mh_parser/vol_split/66 - Revelation/Chapter 7.xml

<div2 id="Rev.viii" n="viii" next="Rev.ix" prev="Rev.vii" progress="96.66%" title="Chapter VII">
<h2 id="Rev.viii-p0.1">R E V E L A T I O N.</h2>
<h3 id="Rev.viii-p0.2">CHAP. VII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Rev.viii-p1">The things contained in this chapter came in after
the opening of the six seals, which foretold great calamities in
the world; and before the sound of the seven trumpets, which gave
notice of great corruptions arising in the church: between these
comes in this comfortable chapter, which secures the graces and
comforts of the people of God in times of common calamity. We have,
I. An account of the restraint laid upon the winds, <scripRef id="Rev.viii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.7.1-Rev.7.3" parsed="|Rev|7|1|7|3" passage="Re 7:1-3">ver. 1-3</scripRef>. II. The sealing of the
servants of God, <scripRef id="Rev.viii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.7.4-Rev.7.8" parsed="|Rev|7|4|7|8" passage="Re 7:4-8">ver. 4-8</scripRef>.
III. The songs of angels and saints on this occasion, <scripRef id="Rev.viii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.7.9-Rev.7.12" parsed="|Rev|7|9|7|12" passage="Re 7:9-12">ver. 9-12</scripRef>. IV. A description of the
honour and happiness of those who had faithfully served Christ, and
suffered for him, <scripRef id="Rev.viii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.7.13-Rev.7.17" parsed="|Rev|7|13|7|17" passage="Re 7:13-17">ver.
13</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Rev.viii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Rev.7" parsed="|Rev|7|0|0|0" passage="Re 7" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Rev.viii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Rev.7.1-Rev.7.12" parsed="|Rev|7|1|7|12" passage="Re 7:1-12" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.7.1-Rev.7.12">
<h4 id="Rev.viii-p1.7">The Vision of Heaven. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.viii-p1.8">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.viii-p2">1 And after these things I saw four angels
standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds
of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on
the sea, nor on any tree.   2 And I saw another angel
ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he
cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to
hurt the earth and the sea,   3 Saying, Hurt not the earth,
neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of
our God in their foreheads.   4 And I heard the number of them
which were sealed: <i>and there were</i> sealed a hundred
<i>and</i> forty <i>and</i> four thousand of all the tribes of the
children of Israel.   5 Of the tribe of Juda <i>were</i>
sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben <i>were</i> sealed
twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad <i>were</i> sealed twelve
thousand.   6 Of the tribe of Aser <i>were</i> sealed twelve
thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim <i>were</i> sealed twelve
thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses <i>were</i> sealed twelve
thousand.   7 Of the tribe of Simeon <i>were</i> sealed twelve
thousand. Of the tribe of Levi <i>were</i> sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Issachar <i>were</i> sealed twelve thousand.  
8 Of the tribe of Zabulon <i>were</i> sealed twelve thousand. Of
the tribe of Joseph <i>were</i> sealed twelve thousand. Of the
tribe of Benjamin <i>were</i> sealed twelve thousand.   9
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could
number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues,
stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white
robes, and palms in their hands;   10 And cried with a loud
voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne,
and unto the Lamb.   11 And all the angels stood round about
the throne, and <i>about</i> the elders and the four beasts, and
fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,  
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving,
and honour, and power, and might, <i>be</i> unto our God for ever
and ever. Amen.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.viii-p3">Here we have, I. An account of the
restraint laid upon the winds. By these winds we suppose are meant
those errors and corruptions in religion which would occasion a
great deal of trouble and mischief to the church of God. Sometimes
the Holy Spirit is compared to the wind: here the spirits of error
are compared to <i>the four winds,</i> contrary one to another, but
doing much hurt to the church, the garden and vineyard of God,
breaking the branches and blasting the fruits of his plantation.
The devil is called <i>the prince of the power of the air;</i> he,
by a great wind, overthrew the house of Job's eldest son. Errors
are as wind, by which those who are unstable are shaken, and
carried <i>to and fro,</i> <scripRef id="Rev.viii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Eph.4.14" parsed="|Eph|4|14|0|0" passage="Eph 4:14">Eph. iv.
