Commentary on Revelation, Lecture 2
LECTURE II.
Vers. 6.
And he said unto me, These sayings are faithfull and true. And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
7.
Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophesie of this book.
8.
And I Iohn saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel, which shewed me these things.
9.
Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
10.
And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophesie of this book: for the time is at hand.
11.
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12.
And behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
THe body of this Book and Prophesie is now past: followeth, to the end, the conclusion, which serveth to the confirming and commending of the whole Prophesie, especially of the last vision. It hath five parts, 1. The Angel confirmeth and commendeth what is said, ver. 6, 7. 2. There is a mistake of Iohns recorded, ver. 8. 3. The Angel, as being interrupted by that superstitious humility of Iohn, returneth, after checking of him, to go on, ver. 9, 10, 11. Then, 4. cometh-in the Master, our blessed Lord, to speak to the same purpose, ver. 12. till ver. 20. Where, 5. Iohn closeth all with a wish for Christs coming and the Churches happinesse, as Epistles use to be closed.
The Angel doth, first, confirm this Prophesie (ver. 6.) by two arguments. 1. These sayings are faithfull and true, the matter is sure; for, the sayings are such, as upon them we may lay weight. They are faithfull: such a commendation the Gospel getteth, 1 Tim. 1.15. and it is frequent in this Book. It is added and repeated before the close, (especially with respect to the former vision) because, 1. it is of concernment to give credit to it; 2. because what is spoken of heaven, often amongst men passeth as a tale that is told and getteth little credit; but however, saith he, these sayings are worthy of it.
The second argument, is, That they are revealed by the Lord God of the holy Prophets, (it is expresly said of Christ (Chap. 1.) that He sent His Angel; and here (ver. 20.) that He testifieth these things; which sheweth that He is God) who hath sent His Angel to shew unto His servants the things which must shortly be done: The force of it, is thus, They must be faithfull sayings; for, that same God who before revealed things to His People by His Prophets (of which things never one failed) He hath now sent to reveal them by His Angel, Therefore they must also be faithfull, as the former words were, seing He is still omniscient and faithfull who revealeth them. They are called holy Prophets, 1. because God made use of holy men to be pen-men of His Word, 1 P…t. 1.21. 2. because the things spoken, had effect and were not lies. God is called their God, especially, 1. because of the peculiar service and commission He put on them beside others, 2. because of His owning their message as well as themselves.
Thirdly, The things are said to come to passe shortly, that is, they are not long to be suspended, therefore every one is concerned in them, before long they will be finished, but even from that time they were to begin in their series.
Vers. 7. He commendeth this prophesie (being compared with vers. 6.) in two, 1. That it was sent, and that by an Angel to his servants for their behove; an argument that should put them to search into it, seing He sent it. A second, from the happinesse of these who shall make right use of it, both in reading and keeping it, it being profitable for knowledge and practice, yea (compared with ver. 3. Chap. 1.) it saith that people read and know as much as they practise, which saying doth exceedingly commend the studying of this Book in sobriety, blessednesse being so oft attributed to the right searchers thereof.
The word, Behold, I come quickly, is thrice in this Chapter repeated, and prefixed here to be a spur to study and to keep the sayings of this Book: for did men walk with the apprehension of Christs coming quickly, there would be more study to know His will, and more conscience to practise it. This would be in all our thoughts, we may see why the things, prophesied-of here, are said shortly to come to passe, that is, in the same sense that Christ cometh quickly, that so men may observe them the better and be the more watchfull in reference to them.
