An Exposition of Revelation, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Act. 4. Viſion ſecond.
Verſ. 1. I ſaw foure Angels ſtanding on the foure corners of the earth, holding, &c.]
THeſe Angels were the wicked inſtruments of Satan and Antichriſt, who by fire and ſword did endeavour to hinder the preaching of the Goſpel, whether Kings, Emperours, Cardinals, Biſhops, Jeſuites, Fryars, or the like; Now as good teachers are the Angels, as ch 1.20.) ſo bad inſtruments, (as thoſe Miniſters of Antichriſt) are underſtood by thoſe Angels here.
Foure] Alluding to the foure corners of the earth; Now by foure corners of the earth all the earth is underſtood, ſo by foure Angels many inſtruments of Antichriſt are to be underſtood in many parts of the earth; by wind the Goſpel is underſtood, by which the ſpirit is conveyed to the hearts of men, the wind bloweth whether it liſteth, to blow the wind is to ſound forth the Goſpel; to hinder the blowing of the wind, is to hinder the preaching of the Goſpel; the wind cheriſhes, keeps the aire from corrupting, by its means the trees bud (together with the Sunne) tis piercing and vehement; the Goſpel comforts, ſanctifies (by conveying the ſpirit) is the incorruptible ſeed by which we are regenerated. —Now certainly thoſe Angels were wicked ones, for Chriſt in the following words ſays to them, Hurt not: thoſe that blowed were ſuch teachers as preached Chriſt ſincerely, (even for many hundred years ago) as John Scotus (my*In my native Countrey, Ireland, there is a noted place called Down, where Scotus taught School: called from thence Scotus dunenſis, or Duns by Contraction: yet — other places challeng right to Scotus his birth. Country-man as is beleeved) Bereagarius, Bernard, Hierome of Prague, who ſtrongly have blown by their Sermons and Writings, againſt the idol of the Maſſe and tranſubſtantiation; and here I might bring in Luther and Melancthon with others, who began to blow the Goſpel of Chriſt.
By Earth, Sea, Trees] I underſtand particular Churches, either in midland, wooddy, & hilly countreys, or near ſea-coaſts (as Iſlands) not the faithful particularly, becauſe Chriſt forbids theſe Churches to be hurt, till the faithful in them were ſealed. Now the Biſhops, Cardinals, and the like, who have their Colledges and Fraternities fixed (or ſtandings upon the earth,) forbid theſe teachers, by their edicts, excommunications, perſecutions, forbidding the reading of Scripture, here note two things,
1. Chriſt hath Preachers of truth in the midſt of Antichriſts Kingdome.
2. The way Antichriſt had to ſet up his kingdome was by hindring the preaching of the Goſpel.
Verſ. 2. And I ſaw another Angel aſcending from the Eaſt] This is Chriſt, who came from the Eaſt, from an high, from heaven, though born at Hieruſalem. He hath the broad ſeale of heaven with him, by ſeale I underſtand that of Election, as 2 Tim. 2.19. The foundation of God ſtands ſure, having this Seale, he knows who are his. Now in Chriſt we are all ſealed or choſen before the foundation of the world, alluſion is had to Ezech. 9. Chriſt ſealing here, is juſtifying, regenerating, giving his the Seale (that is the aſſurance) of Election. Now though all the members of theſe Churches were not Elected, yet were they ſeperated from the hurt of Antichriſt.
Aloud voice] This notes the power of Chriſt above Anti-chriſt.
Till] This notes Chriſts care of his people, forbidding the hurting of the Churches till his Saints were called home — leſt they might be promiſcuouſly wrapt in the danger of ſeducement, but afterwards they might hurt them.
Verſ. 3. Till we have ſealed the ſervants of God &c.] Meaning his Miniſters with him, not the Angels before mentioned which hinder the blowing of the wind.