14</scripRef>. Observe, 1. These are called <i>the winds of the
earth,</i> because they blow only in these lower regions near the
earth; heaven is always clear and free from them. 2. They are
restrained by the ministry of angels, <i>standing on the four
corners of the earth,</i> intimating that the spirit of error
cannot go forth till God permits it, and that the angels minister
to the good of the church by restraining its enemies. 3. Their
restraint was only for a season, and that was <i>till the servants
of God were sealed in their foreheads.</i> God has a particular
care and concern for his own servants in times of temptation and
corruption, and he has a way to secure them from the common
infection; he first establishes them, and then he tries them; he
has the timing of their trials in his own hand.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.viii-p4">II. An account of the sealing of the
servants of God, where observe, 1. To whom this work was
committed—to an angel, <i>another angel.</i> While some of the
angels were employed to restrain Satan and his agents, another
angel was employed to mark out and distinguish the faithful
servants of God. 2. How they were distinguished—the seal of God
was set upon their foreheads, a seal known to him, and as plain as
if it appeared in their foreheads; by this mark they were set apart
for mercy and safety in the worst of times. 3. The number of those
that were sealed, where observe, (1.) A particular account of those
that were sealed of the twelve tribes of Israel—twelve thousand
out of every tribe, the whole sum amounting to <i>a hundred and
forty-four thousand.</i> In this list the tribe of Dan is omitted,
perhaps because they were greatly addicted to idolatry; and the
order of the tribes is altered, perhaps according as they had been
more or less faithful to God. Some take these to be a select number
of the Jews who were reserved for mercy at the destruction of
Jerusalem; others think that time was past, and therefore it is to
be more generally applied to God's chosen remnant in the world;
but, if the destruction of Jerusalem was not yet over (and I think
it is hard to prove that it was), it seems more proper to
understand this of the remnant of that people which God had
reserved according to the election of grace, only here we have a
definite number for an indefinite. (2.) A general account of those
who were saved out of other nations (<scripRef id="Rev.viii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.7.9" parsed="|Rev|7|9|0|0" passage="Re 7:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): <i>A great multitude, which no
man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and
tongues.</i> Though these are not said to be sealed, yet they were
selected by God out of all nations, and brought into his church,
and there stood before the throne. Observe, [1.] God will have a
greater harvest of souls among the Gentiles than he had among the
Jews. <i>More are the children of the desolate than of the married
woman.</i> [2.] The Lord knows who are his, and he will keep them
safe in times of dangerous temptation. [3.] Though the church of
God is but a little flock, in comparison of the wicked world, yet
it is no contemptible society, but really large and to be still
more enlarged.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.viii-p5">III. We have the songs of saints and angels
on this occasion, <scripRef id="Rev.viii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.7.9-Rev.7.12" parsed="|Rev|7|9|7|12" passage="Re 7:9-12"><i>v.</i>
9-12</scripRef>, where observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.viii-p6">1. The praises offered up by the saints
(and, as it seems to me, by the Gentile believers) for the care of
God in reserving so large a remnant of the Jews, and saving them
from infidelity and destruction. The Jewish church prayed for the
Gentiles before their conversion, and the Gentile churches have
reason to bless God for his distinguishing mercy to so many of the
Jews, when the rest were cut off. Here observe, (1.) The posture of
these praising saints: they <i>stood before the throne, and before
the Lamb,</i> before the Creator and the Mediator. In acts of
religious worship we come nigh to God, and are to conceive
ourselves as in his special presence; and we must come to God by
Christ. The throne of God would be inaccessible to sinners were it
not for a Mediator. (2.) Their habit: they were <i>clothed with
white robes, and had palms in their hands;</i> they were invested
with the robes of justification, holiness, and victory, and had
palms in their hands, as conquerors used to appear in their
triumphs: such a glorious appearance will the faithful servants of
God make at last, when they have <i>fought the good fight of faith
and finished their course.</i> (3.) Their employment: they <i>cried
with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God who sitteth upon
the throne, and to the Lamb.</i> This may be understood either as a
<i>hosannah,</i> wishing well to the interest of God and Christ in
the church and in the world, or as a <i>hallelujah,</i> giving to
God and the Lamb the praise of the great salvation; both the Father
and the Son are joined together in these praises; the Father
contrived this salvation, the Son purchased it, and those who enjoy
it must and will bless the Lord and the Lamb, and they will do it
publicly, and with becoming fervour.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.viii-p7">2. Here is the song of the angels
(<scripRef id="Rev.viii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.7.11-Rev.7.12" parsed="|Rev|7|11|7|12" passage="Re 7:11,12"><i>v.</i> 11, 12</scripRef>), where
observe, (1.) Their station—<i>before the throne of God,</i>
attending on him, and about the saints, ready to serve them. (2.)
Their posture, which is very humble, and expressive of the greatest
reverence: <i>They fell before the throne on their faces, and
worshipped God.</i> Behold the most excellent of all the creatures,
who never sinned, who are before him continually, not only covering
their faces, but falling down on their faces before the Lord! What
humility then, and what profound reverence, become us vile frail
creatures, when we come into the presence of God! We should fall
down before him; there should be both a reverential frame of spirit
and a humble behaviour in all our addresses to God (3.) Their
praises. They consented to the praises of the saints, said their
<i>Amen</i> thereto; there is in heaven a perfect harmony between
the angels and saints; and then they added more of their own,
<i>saying, Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and
honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever.
