The City of God, Exposition of Revelation · Chapter 21 · Part 14
Of the Kings of the Earth that bring their glory to it.
And the Kings of the Earth do bring their glory, and honour into it, 21.24.
AS it was in old Ieruſalem the Type in Solomons day, when it was ſaid, 2 Chron. 9 23.24. That all the Kings of the Earth ſought his preſence, and brought every man his preſent; Veſſels of Silver, and Veſſels of Gold, and Raiment, Harneſs and Spices, Horſes, Mules, a rate year, by year;
So muſt it be in the new Ieruſalem, there ſhall be a coming up of the Kings of the Earth with their glory and honour, which are to be underſtood, either ſuch Kings or Rulers that are converted to the faith, that being inſtructed, become wiſe, do kiſs the ſon, Serving the Lord with fear, and rejoyce with trembling, Pſ. 2.11.12. Whilſt others are broken to pieces in their oppoſition) or of ſuch that being holy and gracious are made Rulers and Governors, for only ſuch that are men of Truth and fear God, are to be intruſted therewith. And theſe Kings in the Text that come in to the City can be underſtood no other, for we cannot ſuppoſe any wicked unconverted perſons have their admiſſion, becauſe it is ſaid, Rev. 21.27. That in no wiſe there ſhall enter into it any thing that defileth, or that worketh Abomination, or that maketh a lye, or that are not written in the Lambs Book of Life.
And in ſuch a ſence that theſe following Scriptures be fulfilled, viz. Beeauſe of thy Temple which is in Jeruſalem ſhall Kings bring preſents to thee, the Kings of Tarſhiſh and of the Iſles ſhall bring preſents to thee; the Kings of Sheba and Seba ſhall Offer gifts, yea all Kings ſhall fall down before him, and all Nations ſhall ſerve him; the Kings ſhall ſee and ariſe, and Princes ſhall worſhip, becauſe of the Lord, &c. The Kings ſhall come to thy Light, and Princes to the brightneſs of thy riſing, the Kings ſhall ſee thy Righteouſneſs, and all Kings thy Glory; All the Kings of the Earth ſhall praiſe thee O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth: yea, they ſhall ſing in the ways of the Lord; for great is the glory of the Lord, Pſ. 68.29. Eſ. 49.22, 23. Pſ. 72.10, 11, 12. Iſa. 47.6, 7.60.2, 3, 4, 5.62.2. Pſa. 138.44.
It is true Babylon indeed hath had the Kings of the Earth bringing glory and honour into her, whereby ſhe hath gloryfied her ſelf at that monſtrous rate, ſaying therefore ſhe ſhall ſit as a Queen and ſee no ſorrow; the ten Kings having to fulfil Gods words given their Power, Strength, and Kingdom to her, Rev. 17.4.17. …ut what Kings are they? not ſuch Kings as are before mentioned: but ſuch as being made drunk with the Whores Cup, commit leudneſs and fornication with her, Rev. 18.9.
But yet thus much for her comfort, let her know, that the day is haſtning, when the Nations that have ſupported her ſhall fall off from her, and the ten Kingdoms that by their Power or Horns have born her up, ſhall by their Horns alſo puſh her down, yea they ſhall hate the Whore; and ſhall make her deſolate and naked, and ſhall eat her fleſh and burn her with fire, when thoſe other words of Prophecy ſhall be fulfilled. The delicates that thy ſoul luſted after, thou ſhalt find them no more at all, and Babylon the glory of Kingdoms ſhall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, Iſa. 13.19, 20. And God will be avenged of thee, and will not meet thee as a man, Iſa. 47.1 When all that knew thee amongſt the people ſhall be aſtoniſhed at thee: thou ſhalt be a terrour, and never ſhalt thou be any more, Eze 28.12. to 20. And when thou art ſpoyled what wilt thou do? though thou cloatheſt thy ſelf with Crimſon, though thou deckeſt thee with Ornaments of Gold, though thou paintest thy face with painting, in vain ſhalt thou make thy ſelf fair, thy lovers ſhall diſpiſe thee, they will ſeek thy life, Jer. 4.30. And theſe are the true ſayings of God, Rev 19.9. And this further know, that ſtrong is the Lord God that will judge thee, Rev. 18.8.