Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 22 · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Verſe 1. And I ſaw another ſigne]
DIſtinct from the former, and deſcribing the utter overthrow of Antichriſt in this, and the following Chapters.
Great and marvellous] A juſt wonder it was indeed, the miracle that we in theſe laſt times are to look for, that the Kingdome of Antichriſt ſhould be ſo eaſily and ſuddenly over-turned by the preaching of the Goſpel, as once the wals of Jericho were by the blowing of Rams-horns.
Seven Angels] i. e. Certain Citizens of the Reformed Churches.
Having the ſeven laſt plagues] Being the ſeverall parts of the ſeventh Trumpet, and ſaid to be the laſt that ſhall in this life be inflicted: though far worſe follow in hell, whereof all theſe are but typicall. Here the leaves only (as it were) fall upon reprobates, but hereafter the whole trees.
Verſe 2. As it were a ſea of glaſſe] The word of God mingled with the vertue of the holy Ghoſt, ſay ſome. The world full of affliction, ſay others.
Having the harps of God] Hearts full of heaven.
Verſe 3. And they ſing] There cannot but be muſick in the temple of the holy Ghoſt.
The ſong of Moſes] As being delivered out of ſpirituall Aegypt.
And the ſong of the Lamb] That mentioned, Chap. 14.3. and the ſame in effect with that of Saint Paul, 1 Timothy 1.15, 17.
Verſe 4 who ſhall not fear thee] q. d. How mad are the enemies, how ſottiſh is the world that fear not thee, who art the proper object of fear? Pſal. 76.11. The Greeks call him foreign, quaſi foreign, fear: the Chaldee Dechilah for the ſame reaſon: and Jacob ſtiled him, The fear of his father Iſaac.
For thou only art holy] Before it had been ſaid of his Holineſſe, Who is like unto the beast? Now, who ſhall not fear thee, ô Lord, for thou only art holy?
For all Nations ſhall come] As being deeply affected with thine heavieſt plagues upon Antichriſt; they ſhall better bethink themſelves, They ſhall return and diſcern betwixt the righteous and the wicked, Mal. 3. ult.
Are made manifeſt] i. e. Are begun to be, and more and more ſhall be, if our ſins hinder not.
Verſe 5. The temple of the tabernacle] Theſe words are all one with thoſe, chap. 11.19. to the conſideration whereof we are here recalled, after ſo long an interruption.
Verſe 6. Clothed in pure] Habited as holy Prieſts.
With golden girdles] Here an Interpreter gives this note,M. Bernard. That they which are leud and vicious, though never ſo wiſe, politike, rich and valiant, ſhall not be Gods inſtruments to plague Antichriſt and his kingdom. This their prieſtly apparel ſheweth alſo, how that theſe Angels come forth in the Churches cauſe, and for her ſake without any other by and ſiniſter reſpect.
Verſe 7. And one of the four beaſts] The faithfull Paſtours by their divine diſcourſes of the pure worſhip of God, the intolerable tyranny of Antichriſt, &c. ſtirre up the ſpirits of Gods ſervants to ſet them ſelves againſt that man of ſinne, and to execute upon him the judgement written. This honour have all his Saints, Pſal. 149. ult.
Seven golden vials] Veſſels of large content, but narrow mouths: they pour out ſlowly, but drench deeply, and diſtill effectually the wrath of God.
Full of the Wrath of God] Filled out of the cup of his wrath, mentioned in the former Chapter.
Verſe 8. And the Temple was filled] This ſhews that God graciouſly approves and miraculouſly protects the reformed Churches. See Exod. 40.34, 35. 1 King. 8.10. So he did the Huſſites in Bohemia. All Germany was up in arms againſt them. Actum jam de Huſſitis videbatur. Verùm Germani, nondum viſo hoſte, Panico terrore perculſi, diffugerunt, ſaith the Hiſtorian. And when things ſeemed to be in a deſperate condition, the Germans ſmitten with a panick terrour, fled all away before they had looked the enemy in the face. How wonderfully is Geneva preſerved in the midſt of many mighty enemies? What ſhould I ſpeak of Rochel relieved, and Leiden reſcued both from heaven? We of this Nation have lately ſeen as much of Gods glory and power in our Temple, as ever did any.
Till the ſeven plagues] No Anticriſtian could underſtand the end of the preſent plagues, till eaten into a better minde. Vexatio dat intellectum.