Notes-Apocalypse-Revelation-David-Steele-320

204 NOTES ON

the whole solemnity. Among this joyful and holy
company, there is no hint that any part of public
worship is left to " a vote of the congregation." This
"new song" was unintelligible by the votaries of the
beast; nor could they learn it while in that servile
vassalage. They only who were " redeemed from
the earth," as well as "from among men," were ca¬
pable of learning it. A s this song related to the
royal prerogatives of Jesus Christ, and those who
"dwelt on the earth" had transferred their allegi¬
ance to Antichrist, they became thereby incapaci¬
tated for learning that song. A l a s ! how many com¬
plain of the cloudiness, the Jewish peculiarities, t
unforgiving, revengeful spirit of the inspired Psalms
I n their apprehension, they are " c o n t r a r y to the
spirit of the gospel "—that is, the Holy Spirit is
contrary to Himself! 0 , the blasphemy! Can such
learn the "new song?" .No, indeed, unless they re¬
pent and " p r a y Cod i f perhaps the thought of their
heart may be forgiven them,"
:‫י‬

4. These are they which were not defiled with women; for
they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb
withersoever he goeth. These were redeemed frora among
men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.

5. A n d in their mouth was found no guile: for they are
without fault before the throne of God.

Y g . 4^ 5.—These 144,000 worshippers are farther
distinguished by their chastity. Betrothed to the
Lord Christ from eternity, they were married to
him in time, (Hosea ii, 19, 20; Rom. vii. 4; Cor, x i
2.) Indeed the marriage covenant is employed
throughout the Bible, to shadow forth the union be¬
tween Christ and believers. (See Is. liv. 5; Jer. xxxi.
32; Hos. i i . 2; Rev. x x i . 2.) This analogy pervades
the 45th Psalm and the Song of Solomon. Idolatry
is therefore adultery; and superstition, Avill-worship

1^

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THE APOCALYPSE. 205

and human inventions, as means of grace or of
communion with God, are formcatmn (Ezek. xxiii•

Γ 7 Τ Α ‫ ״‬1 ε Γ 1 , ‫ ״‬Λ ‫ ״ ״ " ־ ־ ־‬g ‫ ־‬of the ear*;• a ‫״‬

e „haiged with this (;^,‫•™־־‬

is plain that this company ‫ ' ״ ' * ' ״‬J ; Î ‫ ״‬, , the com¬

as do not receive '‫ " ' יי״*״‬, " ' ? f " " voluntary

godliness. " A man tnat _1s j-giect." (Titus

¬

the

s!

e
s frequent the ministry ot those ‫ ״ ״ < »״ י‬γ •
h to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine,

¬ '';!!hese folio, the Lamb." (John ^JO f

after seir-denial,. taking ‫ ־‬p t ‫־‬
‫ ־‬- · ^»gXrlnr

test of disoipleship. (Mat . X u ; ç,^,.;^.

r

b tian's To!bs edience. "Bπu t. rmÄere‫ ״‬suttering for ‫׳־•· ־ · ־_־‬0:·
g is no evidence that his religion is scriptural.

e

r
e , ‫ ״ ״‬following The Lamb -hithe-oevei^ he g o e ^ .
o Not suffering, ^ut the cause r wh η
i . makes a Christian martyr. A U these ,
d martyrs in principle and intention. .^

¬ Besides, " thèse' were redeemed (bou‫״‬nt;
Purchase supposes c^-^^^^'^^'T/bfJ^J^
. among men This ransom is both from debt ana
s
fixed and paid,

y crime

p is their surety

14

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206 NOTES ON

to God,‫( ״‬ch. V. 9 ; 1 Pet. i . 19.) A n atonement
which does not reconcile, a redemption which does
not save, must be an atonement and a redemption
without a compact. Hence the covenant of grace,
and Christ's engagement as surety m that covenant,
determine the extent of the atonement; ior without
compact no sinner could be saved! But such is the
liberal doctrine of the boasted Roman Catholic
Church, and such the sandy foundation ot ttiat
"general and doubtsome faith" which the witnesses
renounce. However numerous these followers of
the Lamb may seem to be, they are no more than
" the first fruits." B u t the first fruits are part of the
comin‫ ״‬harvest, and an assured pledge of a larger
ingathering. Their numbers were to be greatly
augmented by the Reformation, and still further in
the millennial era.

" G o d l y s i n c e r i t y " is the last quality of these
upright ones. They are "Israelites without guile.
InteSrity, probity, candor, distinguish them from
the "flocks of the companions" by whom they are
surrounded. " A s they think in their heart so do
they exprès« the truth," (Ps, xv. 2 ; x u . 2 ; John 1.
4 7 ) They know nothing of the "pious frauds
any more than the "indulgences" and "supere¬
rogations" by which the " m a n of sin sustains his
interest. Their being "without fault before the-
throne of G o d , " is the highest commendation possi¬
ble ; yet it does not imply sinless perfection, i t
ppeaks their justification by the righteousness 0
Christ, and their Christian sincerity, such as G o d
testifies of Job, (ch. 1. 8.) Who would not prefer
the society and employments of those who are with
the Lamb on Mount Zion, to dwelling in the tents

of wickedness ? L e t our delights be wita these ex‫־‬
cellent ones of the earth.

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THE APOCALYPSE. 207

4

s

t V s 6 7 . - T h e apostles, Paul and John agree
e asllready noticed, in delineating a great defection

?rom the purity and power of Christianity m " t h e

list days.‫ ׳׳‬Paul calls this event "the Apostacy

9 Thess i i . 3.) while John designates it "the A n -

(J ihess. 1 . Both these inspired wri-

' e ï u t £ Greek ; ? t i i l e , as may be supposed to

L o r d and 1113 Anoinieu. .^^b ‫״״•(״״‬,‫( ו‬m• tbe

of God, with Messiah at their head, ‫ ״‬o f «mi ioi tl e

a lotted period of 1260 years, as we have seen i n

ihe three preceding chapters. On their part the

;!::.TÏre is'mostly defensive^ and their weapons or-

are presented, under customary and ;defined

symbols, three successive stages « f / ^ ^ ^ ^ s f u l refor

™ation showing how the " two witnesses manage

h^ r s'cdptural and effective testimony « g - n s an

- tichristian error and disorder in organized society

Ï h r e e mystic "angels" successively appear, divinely

i o m m i S L e d to'execute their respective and ap

nointed work. These angels have been correctly

Ses^nated'hy judicious expositors, " angels of revi-

vv °and r form." To the intelligent Christian it

; 1 i e obvious, that without reform there can be no

Tevival The popular idea of our time connected

‫ ־‬wUh the terJrevival, is without foundation m the

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H o l y Scriptures. It does not mean the régénéra-
t o ? o f a sinner, nor the first work ot the S i ^ r . t m
conviction. It presupposes the existence of the
V talprinciple, akd the bringing of tlrat living prin-
c S e into visible activity, ( R o m . v 9 .‫ );״‬and this
equally true, whether of a ‫ ״‬ind.v1du:a or moral
S o n (Ps. Ixxxv, G; Ezek. xxxvii.) Divme truth
S external order are characteristics of a genuine
‫ ו ג ב‬for nothing but " sound doctrine" can pro¬
duce '''th power ‫־‬01 godliness." T h . popular com-
t t ons^nd'social disorders which accompariy modern
revivals, render them highly suspicious, 1 hey do
not demonstrate them to be spurious. It 13 tiue,
indeed that passionate declamation, voci erous as-
: : S o f h e L y , intensified by t h e a ^ i c a U

lent gesticulation, may commove to a ‫״‬.‫־״‬

tfe active powers,-the passions of the sinner ; but

Β ch appliances can generate only a temporary faith.

Su h converts, " having no root in themselves, wither

: Γ ι ν " (-M‫־‬-k iv. C . f " G o d is not the author of

Z L o l but of ,Joe, as in all fl^J^;^^^

the saints. b' o these angels of reform declaie by

^^^SrS^oitheseangelsis.tlrerecog‫״‬i^d^

of a gospel ministry, (ch. 1 2 0 ; 11· 1, 8;/|> ftc.)

•uHeeda\vtean" is the_ visible c^h.u^r^ch g,j^e,n^.e^ra"la. n g e lI lyidnoges
indicates celerity of motion
not represent any individual, as LLuutthheerr ; bbuutt ttnhee

ZeJe hoäy of those who carry the ^ ^ ^ ^

of "the everlasting gospel. Ihis go^pel isJ^?^

lastinq as distinguished from " another gospel, which

! r n o f a n o t h e r ^ ' ^Gal. i . ‫־‬6, 7, 8, 9 0 ^ spurmu^
counterfeit, and therefore ephemeral gospel, invented

and propagated by the " man of sin from the Hooa

‫ ב‬ch issufd from the mouth of the dragon, i c h x i .

Î 5 ) T h . gospel preached by this angel is everlast-

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THE APOCALYPSE, 209

its origin and duration. (Tit._ i . 2; John iv.
is as ex-

on;" his

. Λ · ‫ ״ ״‬U exnrèssive of bis zeal, energy and
" loud voice 13 expres^'v« sermon in-
authority; the s u b l e t mat er o f l m ^^^^^.^^

dicates very P ^ - " ^ e ^ ^es of the Romish apostacy.
is to counteract the heiesies 01 ^
Fear God and give glov/to him, nnoo^t^
saints and angels, images

gin M a r y , canonize/ du w •‫ר‬0 ‫ ץ‬AΛ1U1 aree solleemmnl.y

and

their attention earnestly ‫ ־ ' ־ ״ ' " י‬/ ^ ' ‫ ' ^ ״‬s‫־‬as U

to him " - ^ 0 made heave^ and ^^^^^^^^ ,^e angel

fonntaina of wa ers. argto be ^w^o^rs^h^ipped who

is very short,—that tie 01u;y !‫ י‬m‫מ‬fi-i‫״‬c:i‫״‬e^n( .ttton ""lleeaavvee aaU
created the universe; but it is sufficienUo^ jea^^^^^

men AviÎ ; : : t ^ x ; ; ; ; ; h o - d o - n o t g i o ‫ ״‬f y M

(^R‫ ״‬omu . . i , 20, 21.) A n d "^•ts" BuHhe "an¬
s the guilt of professing C h ‫ ״‬s >ans^ b ^^^^^^

g e l " employs ^ - ^ ^ P - ^^^^^-^^^^^^^^^^

his teaching - " - ^ / ‫ ף‬. ^ , ^ ^ "day is often set before

Temessige^of thefoUowngange^. ^,.^

That Charlemagne ‫ ^ " „ „ י * ״ " ^ • ' ־‬S e L l l n e i n a -

flying angel ^ ‫ ^ ' ׳ נ ׳ • • ' ־‬, : ' ^ ' ; ^ dual, as already

,ion of the l - r r , , : su cesffu ei il or military t y

?:Ä"';n->;V spirit as the herald of

* ^ ‫ • ״ ו ״ ״ ״ ^ י י ^ ו י ד ״ ד‬iside‫״‬ti‫־‬au-ithth‫ ״ ־‬. ‫ ״‬0

.iL"e‫־‬:et•• Avhose special ‫־ י ״ ״‬

a * Such is ^ i i i i ^ ^ p i i ^ t e t i i i i i of Bishop Newton!
.

