A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Revelation · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
1. ANd after theſe things, I ſaw four angels ſtanding on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind ſhould not blow on the earth, nor on the ſea, nor on any tree.
1. God's Decree for the ſuſpending of his dreadful Executions (ſpecially on Judea) was declared to me, by the Apparition of four Angels, ſtanding on the four corners of the Earth, who were to hold the four Winds from blowing to the hurt of any Creature.
Note, 1. The Winds are called four, according to popular Opinion.
Note, 2. By this, it is not unlikely that the four Beaſts are ſo numbred, with reſpect to the four Quarters of the Earth, ſignifying the Executioners of Providence.
2. And I ſaw another angel aſcending from the eaſt, having the ſeal of the living God: and he cryed with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the ſea, 3. Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the ſea, nor the trees, till we have ſealed the ſervants of our God in their foreheads.
2. Note, 1. The Eaſt, where the Sun riſeth, is noted in Propheſies, as the way, whence we are to expect our Bleſſings, from Chriſt, the Riſing Sun: whence came the old Ceremony of worſhipping, in the Chruch, only towards the Eaſt.
2. The Seal of God is, his gracious, ſealed Commiſſion.
3. The lowd Voice and Cry ſignifieth, God's great care to preſerve the Faithful.
4. The Seal in the Fore-head is, God's Notification of thoſe whom he will preſerve. In Ezek. 9.4. it is as by the Letter, Tau. But the Text ſeemeth to mean no more than that God made known, to the deſtroying Angels, every one that was to be preſerved.
4. And I heard the number of them which were ſealed: and there were ſealed, an hundred and forty and four thouſand, of all the tribes of the children of Iſrael. 5. Of the tribe of Judah were ſealed twelve thouſand. Of the tribe of Reuben were ſealed twelve thouſand. Of the tribe of Gad were ſealed twelve thouſand. 6. Of the tribe of Aſer were ſealed twelve thouſand. Of the tribe of Nephthali were ſealed twelve thouſand. Of the tribe of Manaſſes were ſealed twelve thouſand. 7. Of the tribe of Simeon were ſealed twelve thouſand. Of the tribe of Levi were ſealed twelve thouſand. Of the tribe of Iſſachar were ſealed twelve thouſand. 8. Of the tribe of Zebulon were ſealed twelve thouſand. Of the tribe of Joſeph were ſealed twelve thouſand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were ſealed twelve thouſand.
4, 5, 6, 7, 8. All theſe were to be preſerved from the Deſtruction coming.
Note, 1. Not that there were juſt twelve thouſand of each Tribe; but that the number was great in it ſelf, though ſmall, as to the number of them that periſhed. 2. Joſeph is put for Ephraim, and Dan is left out; ſome think, the Tribe being almoſt worn out; or for what other reaſon, is unknown.
9. After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, ſtood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands:
9. And it was not only the believing Jews that were to be preſerved, but the Gentile Chriſtians, in a multitude innumerable, who worſhip God joyfully in holy Aſſemblies, celebrating honourably the Praiſes of Chriſt, repreſented by their Spirits magnifying God and the Lamb joyfully in Heaven.
10. And cryed with a loud voice, ſaying, Salvation to our God which ſitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb.
10. They praiſed God, and their Redeemer, as the Author of Salvation.
Note; The Hereticks of thoſe times (as ſuch do now) accuſed theſe great Multitudes, and ſeparated from them, as unworthy of their Communion, while they were unworthy of Church-Communion themſelves.
11. And all the angels ſtood round about the throne, and about the elders, and the four beaſts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worſhipped God. 12. Saying, Amen: bleſſing, and glory, and wiſdom, and thankſgiving, and honour, and power, and might be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
11, 12. And I ſaw the multitude of Believers (or Miniſters) repreſented by all the Angels, joyning with the four living Wights, and with the twenty four Elders, who repreſented the Church of the Chriſtian Jews, celebrating the Praiſes of God and the Lamb; aſcribing to him everlaſting Bleſſing, Glory, &c.
13. And one of the elders anſwered, ſaying unto me, What are theſe which are arayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14. And I ſaid unto him, Sir, thou knoweſt. And he ſaid to me, Theſe are they which came out of great tribulation, and have waſhed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
13, 14. And one of the Elders, in order to inform me, asked me whether I knew what thoſe were that ſtood arrayed in White: And I told him, that I knew not; but deſired him, who knew, to tell me. And he told me, that they were ſuch as had ſuffered great Tribulation for Chriſt, and were now accepted as righteous before him, through the Merits of his Blood; and were dignified by him.
15. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and ſerve him day and night in his temple: and he that ſitteth on the throne ſhall dwell among them. 16. They ſhall hunger no more, neither thirſt any more, neither ſhall the ſun light on them, nor any heat.
15, 16. Note; It is not the leaſt difficulty in this Book, to know when it ſpeaketh really of what is done in Heaven, and when of what is done on Earth, and when of both. This Text ſeemeth to ſpeak chiefly of what is really done in Heaven. To expound it only of the Liberty, that came to the Chriſtians after the Deſtruction of Jeruſalem, is improbable, when the ten Perſecutions ſucceeded. To expound it of the Advancement of the Church by Conſtantine, muſt make it to ſpeak only of the Species of Chriſtians that formerly ſuffered, and of no individual perſons, but thoſe that were then alive; and is hardly believed by them that believe the reported Voice from Heaven, Hodié venenum funditur in Eccleſiam; and that know how quickly Papacy and Church-Corruption ſprang out of it. And yet, to exclude all inferior Church-mercies from this Viſion, ſeemeth alſo unſafe.
17. For the Lamb which is in the midſt of the throne, ſhall feed them, and ſhall lead them unto living fountains of waters: And God ſhall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
17. The Churches on Earth ſhall have ſome Times of quiet Aſſembling, and learning of Chriſt and his Miniſters, the pure Word of Life, and Religion ſhall flourish, and God ſhall give them ſome Reſpite and Intermiſſion, or Eaſe from Perſecution (under Veſpaſian and Titus.) But this is but a ſmall Fore-taſt of the heavenly Glory, wherein theſe words ſhall be fulfilled; where indeed, they ſhall go out of God's Temple no more, and ſhall have all Tears wiped away.