Hear The Thunder – See The Lightning Striking? Part 1

The wind is picking up and everything is moving all over the place. Hunker down for these are some very rough and exciting times! Stay awake and heed the signs for there are many!

Many have a difficult time looking at the corruption in the modern day church, and look at all of what we have today as a progression of some sort of fulfillment to a completion, depending on what denomination you are part of. For all believe they are following the true way of the Lord.

Most read of the early church at the time of the first followers of the way of Jesus, and breeze right past it into modern day interpretations. The Apostles who walked with Jesus knew the teachings of Him and how His works bore fruit of fulfilling the words of the Prophets and every prophecy of the coming Messiah, the Lord did fulfill. That is not to say they all knew right away, it was a process. We see this as we read the New Testament. Many of the disciples did not understand fully until after an event manifested and then they did.

They were as students being mentored by the Lord God Himself who bore witness to the messages of the prophets and their teachings through the scriptures. The Lord did not bring with Him a new doctrine of His own made-up ideas, he came to fulfill all things promised from the beginning. He showed His followers that He was the true Messiah, the Lamb of God, who was prophesied to come and was with God from the beginning.

That being said, the spirit of antichrist has never stopped seeking to kill, steal and destroy all of God’s Word, and all who have faith in His Son. The spirit of antichrist is from Satan and he desperately wants to crash the glory of God’s Son’s wedding invitation. He truly wants to gather all souls he can and kill the rest. He went out with his minions in full force as the Bible states, for he knew he had but a short time left and his pride appears to be such that he still believes he can win even though he has already lost.

Demonic possession is very real. Jesus showed his disciples how the disembodied evil spirits work, what they do and how they seek a fleshly body to enter into so they can do wickedly. He stressed the deceit in the battle and how the wolves in sheep’s clothing operate for all who have ears to hear and eyes to see. We are yet in that great battle that began in ancient times and went out in full force at the time of the first followers of the way of Jesus. This end of the days battle between good and evil continues on and is yet manifesting today in full force.

After seeing the risen Messiah, and walking with Him for future instruction, ending with His ascension… their faith was kindled, yet being in the flesh, still were they imperfect, yet they were blessed and gifted with the Holy Spirit to be wise and they went into the world to do what the Lord had asked with only the words of the prophets and the things they had seen, heard, and now the things they were empowered to do with the gifts of the Holy Spirit in healings, knowing, and teaching. They told no new prophecies, only the prophecies of the prophets of which ones were fulfilled and which ones were yet to be fulfilled, except for John who was given the prophecy of things that have been, that are, and are yet to come by Jesus Christ Himself.

But it was not an easy task. Far from it.

When the first disciples received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, they were gifted beyond their comprehension and their faith, in addition to their experiences with the risen Christ and witnessing His ascension, empowered them to boldly preach the good news in spite of all of the persecutions. They began teaching in Judea and after three and a half years and the stoning of Stephen for his faith, it became unsafe to stay in Judea and it was time to leave and go and teach to the gentiles as Jesus had told them that day would come when Jerusalem would be surrounded by soldiers and then they were to leave and go and teach the gentiles. For this was the beginning of great tribulation. (Matthew 24; Romans 11.)

Which bring us to Saul who was a devout Jew and followed all the ways of the Temple, and was not wavering from the Temple Laws and Covenant and had a dual citizenship as a Roman. He set out to rid the teachings of Jesus with great zeal having authority to make arrests and punish resisters, until on the road to Damascus when he was blinded by the light of God, and then spoken with directly by Jesus our Lord. During his life altering visitation with the Lord, he repented and was given back his sight, and the Lord gave him a new name, Paul. It was said by Paul that all he had learned was directly from the Lord in visions and teachings. He stated he was taken up to the third heaven, and knew not if he was in his body or out of his body, but he was taught all things, he claimed not by Peter or other disciples, but by the Lord, Himself. After his spiritual transformation, he pursued taking the gospel to the gentiles with the same passion he had sought to rid those who first believed.  

Many are now aware that the days of tribulation began at the time of the first followers of the way, for there was great tribulation and persecution of those whose only fault was they believed their Messiah was the Christ. The persecutions escalated and the days came where they were killed in the Circus Maximus by Nero, and those persecutions and deaths continued throughout a succession of Roman emperors until the merging of the Christian faith with the gods of Rome at the council of Nicaea under Constantine, who declared himself the first god on earth as head of the papacy of it, of which as powerhead over it, now sets forth decrees, and decisions on what was orthodox (which means straight) and what was heretic (which means ones own thinking decisions).

Which bring us to years of church and state dictates and mandates, and the days of coming out from that in the “reformation”.

During this time, many were moved by the Holy Spirit to seek the truth in scriptures and translate from the original manuscripts into languages that all could read, for it was forbidden at that time for anyone to have, read, or interpret any of the scriptures on their own. They were to conform to the teachings of the Vatican and the Latin Catholic Vulgate. Those who did not were punished, imprisoned, and many deemed heretic were killed. For it was not allowed to think and make your own decisions on what the scriptures said. This is just history and not intended to create division among denominations. It is what took place.

