mh_parser/vol_split/66 - Revelation/Chapter 15.xml

<div2 id="Rev.xvi" n="xvi" next="Rev.xvii" prev="Rev.xv" progress="98.33%" title="Chapter XV">
<h2 id="Rev.xvi-p0.1">R E V E L A T I O N.</h2>
<h3 id="Rev.xvi-p0.2">CHAP. XV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Rev.xvi-p1">Hitherto, according to the judgment of very
eminent expositors, God had represented to his servant, John, I.
The state of the church under the pagan powers, in the six seals
opened; and then, II. The state of the church under the papal
powers, in the vision of the six trumpets that began to sound upon
the opening of the seventh seal: and then is inserted. III. A more
general and brief account of the past, present, and future state of
the church, in the little book, &amp;c. He now proceeds, IV. To
show him how antichrist should be destroyed, by what steps that
destruction should be accomplished, in the vision of the seven
vials. This chapter contains an awful introduction or preparation
for the pouring out of the vials, in which we have, 1. A sight of
those angels in heaven who were to have the execution of this great
work, and with what acclamations of joy the heavenly hosts
applauded the great design, <scripRef id="Rev.xvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.15.1-Rev.15.4" parsed="|Rev|15|1|15|4" passage="Re 15:1-4">ver.
1-4</scripRef>. 2. A sight of these angels coming out of heaven to
receive those vials which they were to pour out, and the great
commotions this caused in the world, <scripRef id="Rev.xvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.15.5-Rev.15.8" parsed="|Rev|15|5|15|8" passage="Re 15:5-8">ver. 5</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Rev.xvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.15" parsed="|Rev|15|0|0|0" passage="Re 15" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Rev.xvi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.15.1-Rev.15.4" parsed="|Rev|15|1|15|4" passage="Re 15:1-4" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.15.1-Rev.15.4">
<h4 id="Rev.xvi-p1.5">The Seven Vials. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.xvi-p1.6">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.xvi-p2">1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and
marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them
is filled up the wrath of God.   2 And I saw as it were a sea
of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory
over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, <i>and</i>
over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the
harps of God.   3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant
of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous
<i>are</i> thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true <i>are</i>
thy ways, thou King of saints.   4 Who shall not fear thee, O
Lord, and glorify thy name? for <i>thou</i> only <i>art</i> holy:
for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy
judgments are made manifest.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvi-p3">Here we have the preparation of matters for
the pouring out of the seven vials, which was committed to seven
angels; and observe how these angels appeared to the apostle—<i>in
heaven;</i> it was in a wonderful manner, and that upon account, 1.
Of the work they had to do, which was to finish the destruction of
antichrist. God was now about to pour out his seven last plagues
upon that interest; and, as the measure of Babylon's sins was
filled up, they should now find the full measure of his vindictive
wrath. 2. The spectators and witnesses of this their commission:
all <i>that had gotten the victory over the beast,</i> &amp;c.
These stood on a <i>sea of glass,</i> representing this world, as
some think, a brittle thing, that shall be broken to pieces; or, as
others, the gospel covenant, alluding to the brazen sea in the
temple, in which the priests were to wash (the faithful servants of
God stand upon the foundation of the righteousness of Christ); or,
as others, <i>the Red Sea,</i> that stood as it were congealed
while the Israelites went through; and, the pillar of fire
reflecting light upon the waters, they would seem to have fire
mingled with them; and this to show that the fire of God's wrath
against Pharaoh and his horses should dissolve the congealed
waters, and destroy them thereby, to which there seems to be an
allusion by their <i>singing the song of Moses,</i> in which, (1.)
