A Key of Knowledge to Open Revelation, Part 4 · Chapter 6 · Notes 12
Notes vponupon Chap. 15.
Verſ. 1. Another ſigne, beſides that mentioned in chap. 12. 1. Signe, ſo this repreſentation of future things to Iohn is called. In heauen, ſo chap. 12. 1. Great and marueilous, in reſpect of the effects thereof, ſo great and wonderfull a change brought to paſſe thereby, in verſ. 3. The whole Church acknowledgeth this to be ſuch a worke of God, great and marueilous. Seuen Angels: So are the inſtruments appointed by God to execute his will called before, chap. 8. 7. 8. 10. 12. and 9. 1. 14. and 11. 15. Hauing the ſeuen laſt plagues: Of whom they had theſe, and what they were, is expounded verſ. 7, called here the laſt, for that by them ſhall be filled vp the wrath of God, and ſo the thing done, (as is ſaid, cap. 16. 17.) which God hath decreed, vponupon the Antichriſtiā ſtate, as before he ſware for the fulfilling of the myſterie of God, (chap. 10. 7.) when the ſeuenth trumpet ſhould blow, of which theſe ſeuen plagues are the diſtinct parts.
Verſ. 2. Theſe words ſhew, in what ſtate the Church was now at this preſent come vntounto, before the pouring out of thoſe vials, vponupon the preaching of the three Angels, in chap. 14. 6. 8. 9. The word had wrought effectually, ſo as many had gotten the victorie ouer Antichriſt and his power, and preuailed, and were now ſtanding on the ſea of glaſſe. For this, ſee chap. 4. 6. But this is at this time mingled with fire, euen the fire, which Chriſt deſirerh to be kindled, Luk. 12. 49. for now it inflameth with heate and feruencie all godly profeſſors, which at this time were growne to be many, hauing ſhaken off the yoke of Antichriſt, now ſtanding as vponupon ſafe ſhore, on the ſea of glaſſe, as the Iſraelites on the ſea ſhore when they eſcaped from the Egyptians; to which here is the alluſion, Exod. 14. 30. 31. Hauing the harps of God: That is, moſt excellent harps, or rather which are of Gods gift. Harps or muſicall inſtruments for praiſes; ſo then figuratiuely it is this; they had gifts and graces from God to ſet out his praiſes, which they with conioynt affections and well tuned hearts performed, as the two next verſes ſhew.
Verſ. 5. After this ſhewing of the Churches ſtate, hee beginneth to goe on with that which was begun in verſ. 1: but withall calleth vsus backe to remember where hee left off, to proſecute the matter and parts of the ſeuenth trumpet, chap. 11. 19. For by conſidering what is there ſaid, and here repeated againe after ſo long an interruption, all may ſee, that here is a falling-in vntounto the ſame matter there left to bee ſpoken of, till this place. By which will appeare moſt plainly, how the ſeuenth ſeale hath the ſeuen trumpets, and the ſeuenth trumpet theſe ſeuen vials. The Temple of the tabernacle of the teſtimonie: Words of alluſion vſuall and common to the time of the Law. The Temple, the inmoſt place of the tabernacle, as hath been ſhewed, chap. 11. 19, where (as there is declared) was the Arke, 1. King. 8. 6, and in it the two tables of ſtone, which are the teſtimonie; becauſe of the Law written in them, which teſtified the will of God: ſo the two tables are called the teſtimonie, Exod. 25. 21: and becauſe they were put in the Arke, it is called the Arke of the teſtimonie, verſ. 22, and for that the Arke was in the inmoſt part of the tabernacle, that part is called the tabernacle of witneſſe, Numb. 17. 7. After the two Prophets were aſcended vp, chap. 11. 12, and that now the Church became viſible, the Temple, that is, the hidden things of God formerly vnknowne, became now to bee manifeſt by thoſe Angels, (cap. 14. 6. 8. 9.) who taught what this true teſtimonie of God was vntounto the people. In heauen, that is, in the true viſible Church of Chriſt.
Verſ. 6. The ſeuen Angels (mentioned before in verſ. 1.) came out of the Temple; the Temple, that is, that part of it where the Arke was, the place where God gaue anſwere to Moſes and Aaron of all things hee would hauehave done, Exod. 25. 22. Leuit. 7. 89. Numb. 17. 4. This ſheweth, that theſe had their authoritie and commaund from God to come forth, and were of his choſen ones raiſed vp to execute vengeance vponupon the Pope, vponupon the Papiſts, and vponupon their Romiſh ſtate, as chap. 16. verſ. 1. ſheweth plainly. Hauing the ſeuen plagues: How they had them, the next verſe telleth vsus. Clothed in pure and white liuen, and hauing their breaſts girded with a golden girdle, as Chriſt was, chap. 1. 13. An alluſion to the Prieſts habit miniſtring in the Tabernacle, Exodus 28. 40. 42. Leuit. 16. 2. This is to ſhew, what manner of perſons they were, and how qualified, whom God thus appointed to execute his will. They were of thoſe that were of the true ſocietie and temple of the holy Ghoſt, Prieſts by Chriſt, hauing pure and white linen, the righteouſneſſe of the Saints, (chap. 19. 8.) ready prepared to do their office: girding noteth care and diligence bent to performe what is impoſed, and they reſolued to doe without impediment, Exod. 12. 11. 1. King. 18. 46. Luk. 12. 35. A girdle of gold, (which was alſo about Chriſt) is righteouſnes and faithfulnes, Eſai. 11. 5. By the way then (for this one time) heere note, that they which are lewd and vicious, though neuer ſo wiſe, politique, rich, and valiant, ſhall not be Gods inſtruments to plague Antichriſt and his kingdome. This their Prieſtly apparell ſheweth alſo how that theſe Angels come forth in the Churches cauſe, and for her ſake, without any other by and ſiniſter reſpect.