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210 NOTES ON

great apostacy ; and this they do i n a pre-eminent
manner by proclaiming the everlasting gospel. F o r
Γ)00 years those who are known i n history by the
name of Waldenses, kept the doctrines and order
of the apostles, in a state of separation from the
Church of Rome. I n the latter part of the twelfth
century their numbers and influence attracted the
notice and brought upon them the wrath of the
"man of s i n . " I n the following ages multitudes of
them were subjected to all the penalties of confisca¬
tion, banishment and death. L i k e the seed of
Abraham in E g y p t , however, " the more they were
afflicted, the more they multiplied and grew." They
revived true religion in the kingdoms of southern
Europe, and it is most probable that the good seed
t^own by them reached even to the island of B r i t a i n .
John l i u s s and Jerome, who, by decree of the conn-
cil of Constance, were committed to the flames for
heresy; and Wishart, in England, whose end was
similar, together with such as co-operated with them
aad succeeded them in the same holy warfare, are
to be viewed as answering to tho mystic angel.
These faithful aiid dauntless men denounced divine
judgmuiits against a l l who worshipped graven i m -
'ages, however enjoined by civil and ecclesiastical

authority. F o r their fidelity to Christ and the souls
of men, they were subjected to the heaviest censures
of the heathenized church, and the severest penalties
of a tyrannical state,—the beast of the earth and
the beast of the sea always in unholy alliance and
acting i n concert. The ministry of this angel is a
testimony against papal corruptions, such as the
worshipping images of the Creator and creatures,
but especially the Pope,—the image of the Roman
emperor. It is a mere fancy to suppose this angel
symbolizes modern missions. The series of the

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THE APOCALYPSE. 211 i
:If
gross than tho 1<101atry of pagans, anu
L r e earnest testimony; and ood has nev '41

: Ä o ' p r o s : ‫ ־‬l ‫ ־ ־‬thlsame work with ,ncreas- •11

ing clearness and conSdence.

s, And «,‫־׳־‬ Υ^''·'\·^^Ζ.Α‫׳‬:'^&^^^^^·''·

Seme
V 8 "There followed another angel. biwe

restriction 01 a symbol to ‫ ״ (״‬p‫״‬late

,,relatio habits ot tl>‫"־‬gh«• * f j j f i h a t of a « ‫• ־‬

lue idea of ^ ^ ^ ^ : r ^ U t Z usual simply

r:mb1:m oV he mfnistr , not excluding the socal

t i j t which they are the f « gj;f;;;f‫״‬,.mati‫־‬n

ÄtirfrS^^^^

SsÄiielfKÄ

Ä'rÄnÄ^^^

Christianity almost ^espaired of seemj^ h

h n j z z ^ oÄng e ^ ; ‫ ־‬u ‫« ־‬

* Tabcr.

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2L2 NOTÜS ON

opposing with undaunied resolution his single force
to the torrent of papal ambition and despotism."
That individual was the heroic Luther, whose praise
is in all the churches t i l l tiie present day. N o in¬
dividual is so famous in the history of that eventful
period as M a r t i n Luther, for recovering the doctrine
of justification by the righteousness of Christ, to the
exclusion of all creature• merit. This fundamental
principle in the economy of man's salvation he justly
denominated articidm stantis vel cadentis er.clesice—
" the hinge of a standing or falling church." B y
the defence and propagation of this doctrine espe¬
cially, the priestly office of Christ was vindicated
against the doemas of penance, indulgence and su¬
pererogation, inculcated by the "jNIan of S i n ; " and
l)y consequ(>nce, one of the bulwarks of mystical
Babylon efl'ectually demolished. A t the famous
Diet of Wurms, which, like the Council of Constance,
combined ilic imperial power of Ron!e, civil and cc-
clesiastic, that indomitable servant of Christ gave
a visible demonstration that "the Spirit of the Fa¬
ther" animated and "spake in him," (Matt. x. 20.)
Not less explicit was Luther on the fundamental
doctrine of the divine decrees; which, with other
Arminian dogmas of creature-merit, had been almost
universally propagated and stamped with the pre¬
tended infallible authority of Rome. B y the trans•
lation and circulation of the H o l y Scriptures among
the people, the idolatries, impositions and profligacy
of the priesthood were extensively discovered. A n d
after years of deference to ecclesiastical authority,
conditional proposals of submission to the Pope upon
conviction of error in his theses, or conscientious
belief, Luther in time arrived at the conclusion that
the church of Rome was irreclaimable,_ giving pub•
licity to his deep convictions in a treatise De Cap-

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THE AI'OCALVPoE. 213

‫ ׳ ׳ ? ד‬Ï ‫ ״‬s a l w a r i n d e e d a sufiicient warrant to •À
Ρ ‫ ״ ז ? ; ך‬1 ^ the Church of Rome; and, acting on

congruous to f ^ct eitner y however, i n the
emblem of a ehureh! I ' j ^ ' i i „ symbols i n

of the beast,' becomes prominent.

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This second angel confidently proclaims,—"Baby¬
Ion is fallen, is fallen.'' So said Isaiah of literal
Babylon long before the event; (ch. x x i . 9,) and so
said Jeremiah, (ch. Ii. 8,) to whose predictions John
obviously alludes. A l l these three prophets speak
in present time of a future event, simply because of
the settled and unalterable purpose of God, acting
not formally as a sovereign, but as a judge. The
multiplied and aggravated crimes of Babylon, literal
or mystical Babylon, are the just grounds of her de¬
served and awful doom. Frora ancient times God
has declared by his prophets the things that are not
yet done. (Isa. xlvi. 10.) His counsel stands and
he doeth all his pleasure.

That the mystical Babylon emblematically repre¬
sented the complex systems of civil and ecclesiastical
corruption and despotism organized in Christendom,
was in some degree uiidcrstood by tho reformers in
Europe; but the work of this second angel was carried
on successively by men of piety and learning, who
were eminently qualified for systematically arranging
the doctrines of grace as deduced frora the word of
God. Their pious labors wc still have in the forms
of Bodies of Divinity and Confessions of Faith, in
both which the unscriptural and antiscriptural dog¬
mas and heresies of Rome are condemned and solidly
confuted by the Scriptures. There is a wonderful
" harmony of confessions " framed by those who se¬
parated from the fellowship of the Romish church;
which harmony can be accounted for only by the
fact that those who framed them drew their materials
from the Bible. But it ivas by their public covenants
especially, that the reformers lifted a testimony
against the heresies, immoralities and tyrannies of
the church of Rome. A n d among all the churches of
the Reformation, that of Scotland is justly entitled to

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THE APOCALYPSE. 215

the pre-eminence. In no nation or state in Christen¬ I
dom did the witnesses of C h r i s t , - t h e second ange
attain so nearly to a scriptural - « ^ ^ Ι 0 orga‫^^^^^^^״‬
society in church and state as m that and, ^vhose
lunt^ains and valleys were "flowered with martyrs
for a "Covenanted Work of Reformation. A .
Zuingle the Swiss-reformer excelled Luther, Calvin
fnd others i n Europe in the application of the divine
moral law, as revealed in Scriptures, to civil society
so John K n o x i n Scotland was equally clear, that
royal personages are amenable to the body pohtic,
and both to the Mediator.

We are now under the ministry of t^is second
" a n 2 e l " The revival effected by the first angel
had ereatly declined before the second made his ap-
p a r a ce ; I n d a l l persons of intelligence and spiri-
Uial discernment in our day, lament the v1s|^ble ^‫־״‬
cline in practical godliness arising fronwndifleienc^
to divini truth. Most professing Christians ‫״‬1c ad¬
ing the descendants of the raartyrs, are ' ' ^ d l n g y
ignorant" of the attainments and sufferings of their
iflustrious predecessors. The work 0 reformation
to be accomplished by the second angel, wesu‫״‬30se
to have been completed about the middle of the se¬
venteenth century. Since that period his work ap¬

pears from history to consist ^ testifying against de¬
fection from the reformation which had been reached.
The "great c i t y " is to fall "because she made a l l
natîonf drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornica¬
tion " She is " spiritually called Sodom and Egypt,
neither of which was a church any more than Baby¬
Ion These were all heathen comiiiunities, never
s Lrried to the L o r d ; therefore Babylon is not here
charged as an adulteress, but mth fornication. I h e
nations are her paramours. Her wine is intoxicating.
It deranges the intellect and stupifies the conscience.

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W i l l any reasoning prevail Avitli a drunken man?
A n active politician is proverbially unscrupuous,
and proof against the law of God. There is, how¬
ever " w r a t h " in this cup. Those who refuse to
" k i s s the S o n " must feel the weight of his iron rod.

