The TEXT.: The ruin of Rome, or, An exposition upon the whole… by Arthur Dent | AskReformation

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:767p. 361–362

The time of his imprisonment is set down to be a thousand years; that is, all the time from the preaching of Christ and his Apostles, until Gregory the seventh, and other monstrous Popes, which did let Satan loose again. Which space of time is guessed by the learned, to be a thousand years, or thereabouts. But here it is to be observed, that this binding of Satan is not to be taken simply and absolutely, as though Satan was so bound and chained up for this thousand years, that he could not seduce at all, or do no mischief at all after the preaching of the Gospel by Christ and his Apostles, I say, this is not to be taken simply, but after a ⟨p. 362⟩sort; that is, that he could not so generally and universally seduce all nations, as he had in former time, before the coming of Christ. For otherwise, it is well known, that even after Christs time, he did greatly persecute the Church, bring in many errors and heresies, and harden and blind many mens hearts: but yet all this was nothing, in comparison of that which he had wrought in former ages, when he was even as it were the god of the world, and the Gentiles worshipped him as god, as the Apostle teacheth,¹ That all the worship of the heathen nations was the worship of Devils. And again,² That God in times past suffered all the Gentiles to walk in their own ways: And then was Satan a great prince indeed. But now cometh a chain for him: For Christ preacheth the Gospel, and sendeth forth his Disciples with power, and thereupon saith,³ I saw Satan fall down like lightning: For the preaching of the Gospel beateth down the kingdom of Satan and sin.

The time of his imprisonment is set down to be a thousand yeers; that is, all the time from the preaching of Christ and his Apostles, untill Gregory the seventh, and other monstrous Popes, which did let Satan loose againe. Which space of time is ghessed by the learned, to be a thousand yeers, or thereabouts. But here it is to be observed, that this binding of Satan is not to be taken simply and absolutely, as though Satan was so bound and chained up for this thousand yeers, that he could not seduce at all, or do no mischiefe at all after the preaching of the Gospel by Christ and his Apostles, I say, this is not to be taken simply, but after a ⟨p. 362⟩sort; that is, that he could not so generally and universally seduce all nations, as hee had in former time, before the coming of Christ. For otherwise, it is well knowne, that even after Christs time, he did greatly persecute the Church, bring in many errors and heresies, and harden and blinde many mens hearts: but yet all this was nothing, in comparison of that which hee had wrought in former ages, when he was even as it were the god of the world, and the Gentiles worshipped him as god, as the Apostle teacheth,¹ That all the worship of the heathen nations was the worship of Divels. And againe,² That God in times past suffered all the Gentiles to walke in their owne wayes: And then was Satan a great prince indeed. But now cometh a chaine for him: For Christ preacheth the Gospel, and sendeth forth his Disciples with power, and thereupon saith,³ I saw Satan fall downe like lightning: For the preaching of the Gospel beateth downe the kingdome of Satan and sinne.

11 Cor. 10.
2Acts 14.16.
3Luke 18.10.

:771p. 364–365

Here now is set forth the estate of the Church militant, for the space of the thousand years wherein Satan was chained up. For it is said here, that the Church did grow and flourish; yea, and greatly exercise her power and authority during the time. And therefore Saint John saith, that he saw seats, and they sate upon them, and judgement was given unto them. Whereby he meaneth, that the Apostles and their successors had their chairs, seats, and consistories, wherein they did both preach the word, and execute the ⟨p. 365⟩Churches censures; as the Scribes and Pharisees before did sit in the chair of Moses: and I take it, the latter part of the fourth verse is to be referred to the first clause, to wit, that the Church did live and reign with Christ a thousand years: Which is not to be understood of the Church triumphant, as some do take it and all the rest of the fourth verse; but of the flourishing estate of the Church militant during the time of Satan's captivity: for all the faithful do after a sort live and reign with Christ, even here in the earth, when they overcome the world by faith, and subdue Satan and sin by the power of grace.

