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Book,

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NEW AND

ORIGINAL

OF

THE BOOK OF EEVELATION,

AS

WELL

AS THE

PROPHECIES OF DANIEL, EZEKIEL, JOEL,

&c.

WITH USEFUL AND PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS;

TOGETHEPv WITH

NUMEROUS CITATIONS

FROIVI

THE

JEWISH

TALMUDS AND TARGUMSi

AND ALSO FROM

ANCIENT HISTORY AND AUTHORS,

ILLUSTRATING MORE FULLY THE SYMBOLICAL LAXGUAGE OF THIS MYSTERIOUS BOOK.

BY WIllIAM l.'^mY,
Author of the Hebrew and English Dictionary.

" Blessed is

he that readeth, and they that understand the words of

is at

this
:

prophpcy, and kepp

those things that are xVritten therein, for the time

hand."

liei: 1

3.

EMBELLISHED WITH STBABO

MAP OF THE WOULD,

AS IT

WAS AT THE TIME OK OUR

SAVIOR.

PRINTED AND

PUBLISHED BY

D.

FANSHAW,

575

BROADWAY

Printing Officp,

comer of Ann and

1848.

Nassau-'treets,

Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and
forty-eight,

by William L. Rot,

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United

States, for the

Southern District of New-York.

INTRODUCTION.

Saint John, the author of this

Book and

the Gospel according to St. John,

;

was

the son of Zebedec, a poor fisherman of Galilee

;

he had two sons, James

and John

both were brought up to the same occupation with their father.

poor and
filth

They were
sidered

illiterate,

and of

little

or no repute

among men, connothing, an(^

"the

and oflTscouring of the world."

all

"The^iad

yet they possessed

things

were poor, yet made many rich."

They were
God
of

men

of strong minds, great zeal, patience, and resignation to the will of

all

" they counted

things but loss and dross for the excellency of the

know-

ledge of Jesus ;" were willing not only to suffer but to die for the
Jesus.

name

The world

at this time

was

in a state of general expectation that

a prince
be-

should appear in Judea

who would

conquer the whole world.

The Jews
to

lieved this person to be Prince Messiah,

in

who, as they expected, was

the dominion of Ike

pomp and
little

splendor, and

redeem them from

come Romans ;

but

did they imagine that Jesus of Nazareth

was

this identical person.

And because he assumed the character "saw no form nor coineUness in him,
him," they
at last crucified

of the Messiah and of God, and they

nor beauty, that they should desire

to death.

and put him

life ;"

He was
"

directly the opposite of every thing they expected of the Messiah.

plain, simjiJe,

manners,

Meek and lowly in heart and in "he made himself of no

low

and unassuming

in his

reputation, (though the

Lord of

the whole

universe,) stooped so

as to take

upon him the form of a servant," and

actually

washed

his disciples

(the fishermen's)
;

feA

He was

the friend of

the poor, the benefactor of mankind

rate

was

holy, harmless, undefiled, and sepa-

from sinners, " and made higher than the heavens."

zeal, patience, long-

His miracles, mission, preaching, piety, humility,

sutFering, gentleness, goodness,

meekness, temperance, and pure benevolence,

commended him to all who looked /or redemption in Israel. He was evidently " God manifest in the flesh, justified hi the Spirit, seen of angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."

INTRODUCTION.

To the
passed by

astonishment of
all

men and

angels the King of kings and Lord of lords

the fashionable circles of the rich and great, (the wise, learned,

noble,) and stooped to the

humble walks of

life,

and there made choice of

poor but pious fishermen to be his ambassadors to a perishing and sinful world. " You see your calling, brethren," observes St. Paul, " that not

many

wise

men

after the flesh, not

many mighty,

not

many

noble

men

are

called (to the ministry) but

God

hath chosen the foolish things of this world,

;

and things that are despised hath he chosen

yea, and things that are not, to

bring to nought things that are, that no flesh might glory in his presence, 1

Cor.

7.

Among

these were Peter and John, ignorant and illiterate in the

estimation of men, but wise and learned (in spiritual things) in the estimation
of God.

and inspired by the Spirit of God.

Avorld

They were the real priests, with Urim and Thumraim divinely taught, These were the men " who turned the upside down by their preaching," astonished it with their wisdom, zeal,
;

power and eloquMce

a.

no wonder, then, that three thousand were converted

one day under one sermon of Peter's.

all

And
it

John's Bool: of JRevelation has

been the wonder of the church in

ages.

It is so profound, learned, lofty,

majestic, sublime in spiritual things, that

has remained a mystery for ages,

that saying, "the natural

and yet

It is

a revealed booJcJ

How

true

is

man

discerneth not the things that are spiritual, because spiritually discerned they
are foolishness to him."

And some

divines

who
is

could not comprehend the

flood of

author, have, like the Pharisees of old, poured

down a
so
is

contempt on
in

him and

his book.

Some have

said that

it

wrapped and involved

figures and allegories, is so wild^'and visionary,

so dark and obscure, that

nothing clear or certain can be proved from

it.

And

another divine, so called,

hath not scrupled

or

to assert that the

book of Revelation either finds a

man mad

makes him

so.
it

And
at all.

a third highly

commends commentators

for not giving

their opinion

on

But

to avoid old wives' fables

and needless conjec-

tures and opinions respecting the author of this book and the time

was
pel

written, I shall endeavor,

by the help of God,

is

to

prove that

it

when it was not

Gos-

written in the reign of DOTiitian, but in that of Nero.

That

St. John's
first

was

written before this book,

It is not
it is

sufficiently clear

from the

and second

chapters.

easy

to

determine the time

it

the island, but

not irnprobable that

to Ostia, for the

when he was released from was when Nero was going to make
all

a canal from
sons,

Avemura
to

purpose of which, he ordered

;

per-

every where,

be released and brought to Italy

and that such as were

convicted of the most heinous crimes should be only condemned to work

therein.

See Suetonius

in

Nero.

And

if St.

John was brought

to Italy at

this time, in all probability

he had an opportunity of seeing Nero, Vespasian,

did not survive the destruction of Jerusalem,

and Titus, personally.

18

That he
:

very evident from chap. 10

10, 13,

and 11

1, 13.

See chap. 20

4.


INTRODUCTIOX.
When, where, and by whom was
cult to answer.
collateral, are the

it wriiteu, are grave questions, and diffiEvidence, therefore, external, internal, circumstantial, and

only sources by which

we

can solve these

difficulties.

External evidence

may

be deduced from either sacred or profane history,

to St. John, his Epistles

and also from other sources. The Gospel according

and

which have been handed down to us through the church their authenticity and insiiiration have never as yet been discredited. Strabo's Geography, (his map of the world is attached to
;

Book

of Revelation, are the only works of his

this

work,) written before Christ

few

5'ears after the destruction of

Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews, written Jerusalem Tacitus and Suetonius' His-

tory of

Rome Homer's Illiad Plato and Socrates' systems of Philosophy have never been doubted and yet there is far greater evidence of the authen;

ticity

and genuineness of John's Gospel and Apocalypse than that of any of

to.

the works alluded

How

clearly, forcibly, energetically, does

John point out the corruptions

They certainly must have Patmos, or he should never previously and when absent have discovered them.
and backslidings of the Seven Churches of Asia.
to

been revealed

him

in

The white

horse and his rider, the red horse, the pale horse, the black
;

horse and their riders

the symbolic beasts

the beast coming

;

bottomless pit and declaring

of the

war

against Christ and his church

up out of the the murder

;

two witnesses

the beast's

wound

in battle

and recovery

his false
;

miracles; the 1260 days of the war; the battle of

of spiritual

Harmageddon
its

the

fall

Babylon; the remarkable events which preceded

ruin; the

city divided into three different factions,

who
;

fought desperately with each

it
;

other

the great effusion of

human

blood
;

the large stones thrown into

by
her

engines,

&c.

the

great red

dragon

his persecution of the

church
;

flight into the wilderness; his edict,

under the emblem of water

first

his loss of

the empire because of this persecution; the

resurrection; the bindin"

fire

and loosing of Satan; the

final destruction of

Gog and Magog by

or shall be

from

heaven

are

all

predictions

which

either

have been

very soon

fulfilled.

Justin the Martyr, in the year of our

Lord 140, quotes largely from

it.

John's;

Book

of Revelation.

Mileto, bishop of Sardis, wrote explanatory notes on

Ireneus, about A.

Theophilus, of

D. 170, commended Antioch, makes several

it

it

highly.

(luotations

from

it

in his

controversy

with Hermogenes.
Clement, of Alexandria, refers to
frequently.

Epiphanius,
assert that it

still

earlier,

Tertullian,

Origen, Andreas, and Arethas,

all

was written

before the destruction of Jerusalem, and in the reign

IXTRODUCTIOX.
Bislioj/ Ncwluii

of Nero.
opinion.

and many ulher eminent men are of the same

to treat on the internal cviilcnce of
it,

When we

come

we

shall

more

fully establish this point.

but this was absoJews and Gentiles to Christianity, and especially the rulers of both nations, who viewed it with a The fact is, it was sapping the very foundation jealous and malignant eye. of both systems, and becoming so popular that all nations were submitting to
It is

couched

in dark, mysterious, or

symbolic language

lutely necessary, because of the hatred of both

the mild and easy yoke of Jesus.

Judaism was now tottering and ready

kino^doms of our

to fall,

and Paganism gi\ing

way

to

Christianity in every quarter, and the kingdoms of this world becoming the

Lord and

his Christ.

Nero became exceedingly jealous of

Christ and his kingdom, because

making such vast inroads on the empire.

This was the very cause of his persecution of the christians; he was afraid
Christ should become his rival in the government, and he was determined to See Exod. 1 9, 10. This book, therefore, if it cxierminate his followers.
:

hands of either Jews or Gentiles might be interpreted as treasonable, and John not only lose his head, but another general persecution be This accounts for the metaphorical and ambiguraised against the church.
fell

into the

ous style of

it.

Internal evidence.
1.

This

is

founded on reason and inspiration.

Then,

if

the remarkable events set forth in this

Book me prophecies, of
if

which there can be iio doubt, (chap. 1:3; 22: 19,) and well fulfilled, then John must have been a prophet as Book be written by inspiration of God. See 1 Pet. 1

they were Uterally

as an apostle, and his

:

21.

John

is

classed

among
2.

the prophets

by the angel

chap. 22

9.

Were

Domitian or that of Nero

think

these remarkable predictions and events fulfilled in the reign of ? are questions of the utmost importance.

We

we

shall
to

doubt as

make this matter when John wrote this

so plain and simple that there can be no

book, and by

whom

he was banished into

the isle of Patmos.

3.

It certainly

could not have been in the reign of Domitian, for not a

during his reign, but they all single event set forth in the book took place
took place in the time of Nero. they should li\e until he 4. Our Lord indicated to both Peter and John that

came

to

judge the Jews, and then die martyrs

Jerusalem

for

him

there. John, 21

18, 22.

His coming, here, could not surely

coming
to destroy
;

refer to the

day

of judgment, but to his

an event predicted by the prophets, and called

the "-day of the

Lord "

in the Scriptures.

When

that city

was destroyed,
:

then
5.

all

the predictions of the prophets were literally fulfilled. Luke, 21

22.
;

Peter and John were then cither seventy or seventy-live years of age

TNTRODTTCTIOK.
but
if

John lived
things;

to the reign of

Domitian he must have been over one hunit

dred, a

improbable.

Besides, the book itself shows clearly that

was

the production of a
ideas, the force
6.

man
11
:

considerably younger in years

it, all
:

the language, the

and energy of
:

establish this fact.

Chapter

17

12

3,

prove, beyond doubt, that Jerusalem

was

book was written. Hence, " Every eye shall see him," Jews and Gentiles " and they also that pierced him," the priests and
not destroyed

when

this

the Jewish peojile, beyond doubt.

also, 3
:

Luke, 23
all

13, 14,

18

Acts, 2

23, 3G

15

27

29.

"

And

the

tribes of the
all

earth shall mourn."

In the siege of Jerusalem, the tribes were

else carried captives into
7.

confounded and destroyed, or

yet,

Egypt, and have never, as

tribe until

been discovered.
all

Judah was

to

remain a distinct
forever.

Shiloh came, and then

distinction
tual.
8.

was to cease Chap. 7:5.

The

literal

was

to be

blended with the

spiri-

It

was

in the time of general persecution

and general commotion that

^??-e-

St.

John was banished

into

Patmos, and must have been the very time

:

dicted by our Lord.

Matt. 24

6-14.

We

assert that

no such events as are

all

described in this chapter took place in the time of Domitian, but were
literally fulfilled in the
9.

reign of Nero.
Christians, as such, in the

reigns of Vespasian, Titus, or Domitian.

There was no general persecution of f\\e They

detested the Jews, and

some

of them, because of their wealth, and through the avariciousness of Domitian,

were falsely accused of treason, and banished into foreign countries and their property seized by him. Some christian Jews improfessi (not in profession,
but outwardly such,) were treated in the same way, as the emperor did not
perceive the distinction, and therefore treated both alike.
this late period

To commence

at

a general j)ersecution of the Christians, would be

at the risk

of losing his

head and his crown.

See Suetonius.

Neither Tacitus nor

in his

Suetonius intimates such a thing as a persecution of the Christians

time, but both mention that of Nero's, and animadverts severely on
his barbarous and cruel conduct in this respect. 10.

Nero

for

mighty and powerful nation was

one or other
;

to

be subdued and utterly destroyed

in the reign of either

but such an event did not occur in the

time of Domitian, but in the reign of Nero.

jnighty and holy people, and caused
11.

Vespasian then destroyed the

be extinct, as a nation, for ever.
at hand, within reach or

them

to

These great national calamities were then

Chap.
1
:

sight of the people. release of

12.

3.

They

took jilace immediately after the

John from the

Isle of

Patmos.

of Egypt, as
00.
ter G

to be accompanied by the seven plagues two thousand years before by Moses. Deut. 28 These plagues came on the Jews alone, and on no other nation. Chap-

This national destruction was

was

predicted

8, 9.

S
13.

INTRODUCTION.
The
battle of

miles in length.

Chap. 14

Harmageddon was fought in a province exactly 200 20. But no such battle was fought in Italy in
:

the reign of Domitian, but

14.

it

took place in the time of Nero.

Wars

and rumors of wars, general and national calamities, accompanied

;

the downfal of Jerusalem in Nero's time the world in that of Domitian.

15.

but no such calamities came upon

vial, or
;

heavy judgment, was

to be

poured out on the seat of the

to be

Pagan beast
for the

and three kings at

this time

were

subdued

in contending
:

crown.

These were Galba, Otho, and

Vitellius.

Chapter 16

10.

There were no kings contending for the crown in Domitian's time. 16. Daniel's beast was then to succeed to the empire and this is the very beast that was to destroy the mighty and holy people, and cause the daily
;

sacrifice to cease for ever

from Jerusalem.
the

17.

Peace was restored in

in that of

East among the Parthians,

:

in Nero's time,

and not

Domitian. Chap. 16

12.

This

is

represented by the waters

of the Euphrates being dried

up;

or,

may

allude to the bridge

which Nero

had thrown across

18.

this river for his armies to pass over.

locusts

The symbolic

were

let loose in

the time of the beast with the

seven heads and ten horns, and not in the reign of Domitian.
19. Gabriel

Chap. 9

3.

came on a special mission,

to

announce that time should be no

longer (than the 1260 days) with the Jews; but he did not in the reign of

Domitian declare that time should be no longer with us Gentiles. Chapter

10
:

6, 19.

For, after
tioo

this,
;

20.

The

witnesses had to prophesy

the wo)uan

to flee into

the wilder-

ness of Judea, because of persecution, and Babylon

to fall,

and then the kinghis Christ

;

doms
21.

of this world become the kingdoms of our

Lord and

which

proves beyond doubt that his mission was special, and not general.

A great
:

earthquake caused the tenth part of Babylon to

in

fall;

but

we

have no account of any such event

ter 13

Rome

in the

time of Domitian.

Chapfor

11.

22.

Domitian did not declare war against both Jews and Christians,
would be a hazardous game with him,
still

Jerusalem was destroyed thirty years previous, and another general persecution of the Christians as

Nero

lost the

throne by

it;

and

it

was

more dangerous

in his time, as

nearly the whole

empire had

now embraced

Christianity.

The
:

palace, the senate, the forum,

and a great part of the public offices were

their strict integrity

filled
7.

with Christians, because of

and piety.

See chap. 12

23.

His ministers or magistrates did not destroy the

third part of the stars

of heaven, (or Christ's ministers,) but Nero did.

the empire because of it; verses 9, 10.
24.

Chaj). 12:4.

And

lie

lost

Our Lord was

crucified in

Jervsahm and

not

in

Koine

and in the

INTRODUCTION.
streets

public view; and this

25. It

of Jerusalem the two witnesses were killed and their bodies exposed to by the beast that besieged the city. Chap. 11:7, 19.

was

entirely destroyed, and

;

Zion ploughed up

like afield thirty years

before the reign of Domitian

in his reigu,

therefore the

two witnesses could not be

killed

but in that of Nero.

Suetonius declares that Domitian was far

;

more mild and virtuous than

either his father or brother

life

and he could not

a man.

bear the idea of even taking the

26. Finally, all these events

of an ox,

much

less that of

were

to take place in the reign of the seventh

emperor of
Isle of

Rome ;

that

is,

in Nero's,
10.

and not Domitian's reign,

who was

the

twelfth emperor.

Chap. 18:
latter,

Therefore, John was not banished into the

Patmos by the
1.

but by the former.

Circumstantial evidence

ny for and against.

may be collected from various sources ;/ro?n testimoThe various commentaries ivritten on it, show evidently

was in repute. 2. The spurious works written by Cerenthus and others in imitation of it, proves that it was genuine, as well as popular. 3. The various disputes about when it was written, and where it was written, and by whom it was written, shows that it was a book worthy
that such a book existed, and

the attention of great scholars, as well as great divines.

all

4.

In

all ages,

and

bj'

denominations,

it

has been considered as an extraordinary book.

Junius'
author's

Letters are genuine and very popular, though not authentic.

The

name is concealed, because the government his name to this book, but wisely concealed
Gentiles were implicated in them.
therefoi'e,

teas implicated.

John appended

his predictions, because

Jews and
supported

The Apocalypse

(revelation)

is

from evidence indisputable, external, internal, circumstantial, and

Collateral evidences
Sf'c.

collateral.

may

be deduced from coins, pillars, monu-

ments, tombs,

The pyramids

of Egypt,
all relics

Pompey's

Pillar, the ruins of

Troy, Titus' Triumphal Arch, are

ate remarkable events.

of antiquity, designed to perpetu-

The tombs of Joseph, Abraham,

personages.

David, Solomon, Jehosaphat, and the Holy

Sepulchre, are designed to perpetuate the

memory

of the dead or distinguished

John, the poor fisherman of Galilee, had no tomb, no

coins,

no monu-

ment, no
him.

pillar, to

transmit his worth to posterity; but he had Jesus with

his

His gospel and Booh of Revelation, however, have handed down

name from one

hearts of
did

generation to another, and though dead, j'et he lives in the

But Nero, unintentionally, erected a splenall genuine Christians. monument to perpetuate the memory of the beloved John. His cave is to be seen by all travellers to this day in the Isle of Patmos, and no doubt, if search in future shall be made, his name will be found engraven on the walls in large Hebrew characters. John, however, was not forgotten b^' some of his beloved brethren at Rome
;

1*

10
for the following

INTRODUCTION.
remarkable Grech
Inscriiytion

was found on a

statue of Hi]''

polilus, discovered at

Rome

in 1551.
k-jli

ng/ Tou KstT* I*vvv njciyyihuv

a.7riKU.Ku-^tit;.

Concerning the Gospel and Revelation of St. John.

The

Syrian" version has this inscription

revelation

"The

made

to St.

John the Evangelist by God,

in the Island of

Patmos, into which he was banished by Nero Csesar."

As this is the oldest and best version of the work in the world, this testimony is of vast importance in determining the time when the book was written,

whom John was banished to Patmos. The laiiguage in icldch it was written. This, no doubt, was Hebrew. The Kodesh Lashon, holy tongue, the inspired language of God, venerated among all nations, Jews and Gentiles. St. John had a copy of the law and all the Apostles carried a copy of both with them the prophets with him wherever they went the GreeJc version was scarce and very unpopular among the Jews, because not given hy inspiration, as was the Hebrew Scripand the person by
;
;

tures.

And, indeed, the

Pi,abbins forbid the reading of

it

in the

synagogues,

as

it

was written
it is

in a

barbarous tongue.

John could speak in the Greek

it

tongue, but
as

doubtful whether he could write

is

as fluently and correctly

Hebrew.

His Book of Revelation

it is

so full of

Hebraisms and Rabbinical

originally written in the
;

expression, that
TIoIt/

evident to
it

me

that his

work was
text,

tongue, especially as

would be considered more sacred

and

this is

my

reason for adhering so closely to the

this

Hebrew

and not the Greek text of

work.

Hence, Alpha and Omega.

One like

the son of man.

The two-edged
20.

sword.

One

of the elders answered, (inquired.)

