The vision of the seven angels with trumpets :

421

X.

verse

14, 13

In the mean time, we may see the church in affliction; we sECT. may feel a large share of personal, or public tribulation; but, when it presses hardest upon us, let us lift up our eyes to that glorious scene which the apostle beheld, and which was so excellent and sublime, that it might well transport him, even under the tribulations through which he was then making his way to it. Let us persevere, steadily and faithfully, as they did; and the day will come, when our robes shall be as white, and our crowns as g radiant, and our palms as verdant as theirs. Let us then bear with patience, hunger and thirst, heat and weariness, while we 16 travel through this vale of tears; rejoicing in hope of the everlasting refreshment and pleasure to which the Lumb will lead us; 17 even those fountains of living water, of which he will give us to drink, when God has wiped away all tears from our eyes, and placed us before his throne, where we shall serve him day and night in 15 his temple, and see his face, and dwell with him, and have him for ever dwell with us, and in us. Amen.

SECT. XI.

On the opening the seventh seal, the seven angels appear with their trumpets, and the four first of them sound. Rev. VIII. throughout.

REV. VIII. 1.

when he

REVELATION VIII. 1.

A had opened the THUS I have given an account of the man- szer.

of half an hour.

a

zi.

Rev.

viii. 1

ner in which the Lamb proceeded in openseventh seal, there was silence in heav- ing six of the seals, and of the effects produced en about the space by them: and I am now to add, that when he had opened the seventh seal, there was a profound silence in heaven for about the space of half an hour; to awaken, by that means, a more earnest attention to the extraordinary things that were to appear in consequence of the opening 2 And I saw the that seal. And I saw the seven angels which 2

* Silence in heaven.] Some are of opinion, here is an allusion to the silence which used sometimes to be kept in the worship of God in the temple, while the people were praying, Luke i. 10. I think, with Mr. Lowman, that the seventh seal was only introductory to the trumpets, and the seventh trumpet to the vials.

very emphatical. It seems to signify the seven angels, who had before been mentioned as standing before the throne; and this form of speaking so plainly refers to what had been said before, that it does a great deal towards proving, that the seven Spirits of God, mentioned chap. v. 6, as the eyes and horns of the Lamb, are the same with these angels mentioned in the The seven angels which stood, &c] note on Rev. iv. 5, though, as I have The manner in which this is expressed in there intimated, it is not absolutely certhe Greek, TS aggeres 15x20, ip tain.

422 And of an angel before the altar, with a golden censer:

xi.

3 And another an

SECT. I have before mentioned, and which then stood seven angels which before the throne of God, and seven trumpets stood before God; were given to them, that they might each of them and to them were given seven trumviii. 2 successively sound an alarm; which I under- pets. stood to be the symbol of some very important and awakening events, which were, in order of time to succeed those which had been expressed 3 by the seals. And while they were preparing to execute the orders they had received, another gel came and stood angel, whom I understood as a typical represen- golden censer; and at the altar, having a tation of the great High Priest of the church, there was given unto came and stood before the altar which I saw in him much incense, this celestial temple, having a golden censer, and that he should offer it, with the prayers of there was given to him much fragrant incense, all saints upon the consisting of a variety of excellent perfumes golden altar, which mingled together, that he might present [it] was with the prayers of all the saints, upon the golden altar which was before the throne, just as the Jewish high priest used to burn incense on the golden altar in the temple, while the people were praying in the courts of it, at the hour of 4 morning and evening sacrifice. And the smoke of the perfumes went up in a thick and odorifer- of the incense which ous cloud, together with the prayers of the came with the praysaints, from the hand of the angel as he stood be- cended up before God fore God; and seemed thereby emblematically out of the angel's to signify, how grateful to the Divine Being those prayers were, which proceeded from holy

e With the prayers of all the saints.] Some have thought, that this is a plain intimation of the doctrine of the intercession of the angels, which is urged to have been an erroneous Jewish notion; and those who imagine it to be taught here, have made it an argument against the inspiration of this book. But I rather agree with those interpreters, who consider this angel as an emblem of Christ. If we were indeed to consider Christ as appearing in the shape of a lamb, this would be a difficulty; but it does not appear at all absurd to me, that while the efficacy of Christ's atonement was represented by a lamb slain, his intercession consequent upon it, should be represented by an angel offering the incense; which seems only a symbolical, or hieroglyphical, declaration of this truth, that the prayers of the saints on earth, are rendered acceptable to God by the intercession of one in heaven, who appears as a priest before God just as the vision of

throne.

before

the

4 And the smoke

ers of the saints, as

hand.