The second thing followeth, vers. 8. which is Iohn's second mistake, wherein he had fallen before, Chap. 19.10. when he heareth and seeth these things, he falleth down to worship before the Angel that revealed them: whereby it is clear, that hitherto it was an Angel that spake to Iohn, in the name of the Lord; and it appeareth also, that Iohn knew him to be an Angel; for so, (ver. 6.) he had called himself, who was employed in this: It is like that as Chap. 19. the glorious sight and good news of the happy estate of the Church militant, getting that commendation that they were the true sayings of God, Chap. 19. ver. 9. overhwhelmed him some way there, to think more of this revealer than he ought; it is like, the same being represented to him of the Church triumphant (which to him is new, and which the glory of the militant Church was not) he hath been overwhelmed, as it were, with joy and again fallen in too much admiration of the revealer (I mean the instrumentall revealer) of such glad tidings. The words were opened, Chap. 19.10. There he called himself one that had the testimony of Jesus Christ: here is added, he is a fellow-servant of these that keep the sayings of this book, to shew, that not only Iohn, but all the Believers have one Master with Angels; and therefore on this ground, the least of them ought no worship to Angels, but to the Master, as the opposition cleareth. Where again, it is observable, 1. that it is a special note of a Believer to keep the sayings of this Book. 2. That the more Iohn putteth honour, which is not due, upon Angels, they debase themselves, as it were, the more; not only Iohn's fellow-servant, but fellow-servant to the lowest, which was not so plain before. And if on this account Angels plead against worship from Iohn, so do they against worship from any in that relation with him. 3. It appeareth here that men, even holy men, may relapse in the same sin, and that they cannot abide much appearing glory in creatures, but they are ready to give too much unto them. 4. Here is an example of a Godly man, his falling again in the same sin after he was reproved by the Angel, and no question repented of it, being of such a heavenly frame when he was reproved. This, it is like, was Abrahams case in twice denying his Wife, Gen. 12. and Chap. 20. And Iehoshaphat's with A…ab and Iehoram. 5. It appeareth that the reason why the Angel calleth himself (Chap. 19.10.) one who had the testimony of Jesus Christ, is, because (as ver. 6.) he is now employed for revealing Jesus Christs mind, as holy Prophets of old were in revealing His mind to His Church.
From ver. 9. to 16. followeth the third part. First, (vers. 9.) the Angel putteth by and checketh Iohn for this fault of his, as is said. Then (ver. 10.) he returneth to prosecute his purpose in several directions and reasons including commendations of the duties directed unto.
The first direction is special to Iohn, ver. 10. Seal not the sayings of the prophesie of this book Seal not here, is not understood, as to its surenesse (for, that is out of question) but as to hidnesse or secretnesse; let not, saith he, this bookly closed, as Isa. 29,11. and 8.16. that it be not usefull to the Church; for, more is imported than is expressed, as appeareth by the reasons, the Lamb opened not the seals of this book, that they should again be closed: that is not the end it is given for, but on the contrary, let it be publick, for their behoof, and the reason is, for the time is at hand. The seals which are the first propheticall vision (properly) they are dayly fulfilling and the rest come on. It is an allusion unto Isa. 8. and 29. with Dan. 12. where mention is made of sealing these prophesies, because they were to be dark, and little usefull to that generation, being for the time to c…e, for many dayes. See Dan. 8. and so on the contrary, no sealing must hold forth their clearnesse, or Christs mind that they should be so, seing there was use to be made of them.
This command of publishing this prophesie may be thought strange, and it may be objected, men may wax worse and worse, and seing, as Peter saith of lesse obscure Scriptures, 2 Pet. 3. They pervert them to their own destruction, much more, it seemeth, it may be said of this, which is so dark; and so would the objection conclude, better seal it than no seal it. This is prevented by an answer, usual in the Prophets, keep it not up whatever come of it, like Ezek. 2.7. whether they will hear or forbear. And this is followed with a twofold qualification, 1. If it be dark or an offence to any, it will be but to the profane and vile or filthy, who abuse the best things; it will make none profane, but filthy persons, who may from their corruption abuse it, as they do the plain truths. But, 2. these who are single and sincere, it will not hinder, but strengthen them in the way of holinesse, and confirm them in the faith of Christ; and so it will be to the one the favour of life unto life, and to the other the favour of death unto death, a Corinth. 2.16. and that is no strange thing, and cannot be attributed to the unsealing of this prophesie; for if it were sealed, that would follow, as we see in Dan. 12.9, 10, &c. This is the simple scope of this Verse, we may read it in the future time (as it is common to the Hebrews, to which stile Iohn cometh neer here) and so it telleth what will be the effect, some … offend at it, some will get good of it; or, in the imperative, let them be filthy still. It is no dispensation, but an holy regardlesnesse that God hath of such filthy persons as will not be made clean, but maketh a snare of their table, let it be so, saith he, as Rom. 11. and Hos. 4. Ephraim is joyned to idols, let him alone; he will not part with them, that is his sin, and let it be his plague: so here.