That being told, there were many attempts to translate the original manuscripts into the truest words of the prophets and apostles. After much succession of attempts to do this, emerged what is called The Geneva Bible. This was translated from the original manuscripts and deemed to be apostolic and to be read abroad. The very idea of such a Bible, let alone the commentary contained in the Geneva Study Bible threatened and angered the Vatican Priests and Papacy. The Bible emphasized Reformed Theology and was influential during the Protestant Reformation.

Many have been curious as to what the commentary stated to create such and outrage with the Vatican. It simply returned the people to the words of the Christ and not the words of manmade dogma. Such as the church heads had the power to forgive sins, and who would enter heaven, purgatory (man-made doctrine), or hell, and decide what penance should be made for the sins confessed, rather than Christ’s blood given for all repentance of sins.

For example, in Matthew 5, Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount, teaching about various aspects of Christian living. The Geneva Study Bible provides commentary on this chapter, highlighting principles such as:

• The joy and happiness found in God’s will and heavenly blessings.
  • The significance of being “poor in spirit” and having a humble heart.
  • The purity of heart leading to a vision of God.
  • The role of believers as “salt” and “light” in the world.

And Jesus fulfilling the Law and the prophets, rather than abolishing them

Both Matthew Henry’s commentary based on the King James Bible and the Geneva Study Bible offer valuable perspectives for Bible study. While Henry’s work covers the entire Bible, the Geneva Study Bible focuses on specific passages. Both works were written based on the translations as close to the truth as possible and not on denomination biases.

That being said, here are some of the commentary from the Geneva Bible from the book of Revelation.

This was written at a time where little of the truth in scripture was being taught, and religion was being used as a tool for the “church and state“ structure to control the masses by instilling fear of being excommunicated from the church and or spending eternity in hell for disobedience to the mandates set forth.

I recently thought of the trying times… so much like COVID lockdowns only with enforced mandates that are a living hell and if you didn’t conform, you were slain publicly in the streets in a torturous manner in order to set an example for anyone else who dares to think they can disobey the commands dictated to them. We truly are running out of time to come out from her my people… wake up and return to the Lord for He is calling you to get to know him… he is inviting you to His wedding. It is time to RSVP!

The following are selected verses and commentary and not complete as that would take a lot of pages to do.

Revelation 1 – Geneva Bible Commentary

Verse 1

1:1 The {1} {a} Revelation of {b} Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John: (1) This chapter has two principal parts, the title or inscription, which stands in place of an introduction: and a narration going before the whole prophecy of this book. The inscription is double, general and particular. In Revelation 1:1 the general inscription contains the kind of prophecy, the author, end, matter, instruments, and manner of communication the same, in Revelation 1:2 the most religious faithfulness of the apostle as public witness and the use of communicating the same, taken from the promise of God, and from the circumstance of the time, Revelation 1:3 (a) An opening of secret and hidden things. (b) Which the Son opened to us out of his Father’s bosom by angels.

Verse 4

1:4 {2} John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, {3} from him {c} which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from {4} the {d} seven Spirits which are before his throne; (2) This is the particular or singular inscription, in which salutation is written to certain churches by name, who represent the catholic church: and the certainty and truth of this is declared, from the author of it, in Revelation 1:8 . (3) That is, from God the Father, eternal, immortal, immutable: wholly unchangeable, John declares in a form of speech which is undeclined. For there is no incongruity in this place, where, of necessity the words must be adapted to the mystery, not the mystery corrupted or impaired by the words.

(c) These three, Is, Was, and Shall be, signify the word Jehovah, which is the proper name for God. (4) That is, from the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son. This Spirit is one in person according to his subsistence: but in communication of his power, and in demonstration of his divine works in those seven churches, perfectly manifests himself as if there were many spirits, every one perfectly working in his own church. Which is why in Revelation 5:6 they are called the seven horns and seven eyes of the Lamb, as if to say, as his most absolute power and wisdom.

In Revelation 3:1 Christ is said to have those seven spirits of God, and in Revelation 4:5 it is said that seven lamps burn before his throne, which also are those seven spirits of God. That this place ought to be so understood, it is thus proved. For first, grace and peace is asked by prayer from this Spirit, which is a divine work, and an action incommunicable in respect to God. Secondly, he is placed between the Father and the Son, as set in the same degree of dignity and operation with them, besides, he is before the throne, as of the same substance with the Father and the Son: as the seven eyes and seven horns of the Lamb. Moreover, these spirits are never said to adore God, as all other things are. Finally, this is the power by which the Lamb opened the book, and loosed the seven seals of it, when no one could be found among all creatures by whom the book might be opened Revelation 5:1-10 ; Of these things long ago Master John Luide of Oxford wrote to me. Now the Holy Spirit is named before Christ because a long speech about Christ follows. (d) These are the seven spirits, which are later called the horns and eyes of the Lamb in Revelation 5:6 and are now acting as a guard waiting on God.

