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1 For in the former, Paganism fell, and the Kingdom was only adjudged to Christ; but in this, Antichristianism falls, and the glorious Kingdom of Christ it self appears; whereas there was before only an Emblem of it upon Earth: which being a State of things more perfect than the former, is here called not only a great, but a marvellous Portent.
2 Three things in this Prophecy are more particularly seen as in Heaven.
(1.) The Divine Court of Judicature, or Grand Synedri∣um, Chap. 4.
(2.) The Downfal of Paganism, and the Appearance of the Christian Empire, Chap. 12.1.
(3.) The present Judgment upon Antichristianism: All of them referring to the Kingdom of Christ, in the New Jerusalem, but this to an high State of it now approach∣ing.
3 The Sabbatick Number of Seven is all along used in this Prophecy, to shew, that the End and Issue of all things in it, is with respect to Christ's Kingdom at the Seventh Thou∣sand Year of the World; as hath been before observed.
4 Hence we may note, (1.) That these Plagues relate to the Seventh Trumpet, out of which they must issue, because they are the last Plagues, and that the last We; at the first sounding of which the Wrath of God came (Chap. 11.18.) which is by these Plagues filled up, or accomplished.
(2.) That the last Plagues must refer to the last Division of Time in Daniel (Chap. 12.12.) to wit, the last Forty Five Years, which being added to the Twelve Hundred and Sixty Years, make them up the One Thousand Three Hundred and Thirty Five Days of Years there mentioned.
(3.) That the last Portion of Apocalyptick Time necessa∣rily supposes that there is a constant Order, or Connexion of Time in this Book, from First to Last; viz. from the First Seal to the Seventh and Last Trumpet; out of which, first the Voices, and then the Vials issue, which are the Last Plagues; after which, according to Daniel, the Blessed State of Christ's Kingdom in Glory begins; until when, none could enter the Temple, Verse 8.
2 And I saw, as it were, a Sea of Glass [representing the pure State of the Church and Kingdom; See on Chap. 4.6.] mingled
with 5 Fire [to denote the Fiery Indignation of God, to be pour∣ed out of the Vials;] and them that had gotten the Victory over the Beat, and over his Image, and over his Mark, and over the Number of his Name [i. e. who had overcome and escaped out of the Tem∣ptations of the Antichristian Profession; See Chap. 13.15-18. 14 11.] stand 6 on the Sea of Glass [in a Posture and State of Vi∣ctory, and happy Security from the Vengeance of the Vials;] having the 7 Harps of God [i. e. most Excellent, Holy, and Heavenly Musick, with Joyful and Thankful Hearts.]
5 This has a reference to the Red Sea, through which the Israelites passed; being made up, as it were, of the Christal∣line Sea, Chap. 4.6. and the Red Sea, Exod. 14. this Verse, and some others in this Chapter, containing an Allusion to that Memorable Story.
6 As the Israelites (Exod. 14.29, 30.) stood on the shote of the Red Sea, in safety, viewing the Overthrow of the Aegyptians, the Type of the Antichristian Party; for to stand on the Sea signifies to stand on the shore of it, 1 Kings 4.20. Exod. 15.22. Whereby is signified the Preservati∣on and Security of the Saints, during the pouring forth of the Vials upon the Wicked: Whereupon Fire is not here men∣tioned; where the Sea is spoken of with relation to them: And the Scripture seems to affirm that the Days of the last Great Tribulation (which may perhaps refer to the Vials) shall be shortned, or cut off, for the sake of the Elect, Isa. 10.22. Matth. 24.22. Rom. 9.28.
7 By a usual Hebraism, the most Excellent things are attri∣buted to God in Scripture; whence these Phrases, Cedars of God, Mountains of God, and the like. And by these Harps is signified, such Heavenly Musick, or Praise and Thanksgi∣ving, in this Representation of Christ's Kingdom, as David the King (a Type of Christ) used in his Royal Palace, and in the Service of the Temple; called, the Musick of God
in(a) Scripture: Skill to play on the Harp being one of those Gifts which God bestowed on David to fit him for the Kingdom, 1 Sam. 17.13, 18. and in which the Prophets ex∣ercised themselves, 1 Sam. 10.5. And so also at the pas∣sage over the Red Sea (which is here alluded to) the Women went out after Miriam, with Timbrels, Dances and Songs, Exod. 15.20-22.
