Untitled Treatise on Revelation (section 1.3)

No 18. PROP. I. The Seales & wthwithin yethe seventh Seale yethe Trumpets are distributions of time wchwhich succeed one another orderly wthwithout any interruption or interfering.

This Proposition follows from yethe Rule because in yethe vision as it appeared to StSaint Iohn the seales were opened & yethe Trumpets sounded one after another in order & yethe contents of every seale & Trumpet are in this book described in yethe same order wthwithout any interfering or ~~intervall~~ interruption. And farther as an indication of yethe b immediate consequences of opening that seale. ffor as soon as it is opened the Trumpets are given to yethe seven Angels in order to their sounding.

I said ytthat yethe Seales & Trumpets are described after one another wthwithout any real interruption: but this is to be understood wthwith this limitation that yethe seventh chapter be esteemed as a Parenthesis between yethe sixt & seventh Seal; & yethe tenth chapter & 13 first verses of yethe Eleventh also a Parenthesis between yethe sixt & seventh Trumpet. ffor these were inserted into yethe continued narration of yethe Seals & Trumpets for a singular reason to be explained hereafter, & ~~are synchronall to yethe seventh seal & therefore~~ make no more then a verball interruption of their continuity. This I shall have occasion to shew at large in yethe 17 18 & 19 Propositions, & at present ~~let it~~ it may suffice to signify onely concerning their beginnings & endings ytthat yethe synchronism of yethe end of those For it is manifest that the things declared from ch 10.1 to ch 11.13 ~~wthwith yethe end of~~ end together wthwith yethe sixt Trumpet ~~is manifest by these ~~words~~ annexed words~~ becaus at the end of them is added: The second wo is past & behold yethe third wo cometh quickly. And so yethe ~~synchronism of yethe beginnings of yethe 7th & 8th chapters is manifest from hence, that~~ seventh seale manifestly begins together wthwith those things described in the seventh chapter becaus yethe hurting of yethe Earth & yethe Sea & yethe Trees wchwhich was immediately to follow yethe sealing of yethe saints ch 7.3 was put in execution at yethe sounding of yethe Trumpets; the Earth & yethe Trees being hurt in yethe first Trumpet & yethe Sea in yethe second: ~~And~~ & therefore yethe sealing of yethe saints must immediately precede yethe first Trumpet & so be coincident wthwith yethe time of incense. And indeed yethe stilness of yethe winds during yethe sealing, & yethe silence in heaven during yethe incense, what els should they signify by their mutuall resemblance but the coincidence of these times? For by yethe silence is to be understood a suspension of those noises wchwhich followed the time of incense, that is of yethe voices & thundrings & Trumpets wchwhich is as much as to say a suspension of wars (see Prop 4) & yethe stillnes of yethe winds signify the same thing Def 52. But * * these have o plain in yethe Proposition refer

These theses are collateral wthwith yethe seven seals & & so make no intrruption.

I had thought while command between yethe ~~judgments~~ plagues of yethe 4th & 5t Trumpets by yethe flying of the Angel through heaven & crying Wo, & between yethe plagues of yethe sixt & seventh is this expression: Thethe second wo is past & behold yethe third wo cometh quickly: ffor these intervalls, as they were requisite to distinguish between yethe cardinall revolutions, so ~~they~~ being inconsiderably short they may be esteemed connexions of yethe Trumpets & referred each to yethe time of yethe precedent Trumpet extended so much beyond its plague.

PROP IV. The Calamities wchwhich follow upon sounding yethe Trumpets, are all by War.

This yethe very soundings of yethe Trumpets imply, as being so many Alarms to war. But I shall run over the particulars.

At the first Trumpet the ~~Hail & F~~ Blood mingled wthwith yethe Hail & Fire, at yethe second Vial yethe sea becoming blood as of a dead man & every thing dying in it, & at yethe third Vial the ffountains becoming blood & god's giving them blood to drink because they had shed yethe blood of his saints, are ~~sufficient~~ manifest indications of war. For none of this bloodshed can be by persecution of yethe saints becaus these plagues are termed yethe Vials of yethe wrath of God & so to be inflicted upon evill men, as is also exprest in yethe pouring out of yethe first & third.

Also at yethe fourth Trumpet or Vial yethe smiting of yethe Sun Moon & stars, signifies yethe overthrow of some King or Kingdom by Def 44 & 45, & so implies war.

And in all these four Trumpets there is also an impression of war by fire & burning. In yethe first there is fire mixed wthwith yethe hail & blood, in yethe second a mountain burning wthwith fire, in yethe third a Star burning as it were a Lamp, & in yethe fourth power is given to yethe sun to scorch men with fire: & this figure of fire & burning signifies war by Def 48 & 49

The wars of these four trumpets are also signified by yethe four winds in chap 7.1, of wchwhich we shall have occasion to speak in Prop 15.

Moreover at yethe fift Trumpet there arose Locusts like horses prepared to battel wthwith faces like men (i.e Horsmen) & Breastplates as of Iron. And the sound of their wings was as of Chariots & Horses running to Battel.

At the sixt there were let loos four Kings wthwith an Army of horsmen wthwith Breastplates & license to kill men.

And at yethe seventh the Beast wthwith yethe Kings of yethe Earth were gathered together against him that sate on yethe hors & against his Army. &And there followed a great Hail wthwith thundrings & lightnings & a great shaking: wchwhich are yethe singular impressions of a great Battel by Def 51 & 53

How the severall parts of yethe Apocalyps are to be connected one with another & so disposed that they may become one continued narration of things to succeed one another in order, I shall indeavour to explain by the following Propositions.

PROP. II. The seven Vials of wrath described in Chap 15 & 16 are the same with yethe Plagues or woes of the seven Trumpets in Chap 8, 9, 10, 11.

This will appear by the following comparison of each Vial with each Trumpet.

I. Chap 8. v 7. And the first Angel sounded & there followed hail & fire mingled with blood, & they were cast upon yethe earth, & the third part of the trees were burnt up & all green gras was burnt up. Chap 16. v 2. And the first Angel – poured out his Vial upon the earth, & there fell a noysome & grievous sore upon the men wchwhich had yethe mark of yethe beast & upon them wchwhich worshiped his Image.

Here the hail & fire mingled with blood wchwhich were cast upon the earth answers to yethe Vial poured out upon yethe earth. And the trees & grass wchwhich were burnt up answer to yethe men wchwhich were infected with yethe noysom & grievous sore. ffor trees & grass in visions are used to signify men of high & low degree. Def Yet it is to be noted that notwithstanding this external resemblance of this Trumpet & Vial their interpretation is somthing different.

II. Ch 8. v 8, 9. And yethe second Angel sounded, & as it were a great mountain burning wthwith fire was cast into the Sea & the third part of yethe Sea became blood. And the third part of yethe creatures wchwhich were in the sea and had life died, & the third part of yethe ships were destroyed. Ch 16.3. And yethe second Angel poured out his Vial upon the Sea, & it became as the blood of a dead man, & every living soul died in the sea.

