Commentary on Revelation, Lecture 3
LECTURE III.
Vers. 11.
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat upon him was called faithfull and true, and in righteousnesse he doth judge and make war.
12.
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns, and he had a name written that n… man knew but he himself.
13.
And he was clothed with a vesture dipt in bloud, and his name is called, The word of God.
14.
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15.
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the wine-presse of the fiercenesse and wrath of Almighty God.
16.
And he hath on his vesture, and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
17.
And I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that flie in the midst of heaven, Come and gather your selves together unto the supper of the great God:
18.
That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19.
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20.
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21.
And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
THe last part of the Chapter followeth from ver. 11. to the end; wherein the last part of the sixth vial of the battell of Armageddon (mentioned Chap. 16.) is more fully set down. 1. In the preparations for it. 2. In the event of it. The first is to vers. 14. The other, to the end.
The preparation of the beast was more fully set down, Chap. 16. Therefore it is but touched here, and the Lambs order and Army, who are the other party, are more insisted on.
I saw heaven opened. This is preparatory to the vision, that he might the more clearly discern it: but that is not all, hereby it would appear is now set out a more flourishing estate of the Gospel after the Lambs marriage; for, by a white horse this was signified, Chap. 6. and by the opening of Heaven and the Ark, Chap. 11. it was signified also. This would then hold forth a flourishing Church, able to send out Armies at least of spiritual fighters for Christ, against His enemies.
The preparations upon the Lambs side, are more particularly set down, 1. By the description of the Captain. 2. Of an Angel, as an Herauld denouncing the War, or rather foretelling the victory, ver. 17. he insisteth most on the Captain; for, He is of most concernment in the War, and cannot easily be described. The properties given Him are of two sorts. 1. Such, whereby he is someway tied in his proceedings to His Word. 2. Such, wherein He is absolute, and He hath a name answering both as a description. There are four names given to Him that divide this description; Or, take it as it lieth, and, 1. we have set down His own properties, to ver. 14, Then, 2. His Army, ver. 14. and, 3. His Weapons or Armour, ver. 15. He now rideth on His white horse as Captain, being spotlesse in His way and manner of proceeding; for which cause, His first stile (ver. 11.) is faithfull and true in keeping promise and Covenant to His People. And then, secondly, it is added, that in righteousnesse he doth judge and make war: which implieth, that there is a right end in His undertaking, a right cause, and a right manner of proceeding in it. Two, properties more are set down, ver. 12. His eyes were like a flame of fire, importing searching omnisciencie and terrible Majesty, as Chap. 1. He hath on his head many crowns, not materially so; but to shew His absolute soveraignty, that He is an high and great and glorious King, so that one crown or few crowns will not serve to describe His glory. This is a great King above all kings, as His name is, ver. 16. This also importeth many triumphs and victories over His enemies.
Answerable to this greatnesse, He hath an inexpressible name that none can take Him up in the infinitnesse and greatnesse of His Essence and glory but Himself, to creatures it is a mysterie and a secret, as Iudg. 13.18. for, no name can adequatly set out His perfections.
He proceedeth in the description of Him, ver. 13. as in a most conquering-like posture, He was clothed with a vesture dipt in bloud: it is like with the bloud of the former events of former vials, or of this on Him: He followeth the chase so hot, when He once beginneth and appeareth so terrible and bloudy, and yet conquering like one mighty to save, Isa. 63.1, 2. His name is here set down more plainly in a stile more usuall for Iohn to give Him, and that is, The word of God, Ioh. 1. So Christ is called the Word. First, in respect of His person, seing He doth expresse the character of the Fathers Person as clearly as the Word doth represent a mans secret conception within, Heb. 1.3. Secondly, in respect of His Offices, because by Him God doth as by a word plainly make known the secrets of the Gospel, before hid in Him.
In the 14. Verse, His Armies are set out, 1. These in heaven: not only Angels and Saints glorified; but such of the Church, as (ver. 8.) are arayed with such vesture. The new married Iews and the beautified Gentiles are both stirred up to this employment, They are named, Chap. 17. called and faithfull who were with the Lamb, they are the same here. The Church now is more pure in worship, and shining in holinesse; and the most pure are most zealous in following of Him: for, this honour have all His Saints, as Psal. 149. 2. They are called Armies, for their multitude, strength and discipline. 3. They ride, and that on white horses: He hath all His Souldiers mounted as well (as it were) as Himself, they share with Him as certainly of the victory, as He doth overcome: It is good being on the Lambs side, and at His back. But there is no word of a weapon amongst them all: for, they need none, because He goeth foremost and fighteth, and they but follow as a company in triumph. It is to let see also, it is not the Souldiers, but the Captain, and His weapons that get the victory; for, righteousnesse or fine lin…n is their defensive armour; and for offensive, they have none mentioned here, although from Chap. 17. and the scope, we may gather that they are also to be made active in this war, yet the victory dependeth not thereupon: holinesse and faith is the best armour folks can put on.
