An Exposition of Revelation, Chapter 15
CHAP.XV. Viſion 5.—being but a Preparation to the Viſion.
Verſ. 1. I ſaw another ſigne]
JOhn was informed by many ſignes or viſions, one expounding another. The acts of which bring at laſt (ever) either joy to the Saints after ſorrow, by ſhewing heaven, Angels, Martyrs, and their bliſſe and protection, or deſtruction of the adverſary. To this purpoſe the Reader may ſee this book ſpeak.
In heaven] So John ſaw them in heaven: which were to be performed on earth on the Antichriſtian Church.
Great] ſhadowing out great things.
Admirable] ſhadowing forth the admirable judgements of God.
Seven Angels] meaning a perfect company; theſe note miniſters in the Church, by whom God in ſome ſenſe poures forth his wrath, as in ſome ſenſe he did by the witneſſes, chap. 11.
Having the ſeven plagues] Of which ſee ver. 7.
Laſt plagues] becauſe to be poured out in the laſt age when Popery declined much.
Filled up] The Plagues are to continue in the ſeveral Angels till the judgement day, when the Arch-angel ſhall ſound and the wicked have the full wrath of God on them for ever.
Verſ. 2. And I ſaw as it were a ſea of glaſſe mingled with fire, &c.] A ſea of glaſſe, as ch. 4.6. the word is noted, brittle as glaſſe, troubleſome as the ſea: full of fiery perſecutions, afflictions, contentions in which the Saints are involved. Of glaſſe again, becauſe all the actions of men there are apparent before God & the throne But behold many Harpers praiſing God for his judgements or ſeven vials to be poured out juſtly on the wicked! behold a company ſtanding as Conquerors by faith on the ſea or world! They overcame the Beaſt his images, mark of ſubjection or obedience, and the number of his name; of all which already, chap. 13. Here note, the beaſt is in the ſingular number, therefore but one, though of two formes, chap. 13. Obſerve, many Saints had obtained victory over Antichriſt already, the ſeven vials not being poured out, which would not be ſuddainly finiſhed when pouring out; therefore the Papiſts lye ſaying Antichriſt ſhould rage but about foure years. Theſe harpers are not only to be taken for thoſe, chap 14.3. who congratulate the 144000. ſtanding with Chriſt on the mount, but are to be taken for the Church militant (as Brightman obſerves) rejoycing and ſinging of Songs of praiſe, as Moſes did for victory over Pharaoh: ſo theſe over the national name of the beaſt; for the word in Greek is overcoming as it were now in earth, though it be repreſented to Iohn in heaven; having the harps of God in the Viſion, meaning excellent harps.
Verſ. 3. And they ſang] ſo it ſeemed to John, yet there are not tongues, lips, nor voices—as yet, enough in heaven to make muſick; but this is ſpoken to our capacity; yet the Saints moſt ſweetly and joyfully (but as ſpirits) praiſe God in heaven.
The Song of Moſes] Exod. 15. or like it.
And the Song of the Lambe] as oft before. Tis a Song compoſed of many places of Scripture together; by which you ſee the way to praiſe God is out of his laſting Word.
Thus his Word endures for ever in heaven, and praiſes out of his Word.
Thou King of Saints] God in a peculiar manner is their king, and they his ſubjects.
Verſ, 4. Who ſhall not feare thee] (not Antichriſt.)
Being only holy] The Popes unholineſſe is here reproved.
All nations ſhall] Some of all nations upon Antichriſts declining.
For thy judgements are manifeſt] In weakning his kingdom, by the preaching of the Word, making him odious: This the Harpers worthily pronounce.
Verſ. 5. And after that I looked] to wit, after the Song as an interlude.
And the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Teſtimony in heaven was opened] Alluding to the litteral Temple: the meaning is John ſaw heaven open, out of which came theſe Angels. There is no myſtery in it, but Antichriſts judgements proceed from Chriſt the High-prieſt of the Tabernacle.
Verſ. 6. And the ſeven Angels came, — having ſeven plagues, —clothed in pure white linnen] White linnen notes their heavenly Purity.
With a golden girdle] So Chriſt had, chap. 1.13. noting his Majeſty, and Diligence which his ſervants the Angels have, —ready to execute his pleaſure; Or this imports the decency of Angels, who aſſuming bodies or appearing in bodily formes for our ſakes come not naked: but clothed as the Prieſts by Gods command in the law.
Verſ. 7. And one of the foure beaſts] Of theſe is ſpoken, chap. 4. it matters not which of them gave the ſeven Vials, perchance he that was neareſt (not Peter as the Papiſts think) Thus much is apparent; the Church deſires Gods judgements to be haſtened upon Antichriſt, as chap. 6.10. upon tyrants, O Lord how long? the beaſts reſemble the Goſpel Church: now they eſpecially deſire it, being greateſt ſufferers.
Vials] noting the veſſel, holding as much as a man can drink at a draught, but doubtleſſe theſe were great ones: noting Gods great judgements.
'Golden] Noting the juſtneſſe of the judgements; though then John ſaw Vials in the Viſion, they noted the cup of wrath and fury ſpoken of in ſome ſenſe chap. 14, 10.
Verſ. 8. And the Temple was filled with ſmoak, &c.] Not a cloud, as 1 Kings 8.10, 11. but ſmoak, noting how the Church (of Rome) was to be filled with darkneſſe and confuſion, and conſequently wrath of God. Which though formerly it were in the Romiſh Church (not of new) yet now it began more plainly to appear, after the light of the truth; that no man could enter into heaven above (noted by the Temple) becauſe of darkneſſe of ignorance and ſin; nor could enter into the Church to receive light (becauſe nothing but blindneſſe and darkneſſe) till the ſeven plagues were paſt, that is never: for the ſeventh Angel is the Archangel at the laſt day; thus none of the beaſts worſhippers have light, nor can enter into the Temple of heaven, in the ſtate they are in for ever. But Chriſt we hope will call many of them home, as that great City or Church of Rome decays. — Thus farre the introduction to the fifth Viſion. The ſmoak comes from Gods glory and power: and the blindneſſe from God as a righteous judgement.