The

seven stars are (represent.)

1
:

The

seven golden candlesticks are (represent.)

(cause
to

Chap.

I will give to eat,

partake

of.)

John G

53.

A new

name

written, (engraven.)

He

that hath an ear to hear (to understand and obey.)

Shall be clothed in

white raiment (be made holy, or constituted a priest.) I will not blot out (exChap. 7 14. John Sir, ''^.'^l^ thou knowest. communicate.) Chap. 3 5.
:

5:7.
examine

door

was opened

(a

prophecy explained.)

Come up
Four

hither (look,
beasts, (great

this.)

And

there
4

was
:

set (prepared, fixed.)

men, chief
2.

hien.)

Chap.

G.

He

loosed (opened, revealed.)

its

Chap. 5
:

The

white horse and his rider (salvation and

author.)

Chap. G

2.

The
his

four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four

winds thereof.

mouth.

Chap 7:1. The Tree of Life. The key of David, and key of the
&c.

The

fire

proceeding out of
pit.

bottomless

The

angel

Jlying through the midst of heaven, having,

The number

of the horse-

Mic roll eat

men, two hundred thousand thousand, for an innumerable number. Seal up it up; shall be sweet in thy mouth, but bitter in thy bowels.

INTRODUCTION.
Chap. 10:
9,

11

10.

The

great red dragon with seven heads 'and ten horns;

the old serpent, called the Devil and Satan.

His

tail

(magistrates.)

War
;

in

heaven (persecution

in the church.)

Michael and bis angels (Christ and

and prayer.

his

ministers) fought (contended)

by

faith

Chap. 12: 3

7.

The
af-

sea

of- glass,

harps of salvation, are

all

.Rabbinical as well as symbolic lanoriginally written in

guage, whicli proves that the work

was

Hebrew, and

terwards translated into Greek or Syriac, and then Arabic.

scholars

Some
;

of our best

have been greatly perplexed with the Greek of the Apocalypse. See Middleton on " Son of Man.'' Also x TiXio- On. Pp. 660 664. The beast with the seven heads. This is variously understood. Some think
the

Pope

to be the beast; others the- Protestant, or

;

some the Roman empire

and perhaps the least of

and others Mahomed.

thought, identified Napoleon Buonaparte as the

all,

Henry the Eighth; and And a late author has, as he beast. And the last author,

makes out Daniel's

beast to be a heathen cmjyeror.

The various modes of interpretation adopted hy different authors. Some have taken a literal view of it; others a spiritual, and some an allegorical view of it. Some have viewed it propheticall}', and interpreted it as such, and all their spurious predictions of different remarkable events, which they
asserted should take place at a certain time,

have utterly

failed,

and the only

of the

service they

have rendered the world

hope
lately suffered

is to

people.

We

in future the people will

make madmen or fools learn wisdom from the

1.

things

which they have

by Millerism and Mormonism.

not understood.

The reason
style of
it.

tvhy the

Book

is

Because, not acquainted

well ; and
it

with the language in which

it

was

written, and the Rabbinical and symbolic

it

The

seven churches of Asia understood

if

we had
It

the same faith, wisdom, arid grace,

we

should understand

also.
;

was
2.

revealed in a dungeon, written with tears, and sealed with blood

ing
is

and a blessit.

promised to them

who

read, understand, and live according to

Sectarian views have led Catholics and Protestants into the most gross errors

m their

application of John's

Book

of Revelation.

3.

A delicate regard

for the

opinions of wise and learned

men have caused many to defer giving an opinion on 4. Some are altogether it at all in opposition to such great and talented men. One author, to literal, and others altogether spiritual in their views of it.
outdo the whole of his predecessors, icent
to

heaven

to see

John himself, and

5.

came back with a

as the Bible

revelation of a book already revealed.

Some,

to gain

notoriety, and others to

make merchandise
6.

of

it,

have written volumes as large

;

upon

it,

without one original idea in their whole work

they arc
learn-

simply reprints of other men's works.

Some

authors

who have had

Others,

ing but no piety, and others piety but no learning, have both failed in their

attempts to discover

its

meaning.
failed to

See Dan. 10

12.

7.

who have

had both combined, have

study the Scriptures for themselves in the

1*2

IXTRODUCTIOX.
and haAe, \vith a slight variety, followed the steps of their predeces-

original,
sors.

8.

There

is

a literal, spiritual, metaphorical, allegorical, and prophetic

meaning

to be attached to different parts of this book,

and to

know when and

where

to

apply them

is

a matter of great

moment.

or taking from
this

MisairpUcation or niisconsiniction of any part of this Bool- is adding tf) it, and of course we must come under the wo denounced in

Book.

We
He

hope no person will be so uncharitable as

all

to

suppose the author has

combined

the qualifications requisite to a proper understanding of this book.

certainly feels himself inadequate to the great task, but a sense of duty,

and at the solicitation of

many
it,

friends and eminent ministers,

he has published

his opinion on this mysterious

Book
then
it.

and

if it

shall prove to be a help to

a better understanding of

he shall

feel

amply

paid.

If not, and
till

it

should

prove a
shall

failure, like all the rest,

we must wait

patiently

the Most

High

make

a
;

new
it

revelation of
in the

It Avas written in the

end of the Jewish

dispensation

may now,

providence of God, be interpreted in the end of

the Gentile dispensation, and this for a wise purpose.

What

still

confirms the views I have taken of the Revelation

all

is

this

Matthew, Mark, and Luke have

tirely omitted this in his
iTient to it,

given an accurate account of our Lord's

;

predictions respecting the utter destruclion of Jerusalem

but St. John has en-

Gospel: his revelation serves, therefore, as a suppleall

and a? a commentary on

our Lord's predictions, as well as the

to that event.

Old Testament prophecies which refer

glory of
profit.

Finally, I have but one end in view in the publication of this

work

the

God and
I

the good of mankind

style,

and

my
:

object
I

is

not to jjlease, but to

have not studied

but simplicity

have endeavored throughI

out the work, as far as practicable, to use scriptural language.

a second class of notes,

have added

which were written

in

my juvenile

days,

when about
more

twenty-two years of age.

They may

be useful to the pious and devot^k*

Christian, though probably not such to the critical reader,

style than to good sense and reason.

who

looks

WILT.
Brooklyn, December
1,

AM

L. IMJV.

lSt7.

NOTES

THE REVELATION
CHAPTER
X HE
I.

Revelation of Jesus Christ, which

God gave unto

him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly

The

Revelation.

The

exposition

ple

from their

sins."

Matt.

21.

His
In

or illustration of the old testament pro-

name
things

therefore

means
:

a Savior.

phecies which remained at that time

to be fulfilled,

order to accomplish our salvation, three

and of the corruptions and backslidings of the seven churches of Asia ; and also a revelation of remarkable events which were to take
place from the year of our

were

requisite

1.

should be able to save.

2.
it.

should be willing to do

That he That he 3. That

to

he should
God, he
termost
is

die to save us.

As the scripbe

Lord

sixty-

tures every

where declare him

five unto the

end of the world.

is a

We see

able to save to the very ut-

therefore that this

revealed and

not

an unrevealed book, the meaning of which is not known either to the church or the ivorld. It was probably
plain

and simple to John and the churches to which he was then writ*
the mystery is in ourselves, and ; not in the book. " The spiritual man
(the Apostle observes) judgeth (dis-

all them that come unto God by him. Heb. 7 25. There is no other name given among men whereby we can be saved but the name of 12. He commanded Jesus. Acts, 4
: :

repentance and remission of sins to be

ing

preached in
tions,

his

name among

all

na-

beginning at Jerusalem. Luke,

24
4

47.

He

is

the Savior of

all

cemeth)
Jesus.
tle

all

things

yea,

the deep

especially of them that believe. 1

:

men, Tim.
all,

things of God."

10.

That

is,

he

died, that

This

is

a special, peculiar
at his birth.

ti-

through him, might be saved, yet

given to

him

The

an-

he saves none but those

cles,

who

believe,

gel said,

" his

name

shall be called

viz. in his divinity, doctrines,

mira-

Jesus

because he shall save his peo-

death,

sufferings,

resurrection,

10

NOTES OX THE
to pass
;

come
unto

and he sent and

John
:

signified

it

by

his

angel

his servant

and ascension
divinity.

to

glory.

To deny
deny
his

his doclrine is the

same

as to

Spirit of the Lord God," says he, " is upon me, because he hath anointed me
to

The

apostle assures us that

preach the gospel to the poor," &c.

:

" without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins," and unless the divinity and humanity were united in one person, no atonement could be
inade for
sin.

Hence he
;

is

the true

61 1. These three offices were never combined in any one individual but him. Christ and IMessiah are of the same import he answered to the character of Masheach in every
Isaiah,
;

blessed for ever

God, and eternal life, God over all, and the creator and upholder of
all

respect, (as
(jucl of this

we

shall

prove
to

in the se-

work.)
him.

things,

God

manifest in
spirit,

Which God gave

the flesh, justified in the

nf angels, preached
tiles,

seen

Projihet, Priest, and King, he

As our was to

among
:

the gen-

teach and instruct the people, to atone

for their sins,

believed on in the world, receiv1

and to rule over them

ed up into glory.
is
*'

Tim. 3

16. 2.
to

He
all

as their

Lord and Master.

not masters, or lords

not only able, hut xvilling

save.

To show unto his servants. His ministers.

Look unto me, and be ye

;

saved,

They were

the ends of the earth

for I
is

am

God,

over God's heritage, but simply servants,

and besides me- there Isaiah, 45 21, 22. "

:

He

no Savior." has no pleathat dieth."

who were

willing to

wash the
you,
1

disciples feet, if requisite.

Have

sure in the death of

:

him

reader, this disposition

fear not.

Ezekiel, 18 32. " It is not his will that any should perish, but that all

aristocracy in his church.

The Savior was determined to have no " Whoso-

should repent and live." John, 3 16. Matt. 18 14. Finally. " He, by the
: :

ever is greatest among you," says he, " let him be the servant of all.'^ Matt.

grace of God, hath tasted death for

23:

11.

And "he

that

is

the least

every man." Heb. 2

9.

"

He

died,

the just for the unjust, to bring us to

God."

Peter, 3

18.

"He that spar-

(most humble) is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Luke, 7 28. " He that humbleth himself shall be
:

own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things." Komans, 8 32. Christ. This is also a peculiar title,
ed not his
:

exalted, and he that exalteth himself

shall

be abased."

The

Savior sent
to bo his

poor,

humble fishermen
tlipt

am-

bassadors to the heathen, and the con-

sequence was,

through the preachilliterate

and

signifies the anointed, consecrated

ing of these ignorant and

men,

one, from the

Greek

Xpict

Chrio, to

so called, the majority of the heathen

anoint
ritual,

but his consecration icas spi-

world was brought under subjection to

Christianity.

because about to commence a

new
.

dispensation.

He was
King.

anointed

Things which must

pass.

shortly come to

i'rophct, Priest, and

"

The

That

is,

within a few years

REVELATION.
2

11

Who

bare record of the word of God, and of the

all

testimony of Jesus Christ, and of

things that he saw.

tliey are fast approaching, are at the

very door. The battle ofHarmageddon is at hand therefore prepare to

;

of

him in Jiis gospel, the very first verse which proves his divinity beyond
doubt.

In the beginning (viz. of the

meet thy God,

Signified
it

O Israel
hy his angel
to Jiis ser-

creation)

was

the

Word,

(the eternal

logos, Philo,)

vant John. This angel

was one

of the

prophets, probably Isaiah, see chapter

'22
:

9.

He was

formerly a ministeris

and the word was with God, (that is, when the world was created,) (" and the world was made by him," verse 3,) and God was the
word, the very identical logos himself. This clause " bare record,'''' is in the
past tense, and proves that John wrote

ing spirit on earth, he

now

a minis-

tering spirit in heaven, and sent back

again

to

protect

those

heirs of salvation.

who were What a blessed

life
!*

his gospel before his banishment to the

Isle of

encouragement

to faithful ministers to

Patmos.f

know

that after they depart this

they shall become angelic beings See chap. 16 2.

:

And of all things which he saw. When in the Mount with our Savior,
and
also

2 Who bare record of the word of God. That is, devar Yehovah, the word of Jehovah, who is equal with God in wisdom, power, glory, and
endless duration.

during the whole of his public

ministry on earth.
witness himself of

He was
all

an eye

that

he has

published to the world in his gospel.

He

bare record of

See Matt. 17

2.

The high

priest entered into the holiest of holies once in the year, to

make atonement

for the

people and himself. Levit. 14, &c.

And

the apostle Paul observes, "

He

entered

not in without blood, which he offered for himself and the errors of the people."

See

Heb. 9:7. Here the high

priest

was

to consult with

God

in secret, to

know

his will,
;

and
he

to intercede in behalf of the people.

And

so

it is

with Jesus, our great high priest

itself;

has entered into the holiest of

all,

namely, heaven

but not by the blood of bulls or

of goats, or the ashes of an heifer, but by his

b\it

own most

precious blood, not once in the year,

is

once

for all, in the

is

end of the world.

And

as he

our mediator, between

God and

man, he

here represented as communicating the will of

God

to his beloved John.

t St.

John, in his gospel, bore testimony to the birth,

life,

miracles, and sufferings of

:

Christ; also his death, resurrection, and ascension to

title

gloi-y.

See John, 21

24.

This

is

or a

name

applicable to Christ alone, viz. the

Word

of God.

12

NOTES ON THE
3 Blessed
is

he that readeth, and they that hear the

for the time is at hand.

words of

this

prophecy, and keep those things which are

:

written therein

4 John Grace

to

the seven churches which are

in

Asia

and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne
be unto you,
; :

3 Blessed (happy)
et]i.

is

he that readit,

Ephesus lays now

not be identified.

in ruins,

and can-

That is,

so as to understand

and

live according to its divine precepts.

Laodicea
jackalls,

is

the abode of foxes and a large, flourishing

Many have read it,

thor as a fool

and cursed the auor a madman, simply

&c.
is still

Smyrna

because they could not understand or

his meaning, nor make merchandise of his book. How true is the apostle's assertion, " the natural

and commercial
Alia Shehr,
atira
is
;

city.

comprehend

Philadelphia, called by the Turks

still

a populous
it is

and

flourishing city
;

and so

with Thy-

(unconverted)

man

receiveth not the

but Pergamos and Sardis both

things that are spiritual," because spiritually discerned, and

lay in ruins.

ishness to

"they are foolhim;" but "the spiritual

all

man judgeth
The time

things, yea, the

deep
the

things of God."
is

Peace be unto you. This is purely Hebrew, and the usual mode of salutation among the Jews to this day, The B^l Bibffl Sha-lom la-chem.
first

at hand.

When all

time

it

occurs in the Bible

is

old testament prophecies shall be hterally fulfilled.*

when Joseph
:

revealed himself to his

brethren at the second meeting.

Gen.

4 John, to the seven churches whvch

are

in

Asia,

Ephesus, Pergamos,
Sardis, Philadel-

Smyrna, Thyatira,

43 23. And when our spiritual Joseph (Jesus) revealed himself to his disciples the second time after his re-

phia, Laodicea, see verse 11.

These

churches were not stately edifices, as some imagine, but simply congregations of christian believers.

he said Peace he unto you. Luke, 24 36. When the apostles were sent out to preach, they were
surrection,
:

See chap.

commanded
and
if

to salute the

house into

2:1. Epiphanius asserts that there was no public edifice in Thyatira unlong after the revelations were til
written.

which they went with Shalom lachem,

who

the son of Peace, or a person loved God, was in the house, he

their peace with

would return

Shalom

* Tbi
tures.

is

the lense in which

:

we must
1
:

understand at hand,

different parts of the scrip-

Mtt. 26

46.

Mark,

15.

REVELATIOxV.
5

13

And from

Jesus Christ, who

is

the faithful Witness,

and the First-begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed
us from our sins in his

own

blood,

sholem.

This was a welcome

to the

The seven
spirits of the

spirits.

The

ministering

pilgrim or stranger to
his

make

that house

seven churches of Asia.

home
;

as long as

to stay

but

if

the

he thought proper owner did not re-

the

5 The faithful witness. title of Messiah ; hence oo-me-hc-min

turn the salutation, then the traveller

departed, and went off to some other

for a true

and faithful witness.

:

Tar-

gum
ful

house of peace or piety.

The Ma-

on Jer. 42 5. He is a faithwitness " against sorcerers, aduland those that

homedan mode of salutation is like that of the Jews, Salem alikem ; the
Hindoos bo bo salem, and the Persame as the Turks but John has added a new item, that is grace, because under a new and gracious dispensation. See Matt. 10 12, 13. From him wh ch i&, which loas, and which is to come. This embraces
sians the
; :

terers, false swearers,

oppress the hireling in his wages, the

widow and
right.

the fatherless,

and them

that turn the stranger aside from his

Mai. 2

5.

The first-he gotten of the dead. The first fruits of them that slept for since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead
:

the

istence,

present, and future exand proves beyond doubt that Christ is Jehovah himself ; for this is

past,

for

as in

Adam
all

all

die,

even so

in

Christ shall
is,

be

made

alive, that

be raised again from the grave

the identical meaning of the

Hebrew

in the general resurrection at the last

word composed of
be,

"^rr; Ye he, he shall and rT^n ha yah, he is, he was, the great I Am, self existent, unoriginated, and eternal Jehovah. Exodus,

day,

when " some

life

shall rise to the rere-

and others to the surrection of damnation."

surrection of

14.

In Psalm 23

1,

he

is

styled

earth, or
the

The Prince of the kings of the more properly, C^^ib "1^;^

^V-\

nin^ Ye-ho-uah
Shepherd.
himself

ro-e,

Jeh nah,
ti-

my

Christ applies this

the

King of the princes of the earth. Hos. 8-10. Thrones and dominion?,
principalities

tle to

/ am

good Shep-

and powers, are

all

sub-

herd, pastor, minister, the door of the

ject to

him

he

is

the King of kings,

for "

sheep, the life, the truth, and the way. Hence " the voice of one crying in

and Lord of lords, the creator and upholder of

all

things

he has

all

the wilderness, prepare ye the

way of
&full

power

Jehovah." (Jesus.) Here then

demonstration of his divinity.

is

heaven and in earth." " He can create and he destroy." He healin

Hence the holy and blessed God said to Moses, I am he that is, he that was, and
he that
is to

ed the sick, cleansed the lepers, rais-

come

(in the flesh.)

Sher-

ed the dead, cast out devils, burst the bands of death, ascended on high, led captivity captive, and received gifts
for the rebellious,

moth Rab.

sec. 3, fol.

73-2.

even the sons of men.

14

NOTES OX THE
G

And hath made

us.

us kings and priests unto

God and

Unto him that loved

This he

sus Christ, the

Son

of God, cleanseth
1
:

demonstrated by dying for us rebels, the just for the unjust, to bring us to

from

all sin." 1

John,

7.

And with-

out the shedding of blood, and the application of

it,

God.
'

there can he no remisis

for this love, let

rocks and

hills

sion of sins.

Baptism
is,

the

outward

" Their lasting silence break,

"

and visible sign of the inward and spitongues

And

all

hai-monious
assist

human

"The

ritual grace, that

regeneration.

Savior's praises speak.

A
If

" Angels,

" Strike

all

our mighty joys, your harps of gold,

sign cannot be the thing signified, nor

can the shadow be the substance.

baptism, therefore,
is

" But when you raise your highest notes, " His love can ne'er be told."

regeneration,

we

are justified hy the deeds of the law,

or

To

love is to yield

up the heart

which
true.

is

impossible if the Bible be

hfe to the object of our affections, but

The rabbins assert that

no priest

Christ gave his Hfe for his enemies,

liis

can

officiate in the

sanctuary until he

very rourderers.

Is there then ano-

ther instance of such (hsinterested be-

washes himself in water ten times from head to foot. He then wipes himself,
and puts on the
Avhite

nevolence on record

We presume not.
sin,
spirit.

garments.

And washed us from our sins. That

is

from the

guilt

and pollution of

Mishna Yoma, chapter 3, sec. 3, 4. This evidently shows that no man is

fit

all

the filthiness of flesh and

to minister in

holy
all

tilings

but he
in

This was typified under the law by the washing and cleansing of sacrifices on the altar before they were offered

whose
6

washed away the blood of the Redeemer.

sins are

And

hath

made us

kings.
to

They
with

by the

priest.*

In his own blood. Not in water, nor by the washing of water this cannot
:

were spiritual kings, meekness and mildness

the living God.
as yet placed a proud,

rule

the church of

Christ

has never

take

away

sin,

but " the blood of Je-

haughty min-

Moses washed Aaron with water, and dipped

his finger in the blood of atonement,

and

then put the blood on his right ear, and on the

the great toe of his right foot, and this

tip of the

thumb of

his right hand,

and on
:

was done before he

oflficiated in public.
fit

Lev. 8

&c.

This was

to

show Aaron and

washed away
to be

all his posterity

that no person is

for the ministry

it

but he whose
that
it

sins are

in the blood of the

atonement

and

also indicated
fulfilled

was necessary
had no part

washed from head

:

to foot.

