THE
REVELATION
OF
JOHN THE DIVINE*

1 Here begins the fourth vision, and many are of the opinion that here likewise begins the second part of this revelation, wherein the state of the church of Christ, from the times of the apostles unto the end of the world, and the rising and reign of the antichrist, with his final ruin, is described somewhat more fully and in more detail, after it was briefly done in the previous visions.

2 That is, a vision which signified great things, which is therefore said to have been seen in heaven, because it was shown in heaven that was opened, though the things themselves were for the most part done upon the earth.

3 By this woman some understand the virgin Mary, who has given birth to Christ, and has fled with Christ into Egypt, of whom Christ Satan has persecuted unto death, Who was afterward taken up into heaven, and sits there at the right hand of God His Father, and rules the nations with an iron rod. But since this was already come to pass before this revelation was made unto John and here properly is prophesied of things that were yet to come, as is testified in Rev. 1:1; 4:1 and is related in Rev. 22:6; and since many things here cannot be applied well 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 of Christ her Head and Bridegroom, these things have befallen which are here understood under this similitude as will appear in the sequel.

4 Hereby is signified true faith in Christ, the Sun of righteousness; wherewith the church of Christ is clothed, adorned and enlightened. See Gal. 3:27; Eph. 3:17; 5:14.

5 Hereby some understand the ceremonies of the Old Testament, which were very often ordered and framed according to the changes of the moon, and which with the coming of Christ were become powerless and were abolished, Col. 2:14. But hereby are more fittingly understood all mutable and worldly things which often change like the moon, and which the true church of Christ has under her feet, and counts them vile and base in respect of the eternal, immutable and heavenly things, 1 Cor. 7:30, 31; 2 Cor. 4:18.

6 That is, the doctrine of the twelve apostles, whereof she alone glories, and which she holds to be her crown and ornament, as in Revelation 21 the foundations of this heavenly Jerusalem are compared to twelve precious stones, upon which were engraved the names of the twelve apostles.

7 Namely, to give birth to Christ by the Gospel and to give Him a form in the hearts of God’s elect, throughout the whole world, as the apostle speaks in Gal. 4:19. Which, though it be always true of the universal church, yet this was effectually fulfilled at the time and for some hundred years after the times of the apostles, wherein the apostolic and primitive church, notwithstanding the opposition of Satan and all his instruments, has propagated the doctrine of Christ throughout the world, and has brought to light many particular churches as her own children, as the apostle Paul speaks thereof in Gal. 4:26, 27, and out of Isa. 54:1.

8 This is here added, because of the great care, sorrows and anguish, which the church of Christ and her faithful ministers oftentimes have, to beget children unto God, and to gather them out of the world. Whereof see an example in Paul, 1 Cor. 4:11, etc.

9 That this dragon is the devil, or Satan, is explained in verse 9. And he is said to be great and red by reason of his bloodthirstiness and cruelty; to whom here are ascribed seven heads, by reason of his great subtlety; and ten horns and seven crowns by reason of his great power and dominion in the world, as the Scripture speaks of him, John 8:44; 2 Cor. 11:3, 14; Eph. 6:12. Though some also understand by these seven heads, seven mountains, and seven kings of the great city, where Satan had chiefly then his dominion, and by the ten horns and the ten crowns, the ten most important realms which were under their dominion. Whereof shall be spoken hereafter in Rev. 17:9, 10.

10 Gr. diademata, of which see Rev. 13:1.

11 As it was explained in Rev. 1:20 that the seven stars are the seven angels of the churches, so may here also be fittingly understood the third part of the teachers or leaders of the church, which by the tail, that is, by the power and poisonous nature of this dragon in the times of persecutions and heresies, whereof was prophesied in Rev. 6:3, etc., would fall away from the true doctrine and the true spiritual care of the church to worldly care, as was shown before in Rev. 9:1 and as the Church Histories testify, that in such times this has sometimes come to pass.

