Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 17

1 AND there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither, I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters :

This whole Verse is but a Preface to a new Vision which Iohn had; not new, as to the matter revealed in it; for it plainly revealeth matters relating to Antichrist; and the matter of so contemporizeth with the three last Vials, about the final Ruine of Antichrist, who was before described under the Notion of a Beast, here under the Notion of a great Whore. A Whore properly signifies one that is married, and is false to her Husband's Bed; and so very well sutes the Church of Rome (if they yet deserve that Name) whose Faith was formerly spoken of throughout the World, Rom. 1.8. but is long since turned idolatrous, (Idolatry in the Prophetick stile being [illegible: 2 letters]ite through the Scripture called Whoredom.) She is said to sit upon many Waters, either because she exerciseth a Jurisdiction over much People, or with Allusion unto old Babylon (which gave her her Name) which was scituated near Euphrates, a River in which there was a great Collection of Waters. John is called to hear the Counsels of God concerning her Destruction, which though more generally and shortly revealed before, yet God here designs to reveal to Iohn more fully, particularly and plainly.

Marginal references: Nehem. 3.4▪; Jer. 51.13▪

2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication , and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication .

With which great Whore several Princes of the World have committed Spiritual Fornication, receiving her Idolatrous Worship, yielding to her Authority, and following her example.

And not the Kings onely of the Earth, but the generality of the People, have been influenced with a mad heat, and with the Wine of her Fornication, that is, with that Wine by which she enticed them to commit Idolatry with her: By this Wine are meant Honours, Riches, Preferments, Pleasure, the gaudry of her Worship, the magnificence of the Apostolick See, their pretended Antiquity, Unity; in short, whatsoever specious Arguments Papists use to entice persons into the Idolatrous Communion of their Church.

Marginal references: Chap. 18.3. Jer. 51.7.; Chap. 14.8.

3 So he carried me away in [illegible: 1 word] Spirit into the wilderness : and I saw a wo[illegible: 3 letters] sit upon a scarlet coloured beast , full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns .

That is, being in an extasy; see chap. 4.2. whether in the Body or out of the Body he could not tell, as Paul expresseth it, 2 Cor. 12.2.

A place not, or not much inhabited, either as fittest for Contemplation; or to signify that this Great Whore which had driven the Spouse of Christ into the Wilderness, should shortly her self come into her State; according to the fate of old Babylon, Ier. 50.13.

The great Whore mentioned v. 1. upheld by the Roman Emperors.

