The punishment of them

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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.

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the hath enticed all nations to drink of the cup of her spiritual fornications, and thereby hath caused them to drink of that cup of God's wrath and vengeance, which belongs to those grievous offences. Bp. Hall.

9-11. And the third angel followed] Another angel made proclamation of most terrible Divine judgments upon all Christians, who, after the light of the Reformation, and the preaching of true religion had been bestowed upon them, should wilfully, and by a love for worldly and vicious gratifications, comply any longer with the injunctions of this Babylonish community, and embrace the worship of this idolatrous church, threatening them with the same destruction that was soon hereafter to fall upon it. Which destruction is here described under the same images which Moses formerly used to describe that of the rebellious nation of the Jews, and of their land, Deut. xxix. 22, 23, and which Isaiah used to set forth God's judgments on the oppressors of His people, Isai. xxxiv. 5, 9, 10. This last angel, and his solemn denunciations, are an emblematical prediction of the high spirit and courageous preaching of Luther, and the train of reformers following his example; whereby a foundation is laid for the ruin of the antichristian doctrine and worship, to be completed in God's due time. Pyle.

10. shall drink of the wine of the wrath &c.] Here is a terrible description of most severe punishment, to which there is scarcely any thing equal in the whole of sacred writ. Wine "without mixture," or not diluted with water, causes more complete intoxication. Jos. Mede.

12. Here is the patience of the saints: &c.] Herein the patience and perseverance of the saints shall be manifested and perfected, that, notwithstanding all the evils of persecution, they continue constant in obedience to the commands of God, as the rule of their religion, and steadfastly maintain the truths of Christ's revelation, in opposition to all other doctrines and worship, by whatsoever authority imposed. Lowman.

13. And I heard a voice &c.] The voices of the angels had pronounced the punishments of those who, for worldly purposes, receiving the antichristian mark, deny their Lord. A voice from heaven, from the throne itself, confirms these denunciations, adding thereto this con

of Jesus.

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DOMINI 96.

solation, that, if the fiery trial should proceed to its last stage, even temporal death, this death shall be blessed; shall introduce the martyr to an eternal freedom from pain and trouble, and his sufferings on earth shall be recompensed with everlasting rest and glory. Dean Woodhouse.

Blessed are the dead-from henceforth: &c.] From this time forward, he says, considering the extremity and cruel circumstances of this last and severe persecution, we may reckon those who are already dead (provided that they died in the Lord) to be very happy; in that they did not live to see and suffer those things, which will then befall the faithful servants of God. Thus the particular sense of these words is, to declare the happy estate of those saints and martyrs who were already dead, in and for the faith of Christ, and should not live to see those cruel and fearful sufferings, which should afterwards come upon the Christians. And this is grounded upon the general truth, that "they are happy which die in the Lord." Abp. Tillotson.

- Yea, saith the Spirit, that they &c] Here two particulars are given, as reasons and grounds why they that die in the Lord are declared to be in so blessed a condition: for good men, when they are departed this life, "rest from their labours," are freed from all the labours and pains with which they were exercised in this world; and also they reap the comfort and reward of all the good which they have done in this world, "their works do follow them," or go along with them, to receive the reward which God hath promised to His obedient servants. Abp. Tillotson.

14. — and behold a white cloud, &c.] The sure execution of Divine judgments, denounced against the corrupters of the Christian religion, was further confirmed by another vision; Christ Himself being represented as sitting on a bright cloud which was spread under Him, as a seat of judgment. He appears like the Son of man in the visions of Daniel, Dan. vii. 13, with a golden crown on His head, the ensign of royalty and sovereign power; and to express the meaning and design of His appearance to judgment, He bears in His hand a sharp sickle, as for reaping corn. Lowman.

15.—for the harvest of the earth is ripe.] This representation of the judgments of God, under the figures of

The harvest of the world.

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96.

a harvest and vintage, ver. 18, is not unusual in the Prophets, and is copied particularly from the Prophet Joel, who denounced God's judgments against the enemies of His people in like terms, Joel iii. 13. What particular events are signified by this "harvest," and "vintage," it appears impossible for any one to determine beforehand; time alone can make the discovery, for these things are yet in futurity. But it may be observed, that these two signal judgments will as certainly come, as harvest and vintage succeed in their season; and in the course of Providence the one will precede the other, as in the course of nature the harvest is before the vintage; and the latter will surpass the former, and be attended with a more terrible destruction of God's enemies. Bp. Newton.

18. another angel which had power over fire;] Having the office of inflicting Divine vengeance. Grotius.

