mh_parser/vol_split/66 - Revelation/Chapter 16.xml

<div2 id="Rev.xvii" n="xvii" next="Rev.xviii" prev="Rev.xvi" progress="98.45%" title="Chapter XVI">
<h2 id="Rev.xvii-p0.1">R E V E L A T I O N.</h2>
<h3 id="Rev.xvii-p0.2">CHAP. XVI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Rev.xvii-p1">In this chapter we have an account of the pouring
forth of these vials that were filled with the wrath of God. They
were poured out upon the whole antichristian empire, and on every
thing appertaining to it. I. Upon the earth, <scripRef id="Rev.xvii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.16.2" parsed="|Rev|16|2|0|0" passage="Re 16:2">ver. 2</scripRef>. II. Upon the sea, <scripRef id="Rev.xvii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.16.3" parsed="|Rev|16|3|0|0" passage="Re 16:3">ver. 3</scripRef>. III. Upon the rivers and fountains of
water, <scripRef id="Rev.xvii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.16.4" parsed="|Rev|16|4|0|0" passage="Re 16:4">ver. 4</scripRef>. Here the
heavenly hosts proclaim and applaud the righteousness of the
judgments of God. IV. The fourth vial was poured out on the sun,
<scripRef id="Rev.xvii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.16.8" parsed="|Rev|16|8|0|0" passage="Re 16:8">ver. 8</scripRef>. V. The fifth on the
seat of the beast. VI. The sixth on the river Euphrates. VII. The
seventh in the air, upon which the cities of the nations fell, and
great Babylon came in remembrance before God.</p>
<scripCom id="Rev.xvii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Rev.16" parsed="|Rev|16|0|0|0" passage="Re 16" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Rev.xvii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Rev.16.1-Rev.16.7" parsed="|Rev|16|1|16|7" passage="Re 16:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.16.1-Rev.16.7">
<h4 id="Rev.xvii-p1.7">The Seven Vials. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.xvii-p1.8">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.xvii-p2">1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple
saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of
the wrath of God upon the earth.   2 And the first went, and
poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and
grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and
<i>upon</i> them which worshipped his image.   3 And the
second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the
blood of a dead <i>man:</i> and every living soul died in the sea.
  4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers
and fountains of waters; and they became blood.   5 And I
heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord,
which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.
  6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and
thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.   7
And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God
Almighty, true and righteous <i>are</i> thy judgments.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvii-p3">We had in the foregoing chapter the great
and solemn preparation that was made for the pouring out of the
vials; now we have the performance of that work. Here observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvii-p4">I. That, though every thing was made ready
before, yet nothing was to be put in execution without an immediate
positive order from God; and this he gave out of the temple,
answering the prayers of his people, and avenging their
quarrel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvii-p5">II. No sooner was the word of command given
than it was immediately obeyed; no delay, no objection made. We
find that some of the best men, as Moses and Jeremiah, did not so
readily come in and comply with the call of God to their work; but
the angels of God excel not only in strength, but in a readiness to
do the will of God. God says, <i>Go your ways, and pour out the
vials,</i> and immediately the work is begun. We are taught to pray
that the will of God may be done on earth as it is done in heaven.
