A Key of Knowledge to Open Revelation, Part 4 · Chapter 6 · Notes 4
Notes vponupon. Chap. 7.
Verſ. 1. Foure Angels: Theſe are miniſters of indignation, and of the enſuing euils to come vponupon the world, vponupon the opening of the ſeuenth ſeale, in chap. 8. which yet were prepared heere in ſome degree vnderunder the ſixth ſeale, as the words imply, being ready ſtanding to execute their power; as alſo for that they bee named heere before the ſeuenth ſeale be opened, that they bee inſtruments of euill, is plaine in verſ. 3.
Foure: A number according to the foure cornersIer. 49. 32. of the earth, and the foure windes, noting an vniuerſality (Matth. 24. 31.) of the iudgement.
Holding the foure winds: Winds properly taken, when they be tempeſtuous are hurtfull, but moderate blowing is moſt neceſſary and profitable: and the reſtraint of them from blowing, cauſeth corruption, & ſo breedeth diſeaſes, and bringeth deſtruction to the creatures; therfore in this figuratiue ſpeaking, holding of the winds from blowing, is noted here a plague, which ſhould bee hurtfull to the earth, ſea, and trees.
Wind: Foure winds are named, becauſe of the parts of the earth from whence they blow, yet in nature all but one, and therefore alſo hee heere ſpeaketh ſingularly, that the wind ſhould not blow. Wind is here taken figuratiuely, we cannot vnderſtand it after the letter, for wee reade not of euer any ſuch plague, and if any ſuch had been, the ſealed ones could not hauehave eſcaped it, being ſo vniuerſall, and being ſo notable a plague, it could not but hauehave been obſerued of ſome in the world. Therefore by winds, we muſt conceiue ſome other thing then wind properly, euen an heauenly inſpiration, and ſpirituall breathing of truth; as it is taken in Cant. 4. 18. Ioh. 3. 8. Act. 2. 2. which theſe are ſaid to hold, by hindering the faithfull and ſincere preaching therof. A ſpirituall plague vponupon the earthly Chriſtians, is here to bee vnderſtood, which now followeth after all the former corporall plagues vponupon the Heathen. For the preſeruation ſignified by the ſealing in the fore-head is ſpirituall, & ſuch a preſeruation as keepeth thē that are ſealed, ſafe frō the hurt which the earth, ſea, and trees were ſubiect vntounto, verſ. 3. And this calamity, though prepared vnderunder the 6. ſeale, yet hath his force and power felt vnderunder the ſeuenth ſeale; the euents whereof are ſpirituall plagues, contention, ambition, corruption of doctrine, fearfull Apoſtaſie, and Antichriſts getting into his throne, the falſe prophet deceiuing the world; all which follow vponupon the blowing of the trumpets, the proper effects of the ſeuenth ſeale, wherof theſe withholders of the wind, are a part, and from whence the other miſchiefes enſue, which yet ſo are ſpirituall, as there is alſo corporall calamities often mixed therewith.
Earth: Is the place of the viſible Church; and the earthly ones of it, among which the ſealed ones are, and therefore need ſpeciall protection. Sea: is the common worſhip, pure, or impure. Trees: are men, chap. 9. 4. to which vſually men are compared in the Scriptures, Pſalm. 1. 3. Eſa. 61. 3. Ezra. 47. 7. as the wind and withholding thereof, hath a ſpirituall interpretation, ſo muſt theſe alſo. For if they be taken literally, they are not capable of a ſpirituall plague. Of the Seale: ſee before in chap. 5. of this preparatiue.
Of all the tribes of the children of Iſrael: As the Iſraelites were together the viſible Church of God, yet but a choſen number the true Iſraelites indeed, Rom. 9. 8. 27. for all were not Iſrael, which were of Iſraell, Rom. 9. 6. neither he a Iew which is one outward, but one inward, Rom. 2. 28. ſo here by an alluſion to them, the Prophet ſheweth, that among Chriſtians, and in the viſible Church of Chriſt, and in the ouerſpreading of Antichriſt, there are only a ſpeciall choſen number, in compariſon of worldly Chriſtians, a few the true Iſraelites of God, as they be called, Galath. 6. 16. For an Iſraelite and Iew, are now common names to Iewes and Iſraelites by nature, and to Gentiles, Iſraelites and Iewes by grace. For ſuch as be of the faith of Abraham, are his children, Galath. 3. 7. and now the Iſraelites of God, are now Iewes inward, and circumciſed in heart, Rom. 2. 29. Theſe heere are not to bee taken for Iſraelites properly, and naturall Iewes, for the conſideration of the time here to bee noted, when this number was taken, will not permit that they ſhould be ſo vnderſtood. Againe, this is a part of the things to be done after Iohns time, chap. 4. 1. Moreouer this number of 12. times 12. is the ſame with chap. 14. 1. that number of an 144000. which was in Antichriſts time; theſe hauehave alſo the common name of the ſeruants of God giuen them, in verſ. 3. of this chapter, and which ſung the new ſong, in chap. 14. 3. before the throne, and before the beaſt, and Elders, that is, in the true Chriſtian Church. And what ſhould perſwade any man to thinke, that God reſpected only the Iewes, to ſeale them, and to let paſſe all other true and faithfull Chriſtians, vnderunder this ſo great and vniuerſall a plague, here foreſhewed to be ouer all parts of the earth, from which theſe ſealed ones were to be exempted? Therefore the ſealed ones are all that choſen and ſecret number of true and faithfull ſeruants of Chriſt, following him, and redeemed from among men, being the firſt fruites vntounto God, and to the Lambe, (chapt. 14. 4.) preſerued in the generall defection and Apoſtaſie of Antichriſt, till the light ſhould breake forth againe, and a great multitude without number be added to them, and ſo make an open profeſſion of Chriſt, and ſincerely worſhipping of him, as is foreſhewed here in this chap. 7. 9. 15.