Ch.2 III. Ch 8.10, 11. And yethe third Angel sounded & there fell a great starr from heaven burning as it were a Lamp, & it fell upon yethe third part of yethe rivers, & upon yethe fountains of waters. And the name of the Star is called Wormwood, & yethe third part of yethe waters became Wormwood, & many men died of yethe waters because they were made bitter Ch 16.4, 5, 6. And the third Angel poured out his Vial upon the Rivers & fountains of waters, & they became blood. And I heard yethe Angel of yethe waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, — For they have shed the blood of saints & Prophets & thou hast given them blood to drink. IIII. Ch 8.12. And the fourth Angel sounded, & the third part of the sun was smitten. Ch 16.8. And the fourth Angel poured out his Vial upon the Sun. V. Ch 9.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. And the fift Angel sounded, – & the Sun, & the Air were darkned by reason of yethe smoak of the Pit. And there came out of yethe Smoke Locusts – & it was commanded them ytthat they should hurt – onely those men which have not yethe seale of God in their foreheads. — And their torment was as the torment of a Scorpion when he striketh a man. And in those days men shall seek death & shall not find it. Ch 16.10, 11. And yethe fift Angel poured out his Vial on the seat of yethe Beast, & his kingdom was full of darkness, & they gnawed their tongues for pain, & blasphemed God, becaus of their pains & sores.

The parallelism of yethe second third & fourth Trumpet & Vial is manifest. And in this fift there is darkness in both cases; & the seat of yethe beast corresponds to the men wchwhich had not yethe mark of God in their foreheads; & the pains & sores to yethe stingings of Serpents wthwith wchwhich men were exceedingly tormented but not killed.

VI. Ch. 9.13, 14, 16. And the sixt Angel sounded, & I heard a voicesaying – loos yethe four Angels wchwhich Ch 16.12. And yethe sixt Angel poured out his Vial upon the great River Eu

phrates are bound in the great River Euphrates. — And yethe number of yethe army of the horsmen were two hundred thousand thousand. phrates: and the water thereof was dryed up ytthat the way of the kings of yethe east might be prepared.

Here the four Angels bound at Euphrates with their Army manifestly answers to yethe kings of the East at yethe same river.

VII. Ch 10. 7. In the days of yethe voice of yethe seventh Angel when he shall begin to sound the mystery of God shall be finished. – Ch 11.15. And the seventh Angel sounded & there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of orour Lord & of his Christ, & he shall reign for ever & ever. Ch 16.17 And the seventh Angel poured out his vial into yethe air & there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven from the Throne saying, It is done. Vers 14, This called the great day of God almighty. ~~vers 15.~~ being yethe day of wchwhich orour Saviour vers. 15 gives this warning, Behold I come as a Thief. vers 19 And there were lightnings & voyces & thundrings, & an earthquake, & great haile. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ vers 18 And the nations were angry. – ~~And the time is come that thou shouldst destroy them which destroyeddestroy the earth~~. vers 13, And the tenth part of the City fell. Vers 18, And thethy ~~time~~ wrath is come & the time of the dead that they should be judged & that thou shouldst – destroy them wchwhich destroy the Earth. Vers 18 And there were voices & thunders & lightnings; & there was a great earthquake –v~~ers~~ 21, And there fell upon men a great haile out of heaven: – v. 11 And men blasphemed God because of yethe plague of the haile. vers 19 And the Cities of yethe nations fell, & great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her yethe cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

Thus you see the agreement between the plagues of the seven Vials & the woes of yethe seven Trumpets is throughout very punctual; so that I think there can be no doubting of their sameness, especially if it be further considered that the filling of the Censer with fire of yethe Altar & casting it on yethe Earth (Ch 8.5) might be a type of the pouring out of these Vials by the Angel wchwhich came out of the Temple, & so introduced on purpose to ~~to insinuate the connexion of these severall parts of the Apocalyps by yethe resemblance of the actions.~~

And as yethe censer may be a representative of yethe Vials, so the sealed saints with which yethe Prophesy of yethe Trumpets is introduced (ch 7.3) corresponds to them that had gotten yethe victory over the beastBeast & over his Image &c. wthwith which the other Prophesy of yethe Vials is introduced, ch 15.2. ffor yethe sealed Saints were contemporary with yethe Beast (as shall be shewed hereafter) & consequently were the same with those that got the victory over him.

~~Object. The IIPlagues of the Vials are called the seven last Plagues, ch 15.1. And therefore they succede yethe woes of the Trumpets.~~

Resp. It follows onely that they succeed the first six seales whose calamities of warr desolation & persecution were the first plagues prophesied of in this book, & these the calamities of the last seal. For with respect to that seale they may be properly called the last plagues, especiallly since there was to be none after them. Or els it might be becaus they were to happen in those ages wchwhich yethe Apostels called yethe last times.

Vers 19. And there were lightnings & voyces & thundrings & an Earthquake & great hail. — v 18. And the nations were angry. vers 18. And there were voices & & thunders & lightnings; & there was a great earthquake v: 21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven — & men blasphemed God becaus of the Plague of the hail.Vers 13 And the tenth part of the City fell. Vers 18 And thy wrath is come & the time of the dead that they should be judged, & that thou shouldst — destroy them wchwhich corrupt the earth.Vers 19: And the cities of yethe nations great city was divided into three parts, & the cities of yethe nations fell, & great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of yethe wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

I have here put a parallelism between the falling of the tenth part of the city, & the falling of the cities of the nations, not as if they were yethe same, but because I take yethe former which concludes the sixt Trumpet to be an immediate ~~prodromus~~ fore-runner of the latter wherewith the seventh Vial begins.

And thus you see the agreement between the plagues of ~~the seven~~ the seven vials & ~~yethe woes of the seven~~ Trumpets is throughout very punctuall, so that I think there can be no doubting of their sameness coincidence., ~~especially if it be further considered~~ I may add ~~that~~ that their Introductions also ~~very much~~ resemble one another. For yethe sealed saints wthwith wchwhich yethe Prophesy of the Trumpets is introduced (ch 7.3) correspondscorrespond to them that ~~had gotten~~ get the victory over the Beast & & over his Image &c wthwith wchwhich yethe other Prophesy of yethe Vials is introduced ch 15.2 ffor yethe sealed saints were contemporary wthwith yethe Beast as shall be shewed hereafter, & consequently were yethe same wthwith those that got yethe victory over him. Also yethe Vision of offering incense at yethe Altar before yethe Angels began to sound, corresponds has some resemblance to yethe vision of yethe Temple appearing opened in heaven & filled with smoke from yethe glory of God, out of wchwhich yethe seven angels came to pour out yethe Vials. ~~Also It may be al~~ And perhaps yethe filling of the Censer wthwith fire of the Altar & casting it on the Earth (ch 8.5) ~~seems to be~~ may through yethe resemblance of yethe actions ~ ~ ~ ~~may~~ be conceived as it were a type of yethe pouring out of these vials by the Angels wchwhich came out of the Temple. ~~& is introduced ~~on purpose~~ to insinuate yethe connexion of these severall parts of yethe Apocalyps by the resemblance of the actions.~~ And lastly in that ye Vials are called yethe seven last Plagues they suit well wthwith yethe Trumpets wchwhich are yethe plagues of the last Seale & inflicted on those wicked ages wchwhich yethe Prophets & Apostles considered as yethe last times.

PROP. III. The seven Thunders also ~~most~~ (ch. 10.3) most probably denote the same thing with the seven Trumpets.

That they are not a series of things conteined in yethe sixt Trumpet is probable, as well because they are omitted in the sixt Vial, as becaus the little book & other circumstances of yethe tenth chapter denote a regress of Prophesy. And if there be a regress, then there is no Epocha so proper for them as that of the Trumpets: especially if it be considered, that, as yethe Censer is a Type of the Vials of wrath, so the ensuing voices & thunderings (ch 8.5) may be a type of the voices of these seven thunders.

