Revelation 13

He does not care for their purses but their hearts (Ephesians 2:2). Satan is served upon the knee (Revelation 13:4): "They worshipped the dragon" — that is, the Devil. Satan's empire is very large; the most kingdoms in the world pay tribute to him.

For these two, Grace and Works, do divide the ways of our relation to God, being diametrically opposite, and every way inconsistent (Romans 11:6). Of this Covenant the Lord Christ was the Mediator from the foundation of the world, namely, from the giving of the first Promise (Re…

This expression is sometimes used absolutely for the original of the world in its creation; for the absolute beginning of time and all things measured by it (Ephesians 1:4; Matthew 25:34; John 17:24; 1 Peter 1:20). Sometimes from what immediately succeeded on that beginning (Mat…

And therefore are we required to keep the word of his patience (Revelation 3:10), or to abide in the faith of those things concerning which he exercises patience in the world. So is it said with respect to the judgements which God in his own time will execute on the Antichristia…

The thing which they desired was suited to the holiness, righteousness, and faithfulness of God, and wherein he had designed to glorify himself in his appointed season (Revelation 19:1, 2, 3). But the time of it seemed long to them; therefore to glorify God herein is a fruit of…

Therefore God would send them strong delusions to believe lies, that all they might be damned which believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. And Saint John, All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life (Reve…

Again, it serves for caution, to prevent mistakes: Christians, look to your sanctification (Psalm 4:3). Know that God has set apart him that is godly for himself: the Beast's worshippers have the Beast's mark (Revelation 13:16). So also God's children are stamped with his seal a…

And this we find now in experience to be true, for the see of Rome never flourished until the empire decayed and the seat thereof was removed from the city of Rome. Again, Revelation 13 makes mention of two beasts: one coming out of the sea, whom the Papists confess to be the he…

Indeed a known harlot may afterward remain a wife and be so termed — yet after the bill of divorcement is given she ceases to be a wife, though she can show her marriage ring. Now the Church has received the bill of her divorcement in the written word, namely 2 Thessalonians 2 a…

But the Court which is without the Temple leave out, and measure it not: for it is given to the Gentiles, and the holy City shall they tread under foot forty and two months." This time of two and forty months, must be expounded by (Revelation 13:5), where it is said of the Beast…

For God has accursed it to be a snare, and so it has proved accordingly. It has shed much precious blood, which the Earth will not cover, and it is conceived by very learned men, that the Sign of the Cross is that special mark of the Beast (Revelation 13:16). But all our Writers…

Instead of making Pagans turn Christians by it, they did transform Christian churches into Anti-Christian. It was this fleshly wisdom that was the means to conjure up those two venomous beasts, the Church and Pope of Rome (Revelation 13). 4. It proceeds from a spirit of folly an…

Mr. Lowman doesn't think with others, that by the seventh that was to continue a short space, which would not be properly one of the heads of the Beast, is meant Constantine and the other Christian Emperors; (for he thinks they are reckoned as properly belonging to the sixth hea…

XII. Next in Bellarmine comes the succession of bishops in the Roman church; the same argument holds among the Mohammedans with regard to the caliphate. Ancient Rome likewise had its own supreme pontiffs, whose title, name, place, office, and spirit that Bellarmine's bishop has…

Men come to Zion, and follow Christ in ones and twos of a whole Tribe (Jeremiah 3:14). They go to hell in thousands; a whole earth (Revelation 13) worships the Western Beast; and the Eastern Leopard has the far greatest part of the habitable world; Indians and Americans worship…

Zephaniah 3:10: From beyond the river of Ethiopia, my suppliants, even the daughters of my dispersed shall come. 4. Their names are particularly enrolled in the Lamb's book of life (Luke 10:20; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 20:15). As citizens of some famous incorporation, or sena…