20. And the winepress was trodden without the city,] To tread the winepress is a prophetick description of destruction. See Isai. Ixiii. 3. The images in this vision are extremely strong and expressive: the largest winepresses used generally to be in some places out of the city. Lowman.

even unto the horse bridles,] This is a strong hyperbolical way of expressing vast slaughter and effusion of blood. Similar expressions occur in other writings. Bp. Newton.

the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.] Mr. Mede ingeniously conjectures, that this is meant as the measure of the estates belonging to the Roman church, called St. Peter's patrimony, which extended two hundred Italian miles, which is exactly "a thousand and six hundred furlongs." Bp. Newton.

Chap. XV. ver. 1. And I saw another sign &c.] God's judgments on the kingdom of the beast, or antichristian empire, are hitherto denounced, and described in general terms under the figures of "harvest" and "vintage.' A more particular account of them follows under the emblem of "seven vials," which are called "the seven last plagues," for in them is filled up the wrath of God. These seven last plagues must necessarily fall under the seventh and last trumpet, or the third and last woe trumpet, so that, as the seventh seal contained the seven trumpets, the seventh trumpet comprehends the seven

1

CHAP. XV.

The seven last plagues.

The seven angels with the seven last plagues.

3 The song of them that overcome the beast. 7 The seven vials full of the wrath of God.

AND I saw another sign in hea

ven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

a

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3 And they sing the song of a Exod. 15.1. Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God

vials. At the sounding of the seventh trumpet, chap. xi. 15, &c., a general intimation is given of God's "taking unto Him His great power" and "destroying them that destroy the earth;" but the particulars are reserved for this place. If then these seven last plagues coincide in time with the seventh and last trumpet, they are all yet to come; for the sixth trumpet is not yet past, nor the woe of the Turkish or Ottoman empire yet ended; and consequently there is no possibility of explaining them in such a manner, as when the prophecies may be compared with histories, and their truth evinced by ocular demonstration. The many fruitless attempts which have hitherto been made to explain them, are a further proof that they cannot well be explained, the best interpreters having failed in this part more than in any other. But, before the vials are poured out, the scene opens with a preparatory vision, which is the subject of this chapter. Bp. Newton.

seven angels having the seven last plagues ;] As seven angels sounded the seven trumpets, so the same number are appointed to pour out the seven vials; and, in order to shew that these judgments are to fall on the kingdom of the beast, the true worshippers of God and faithful servants of Jesus, who had gotten the victory over the beast, and had never submitted to his tyranny or religion, are described like unto the children of Israel (ver. 2—4.) after their deliverance and escape out of Egypt. For, as the children of Israel, (Exod. xv.) having passed through the Red sea, stood on the shore, and, seeing their enemies overwhelmed with the waters, sang the triumphant song of Moses, so these, having passed through the fiery trials of this world, "stand on the sea of glass mingled with fire," which was mentioned before, chap. iv. 6, and seeing the vials ready to be poured out on their enemies, sing a song of triumph for the manifestation of the Divine judgments; which is called "the song of Moses, and the song of the Lamb," the words being in great measure taken from the song of Moses and other parts of the Old Testament, and applied in a Christian sense. Bp. Newton.

3. And they sing the song of Moses] As the Israelites sang the praises of God for their deliverance at the Red sea, in a hymn composed by Moses, so these saints, having obtained a greater deliverance and salvation by Christ, sang a hymn of praise, in the same spirit with that of Moses. Lowman.

The seven vials of God's wrath.

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DOMINI Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

96.

b Ps. 145. 17.

:

4 Who shall not fear thee, O e Jer. 10. 7. Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. 5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

6. And the seven angels came out &c.] The seven angels come out of the temple, to denote that their commission is immediately from God; clothed, like the high priest, but in a more august manner, "in pure and white linen," to signify the righteousness of these judgments, and "having their breasts girded," to shew their readiness to execute the Divine commands, "with golden girdles," as emblems of their power and majesty. Bp. Newton.

7. And one of the four beasts gave &c.] One of the four living creatures, chap. iv. 6, delivered into their hands the vials or vessels, the symbols of the judgments which they were to execute. Pyle.

8. And the temple was filled with smoke] In the same manner as the tabernacle, when it was consecrated by Moses, Exod. xl. 34, and the temple, when it was dedicated by Solomon, 1 Kings viii. 10, were both filled with a cloud and the glory of the Lord, so that neither Moses nor the priests could enter therein: a further proof of the majestick presence and extraordinary interposition of God in the execution of these judgments. Bp. Newton.

Chap. XVI. ver. 1.-saying to the seven angels,- pour out &c.] In obedience to the Divine command, the seven angels come forth to " 'pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth;" and as the trumpets were so many steps and degrees of the ruin of the Roman empire, so the vials are of the ruin of the Roman church. Bp. Newton.

and there fell a noisome and grievous sore] The first vial is poured out "upon the earth," as the hail and fire of the first trumpet, chap. viii. 7, were cast

The angels pour out their vials.

angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.