And perhaps the reason why the things wchwhich the thunders uttered are not declared, is because they are sufficiently declared in the TruptetsTrumpets & Vials. And that these Thunders are5 are notwithstanding introduced may probably be to make the description of the Beast harmonize with his number 666. For 'tis not probaleprobable that they should be introduced for no end, & I cannot yet see any unless to make up this harmony, wchwhich consists in yethe tripple repetition of his description by the Trumpets Vials & Thunders, under the first six of which his reign is comprehended.

PROP. ~~III.~~ V The fals Prophet mentioned in chap 16 & 19, is the same with the two horned beastBeast in chap 13.

This is evident by the agreement of their descriptions. ffor ch 13.14, the two horned Beast is said to deceive them that dwell on the earth by means of yethe miracles wchwhich he had power to do in yethe sight of yethe beast, saying that they should make an Image to yethe Beast wchwhich had the wound by a sword & did live. And ch 19.20, the fals Prophet is said to have wrought miracles before yethe Beast, with wchwhich he deceived them that – worshipped his Image. Which descriptions sufficiently convince their sameness.

But further, as in ch 12 & 13 the two horned Beast is described together with yethe Dragon & ten horned Beast, so ch 16.13, instead of yethe two horned Beast, the fals Prophet is recconed with yethe Dragon & ten horned Beast. Which argues it to be but another name of yethe same thing given upon yethe account of its lying wonders, to distinguish it from the ten horned Beast wchwhich in yethe 14th & following chapters is eminently stiled the Beast. And hence it appeares why StSaint Iohn never speaks of Beasts in yethe plural number, as in some places he should have done had not one of the Beasts been signified by the name of the fals Prophet.

PROP. IVI. The ten horned Beasts in chap 13 & 17 are yethe same.

This is evident also by the agreement of their descriptions. ffor both of them have seven heads & ten horns. On yethe hornes of one are ten crowns to denote that they are ten Kings ch 13.1: And yethe ten horns of yethe other are also ten Kings ch 17.12. ✝ ✝ The one was a a. ἐσφαγμένην εἰς θάνατον wounded to death. ch 13.3 slain wthwith a sword & b b. Ὁ ἔχει τὴν πληγὴν της μαχαίρας, καὶ ἔζησε . Qui habet vulnus ensis & vixit vers 14. i.e Qui habet vulnus jam sanatum et revixit. Non enim dicit Qui habet et vivit neqꝫque qui habuit et vixit sed verba in diverso tempore posita sunt ut ἔζησε ad ~~momentum~~ initium restitutæ vitæ referatur dum ἔχει indefinitè respicit omne tempus post acceptum vulnus. revived, yethe wound of his c c. ἡ πληγη του θανάτου αυτου. vers. 12 death being healed: the other is called yethe beast wchwhich was & d is not & shall ascend out of yethe bottomless pit. The one is said to have upon his heads yethe name of Blasphemy ch 13.1; & the other to be full of yethe names of blasphemy ch 17.3. The one succeeds yethe Dragon in his seat which persecuted yethe woman in yethe wilderness ch 13.2, & consequently is also in yethe wilderness; & so is yethe other in yethe wilderness ch 17.3. Of one it is said that power was given him over all kindreds & tongues & nations ch 13.7, & of yethe other ytthat yethe ten Kings give their power & strength to the beast, & ytthat yethe waters where the whore sitteth are peoples & multitudes & nations & tongues, ch 17.13, 15. Of one that all that dwell upon yethe earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life of yethe Lamb slain from yethe foundation of yethe world ch 13.8, & of yethe other that they that dwell on yethe earth whose names are not written in yethe book of life from yethe foundation of yethe world, shall wonder when they behold him ch 17.8. Of one that he with the kings of yethe earth & their Armies shall be gathered together to make war against him that sat on the hors (i.e. yethe king of righteousness whose name is yethe word of God ch 19.11, 12, 13) & against his army; & that he (i.e. he whose mark was received & image worshipped ch 19.20 shall be cast into yethe lake of fire shall be taken (together with yethe fals Prophet wchwhich wrought miracles before him with wchwhich he deceived them ytthat had received yethe beast's mark & worshipped his image,) & ~~to be~~ cast into the lake of fire ch 19.19, 20: & of yethe other that the kings wchwhich give their strength to the beast shall make war with the Lamb & he shal overcome them, ch 17.13. And lastly the destruction of both these beasts is at yethe same time, namely at yethe beginning of7of the seventh Trumpet. ffor by comparing ch 19.19, 20, wthwith ch 16.13, 14, 15, 16, it appears ytthat yethe agents of the Dragon beast & fals Prophet gathered the nations to the battle of yethe great day of God against that time when the seventh Vial (which, by Prop: 1, is contemporary with the seventh Trumpet) was ready to be poured out, & that at the pouring of it out they were overthrown, as is exprest by the falling of the cities of the nations ch 16.19 & by the taking of yethe beast & fals Prophet & slaying the rest ch 19.20. And so the beast wchwhich ascendeth out of yethe bottomless pit ch 11.7, that is yethe other Beast on wchwhich the whore sitteth ch 17.8, this Babylonian Beast shall war against yethe two Witnesses at yethe end of their prophesying & kill them, & consequently rejoyce wthwith yethe nations till their resurrection, that is till about the end of the second Wo ch 11.12, 13, 14. & ~~consequently~~ so continue till ~~about~~ yethe sounding of yethe seventh Trumpet (the great City being faln ch 11.13,) when their kingdomes must become the kingdomes of Christ Ch 11.15. And great Babylon come in remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath ch 16.19. Both these Beasts therefore perish together at yethe sounding of yethe seventh Trumpet, & so being contremporarycontemporary must be one & yethe same beast, – contemporary, universal, & alike in in all their qualities & actions must needs be yethe same. Yea Babylon that great city (ytthat is the Whore of Babylon ch 17.5, 18 & 18.2) is in chap 14.8, 9 joyned to that beast whose Image is worshipped & mark received. And so again in chap 16.13, 19: ~~her judgment~~ wthwith ~~wthwith that beast wchwhich ~~was~~ is related to yethe Dragon that is wthwith yethe same beast. And~~ on wchwhich the yethe 17th chap is but a comment. unless there ~~will~~ be supposed two contemporary Empires both wchwhich are alike in all respects & at yethe same time ruling over all kindreds & nations even to the number of ten kings, gather them to battle against yethe Lord & are overthrown together. Which if it were so, the two Empires or Beasts would have been spoken of in the plural number wherever this great battel against yethe Lord is described, as in ch 16 & 19. Besides that this is absolutely repugnant to theirthe universality of both described above.

PROP. VII. The two horned Beast ch 13 is yethe same wthwith yethe Whore of Babylon ch 17.

