Exposition on the Catholic Epistles, Revelation · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
ANd I ſaw another great wonder in Heauen, Queſt. 1 Verſ. 1, 2, &c.ſeuen Angels hauing the ſeuen laſt plagues, &c. Verſ. 2. And I ſaw as it were a glaſſie ſea mingled with fire, &c. To what time is this to be referred, what is this glaſſie Sea whereupon the Harpers ſtand, and what is the ſong of Moſes which they ſung, & who are they that ſing this ſong?
Anſw. Some referre the powring out of theſe Vials vntounto the time of Hadrian, Leo, and Hildebrand, Lyra.Popes with their ſucceſſors, who powred out theſe Vials againſt Conſtantinus, Iconomachus, Henry the fourth and other Emperours, euen vntill the time of Peter the Eremite, who ſtirred all vp to the holy warre, that is, from the yeere 742. to the yeere 1094. Some apply theſe things to the ſuppoſed three yeeres and an halfe of Antichriſt,Ribera. Viegas. Gagnaeus. Rupertus. Beda. Haimo. Pannonius. Richard. de Sancto Victore. Gorran, &c. Forbs. Brightman. Pareus. Ballinger. Fox. Napier. holding that according to the letter it ſhall be fulfilled as in the plagues of Aegypt. Some, that theſe Angels ſet forth the Preachers which hauehave beene and ſhall bee then, denouncing Gods iudgements againſt the wicked in all times and ages ſince the firſt preaching of the Goſpell. Some referre this viſion to the tune after Antichriſts diſcouery, holding that it is here ſet forth by what degrees hee ſhould be brought downe vntill his finall vtter deſtruction. And laſtly, ſome doe make theſe ſeuen Vials parallel to the ſeuen Trumpets, and ſo to ſet forth the iudgements of God againſt perſecutors in all ages ſince the firſt propagation of the Goſpell. This laſt is coincident almoſt with the third, touching Preachers denouncing Gods iudgements in the ſeuerall ages of the Goſpell, neither of which can ſtand here, becauſe theſe are the laſt effects of Gods anger in this booke reucaled, and ſo neceſſarily after all the iudgements before figured out any kinde of way. As for that of Lyra, it is not worth the refuting, becauſe ſo theſe iudgements ſhould all hauehave beene executed long agoe, when it is plaine here that they hold to the end of the world. And that of their taking effect in the ſuppoſed three yeeres and an halfe of Antichriſts reigne is moſt ridiculous, becauſe if in ſuch a time according to the letter theſe things ſhould be ſenſibly fulfilled, it were eaſie for eueryevery man to know Antichriſt, and when the day of iudgement ſhall be, which are both very great myſteries. I ſubſcribe therefore to them that apply theſe things to theſe latter times, wherein Antichriſt being reuealed, is diuers waies plagued, and ſhall be plagued till that hee bee vtterly deſtroyed. For now that the ſpirit is fallen vponupon Antichriſts ruine, Chap. 14. 8, &c. he continueth in the deſcription thereof, and of the preuailings and finall happineſſe of ſuch as ſtand for the truth, to the end of the booke, handling in order the paſſages of his fall more at large, and of the laſt generall iudgement of the whole world. The iudgements of God vponupon Antichriſt and his adherents are ſet forth firſt obſcurely vnderunder the figure of Angels powring out their Vials, Chap. 15, 16. then more plainly the Whore of Babylon and her fall being more at large deſcribed, Chap. 17, 18. and the ioy of the godly Orthodox therefore, Chap. 19. after which the chaining vp of Satan and his looſening being mentioned, Chap. 20. together with the fearefull deſtruction of the wicked, the moſt happy eſtate of the godly is deſcribed, Chap. 21, 22. and who ſhall be excluded from it.