Verse 5     

1:5 And from Jesus Christ, {5} [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (5) A most ample and honourable commendation of Christ, first from his offices of the priesthood and kingdom: secondly from his benefits, as his love toward us, and washing us with his blood, in this verse, and communication of his kingdom and priesthood with us: thirdly, from his eternal glory and power, which is always to be celebrated by us; Revelation 1:6 Finally, from the accomplishment of all things once to be effected by him, at his second coming, at which time he shall openly destroy the wicked, and comfort the godly in the truth; Revelation 1:7 .

Verse 9

1:9 {7} I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is {g} called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (7) The narration, opening the way to the declaring of the authority and calling of John the evangelist in this singular revelation, and to procure faith and credit to this prophecy. This is the second part of this chapter, consisting of a proposition, and an exposition. The proposition shows, in Revelation 1:9 first who was called to this revelation, in what place, and how occupied. Then at what time, and by what means, namely, by the Spirit and the word, and that on the Lord’s day, which ever since the resurrection of Christ, was consecrated for Christians: that is to say, to be a day of rest, as in Revelation 1:10 Thirdly, who is the author that calls him, and what is the sum of his calling. (g) Patmos is one of the islands of Sporas, where John was banished according to some historians.

Verse 10

1:10 I was in the {h} Spirit on the {i} Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (h) This is a holy trance expressed, with which the prophets were entranced, and being carried out of the world, conversed with God: and so Ezekiel says often, that he was carried from place to place by the Spirit, and that the Spirit of the Lord came on him. (i) He calls it the Lord’s day, which Paul calls the first day of the week; 1 Corinthians 16:2 .

Revelation 2 Verse 1

2:1 Unto {1} the angel of the church of Ephesus write; {2} These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; (1) The former part of this book is comprised in a narration of those things which then were, as John taught us, in Revelation 1:19 it belongs wholly to instruction, and in these two next chapters, contains seven places, according to the number and condition of those churches which were named before in Revelation 1:11 shown in Revelation 1:12 and distributed most aptly into their pastors and flocks, Revelation 1:10 which verse of that chapter is a passage to the first part. Every one of these seven passages has three principal parts, an introduction taken from the person of the reprehension of that which is evil: an instruction, containing either an exhortation alone, or a dissuasion opposite to it, and a conclusion stirring to attention, by divine promises. This first passage is to the pastors of the church of Ephesus.

(2) The introduction in which are contained the special prayers of Christ Jesus the author of this prophecy out of Revelation 1:6; Revelation 1:13 .

Verse 2

2:2 {3} I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: (3) The proposition first condemning the pastor of this church Revelation 2:2-3 then reproving him Revelation 2:4 after informing him, and threatening that he will move the church to another place Revelation 2:5 . This threat of divine vengeance Christ mitigates by a type of correction, calling to mind the particular virtue and piety of the Church, which God never leaves without recompense Revelation 2:6 . Concerning the Nicolaitans, see Revelation 2:15

Verse 7

2:7 {4} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in {5} the midst of the {b} paradise of God. (4) The conclusion containing a commandment of attention, and a promise of everlasting life, shown in a figure; Genesis 2:9 . (5) That is, in paradise after the manner of the Hebrew phrase. (b) Thus Christ speaks as he is mediator.

Verse 10

2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have {8} tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

(8) That is, of ten years. For so commonly both in this book and in Daniel, years are signified by days: that God by this might declare, that the space of time is appointed by him and the same very short. Now because John wrote this book in the end of Domitian the Emperor’s reign, as Justinus and Ireneus do witness, it is altogether necessary that this should be referred to that persecution which was done by the authority of the emperor Trajan: who began to make havock of the Christian church in the tenth year of his reign, as the historians do write: and his bloody persecution continued until Adrian the emperor had succeeded in his stead: The space of which time is precisely ten years, which are here mentioned.

Revelation 4 Verse 1

4:1 After {1} this I looked, and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

(1) Hereafter follows the second part of this book, altogether prophetical foretelling those things which were to come, as was said in Revelation 1:19 . This is divided into two histories: one common to the whole world, till Chapter 9 and another unique to the Church of God, till Chapter 22. These histories are said to be described in several books Revelation 5:1; Revelation 10:2 . Now this verse is a passage from the former part to this second: where it is said, that heaven was opened, that is, that heavenly things were unlocked and that a trumpet sounded in heaven, to stir up the apostle, and call him to the understanding of things to come. The first history has two parts: one the causes of things done and of this whole revelation in this next chapter, another of the acts done in the next four chapters. The principal causes according to the economy or dispensation of it, are two: One the beginning, which none can approach, that is, God the Father, of whom is spoken in this chapter. The other, the Son, who is the secondary cause, easy to be approached, in that he is God and man in one person; Revelation 5:5-9 .

Verse 2

4:2 And {2} immediately I was {a} in the spirit: {3} and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and [one] sat on the throne. (2) The manner of revelation: (a) See Revelation 1:10 . (3) A description of God the Father, and of his glory in the heavens, explained to men by his office, nature, attending company, effect, instruments and events that follow afterwards. In this verse he is presented in office as a judge as Abraham said; Genesis 18:25 which is declared by his throne as sign of judgment, and his sitting on it.

