sitteth, ver. 4] upon the altar [comp. in the temple, ver. 4], by princes acting as bearers. Their due praise remains undi- minished to the first bishops of Rome ; but yet in the progress of time, by gradual advances in spiritual and civil authority, according to the order in the text, the lineaments are to be seen of that form which will put itself forth before the world as palpably as possible in that Iniquitous one [* Wicked'] in its own time.
XIX. First lie who withholdeth, next that which withholdeth, ceases to be in the way. — We have mentioned this circumstance already, § ix. : but here it comes to be repeated more strictly. He ivho withholdeth, is he who hath Rome under his sway ; that is, heathen, or Christian emperors at Rome, or Constantinople ; the kings of the Goths, and Lombards ; again the Carlovin- gian and German emperors, from whom comes the wound of the sword, Rev. xiii. This is He that withholdeth, going far into the middle of the times of the beast that arose out of the sea. Those princes so held back the papacy, as even notwithstanding to give it help ; they so helped it, as notwithstanding to hold it back also. In the last time that wliicli withholdeth is the power of Rome itself, when the beast carries the woman, and itself is not [Rev. xvii. 8]. When that shall be removed out of the way, the Iniquitous one [' Wicked'] will be revealed.
XX. The Iniquitous one [* Wicked'^ is revealed, when he begins to act ivith open wickedness. — Revelation is opposed to mystery, and the former is thrice mentioned, ver. 3, 6, 8. Therefore that is not called ' revelation' by which the Iniquitous one [' Wicked'] is convicted through the testimony of the truth ; but that by which he himself, after the check is removed, acts with open wickedness, although few perceive (see through) the wickedness.
XXI. The appearance of the coming of Jesus Christ, by which the Iniquitous one [' Wicked^ ivill be destroyed, will precede the actual coming itself, and the last day. — This appearance, with the destruction of the beast, or the Iniquitous one [< Wicked'], is described, Rev. xix. 11, etc. : where these two, the beast and the false prophet, are cast alive into the lake of fire, that burns with brimstone ; moreover the kings of the earth and their armies are slain, ver. 20, 21. Lastly, the captivity of Satan and the king dom of the saints follow. For the Apocalypse clearly interposes