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9 lines
4.5 KiB
HTML
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<p>No sooner was the marriage solemnized between Christ and his church by the conversion of the Jews than the glorious head and husband of the church is called out to a new expedition, which seems to be the great battle that was to be fought at Armageddon, foretold <a class="bibleref" title="Rev.16.16" href="/passage/?search=Rev.16.16">Rev. 16:16</a>. And here observe,</p>
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<p class="tab-1">I. The description of the great Commander, 1. By the seat of his empire; and that is <i>heaven</i>; his throne is there, and his power and authority are heavenly and divine. 2. His equipage: he is again described as sitting <i>on a white horse</i>, to show the equity of the cause, and certainty of success. 3. His attributes: he is <i>faithful and true</i> to his covenant and promise, he is righteous in all his judicial and military proceedings, he has a penetrating insight into all the strength and stratagems of his enemies, he has a large and extensive dominion, many crowns, for he is <i>King of kings, and Lord of lords</i>. 4. His armour; and that is <i>a vesture dipped in blood</i>, either his own blood, by which he purchased this mediatorial power, or the blood of his enemies, over whom he has always prevailed. 5. His name: <i>The Word of God</i>, a name that none fully knows but himself, only this we know, that this <i>Word was God manifest in the flesh</i>; but his perfections are incomprehensible by any creature.</p>
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<p class="tab-1">II. The army which he commands (<a class="bibleref" title="Rev.19.14" href="/passage/?search=Rev.19.14">Rev. 19:14</a>), a very large one, made up of many armies; angels and saints followed his conduct, and resembled him in their equipage, and in their armour of purity and righteousness—chosen, and called, and faithful.</p>
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<p class="tab-1">III. The weapons of his warfare—<i>A sharp sword</i> proceeding from <i>his mouth</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Rev.19.15" href="/passage/?search=Rev.19.15">Rev. 19:15</a>), with which <i>he smites the nations</i>, either the threatenings of the written word, which now he is going to execute, or rather his word of command calling on his followers to take a just revenge on his and their enemies, who are now put into the wine-press of the wrath of God, to be trodden under foot by him.</p>
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<p class="tab-1">IV. The ensigns of his authority, his coat of arms—<i>a name written on his vesture and thigh, King of kings, and Lord of lords</i>, asserting his authority and power, and the cause of the quarrel, <a class="bibleref" title="Rev.19.16" href="/passage/?search=Rev.19.16">Rev. 19:16</a>.</p>
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<p class="tab-1">V. An invitation given <i>to the fowls of heaven</i>, that they should come and see the battle, and share in the spoil and pillage of the field (<a class="bibleref" title="Rev.19.17,Rev.19.18" href="/passage/?search=Rev.19.17,Rev.19.18"><span class="bibleref" title="Rev.19.17">Rev. 19:17</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Rev.19.18">18</span></a>), intimating that this great decisive engagement should leave the enemies of the church a feast for the birds of prey, and that all the world should have cause to rejoice in the issue of it.</p>
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<p class="tab-1">VI. The battle joined. The enemy falls on with great fury, headed by <i>the beast, and the kings of the earth</i>; the powers of earth and hell gathered, to make their utmost effort, <a class="bibleref" title="Rev.19.19" href="/passage/?search=Rev.19.19">Rev. 19:19</a>.</p>
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<p class="tab-1">VII. The victory gained by the great and glorious head of the church: <i>The beast and the false prophet</i>, the leaders of the army, are taken prisoners, both he who led them by power and he who led them by policy and falsehood; these are taken and <i>cast into the burning lake</i>, made incapable of molesting the church of God any more; and their followers, whether officers or common soldiers, are given up to military execution, and made a feast for <i>the fowls of heaven</i>. Though the divine vengeance will chiefly fall upon <i>the beast, and the false prophet</i>, yet it will be no excuse to those who fight under their banner that they only followed their leaders and obeyed their command; since they would fight for them, they must fall and perish with them. <i>Be wise now therefore, O you kings, be instructed, you rulers of the earth; kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.2.10,Ps.2.12" href="/passage/?search=Ps.2.10,Ps.2.12"><span class="bibleref" title="Ps.2.10">Ps. 2:10</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Ps.2.12">12</span></a>.</p>
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