Our Lord himself

this

short time before his death. See John, 13

not, they
in

9.

He

told his disciples if

he washed them
after this

him

he

first

washed them with water outwardly, and

washed them inwardly

shadowed under
the blood of the
is fit for
it.

in liis
;

own

precious blood.

This was the substance of what was

is

the law

and from this we may learn that no man who

not washed in

Lamb

of God, and called to the office of the ministiy by the Spirit of God,

REVELATION.
his

15 for ever

Father

to

him

he glory

and dominion

and

ever.

Amen.

ister

over his

little

flock to rule

them.

He

has chosen the poor of this world,

in faith,

Aaron the high priest, all ministers of the gospel must trace out their spiritual origin to Jesus, our great high
priest.

" rich

and heirs of the king-

dom." Youseeyourcalling, brethren how that not many wise men, (after
the flesh,) not
ing,) not

And

as they are kings as well

as ministers of the sanctuary, they

are

many mighty, (in learnmany noble, (of high birth) called. But God hath chosen the
world,
(plain,

must be born oithe royal blood, " born again, born from above, of water and
the

Holy Ghost," begotten again

to a

foolish things of this

lively

simple, illiterate men,) to confound the

hope through the resurrection " No man of Jesus from the dead.
taketh this honor to himself but he is called of God, as was Aaron."

wise,

(philosophers,) and

the

weak

things of this world, (poor, unlettered

that

men')

to

confound the things that are

(in learning

Heb. 5

4.*

mighty,

and eloquence,)

and base things of this world, (fishermen,) and things that are despised
(by scribes and pharisees,) yea, and
things that are not, (of wealth and
influence,) to bring to nothing things

Sanhedrin, in examining candidates for the priesthood in reference

to their

The

body and mind,

genealogy and defects of both rejected every person

If found

who
to

could not trace out his pedigree

Aaron, the high priest.

that are,

(men of great note and great repute ;) that no flesh might glory in the presence of God." 1 Cor. 1 26-29. The Jewish doctors are called
:

deficient in

Mai

chai

to

rah, kings, priests of the

law, hence the word of Jehovah shall

constitute

he was discarded, and a black vail put over his face, and ever after denominated ihc degenerate priest ; but he who was approved by the council was clothed with white linen, and freely admitrespect,

any

you
:

kings, Targ. Jonath on

ted into the office of the ministry. Tal.

Deut. 28
bernacle,

13, servants of the true ta-

which the Lord pitched, and As priests under the law not man. had to trace out their pedigree to

Bab. Yoma, fol. 19 1. White is the banner of the prince of peace, black
:

that of the prince of the

air
;

power of

the

one

is

the

emblem

of purity, the

They were
it,

spiritual kings to rule over the church,

and priests to intercede with God

;

in behalf of

and

to pray to

him

to atone for their offences

in the

also they
:

were
3.

to present

the prayers of the church before

God

golden censor. See chap. 3

The

sons of

Aaron were obliged

first

to officiate as junior,

and then senior

jjriests,

and

after this thev

obtained the high priesthood in regular succession. They were then both kings and prieslg

for the service of

God

but the ministers of Christ are kings by birth, for Christ, the King

of Glory, has begotten

them by

his

own

bloodi

16

NOTES
7

ON*

THE
;

Behold, he cometh with clouds

and every eye

:

shall

see him,

and they

also

which pierced him

and

all

kinso,

dreds of the earth

shall wail

because of him.

Even

Amen.

other of impiety.
first

Both

colors

were

the flock of Christ

for that

It

would be good

blended in the inquisition of Rome., white, alba, when saying mass, to

man

if

he had never been born.

is

But

the pious, holy, zealous minister

show the purity and piety of the

church black when passing sentence of condemnation on heritics, to show he power of it. Black is not, as many suppose, academical ; it has a
;

of Jesus,

who

laboring night and

day to save

sinners, will

have an
on,

eter-

nal weight of glory.

Go
Avill

my

dear

brother, in the good old

way

of sav-

ing souls, and

God

reward you
prophet,

different origin.

White is

still

worn

in

abundantly

the celebration of mass, black in the

pulpit

To Jam
priest,

be glory.

As our

where

heretics are condemned,

and king. Glory

signifies fear,

as a judicial act.

This practice crept from the court

is

honor, reverence, adoration.

He was
of
life

into the English courts

a prophet, to teach us the

way

of

Rome when
;

the judge

trying a

and salvation

"a

light, to lighten the

case of
let

life
;

and death he wears a scar-

Gentiles, and the glory of his people

Israel ;" a priest, to atone for and take

gown

when

passing sentence of

death, he takes this off and puts on the

black

gown and

black cap.

Unforstill

away the^ sins of the world, them in his own body on the

to

bear
;

tunately, the black

gown

is

con-

tinued to be

worn by

ministers of the

a king, to rule in and reign over us, and bring us off more than conquerors over
tree

protestant churches
the pulpit.

when they

enter

the world, the flesh, and the devil

to

Surely they do not do and therefore

origi-

him

therefore be glory, might,

ma-

this to curse heretics,

it

jesty, dominion, and power, for ever

should be discontinued, especially

and ever, amen, and amen

considering
nated.

how and where

his Father.

it

7 Behold, he cometh with clouds.

That

is,

of angels as well as armies,

God and

They were
by

to utterly destroy his enemies,

who

constituted, appointed, set apart,

Christ himself, for the service of the

would not have him to reign over them. He does not come now as the
prince of peace, but as the lion of the
tribe of

sanctuary, and to him they must look

for their final

and eternal reward. He has never appointed any man to the priest's office to eat a morsel of bread
or
fill

Juda, to tear in pieces and

utterly destroy his enemies, and fight

the bloody battle of

Harmageddon.

his pocket

with money

placed

him

there to

he has save souls, and

;

Ez. 38
Gentile,

9.

not to fleece them.

Wo

to the idle

Every eye shall see him. Jew and young and old, bond and free,

shepherd

who

feeds himself and not

rich and poor, soldier and sailor, min-

REVELATION.
8 I

17

am Alpha and Omega,

the Lord, which
is,

the beginning and the end-

ing, saith
is

and which was, and which

brother,

to

come, the Almighty.

9 I John,

who

also

am your

and companion in

and member they shall gaze on him with wonder and astonishment.
ister
:

unto' himself,

who
all

is

before

all

things,

and by him
1
:

things consist.

Col.

17.

But

if

a created being,

God
must

"

Every eye
"

shall

now

behold him,

was

before him, and St. Paul

Rob'd

in dreadful mfyesty,
set at

" Those

who

naught and sold him,

"Pierc'd and nail'd

him to

the tree,

have been mistaken; but Paul was well acquainted with his character hy
inspiration, and
set
it is

"Deeply

wailing,
see."'

presumption to

" Shall the true Messiah

up our

ipse dixit in opposition to

that of the apostle.

And
The

they also which pierced him.

Alpha and
sions

Omega
the

are

expres-

priests

and the people, Jews and

put him
to death,

derived from
E-abbi

Rabbinical
studied
all

Gentiles,

who

and

writings.

Samuel
to

who
him

still

crucify

him

afresh,

and put
:

to

And
him.

open shame. Matt. 26 3. all the kindreds of the earth

shall wail (loeep bitterly) because of

Tav. Abraham and Sarah studied all the law, from Aleph to Tav, that is, from beginning to end. These establish the whole
the law, from Aleph

they shall see him come heaven, with power and great glory, to take vengeance on the wicked, and all them who obey not his holy gospel. " For they shall
in the clouds of

When

law, from Aleph

to

Tav. Rab. Joseph

on Ez. 9

16.

be punished with everlasting destruction

from the presence of the Lord,

and the glory of his power." They will say to the mountains "fall onus,
and
of
to the hills, hide us

from the face

for the great

The Almighty. The real ^T4? Shad-dy, Omnipotent Jehovah, who has all power in heaven and on earth, personal and not delegated, for God cannot delegate his power to a creature, and at the same time be the Creator himself he cannot divest himself of any of his attributes, and impart
;

him

that sitteth on the throne, and

them

to

an inferior person

a creature

the wrath of the

Lamb
is

could not sustain the omnipotence and

day of

his

wrath

come, and

who

omniscience of the Deity.

long to

They

be-

shall be able to stand ?"

mean Jews and

1]
:

proselytes.

Kindreds See Ez.

him

exclusively, and

form
be
that

part of his divinity.

They

are his,

15.

and

like

Saul's

armor, cannot

8
tion,

lam Alpha and Omega. That is,

the
first

worn by an
eternal Hfe.

inferior person.
is

So

the beginning and end, viz. of crea-

Christ, therefore,

the true

God and

and the

last,

he that

stands at the head of all creation, and must reign until all things are subdued

Your

brother.

In Christ, and in
are children of the

the ministry,

we

18

NOTES ON THE

tribulation,

and

the

Christ,

was

in the isle that

kingdom and patience of Jesus is called Patmos, for the word

of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

same parents. God

is

our Father, the

Bonaparte
force, fraud,

subdued

kingdoms

by

church our mother, heaven our home, aiiJ our hadge of discipleship this,
that "

war, and bloodshed, but

Christ established his

kingdom by

we love

one another with a pure

" peace on

earth,
is

and good will to

heart fervently."

May we

all

love

men."
vior
:

He
to

the king immortal, in-

each other more, and serve God better than we have done.

visible, the

only wise God, our Saall

him be

honor and glory,

!

And
God

companion in

tirbulation.

In

both

now and

for ever

Then

his

affliction,

persecution,

and poverty.
in the fur-

kingdom is not temporal, but spiritual,

it is

has chosen his people

affliction.

righteousness, peace, and joy in

nace of

It is here

he puri-

the

Holy Ghost.
is

2. It is universal, it

and prepares them for glory, immortality, and eternal life. " It is through much tribulation we must
fies, refines,

extends from the rivers to the ends of

the earth. 3. It

permanent,

it is

an

enter the kingdom of heaven."

Moses
with

"chose rather
the people of

to suffer affliction

God than

to enjoy the

which shall not The kingdoms of the pass away. Medes, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and that of Israel, have all tottered,
everlasting kingdom,
fallen,

pleasures of sin for a season," esteeming the reproach of Christ greater

riches than the treasures of

and crumbled into dust

is

but his

kingdom
and

the same yesterday, to-day

4.

Egypt

for ever.

TJie subjects oi

t\i\s

knowing that

in

heaven he had more

durable substance."

kingdom are the poor, the maimed, the 5. Its ambassahalt, and the blind.
inn^,

In the kingdom u)id patience of Je.sus

Chrial.

religion.

That is, in the christian This kingdom is directly the

all

dors fishermen, without mone}', learninfluence, or even a good coat on

G.

their back.
ritual,

Its

weapons are spi-

opposite of

other kingdoms

it is

and mighty, through God, to

the stone cut out oi'the mountain with-

the pulling

down
7.

of the strong holds

out hands, and will utterly destroy,

of Satan.

Its

enemies

are
8.

the

subdue and break down

all

the king-

world, the flesh, and the devil.

gospel
is

The
rules

doms

of the earth.

The

king himself
heredita-

his law,

by which he
it

Avas an extraordinary person, without

the world and will judge

at the last

houses,

lands,

tenements,

day.

9.

He

is

the most just, humble,

ments, money, men, soldiers, sailors,

armies, ships, boats, guns,
jiistols,

and impartial king that ever sat on

a throne.

cannons,
or

He

chose

all
;

his

officers

swords, crown,

sceptre,

from among his

colonels,

soldiers

his captains,
princes,

any weapon of defence, and yet he

conquered the whole world
;

generals, and

but

it

made such from

the house of

were com-

was hy

love.

Ciesar, Alexander, and

mons, and Hot from the house of lords.

REVELATION,
10
1

19

was

in the Spirit

on the Lord's day, and heard

behind

me

a great voice, as of a trumpet.

They were
loom,

raised from the bench,

of a general persecution of the christians

fishing-boaf;,

tannery, plough,

by that wicked monarch.

See

and

from
the
his

keeping
dunghill

sheep; "raised
to

from

be
10.

princes

chap. 12 : 7. Patmos is about ten miles in length, five in breadth, and

among

people."

Final-

ly, Christ

must reign
all

until

he hath

authority and power unand the last enemy that " Then shall be destroyed is death.

put down
der his

twenty-eight in circumference. The place now contains about four thousand inhabitants. Tlie cave in which
the holy apostle resided
is
still

feet,

to

be
of

Cometh the end, when he

shall deliver
to

up the kingdom

(as

Mediator)
:

God,

by travellers. The Word of God. The gospel our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
seen

even the Father." 1 Cor. 15 24-2G.* Isle of Patmos. A baiTen island in the iEgean sea, not far from Melita, (Acts, 28 1,) celebrated in history as the place where St. John was banished by the emperor Nero, about the
:

A7id the testimony of Jesus Christ. is the true Messiah, and the true (supreme) God and eternal life,

That he

in

whom
10

dwelleth
bodily.

all

the fulness of

the

Godhead

Iims in

the Spirit on the Lord's

year of our Lord 65, viz. in the time

day. His mind

was

intensely fixed on

Our Lord

told Pilate his

kingdom was not of

this

world

if

my

kingdom, said he,

" was of
Jews."

this world, then

would my servants

fight, that I

should not be delivered to tho

kings, and

John, 18

36.

But though he was the King of

head
;

Lord of

lords, yet

he
;

had not where

to lay his

he depended on the

liberality of others for food

and clothes
:

the salvation of poor sinners was of more importance to him than his meat and drink
Savior was very thankful for a piece of a barley loaf and a broiled
his apostles,
it

our

fish,

and so

it

was with
them
to

was more than

;

their

meat and drink

out,
it

to

do the

will of

him

that sent

preach the gospel

and when they went

feet,

was without money,

or even the second

;

coat to their back, or shoes on their

or provisions for the second meal

the " laborer

(he said) was worthy of his hire," that

is,

he was worthy to be fed and clothed by those

with the people of God than

Blessed
the
is

to enjoy the pleasures of sin for

a season."

See Heb. 9

25.

the minister or

member who

treads in their steps, his reward will be great in

life to

come.
as high treason by Nero,
it

t This

was considered

afraid of a rival in the

government; and
it

being affirmed by
the

who was king of the Jews, and always many witnesses that Christ
more
afraid of being dethroned than

was

still

alive after his crucifixion,

it

made him
7.

ever;

no doubt

was

for affirming that

Jesus was the Christ that John was banished

to the island of

Patmos.

See Acts, 17

20

NOTES
11 Saying,
I

OIV

THE
the
first

am Alpha and Omega,

and the
it

last

and,

What

thou seest write in a book, and send

;

unto the seven churches which are in Asia

unto Ephesus,

and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto
Laodicea.

12

And

turned to see the voice that spake with me.

I

And

being turned,

saw seven golden candlesticks

spiritual

and heavenly things on

is,

this

blessed day, that

bath,

the christian

Sab-

which has been kept holy by the church from the very day on which
our Savior rose from the dead, and
a memorial of his resurrection. It
is

was

then he ended the ivorh of redemption. Therefore all christians are under
obligations to

day for public worSee Acts, 1 14. Justin Martyr and Tertullian both assert that this day was kept holy by the church and by the apostles from the beginning. He who keeps every day a sabhe is bath, keeps no day as such
bled on the Lord's
ship.
: ;

keep this day holy " not to think their own thoughts, nor speak their own words." The Jewish

worldly minded, loving the mammon of unrighteousness and wealth gained

;

Sabbath and the Jewish Passover have been hoth abolished by Christ himself, and the christian Sabbath and
the eucharist instituted in their place. They were only shadows of good
things to come, and the substance
is

by Sabbath-breaking melts away like snow before the sun.* 11 Alpha and Omega. See v. 8.
12 Seven golden candlesticks. The seven churches of Asia They are compared to gold, because brilliant,
glorious,

precious, valuable.

They
See

are called candlesticks, because luminaries of the heathen world. f

of Christ.

The church

universally,

from the very commencement, assem-

chap. 21

24.

Zach. 4

2.

If

you

call

yourself a christian, and violate the Sabbath, you have not the love of

God

in your heart.

But you

ask, are there not

It is

works of necessity

Certainly, but these

come

but very seldom, not every Sabbath.

not a work of necessity to bake bread, butcher

all

and

sell

meat, to

sell fruit

or milk, on this day, for these

:

can be bought on the day be-

fore the Sabbath.

See Exod. 20
in

10. Isa.

58

13.

t There were three things

table of

the Jewish temple wonderful indeed

the candlestick, the

socket, into
;

shew bread, and

the altar of incense.

The
all

candlestick had seven golden branches,

with lamps upon the top of them, and these

rested in one large golden

which the

oil

wa poured, and from which

all

the rest received a supply

and when these

REVELATION.

21

13

And
and

in the midst of the seven candlesticks one

hke

unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment

foot,

down

to the

girt

about the paps with a golden girdle.

13

Ira the

midst of the seven can-

dlesticks.

The

spiritual

paradise

this. If Christ be our Redeemer, he must be perfect God and perfect man,

of God, in which the Savior is continually walking. " Where two or

three are

viz. to sustain his relation to

God and

met together
I in the

in

my

name,

there

am

midst of them."
dwell perpetual-

God was supposed

God, has promised
Matt. 28
20.

to

ly in the Jewish temple. Christ, our

to be in

and with

his church until time shall be no more.

:

demands of infinite justice. Hence he is 'T^3a~3!|* ail-giv-bor, the God-man. Is. 9 6. " Great is the mystery of godliness God was manifest in the flesh," &c. "Will God indeed dwell on the earth?" was the inquiry of Solomon. 1 Kings, 8 27. "I know (says Job) that my
man, and
satisfy the
:
:

One
tic,

like the

Son of man.

He was

so brilliant, glorious, sublime, majesthat

John scarcely knew him

and
for

if faithful,

we

shall be like him,

redeemer (goale) liveth, and that in the latter day (end of the Jewish dispensation) he shall stand on the earth, and after my body is consumed God
shall be manifest in
shall see him,
self,

we shall see him as he is, and every man " that hath this hope in him
purifieth himself, even as he
is

my
to

flesh,

and

and look

him

for

my-

pure."

and not
reins

to a false

redeemer, though
be consumed."

John goes on now

to describe

our great

my
man
sins,

within
is

me

high priest in his holy garments. Clothed with a garment. Of salva" His own arm brought salvation.
tion,

Here, then,
facts, that

a plain revelation of

Christ should assume hu-

nature, die on the cross for our

in this."
all

and his right hand sustained him His garment is like his coat,

and

rise

again from the dead for

our justification.
Savior."

"I am Jehovah,

of a piece, without

seam from top

(says he,) and besides

Isaiah, 43
:

me
11.

there

is

no

to bottom.

Gabriel himself could not

Without
Deity

sustain the salvation of a ruined world,

it

the shedding of blood there can be

required omnipotence to accoraphsh

no

remission of

sin.

The

were
they
5,

lit up, the branches and the socket being made of pure gold, without any mixture, made a wonderful light in the temple. See Zech. 4 2, and Josephus, War, book 5, 3. And so it was with these seven golden candlesticks, they were grafted into Christ,
:

the golden socket, and the

oil

of divine grace dwelling richly in him, and being united to

full

him by

faith,

they

all

received a fresh and a

supply daily

and when blazing with zeal

and love

for the

salvation of sinners,

what a

glorious light they

must have made

in the

church when they came together to worship God.

22

NOTES ON THE
14 His head and
his

hairs were white like wool, as

;

white as snow

and

his eyes loere as a flame of fire

15 16
of his

And

his feet like unto fine brass, as if

;

they burned

in a furnace

and

his voice as the

sound of many waters.

stars
:

And he had

in his right

hand seven

and out and

his

mouth went a sharp two-edged sword

countenance ims as the sun shineth in his strenoth.

could not he

a Savior witliout as-

spirit as

a living sacrifice, holy, ac-

suming the very nature that had sinned; hence the blood of Christ is called the blood of God. Acts, 20 28. The Old Testament predicted that Christ should suffer in the flesh, and the New Testament has confirmed the fact that he has suffered in the flesh
:

God. See Exodus, 28 36. Dan. 8 9. His eyes as a flame of fire. To pierce and penetrate the very thoughts and intents of the heart. His eyes
ceptable, and well pleasing to
: :

mean

his

ministers,

who

are

as a

flame of

fire,

through

whom

the Saall

and if his enemies believe not Moses and the Prophets, (the law and the
gospel,) neither

vior looks into the hearts of

men.
indif-

minister

who is cold, careless,

would they believe

ferent,

and uninteresting in the pulpit,

though one rose from the dead.

Girt about the paps ivith a golden girdle. That is, of righteousness it encompassed him as a girdle. Isaiah, 11:5, " He was made sin (a
;

has never been called of God to enter ir. See Ps. 104 4. Heb. 1 7, 15.
: :

See chap. 5

G.

15 And his feet like unto fine brass. Bright, burnished, luminous, precious.

sin offering) for us,

who knew no
in

His

feet

sin,

seem

to

mean

his disciples,

and never was guile found

his

who

mouth."

