THE
REVELATION
OF
JOHN THE DIVINE*

1 Namely, in a vision, or also in course of time, on the isle of Patmos, as the like is said of Daniel, Dan. 10:4, namely, to see what would further come to pass, or what vision would be shown unto me out of the sea; as this chapter shows.

2 This vision does in many things agree with the vision, which Daniel saw in Dan. 7:2, etc., where the four monarchs or sovereignties in the world, under similar form, are shown unto the prophet. The reason why they are compared to beasts and rising up out of the sea, is because they are set up with a great noise by the confluence of many nations, (resembled unto waters, Rev. 17:15), and are often wont to be joined and accompanied with much cruelty and violence.

3 There are different opinions which dominion is hereby to be understood. Some expositors understand thereby the Roman monarchy, which was under the pagan emperors when John has received this revelation, and shortly after that time has been under Trajan the Emperor in its greatest vigor and splendor. And as they worshipped the idols and consequently also the dragon, so were they also stirred up by him to wage war on the christian religion to the utmost. And though after the time of about 220 years thereafter, Constantine, the two Theodosiuses, Gratian, and some few good and christian emperors did protect the church for a while, yet in the interim there have been some pagan and heretical emperors and kings, who have lent their power unto the dragon, and have persecuted the churches of Christ and the orthodox teachers, till at last, under this empire in the West, about the year 400 and 500 after the birth of Christ, this beast received a deadly wound, when by the Northern nations, the Longobards, Goths, Huns and Vandals, the city of Rome was taken five times and at last destroyed. Out of this ruin the antichrist at last brought forth his realm, when Emperor Justinian the Great, about the year 550, expelled and subdued these barbarian nations, and exalted the bishop of Rome anew; and that the cruel Emperor Phocas, about the year 606, proclaimed him universal bishop. Whereby the wound of this head of the beast was healed again, and was worshipped among all nations and languages, whereof more shall be spoken in the sequel of the chapter at the ascent of the second beast. This opinion is the opinion of many eminent teachers, and agrees very well with almost all the parts of the description of the properties of this first beast. Yet here do occur these difficulties: first, that this Roman Empire had been long before in its vigor and strength, whereas in this vision this beast is shown as it were yet coming up; second, that it is a difficult thing that the times after Constantine’s ascent to the empire, and other godly emperors would also have to be comprehended under this period; or, that the ascension of the second beast, that is of the antichrist, must be placed among these godly emperors. And, most of all, that the 42 months, of which is spoken here in verse 5, considerably refers to the 42 months, or 1260 days, of which is spoken in Rev. 11:2, 3, and to the 1260 days, of which mention is made in Rev. 12:6, which is the time when the holy city was trodden down by the Gentiles, and in which the two witnesses, who fed the church in the wilderness, were raised up; and against whom this beast made war, as is shown there. Therefore this is most suitably applied to the new Romish 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 extend itself over all Christendom, especially in the West. This dominion, since it is twofold, namely, a secular dominion, which the antichrist extends either directly or indirectly over all kings, princes and republics, and a spiritual dominion, which he assumes over all bishops, abbots, prelates and priests in the church, both these usurped powers are thus very plainly set forth in this vision under the appearance of these two beasts, as hereafter also by the royally adorned whore, who sits upon this beast, and by the false prophet who accompanies her. For, this is characteristic with the apostle in this writing to represent various properties and operations of one person or succession of persons, by various visions; as before in Revelation 11 the church of Christ is set forth by the temple and its courts, and in Revelation 12 by the woman clothed with the sun. Yea, even Christ Himself is introduced in this revelation as a Lamb, sometimes as an Angel and Priest of heaven, sometimes as a Conqueror sitting upon a white horse. Since that the exposition of all these characteristics, which follow here in this chapter, agrees well with both dominions, shall appear in the sequel.

a Dan. 7:20; Rev. 17:3.

4 These seven heads are expounded in Rev. 17:9 by the angel himself to be the seven mountains on which that great city is built, whereon the woman sits that has dominion over the kings of the earth; as likewise the seven kings, or forms of government to which she was subject, whereof a further exposition will follow in the same chapter.

5 These are hereafter expounded in Rev. 17:12 to be ten kings who had not yet received the kingdom, but would receive in one hour their power with the beast; to whom they would deliver up for a time their power, till they would take it again to themselves; whereof see also there a further exposition.

6 Gr. diademata; a kind of crowned hats, belonging unto kings, which they could conveniently take off from their heads, to put them off before the throne of the dragon and of the beast, and to lay them at his feet, as the twenty-four elders and the four beasts do cast down their crowns before the throne of God and of the Lamb, Rev. 4:10.

