Commentary on Revelation, Vision 4 · Chapter 14 · Part 1
CHAPTER XIV. The Argument, Uſes, Parts, Analyſis.
AFter the Beaſt, or Antichriſt the ſeducer of the world, appeareth the LAMB ſtanding on mount Sion with 144000 ſealed ones, ſinging to God with melody a new ſong before his throne: three Angels in order goe forth to reveale Antichriſt. Of which the firſt bad the everlaſting Goſpell, by which men received light to call upon God in the name of Ieſus Chriſt, and not in the name of Saints: The ſecond threatneth the fall of Babylon: that is, he shewes that Antichriſt ſits in Babylon, or the Church of Rome. The third exhorteth all men to take heed that they worship not the Beaſt, neither his image, upon paine of eternall damnation. And laſtly, the harveſt and vintage of the earth is gathered in by the Angel ſitting on the cloud.
In which types is shadowed out, firſt Chriſts preſence with his Church oppreſſed by Antichriſt. Secondly, the purging of doctrine (corrupted by Antichriſt) by the preachers of the Goſpel, with their combats againſt Antichriſt, raiſed up in our times by the ſingular mercy of God: And thirdly, the laſt judgement is ſignified, in which Antichriſt with all other enemies being caſt into the lake of Gods wrath, shall be eternally punished for their perfidiouſneſſe and tyranny.
This whole Chapter therefore is diverſe wayes conſolatory. Firſt, howſoever the whole earth for theſe thouſand years hath followed the Beaſt, yet Chriſt ſtill will have a Church and people: becauſe even in the midſt of the Beaſts reigne, the Lamb reſerveth unto himſelfe 144000. ſealed ones, who shall truely invocate the name of God: like as of old in the corrupteſt time of Iſrael, he reſerved 7000. worshippers, who bowed not their knees to Baal.
Secondly, howſoever Antichriſt hath a long time ſuppreſſed the Church and doctrine of the Goſpell: yet Chriſt will at length purge the ſame by his Angels or miniſters: the which he hath truely done in our age.
Thirdly, howſoever theſe thouſand yeeres and more Antichriſt hath oppreſſed by horrible punishments, and condemned ſuch as haereticks, who would not adore his image: yet they were moſt bleſſed Martyrs, and enjoyed reſt, and the reward of their labours in heaven.
Laſtly, howſoever Antichriſt no way leſſens his furie, but goes on to perſecute ſtill in an hoſtile manner the Goſpell and miniſters thereof: yet we ought not to be terrified by him, but on the contrary, manfully oppoſe him by the preaching of the Goſpell: becauſe in the laſt harveſt and vintage, he shall be abolished by the glorious comming of Chriſt, and eternally punished in the lake of Gods wrath.
The parts of the Chapter are three.
I. TOuching the Lamb ſtanding on Mount Sion, in the five first verſes.
II. Of three Angels, preaching againſt Babylon and the worſhippers of the Beaſt, unto, v. 14.
III. Concerning the harveſt and vintage of the earth, unto the end.
The firſt part concernes the Lamb ſtanding on Mount Sion with 144000. ſealed ones, verſe 1. II. A mutuall ſong of the dwellers in heaven is heard: verſ. 2.3. III. Seven worthie titles of the ſealed ones are declared.
1. their teachableneſſe, that they alone could learne this heavenly ſong, verſ. 3.
2. Chaſtity, they are virgines, and are not defiled with women.
3. Society with the Lambe, whoſe inſeparable companions they are, ibid.
4. Liberty, they are redeemed from among men, ibid.
5. Their prerogatives: they are the firſt fruits, and holy to God and the Lamb, ibid.
6. Integrity, they are without guile, verſ. 5.
7. Innocency, they are without fault before the throne, ibid.
In the ſecond part the three preaching Angels are deſcribed. the firſt Angell is deſcribed.
1. by his geſture and place, he flieth foreign in the midſt of heaven, verſ. 6.
2. His habit, he holds the everlaſting Goſpell, ibid.
3. His office, he preacheth the Goſpel to all the inhabitants of the earth, ibid.
4. The thing it ſelfe that was publiſhed, viz. A threefold exhortation.
1. that they feare God.
2. that they give glory to him.
3. adore the Creator of heaven and earth: inſerting a perſwaſive reaſon, from an inforting cauſe: for the houre of judgement was at hand, verl. 7.
The ſecond Angel publiſheth the ruine of Babylon, verſ. 8. with a reaſon taken from the meriting cauſe: becauſe ſhe had mingled the wine of her fornication unto the Gentiles, ibid.
The preaching of the third Angell is comminatory: and here is ſhewed:
1. Whom he threatneth; viz. the worſhippers of the Beaſt and his image, &c. v. 9.
2. What he threatneth: two things: 1. they ſhall drinke of the wine of Gods wrath, verſ. 10.2. be tormented with fire and brimſtone, ibid. This he amplifies, 1. from the eternity of the puniſhment, v. 11. 2. that it is continuall, without any intermiſſion, ibid.
3. By an hortatory concluſion he ſtirs up the Saints to conſtancy, v. 12. Here is patience: And he comforts them from the reſt and felicity of the Saints, oppoſed unto the eternall torments of the wicked, ver. 13.
In the third part is repreſented,
1. Chriſt the Iudge on a white cloud, with a reaping ſickle, ver. 14.
2. He is required to gather in the Harveſt, by a reaſon from the conveniency: becauſe the Harveſt was ripes verſ. 15.
3. The execution, which is the reaping of the earth, v. 16.
4. The ſaid Iudge with a ſharpe ſickle to cut the vine, ver. 17.
He is bid to vintage the earth, by reaſon (as before) of the ripeneſſe, ver. 18.6. The gathering the vintage of the earth, and treading downe the winepreſſe of Gods wrath with the effects, viz. exceeding much blood floweth thence, verſ. 19.20.
The firſt Part of the Chapter.
Touching the Lambe ſtanding on Mount Sion vvith 144000: ſealed ones, as alſo a ſiſt apparition of unknovvn Harpers: CHAP. XIV.
1. ANd I looked, and loe, a Lamb ſtood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred fourty and foure thouſand, having his Fathers name written in their foreheads.
2. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers, harping with their harps.
3 And they ſung as it were a new ſong before the throne, and before the foure Beaſts, and the Elders, and no man could learne the ſong, but the hundred and fourty & foure thouſand which were redeemed from the earth.
4 Theſe are they to hich were not defiled with women: for they are virgins Theſe are they which follow the Lamb whetherſoever he goeth: Theſe were redeemed from among men, being the firſt fruits unto God, and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.