32 living Fountains of Waters i. e. perpetual Comforts and Refreshments Isa 12 3. John 7.38 and God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes i. e. remove all Causes and Occasions of Sorrow 32 So the Jews call Fountains continually bubling and springing up Canticl 4.15 John 4 10. CHAP. VIII The Text. 1 AND when he i. e. Christ had opened the seventh Seal there was silence 1 in Heaven about the space of * half an hour i. e. there was a short respite from the commotions which followed upon the Sounding of the Trumpets Annotations on CHAP. VIII 1 The Metaphors here are taken from the (a) Mr. Mede Hammond on Luke 1.1 Ainsworth on Lev. 16.12 13. Temple-Service which shews that Church-Affairs are here typified as well as those of the Empire in which at the offering of Incense the People prayed without in the Court in private whilst the Priest offered the Incense which Prayers were very short and the whole Service performed in silence whereas the offering of Sacrifice the first part of their Service was accompanied with Singing Musick and Trumpets 2. Chron. 29.25 * See on Ver. 7. Num. 11. 2 And I saw the seven Angels which stood 2 before God as ready to execute his Pleasure and to them were given by God's appointment seven 3 Trumpets to denounce seven Judgments 2 These are expresly called Angels and not The Spirits of God whereby they are distinguished from the Seven Spirits Chap. 1.4 And by these Seven standing before God is denoted the Preparedness of the several Instruments and Means required to the executing of God's Judgments by the Seven Trumpets and also the Majesty of the Divine Presence is expressed by them in allusion to the Custom of the Eastern Kings from whose Rites many of the Descriptions in Scripture are taken who had Seven Princes who saw their Faces or stood before them and were the Chief in their Kingdoms Esther 1.14 Grotius on Matth. 18.10 3 Here is an Allusion also to the Temple Service where it was the Custom to blow with Trumpets after the Oblation of Incense as appears from Ecclus 50.15 16. strict Silence being observed before it as here the Angels have Trumpets given them to prepare to sound but sound not until the Incense was offered Angel signifies in this Prophecy not only the Angelical Spirits but also the subordinate Ministers employed under them here upon Earth as has been before shewn on Chap. 1.1 20. And therefore here may be meant by this Angel the Emperour Theodosius who is the Chief Person concerned in this Vision as we shall shew hereafter whose Prayer at the Head of his Army before the Battel with Eugenius is very remarkable in History and also the whole Christian Church which joyned with him in Prayer to God upon that great Occasion Angel being taken Collectively in this Book for all the several Instruments made use of in it 3 And another Angel or Ministring Spirit representing the Persons employed in the like service on Earth came and stood at or by the Altar of incense Exod. 30.1 having a Golden Censer or Vessel to hold Incense Levit. 16.12 Hebr. 9.4 and there was 4 given unto him much Incense Levit. 16.12 13. Rev. 5.8 that he should Offer it with the Prayers of all Saints 5 or Holy Chrians upon the Golden Altar of Incense Exod. 30 3 6 7.40 26. which was 6 before the Throne of God 4 Here may be an Allusion to a Custom in the Jewish Service of bringing the Odors to the Priest by others Exod. 27.20 See Maimonides in Ainsworth on Levit. 24.2 5 Here is also an Allusion to the High Priests offering Incense in the Temple while the People called here All Saints i. e. the Holy and Peculiar People of God prayed in the Outward Court And by what is here delivered and in the former Verses is intimated that the daily Publick Sacrifice of pure Worship which was wont to be performed in the Outward Court should cease and was about to be contracted into a retired and a silent one signified by the Silence Vers 1. and the Incense-Worship which was within the Temple and that although the Saints or Holy People were as yet without in the Outward Court not yet trodden down by Antichristian Defilements that nevertheless it would not be long but about half an hour or a short space before that also which was a Type of the Visible Church and its Worship should be polluted by them concerning which Allusion and the Grounds of it see more on Chap. 11.1 6 As the Altar of Incense in the Temple was before the Mercy-seat Exod. 30.6 7.40 26. 