The same which is mentioned chap. 13, 1. see the Notes there. Here is a great Question ariseth who this Woman is, or (which is the same, as appeareth by v. 5.) what City is meant by Babylon mentioned, v. 5? a question, (as Mr. Pool noteth) of high concernment; for whoever this Woman is, or whatsoever this Babylon signifieth, the People of God are upon pain of Damnation admonished, to avoid any Communion with her, and to come out of her, chap. 14.9, 10. Mr. Pool hath diligently collected into his Latine Synopsis all opinions about it, and shewed what is to be said for or against them; I will give my Reader the summ of what he saith. 1. Some would have it to be the whole World of wicked Men. Against this it is said, 1. That Iohn speaks here of a certain great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth, v. 18. This cannot be meant of the wicked World. 2. The World of wicked Men are those Inhabitants of the Earth, whom this Woman made Drunk with the Wine of her Fornications: Now she that made them drunk, and those that were made drunk cannot be the same. 3. This Woman, v. 9. sitteth on seven Mountains, and so do not all the wicked of the World. 4. We are commanded to come out of this Babylon, but we are not obliged to go out of the World. 2. Others would have this Woman, or this Babylon to be the old Chaldean Babylon. But 1. Where then is the Mystery mentioned v. 5? 2. The Babylon here mentioned, is by all agreed to be the seat of Antichrist; so was that never. 3. The generality agree it to be Rome. Amongst the Ancients, Tertullian, Hierome, Ambrose, Oecumenius, Augustine, Eusebius, Of later writers Beda, Aquinas, Salmeron, Pererius, Bellarmine, Lapide, Ribera (all Papists,) besides a multitude of Protestant writers; that City is also like old Babilon for Power and Greatness, for Oppression and Tyranny of, and over God's Israel; besides, the City here mentioned is described by two Characters, agreeing to none but Rome, v. 9. Dwelling upon seven Hills. 2. Reigning over the Kings of the Earth: For the first Rome is the only City in the World founded upon seven Hills, and famed for it by its old Poets, Ovid, Virgil, Horace, Propertius, &c. It is attested to be so founded by Plutarch, Pliny, Dionysius, Halicarnassaeus; the names of these Hills are known. Palatinus, Quirinalis, Aventinus, Celius, Ve[illegible: 2 letters]inalis, Esquilinus, Capitolinus. Both Papist and Protestant writers agree that here by Babylon, Rome is meant. But they are divided, whether it be to be understod of Rome in its old Pagan state, or in its present state, or in a state yet to come. 4. Some would have it to be Rome in its Pagan state; of this mind are Grotius and Dr. Hammond, and some others; but against this many things are said. 1. It is manifest that God here describes Rome not as under its sixth head, viz. the Pagan Emperors, but as it was under its last Head, the eighth King, v, 11. as it should ascend out of the bottomless Pit, v. 8. What Iohn saw herein mentioned as a Secret about the Blood of the Saints, which he wondred at; now the Pagan Emperors spilling the Blood of Saints was a thing long since done. 3. The Desolation of the Babilon here mentioned, was to be final, never to be repaired, as appears by chap. 18.21, 22, 23. but Pagan Rome was never made so desolate. 4. If Rome Pagan be here meant, then after its fall, Rome Christian was the habitation of Devils, chap, 18.2. 5. Rome Pagan fell upon our Saints with downright blows, not with allurements, making them drunk with the Wine of her Fornication, as v, 2.. 5. The Papists, who grant that by Babylon, Rome is meant, would have it to be Rome toward the end of the World, when they say Rome shall apostatize from the Pope to Paganism again; but for this Opinion there is no foundation in Scripture, nor the judgment of the Ancients, and some of the Papists themselves reject it as improbable and detestable. 6. The generality and best of Protestant writers understand by Babylon and by this woman Rome, as it is at this day under the conduct of the Pope, for which they give these Reasons. 1. Because it cannot be understood of Rome in either of the other Notions, as hath been proved. 2. Because Antichrist is to set in the Temple of God, 2. Thess. 2.4. as God, therefore not in any Pagan City. The Mystery of Iniquity was working in the Apostle's time, but v. 7. the Roman Empire hindred the appearance of Antichrist till the Popes had wrung Rome out of their hands, and were the sole Rulers there, then Antichrist shewed himself. 3. Because there is nothing said of this great Whore, or this Babylon, but admirably agreeth to Rome in its present state.

What Iohn saw herein mentioned as a Secret about the Blood of the Saints, which he wondred at; now the Pagan Emperors spilling the Blood of Saints was a thing long since done. 3. The Desolation of the Babilon here mentioned, was to be final, never to be repaired, as appears by chap. 18.21, 22, 23. but Pagan Rome was never made so desolate. 4. If Rome Pagan be here meant, then after its fall, Rome Christian was the habitation of Devils, chap, 18.2. 5. Rome Pagan fell upon our Saints with downright blows, not with allurements, making them drunk with the Wine of her Fornication, as v, 2.

4 And the woman was arayed in purple, and scarlet colour , and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls , having a golden cup in her hand, full of of abominations and filthiness of her fornication .

Purple was the colour of Kings and Princes. This Woman chap. 18.7. said she was Queen; Scarlet also was a rich and noble colour, anciently most used in a time of War. How much it is in use with the Pope and his Cardinals, is sufficiently known.

This shews the Worldly Riches of the Papacy.

Alluring and tempting persons to Idolatry, as Whores use to do with their Philters, or inchanted Cups allure and provoke Men to sensual satisfactions.

Marginal references: Chap. 18.16.; Gr. Gilded.

5 And upon her forehead was a name written , MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH .

As publick Harlots were wont to write their Names, some upon the Fronts of their Houses, some upon their Foreheads; it denotes the open Guilt, and Impudence of this Spiritual Harlot.

That is, there is a Mystery in what follows in her Name.

Babylon the Great, not to be understood of the Chaldean Babylon, but of a City or Polity under the Gospel, as chap. 11.8. she was called Spiritually Sodom and Egypt, so also in a Spiritual or Mystical sence she is called Babylon, because a City like to Babylon for Idolatry and Persecution of God's Israel.

Not a meer Harlot, but one that bred up Harlots, and nursed up Idolatry, communicating it to others. This is the true Name of Rome instead of Holy Mother Church.

A place, in which not only Idolatry reigneth, but all abominable things committed in the World▪ Carnal Whoredom tolerated by them, and Sodomy, &c.

Marginal references: 2 Thess. 2.[illegible: 1 letter].; Or, Fornications.