"

He was

holy, harmless,

Savior with them wherever they went. At this time

carried the
in the fiery furnace of af-

undefiled, and separate from sinners,

they were

and exalted above the heavens."

14 His head and his hairs were
white likeu'ool.
rity

fliction or persecution,

the very place,

where God

purifies his children.

An emblem of his pupriest,

may

Ave say continually, " thy will

be done."
16 In
]tis

and holiness. The high

un

right

hand seven
protected

stars.

der the law, wore a mitre of fine white

The
right

ministers of the churches of Asia.

bound round his head, with a gold plate, on which was inscribed " Holiness to the Lord ;" but our glorious High Priest is not only outwardly but also inwardly holy in heart and
linen
in life,
tion.

V. 20.

They were
his

by the
are-

hand of compared to
brilliancy.

power.

They

stars, because of their They shine with peculiar

lustre on a dark

and benighted world,

and

in all

manner of conversa-

and

this

through the sun of righteous-

He

offered his soul, body, and

ness.

REVELATION.

he laid
I

I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not am the first and the last 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead and behold, I

17

And when
his right

am

alive for evermore,

Amen

and have the keys of

hell

and of death.

sharp two-edged stvord.

The

18
cified

I am he

that liveth.

Though cru-

word of God, " which is more sharp and powerful than any two-edged
sword, piercing even to the dividing
joints
spirit, and of the and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the

and put to death on the cross, yet death has had no dominion over me. I have conquered the last enemy,

asunder of soul and

heart."*
^!}n
fTj-jt^

Hebrews, 4 12. Hence the sword of the law. Tar:

my people shall conquer me. Exclaim, "O death where is thy sting ? O grave, Avhere is thy victory ? Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through
and
all

through

gum. His countenance was as

jestic,

our Lord Jesus Christ."

the sun.

And
death.

have the keys of hell

I

and of

Clear, bright, glorious, luminous,

mabut

a sight too great and glorious

for

poor sinful

man
shall

to

behold
is

when the
ever.

earthly tabernacle

taken

down, then

we

be with him for

17 Fell at his feet as dead. Human nature could not sustain the glorious sight

he fainted, swooned away; but the Savior soon revived and set
:

him on

his feet again.

have all power in heaven and on earth, and will finally cause death and hell to surrender up their dead, and all shall appear before my judgment seat to answer for the deeds done in the body and then the wicked shall be returned' into hell, with all the nations that forget God. Ps. 9 : 19. The Rabbins say 17. Rev. 20 the keys of death are in the hands of the holy and ever blessed God therc;
: ;

" This

is

the only

weapon

of defence our Savior carried with

him and with

;

this

he

hati

pierced
ner.

many a man

to the heart,

and made him cry

out,

God be

merciful to me, a sin-

The Roman

soldiers carried a short well

tempered Spanish blade that had a double

this is the

edge, which

was sharp and powerful.

to this in one day.

Very probable
it

reason

why

the

word

of God

is

compared
by
it

sword, because

did iuch great execution.

Three thousand

were
t

slain

See Acts, 2

41.

His countenance may mean

it

his divinity.

When

he saw the rays of this through his

humanity,
before,

appeared to him like the sun

the

in its full splendor.

:

This he had a view of once

when in

mount with our Lord. See Matt. 17

2.

24

NOTES ON THE

things

19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the which are, and the things which shall be hereafter
stars

20 The mystery of the seven

in

which thou sawest

candlesticks.
:

my

right hand,

and the seven golden

The
seven

seven stars are the angels of the seven churches seven candlesticks which thou sawest
churches.
are

and the

the

fore Christ

must be God. See Beraisec. 73, fol.

And
when

the things

which shall
be

be.

At

shith

Rab,

64

3,

the expiration of the thousand years,

19 Write the things rvhich thou hast

seen.

the devil

shall

let

loose

That

is,

of the Old Testament

from his prison to deceive the nations

prophecies -which remained at that lime to be fulfilled.

which are
earth,

in the four quarters of the

And

the

things which arc.

The
had

backslidings and corruptions which

Gog and JMagog. 20 The seven stars. See

verses 4

crept into the seven churches of Asia.

and 16.

CHAPTER

II.

U NTO the angel of the church of Ephesus write

1

These

The angel of the church of Epheniirr^

'?|s|:o

minister of this church

sus. myyiKuii the minister, messenger.

See 2 Tim. 4

22.

was Timothy. The high priest

Hence
loah.

Ma

lach

Ye ho

The

messenger, ambassador of

le ach,

under the law was called H'^^d Shathe messenger of God, render-

Jehovah, the minister or servant of the sanctuary ; the servant of all, the
master of none.

ed

by

the
ATTo

LXX

A7r(6?,Kor

composto

ed of

from, and ctxx*

send,

He who

sits

at the

viz. as a missionary or

an ambassador

master's feet to receive his

commands

of peace, or reconciliation, from

ni^D

and

to

obey them.

Probably the

we have

n5''0 Shiloh, the heavenly

REVELATIOX.
things saith he that holdeth

25

the seven stars in his right

messenger, the apostle and high priest of our profession, he who was sent of

church
like the

because money collections are

not taken

God
the

to

redeem a
John,

lost

and ruined
is,

world.

3:16.
since,

That
but

Jesus,

Messiah,

who was

crucified in the

flesh

1800 years

now

lives

They up on the Sabbath. church very well, but do not wish to support it. 5. Others go there to redeem a lost character, perhaps to wipe off the stain of the bankrupt act
;

in the spirit at God's right hand, to

character to

them

is

of

more
of

intercede for us.

it

As

to the church,

importance than the conversion

their poor souls.
6.

means
;

the congregation of the just,

that
is,

Many

go there

upright

a congregation of

christian believers,

who have been born again of the water and the Holy Ghost. See John, 3:5. Ps. 1 5. It
:

because of gain ; they support the church because the church supports them. 7. Parents go to improve the
morals and manners of
their chil-

certainly does not

tion

mean a

congregapreslu-

dren, but they do not go to consecrate

of

catholics, protestants,

themselves and their children wholly

to the service of

byterians,

methodists,
calvinists,

baptists,

God.

8.

Members
and the
;

therans,

moravians,

or

go

to

please

the

minister,

quakers

but the general assembly

first-born,

minister goes to please the

members

and church of the

whose
ac-

and God
them.
9.

is

displeased with

both of

names

are written in heaven,

to be
all,

who

Many

go because brought

knowledge Christ
church,
ever; in

God

over

head of the and blessed for

fulness

whom dwelleth all the

bodily.

of the God-head

Holiness

up to the church ; they are birth members, who neither believe in nor dream of being born again before they can enter the kingdom of heaven.
10.

may

be written on your altars and windows, but unless written on your

hearts
it

Some go

to

hear the scriptures

elegantly read, but never read

them

will

profit

you nothing.

themselves nor even teach them to their

God

looks on the heart and not on the

dear children
lar to qualify

they are very particulife,

outward appearance. He is a Spirit, and will have none to worship him but those who worship him in spirit
and in truth.

them Jor
novel,

but not for

;

death

for time, but not for eternity

they will put a

or

a newspaper,
into

any other nonsensical book

the

But what motive have you

in going to

in

view

their children's hands, but they never

church

Is

it

pure or im-

put

Bible into their hands.

What

pure, to serve
self ?
1.

God or to serve yourSome go to church to hear a

eloquent
minister.
2.

a dreadful account must such parents

give to

learned

or

God in the day of The Rabbins say, he that

eternity.

does not

Others go there to hear good music or

excellent singing.
3.

Many
4.

go there
to

study the law has no faith and is a heathen. Zohar on Lev. fol. 33 2.
:

to associate icith the rich

and

shun

the society of the poor.

Some go to

And what must we think of those who do not study the gospel ? Surely

26

NOTES ON THE

hand, who" walketli in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks

;

they are worse yet.

opinion with
the

11. Others at;

take preaching for worldly aggrandise-

tend church because popular

public
is

ment
church

them

is

every thing,

The was

ministry in the primitive

plain,

simple,

sincere,

standard of their piety.

They

unembellished with any popish ap-

carry out popular measures, but neglect every duty which God has enjoined on

church

them. V2. Others join the become deacons, ciders, to

&c. and
if

)iess

Right Rev. Rev. Father Christ His Holithe Pope Bishop Arch-Bishpendages, such as Rev.
in

op Cardinal D. D. L.

leaders, stewards, trustees,

ihey cannot be head, they certainly will not be the tail. 13. Many go
there to see and be seen.
14th.

L. D. A. M. B. M. The King's Chaplain. These honary distinction)? were un-

The

known to the poor fishermen of Galilee. Pope Peter, Prince of Italy, Austria,
&c.
;

husband goes there to please his wife, and the wife to please her husband, but neither go there to please God. 15. The doctor and the lawyer go there to get practice, and the politician to get votes.
16.

the

Right Rev. Arch- Bishop

Paul, the tent maker-^would sound

rather harsh to the church.

These
in the

originated in the apostate church of

Rome.

The

only

titles

known

The merchant

church of Christ were servants of the

church, ministers of Jesus.
lo

and the mechanic go there to increase

their

The

call

business.

17.

The

chorister,

the

ministrTj

this

is

of Christ,

organist,
ter
1

and

unconverted
to

minis-

go there

get their salary.

8.

Finally, the genuine christian goes

there to worship
truth,
to

God

in spirit

and

in

Hence, have chosen you, and ordained (appointed) you myself to the office of the ministry, and / shall be with you
the great head of the church.
I

save his soul and get to

in

this respect

till

time shall be no

heaven

at last.

May
his

the great head

more.

No

man,

no, not either Peter or

of the church lay around and beneath

Paul, shall ever take this power out

of his hands; therefore
it is impious say to another, have thou authority to preach the gospel. This is downright popery. See John,

him the arms of

I

mercy.

wish

to observe that

my
;

object

is

for

any man

to

not to reflect on pious and useful

in the ministry,

men

God forbid

but simpobject

ly on those

who have never been called

whose only
not the

15:16; Acts, 1:24; Heb. 5:

qualification is

4.

The

of
is

God

to the office,

money, and

conversion of

man.
neither

of God and not of St. Paul, with all his learning,

not his gospel
it

souls.
.Tesus,

As to a genuine minister of why, he is the most lovely,

received

was he taught

from men, by man, but

Gal.

disinterested and devoted character on

by
1
:

the revelation of Jesus Christ.

he would rather spend a thousand fortunes in the promotion of the

earth
;

12.

TheHoly

Spirit shall teach

cause of his Redeemer than to under-

you all thin<ss, and briiig all things lo your remembrance, whatsoever I

; ;

KEYELATIONS.
have said unto you." The same Spirit tome Paul and Barnabas for the work of the ministry, wheresaid separate

27

unto

/ have

called them.
:

John, 14
then,

this mortal put on immortality and that every man shall be rewarded and punished according to the deeds done in the body, whether they be good

and

iQ

Acts, 13

2.

Where,

we

or bad

finally, that there is a fixed

ask, is the boasted apostoHc succes-

and

distinct place of future

and eternal

church of Rome ? The ajjostles had no power nor authority to appoint any man to be their sucsion of the

happiness,

a fixed and distinct place of future and eternal misery.

and
Inferences.

1.

We

see

therefore

cessor in the ministry

in the great
self.

this is vested

that every thing in the primitive church

It is the height of arrogance

head of the church himand

or
prelate,

of Christ

was

plain, simple,

and un-

adorned.

The titles of Rev. and Right

folly for

any man, pope,

to claim to be

the successor of St.

Peter.

We shall
Where
And

ask these

men

three

and will give them until the general resurrection to answer

questions,

Rev. originated in the apostate church Rome, and should be discarded, as I before observed, by every pious and humble christian. Reverend comes
of

from

5*'^'^

ya-ra.

To

fear, dread, re-

them.

did Peter appoint his

vere, adore, worship, obey. Arab.

shrink, fly back, be confounded,
into

To

successor ?

Wlien

did

he appoint

awed

him

in the presence of

what

fear

as

when coming

into the

witnesses did he appoint him to be

presence of a king or a great personage.

such

Rabbi David.
God.
titles

To
of

serve, wor-

The

doctrines of the gospel. Repent;

ship, adore, as

It is

one of the
Deity,
the
A.

ance and remission of sins justification

distinguishing

the

and sanctification a change of heart that produces a change of life ; the

;

and to apply
minister

it

to a creature, to call a
is

reverend,

precisely

fall

of

man,

his

restoration to the

same
are

as to call the pope

God.
in

favor of

God through our Lord

is

Jesus
is

minister, servant of Christ, an apostle,

the divinity of Christ, that he

God,
;

the

only

titles

known

the

and besides him there

that there are three
in

no Savior

primitive church.
stated to

Jewish Rabbi

who

bear record

heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and that these three
are one
glory, in

me, a short time since, that he was invited to a christian church

by the Mayor of

this

city.

The

wisdom, honor, power,

preacher, he observed, dealt largely

vation
that

and endless duration ; that salis free for all, Jew and Gentile
is

on the humility, patience, meekness, and sufferings of Christ. When he

God

not willing that any

all

came down from

introduced
I

the pulpit he

was

should perish, but that

;

should re-

to

me

as the Rev. J. S.

that all scripture is pent and live given by the inspiration of God, and is the only rule of our faith and guide
of

shrunk back at the expression, and

told him, Sir, reverend is a title of

God

our

life

that

there

will

be a
this

and not of man, and it is impious to apply it to a creature. I am sure

general resurrection of both the righ-

teous

and

the

wicked

that

corruptible shall put on incorruption,

your Messiah, (who was my brother Jew,) nor one of his ministers, were never called Reverend because the


28
Jewish law forbid
it.

NOTES ON THE

We

consider
it.

it

That
20.

is,

the ablest, wisest, and best

impious and idolatrous to do

needs no comment.
2.

This

ministers in

the

world.

Cor. 1

There was no

college or theologi-

cal seminary connected with this or

any of the seven churches of Asia.

3.

he not the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. 6. The members of the church were of one heart and one mind, and all on equal
is

And

Therefore the people could not

footing

the master and the servant,

manufacture their own ministers. The Savior has called, qualified, and commissioned his ministers to preach the
gospel.
4.

minister

and

member,
to the

prince

and

peasant, sat

down

one

commu-

nion table together,

that

because taught

Learning

without

piety

God
:

has been the curse of the church in all ages, the cause of all the isms and
schisms
in the world.

Ps. 119

no respecter of persons. 63. 7. They did not go to

is

church
it

to

make money, but

8.

to

spend

The

cry of the

on the poor and the gospel.

English church, some years since, was, " give us a learned ministry."

thou and do likewise! go there

Go They did not

They

tried the

experiment ; the con-

to hear fine music and elegant the harp of and systematic singing
;

sequence was empty pews, and modern papisy. The cry at present is, throughout England, Ireland, and
Scotland,
'

salvation

was

their only instrument

of music.

Send
5.

us

evangelical

ministers, or the

church of England
ChrisVs college
his
text
is

Their song was redeeming they sung this with the spirit and the understanding also. 9. To become a member was not
grace and dying love
;

must
his

fall !"

to

become

minister,

elder,

deacon,

church, and
the

hook

of

steward, trustee, leader, exhorter, &c.

theology
lived

Bible.

the best, and holiest

The men

greatest,

but

to die for the

name

of Jesus, to

that ever

have graduated
Apollos,
their

in the church.

count their lives not dear to them so that they might but win Christ and
reach heaven.
10.

Paul,
took

Cephas,
in

and John,
it.

Not one of them

;

diplomas

Three

were
all

bom

church members
11.

they were

thousand were converted under one sermon of Peter's. Paul converted nearly
the whole
tianity,

born again before admitted into

the church.

They
12.

all

met reguthe
freeall,

Roman

empire

to

Chris-

larly tioice every Sabbath, to do good

their

and Apollos built them up on most holy faith. John, the fishthe Revelation,

and
ly,

get

good.

Finally,

minister

preached

the gospel

erman of Galilee, zi;ro<e

zealously,

energetically,

to

a book so profound, so spiritually learned, that the most erudite doctors of divinity in the universe have been dis-

and was bxirdensome

:

puting about the meaning of it from to the present moment. his time

See Go thou and Acts, 20 33, 34, 35. do likewise, and thy reward will be great in heaven. We come now to anconversion. This means other point
to none.
to to

Where then is

the wise, (the learned,)

be transformed, or turned inside out,

the scribe, (elegant writer,) the disputer, (doctor of divinity,)

hath not
the foolish

to be created

make a new man out of an old one; anew in Christ Jesus,

life,

God

(our Savior)

made

80 as to be holy in heart, in
in all

and

(fishermen) the

wisdom

of this world.

manner of conversation,

for

none

REVELATTON.

29

2 I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil and
;

thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are
not 3
;

and. hast found

them

liars

and hast patience, and sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.
hast borne,

And

for

my name's

but the pure in heart shall see God.

are apostles and are not.

fessed

They

pro-

The

decree of heaven

is

that " Sin-

ners shall not stand in the congregation

pubUcly to be moved upon by the Holy Ghost to take on themselves

the office of the ministry
the semblance, at least,
;

of the righteous."
ful,

Ps. 1:5.

A sin-

they had

unholy act will exclude a man from the kingdom of grace here, and the kingdom of glory hereafter.
.

There
act
in
;

is

no distinction between the

of piety, but when tried in the fire of persecution, they soon renounced Christianity, and denied the Lord who had bought them.

general and the act in par-

ticular
is

he that offends in one point guilty of all, and he who will not

many thousands enter the ministry without ever giving it a serious

thought
!

How

They do this either to please

and

give

up

all

and

every

thing

for

their friends or procure an easy

Christ's sake, cannot be his disciple.

good

living.

But money made

If a

in this

Seven stars and seven golden candlesticks.

way
he
is

will in the end prove a curse in-

See chap.

13, 16.

stead of a blessing.

man

is

sure

2 / know thy works.

istry,

In the min-

and thy zeal for

thy patience.

my

glory and

called to the office, and his only object is to save souls, let him enter

the conversion of sinners.

And
and

Under
art

all

thy

afflictions, persecutions,

temptations,

on the work with fear and trembling, and trust in the strength of Jehovah, and he will sustain him in both soul and
body.

sufferings.

Thou
I

now

in the

But

if,

on the other hand, he

call to

furnace,

where

will

refine
all

and
the

has neither a

nor a quaHfica-

purify thee and take

away

tion for the ministry, let

him give

it

up,

dross and base desire of sin, and then

he will only be a stumbling block over

take thee

home

to glory, to

exchange

which others
3

will fall into perdition.

-patience.

the cross for the crown.

And

hast

Under

all

And how
ers,

thou

caiist

not hear them

thy

afflictions,

temptations, and per-

whichareevil. Sinners, Sabbath breakswearers,

liars,

secutions.

drunkards, gamslan-

And

hast labored.

In word and

blers,

fornicators,

extortioners,

doctrine,

and

for the salvation of the

derers,

backbiters,

proud,

envious,

world, faithfully and zealously, with-

haughty, imperious, covetous and con-

out fee or reward.

of
all

Paul, the greatest

the sup-

temptuous

men

or

And

hast tried

women. them who say they

the apostles, labored with his

own hands for his support and

30

NOTES

OTV

THE
because

4 Nevertheless,
thou hast
5
left

I liave someii-hat against thee,

thy

first

love.

Remember

therefore from
first

and repent, and do the

his place,

whence thou works or else I

;

art fallen,
will

come

unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of

except thou repent

port of

tlie

poor, and even paid the

against thee.
his juvenile

He had lost his first love,

affection
for

where the people met every Sabbath. See Acts, 20 33, 34, 35. Maimonides asserts
rent of the liouse or church
:

Jesus; he
life.

backslid in heart, though not in

The

heart

is

what God wants,

life

my
;

ihat the greatest

and most learned

brother, and not the

or the lip

he

doctors

among

labored in
ics,

Jews were men who various ways, as mechanthe

cannot, he will not, admit of a rival in

tlie

heart;

it

must be wholly devoted

it.

Avith their

own hands

for

their

to

him, or he will finally take his de-

support, in order to

have something
This was

parture from

The

language of this

to give the poor, and not to be burden-

minister no doubt was,

Retuni,

some

to the

synagogue.

highly commendable among the Jews,

but very impopular

Holy Dove, vetuni.

of rest,

among

Gentiles.
I

Sweet messenger
hate the sins that

made

thee mourn.

mean, sir, says one, a mechaOh yes, nic to be a great preacher ? and the greatest and best in the sir world, for your Lord and Master was and so was Paul, and Apollos, one
;
;

Do you

And drove thee from

Tlie dearest idol
I

my breast

have known,

Help

Wliate'er that idol be. me to teai- it from thy tJuone,

thee.

And worship only

asand thousands of others sert, without fear of contradiction, that

;

and

we

5 Remember therefore. Consideration is the first step to the kingdom

;

all

the colleges and theological semi-

naries in the universe can never

;

make

he that never considers his ways will This never be wise unto salvation.
minister
is

a minister of Jesus Christ he is bishop of his own church, and must do the work himself, you can have neither
part nor lot in the matter.

now commanded

to repent,

retrace his steps, return to

begin, like the prodigal son,
left
off'.

