A commentarie upon the book of the Revelation Wherein the text is explained, the series of the several prophecies contained in that book, deduced according to their order and dependance on each other; the periods and succession of times, at, or about which, these prophecies, that are already fulfilled, began to be, and were more fully accomplished, fixed and applied according to history; and those that are yet to be fulfilled, modestly, and so far as is warrantable, enquired into. Together with some practical observations, and several digressions, necessary for vindicating, clearing, and confirming many weighty and important truths. Delivered in several lectures, by that learned, laborious, and faithfull servant of Jesus Christ, James Durham, late Minister of the Gospel in Glasgow. To which is affixed a brief summary of the whole book, with a twofold index, one of the several digressions, another of the chief and principall purposes and words contained in this treatise.

CHAP. XIX.

Vers. 1.

ANd after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluja, salvation,and glory, and honour, and power unto the Lord our God:

2.

For true and righteous are his judgements, for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the bloud of his servants at her hand.

3.

And again they said Alleluja, and her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

4.

And the four and twentie elders, and the four beasts fell down and wor∣shipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen, Alleluja.

5.

And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his ser∣vants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

6.

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thundrings, saying, Alleluja: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

7.

Let us be glad and rejoyce, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made her self ready.

THe scope of this Chapter is more fully to explain the events of the sixth vial, Chap. 16. which was more abruptly left there, without shewing the event of that battell of Armageddon, which is supplied here. That it doth belong to the sixth vial, (beside what was said Chap. 16.) doth appear from these things, 1. That this is subjoyned to the exposition of the fifth vial, Chap. 18. and includeth other events not on the seat of the beast, but on the beast himself, who surviveth his seat, and its placed before the exposition of the seventh vial, the object whereof is not the beast (as in this Chapter) and his adherents only, but Satans kingdom indefinitly,

who is taken (Chap. 20.) and casten into the lake, where the beast and false prophet are before him, as being cast in there by this sixth vial. This then belonging to an event after the fifth, and before the seventh, it must be applyed to the sixth, by which, and under which, the beast must end before the seventh come, as his throne did by the fifth.

2. It is clear, that the event of this battel, described here, is the event of the same bat∣tel, whereof the preparation is set down, Chap. 16. under the sixth vial: It must there∣fore belong to it; for, all these vials bring judgment on the beast: and if this event belong not to the sixth vial but the preparation only, which was Chap. 16. then it cannot bring a plague on him; for, the plague consisteth not in preparation to the battell, but in the crosse event of it to him, which this Chapter setteth down, and mentioneth nothing of his preparing for it, because that was done, Chap. 16. but proceedeth to the event, which was suspended there in its discovery. That sixth vial contained two notable effects, one shew∣ing the increase of the Church, and a notable accession to her; the second shewing the rage of Antichrist at that, answerable to which this nineteenth Chapter hath two parts, 1. Of exulting at these glad tydings, unto ver. 10. 2. Of the Beasts overthrow and his helpers, from ver. 11. to the end. That which is casten-in, ver. 10. is not propheticall, but the record of a particular of Iohn's carriage, and the Angel's, whereby way is made from one part of the explication to the other.

The Song hath three parts, The first is more general, respecting the former deliverance, ver. 1, 2, 3, and 4. The second is more particular, respecting, as the ground of it, the present state of the Church, and a more special way of Christs reigning in her, from ver. 5. to ver. 8. Thirdly, This ground of joy is more fully explained and confirmed, ver. 8, 9.

The first part expresseth the Churches rejoycing over Romes destruction, and a speciall invitation they give to the Jews to praise God with them, answerable to that invitation, Isa. 2.5. The second sheweth what welcome they shall give them when they shall come in, so both do look some way to the Jews calling, as was shown Chap. 16. and is so to be applyed. The Gentiles now taking occasion, when this stumbling-block of Popery is taken out of the way, to stir up and provoke the Jews to joyn with them. This agreeth well to the time of the Jews calling, which must be before the end. 2. It agreeth well to these prophesies, Isa. 2.5. and Mic. 4.3, 4, 5. and Isa. 24. where such exhortations are foretold. 3. It suiteth well with these phrases here of Alleluja in hebrew, because it's spoken to them, which in former songs is not used. 4. That these made ready, are the Lambs wife, as having a former interest in Him, and that peculiarly He reigneth, now when they come in, as Isa. 24. ver. 23. All which could not be well said without them.

