mh_parser/vol_split/66 - Revelation/Chapter 14.xml

<div2 id="Rev.xv" n="xv" next="Rev.xvi" prev="Rev.xiv" progress="98.08%" title="Chapter XIV">
<h2 id="Rev.xv-p0.1">R E V E L A T I O N.</h2>
<h3 id="Rev.xv-p0.2">CHAP. XIV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Rev.xv-p1">After an account of the great trials and
sufferings which the servants of God had endured, we have now a
more pleasant scene opening; the day begins now to dawn, and here
we have represented, I. The Lord Jesus at the head of his faithful
followers, <scripRef id="Rev.xv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.1-Rev.14.5" parsed="|Rev|14|1|14|5" passage="Re 14:1-5">ver. 1-5</scripRef>. II.
Three angels sent successively to proclaim the fall of Babylon and
the things antecedent and consequent to so great an event,
<scripRef id="Rev.xv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.6-Rev.14.13" parsed="|Rev|14|6|14|13" passage="Re 14:6-13">ver. 6-13</scripRef>. III. The
vision of the harvest, <scripRef id="Rev.xv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.14-Rev.14.20" parsed="|Rev|14|14|14|20" passage="Re 14:14-20">ver.
14</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Rev.xv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14" parsed="|Rev|14|0|0|0" passage="Re 14" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Rev.xv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.1-Rev.14.5" parsed="|Rev|14|1|14|5" passage="Re 14:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.14.1-Rev.14.5">
<h4 id="Rev.xv-p1.6">The Lamb and His Attendants. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.xv-p1.7">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.xv-p2">1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the
mount Sion, and with him a hundred forty <i>and</i> four thousand,
having his Father's name written in their foreheads.   2 And I
heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the
voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping
with their harps:   3 And they sung as it were a new song
before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and
no man could learn that song but the hundred <i>and</i> forty
<i>and</i> four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
  4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they
are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he
goeth. These were redeemed from among men, <i>being</i> the
firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.   5 And in their mouth
was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of
God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xv-p3">Here we have one of the most pleasing
sights that can be viewed in this world—the Lord Jesus Christ at
the head of his faithful adherents and attendants. Here observe, 1.
How Christ appears: as a Lamb standing upon <i>mount Zion.</i>
Mount Zion is the gospel church. Christ is with his church and in
the midst of her in all her troubles, and therefore she is not
consumed. It is his presence that secures her perseverance; he
appears as <i>a Lamb, a true Lamb, the Lamb of God.</i> A
counterfeit lamb is mentioned as rising out of the earth in the
last chapter, which was really a dragon; here Christ appears as the
true paschal Lamb, to show that his mediatorial government is the
fruit of his sufferings, and the cause of his people's safety and
fidelity. 2. How his people appear: very honourably. (1.) As to the
numbers, they are many, even all who are sealed; not one of them
lost in all the tribulations through which they have gone. (2.)
Their distinguishing badge: they had <i>the name of God written in
their foreheads;</i> they made a bold and open profession of their
faith in God and Christ, and, this being followed by suitable
actings, they are known and approved. (3.) Their congratulations
and songs of praise, which were peculiar to the redeemed (<scripRef id="Rev.xv-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.3" parsed="|Rev|14|3|0|0" passage="Re 14:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>); their praises were loud
as thunder, or <i>as the voice of many waters;</i> they were
melodious, as <i>of harpers;</i> they were heavenly, <i>before the
throne</i> of God. <i>The song was new,</i> suited to the new
covenant, and unto that new and gracious dispensation of Providence
under which they now were; and their song was a secret to others,
<i>strangers intermeddled not with their joy;</i> others might
repeat the words of the song, but they were strangers to the true
sense and spirit of it. (4.) Their character and description. [1.]