God, and where he

You may

He

lost

the evidence of his

make your make him

in the

son a lawyer, doctor, mer-

acceptance, brought spiritual darkness

chant, or mechanic, but you never can a minister of Jesus.

over his mind, and grieved the Holy

Spirit of God, but he did not take hid
final departure from him, but strove with him at various times and in va-

And has
work ;
fail in

not fainted.

He was weary
way
or

work, but not weary of the

his faith did not give

rious

ways

to restore

him

to his for-

the hour of

trial.

mer

standing.

4 Nevertheless,

I have someichat

Re-pent.

Turn

to

God with

all

thy

REVELATION-.

31

6 Bat this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the
Nicolaitanes,

which

also hate.

heart, soul, mind, and strength,

and

does not end in sound conversion

not genuine
;

is

weep thy
repent
all
is

lil'e

ed his love.

away for having grievThe radical meaning of

God,
viz.

it

needs to be repented

of.

And
ed, viz.
tleness,

do Ihy first works.

Such

as

to return to

with
:

his faith produced

when

first

convert-

the heart.

See Isaiah, 55
1.

7.

Evangelical repentance means,

nesty,

To

" patience, long suffering, genmeekness, goodness, temper-

renounce the hidden works of dishoall

ance,

our
if

sins,

both public and

brotherly kindness, charity," reading and searching the scriptures,

visiting daily the poor

private, for

we

regard iniquity in

from house

to

our heart the Lord will not hear our

prayer.
2.

house, clothing the naked, feeding the

To

confess

them with an

hungry,

relieving

the

distressed.

to the

humble, penitent, and obedient heart, end that we may obtain forgiveness of the

Therefore repent and do these thy first works over again, or 1 will re-

same from the hand of Al3.

move thy
of
its

candlestick, the church, out

mighty God.
in our

To

feel that

we

are

place, unto the care of a better

the chief of sinners, to see the

beam

pastor.*

own eye and

to

not the mote in

Thou

hatest the deeds

of the Niothers,

our brother's eye.

4.

To give up our

colaitanes.

He

hated sin in

whole heart

God

but did not avoid coldness, indifference

Our full consent, Our whole desires, Our undivided heart.

and formality in himself. But who were these Nicolaitanes? And what doctrines did they hold ? These arc very
ditficult questions to

deterniiiiR

3.

If

we have
to

injured

or defrauded

satisfactorily, at

any

rate.

They were

any man,
as

make full restitution

Luke, 19:8.
the next step
;

as far

heretics,

we

can.
is

6.

Deter-

had separated from the clmrch and denied the doctrines of Christiani-

mination
to the

wc may

go

ty.

The word
It is

is

derived from

n^3_3

very threshold of the door and never be able to enter in because of

unbelief
;

Ne-co-lah, avaricious, covetous, gluttonous.

probable they got

all

all

therefore

we must

be deter-

they could, saved gave away next

they could, and

mined not

to stop short of the

evidence

to nothing, either to

of pardon. 7. Finally, repentance that

the poor or to the gospel.

* 1.

horts

The Lord convinced this minister him to consider his ways. 3. To

that he
repent.

was
4.

in

a backslidden
his first

state.

2.

He

ex-

To do

works over again.

remove
l)ie

Lastly, he severely threatens him, that if he does not repent

he

will

church
is

from Ephesus to some other place, and to the care of some other minister who
holy than himself.
congregation.

more
a

This ought

to

be a warning to every minister

who has

the charge of

32

NOTES ON THE
7

He

that hath an ear, let

him hear what the

Spirit

To htm
tlie

that overcometh.

The
;

the

way

of peace

the trees are all

;

world,

flesh,

and the devil

the

loaded with golden fruit

the fields ar

world, with

all its

allurements, plea;

always verdant, and the roses bloom

in

sures, vanities,

&c.

the flesh, with

all

summer and
and
its

winter.
its

The

tree of

the desires and lusts thereof; the devil,

life is

there with

twelve manner of

with

all his

insinuations, temptations

fruits,

leaves are for the heal-

and snares.

ing of the nations.

The pure
in

river of

Eat Rve

of.

Partake of by

faith, or

life

runs through the midst of its streets

the garden.
fbil,

to it, which Adam and by unbelief; or shall have union and communion with the Father and \vith his Son Jesus Christ. The tree oj life. The Savior of

have access
lost

and waters every plant

There generous
fruits that

never

sinners,

who

is

" the

life,

the truth,

On trees immortal grow There rocks and hills, and brooks and rales With milk and honey flow. No chilling winds nor poisonous breath
Shall reach that healthful shore Sickness and sorrow, pain and grief
;

and the way;" he is the vine the branches which derive

spiritual sustenance
life

we are
life

and

Arc feared and

felt

no more.

from him.
life
;

He has
Paradise
literally

temporal, spiritual, and eternal, in

has for ages past

himself; he infused
tion into all creation

and animaspi-

he imparts
;

ritual life to all true believers

and he

finally will give eternal life to all

them
life

who obey
life

him.

He

is,

therefore, the

of the body and the soul, the

of

the believer, the world,

and the
life,

church
for

the resurrection and the

employed the pen of the poet and the philosopher, but its location has been hid from the eye of man since the expulsion of Adam and Eve. It must have been located in some part of modern Palestine, called "the garden of the Lord." It was here man sinned, and here the Savior died for us, the
just for the unjust, to bring us to

he will raise both the (juick and the dead at the last day. " Hence the tree of hfe means the Messiah." Zohar on Gen. fol. 33 3. The Paradise of God. The abode of the blessed, happy, pious, virtuous
:

God. more likely that he suffered on the spot where man first sinned than in any other place ? Here

And

is it

not

probably

man

fell,

here he rose again

by the promise that " the Seed of the

a garden of delight, pleasure, and probation

Woman
head."

should bruise the Serpent's

; the church
all

which

from genuine christians shall be

militant,

church triumphant. The air of this lovely and charming spot is pure, the sun clear,
the stars brilliant, sparkling like dia-

finally transmitted to the

Here that promise was verified. Here Abraham offered up his only son Isaac. Here God gave his
only-begotten son to die, (for man,) that whosoever believeth in him

monds; the moon and a lamp to our

is

a light to our feet

should not perish, but have eternal John, 3 16. life. Here God built
:

path, to guide us in

his temple, and afterwards

consumed

REVELATION.
saith unto the

33

churches

To him

that

overcometh

will I

It

with

fire

because polluted by

sin.

Here he
holy
it

established his church on his

coincidences between the

There seems' to be many remarkable two places

it

hill

of Zion

here he destroyed

as mentioned in scripture, but

is

because of unbelief in the Messiah.

crucified the

evident this

was

not the birth place

Here the Jews

Son of

God, and exclaimed " his blood be on us and on our children ;" and this curse
is literally fulfilled

of man, but a select and secluded spot where God placed him after he had
the garden

upon them

to the

present

they are without a

city,

tem-

made him. Eden is a distant place from itself. Hence, " the Lord God planted a garden in the east part

ple, altar, sacrifice,

prophet, priest, or

of Eden, and put the

man
:

there

whom

king

with the visible marks of God's

;

displeasure still resting on them a by-word and a proverb of reproach among men. Surely there must be some great cause of all this evil. Gethsemane may have been the place

he had made." Gen. 2 8. Jerusalem answers the description better than

any other place.

a secluded spot.

It

has been always

considered a peculiar and holy place,

The

garden was

sit-

uated on the east side of the Mediter-

where man first disobeyed the divine command. Here probably man sinned
;

ranean sea, which indicates that para-

here the Savior suffered

the curse

for

it.

was on the west side of it. It must have been one of the most dedise
lightful places in the world
;

Here
bread

was pronounced, " In

brow
shall thou eat

its fields

the sweat of thy

all

the days of thy life until thou

return unto the dust."

vior

Here the Sato

and forests, lakes and lawns, orchards and vineyards, gardens and groves, rivers and fountains, hills and vales,

sweat great drops of blood

sin.

have been celebrated

in all ages

by

atone for that

tempted the from heaven,) and here no doubt he Here also tempted the first Adam. the serpent betrayed man ; here Judas

Here the enemy second Adam, (the Lord

the historian as well as the poet.

And

no place on earth will answer this description but Damascus and its lovely fields and forests. The following beautiful and sublime description, taken from a French author, will more fully

betrayed Christ for thirty pieces of A curse was pronounced on silver.

the

illustrate

serpent

a curse

was

also puo-

my views on this subject. "Looking," he observes, "through

nounced on Judas, and the spot where he betrayed his master with a kiss is
called
to

the cleft of the rock, I beheld the most

this

day

terra

damnata.

Here

Adam was drove

;

out of the gar-

grand and singular prospect that ever presented itself to the eye of man. It was Damascus and its boundless desert,

den of paradise
dragged
put
to

to Pilate's

from here Christ was bar to be crucified,

lying but a few hundred feet beus.

low

The
by

city,

surrounded by

its

man to the favor of God. He was made sin (offering) for us, who knew no sin.
death in order to restore

ramparts of black and yellow marble,

flanked
its

innumerable

square
era-

towers, crowned

by sculptured

34

NOTES OS THE
life,

give to eat of the tree of

which

is in

the midst of the

paradise of God.

nies,

commanded by

its forests

of mi-

was
died

crucified,

which proves,

at least,

narets of every form, and intersected

that the inhabitants believe that

there.

Adam

by the seven branches of

its

its

river and

numberless streams: extending as

far, as the

eye can reach, was a laby-

rinth of gardens and flowers, extending

its

Josephus asserts that Adam means a red man, because created from purras gcs, red earth and this kind of red soil is to be found no
;

suburbs here and there into the

plain encircled

by

its

forests of ten

leagues in circumference, and shaded

where in Palestine but in the fields of Damascus. And the inhabitants and tradition state that Cain murdered his
brother Able in one of these fields
;

by groves and sycamores and

trees of

every shape and form. From time to time the city seemed lost beneath the umbrageous canopies of the trees, and
then again reappeared, spreading into broad lakes of houses, suburbs and villages, interspersed

and the place

is still

pointed out to the

stranger to this day.

The

river

Parand

par has three branches like the river

of

Eden

and Parpar

in Syriac,

frnjD

Pcrath, in

Hebrew, mean the

called Euphrates,
I

with numerous or-

sanie thing, to diffuse, branch, spread

out.

chards, palaces, vineyards and streamlets.

Why
not.

it

is

Our eyes were bewildered, and

on another.
I

know

The Hebrew,

Syriac, and

only turned from one enchantment to

fix

Eden, but now

it."

have dreamed of can say I have seen

I
it

the plains of

De La Marline. When Mahomed beheld

hill

from a

call it such. But Damascus extends as far as the Euphrates, so that Eden must have been in some part of this country. One branch of P arpar runs through the

Samaritan, do not

towering

he was so enraptured and delighted with its rural appearance that he turned away his eyes from
beholding the bewitching scene, and exclaimed, " I shall not enter there
J

midst of the city, and waters every

part of
it.

This probably
:

is

alluded to in chap. 22
represents the river of

2,

what John where he

as running

life

through the midst of the street of the

wish

to enter

but one paradise, and

that not an earthly but a heavenly

new and heavenly Jerusalem. ly^ we cannot form the most

idea of

Finaldistant
in the

one."
of

lie believed that the garden

located near the

what Palestine was

Eden was

Mount

of Olives, for the invisible bridge near

there, he asserts,
all
is

the one over which

before

true believers must pass

days of our Savior from what it now Titus made Judea, the garden of is. the Lord, a wilderness, because of the transgression of the people, and the
curse remains upon
distance from
is
it

they enter the heavenly paradise. And it is asserted in Jerusalem that

the head of

to this

day

The

Damascus

to

Jerusalem
fifty-six

Adam was

found in a

about one hundred

;

and

hole in the very rock on which Christ

miles

so that

Adam

could have very

REVELATTOy.
8

35

And

unto the angel of the church in Smyrna, write

saith the first

These things and is alive

9 I

and the

last,

which was dead,

know

thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but

thou art

rich,)

and / know the blasphemy of them which

readily found his

way

there.
is,

And
that

his inheritance is incorruptible,

filed,

und-

what

still

confirms this opinion

after the Israelites first crossed over

Jordan they came to a city called the

city of

and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for him. " He was little and unknown, loved and prized

Adam.

Jos. 3

16.
is alive.

by God alone." Poverty

is

conducive
is

That was dead and

That

to

piety,

holiness,

to

happiness
a clog

was

crucified, dead,

and buried, and

dead the
to

wealth, to profligacy, and

who
and
last

rose

again from the

and a curse to every

not use
it

man who

does

third day, ascended up into heaven,

to the glory of God. "

How

who
day.

shall

come again

judge

hardly shall they that have riches en-

both the quick and the dead at the 9 I knoiv ihy luorks.
Tribulation.
of

See

v. 2.

kingdom of heaven." The bega barrow to glory the rich man from a bed of down to
ter the

gar

was taken from

Deep
It is

distress,

both

perdition.

The

one died shouting glo;

body and

soul.

through
live

much

ry to
died,

God

in the highest

the other
for

tribulation

we must
;

enter the

kingdom
godly in

no doubt, screaming
it.

mercy,

of heaven

"

if

any man

but did not obtain

tion ;"

Christ Jesus he shall suffer persecuand a man's enemies shall be

they of his own household.*

say a poor man is rich law and lives according to it. He is rich, therefore, who has the gospel

The Rabbins who has the

But thou

art rich. In faith and good

and

lives according to its divine pre-

works, and an heir of the kingdom

cepts, f

What
all

a great blessing to pious,

afflicted

and persecuted souls to know that they have

a compassionate

High

Priest,

who

is

touched with the feelings of their infirmities, and

sufferings written in the

who
;

has

their tears bottled up,

and their

book of

his

remembrance

and though you have

hereafter.
t It

to suffer
:

with him here, yet you shall be^glorified together with him

See Ps. 56

8.

was one great consolation

;

to this holy minister, that if he

in

was poor

in pocket,

he

was

rich in grace

his

bank and his treasure were

heaven, a place where rust and moth

steal.

doth not corrupt, and where thieves cannot break through and
or the

Blessed

is

the

man

woman who
shall follow

is

laying up treasure there

ie

when they

rest

from their labors their

works

them, their reward

before

them

in heaven.

36

NOTES ON THE

say they are Jews, and are not, bnt are the sjmagogue of
Satan.

Tlie blasphemy.

Impiety, deceit,

course, from all parts of the world

hypocrisy.

Asia, Africa,

Of them who
are not. "

say they are Jeios and

is

will be fairly

He

not a
is

outwardly, but he

Jew who is one Jew who is one

is

sented.

We

Europe, and America and impartially represhall then have a full

description of the religion of nature,

inwardly
letter."

and circumcision

that of

as delineated

by Wollaston.

The

the heart, in the spirit and not of the

members

of this society are very par-

They were
;

the children of

Abraham
the
spirit

after the flesh, but not after

walk in all its commandments and ordinances blameless.

ticular indeed to

they approved his works,

but denied his doctrine. See Romans,

28,

They touch, taste and handle the unclean thing; follow the desires of the flesh and mind, and are by nature
children of wrath as well as others.

But are of the synagogue of Satan.

That

is,

the church of the devil.

The

The busts of Nero,

that of Marat,

Robespiere, Chauthat to in-

mother and mistress of the whole world. He is the head of it himself the prince and power of the air, who
ruleth in the hearts of the children of

mette, Fouch, will be there, and also

who declared

sure the hberties of France six hundred

disobedience.
in the world,

He

is

the best

mimick

he brings every thing so

thousand heads must be taken ofl'. The car of Juggernaut, the idol of Buddhu, (worshipped by all China;)
the god of poison, from the Fegee
isl-

near the standard of piety that an ordinary person can scarcely discern the
distinction

ands

the
;

goddess of reason,
guillotine
;

from
the
;

between moral good and

Christ admits none but

France the
of Spain
;

the inquisition
;

moral

evil.

the gun-powder plot

genuine converts into his church. Diabolus discards all such from his church,
as fanatics,

flames of Smithfield and Scullabogue

bam
of

in Ireland

the bones of the

two

madmen,

or fools.

He

missionaries eaten

up by the cannibals
the fields of
all

has his ministers and members, doctrines and discipline, popes and cardinals, bishops and arch-bishops, princes

Sumatra

the scalping knife and

;

tomahawk

of the Indian

Waterloo and Leipsic, will

be re-

* and potentates, soldiers and sailors, army and navy, with which he has
slain millions.
bible,

presented and brought before the meeting, to s\\oyf the excellency of the re-

He

has missionary,
;

ligion

of nature, and of the mild,

its

superiority

and tract societies without

and semi-

to that
able,

pure,

peace-

naries of learning, ministers

where he makes
number.

One

and self-denying religion of Jesus. The fonner is to be substituted

missionary societies of infidels will hold their world's convenof

his

by the convention

for the latter.

The

magna
claring

tion in

New- York

this

month, (Octo-

charta of the society (from Scotland) will be submitted, also deall

ber, 1845.)

Delegates will be here, of

nature to be God, death au

REVELATION.

37

'"10 Fear none of those

Behold, the devil shall

things

which thou

shalt ssuffer

csist so?ne

of you into prison, that ye

eternal sleep, the soul material,

mar-

ble, heretical,

and the Douay to be

wealth,
the thea-

riage null and void, wealth

common
have

read only by the clergy ; the ministry

learned, and not evangelical
;

property, and that

men and women

like,

may

live

as

they

and

everything; piety, nothing

tre,

promiscuous intercourse with each other if they think proper. Here then
is

ball-room, card-table, wine-bottle,

hunt, horse-race, innocent and neces-

a glance at Wollaston's religion of

nature.

What

fool will believe in or

sary amusement to improve the mind and morals of his people, and are rather qualifications for admission into
his church
;

submit to it ? The member from Africa will have John Hawkins' charter
for stealing

the worship of images

is

men, women and

children,

the worship of

God

the church, a

and selling them into perpetual bondage. John

was

a zealous infidel.

The

member from
ing
all

Scotland has been try-

motley mixture of all classes, creeds, and characters, that may live and act as they like, and he promises to take them
last.
all to

his life to get this

ligion established in

system of resome country, but

heaven
he

at
is

What

liberal

soul

never has as yet succeeded in any country. It has utterly exploded in

England, Ireland, Scotland, France, and America ; it is now dead and buried
:

Payne and Paul

companions
for

will, by and by, be each other in glory.

Finally, the wealth, as well as the influence of the world

is

at his disposal.

God

grant that
it

we may
Amen.

never

see or hear of

again.

10 Fear none of these things. 1 will be with thee in six troubles, and
in the seventh will not leave thee nor

As

to the doctrines of Diabolus,

is

baptism with him

justification

regeneration
is justification

forsake thee.

was with Shadrach,

in the fiery in

by

faith,

Meshach, and Abednego

furnace
;

by works; repentance, penance;

of
life
is
;

faith,

with Daniel

the

lion's

unbelief; a change of heart, a change

holiness,

den

moral honesty

par;

don,

of the priest and not of

;

God

with Paul and Silas in the prison, and though they were in a filthy dungeon, and their feet made fast in
;

the Bible, priestcraft

the trinity, a
;

the stocks, yet I delivered

them by an
;

wafer
for all

hell,
;

purgatory

heaven, free

earthquake, and
therefore
cob, for I
liverer
;

will deliver thee

Christ, a

man

and not God,

"fear not, thou

worm
fall

Ja-

a creature and not the creator; the atonement,

am

thy Savior and thy deat thy

mass

for the

dead

the

a thousand shall

eucharist, the soul, body, blood, and

right
left,

hand and ten thousand on thy

but none of these things shall

divinity of our

Lord Jesus Christ, and must be eaten up literally without faith Payne, a philosopher Paul, a
;
;

fool; the pope,

God

Peter, the foundthe English Bi-

come nigh thee." The devil ivill cast some of you into prison. Will induce some of his emissaries to

ation of the church

do

it,

but I will send

my an-

38

XOTES ON THE
he tried
faithful
;

may
thoLi
life.

and ye

shall

have tribulation ten days. Be

I will

unto death, and

give thee a

crown of
the Spirit

11

He

that hath an ear, let

him hear what

gel,

and he shall deliver thee from the

devil.

soul

it

puts a final period to

life,

all

his

power and influence of the

chap. 20
Tried.
to the test,
:

See

sufferings in this

and admits him

2.

Your

faith will

and like put into the crucible, will come out more pure and perfect than before.

now be put pure gold when

into the paradise of God, where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest but we must endure the cross if we expect to wear the crown. Follow the Son of
;

The
tion;

christian loses nothing

it

by

afflic-

Man

in the regeneration, that

when
appear

rather

refines

and purifies
and
spirit,

from the
glory.*

filthiness of flesh

he shall appear we with him in glory.

dures to the end

may
It is

also

he that en-

and prepares the soul more

fully for

who

shall be saved.

A
days.

crown of life.

In exchange for

Ten
your

very short time.

If

a crown of martyrdom.

The
heaven.

Savior

sufferings,

my

brother, are se-

was crowned with thorns on

crowned with glory
servant,
therefore,
in

earth, but

vere, they will be but short. The tide always ebbs, recollect, as well as Ten days is a usual mode of flows. expression among the Rabbins for a short time.

