Exposition of Revelation, Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV.
1. AND I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Fathers Name written in their foreheads.
After the Apostle John had seen the Antichristian Beast, persecuting the Church of God, the Woman, and the Remnant of her Seed; he looked what would become of that remnant of God's sealed ones; [And lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion.] Our Lord Jesus Christ is called a Lamb, First, as He was a Sacrifice, for the Sins of his People, 1 Cor. 5.7. and John 1.29. See the Exposition of Chap. 5.6-9. By his standing on Mount Sion, is meant Christ's Presence with his Church, and his Kingly Power for her Protection and Preservation, in all Generations, Eph. 3.21. that God may have Glory by Jesus Christ in his Church, typed out here by Mount Sion, for Strength, Psal. 125.1, 2. and for Beauty, Psal. 48.2. [And with him an hundred forty and four thousand.] These were the sealed ones, Chap. 7.3, 4. So that our Lord Jesus Christ had lost none of all them that the Father had given him, John 6.49.
[Having his Fathers Name written in their Foreheads.] This doth distinguish the Followers of the Lamb from the Worshippers and Followers of the Beast. The Worshippers of the Beast had the Mark of the Beast in their Foreheads; which is an open and visible Profession of their Subjection and Obedience unto the Ʋniversal Headship, Government, Dominion, Laws, and Ordinances of the Pope and Church of Rome. See the Exposition of Chap. 13. the 16, 17. Vers. The true Worshippers of God, that Worship him in Spirit and in Truth, and the Followers of the Lamb, our blessed Lord Jesus Christ, have his Father's Name written in their Foreheads; that is an open and visible Profession of their Subjection and Obedience unto the Ʋniversal Headship, Rule, Authority, Government, Dominion, Laws, and Ordinances of God the Father, and of our Lord Jesus Christ. The sealed ones were of the Election of God, as 1 Tim. 2.19. And these written ones were also a remnant of the same Election of Grace, as Rom. 11.5. yet we may observe some things wherein they differ, and are distinguished. First, In Time; They were Sealed at the beginning of the Beasts Forty and Two Months. See Chap. 7. Vers. 3, 4, &c. These were congregated at the ending time of the Witnesses Thousand Two Hundred and Threescore days, when the spirit of life entred into the Witnesses. See Chap. 11. Vers. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, &c. They were Sealed a little before the first Trumpet sounded; these were congregated upon the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet, when it began to sound; see the Exposition of Chap. 7. Vers. 3, 4, &c. and Chap. 8. Vers. 7, &c. and Chap. 10. Vers. 7-11. Secondly, In condition; The Sealed ones were in a Wilderness condition of sufferings, Rev. 12.6. and in a mourning sackcloth state, Rev. 11.3-7. The congregated ones were in an overcoming, conquering, and rejoicing condition over the Beast, and his Image, and over Mystery Babylon the great, Rev. 18.20. and 20.4.
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 four Beasts, and the Elders: and no man could learn that song, but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
The Saints being now congregated in a general Assembly on Mount Sion, and the Lord Jesus Christ with them, as Heb. 12.22, 23, 24. Their [Voice (that is, their Declaration, or Testimony) was like the noise of many waters, and a great Thunder,] loud and terrible; somewhat like the march of Jehosaphat, against the Children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir. Compare 2 Chron. 20.10-15-17-21, 22-30. with Psal. 83.5-18. [And I heard the voice of harpers, harping with their harps.] This was the Voice of Praises and Thanksgivings to God; these Harpers were Gods Davids, who were prepared to sing in the spirit, 1 Cor. 14.15, 16. who being filled with the holy spirit, and their harps, that is, their hearts, being in a spiritual frame, they were prepared to sing Hosanna's and Hallelujah's, Ephes. 5.19, 20. as David prophesied the congregated Churches of Saints in the latter days shall do, Psal. 149.1, 2, 3, 4-9. [And they sung as it were a new song before the Throne, and before the four living Creatures, and the Elders.] It is here called [a new song,] because the matter of it was the renewed Praises of God, as Psal. 40.3. And he hath put a new Song in my mouth, even praise unto our God. [And no man could learn that song, but the hundred and forty and four thousand.] None but Gods chosen and called ones, his sealed ones, his sanctified ones, [who were redeemed from the earth;] that is, from the World, John 17.6-9-14-16.
4. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are Virgins; these are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever 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.
