So those that should hold out in the time of Antichrist, and should not worship the Beast, Rev. 13. 6, 7, 8. were such as dwelt in Heaven. He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his Name, and his Tabernacle, and them that dwelt in Heaven: in many places of the Revelations, Heaven is taken for the Church of God, and the People of God, and so Interpreters take it here: And it was given to him to war with the Saints, and to overcome them: but though he prevailed against the Saints to kill them, yet he could not prevail against them that dwelt in Heaven to worship him: but all that dwell upon the Earth shall worship him; all that know no higher good then the Earth, they shall follow Antichrist and worship him. Here we see the reason why people will not endure the sufferings inflicted by the Beast, but follow the Beast, & have his mark either upon their foreheads openly, or in their hands secretly, because they do not apprehend the glory of Heaven; but if they can come to see those glorious things of Heaven, though Antichrist do persecute them, they would not worship him: in these latter times of the world Antichrist will prevail to get many to worship him, but the sight of these glorious things will keep us we shall not worship him. In Rev. 12. the Church who is compared to a Woman that was clothed with the ⟨p. 606⟩glory of the Sun, she had the Moon, and all sublunary things under her feet: When the soul is seeking after the glory of Heaven, and that is always in its eye, this causes it to have the Moon, by which is signified all things below that are subject to changes, under its feet. I read of a Martyr that was whipped, and almost scourged to death, and then being led to the execution, he met with his Mother, who being a godly gracious woman, did not fall of tearing her hair, and rending her clothes as other women used to do; but cried, Son, Remember eternal life; look up to Heaven, and see him that reigns there: Hence we see that having an eye to the recompense of reward, does make the heart to choose the Choice of Moses, To suffer affliction with the people of God, and to esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt; you see there is a great deal of power and efficacy in it; but wherein does this power consist? In divers particulars.
So those that should hold out in the time of Antichrist, and should not worship the Beast, Rev. 13. 6, 7, 8. were such as dwelt in Heaven. He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his Name, and his Tabernacle, and them that dwelt in Heaven: in many places of the Revelations, Heaven is taken for the Church of God, and the People of God, and so Interpreters take it here: And it was given to him to war with the Saints, and to overcome them: but though he prevailed against the Saints to kill them, yet he could not prevail against them that dwelt in Heaven to worship him: but all that dwell upon the Earth shall worship him; all that know no higher good then the Earth, they shall follow Antichrist and worship him. Here we see the reason why people will not endure the sufferings inflicted by the Beast, but follow the Beast, & have his mark either upon their foreheads openly, or in their hands secretly, because they do not apprehend the glory of Heaven; but if they can come to see those glorious things of Heaven, though Antichrist do persecute them, they would not worship him: in these latter times of the world Antichrist will prevail to get many to worship him, but the sight of these glorious things will keep us we shall not worship him. In Rev. 12. the Church who is compared to a Woman that was cloathed with the ⟨p. 606⟩glory of the Sun, she had the Moon, and all sublunary things under her feet: When the soul is seeking after the glory of Heaven, and that is always in its eye, this causes it to have the Moon, by which is signified all things below that are subject to changes, under its feet. I read of a Martyr that was whipped, and almost scourged to death, and then being led to the execution, he met with his Mother, who being a godly gracious woman, did not fall of tearing her hair, and rending her cloathes as other women used to do; but cryed, Son, Remember eternal life; look up to Heaven, and see him that reigns there: Hence we see that having an eye to the recompence of reward, does make the heart to choose the Choice of Moses, To suffer affliction with the people of God, and to esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt; you see there is a great deal of power and efficacy in it; but wherein does this power consist? In divers particulars.