The
be

should

not

above his master. " If they called the master of the house beelzebub, surely
they will do the same with the servant."
1 1

They

frequently put a

certain for an uncertain number.

is

Be thou faithful unto death. Death welcome messenger to the pious

The Spirit
the
Spirit

saith to the churches.

It

is

that

searcheth

all

Your

faith will

now be

tried in the fire of persecution, that

it

may be proved

to

have
is

no mixture of

error,

and that the world may clearly see that the

:

faith of a christian

su-

Jew or a heathen. See Dan. 11 33, 34, 35. so, except yc repent, ye shall all likewise conditional t The promises of God are all See Luke, 13:3. And God has commanded all men to repent, that they may perish. 30. And if they do not, they shall perish. And not perish. See Acts, 2 38, and chap. 17
perior to that of a
;
:

again, our Savior has said to the Jews, that if they did not believe

him

to be the

Messiah

ihey should die

in their sins.

See John, 8

24.

But
this

if

they believed in

him they should

be saved from their sins, and their enemies.

And
here

was the very reason why they were

a crown of

destroyed by the

Roman army
is

that

is,

because they would not (not because they could

not) believe that Jesus

life,

the Christ.

And

God promises
:

this minister

but

it

is

on

this condition, if faithful

unto death

and

this clearly

shows that there

was

a possibility of his not beinf faithful unto death.

REVELATION.
saith unto the

39

churches

He

that overcometh, shall not be

hurt of the second death.

12

And

to the angel of the

church

in

Pergamos write

These things two edges

;

saith

he which hath the sharp sword with

13

know

thy works, and where thou dwellest, even

seat
is
:

where Satan's
tipas ims

and thou holdest

even
in those

fast

my

name, and

hast not denied

my

faith,

days wherein Anslain

my

faithful

martyr,

who was

among you,

where Satan dwelleth.

things,

He
to

yea the deep things of God. mind and will of God men. See chap, 1 8. He spake
reveals the
:

The sharp sword with

See chap.
13 I
1
:

tvjo

edges.

16.

know

thy works.
seat
is.

See

v. 2.

to the minister first,

and then through

Where Satan's

Where he

him to the church. The second death.

rules and reigns in the hearts of the

The Rabbins
come
fire
;

children of disobedience.

say there will be no second death to

the righteous in the world to
is,

And

hast held fast

my

doctrines and divinity.

my name. That He

that

is,

they will not suffer

in the least

maintained, in public and in private,

that Jesus
is

degree either from the fear or

it.*

of

the Christ, the only Sa-

vior of sinners.f

12 Pergamos.
of

cit}'

on the river

And
was

hast not denied

in the

my faith. He
always
as
in

Caicus, about forty miles north west

steadfast,

immovable,

Thyatira, and sixty three north

abounding

work of the Lord,

of

Smyrna.

he was sure his labor would not be

In

all

our Lord has said to the minister of this church, he has not accused him in one

instance of stepping aside or doing any thing improper in his sight,

and

if

he had he would
churches

have reproved him as sharply as he did the

rest of the ministers of those

who

were

in

some degree blameable.

is

"

Mark
:

the perfect 37.

man and behold

the upright, for the

end of that man

t

peace."

See Vn. 37

This doctrine was directly the opposite of Judaism and

that circumcision
it,

Roman

idolatry.

The
;

for-

mer believed

and keeping the law was

if in

sufficient to

save them

the latter

that their gods could do

their present undertaking

and
and

danger, sacrificed to them and prayed for aid in

tlic

if
it

by any means their way was made clear through

to the

present danger, they attributed

power

of their gods.

40

MOTES ON THK 14 But

1

have a few things against

thee,

because thou

hast there

them

that hold the doctrine of Balaam,

who

vain in the Lord.

Therefore he kept

The doctrine of Balaam. This consists

the faith, viz. the gospel faith, that

of three things

1. 3.

Covetousness.

Jesus

is

the Messiah.*

2.

Fornication; and

Eating things

Antipas.

Who
now

this person
is

was we
died for

ofiered to idols.

Fornication has two

know

not; his

name

nothing, his

meanings, adultery and the love of the

world. See v. 20.

martyrdom every
Jesus, and he
glory.

thing.

He

Balaam was fond

com-

reigns with

him

in

of ease, honor, pleasure, and the

pany of the
to
is

rich and great; and this

14 I have a few things a gainst thee

promote his own ends.

evil,

He

did not

Only one thing

duty.

named, negiect of

shun
it.

and therefore was

slain

by

He

permitted

men

to

creep

Finally, he backslid,

brought a

unawares into the church, who were wolves in sheep's clothing, and who
devoured the
bly.
little

reproach on the cause of religion, and

probably died a sinner.

ministry at present,

How many
in

flock impercepti-

thousand Balaams are there

the

It is equally as sinful not to ex-

who love

the

wato

clude bad

men from
it.

the church as to

ges of unrighteousness, and would sacrifice

admit them into

The

minister of

any thing and every thing

Christ should neither court the smiles

nor regard the frowns of any man.
his

obtain the honor that corneth from

If

man.

Oh

for a pious,
!

an evangelical
the world

eye be
full

single his
;

be

of light

whole body shall if evil, his whole body

army

of ministers

Why,
to

could not stand before

them.:j:

shall be full of darkness.

Who

taught Balak

cast a stum-

Whosoever believeth
is, all

that Jesus

is

the Clirist,

is

born of God.

Sep

.John,

5:1.

That
sins

who

are fully assured of this in their

in his

own mind, from a

1
is

sense of forgiveness of
affirm with their lips,
at the

threugh faith

name, are born of God.

have heard
the Christ
;

men
who

while their hearts were far from him, that Jesus never had an assurance in their

same time they

sin.
i.

own mind

that

lie

was

their Savior

from
:

He

is

the

Savior of
save
t
all

all

men, but specially of those that

believe, (see 1
in

Tim. 4

10,)

e.

he died to

men, but he saves none but those that believe

is

him

to the saving of the soul.

for his

This shows that a minister

not only accountable to

If he faithfully

God

own

conduct, but

for that of the congregation also. his skirts of their blood

;

warn them against every

hands

evil,

he clears

if not,
:

their blood will be required at his

:

in the

day of

judgment.
t

See Ezek. 3

18-21, and Acts, 20

is

2G, 31.

The

first

principle of this doctrine

covetousness. a strong desire to be rich,

:

when

God
2.

<lesigned he should be poor.

Balaam was an

idolater

5:11, he loved money more than God and

See Eph. 5
5,

and

Cor.

also 6

9, 10.

his people.

Our Sa-

REVELATION.

41

taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children

of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit
fornication.

15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the

Nicolaitanes,

which thing
;

I hate.

16 Repent

or else

I will

come

unto thee quickly, and

will fight against

them with the sword of

my

mouth.

bling block
Israel.

before

the

children

of

15 So hast thou also them that hold

the doctrines of the Nicolaitanes.

That is, by divination which tlie

the rewards of
elders of

See

Mo-

verse 6.

ab and Midian had in their hands when they came to seduce Balaam to
give up his religion and become an
idolator.

IG Repent.

with

all

Return again to God thy heart. Believers have

family

to repent of sins of omission, neglect

The reward was

silver and

of duty, such as secret and

gold, ease and honor.

ver in value than

is

Gold and silthe sight of God is of no more

tiit

prayer,

searching

and

reading the

scriptures, visiting the poor and needy,

or

brass

the

ore
;

no better, but we don't think so and therefore esteem it more than we do God and the salvation of poor peribhing sinners.

and ministering to their necessities, and keeping himself unspotted from have two laws to the world. obey, the law of love as well as the

We

moral law.

One

refers to external,

vior has said, ye cannot serve

God and mammon;

See Matt. 6
;

that

is,

ye cannot love

God and

love

money, which
3.

is

the root of all evil.

34.

He was

a double-minded

man

he wished

to die the

death of the righteous, and yet

he

desired

to

be rich and respected by the world.

double-minded

man

has two
it,

dispositions, one for the world

and the other

for

God

or as the old proverb has

holding

God
1.

in

one hand, and the world in the other. But such

of persons
;

Balaam was a respecter

a sure

men are unstable in all their ways. mark of a covetous man. When the
to

elders of IMoab and the elders of

Midian were sent

sent,

him, they could not prevail until

to

the princes of

Moab and of Midian were

a dissembler he said
if

and these seemed

have more influence

than the former.

5.

He was

Balak would give

liim his at the

house

full

of silver and
fully

gold he could not go beyond the word of the Lord,

when

same time he was

determined to
6.

tiike

the bribe and disobey the

commandment
angry with the
the

of God.

He was
carry

cruel
to

and unmerciful.
perdition,
it

He was
curse

not

him

or to

people of

beat his ass because

refused to rush against the

dumb ass because it would God and he unmercifully sword of the Lord: and now we see
;

how many impure streams have

issued from this corrupt, impure fountain, covetousness,

42

NOTES OX THE
17

He

that hath an ear, let

:

him hear what

that

the Spirit
will
I

saith

unto the churches

To him

overcometh

the other to internal actions; an evil

thought or intention
eight of

is

the

same

in the

God

as an evil action.

"

He

that looketh on a
her,

woman

to lust after

hath committed adultery with her already in his heart," and merits punishment for it. You may inquire,

sin. The law is his two-edged sword, with which he slays the wicked. Zohar on Numbers, fol. 99 4.* 17 The hidden manna. The Lord Jesus, the iread of life, which came down from heaven. Philo calls the the manna, the Eternal Logos, or word
:

then

who

is

sufficient for these things

of Jehovah.

Hence, K^ro

SD'n

the

We

answer,

the

christian

who

is

deejjly

embued with

the spirit of his

hidden manna, food for the soul. Zohar on Numbers, fol. 88 l.f
:

Master.
Will fight
either the

A
against them.

white stone.

clean heart and

che

With

a right spirit.

Hence

nu ra da
fol.

sword of my spirit or the sword of the enemy. If they repent they shall be saved if not, cut off for
;

ma ka da
sanctuary.

sha, the pure stone of the

Zohar on Lev.

8:1.

The

high priest under the law gave

ever.

Hence

the fight of the law

is

a white stone to the jjcrson (with his

called the Lord's battle, or

war with

name engraven on

it)

whom

he ac-

7. Finally,

had not Balaam kept Balak's messengers all

night,
;

and treated them with such

but by tarrying in his house

kindness, no doubt they would not have

all night,

come

the second time

and being

in his

company
;

so long, they could easily discover that he

was a

lover

of money, ease, and honor

failed not in sending

and by

this

means they betrayed

his disposition to Balak,

who

some

of the most respectable

men

in the land, in

order to persuade
is

him
that
*

to forsake
is

God and

his people,
is

and become an

idolator.

How
as to

true

that saying, he

a friend of the world

the

Some may ask

in

the question,
?

enemy of God. would God be so unmerciful

easily answered.
?

condemn

a believer for

a mistake
to be

judgment

This

is

Sins of ignorance and of error had

pardoned under the law, and why not now

in

God

did not

condemn him because

of

a mistake

judgment, but

for not either

if

reforming these

some may
eorrupt
t
life

ask,

how

could he do this
at all, it

he did not

men or cutting them off. But know such men were in tlie church ?
whedier there were or not such

This was no excuse

was

his business to find out

members
laid

in the church.

He

down
life

his life for us, that

here and

eternal hereafter.

we might have life through him And as meat and drink arc the onlj(
;

that

is,

spiritual

things on which

we

can subsist, and without which

life

must cease, the bndy and blood of Christ are the

only things on which the soul can subsist here, and through which
hereafter.
faith,

we shall have

life

eternal

So that without we eat the

life in us,

flesh of the

.Son of
lifo

God, and drink his blood, by

we have no

and wc must lose eternal

hereafter.

REVELATION,
give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give
stone,

43

and

in the stone a

new name

written,
it.

him a white which no man

in

knoweth, saving he that receiveth

18
write
;

And

unto the angel of the church

saitli

Thyatira
his

These things
I

the

Son of God, who hath

charity,

eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like 19

fine brass.

know

thy works, and

and

service,

and

quitted in judgment.

Jesus, our great

not in a natural, but in a divine and

high priest, gives the believer a

new

and clean heart.

incomprehensible sense, for " no man knoweth the Son but the Father, and

With a new name

of a christian
;

icritten.

That

and he shall have an evidence of his acceptance also in the beloved the Spirit of God will so clearly impress this on his mind, that
:

no man Ictioweth the Father but the Son, and he to whom he may reveal

Not a cloud

shall arise

him." Luke, 10 22. He was crucified and put to death because he declared himself to be the Son of God. The reason is very obvious, because the Jews beheved the Son to be equal
:

To darken his skies, Nor hide for a moment His dear Lord from his

eyes.

with the Father in glory, honor, might, majesty, dominion, and power.
John, 10
:

36.

See chapter

8,

and

games not only received a white stone, but had

victor in the Grecian

The

4: 10.
city of Lesser 18 Thyatira. Asia, about twenty-six miles north of Sardis, and fifty-six north east of

name him was

his

engraven on it this to of more value than silver or gold, because it was evidence that he
also
;

Smyrna.

For

the remainder of this

:

bad conquered
witness of the
spirit
is

his antagonist.

The

verse see chap. 1

14, 15.

Holy

Spirit with our

19 I know thy loorks.

ing,
faith,

Love, hu-

an evidence that we have passed from death unto life, and that we have obtained the victory over the
world, the flesh, and the devil.

mility, charity, patience, long-suffer-

gentleness,

goodness, meekness,

temperance.
the last to

And
first.
ful,

he

more than

the

Which no man knoweth. The genuine christian

is

He was more
first

holy, happy, use-

a stranger to the world

;

zealous, humble, patient,

now than

and the world a stranger to him

is

he

dead

to all its to

enjoyments

he

lives

for

God and

God, having

little re-

How few beheved. ministers are to be found at present of this character ; in fact, many of them
when he
seek their

gard for

what man may think

or

own

glory, and not God's

say of him.

The Son of God. A person of the same nature and duration with God,

they have their reward, but it is in They will have no reward this life.
in the life to

come.

44
faith,

NOTES ON THE

and patience, and thy works

first

and the

last to

he

more than the

20 Notwithstanding,

have a few things against thee,

because thou sufferest that

woman
to

Jezebel,

which

calleth

herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce

to

my

servants

commit

fornication,

and

eat things sacrificed unto

idols.

20 That ivoman Jezebel.

tate churcb, from
15^

An

apos-

She
tian

also

made
at

inroads on the chris-

ae, a province,

church

Thyatira, and seduced

country, and b?) za val, a prostitute.

Hence b?T za

vul,

a cliu^ch.

She

was, therefore, a spiritual prostitute'

some of the members from the simplicity of the gosjiel. This minister was in some degree blame able in not warning his peoi)le against her vile seductions.

an apostate (national) church, from which God had taken his departure and yet she retained the form without the power of godliness. She preached, prayed, exhorted, and administered
;

See

Kings, 16

31.*

Fornication.
love of the world,
pleasixres,

Spiritual adultery,
its

riches, honors,

&c.

"

Ye

adulterers and

all

the ordinances.
preacher,

She was a

pro-

adulteresses,

know ye
is

not
is

that the

phetess,

Jewish church. She encompassed sea and land to

proselites,

friendship of the world

enmity with
James,

God," and he that

world
4
:

the friend of the

of God.

make

but

made
of

them
hell.

is

the

enemy

two-fold njor

the children

4.t

The name derived

first

its

origin from Jezebel, the wife of Aliab, king of Israel.

This

wicked king had

up
to idolatry
;

forsaken the worship of the true God, and after this he gave himself

and the next step he took was to marry Jezebel, and she led him into
1

greater acts of impiety. See

sliding christians.
his people,

Kings, 16

31.

This was very applicable

had forsaken the Lord
and after
this

to these

back-

Like Ahab, king of

Israel, they
;

their

God and

and had given themselves up to idolatry

they united themselves

to the synagogue of the idolatry

t

Jews which was

in

Thyatira, and they had led them into grosser

and greater acts of wickedness.

that looks on a
it, is

He

woman to lust
him

after her,

and he that
as
if

is

determined
;

to

commit murder

if

he can do

as guilty in the sight of

until he

God

he did the act

and though the law

will

of the land cannot punish

commits the crime, yet the law of God

itself.

punish

him

for the intention the

finite

same

as for the act

;

finite

law can punish no farther

than a

being can comprehend

but an infinite law cnn punish as far as an infinite

as

being can comprehend.

God scethnot

man

secth, for

man

looketh on the outward ap:

pearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

See

Sam. IC

7.

REVELATION.

45

''21 And

gave her space

to

repent of her fornication,

and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her

into a bed,

and them that

To

eat things sacrificed to idols.

willing that

any should

perish,

but

She became all things to all men, to gain the more to the Jew she became
;

that

all

should come to the knowledge

of the

Jew and to She eat meats

a
;

the Gentile, a Gentile.

sacrificed to idols

truth, and be saved. Let every preacher, as a matter of duty,

with

the one, and prohibited

other. I

them

to the

seek out the lost sheep of th^ h9use of Isrsel, and get them into the fold
again.

have known a minister of the very same stamp. He was so kind,

all

The Lord
to

give

you grace and

wisdom
22 /
fliction.

do so.f
cast her into a bed.

so liberal, that he

men,
all

to gain the

became all things to more he admit;

loill

Of af-

ted
pit,

kinds of preachers into his pulall

punish her severely with the sword without, and the fire
I will

and preached

kinds of doctrines

himself,

such as methodism, Calvin;

whoredoms
is

and famine within, because of her in departing from me. It

a fearful thing to
living
fall into

ism, universalism, unitarianism

but

the hands

he took good care to exclude holy, pious, and sound ministers from his
pulpit.*

of the

God.

Therefore,

we
es-

ought to exhort one another daily,

pecially as the
fast

day of

21 I gave her space to repent. To renounce the hidden works of dishonesty,

approaching.

wrath is "Not every one

his

that saith unto

enter into the

me

Lord, Lord, shall

and return to

God with
is

all

her

heart.

The Lord

long-suffering,

kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father

slow to anger, abundant in mercy, not

who

is

in

heaven." Matt. 7

21.

An

idol, literally, is

an image or a likeness of any creature

it,

and

sacrificing to
it

it is

either praying or paying adoration to

or else sacrificing oxen, sheep, &c. to

as a god,
,'

and afterwards feasting upon

this sacrifice, or

making a meal of

it

by

way

of rejoicing
;

and an
this

idol, spiritually, is

any thing on which

we

place our affections more than

God and

may

be either money, husbands, wives, children, the world, dress, the ball-room, the

play-house, the tavern, &c.

So

that sacrificing to the idol

must mean
examine
;

delighting in
yourself,

it,

placing our affections on

it

more than God.

And now,

reader,

and see

whether you are a son or a daughter of spiritual Jezebel or not

are, repent quickly, that

and

if

you

find that

you

you may obtain mercy.

is

How much

more merciful
is

God

than

man

If

woman

has broken her marriage

;

vow her husband

and

not willing to be reconciled to her again as long as he lives

offers these backsliders

but the

good and merciful God

this after they

pardon the second time,

if

they repented-;

committed

spiritual adultery with the world.

46

NOTES ON THE
into great tribulation, except

commit adultery with her

they repent of their deeds.

23 And
churches
reins

I will kill

her children with death

that I
I will

and

all

the

shall

know
:

am

he which searcheth the

and hearts

and

give unto every one of you

according to your works.

24 But unto you

I say,

and unto the

rest in Thyatira,

And them who commit adultery with

her.
ed,

power of
she can
litical

religion,

and the only

is

way

Her members, who

delighted

are charmwith her eloquence,

now

sustain herself

by po-

influence; either directly or in-

music, princely equipage, elegant seats, pulpit, desks, elegant language, regular and ordained ministry.

splendid

directly to receive pecuniory aid from

the government.
lates

Her bishops and

pre-

have so

far departed

from the

This

is

precisely the character

spirit of

of

moment

churches to the present they substitute any thing and every thing in the room of the
all fallen
;

demagogues.
quer," get
their

Christ as to become political " They stoop to congain,

keep
the

it,

and

fill

coffers

with
to his

unrighteous

simple and sublime worship of God

their

mammon.*
According
ister of

whole object is to please, that they may profit by it that is, in a temporal point of view.
;

works.

The more

holy, useful, heavenly-minded a min-

Jesus

is,

the greater degree of

in his Father's
eter-

23 /
death.

loill

kill

her

children

with

glory

will

he have

Temporal,

spiritual,

eternal.

kingdom.

Not a weight, but an

Here is the end of every fallen church which has the form of godliness without the power. Ichabod, Ichabod, the glory has departed, is written on her forehead. She has lost the life and

nal weight of glory.

24 The depths of Satan.

vices, deceptions, twistings
ings,

The

wiles

of the devil, his artifices, tricks, de-

and turn-

and shifting from one system of

" Elijah prophesied that all Ahab's posterity should be cut

off,

and that Jezabel

his wife

should be eaten by dogs.

See

Kings, 21

23.