Revelation 6 Verse

16:1 And {1} I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. (1) This is the second part of this first history (which I said was common and of the whole world) of the works of God in the government of all things. There are generally three parts to this: the forewarning, the caution, and the execution of all the evils which God sends on this world, which was scarcely postponed by him. The forewarning is set down in this chapter, the caution for preserving the Church is in the next chapter, and the execution is described in Revelation 8:9 In each part of the forewarning, there are three points: the distinct and express calling of John to prepare himself to take knowledge of the things that are to be showed to him in the opening of the seals, the sign, and the word expounding the sign. Though the express calling of John is used in only four of the signs, yet the same is also to be understood in the rest that follow. The author of the forewarnings is the Lamb as that word of the Father made the Mediator, opening the seals of the book. The instruments are the angels in most of the visions, who explain the sign and the words of it. Now this first verse contains an express calling of John to record the opening of the first seal.

Revelation 10 – Seven Thunders

Verse 1

10:1 And {1} I saw {2} another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow [was] upon his head, and his face [was] as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: (1) Now John passes to the other prophetical history, which is of the Church of God, as I showed that this book should be distinguished  Revelation 4:1 . This story goes from here to Revelation 22:1 . This whole chapter is a transition from the common history of the world to that which is particular of the Church. There are in this transition or passage, two preparatives as it were, to this Church story comprised in this whole chapter. One is the authority of Christ revealing his mysteries and calling his servant, to Revelation 10:7 . The other is John, his calling proper to this place, and repeated from before to the end of this chapter. Authority is given to this revelation, by these things: first, by the appearing from heaven in this habit and countenance, strong, ready glorious surveying all things by his providence, and governing them by his omnipotence Revelation 10:1 .

Secondly, that he brought not by chance, but out of a book, this open revelation, set forth to the eye, to signify the same to the sea and land, as the Lord over all Revelation 10:2 . Thirdly that he offered the same not whispering or muttering in a corner (as false prophets do) but crying out with a loud voice to those who sleep, and with a lionish and terrible noise roused the secure: the very thunders themselves giving testimony to it Revelation 10:3 . Lastly, for that he confirmed all by another Revelation 10:5-7 (2) Christ Jesus, see Revelation 7:2

Verse 2

10:2 And he had in his hand a {3} little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and [his] left [foot] on the earth, (3) Namely, a special book of the affairs of God’s Church: For the book that contains things belonging to the whole world, is said to be kept with the Creator Revelation 5:1 but the book of the Church, with the Redeemer: and out of this book is taken the rest of the history of this Apocalypse.

Verse 4

10:4 {4} And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, {a} Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. (4) A godly care is laudable, but must be married with knowledge. Therefore nothing is to be done but by the calling of God, which must be expected and waited for by the godly. (a) Keep them secret.

Revelation 11 Verse 1

11:1 And there {1} was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and {2} measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. (1) The authority of the intended revelation being declared, together with the necessity of that calling which was particularly imposed on John after which follows the history of the estate of Christ his Church, both conflicting or warring, and overcoming in Christ. For the true Church of Christ is said to fight against that which is falsely so called, over which Antichrist rules, Christ Jesus overthrowing Antichrist by the spirit of his mouth: and Christ is said to overcome most gloriously until he shall slay Antichrist by the appearance of his coming, as the apostle teaches in 2 Thessalonians 2:8 .

So this history has two parts: One of the state of the Church conflicting with temptations until Chapter 16. The other of the state of the same church obtaining victory, thence to Chapter 20. The first part has two sections most conveniently distributed into their times, of which the first contains a history of the Christian Church for 1260 years, what time the gospel of Christ was as it were taken up from among men into heaven: the second contains a history of the same Church to the victory perfected. These two sections are briefly, though distinctly propounded in this chapter, but both of them are discoursed after in due order. For we understand the state of the Church conflicting, out of Chapters 12 and 13, and of the same growing out of afflictions, out of Chapters 14 to 16. Neither did John unknowingly join together the history of these two times in this chapter, because here is spoken of prophecy, which all confess to be but one just and immutable in the Church, and which Christ commanded to be continual.

The history of the former time reaches to Revelation 11:2-14 , the latter is set down in the rest of this chapter Revelation 11:15-19 . In the former are shown these things: the calling of the servants of God in Revelation 11:4 the conflicts which the faithful must undergo in their calling, for Christ and his Church, thence to Revelation 11:5-10 and their resurrection, and receiving up into heaven to Revelation 11:11-14 . In the calling of the servants of God, two things are mentioned: the begetting and settling of the Church in two verses, and the education of it in two verses. The begetting of the Church is here commended to John by sign and by speech: the sign is a measuring rod, and the speech a commandment to measure the Temple of God, that is, to reduce the same to a new form: because the Gentiles are already entered into the Temple of Jerusalem, and shall shortly defile and overthrow it completely.