The first Song hath two parts, 1. Of many in heaven, as it were more promiscuously. 2. Of the Elders and Beasts, more orderly, ver. 4. By the first is understood the joy that shall be in Heaven amongst all the Saints in the Church militant in their private stations. By the second is understood the solemn acknowledging of God and giving of Him praise in the Congregation. By these in Heaven we understand these who (ver. 5.) are called. All that fear God, small and great: which taketh-in especially these who are so accounted here on earth in the militant Church, which is often called Heaven: it will be no error to take it properly also, there being joy at the conversion of one, much more at such an ac∣cession as this; Their joy is in a vision in Heaven, set out to Iohn here. The second cir∣cumstance, is the time of this joy, After these things, implying not only the order of Iohns seeing, but the order of succeeding, to wit, after Romes destruction, and the lamen∣tation of her friends, this Song ariseth. If any ask, Why this Song is after their lamen∣tation? These two reasons may be given, 1. ••piritual grounds of joy affect Saints more slowly than temporall grounds of losse do men of the world; the one is sooner sensible of this, than the other of that. 2. Because this joy hath not only respect to Babylons ruin in it self, but to the events of the Churches enlargement, that was to follow the re∣moving of that stumbling-block out of the way: therefore it is reserved to begin the event of the sixth vial.

The Song of the Saints, or Church, in general, is, 1. generally propounded, ver. 1. 2. The grounds of the joy laid down, ver. 2. and confirmed, ver. 3. The first word is, Alleluja, and it is an Hebrew word, of Hallel and Iab, and is on the matter that same

with praise God, ver. 5. for, so they answer Halleluja. It is often the beginning and close of many Psalms; it is not used out of any superstitious account of syllables or letters in this word, as if they were more holy than others; but that their multiplying of Hebrew words and praises in them, or exhortations to praise, may now suit with the present scope, which is to point-out the increase of Christs praise now after Romes destruction by the He∣brews; and there can be no other reason why it is so often repeated here, being in no other place mentioned, where Songs are used, and yet some peculiar reason thereof may war∣rantably he enquired after.

More particularly, the praise is expressed in four words, rendring unto God Salvation, glory, &c. which were before (Chap. 5.) spoken of. In a word, it is, the praise of all those be to Him who alone deserveth it.

The grounds of all this praise are, ver. 2. In general, His Iudgments are true, that is, His threatnings are fulfilled; or, what is threatned cometh to passe, and taketh hold of folks as well as His mercies: so (Ezek. 1.6.) His word of threatning sticketh to a people, when the Prophets who did threaten are gone. And as they are true, so they are righ∣teous, and not inflicted but on just grounds that will stop the mouths of all His censurers. Both these are proven in this great instance of judging the whore, who was justly condem∣ned in that she corrupted the earth, and deluded the world with her abominations: and truth kythed in it, in that by it He shew Himself the avenger of much innocent bloud shed by her, which vengeance He had often threatned against her, and now He had performed it.

The repetition for confirmation followeth, ver. 3. and again they said, Alleluja, 1. to shew it was no passing fitt, but that they continued in the practice of that duty, and un∣der the conviction of their obligation to it, and were withall hearty in it. 2. To shew they were not soon satisfied in performing this duty: for, they fall to it over and over again; and therefore they stir up all, and vent it in an exhortation to all to joyn with them: An heart rightly thankfull, is not soon satisfied with its own praise. The ground is further illustrated, that Romes judgment is irrecoverable and great, yea, perpetual; therefore they praise as being put to continue in it, by the continuance of that ground; for her smoke is continuall, rising up for ever and ever.

Their solemn thanksgiving, is, ver. 4. tThe Elders and Beasts, (signifying People and Ministers, as we shew, Chap. 4.) they concur solemnly by falling down joyntly, (which is to worship publickly) and putting to their seal in two words to the former praise, Ame••, that is, so be it; or, He is well worthy to whom it should be given, Let it be so, in a confident wish and prayer, and Alleluja, they can expresse no more, but count God worthy, and invite others (especially the Jews, for whose sake this is in Hebrew) to give God praise.