His own weapons are set down, ver. 15. in three, 1. A sword going out of his mouth, which is the word whereby He subdueth Nations to Himself. 2. A rod of iron, Psal. 2. signifying both Authority, (Psal. 110.2.) and power to crush gainsayers, and to put His Laws in execution against wicked opposers that yeeld not to the Word, them He striketh with the rod of iron: for, rule He must. 3. There is a wine-pr…sse of Gods wrath, as Chap. 14. and Isa. 63. and that He treadeth, that is, He easily (and now at this time) abundantly executeth judgement Himself, where the former prevaileth not. And seing He treadeth alone, Isa. 63. few arms will serve these that are with Him.
Suitable to this Soveraignity and Power He hath a name, (ver. 16.) on his v…sture, that it may be visible (as it were, in His Colours legible) and on his thigh, that is, graven now most observably upon all His wayes and motions, as Chap. 1. It shall now be known He is Lord of lords, and King of kings, that is, most Soveraign, and will now be seen and acknowledged to be so, for He taketh it on Him.
Lastly, vers. 17, 18. This battell is set out by one standing in the sun, that he may be conspicuous, crying to all fowls, to come, and to eat, all sorts of great and small: which doth set out, 1. the certainty of this defeat. 2. the greatnesse of it: the slain shall be so many, that fowls shall eat them; it is borrowed from Ezek. 39.17. Also it may set out a clear and confident incitation of Gods Ministers to stir up others to go about the execution of this judgement with confidence of victory, as if they were invited to prey upon dead men; and possibly also by this, many that are not mounted like the Lamb, nor clothed in white, and are not following Him, nor walking on His account, shall yet upon hope of gain to feed (like ravenous fowls upon others ruine,) engage into this fight, and be made use of (though following their corrupt ends) for a time to execute Gods justice against this beast, who preferred his own interest to Christs.
This is the Lambs preparation; now followeth a word of the contrary party. There is the beast and the Kings of the earth and their armies, to with, some Kings yet sticking to the beast, that did lament the whores destruction, and with them others without the Church, of late engaged to side with the Pope, who is now made to flee from Rom…. The beast here is only mentioned (though, Chap. 16.13. and in the following verse, the false prophet be added) to shew they are but one, though diversly represented. All these are gathered against Christ (so it is constructed) and His people. How this gathering proceeded, and whence it came, is not spoken to here, because it is insisted on, Chap. 16. 13, &c. as also the place whereto they are brought; only now both Armies and their Captains are marked to be in the fields.
The event followeth, ver. 20. and 21. in three steps, first, in respect of the opposit Chiftain, 1. he is taken prisoner, 2. he is condemned and cast alive in the lake from whence he came. The party overcome hath two names, yet is one; The beast here is that first, Chap. 13. the false prophet is that second Ecclesiastick beast, or second consideration of the former: for, these same things are attributed to this false prophet, which were the properties of that beast, Chap. 13.11. therefore they are one, as was shown there; and their joynt death sheweth in all things an identity. They are only named as distinct, 1. to shew that that grandour of Rome, which hath long stood, and after that City is burned, doth yet pretend some preheminence by the surviving of its last head the false prophet, (who still, though banished, keepeth up the name of Romish Pope,) shall now both fall together, Romes Empire in that series and the Pope they shall go together into destruction, and there shall be no such Empire of Rome under any form after that, as hath formerly been, but the body and head (in a word) shall perish together. 2. To shew that both that civil grandour signified by the first beast, and that religious deceit and hypocrisie, whereby it was maintained, shall now be at a further end than when the whore was destroyed, no Popes nor avowed spreading of Popery are to be after this in any such measure. Thus they are captivated who keeped still liberty in all former defeats, and are ensnared, as it were, unawares when they looked for no such thing, but on the opinion of the Popes perpetuity were confident: the word, in the Original, implyeth some surprisall: they are cast alive in the lake; this is their judgement, to set out the abhorrency which the Lord hath at them and sheweth at their end, as in the case of Korah, Dathan, &c. to shew there is a judgement after this to them; for, he pursueth them still till it end them. 3. To shew, that there is now no regresse to them after this defeat; for, it is irrecoverable to the beast by the sixth vial, as it was to the whore by the fifth, before, Chap. 18. he came from the pit, Chap. 13. and 17. and he returneth to it here.
