A plain explanation of the whole Revelation of Saint John Very necessary and comfortable…A plaine explanation of the vvhole Revelation of Saint John Very necessary and comfortable…

Then it is said, there was a battle in heaven; by heaven, he meaneth the militant Church of God, under the Gospel, which is the part of Gods kingdom, for the kingdom of God which is begun even in earth. The principal in this battle is first Michael, to wit, Christ, and with him his Angels; namely, the godly Saints, with the good Angels on the one side, and on the other side, the Dragon with his Angels; namely, the wicked spirits and wicked men. But the godly overcome the Dragon and his Angels: the means whereby they overcome, is through the blood of the Lamb, which is their principal armour; being such, as that albeit they themselves were killed, notwithstanding by reason hereof, they were made conquerors, and were now received into the kingdom of heaven, and Satan is thrown out of the kingdom. Which thing when Satan saw, as namely, that now he had lost all his advantage, as it were, and that he could have nought to do with them any more, they being now triumphing in the kingdom of God, he waxeth mad as it were, and rageth against the earth more fiercely then before.

Then it is said, there was a battell in heauen; by heauen, he meaneth the militant Church of God, vnder the Gospell, which is the part of Gods kingdome, for the kingdome of God which is begun euen in earth. The principall in this battell is first Michael, to wit, Christ, and with him his Angels; namely, the godly Saints, with the good Angels on the one side, and on the other side, the Dragon with his Angels; namely, the wicked spirits and wicked men. But the godly ouercome the Dragon and his Angels: the meanes whereby they ouercome, is through the bloud of the Lambe, which is their principall armour; being such, as that albeit they themselues were killed, notwithstanding by reason hereof, they were made conquerours, and were now receiued into the kingdome of heauen, and Sathan is throwne out of the kingdome. Which thing when Sathan saw, as namely, that now he had lost all his aduantage, as it were, and that hee could haue nought to doe with them any more, they being now triumphing in the kingdome of God, hee waxeth mad as it were, and rageth against the earth more fiercely then before.

And hereupon, the Elders, and the rest of Gods Children in heaven are brought in, rejoicing at this victory, and saying, peace in the heaven; that is, to the Children of God, that were then delivered, but woe to the earth; that is, to the inhabitants of the earth, because that they should have much to do, and suffer