the lamb represents to us, that a Person of perfect innocence, and of a most gentle and amiable disposition, eminently adorn. ed and enriched with the Spirit of God, has been offered as a sacrifice; and is, in consequence of that, highly honoured on the throne of God. But who this important Victim, and this Intercessor is, we are to learn elsewhere; and we do learn, that both these offices met in one, and that this illustrious Person is Jesus the Son of God. As the golden altar made a part of the scene, there was a propriety in its appearing to be used, and the time of praying was the hour of incense. This vision may probably be designed to intimate, that considering the scenes of confusion represented by the trumpets, the saints should be exceeding earnest with God, to pour out a spirit of wisdom, piety, and zeal, upon the church, and preserve it safe amidst these confusions.

who cast fire upon the earth, and it thundered, &c.

423

hearts, being recommended by the intercession SECT. of that great High Priest, whom this glorious xi. angel had the honour, upon this occasion, to Rev. represent; as Aaron and his sons did in the viii. 3 And the angel Jewish tabernacle of old. And when the 5 took the censer, and angel had performed this office, in order to filled it with fire of shew the awful manner in which God would the altar, and cast it into the earth and avenge the injury which his praying people there were voices, upon earth received from its tyrannical and and thunderings, and oppressive powers, he took the censer, and adlightnings, and an vancing towards the brazen altar of burnt ofearthquake. ferings, he filled it with fire of the altar,d and threw it upon the earth; and as soon as ever this action was performed, there were long and terrible voices and thunders, and lightnings, which seemed to break out from the Shechi. nah, the glorious token of the Divine presence; and there was also the sudden and violent shock of an earthquake, which seemed to 6 And the seven shake the foundation of the world; And the 6 angels which had seven angels, who had the seven trumpets, stood prepared themselves out in order, and prepared themselves, that they might sound, as every one should receive the appointed signal; which hereupon was given

the seven trumpets,

to sound.

7 The first angel to each in his order.

sounded, and there And the first angel sounded his trumpet ; and 7 followed bail and there was a violent storm of hail and fire, and fire mingled with

blood, and they were the shower was also mingled with blood, and cast upon the earth: it was cast down upon the earth, greatly to the

With fire of the altar.] There was no fire upon the golden altar, but that which was in the censer, in which the incense was burnt; so that we must necessarily, by this fire of the altar, understand that of the brazen altar, though it is not expressly declared to be so; and this may intimate, that in some other places the same words may, by comparing different circumstances, have different ideas annexed to them.

calamities, with which the period, expressed by the successive trumpets, should he filled, and the regard God would shew to his praying people during its continuance.

Hail and fire mingled with blood.] Grotius explains this, of the hardness of heart, and bloody rage of the Jews; Mr. Mede, of the invasion of the northern nations upon the Romans; and Mr. Clark, of the Arian heresy and persecution, Voices and thunders.] If the latter word whereby many professors of Christianity be intended to explain the former it might were infected, and many destroyed. See be rendered, voices, even thunders. But, his Annotations in loc. But Mr. Lowman, if different ideas are to be annexed to the more probably, interprets it of the bloody words, I must confess, that I know not wars in Constantine's family, which, what they are, Yet we may imagine with the invasion of the neighbouring nasome distinct articulate sounds different tions, almost ruined the whole strength from thunder, to be mixed with it, like of the Roman empire, fell heavy on its that which some of those present heard, great men, and particularly the family of John xii. 29. (Compare Isa. xxix. 6.) Constantine, which, during this period, This representation may be intended to was quite extinguished; from A. D. 337, intimate, in general, the confusion and to A. D. 379.

424

xi.

The second and third angel sound.

SECT. detriment of its productions; and particularly, and the third part it seemed to me, that a third part of the trees of trees was burnt were burnt up, and all the green grass of the up, and all green grass was burnt up. viii. 7 field was also burnt and scorched up. (Com

Rev.

8

pare Exod. ix. 23.)

and

And the second angel sounded; and it was as 8 And the second if a great mountain burning with fire was cast angel sounded, and as it were a great into the sea; and it produced so great an alter- mountain burning ation in the colour of the waters, that it seemed with fire was cast as if a third part of the sea became blood, which into the sea: the third part of the I easily apprehended to signify the slaughter sea became blood; which should come upon many people by means of some victorious prince, and those 9 who fought under his banner. And, as a fur. 9 And the third ther token of it, a third part of the creatures part of the creatures which were in the which had animal life in the sea died, and a third sea, and had life, part of the ships were destroyed thereby, and died; and the third the persons sailing in them all perished. (Com- part of the ships were destroyed. pare Jer. li. 25.)

