A Synopsis of the Whole Prophecy

This book is a tragi-comic vision of the occurrences of the world, and of the church in the world, through all times and ages; and we may entitle it, “The story of ChrisCs kingdom, and the removal of the several difficulties of his coming to it.” 1st, The stage is set up in c. iv. where is represented the universal church in all ages, set forth according to the exact pattern of a church visible and instituted, into which all saints on earth should be cast: then enters, 2dly, The prologue (c. v.) in which is set forth, in Christ’s taking the sealed book, his taking on him the kingdom and government, as God’s commissioner, to execute the decrees contained in this book, and to give the vision of all to John: at which instalment there is a doxology to the Lamb by the chorus of elders and beasts, with a triumphing assurance of our reign on earth in the issue. 3dly, The scene or place where the efiect of these visions was to be acted, is the Roman Empire and its several eastern and western dominions, called OICOUMENEE, the whole world. 4thly, The story itself, begun at c. vi. the general argument of which is, That whereas Christ’s government was to be executed and seen, not only in putting down all opposing rule and power, (as in 1 Cor. xv. 24, 25,) but also in a visible taking the kingdom to himself and his saints, under the fifth monarchy; so here the story of this book first shews how Christ puts down the Roman power by successive revolutions, till all are worn out who were ordained to stand up in it, (and these oppositions and persecutions render the story of Christ’s kingdom more glorious:) and then it ends in a glorious visible kingdom set up on earth, and peaceably possessed by Christ and his saints, as the catastrophe of all. More particularly the story is this, according to the several contents of each chapter: 1, When Christ ascended to heaven, he found the Roman monarchy, (whose room he was to possess,) stretched east and west over all those parts of the world where he was to seat his church and kingdom; the subjects of the Roman emperor being heathenish and idolatrous, and wholly under the power of Satan the god of this world; whereupon; 2, Christ first sets upon the conquest of Satan’s dominion and worship therein, and by the preaching of the gospel overturns its Heathenism, dethrones Satan from the height of his glory, and subjects it to himself, turning its emperors to Christianity within three hundred years: This is the sum and mind of the seal and book-prophecies in c. vi. and xii. But, 3, This empire, (though now professedly Christian, yet whilst idolatrous having persecuted Christ’s church, and after also when Arian,) advances to its ruin by the trumpets in c. viii. and ix. at the prayers of the martyrs, and in vengeance of their blood, c. vi. 10, 11, and viii. 4. 4, The empire thus becoming divided into two parts, the imperial Western state in Europe is first ruined by the four first trumpets, (the wars of the Goths by four several steps,) in c. viii. and the imperial Eastern state afterwards, first by the Saracens, and then by the Turks, under the fifth and sixth trumpets, and these possess the eastern parts: These are the contents of c. ix.: only before the trumpets bring those evils on the empire, a hundred and forty-four thousand Christians in the east are sealed up, (c. vii. 2, 8,) to be preserved and continued in the true profession of Christ’s name under these two severest and longest it-oe woe trumpets to fall on the earth, where were these sealed servants, see c. ix. 4; and this sealing is the sum of c. vii. 5, The old Roman empire being in both parts removed; as the east is possessed by Turks, (c. ix.) so the west is broken into ten kingdoms by the Goths, all whose kings consented to give

their power to the beast, (the Pope,) who thus becomes a successor to the western emperors, and possesses their seat and power, (though under another title,) and so heals that wound given to the Roman monarchy, thus restored in and by him: c. xiii. describes this beast, and gives the vision of his rise, power, and time of reigning, which c. xvii. expounds and interprets. 6, Under this Antichristian tyranny, (as great as that of the Turks themselves,) Christ yet preserves another like company of one hundred and forty-four thousand virgins, or sealed Christians in the west, (c. xiv. 1 — 4,) &c. and so he keeps possession still by preserving his church, under both these parts of the empire, as being his inheritance. But now, 7, These two enemies to Christ, (Pope and Turk,) thus succeeding in the empire, and sharing the two parts of it between them, Christ is still kept out of his allotted dominion in these territories; for Mahometanism tyranniseth in the one, and Popish idolatry overspreads the other, as Heathenism had at first done over the whole empire: and so Christ hath a new business of it yet, and as difficult as ever, to come unto his kingdom: Therefore, 8, He hath seven vials containing the last plagues, (for he means to make this the last act of this long tragi-comedy,) to despatch the Pope and the Turk, and wholly root them out; even as the seals had done to the Heathenism, and the trumpets to the civil power of the empire: the plagues of these Tials are in c. xv. and xvi. the first five of which dissolve and gradually ruin the Pope’s power in the west: then the sixth breaks the power of the Turk in the east; so making way for the Jews, (whom he means to bring into the fellowship of his kingdom, in their own land,) therefore called “The kings of the east,” c. xvi. 12. But, 9, Their power and kingdom being not

572 THE SIXTH CHAPTER. [REV. VI.

wholly ruined by these six vials, both the Turkish and Popish party join their utmost forces, (and together with them all opposite kings of the whole world,) against the Christians both of the east and west, (who, when the Jews are come in and converted, make up a mighty party in the world;) unto the help of whom against these and all opposite power whatsoever, Christ himself comes and makes but one work of it, with his own hand fi’om heaven destroying them: and so, (c. xvi. 17,) “It is done.” 10, In c. xvii. is an interpretation concerning the beast, who he is, and where is his seat. 11, In c. xviii. is a funeral-song of triumph for the whore’s ruin, (which is the fifth vial,) before the preparations for the new Jerusalem kingdom consisting both of eastern Christians, (who enduring the bondage of the two woe trumpets, under the Saracens and Turks, yet continued to profess Christ’s name; and therefore to those hundred and forty-four thousand in c. vii. is said to succeed an innumerable company with palms in their hands, having the same promises of the new Jerusalem mentioned in c. xxi. which shews their interest therein;) and also of western Christians, (whose hundred and forty-four thousand in c. xiv. arise also to an innumerable company, and after the rejection of the whole world, are brought in c. xix. 1 — 9, singing in like triumphant manner, decking themselves for the marriage in fine linen;) besides Jews especially all over the world, (from whom this kingdom hath the name of the new Jerusalem,y with whom come in also other Gentiles, as attendants of their joy, who never had received Christ before. Thus, J2, Both east and west, and the fulness both of Jews and Gentiles, become one fold under one shepherd for a thousand years, and one kingdom under this root of David their conqueror-king; even as it first was one under one Heathen idolatrous emperor, when Christ had first set to conquer it: And so that in Isa. lix. 18, 19, is fulfilled; where after the final destruction of all Christ’s enemies, “They shall fear his name from the east to the west; and the Redeemer shall come to Zion,” at the final call of the Jews, and at the restoration of the world with them, Rom. xi. 26.