By Women here, we are to understand Mystery Babylon, the great Whore, and Mother of Harlots; that is, the Church of Rome, and some National Churches, though some of them may be (as Nineveh was, Nahum 3.4-10-12-16, 17, 18, 19.) well-favoured Harlots; yet false Churches, and not the Churches of Christ. See Chap. 17.5. To be [defiled with women,] is to be corrupted and polluted with their idolatrous, superstitious, and false worship, Matth. 15.8. and Col. 2:20, 21, 22. [For they are Virgins.] Wise Virgins, Matth. 25.1, 2, 3, &c. betrothed to Jesus Christ, Hos. 2.19. and 2 Cor. 11.2. espoused to the Lord. [These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.] First, To the Cross, Matth. 10.38. And Secondly, Afterwards to the Crown, Matth. 19.28, 29. [These were (bought or) redeemed from among men,] by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 6.19, 20. and 1 Pet. 1.19. [From among men;] that is, out of every Kindred, and Tongue, and Nation, and People, Rev. 5.9, 10. [The first fruits unto God, and to the Lamb;] that is, such as gave, or offered up themselves to God by Christ, to oppose the Beast, the Whore, and the false Prophet, and so became the first-fruits of Christ's Davidical Kingdom, Rev. 5.9, 10. and 20.4. on Earth. [And in their mouth was found no guile.] They will declare plainly that they are for the Universal headship of Christ; that he alone may be acknowledged King of Saints, King of Zion, and King of Nations; as the holy Scripture of Truth doth testify of him, Rev. 15.3. Psal. 149.1, 2. and Jer. 10.7-10. [And in their mouth was found no guile.] These bare their Witness openly, and their Testimony plainly, against the Ʋniversal Headship of the Bishop of Rome, and his Dominion over Kings and Emperors: And overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their Testimony. And they loved not their lives unto death. [For they are without fault before the Throne of God.] By fault here, we may understand dissimulation, pretending one thing, and intending another. They were single hearted Saints, who had their Conversation in this World, in simplicity and godly sincerity, and not in fleshly wisdom, 2 Cor. 1.12.
6. And I saw another Angel flie in the midst of Heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to Preach unto them that dwell on the Earth, and to every Nation, and Kindred, and Tongue, and People.
7. Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made Heaven and Earth, and the Sea, and the fountains of waters.
By another Angel, we may understand another kind of Gospel Ministry, and Ministers; see Rev. 1.20. and 2.1. not another with respect of Christ's former Institution, for they are to continue until we all come in the unity of Faith unto a perfect man, Ephes. 4.11, 12, 13. But another in respect of renewed Life, Spirit, and Spiritual Gifts and Graces, like the raised Witnesses into whom the spirit of life entred, Rev. 11.11. and they prophesied again before Kings, &c. (as Rev. 10.11.) having the everlasting Gospel to Preach, as commissioned by Christ, Mark 16.15, 16. [Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him;] as Isa. 58.1. Lift up thy voice like a Trumpet, &c. and with all Ministerial boldness, as Acts 4.19. To [Fear God] here, is to Worship God, Isa. 29.13. and Matth. 15.8. as followeth in this Seventh Verse. [And worship him that made Heaven and Earth, &c.] For the hour, that is, the Time, the appointed Time of his Judgment, Acts 17.31. There was a time when God entred in Judgment with the Pagan Emperors, and destroyed them, their Idols, and Idol Temples, by Constantine the Great. See Exposition of Chap. 6. Vers. 12, 13, 14-17. And by this hour of God's Judgment, we are to understand the day and time of the utter Ruin of Papal Rome, the Beast of the eighth Head, the Pope, the false Prophet, the great Whore, mystery Babylon, and all her Daughters, the National, Synodal, and Parochial … Churches; as will appear plainly in the Exposition of the 16, 17, 18, 19th. Chapters of this Prophecy of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
8. And there followed, another Angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great City; because she made all Nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her Fornication.
Now that the light of the everlasting Gospel is broken forth in all the Earth, and the Ministers of Christ begin to Prophesy again before Kings, People, and Nations, as Chap. 10.10, 11. See the Exposition. This next sort of Angels, that is, Ministers, Rev. 1.20. proclaim the Fall and Ruine of Mystical Babylon, that great City, the whole Roman Papal State. [Babylon is fallen, is fallen.] It is doubled to note the certainty of it, as Chap. 18.2. And the Reason of her Destruction followeth; [because she made all Nations drink of the Wine of the Wrath of her Fornication.] Therefore will God give her the Cup of the Wine of the fierceness of his Wrath, Chap. 16.19. and 18.3.
9. And the third Angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the Beast and his Image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10. The same shall drink of the wine of the Wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the Beast and his Image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his Name.
This [third Angel] was also other Ministers of Christ who denounced his Righteous Judgments against them, that [worship the Beast, and his Image, and receive his mark in their foreheads or in their hands.] See the Exposition hereof Chap. 13. Vers. 15, 16, 17. [The same (that is the Worshippers of the Beast; the Idolatrous and Superstitious Papists;) shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, (as Chap. 16.19.) which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his Indignation.] The seven Vials of the seven last Plagues, Rev. 15.1. For in them is filled up the Wrath of God. By [Fire and Brimstone,] Vers. 10. we are to understand the eternal Torments of impenitent Persons, as Rev. 19.20. with the Devil that deceived them, Rev. 20.10-14. which is the second Death. And as it followeth, Vers. 10, 11. before Christ, and his holy Angels. [And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever, &c.] which noteth the Extremity, and the Eternity of their Torments in Hell Fire. It hath been at all times, a dangerous Condition, that the Souls of the Papists have been in, by [worshipping the Beast, and his Image,] Rev. 13.8. But now those Papists that [worship the Beast and his Image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his Name,] are in a damnable state, and shall be tormented for ever and ever, except they repent.