Beda. Pannonius. Primaſius. Richard. de Sancto victore. Rupertus, &c. Forbs.Touching the glaſſie Sea mingled with fire, ſome will hauehave it to be baptiſme, wherein the holy Ghoſt like fire is giuen: the faithfull that hauehave held the faith whereinto they hauehave beene baptized, not being ouercome by the feare of Antichriſt though they hauehave paſſed thorow the fire, ſtand now reioycing and praiſing God for his downefall. Some vnderſtand the pure Word of God accompanied with the Spirit ſet forth here,Brightman. Bullinger. Pareus. Napier. as the meanes whereby Antichriſt is ouercome. Some the word or truth accompanied with contention about ſome points by the Lutherans, &c. And ſome by the glaſſie Sea vnderſtand the world like vntounto the Sea for tumultuouſneſſe, but glaſſie becauſe tranſparent to the eyes of God or ſetled vntounto the faithfull, it is mingled with fire by aduerſities and perſecutions which the faithfull meet withall here. I hauehave already deliuered my poore coniecture touching this glaſſie ſea ſpoken of before, Chap. 4.6. which as I take it is the ſame with this. A Sea of pure water tranſparent like Cryſtall, ſetteth forth holineſſe and immunity from corruptions in the midſt of the Antichriſtian ſtate. Hereupon the faithfull are ſet forth ſtanding, becauſe they abide ſtill in the pure worſhipping of God, but this their purity is not without the mixture of fire through aduerſity for the cauſe thereof, for to fire are ſufferings here compared by Saint Peter, 1 Pet. 4.22.whereas he biddeth vsus not to thinke ſtrange of the fiery triall. Thoſe expoſitions which are for Baptiſme and for the Word of God doe not differ much from this, they being a meanes of ſanctifying and ſetling them in this grace, but in this ſenſe the proper ſcope of this place is not ſo fully declared. How the world may bee figured out by ſuch a cleare water, ſeeing it is ſo miery and corrupt, I cannot ſee. Touching the fire mingled, if it be vnderſtood of the holy Ghoſt, here were nothing but purity to purity, which is vnlikely; if contentions amongſt the faithfull themſelues, they ſhould not at the ſame inſtant hauehave beene brought in in ſo ſweet an harmony of praiſing God: but by fire vnderſtanding affliction, the eſtate of the godly euen in theſe times wherein Antichriſt is going downe, is moſt ſignificantly ſet out, they are not yet in their reformed ſeruing of God without all mixture of the fire of perſecution, but are as it were vponupon a glaſſie Sea mingled with fire. They are ſaid to hauehave ouercome the beaſt and his Image, &c. becauſe they hauehave preuailed about the reformation of Religion by an high hand, ſetting vp the ſame againſt the machinations of the beaſt, his image, character, or number of his name. The harpes of God which they hauehave, ſeeme to hauehave reference to that which was ſpoken of Harpers, Chap. 14. they heard the Harpers in Heauen then and learned their ſong, now they ſing it playing as they did. And all this is ſaid to be done in Heauen, becauſe the godly by faith are in Heauen in minde, though in body they be in this world. The ſong which was onelyonly mentioned before, is here more particularly declared to be the ſong of Moſes, a moſt fit ſong for ſuch as precaile againſt the beaſt, for in that ſong Moſes and the children of Iſrael praiſed God for their deliuerance from Pharaoh, Exod. 15.and for executing iudgement vponupon him in the red Sea, wherein his might did wonderfully appeare: ſo likewiſe the Church being indangered by this beaſt, but the victory being obtained through God inabling her, though ſhee cannot yet ſtand vponupon the Sea banke, but in the Sea mingled with fire, yet for her deliuerance in part obtained, and fully by faith expected to be ere long, with Harpe and ſong ſhe praiſeth God as Moſes then did. And it is called the ſong of the Lambe alſo, becauſe containing his praiſes, as Chap. 5.9. Here God is praiſed for his power already ſhewed, and the comming in of all the Gentiles is prophetically mentioned in theſe words,Verſ. 4. And all the Gentiles ſhall come and worſhip before thee.
Here is matter of comfort to all the faithfull,Note. that in purity ſtudy to ſerue God without admitting any popiſh corruption, although there be oppoſition and much trouble to them ſtill, yet they may reioyce as Victors ouer the Pope, being aſſured that he with all his adherents ſhall goe downe more and more, and the number of the pure worſhippers of God ſhall increaſe, till that euen all the Gentiles come to ioyne with them, popiſh corruptions being quite aboliſhed in all places. And out of our ioy herein we ought to be thankfull to the Lord, ſingularly praiſing him for this incſtimable bleſſing, wherein wee of the Church of England hauehave ſhared with the firſt and in the largeſt meaſure.
Queſt. Verſ. 5.2. After theſe things I looked, and behold the Temple of the tabernacle of the teſtimony was opened in Heauen, &c. What is meant by this, and in that the ſeuen Angels which come forth are ſo cloathed, and hauehave ſeuen golden Vials giuen vntounto them by one of the foure Animals, and what is meant by the ſmoke of the glory of God filling the Temple, and hindering that none could enter till the ſeuen Angels had powred out their Vials?
Anſw. Brightman.Some by the opening of the Temple, wherein was the Tabernacle of the two Tables, being the Holy of holies, vnderſtand a greater meaſure of knowledge in the moſt myſticall and recondit things of God which now ſhould bee in the Church, Antichriſt falling,Forbs. or the Church comming to light, which had hitherto a long time lien hid through perſecution:Napier. yet ſome that parallel theſe Vials and the Trumpets together, apply it to the primitiue Church in this ſenſe. Some vnderſtand nothing but iuſt proceedings,Bullinger. Fox. becauſe they come out of the Temple where the Law of righteouſneſſe was kept. Some without any myſticall ſignification hold,Pareus. that as in a Stage-play the Actors come out of diuers places, and the beginning of a Scene is ſet forth by the opening of the place from whence they come, ſo here theſe Angels are ſet forth comming out of the Temple in Heauen. We reade of the Temple being opened, Chap. 11.19. that the Arke of the teſtimony might appeare: but here the ſame Temple is opened for another purpoſe, that the Angels with their plagues might come forth and powre them out vponupon the earth. I thinke therefore that they are miſtaken, which confound theſe two as one myſtery of diuine reuelations now made more than in times paſt. There is no need to preſſe this paſſage any further, than that the Temple is ſet open for them to come out being ſeuen in number, whereas no opening is ſpoken of in the foregoing Chapter, becauſe there one Angell came forth alone, here ſeuen together, but they come all out of the Temple, that is, from Gods preſence, who is the Author of the enſuing plagues, and ſo are apparelled accordingly in a glorious manner as becommeth the ſeruants of ſo great a maieſty, and hauehave golden Vials giuen them by one of the foure Animals before deſcribed to bee round about the Throne,Chap. 4. who as a chiefe Officer in the Court of Heauen, is appointed to giuegive them Commiſſion and a charge to execute his wrath, to ſhew that it is not left to the will of any creature to plague the world when hee liſteth, but at the time appointed by the Lord, and ſuch iudgements as happen are not caſuall, but by him determined and appointed in reſpect of all circumſtances.