4 And the smoak of the Incense Chap. 5.8 which came with the Prayers of the Saints ascended up before God out of the Angels hand i. e. they were grateful and acceptable unto him through the Merits and Intercession of Christ Psal 141.2 Acts 10.4 5 And the Angel took the censer which was now empty the Incense being consumed and their Prayers ended and filled it with fire from the Altar of 7 Sacrifice or Burnt-Offerings and cast it i. e. dispersed God's Judgment and fiery Indignation Ezek. 10.2 Luke 12.49 upon the Earth i. e. the Roman Empire and there were 8 Voices and Thundrings and Lightnings Chap. 4.5 and an Earthquake i. e. extraordinary Commotions in the Empire and great Manifestations of Christ's Kingdom Chap. 6.12 7 For there was a continual Fire on the Altar of Sacrifice but none on the Altar of Incense See Ainsworth on Exod. 30.8 and on Lev. 6.12 13. This Service was performed in the Temple but the Fire was taken off the Altar of Burnt Sacrifice in the Outward Court to shew that God's Judgments represented by Fire which denotes in Scripture any destructive thing came upon them by Reason of the Gentilism or Antichristian Pollutions of the Outward Court or Visible Church 8 The other Seals having been distinguished by some notable Events in the Empire it is reasonable to think that this is so too and there is none which agrees better to it than the Wonderful Victory (a) Sâ—â—aâ— Hist 5.25 Sozom. 7.24 Howel 's History Part 2. pag. 427 of Theodosius over Eugenius A. D. 395. Because 1. It follows in order the Event foretold in the sixth Seal this Victory giving the Deadly Blow to Heathenism and perfecting what was begun by Constantine and some of his Successors under that Seal 2. Because the following Trumpets denoting the fall of the Empire began to produce their Effects not long after this Defeat So that it exactly corresponds as a middle Event with the foregoing and following ones 3. The Vengeance of God fell extraordinarily upon the Pagans and their Defeat by a wonderful Tempest was miraculous as Claudian the Heathen Poet confesses and as the Soldiers who were present at the Battel told (b) 〈◊〉 â—iâ—itat Dâ—i 5.26 Augustine which is very naturally expressed by Fire cast by an Angel from Heaven upon Earth Fire being a general
Psalm 58.10 11. Matth. 7.2 6 For they of the Antichristian Profession Verse 2. have shed the * Blood of Saints i. e. Holy Men and Prophets i. e. Witnesses Chap. 6 9 10 11. 11. 3 18. and thou hast therefore given them Blood or Bloody Waters to drink for they are worthy i. e. this is a just Judgment upon them Judg. 1.7 1 Sam. 15.33 Isa 49.26 Obad. 16. * Hencc it seems to appear that this Vial is a Judgment on the Wicked raised to receive the Recompence of their shedding the Blood of the Saints because the principal Persecutors were already dead and therefore must be raised that they may partake of this Just Retaliation for otherwise the Number of them who will be then alive will be but small in comparison of those who are dead and the greatest Objects of God's Vengeance will escape the Punishment of this Last Day which is denounced in Scripture against all Ages and Generations of the World and not only that which shall be then in Being 7 And I heard another Angel out of the 9 Altar say in the Name of the Saints and Martyrs who lay under it Chap. 6.9 Even so it ought to be Lord God Almighty who art wonderful in thy Judgments true to thy Promises of avenging thy Saints Chap. 6.10 11. and righteous are thy Judgments in giving them Blood to drink for the Blood they had shed 9 The Angels are answered as it were by a Chorus of Saints of the First Resurrection who during the pouring out of the Vials are protected by God and are placed as it were at the Altar That is in a place of Safety and Refuge as the Altar was under the Old Law of which Zoar and Goshen were a Type 2 Pet. 2.9 8 And the Fourth Angel having power over Fire Chap. 14.18 poured out his Vial upon the 10 Sun and augmented his Heat and Power was thereby given unto him i. e. the Sun to 11 scorch the wicked men of the Earth with Fire i. e. grievously to annoy and afflict them Jonah 4.8 9. Matth. 13.6 21. 1◠As the Light of the Sun may be multiplied by Parelia and other Natural Causes to which the Prophet alludes Isa 30.26 So is it not difficult to conceive that its Heat may be Naturally augmented by the Dissolution or Dissipation of its Maculae upon the Encrease and breaking forth of those Fluctuating Vortexes of Fire which are in the Body of that Planet and are stronger and clearer at its Center than near its Circumference and by other Natural Causes not unknown to the Learned in such Studies And if the Heat of the Sun may be encreased by Natural Causes how much more by Supernatural ones ordering and conducting them and adding New ones 9 And the Antichristian and Wicked Men were scorched or set on fire with great 11 Heat i. e. they were extreamly afflicted and tormented in Body and 12 Mind and 13 blasphemed the Name of God which hath power over these foregoing and following Plagues to inflict or remove them and they 13 repented not to give him Glory i. e. they were finally 14 impenitent Heb. 6 6.10 26-31 12 17. Rev. 22.12 11 11 Here seems to be an Allusion to the violent scorching and fuffocating Heats of the Sun and the (a) Grot. in Jon. 4.8 9. Dr. Hyde 's Itiner Mundi pag. 146. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or burning heat of the Wind which usually accompany one another in the Eastern Climates which afflicted Jonah 1◠As Jonah also was much troubled and grieved in Mind as well as Body Chap. 4.6 3. 