2. This victory is set out in respect of these that escaped this sort of judgement, vers. 21. all that adhere to the beast, it is like, perish not now; some by Christs Word are either win, and so their enimity is slain and they made to submit; or, by it they are condemned: the former (as to many) is not unlike Christs conquest, Psal. 45.
The event is set out by the satisfaction that these who love prey shall have; the slaughter and spoil is answerable to what was denounced, vers. 17. and 18. These that follow duty, even on corrupt ends, may sometimes get a fill and some successe; but these that did ride on white horses, had a more noble design: this one sword of Christ doth all the businesse, and they have enough to be witnesses.
So the series of Antichrists destruction looketh thus in the three last vials; the fifth overturneth Rome, yet he himself hath some being and maketh some new stickling or sh…fting for help in his last essay: after that he is taken by the sixth, and there is then neither seat nor beast to sit in it; yet possibly there may be some remnant of adherents to that Babylonish superstitious way, regrating the overthrow of the beast by the sixth, as they did of his seat by the fifth, Chap. 18. which in this sense may be judicially slain by the sword of Christs mouth, although the execution of it be suspended: these are fully overturned by the seventh vial, when great Babylon cometh in remembrance before God, possibly in the dayes of God and Magog, such old principles concerning Rome are revived, but they are soon banished.
There is a great objection against this, because the destruction of Antichrist seemeth to be reserved for Christs second coming, 2 Thess. 2.8. and here he is cast in hell, which some think cannot be before the end. Before we answer, we take it for certain, that this judgment of the beast is not at the last day: For, 1. it is under the sixth vial, and it is the seventh that bringeth the end. 2. It is a judgement wherein Armies of Saints are imployed and his word is made use of in this ruine, which cannot be said of the last judgement. 3. In this judgement of his casting in the lake, there is a difference put between him and his followers who are otherwise judged, vers. ult. and their casting-in suspended; there is no such difference in the last judgement. 4. There are some events yet behind this, the devil is not fully overturned till the seventh vial cast him in the lake, which is by the judgment of the great day, and yet the beast is in the lake before him: therefore this judgement is before the last, by which the devil is casten, where the beast and false prophet are before him, as is clear from Chap. 20. vers. 10.
Now for answer, 1. It is not absurd to say, the finall end of Antichrists kingdom shall not be before the end, his kingdom being complexly considered; yet it hindereth not, but both himself and his seat may be overturned before. 2. That place, 2 Thess. 2. may look to the destruction of Antichrist, not at Christs last coming, but at His coming to that judgement of the whore, as it is called the great day of God, Chap. 6. when He came to be avenged on heathen Emperours: and the destruction there, (2 Thess. 2.) is, 1. peice and peice and not at once. 2. It is by the breath of his mouth, that looketh to the shining of the Gospel, whereby he is ruined, as here by the sword proceeding from Christs mouth. And so, 3. the brightnesse of His coming will be His coming in the Gospel, and taking to Him that great power which Antichrist hath long usurped; and that agreeth well both with the scope there and here. And, 3. if any should urge further, that in that place (2 Thess. 2.) two distinct steps are set down, 1. To consume him by the Spirit of His mouth; but the second, his destruction, is reserved to Christs second coming. Answ. It will prove no more but this, 1. That Antichrists fall shall begin long before it end. 2. That it shall be fully compleated at the great Day. 3. That beside whatever come upon him now, there shall also be a reckoning with him then. We deny none of these, seing the Word saith not it is only so; for, our opinion is not excluded, which saith more, to wit, he shall be judged at his particular judgement and at the generall judgement also: and although it be ordinary in the Scripture to design the last day for the time of persecuters destruction and the Saints outgate, because both are at that day perfected; yet can it not be argued, Therefore there are no foregoing strokes or deliveries; so, neither can it be in the present case, beside, it being in the close of the sixth vial, and after the Iews conversion, which will be not long before the end, it may there be so expressed.
For that, he is cast alive in the lake, it is certainly not properly to be understood, as if he should never die, but is an allusion to that of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, to shew the greatnesse, dreadfulnesse and irrecoverablnesse of that doom that shall come on him: and considering this special and eminently stated enemy of God and Jesus Christ in His Kingdom, and Gods visible taking course in this world with other more open enemies, it is like, that the jealous God who is avenged, as is clear, on his seat before men, will even in this world, though he spare him long, singularly shew His judgement on him, beside what He will do in the last Day, which also in part contributeth to His Glory and His peoples comfort, as any other temporall judgement doth, which yet is not so much foretold for these ends as this is.