Revelation 13

Unto the apostle is shewed in vision a beast with seven heads and ten horns 3 whereof one head being wounded to death is healed 4 all earth worshipped the beast and the dragon for the space of two and forty months 6 the beast blasphemeth God and his saints and maketh war against them 8 and over cometh all them whose names are not written in the book of the lamb 10 the reward of like punishment is threatened to the prosecutors 11 after that another beast cometh up out of the earth having two horns like the lamb but doing the works of the first beasts 13 this doth great wonders and seduceth the inhabitants of the earth so that they maketh an image which all are made to worship 16 and it causeth everyone to bear a mark either the name of the beast or his number which is six hundred threescore and six.

1. And I saw a beast rise up out of the sea [this vision represented in this and some following verses doth in many things agree with the vision which Daniel saw chapter 7 verse2 c where four monarchs or sovereignties in the world under the like form are shewed unto the prophet the reason why are compared unto beasts and that rising up out if the sea is because they are set up with the sea is because they are set up with a great noise by the confluence of many nations resembled unto waters Revelations 17.15 and are often wont to be joined and accompanied with much cruelty and violence] having seven heads [these seven heads are chapter 17 verse 9 expounded by the angel himself to be the seven mountains of which the great city whereon the woman sitteth that have dominion over the king of the earth or forms of government which she was subject unto whereof a further exposition will follow in the same chapter] and ten horns [these are hereafter chapter 17.12 expounded to be the kings which hath not yet received the kingdom but should in no one hour receive the kingdom but should be in one receive their power with the beast to whom they should for a time deliver up their power till they should take it again to themselves whereof see also there a further exposition] and upon his horns were ten royal hats [Gr Diademata where were sort of crowned hats belonging also unto king which hath cloud conveniently take off from their heads for to put them off before the throne of the dragon and of the beast do cast down their crown before the throne of God and the lamb chapter 4 verse 10] and upon his head was a name [oth. Names] of blasphemy [namely such as God on earth Christ vice-gerents the head and bridegroom of the church and the like more besides the idolatry which is also understood under the name of blasphemy as appeareth Isaiah 65:7 Ezekiel 20:27 see hereof also 2Thesalonians 2.4 what dominion is to be understood by this beast that the seven heads and the ten horns c about it are sundry opinion some expositors understand thereby the Romany Monarchy under the heathen empire when John received this revelation and shortly after time under Trajan the empire in its great vigor and splendor and as they worship idols and consequently also the dragon so were they also stirred up by him to oppose the Christian religion to the utmost and though after the time of about two hundred and twenty years Constantine the two Theodosius’s Gratian and some few good and great empires did for a while protect the church yet in the interim there have been some heathen and heretical kings that lent their power unto the dragon and have persecuted the churches of Christ and the orthodox teachers till at last under the empire in the west about the year four hundred and five after the nativity of Christ this beast receive a deadly wound when because the northern nations the Longobards Goths Hunnes and Vandals the city of Rome was five times taken at the last destroyed out of whose ruin at last destroyed out of whose ruin antichrist at last brought forth his kingdom when the empire Justinian about the year five hundred and fifty expelled and subdued these Barbarous nations and exalted the bishop of Rome a new and the civil empire Phorus about the year six hundred and six proclaimed him universal bishop whereby the wound of hi head of the beasts was healed again and worshipped amongst all nations and tongues whereof in the sequel of the chapter by the coming up of the second beast more shall be spoken this opinion is the opinion of many eminent teachers and suteth very well with almost all the parts off the description of the properties of the first beast but these difficulties do here occur first that this Roman empire hath been long before in its vigor and strength whereas this beast in vision is shewed as it were yet coming up secondly that its difficult thing that should be also comprehended under this the time after Constantine coming up to the empire and the godly empires or that the ascension of the second beast that is of the antichrist must be placed among these godly empires and most of all that the two and forty months or one thousand two hundred and sixty days whereof is spoken chapter 11.2,3 and with one thousand two hundred and sixty days whereof mention is made chapter 12.6 which is the time when the holy city was trodden down by the gentile and wherein the two witnesses that fed the church in the wilderness were raised and against whom the beast made war as it shewed there therefore this is mostly applied to the new Roman dominion which was set up in the same city about the time of the treading down of the holy city and of the flight of the church of Christ into the wilderness and did extended itself overall Christendom especially in the west which dominion since it is twofold namely a secular dominion which antichrist exerciseth either directly or indirectly above all kings princes and common wealth’s and a spiritual dominion which assumeth over all bishops Abbots, Prelates and priest in the church both these usurped powers are most plainly set forth in the vision under the appearance of these two beasts as hereafter by the royally adorned whore which sitteth upon the beast and by the false prophets that accompanieth her for this is a usual thing with the apostle in this scripture to represent divers properties and the operations of one person or succession of the person by the divers or sundry vision as before chapter 11 the church of Christ is set forth by the temple and the courts thereof and chapter 12 by a woman clothed with the sun yea as Christ himself in this revelation is brought in sometimes like an angel and the priest of heaven sometimes like a conqueror sitting upon a white horse now that the exposition of all these properties which follow here in this chapter do suit well with both dominion will appear in the sequel .]

2. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard and his feet were like the feet of a bear and his mouth as the mouth of a lion [the three first Monarchies Daniel 7:4 &c are compared of these three wild devouring beasts which three together are here attributed unto this beast alone because out of these three together do suit with the beast of which properties see also the exposition Daniel 7] and the dragon gave him his power and great might [which power and throne of authority of the dragon is to be the prince of the world Job 12.31 the God of this world 2 Corinthians 4:4 and the supreme power which worketh effectually in the children of disobedience Ephesians 2 verse 2 who himself also boasteth that he can give these kingdom to whom he will Luke 4:6 and Paul testifieth the coming of the antichrist shall be after the working of Satan with all power 2Thessalonians 2..]

3. And I saw one of his head as it were wounded [Gr killed] to death and his deadly wound [Gr blow or wound of his death] was healed [see of this wound and this annotate on verse 1for it appeareth of the text & by the phrase which John useth that this beast received this wound in his first ascension which in manner was held by Justinian the Empire and some following empire but was fully and perfectly healed by Pipine and Charles the great who about the years seven and eight hundred placed the bishop of Rome in his full possession when the ten kings that came up with him joined their power with him whereunto followed the admiration and subjection of all nations in Christendom as text in words followeth sheweth] and all the earth wondered after the beast [that is followed after the beast with admiration .]

4. And they worshipped the dragon [namely not in his form as the heathen Rominish Empire in her idols had done but the new image worship and other idolatrous practice whereunto they fell in this empire as was said before chapter 9 verse 20 and experience super abundantly shews but too plainly] which had given power into the beasts and they worshipped the beast saying who is like unto the beasts ? who is able to wage war against it?

5. And unto him a mouth to speak great things and blasphemies [see the like Daniel 7:8 which is said of a little horn which grew up between the other horns which according to the letter is understood of king Antiochus of whose tyranny and idolatry among the Jews much may be read 1 Mich. 1 and 2 chapter and whom many expositors among Christian hold to have been a type of antichrist who should exercise and use such tyranny and idolatry among the Christian see the exposition of these great things before in the last annotate on the first verse of this chapter & on chapter 12 on verse 6]and power was given unto him to do it two and forty months [others to make war two and forty months that is a thousand an d two hundred three score days whereof see the exposition on the first verse of the chapter and on chapter 12verse 6.]

6. And it opened its mouth unto blasphemy against God[namely forasmuch as he ascribed unto him self the power and the names of God for he sitteth unto the temple of God and exalteth himself above all that is called God 2Thessalonians 2.4] to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle [some understand hereby the true church of God whom he declareth before all the world to be heretical and accursed others understand hereby the body of Christ which is called the tabernacle of his God head Job 1:14 Hebrews 9:11 ,12 of which the blasphemously abused by the mass both opinion are true] and them that dwell in heaven [that is the angels and blessed souls whom he as much as him lieth changeth into idols and to whom he hath commiteth spiritual fornication wherewith he maketh the kings and the nations drunk as shall be shewed therewith after chapter 17 which is greatest contempt and blasphemy that he is able to offer unto them as Paul and Barnabas when men would have given him divine honor they rent their clothes Acts 14:14 which was wont to be done at the hearing of the blasphemy as appeareth 2kings 18.37 and Matthew 26:65.]

7. and power was given unto it to make war with the saints [that is the true believrs and professor of the name of Christ as was also said before of those two witnesses chapter 11.7] and to overcome them [namely by corporal victories as well as particular believers by slaying them as against their congregation by troubling and wasting them whereof the books of the martyrs are full of examples how be it believers have always overcome the dragon and the beast according to the spirit as faithful songs glory and sing praises here at chapter 12.11 as is testifieth of them in the same chapter verse 8] and some was given to it over every kindred and language and nation [namely by the just judgment of God who sent a power of errors among those nations that should believe lies and should all be condemned that believe not the truth 2Thessalonians 2 verse 10,11.]

8. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship it whose name are not written in the book of life [that is which are not chosen of God in Christ as Paul speaketh Ephesians 1 verse 4 see the like phrase Luke chapter 10 on verse 20 and hereafter chapter 20.12] of the lamb which was slain from the foundation of the world [some join these last words from the foundation of the world to former words which is whose names are not written in the book of life as Paul speaketh of our election in Christ Ephesians 1:4 others join them to the last words which is slain for though Christ was not actually slain but when he suffered for us upon the cross yet his death and sacrifice was effectual from the beginning of the world for the redemption of believers and he was slain from the beginning in Gods decree in Gods promises and in the faith of the elect as is said of Abraham Job 8 on verse 56 and Moses Hebrew 11.26.]