This also appeares by the agreement of their description. ffor one is a fals Prophet having two hornes like the Lamb but speaking as yethe Dragon & deceiving them ytthat dwell on the earth by meanes of pretended miracles, ch 13.11, 14: the other Mystery the mother of Harlots & abominationstions of the earth, making yethe inhabitants of yethe earth drunk wthwith yethe wine of her fornication ch 17.5, 2, & deceving all nations with her sorceries ch 18.23. The one giving life to yethe Image of yethe beast that it should speak & cause ytthat as many as would not worship yethe Image of the Beast should be killed ch 13.15; & the other drunken with yethe blood of yethe saints & with yethe blood of yethe martyrs of Iesus ch 17.6, & in her was found yethe blood of Prophets & saints & of all that were slain upon yethe earth ch 18. 4. The one exerciseth all yethe power of yethe first beast before him wchwhich was over all kindreds & tongues & nations, & this power is exercised not by force of arms but by deceiving men by fals miracles ch 13.12, 7, 14; & ch 16.14: & the other reigneth over the kings of the Earth & sitteth upon peoples & multitudes & nations & tongues, & that not by constraint but but their voluntary submission ch 17.8, 15, 13, 17. They are destroyed both together, the two horned Beast or fals Prophet at yethe same time wthwith yethe ten horned Beast ch 19.20, wchwhich was shown to be at yethe sounding of yethe seventh Trumpet; & the Whore of Babylon at yethe pouring out of the seventh Vial, ch 16.19. ~~or at the same time as her Beast. For yethe ten Kings hate her & burn her wthwith fire when they cease to give their kingdom to her Beast ch 16 17.16, 17. That is, when the Beast is dissolved.~~ They both denote a degenerate apostate christian church; the fals Prophet by a Synecdoche, putting a part for yethe whole; & yethe whore in opposition to yethe woman in the Wilderness wchwhich is Christ's Spouse yethe true Church. And lastly both are alike conjoyned wthwith the same ten horned beast: the two horned beast being said to exercise his power ch 13.12, & yethe whore to sit upon him ch 17.3. All wchwhich ~~is more then enough~~ I think is sufficient to prove their sameness.

Yet thus much is to be noted, that although these names signify yethe same thing, yet it is in divers respects. In respect of its doctrin & lying miracles it is a fals prophet & in respect of its Idolatry

Object. The horns of a Beast denote the number of kingdomes or Dynasties wchwhich are combined into one Empire represented by the body of the beastBeast, as is manifest in yethe visions of Daniel. How then can the two horned Beast wchwhich must therefore signify a combination of two Dynasties

PROP. VI X. VIII. The Dragon & Beast are yethe Kingdome whose symptomes are declared in yethe Seales & Trumpets, whereof yethe Dragon begins wthwith yethe Seales & yethe Beast wthwith yethe Trumpets.

To make this appear I shall lay down yethe follwing particulars. 1 That yethe Dragon & ~~also yethe~~ Beast represent Kingdoms ~~or els an aggregate of Kingdoms formed into one body politiqꝫque wchwhich may therefore be considered as one Kingdom.~~ For besides that this is their usuall signification in Dreames & Visions Def 31 & 32; the Dragon is said to have seven crowns upon his heads ch 12.3 & to give his power & seat & great authority to yethe Beast ch 13.2; And yethe Beast to have power over all Kindreds & Tongues & Nations ch 13.7, & wthwith yethe Kings of yethe Earth & their armies to make war against him ytthat sate on yethe hors & against his army ch 19.19, & to have 10 crowns upon his horns ch 13.1 & his heads & horns to be Kings ch 17.10, 12. All wchwhich circumstances are sufficient indications of their being Kingdoms.

2 The Beast ~~succeeds yethe Dragon in one & yethe~~ falls in wthwith yethe latter part of yethe Dragon so as to make but one & yethe same kingdom with him. Or at least an aggregate wchwhich is to be considered but as one. For the Dragon & Beast are worshipped together ch 13.4. & coexist at their latter end ch 16.13. ~~For it is said that~~ ~~yethe Dragon & beast coexist at their latter end ch 16.13. &~~ & yethe Dragon gave him his power & his seat & great authority, ytthat is by combining wthwith him. ch 13.2. And in ch 17.11 yethe Beast is recconed but yethe eighth King & of yethe seven, ytthat is of yethe seven Kings or Heads of yethe Dragon. And so being referred to yethe Dragons heads as if coincident wthwith yethe last of them, they must both together constitute but one & yethe same Kingdom but yet by yethe reason of some notable change distinguished into two unlike successive parts whereof yethe first is yethe Dragon alone, & yethe last yethe Beast & Dragon together. ~~See Prop. 14~~

2. The Beast is a kingdom derived out of yethe Dragon & coextended to yethe latter part of him. For yethe Dragon gave power to yethe Beast ch 13.2. He gave him his power & his seat & great authority.

2. But yet yethe Dragon did not give cease himself: for yethe Beast & Dragon are worshipped together ch. 13.4 & coexist at their latter end ch 16.13. And in ch 17.11 yethe Beast is recconned yethe eigth King & of yethe seven that is of yethe seven Kings or Heads of yethe Dragon, & therefore not after them all so as to be a quite different head, but coincident wthwith yethe last.

3 The Beast is coextended – – – 3. The Beast is coextended to all yethe Trumpets. For at yethe pouring out of yethe first Vial there fell a grievous sore upon them that had yethe mark of yethe Beast; & therefore he was flicted. ffor we have shown that the Beast is overthrown at the beginning of yethe seventh Trumpet or Vial. And at yethe pouring out of yethe first Vial, there fell a grievous sore upon them that had yethe mark of the Beast & worshipped his Image. And so the wo of yethe fift Trumpet is inflicted on the men that have not yethe seale of God in their foreheads ch 9.4. Who those are will appear by comparing it with yethe fift Vial wchwhich is said to be poured out upon yethe seat of the Beast. So that all men wchwhich have not yethe seale of God in their foreheads, that is all those for whose wickedness & on whome God inflicts the punishments of these trumpets, are recconed for members of yethe Beast.

4. The Dragon is that part of yethe Kingdom whose symptomes are described at yethe opening of the seales. ffor since yethe Beast was in being at yethe first Vial, the Dragon wchwhich preceded him must also precede yethe Vials & syncronise wthwith the seales & so be that part of yethe Kingdom whose Kings & other symptomes are described at their opening.

5. The common period of the ~~beast &~~ Dragon & Beast is coincident wthwith yethe common period of yethe Seales & Trumpets. I think this is reasonable because yethe parts of yethe Prophesy will thereby best agree with one another. ffor as of the whole series of Prophesy exhibited by the seales & Trumpets, the most eminent distribution is into two parts, the Seales & the Trumpets; & of yethe series of Prophesy exhibited by the Dragon & Beast, the most eminent distribution is also into two parts, the Dragon & Beast: so the most eminent distribution of the subjects of those prophesies must be into two parts or unlike successions of things answering to yethe parts of the prophesies. And therefore since both Prophesies relate to one common subject or kingdom as was newly shown, their parts by agreeing to yethe same parts of that ~~subject~~ kingdom must synchronise with one another.

** ** The next action is yethe persecution of yethe Woman by the Dragon, & her flight into yethe wilderness, & this must begin wthwith the next seale. If it begin sooner it will interfere with the nextSixt seale wherewith it is utterly inconsistent. ffor during that seale, the Church is represented in ~~the most flourishing~~ a victorious & triumphant state, ~~so as to strike her enemies with exceeding terrour~~ over yethe Dragon. And she cannot be at the same time both triumphant over her enemies & ~~so much~~ persecuted by them so as to fly into yethe Wilderness It cannot begin therefore sooner then the seventh seale, & there is no ~~reason~~ room for it to begin later becaus the Beast is in being at the first ~~Trumpet &~~ Vial ch 16.2. & consequently at the first Trumpet, & his rise is later then the beginning of this Persecution. Wherefore it must begin with the seventh seale. And with the contents of that it suits most punctually. For the prayers of the saints offered up to God, & the contemporary sealing of yethe servants of God (Prop 17) & the commission of the four Angels to hurt yethe earth & yethe Sea so sooon as they were sealed, are all arguments of evil times then beginning, wherein the saints are oppressed, & Gods judgments shortly to ensue upon their enemies for oppressing them. And this alone is might be enough to manifest that the triumph of yethe Church ends wthwith yethe sixt seale & consequently that the persecution of yethe Dragon begins with the seventh.

