Westminster Annotations, Revelation 2 · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI.
Vers. 1. A Great voice] Signifying the work to be important, and to be done with great care.
out of the temple] Chap. 14. 15. It sheweth also the work to be holy and just. It seemeth to be Gods voice. See chap. 15. 6, 7. and the rather, because the voice is said to be heard, but no visible form of the speaker is shewed; Deut. 4. 12, 33.
to the seven angels] Signifying the instruments ready to execute these judgements, as the angels were ready to pour out the vials, and waited onelyonly for a signe.
Go your ways] It is time for you now to pour out those plagues upon the earth which are committed to you. They must go out of the Church, into antichrists dominions, to afflict them.
pour out the vials] To the bottom. Leave nothing in. Execute Gods wrath to the full, as far as each of your commissions go.
vials of the wrath] Chap. 15. 7. These vials were for the destruction of popish Rome, as the seals were for the overthrow of the heathen Romane empire. There is a great agreement between the trumpets, that weakned the Christian Romane empire, and these vials, that shall ruine the popish Church. The evil of the first trumpet and vial lighteth on the earth, the second on the sea, &c. The one sheweth, that the popish church shall be destroyed, as sure as the heathen empire was: the other, that it shall be destroyed by such like judgements as the heathen empire was weakned.
wrath of God] Yet God may be the speaker, though he speak of himself, in the third person; as he doth, Exod. 20. 7.
upon the earth] Upon the antichristian church and state, as appeareth, v. 2. This is like to be the sense here, because some of the vials were poured on the sea, and on the sun, v. 3, 8. not all on the earth literally taken.
V. 2. the first went] Gr. went forth. They did not all pour out their vials at once, to shew, that this desolation should come by degrees, not all at once. The angels that sounded The first vial.the trumpets, stood before God and sounded, chap. 8. 2, 7. these go forth to do it: which sheweth, that these are types of those princes that must destroy antichrists kingdom by degrees.
poured out his vial] Left nothing in it. This sheweth the greatnesse of the judgement, and his fidelity, in doing as he was commanded, v. 1.
upon the earth] Upon the common people, the popes footstool. So it is to be taken here, because the other vials were to be poured on the earth also; if it be taken for antichrists whole kingdom, as it is, v. 1.
noisom and grievous sore] Gr. evil and wicked. Evil is put for noisom, or offensive to others, 2 Sam. 11. 27. 1 Chron. 21. 7. Wicked, for troublesome to a mans self, Eccles. 1. 13. Sore travel: Heb. evil thing. So Eccles. 4. 8. And on the contrary, good, is put for, pleasing to others, Gen. 1. 31. to our selves, Psal. 4. 6, 7. & 34. 12. & 106. 5. Now because the place of the body is not noted, it may be supposed these sores in the type went all over the body, as Jobs did, Job 2. 7. And the like is threatned, Deut. 28. 27. 35. This must needs be noisome to others, and troublesome to themselves. Some take it for the rage of the common people, who went to fight against the Waldenses; for they were the popes marked souldiers. Others, for the Neopolitan disease that came upon his warriours, one thousand four hundred ninety and four. Others, for the envie of the idolaters against the Gospel, and the preachers and professours of it, when Luther first began to preach. It made them like the Egyptians, that not onelyonly could not abide to have their bodies touched, but also not to endure the company of others, Exod. 9. 10, 11.
upon the men] Like boils; that as they afflict within, so they appear without, and stink when they break: so did their envie. Thus were the papists vexed, when the protestant religion was publikely professed. Men that knew no grounds of religion, nor knew no cause of quarrel against them, would bring fagots to burn them; as appeareth in the book of martyrs.
mark] Chap. 13. 16.
which worshipped his image] Chap. 13. 15.
V. 3. upon the sea] See chap. 8. 8. Hereby is meant the The second vial.popes jurisdiction, which kept many provinces in subjection to him, as the sea doth begirt the land.
it became] A greater defection then before. The third part onelyonly was blood, chap. 8. 8.
as the blood of a dead man] Exod. 7. 17. As the putrified blood of a dead carcase, which as so loathsom, that no man can drink it. Or, as if it were made all over red with the blood of many men slain.
every living soul died in the sea] Whole provinces and kingdoms cast off the popes jurisdiction; because it was so corrupt, they could not live any longer in it. So it came to passe in Luthers time, before his death.
V. 4. rivers and fountains of waters] Popish magistrates, and The third vial.ministers employed to uphold their church, who came to an ill end; as many did in England and France.