9. If any man have ears let him hear.

10. If any man lead into captivity [Gr if any man lead captivity together that is a multitude of captives] he himself goeth into captivity if any man shall kill with the sword he himself must he killed with the sword[this is added here for a conclusion or for a comfort of believers namely that the unrighteous man shall receive like recompense either in this world as oftentimes happeneth or at least in the world to come when they with the beasts and the false prophets shall be cast into the lake of fire and by the spirit of sword of Christ which proceeded out of the mouth and killed with eternal as is said hereafter chapter 19,20.] here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11. And I saw another beast coming out of the earth [that is the ascending of this other beasts out of the earth signifieth antichrist is without controversy among all interpreters who in the shape of the first beast setteth himself as a prince of the world and as god upon earth as was shewed hitherto but no cometh forth as a false prophet which seduceth the whole world as the idolatry and false doctrine as shall appear by the sequel] and it had two horns like the horns of the lamb [that is he carrieth himself outwards shew and possession as if he were the vicar of Christ the lamb of God and a servant of all the servants of Christ]and it spake like the dragon that is bringeth in the doctrines which the scripture calleth doctrines devils 2Timothy 4.1 se also Matthew 7:15 2 Corinthians 11.14but some understand hereby the power which he taketh up on himself of shutting and opening heaven.]

12. And it came to it exerciseth all the power of the first beast in his presence [that is he persecuteth and afflicteth the church of Christ by the power of the clergy by the instruments of the spiritual hierarchy by his inquisitions decree excommunications from the society of his church and the like as he also doth by the secular instruments by bloody decrees and punishments with halter sword and fire] and it casueth the earth [that is worldly and earthly men whereunto are before in this chapter opposed those that are written in heaven and in book of the lamb] and then that dwell therein to worship the first beasts whose deadly wounds were healed.

13. And it doth great token [namely which the apostle calleth the token of lies 2Thessalonians 2.9 because they are partly feigned and are partly done by Satan for the confirmation of lies] so that it maketh fire to come down from heaven on earth before men [hereby is fitly understood the lightning of the excommunication and bannings whereby he affrighted not only the common people but also the kings and princes and the whole kingdom and the common wealth as is known by the histories though some such kinds of miracles have been highly boasted by some of Roman bishops.]

14. And seduceth them that dwell upon the earth by the tokens which wee given unto it to do the presence of the beasts saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast that had the wound of the sword and lived again [this is understood by some of the worship of images in general which all those that are under antichrist must receive as the as the subject of the king of Babel Daniel 3. Were constrained to worship the king of Babel image upon pain of being burnt by fire but its not unfitly understood by others of spiritual dominion which he by his clergy hath in all spiritual courts as they call them and which all nations every where were constrained to worship as the image of their sovereign and submit themselves thereunto wherewith the ensuing properties of the beast do best suit.]

15. And power was given unto it to give a spirit unto the image of the beast that the image of the beasts should also speak and cause that the image of the beast should also speak and cause that all that could not worship the beast should be killed [they that understand this of the worship of images apply to the images which Satan as he did unto Eve by the serpent sometimes spake by which their clergy feigned that the saints that are represented by them are spoken as in their legend sundry examples thereof are to be found to bring thereby more credit and life to the idolatrous worship others apply to the priviledges of the foremaned spiritual courts and their inquisitions where by they are dreadful and small unto small and great and whereby they persecuted very many to death that will not acknowledge their power and follow their idolatry and cause them to die by hands of the magistrate.]

16. And it causeth that unto all great and small both rich and poor and free and bend and mark given unto them in their right hands or in their foreheads [this is fitly understood of their charisma or unction wherein everyone in their sacrament of confirmation which they prefer above the baptism of Christ must be marked in the forehead as also their clergy in taking orders are anointed and marked in their head and hands and fingers in the llike manner which make them call the indelible characters and without which they may distribute their spiritual merchandise neither tread and converse among other men in peace as followeth.]

17. And that no man must buy or sell save he that had that mark or the name of the beast [that is the profession that they are Roman Catholics or good Popelings well affected to the pope holding him to be the head of the church and infallible in his doctrines and traditions] or the number of his name [that is addicted to the Roman church which perfometh her chiefest worship in Latin and forceth also upon her followers to make their prayers in Latin although they understand not that they say which name Roman or Latin iporteth this number of his name as followeth.]

18. Here is wisdom let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast for it is a number of a man and his number is six hundred and threescore and six [that is a number which is counted of a letter named of a man or an order of a man after the Hebrew or Greek manner which use the letter of their alphabet to express a number and though many expositions of Irenaus who lived a little after the time of the apostle about two hundred years who applieth this to the word of Lateinos wherein number 666 is found which agreeth very well with the thing since the pope pretended to be the head of the Latin church will have the service of God to be performed in the Latin tongue and will have the old Latin translation in the bible to be held authentic.]