Answer: I will show a third. Paul says, that before the end, there shall be a departure (2 Thessalonians 2), and this departure is general in all nations (Revelation 13:16), and after a thousand years there shall be the first resurrection (Revelation 20:5), and this resurrection…

Such was the mighty power and deep policy used by Pharaoh to destroy Gods Israel, that to the eye of reason, it was as impossible to survive it, as for crackling thorns to abide unconsumed amidst devouring flames; by which Emblem, their miraculous preservation is expressed, Exod…

In the New Testament it is no where used, but for that religious worship which is due to God alone. And when it is remembered of any that they did ⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩, or perform the duty and homage denoted by this word, to any but God, it is remembered as their idolatry (Re…

Besides, it may be they are pleased with that description that is in it of the New Jerusalem, which some Judaizing Christians of old wrested to a restauration of the earthly City of Jerusalem, and the renewed observation of the Law of Moses. Thus the Author of the Questions and…

Christ is called the Lamb of God, Johnn 1:29. which he was in reference unto the Sacrifices of old, as 1 Peter 2:18, 19. whence he is represented in the church, as a Lamb slain, Revelation 5:6. or giving out the efficacy of all Sacrifices to his church. Now he is said to be a La…

This is a contrivance of the devil to turn the ministry of the Christian church into a ministry of the devil, and to turn these angels of the churches into fallen angels, and so into devils. In the tyranny, and superstition, and idolatry, and persecution, which he sets up, he co…

Rev. 3:5 and 22:19. They who truly have their names written in the Book of Life, are God's true Saints, that have saving grace: as is evident by Rev. 13:8. And all that dwell on the Earth, shall worship Him, whose Names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from…

3. Puts him to learn by experience new things to day, and to will and decree them fixedly in time, concerning which yesterday and before the world was, he was not fixed in his will to do determinatly any thing, for fear of fatal necessity. For 4. God had either fixed a decree co…

Thus when the devil was silenced in his oracles (as it is well known he was upon the setting up of Christianity in the world) his mouth was opened in lies and slanders; and being forced to quit his pretensions to a deity, he appears bare-faced, as a devil, a false-accuser. The R…

Mahomet, though he industriously adapted his religion, to the sensual appetites of men, whose reason only, and not their lusts, could object against it, yet he obtained no strength, nor interest at all, till by a thousand artifices he had got the power of the sword, and with it…

See in Dan. 7. there is mention made of a cruel Tyrant that should make War with the Saints, and should persecute Gods people, that devoured and brake in pieces, yet there were some that should bear out all, that should have the Kingdom given them, and God should reward them glo…

Fourthly, an afflicted condition gives opportunity for much exercise of grace, it calls forth whatever grace there is in the heart to the exercise of it. Rev. 13:10 St. John speaking of the sufferings of the Saints, Here (says he) is the faith and the patience of the Saints; her…

The truth is, if we have any assurance left us of any thing in the world, that we either see or hear, feel or taste and so consequently that we are alive, and not other men, the poor Indians who worship a piece of red cloth, are not more gross idolaters than they are. 2. All tha…

I desire the Apologist to tell me what he thinks of this piece thus perfected, with all its lineaments and colours by the pencil of that skilful man; and what beautiful aspect he supposes it to have. Let the Reader, to prevent further trouble in perusing transcriptions of this k…

And this power of the Dragon was given over to the Beast and false Prophet. The anti-christian power, succeeding into the room of the Paganish, the Pope and counsels of the Emperors and Senate, it was quickly confirmed that none should be suffered to live in peace, who received…

A good report, is a great security against open violence. 2. To destroy the church, under the pretense of the church; as the beast in Revelation pushed with the horns of the Lamb (Revelation 13:11). It was a proverb, All evil began in the name of the Lord; In Nomine Domini incip…

We cannot be men without patience; passion does unman a man, it puts him beside the use of reason; we cannot be martyrs without patience, patience makes us endure (James 5:10). We read (Revelation 13:2) of a beast like a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and the…