^ ^ ï l î e '''litt'ie b o o k ' ^ l t r o d u c e d at the 10th chapter,
is included in the first 13 verses of the 1 1 / ^ chapter
which comprehends a concise history of the 12bU
years, as we have seen. A t the 15th verse the se¬
venth and last trumpet is sounded which introduces
the millennium and gives a brief outline of events
till the end of the world. Then the three following
chapters give in detad the events prior to the mil en-
nium, a commentary, as it were, on the " l i t t l e book,
but resuming a narrative of the sealed books con¬
tents, which had been suspended at the end of the
9th chapter, !'here, as we have seen, the first and
second woe-trumpets left the population ot the K o -
uian church and empire still in r e b e l l i o n : - Ihey
repented not."—Hence it is apparent that the work
of these symbolic angels consists in opposing the an¬
tichristian systems of organized society during the
period of the fifth and sixth trumpets. Ihis they
do partly by declaring the truth as it is m Jesus, and
partly by denouncing divine judgments on the im¬
penitent. The first angel, by proclaiming the "ever¬
lasting gospel," called upon men to "fear God and
give glory to h i m , " and not to 1dols,-threaten1ng
"coming judgment." The great majority of those
addressed, however, disregarding alike his loving in¬
structions and faithful warnings, must hear Irom the
second angel that the judgment threatened by 1113
predecessor, is now imminent:—" Babylon is fallen,
etc Notwithstanding the faithful and earnest con-
tendin‫״‬-s of the Waldenses, Bohemians and others on

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THE APOCALYPSE. 217

the continent Of Europe s e c o n d e d ^

England, so far were f^^ ;;^^;^^‫;;^״‬fl,‫״‬.,cy, that they

repenting of their ^'i^^^^J^ ^,^ ; P^ted" against those

became more and more exaspeiate ^

,witnesses who tormented them a ‫ ״‬ü .i^^^^^^.^

lence their ^ e f ^ony by committ ng ^

the fiâmes. Hence ^ e seconcl a ο _^ ^

sists more i n denouncing ]udgme^

mercy to the penitent; ^^f. ^ ^ j ^ ^ S w e e n Christ's

gles in Europe and the f^^^sn i j . ; ‫ ״‬the 16th and

t1v7itthnescseenstuarnieds,^dbeemRoon^s ar^a^t^e^s^. ‫ ״‬ef ,,et that th^e^^y^,

,vith great and - ^ ^ ' ^ ^ ^ / t t e r l y ^

church of Rom.e \ea^ , nUeriy ^^^^^

this united judgmen the Οοηΐγ^

formers are at this day a ‫ ״‬d . ‫ ״‬g ^ ^ ^

, chief among the ehuiciies ^^^^

dom stands Scotland, as ^ ^ . ^ sioncvs, in the West-

pearance, ^y l ^ ' ^ ^ 1 ^ 1 " ";^-^‫ן^"״‬er'fnll and free

‫ ^;״^וד^^"^״‬Γιοι >al representatives, sus

Assembly, a d y he J> she uttered

tained by all their F«^^^^,^ , detest. . .

those memorable word - ^ . ^ ^ ^ ^ ‫״^ ן‬,a particular

chiefly all kind f . ^ ^ P ^ « ^ ( . . ‫! ״ ^ ^ ״‬ and
heads, even as they a‫ ׳‬e d^^'^^^^^^^^^

¬ eonfuted by the j o r d of God am ^^.^^ ^^^^
77"';^Perhaps this is the «">y
^,,a nation, nnder

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218 N O T E S O N

among the nations, and princess among the pro¬
vinces!''

A s declension among those who had protested
against the corruptions of Antichrist, under the mi-
nfstry of the first angel of reform, together with'the
continued impenitence of the multitude who still won¬
dered after the beast, called for the appearance of
the second angel of revival, so the moral condition
of the world called for the work of his successor. In
the mean time, living as we now are, within the pe¬
riod allotted in prophecy and in history to the mi¬
nistry of the second angel of revival and reform,
it is but too evident that there is a great and increas¬
ing decline among the best reformed churches.
Many of the Protestant ministry, especially of the
prelatic order, are posting back to Rome; and the
growing ritualism, with its gaudy and splendid '_'at-
tire of a harlot," which characterizes others, plainly
indicates their tendency in the same direction. A n d
even those other denominations, which are not yet
prepared to adopt that "blasphemous hierarchy,"
are visibly departing from the soundness in doctrine
and purity of gospel worship which constituted the
chief glory of the Second Reformation, These are
the baleful effects of the dragon's influence " o n the
earth,'' (ch. x i i . 13, 15.) Besides, nearly all_ eccle¬
siastical bodies are yet in cordial alliance with the
beast of the sea; and this alliance is the Antichrist.

The Pope is now nearly divested of his former civil
supremacy, and in this respect become less the ex¬
press image of the imperial beast of the sea, (ch.
x i i i . 14;) yet the leaven of the Romish religion per¬
vades a l l the Christian community, so far as allegi¬
ance to the beast or his horns is either enjoined or
tolerated. This usurpation of the royal prerogatives

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THE APOCALYPSE. 219

of Christ over the churches a f - t i o - m the east¬

ern hemisphere by the kings of earth

milar usurpation in the ^ ^ ^ ^ f , " ^ ^ ί ^ ' ^ p^!! ie, is the

Built augmenuog, ™hat .s to he expec
vier iudgments to follow?

0. .he t ‫ ״‬t i ‫»׳‬r ‫ו‬.»r‫־‬d‫ד‬£^«‫ו‬ï^Ä^ 'è

‫־‬L^mh•. ‫״‬ft1,i.ir tonnent ascencleth up for eyer
11. A n d the smoke of their ^01^^‫״‬111 worship

° v T Γ η A n d the third angel Γ1-«»‫״־‬.•; Τ * ‫ ' ' ־‬m
p T e t e L " angels addressed ‫־״״ך״־־‬.^^^^^^^^

dresses his message « % · ‫ ^ ״ * ״‬ΐ ‫ ״ ״ ' ' ' ' ׳‬1 " ‫ ״‬â i l ‫• ״ ־ ־‬
the last that the Lord ‫ ״ ^ ! ^ ' ' ? " ־ ־ ' ־‬, ' ' ' ‫ ' ״ & ״‬m i n i s t r y

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220 NOTES ON

who persists in tlie liitherto popular idolatry. If

I ‫ ״‬V L n worship tho h c a s t . ‫ ״‬- U p to the time of this

angel's appearance the beast lives and devours his

ρ ' c \ · consequently, his work comes within the period

ITLmOjeJ. During this 1 - i t e d time here

:•11 be found in the Apocalypse ί/3,·‫״‬._ ^^J^^^ P«‫־‬

iinlar devotion,—the dragon, ch. x m . 4,) the ôeast,

^ ; 1 - ‫ ״‬1 ‫ ד‬, ^ ; (V.15.) In this place ^ - g o n is

omitted, as also in ch. xv. 2 ; x x . 4. W e may a k

whv the omission ? - S i m p l y because 'the thi gs

V ich the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils,

";God,"(l^or.x.20;)cc^^^^^

worshippers being Gentiles, (ch. x i . 2, there is no

e e siîy hat the dragon (the devil) should be par-

t i S i J c d . From the-first rise of the b e - - 1 - -

in alliance with the dragon, (ch. xm- ‫־‬2, 3 ) theretoie

both are doomed to perdition, (ch. x x • / Ο • ) . Mo^t

expositoi-s consider this angel as emblematical of

evints already past; the reformation effected by Lu¬

ther his coadjutors and successors, or the church 0

E^'li.1nd-* Their error consist, in viewing he beast

V ih v>nbol of the church of Home. A n d it is re-

‫ ״‬b h ' • that through the power of local and poll-
t iria^^'those commentators who themsclves percei^

l a tlie'l cast of the sea in chapter x 1 1.‫״‬,symbo-

Roman lose sight ο t eir e^j

\idon wh‫׳‬m they arrive at the place beiore us! An 1

0 thi burs and inconsistency they seem to be whoh

n c o - c i o u s ! No, there has never j e t a p p e a l

η the symbolic heaven a minister or ecc esiastica

01•^ n i S n , which has authoritatively denounced

ev^ Ξ g punishment against all who "receive the

‫• ״‬n-l- of the beast." It is to be noticed here that the

™it: e l i d e d are cumulative, not distributive. Gudt

* This is the opinion of M r . Fabcr.

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THE AtOCALVrSE. 221

,eontractedasherecdiargeJ^r^-S^

beast and his image, and receivm ^ .^^^^^

the beast signify ‫^״י"^״־‬-^^‫ ״;ך‬P° ‫ ' ״‬they do, then
signify tbe Papacy, s j e have J^,^,^^e

imt afroklloqwfsththeato^rm‫^ י‬e‫״‬r‫י‬,^c^o^n^ ‫י‬t^i t^u^e‫ ע‬t^he special guUt• here

charged by the angel• that , e ^^^,^esiastical

asnodcieatcyt,ivaetlywa' ^r «w•it«hPt^heJ ÄBiitW)lee - iuni uorbganized hos^ti^l^it,y^
"the'Lord and .f. ^-{^if^^^
^vldch

the throne of ^"^q^^ty ^^^‫ך‬/‫( ־־צ‬Ps!^ xciv. 20.) B u t

frameth mischief by a 1 w- f^^^^^ .^^^^.^^ ^ ,

during the 1260 year., um ^^^.^.^^^^ ^^^^^

consists of "kingdoms of l‫״‬s woi a

the beast of the earth i^JJ'^'Jl^ J , , destruc-

both are for their « ‫ ״ ״‬e s co‫״‬s‫״ ^^״״‬1 ^^^^^

tion, so i n the time of the punishment,

dividual i^threatened ^vith^ev^^^^^^^^^^^

who identifies with them ^^'f‫ן״‬fi1/ent of this awful

on c^oZieÄ bodies can be the tu individuals

denunciation, which evidently ^^^^^

and to each individual who 1 f-J^^^^^^ -, j here

can convey the id a f ei al ‫^ ^ ן‬ ,

denounced. * - t ^ ^ ? -^^s ^,e the strongest in

t ‫ ־ ־‬p . i b l ‫ ־‬f » ‫ ״‬y ‫ < ' ־‬- ; ‫ ״‬7 " l p « i d mission ana

As already intimated, t •e s^

a l l messa™ ‫״‬f th‫ ־״‬ange J « J e made the ty-

testimony of l ‫ ״‬s P ‫ ' * ״‬f ' " a „roüigacy of eivi

1;%,*t^srjrÄ^^

Scott._
15

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222 "NOTES ON

this way the " two witnesses smite the earth with all
plagues," (ch. x i . 6;) for they are identical with
the " t h i r d angel," and have an active agency in the
work of judgment to be executed upon the antichris¬
tian enemies, (ch. xv. 7.) A n d "who knows the power
of that wrath which is poured out without mixture
into the cup of Jehovah's indignation I n tempo¬
ral iudgments there may be a mixture of mercy; but
there is no such element in the cup of the impenitent
votaries of mvstic Babylon. " H o l y angels look
on without sympathy for her agonies, Avhile the Lamb
inflicts the tremendous penalty of her comphcated
and long-continued crimes. ''Be shall be tormented--
their torment:"—individuals found guilty of compli¬
city with Babylon, will be bound up into bundles as
fuel for that fire and brimstone, Avhose "smoke as-
cendeth up for ever and ever." " They have no rest
daynor nii^ht who worship the beast,"—no mitigation
of their sufferings. They are doomed to dwell " w i t h
everlasting burnings." (Is. x x x i i i . 14.) Such are the
denunciations which the " t h i r d a n g e l " is commis¬
sioned to proclaim in the cars of men, either to bring
them to repentance, or to justify the Lamb m punish¬
ing their impenitent disobedience. Now "every one
who is acquainted with the writings of the reformers
and their successors, knows that they generally de-
dared, without hesitation, that popery is a damnable
reli‫־‬don."‫ ״‬Popery, however, is the religion which
11as°corrupted states and churches throughout the
world; and therefore future reformers will not hesi-
täte to join civil states with her in their testimony
and prayers, saying,—"The wicked shall be turned
into lell, and all the nations that forget God. Pour
out thy fury upon the heathen that have not known

* Scott.

