xvii.

Rev.

Reflections on the account here given of Divine vengeance. 461 blood came out of grape, which I knew betokened the blood of SECT. the wine press, even those who were enemies to God and his peounto the horse bri- ple, came out of the wine press in such abundles, by the space of a thousand and six dance, that it made a kind of inundation, like xiv. hundred furlongs. a vast river, or sea, and reached up even to the 20 bridles of the horses, which attempted to pass the channel through which it flowed, at the distance of one thousand six hundred furlongs. In such an amazing extent and quantity was the effusion of blood represented to me in vision. (Compare Isa. Ixiii. 3.)

IMPROVEMENT.

In what awful characters is the righteous vengeance of God verse here described! How quickly do his haughtiest enemies fall be- 15-20 fore him, like corn before the sickle, or clusters of grapes before the knife! His wine press shall indeed be trodden, and the blood of his enemies shall overflow; but, blessed are all they that put their trust in him, and look to him, who trod the wine press alone, and who distinguishes himself by the title of him, who is mighty to save, and who travels in the greatness of his strength. (Isa. Ixiii. 1-3.) Arrayed in terror, he will vanquish all the enemies of his people; but, to his faithful followers, will appear with the gentleness of the Lamb, of the Lamb their Redeemer, to ! whose honour their voices and their harps shall resound. O, how happy are those souls, who, by his special love, being redeemed 3,4 from among men, and having humbly traced the steps of his purity and goodness on earth, shall, in the heavenly world, follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes! Let us be accordingly engaged to preserve ourselves unspotted from the world, and to walk worthy of so exalted a hope and expectation; to keep our mouths from every deceit, that we may be found blameless in the presence of 5 God, and of the Lamb. God hath granted us the everlasting gospel, on purpose that we might be taught to fear him, and to give glo- 6,7 ry to his name ; to worship him, as the great Creator and righteous Governor of the universe: and while we are under the conduct of his Providence, and devoted to his service, let nothing discourage

One thousand six hundred furlongs.] As dimension of that country over which the a furlong is one eighth of a mile, this judgment should extend, which is here would amount to 200 miles. This repre- prophetically referred to. Though persentation, like the dimensions of that tem- haps it may only intimate in general, that ple, which Ezekiel saw, may seem extrav- after the antichristian powers had long agantly large, and such as the eye, in vis oppressed and persecuted the saints; the ion, could not possibly judge of. I look power of Christ should humble and destroy upon it, therefore, as only an hyperbolical them; and therefore they are representexpression, to signify its exceeding great- ed as a harvest ripe, and fit for reaping, &c. ness; unless possibly it may point out the the measure of their iniquities being full,

462

verse

12

The vision of seven angels with seven vials ;

SECT. or dismay us. Though for the present we see that Babylon is tri xvii. umphant, though its patrons are making themselves drunk with the blood of his saints, a very different cup is prepared for her, and 8-10 will assuredly be given her to drink; even the cup of the wrath of God, poured forth without mixture; while blessings, inconceivable and eternal, are reserved for those that suffer for righteousness sake. Let the patience, therefore, of those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Christ, be invincible; for their fiercest, and most formidable enemies, can only kill the body; and having done that, can neither prevent, nor delay, the 13 blessedness of the dead that die in the Lord. The infallible Spirit has said it, the blessed apostle hath, by Divine command, recorded it, for the instruction and triumph of his people in all ages, that they rest from their labours, and that their works fol low them; while those that persecuted and hated them, rest not 11 day nor night; but the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever. And, O, that numbers of those who worship the 9 beast, and who receive its image, may be awakened, while the day of their visitation continues; lest they also, after having 10 dealt damnation, in their arrogant censures, upon men of much purer faith, and holier lives, than themselves, be tormented with fire and brimstone, in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.

SECT. xviii.

Rev.

SECT. XVIII.

The appearance of seven angels, with seven vials, full of the seven last plagues; and the pouring out of the three first vials, with their consequent effects. Rev. XV. 1, to the end. XVI. 7.

REVELATION XV. 1.

Rev. XV. 1.

lous; seven angels, having the seven last plagues, for in them filled up the wrath

en, great and marvel

AND ND I saw another great und wonderful sign ANDIsawanothin heaven, which fixed my attention, and er sign in will demand that of the reader: Seven angels, v.1 who had the seven last plagues; so called, because in them the wrath of God was to be completed; and, because they refer to some of the last judgments, which he shall pour forth on the enemies of the church, before the time of 2 its most illustrious triumph. And I saw, as 2 And I saw as it it were, a sea of glass, a great crystal vessel, were a sea of glass

is

of God.