And
feet,

this
off

prophecy was

literally fulfilled

upon her children and upon herself; the

no part of
Kings, 9
:

flesh

was torn

her body by dogs, and there was

it

to be found but her skull,

and her

and the palms of her hands.

See 2

35.

And

her children were beheaded by order of Jehu, and their heads carat Jezreel.

ried in a basket to
to these idolatrous

Jehu

See chap. 10

7-11.

Our Lord
if

applies this prophecy

Jews and backsliding

as did this

christians.

And

they did not suffer exactly

the

same punishment

woman and

her children, yet they suffered more severely

in the siege of

Jerusalem.

REVELATION.

47

As many as have not known the depths of

this doctrine,

and which have not

;

Satan, as they speak

:

will

put

upon you none other burden

come.
J26

25 But that which ye have

already, hold

fast

till

And he

that overcometh,
I

and keepeth

my
iron
;

works
:

unto the end, to him will

give

power over the

nations

27 (And he

shall rule

them with a rod of

be broken

as the
:)

vessels of a potter shall they

as I received of

to shivers

even

my

Father.

doctrines
point,

to

another.

To

gain his

he first flatters, then fawns, afterwards he diffuses his poison, and finally swallows up his victim like the

26 Power over the nations. When shall be established throughout the world, its ministers
Christianity
shall then be priests and kings unto

Anaconda of

No

oilier

See v. 9. burden. His yoke

India.
;

God and
is

the Father.

But before

this

easy,

can take place the great stumbling

block, the apostate church,

his burden light

he is ever merciful, he never requires of his creatures services of

must be

removed out of its

place.

which they are not capa-

ble; but with the will he gives the

ability also to perform.*

27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron. With power and authority.

The

people will then fear.

Our Savior

lays no heavier

burden on us than we are able

to bear,

and what

shall at

last terminate in a

double degree of glory hereafter.

He

fits

the back for the burden; and

it.

for every duty

he requires he gives a double degree of grace to do

His yoke

is

easy to

the believer, and his burden light.

He

is

not a hard master, reaping where he hath not

If he has never given us a talent he
it
;

sowed, and gathering where he had not strawed.

can never
there
is

call

us to an account for a misimprovement of

required
;

for

where much

is

given

much

and where nothing

is

given, there
it

is

nothing required.

And had

not

God given a

talent to the unprofitable servant,

would have been impossible (accordnot improving a talent

ing to strict justice) to have sentenced

him

to eternal misery for

which he never had.

t

The Jews not only murdered our Lord,

power
to

his zealous apostles

and innocent

followers,

but used every means in their

persuade men in authority to have them persecut-

ed and treated with the utmost seveiity.

We

have a specimen of

this in

Matt. 22

Ift,

48

NOTES ON THE
28 And
I will

oive

him the morning

star.

29

He

that hath an ear, let

him

lear

what the

Spirit

saith unto the churches.

reverence, and obey the genuine ministers of

ter

answer

to the question.

The
for a
?

next

Jesus.

Many

of

them

at

(]uestion asked,

Who is

fit

shep-

present are not respected because they do not respect either themselves or the Savior.

herd or pastor of the flock

Answer,
establish,

he

who

can

feed,

teach,

They have

name

to live

build up, and preserve the sheep from

while they are dead to vital godliness.*

wolves, or false
doctrines.

teachers and false

The Rabbins disciple? The reply

ask.
is,

Who

is

Tal.

Bab. Taanith,
is

ful.

well versed in

he that is the law, and who can

10:2.

This then

the character of

answer every question in doctrine. " But he that can give a reason of the

every genuine minister of Jesus. 28 And I will give him the morn-

ing

star.

hope that is in him, with meekness, with fear and trembling," gives a bet-

majesty,
ing.!

Grace and glory, honor and wisdom and understand-

17, 18.

When

they could find no clause against our Lord with respect to their
find

own

law, thoy

endeavored to

one against him

in

reference to the law of the land

and

their artful

manus,

ner in asking the question shows the depth of their wickedness and hypocrisy.
therefore,

" Tell
?

what thinkest thou

Is

it

lawful to give tribute unto Csesar, or not

tell

We

do

not want to injure you by giving your opinion; therefore,

us,

Master, what you think

liad

on

this subject.

We
;

have only come to receive information."

to

But

our Savior said

no, tribute

must be paid

God

alone

they would have accused him

enemy

to

Herod, who was

then at Jerusalem
fail to

and as he was a

bitter

of Christ and his church, he would not

use his endeavors to have him put to death.

And

am

fully

convinced that the

.Tews were the cause of the persecution raised against the christians by the emperor Nero.

But

after

the destruction of Jerusalem the ministers of Christ

had more power and auhad

less

thority to spread the gospel throughout the world than before, because they
sition

oppo-

from the learned scribes and lawyers belonging to that nation.

after the destruction of

But though the

is,

church had to sufler persecution

ihon, yet
religion

Jerusalem, that

from the heuhis

we have

scarcely an instance on record of a Christian

who had renounced

the

and embraced that of the heathen.

;

So

that the

Jews were

main cause of the

efiect

gospel not spreading throughout the world

ceased.
*

and when the cause was removed the

See

ciiap.

11

15.
is

The kingdom

at present
is

weak
clay

to

what

it

formerly
tlic

was, and

the

reason

is

evident; because there

strength of the iron
to the present,
t 1.

much

mixed with

iron.
left

But, blessed be God, the

is

yet in the kingdom.

will to the

God

has never

himself without a witness

and never

end of time.
tlic

This may mean

tliat

he should give him

shining

name

of the morning star, or

REVELATION.

49

CHAPTER
And
These things
saith

III.

unto the angel of the church in Sardis write

he that hath the seven

Spirits of

God,

The angel of

the church.
it.

The
is

second marriages were generally considered imprudent and unhappy, especially

if

minister

servant of

Christ

the

master and head of the church himself. There is but one Lord over
God's heritage.
ister.
1.

there were

children

of

the former wife living.

This

law

Let
is

us

now

con-

continued
tuUian.

sider the character of a christian

min-

It

down to the time of Terwas put in force once

Then, he

no brawler,

at least in his time.

He

asserts that

striker,

gambler, politician, wine-bib-

ber, hunter, horse-racer, dancer, extortioner, oppressor of the poor, slave-

holder, babbler, billiard, check or card

player.

This
will
is to

then
2.

we

now is what he is not show you what he is.

;

" a minister who married a second time was excluded from his office." See 1 Tim. 3: 2; 5 9. 3. He is to study to show himself approved, a workman that need not
:

He

be blameless, the husband

be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, so as to give a portion of

of one wife, not as the papist priest,

the husband of no wife.

law prevailed over the whole church in the time of the apostles, that no minister should marry a second time, because

meat to all in due season. To this end he must not be a novice, lifted up
with pride, lest he fall into the condemnation of the devil. The most ignorant and illiterate preachers are

that he should be called a shining

and a burning
is

light.

See verse 16 of the former chapter.

2. It

may mean

that as Christ

the morning star himself, (see chap.

22

16,) that he

should reflect the clearest light on his mind, and confer the greatest honor on him, as a

king and conqueror, that

3. It

is,

if faithful to

the end.

See verse 26.

may mean,

that after he had passed through the present persecution and affliction,
in the

he should be more pure and holy, and consequently better able to enlighten others

way

of holiness.

Josephus compares the wickedness, ignorance, and spiritual blindness

is,

of the

Jews

(that

little

before they were destroyed by the

;

Roman army)
to

to

a deadly

night which had

1
:

come upon them

and the Roman army

is

compared

a cloud.

Chap.

7.

So that when the Jews were destroyed, and the clouds of the Roman army had

passed away, the morning light appeared, and Christ and his ministers shone upon a benighted world with greater light and glory than ever.

50
;

NOTES ON

TITF.

and the seven stars I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which re-

generally the most arbitrary and conceited

:

self-

8.

To

having

little

talents

and

ty

where he cannot take

9.

go into no company or sociehis Master

to visit the poor

but a small amount of piety, they are apt to be enviotis and jealous of every

with him.

He

is

and needy
to

preacher

who

themselves.

more esteemed than These are men of but

is

from house to house, pray with and

preach Christ and him crucified

them.
])itals,

one sermon, ever learning, and never

And

also to visit prisons, hos-

knowledge of the truth. preach the word when he can, where he can, and to whom he can to be instant in season and
to the
4.

coming

and lunatic

asylums.

Matt.
eats or

He
;

is to

25

36.

10.

Finally, whether he
drinks, or
to

whether he
does, he
is

whatever he

out of season
exhort,

to reprove,

rebuke,

do

all

to the glory of

and doctrine, especially as the lime has

all

with

long-suffering

God.
Sardis.

An

ancient city in Lesser

now come when

the people will not

Asia, situated at the foot of

Mount

endure sound doctrine, but are heaping to themselves teachers having

itching ears, and turning

Tmolus.
it

In the days of our Savior

was destroyed by an earthquake,

away from
of God,

the truth, supposing gain to be godliness.

and afterwards rebuilt by Tiberiuf, the Roman emperor.

dead.

From

such, oh

man

withdraw thyself, or thou wilt perish with them in the gainsaying of Core. 6. He is to be an example of piety
to the believers, in word, in charity,
in spirit, in love, in

A name He

that

thou

livest,

retained simply the

of a christian minister,

and art name when at the

in formality.

same time he was dead,

He

stood high, no doubt, in public esas

humihty, meektemperance, pa-

timation,

great

and

eloquent

ness, mildness, zeal,

tience, resignation to the will of

6.

God.

preacher; but in the estimation of the searcher of all hearts he was a fallen

be crucified to the world and the world crucified to him, by the

cross of Christ; to

To

man
life.

that

is,

in heart,

though not in

He was

exalted in his

own
now

es-

have no anxious
wherewithal
be dead

timation and in that of the world, but

not in that of

ihoughts about what he shall eat and

God

and he

is

de-

what he
he

shall drink, and

termined to humble him in the very

dust he will not be trifled with whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap, 6cc. but let us not be
; ;

shall be clothed.

He is to

to the riches, honors,

pleasure, and

applause of the world. 7. To read no book, to write no book, to study no book, that does not
tend to the glory of Cud.

weary

in well-doing, for in

due season
life,

we

shall reap if

we faint

not.

2 Be icalchfid. Over thv

cou-

REVELATION
main, that are ready to die
;

f)l

for I

have not found thy

works perfect before God.

duct,

conversation, preaching,

zeal,

part, separate, the

same

as the soul

talents, experience.

The

idea

is

taken

from the body.

from a sailor who had fallen asleep at the helm, neglected his duty, and ran the ship ashore. This minister's anchor had almost slipped its cable his faith became weak, his zeal for the voyage abated, his care for his crew
;

Sin and holiness cannot be co-workers, they have no fellowship with each other when the
;

one enters the heart the other departs

from
light

it.

"What

fellowship

hath

indifferent, his light obscure, his

hope

with darkness, or he that believeth, with an infidel ?" " How can two walk together except they agree?"
that
is,

of reaching the port of rest uncertain,

his soul dull

in faith

and practice.
perfect.

and sluggish, and his eye any where and every where but on
;

Have not found thy works

They were
not

the compass

he took no soundings,
the

nor lunar observations, kept no log

book, nor ever looked through

come would not bear inspection.

plain and simple, and no

imperfect, deficient ; did up to the gospel standard,

The

doc-

trine of christian perfection is

quadrant either

at the sun,

moon, or

way

very ambigu-

stars, until, finally,

he got into shallow water, with the rocks and quick-sands on every side and had it not been for
;

ous, if rightly understood.

It is cer-

tainly taught in the Bible, and can ne-

ver be discredited by

men
is,

of piety.

the Captain of our salvation, ship and

But the

great difficulty

we have
:

crew would have been

took the helm,

all lost.

He

raised the standard too high

this is

out his

awoke him, pointed danger, and told him to bout

the reason
it.

why some men

stumble at

ship immediately, lay her to the wind,

hoist sail,
glory,
safe

in

and steer for the port of and he soon should get there and sound, and thank God that

Man is sure to be on the extremes every thing; he either looks too high or too low, he either goes be-

he had seen his danger, and finally he enabled him to reach the haven of
rest in safety.

yond the mark or does not come up to it. Perfection with him is either sinless or sinful. These are not gospel
terms, they are scholastic, and not to

be found in the scriptures of truth,

the

Strengthen
main.

things which re-

Prop up your good desires, (of usefulness,) by putting them in practice. If you do this you shall have grace to carry you through to the end
of the voyage.
faith,

and should never be made use of by christian ministers, either in preaching or writing.

One means

absolute

perfection, and the other no perfection.

There are four general terms used

the
1.

in

God

will increase

your

Bible
'uri'^

to

explain this doctrine.

1.

confirm your hope, and build

in love.
to die.

ta-mam.

To

be without
John,

you up

spot or blemish, clean, sound as a lamb

Are ready

To

vanish, de-

for sacrifice.

Numb. 28

; ;

52

NOTES ON THE
3

Remember
1 will

therefore
fast,

how

thou hast received and

If therefore thou shalt
thief,

heard, and hold

and repent.

not watch,

come on
I will

thee as a

and thou

shalt

not

know what hour

come upon

thee,

15
47.

3.

2.

To

be without

guile, de:

selves ;" and if

we do
;

not do this

we

ceit,

hypocrisy. Job,
2.
rib's

ca

1:1; John, 1 lah. To finish, end,

1 Kings, 6
3.

cannot be saved

for without holiness

no
to

man

shall see the

is
:

Lord.

Love
forth

complete, as a building.

our neighbor
1 Corin.

clearly set

38
1.

Col. 2

10.

Db'i

Sha lam.
; ;

in

To have peace with God that is, through our Lord Jesus Christ to be
reconciled to

him through the death

2.

of his Son.

To
:

be straight, even,

upright, in heart and life. 1 Chron. 28 9 1 Kings, 8 61. 4. Clj? ka dash is the same as tyiof to be holy,
:

See verse 4 of this chapter. Hence, " Now are ye clean, through the word which I have spoken unto you." John, 15 3. I have a few names in Sardis which have not defiled their garments that " and they are worthy, unis, by sin
13
4-8.
:

blameable

in

my

sight," verse 4.

The

pure, clean, sanctified. Exod. 21

1 Cor. 1
:

37

difficulty is not in the doctrine itself,

2.

Justification is the bud,

but in our idea of

it.

We

either raise
it

sanctification the blossom, and glory

the standard too high or place

too

the ripe

fruit.

There

is

a perfection

low

in the natural

and moral world, and

sjjiritual

We

and either is highly improper. cannot be as perfect as Adam, as

surely there must be in the

angels, or the Deity.

This God does

is

world

also.

The

sun,

moon and

stars,

not require

but certainly he has combe holy, as he

holy
;

the animal and vegetable world, the

fish of the
air,

manded us
to be like
1

to

sea and the fowls of the

him

in love, humility,
:

&c.

are perfect in their generation

to

and

suppose that he
is

these such, cannot

perfect,

who has made make a christian

2:9; Heb. 11 23. And we do not come up to the standard we cannot enter the kingdom of heaPeter,
if

all ages,
till

absurd. He has done it in and will do it in his church read time shall be no more.

ven. Here, then,

pel
ling

is plain,

simple gos-

perfection

and instead of cavilus rather seek to at-

We

about
it,

it,

let

of perfect patience, perfect love, perfect resignation, perfect meekness and

humility,
perfect
faith,

tain

grow

in

grace and in the know-

and works

the

which flow from it, perfect repentance,

perfect justification, and perfect sanctification.

Lord Jesus daily. Mav you in the way of all truth. Amen. 3 Remember, therefore. Call to
ledge of our

Holy

Spirit guide

But what
all

is

the perfection
?

mind, recollect therefore

repentance towards

how thou hast

by
the
faith in
is

God

requires of believers

Why, "to
as our-

received, viz. by faith and prayer,

love him with

the heart, soul, mind

God and

and strength, and our neighbor

our Lord Jesus Christ.

This

REVELATION.

53
in Sardis
shall

4 Thou hast a few names even

not defiled their garments
in
;

and they

which have walk with me

white

for

they are worthy.

only

way

to obtain salvation

if

not

unexpectedly, to take
lent,

saved in
at all.*

this

way, we cannot be saved

and utterly destroy

away thy taall those who

reign

would not have

heard.
is,

me

to

over

And

With

fear and trem-

them.f
4

bling; that

the gospel,

which provunto the

A few
;

names.

ed to be the power of
salvation of his soul.

God

christians

few genuine

Israelites in

guile

who

are walking in all

whom is no my com-

holdfast. By faith and praywith a deadly grip, viz. what thou hast not lost. For " if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every

And

er,

mandments and ordinances blameless. They live by faith, walk by faith, and die by faith.
They
are travelling through Immanuel's ground, fairer worlds on high.J

transgression and disobedience receiv-

ed a just recompense of reward,

shall

how
neg3.

To

we

christians escape if

we
:

Which have not

ments.

defiled their

gar-

lect so great salvation."

Heb. 2
:

By

the world, the flesh, nor

See chap. 2 5. Examine, prove thyself by my word and Spirit. / will come as a thief. Suddenly,
Repent.

the devil.

There

is

not one stain on

Watch.

their christian character.

Who
God

will

lay any thing, then, to the charge of

God's elect (beloved.)

It is

that

'

1.

He

received
4.

it

with fear and trembling,

faith
in our

2.

With deep
5.

conviction.

3.

With
it

sin-

cere repentance.

By

Lord Jesus

Christ.

And

lastly,

he

felt

to

be

the
t

power of God unto the

1.

salvation of his soul.

Contrary to the opinion of

many

people in Sardis, the Lord ^convinced this

2.

minister that he

what he had.
good
in

3.

was dead in He exhorts him

formality.
to

That he wanted more grace

4.

to fortify

be watchful.

He

tells

him that the soul

of every thing

him

is

now

about to depart from him, and to leave nothing but the dead body of
that his

sin behind.

5.

He shows him

works are

sinful.

the
8.

first

steps which he
lastly,

had taken

to obtain salvation. 7.
if

6. He exhorts him to consider He enforces the duty of repentance.

And

he threatens him, that

he does not repent he

shall

come

as a thief,

to

rob and to destroy him.

t

There might have been double the number were

it

not for this

lukewarm minister and

;

no doubt

many had

fallen

away through

his dead, formal

way

of preaching, while others

might have been converted by

his ministry

had he been
this,

faithful in the discharge of his duty.

it is

ye lukewarm ministers, take warning by

and repent quickly, before

too late.

34

NOTES ON THE
5

He

that overcometh, the

;

same

shall

be clothed

in

white raiment

and

I will not blot out his

name

out of the

book of

life,

but will confess his name before

my

Father,

and before

his ano;els.

justifieth,

who

is

he that condemnetli.
is

in well-doing, to the

and turned back again

of
the necessity of watch!

Holiness of heart

the believer's inlife

weak and beggarly elements

ward garment, and outward vesture.

faith

holiness of

his

the world.

Justification
justification

by
by-

ing unto prayer continually

Lord,

will

produce
is

help us to do
into

this,

that

we

enter not

works. One

acceptable to God, the

temptation.

But unto
all,

whom

other to man.

Faith that does not ])roduce the fruits of holy living is a dead letter a faith that has neither

should
sus, for

we

go, after

but unto Je-

he has the words of eternal

be clothed.

Hfe.

soul nor body in

it.

He shall
Have
heart and

Endued, investHoliness in

They

shall ivalk luith me.

ed with white raiment.

life,

union and communion with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ

the only qualification

of a minister of Jesus.

The

office is
fills

grow
daily.

in grace

and

in his

knowledge

a high and holy one, and he that

it

should be holy, happy, zealous, hea-

In tvhite. In virgin purity. They had on the wedding garment, and were now ready to enter into the marriage supper of the

venly-minded.

The

priest

who was

examined by the Sanhedrin and pronounced worthy, was clothed in white

robes.

Lamb, and

also to

take the uppermost seat in glory.* For they are worthy. To be admitted into heaven.

And who

will be

I will not blot out. I will not excommunicate him from the kingdom of grace and glory from the church
;

so impious as to say they

were unin the es-

militant, nor

from the church triumrecords of

worthy.

They were pure

God
life.

phant.

timation of

himself, long before

they departed this

5

eternity,

The book of life. The where all actions,

good, bad,

He

that overcometh.

The
;

present
also his

afflictions

and persecutions

three-fold
fair for

enemy.

Many who

bid

and indifferent, are recorded. It may the gospel of our salvation, which will prove a savor of life unto

mean

the kingdom have got weary

life,

or a savor of death unto death.

No

or else seeking after

tion, will

but he that is holy, person can hold communion with Christ, in time or in eternity, an unholy thought, an evil desire, or an evil intenit at the present;

banish the Savior from our heart.

Spirit of Christ

How can two

walk together unless they agree

and'how can the

and the

spirit of Beliel

dwell in the one heart together?

REVELATIOxV.
6

55

He

that hath an ear, let

him hear what the

Spirit

saith unto the churches.

By

it

the apostle declares

we

shall
sin

be

judged.

Rom.

16.