Touching the ſmoke from the glory of the Lord; ſome expound it of the anger of the Lord, the effects whereof were theſe Vials.
Some, of the inſcrutability of theſe iudgements, holding that hereby it is ſignified that none can finde them out what they are till they be fulfilled.Primaſius. Bullinger.
Some, that nothing elſe is hereby meant, but that none can enter into Heauen to liue there in body and ſoule for euer,Ambroſ. And…eas. Gagneus. till theſe iudgements be executed.
Some, that it is alluded here vntounto the Cloud reſting vponupon the Tabernacle at the dedication,Pareus. Exod. 40.34. 1 King. 8.10. Gorran conſenteth to the blinding of the reprobate here ſignified. ſo that Moſes could not enter in; and likewiſe at the dedication of Solomons Temple, the blinding of the eyes of the greateſt Doctors in the Papacy being figured out, ſo that they ſhall not be able to ſee into the errours by them maintained, till they hauehave ſmarted by all theſe following plagues, that is, neuer.
Some expound this ſmoake as a ſigne of Gods preſence in the Church, but darkly in compariſon: of that light which ſhall be,Brightman. when the full number of the faithfull ſhall be made vp at the time of the Iewes conuerſion, which is intimated, ſhall not be till theſe Vials be powred all out, when it is ſaid, no man could enter into the Temple till the ſeuen Angels had done powring out their Vials. In the meane ſeaſon, they which embrace the truth ſhall be but a few, and the light ſhall be hold by the aduerſe part to be but a fume or ſmoake, becauſe they ſhall not ſee into it.
Some expound it of Gods powerfull preſence vntounto theſe executioners of his wrath,Forbs. euen till the emptying out of all theſe Vials, ſo as that none could hinder them all the time in their proceedings.
Some will hauehave the darkning of the truth by errours ſet forth by this ſmoake,Napier. ſo as that till the powring out of theſe Vials finiſhed, there ſhould be no pure Church cleanſed from all corruptions.
Of all theſe expoſitions,Forbs. that ſeemeth to me to bee moſt genuine and leaſt ſtreined, which applyeth this vntounto GODS powerfull preſence, ſo that nothing can hinder the executing of theſe plagues till the full end thereof: for out of the Temple the Angels with theſe plagues are ſaid to come, intimating that the Lord, who dwelleth there, hath decreed them; now becauſe haply there might bee ſome hope that he might be intreated and alter this decree, it is added, that none could enter into the Temple, till that all theſe vials of wrath were powred out, the Temple was ſo full of ſmoake from the glory and power of the Lord, being exceedingly angry for the blaſphemies and outrages of Antichriſt, that is, none of the Antichriſtian ſect could turne to the Lord, and by humbling themſelues before him ſeeke to auert his anger till it had had the full courſe; and to this agreeth the firſt and fourth expoſition, and it is further confirmed, Chap. 9.20. The ſecond expoſition cannot ſtand, becauſe ſo it would follow, that it is a vaine thing to ſearch into theſe myſteries, wheras we are in ſundry places commanded and incouraged ſo to doe. The third is abſurd, becauſe they enter into heauen, who goe thither in ſoule, as all the godly doe continually, whenſoeuer they depart out of this life. The fift is too particular in applying this entring to the Iewes, and both fift and ſeuenth too much ſtrained in making the ſmoke a ſigne of obſcurity: for as theſe plagues ſhall be executed, certainly we ſhall be more enlightened in the myſteries of God here ſet forth.
Note,Note. that the world is deceiued in their common tenent, that they can repent when they liſt▪ let them conſider this example and tremble, taking time before the ſmoke of Gods anger for their perſiſting in ſinne become ſo great, that not one of them can enter his Temple. The Iſraelites hardened themſelues,Heb. 3. wherefore God ſware that they ſhould neuer enter into his reſt, no more ſhall they that now harden themſelues in hope of turning afterwards ſoone enough to obtaine mercy.
Againe ſee a reaſon, why now a long time the proceedings of the reformed religion hath beene almoſt at a ſtand, little ground more being gained of the Papals. It was thus appointed to bee in the purpoſe and decree of God long agoe; whilſt the vials are powring out againſt the Papacy, none can enter the Temple. But the time ſhall come, when that all theſe vials being emptied, the nations ſhall thicke and threefold be brought in with vsus to worſhip God aright.