The second part of the Song, which is in reference to the Jews calling especially, fol∣loweth from ver. 5. to ver. 8. There is, 1. the party exhorting. 2. The party exhorted. 3. The exhortation it self. 4. The grounds of it. And, 5. obedience thereunto, which is a part of the Song in general.

The party exhorting, is, A voice from the Throne, that is, from Heaven, or from the Sanctuary, representing Ministers serious pressing of people to rejoyce and be glad in this joyfull event, and to praise God for it; or, it is the voice of Jesus Christ, calling God His God as He is Mediatour; or, of an Angel, having his warrant, as by ver. 8, 9, 10. appeareth in his refusing worship from Iohn, if the party speaking here be the same that Iohn falleth down before there.

The parties exhorted to this duty, are Gods Servants, called afterward those that fear Him both small and great, that is, all His house who acknowledge Him as Lord and Ma∣ster: for, though all creatures some way be His servants, Psal. 119.91. yet here they are taken more properly, either for such as are by Covenant His servants, by tye and profession separated to be such unto God, as all Israel, even the children were, Lev. 23.47, &c. Or, more especially, for Believers, who by their practice manifest their respecting of this obli∣gation in giving Him fear, and that of all sorts, high and low, strong and weak, &c.

The exhortation is to Praise, and that our God, which wanteth not an emphasis in praising more than in other duties, as Deut. 28. the great and dreadfull Name of the Lord your God: that maketh praise and all duties to come kindly from us, and be accepted gra∣ciously

by Him, when it is founded upon a Covenant-relation: thus it is not only praise, but so qualified in its object, our God, that is called-for.

The obedience followeth which expresseth the grounds, vers. 6, 7. There are many that go about the work, therefore it is called like the noise of many waters, and like great thunderings: not to hold out confusion or terriblnesse in their Song, but greatnesse in it and earnestnesse in them who sing, it is loudnesse in their Song: which in its matter is di∣stinctly set down from two grounds (beside their concurring in the former Alleluja, and inviting others to concur) The first ground, is, the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. This is not Gods ordinary soveraignty, whereby He guideth all the world, (for that hath no interruption) but this is the manifesting of that soveraignty at speciall times and in spe∣ciall events in the guiding of His Church. This, as before men, seemeth sometimes to be eclipsed, as where it is said, (Chap. 11.) that God hath taken to Him His power and reigneth, which He seemed for a time to neglect. This then is understood here: for, this being a peculiar expression of praise, it looketh to a pecullar manner of His appearing and reigning: Which is two wayes spoken of, 1. When it is evidenced in signall overthrows of His enemies, so Antichrists overthrow is an evidence that God reigneth, Chap. 11. whose dominion seemed before to be obscured while he stood. See Psa. 59.13. 2. When there is an accession to the Church, as Chap. 11. when Nations become the Lords and His Christs; and more especially, His reclaiming of Israel, and appointing David their King over them, is looked on as a speciall part and evidence of His dominion, as Isa. 24.23. Ezek. 34. Micah 4.7. This is when they shall cry Hosanna, unto Him who cometh in the Name of the Lord: for, that being a part of Christs promised Kingdom, there is some seeming want in His outward soveraign reign, so long as this is wanting, Now, say they, Alleluja, the Lord reigneth over Iews as well as Gentiles: for as the in-coming of the Gentiles is a more eminent step of His reign and marriage than was before, when the Iews were only the Church; so that the Iews accession to the Church, is as another remarkable step (when they shall be called-in) beyond what was when the Gentiles were only His Church.