V. 5. angel of the waters] That had power given him to turn the sea into blood, v. 3. Or, him on whose vial poured our, the rivers and fountains were turned into blood, v. 4. Like the angel of the fire, chap. 14. 18.
which art, &c.] Chap. 1. 4.
judged] Punished; as Gen. 15. 14.
V. 6. And thou hast given them blood to drink] They were adjudged to death, as they had judged others. So the laws are against priests in England; and they have for their ill lives been put to death by the secular power, in some popish countreys.
V. 7. another] Differing from him, chap. 9. 13. or from him, chap. 14. 18. or from him that spake out of the temple, v. 1. of this chapter. Or, one confirming the words of the angel of the waters, v. 5, 6. It may be the angel that offered up the incense at the golden altar, chap. 8. 3, 4.
Even so] So it ought to be.
true and righteous] Chap. 15. 3. Thou hast judged incorruptibly, in giving blood for blood; and fulfilled thy promise, in revenging the blood of thy servants, chap. 6. 11.
V. 8. upon the sun] The popes temporall power over kings. The fourth vial.Or, the house of Austria which shineth brightest in the popish heaven. They have begun to be eclipsed.
unto him] Or, unto it. To the angel, or to the sum. See the like, chap. 9. 1.
to scorch] Much fire and war have been in their territories of late: more may be.
V. 9. scorched] Or, burned. They were enraged with rancour and malice, as with a burning fire.
blasphemed the Name of God] As the beast doth, chap. 13. 6. which hath power over these plagues. Either he sheweth the cause why they blasphemed God, to wit, Because he did inflict these plagues on them; or, did not keep them off: Or else he sheweth their madnesse, that made their plagues greater, by resisting him that could have removed them, if they had submitted to him, and intreated his help, Isa. 8. 21.
to give glory to God] See chap. 11. 13.
repented not] See chap. 9. 20, 21.
V. 10. upon the seat of the beast] On the citie of Rome, The fifth vial.chap. 13. 2. which shall then be destroyed. And then we shall certainly know, which of the vials are past, and which to come.
full of darknesse, &c.] Though his citie be destroyed, yet not his kingdom totally: that shall be much obscured, when his throne is gone. The pope then must live somewhere else, when Rome is destroy, (as once he did at Avignon) before his kingdom be quite overthrown: and his followers shall be in great agonie, like those that bite their tongues for grief and anger, ready, at the next encrease of pain, to devour or destroy themselves. Or, it may be meant, They shall eat their words, and be ashamed of their railings upon Gods saints, though they leave not their idolatry, v. 11.
V. 11. blasphemed the God of heaven] Spake ill of him, because they conceived their plagues came from thence: for they thought no humane power could have destroyed Rome.
repented not] See v. 9. Chap. 9. 20.
V. 12. upon the great river Euphrates] Chap. 9. 14.
and the water thereof was dried up] With the heat of the The sixth vial.plague; or by the Jews, turned Christians, diverted, that they may come to help ruine the beast, Isa. 11. 15, 16. An allusion to the taking of old Babylon, Jer. 50. 38. & 51. 32. and drying up the Red sea, Exod. 14. and Jordan, Josh. 3. Or, the destroying of the Turkish empire, that hindereth their coming, as of Assyria, Isa. 8. 7. These are not like to come to help destroy Rome; for that is to be done under the former vial. See notes on v. 10. But to help destroy antichrist utterly, at the great battel of Armageddon, v. 16. Chap. 19. 17, 18. For their conversion is likely to be before that, though after the fall of Rome. See notes on chap. 19. 1, &c.
kings of the east] The Jews, who are like to reign in those parts again, Isa. 24. 21. Others understand it of the Turks, to be brought in by the popes frogs to help him, v. 14.
V. 13. three unclean spirits] Divers kindes of incendiaries sent abroad.
like frogs] Unclean persons, and making a great noise, to draw men to fight for antichrist, though Rome be down. They should be either the Jesuites, or some stirring sect worse then the Jesuites, arising after Romes, and before antichrists fall.
out of the mouth] By the command; as chap. 12. 15. Or, sent to establish their doctrine or religion.
of the dragon] Of the devil, chap. 12. 13. The Jesuites seem to be sent by him; for they keep a cabinet-council at Rome, distinct from the popes.
of the beast] The emperour, chap. 13. 1. who sendeth ambassadours abroad, to uphold the popish cause.
of that false prophet] The pope, chap. 13. 11. who sendeth his legats. See chap. 19. 20. & 20. 10. All these stir up other princes to further the catholike cause, as they call it. See the like, Gen. 14. 3. Josh. 9. 1, 2. & 10. 1, 2, 3.