6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the Saints▪ and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus x: and when I saw her, I wondred with great admiration.

The Papacy

Filled with the Blood of those Holy Ones, which she caused to be slain for bearing Testimony to Jesus Christ.

Which he would not have done had it been a Pagan Rome he had seen in this Vision. But that any that owned Christ, and called themselves the Holy Church, should kill Men for bearing Testimony to Christ, and adherence to his Rule of Faith and Life, this cause in Iohn a just wonderment.

Marginal references: Chap. 18.2[illegible: 1 letter]

7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns .

The Angel promiseth to open this Vision, it being the Key of the former Vision, and is the only Vision expounded throughout this whole Book.

8 The beast that thou sawest , was , and is not ; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit , and go into perdition : and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is .

This Beast was the Roman Empire, the Scarlet coloured Beast which carried the Whore, v. 3.

Was of old, in Rome's Pagan state,

and is not, not in that form, not now Pagan; and yet is (as is said in the close of the Verse) the same in another form, Idolatrous and Persecuting.

Either out of the Sea, which signifies a multitude of People; or from Hell, (the word signifies both.)

And shall certainly be destroyed.

But before he goes into Perdition he shall so cheat the World, that the generality of the People shall wonder at the Beast (see chap. 13.8.) setting aside those who are chosen of God to Eternal Salvation; the 144000 mentioned chap. 14. I conceive that which hath made Interpreters so divided in their Notions about this Beast is, because those words, and yet is, are not added in the beginning of the Verse, which being understood, there appears no difficulty considerable; for it is certain the Roman Empire was from before Christ, and continued Pagan till 310; then was not Pagan but Christian, yet after some years was again as Idolatrous and Bloody against Christians, as the old Pagan Empire was; especially when swallowed up by the Pope, the Beast with two Horns like a Lamb. This is the Beast with seven Heads and ten Horns, chap. 13.2.

Marginal references: Chap. 13.1.; Chap. 13.10.; Chap. 13.3.

9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom . The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth .

That is, here is that which requireth a Mind endued with Spiritual Wisdom.

The seven Heads which he saw the Beast with, signified seven Mountains or Hills upon which Rome is scituated, they were named before (see the Notes on v. 3.) They tell us now Rome is scituated in Campo Martio: Resp. Whatever it now is, certain it is, that in St. Iohn's time it was scituated upon them, and they are now within the compass of Rome.

Marginal references: Chap. 13.18.; Chap. 13.1.

10 And there are seven kings , five are fallen , and one is , and the other is not yet come , and when he cometh he must continue a short space k.

The seven Heads do not only signify seven Hills or Mountains, but also seven Kings, that is (according to the best Interpretation I meet with) seven forms of Government which ruled Rome (the term Kings, in Scripture signifying Rulers, whether the Government was in Single Persons, or more, as Deut, 33.5.) Rome was governed, 1. By Kings. 2. By Consuls, 3. Tribunes. 4. Decemvirs. 5. Dictators. 6. Emperors that were Pagans. 7. Emperors that were Christians.

Five of these were fallen, extinguished before Iohn's time, viz. The Government by Kings, Consuls, Tribunes, Decemvirs, Dictators.

The Government by Pagan Emperors was at that time in being.

The Government by Christian Emperors was not yet in being; and when it came, it held but a little time before the Bishops of Rome wrested the Government of Italy out of their hands: This to me seemeth the most probable Interpretation of this difficult Text.

11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth , and is of the seven , and goeth into perdition .

This made the eighth succession of Governments in the Roman Empire.

This was of the seventh Head, for although this was the eighth Government in order as we have counted them; yet one of these, viz. the seventh, (which was that of true Christian Emperours) must not be counted as one of the seven Heads, which were all Idolatrous: So though this was the eighth Government, yet he was one of the seven Heads, i. e. Idolatrous Governments, and

to be destroyed as they were.

12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings , which have received no kingdom as yet , but receive power as kings one hour with the beast .

Possibly by ten Kings here are not meant Monarchs but Governments.

Which were not in being in Iohn's time, nor in many years after.