10

star from heaven,

And the third angel sounded; and to repre- 10 And the third sent some great destroyer that was to appear, angel sounded, and and become very conspicuous, both for the there fell a great mischief he should occasion, and the ruin in burning as it were a which he should be involved, there fell from lamp, and it fell up heaven a great star, burning like a torch; and on the third part of the rivers, and upon it fell upon a third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of wathe fountains of waters; to signify the influ- ters. ence which the Person represented by it should have upon human affairs, and upon those things that were the springs of comfort and support

11 to mankind. And, in reference to the effect it 11 And the name was to produce, the name of the star is called of the star is called Wormwood: and the Wormwood, and a third part of the waters

Mountain burning.] Grotius explains this, of the soldiers' rapine upon the people of Jerusalem, and firing the towers; Mr. Mede, of the firing of Rome; Mr. Clark, of the spirit of ambition and pride among the clergy; Mr. Lowman, of the invasion of Italy by the northern nations, and the taking of Rome by Alaric, gen. eral of the Goths, who plundered it and set it on fire; and this calamity was fol. lowed by the spoil of the greatest part of Italy, from A. D. 379, to A. D. 412.

There fell from heaven a great star.] Compare Dan. viii. 10. Grotius interprets it of the Egyptian Impostor, Acts xxi. 38. Mr. Mede of the fall of the western em. pire under Augustulus; and Mr. Clark,

(see his Annot. in loc) of the corruption of ordinances by an heretical churchman, of great parts and considerable figure, whom he supposes to be Pelagius. Some explain it of Mahomet, whose name sig. nifies illustrious. Mem. of Literat. Vol. V. p. 253. But Mr. Lowman, with greater probability, interprets it of the succeed. ing ravages in Italy, founding the Gothic kingdom there, and putting an end to the Roman empire; from A. D. 412, to A. D. 493. Agreeably to this, historians inform us, that several provinces of the empire were dismembered, the city of Rome again taken, and plundered, and Italy became a prey to the barbarous na tions.

Reflections on the intercession of Christ, &c.

wood; and many

425

third part of the wa- became impregnated with wormwood; but with SECT. ters became worm- this additional circumstance, that it was poi- xi. sonous as well as distasteful; and many men Rev. ters, because they died in consequence of drinking the waters, be- viii.11 were made bitter. cause they were become bitter. (Compare

men died of the wa

12 And the fourth

sun was smitten,

stars; so as the third

Exod. vii. 20, 21.)

And the fourth angel sounded; and the third 12 angel sounded, and part of the sun was smitten, and the third part the third part of the of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so and the third part of that the third part of them, even of their light, the moon, and the was darkened, and the day did not appear, third part of the with respect to a third part of its lustre, and part of them was the night also; but there was as great a deficdarkened, and the iency in the usual light of both, as when day shone not for a either the sun by day, or the moon by night, third part of it, and is so eclipsed, that a third part of the body of the night like wise. each is shaded; which I understood to imply, that God would, in the course of his Providence, draw a vail over the whole face of things, 13 And I beheld, and obscure the glory of the state to which this and heard an angel vision referred. And I beheld, and heard one of 13 flying through the midst of heaven, the angels flying in the midst of heaven, saying saying with a loud with a loud voice, The things which have alvoice, Wo, wo, wo, ready happened, are terrible; but what is yet the earth, by reason to come is much more so: wo, wo, wo, to those of the other voices that dwell upon the earth, for the remaining of the trumpet of sounds of the trumpet of the three angels which the three angels which are yet to are yet to sound! Prepare therefore for the manifestation of these awful scenes.

to the inhabitants of

sound!

IMPROVEMENT.

1

WHILE we prepare ourselves, with silent admiration, to attend verse the discoveries here opening upon us, let us rejoice in the symbolical representation of the intercession of Jesus, our great High Priest, shadowed forth, in so beautiful and expressive a manner, by the angel standing at the altar, with the golden censer, and 3,4 much incense. Behold, how the prayers of all the saints ascend before God with acceptance! See the method we are to take, if

Darkened.] Compare Ezek. xxxii. 7, 8. Grotius interprets this of taking the south Gallilean towns; Mr. Mede of the destruction of the light of Rome, when deprived of regal and consular majesty. And Mr. Clark (see his Annot in loc.) of eclipsing the light of the church by tradition and human inventions. Mr. Lowman in

terprets it of the wars in Italy, between the Goths and Justinian's generals, whereby the exarchate of Ravenna was erected, all remaining power and authority at Rome suppressed, and the imperial city became subject to Ravenna, where the exarch or lieutenant of the eastern emperor resided; from A. D. 493, to A. D. 568.