Verſ. 7. Here is ſhewed, by whom they were furniſhed with theſe ſeuen laſt plagues, that is, the ſeuen vials, and of whom they did receiue them: And one of the foure beaſts: What the beaſts bee, is ſhewed (chap. 4. 6.) euen Eccleſiaſticall perſons, which of the foure it is, is not here noted, as being a conioynt act of them all, the deed of one, as well as of another. Gaue vntounto the ſeuen Angels, ſeuen golden vials. The inſtruments containing the plagues are here compared to cups, or bowles, holy veſſels of the Tabernacle made of pure gold, Exod. 25. 29. and 37. 16. Ier. 52. 19. A viall is a cup with a big bellie, and a narrow mouth, ſo as that which it containeth, is poured out by leiſure, and not all (as it were) at once, as out of cuppes with wide mouthes. That which is in them is Gods wrath, of which they are full; for as the grapes were full ripe, (chap. 14. 18.) ſo heere bee the cups full of wrath. Which is ſaid to be in vials; firſt, for that Gods iudgments are prepared, vnſeene to the Antichriſtian ſtate, and not diſcerned till they fall vponupon them: alſo, becauſe theſe plagues are executed by the ſeruants of Chriſt vponupon the enemies with no difficulty, euen as eaſily as licour is poured out of a veſſell, and that without noiſe, tumultuous ſtirs, and hurli-burlies on their part. Of gold they bee, for that Gods wrath is iuſt, pure, and vncorrupt. And giuen of one of the beaſts: To ſhew, that theſe Angels, that is, men, appointed by God, were furniſhed hereunto from the Miniſters of Chriſt, by doctrine and inſtruction, for other vials hauehave they none to giuegive. God himſelfe calleth out theſe Angels; that is, qualifieth them with gifts, power, and place to execute his will. The Miniſters of God they teach the truth of religion, the doctrine and diſcipline of Chriſt, the vnſufferable ſtate of Antichriſt, his Idolatrie, falſe worſhip, hereticall doctrine, tyrannicall gouernment, his proud vſurped power ouer Kings, his trecheries and treaſons to vphold the ſame; and ſo doe vrge theſe Angels by the word of exhortation, the commandement of God, the ſafety of his Church, and welfare to themſelues and all Gods people, to ſet themſelues for the Lord, and againſt that Antichriſtian ſtate: which miniſtery the Lord bleſſing, and putting thereby into the hearts of theſe Angels to do ſuch things, as may annoy, and at length ruinate that ſtate, they hereby may bee ſaid to giuegive theſe vials of Gods wrath into their hands. This is my gueſſe of this, how true this interpretation is, I leaue it to be iudged; the ground of my coniecture is, that theſe words cannot bee taken literally: Miniſters hauehave not any materiall cups full of Gods wrath, and the effects of pouring out the vials, ſhew, that the plagues are not any way to be vnderſtood after the letter; for we reade not of any ſuch thing done in any ſtory in the Chriſtian world. When men giuegive any thing, wee know it is that which they hauehave, and termes of ſuch things muſt be interpreted according to the nature, condition, and place of the giuer, as it may bee moſt likely to that which ſuch a one can giuegive.
Verſ. 8. And the Temple was filled with ſmoke: An alluſion to Exod. 40. 34. 35. 1. King. 8. 10.Numb. 9. 15. ſhewing, the Lords approbation and ſanctifying of the Tabernacle finiſhed; ſo heere now at this time the Lord hauing erected vp againe a viſible aſſembly, a temple of true Chriſtians, from among the Antichriſtians, he ſheweth his glory and power, approuing and ſanctifying it with his preſence, both for comfort to his people, as alſo for terrour, as then vnderunder the law, to the wicked and rebellious, Numb. 16. 19. 42. No man was able, &c. This is the following of the alluſion in Exodus before mentioned, and is onelyonly to ſhew, what a hinderance to the encrcaſe of true Chriſtians the Romiſh Antichriſtian ſtate is, which therefore the Lord will ſee deſtroyed, and then ſhall eueryevery cloud of darkneſſe be remoued, and the moſt holy things of God bee reuealed, yea the gate Ieruſalem ſhall then ſtand open for all to enter in, cap. 21. 25.