(2) Either that of Jerusalem’s, which was a figure of the Church of Christ, or that heavenly model in Revelation 11:19 but I like the first better, and the things following all agree to it. The sense therefore is, you see all things in God’s house, almost from the passion of Christ, to be disordered: and not only the city of Jerusalem, but also the court of the Temple is trampled under foot by the nations, and by profane men whether Jews or strangers: and that only this Temple, that is, the body of the Temple, with the altar, and a small company of good men who truly worship God, do now remain, whom God sanctifies and confirms by his presence.

Measure therefore this, even this true Church, or rather the true type of the true Church, omitting the rest, and so describe all things from me, that the true Church of Christ may be as it were a very little centre, and the Church of Antichrist as the circle of the centre, every way in length and breadth compassing about the same, that by way of prophecy you may so declare openly, that the state of the Temple of God, and the faithful who worship him, that is, of the Church, is much more upright than the Church of Antichrist.

Verse 2

11:2 {3} But the {a} court which is without the temple {b} leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the {4} Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot {5} forty [and] two months. (3) As if he should say, it is not your place to judge those who are outside, 1 Corinthians 5:12 who are innumerable: look to those of the household only, or to the house of the living God. (a) He speaks of the outer court, which was called the peoples court, because all men might come into that. (b) That is counted to be cast out, which in measuring is refused as profane. (4) To profane persons, wicked and unbelievers, adversaries to the Church.

(5) Or a thousand, two hundred and sixty days, as is said in Revelation 11:3 : that is, a thousand two hundred and sixty years, a day for a year, as often in Ezekiel and Daniel, which I noted before see Geneva “Revelation 2:10“. The beginning of these thousand two hundred and sixty years, we account from the passion of Christ, by which (the partition wall being broken down) we were made from two into one Ephesians 2:14 . I say, one flock under one shepherd in John 10:16 and the end of these years precisely falls into the reign of pope Boniface the eighth, who a little before the end of 1294, entered Rome in the feast of Saint Lucie (as Bergomensis says) having put in prison his predecessor Coelestinus, whom by fraud, under colour of Oracle, he deceived: for which cause it was well said of him, “Intravit ut vulpes, regnavit ut leo, mortuus est ut canis.” That is, “He entered like a fox, reigned like a lion, and died like a dog.” For if from 1294, you subtract the number of years Christ lived on the earth, you will find there remains just one thousand two hundred and sixty years, which are mentioned in this place and many others.

Verse 3

11:3 And {6} I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall {7} prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. (6) I would rather translate it “illud” than “illam” the temple than the city: for God says, I will give that temple, and commit it to my two witnesses, that is, to the ministers of the word, who are few indeed, weak and contemptible: but yet two, that is, of such a number as one of them may help another, and one confirm the testimony of another to all men, that from the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be made good among men; 2 Corinthians 13:1 . (7) They will exercise their office enjoined by me by the space of those 1260 years, in the midst of afflictions though never so lamentable, which is figuratively shown by the mourning garment.

11:4 These {8} are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. (8) That is, the ordinary and perpetual instruments of spiritual grace, peace and light in my Church, which God by his only power preserved in this Temple. See Zechariah 4:3.

Verse 5

11:5 {9} And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. (9) The power and surety of the holy ministry, which is truly evangelical, is declared both in earth and in heaven, protecting the administers of it, and destroying its enemies, in this verse, divine power, most mightily showing itself forth in heaven, earth and the sea in Revelation 11:6 as it is described in 2 Corinthians 10:4 according to the promise of Christ in Mr 16:17 . This is the second place (as I said before) of the combats which the servants of God must undergo in the executing of their calling, and of the things that follow the same combats or conflicts are these things to overcome, in these two verses: to be overcome and killed in Revelation 11:7 After the slaughter follow these things, that the carcasses of the godly, laid abroad in Revelation 11:8 and being unburied, are scorned, together with cursing and bitter abhorrance Revelation 11:9 and that therefore congratulations are publicly and privately made in Revelation 11:10 .

Verse 7

11:7 {10} And when they shall have {c} finished their testimony, {11} the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall {12} overcome them, and kill them. (10) That is, when they have spent those 1260 years mentioned in Revelation 11:2-3 in publishing their testimony according to their office. (c) When they have done their message. (11) Of which after Chapter 13, that beast is the Roman Empire, made long ago of civil, ecclesiastical: the chief head of which was then Boniface the eighth, as I said before: who lifted up himself in so great arrogancy, (says the author of “Falsciculus temporum”) that he called himself, Lord of the whole world, as well in temporal causes, as in spiritual: There is a document of that matter, written by the same Boniface most arrogantly, shall I say, or most wickedly, “Ca. unam sanctam, extra de majoritate & obedientia.” In the sixth of the Decretals (which is from the same author) many things are found of the same argument.

(12) He shall persecute most cruelly the holy men, and put them to death, and shall wound and pierce through with cursings, both their names and writings. That this was done to very many godly men, by Boniface and others, the histories do declare, especially since the time that the odious and condemned name amongst the multitude, first of the brethren Waldonenses or Lugdunenses, then also of the Fraticels, was pretended, that good men might with more approbation be massacred.

