and red by reason of his blood thirstiness and cruelty of whom here seven heads are ascribed by reason of his great subtilty and ten horns and ten crowns by reason of his great power and dominion in the world as the scripture speaketh of him Job 8.44 2 Corinthians 11 verse 13 ,14 Ephesians 6:12 though some also understand by the seven heads seven mountains and seven kings of the great city where Satan had then chiefly his dominion and by ten horns and ten crowns and ten chiefest kingdom that were under their dominion whereof shall be spoken hereafter chapter 17.9,10.]

4. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and did cast them to the earth [as it was chapter 20 the seven stars are seven angels of the churches so may may be so fitly understood the third part of the teachers or leaders of the church which by the church which by the tail that is by the power and poisonous dragon in the times of persecution of heresies whereof was prophesied before chapter6.3 should fall away from the true doctrine of the spiritual care of the church of the worldly care as was shewed before chapter 9.1 and as Ecclesiastical histories testify that in such time this hath come to pass] and the dragon stood before the woman which should bear that he might devour her child hen she should have brought it forth.

5. And she brought forth a man child [Gr she brought forth a son or a man child [Gr she brought forth a son a man or male]which should preserve [Greek seed] all the heathens [or nations] with an iron rod and the child was taken up unto God and his throne [some understand by this male as also by he following battle of Michael against the dragon Constantine the first Christian emperor which appeared in the Christian church after the persecution or after many wars or victories of the worshippers of idols and the dragon did at last subdue the roman empire and brought it under the power and dominion of the Christian and advanced the Christians church above all others and lifted it up unto the heaven which exposition is very ancient the sith Constantine himself did therefore hear this vision in his arms after that he had conquered Maxinus and Maxentius Licinius and other enemies and persecutors with the Christians and the armies and had removed idolatry out of the Roman empire but since many things are here said of this male child and hereafter of Michael and the dragon which can very hardly be applied unto Constantine and his adherents therefore it very meet that this likewise should be taken of Christ himself and of his spiritual nativity through the whole world in the hearts and in the possession of believers by the ministry of the church as was before verse2 against which Christ and his spiritual nativity Satan hath set himself with all his might and subtitle as well by the persecution of the Gentiles and Jews as by divers blasphemous heresies heresies which he hath raised against the person and satisfaction of Christ though Christ now sitting at the right hand of God as the head of the elect hath always prevailed and hath always continue.]

6. And the woman fled into the wilderness [some understand this flight of Christ church of the duty of all believers when they have already received in their hearts and do sit with him in heaven as Paul speaketh of them Ephesians 2:6 Namely that must they must flee from the world and seek the things that are above and not the things that are beneath Colossians 3:1,2 but forasmuch as this duty of Christ church continueth always and here mention is made of a certain time therefore its fitly taken by others for a preparation both Constantine time by the Arrian and other heresies and the pride and by the pride and ambition of many bishop and other worldly wise men from the time they begun among them in the church which by little and little bred antichrist till at last about the year six hundred and six it was brought to light and was as is else where hinted and they conceive that this only hinted here to relate in the interim the occasion of the flight and to speak further o the hereafter which is also proved by the agreement of the time in this verse with the next to wit the verse14] where she had a place prepared of her by God [namely of God by the measuring of the temple and excluding of courts whereof she was spoken of before chapter 11.1 as the agreement of the 1260days here and for the 42 months there verse3 likewise imported] that they should feed her there a thousand and two hundred and three score days [others that she should be fed there c namely by the two witnesses which were sent by God out by God for that very purposes to maintain the church of God all this while in the wilderness which hath also relation to that which was prophesied in the former chapter for that some would have this to be meant of flight of Christians out of Jerusalem and out of the land of Judah to Pella beyond the Jordan at the time of the siege of Jerusalem and the destruction of the holy land which lasted about three years and a half suteth not with this revelation because that desolation hath already come to pass in the time of revelation and that here is spoken of a longer time as was shewed before and shall be shewed hereafter .]