Here now is set forth the estate of the Church militant, for the space of the thousand yeeres wherein Satan was chained up. For it is said here, that the Church did grow and flourish; yea, and greatly exercise her power and authority during the time. And therefore Saint John saith, that he saw seats, and they sate upon them, and judgement was given unto them. Whereby hee meaneth, that the Apostles and their successours had their chairs, seates, and consistories, wherein they did both preach the word, and execute the ⟨p. 365⟩Churches censures; as the Scribes and Pharisees before did sit in the chaire of Moses: and I take it, the latter part of the fourth verse is to be referred to the first clause, to wit, that the Church did live and reigne with Christ a thousand yeeres: Which is not to be understood of the Church triumphant, as some do take it and all the rest of the fourth verse; but of the flourishing estate of the Church militant during the time of Satans captivity: for all the faithfull do after a sort live and reigne with Christ, even here in the earth, when they overcome the world by faith, and subdue Satan and sin by the power of grace.

:783p. 371–373

Furthermore, it is to be noted, that the Prophet Ezekiel saith, That Gog is the chief Prince of Mesech and Tubal: By Mesech he meaneth Arabia; and by Tubal, Italy and Spain: noting thereby the countries and kingdoms from whence the great persecutors of the Church, from the return out of the captivity of Babylon until the coming of the Messiah, should arise: for assuredly their enemies were collected of divers nations but served chiefly under the Princes of Asia the lesser, of Syria, and of Scythia. Now then to conclude, Gog and Magog in Ezekiel, are put for the Princes of those countries which were the chief Captains in gathering great and mighty armies unto battle against the children of Israel, after they were come out of the captivity of Babylon. And the Prophet there, in one sum, under the armies of Gog and Magog comprehendeth all the enemies that fought against them from time to time, after the captivity, unto the coming of Christ. And now for the application of this unto the enemies of the Church ⟨p. 372⟩under the Gospel, we must first note, that through this book, the figures and phrases of speech are taken out of the Law and the Prophets. Now therefore, when the Lord would set forth in one sum all the enemies of the Church, which Satan mustereth after the time of his loosing out of prison, before the coming of Christ to judgment; there is no one place more fit to set forth all these armies, then those armies of Gog and Magog: and therefore the names, even Gog and Magog are here brought in, to set forth these huge armies of the Turk, and of the Pope, and of all the enemies of the Church in these last days, which should gather themselves to battle, being in number as the sand of the sea, as Saint John saith, yea, did cover the whole face of the earth with their multitudes, and compass the tents of the Saints about, and the beloved city: that is, did make war against the Church and people of God, which, in comparison of them, were but as a few tents, or some little city. But mark what followeth, and consider the issue of the battle: The holy Ghost saith expressly, that fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them: which doth plainly show, that the ⟨p. 373⟩armies of Gog and Magog, though never so huge, shall be destroyed by the fire of Gods wrath.

Furthermore, it is to be noted, that the Prophet Ezekiel saith, That Gog is the chiefe Prince of Mesech and Tubal: By Mesech he meaneth Arabia; and by Tubal, Italy and Spaine: noting thereby the countries and kingdomes from whence the great persecuters of the Church, from the return out of the captivity of Babylon untill the coming of the Messias, should arise: for assuredly their enemies were collected of divers nations but served chiefly under the Princes of Asia the lesser, of Syria, and of Scythia. Now then to conclude, Gog and Magog in Ezekiel, are put for the Princes of those countries which were the chiefe Captains in gathering great and mighty armies unto battel against the children of Israel, after they were come out of the captivity of Babylon. And the Prophet there, in one summe, under the armies of Gog and Magog comprehendeth all the enemies that fought against them from time to time, after the captivity, unto the coming of Christ. And now for the application of this unto the enemies of the Church ⟨p. 372⟩under the Gospel, wee must first note, that through this booke, the figures and phrases of speech are taken out of the Law and the Prophets. Now therefore, when the Lord would set forth in one summe all the enemies of the Church, which Satan mustereth after the time of his loosing out of prison, before the coming of Christ to judgment; there is no one place more fit to set forth all these armies, then those armies of Gog and Magog: and therefore the names, even Gog and Magog are here brought in, to set forth these huge armies of the Turk, and of the Pope, and of all the enemies of the Church in these last dayes, which should gather themselves to battell, being in number as the sand of the sea, as Saint John saith, yea, did cover the whole face of the earth with their multitudes, and compasse the tents of the Saints about, and the beloved citie: that is, did make warre against the Church and people of God, which, in comparison of them, were but as a few tents, or some little citie. But mark what followeth, and consider the issue of the battell: The holy Ghost saith expressely, that fire came downe from God out of heaven, and devoured them: which doth plainely shew, that the ⟨p. 373⟩armies of Gog and Magog, though never so huge, shall be destroyed by the fire of Gods wrath.