Wherefore since the Beast was in being at the first Trumpet & yethe Dragon persecuted yethe Woman ~~between~~ in the space between that & the beginning of the seventh seale it remains that their common period be coincident with yethe common period of yethe seales & Trumpets: I mean yethe period of yethe Dragon so far as he precedes the Beast & of yethe seales so far as they precede the Trumpets. For yethe Trumpets are conteined within the seventh seale, & yethe Dragon does not wholly perish at yethe rise of yethe Beast, but becomes a member of him as shall be shewed hereafter.

I suppose it will not now be doubted whither the Dragon be 10 then in being; that is, at yethe time of yethe first Trumpet. And I have shown above ytthat he wasis overthrown at yethe sounding of yethe seventh Trumpet. See yethe 5t particular following.

4 The Dragon is coextended to all yethe seales. For yethe latter part of him because coincident wthwith yethe Beast must fall in wthwith yethe Trumpets & consequently wthwith yethe seventh seale. And therefore yethe former part of him wchwhich precedes yethe Beast must also precede ytthat Seale & so fall in wthwith yethe other six

But for fuller manifestation of this particular, & ytthat it may appear how yethe Dragon is ytthat Kingdom whose symptomes are described in yethe seales, it will not be amiss to compare particularly yethe Prophesy of yethe Dragon wthwith yethe contents of yethe seales.

And first concerning yethe war wchwhich yethe Dragon made wthwith Michael & his Angels it is said that they overcame him by yethe blood of yethe Lamb, & by yethe word of their testimony, & they loved not their lives unto yethe death ch 12.11. Whereby it appears ytthat yethe Angels or souldiers ytthat warred wthwith him were yethe saints, & their weapons yethe blood of yethe Lamb & word of their testimony, & their courage that they loved not their lives unto yethe death, or that they exposed their lives freely for yethe sake of yethe gospel. And so this war was managed on yethe saints part by testifying yethe truth of yethe gospell, & on yethe Dragons part by persecuting & killing them for their testimony: whence he is called yethe accuser of yethe brethren wchwhich accused them before God day & night vers 10. And that this was no slight skirmish but a very earnest conflict is further exprest by yethe emphaticall repetition ytthat Michael & his angels fought against yethe Dragon, & yethe Dragon fought & his Angels. Now if we take a view of yethe seales to see where this persecution is described, we shall not find it before yethe fift seale, but there it is exprest most lively by yethe soules under yethe Altar of them that were slain for yethe word of God & for yethe testimony wchwhich they held, who cryed wthwith a loud voice saying: How long, O Lord, holy & true dost thou not judg & avenge our blood on them that dwell on yethe earth &c.

~~But for ffurther evidence it may not be amiss to compare the history of yethe Dragon with the contents of the seales.~~ And first concerning the war wchwhich the Dragon made wthwith Michael & his angels, it is said that they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, & by the word of their testimony and11 & they loved not their lives unto the death, ch 12.11. Whereby it appeares that the Angels or souldiers that warred with him were the saints, & their weapons yethe blood of the Lamb & word of their testimony, & their courage that they loved not their lives unto the death, or that they exposed their lives freely for the sake of the Gospel. And so this war was managed on the saints' part by testifying the truth of yethe Gospel, & on the Dragon's part by persecuting & killing them for their testimony: whence he is called the accuser of the Brethren wchwhich accused them before God day & night vers 10. And that this was no slight skirmish but a very earnest conflict is further exprest by the emphaticall repetition that Michael & his Angels fought against the Dragon, & the Dragon fought & his angels. Now if we take a view of the seales to see where this persecution is described, wee shal not find it before the fift seale, but there it is exprest most lively by the soules under the Altar of them that were slain for the word of God & for the testimony wchwhich they held, who cryed with a loud voice saying how long o Lord holy & true dost thou not judg & avenge our blood on them that dwel on yethe earth, &c And in the next ~~chapter~~ seale we have the event of this war as lively described by the smiting of the luminaries & powers of heaven & earth. ffor heaven in visions represents the throne or court of a King or other supreme Authority, the clouds his splendor & glory, the earth yethe inferior sort of people, the starrs the nobles, the Sun the supreme authority & the Moon the next in dignity. Thus in Ioseph's dreame the sun moon & stars signify his Father Mother & Brethren. And accordingly the ~~smiting~~ Earthquake & smiting of the Sun Moon Stars & heaven at yethe opening of the sixt seale will signify the terror of the people & overthrowing ~~of yethe kingdom~~ or subduing of that Kingdom wchwhich the Prophesy relates to. Which interpretation is not onely agreable to yethe use of

The next thing is yethe event of yethe war wchwhich was ytthat the Dragon & his angels were not able to witstandwithstand, ~~but~~ neither was their placceplace found any more in heaven. But yethe great Dragon was cast out ytthat old Serpent called yethe Devil & Sathan wchwhich deceived yethe whole world, he was cast out into yethe earth & his angels were cast out wthwith him. Now by this victory we are not to understand the subversion of any temporal dominion but a victory of Christianity over heathenism, as is manifest because it was obteined by the blood of yethe Lamb & by testimony of his Martyrs, & also because yethe Dragon wchwhich was cast out was cast out is called ytthat old serpent yethe Devil & Sathan wchwhich deceiveth yethe whole world, & immediately after his being cast out a voice was heard in heaven saying: Now is come salvation & strength & yethe kingdom of orour God & yethe power of his Christ for yethe accuser of orour brethren is cast down wchwhich accused them before orour God day & night.

And this agrees to yethe next seale, where this great overthrow of yethe kingdom of Sathan is represented by yethe smiting of yethe Sun Moon & Stars, yethe great shaking, & yethe departure of yethe heavens. For these expressions universally signify yethe overthrow of kingdoms Def 44, 45, 51 & 3 And lestleast this should seem to respect yethe overthrow of any other kingdom then that of Sathan yethe whole Seale is spent in describing yethe ruin of Idolatry. For yethe stars of heaven falling unto yethe earth as figgs from a figg tree signify Idols falling down by Def 65 The Heavens departing as a scroll when it is rolled together signify yethe roofs & glory of ~~Idol-~~ their Temples cast down by Def 65 The moving of mountains & Islands out of their places signify yethe demolishing of their Temples & Altars by Def 8 & 19 And yethe kings of yethe earth & great men & rich men & chief captains & ~~every bond~~ mighty men, & every bond man & every free man hiding themselves in yethe Dens & in in yethe rocks of yethe Mountains & saying to yethe mountains & rocks Fall on us & hide us from yethe face of him that sitteth on yethe throne; these signify Idols of every degree & sort (whether they be worshipped by Kings or great men or rich men or ch captains or mighty men or bond or free) to be first hid & or shut up in their temples & then buried in yethe ruins ~~of their Temples.~~ thereof. Def 63 & 64. And lastly as a further indication ytthat this Seale is to be interpreted of a victory of christianity over yethe kingdom of Sathan it is added that they said: Hide us from yethe face of * * i.e. of God ch 4.2 him that sitteth on yethe throne & from yethe wrath of yethe Lamb for yethe great day of his wrath is come & who shall be able to stand. Which expressions seem borrowed from Isa 2.21 where in like manner speaking of Idols, he saith that they shall cast them to yethe Moles & to the Bats to go into yethe clefts of yethe rocks & into yethe holes of yethe ragged rocks for fear of yethe Lord & for yethe glory of his Majesty when he arriseth to shake terribly yethe earth.