13 13 Thus Jonah also was displeased and very angry and wished for Death and repented not but excused his former Disobedience although he had been sharply punished for it Chap. 4.1 2 3 4 6 8 9. 14 There was no place of Repentance for them as being under the dreadful Doom pronounced by the Angel of the Vials who shewed John these things and said Let him that is filthy be filthy still Chap. 22.11 10 And the Fifth Angel poured out his Vial on the Seat or 15 Throne of the Beast i. e. on Rome the Seat of the Papacy Chap. 13 2.17 3. and his Kingdom i. e. his whole Jurisdiction was full of 16 darkness i. e. was in a most afflicted and disconsolate condition Exod. 10 21-23 Isaiah 8 19-22 and they 17 gnawed their Tongues for pain i. e. were extreamly impatient and furious under their Torment Isaiah 8.21 15 Hereby is signified that this Beast usurped Temporal State and Authority as having a Chief and Imperial City for his Throne or Place of Residence And it is observable that this and such like Phrases of a too Ominous signification crept into the Church by degrees notwithstanding the Opposition made to such Innovations and to the Affectation of Temporal Titles and Authority it being one Reason alledged by a Synod at (a) Euseb Eccles Hist 7.30 Antioch for their deposing Paulus Samosatenus that he affected State Secular Titles and Power and that he erected a Tribunal in the Church and a Stately Seat in it like that of the Temporal Magistrates which Pomp very much encreased afterwards as Vallesius on Eusebius observes 16 It is expresly affirmed in (b) Dan. 7 9-11 Rev. 18 8.19 3. Scripture that Rome shall perish by Fire for which Fate as Dr. (c) Theory of the Earth 3.10 Burnet hath most ingeniously observed Italy the Kingdom and Seat of the Beast is most peculiarly disposed by Nature by reason of the Sulphureousness of its Soil and its Fiery Mountains and Caverns And therefore if this particular Judgment upon the Seat of Antichrist be here intended by the Darkness may be aptly signified the Smoke of its Fire now in preparation to break forth which had been kindled and encreased in the Bowels of the Earth by the extream heat of the Former Vials according to the manner in which Dr. Burnet supposes the Conflagration will be brought to pass And here we may observe that by a peculiar Direction of Divine Judgment this Fire begins first at the Seat of Antichrist it being very reasonable and decorous as Dr. (a) Theory 3.10 Burnet speaks that the Grand Traitor and Head of the Apostasy should be made the First Example of Divine Vengeance From whence it may be supposed to spread it self through Italy the more immediate part of the Beast's Kingdom and so through his whole Jurisdiction and at last in the Vniversal Conflagration to which these Vials are as so many Dispositions through the whole Earth It is also observable that God's Judgments point out and are proportioned in their Kinds to Mens Sins Whence it may be conjectured that the Antichristian Kingdom was punished with Darkness even Natural Effects carrying along with them Intimations of Moral Reasons and Ends because of the gross and palpable Ignorance it had introduced as Aegypt was punished by hot Ashes of burnt Brick for their oppressing the Israelites at their Brick-Kills and had
10 28-31 See Dr. Tho. Goodwin's Discourse of the Punishment of Sin in Hell Hell Torments is thought to consist Now this Wrath of God the Sting of his Punishments and the very Gall of them is here given to the Angels by One of the Four Living Creatures that is by the First of them as One generally signifies in this Prophecy whose Voice was as Thunder and who had the very Purity and Power of the Gospel and that in Golden Vials to signifie the Purity and Holiness of God's Judgments and that they were executed upon the Prayers of Saints of which Golden Vials and Incense are an Emblem Chap. 5. 8. 12 The Wicked with their sins are cast as Grapes of Sodom Deut. 32.32 33. into the Winepress of God's Wrath trod by Christ Chap. 19 15. as Redeemer and out of that VVine are these Vials filled Whereby is signified that the Just Vengeance and Recompence of God is executed upon them by Christ as the Demerit and Consequence of their sins for the Blood of his Servants they had shed and as the Vials of the Prayers of the Saints Chap. 5.8 are full of Odors by Vertue of Christ's Intercession so are these full of the VVrath of God upon the Intercession of Christ for his oppressed Saints 8 And the Temple was 13 filled with 14 Smoak from the Glory of God and from his Power i. e. there were setled Manifestatiâ—ns of God's powerful and Glorious Presence in a blessed State Ezek. 43 4-6 and 15 or but no man or no Creature was able to enter into the Temple i. e. God's Glorious Presence could not be enjoyed in its highest Manifestations Ezek. 48 35. Rev 21.3 23 24. till the Seven Plagues of the Seven Angels were fulfilled i. e. until the perfect Destruction of the Wicked whose Sins 16 hinder God's Presence Ezek. 43.9 13 The Constant (a) Exod. 43.34 35. Lev. 16.2 Numb 9 15-23 1 Kings 8 10-13 2 Chron. 