They are described by their chastity and purity: <i>They are
virgins.</i> They had not defiled themselves either with corporal
or spiritual adultery; they had kept themselves clean from the
abominations of the antichristian generation. [2.] By their loyalty
and stedfast adherence to Christ: <i>They follow the Lamb
withersoever he goes;</i> they follow the conduct of his word,
Spirit, and providence, leaving it to him to lead them into what
duties and difficulties he pleases. [3.] By their former
designation to this honour: <i>These were redeemed from among men,
being the first-fruits to God, and to the Lamb,</i> <scripRef id="Rev.xv-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.4" parsed="|Rev|14|4|0|0" passage="Re 14:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. Here is plain evidence of
a special redemption: <i>They were redeemed from among men.</i>
Some of the children of men are, by redeeming mercy, distinguished
from others: <i>They were the first-fruits to God, and to the
Lamb,</i> his choice ones, eminent in every grace, and the earnest
of many more who should <i>be followers of them, as they were of
Christ.</i> [4.] By their universal integrity and
conscientiousness: <i>There was no guile found in them,</i> and
<i>they were without fault before the throne of God.</i> They were
without any prevailing guile, any allowed fault; their hearts were
right with God, and, as for their human infirmities, they were
freely pardoned in Christ. This is the happy remnant who attend
upon the Lord Jesus as their head and Lord; he is glorified in
them, and they are glorified in him.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Rev.xv-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.6-Rev.14.12" parsed="|Rev|14|6|14|12" passage="Re 14:6-12" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.14.6-Rev.14.12">
<h4 id="Rev.xv-p3.4">The Three Angels. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.xv-p3.5">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.xv-p4">6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of
heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that
dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue,
and people,   7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give
glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him
that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of
waters.   8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon
is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations
drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.   9 And the
third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man
worship the beast and his image, and receive <i>his</i> mark in his
forehead, or in his hand,   10 The same shall drink of the
wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into
the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and
brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence
of the Lamb:   11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up
for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship
the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his
name.   12 Here is the patience of the saints: here <i>are</i>
they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xv-p5">In this part of the chapter we have three
angels or messengers sent from heaven to give notice of the fall of
Babylon, and of those things that were antecedent and consequent to
that great event.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xv-p6">I. The first angel was sent on an errand
antecedent to it, and that was <i>to preach the everlasting
gospel,</i> <scripRef id="Rev.xv-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.6-Rev.14.7" parsed="|Rev|14|6|14|7" passage="Re 14:6,7"><i>v.</i> 6,
7</scripRef>. Observe, 1. The gospel is an everlasting gospel; it
is so in its nature, and it will be so in its consequences. Though
all flesh be grass, the word of the Lord endureth for ever. 2. It
is a work fit for an angel to preach this everlasting gospel; such
is the dignity, and such is the difficulty of that work! And yet we
have this treasure in earthen vessels. 3. The everlasting gospel is
of great concern to all the world; and, as it is the concern of
all, it is very much to be desired that it should be made known to
all, even <i>to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and
people.</i> 4. The gospel is the great means whereby men are
brought to fear God, and to give glory to him. Natural religion is
not sufficient to keep up the fear of God, nor to secure to him
glory from men; it is the gospel that revives the fear of God, and
retrieves his glory in the world. 5. When idolatry creeps into the
churches of God, it is by the preaching of the gospel, attended by
the power of the Holy Spirit, that men are <i>turned from idols to
serve the living God,</i> as the Creator of <i>the heaven, and the
earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters,</i> <scripRef id="Rev.xv-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.7" parsed="|Rev|14|7|0|0" passage="Re 14:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. To worship any God
besides him who created the world is idolatry.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xv-p7">II. The second angel follows the other, and
proclaims the actual fall of Babylon. The preaching of the
everlasting gospel had shaken the foundations of antichristianism
in the world, and hastened its downfall. By Babylon is generally
understood Rome, which was before called <i>Sodom</i> and
<i>Egypt,</i> for wickedness and cruelty, and is now first called