But that yethe analogy between yethe contents of this Seale & yethe overthrow of yethe Kingdom of yethe Dragon may appear more fully: let yethe Dragon be compared to yethe sun wchwhich became black as sackcloth of hair Def 2 & his angels wchwhich together wthwith him were cast out of heaven into yethe earth, to yethe stars wchwhich fell from heaven to yethe earth as figgs from a figtree Def 2 & their being cast ἐις την γην into yethe earth, to yethe hiding of men in Dens & Rocks of mountains & saying to the RocksMountains & to the Rocks fall on us & yethe Heathen Church (if I may so call yethe zelous worshippers & defenders of Idolatry) to yethe Moon wchwhich became as blood Def 45 ffor yethe Dragon & his Church are related to one another as yethe church of christ to Christ ytthat is as a woman to her husband, & so may be signified by yethe Sun & Moon like Iacob & Rachel. Gen 37.10.

The next action is yethe persecution of yethe woman by the Dragon & her flight into yethe Wilderness. And this must begin wthwith the next seale. ffor it cannot begin sooner because yethe sixt seale is wholly taken up in casting down yethe Dragon & it begins not till after his casting down beis fully accomplished ch 12.13. Nor can it it begin later: ffor yethe Wo wchwhich in ch 12.12 was proclaimed against the the inhabitants of yethe earth & of yethe sea because yethe Devil was come down unto them to persecute yethe woman, began to be executed on yethe earth in yethe first Trumpet & on yethe Sea in yethe second. And therefore since God's judgments follow yethe sins of men, the persecution of yethe woman wchwhich caused these judgments must begin some little time at least before yethe Trumpets & so fall in wthwith yethe time of incence. And wthwith that it suits most punctually: For yethe prayers of yethe saints offered up together with yethe incense to God, & yethe contemporary sealing of yethe servants of God, & yethe comission of yethe four Angels to hurt yethe earth & yethe Sea so soon as they were sealed are all arguments of evill times then beginning wherein yethe saints are oppressed & Gods judgments shortly to ensue upon their enemies for oppressing them.

And hence we may understand why yethe narration of yethe seales is interrupted between yethe sixt & seventh seale by yethe interposition of yethe seventh chapter. For yethe designe of such an interruption must be to signify an end of yethe former state of things & yethe beginning of a new one by some grand revolution, & so it will most fitly agree to that cardinall period of time wchwhich concluded yethe reign of yethe Dragon in heaven & began yethe flight of yethe Woman into yethe wilderness. But of this more hereafter

The next action is ytthat as yethe DWoman fled into yethe Wilderness yethe Dragon cast out of his mouth water as a flood after her ytthat he might cause her to be carried away of yethe flood, band yethe Earth helped her & swallowed up yethe waters. Now for understanding this it must be considered ffirst that by yethe Earth is meant inhabitants of yethe Earth Def 4 namely of ytthat earth wchwhich was mentioned a little before wthwith yethe Sea to whonewhome yethe Devil came down vers 12. Secondly that by yethe waters are meant multitudes of people Def 5 & those inhabitants of yethe sea afforesaid ffor since they are cast out of yethe Dragons mouth they must be of his kingdom & consequently of yethe inhabitants of yethe earth & Sea. But not of the earth since that swallowed up these waters & besides it is inconsistent wthwith yethe analogy of yethe Vision where two sorts of people are distinguisht by yethe ~~earth &~~ names of Earth & sea, to represent those of yethe earth by water. These waters are therefore of the sea They are indeed compared onely to a flood ~~when~~ but that is in respect of their being cast out of yethe Dragons mouth ~~& not to yethe Sea; but that~~ & hinders not that they should be inhabitants of yethe sea since all waters originally proceed from thence. Thirdly whereas yethe woman was persecuted by yethe waters, & yethe earth helped her & swallowed up yethe waters, there is opposition & war signified between yethe earth & waters wthwith victory to yethe earth.

Now compare all this with yethe Trumpets & you will find yethe Analogy very full. For by Prop 4 the Trumpets are so many sucessive degrees of war wchwhich break out after yethe short peace during yethe stilness of the winds in the time of incense, & these wars falling heavy upon yethe 14 Earth in yethe first Trumpet & upon yethe waters in yethe second & third, the Earth & Waters will therefore be yethe parties concerned in these wars & so may well be supposed yethe two enemies at war wthwith one another whereof yethe earth is worsted in yethe first attempt but afterwards in yethe second & third Trumpet prevailes over yethe waters &, as it were, swallows them up in victory drying up them up so much that although they were a sea in yethe . ~~And to make~~ ~~yethe analogy more full it may be noted that yethe rivers wchwhich are hurt in yethe third Trumpet & yethe flood cast out of yethe Dragon's mouth are both called by yethe same name ποταμὸς.~~

The last action of yethe Dragon mentioned in this 12th chapter is that after this he was wrath wthwith yethe woman & went to make war wthwith yethe remnant of her seed wchwhich kept yethe commandments of God & have yethe testimony of Iesus Christ. And this being when there was left but a remnant of yethe seed of yethe woman, it must be understood of yethe times of greatest desolation, that is of yethe 42 Months when yethe woman was fully arrived into yethe wilderness & yethe witnesses prophesied in sackcloth: which I in Prop 16 I shall show to be in yethe 5t & 6t Trumpets.

And lastly at yethe end of this time it is recorded of yethe Dragon in chap 16 that out of his mouth & out of yethe mouth of yethe Beast & of yethe fals Prophet ~~shall~~ there went three unclean ~~froggs~~ spirits like ffroggs unto yethe kings of yethe earth & of yethe whole world to gather them to yethe battel of yethe great day of God Almighty. And this is ytthat great battel at yethe seventh Vial or ~~Seale~~ Trumpet at wchwhich yethe Beast & fals Prophet are taken & cast into yethe lake of fire, & yethe Dragon bound & cast into yethe bottomless pit ch 19.20 & 20.2.

Thus we have deduced yethe reign of yethe Dragon from yethe fift Seale to yethe last Trumpet. &And I suppose it will not now be doubted whither he be also synchronall to yethe four first seales, since it is not likely that yethe wars & other things there described (especially in yethe 2d & 4th seale) should relate to any other kingdom then that wchwhich ~~before~~ at before yethe battel wthwith Michael, & consequently ~~before~~ at before yethe fift seale, drew the third part of yethe stars of heaven wthwith his tayle & cast them to yethe earth, that is wchwhich (by Def 2 & 39) had then subdued yethe third part of yethe kings & Princes of yethe world wthwith his Armies. He is indeed represented as if he had ✝ ✝ had but newly done casting them down when he began ytthat battel; but he is not introduced rising out of yethe earth or sea like yethe two Beasts, but as preexistent wthwith yethe woman & Michael: wchwhich is intimation enough that he as well as yethe Woman & Michael was in being even before yethe writing of ~~yethe~~this ~~Apo~~ Prophesy.