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THE APOCALYPSE. 223

likl waste his dwelliag pla‫־‬e.‫( ־‬Päa- •x- ‫ ״‬, l : • - ^ •

"'>I-‫׳‬H‫־‬r‫ ־‬is the Pat.‫־־»־‬0^ S 0?‫־‬5ϊ,' " ‫״‬

γ Τ η 13 - T h e faithful and pointed testimony

i•rra‫ד‬iÄ‫ד‬1‫ו‬hÄ

E?^eijarp:W^JKhe5
= . , U mibiected to the anathemas of tlie cliurcn

rrtw'sr^roTie eivi. ‫ ״‬, a g i s t r a t e - t h e c^^^^^^^^

f ,he two ^ - 5 ' . / : ^ ^ t ' • • ‫ ־ ־ * • ־‬v ‫ ״ ־‬t ‫ ־‬Ρ " r ‫ ׳‬e d •:I

the patience of the saints. on<l tho sub-

le faith ‫״‬f J ‫ " ־ ־‬i ' • ‫ " ' " ' " ״‬ΐ "^"‫ב י‬
lighteôusness, vec'eiying for dootri‫־״‬s the ooramand-

‫^״‬ÄÄ:«^»i^rofÄ

iSlf:-eÄ‫־‬::t::i.i^^

; ; w r i t e - ! " B l e s s e d are the dead which die in the

Ett::?Ä‫;׳‬T?:;the‫־‬Ä

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and r,ositivcly, this angel testifies against the anti¬
christian dogma of ‫ ו‬u r g a t o r y . H e declares tliat the
torments of "the wie ^ed continue " f o r ever and ever,"
whde the righteous who die in the Lord, "cease from
their labours.''—No stronger testimony can be con¬
ceived n‫״‬ainst tlie more gross papal heresy, orthe
moi-o mcKlern and so called philosophical delusions
of Universaiists, Socinians and others,—all of whom
are the oifi^pring of the "mother of harlots." But
besides tlio voice frora heaven, and the concurrent
witness of the Spirit, against the papal dogma of
purgatory, the " r e s t " here proclaimed for tho com¬
fort of inartyred saints, may be also understood as a
termination to their sharp conflicts with Antichrist.
" Henceforth they rest from their labours,"—they
shall never again be called to "resist unto blood,
strivino• against s i n , " as heretofore, by the combined
onposilloirof the "beast and i‫־‬alse prophet," orga-
liized tvrannv and idolatry. The ministry 01 the
" t h i r d angel," cotemporary with the "seventh trum¬
pet,"—the third and last "woe," prepares society
iln-oiigliout Christendom for entering into the milieu-
niai rest.

M A n d I lü01;e(l, and, lidiold, a white cloud, and upon

1110 cloud one .'^fxt like unto the Son 01' jMan, liaving on his

head a o-olden crown, and in Iiis hand a sharp sickle.

1Γ) And another came out. 01' the temple, crying with a

‫״‬1ud voice to iiim that sat on the cloud, Tlivust in thy sickle,

and reap; lor ihe lime is come for theo to reap: tor the har¬

vest of the earth is ripe. .

10. And lie that sat on the cloud thrust l a his sickle on the

earth; and the earth was reaped.

Y g . 14-1U.—The gathering in of the harvest is

sometimes emblematical of mercy, — as when the

believer is gathered to his fathers by death. H i s

sanctification being completed, he is taken home "a,3

a shock of corn 1 ipc in hh‫ ־‬season." Reaping and

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THE APOCALYPSE. 225

however j « . o ‫ ^ ״ ־‬, u ‫ ־‬, , l , y ^ ^ ^

M.cah IV. 12, Ii.) ^ ^^^^^e Chris-

f ' K appropriate - Λ . Thus ^ ^ ; ^ ^ / ^ ^

t: JVei:"‫״‬:^1‫״‬Γ0 ‫' י ״‬L f/peared i a ro.va.

:;^0^.;; [ & ‫ ־ ^ ־ ־ ״‬Itad a p , e a r « ^ ^

„hioh he sat had a ' " S " " ‫י י ״‬ , ,he Red Sea.
bat to his enemies a dark sioe,

IT. A n d another angel came out ‫״‬f the temple which is i n

^« S Ä m the altar, which had

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226 NOTES ON

power over fire; and cried Λνΐΐΐι a loud cry to liim that had
the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and ga¬
ther the clusters of the vine of tlie earth; for her grapes are
fully ripe.

19. A n d the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and
gathered tho. vine of the earth, aud'cast it nice the great
Avine-press of the wrath of God.

20. A n d the wine ])ress was trodden Avithout the city, and
hlood came out of the wine-press even uuto the horse-bridles,
by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

Vs. 1 7 - 2 0 . — A s the ministry of the " t h i r d angel,"
(v. 0.) was final, as to pronouncing tho deserved
doom of all the adherents of the antichristian system,
so i n the symbols of the harvest and vintage, we
have the execution of that sentence exhibited. The
nations of Christendom, havitig drunk the wine of
the mother of harlots, and of her daughters too, and
having exhau.stcd the patience of the L o r d Jesus, re¬
fusing to repent, while he warned them by his ser¬
vants the three ;ingels o f r e f o r m , — " r i s i n g early and
sending t l i e m , " were at length " r i p e ' ' for his sharp
sickle. Long had he expostulated with them, saying
to them, while addressing his c h u r c h , — " T h e nation
and kingdom that will not serve thee (0 Zion,) shall
perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.''
(I&a. Ix. 12.)—The desolating judgments of the reign¬
i n g Mediator, having brought those nations to "hate
the Avhore," they become the willing and zealous
agents of her destruction, as appears, (ch. xvii. 16.)

The "gathering of the clusters of the vine of the
earth,"—is a concise emblematical representation of
that tremendous work of punishing the apostate
church, to be exhibited i n greater detail i n the fol¬
lowing chapters.

Tho "angel coming out of the temple,"—repre¬
sents the gospel ministry as usual. H i s " h a v i n g a
sharp s i c k l e " m a y import his more immediate agency
η this than in the preceding work of the harvest."

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THE APOCALYPSE. 227

Christ himself judged the - ^ - ^ ' ‫^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ־‬
tsiiccakllec;o"mbmuutniintms, he«w" d^ KhoÎ noorr toSul serv^a^n^ts^,
As in " m e a s u r ‫ י ״‬g the emple i

the f u ^ \ T h T u t ^ r T h Ï New Testament

ment, (^^ch. u . -L,j the representative of

gave it into the hand of John, th p^^

a gospel ministry, (ch. xi• «

power over tire, is a1s‫־־ ״‬j f‫״‬,.vj1er angel, is for

The sickle i n the hand f . / ^ ^ , ^ ‫ ״ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ״‬Of the

gathering f^^^^^^.^^^^^^^^^

latter angel with the altar ; " L m a r y , to appease

symbol ot an apostate . ^ ^ f ' ' ‫ ״ ^ ך‬atonement of

,ihioh is a pracboa f'‫״‬V‫״‬aictive justioe is an

Christ; f » V V % " ° 1*'‫ \ג‬he " i l d ‫־‬a‫^״‬

ii

rraÄ^£^^^^^

angel calls ηροη the ‫ י ״ " ' ״‬. * " ‫ ״ ״ ן‬/ "Thrust in
„ i l n , to execute * , ‫ ־‬J Ä ‫ ^ ״‬f ,^;Tintendenee of
£ S t o f h i s A y ' t h e i r Sprayers and their

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228 NOTES ON

sermons have an active part in this Avork of judg-
m.ent. From the moutli of the witnesses proceeded
fire to devour their enemies, (ch. x i . 5.) This is
the last work of judgment i n which they will be
honoured. Joining their victorious predecessors who
overcame the antichristian combinations " b y the
blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony,"
(chs. v i . 9 , 1 0 ; x i i . l i , ) these undaunted servants
of tlie L o r d are honored b y him as instrumental in
the infliction of the final judgments symbolized by
the seventh trumpet and the seventh vial,—the third
and last tt-oe.—The " w i n e - p r e s s " is the symbol of
the "wrath of G o d , " and its location "without the
city," denotes that the churches of the apostacy are
excommunicated,—"reprobate silver, because the
Lord hath rejected them."

We are not told here b y whom the grapes are
trodden; but this is the work of the L o r d Jesus him¬
self, who i n the days of his flesh on earth forewarned
his impenitent foes that he Avould thus deal with
them i n his wrath. "Those mine enemies, which
would not that I should reign over them, bring hi¬
ther, and slay them before me." (Luke x i x . 27; Isa.
Ixiii. 3; Rev. x i x . 15.)—The blood in depth is to
the "horse-bridles," and in extent " a thousand and
six hundred furlongs,"—200 miles! Although this
language is hyperbolical, it is intended to signify " a
time of trouble, such as never was since there was
a nation even to that same time ; and at that same
time God's people shall be delivered, every one that
shall be found written in the book." (Dan. x u . 1;
Rev. xiii. 8.)—Thus it appears that church and state,
having combined in the antichristian apostacy, are
severally visited with the unmingled wine of the
wratti of God. A l l the saints shall have obeyed the
c a l l , — " C o m e out of her, my people;" and mystic

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THE APOCALYPSE. 229

Babylon shall then be utterly ^^^^troyed. W h her
Palestine, the Pope's patrimony, or some other teir -
tory bo nnderstood b / t h e " 1600 furlongs," is mat

e70f vague conjectÎire by all expositors, and is to

i e verified only by the fulfilment 01 the prediction.

CHAPTEH XV.

