Ver. 1. And there appeared] This and the two next following chapters are an exposition of the former vision. A great wonder] As shadowing out and showing great wonders. In heaven] That is, in the Church, or (according to some) in the visible heaven, where sun, moon, and stars are. A woman] Alma mater Ecclesia. The Church is called a woman, for her, 1. Weakness; 2. Fruitfulness; 3. Lovingness, 2 Samuel 1:26. Clothed with the sun] With Christ’s own comeliness, Ezekiel 16:14. She is also conspicuous, Matthew 5:14, and scorched with persecution, Song of Solomon 1:6. All which notwithstanding she is comely. Uxor fulget radiis mariti, saith the Civilian. And the moon under her feet] She treads upon the world’s trash, bears patiently all changes and chances; and though the curs of the world bark at her, she shines still: “ En peragit cursus surda Diana suas. ” A crown of twelve stars] A crown in token of victory. Twelve stars] Those white horses, Revelation 6:2, the twelve apostles and their successors, in and by whom mystical Christ goeth forth conquering and to conquer.
Ver. 2. And she being with child] And so soon smelt out by the bears of the world. Ursa praegnantem mulierem non solum uteri gravitate notam, sed eam etiam quae pridie conceperit, solam ex omni turba consectatur. (Bodin. Theatr. Nat.) Cried travailing] Being hard beset with cruel persecutors, she longs to be delivered of a Christian emperor, that might put her out of her pain and misery. She cried] viz. In her prayers to God and apologies to men.
Ver. 3. Another wonder in heaven] That is, in the Church, which is called heaven; for, 1. Its original is from heaven, John 1:13 2. Its tendency to heaven, Hebrews 11:14 3. Its conversation in heaven, Philippians 3:20 4. Its dependence upon heaven, James 1:17. A great red dragon] A dragon the devil is called for his sharp-sightedness (the dragon hath a very quick eye, and is said to sleep with open eyes, Mr Arrowsmith), as also for his mischievousness to mankind; and lastly for his serpentine subtilty, Genesis 3:1. The comfort is, that as the devil is a lion, so is Christ; there is courage for courage. And as the devil is a serpent, so Christ compares himself to the brazen serpent; there is wisdom for wisdom. A great dragon the devil is, as being god of the world; and red all over with the blood of souls, which he hath swallowed down, as St Peter hath it, 1 Peter 5:8. It noteth him also to be a fiery dragon, fiery red, full of wrath and rancour. Seven heads] To plot, and ten horns to push men into the pit of hell. Seven crowns upon his head] Pretended authority for what he did against the Church. It passed in France in manner of a proverb, that the modern Council (of Trent) had more authority than that of the apostles, because their own pleasure was a sufficient ground for the decrees, without admitting the Holy Ghost. That Popish council was carried with such infinite guile and craft, that the Papists themselves will even smile in the triumphs of their own wits (when they hear it but mentioned) as at a master stratagem. By these seven crowns some understand the supremacy of the Roman empire, prevailing against the Church. δρακων παρα το δερκειν. παρα το δραυ αχος. Scalig.
Ver. 4. And his tail drew] A monstrous tail for length and strength. One interprets it as his dog-like flattering tail, whence the proverb grew, Cauda blandiri, to be flattered by a tail, κερκω σαινειν. Julian the Apostate drew many from the faith by flatteries and fair promises. Luther was offered a cardinalship to be quiet. (Bp Carlton’s Tha nkf. Remem.) The pope offered Queen Elizabeth to confirm the English Liturgy by his authority, granting also the use of the sacraments under both kinds, so that she would join herself to the Roman Church. And how the pope clawed our king when he was in Spain, A. D. 1623, is better known than that I need here to relate. (Jac. Revius, vit. Pontif.) And the dragon stood before the woman] This implieth, 1. His readiness and nearness; 2. His instance and diligence. For to devour her child] As that dragon Pharaoh (so he is called, Isaiah 51:9) sought to make away the newly born babes of Israel, Exodus 1:22. Thus the dragon Maximinus devoured Alexander the son of Mammaea; and thus Decius devoured the two Philips, because they seemed somewhat to favour the Christians. Thus Philip, king of Spain, suffered his eldest son Charles to be murdered by the cruel Inquisition, because he was any whit inclinable to the reformed religion. Constantine the Great had like to have lost his life for the like cause, but that God strangely preserved him for a better purpose.
Ver. 5. And she brought forth a man child] Constantine, the Christian Church’s first and chief champion. Who was to rule all nations] The whole Roman empire, but especially to overrule and subdue the Church’s many and mighty enemies, as Constantine did most notably. Caught up to God and to his throne] To rule in the Church next under God himself. And to this height of honour he was caught when the empire was cast upon him, not once thinking of it. Bonus Deus Constantinum magnum tantis terrenis implevit muneribus, quanta optare nullus auderet, saith Augustine. (De Civ. Dei, v. 25.)