:789p. 374–376

Now after all this, in the five last verses, Saint John entereth into a lively and clear description of the last judgment; first, noting the terror and majesty of the Judge himself,¹ in this, that from his face both heaven and earth fled away: that is, no creature shall be able to endure his angry countenance in that day: and yet withal setting down the purity and uprightness of his judgment, and judgment-seat, calling it a white Throne. And after this, the general citing and personal appearing of all men before him, of what degree estate, or condition soever: For both death and hell, ²sea and grave did deliver up ⟨p. 375⟩their dead, and all without exception came to judgement, and the books of their consciences were opened (for every mans work is engraven upon his conscience, as it were in letters of brass, or with the point of a diamond, as the Prophet speaketh,³) And they were judged of those things which were written in the books, according to their works, and according to the testimony of their own consciences. ⁴And death and hell, that is, all the heirs of death and hell, even all the society of reprobates, both Papists, Atheists, and all unbelievers, yea, whosoever were not found written in the book of life, ⁵were cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. Now here I would have it diligently observed, that the holy Ghost hath three several times in this book described the last judgment; to wit, in the latter end of the eleventh chapter, in the latter end of the fourteenth chapter, and now in the latter end of this chapter. And moreover, I would have the order and causes of these descriptions well weighed: For in the eleventh chapter, having before described the kingdom of the Pope and the Turk, with their overthrow, and also the preaching and prevailing of the Gospel in these last days, he cometh to describe the last judgement: In ⟨p. 376⟩the fourteenth chapter, having set down, that the everlasting Gospel should be plentifully preached in this last age, and the overthrow of Babylon immediately following, forthwith he proceedeth to the description of the last day: In this chapter, having before concluded of the utter overthrow of Rome, and of the beast and false prophet, of Gog and Magog, and all adversary power, at length he proceedeth to this description of Christs second coming, which we have heard of.

Now after all this, in the five last verses, Saint John entreth into a lively and cleere description of the last judgment; first, noting the terror and majesty of the Judge himself,¹ in this, that from his face both heaven and earth fled away: that is, no creature shall be able to endure his angry countenance in that day: and yet withall setting downe the purity and uprightnesse of his judgment, and judgment-seat, calling it a white Throne. And after this, the generall citing and personall appearing of all men before him, of what degree estate, or condition soever: For both death and hell, ²sea and grave did deliver up ⟨p. 375⟩their dead, and all without exception came to judgement, and the bookes of their consciences were opened (for every mans work is ingraven upon his conscience, as it were in letters of brasse, or with the point of a diamond, as the Prophet speaketh,³) And they were judged of those things which were written in the books, according to their works, and according to the testimony of their own consciences. ⁴And death and hell, that is, all the heires of death and hell, even all the society of reprobates, both Papists, Atheists, and all unbeleevers, yea, whosoever were not found written in the book of life, ⁵were cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. Now here I would have it diligently observed, that the holy Ghost hath three severall times in this book described the last judgment; to wit, in the latter end of the eleventh chapter, in the latter end of the fourteenth chapter, and now in the latter end of this chapter. And moreover, I would have the order and causes of these descriptions well weighed: For in the eleventh chapter, having before described the kingdome of the Pope and the Turk, with their overthrow, and also the preaching and prevailing of the Gospel in these last dayes, hee cometh to describe the last judgement: In ⟨p. 376⟩the fourteenth chapter, having set downe, that the everlasting Gospel should bee plentifully preached in this last age, and the overthrow of Babylon immediately following, forthwith hee proceedeth to the description of the last day: In this chapter, having before concluded of the utter overthrow of Rome, and of the beast and false prophet, of Gog and Magog, and all adversary power, at length he proceedeth to this description of Christs second coming, which wee have heard of.

1Verse 11.
2Verse 13.
3Jer. 17.2. Verse 12.
4Verse 14.
5Verse 15.