M ildren The warfare of the witnesses for the
childien. ‫ י‬,^^^^‫ !ן‬have been usurped

be all comprehended under the seventh tru-mpet, as

ïhe trumpTs are all comprehended under the >even:h

t / r a question upon which r‫־‬speetabl‫ ־‬expos.to s
differ It is indeed obvious that the breaking of the

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230 NOTES ON
thunders" would be disclosed. TJien would the
"rays t r y of God be finished, a. he had declared 0 _
K i s U i n ^ the prophets. J J ^ ^ ^ - J . ^ . / ^ ^ ;
ATicah iv. 3; Zech. xn. i , ‫ ״‬ineb&. n.
of r ost learned and sober divines, who w o t e on

1 e Apocalypse during the 1 - - - - ^ - ‫ ־‬, : ; ^ ‫ ״‬: ! ^ ^
the first Napolcan, contemplating he anarchical
Ind bloody scenes of the French Revolution, and the
l e q u e n t tyranny and blood connecte . . t h he
successful wars of the Gallic usurper, thought tt ey
Teard η the commotions of European nations the
' : : 1 ? ‫ ״‬Tf the seventh trumpet, and saw the plagnes
inflicted as symbolized by the vials, ^ n d thu it is
that local events, which excite the political feelings,

to answer the tremendous symbols of cit Urvest^
or vintane. D i d the French revolution, the A m c 1-
c ‫ ״‬i S u t i o n , or the wars of Napolean First infiu-
ence the civilized world or affect the church of God
as Popery and Mahometanism have done ‫־‬.> N o , the
r o m n a r i s L is preposterous. Hence it is mos pro¬
S K a t Christendom has not yet heard the alarm-
incr sound of the seventh trumpet.

is tilled up the wrath of God.
V 1 — " A n o t h e r sign in heaven. — A l l the \1

sions were seen by the apostle in the same place,
ch i Τ xii. 1.) The word translated " s i g n " here
s ^ e skme as ''^vonder'‫ ׳‬in the twelfth chapter,
wh ch for greater clearness to the English reader
T g h t t o hfve been rendered by the same w d ‫ ־‬-
The symbol or sign consists of "seven angels having

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THE APOCALYPSE. 231

the seven last Plagues ' - h ^ ^ a pe‫״‬al Ζ
the Antichrist, but not *^^^soUitely the^/ast Ρ

flictions on the ^‫!;^^^^^״^״‬,^,‫^״‬aestroyed,°and there
g o ‫ ״ ״‬are i n like manner to be aesuoye ,

‫ז;•׳‬:‫;״‬.‫״״•׳‬ · · ‫״\^ל‬,‫י‬.,‫י‬£;

j ^ y2•. A n d I saw as i.t ^^ere a s‫ ־‬oeoa rof^fgl‫״‬a1sfsts8 minsled wit^h^^fi^re;
and them that had gotten the ‫־‬nctory over i ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^.^
his image, and over l^is maik, ^ ‫« ^ ״‬ve

Α : Ώ β ϊ Α ^ 1 Γ , ^ ί ; Α η ‫״ » ״ ״‬.y ‫״״‬y..

K i4n.g Wofhsoaisnhtasl!l «ot ,fear thee π0 ΤL‫״‬orrdd , aannda^^e^l^oriJfv th^y^n^a^m^^e?^^^^

ior thou only art | - ^· ^ Η ^ ^ ^ , , ^ Γ α e ‫״ צ ״‬-‫״‬Hest.

^^%rT?-im‫'׳‬efof glass," or transparent sea

(as^n ch. i v . / o refers ^}^J^J^^Tt^:
the throne of God in the temple, x

^ • t : Ä ^ r sea and tor

that "fountain opened or

(Zech. xiii. l ' ) - J ^ ? ^ ^ ^ L L 0 ' d washes awa'y the

of the same thing, ^«5 . j f ' / ; ' ^ ^ ^ges the blood

filth of the daughters of f^^J spirit of

of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by tne ρ

jadgment, and by the « P - ^ •f^^^^s - ^ 01

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and number;" having clean escaped from them who
live in error, both in civil and ecclesiastical relations.
II01din‫ ״‬the eucharistie "harps of God," they are
the saine company as those on Mount Zion with the
Lamb, (ch. xiv. 1, 2.) There, their song was called
new; here it is more fully described. There it was
said, " no man could learn that song" but themselves,
here we have the matter of the song epitomised. It
is constructed of two parts, "the song of Moses and
the son‫ ״‬of the Lamb." A s the children of Israel
at the Bed Sea celebrated the praises of God s jus¬
tice in the overthrow of their enemies the Egyptians,
so do these with united voice express their admira¬
tion and praise in anticipation of the final and awful
end of these cruel, idolatrous and persecuting mysti¬
cal Egyptians, (ch. x i . 8,) " s a y i n g Great ami mar-
vellous‫־‬are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and
true arc thy ways, tl.ou K i n g of saints. Ihey do

also declare their faith in the universal dominion of
their K i n g ; that " a l l nations shall come and wor-
shii) beiore him." A n d to this day none but the
witnesses are prepared either with intelligence or al-
fection to " l e a r n " or use this song. \Ve have ttie
subject matter of both parts of this triumphant song,
framed by the Holy Spirit and incorporate( in the
Book of Psalms, (as Ps. i i . 8; xviii. 3 7 - 4 5 ; xlv. 3 - 6 ;
cx 1 etc ) The fortunes of God's covenant people
tili the ingathering of the Jews, with the fulness of
the Gentiles, may be found in Moses song, (Deut
xxxii. 1-43,) and the "song of the Lamb is found
in chapter v. 9-13.

5 A n d after that I looked, and behold, the temple of the
tabernacle of the testimony i n h^^aven was opened:

C. A n d the seven angels came out oftl'*: temple avmg
the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having
their breasts girded with golden girdles.

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THE APOCALYPSE. 233

y 6 5 ‫ ״‬. - J 0 h n looked again, and saw the "tern-
‫ י ד‬Λ η I n t the «even an‫״‬els might have egress

3) " f o r the day of vengeance is ‫״‬1 his heart, (v. 4.)

ever and ever. ,, · 7 +v,‫״‬

V 7 - " O n e of the four b ‫ ־‬a s t s , " - » ‫ ״ ״‬A t ‫־‬

b.) ^ot an tut J ^ fractional

tion, but one only. ‫ י ' ^ ^^'^•!־‬. ' ^^^^ ..^‫^״‬.‫^ ״‬ord of

p,ar ortp, hpcocsyse"ssainndg e^n^dVow^ ^ ldf ,wt l lU‫^ ״‬Î^^'^-^'C^ -casu,r,c, , hof he-

roic spirit by ,,/,,^;""Jt u'pi‫ ״‬gave the vials

angels in ^ ‫ ^ ״ ״ ף ^ ו‬. f / S ‫ "־‬B y the°ir preaching,

into the hand ^ ; ^ ; ‫ ; ; ^ ^ י ־‬, p ‫ ן‬e , tlithful ministers,

'u'n"se^d•u‫ו‬c‫י‬e‫י‬dX^by‫ד‬tthte b‫ם‬lma dslfm7nts‫ ׳‬of cor^r^u^p^t^^p^^o^w^ er_,

and ™ ^ J ^ , ' / , f b y t^^^^ denounce

Ï P ^ : i " i t S r o t h t \ y ^ l i : action of giving
S : ‫ ־‬v I ' o T S i r e wrath to Î h e appoir^ed agents, rc-
f rence may be had to Jer. xxv- 10-26, 11. 7·

8. A n d the temple was ^^-1 with . n o k e from^ glory

Stiî^îAi^rA^—--'^

were fulfilled.
Vs. 8 . - " T h e temple fdlcd with smoke, repre-

/s

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234 KOTES ON

sents the darkness of these dispensations, the horror
and dismay which seizes upon the votaries of Anti¬
christ. But during the time of executing these juclg-
ments, the progress of tlie gospel will be retarded,—
" n o man being able to enter into the temple.'' It
is intimated, moreover, that these judgments will, as
it were, clear away the "smoke," and render the
temple once more luminous. So we may conclude
by comparing the 4th and 8th verses. In the 4th
verse the witnesses declare their faith t h u s , — " A l l
nations shall come and Avorship before thee." But
this is a description of the millennial state of the
Avorld. (Ps. Ixxii. 11.)

CHAPTER XVI.

A l l preliminaries being now arranged, the seven

angels receive their commission by a "great voice

out of the temple." It is the "voice of the L o r d ,

full of mnjesty." (Ps. xxix. 4.)—As the seals and

trumpets were not coincident, but successive, so it is

doubtless with the vials. N o two begin to be poured

out at the same time. One follows another in order¬

ly succession. · ·‫י‬

Several questions of difficult solution, arise in the

minds of devout and humble students of the Apoca¬

lypse, respecting the series of the vials. A r e the

vials cotemporary with the trumpets.? Seeing that

the seventh seal included a l l the trumpets, does ana¬

logy require that all the vials be comprehended under

the seventh or last trumpet.? Or, do the seven vials

come under the last three trumpets, distinguished

as they are by the character of woe-trumpets.? (ch.

viii. ίο.) Other questions may here be propounded;

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THE APOCALYPSE. 235

but these seem to be the most obvious and important,

in fixinff the time of the events predicted.

The breaking of the seventh seal - q - s t i o n a b ^

K i d open the whole of the book, including all the

t^ump^ts and v i a l s , - a l l future events till the end of

h e W d ; but it does not follow, for instance, that the

awful sce^e of the final judgment is to be cotempo-

varv with any of the trumpets, (ch. xx._ l i , ^^•)

¥ I ::venth'seal, therefore, oses import^^^^^

events which are to come to pass subsequently to both

u i Î i s and vials. The fact that,both trumpe

and vials are disclosed by the opening of the as^

seal, admits of their being cotemporaneous From

the 'striking resemblance between the effects of the

trumpets and those of the vials, (ch. viii. 12-‫ד‬, x j ·

o_12 ) they might seem to be cotemporai-y. I h i s ,

Lwe'ver i T n o t î h e case, for the objects of the judg-

‫ ; ב‬ai'e différent, that of t l - t i m m p e t s being m^

fo,Hnally the civil empire, wlnle that of the ^ ^ ^ ^

the ecclesiastical empire; each however, greatly at

ρ S i î ; oi it‫ ־‬drawing . 0 a close,.. ‫ ־‬r e — g
m r l ivoald seem too sliort for the period of the vials.

1 Γ ‫ ״ ־ ־‬0 ‫ ־‬of the vials, "/Γ•^

nreceded them, is successive, the application 01 them

^1110 the ]?rench Revolution is simply preposterous.•

m a t event answered not to the symbol c-thcr ‫; ל ״‬

ten. or duration. Nor indeed i ‫ ' ־‬l > ; - ^ 2 * ^ ‫־ ־‬
ovideiiee in the actual condition of the Cbustian

So M r . Faher imas'oetb

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236 NOTES ON

w l d , iiotwitbstanding tho fond imagination of
learned and good men, that the voice of the seventh
angel has yet been heard by Christendom.