Having run through yethe Analogy of yethe Prophesy of yethe Dragon to ytthat of yethe seales & Trumpets: it will not be amis to take notice of an objection that may arise about yethe signification of yethe Dragon, in ytthat I understand it one while of a kingdom & another while of that old Serpent yethe Devil. For yethe circumstances do manifestly require ytthat it be taken in both these significations, & yet to understand it in both will be no inconstancy if it be done wthwith mutuall respect to one another, that is, if it be understood indifferently either of such a Kingdom which doth yethe works of yethe Devil & is of a religion instituted by him, or of yethe Devil & his works wthwith respect to such a Kingdom as doth them. For this is nothing more then when a King is sometimes put for yethe person of a king & sometimes for his Kingdom; wchwhich in yethe sacred prophesies is not unusuall.

* Beast is more especially yethe Kingdom on wchwhich yethe plagues of yethe Trumpets & Vialls are For thus much is exprest in yethe first Vial where there fell a grievous sore on the men wchwhich had yethe mark of yethe Beast & worshipped his Image; & in yethe fift Vial wchwhich was poured upon the seat of the beast, so that his Kingdom became full of darknes; & in yethe sixt & seventh Vial where there came out of yethe Mouth of yethe Beast & Dragon & fals Prophet thre unclean spirits to gather yethe world to yethe battel of yethe great day wherein yethe Beast perished & Babylon (yethe whore wchwhich sate upon him) came in remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of yethe wine of yethe fierceness of his wrath. Also in yethe preface to yethe Vials yethe Prophet first introduces yethe seven Angels having these seven plagues ch 15.1, & then ~~yethe Beast wthwith~~ yethe Victors over himthe Beast ver 2, 3, 4, & then returns to yethe description of yethe Plagues: as if by thus interweaving them he intended to point at yethe Beast as yethe subject thereof. So in yethe Preface to yethe Trumpets the Angels are forbid to hurt yethe earhearth & yethe Sea until the searvants of God be sealed, as if it were to signify that those hurts were to be inflicted on yethe men wchwhich have not yethe seale of God in their fforeheads ffor so it is exprest in yethe fift Trumpet. And who those are you may learn by comparing that Trumpet wthwith yethe fift Vial; namely them ytthat have yethe mark of the Beast. In a word, the wickednes & universality of yethe Kingdom of yethe Beast with yethe Dragon, wchwhich by Prop 14 is included in him, is so great as leaves no room for these plagues to fall beside him.

6. The Beast ~~began~~ rose — ~~6. The Beast began his reign at yethe opening of yethe~~ seventh seale. ffor first I haue already shown in yethe third particular that he began not later ynthan yethe first Trumpet; & he cannot well be supposed to rise before yethe Dragon was cast down wchwhich was not fully accompllished before yethe end of yethe sixt seale. ** ~~Secondly by yethe Rule yethe most eminent periods of collaterall visions must be adjusted to one another Secondly~~ ~~Fourthly~~ Lastly yethe rise of yethe Beast is one of yethe most cardinal revolutions in all yethe prophesy & so can fall in with no time so well as wthwith ytthat cardinal period between yethe sixt & seventh ~~Trumpet~~ Seale where both by yethe beginning of yethe Trumpets & by yethe interposition of yethe seventh chapter is signified an end of yethe former state of things & yethe beginning of a new one. These two periods must therefore be adjusted to one another by Rule ThirAnd lastly if yethe Prophesy of yethe Dragon be surveyed to see what action therein best suits wthwith yethe rise of yethe Beast, it will be found to be yethe casting out of his mouth waters as a flood after yethe woman. For since yethe Beast rose out of yethe sea ~~& deri~~ ch 13.1 & derived his power & authority from yethe Dragon vers 2, & was also a great persecutor of yethe church: what els should he be then yethe waters wchwhich yethe Dragon cast out of his mouth after yethe woman? Yea he is expresly called yethe many waters upon wchwhich yethe whore sitteth ch 17.1, 15; & whence, ~~I pray,~~ should those waters spring but out of yethe mouth of the Dragon? But you will perhaps object that yethe earth soon swallowed up yethe waters whereas yethe Beast perished not before yethe end of yethe Trumpets. Wherefore I must remember you that this swallowing up of yethe waters is onely a figure to express yethe victory of yethe earth over yethe waters in yethe wars wchwhich should be between them, & so need signify nothing more then the deadly wound wchwhich yethe Beast was to receive wthwith a sword. For ~~after this~~ I shall elswhere show how yethe Beast was afterwards revived again out of yethe earth together wthwith yethe waters wchwhich it swallowed up. Supposing therefore that yethe Beast takes his rise at yethe casting out of these waters, it will fall in with yethe beginning of yethe persecution by yethe Dragon & consequently wthwith yethe opening of yethe seventh Seal. For I to fall beside him.

The Beast rose out of yethe Sea either at or ~~a little~~ after yethe opening of yethe sixt seale and according to yethe tenour & order of yethe visions ytthat rise must be after yethe war of yethe Dragōon wthwith Michael, yethe Dragon being ~~then~~ introduced but newly before & in that war represented wthwith his full power wchwhich he gave (some of it at least) to yethe Beast at his rise. This rise therefore could not be before yethe opening of yethe sixt seale. Nor could it be long after becaus

7. The Beast ascended out of yethe bottomless pit at yethe opening of yethe seventh seale. He had a double rise whereof yethe second (after a deliquium) was out of yethe bottomles pit as is manifest from hence ytthat he is called yethe beast wchwhich was & is not & shall ascend out of yethe bottomless pit. His rise out of yethe Sea signifies only his beginning to be a temporal kingdom, but his ascention of out of yethe bottomles pit expresses moreover his bringing up wthwith him a fals infernall religion. Def. The first preceded his mortal wound wthwith a sword, yethe second was at his reviving, for then or rather immediately after was set up his new religion as itis plain from hence that when yethe two hornd beast caused men to set up yethe worshipping of him & make an image to him, he is not called yethe Beast wchwhich rose out of yethe sea but yethe beast whose mortal wound was healed vers 12, & yethe wounded beast wchwhich lived or revived vers 14.