Verse 8

11:8 And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the {13} street of the great city, which {d} spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, {14} where also our Lord was crucified. 13) That is, openly at Rome: where at that time was a most great crowd of people, the year of Jubile being then first ordained by Boniface to the same end, in the year 1300, an example of which is read in chapter 1 “Extra, de poenitentys & remissionibus.” So by one act he committed two wrongs against Christ, both abolishing his truth by restoring the type of the Jubilee, and triumphing over his members by wicked superstition. O religious heart! Now that we should understand the things of Rome, John himself is the author, both after in the seventeenth chapter almost throughout, and also in the restriction now next following, when he says, it is that great city (as he calls it) Revelation 17:18 and is spiritually termed Sodom and Egypt: and that spiritually (for that must here again be repeated from before) Christ was there crucified.

For the two first names signify spiritual wickednesses: the latter signifies the show and pretence of good, that is, of Christian and sound religion. Sodom signifies most licentious impiety and in the most confident glorying of that city, as it were in true religion, being yet full of falsehood and ungodliness. Now who is ignorant that these things do rather, and better fit Rome, than any other city? The commendations of the city of Rome for many years past, are publicly notorious, which are not for me to gather together. This only I will say, that he long since did very well see what Rome is, who upon leaving, used these verses: “Roma vale, vidi, Satis est vidisse: revertar, Quumleno, meretrix, scurra, cinadus ero.” “Now farewell Rome, I have seen thee, it was enough to see: I will return when as I mean, bawd, harlot knave to be” (d) After a more secret type of meaning and understanding. (14) Namely in his parts, as also he said to Saul in Acts 9:5

Verse 9

11:9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies {15} three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. (15) That is, for three years and a half: for so many years Boniface lived after his Jubilee, as Bergomensis witnesses.

Verse 10

11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth {16} shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets {17} tormented them that dwelt on the earth. (16) So much the more shall they by this occasion exercise the hilarity of their Jubilee. (17) The gospel of Christ is the affliction of the world, and the ministry of it, the savour of death to death, to those that perish, 2 Corinthians 2:16 .

Verse 11

11:11 {18} And after {19} three days and an half {20} the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they {21} stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. (18) The third passage, as noted before, is of the rising again of the prophets from the dead, and their carrying up into heaven. For their resurrection is shown in this verse: their calling and lifting up into heaven, in the verse following. (19) That is, what time God shall destroy that wicked Boniface.

(20) That is, the prophets of God shall in a manner rise again, not the same in person (as they say) but in spirit: that is, in the power and efficacy of their ministry, which John expressed before, in Revelation 11:5-6 So the prophecy that is spoken of Elijah, is interpreted by the angel to be understood of John the Baptist Lu 1:17 . For the same Boniface himself, who sought to kill and destroy them, was by the fire of God’s mouth (which the holy ministry shows and exhibits) devoured and died miserably in prison, by the endeavour of Satra Columensis and Nagaretus a French knight, whom Philip the fair King of France sent into Italy but with a very small power.

(21) That is, the most grievous heat of afflictions and persecution shall stay for a while, for the great amazement that shall arise on that sudden and unlooked for judgment of God.

Verse 12

11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, {22} Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; {23} and their enemies beheld them. (22) They were called by God into heaven, and taken out of this wicked world, into the heavenly Church, which also lies hidden here in the earth, to exercise their calling secretly: of whom this wretched world was unworthy; Hebrews 11:38 . For the church of the wicked is by comparison called the earth, or the world: and the Church of the godly, heaven. As it was in ancient times among the godly Israelites: so among the Jews in the days of Manasseh and other kings, when the earth refused the heirs of heaven, we read that they lay hidden as heaven in the earth. (23) Yet they could not hinder the secret ones of the Lord (as the Psalmist called them) Psalms 83:3 but they prospered in his work.

Verse 13

11:13 {24} And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, {25} and {e} gave glory to the God of heaven. (24) Bergomensis said, in 1301, “This year a blazing star foretelling great calamity to come, appeared in heaven: in which year during the feast of St. Andrew, a great earthquake occurred as never before: it continued for many days, and overthrew many stately houses.” This he said of the year following the Jubilee: which John many ages before, expressed word for word. (25) They were indeed broken with present astonishment of mind, but did not earnestly repent as they ought to have done. (e) Glorified God by confessing his name.

Verse 14

11:14 {26} The second woe is past; [and], behold, the third woe cometh quickly. (26) He passes to the second history, which is the second part of this chapter. John calls these the second and third woe, see Revelation 9:12 .

11:15 {27} And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, {28} The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (27) Of whose sounding the trumpet Christ expressly foretold in Revelation 10:7 and this is the second part of this chapter, containing a general history of the Christian Church, from the time of Boniface to the consummation of the victory declared by voice from heaven. In this history there are three branches: a preparation by the sound of the angels trumpet: a narration by the voice of heavenly angels and elders and a confirmation by sign.