3 And 8 they sung [now in an happy and secure State;] the Song of Moses [i. e. one of the same Spirit and Style with that which was sung by him, Exod. 15.] the [(b) Eminent] Servant of God [and(b) Faithful in all his House; and therefore a fit Type of these Faithful Witnesses; and worthy to be imitated by them in a Song in Memory of Gods Judgments on Antichrist, of whom the Aegyptians, the Subject of Moses's Song, were a Type;] and [they sung] the Song of the Lamb [Christ, sung Chap 5.8-14.] saying, Great [as to the Power by which they are wrought, Exod. 15.6, 7. Rev. 5.12] and marvellous [as to the Wisdom of them, Exod. 15.11. Rev. 5.12.] are [all] thy Works [espe∣cially those wrought in our Deliverance;] Lord God Almighty [glorious in Holiness, doing Wonders, Exod. 15.11. Rev. 4.8.] just [in punishing,] and true [in performing thy promises,] are thy ways [i. e. Proceedings and Actions, Exod. 15.13. Deut. 42.4.] thou King of Saints [whom thou dost defend, deliver, and exalt, Exod. 15.17, 18. Rev. 5.9.]
8 As Moses and the Israelites also did on the Banks of the Red Sea, Exod. 15. betwixt which Song, and that of the Lamb, Chap. 4, and 5. there is a very remarkable Congrui∣ty; as is observed in the Paraphrase.
4 Who [of all the Creatures, Rev. 5.13.] shall not fear thee
O Lord [for thy Judgments, Exod. 15.14-16. Jerem. 10.7.] and glorifie thy Name [i. e. Thee, thy Excellencies and Perfe∣ctions, Exod. 15.3, 11.] for thou only art holy [Exod. 15.11. Rev. 4 8.] for all Nations shall come and worship before thee [alone, Exod. 15.14-16. Rev. 4.8-11. and 5.13.] for thy Judgments are made manifest [in the Glories of thy Triumphs over thy Enemies, Exod. 15.6, 7. Rev. 5.13.]
5 And after that [Song, and Vision,] I looked [again, or was in Vision;] and behold the 9 Temple [or(a) Oracle, the most Holy Place,] of the Tabernacle of the Testimony [i. e. of the Di∣vine Habitation, or Dwelling-place, where God used to mani∣fest and exhibit himself, and give Testimony of his Presence, and in which were the Two Tables, the Witnesses of the Co∣venant betwixt God and his People, which were to testifie what God required, and testifie against them if they broke it, Exod. 25.10, 22.31, 18▪ 38, 21. Numb. 1.50. Deut. 31.6. Acts 7.44.] in Heaven [in the Heavenly▪ Tabernacle, and in the Pure Church; See on Chap. 14 2.] was opened [i. e. there was a very high Appearance of an Exalted State of Christ's Kingdom in the Heavenly Tabernacle; and a very great Manifestation of his Kingdom on Earth, and Extraordinary Communications of God's Will aod Evidences of his Presence, especially in 10 Judg∣ments]
9 The Temple of the Tabernacle, denotes the Holy of Holies, the most sacred part of it; which is now o∣pened, to signifie some extraordinary manifestation of Christ's Kingdom; there seeming to be many Gradual Openings and Visions of the several parts of the Temple; according to the several Advances of Christ's Church, and Kingdom unto its perfection: For in the Vision of the Temple Opened (Chap. 11.19. only the Ark of the Testament was seen; which
relates only to some particular great Mysteries concerning Christ's Redemption: Whereas here the whole Inward Taber∣nacle of Testimony was discovered, which had several(a) o∣ther things in it besides the Ark; whereby other Manifestati∣ons may be signified.
But although the Temple of Jerusalem be the primary Type alluded to; yet Ezekiel's Visional Temple is the more imme∣diate Type; and the ultimate Prospect of all, is upon God's dwelling in holy Souls, especially in the New Jerusalem State, by his Shecinah, or special Presence; and to God and the Lamb, being the Temple into which all is at last re∣solved, Rev. 21.3, 22.