But should, during some time of the Beast's Reign, have power with the Papacy, employing their power with his, to establish his Idolatry. But who these Ten Monarchs be, or what these Ten Governments are, I must confess my self at a loss to determine: It is plain they should be 1. Such as should be contemporaneous with the Reign of the Beast. 2. Such as employed their Power in conjunction with his. 3. S[illegible: 1 letter]ch as should afterwards be Instruments to ruine the Papacy, v. 16, 17. The Beasts Reign being 1260 years, there hath been, and will be such a variety of Princes and Governments, as it is very hard to determine who they shall be. But their being contemporaneous with the Beast, makes me think it cannot be [illegible: 2 letters]derstood eithe[illegible: 1 letter] of any that were in the World before the year 606, when the Beasts Reign began, (tho the Mystery of Iniquity was working, and the Image of the Beast was making long before;) as also that the Ten Barbarous Nations that disturbed Italy from 410, till near 600 could not be me[illegible: 3 letters]; being all before Antichrist came to any Reign, nor did they ever shew any great love or hatred to the Pope; sometimes serving, sometimes opposing him, as suited their respective Civil interests. I am very inclinable to think the Prophecy to concern some Kings nearer the end of Antichri[illegible: 2 letters] 's Reign, who though for [illegible: 1 letter] while they serve the Papacy, yet shall at last be Instruments to ruine him; but who they are shall do this, or when it shall be I cannot determine.

Marginal references: Dan. 7.20. Chap. 13.1.

13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength to the beast .

The shall all be Papists, and for a while shall employ all their Power and Strength to uphold the Popish Religion.

14 These shall make war with the Lamb , and the Lamb shall overcome them , for he is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, and they that are with him are called, and chose[illegible: 1 letter] and faithful .

These Ten Kings shall a while oppose themselves to the Gospel, taking part with Antichrist.

But Christ shall overcome them by the Power of his Gospel, or some of them that way; others that will not be converted shall be confounded, some way or other brought to ruine.

For he hath [illegible: 1 letter]ower above others, and knows how to fit Instrument[illegible: 1 letter] his purpose; so as those whom he shall make use [illegible: 1 word] this work, shall be Chosen Persons, and faithful in [illegible: 3 letters]charge of the Trust committed to them.

Marginal references: Chap. 16.14.; Deut. 10.17. 1 Tim. 6.15. Chap. 19.16.

15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth , are people, and multitudes, and nations and tongues.

Iohn saw the great Whore sitting upon seven Mountains, v. 9. and upon many Waters, v. 1. these signified her Dominion and Jurisdiction over many People.

Marginal references: Isa. 8.7.

16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast , these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked; and shall eat her flesh, and * burn her with fire .

See v. 3. and v. 12. The ten Kings

shall Apostatize from the Papacy, and be great Instruments of God to ruine it. When we see some other Kingdoms now in Vassalage to the Pope, do as much as hath been done in England and Scotland, and Sueden, and some other places, we may possibly understand this Prophecy better than we yet do.

Marginal references: Chap. 18.8.

17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will , and to agree and give their kingdom to the beast , until the words of God shall be fulfilled .

That is, what he hath determined shall be done; not what he commandeth Men to do, or approveth their doing of; his permissive Will.

For God puts Malice against himself and his Son into the hearts of none, which is the cause of any persons assisting the Beast.

Nor shall they do this any longer than till the 42 months be expired, which he by his word hath declared, he hath allowed to these mungrel Gentiles, to tread down the outward Court: But till that time be expired, these Kingdoms will agree to give their power to the Beast, whom about the expiration of that time they shall hate, and help to destroy.

18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city which reigneth over the Kings of the earth .

See v. 3.

That is, signifieth that great City, see v. 5. Babylon the great.

Commanding and punishing them as she pleaseth. To what person or power that either now is, or ever was upon the Earth, in this applicable, but to the Pope who makes Emperors hold his Stirrop, sends his Edicts to Princes to execute, Excommunicates them, and interdicts their Subjects, and arms them against them if they refuse? So that if the Pope s[illegible: 1 letter]s upon seven Hills, or Rome be built upon them; if the Papacy hath allured the Inhabitants of the Earth to Idolatry; if in her Idolatries she be the [illegible: 1 letter]mage of the old Pagan Idolaters; if to her many Princes have given their Power and Strength; if she reigneth over the Kings of the Earth; and these things be applicable to no other Person or Government; there is no more doubt, whether the Pope be Antichrist, and Rome mystical Babylon, which shall certainly be destroyed for her Idolatries and shedding the Blood of God's Holy Ones, than there is of what we have, chap. 1.1, 2. That this Book contains the Revelation of Iesus Christ to shew unto his Servants, things which must shortly come to pass, which he se[illegible: 2 letters] and signified by his Angel, by his Seruant John, who have R[illegible: 1 letter]cord of the Word of God, and of the Testimony of Iesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Marginal references: Chap. 16.19.