(28) The narration has two parts: an acclamation of the heavenly creatures in this verse, and both an adoration by all the elders in Revelation 11:16 and also a thanksgiving in Revelation 11:17-18 . The sense of the acclamation is, “Now the Lord has entered his kingdom and has restored his church in which most mightily recovered from the profanation of the Gentiles, he may glorify himself.” Namely that, which the Lord ordained when he first ordained his Church, that the faith of the saints does now behold as accomplished.

Verse 18

11:18 {30} And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. (30) A speech of the Hebrew language, as if to say, as Gentiles being angry, your inflamed wrath came on them, and showed itself from heaven, occasioned by their anger and fury.

Verse 19

11:19 And the temple of God was {31} opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. (31) This is the confirmation of the next prophecy before going by signs exhibited in heaven, and that of two sorts, of which some are visible, as the passing away of the heaven, the opening of the temple, the ark of the covenant appearing in the temple, and testifying the glorious presence of God, and the lightning: others apprehended by ear and feeling, which bear witness in heaven and earth to the truth of the judgments of God.

Revelation 12 Verse 1

12:1 And {1} there appeared a great wonder in heaven; {2} a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: (1) Until now it has been the general prophecy, comprehended in two parts, as I showed in Revelation 11:1-19 . Now will be declared the first part of this prophecy, in this and the next chapter and the latter part in the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth chapters. To the first part, which is about the conflicting or militant Church belong two things. The beginning and the progress of the same in conflicts and Christian combats. Of which two the beginning of the Church is described in this chapter, and the progress of it in the chapter following. The beginning of the Christian Church we define as the first moment of the conception of Christ, until the time in which this church was weaned and taken away from the breast or milk of her mother: which is the time when the Church of the Jews with their city and temple was overthrown by the judgment of God.

So we have in this chapter the story of 69 years and upwards. There are three parts to this chapter. The first, is the history of the conception and pregnancy in Revelation 12:1-4 . The second, a history of the birth from Revelation 12:5-12 . The third is about the woman who gave birth, to the end of the chapter. These several parts each have their conflicts. Therefore in the first part are two verses: and another of the lying in wait of the dragon against the child about to be born, in the next two verses. In the first point are these things, the description of the mother Revelation 12:1 and the pains of childbirth in Revelation 12:2 all shown to John from heaven. (2) A type of the true holy Church which was at that time in the Jewish nation. This Church (as is the state of the Catholic church) did in itself shine with glory given by God, immutable and unchangeable, and possessed the kingdom of heaven as the heir of it.

Verse 2

12:2 And {3} she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. (3) For this is the barren woman who had not given birth; Isaiah 45:1, Galatians 4:27 . She cried out with good cause, and was tormented at that time, when in the judgment of all she seemed near to death, about to die because of her weakness and poverty.

Verse 3

12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; {4} and behold a great red dragon, having {5} seven heads and ten {6} horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (4) That is the devil or Satan, see Revelation 12:9 , mighty, angry and full of wrath. (5) By this to withstand those seven churches spoken of, that is, the catholic church, and that with kingly objects and tyrannical magnificence: signified by the crowns set on his heads, as if they belonged to him by the proper right, without controversy: as also he boasted to Christ; See Matthew 4:9 Revelation 13:1 . (6) More than the horns of the Lamb, or than the churches are: so well equipped does the tyrant brag himself to be, to do all manner of wickedness.

Verse 4

12:4 (7) And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon (8) stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for {9} to devour her child as soon as it was born. (7) After the description of Satan follows this action, that is, his battle with the Church partly to that which is visible, in which the wheat is mingled with the chaff, and the good fish with that which is evil: its good part, though in appearance it shined as the stars shine in heaven, he is said to thrust down out of heaven, and to pervert: for if it were possible he would pervert even the elect Matthew 24:24 and partly to the elect members of the holy catholic church in the second part of this verse. Many therefore of the members of this visible Church (says John) he overthrew and triumphed on them.

(8) He withstood that elect Church of the Jews which was now ready to bring forth the Christian Church and watched for her to give birth. For the whole Church, and whole body is compared to a woman: and a part of the Church to that which is brought forth, as we have noted in So 7:6 . (9) Christ mystical (as they call him) that is, the whole Church, consists of the person of Christ as the head and of the body united to it by the Spirit, so is the name of Christ taken on 1 Corinthians 12:12 .

Verse 5

12:5 {10} And she brought forth a man {11} child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne. (10) The second history of this Church delivered of child: in which first the consideration of the child born, and of the mother, is described in two verses Revelation 12:6 : secondly the battle of the dragon against the young child, and the victory obtained against him in the three verses following Revelation 12:7-9 : last of all is sung a song of victory, to Revelation 12:10-12 . Now John in consideration of the child born, notes two things: for he describes him, and his station or place in this verse.

(11) That is Christ the head of the Church joined with his Church (the beginning root and foundation of which is the same Christ) endued with kingly power and taken up into heaven out of the jaws of Satan (who as a serpent did bite him on the cross) that sitting on the heavenly throne, he might reign over all.