1 Anrl I heni'cl a great voice out of tlie temple, saying to

the'seven angels. Go your ways, and pour out the vials ot

the wrath of God !!!)on tho earth. à

y . ! . _ ' < E a r t h ' ' has here the usual meaning,—
the whole territory and population of the Roman
empire, those only and always exempted, who are
true to the cause of Immanuel. The angels of de¬
struction cannot hurt those who are under the pro¬
tection of his blood. (Exod. xii. 23.) They may not
"come near any man upon whom is the mark.
(Ezek. i x . 6; Rev. xiv. 1.)

2 A n d the first went, and poured out his vial upon the
earth; and there fella noisome and grievous sore upon th|‫־‬
men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which
ΛV0rshipped his image.

3 A n d the second angel poured out Ins vial upon the fcca,
and it became as the blood of a dead man: aad every living

A n ï u i c T h i r d angel poured out his vial upon the rivers

and fountains of waters; and they became blooc.
5. A n d I heard the angel of the waters say Thou ait right-

cous, 0 Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because

^ ' ' r S t Ä l i l v r s l i e d the blood of saints and prophets,
and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are wor-

^''7' A n d I heard another out of altar say, Even so. Lord
God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

Y s . 2 - 7 . — " A n d the first went.'"—However disa¬
greeable the service, as we are ready to suppose, thi
holy agent at once obeys the divine command, i h e
best of°men hesitate and remonstrate when called to
difficult and disagreeable work. So it wa.s with iMo
pes, and with Jeremiah. (Exod. iv. 10; Jer. 1. b.
But all these heavenly messengers in succession, ex
cento their respective tasks without gainsaying, i

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TUli AlOOALYl'SE. 237

is the will of our common Lord that his disciples
l o u d emulate their example, that they shou d " know

^i:Siyr:,^^ni:nn the close of the ^ t h chapter

a i . J e « i and vintage, .re in this c l - P ^

extensively exhibited by the seven vials. A resem

blance to the first four trumpets may be observed in

A i t s of the first four vials, a n d b e s i e these

plaaues resemble those inflicted on Egypt, i t Dy

rer°crimes, especially by idolatry and cruelty to the

neople of God papal Rome has copied the manners

? t y p t and Babylon, it is but just that she should

be vi°stedwith like p u n i s h m e n t . - T h e first vial se-

l e t s as v L i m s those who " h a d the mark of the

E t : n d worshipped his ^ ^ , , ^ not

, of the succeeding plagues, although tl e fact lie no
g
vf>neated The ob ect of this vial is the earth m

Γ Γ ι ο restricted sÎnse than in the first ve1.e. The

s " e a r t h " i n the first verse comprises all the parts ot

- a svstem " earth, sea, fountains, sun and air, men-
e t i J e d n the following verses.-The "

, Grievous sore," refers to one of the plagues of E g y p t .
-
? F x o d ix 9-^11.) The earth was the object aff-ected
i t by t i e fist trumpet; (ch. viii. 7;) but as A n t i -

d "ist'had not then a r l L n , this plague c;an‫״‬ot a g . e m

time with the first trumpet, though it might with the

¬ i Z 07s xth trumpet; for while these trumpets were

s d e l l i s h i n g the eastern member of the Roman empire,

e S i n f w a y for the development of Mahomet's im¬

o posture tie "little h o r n " of Daniel, and Paul s

o- C a n of sin," was revealed, in the west But th

.) ‫ ״‬t w o witnes'ses" were c o i ‫ ״‬c i d e ‫ ״‬t m origin w^^^^^
tichrist, and were empowered by ^^^^.J^f^^^^f ,^ογ
x- smite the earth with a l l plagues as often as they

i t 16

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‫־‬238 XOTKS ON

would," (ch. x i . 6.) The "grievous sore is to be

understood metaphorically, not literally; for so the

construction of the Apocalypse requires. It may un¬

port the festering of unmortiiied corruption among

the votaiies of Antichrist, intensified by the faithfu

application of the divine law by the witnesses.—ih

object of the second vial is the " s e a , " the same a

thkt of the second trumpet, (ch. viii. 8, 9.) i h e al¬

lusion is to Exod. vii. 20, 21. Intestine comniotions

with war, blood and death, seem to be symbolized

The horns of the beast were often turned against on

another; for the bestial kingdom was " p a r t l y bro

ken " The toes in Nebuchadnezzar's image did no

‫ ״‬cleave one to another." (Dan. i i . 42, 4 3 . ) - T h

object of the third vial is the "rivers and fountain

of waters," (ch. viii. 10; Exodus vii. 19.) Ihes

symbols may signify the Eeveral kingdoms of th

empire, tributary bv their wealth and traihc to th

great city. A n d as the witnesses continued to pro

phesy ‫״‬iving increased point and publicity to the

testimony, and as the Turks were making encroach

ments upon the territories of nominal Christian prince

in the west, extensive wars and great slaughter wer

the re'^ults. These awful judgments are followed b

the plaudits of two angels. The eternal Jehovah 1

recognized as the Author of these judgments. Ih

Mediator may here be understood, (ch. 1.8;) Joh

V 2 7 ) The " a n g e l of the waters may b

t h e M r a e who poured out the vial. H e gives to th

Lord the glory of his justice : - " T h o u art righteous.

He also approves the " l a w of retaliation: Io

they are worthy." The other angel "out of the al

tar" speaks on behalf of the martyrs, (ch. v i . 9, 10

recognizing the faithfulness^of G o d : — " T r u e an

righteous arc thy judgments.''

/ύ

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ÏUH Λ1Ό0ΛΙΛ‫׳‬Γ.-‫'־‬ 239

8. A n d the fourth aagcl poured out his vial upon the sun;

e and power was given unto him to scorch rnen with fire.

e 9. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed
the name of God, which hath power over these plagues; and
¬ they repented not to give him glory.

g
ul Y s . 8 , 9 . — T h e object of the fourth vial is the " s u n , "
he (ch. v i i i . 12.) " T o w e r was given him,"—the angel.
as The two witnesses are represented as armed with
¬ "fire,i which proceedeth out of their mouth, devour¬
s, ing their enemies," (ch. x i . 5.) As the formal ob¬
d. ject of all the vials is the ecclesiastical, rather than
ne the civil empire, and the sun is the symbol of the
o¬ chief dignitary, perhaps this vial strikes more direct¬
ot ly upon the " man of s i n . " The expression in the
h e introduction to the vials, (ch. xv. 4,)—"thou only
ns art holy," seems to be a testimony against the anti¬
se christian "name of blasphemy,"—" His Holiness."
he B y the Reformation, symbolized by successive angels
he of the fourteenth chapter, those valiant men tor¬
o¬ mented the Pope and his vassals, so that they raged
ir and blasphemed more and more, but " repented not
h¬ to give God the glory." So it was at the sounding
es of the sixth trumpet, (ch. i x . 20, 21.)

re 10 A n d the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat

by of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they

13 ffnawed their tongues for pain,
11. A n d blasphemed the God of heaven, because ot their
he pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

hn
be V s . 10, 1 1 . — " T h e seat of the beast" is the oh-
he ject of the fifth vial. The " b e a s t " is all along from
. 'chapter x i . 7, the Roman empire. The "image of
o r the beast," Λνβ have found to be the papacy, (ch. x u i .
l¬ 14, 15.) Now the "seat (throne) of the beast,"
0, would seem to point to the metropolis, where the
nd Pope, as a kind of imperial, politico-ecclesiastical
head, keeps his court, and whence decrees are issued.

This plague is like the ninth inflicted upon Egypt,

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ÎFvo.l Χ •η ) It ‫»־״‬s the last Lut one, and loft
t l . siai i m p ‫ ־‬. ‫ ״‬t ‫ ״ ־‬t . J ‫ ־ ״‬t so hero; a thnjgh

the Pope and his retainers at the present time, and

see of R o m e , - A u s t r 1 a , France, Spam, and •"^ta
? n ta es s not calculated to mitigate but rathe
10 a u g m S and irritate the "pains and the sores
‫וי‬.flirted bv this and lormcr viais.

We can however, offer only conjectures here, and
dare no be too confident; for learned and pious ex-
ρ t o i î of the opinion that all ^ 1 - - a l s are c^^^^^^
pvehended under the seventh trumpet, that the se

‫ ; ^ ־ ׳ ״•״״‬r \ 1 » t % ; ; r v ? s . S â r ‫ ־‬n ‫ ״‬t ; . ‫־‬

S±stt;:sSo?sÄ

trumpet; inasmuch as the opening j‫״״‬utlp««

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Till•: ,\‫י‬00-\].‫ץ‬1‫י‬.‫י‬11:. •241

eeive that as the first four trumpets demolished the

Γνο . 1 1 a ï e consuming the A‫״‬t.‫־‬hr.st .n the west, Ä
the sixth is operating .n the east.

‫ ״‬i ^ j v s f ï ; ; r g « , r ‫ ־‬s ‫ ״‬o o ; 0 i ? 0 . ‫ ״ ־‬u 1 »t...»
S Z " ‫ ; ״ ״‬. ‫ ; * " » ״ • ־‬f ^ ; ; . l ; ^ , i ' Z i t vvorUins miracles,

äSÄÄOÄ^SÄ

" ' • ! f A n d he gathered them together into a place called in
the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

V . 1 - 1 6 _ ‫ " — ל‬T h e great river Euphrates" is the

the sixth vial in now in process of pourmg o u .
T i e object of the sixth trumpet, is the same (c .
i V 14 ) There is, besides, an obvious allusion to tl
« ancient literal Babylon ; and to the manne of its

narch; as Idstorians relate, changed the current of

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242

ihe Enphratc?, and by tliis means took possession of
the city, wliile Belshazzar and Iiis nobles were^en-
gaged hi a drnnkcn festival. (Dan. v. i-30.)—The
waters of this river are to be taken as representing
the population of the Ottoman em1)!re, (ch. xvii. 15.)
B y the " k i n g s of the east'' may be understood the
Jews, agreeably to the symbolical nature of this book;
(Is. xli."2, 3;) yet as the Turkish empire and Ma
hometan imposture constitute barriers to the exten¬
sion of Christ's kingdom among the populous nations
of tlic cast, as Popish despotism and idolatry, ob¬
struct the gospel in the west, we may give this sym¬
bol of the " k i n g s of the east" a more extensive m-
terpretation. Probably a larger proportion of the
natural seed of Abraham are to be found on the wes
th.aii even on the east of the Turkii-h empire. The
dynasty of tho Turk is in process of visible exhauî
tion, and nothing but what is termed among anti¬
christian nations " the balance of ])ower," prolong
its existence or hinders its extinction. " Drying up,'
evaporation, is a gradual process, and with singula
])recision describes the waning light of the once prou

Crescent,—the expiring bveatii of what has been
termed Ijy a bold figure, " t h e sick man."=•= — 01^101
this vial,'however, and likewise as the termination o
tlie second woe, a general, final and desperate alli
ance is to be found to resist the aggressive forces o
the " L o r d of Hosts."—This confederacy is heade
by the dragon, and is identical with the war, (ch. xn
Ï7,) against the "remnant of the woman's seed."—
These " unclean spirits like frogs " are called spiri
of devils." They "come out of the mouth" of a
the airents, the dragon, (ch. x i i . 3, 9,) the beas
(ch. x u i . 1,) and the false prophet,—the same a J th

* So designated hy Nicliolas, late eroperor of Russia.