The exhortation is renewed, vers. 7. with a new ground, le•• us be glad and rejoyce: it is a duty and a great part of praise, even to rejoyce in God; it honoureth him. The other word proveth this that relateth to God, let us give honour to him. This accession is acknowledged to be from Him, and therefore the honour of it is due to Him. The first part setteth out the inward affection in praising; the second, their outward expressing of it to Gods honour. The reason is twofold, which is subjoyned, yet to one scope, 1. For the marriage of the Lamb is come. Christs marriage with His Church is three wayes spoken of in Scripture, 1. As it cometh by the offer of the Gospel, wherein many are espou∣sed and by faith engaged to Him, 2 Corinth. 11.2. Thus it hath been even since Christs dayes, His marriage was then and many were and are invited, Mat. 22. &c. 2. As it is con∣summated and perfected at the end, when the Queen is brought to the King, and abideth with Him for ever, Ps. 45. 3. There is an interveening step, when the fulnesse of the Gen∣tiles and the Iews shall be brought in together, that is, marrying eminently, because it i•• the grafting-in again of the old Branches and the bringing back of a divorced Wife, for a time forsaken. And because then eminently there will be an accepting of the bargain of Grace, on the marriage tearms, as if what passed had been but wooing in respect of this following enlargement: And as in Scripture there is a threefold Resurrection, 1. by the Gospel, which was and is alway, Ioh. 5. The dead shall hear the voice, &c. Eph. 5. vers. 14. Secondly, at the end, which is general, as the first is particular. 3. When Iews and Gentiles shall come in together, which (Rom. 11.) is as life from the dead, which is be∣tween the two former. So may we consider the Churches marriage with Christ, which is the same with the Resurrection, in a threefold consideration also. It is not the first nor the second marriage that is mentioned here; for it is in a singular way such a marriage as wa•• not before, and the last end is not intended here: for, that last marriage, doth not comprehend an accession to the militant Church, as this doth here, going alongst with the Popes overthrow before the end. It is therefore that of the fulnesse of the Gentiles in∣coming, and the Iews re-ingrafting especially, who are here called his Wife: not as all Be∣lievers are, but even in some respect such before their calling. For it is His Wife He is to be married with, which is peculiar to the Iews, who in some respect stand in a tye and re∣lation

to God by that Covenant with Abraham, &c. which is not with any other Nation that can come in then to the Church, as appeareth from Rom. 11.26, 27, &c. for, they are beloved for the Fathers sake, when broken off, and the Fathers sake relateth to the Covenant made with them. So His Wife here, holdeth forth the in-coming of the Jewish Nation, to accept of their long d••spised Bridegroom, and their returning to their first husband, and David their King, which is said of them to be fulfilled in the latter dayes, Hos. 2.

The reasons why we expound this of the Iews, are, 1. Because they speak of this acces∣sion to the Church as of some excellent new thing, and calleth them singularly the Lambs Wife; and therefore they must be distinct from the Gentile Church, who do thus stile them and make them welcome: for, these titles are given especially to these who are now lately joyned and made ready for their Husband and Marriage. 2. Because there can be no such grounds of praise, if the Iews were not here included. For, 1. it is His reigning in the most eminent way in His Church; 2. it is the Churches eminent step of glory unto, and readinesse for her marriage; and can that be without the Iews? 3. Neither can there be such joy, as if now nothing were wanting, if the Iews in-coming, which is fore-pro∣phesied of, as life from the dead (Rom. 11.) were yet defective. Beside, that these titles and expressions have a peculiar suitablenesse and sibnesse with the Iews, as is said before. Her being made ready, is, her being made suitable and fit for such a work and Bridgroom, to wit, with the wedding Garment, Matth. 22. which is saith and holinesse; and she is content to take Him, and longeth for a Church-state to own Him. She is said to make her self ready, not as if in her own strength she fitted her self; for, that is contrary to what followeth, To her it was given; whatever she had, she got it freely, it was not her own. But it implyeth, 1. that she must be made ready for Him: common garments are not for that wedding, Matth. 22. 2. That she is active in it, in purifying her self as He is pure, from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit, 1 Iob. 3. 2. Corinth. 7.1. 3. That what maketh her ready, is something performed by her, to wit, her believing, which yet is done in His strength; and all the marriage dependeth on that. Now, she despiseth no longer, but layeth by her enimity, and submitteth. It sheweth the manner how she came to be made ready, or the putting away antecedently of what marred her; but it sheweth not the strength, by which she is made ready: the next verse adjoyned guardeth against that.