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…

The seven heads have another exposition given them by the Angel, to be seven Kings, that is, seven Governors and Emperors of the City, whereof it is said, five are fallen, that is, were dead: one was then, that is, Domitian, who at that time had banished John into Patmos; and he that was to come, was the next after Domitian, and he should endure but a small time: and therefore those that lived in those days might easily see the truth of it. And this therefore set forth thus, that men proving and seeing this to be true, might give the more credit to the rest.

The seauen heads haue another exposition giuen them by the Angell, to be seauen Kings, that is, seauen Gouernours and Emperours of the City, whereof it is said, fiue are fallen, that is, were dead: one was then, that is, Domitian, who at that time had banished Iohn into Pathmos; and he that was to come, was the next after Domitian, and he should indure but a small time: and therefore those that liued in those dayes might easily see the truth of it. And this therefore set forth thus, that men prouing and seeing this to be true, might giue the more credit to the rest.

And the Beast that was and is not (that is, is not of the same sort as he was, being now changed by another family) is the eight, to wit, in number, which was the seventh also, for he was admitted by the seventh, while the seventh was alive; for the other being alive, this eight in his days was chosen Emperor, and was joined in government with him, as was the custom of Kings, when that Kingdoms were doubtful, the Kings took their Successors, whom they would to have reign next in their room, and would in their own life establish them in their Kingdoms, as did David with Solomon, who while he yet lived, settled his Son in the Kingdom, taking him as it were, and joining him in society ⟨p. 109⟩with him, and setting him by him as it were on the Throne.

And the Beast that was and is not (that is, is not of the same sort as he was, being now changed by another family) is the eight, to wit, in number, which was the seauenth also, for hee was admitted by the seauenth, while the seauenth was aliue; for the other being aliue, this eight in his dayes was chosen Emperour, and was ioyned in gouernement with him, as was the custome of Kings, when that Kingdomes were doubtfull, the Kings tooke their Successors, whom they would to haue raigne next in their roome, and would in their owne life establish them in their Kingdomes, as did Dauid with Salomon, who while he yet liued, setled his Sonne in the Kingdome, taking him as it were, and ioyning him in societie