<i>Babylon,</i> for pride and idolatry. Observe, 1. What God has
fore-ordained and foretold shall be done as certainly as if it were
done already. 2. The greatness of the papal Babylon will not be
able to prevent her fall, but will make it more dreadful and
remarkable. 3. The wickedness of Babylon, in corrupting,
debauching, and intoxicating the nations round about her, will make
her fall just and will declare the righteousness of God in her
utter ruin, <scripRef id="Rev.xv-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.8" parsed="|Rev|14|8|0|0" passage="Re 14:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. Her
crimes are recited as the just cause of her destruction.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xv-p8">III. A third angel follows the other two,
and gives warning to all of that divine vengeance which would
overtake all those that obstinately adhered to the antichristian
interest after God had thus proclaimed its downfall, <scripRef id="Rev.xv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.9-Rev.14.10" parsed="|Rev|14|9|14|10" passage="Re 14:9,10"><i>v.</i> 9, 10</scripRef>. If after this
(this threatening denounced against Babylon, and in part already
executed) any should persist in their idolatry, professing
subjection to the beast and promoting his cause, they must expect
<i>to drink deep of the wind of the wrath of God;</i> they shall be
forever miserable in soul and body; Jesus Christ will inflict this
punishment upon them, and the holy angels will behold it and
approve of it. Idolatry, both pagan and papal, is a damning sin in
its own nature, and will prove fatal to those who persist in it,
after fair warning given by the word of Providence; those who
refuse to come out of Babylon, when thus called, and resolve to
partake of her sins, must receive of her plagues; and the guilt and
ruin of such incorrigible idolaters will serve to set forth the
excellency of the patience and obedience of the saints. These
graces shall be rewarded with salvation and glory. When the
treachery and rebellion of others shall be punished with
everlasting destruction, then it will be said, to the honour of the
faithful (<scripRef id="Rev.xv-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.12" parsed="|Rev|14|12|0|0" passage="Re 14:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>):
<i>Here is the patience of the saints;</i> you have before seen
their patience exercised, now you see it rewarded.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Rev.xv-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.13-Rev.14.20" parsed="|Rev|14|13|14|20" passage="Re 14:13-20" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.14.13-Rev.14.20">
<h4 id="Rev.xv-p8.4">The Harvest and the Vintage. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.xv-p8.5">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.xv-p9">13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto
me, Write, Blessed <i>are</i> the dead which die in the Lord from
henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their
labours; and their works do follow them.   14 And I looked,
and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud <i>one</i> sat like
unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his
hand a sharp sickle.   15 And another angel came out of the
temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud,
Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to
reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.   16 And he that
sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth
was reaped.   17 And another angel came out of the temple
which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.   18 And
another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire;
and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying,
Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of
the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.   19 And the angel
thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the
earth, and cast <i>it</i> into the great winepress of the wrath of
God.   20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and
blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by
the space of a thousand <i>and</i> six hundred furlongs.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xv-p10">Here we have the vision of the harvest and
vintage, introduced with a solemn preface. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xv-p11">I. The preface, <scripRef id="Rev.xv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.13" parsed="|Rev|14|13|0|0" passage="Re 14:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. Here note, 1. Whence this
prophecy about the harvest came: it came down from heaven, and not
from men, and therefore it is of certain truth and great authority.
2. How it was to be preserved and published—by writing; it was to
be a matter of record, that the people of God might have recourse
to it for their support and comfort upon all occasions. 3. What it
principally intended, and that is, to show the blessedness of all
the faithful saints and servants of God, both in death and after
death: <i>Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from
henceforth,</i> &amp;c. Here observe, (1.) The description of those
that are and shall be blessed—such as die in the Lord, either die
in the cause of Christ, or rather die in a state of vital union
with Christ, such as are found in Christ when death comes. (2.) The
demonstration of this blessedness: <i>They rest from their labours,
and their works do follow them.</i> [1.] They are blessed in their
rest; they rest from all sin, temptation, sorrow, and persecution.