Now that this second rise fals in wthwith yethe beginning of yethe seventh seal may appear by these reasons. 1 It could not be much later becaus yethe plague of yethe first Vial was inflicted on yethe men wchwhich had received yethe mark of yethe beast & worshipped his Image, & therefore yethe Beast & his Image wthwith their religion were in being before yethe pouring out of that Vial & consequently before yethe sounding of yethe first Trumpet. Nor could it be much sooner because it followed yethe deliquium of yethe beast wchwhich together wthwith his continuance before ytthat deliquium could not but take up some considerable time, & both wchwhich were after yethe Opening of yethe sixt seale. It must therefore be about the opening of the 7th seale. ~~Add that~~ Secondly although the rising of yethe beast out of yethe sea, becaus it expresses only yethe rise of a temporal kingdom wthwithout respect to religion be not inconsistent wthwith yethe things described in that seal, nor wthwith those in chap 12.10 coincident to it; yet his ascention out of the pit implying yethe rise of a new infernal religion must needs so soon as that religion is grown to any considerable degree of maturity put an end to those things & wthwith them to that seale & so begin the next. ~~Secondly~~ Thirdly the interweaving —— – Secondly Thirdly yethe interweaving the vision of yethe victors over yethe Beast wthwith yethe first appearance of yethe seven angels of yethe Vials ch 15.1, 2, 6, is intimation enough that those victors begin then to get yethe victory, & consequently that yethe beast begins then to be. ffor it is necessary that he be adequately synchronall to those ytthat get yethe victory over him because there can be is no cessation of the church militant. Now the first appearance of these Angels, according to yethe analogy of this vision of yethe Vials wthwith that of the Trumpets, must be at yethe same time wthwith yethe first appearance of the seven Angels of yethe Trumpets. That is, at yethe opening of yethe seventh Seal. Thirdly Fourthly by the opposite relation of the seal of God to yethe mark of the Beast, it is most naturall to suppose that yethe vision of sealing the saints is but a mystical indication of yethe time when men began to receive yethe mark of the Beast; that is, of yethe time when yethe Beast arose, wchwhich therefore must be immediately after yethe sixt seal. Fourthly Lastly the rise of yethe Beast — – adjusted to one another by Rule

78. Notwithstanding this yethe reexistence of yethe beast began a little before yethe 7th seale. For yethe time of his death by the wound preceding the setting up of his worship & yethe making of his Image (chap 13.12,14) & consequently not only yethe first Vial ch 16 but also his ascention out of yethe pit, must fall in wthwith his other deliquium or non existence in yethe sixt seale, as we signified above & even yethe resemblance of yethe Parables may evince. His reexistence therefore begins at yethe healing of his wound. But his wound was healed before yethe end of yethe sixt seale: a Posit. for this seale, as I shall show hereafter, was the Head in wchwhich yethe wound Beast was made wounded; & therefore the13 a be also synchronall to the four first seales, & hence it is not likely that yethe warrs & other calamities things there described should relate to any other Kingdom; & the Prophesy after the narration of the seales & Trumpets beginning anew at the Woman & Dragon ch 12, there is no reason why it should not return to yethe first Epocha. Object: j. Since the Beast was immediately to succeed the Dragon, his reign ought to be dated from yethe overthrow of the Dragon by Michael, wchwhich overthrow may be supposed at yethe beginning of yethe sixt seale, & so the Beast will begin his reign before yethe Trumpets. Resp. It seemsis not likely that the direct & immediate effects of Michael's victory should be yethe setting up of the Beast who seems to have equald if not transcended the Dragon in wickedness. And therefore the Beast ought rather to be of later date. Yea this is implied by the This is inconsistent with the triumph of the church in yethe sixt seale & much more with the following actions surviving of the Dragon. For his persecuting the woman into the wilderness, & casting out of his mouth water as a flood after her, do infer not onely his after-existence but continuance in pristine power, & it is said afterward that the Dragon gave the Beast his power & his seat & great Authority wchwhich he could not have done if he had lost it with Mich in yethe Battel with Michael. For his overthrow appears by the description of it to have been in religious & spiritual rather then temporal matters & therefore yethe Dragon notwithstanding might still retain his temporal Dominion The expressions indeed that the Dragon with his angels was cast out of heaven into yethe earth do imply his casting out of the throne into a vulgar state & consequently the ruin of his kingdom, but this as I said is to be understood of yethe spiritual state & not yethe temporal power of that kingdom called the Dragon. For the fuller understanding of wchwhich we must know that the Dragon has here a double signification, representing primarily that old serpent the Devil, & thence by a trope the kingdom wchwhich does the works of the Devil & is of a religion instituted by him. And where it is said ytthat yethe Dragon was cast out 14 a of heaven into yethe Earth it is to be taken in the first sense for yethe Devil with his worship, & not in the second for the temporal state of yethe Kingdom wchwhich exerciseth that worship. ffor the words are, That the great Dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the Devil & Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth & his angels were cast out with him. ch. 12.9. Which is aas much as to say that the worship of the Devil was cast out of the Throne or Court, & remained onely among the inferiour people. But where it is said ytthat yethe Dragon had seven heads & ten hornes & seven crowns upon his heads, & his tayle drew the third part of the stars of heaven &c And that he persecuted the woman & gave the Beast his power & seat & great Authority, it must be rather taken in yethe second sence for the temporary Kingdom. And so comparing these two senses the result will be that after the worship of the Dragon was cast out, the Kingdom denominated from thence still continued & retained its former power & name until it gave the Beast its power & seat & great Authority; [that is untill by reason of some further notable alteration it exchanged its name for that of the Beast.] Nor need it seem strange that yethe Kingdom retained the name of Dragon after the Dragon was cast out, [since he was not thereby quite destroyed but onely cast out of heaven into the Earth, & so stil preserved his worship among the vulgar. And from them the whole kingdom might be properly denominated, so long at least as they continued the major part. Not to urge And after that] For yethe ancient worship of yethe Dragon might alone be a sufficient reason to continue that name to yethe Kingdom for distinction sake untill the rise of the Beast to distinguish it from yethe Beast. Object 2. Before the pouring out of the Vials StSaint Iohn saw them that had gotten yethe victory over the Beast ch 15.2, And therefore the Beast existed before the first Vial & consequently before the first Trumpet. 15 a Resp. This vision of the Victors over the Beast doubtless respects all those that were at any time to get the victory over him, & therefore must necessarily extend to the time within the Vials, becaus although the Beast should have begun his reign before them, yet within them was to be the greatest part of his reign wherein those Victors were to get the Victory. And if it extend to the time within the vials, there can be no necessity of referring it to any time before them. Nor need the tense exprest in the translation, I saw them that had gotten the victory over the Beast, breed any difficulty, since it may be as well translated thus. I saw them that get the Victory, or I saw the Victors over the Beast, νικωντας ἐκ του θηρίου. But how ever it be rendered it need not be understood as relating to the time but onely to the form of the Vision wherein future things arewere represented as prpresent: much after the same manner that before the prophesy of the Trumpets it is said of the Palm-bearing multitude; These are they which came out of great tribulation & have washed their robes, ἔπλυναν τὰς στολὰς And yet they were not come out of that tribulation before the sounding of the seventh Trumpet: Or that the Lamb was said to be slain from the foundation of the world, becaus it was so in the foresight & decree of God who beholds futurities as if actually present. And this interpretation is confirmed by the interweaving of the visions. ffor that of the Vials is first introduced by the appearance of the seven Angels with the seven last plagues vers 1, & then that of the Victors over the Beast inserted vers 2, 3, & 4, & afterwards yethe narration of the former vision of the Angels continued vers 5, 6 &c. And this interweaving implies that they are collateral, & consequently, that the Beast & victors over him are to live in the time of yethe Vials. Object 3. After the rise of the Beast, the Dragon is mentioned together with him in chap 13.4, & 16.3, & therefore they twoare two divers collateral kingdoms. Resp. Considering the reasons to the contrary in yethe 2d Particular of this Proposition, we can onely infer from the contrary former of these two places that they worshipped the16 a the Dragon first, & afterwards the Beast, or that when they worshipped the Beast they worshipped the Dragon also by retaining divers institutions made in his reign. And in the other place the Dragon may signify either the Devil as it doth afterwards in ch 20.2, 10, or els the aggregate of such men dispersed up & down the world as are, in their hearts at least, infidels, or of other wicked principles differing from those of yethe Beast & verging upon heathenism.