7 Other, names, namely, such are as the God on earth, the vicar of Christ, the head and the bridegroom of the church, and more of the same, besides the service of idolatry, which is also understood under the name of blasphemy in God’s Word; as appears in Isa. 65:7; Ezek. 20:27. See hereof also 2 Thes. 2:4.

8 Or, felis pardus. The first three monarchies in Dan. 7:4 are compared to these three wild and ferocious beasts; which three together are here applied unto this beast alone, because the characteristics of these three together do suit with this beast; of these characteristics see also the exposition in Daniel 7.

9 This power, and throne, and authority of the dragon is, to be the prince of this world, John 12:31; the god of this world, 2 Cor. 4:4, and the supreme power of the air, that now worketh effectually in the children of disobedience, Eph. 2:2; who himself also boasts that he can give these kingdoms to whom he will, Luke 4:6; and Paul testifies that the coming of the antichrist shall be according to the working of Satan with all power, 2 Thes. 2:9.

10 Gr. slain. See of this wound and the healing thereof the annotation on verse 1. For, it appears by the sequel of the text and by the phraseology which John uses, that this beast has received this wound in his first beginning, which was somewhat healed by Justinian the Emperor and some following emperors, but was fully and perfectly healed by Pepin the Short and Charles the Great, who placed, about the year 700 and 800, the bishop of Rome in his full possession when the ten kings that came up with him, joined their power with him; whereupon is followed the admiration and subjection of all nations in Christendom, as the text explains.

11 Gr. blow, or wound of his death.

12 That is, followed after the beast with admiration.

13 Namely, not in his form, as the pagan Roman Empire had done in her idols, but in the new image worship service and other idolatrous practices whereunto they fell in this empire, as was said before in Rev. 9:20, and experience shows this excessively.

b Rev. 18:18.

14 See the same in Dan. 7:8, of which is said of the 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 Maccabees 1 and 2, and whom many expositors among Christians hold to have been a type of the antichrist, who would exercise and use such tyranny and idolatry among Christians. See the exposition of these great things in the last annotation on verse 1 of this chapter.

15 Other, to make war two and forty months; that is, 1260 days, whereof see the exposition on verse 1 of this chapter and on Rev. 12:6.

c Rev. 11:2.

16 Namely, forasmuch as he ascribes actively unto himself the power and names of God. For, he sits in the temple of God, and exalts himself above all that is called God, 2 Thes. 2:4.

17 Some understand hereby the true church of God, whom he declares to be heretics, and excommunicate and denounce before the entire world. Others understand hereby the body of Christ, which is called the tabernacle of His Godhead, John 1:14; Heb. 9:11, 12, and which is blasphemously abused by the mass. Both opinions are true.

18 That is, the angels and blessed souls, whom he, as much as in him lies, changes into idols, and with whom he commits spiritual fornication; wherewith he makes the kings and nations of the earth drunk, as shall be shown hereafter in Revelation 17, which is the greatest contempt and blasphemy that he is able to inflict on them; as Paul and Barnabas when men would have given them Divine honor, they rent their clothes, Acts 14:14, which was wont to be done at the hearing of blasphemy, as appears in 2 Kings 18:37 and Mat. 26:65.

d Dan. 7:21; Rev. 11:7.

19 That is, the true believers and professors of the name of Christ, as was also said previously of those two witnesses in Rev. 11:7.

20 Namely, by corporal victories, as well against particular believers by slaying them, as against their assemblies, by troubling and wasting them, whereof the books of martyrs are full of examples. Howbeit, believers have always overcome the dragon and the beast according to the spirit, as the faithful souls glory and sing praises in Rev. 12:11, and as is testified of them in this same chapter, verse 8.

21 Namely, by the just judgment of God, Who sent a power of errors among those nations, that they would believe the lie and all be condemned who believe not the truth, 2 Thes. 2:10, 11.

22 That is, who are not chosen of God in Christ, as Paul speaks, Eph. 1:4. See similar phrase in Luke 10:20, and Rev. 20:12.

e Exod. 32:33; Philip. 4:3; Rev. 3:5; 20:12; 21:27.

23 Some join these last words, from the foundations of the world, to the previous words, whose names are not written in the book of life, as Paul speaks of our election in Christ, Eph. 1:4. Others join them to the word, 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 His believers; and He was slain from the beginning in God’s decree, in God’s promises and in the faith of the elect, as is said of Abraham, John 8:56, and of Moses, Heb. 11:26.

f Rev. 17:8.