V. 14. spirits of devils] Not onelyonly unclean, as v. 13. but also devillish and malicious.
working miracles] Chap. 13. 13. To perswade men to fight for antichrist, who is now going down the winde.
go forth] Are diligent, and travel into all parts, to perswade princes to uphold the popish cause.
kings of the earth] Popish kings.
of the great day of God Almighty] Wherein God shall shew his Almighty power, in destroying the popish princes, chap. 19. 17.
V. 15. Behold, I come] This verse should be included in a parenthesis, because the verse following dependeth not on it, but on the former. It is put in, to comfort Christs servants against these great preparations, by the promise of his speedy assistance.
as a thief] Chap. 3. 3. Matth. 24. 43. Unexpectedly.
watcheth] Taketh heed of the plots of these frogs. Or, doeth expect my help continually.
keepeth his garments] Doeth nothing unbeseeming the true religion; for he will get no help from them by dissembling, but will be exposed to shame, if he condescend to them.
V 16. He gathereth them] God, v. 14. As he let Abab be seduced by the false prophets, to his destruction, 1 Kings 22. so he letteth these foolish kings hearken to the frogs, to come into the pit of perdition. Or, They gathered: that is, the frogs. Or, the meaning is, they were gathered; as Luke 12. 20.
Armageddon] The place hath this name given it from the future event; as Numb. 11. 34. Ezek. 39. 11. Some take it for an allusion to Baraks victory over Sisera, by the waters of Megiddo, Judg. 4. 15. & 5. 19, 20. The word may signifie, Devoted to destruction: or, Destroyed by craft: that is, subtilly brought thither, to be suddenly destroyed.
V. 17. the seventh angel] Under the fifth vial, was the destruction The seventh vial.of the citie of Rome: under the sixth, the overthrow of the kings that assist the pope in the great battel. Under this seventh, the remainder of the papists are destroyed.
into the air] Where Satans throne is, Eph. 2. 2. who upheld the beast and false prophet all this while, and used his utmost endeavour to uphold them in the last great battel.
a great voice] In the thunder, v. 18. See Joh. 12. 28, 29.
from the throne] From him that sitteth on the throne; that is, God the Father, chap. 1. 4. & 4. 2.
It is done] It is certain, as if it were done, Hos. 10. 7. Chap. 21. 6. Babylon is undone, v. 19. Or, It was. Or, It is gone. That is, it once had a glorious being, now it hath none at all.
V. 18. voices and thunders, &c.] See chap. 4. 5. & 8. 5. & 11. 13, 19. As if heaven and earth were troubled, or conspired together, to destroy antichrist. Or, it may signifie a destruction, not by humane help, but from heaven, as it seemeth, v. 21.
such as was not, &c.] See Dan. 12. 1.
V. 19. the great citie] The place where the remainder of the senate and people of Rome abide: for it was destroyed under the fifth vial.
divided] Gr. made. Or, became.
into three parts] Pulled all to pieces, as a citie torn into three pieces by an earthquake.
cities of the nations] Other popish cities were destroyed. See chap. 11. 2. Or, of Turks and Gentiles: for all Christs enemies are to be deposed from publike authority.
came in remembrance before God] He shewed, by destroying her utterly, that he remembred all her wickednesse. So good works are remembred, when rewarded, Acts 10. 4, 31.
cup of the wine, &c.] See chap. 14. 10. Jer. 25. 15, 16.
of the fiercenesse of his wrath] This sheweth the greatnesse of Gods anger, punishing them for their sins which they were so many yeers in committing.
V. 20. every island] Or, place beyond the sea; as Psal. 72. 10. Or, every land or countrey; as Isa. 20. 6. & 41. 1. Jer. 47. 4. See chap. 6. 14. There, they were out of place; here, no more found, as if they had been removed or swallowed up by the earthquake. There should be no more footing for popery in any remote place, or defented cities. All of them should be either converted or confounded.
V. 21. upon men] The judgement on the places was shewed before: now followeth the judgement on the men that escaped. God will destroy them strangely.
a great hail] Great hailstones (as Josh. 10. 11.) signifying great judgements.
weight of a talent] See Ezra 8. 26. Very great hailstones, big enough not to kill men onelyonly, but also to dash them to pieces.
blasphemed God] They were so obstinate in their idolatry, that they stood out against all Gods judgements, and blasphemed God to the very last hour, v. 9.