They extol the greatness of God's works, and the justice and truth
of his ways, both in delivering his people and destroying their
enemies. They rejoiced in hope, and the near prospect they had of
this, though it was not yet accomplished. (2.) They call upon all
nations to render unto God the fear, glory, and worship, due to
such a discovery of his truth and justice: <i>Who shall not fear
thee?</i> <scripRef id="Rev.xvi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.15.4" parsed="|Rev|15|4|0|0" passage="Re 15:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Rev.xvi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.15.5-Rev.15.8" parsed="|Rev|15|5|15|8" passage="Re 15:5-8" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.15.5-Rev.15.8">
<h4 id="Rev.xvi-p3.3">The Seven Vials. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.xvi-p3.4">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.xvi-p4">5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the
temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
  6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the
seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their
breasts girded with golden girdles.   7 And one of the four
beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the
wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.   8 And the temple
was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power;
and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven
plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvi-p5">Observe, I. How these angels
appeared—coming out of heaven to execute their commission: <i>The
temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened,</i>
<scripRef id="Rev.xvi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.15.5" parsed="|Rev|15|5|0|0" passage="Re 15:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. Here is an
allusion to the holiest of all the tabernacle and temple, where was
<i>the mercy-seat, covering the ark of the testimony,</i> where the
high priest made intercession, and God communed with his people,
and heard their prayers. Now by this, as it is here mentioned, we
may understand, 1. That, in the judgments God was now about to
execute upon the antichristian interest, he was fulfilling the
prophecies and promises of his word and covenant, which were there
always before him, and of which he was ever mindful. 2. That in
this work he was answering the prayers of the people, which were
offered to him by their great high priest. 3. That he was herein
avenging the quarrel of his own Son, and our Saviour Jesus Christ,
whose offices and authority had been usurped, his name dishonoured,
and the great designs of his death opposed, by antichrist and his
adherents. 4. That he was opening a wider door of liberty for his
people to worship him in numerous solemn assemblies, without the
fear of their enemies.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvi-p6">II. How they were equipped and prepared for
their work. Observe, 1. Their array: They were <i>clothed with pure
and white linen,</i> and had <i>their breasts girded with golden
girdles,</i> <scripRef id="Rev.xvi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.15.6" parsed="|Rev|15|6|0|0" passage="Re 15:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>.
This was the habit of the high priests when they went in to enquire
of God, and came out with an answer from him. This showed that
these angels were acting in all things under the divine appointment
and direction, and that they were going to prepare a sacrifice to
the Lord, <i>called the supper of the great God,</i> <scripRef id="Rev.xvi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.19.17" parsed="|Rev|19|17|0|0" passage="Re 19:17"><i>ch.</i> xix. 17</scripRef>. The angels are
the ministers of divine justice, and they do every thing in a pure
and holy manner. 2. Their artillery, what it was, and whence they
received it; their artillery, by which they were to do this great
execution, was <i>seven vials filled with the wrath of God;</i>
they were armed with the wrath of God against his enemies. The
meanest creature, when it comes armed with the anger of God, will
be too hard for any man in the world; but much more an angel of
God. This wrath of God was not to be poured out all at once, but
was divided into seven parts, which should successively fall upon
the antichristian party. Now from whom did they receive these
vials? From one of the four living creatures, one of the ministers
of the true church, that is, in answer to the prayers of the
ministers and people of God, and to avenge their cause, in which
the angels are willingly employed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvi-p7">III. The impressions these things made upon
all who stood near the temple: they were all, as it were, wrapt up
in clouds of smoke, which filled the temple, from the glorious and
powerful presence of God; so that <i>no man was able to enter into
the temple,</i> till the work was finished. The interests of
antichrist were so interwoven with the civil interests of the
nations that he could not be destroyed without giving a great shock
to all the world; and the people of God would have but little rest
and leisure to assemble themselves before him, while this great
work was a doing. For the present, their sabbaths would be
interrupted, ordinances of public worship intermitted, and all
thrown into a general confusion. God himself was now preaching to
the church and to all the world, by terrible things in
righteousness; but, when this work was done, then the churches
would have rest, the temple would be opened, and the solemn
assemblies gathered, edified, and multiplied. The greatest
deliverances of the church are brought about by awful and
astonishing steps of Providence.</p>
</div></div2>