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THE AVOCALYl'^E

two-horned beast,^ ' , ^ , e ' e A ^ Ï t t S n g ï h e kings of
‫ ״‬unclean spunts

the earth, by ''^‫"^ ^״^י‬f^^^^‫״‬ ' 2.) ‫ ׳‬T h e y are the
spiritual wickedness
(2 Thess. u . Rome
i^^^dent, stealthdy
) Igents of a n t i c h m ü a u R ^ ^ ^
e
; i,T high places," ( E f
a¬
¬ in moral ΰ^^^^'.^f ^ ^fi^edchambers of the kings,
s
b¬ gaining access ^^1^‫״‬.^^%;^‫״‬
¬
- after the manner of E § y p t • ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ her cardi-
e
st ly the policy of Rome ^ ^ •^‫ י‬entrance mto
e
nais, archbishops, •J^.^^^'^;'^"pfinces, inciting them
-
¬ the councils and eabmets ot Ρ ^.‫;!ן^ן‬,^ !,osts are
s
' to debauchery, tyranny blooa ^
ar
d tl,‫״‬s "gathered to ü^e batt of ^^^J^ ^.^^^
n
1·^ God Almighty, ' - t h e day ox ^^^^ ^^^^,^th
of
i¬ ' ' ^ • ' " " f ‫ \ ; ׳‬r ^ t 1 r ) ‫ ־‬f o 'all these agree in point of
ot
ed trumpet, (ch. ^ : f^^'i '‫״‬v.‫^״‬,^ of temptation, as n-
n.
— time.—This will be an hour 0! ^ .^„thesis, m -
its
all mtted in the I f t b verse wh ch s a Ρ ^^^^^^
st,
he terrupting a httle thej^an aUve« ^^^^.^^^ ^^^^^

vial. There is <^ange1 0 •^po. a y ^^.^^^ ^^^^

to these Chaldeans, ' 0 t ‫ ־‬n n p o m J ^ ^ ^ ^ . ^ ^

in order to escape ‫^^א‬/^^^‫^^^ ־ך״‬,^,, of righteousness

of the cross, ! " ^ ' " ? ' ‫ ״ ^ ! ^ ״‬B u t "blessed is he

Λνοηΐά be exposed to shame g^^^^.

that watcheth," that l^^^^J^"^ providence,-
tion, to his cause, as e l u c i t o ^ heev^\s gar¬

the signs of the times; fen so shai^ „ , ! , e d . " - " A n d

n.ents," w h ^ ^ ^^^^P^fAther " gathered," (for

be gathered t h e m ' or rather J^^^^^•^^ ‫״‬1ral

the singular vm-b a g - s . u ^ - t s .^^

neuter as usual,)-the u 1^ ‫״ן‬

i , i ‫ ״ ״‬s of the earth to *'^e ac^ ^ enemies of the

der'.not hut that these j,^t

church are ^ ^ ß ^ ^ Ä v r i a against " a hypocriti-
so he sent the king of As-syim ‫״‬

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‫ ״ ו‬iTs V 7-(‫ ) ־‬A n d doubtless the pro
p i e t S p r o ^ ; s : : d y i l i s great and decisive b ^ -
de (ch i i i . 1 - 1 4 . ) - T h i t h e r cause thy nnghty ones
t o ' c L e down, 0 L o r d . " C o m ^ r e vs. 1 2 Ihe
place is called " Armageddon," the mountrnn of d
ftruction, suggesting the issue of the battle in the tma
o v c S 0^ of Antichrist•, for it is not necessary to
™ s e that any place is literally pointed out; but
a s l s is a coinioind word in the ^ ^ ^ ^ - - / ‫ ^ ן ״‬- ' , ^
allusion m a y b e made to
army, (Judges v. 19;) or to the mournful death ot
Josiah, (2 Chron. xxxv. 22.)

was exceeding great.

V« 1 7 - 2 1 — " T h e seventh angel poured out tu
viafi'nto the a i r . " - T h e devil is emphatically style
- t h e prince of the power of the air. (Eph. u . 2·
A l l the preceding vials fell upon their respective an
fucc s ive objects, the several parts of the symboli
system; but this " v i a l of consummation affects th
Shole of that system at once ^he dragon the beas
and his image, together with the /^^^^ F ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ - f
the "kingdoms of this world and the glory of them,
which tht god of this world claimed as his own, an

ff red to o^ur L o r d .Icsus Christ in the days of his h

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TlllC Al'OCALYl'^ :15

V · . T n k e i v 6 7 ; ) - a l l will be destroyed for

miliation, Luke 1\.υ , 1 ‫׳‬1 , >‫׳‬great voice,
,,er. He who gave c«‫ף^^״״‬ï‫^י‬,‫^^^ך‬ey have fulfilled
s l ^ t o these fg^\^'t:p^3 l ^ i s l p p r o b ‫ ״‬. t i o ‫ ״‬, -
L pleasure - ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ d
e

IS ‫ז־‬-‫ "'ן^^יי‬.‫״‬:‫^״‬de-
‫ ״‬I t done. ' of the seventh angel,
that " i n the days of tl e ^^^^^‫י‬ ,,,y of God

al ,vhen he shonld begin 0 sound, the ^ y j,^^^^

o should be fimshed (^'^‫ ׳ ' ״ ־‬i undeniably evi-

t his o a t b , - I t ts aone H^nce it ^.^^^

^ dent that the sevent " i ^ P ^ ^ ^ f i evident that tbe

the seventh vial; and 1 is equal y

t ewvaesnotsbswchuircehlythineytim^ a^tFedf a^ s^ t"o^llXow, ? ^ ^th^^e^s^ounding of

the seventh t r u m p e t , - the nar ^^^^

and thy >vrath is come, (^^;^.^^^‫^^־‬,‫^•ן ן‬htnings,"

amplified; for tbe " ^ ' c e s t^mnc^ s - ^^^^ ^^^^^^^

tre the visible ^nd sensible tokens^^ ^ ^ ^ ^

of God. (Exod - ^ • / , ^ • ' J t u a l 'syu^bol of revo-
lows an "earthquake ‫^^״'י'"^^>\״‬,,‫ן‬tel. A n earth-
lation; but this ‫״‬0c IS without pai^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^,^

quake followed the openn g ' the Ro-

^ • ' • i : 7 \ : ‫ ״‬c ô ^ a ; X e r 1 n d another earth-

; ^ . e S d l close ^ ü i e ^ c ^ ^ ^ ^

Ï3,) when "the t e ‫ ״‬A p r t 0 the c t y ‫״‬ , ^^•^^

eo«ionis"som1gbtya‫״‬dso^^^^^

us the great city.‫״ג‬to three paits ^^^^^,j f,,,^

ed next, "the cities ο[^^^-^^^^]":^^, Babylon came

· their wonted aflepa^ce, ^and ^ . ‫^^^ן‬,^

nd in remembrance be ore ^0^1, 0^‫^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ן‬

ic forgotten both her and tns samib ^^^^
XV^^^fUhe l o ' l and so cruelly
‫״‬n.oved out
s pa^an, - ^ " t a i n s and island . ‫ ^ ן‬J ^^^^ j , ^ ^ ,

!1 of their places, (ch• u . i ^ ; ^ mountains

,

nd

hn-

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24G κυπ·: s ux

Ilie lalter utter (^<:sfr;;.u>‫׳‬w«.—The " f a l l of ,l i a i l ' ' is
to bo viewed as acconipanying, iiot following, the
fall of cities, !light of islands and mountains. A.s
ludl-stoncs are symbolical of divine judgments and
as there may bo allusion here to anotner of the
plagues of E‫־‬gypt, (Exod. i x . 18;) so n^oro especially

the f a c t i of history supply the figura ive Ian-
‫ ״‬u a ‫ ״‬e with which the judgments of the v.als termi-
‫״‬ate°. I f any escaped the destroying sword in the
battle of Armageddon, they are overtaken by hese
ponderous hail-stones out of heaven; even as he
Lord cast down great stones from heaven ηηη the
five kings of the Amorites; so that " more died with
hailstones than they whom the children of Israe
slew with the sword." (Jos. x. l l . ) - f h e result is
•vs before; the survivors remain impenitent. A s ms-
t o r ; supplies no instance of literal hail-stones 01 a
t‫״‬1:-‫״‬t w(>iLd1t, (sixty pounds, or as others, a hun-
,!,•ed,) so the symbol re|)reBe‫״‬ls this as the n\ost tre¬
mendous of all the judgments ot God, (ch. x>v. -U.)

Thus, we have seen that the last trumpet and he

last vial combine, in the final perdition of L a b y l o i i

the great.

CHAPTER XYII.

This chapter mav be considered introductory to
the eighteenth, or as a digression in the narrative,
to explain more fully the integral parts of tha com¬
plex, mvstical moral person so often ca led grea ‫״‬
Babylon," whose destruction was so awfully presented
in the foregoing chapter.

1. A n d tlrere came one of tlie seven angels, which haclt^^^^^^^
seven vials, and tallced with me. fayuig unto me Come 11 h¬
er; I will show unto thee the judgment of the gieat M 1101 c,
that sittcth upon man}^ waters;

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‫ ״‬sittin‫ ״‬upon many waters is expUmea, ^ ' ^
" ï h kings of the earth" are her paramou and
their subjects are partakers in the c r i m e , - made

' T t ' l e carried n . away in ^ - P ^ ^ S J Î h A l ^

4. A n d the woman was ai ^ayed m pm ^

of her fornication. , 0^^‫ ״‬written, MYBTKRY,

KATOINS OF THE ΚΑΚΤΠ.
^ The "scarlet-coloured beast" is the

upon the beast^, | u ‫ ״‬1 ^ ^ ^^^^ ^ ‫ ״‬, ,
scarlet."-The
tions. (James 111.3 ) ^ ^
me-
imperial and '^^",,^S^^^

^ f W ; ? 2 i v n i love-potions to their paramours,
tice of harlots g^^J"f'^jj^^l^^jgences, absolutions, pre-

‫״‬

11 ‫ ) ך‬- T h e inscription " u p o n her forehead is attei
, the manner of shameless prostitutes, avowing Rome 3

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whoredoms of idohitry, monasticism, indulgences to
sin as essential to religion, a "myster) of iniquity,
by'which the "mnn of sin thinks^ to tdiange times
and laws." (Dan. vii. 24, 25; x i . Stl, 37.)