12 Gr. she brought forth a son, a man, or male. Some understand hereby, as also the following battle of Michael against the dragon, Constantine, the first Christian Emperor, who appeared in the christian church after three hundred years of persecution, and after many wars and victories over the worshippers of idols, and of the dragon, did at last subdue the Roman Empire, and brought it under the power and dominion of the Christians, and advanced the Christian church above all others, and lifted it up unto heaven. This exposition is very ancient, since Constantine himself did therefore bear this vision in his coat of arms, after he had conquered Maximinus, Maxentius, Licinius and other enemies and persecutors of the Christians with their armies, and had removed idolatry out of the Roman Empire. But since many things are here said of the male Child, and hereafter of Michael and the dragon, which can very hardly be applied to Constantine and his adherents, therefore it is very proper that this likewise should be taken of Christ Himself, and of His spiritual birth throughout the whole world, in the hearts, and in the profession of believers, by the ministry of the church, as was pointed to in verse 2 before. Satan has set himself against Christ and His spiritual birth with all his might and subtlety, as well by the persecutions of the Jews and Gentiles, as by several blasphemous heresies, which he has raised against the Person and satisfaction of Christ; though Christ now sitting at the right hand of God as the Head of the elect, has always prevailed, and has always continued in His throne.

a Psalm 2:9; Rev. 2:27.

13 Gr. feed.

14 Or, Gentiles.

15 Some understand this flight of the church of Christ of the bounden duty of all believers when they have already received Christ in their heart, and do sit with Him in heaven, as Paul speaks of them in Eph. 2:6, namely, that they must flee from the world, and seek the things that are above, and not the things that are below, Col. 3:1, 2. But while this bounden duty of Christ’s church continues always and here only mention is made of a certain time, therefore it is suitably taken by others for a preparation to the same flight of this woman, whereof will be further spoken hereafter in verse 13. Which preparation, both in Constantine’s time by the Arian and other heresies and by the pride and ambition of many bishops and other worldly manner of practices begun from that time among them in the church, has bred little by little the anti-Christianity, till at last it was brought to light about the year six hundred and six, as is also elsewhere hinted. And they perceive that this is only hinted here to relate in the interim the occasion of this flight, and to speak further of it hereafter; which is also proved by the agreement of the time in this verse with the next, to wit, verse 14.

16 Namely, of God by the measuring of the temple, and the excluding of the courts, whereof was spoken before in Rev. 11:1, as the agreement of the 1260 days here, and of the 42 months there likewise implies in verse 3.

17 Differently: that she should be fed there, namely, by the two witnesses, who were sent out by God for that very purpose, to maintain the church of God all this while in the wilderness; which has also relation to what was prophesied in the previous chapter. For, that some would have this to be meant of the flight of the 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 3½ years, does not suit with this revelation, because that desolation had already come to pass in the time of this revelation, and that here is spoken of a longer time, as was shown before, and shall be yet shown hereafter.

b Rev. 11:3.

18 That here, as some imagine, is not spoken of the first fall of Satan, and his rebellion against the Son of God, whereof Christ speaks in John 8:44 and Jude verse 8, appears from the reason often described, that here are treated of future things. As neither of the conflict, which Christ, the true Michael, that is, being equal with God, Philip. 2:6, had carried against Satan, when He took upon Him the form of a servant and entered into the strong man’s house to bind him, and to spoil him of his vessels, Mat. 12:29, and when He destroyed him by His death, and triumphed over him upon the cross, Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14. For, though this is an everlasting foundation of all victory over Satan and his instruments, as the inhabitants of heaven sing hereafter in verses 10 and 11, yet this foundation was strongly laid already before this revelation came to John. Therefore this war and victory here must be understood of a particular appropriation of this first victory of Christ, which yet would follow over Satan in the members of Christ, whereof Christ also speaks, Mat. 16:18, and Paul, Rom. 16:20, namely, in the times of persecutions and deceptions, under heathen and Arian Emperors, and other heretical kings, when Christ was exceedingly contested in His members, and also especially when the antichrist prevailed in the West and the Mohammedans in the East, and the church of Christ was oppressed throughout the entire world; which is clearly proven by the time of a thousand two hundred and threescore days, which after this battle is ascribed to the woman’s flight in the wilderness; and by the triumphant song of the inhabitants of heaven, verses 10 and 11, which here apparently speaks of such a victory, and consequently also of such a combat.