7. And there was war in heaven [that here as some are of opinion is not spoken of the first fall of Satan and of his rebellion against the son of God whereof Christ speaketh 1 John 8.44 and Jude verse 6 appeareth by the saying often related that here things to come are treated of as neither of the conflict which Christ the true Michael that is being equal unto God Philippians 2:6 had against Satan when he took upon him the form of a servant and entered into the strong mans house to bind him and to spoil him of the vessels Matthew 12:29 and when he destroyed him by his death and triumphed upon him over the cross Colossians 2:15 Hebrews 2:14 for though this be an everlasting foundation of all victory over Satan and his instruments as the inhabitants of heaven sing hereafter verse 10 and 11 yet this foundation was strongly laid already before the revelation came to John therefore this war and victory here must be understood of a particular application of this victory of Christ which yet should follow over Satan in the members of Christ whereof Christ speaketh Matthew 16:18 and Paul Romans 16:20 namely in the times of persecution and seductions under heathen and Arrian empires and other heretical kings when Christ was exceedingly opposed in his members and also especially when the antichrist prevailed in the west and the Mehumetans in the east and the church of Christ was afflicted and persecuted throughout the whole world which is clearly proved by the time of a thousand two hundred and three score days which after this battle is ascribed to women flight in the wilderness and by the triumphant song of the inhabitants of heaven verse 10 and 11 which here apparently speaketh of such victory and consequently also of such a combat] Michael and his angels warred against the dragon and the dragon also fought and his angels [as by this Michael that is who is like unto God Christ himself by most and the interpreters is understood so some understand by his angels the faithful which by Christ and with Christ have overcome the dragon and the angels as is testified hereafter verse 11 yet notwithstanding this name angel may be also understood by the properly so called because they are also often sent by Christ for the comfort and help of the believers in this warfare as apperaeth Hebrews 1:14 and the example of Elius and Elisus of Daniel and his companions of Peter and Paul in their imprisonment prove in the scripture as the Ecclesiastical scripture testify that the holy martyrs under the heathen empires and under antichrist were either by angels delivered out of the hands or eased by the angels or comforteth and strengthened in their torments their persecutors were often by them punished and taken off by divers plagues as Herod was smitten by the angel of the Lord or the ease and comfort of the church Acts 12:23.]

8. And they prevailed not neither was their place found anymore in heaven [the like phrase Christ used it in his victory over Satan Luke 10:18 and here plainly respect is had to some visions of the old testament where it is seen the like conflict and accusation of Satan before the throne of God against the faithful with a final victory over Satan Job 1:11 and 2.5 and especially Zach. 3.1 which hath many things common with this vision both in respect of the persons and in respect of the issue of event now whether this was actually and really done figuratively spoken in matters not much this is sufficient and certain that after Christ had finished the propitiation of our sin and now sitteth at the right hand of his father and there appeareth as our advocate all manner of accusations against believers before the throne of God is quiet taken away from Satan and his angels as Paul truly glorieth Romans 8:33 c and the heavenly hosts hereafter sing viz verse 10 and 11 and he will from thence subdue from Satan with all our and his enemies under his feet Paul testifieth 1Corinthians 15.25.]

9. And the great dragon was cast out namely the old serpent [Satan is so called because he by the serpent seduced our first parents in paradise see 2 Corinthians 11:3] which is called the devil and Satan who seduceth the whole world [that is the children ‘s disobedience in the whole world Ephesians 2:2] I say was cast upon the earth and his angels wee cat with him.

10. And I heard a great voice saying in heaven now is the salvation and the power the kingdom become our Gods and the power his Christ for the accuse of our brethren which accused them before our God day and night is cast down [see before the annotations on verse 8.]

11. And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb [so hereof the annotate on verse 7] and by the word of their testimony [that is the gospel received from them by faith and steadfastly possessed for this is the spiritual sword and instrument whereby Satan is also overcome see Ephesians 6:17] and they loved not their lives unto death [that is did here set little by their lives in respect of Christ and hi truth see Luke 14:26 Acts 20:24.]

12. Therefore rejoice ye heaven and ye that dwell in them wo unto them that inhabit the earth and the sea [that is wo unto earthly and worldly men whether they those that inhabit the continent or such that inhabit the isles in the sea above chapter 3.10 and elsewhere besides] for the devil hath come down unto ye and hath great wrath [that is he is very wroth because he can not prevail against the children of God before the throne of God as is said verse 8] knowing that he hath a little time [namely as he time between Christ first and last coming is called the last hour 1John 2.18 so is also of the residues of Satan dominion called a little time because in the end world he shall be cast into the lake with fire and he seeth now daily by the tokens which Christ and the apostle have foretold that the same time draweth still nearer and nearer see hereafter chapter 20.10 and Matthew 25:41.]

13. And when the dragon saw that he was cast upon the earth he then persecuted the woman which had brought forth the man child [that when Satan saw that he could no more hurt Christ in his members nor he salvation of his members by the accusation in heaven ten he set himself again against the same church of Christ to hurt them at least in this world by spoiling them of their goods by the imprisonment by reproaching their persons by banishment persecutions and such like troubles.]