Amen.</i> Here, [1.] They acknowledge the glorious attributes of
God—his wisdom, his power, and his might. [2.] They declare that
for these his divine perfections he ought to be blessed, and
praised, and glorified, to all eternity; and they confirm it by
their <i>Amen.</i> We see what is the work of heaven, and we ought
to begin it now, to get our hearts tuned for it, to be much in it,
and to long for that world where our praises, as well as happiness,
will be perfected.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Rev.viii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.7.13-Rev.7.17" parsed="|Rev|7|13|7|17" passage="Re 7:13-17" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.7.13-Rev.7.17">
<h4 id="Rev.viii-p7.3">Honour and Happiness of the
Saints. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.viii-p7.4">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.viii-p8">13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto
me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence
came they?   14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he
said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and
have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the
Lamb.   15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and
serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the
throne shall dwell among them.   16 They shall hunger no more,
neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor
any heat.   17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the
throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains
of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.viii-p9">Here we have a description of the honour
and happiness of those who have faithfully served the Lord Jesus
Christ, and suffered for him. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.viii-p10">I. A question asked by one of the elders,
not for his own information, but for John's instruction: ministers
may learn from the people, especially from aged and experienced
Christians; the lowest saint in heaven knows more than the greatest
apostle in the world. Now the question has two parts:—1. <i>What
are these that are arrayed in white robes?</i> 2. <i>Whence came
they?</i> It seems to be spoken by way of admiration, as <scripRef id="Rev.viii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Song.3.6" parsed="|Song|3|6|0|0" passage="So 3:6">Cant. iii. 6</scripRef>, <i>Who is this that
cometh out of the wilderness!</i> Faithful Christians deserve our
notice and respect; we should <i>mark the upright.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.viii-p11">II. The answer returned by the apostle, in
which he tacitly acknowledges his own ignorance, and sues to this
elder for information: <i>Thou knowest.</i> Those who would gain
knowledge must not be ashamed to own their ignorance, nor to desire
instruction from any that are able to give it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.viii-p12">III. The account given to the apostle
concerning that noble army of martyrs who stood <i>before the
throne of God in white robes,</i> with palms of victory in their
hands: and notice is taken here of, 1. The low and desolate state
they had formerly been in; they had been in great tribulation,
persecuted by men, tempted by Satan, sometimes troubled in their
own spirits; they had suffered the spoiling of their goods, the
imprisonment of their persons, yea, the loss of life itself. The
way to heaven lies through many tribulations; but tribulation, how
great soever, shall not <i>separate us from the love of God.</i>
Tribulation, when gone through well, will make heaven more welcome
and more glorious. 2. The means by which they had been prepared for
the great honour and happiness they now enjoyed: they had <i>washed
their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,</i>
<scripRef id="Rev.viii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.7.14" parsed="|Rev|7|14|0|0" passage="Re 7:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. It is not the
blood of the martyrs themselves, but the blood of the Lamb, that
can wash away sin, and make the soul pure and clean in the sight of
God. Other blood stains; this is the only blood that makes the
robes of the saints white and clean. 3. The blessedness to which
they are now advanced, being thus prepared for it. (1.) They are
happy in their station, for <i>they are before the throne of God
night and day;</i> and he <i>dwells among them;</i> they are in
that presence where there is fulness of joy. (2.) They are happy in
their employment, for they serve God continually, and that without
weakness, drowsiness, or weariness. Heaven is a state of service,
though not of suffering; it is a state of rest, but not of sloth;
it is a praising delightful rest. (3.) They are happy in their
freedom from all the inconveniences of this present life. [1.] From
all want and sense of want: <i>They hunger and thirst no more;</i>
all their wants are supplied, and all the uneasiness caused thereby
is removed. [2.] From all sickness and pain: they shall never be
scorched by <i>the heat of the sun any more.</i> (4.) They are
happy in the love and guidance of the Lord Jesus: <i>He shall feed
them, he shall lead them to living fountains of waters,</i> he
shall put them into the possession of every thing that is pleasant
and refreshing to their souls, and therefore <i>they shall hunger
and thirst no more.</i> (5.) They are happy in being delivered from
all sorrow or occasion of it: <i>God shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes.</i> They have formerly had their sorrows, and shed many
tears, both upon the account of sin and affliction; but God
himself, with his own gentle and gracious hand, will wipe those
tears away, and they shall return no more for ever; and they would
not have been without those tears, when God comes to wipe them
away. In this he deals with them as a tender father who finds his
beloved child in tears, he comforts him, he wipes his eyes, and
turns his sorrow into rejoicing. This should moderate the
Christian's sorrow in his present state, and support him under all
the troubles of it; for <i>those that sow in tears shall reap in
joy; and those that now go forth weeping, bearing precious seed,
shall doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with
them.</i></p>
</div></div2>