G s\na I saw tlic woman dvnnken with the blood of tho
paints, and with the blood of the mai tyrs of Jesus: and when
1 saAv'her, 1 wondered with great admiration.

V. 6.—This "woman,"—CViriSfwn cAîtrc7i,—was
"drunken with the blood of saints and martyrs."
Of course, such a sight would give rise to the apos-
tie's astonishment. The attempt of popish writers to
apply this to pagan Rome's persecutions is demon-
strably false; for John could not " w o n d e r " at the
persecution of the church when he was himself an
actual victim in Patmos, (ch. i . 9.)

7 A n d the angel said unto me, ^A'herefcre didst thou mar-
volV 1 will tell thee tlie mvstery of tlie woman, and of the
beast that cariieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten

^''8" The beast that thou sa west, was, and is not; and shall
ascend out of the bottomless ρ I, and go into perdition: and
they that dxvell on the earth shall wonder (whose names
were not written in the b.‫׳‬11k of life from the loundalion of
the world,) when they behold tlie beast that was, and 13

""<)' ‫׳‬An(i*iu‫׳‬re'is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven

heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitlelli. _

10 A n d there are seven kings: live are fallen, luid one is

and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must

continue a short space. , ‫ ״‬,‫ו‬,‫״‬

Π \ n d the beast that was, and is not, even he is tue

eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

Ys. 7-11.—The ;mgel explains the "mystery of

the woman and of the beast that carrieth her." The

beast, tlie civil power, carrieth, sustains the woman,

the church; as the church controls the stixte, ( v . 3 ;

ch. x i i i . 1, 11, 16.) The "beast that Λvas, and is

not, and yet i s , " is a mysterious personage as well as

the woman; therefore all who "dwell upon the

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ΤΪΐΠ^a - ‫״‬nt in "heaven, wonder," (ch. xiii; 3 - 6 ; ) ‫ך‬
v - s a l s Of Antichrist, a-strnguished
^:^f^,,^t m Sose whose "names are !‫״‬
the two witnesses.- Ihe seven ^.^

ssitgannidfsy, n«a«m^e^ y; ^, °C\ at tpoitlohlni ee Pr I S Avenjt^i^n^e. ^, Es¬

^i^•'^•'"^' Ä o m e ^ \ ^ r l i f e s W i^^^^^^^ ^^^‫־‬
woman and !^«"i^ 'J^'^^ beads of the beast have a
ritua empire. / ^ ^ / ' ^ ^ ' ^ ‫ ן‬, , ,‫ ן‬, U y "seven kings"

double n^eanmg, foi they al 0 g

or s^^ccessive t rms ot ^ ci g ^ ^^^^^^.‫^^^^ ^^^^ ״‬

time when J f ^ ^ ^ ^ J^^^y. Que was then existing,
passed into actual history Domitian, as
L m e l y , the emperor, ‫ ״‬th P^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^,^

is supposed. Uns ^ , 3.1.^‫ ״‬. ) — T h e

‫״‬deaily , ^ ^ ‫• ־‬Jt apostles^s time,

"seventh head was comj "continue a short

but on his appearance, ; ^ ^ , , ‫ ״‬t h head. He

«P-?•" 4"8^:‫ד‬0‫דצ‬ Î u t r / : o r n of the beast

s a horn. (Dan. vn. &, •,„,,ß^f. It is other-

cannot identify with the 7 ; ; ^ ^ ; ^ government

wise with a head, which is the 0 ™ S ^^^^^,j^d

rthe ; 7 - ^ , , V i head, and only of
the 1ïï1pc‫״‬al, be ng the so Charlemagne was

short duration, about y ^ ^ ^ ^ •*^ year eight

‫ י‬crowned emperor of the J . This is

hundred; andso the P f / . ^ ' ^ ; ; ^ " , ^ d goeth into

"pe"r‫ר‬di^tio‫ י‬n‫ י‬.‫ י‬I h i s se;p‫ו‬t1im1o-00 t e he'ad is s^ varia^b^l^e^,

Sometimes ^f^'l^fl'^^^^^^^^^^^ years, the great
in France, etc., that for ^ ^ ' ^ r e u ^ ^ ^^^^

republic of the nat10ns,-all ^he prece-
^plex-
identify the visible bead - ; i ^ ^ ; ; ; . ' ^
dency: hence the "balance of ρο^^^ ^ P^j^";,,^..

;^iS^i^^:?^Ä--^'^^^^

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culty could not exist. B u t the beast is not. Is'evcr-
theless tho arbitrary power of the Iu‫ר‬rns of the beast
is sensibly felt in every part of the Boman empire.—
The beast is, and will continue till "the time of the
end;'' (Dan. x i i . 9;) for the Koman empire iruist be
equal in duration with the life and actings of the two
witnesses, 1260 years.

13. And the tea horns whicli thou sawest are ten khigs,
Avliich bave received no liingdom as yet; but receive power
as kings one liour witli tlie beast.

13. These have one mind, and shall give their power and
strength unto tho beast.

14. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb
shall overcome them; for he is Lord of lords, and K i n g of
kings; and tliey that are with him are called, and chosen, aad
faithful.

Vs. 12-14.—" The ten horns" signify "ten kings''
or regal or civil sovereignties, into which the empire
was to be partitioned after John's tirne, and •which
we have seen was etfected by'the first four trumpets,
(ch. viii. 7-12.)—These "received power one hour
Avith the beast,"—rather, at one time, or cotempo-
raneously with the beast; for they are his horns, and
are of "one mind, giving their power and strength,''
all their resources, to him. These shall make war
with the Ijainb," the Mediator, headeil by the dragon,
and instigated by the beast and his image, (ch. x i i .
7; x i i i . 7.)

13. A n d he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest,
where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and
nations, and tongues.

V . 15.—"The waters," controlled by "the whore,"

are the multitudes whom the apostate church of Rome

commands to volunteer in the wars of the kings

against the Lamb.

16. A n d the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast,
these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and
naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with lire.

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^‫׳‬

y IG - W h a t a surprising change! yet how nattt-

;-, ο MÜ ‫ ו י ו‬The punishment is that

^'•!.‫ יי‬d lit toThe aggrandizement of the Romish
tributed most to tne ^ religion, as

‫״"״‬1 ::L‫ · ־‬Λ ‫ ־‬X • 1 of the ‫־‬l.‫״‬r‫־‬h,‫״‬

the ruler of inance, 1 - ‫ ^ ״‬A . ^ t r i a S p a n , For-

their "catholic majesties f ^^^^^,^ ‫ ' ^ ״‬d W i n e

t u g a l , - m a y be amo^^^^^ ,,^,^e a.d

J ^ t ^ T ^ t h e r i b - ' Λ is, withdraw the lands,

' : : ^ : : l ^ r ^ t ^ ^ enriched her monastaries

and fattened her bishops, priests, etc.

ν ! ‫ ן‬- H e r e ‫־ ־ ״‬re ‫־‬1ί i»'» ‫ ־‬f ‫״‬Γ ,

V ‫ ו‬s — T h i s ‫ ״‬woman is the great c ty , not 11t.t
Λ . 1«.—J-nis imperial ecclesiasti-

'^Ψ- '^'diftfon to wl se authority intoxicated kings

a^lî-fSAwedinsl^^^^

creatures.

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CHAPTER XΛ‫ז‬πI.

u‫״‬£^;‫״״‬ÎÏ,!:r'Îi°d ^P'"t, a ‫ ״‬d a cage of every

},Ρ$>1°'·''^''*'°"', ‫ ־^'""''^ ' ' ' י ל‬of the wine of the wrath of

• )1^• ^-"^•—After the apostle had described Babylon
in the preceding chapter, he " s a w another a n / e l . "
I h i s seems to be the L o r d O i r i s t , the same as in ch.
fx • ^ ^ ^ ° " f i ' ' ‫ ״‬e t h the word of his servants,"
(ch xu-. 8;) that " B a b y l o n the great has f a l l e n "
and IS adequately punished for her crimes, which are
enumerated, v. 3.

here g,ven with a "voice from heaven." This call

of the L o r d Jesus has been addressed to his elect

ever s.nco the revelation of the " m a n of s i n . " It

has been obeyed but partially hitherto: but upon the

sounding of the seventh trumpet, his H o l y Spirit will

give the call unusual efficacy. ^y '

m Î n b Î r ^ Î h^r‫^״‬5‫״‬7t!;r‫י״^^^^^ ^'״^־ '^'^׳‬ ^^'^ -

‫׳‬. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived dehcious-

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TlIK APOCALYPSE. 203

ly, So much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her
heart. I sit a queen; and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

8. Therefoi e shall her plagues come in one day, death, and
mourning, and famine ; aad she shall be utterly burnt with
fire ; for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Ys. 5 _ 8 . — " H e r sins have reached unto heaven,"
and now she is to be visited with condign punish¬
ment; although it seemed both to her and God's own
people long delayed. " God hath remembered her ini¬
quities.'' There is reference to ancient Babylon's pu¬
nishment, and the law of retaliation. (Jer. 1. 15; P s .
cxxxvii. 8; Is. xlvii. 1-8.) Her punishment is "de¬
struction from the Almighty: " strong is the L o r d God
who judgeth her."

9. And the kings of the earth who have committed forniea-

tion and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and la¬

ment for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning.

10. Standing afar off, for the fear of her torment, saying,

Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighy city! for in

one hour is thy judgment come.

11. And the merchants of the earth shaU weep and mourn

over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more.

12. The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones,

and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and^ sear•

let. and all thyiae-wood, and all manner of vessels of ivory,

and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass,

atid iron, and marble. . jr 1

13. A n d cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and trank¬

incense, and wine, and o i l and tine flour, and wheat, and

beasts, and sheep, and hoises, and chariots, and slaves, and

souls of men. , ‫ל^ י ״‬

14. A n d the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed

from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are

departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

15. The merchants of these things, which were made rich

by her, shall stand afar off, for the fear of her torment, weep¬

ing and wailing, . , ,j

1Ü. A n d saying, Alas, alas ! that great city, that was clothed

in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold,

and precious stones, and pearls! _ ‫ו‬,‫״‬. A ;1

17. For in one hour 80 great riches is come to naught. A n a

every ship master, and all the company in ships, and sailors,

and as many as trade by sea, stood afar oft,

1

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