6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

his vial upon the sun; and power

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upon the earth." It produces "a noisome and grievous sore," and in this respect resembles the sixth plague of Egypt, Exod. ix. 10. Bp. Newton.

In the prophetick style, both publick and private vices, and their consequences, are frequently compared to bodily distempers. Pyle.

3.- and it became as the blood of a dead man :] Became as congealed blood, so that no creature could live in the sea. The description seems taken from the plagues of Egypt; in one of which, Exod. vii. 20, 21, "all the waters were turned to blood," &c. The general meaning of these figurative expressions seems to point out some very great mortality and slaughter. Lowman.

5.- the angel of the waters] It was a prevailing opinion in the East, that a particular angel presided over the waters, as others did over other elements and parts of nature. Mention was before made, chap. xiv. 18, of "the angel who had power over fire." Bp. Newton.

6.

· thou hast given them blood to drink;] Thou hast inflicted on them the punishment they have so justly deserved, and given them blood to drink, by a plentiful effusion of their own. Lowman.

8. And the fourth angel-upon the sun;] As the fourth trumpet affected "the sun," chap. viii. 12, so likewise the fourth vial is "poured out upon the sun." An intense heat ensues, and men blaspheme, &c. Whether by this intense heat of the sun be literally meant, uncommon sultry seasons, scorching and withering the fruits of the earth, and producing pestilential disorders; or, figuratively, a most tyrannical and exorbitant exercise of arbitrary power, by those who may be represented as

Or, burned.

9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues and they repented not to give him glory.

10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

"the sun" in the firmament of the beast, time must discover. When the events shall take place, and these things shall all be fulfilled, not only these prophecies of the vials shall be better understood, but also those of the trumpets, to which they bear some analogy and resemblance. Bp. Newton.

10. And the fifth angel poured out &c.] This is some great calamity which shall fall upon Rome itself, "the seat of the beast," and shall darken and confound the whole antichristian empire. But still the consequences of this plague are much the same as those of the foregoing one; for the sufferers, instead of "repenting of their deeds," are hardened like Pharaoh, and still persist in their blasphemy and idolatry, and obstinately withstand all attempts at reformation. Bp. Newton.

12.-upon the great river Euphrates;] The punishment figuratively represented by this sixth vial is drying up the river Euphrates, so famous as a boundary against the invasions of the Eastern nations, that they might have an easy passage to invade their neighbours; signifying that a way should be prepared for the enemies of this antichristian kingdom, to break in upon it. Low

man.

Whether by Euphrates he meant the river so called, or only a mystical Euphrates, as Rome is a mystical Babylon: and, whether by the kings of the East be meant the Jews in particular, or any Eastern potentates in general, can be matter only of conjecture, and not of certainty or assurance, till the event shall make the determination. Whoever they be, they appear to threaten the destruction of the kingdom of the beast; and therefore, the agents and emissaries of popery, ver. 13, 14, "of the dragon," the representative of the devil, "and of the beast," the representative of the antichristian empire," and of the false prophet," the representative of the antichristian church, "unclean spirits like frogs,' are employed to oppose them, and stir up the princes and potentates of their communion to make their united and last effort in a religious war. Bp. Newton.

Blessed are they that watch.

14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

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96.

15 a Behold, I come as a thief. a Matt.24.43. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of

13.-like frogs] Frogs, in ancient authors, are symbols of impurity, vainglory, imposture, flattery, and impudence, as Pliny, Philo, and many others observe. Pyle.

15. Behold, I come &c.] As these must of necessity be times of great trouble and affliction, an exhortation is here inserted, by way of parenthesis, of the suddenness of these judgments, and of the blessedness of watching and of being clothed and prepared for all events. Bp. Newton.

16.-into a place called-Armageddon.] The meaning of this name has been variously conjectured. According to some, it is compounded of two words which signify the mountain of Mageddo or Megiddo ;' a place which was famous in the history of God's people for several memorable slaughters, Judg. v. 19; 2 Kings ix. 27; and which therefore became a proverbial expression for a place of destruction and mourning. Lowman, Pyle. Others conjecture that the name Armageddon means a dry, barren, mountainous, desert country, such as was thought by the Jews to be the abode of unclean spirits This meaning of the word accords with what is said at ver. 12-14. Schleusner.

