Hitherto,
according to the judgment of very eminent expositors, God had represented to
his servant, John, I. The state of the church under the pagan powers, in the
six seals opened; and then, II. The state of the church under the papal
powers, in the vision of the six trumpets that began to sound upon the
opening of the seventh seal: and then is inserted. III. A more general and
brief account of the past, present, and future state of the church, in the
little book, &c. He now proceeds, IV. To show him how antichrist should
be destroyed, by what steps that destruction should be accomplished, in the
vision of the seven vials. This chapter contains an awful introduction or
preparation for the pouring out of the vials, in which we have, 1. A sight
of those angels in heaven who were to have the execution of this great work,
and with what acclamations of joy the heavenly hosts applauded the great
design, ver. 1-4. 2. A sight of these angels coming out of heaven to receive
those vials which they were to pour out, and the great commotions this
caused in the world, ver. 5, &c.
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The
Seven Vials.
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A. D. 95.
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1
And I saw another sign in heaven, 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. 3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and
the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works,
Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of
saints. 4 Who shall not fear thee, O 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.
Here we have the
preparation of matters for the pouring out of the seven vials, which was
committed to seven angels; and observe how these angels appeared to the
apostle--in heaven; it was in a wonderful manner, and that upon
account, 1. Of the work they had to do, which was to finish the destruction
of antichrist. God was now about to pour out his seven last plagues upon
that interest; and, as the measure of Babylon's sins was filled up, they
should now find the full measure of his vindictive wrath. 2. The spectators
and witnesses of this their commission: all that had gotten the victory
over the beast, &c. These stood on a sea of glass,
representing this world, as some think, a brittle thing, that shall be
broken to pieces; or, as others, the gospel covenant, alluding to the brazen
sea in the temple, in which the priests were to wash (the faithful servants
of God stand upon the foundation of the righteousness of Christ); or, as
others, the Red Sea, that stood as it were congealed while the
Israelites went through; and, the pillar of fire reflecting light upon the
waters, they would seem to have fire mingled with them; and this to show
that the fire of God's wrath against Pharaoh and his horses should dissolve
the congealed waters, and destroy them thereby, to which there seems to be
an allusion by their singing the song of Moses, in which, (1.) They
extol the greatness of God's works, and the justice and truth of his ways,
both in delivering his people and destroying their enemies. They rejoiced in
hope, and the near prospect they had of this, though it was not yet
accomplished. (2.) They call upon all nations to render unto God the fear,
glory, and worship, due to such a discovery of his truth and justice: Who
shall not fear thee? v. 4.
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The
Seven Vials.
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A. D. 95.
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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.
Observe, I. How these
angels appeared--coming out of heaven to execute their commission: The
temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened, v.
5. Here is an allusion to the holiest of all the tabernacle and temple,
where was the mercy-seat, covering the ark of the testimony, where
the high priest made intercession, and God communed with his people, and
heard their prayers. Now by this, as it is here mentioned, we may
understand, 1. That, in the judgments God was now about to execute upon the
antichristian interest, he was fulfilling the prophecies and promises of his
word and covenant, which were there always before him, and of which he was
ever mindful. 2. That in this work he was answering the prayers of the
people, which were offered to him by their great high priest. 3. That he was
herein avenging the quarrel of his own Son, and our Saviour Jesus Christ,
whose offices and authority had been usurped, his name dishonoured, and the
great designs of his death opposed, by antichrist and his adherents. 4. That
he was opening a wider door of liberty for his people to worship him in
numerous solemn assemblies, without the fear of their enemies.
II. How they were equipped
and prepared for their work. Observe, 1. Their array: They were clothed
with pure and white linen, and had their breasts girded with golden
girdles, v. 6. This was the habit of the high priests when they
went in to enquire of God, and came out with an answer from him. This showed
that these angels were acting in all things under the divine appointment and
direction, and that they were going to prepare a sacrifice to the Lord, called
the supper of the great God, ch. xix. 17. The angels are the
ministers of divine justice, and they do every thing in a pure and holy
manner. 2. Their artillery, what it was, and whence they received it; their
artillery, by which they were to do this great execution, was seven vials
filled with the wrath of God; they were armed with the wrath of God
against his enemies. The meanest creature, when it comes armed with the
anger of God, will be too hard for any man in the world; but much more an
angel of God. This wrath of God was not to be poured out all at once, but
was divided into seven parts, which should successively fall upon the
antichristian party. Now from whom did they receive these vials? From one of
the four living creatures, one of the ministers of the true church, that is,
in answer to the prayers of the ministers and people of God, and to avenge
their cause, in which the angels are willingly employed.
III. The impressions these
things made upon all who stood near the temple: they were all, as it were,
wrapt up in clouds of smoke, which filled the temple, from the glorious and
powerful presence of God; so that no man was able to enter into the
temple, till the work was finished. The interests of antichrist were so
interwoven with the civil interests of the nations that he could not be
destroyed without giving a great shock to all the world; and the people of
God would have but little rest and leisure to assemble themselves before
him, while this great work was a doing. For the present, their sabbaths
would be interrupted, ordinances of public worship intermitted, and all
thrown into a general confusion. God himself was now preaching to the church
and to all the world, by terrible things in righteousness; but, when this
work was done, then the churches would have rest, the temple would be
opened, and the solemn assemblies gathered, edified, and multiplied. The
greatest deliverances of the church are brought about by awful and
astonishing steps of Providence.