14. And the woman were given two wings of a great eagle [namely of God which two eagle wings some conceive to be faith whereby she in all these continueth firmly grounded upon Christ her head 1John 5.4 and hope of salvation whereby she ovecometh all afflictions and persecutions knowing that the suffering of his present time are not to be compared with the glory revealed unto us though also all manner of effectual preservation is understood b eagles wings as appeareth by Deuteronomy 32:11] that she might flee into wilderness into her place [namely was treated verse 6] where she is nourished [oth. That she might be nourished there namely as well by God alone and his spirit and word as is said of the seven thousand whom God in Elias his time has reserved to himself 1 Kings 19:18 Romans 11:4 and afterwards also the two witnesses whom God a long while raised up unto her in the wilderness of hers as was noted on c 11.3] for a time and half a time two yea and half time half year as this phrase seemeth to be taken of Daniel c 7.25 and 12.7 and are of opinion that the time of the antichrist reign shall not last longer then three years and a half before the end of the world as the tyranny of the Antiochus who was a type of antichrist among the Jews in the time of the Machabees lasted no longer but this opinion is repugnant to Daniel 11:3 and is besides effectually confuted because if that were true the day of judgment in antichrist time would be already known contrary to the testimony of Christ Matthew 13.32as it is also impossible that antichrist info short a time should arise out of time of Daniel as they pretend which hath no power or command in the world and should make all the Jews throughout the whole world to adhere unto him take the city of Jerusalem with all the land of Judah built up the temple and after that should cause himself to be worshipped throughout the whole world subdue Christian dome under the dominion destroy the city of Rome and the like whereas the scripture testifieth that his mystery of iniquity began to work even in Paul’s time 2Thesalonians 2.7and the Jews themselves shall be converted before the end of the world and be gathered to the true church of Christ Romans 11:25 2 Corinthians 3:14 c therefore this time, time and a half a time must be meant of a time that is well known unto God and shall not be known unto us before the event or for three years and a half which make together two and forty weeks or a four thousand two hundred and three scores days everyday taken for a year whereof before chapter 11.3 and verse 6 of this chapter and of which more shall also be spoken hereafter chapter 13.5 for even that very time church shall come nourished in the wilderness wherein the court of the temple shall be left unmeasured and the holy city shall trodden down by the Gentiles and the two witnesses shall prophesy and the beasts shall make war with the saints whereof will be prophesied in the sequel ] without the face [Gr from the face]of the serpent .

15. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a river after the woman that he might cause her to be carried away by the river.

16. And the earth helped the woman and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed p the river which the dragon had cast out of the mouth [though some do also understand by these waters false doctrines yet its well known that in the word of God by waters or rivers are meant persecutions or afflictions as appeareth Psalms 42:8 and 124.5 Matthew 7:25 that here also is spoken of new persecution and troubles which Satan should cause and procure unto the church after she was fled into the wilderness appeareth here from the text but to what persecution respects is had here thereof are sundry opinion some conceive that they are the persecutions which the antichrist raised against the Greek church because they would not embrace the worshipping of the images nor the invocation of the saints nor the honoring of their reliqeus nor his dominion which things were a long time opposed by some of the Greek empires others of opinion are hereby is meant the persecution that were raised against the Huffites in Bohemia and places which the Lord for a long time stopped by one Ziska in the wonderful deliverance as if they were risen out of the earth as also the combinations of the empires and kings with antichrist at such time when the church after Luthers time began to lift up the head whereof some do yet still continue lastly others understand this of the last violence which the antichrist with all his adherents yet should perform before his fall but followed thereupon for the comfort of the church that God will yet at length wonderfully deliver his church as Moses and Aaron were delivered from violence and conspiracy of the core ,Dathan and Abiram when the earth opened her mouth and devoured their enemies Numbers 16 verse 31,32 the like wonderful and unexpected deliverance we also in our time in all parts of Christendom have frequently seen.]

17. And the dragon was wroth with the woman [namely because she had now hid her self from his sight in some places and times as is said verse 14 and because she had also afterwards gotten help of king and princes which protected her against violence and assaults of antichrist and his adherents] and went his way to wage war against the remnants of his seed which keep the commandment of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ [namely which were yet scattered and hid in such places where no public were and where antichrist and the king which lent their power him yet had their dominion of which scattered Christians here two marks or tokens are set down namely that they served God according to his commandments and not according to the humane tradition and that they kept testimony of Jesus that is sought their salvation only in the merits of the only and perfect savior Jesus and not in their own merits of any creatures according to the doctrine and testimony of the holy gospel wherein consisteth the true difference between the worshipper of the antichrist and the evangelical or reformed Christian.]

18. And I stood upon the sand of the sea [namely in a vision and also indeed a truth in the isle of the Patmos as the like of Daniel chapter 10.4 namely to see what should further come to pass or what vision should be shewed unto me out of the sea as the next chapter sheweth whereunto this verse seemeth to be appertain which is therefore also joined by some unto the next chapter.]