And now we enter upon a series of very terrible dispensations of
Providence, of which it is difficult to give the certain meaning or
to make the particular application. But in the general it is worth
our observation that,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvii-p6">1. We have here a reference and allusion to
several of the plagues of Egypt, such as the turning of their
waters into blood, and smiting them with boils and sores. Their
sins were alike, and so were their punishments.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvii-p7">2. These vials have a plain reference to
the seven trumpets, which represented the rise of antichrist; and
we learn hence that the fall of the church's enemies shall bear
some resemblance to their rise, and that God can bring them down in
such ways as they chose to exalt themselves. And the fall of
antichrist shall be gradual; as Rome was not built in one day, so
neither shall it fall in one day, but it falls by degrees; it shall
fall so as to rise no more.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvii-p8">3. The fall of the antichristian interest
shall be universal. Every thing that any ways belonged to them, or
could be serviceable to them, the premises and all their
appurtenances, are put into the writ for destruction: their earth,
their air, their sea, their rivers, their cities, all consigned
over to ruin, all accursed for the sake of the wickedness of that
people. Thus the creation groans and suffers through the sins of
men. Now we proceed to,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvii-p9">(1.) The first angel who poured out his
vial, <scripRef id="Rev.xvii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.16.2" parsed="|Rev|16|2|0|0" passage="Re 16:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. Observe,
[1.] Where it fell—<i>upon the earth;</i> that is, say some, upon
the common people; others upon the body of the Romish clergy, who
were the basis of the papacy, and of an earthly spirit, all
carrying on earthly designs. [2.] What it produced—<i>noisome and
grievous sores on all who had the mark of the beast.</i> They had
marked themselves by their sin; now God marks them out by his
judgments. This sore, some think, signifies some of the first
appearances of Providence against their state and interest which
gave them great uneasiness, as it discovered their inward distemper
and was a token of further evil; the plague—tokens appeared.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvii-p10">(2.) <i>The second angel poured out his
vial;</i> and here we see, [1.] Where it fell—<i>upon the sea;</i>
that is, say some, upon the jurisdiction and dominion of the
papacy; others upon the whole system of their religion, their false
doctrines, their corrupt glosses, their superstitious rites, their
idolatrous worship, their pardons, indulgences, a great conflux of
wicked inventions and institutions, by which they maintain a trade
and traffic advantageous to themselves, but injurious to all who
deal with them. [2.] What it produced: It turned the sea into
blood, <i>as the blood of a dead man, and every living soul died in
the sea.</i> God discovered not only the vanity and falsehood of
their religion, but the pernicious and deadly nature of it—that
the souls of men were poisoned by that which was pretended to be
the sure means of their salvation.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvii-p11">(3.) The next angel poured out his vial;
and we are told, [1.] Where it fell—<i>upon the rivers, and upon
the fountains of waters;</i> that is, say some very learned men,
upon their emissaries, and especially the Jesuits, who, like
streams, conveyed the venom and poison of their errors and
idolatries from the spring-head through the earth. [2.] What effect
it had upon them: <i>It turned them into blood;</i> some think it
stirred up Christian princes to take a just revenge upon those that
had been the great incendiaries of the world, and had occasioned
the shedding of the blood of armies and of martyrs. The following
doxology (<scripRef id="Rev.xvii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.16.5-Rev.16.6" parsed="|Rev|16|5|16|6" passage="Re 16:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5, 6</scripRef>)
favours this sense. The instrument that God makes use of in this
work is here called <i>the angel of the waters,</i> who extols the
righteousness of God in this retaliation: <i>They have shed the
blood of thy saints, and thou hast given them blood to drink, for
they are worthy,</i> to which another angel answered by full
consent, <scripRef id="Rev.xvii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.16.7" parsed="|Rev|16|7|0|0" passage="Re 16:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Rev.xvii-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.16.8-Rev.16.11" parsed="|Rev|16|8|16|11" passage="Re 16:8-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.16.8-Rev.16.11">
<h4 id="Rev.xvii-p11.4">The Seven Vials. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.xvii-p11.5">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.xvii-p12">8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon
the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
  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.   10 And the fifth angel poured out his
vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of
darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,   11 And
blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their
sores, and repented not of their deeds.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvii-p13">In these verses we see the work going on in
the appointed order. The fourth angel poured out his vial, and that
fell upon the sun; that is, say some, upon some eminent prince of
the popish communion, who should renounce their false religion a
little while before his utter downfall; and some expect it will be
the German emperor. And now what will be the consequence of this?
That sun which before cherished them with warm and benign
influences shall now grow hot against these idolaters, and shall
scorch them. Princes shall use their power and authority to
suppress them, which yet will be so far from bringing them to
repentance, that it will cause them to curse God and their king,
and look upward, throwing out their blasphemous speeches against
the God of heaven; they will be hardened to their ruin. The fifth
angel poured out his vial, <scripRef id="Rev.xvii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.16.10" parsed="|Rev|16|10|0|0" passage="Re 16:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>. And observe, 1. Where this fell—<i>upon the seat of
the beast,</i> upon Rome itself, the mystical Babylon, the head of
the antichristian empire. 2. What effect it had there: The whole
kingdom of the beast <i>was full of darkness</i> and distress. That
very city which was the seat of their policy, the source of all
their learning, and all their knowledge, and all their pomp and
pleasure, now becomes a source of darkness, and pain, and anguish.