Verse 6

12:6 {12} And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that {13} they should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days. (12) The Church of Christ which was of the Jews, after his ascension into heaven, hid itself in the world as in a wilderness, trusting only in the defence of God, as Luke witnesses in Acts. (13) Namely the apostles and servants of God ordained to feed with the word of life, the Church collected both of the Jews and Gentiles unless any man will take the word “alerent” impersonally after the use of the Hebrews, instead of “aleretur” but I like the first better. For he has respect to those two prophets, of whom Revelation 11:3 speaks. As for the meaning of the 1290 days, see the same verse Geneva (7) “Revelation 11:3“.

Verse 7

12:7 And there was war in heaven: {14} Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, (14) Christ is the Prince of angels and head of the Church, who bears that iron rod Revelation 12:5 . Also see Geneva “Daniel 12:1“. In this verse a description of the battle and of the victory in the two verses following Revelation 12:8-9 . The psalmist noted this battle as did Paul; Psalms 68:9 Ephesians 4:8 Colossians 2:15 .

Verse 8

12:8 {15} And prevailed not; neither was their {a} place found any more in heaven. (15) The description of the victory, by the denying of the thing in this verse, and by affirming the opposite in Revelation 12:9 . As Satan gained nothing in heaven, but was by the power of God thrown down into the world of which he is the prince, Christ himself and his elect members standing still by the throne of God. (a) They were cast out so, that they were never seen any more in heaven.

Verse 10

12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, {16} Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (16) The song of victory or triumph containing first, a proposition of the glory of God and of Christ shown in that victory: secondly, it contains a reason for the same proposition, taken from the effects, as the enemy is overcome in battle, in this verse, and the godly are made conquerors (and more than conquerors) Romans 8:37 . Thirdly a conclusion, in which is an exhortation to the angels, and to the saints: and to the word, a prophecy of great misery, and of destruction obtained by the devil against mankind, since he himself will soon be miserable Revelation 12:12 .

Verse 11

12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they {b} loved not their lives unto the death. (b) He is said in the Hebrew tongue, to love his life, who values his life more than anything else: and on the other side, he is said not to love his life, who does not hesitate to risk it, if need requires it.

Verse 13

12:13 And when {17} the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man [child]. (17) The third part: a history of the woman delivered, consisting of two parts, the present battle of Satan against the Christian Church of the Jewish nation, in Revelation 12:13-16 : and the battle intended against the Church of the Gentiles, which is called holy by reason of the gospel of Christ in Revelation 12:17.

Verse 14

12:14 {18} And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her {c} place, where she is nourished for a {19} time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (18) That is, being strengthened with divine power: and taught by oracle, she fled swiftly from the assault of the devil, and from the common destruction of Jerusalem and went into a solitary city beyond Jordan called Pella as Eusebius tells in the first chapter of the third book of his ecclesiastical history: where God had commanded her by revelation. (c) Into the place God had prepared for her.

(19) That is, for three and a half years: so the same speech is taken in see Geneva (q) “Daniel 7:25“. This space of time is reckoned in manner from that last and most grievous rebellion of the Jews, to the destruction of the city and temple,for their defection or falling away, began in the twelfth year of Nero, before the beginning of which many signs and predictions were shown from heaven, as Josephus wrote, lib.7, chap.12, and Hegesippus lib.5, chap.44, among which this is very memorable. In the feast of Pentecost not only a great sound and noise was heard in the Temple, but also a voice was heard by many out of the Sanctuary which cried out to all, Let us depart from here. Now three and a half years after this defection by the Jews began, and those wonders happened, the city was taken by force, the temple overthrown, and the place forsaken by God: and the length of time John noted in this place.

Verse 15

12:15 {20} And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. (20) That is, he inflamed the Romans and the nations that in persecuting the Jewish people with cruel arms, they might at the same time invade the Church of Christ, now departed from Jerusalem and out of Judea. For it is a normal thing in scripture, that the raging tumults of the nations should be compared to waters.

Verse 16

12:16 {21} And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. (21) That is, there was offered in their place other Jews, to the Romans and nations raging against that people: and it came to pass by this that the Church of God was saved entirely from that violence, that most raging flood of persecution which the dragon vomited out being completely exhausted in the destroying of those other Jews.

Verse 17

12:17 {22} And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (22) Being set on fire by this means, he began to be more mad, and because he perceived that his purpose against the Christian Church of the Jewish remnant was come to nothing, he resolved to fall on her seed, that is, the Church of the Gentiles, gathered by God and the holy members of the church. This is that other part, as is said in Revelation 12:13 in which the purpose of Satan is shown in Revelation 12:17 and his attempt, in Revelation 13:1.

To be continued in Part 2.

In part 2 we will look at the Geneva Commentary of the Beast in Chapter 13 and 18 along with the events they perceived to have and yet to have unfold. Note: Whether you agree or disagree with the commentary, I found it revealing as to the events he has laid out as a succession of what has unfolded in the times from the Apostles unto his time. The history that is shared is valuable to our understanding of what had happened in the past as today we have so many false tales of how things were.

KEEP ON PRESSING INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. PRESS, PRESS, PRESS.

DIANNE