Commentary on Revelation, Lecture 2
LECTURE II.
Vers. 5.
And after that I looked, and behold, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the testimonie in heaven was opened:
6.
And the seven Angels came out of the Temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
7.
And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven Angels, seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
8.
And the Temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power, and no man was able to enter into the Temple, till the seven plagues of the seven Angels were fulfilled.
THis Chapter (as was said) containeth the preparation to the prophesie of the seven vials, whereby the last wrath of God is fulfilled on the beast and his kingdom. The more generall part of this, is past in the preceeding verses: These verses do more particularly set forth the preparation, in these four, 1. in the rise of all, which is the Temples opening, or the change of the outward face of the Church. 2. The description of the seven Angels that were instruments, vers. 6. 3. The furnishing of them for their task and work. 4. A concomitant going alongst with the execution of their judgement.
The first thing, is (vers. 5.) the antecedent to all these plagues, which is the rise of all, that is, the opening of the Temple. That this is antecedent, appeareth by the context, where this opening is observed to clear what followeth concerning the Angels coming forth, as a prior step of the narration in order before their coming forth.
For understanding of it, we would consider that there is an allusion (as Chap. 11. vers. ult.) to the Jewish Church, where in time of Idolatry and backsliding the Temple was shut, as in Ahabs dayes; and in time of Reformation when all was brought again to the rule, the Temple was opened and sanctified, the Sacrifices put in order, and the Priests sanctified, as in Hezekiahs dayes. Iohns meaning is, before this, the Temple was shut, Religion, in its outward splendor and beauty, defaced by Antichrist; but now (as if he said) I saw a time of Reformation, when superstition and Idolatry was banished, and Purity and Truth preached in open view, as it was before Antichrist darkened their light. Thus, as the Temple was that which most evidenced the state of the Jewish Church, and the changes were most sensibly observed there; so (as many other things) that is borrowed to set out the change in the Christian Church here. See more, Chap. 11. vers. 19. This step of preparation concerning the publick breaking out of the Truth, is observed for these reasons, 1. To shew to what time these vials belong, to wit, to the state of the Church after Antichrists treachery is discovered, and God hath made some light to break out in His Church, to wit, to the last period. 2. To shew the connexion of these vials with, and their dependence upon, the blowing of the seventh trumpet, Chap. 11. last vers. where this same is mentioned: Now after a profitable digression, when he cometh again to the series of the prophesie, he beginneth (as it were) where he left, so to carry it on from thence forward the more clearly.
The second thing will clear this, after this Temple is opened, and Religion in heaven (that is, in the visible Church) is publickly professed, the Lord bringeth out seven Angels out of the opened Temple. These are the instruments of this wrath, mentioned, vers. 1. They are described by these things, 1. They are called Angels: we think not properly, but figuratively, such as He had fitted for this work and commissionated to execute it, whether Ministers or Magistrates. Their getting their vials from one of the beasts, and their being arayed with girdles, seemeth to confirm this; and more especially, that they were great civil men. 2. They are described from whence they came, They came out of the Temple, that is, (as it appeareth) they shall be members of the Church (now made patent) who are to be made use of in these judgements to execute His wrath on the whore. 3. They are cloathed with linen, either to shew the purity of their proceeding, or alluding to the Priests habit, Ezek. 44. as that of golden girdles alludeth to the manner of Kings. So these are Kings and Priests authorized and well furnished for such a work: all whom He employeth, are fitted instruments for His work.
The third circumstance of their further preparation, is mentioned, vers. 7. where two things are to be observed, 1. The instruments, or means of the plagues which they had to execute them with, that is, vials full of wrath. Vials ar great hollow vessels or cups, wide at the mouth: whereby is meaned, 1. great wrath. 2. an easie and quiet way of pouring it forth without great noise, possibly, having respect to the threatning, Chap. 14. where they are threatned with the cup of Gods wrath. These are called golden vials, partly because Justice in it self is precious, and it is an excellent dignity and honourable to be made use of in its execution, especially as approved instruments; partly, to shew Gods pure proceeding without the least mixture of any passion.
2. These vials are given by one of the beasts: it is like the first beast (as one day of the week, is the first day, Matth. 28.) which (Chap. 4.) is the type of valiant, bold and zealous Ministers. They are said to give these Angels these vials, when by and from Gods Word they clear that to be their duty, and in Gods Authority calleth them to it. By which it would seem that God would not have Kings and Princes waiting for an extraordinary revelation and call to awake to this judgement, but to acquiesce in ordinary Ministers, clearing His Truth from His Word; and thus, though Ministers be not to execute wrath actually and immediately by fighting, yet do they (as it were) blow the trumpets, 2 Chron. 13. and so they set up and cast down Kings and Kingdoms, Ier. 1. and their sword slayeth more than Hazaels. Thus it would seem, when eminent men are converted and ingrafted in the Church, zealous Ministers do put them in mind of this duty that God expecteth from the Kings of the earth; such zealous men have been, and particularly were after the begun opening of the Temple. God is said here to live for ever and ever; partly, to shew that He is reverently alway to be spoken of; partly, to shew what Master these Angels had, and whose wrath they were executing: not their own, Therefore they should not be in their zeal selfish and carnall, but it was Gods wrath and the wrath of such a great God; and therefore they had need to be single and humble, as others had reason to be afraid of such everlasting wrath. That denomination of God, addeth to the heightening of the wrath.
The fourth thing, which is the concomitant of these plagues, is vers. 8. containing, 1. the concomitant it self. 2. its effect. The concomitant, is, the Temple is filled with smoke: this alludeth to Gods way of old, making His presence sensible by signes in the Tabernacle, when it was newly erected, as Exod. 40. and in the Temple, when it was newly builded, as 2 King. 8.10, So here, when the Gospel-church shall be of new recovered, Gods presence will be as sensible and great in it, as it was of old, when Priests might not enter into the Temple because of the glory of it. Sometimes also this appearance, is a signe of anger, as Numb. 16. when He appeared to take vengeance on stubborn offenders, and would admit of no intercession: These being not inconsistent, but ordinarily conjoyned, to wit, Gods presence, glorious and refreshing to His own, and terrible and dreadfull to His enemies, Isa. 66.5. we understand both here: which agreeth well with the words following, filled with smoke, from the glory of God, that looketh to His gracious appearing, and from His power that holdeth Him forth terrible, as now appearing to exercise His power for comfort to His people and terror to His enemies. And so the effect agreeth to this, There was no man that was able to enter into the Temple, till the seven plagues were fulfilled: which sheweth the degree or measure of that glory of Gods appearing: It was extraordinary, as was in these times, Exod. 40. and 1 King. 8. before mentioned, it is not to be understood as if none now were in the Temple (the Church hath her own indwellers then) but that amongst them without, against whom these plagues were directed, none of them, or few of them, got Repentance to flee in for making peace with God in Christ. But these plagues, being against obstinate contemners of the light of the Word, now such a spiritual smoke of ignorance and hardnesse of heart was on them, and possibly of darknesse and contention in the Church, so that through Gods judgement on them they fretted under these plagues and perished, but repented not, as we will see particularly observed, Chap. 16. or, none could enter, &c. that is, God would admit none to make intercession for preventing these plagues (as Moses and the Priests in such cases entered the Tabernacle to intercede) untill the wrath threatened was executed: and so none could enter till then, will be this, they could never enter for that purpose, as the word is taken, 2 Sam. 6. vers. last.