12. Here is the patience of the Saints: here are they that keep the Commandments of God, and the Faith of Jesus.
13. And I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
By the Saints here, we are to understand the Seed of the Woman, Rev. 12.17. all the suffering Saints during the whole Forty and Two Months of the Beast, until the rising of the Two Witnesses, who patiently endured their sufferings, whose blessed state and condition is expressed in the 13th. Verse of this Chapter. [And I heard a voice from Heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die (for the Lord, and) in the Lord.] See Chap. 13.10. and the Exposition thereof. It is not dying for the Lord (only) that makes a blessed Martyr, 1 Cor. 13.1, 2, 3. but dying [in the Lord] and for the Lord. [Yea, saith the Spirit, from henceforth,] that is, from the time of their suffering death for the Cause, Gospel, Kingdom, and Testimony of Christ against Antichrist: They are blessed, that is eternally happy. [That they may rest from their labours;] Then no more labour, trouble, sorrow, or suffering, tribulation, persecution, &c. [And their works do follow them;] that is, the reward of Grace and Glory promised, Rom. 8.17. 2 Tim. 2.12. Heb. 11.26.
14. And I looked, and behold, a white Cloud, and upon the cloud one sate like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
15. And another Angel came out of the Temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sate on the Cloud, Thrust in thy sickle and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
16. And he that sate on the Cloud, thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
By the [white Cloud (upon which one sate like the Son of Man)] we may understand a glorious appearance of Jesus Christ, Isa. 19.1. Matth. 17.5. It was [he that sate on the Cloud] as King of Saints, Rev. 15.3. King of Sion, Psal. 149.1, 2, and King of Nations, Jer. 10.7-10. [Having on his head a golden Crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.] By this [sharp sickle,] we may understand the means and instruments that our Lord Jesus Christ will use to cut down Mystery Babylon, the Beast, the false Prophet, the great Whore, and the whole Roman Papal Kingdom, Joel 3.13. and Jer. 51.33. [For the time is come for thee to reap;] that is, Gods appointed time; [for the harvest of the earth is ripe.] [And the Earth was reaped;] that is, Mystery Babylon was destroyed, as Rev. 18.8, 9, 10-19.
17. And another Angel came out of the Temple which is in Heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18. And another Angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
19. And the Angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine-press of the wrath of God.
20. And the wine-press was trodden without the City, and blood came out of the wine-press, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
By [the Temple in Heaven,] we may understand the glorious state and condition of the Church of God, prophesied Isa. 60.1, 2, 3-7-13, 14, 15-21, 22. [And another Angel came out from the altar,] Verse 18. Thus, Christ being upon his march, he proceeds with speed to destroy Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots, and Abominations of the Earth; one Angel or Messenger comes speedily after another, prepared with a sharp sickle, his two-edged sword, Rev. 19.19, 20, 21. The sword of the Spirit, Ephes. 6.17. in the hand of his Saints, Psal. 149.1, 2-8. Isa. 63.2, 3, 4. Behold, the Third Wo cometh quickly, speedily, Rev. 11.14. By [the altar,] we may understand the inward Court of the Temple, where the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus Christ lay crying for vengeance against their Persecutors, Rev. 6.9, 10, 11. [Which had power over fire;] as Elias, and the Two Prophetical Witnesses of Christ. See the Exposition of Chap. 11. Vers. 5. Read Heb. 1.7. [Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.] By [the vine of the earth,] we are to understand the Church of Rome degenerated, (as Isa. 5.1. to 7.) The Church in Rome was a true Church in the days of the Apostles, unto whom St. Paul writ an Epistle, Rom. 1.1-7. But the Church of Rome is degenerated, and is become the great Whore, Mystical Babylon, &c. By [her Grapes,] we may understand those Abominations, Rev. 17.5. of the Roman Church; like the Grapes of Sodom and Gomorrha, Deut. 32.32-35. such are the Vine and Grapes of the Church of Rome. [And the Angel thrust in his sickle,] see Chap. 19.15. That wine-press was (as this is) the great [wine-press of the wrath of God. And the wine-press was trodden without the City, and blood came out of the wine-press.] They that trod the wine-press was our Lord Jesus Christ, and his Saints, Rev. 18.3, 4-8. The wine-press is that place which is called Armageddon. See the Exposition of Chap. 16. Vers. 15, 16. and Chap. 19. Vers. 17.21. [Even unto the horses bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs;] that is, two hundred Miles, (eight furlongs to a Mile,) which sheweth that this judgment of God is very great; therefore called the battel of the great day of God Almighty, Rev. 16.14-16. And also called the supper of the great God, Rev. 19.17, 18, 19. And therefore shall her plagues come in one day,—For strong is the Lord God that judgeth her, Rev. 18.7, 8, 9.10.