17.- poured out his vial into the air; &c.] The seventh vial is poured out "into the air," the seat of Satan's residence, who is emphatically styled, Eph. ii. 2, "the prince of the power of the air;" so that this period shall not only complete the ruin of the kingdom of the beast, but will also shake the kingdom of Satan every where. Of this vial, as indeed of all the former, the completion is gradual; and the immediate effects and consequences are "voices and thunders," &c.. these portend great calamities. "And there was a great earthquake:" great earthquakes in prophetick language signify great changes and revolutions; and this is such an one, as men never felt or experienced before. Bp. Newton.

19. And the great city was divided &c.] Not only "the great city is divided into three parts" or factions,

the nations fell and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

CHAP. XVII.

3, 4 A woman arrayed in purple and scarlet, with a golden cup in her hand, sitteth upon the beast, 5 which is great Babylon, the mother of all abominations. 9 The interpretation of the seven heads, 12 and the ten horns. 8 The punishment of the whore. 14 The victory of the Lamb.

ND there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials,

but "the cities of the nations fall" from their obedience to her. Her sins are remembered before God, and, like another Babylon, she will soon be made to drink of the bitter cup of His anger. Nay, not only "the cities fall," but (ver. 20) even the works of nature, "the islands" fly away, and the "mountains are not found," which is more than was said before, (chap. vi. 14,) that "they were moved out of their places," and can import no less than an utter extirpation of idolatry. Bp.

Newton.

21.- great hail-about the weight of a talent:] Great hail often denotes the judgments of God: and the weight of it, here represented, "about the weight of a talent," or about 100lbs, is a strong figure to denote the greatness and severity of God's judgments. But still the men continue obstinate, and "blaspheme God because of the plague of the hail; " they remain incorrigible under the Divine judgments, and shall be destroyed before they will be reformed. Bp. Newton.

Chap. XVII. As the seventh seal and the seventh trumpet contained many more particulars than any of the former seals, and former trumpets, so the seventh vial contains more than any of the former vials; and the more we consider, the more we shall admire the structure of this book in all its parts. The destruction of the antichristian empire is a subject of such importance that the Holy Spirit has thought fit to represent it under a variety of images. It was declared before, in general, (chap. xiv. 8,) "Babylon is fallen;" but this is a catastrophe deserving of a more particular description, both for a warning to some and a consolation to others. But, before the description of her fall, there is given an account of her state and condition, that there may be no mistake in the application. Bp. Newton.

Ver. 1.—I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great_whore_ &c.] Thus ancient Babylon, which was seated on the great river Euphrates, is described by Jeremiah, Jer. li. 13, as " dwelling upon many waters; and hence the phrase is borrowed, and signifies, according to the angel's own explanation, ver. 15, ruling over many peoples and nations. Neither was this an ordinary prostitute; for with her "the kings of the earth have committed fornication," ver. 2, as Tyre, Isai, xxiii, 17,

the great whore ;

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and talked with me, saying unto me, DOMINI Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and + decked + Gr. gilded. with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABY

"committed fornication with all the kingdoms of the world." Nay, not only kings, but inferiour persons, "the inhabitants of the earth, have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication;" as it was said of ancient Babylon, Jer. li. 7, "the nations have drunken of her wine, therefore the nations are mad." Fornication, in the usual style of Scripture, signifies idolatry. Bp. Newton.

3.—I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast,] A woman sitting on a beast is a lively and significative emblem of a church or city, directing and governing an empire. Cities, it is well known, in painting and sculpture, as well as in prophetick language, are often represented in the form of women: and Rome herself is exhibited in ancient coins, as a woman sitting on a lion. Here the beast is scarlet coloured, for the same reason that the dragon was, chap. xii. 3, "a red dragon," to denote his cruelty, and in allusion to the distinguishing colour of the Roman emperours and magistrates. The beast is also "full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns," so that this is the very same beast which was described in the former part of chap. xiii. ; and the woman in some measure answers to the two-horned beast or false prophet: consequently the woman is not Pagan but Christian Rome, because Rome was become Christian, before the beast had completely seven heads and ten horns, that is, before the Roman empire experienced its last form of government, and was divided into ten kingdoms. The woman is arrayed too in "purple and scarlet colour," ver. 4, this being the colour of the popes and cardinals, as well as the emperours and senators of Rome. She is also "decked with gold and precious stones and pearls;" and who can sufficiently describe the pride and grandeur and magnificence of the church of Rome in her vestments and ornaments of all kinds? She has further "a golden cup in her hand," &c., to signify the specious and alluring arts, by which she bewitches and incites men to idolatry, which is abomination and spiritual fornication. Bp. Newton.

5. And upon her forehead was &c.] Lewd women used to have their names written on their doors, and sometimes on their foreheads. Lowman.

-MYSTERY, BABYLON &c.] This is a mys