7 1-4 Ezek. 43 1-9 Manifestations of God's Presence are signified in Scripture by a Cloud covering and filling the Tabernacle and Temple whereby God took as it were possession of them who is represented in Ezekiel as filling the House or Temple with his Glory when he came to dwell in the midst of his people for ever Ezek. 43.5 7 9. Whereby is signified that the New Jerusalem State was near its Settlement in the Blessed Milennium when God will dwell with Men and he and the Lamb shall be the Temple of the City Rev. 21.2 3 22 23. 14 Light (b) See on Chap. 3. num 36. and Bright Fire are the proper Emblems of God who is Love but when Smoak appears with it there is intimated some Darkness in the Dispensation referred to and Mixtures of VVrath and Displeasure as in this place because God's VVrath was not as yet executed the Glory of God represented by Light and Bright Clouds in the Old Testament filled the Temple with Smoak and not Light there being as yet a Contest betwixt the VVrath Jealousie and Justice of God and his Enemies to be destroyed whose Defilements represented by Smoak Chap. 9. 2. and Sins were the Cause that God's Anger smoaked against them for otherwise Fury is not in the Lord Isa 27.4 15 An Allusion to what is related concerning Moses Exod. 40.35 whereby is expressed the great Terror of this Time of Vengeance which no Created Beings not even the Angels themselves are able to bear this being the (a) Isa Chapters 24 25 26 27. Dan. 12.1 Matth. 24.21 29 30. Mark 13.19 Luke 21.23 24. Rev. 3 10.7 14.16 18. Time of such Trouble as never was called The Great Temptation The Great Tribulation and the Great Earthquake in Scripture which was to be shortned for the Elect's Sake and will be so very Terrible that they are pronounced Blessed by Daniel Chap. 12.12 who shall wait and come to the End of those Days when the Blessed Millennium shall begin Which perhaps may be prefigured by (b) Exod. 24 12-18 Mose's not being able to go up into the Mount until after six Days and his being called up into it by God on the seventh Day the (c) See the Notes on Chapt. 20.4 Type of the seventh Thousand Year or the Sabbatical Millennium And from hence it may be observed that although there shall be several Manifestations of God's Presence and Openings of the Temple after the End of the Beasts Months upon the Entrance of which the Temple was shut up and at the Expiring of which it must consequently be opened that yet nevertheless the highest State of it in which God and the Lamb are the Temple consisting in perfect Tranquillity and Serenity without any smoak of Anger from God's Glory shall not be enjoyed until the Vials are poured out which will not be if the Beast's Months end at 1697 until A. D. 1772. when the 75 Years which are added to the Times of Antichrist by Daniel Chap. 12. will be expired as hath been frequently observed 16 This was signified by the several gradual (a) Ezek. 8.4 6.9 3.10 4 15-19 11 23. Removals of the Glory of God and its departure from the Temple in Ezekiel and his not returning into it so as to fill it and inhabit in it for ever until he had consumed the wicked Idolaters and their Abominations in his Anger Ezek 39 11-29.43 1-9 CHAP. XVI The Text. AND I heard a great Voice or a powerful Command full of Authority and about a most important matter out of the Heavenly Temple of Christ's Kingdom the Original and Arche-type of his Kingdom upon Earth Chap. 15.1 8. saying to the seven Angels or Ministerial Instruments of God's Will who undertake nothing without a special Command Go your ways with all speed and swiftness and by Virtue of my Commission and pour out the very Dregs of the Vials of thr Wrath of God upon the 1 Earth Annotations on CHAP. XIV 1 This Chapter relating wholly to things Future is thereupon very obscure it being doubtful whether it is to be interpreted in a Mystical Sense as most Interpreters have done or in a Litteral one with reference to the Great Conflagration of the World plainly asserted by the Apostle (a) 2 Ep. 3. Peter and generally acknowledged as a great Truth In the former way of Interpreting Earth Sea Rivers and the other parts of the World on which the Vials are poured are to be understood only concerning the several Members of the Antichristian Kingdom signified by them but in the latter they are to be taken Litterally and the Vials are to be supposed as so many Gradual Preparations to the General Dissolution of the World by Fire To the clearing of which Question it may be observed 1. That these Vials are filled out of the Blood which came out of the Winepress of God's Wrath as appears from Chap. 14.19 20. compared with the first Verse of this Chapter Whence it will follow if that Observation be true That these Vials must