The Seven Vials, Explication 2 · Part 7
The seventh Viall poured out. And the seventh Angell poured out his Viall into the ayre, and there came a great voice out of the Temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, it is done, &c.
Of this Viall we may say, as Mr. Brightman of the fourth, but more truly and evidently; Hu…s que tempora nostra pr…cesserunt: hitherto hauehave our times come. The words of this Viall consist of two branches: first, the act of pouring with the obiect, the ayre: Secondly, the effects: and they are two: first, the definitiue sentence pronounced vponupon the whole Kingdome of the Beast, v. 17: the second, the execution of the sentence, to the end of the Chapter.
First, This Viall is poured into the ayre. In this Viall, as in the rest, we must first find out the mysticall sense. The Aire in Scripture is taken for the Kingdome of Satan. As Eph. 2 2. It giues vsus to note here, that this Viall is poured out vponupon the whole Kingdome of the Dragon. Secondly, the ayre is taken for the whole circumference and Kingdome of the lowest and middle Region of the ayre especially, which compassing the earth on every side, betokens the destruction of all Antichristian enemies over the face of the earth, no element being so vniversall, as the ayre: nor any so apt to receiue impressions to work all kind of plagues, as the ayre. In it are bredd all sorts of Meteors, wind…, stormes, thunders, lightnings, plagues and pestilences, haile, and the like, such as follow in this Viall, the consequent effects of this pouring out into the ayre.
Now for the effects. First he…upon proceeds the definitiue sentence, foreign; It is done: o…, as Beza; Fuit; It was:… sege…ill, v…i Tr…a fuit. Babylon now comming so to be destroyed, as once Troy was. But our owne Translation is most proper: It is done. God hath now passed his sentence vponupon Babylon. And to the end we might the better marke such a famous sentence, it is delivered in a most majesticall manner: first, in a great voice, the immediate effect of the aire, moved by this pouring out. Secondly, from hea…en, to note the Maiesty of it. Thirdly, from the Temple of hea…en, to note the truth of it. Fourthly, from the Thr…ne, to note the equity of this sentence, running thus in full equipage. It is done. The same sentence we read chapter 10.7: in the beginning of the seventh Trumpet, which is a parallell or synchronisme with this seventh Vial, wherein the Mystery of God is finished. Also this word we find chapter 21.6. It is done, saith Christ. Now some referre this to the finall consummation of the world: others to the consumption of Antichrist, and his followers. The difference may easily be reconciled, sith the consumption of Antichrists Kingdome is one of the immediate fore-runners of the last day; whom (saith the Apostle) the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy or vtterly abolish with the brightnesse of his comming: 2 Thess. 2. So that when we see these things begin to come to passe, then (as Christ saith) look vp, lift vp your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh… Luke. 21.28.
Immediatly vponupon the pronouncing of the sentence, followeth the Execution, set forth by the meanes and manner of Antichrists destruction. First, there are heard foreign, sounds or voices. This is one Impression of the ayre. And these sounds may be vnderstood to come either from the Creature, or from the Creator, both instruments of the Beasts ruine. First, of the Creature. And first, of the living Creature; as the voyces and cryes of the Saints and servants of God, lifted vp in prayer against the Enemy: Such as we read of▪ Exo. 14, 15. and 2 Chro. 13▪ 14▪ 15: and Iosh: 6.20. Or of Gods Creatures without life. As Luke 21.25, 26: The Sea and waues roting, and the powers of heaven shaking. Secondly, the cry and voice of the Creator; whereof we read Ier. 25, 30, 31. Iob. 15.21. and 2 King. 7.6. When God sends a feare and terrour vponupon the hearts of his enemies, confounding them with amazement, and causing them to fly, when none pursueth.
The second instrument of Babylons ruine is foreign thunders. This is another effect of the troubled ayre, whereon this Viall is poured. This is called Gods terrible voice, Psal. 29. Wicked men, even the proudest and wickedest, are appalled at the thunder. The Emperour Domitian, that would be called a God, when it thundered, would run vnderunder the b…dd. By thunder God hath made mighty havocks of his enemies▪ as vponupon Aegypt, Exod. 9.…3. vponupon the Philistins at Samuels prayer, 1 Sam. 7.10. Read Iosephus on this story. Of the mighty enemies, by whom M. Aurelius Antoninus was straightly besieged; but he having some Christians in his Army, whom he intreated to pray to God for his deliverance, at their prayer, God sent such refreshing of raine for his thirsty army, and such terrible thunder vponupon his enemies to their discomfiture, that thereupon he called the Legion, wherein those Christians were, Fulminatrix Legio; and withall sent out Decrees of relaxation for the persecuted Christians. We read how Anastacius the Emperour, a Persecutor, was smitten with a thunderbolt, when affrighted he ran seeking a place to hide himselfe. In the tenth Century we read of many examples of terrible thunders.…ntur. 6. Cap. 3. And ever with thunders come lightnings, whereof especially hotter Clymates can tell vsus terrible wonders, if they were not there so frequent.
The next instrument of Babylons ruine is an earthquake, yea a great earthquake, such as was not since men were vponupon the earth, so mighty an ear…hquake, and so great. And an earthquake is another symptome and effect of the ayre. We read of terrible earthquak…s. In Neroes time three Citties in Asia were overturned with one earthquake; in Vespasians time three Citties in Cyprus; In Iulians time earthquakes were so rife, and so ruefell, as there was no safety within dores, or without: In Valentinians and Valeus his time, there was an vniversall earthquake over the world, whereby the Sea was turned into dry land, and dry land into Sea, plaines made mountaines,…cholcer. Chron. and mountaines plaines. In Tiberius his raigne 13. Ci…ties in Asia ruined by an earthquake. Once in a great earthquake the Pope himselfe was driven to fly, & hide himselfe in the openfield, vnderunder a shade of thinne plankes of firre, erected of purpose, least falling on his head, it might oppresse him. But here is such a terrible earthquake, such as never men saw, which shall shake down all the foundations of Babylon, to the very ground, yea into hell it selfe.