24 Gr. if any man gathers captivity, that is, a multitude of captives. This is added here for a conclusion, and for the comfort of believers, namely, either that unrighteous men shall receive like recompense in this world, as oftentimes happens; or at least in the world to come, when they, with the beast and the false prophet, shall be cast into the lake of fire, and be killed with eternal death by the spiritual sword of Christ, which proceeds out of His mouth, as is said hereafter in Rev. 19:20.

g Gen. 9:6; Mat. 26:52.

h Rev. 14:12.

25 It is without controversy among all interpreters that the ascent of this other beast out of the earth, who in the shape of the first beast sets himself up as a prince of the world, and as God upon earth, signifies the antichrist, as was shown thus far, but now comes forth as a false prophet, who deceives the entire world by his idolatry and false doctrine, as shall appear by the sequel.

i Rev. 11:7.

26 That is, he carries himself in outward show and in his profession, as if he were the vicar of Christ, of the Lamb of God, and a servant of all the servants of Christ.

27 That is, introduces doctrines, which the Scripture calls doctrines of devils, 1 Tim. 4:1. See also Mat. 7:15; 2 Cor. 11:14. But some understand hereby the power which he takes upon himself of shutting and opening heaven.

28 That is, he persecutes and afflicts the church of Christ by his spiritual power, by his instruments of his spiritual hierarchy, by his inquisitions, decrees, excommunications from the society of his church and the like; as he also does by his secular instruments, by bloody decrees, and punishments with sword and fire.

j Rev. 19:20.

29 That is, worldly and earthly people, who are placed over against those who are written in heaven, and in the book of the Lamb.

k verse 3.

30 Namely, which the apostle calls signs and lying wonders, 2 Thes. 2:9, because they are partly invented and are partly done by Satan for the confirmation of lies.

l 2 Thes. 2:9; Rev. 16:14.

31 Hereby is suitably understood the lightning of his excommunications and banishments, whereby he not only affrights the common people, but also kings and princes, and entire kingdoms and republics, as is known from history; though some similar wonders have been highly boasted by some of the Romish bishops.

m Deut. 13:1; Mat. 24:24; Rev. 16:14; 19:20.

32 This is understood by some of the worship of images in general, which all those, who are under the antichrist, must accept, as the subjects of the king of Babel, Dan. 3:1, were constrained to worship the image of the king of Babel upon pain of being burnt by fire. But it is fittingly understood by others of his spiritual dominion, which he, by his clergy has erected in all religious courts, as they call them; which all nations everywhere were constrained to worship as the image of their sovereign and submit themselves to it; upon which the following characteristics of this beast do suit very well.

33 They, who understand this of the worship of images, apply it to the images by which Satan (as he did unto Eve by the serpent) sometimes spoke; or by which their clergy have invented, that the saints, who are represented by them, also have spoken, as several examples have been found in their legends to bring thereby more credit and life to this idolatrous worship. Others apply it to the privileges of the forenamed religious courts, and their inquisitions, whereby they are dreadful unto small and great, and whereby they have persecuted very many to death, who will not acknowledge their power, and follow their idolatry, and caused them to die by the hands of the authorities.

n Rev. 19:20.

34 This is suitably understood of their chrisma or extreme unction, whereby everyone must be marked on the forehead in their sacrament of confirmation, which they prefer above the baptism of Christ; as also their clergy, in taking their orders, are anointed and marked in their heads, hands and fingers in like manner, which marks they call indelible characters, and without which they may not distribute their spiritual merchandise, neither trade and converse among other men in peace.

o Rev. 19:20.

35 That is, the profession, that they are Roman Catholics or good papists, whom they hold to be the head of the church, and who is infallible in his doctrine and traditions.

p Rev. 14:11.

36 That is, attached to the Latin or Romish church, which performs her most important worships in Latin, and forces also upon her followers to make their prayers in Latin, although they do not understand what they say. Which name Romish or Latin discloses this number of his name, as follows.

q Rev. 17:9.

37 That is, a number which is counted by the letters of the name of a man, or of an order of men after the Hebrew or Greek manner, which use the letters of their alphabet to express a number. And though many expositions are made about it, yet the most ancient and most probable of all, is the exposition of Irenæus, who lived shortly after the time of this apostle, about two hundred years, who applies this to the word lateinos, wherein the number 666 is found. Which agrees very well with the thing, since the Pope pretends to be the head of the Latin church, will have the worship service to be performed in the Latin tongue, and will have the old Latin translation of the Bible to be held authentic.