10 This I take (as appears from the next Verse) to be the principal intent of the Opening of the Temple of the Taberna∣cle at this time; viz. That God's Will concerning the ap∣proaching Judgments, ready to be executed, was now plainly made known; expressed here by the Opening of that place, from whence the Divine Responses, and Oracles were wont to be made under the Law; and therefore the Angels come forth in the Habit in which the High-Priest was wont to come out of the Holy of Holies, with an Answer from God.
6 And the seven Angels [or Ministers of God's Judgments.] came out of the [Heavenly] Temple, having the seven Plagues [Strokes, or Punishments;] clothed in pure and white Linen [Chap. 3.4, 5.] and having their Breasts girded with golden girdles [i. e. they came out in the Habit of Priests, and Kings, to shew the Royal Priesthood of Christ's Kingdom, and Heavenly Temple, or
Tabernacle out of which these Judgments proceed; See Chap. 1, 13]
7 And one of the Four Beasts [or the first of the Representatives of the Apostolical Church, Chap. 4, 6. 6, 1.] gave 11 unto the seven Angels seven golden Vials [or Bowls, 2 Chron. 4.22. Rev. 5.8] full [not of Incense, but] of the 12 Wrath of God [trodden cut of the Winepress of his Wrath, out of which the Vial are filled, Chap. 14 19, 20. 15, 1. 19, 15.] who liveth for ever and ever [and therefore can, and will punish the Wicked with an utter, and an everlasting destruction, Deut. 32.22-43. Heb. 10.31.]
11 The seven Angels had indeed the seven Plagues; that is, the Judgments and Punishments which were to be executed; but besides the Materials (if I may so speak) of these Ju∣diciary Plagues, there is also something in God's severe Judg∣ments, which comes more immediately from the hand of God himself; in which the very Essence and Formality of(a) 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 So∣dom (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 Vi∣als of the Prayers of the Saints (Chap. 5.8.) are full of O∣dors, by Vertue of Christ's Intercession; so are these full of the VVrath of God, upon the Intercession of Christ for his op∣pressed 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 Manifestati••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 enjoy∣ed 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) 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, pos∣session 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. Where∣by is signified, that the New Jerusalem State was near its Set∣tlement 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) 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 Te∣stament) filled the Temple with Smoak, and not Light; there being as yet a Contest betwixt the VVrath, Jealousie, and Ju∣stice of God, and his Enemies to be destroyed; whose Defile∣ments (represented by Smoak, Chap. 9. 2.) and Sins were the Cause that God's Anger smoaked against them; for o∣therwise 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 An∣gels themselves are able to bear; this being the(a) 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 Da∣niel (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) Mose's not being able to go up into the Mount, until after six Days, and his be∣ing called up into it by God on the seventh Day, the(c) Type of the seventh Thousand Year, or the Sabbatical Mil∣lennium.
And from hence it may be observed, that although there shall be several Manifestations of God's Presence, and Open∣ings
of the Temple, after the End of the Beasts Months; upon the Entrance of which, the Temple was shut up, and at the Ex∣piring of which, it must consequently be opened: that yet ne∣vertheless the highest State of it, in which God and the Lamb are the Temple; consisting in perfect Tranquillity, and Sere∣nity, 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 fre∣quently observed.
16 This was signified by the several gradual(a) Removals of the Glory of God, and its departure from the Temple, in E∣zekiel; and his not returning into it, so as to fill it, and inha∣bit in it for ever, until he had consumed the wicked Idolaters, and their Abominations, in his Anger, Ezek, 39.11-29.43, 1-9.
1 Chron. 16.42. 2 Chron. 7.6.
Deut. 34.10. Heb. 3.5.
Deut. 34.10. Heb. 3.5.
Psal, 28, 2. 138, 2. Grot. and Hammond on this place, and on Acts 7.44.
Heb. 9.1-5.
Rom. 12.19. Heb. 10.28-31. See Dr. Tho. Goodwin's Discourse of the Punishment of Sin in Hell.
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.
See on Chap. 3. num. 36.
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.
Exod. 24.12-18.
See the Notes on Chapt. 20.4.
Ezek. 8.4, 6.9, 3.10, 4, 15-19.11, 23.