19 As by this Michael, that is, who is like unto God, is understood by most of the interpreters to be Christ Himself, so some understand by his angels the believers, who by Christ and with Christ, have overcome the dragon and his angels, as is testified hereafter in verse 11. Notwithstanding, this name angels may be also understood by angels properly so called, because they are also often sent by Christ, their Head, for the comfort and help of believers in this warfare, as appears, Heb. 1:14, and the examples of Elijah, Elisha, of Daniel and his companions, of Peter and Paul in their imprisonments prove in Scripture; and as the ecclesiastical histories testify, that the devout martyrs, under the pagan Emperors and under the antichrist, were either by angels delivered out of their hands, or relieved, or comforted and strengthened in their torments. Their persecutors were also often punished and stopped by them by several plagues, as Herod was smitten by the angel of the Lord, for the relief and comfort of the church, Acts 12:23.

20 A similar phrase Christ also uses of His victory over Satan, Luke 10:18. Here plainly respect is had to some visions of the Old Testament, where is seen the similar conflict and accusation of Satan before the throne of God, against the believers, with a final victory is seen over Satan, Job 1:11; 2:5 and especially Zech. 3:1, which has many things in common with this vision, both in respect of the persons, and in respect of the issue or event. Now, whether this was really and actually done, or whether it is only figuratively spoken, it matters not much. This is sufficient and certain, that after Christ had finished the reconciliation for our sins, and now is sitting at the right hand of His Father, and there appears as our Advocate, all matter of accusation against believers, before the throne of God, is entirely taken away from Satan and his angels, as Paul truly glories in Rom. 8:33, etc., and as the heavenly hosts hereafter sing, namely in verses 10 and 11, and that He will from thence continually subdue Satan with all our and His enemies under His feet, as Paul testifies in 1 Cor. 15:25.

c Dan. 2:35.

d Luke 10:18; Rev. 20:2.

21 Satan is so called, because he has deceived our first parents in paradise by the serpent. See 2 Cor. 11:3.

22 That is, the children of disobedience in the entire world, Eph. 2:2.

23 See hereof the annotation on verse 8.

24 See hereof the annotation on verse 7.

25 That is, the Gospel, received of them by faith, and steadfastly professed. For, this is the spiritual sword and instrument whereby Satan is also overcome. See Eph. 6:17.

26 That is, they have regarded their lives insignificant in respect of Christ and His truth. See Luke 14:26; Acts 20:24.

e Psalm 96:11; Isa. 49:13.

f Rev. 8:13.

27 That is, woe unto earthly and worldly people, whether they be those who inhabit the continent, or such who inhabit the islands in the sea; as before in Rev. 3:10, and more elsewhere.

28 That is, he is very wroth, because he cannot prevail against the children of God before the throne of God, as is said in verse 8.

29 Namely, as the time between Christ’s first and last coming is called the last hour, 1 John 2:18, so is also the time of the residue of Satan’s dominion called a little time, because in the end of the world he shall be cast into the lake of fire; and daily he sees now by the signs, which Christ and His apostles have foretold, that this same time draws nearer and nearer. See Mat. 25:41 and Rev. 20:10.

30 That is, when Satan saw that he could no more hurt Christ in His members, and the salvation of His members by his accusations in heaven, he then set himself again against the same church of Christ to hurt them at least in the world by spoiling them of their goods, by imprisonments, by slandering their persons, by banishments, persecutions, and more of such like vexations.

g verse 6.

31 Namely, by God; which some perceive the two eagles’ wings to be faith, whereby she continues firmly grounded in all these (things) upon Christ, her Head, 1 John 5:4, and the hope of salvation, whereby she overcomes all afflictions and persecutions, knowing that the sufferings of this present time are not to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Though also all manner of effectual preservation of God is understood by eagles’ wings, as appears Deut. 32:11.