2. In respect of outward manifestation: God first manifests and declares him, before he laid one stone in this building (Genesis 3:15). The seed (says he) of the woman shall break the serpent's head: in that was laid the first stone of this building: then was the Lamb slain [in…

Neither does Christ answer them that they lied, but that he knew them not although they had done such miracles; and thereupon he grants there can be no necessary argument taken from true miracles to prove the truth of doctrine. So Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 1…

You dwellest where Satan has his throne; and that such a one as no earthly Prince may compare; few Kings are enthroned in the hearts of their subjects, they rule their bodies, and command their purses, but how oft in a day are they pull'd out of their thrones by the wishes of th…

The Greek word signifieth a furnace wherein goldsmiths try metals; even so the Lord by afflictions trieth what metal men are made of, whether they be gold or dross, whether they be silver, or lead onely. The faith and patience of his servants are hereby put to the trial: therefo…

First, for the world as container — generally for the whole fabric of heaven and earth with all things in them contained, which God created in the beginning (Job 34:13; Acts 17:24; Ephesians 1:4); and distinctly, first for the heavens and all things belonging to them distinguish…

And herein his Intercession consists, being nothing (as it were) but his oblation continued. He was a Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8); now his Intercession before his actual oblation in the fullness of times, being nothing but a presenting of the en…

That shaking was only for vengeance upon an old cursed, and not for the bringing in of a new blessed state. The vials of God's wrath having crumbled the heavens and Earth of Pagan Rome into several pieces, and that empire being removed as to its old form, by the craft of Satan i…

But the Scripture knoweth but one way for the salvation of God's people, whether they lived in the times afore the comming of Christ in the flesh, or since, and that is by the Lord Jesus Christ, and faith in him (Acts 15:11, John 8:56). The vertue & value of his death and obedie…

But though the furnace of affliction discovered some dross in him (as it will in the best of men), yet he came forth as gold. In this furnace also grace is manifested: it is said (Revelation 13:10): 'Here is the patience and faith of the saints,' that is, here is the trial and d…

It comes to your hand, Reader, in a day of straits and fears, a dark and gloomy season, when the nations about us are made drunk with their own blood, and filled with [illegible] of astonishment; in a day when [illegible] ready to pass to us, and a storm seems to be rising in th…

To this I answer, first I never had much esteem among great men; no, in every age of the world very few gave credit to me; and now being come (almost to the end of my travels) into the last and worst age, I could expect no other usage than what I meet with. How should I have man…

Because we are justified from eternity, only we are said by Paul to be justified by faith, in that by faith we come to the knowledge and assurance of the state of election, and of justification, and God's act of not imputing sin to us, which acts were passed upon us from eternit…

This made Job pass over such grievous assaults as never any, that we read of, ever endured the like (James 5:10). When the Holy Spirit speaks of the victory which the Saints have gotten, he says: "Here is the patience of the Saints," implying, that through their patience they ov…

His day, his hour, in the Scripture principally denote his passion: and that which he saw surely he believed, or else the father of the faithful was more diffident than Thomas, the most incredulous of his children. Fifthly, by these following and the like places of Scripture: Ch…

Not free indeed, until the Son make us free, so that this idol of free-will, in respect of spiritual things, is not one whit better than the other idols of the heathen: though it look like silver and gold, it is the work of men's hands, it has a mouth, but it speaks not, it has…

Is not the requiring of an implicit faith, and an absolute and blind obedience to the church or any man, a destroying of liberty of conscience and reason also? Yes. (Romans 10:17; Romans 14:23; Isaiah 8:20; Acts 17:11; John 4:22; Hosea 5:11; Revelation 13:12, 16-17; Jeremiah 8:9…

Has the Pope any power, or jurisdiction over magistrates, in their dominions, or over any of their people? No (Revelation 13:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:4). Well then, do not the Papists err, who maintain, that the Pope of Rome, as Pope, has full power by divine right, over the who…