Sea of glass.] Some explain this in on the shore of it; and they suppose the a different manner, as if there were proper- glass to represent the frail nature of this ly a sea, seeming to lie before the ground world; and the fire, the mixture of calamwhich appeared in the vision, through ity and misery to which they had been exwhich they had passed who now stood up- posed, before they arrived at the state of

xviii.

Rev.

And of the saints singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. 463 mingled with fire; like the sea in Solomon's temple; and, it was SECT. and them that had so irradiated with the reflection of that light gotten the victory over the beast, and which fell upon it from the throne of God, that over his image, and its waves seemed mingled with fire. And those over his mark, and who overcame the beast, and his image, and over the number of steadfastly refused, though at the expense of the sea of glass, hav. their possessions and lives, amidst so many ing the harps of who were devoted to him, to receive his mark,

his name, stand on

God.

[and] the number of his name, I saw standing by the sea of glass, having the harps of God in their hands; with which they were celebrating his praises, for that powerful presence and assistance which had rendered them victorious. 3 And they sing And they sung the song of Moses, the faithful 3 the song of Moses and beloved servant of God, and the song of Jethe servant of God, and the song of the sus the Lamb, who had bought them with his Lamb, saying, Great blood. They celebrated the triumph they had and marvellous are gained over the proud enemy, with a joy, like thy works, Lord that with which Israel of old, at the Red Sea, God Almighty; just and true are thy celebrated the destruction of the haughty and ways, thou King of cruel Egyptians, by the immediate and glori

saints!

XV. 2

ous interposition of the Divine power, saying, "Great and wonderful [are] thy works, both of judgment and of mercy, O Lord God Almighty; nor dost thou use thine almighty power to oppress any, the meanest of thy creatures; on the contrary, perfectly righteous and true [are] all thy ways and administrations, O King of saints, who art thyself supremely holy, as well as pow4 Who shall not erful. Who should not fear thee, O Lord, and 4 fear thee, O Lord, glorify thy great and adorable name? because and glorify thy name for thou only [thou] only [art] holy; and, in thy presence, the holiness of all other beings disappears, as un

security and happiness in which they then were. Many other interpretations have also been given. But the consideration of what I have said elsewhere, of the reference to the scenery of the temple, determined me to the interpretation I have preferred. b Overcame the beast.] It is, in the original, ex Tongue, which Dr. Clarke would translate, out of the midst of the beast; that is, adhering steadfastly to the true relig. ion, in the midst of an idolatrous and corrupt nation. See his Posth. Serm. Vol. III. p. 86.

Song of Moses and of the Lamb.] That is, saith Mr. Mede, upon the conver

sion of all nations from idolatry, they sung a song of congratulation to Moses and Jesus, whose doctrine had so directly opposed it. Mede on Luke xi. 2. But I think this a very low interpretation. Whoever diligently observes the contents of the song of Moses, Exod. xv. will find many expressions finely adapted to the occasion here supposed. And if it were true, as Maimonides tells us, that the song of Moses was sung daily in the temple service, it may be considered as a beautiful illustration of this circumstance, agreeable to the gene ral plan pursued in these visions.

464

The seven angels come out of the temple,

SECT. Worthy to be mentioned or remembered. Sure- art holy for all na xviii. ly all nations shall come and worship before thee, tions shall come and in token of the humblest adoration, because thy for thy judgments worship before thee; xv. 4 righteous judgments are already in many in- are made manifest. stances made manifest, and are about to be manifested in a yet more illustrious degree."

Rev.

5

And after this I saw; and behold, the temple 5 And after that, of the tabernacle, in which was the ark of the I looked, and behold, the temple of testimony, was opened again in heaven: the the tabernacle of the most holy place, which, since the vision I be- testimony in heaven fore described, had been veiled again, being was opened: 6 now subjected to my view. And the seven 6 And the seven angels, who had the seven plagues already men- angels came out of tioned, came out of the inner apartment of the the temple, having the seven plagues, temple, as from the immediate presence of God; clothed in pure and and like the High Priest on the day of his most white linen, and sacred ministration, they were clothed with having their breasts pure and shining linen [garments;] only with girded with golden this difference, that whereas he had on this day only his linen girdle on, and continued in that dress till the time of the evening sacrifice, they were girded about the breasts with golden girdles. 7 And one of the four living creatures, which I 7 And one of the have so often mentioned, gave to the seven an- four beasts gave unto the seven angels, gels, seven golden vials, or censers, full of the seven golden vials wrath of the great and blessed God, who liveth full of the wrath of for ever and ever; and, therefore, is to be re- God, who liveth for garded as the most formidable enemy, as well ever and ever. as the most desirable friend, to immortal beings.

girdles.