Darkness was one of the plagues of Egypt, and it is opposed to
lustre and honour, and so forebodes the contempt and scorn to which
the antichristian interest should be exposed. Darkness is opposed
to wisdom and penetration, and forebodes the confusion and folly
which the idolaters should discover at that time. It is opposed to
pleasure and joy, and so signifies their anguish and vexation of
Spirit, when their calamities thus came upon them.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Rev.xvii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.16.12-Rev.16.16" parsed="|Rev|16|12|16|16" passage="Re 16:12-16" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.16.12-Rev.16.16">
<h4 id="Rev.xvii-p13.3">The Seven Vials. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.xvii-p13.4">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.xvii-p14">12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon
the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that
the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.   13 And I
saw three unclean spirits like frogs <i>come</i> out of the mouth
of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the
mouth of the false prophet.   14 For they are the spirits of
devils, working miracles, <i>which</i> go forth unto the kings of
the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of
that great day of God Almighty.   15 Behold, I come as a
thief. Blessed <i>is</i> he that watcheth, and keepeth his
garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.   16 And
he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue
Armageddon.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvii-p15"><i>The sixth angel poured out his vial;</i>
and observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvii-p16">I. Where it fell—<i>upon the great river
Euphrates.</i> Some take it literally, for the place where the
Turkish power and empire began; and they think this is a prophecy
of the destruction of the Turkish monarchy and of idolatry, which
they suppose will be effected about the same time with that of the
papacy, as another antichrist, and that thereby a way shall be made
for the conveniency of the Jews, those princes of the east. Others
take it for the river Tiber; for, as Rome is mystical Babylon,
Tiber is mystical Euphrates. And when Rome shall be destroyed her
river and merchandise must suffer with her.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvii-p17">II. What did this vial produce? 1. The
drying up of the river, which furnished the city with wealth,
provisions, and all sorts of accommodations. 2. A way is hereby
prepared <i>for the kings of the east.</i> The idolatry of the
church of Rome had been a great hindrance both to the conversion of
the Jews, who have been long cured of their inclination to idols,
and of the Gentiles, who are hardened in their idolatry by seeing
that which so much symbolizes with it among those called
Christians. It is therefore very probable that the downfall of
popery, removing these obstructions, will open a way for both the
Jews and other eastern nations to come into the church of Christ.
And, if we suppose that Mahomedism shall fall at the same time,
there will be still a more open communication between the western
and eastern nations, which may facilitate the conversion of the
Jews, and of <i>the fulness of the Gentiles.</i> And when this work
of God appears, and is about to be accomplished, no wonder if it
occasion another consequence, which is, 3. The last effort of the
great dragon; he is resolved to have another push for it, that, if
possible, he may retrieve the ruinous posture of his affairs in the
world. He is now rallying his forces, recollecting all his spirits,
to make one desperate sally before all be lost. This is occasioned
by the pouring out of the sixth vial. Here observe, (1.) The
instruments he makes use of to engage the powers of the earth in
his cause and quarrel: <i>Three unclean spirits like frogs</i> come
forth, one <i>out of the mouth of the dragon,</i> another <i>out of
the mouth of the beast, and</i> a third <i>out of the mouth of the
false prophet.</i> Hell, the secular power of antichrist, and the
ecclesiastical power, would combine to send their several
instruments, furnished with hellish malice, with worldly policy,
and with religious falsehood and deceit; and these would muster up
the devil's forces for a decisive battle. (2.) The means these
instruments would use to engage the powers of earth in this war.