In their foreheads] alluding unto Ezech. 9.4. but the Seale here is internal, imprinted in the elect by Gods eternal purpoſe, together by ſealing them in vocation, juſtification, ſanctification; invocation on the name of God hating, Antichriſt and Idolatry, ſo that one may run and read whoſe ſervants they are as plaine as if it were written in their foreheads; hence obſerve twelve things flowing from theſe three verſes,
1. Antichriſt hates the truth of the Goſpel (for 'tis a diſcovering his nakedneſſe.)
2. The Goſpel ſanctifies, and chériſhes mans nature.
3. Satan and his inſtruments are under the power of Chriſt (hurt not ſayes Chriſt.)
4. Chriſt is God, for he has the Seale of election.
5. He Takes much care of his people (hurt them not).
6. His Goſpel is preached, and he has ſealed ones in the Kingdome of Anrichriſt.
7. There is a ſet time of our calling—untill we have ſealed.
8. Chriſts ſervants are to be known by their profeſſion of him, and obeying him, (in their foreheads).
9. There is an aſſurance of ſalvation to be had in this world, underſtood by the word ſealed; for the uſe of a Seale is to confirme (ſo that the Saints need not feare falling away)
10. There is a certaine number of the Elect.
11. Chriſt and his Miniſters do co-work (till we have ſealed).
12. All the ſealed ones are ſervants to God.
Verſ. 4. Of all the Tribes of the children of Iſrael]. That is, of all Nations imitating the true faith of the true Iſrael, becauſe God has elected to ſalvation ſome out of every part of the world, ſayes Annonymus upon the place, or as ch. 5.9. Thou haſt redeemed us out of every Nation, kindred, tongue, people; here is a certaine number put down for an uncertaine (though there be a ſet number elected and known to God) the Tribe of Dan is left out, not becauſe Antichriſt was to come out of that Tribe (as the Papiſts affirme, and many of the Fathers, grounding on Gen. 49.17. Dan is a Serpent in the way) but becauſe that Tribe forſook the fellowſhip of their brethren, and became like Gentiles, Judg. 18.1.30.
Verſ. 9. After this I beheld, and lo a great multitude which no man could number,] This ſhewes this to be a differing act from the former; the ſealed ones were in earth, but this great multitude is ſeen in heaven, before the Throne; the ſealed ones note the Church militant, this multitude the Saints in heaven obſerve, as in chap. 6, 12, 14. Antichriſt makes a great earthquake in the Church, and darkens the Sunne, makes the heavens depart as a ſcrowle; ſo on the other ſide, here the Goſpel is preached, though hindred chap. 7. ver. 1. and the Elect ſealed. And as the Antichriſtian adverſaries tremble at the laſt day; chap. 6. verſ. 2. laſt. ſo the Martyrs and ſealed ones, chap. 7. ver. 9. Enjoy eternal felicity; the multitude are thoſe under the Altar, chap. 9, And the hundred fourty foure thouſand ſealed ones, ver. 4. They had white robes, to note their glory; and palmes in their hands, to note their victory and reward, for the palme was given in token of victory of old
Verſ. 10. And they cryed with a loud voice, ſaying, ſalvation to our God] The Angels, Elders, Beaſts, nay the whole Aſſembly of heaven ſing joyfully to God and the Lamb: but the Antichriſtian adverſaries ſay to the mountains fall on us; this thankſgiving of the heavenly inhabitants is indifferent plaine, therefore for brevity ſake I omit it.
Verſ. 13. One of the Elders anſwered, ſaying unto me, what are theſe which are arrayed in white robes?] the Papiſts ſay Peter, I beleeve 'twas the ſame that chap. 5.5. ſaid weep not one that was next to John; who asks who they were in white robes, not as doubting, but to take occaſion to inſtruct John, as the Baptiſt once ſent his diſciples to Chriſt to confirme them of the Meſſias.
Verſ. 14. They have waſhed their robes in the blood of the Lamb] hence their whiteneſſe; hence they are before the Throne, or enjoy felicity, not becauſe of works or martyrdome then.
And ſerve him day and night] That is, ever: for there is no night, where all Saints ſhine as the Sun,—but tis ſpoken to our capacity.
In his Temple] To wit, Heaven. The Lamb and the Almighty are the Temple of it.
Chriſt ſhall dwell among them] That is, they ſhall for ever enjoy the favour and glory of God. Thus much for the poſitive good they ſhall enjoy. Now followes what they ſhall be freed from.
Verſ. 16. They ſhall hunger no more] Hunger and thirſt and heat are put for all the defects and troubles of this life as tears note the afflictions and ſorrowes of it, which Chriſt will deliver them from; for he will feed them with ſatiety of joyes in his preſence; And will lead them to the fountains of living waters of comfort. For in his preſence is the fulneſſe of joy, as in his abſence are miſeries for evermore.