If any should question the meaning of that, he that is just, let him be just still; or, (it being the word in the Original that signifieth justified) he that is justified, let him be so still. Answ. The Word may, and we think doth keep its proper signification here, as it is distinguished from sanctification and inherent holinesse. The simple meaning, is, they who are in Christ, shall not be shaken out of that estate, but shall still so continue whatever come of others. Thus still signifieth not an increase of degrees (which may also be in this as to our sense, and that well agreeth to the scope) but a continuance of that estate, as the word foreign is sundry times rendered, supra, vers. 3. And that it must be so, appeareth by this, that holinesse or sanctification is expresly distinguished from this of being just, as denotating a different thing. Therefore Bellar, hath no ground from this (which is the only place alleaged from the New Testament) to say, that foreign sometimes signifieth to make just by inherent holinesse. This is a simple declaring of the effects that should follow severally on hearers, some perverse spirits shall offend, but all the godly, both as to their justification and sanctification shall be preserved, Therefore there needeth no scarring to bring forth this prophesie.
A second qualification, is, ver. 12. And behold, I come quickly, &c. that is, be doing, (for that negative, seal not the sayings, ver. 10. includeth the contrary affirmative, reveal them) for, though it be abused for a time, I am coming quickly, and will call every one to an account of their carriage, and reward them accordingly, even in reference to their usemaking of this prophesie. This is added to strengthen the former reason, One might think it sad that men should so abuse Pearls and such a precious Word, it will not be long so, (saith the Lord) but I my self will come to execute justice on all, which shall be suitable and proportionable to mens carriage, that is, vengeance on these that continue filthy, and glory and honour to such as continue holy, Rom. 2.8. And this word is an advertisement to all to take heed how they live under means, for so must they answer and be judged according to their works. And the Lord cometh in abruptly, as it were, to continue the same matter (for, the title which He afterward assumeth, sheweth it to be Himself) thereby declaring that it was His Word, and by His Authority which the messenger spoke mediately, as when He speaketh immediately Himself.
By occasion of this judgement, there is a word of great concernment set down, till ver. 16. for we take this 13. ver. (which beareth plainly out Christs name) to be His own words, coming in here to confirm what the Angel had said in His name before; and, so ver. 14. and 15. are to be read in a Parenthesis as the Angels words set down for advertisement; and (vers. 16.) Christ is again brought in proceeding in His speaking. The like may be seen in these words, Chap. 16. ver. 15. Blessed is he that watcheth, &c. where the writer, upon the occasion of judgement formerly mentioned, breaketh forth into that advertisement. However, though these words here, ver. 14. be the Angels words (in that he saith [His] Commandments) yet the scope and matter is the same, and it is certain, ver. 16. Jesus Christ Himself taketh it on Him, and therefore telleth, it is He now and no Angel, but He who sendeth Angels that speaketh.
This saying of His, I come quickly, v. 12. is for confirming what He said of the happinesse of these that keeped this word: and this name of His, vers. 13. is repeated for confirming that of His coming quickly to reward every one, because He is God, who as He gave a being to all for His own glory, so He will exact an account thereof.