8 And, agreeably to that wonderful event, which 8 And the temple filled happened when God first took possession of the was with tabernacle, and of the temple, (Exod. xl. 34; ry of God and from smoke from the glo1 Kings viii. 10; 2 Chron. v. 14; Isa. vi. 4 ;) his power; and no the temple was full of smoke, which came from man was able to enthe glory of God, and from the symbol of his ter into the temple, till the seven plagues power. And no one could enter into the temple, of the seven angels till the seven plagues, which were signified by were fulfilled. the vials of the seven angels, were finished; and, till they had emptied them by the Divine And I heard a great XVI. command. And I then heard a great voice out voice out of the tem1 of the temple, saying to the seven angels, whom ple, saying to the

And agreeable to that wonderful event, &c.] Indeed it appears most surprising, and worthy of greater notice than has generally been taken of it, that the

CHAP. XVI. 1.

blessed God should thus, on the consecration of the temple, possess it alone, and drive out, as it were, even the favourable tokens of his majestic presence.

The three angels pour out their vials.

465

seven angels, Go your I have described above, Go, and pour out the SECT. ways, and pour out vials of the wrath of God, with which you are xviii. of God upon the charged, upon the earth; for his patience will Rev.

the vials of the wrath

earth.

2 And the first

no longer endure the provocations they are in- xvi. 1 tended to punish.

And the first angel, in obedience to this Di- 2 went, and poured out vine injunction, went forth, and poured out his his vial upon the earth; and there fell vial upon the earth; and there was a malignant a noisome and griev- and grievous ulcer, which broke out in large and ous sore upon the dreadful scars, upon the men who had the mark mark of the beast, of the beast, and them who worshipped his image, and upon them which and they were extremely tormented with it, worshipped his im- and found it incurable. (Compare Exod. ix. 8-10.c)

men which had the

age.

3 And the second And the second angel poured out his vial upon 3 angel poured out his the sea; and it became a mass of blood and puvial upon the sea; and it became as the trefaction, like that of a dead man; and every blood of a dead man: living soul [that was] in the sea died; the fish and every living soul were immediately destroyed, and the sea appeared a most gloomy and terrible spectacle.f (Compare Exod. vii. 20.)

died in the sea.

4 And the third And the third angel bore a commission to 4 angel poured out his spread the same terrible calamity over all the vial upon the rivers fresh waters; and, accordingly he poured forth ters; and they be- his vial on the rivers, and on the fountains of water, and they also became blood; as the sea

and fountains of wa

came blood.

e First vial.] Mr. Lowman supposes, that this third period of the vials, reveals the state of the church and providence in the times of the last head of the Roman government, represented by the beast, for 1260 years, from about A. D. 756, to its final overthrow about A. D. 2016; and be interprets cach vial of some signal judgment upon the papal kingdom; supposing the five first already to be poured out, and the two others to be future. But, I must own myself not to be entirely satisfied, whether this supposition be just, (though I am rather inclined to think it is,) or whether all the following representations do not refer to events yet future, and describe the supernatural plagues to be inflicted on the papal kingdom, in its last days. Mr Pyle interprets the first vial, of the abandoned degeneracy of the popish clergy. Mr. Lowman, with greater probability, refers it to the great commotions in the whole empire, under the family of Charles the Great; by which that family became extinct, and the em

pire and the crown of France, were transferred to other families: A. D. 830, to A. D. 988. And he shews by what intrigues the popes endeavoured to weaken and diminish the imperial power, and serve their own ambitious designs; which proved a painful sore, and were the cause of innumerable mischiefs to Europe, and especially to Italy. During this period, the Normans invaded and plundered France, the Saracens ravaged Italy, and the Hungarians the western parts of Germany and Italy.

f Second vial.] Mr. Pyle, and Mr. Lowinan, agree in referring this to the great effusion of blood in the holy wars, to recover Jerusalem from the Saracens. This romantic project was set on foot by the pope, pursued by the emperor, the king of France, our king Richard, and other princes, and many prelates; and about two millions lost their lives in the several expeditions; from A. D. 1040, to A. D. 1190. And this appears to me a very probable interpretation.