They would work pretended miracles, the old stratagem of him
<i>whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and
signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness,</i> <scripRef id="Rev.xvii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.2.9-2Thess.2.10" parsed="|2Thess|2|9|2|10" passage="2Th 2:9,10">2 Thess. ii. 9,
10</scripRef>. Some think that a little before the fall of
antichrist the popish pretence of power to work miracles will be
revived and will very much amuse and deceive the world. (3.) The
field of battle—a place called <i>Armageddon;</i> that is, say
some, the mount of Megiddo, near to which, by a stream issuing
thence, Barak overcame Sisera, and all the kings in alliance with
him, <scripRef id="Rev.xvii-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.5.19" parsed="|Judg|5|19|0|0" passage="Jdg 5:19">Judges v. 19</scripRef>. And in
the valley of Megiddo Josiah was slain. This place had been famous
for two events of a very different nature, the former very happy
for the church of God, the latter very unhappy; but it shall now be
the field of the last battle in which the church shall be engaged,
and she shall be victorious. This battle required time to prepare
for it, and therefore the further account of it is suspended till
we come to the nineteenth chapter, <scripRef id="Rev.xvii-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.16.19-Rev.16.20" parsed="|Rev|16|19|16|20" passage="Re 16:19,20"><i>v.</i> 19, 20</scripRef>. (4.) The warning which
God gives of this great and decisive trial, to engage his people to
prepare for it, <scripRef id="Rev.xvii-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.16.15" parsed="|Rev|16|15|0|0" passage="Re 16:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>. It would be sudden and unexpected, and therefore
Christians should be clothed, and armed, and ready for it, that
they might not be surprised and ashamed. When God's cause comes to
be tried, and his battles to be fought, all his people shall be
ready to stand up for his interest and be faithful and valiant in
his service.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Rev.xvii-p17.5" osisRef="Bible:Rev.16.17-Rev.16.21" parsed="|Rev|16|17|16|21" passage="Re 16:17-21" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.16.17-Rev.16.21">
<h4 id="Rev.xvii-p17.6">The Seven Vials. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.xvii-p17.7">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.xvii-p18">17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial
into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of
heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.   18 And there
were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great
earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so
mighty an earthquake, <i>and</i> so great.   19 And the great
city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations
fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give
unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.  
20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
  21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven,
<i>every stone</i> about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed
God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was
exceeding great.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvii-p19">Here we have an account of the seventh and
last angel pouring forth his vial, contributing his part towards
the accomplishment of the downfall of Babylon, which was the
finishing stroke. And here, as before, observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvii-p20">I. Where this plague fell—<i>on the
air,</i> upon the prince of the power of the air, that is, the
devil. His powers were restrained, his policies confounded; he was
bound in God's chain: the sword of God was upon his eye and upon
his arm; for he, as well as the powers of the earth, is subject to
the almighty power of God. He had used all possible means to
preserve the antichristian interest, and to prevent the fall of
Babylon—all the influence that he has upon the minds of men,
blinding their judgments and perverting them, hardening their
hearts, raising their enmity to the gospel as high as could be. But
now here is a vial poured out upon his kingdom, and he is not able
to support his tottering cause and interest any longer.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvii-p21">II. What it produced, 1. A thankful voice
from heaven, pronouncing that now the work was done. The church
triumphant in heaven saw it, and rejoiced; the church militant on
earth saw it, and became triumphant. It is finished. 2. A mighty
commotion on the earth—an earthquake, so great as never was
before, shaking the very centre, and this ushered in by the usual
concomitants of thunder and lightnings. 3. The fall of Babylon,
which was divided into three parts, <i>called the cities of the
nations</i> (<scripRef id="Rev.xvii-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.16.19" parsed="|Rev|16|19|0|0" passage="Re 16:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>);
having had rule over the nations, and taken in the idolatry of the
nations, incorporating into her religion something of the Jewish,
something of the pagan, and something of the Christian religion,
she was as three cities in one. God now remembered this great and
wicked city. Though for some time he seemed to have forgotten her
idolatry and cruelty, yet now he gives unto her <i>the cup of the
wine of the fierceness of his wrath.</i> And this downfall extended
further than to the seat of antichrist; it reached from the centre
to the circumference; and every island and every mountain, that
seemed by nature and situation the most secured, were carried away
in the deluge of this ruin.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xvii-p22">III. How the antichristian party were
affected with it. Though it fell upon them as a dreadful storm, as
if the stones of the city, tossed up into the air, came down upon
their heads, like hailstones of a talent weight each, yet they were
so far from repenting that they blasphemed that God who thus
punished them. Here was a dreadful plague of the heart, a spiritual
judgment more dreadful and destructive than all the rest. Observe,
1. The greatest calamities that can befal men will not bring them
to repentance without the grace of God working with them. 2. Those
that are not made better by the judgments of God are always the
worse for them. 3. To be hardened in sin and enmity against God by
his righteous judgments is a certain token of utter
destruction.</p>
</div></div2>