For hereupon. in the next place; the great Citty is divided into three parts, and the Cities of the Nations fell, &c. Here two things observable: first, the disposition of the state of Babylon, here shadowed vnderunder the great City divided. For great City here notes the whole state of Antichrists Kingdome. As the City of God, whereof Saint Augustine writ, signifies Gods Church so the great City here applied to mysticall Babylon, imports the whose state thereof. And the division of this great City alludes to the state of Ierusalem, which was divided into three factions, when it was besieged by Vespasian. See Iosephus of the Warres of the Iewes, lib. 1. cap. 1.This division was an evident forerunner of that apostatized Citties vtter ruine. And Division in a state eve… draws on destruction. Insomuch as Vespasian, being pressed by his Soldiers, to assault the City, because of the Iewes intestine divisions, and mutinies, he answered, we shall not need; God is fighting for vsus, and preparing an vnbloody victory. It was a fearfull curse vponupon Simeon and Levi, Divide them in Iacob, and scatter them in Israell, Gen. 49. Abim…lech, that cruell vsurping Tyrant▪ needed no other revenger of his bloody massacres of his brethren, but that curse pronounced by Iot…am, namely dissention betweene Abemeloch, and the Sich… mites, Iudg. 9.23. Read for this purpose, Iudg. 7.22. Also 2 Chron. 20.23. And 1 Sam. 14▪ 15. And saith Christ, A Kingdome, or house, or City divided against it selfe, cannot stand. Thus is this great City divided into three parts: and can it stand? No▪ for it thereupon followeth, And the Cities of the Nations fell. That's the first effect of this division. The Cities of the Nations are Babylons confederate Cities, & Kingdomes, which though they hauehave the name of Christians, yet they are no better then the Heathen, or Gentiles, or Nations. For so are the people called, whom she hath bewitched with her sorceries, chapter 14.8. Babylon made the Nations drunk… and Chapter▪ 18.3. All Nations hauehave drunke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the Kings of the earth hauehave committed fornication with her, &c. and verse 23. By thy sorceries were all Nations deceived. So that the Cities of the Nations here are a… it were the suburbes of Babylon, they by division fall. God shall cast a bone, that shall make Romes confederates to fall together by the cares, and so destroy one another. They shall fall by division. And this division is triple, according to the three great Monarchies, that support the Beast, The Empire, Spaine, and France▪
Secondly, there followes Babylons ruine▪ which i… meant, not only of Rome, but of the whole Papall Hierarchy, or Kingdome of the Beast. It is said here, that Babylon came in remembrance before God, to giuegive vntounto her the cup of the wine of the f…nesse of his wrath. Gods remembrance in Scripture is some times taken in the good, as, Lord remember me, when thou commest into thy Kingdome: here, in the evill part. Babylon, that said in her heart, I sit a Queene &c, thought, that God had forgotten her. No. God will now remember her for all together, to giuegive her the cup of … fury to drinke▪ a just recompense of the Whoores drunkennesse with the blood of the Saints. All that are versed in the Scripture know, that it is vsuall with God, to set forth his judgements by the type of a Cup of fury. Read Psal. 75.8. Esa. 51.17. Ier. 25.15. This Cup of fury then signifieth a ful mixture of all fearfull …udgements, which in the time of this seventh and last Vial are to fall vponupon Babylon, to avenge the Cup of her filthinesse of abominations, chap. 17.4.
And to show the inevitablenesse of her judgements, it followeth, And every Island fled away, and the Mountaines were not found.
Islands and Mountaines are places of refuge, Ezech. 39.6. I will s…nd, saith the Lord, a fire on Magog, … among them that dwell carelesly in the Isles. M…n dwell more carelesly in Isles, then elsewhere, as being places of refuge. And Esa. chapter 2. verse …. To goe into the … of the Rockes. But here all Islands and Mountaines fly away in Babylons destruction, there is no refuge for …. Strange. The case is altered. … ▪ that is so full of Sanctuaries for: all kind of Malefactors, hath now never a Sanctuarie▪ not one poore Island, or Mountaine to fly vntounto; they fly from her, and are not ….
It followeth, v. 21. In this verse is contained the conclusion of the Chapter, and the last Catastrophe of Babylons destruction. The last particular judgement vponupon the remnant of Babylon, is a great … of heaven, every stone aboue the waight of a Tale…. This seemeth to allude to Iosh. 10.1… whe…e God cast great stones out of heaven vponupon the enemies, the Canaanites. Or to that in Exod. 9.23▪ where a fearfull plague of huge hailestones makes havock of the remnant of the trees and hearbs, men and beasts of Aegypt, that were left of the former plagues; those hailestones brake downe trees, slew men and beasts, that were abroad. But loe here hailestones as heavy as a Talent, every stone. Talents are of sundry waights, from 100. pound waight, vpwards to 1000. Halestones more like to Milstones. So fearfull is Babylons destruction; God hath prepared such instruments and weapons for her, as never the like.
But what vse do the rest of Babylons children make of all this? Are they not at least wise as wise at last, as Pharaoh and his Aegyptians, to repent them, that they hauehave dealt so evill with Israel? Nay. Nothing lesse. Instead of relenting, of repenting, and returning to him that smites, they blaspheme God because of the Plague of the Haile, it was so great, as here it followeth. O fearfull condition of Antichrist and his followers!
… the faster hasteneth on, by how much her …. Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Henry Burton, The Seven Vials (1628)