<i>There the wicked cease from troubling, there the weary are at
rest.</i> [2.] They are blessed in their recompence: <i>Their works
follow them;</i> they do not go before them as their title, or
price of purchase, but follow them as their evidence of having
lived and died in the Lord; and the memory of them will be
pleasant, and the reward glorious, far above the merit of all their
services and sufferings. [3.] They are happy in the time of their
dying, when they have lived to see the cause of God reviving, the
peace of the church returning, and the wrath of God falling upon
their idolatrous cruel enemies. Such times are good times to die
in; they have Simeon's desire: <i>Now, Lord, let thou thy servant
depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.</i> And all
this is ratified and confirmed by the testimony of the Spirit
witnessing with their spirits and with the written word.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xv-p12">II. We have the vision itself, represented
by a harvest and a vintage.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xv-p13">1. By a harvest (<scripRef id="Rev.xv-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.14-Rev.14.15" parsed="|Rev|14|14|14|15" passage="Re 14:14,15"><i>v.</i> 14, 15</scripRef>), an emblem that
sometimes signifies the cutting down of the wicked, when ripe for
ruin, by the judgments of God, and sometimes the gathering in of
the righteous, when ripe for heaven, by the mercy of God. This
seems rather to represent God's judgments against the wicked: and
here observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xv-p14">(1.) The Lord of the harvest—one so
<i>like unto the Son of man</i> that he was the same, even the Lord
Jesus, who is described, [1.] By the chariot in which he sat—<i>a
white cloud,</i> a cloud that had a bright side turned to the
church, how dark soever it might be to the wicked. [2.] By the
ensign of his power: <i>On his head was a golden crown,</i>
authority to do all that he did and whatsoever he would do. [3.] By
the instrument of his providences: <i>In his hand a sharp
sickle.</i> [4.] By the solicitations he had from the temple to
perform this great work. What he did, he was desired to do by his
people; and, though he was resolved to do it, he would for this
thing be sought unto by them, and so it should be in return to
their prayers.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xv-p15">(2.) The harvest-work, which is, to thrust
the sickle into the corn, and reap the field. The sickle is the
sword of God's justice; the field is the world; reaping is cutting
the inhabitants of the earth down and carrying them off.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xv-p16">(3.) The harvest-time; and this is when the
corn is ripe, when the measure of the sin of men is filled up, and
they are ripe for destruction. The most inveterate enemies of
Christ and his church are not destroyed till by their sin they are
ripe for ruin, and then he will spare them no longer; he will
thrust in his sickle, and the earth shall be reaped.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xv-p17">2. By a vintage, <scripRef id="Rev.xv-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.17" parsed="|Rev|14|17|0|0" passage="Re 14:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. Some think that these two are
only different emblems of the same judgment; others that they refer
to distinct events of providence before the end of all things.
Observe, (1.) To whom this vintage-work was committed—to an angel,
<i>another angel that came out from the altar,</i> that is, from
the holiest of all in heaven. (2.) At whose request this
vintage-work was undertaken: it was, as before, at the cry of an
<i>angel out of the temple,</i> the ministers and churches of God
on earth. (3.) The work of the vintage, which consists of two
parts:—[1.] The cutting off, and <i>gathering, the clusters of
the vine,</i> which were now ripe and ready, <i>fully ripe,</i>
<scripRef id="Rev.xv-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.18" parsed="|Rev|14|18|0|0" passage="Re 14:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. [2.] Casting
these grapes <i>into the wine-press</i> (<scripRef id="Rev.xv-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.19" parsed="|Rev|14|19|0|0" passage="Re 14:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>); here we are told,
<i>First,</i> What was the wine-press: it was <i>the wrath of
God,</i> the fire of his indignation, some terrible calamity, very
probably the sword, shedding the blood of the wicked.
<i>Secondly,</i> Where was the place of the wine-press—<i>without
the city,</i> where the army lay that came against Babylon.
<i>Thirdly,</i> The quantity of the wine, that is, of the blood
that was drawn forth by this judgment: it was, for depth, up <i>to
the horses' bridles,</i> and, for breadth and length, <i>a thousand
and six hundred furlongs</i> (<scripRef id="Rev.xv-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.20" parsed="|Rev|14|20|0|0" passage="Re 14:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>); that is, say some, 200 Italian
miles, which is thought to be the measure of the holy land, and may
be meant of the patrimony of the holy see, encompassing the city of
Rome. But here we are left of doubtful conjectures. Perhaps this
great event has not yet had its accomplishment, but <i>the vision
is for an appointed time;</i> and therefore, though it may seem to
tarry, we are to wait for it. <i>But who shall live when the Lord
does this?</i></p>
</div></div2>