on, and fupports another. If any parts remain yet obfcure and unfatisfactory, they may perhaps be cleared up by what the apoftle himself hath added by way of expla

nation.

XXV.

AN ANALYSIS OF THE REVELATION.

MOST

PART II.

COST of the best commentators divide the Apocalyps or Revelation into two parts, the book Bixion fealed with feven feals, and the little book Bixapidion as it is called feveral times. But it happens unluckily, that according to their divifion the leffer book is made to contain as much or more than the larger: whereas in truth the little book is nothing more than a part of the fealed book, and is added as a codicil or appendix to it. If we were to divide the Revelation, as they would have it divided, into two parts, the former ending with Chap. IX, and the latter beginning with Chap. X, the whole frame of the book would be disjointed, and things would be feparated, which are plainly connected together and dependent upon one another. The former part, as they agree, comprehends the book fealed with feven feals, which are all opened in order; but the feventh feal confifts of the feven trumpets, and of the seven trumpets the three last are distinguished by the name of the three woe trumpets; fo that the feven trumpets, as well as the seven feals, all belong properly to the former part. Whereas if we were to follow the other divifion, the trumpets would be divided, the three last trumpets would be divided from each other, the fixth trumpet itfelf would be divided, would begin in the former part of the book, and end in the latter, and the feventh trumpet would remain separated from the reft, which would be a strange interruption of the feries and order

of the prophecies, and greatly disturb and confound the courfe of events. The former part, inftead of clofing with the feventh trumpet, would then break off in the middle of the fixth trumpet; the latter part would then commence under the fixth trumpet, and after that would follow the feventh and laft trumpet, and after this the general fubject of the Revelation would be refumed from the beginning of the Chriftian æra, which instead of coming in after fo many events pofterior in point of time, ought certainly to be the beginning of the latter part. For we would alfo divide the Revelation into two parts, or rather the book fo divides itfelf. For the former part proceeds, as we have feen, in a regular and fucceffive feries from the apoftle's days to the confummation of all things. Nothing can be added, but it muft fall fome where or other within the compass of this period; it muft in fome measure be a refumption of the fame fubjects; and this latter part may moft properly be confidered as an inlargement and illuftration of the former. Several things, which were only touched upon, and delivered in dark hints before, require to be more copioufly handled, and placed in a stronger light. It was faid that the beaft fhould make war against the witneffes, and overcome them: but who or what the beaft is we may reafonably conjecture indeed, but the apoftle himfelf will more furely explain. The tranfactions of the feventh trumpet are all fummed up and comprised in a few verfes, but we fhall fee the particulars branched out and inlarged into as many chapters. In fhort this latter part is defigned as a fupplement to the former, to complete what was deficient, to explain what was dubious, to illuftrate what was obfcure: and as the former defcribed more the deftinies of the Roman empire, fo this latter relates more to the fates of the Chriftian church.

19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was feen in his temple the ark of his teftament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thundrings, and an earthquake, and great

hail.

This laft verfe of the eleventh chapter, in my opinion, fhould have been made the firft verfe of the twelfth chapter; for it appears to be the beginning of a new fubject. It is fomewhat like the beginning of Ifaiah's vifion; (VI. 1.) I faw the Lord fitting upon a throne (the ark) high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. It is fomewhat like the beginning of St. John's prophetic vifions; (IV. 1, 2.) I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven; and behold, a throne was fet in heaven, and one fat on the throne. This is much in the fame fpirit: And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was feen in his temple the ark of his teftament; that is, more open discoveries were now made, and the mystery of God was revealed to the prophet. Lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail, are the ufual concomitants and attendants of the divine prefence, and efpecially at the giving of new laws and new revelations. So at mount Sinai (Exod. XX. 16, &c.) there were thunders, and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud, and the whole mount quaked greatly. So likewife in this very book of the Apocalyps, before the opening of the feven feals (IV. 5.) there were lightnings, and thundrings, and voices. So again before the founding of the feven trumpets (VIII. 5.) there were voices, and thundrings, and lightnings, and an earthquake: and with as much reason they are made in this place the signs and preludes of the revelations and judgments, which are to follow. It is no juft objection, that a new fubject is supposed to begin with the conjunction and; for this is frequent in the ftile of the Hebrews; fome books, as Numbers, Joshua, the two books of Samuel, and others, begin with Vau or and; and the fame objection would hold equally against beginning the divifion with the firft verfe of the next chapter,

VOL. II.

T

CHAP.

1

CHAP. XII.

AND there appeared a great wonder in hea

ven, a woman cloathed with the fun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

2 And the being with child, cried, traveling in birth, and pained to be delivered.

3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven, and behold, a great red dragon, having feven heads, and ten horns, and feven crowns upon his head.

4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did caft them to the earth: and the dragon ftood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as foon as it was born.

5 And he brought forth a man-child, who was to rule ali nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where the hath a place prepared of God, that they fhould feed her there a thousand two hundred and threefcore days.

St. John refumes his fubject from the beginning, and reprefents the church (ver! 1, 2.) as a woman, and a mother bearing children unto Chrift. She is cloathed by the fun, invefted with the rays of Jefus Chrift the fun of righteoufnefs; having the moon, the (1) Jewish newmoons and feftivals as well as all fublunary things, under her feet; and upon her head a crown of twelve ftars, an emblem of her being under the light and guidance of the twelve apofiles. And he being with child, cried, traceling in birth, and pained to be delivered. St. Paul hath made ufe of the fame metaphor, and applied it to

(1) A learned correfpondent obferves, that the Jewish religion is aptly compared to the moon, as its light is not its own, but furnished by the

Chriftian religion, to which it relates,, and wherein its types are accom plished.

his preaching and propagating of the gospel in the midft of tribulation and perfecution. (Gal. IV. 19.) My little children of whom I travel in birth again, until Chrift be formed in you. But the words of St. John are much stronger, and more emphatically exprefs the pangs, and ftruggles, and torments, which the church endured from the first publication of the gospel to the time of Conftantine the great, when he was in fome measure eafed of her pains, and brought forth a deliverer. Mr. Whifton carries the comparifon farther. (Effay on the Revelation. Part 3. Vition 3.) For as the time of "geftation from the conception to the birth in women "with child, is known to be 40 weeks or 280 days; "fo it is as well known, that from the first rife of our "Saviour's kingdom at his refurrection and afcenfion "A. D. 33. till the famous proclamation and edict, "for the univerfal liberty and advancement of Chrifti"anity by Conftantine and Licinius A. D. 313. which

put an end to the pangs of birth in the heavieft per"fecution that ever was then known, was exactly 280 "years," reckoning according to the prophetical ac count a day for a year. At the fame time there appeared (ver.. 3.) a great dragon; which is the well known fign or fymbol of the Devil and Satan, and of his agents and inftruments. We find the kings and people of Egypt, who were the great perfecutors of the primtive church of Ifrael, diftinguithed by this title in feveral places of the Old Teftament: (Pfal. LXXIV. 13. I LI. 9. Ezek. XXIX. 3.) and with as much reafon and propriety may the people and emperors of Rome, who were the great perfecutors of the primitive church of Chrift, be called by the fame name, as they are actuated by the fame principle. For that the Roman empire was here figured, the characters and attributes of the dragon plainly evince. He is a great red dragon: and purple or fcarlet was the diftinguishing color of the Roman emperors, confuls, and generals; as it hath been fince of the popes and cardinals. His feven heads, as the angel afterwards (XVII. 9, 10.) explains the vifion, allude to the feven mountains upon which Rome was built, and to the feven forms of government, which fucceffively pre

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vailed