32 Namely, whereof was treated in verse 6.

33 Differently: that she might be nourished there; namely, as well by God alone by His Spirit and Word, as is said of the seven thousand, whom God in Elijah’s time had reserved unto Himself, 1 Kings 19:18; Rom. 11:4, and afterward also by the two witnesses, whom God raised up a long while unto her in this wilderness, as was noted at Rev. 11:3.

34 Some take here a time to be a year, by times for two years, and half a time half a year, as this phrase seems to have been taken from Dan. 7:25; 12:7, and are of the opinion that the time of the dominion of the antichrist shall not last longer than 3½ years before the end of the world, as the tyranny of Antiochus, who was a type of antichrist among the Jews in the time of the Maccabees, lasted no longer. But this opinion is contradicted in Rev. 11:3, and is besides effectually confuted, because if that were true, the day of judgment, in antichrist’s time, would be already known, contrary to the testimony of Christ in Mark 13:32. As it is also impossible that antichrist in so short a time would arise out of the tribe of Dan (as they pretend) which has no territory in the world, and would make all the Jews to adhere unto him throughout the entire world, take the city of Jerusalem with all the land of the Jews, build up the temple, and after that would cause himself to be worshipped throughout the entire world, subdue Christendom under his dominion, destroy the city of Rome, and similarly more; whereas Scripture testifies that this mystery of iniquity began to work even in Paul’s time, 2 Thes. 2:7, and that the Jews themselves shall be converted before the end of the world, and be gathered to the true church of Christ, Rom. 11:25; 2 Cor. 3:14, etc. Therefore this time, and times, and half a time, must mean of a time that is well known unto God, and shall not be known unto us before the event. Or, for 3½ years, which make together 42 months, or 1260 days, every day being taken for a year; whereof is previously is spoken in Rev. 11:3 and verse 6 in this chapter, and of which more shall be spoken hereafter in Rev. 13:5; for, even that very time shall the church of Christ be nourished in the wilderness, in which the court of the temple shall be left unmeasured, and the holy city shall be trodden down by the Gentiles, and the two witnesses shall prophesy, and the beast shall make war against the saints, of which will be prophesied in the next chapter.

h verse 6.

35 Or, outside the face.

36 Though some do also understand by these waters false doctrines, yet it is well known that in the Word of God, waters, or rivers, are understood persecutions or oppressions, as appears in Psalm 42:7; 124:5; Mat. 7:25. That here also is spoken of new persecutions and troubles, which Satan would cause and procure unto the church, after she was fled into the wilderness, appears here from the text. But to which persecutions it has reference here, there are differences of opinions. Some perceive that they are the persecutions which antichrist has raised against the Greek churches, because they would not embrace the worshipping of images, nor the invocation of saints, nor the honoring of their relics, nor his dominion; which some of the Greek Emperors have stopped a long time. Others are of the opinion that hereby is meant the persecutions that were raised against the Hussites in Bohemia, and other places which the Lord stopped for a long time by one Zizka in wonderful deliverances, as if they were raised out of the earth. As also of the conspiracies of emperors and kings with the antichrist at such times when the church after Luther’s 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 would perform before his fall. But for the comfort of the church this is thereupon added, that God will yet at length wonderfully deliver His church, as Moses and Aaron were delivered from the violence and conspiracy of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, when the earth opened her mouth and devoured their enemies, Num. 16:31, 32, which we have also seen frequently in our times similar wonderful and unexpected deliverances in all parts of Christendom.

37 Gr. carried away by a stream.

38 Namely, because she had now hid herself from his sight in some places and times, as is said in verse 14; and because she had also gotten help afterward from kings and princes, which protected her against the violence and assaults of the antichrist and his adherents.

39 Namely, who were yet scattered and hid in such places, where there were no public churches, and where antichrist and the kings, who lent their power unto him, had yet their dominion; while two marks or signs are set down of these scattered Christians, that they served God according to His commandments, and not according to human traditions; and that they kept the 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, or the merits of any creatures, according to the doctrine and testimony of the Holy Gospel, wherein consists the true difference between a worshipper of the antichrist, and an evangelical and reformed Christian.