Every

we
imlife

commit

in public or in private is

mediately entered in the book of

life that is, he was excommunicated from the synagogue and heaven. The law was called the book of life. The Rabbins say that Messiah will give a
;

by the recording angel; and

if

not

cancelled or transferred to the Savior's

account, or blotted out of the book of

life,

they will remain as a debt for

punished
for

ever against us, and the offender will

be

ever
in

and

ever.

Hence the book of life, names of the true Israel

Targ. on Ez. 13
fied a
:

which the
terri-

spiritual law to the world. Paul alludes to this where he declares that "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Rom. 8 2. The book of life may allude to the Jewish records as kept by the

new and
St.

are inserted.

Sanhedrin.*

9.

Nothing

But

will confess his

Jew

so

much

as to tell

him

his

my

Father.

name before As a brave and valiant

name was

blotted out of the book of

soldier of the cross,

who

counted his

It

was a

practice

among

the

Romans
;

to

reward every valiant soldier who had per-

formed great actions

soldier

in the field of battle

and, on the other hand, to put to death every

who was

guilty of treason, cowardice, or desertion.

in a book,
this

The former

person's

name
But
as

and

his actions

were recorded
;

and

after the

war was over he was recommended

for his gieat services.
list,

to the emperor's notice

and after

he was amply rewarded

he that was guilty of the above crimes, his name was blotted out of the soldier's

coward, &c. and he was either to be put to death at the present, or else reserved for a

more convenient

season.

Their martial law

may

justly be
it.

termed the book of

life

and of

death, because the soldier

to

was

to live or die according to

;

Here our blessed Savior seems

;

assume the character of a general

his ministers are his officers

;

his church, his soldiers

life

the world, the flesh, and the devil, his enemies

the gospel, the book of

life
;

and of death,
to
it,

because by obedience to
shall

it

we
9.
is

shall

have eternal

and through disobedience

we

be punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of God and the glory of
:

his power. See 1 Thes. 1

And

as for the armor,

if

you may

find

it

in

Eph. 6
field

14.

He

that

is

afraid of his enemies

a coward, and
:

he runs away from the

of battle the

gospel determines his punishment. Heb. 10

38.

He who

is

guilty of treason can never

be pardoned. Heb. 10

29.

And he who
and

has sworn allegiance to King Jesus, and after-

wards has betrayed

good
for that

his king

his people into the

hands of

their enemies,
:

it

would be

man

if

he had never been born.

See Matthew, 26

24.

See the case of

Francis Spira.

; ;

56

NOTES ON THE
7

And to

the angel of the

church
holy,

in Philadelphia write
is

These
teth

things saith he that

is

he that

true,

he that
shut-

hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no

;

man

and

shutteth,

and no man openeth

life

not dear to liim, so that he might but win Christ and overcome at last.*

7 Philadelphia. A city of Lydia, abouttwenty-four miles east of Sardis, at the north part of Mount Tmolus.

knowledge, of power and authority, viz. to admit proper persons into his church, and to exclude improper perHe understands all sons from it.

knowledge,

human and
life,

divine

all

the

He
spirit

that is holy.
;

In soul, body, and

is

actions of the

as well

as the heart,

in

time and eternity he

free

thoughts and intents of the

from the
original.

least stain of sin, actual or

He
rica

is

omnipresent, every where pre-

"We
;

are pure in a particular

sent, in Asia, Africa,

;

Europe and Ame-

view he is pure in a general sense, and in every sense of the word. The key of David. The key of
point of

in heaven,

earth, and hell, at

the

has

same moment. He is omnipotent, all power in heaven and earth

was destroyed by the Roman army, Titus ordered the list to be read who had performed great exploits in the present war he called them to him by name, and greatly commended them in the presence of their officers and he reHe put on their heads crowns of joiced in their great valor as much as he did in his own.
*

After Jerusalem
the soldiers

of

all

gold,

and golden ornaments about

their necks,

and he gave them long spears of gold, with

to higher stations.

ensigns that were

also distributed

made

of silver

and removed every one of them

He

among them,

out of the spoils, and the other prey they

had taken

in the

war with
glory will

the Jews, gold and silver, and garments.

See Josephus, War, book

7, 1,3, 4.

If Titus conferred such great honor

tlie

upon

his faithful soldiers,

how much more honor and

will confess

blessed Jesus, the captain of our salvation, confer on his spiritual soldiers,
the world, the flesh, and the devil
?

who have conquered

all

He

them before his

heavenly father, and this in the presence of a vast multitude of angels and archangels, and
the spirits of just

men made

perfect.

They

shall

have crowns of glory placed on their

heads, and palms of victory in their hands, and the golden chain put about their necks, and

they shall receive higher offices and a double degree of honor and glory.
seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of

Eye hath

not

man

the things
will
it

which God hath

prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor. 2

if

9.

And how happy

be for the believer

he can say with

St.

Paul,

when he

is

about to leave the world, "

:

have fought a good

is

fight, I

have finished

my

course, I have kept the faith

henceforth there

laid

up

for

me
:

a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." See 2 Tim. 4 7, 8,
:

and chap. 19

1.

REVELATION.
8 I

57
set before thee

know

thy works

behold,
shut

have
:

an

open door, and no

man can

it

for

thou hast a

little

he can create and he destroy

he heal-

has he ever converted one soul from

the error of his ways.

ed the sick, cleansed the lepers, raised

the dead to Hfe, cast out devils, and
finally

very obvious

because

The
is

reason

is

conquered the whole world by

verted himself.

he And he

not conarro-

may

his gospel.

He

is,

therefore, qualified

to rule the

church and the whole

the

gantly and impiously ask the humble devoted minister of Jesus, " By what
authority doest thou these things, and

world.

Hence

key means the

:

power, authority and dominion of David.

1 1
:

Targ. on
52.

Is.

22

22.

See Luke,

He

that opens the door of

who gave thee this he may reply, " My God, and not of man

authority ;" but

authority
;

is

of

I received not

salvation the door of his church, and

my

gospel from man, neither

it

was

the door of heaven.

taught

by man, but by the revela-

And shutteth and no man openeth. The door of mercy, salvation, and heaven. No man, if shut, can open
it again. This was the case with the Jews, because of blind unbehef and to this day they are the same ignorant, obstinate, and unbelieving peo;

tion of Jesus Christ."

And

no

man can

shut

it.

Bishops,

arch-bishops, popes, prelates, princes,

bulls, edicts, canons, magistrates,
isters,

minfire,

members of parliament,

furnace, faggot, soldiers, the world,

the devil, &c. &c. can never prevent

were eighteen hundred years with the clearest light before them that Jesus of Nazareth is the true Messiah ; yet they still reject
ple they
since,

him from preaching Christ and him

crucified.

If he cannot do

it

publicly

in the church,
in the prison,

he can do

it

privately

him, and are daily looking

siah to

for a

Mes-

tongue,

where the

with his pen, and his best sermons in

come who

will take

to the city of Jerusalem,

them back and make

the world have been preached, and

the best epistles written.

See Paul

them a

free and independent people

and nation. That is, of ut8 An open door. terance and salvation. The whole world was his parish, and the human
family his parishioners.

and Silas, Peter and John, Luther and Melancthon. Baxter and Bunyan,

Wesley and
faithfully,

Whitfield,

how

nobly,

and fearlessly they stood

The preacher

up for their divine Master. They made the kingdoms of the earth tremble,
cles,

who

has no higher authority than the

subdued

nations,

Bishop's seal, has no authority what-

raised dead sinners to

flight the

wrought miralife, and

He has never preached a gospel sermon, nor

ever to enter the ministry.
*

put to

armies of the aliens.*

Utile strength.

He

had grace

to

faithful minister is

more

likely to

be persecuted by lukewarm professors of religion

than by wicked men, for they cannot bear sound doctrine.

They have

itching ears, turn-

58
Strength,

NOTES ON THE

and hast kept

my

word, and hast not denied

my

name,
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
.

shun
sin,

evil,

overcome

it,

and reprove
not,

that he
tal,

" to touch not, taste

kept

handle

not the unclean thing."

is the King eternal, immor&c.* 9 For Jeio and Synagogue of Sa:

Has

my

loord.

My
my

commandordinances
is

tan see chap, 2

9.

ments, and walked in

blameless.

And
That
is,

worship

before

thy

feet.

Though thy faith

denied

weak,
name.

they shall be brought into

yet

it is

genuine.
hast not

subjection to Christ, his church and

And
That
is
is,

my

his ministers.

They

shall either

be

my

divinity.

He

faithfully

conquered by

my gospel or be subdued
This
:

maintained that there and no other name given under heaven among men whereby we can be saved but the name of Jesus, viz.
'fearlessly

by

their enemies. f

is

a quota-

tion

from Isaiah, GO ference to the Jews.

14, and has re-

And know

that

I have

loved thee.

ing away from the truth

in

and, like backsliding Israel, will

the

make

choice of their

own king
if

preference to

him whom

Lord hath chosen

to the office.

These serpents,

they cannot poison your person publicly, will endeavor to injure yoor character privately.

So thai you need

eight of

to

be always on your watch, and show yourself approved, both

in the

God and man.

evil against
in

Remember, he

that

is

for

you

is

more than

all

that are against

shall say all
;

you.

And
is

blessed are ye

when men

shall revile you,

and persecute you, and

manner of
great

you

falsely, for

my

sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad

for

your reward
:

heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
:

See Matt. 5
*

11

2 Cor. 11

23-28.

He

first felt

him
all

to be his

own

Savior from

sin,

and then he publicly declared him to

be the Savior of
t This
is

men, but especially of them that believe.

:

a quotation from Genesis, 27

:

29.

And

the

same expression
is

occin-s again

in Isaiah, 49
latter
it is

23.

In the former chapter the prophecy

fulfilled

applied to Jacob, and in tho

represented as being

upon the

(ientile converts after tho destruction of

Jerusalem.

For

it
;

was

then, and only then, that the

Jews had

to

be in subjection to the

church of Christ
to both

and from the nature of the prophecy, and

Gentiles,

St. Paul's application of it

it is'aii

Jews and

(Rom.

12, 13, 33, 24,) I

am

inclined to think that

REVELATION.
10 Because
also will
shall
tliou hast

69

kept the word of

my

patience, I

keep thee from the hour of temptation, which

all

come upon

the world, to try

them

that dwell up-

on the earth.

As

the genuine seed of Jacob,

;

Thou
The

who

follows the desires of the flesh

I

hast been a wrestling Jacob

thou art

and mind,

do

not,

cannot love,

now

prevailing
I

Israelite.

Edomite (Jew)

abhor, because he

10 The word of my patience. gospel of salvation,

The

has sold his spiritual birth-right for a

The hour of temptation.

time of

mess of pottage, a morsel of meat. One walks after the flesh, the other One serves God, after the Spirit.
the other serves himself.
ing

great calamity and distress, such as

never shall

never came on the world before, and while the world lasts,

One

is

lay-

up
;

treasure on_ earth, the other in

The great now about

battle of

God Almighty

is

to be fought, in

heaven.
I love

Therefore the spiritual

man

blood of the slain

the horses' bridles
;

the natural, uuregenerate man,

which the shall come up to but you shall be

mode of expression, in which one thing is said and another intended. we must endeavor to find out its spiritual meaning. Rebecca was a type of the church of Christ Esau a type of the unbelieving Jew and Jacob a type of the believing
allegory, or a figurative

So

that

Gentile.
1.

See Gen. 25

21.
in her

Rebecca having twins

She being

womb, denoted
to

that the church of Clu'ist

would

travail

in birth for the salvation of both

2.
in pain,

Jews and

Gentiles.

and desiring

be delivered, denoted that, in like manner, the

church of Christ would be in great pain, and desire earnestly to be delivered from under 10, 11. the Jewish yoke. See chap. 12 : 1-3 ; 11 8 and 6
:

3.

She being barren and

unfruitful, indicated that the

church of Christ would be barren

and

unfruitful as long as they

were under the Jewish dispensation.

nv 4.

The

children struggling together in her

womb, and causing

great pain on her part,

represented the powerful opposition the believing Gentiles, should meet with from the unbelievincr

Jews

and likewise that

their opposition
:

would produce great sorrow and pain in

1, 5, 10,

the minds of the church.

0. It

See Acts, 8

15

24

also Gal. 4

29.

was said that two nations were

literally.

in

her

womb from which we may

it

learn that this

cannot be understood
nations, but

See

sec. 1.

But some may say that

does not mean two

;

two children, who were to be the heads of two great nations but this is a And why may not this be an allegory, as well as the son direct contradiction of the text.
of the bond woman, and the son of the free
6. It

woman

See Gal. 4

24.

was

said that

two manner of people should be separated from her bowels, which

denoted that the church of Christ would produce believers of both Jews and Gentiles.

60
'

NOTES ON THE
11 Behold,
I

'

come quickly

hold that

fast

which thou

hast, that

no

man

take thy crown.

preserved, the hairs of your head are

all

Hold
religion,

fast.

Thy

faith,

hope, con-

numbered.
11 Behold,

fidence, and profession of the christian

I come

quickly.

Imme-

diately, without delay, in a

few years,

That no man

take thy crown.

Hoand

to take

vengeance on the wicked, and all them that obey not the gospel, " and they shall be punished with
everlasting destruction from the pre-

nor, glory, office of the ministry,

the final and eternal reward that a-

waits thee in glory,

sence of the
his

Lord and the glory of

12 Him. that overcometh. That endureth to the end of the persecutions

power

for ever."

and

afflictions

which are about to com&

7.

It

was

said that one of these people

would be stronger than the

other,

which

indiit

cated that the Gentile converts would be

is

much more numerous

than the Jewish.

But

very probable

it

may mean
:

that they should be stronger in the faith of the gospel thaa

the others.
8.

See chap. 2

26.
;

It

was said

that the elder should serve the younger

and

this

was

fulfilled

both

lite-

rally

and

spiritually.

For they not only had

to

submit

to the christians, but

had

to serve

the Romans as slaves.

9.

It

was

said that the first child

which she brought forth was red

all

over like a hairy

garment.

This was a representation of the immense quantity of blood that should be

shed by the Jewish nation to

make an atonement

for their sin.

Esau being hairy

first

all

over
or

represented the beastly sacrifices offered by the Jews.

This nation was the

bom,

the

first

that

was taken

into the covenant of grace,

and the Gentile nation was the next.

One was
10. It heel,

the elder, the other the younger brother.

was

said that after this his brother

came

out,

and

his

hand took hold on Esau's

which den(Jted that the Gentile believers would lay hold on the blessing of salvation
rejected.

which the Jews despised and

heel, derision.
11.
It

Sometimes the hand means a

:

blessing,

and the

See Acts, 4
said that

30

John, 13

18.

was

Esau sold

his birth-right.

This has reference to the double portion

that he

was

entitled to as the

first

born son.

See chap, 7

5.

This signified that the

Jews would
belief.

not only despise the rich blessings of salvation, which were offered to

them by

Christ and his apostles, but should exclude themselves from their lawful inheritance by un-

The Romans

first

subdued the nation, and then seized upon their inheritance,

lire-

rally

and afterwards they embraced the blessings of the gospel which the others despised.
his master, they lifted

Like the ungrateful horse to

the author of their salvation.

up their heel

to kick at

him who

ww

12. Jacob's willingness to obtain the birth-right,

showed

that they

would be willing to

obtain the blessing which the others despised, and by this means become heirs to the spiritual inheritance.

REVELATION.
12

ei

Him

that overcometh will I

make

a pillar in the
:

temple of
will write

my

God, and he

shall

go no more out

and

upon him the name of

my

God, and the name

on the church and the world.

ter,
:

Pe-

one
one

literal,

the other spiritual

the

4 17. Will I make a pillar in the temple of my God. A chief prop, a head
;

old, the other

clares that his

Paul debrethren had already

new.
St.

come

to

Mount

Zion, the city of the

church of man the living God, to bear up the molten sea of salvation. See Chron. 4 2, 3
a chief apostle in the
:

living God, the

heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of ministers, to the general assembly and
church of the
23.
first

Gal. 2

9-

1^?aS>

pillar,

among

born,

the Rabbins, means a great, wise and eminent person. Tal. Bab. Beracoth,

are written in heaven.

whose names Heb. 12 22:

Here then is

a clear proof that the

28 2. The pillar of God will prop and build up the church. The pillar of man pull it down about your e ars.
fol.
:

new Jerusalem means

Christ.

the church of

Hence

fibm'l^^^,

from .1^^

He

shall

go no more

out.

He

shall

ya-rah, she shall be fixed, settled, built

not be separated from the church

by

up, established; and

tibia

sha

lorn,

persecution, or he shall not go out as an

apostle or missionary into the world,

peace, happiness, prosperity,

lished in peace, built

estab-

but shall be an elder in the church, to oversee the flock during the remainder
of his
life.

dation. "

upon it as a founPeace on earth and good will

is

toward

men "

the very foundation of

it

/
city

will write on

him

the

name of
to the

Christianity.
the

But

may mean,
is called

she

of my God. Holiness
life,

Lord

shall see, inherit, enjoy peace, pros-

shall be visible in his

conduct and

perity.

The Messiah

Mel-

conversation.

All will then acknow-

chizedek. King of Salem, or Prince

of

ledge

him

to be a

genuine christian,

the seed of Jehovah,

whom

the

Lord
chap.

Peace the author and giver of it. His ministers are the ambassadors of
it;

hast blest and

made happy. See

14

9.

his gospel proclaims it to the world, and his Spirit apphes it to the heart
all

The new Jerusalem. The church of the living God, the spiritual city, which, like the phcenix, has risen up
out of the ashes of the old city. The one was the shadow, the other is the
substance.

of the believer, and

are the subjects of
it,

his

members

they enjoy peace

are not carnal,

with God, through our Lord Jesus

Christ.
Its

weapons

but spiritual and mighty, to the pulling down of the strong holds of Satan
its

The shadow
is to

has passed

away
ever
;

the substance
it

remain
is

for

walls are salvation,

its

gates praise,
to

shall

never be

destroyed.

and are open night and day

perishing sinners into
it.

admit
altar

See chapter 2:1.

The

one

from
;

The

beneath, the other from above

the

and candlesticks are pure gold, and

the
streets of the city

one earthly, the other heavenly

the

paved with


es

NOTES ON THE

of the city of

my

God, which

is

new
:

Jerusalem, which

cometh down out of heaven from God iqjon him my new name.

and /

will write

gold.

The

tree of

life is

in tlie

midst

5.

The

ark of the covenant, with

of it, and the river of

life

runs through

the two tables of the law,

was

deposit-

every part of it, to water and replenish every plant in the garden. The Sabbath, sacrament, preaching, day of atonement, year of Jubilee, the ministry and membership,
offerings

ed in the temple.
salvation,

The

gospel of our

with

all

the christian ordi-

nances,
til

is

deposited in the church un-

time shall be no more.

6.

the sacrifices,

The

mercy-seat and the cheru-

and

altars, are all

new and
the

heavenly.
1.

bim were emblems of the ministers of Jesus, and their mission of mercy to a
perishing world.
7.

The Jewish Temple was

most elegant and costly building in the world. The stones were very large, smooth, precious, and covered all over with large plates of gold. [See Josephus.]
T4ic

The

passover was a type of

Christ, our spiritual passover,

sacrificed for us, a
is

who

is

Church of
is all

Christ, the

sent

kept up in " as oft as ye eat this bread and

;

memorial of which his church unto the pre-

King's daughter,
in
:

glorious with-

drink of this cup, ye

show

forth the

her covering is of wrought gold. Psalm 45 13, and the members are
:

Lord's death

till

he come."

living stones, built

'

up a spiritual

house,

the

a royal priesthood, a holy temple to This is the tabernacle Lord."

pitched, and not

8. Baptism is substituted in the room of circumcision. 9. The golden vessels were emblems of holy men and holy women.

which the Lord

the temple

man,

Rom.
10.

23.
a-

made without

hands, the

There were three separate

in the

residence of the Divine Shekinah.

partments

temple

the outward

temple had twelve gates, each of the tribes to enter into the holy city three on the east, three on the west, three on the north, and These gates rethree on the south. presented the twelve apostles, who
2.

The

court of the proselytes, the inner court

of the true Israel of God, the holiest of
all,

one

for

into

tered alone, once a year,

of the

which the high priest enby the blood atonement. There are three

apartments in the christian church

a place of probation for penitents, the

were the doors through which

lievers entered the church.

all

be-

They were

church

itself for

genuine believers, and

sent into every part of the world to

the high and holy office of the ministry for

all

preach
Christ
3.

the

unsearchable riches of
the Gentiles.

those

who

are called of

among

Christ

is

the

jiriest,

the altar,

God, as was Aaron. 11. The ^eil which separated Jews

and Gentiles was an emblem of the

and the
4.

sacrifice for sin himself.

is

He

also our prophet, priest,

human

nature of Christ, which

was

and king.

rent in pieces on the cross for the sins

REVELATION.

6S
Spirit

13
saith
.

He

that hath an ear, let

him hear what the

unto the churches.

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans

;

write

These

things saith the

Amen,

the faithful and true

Witness, the beginnino^ of the creation of

God

of

all

men, and by which the

all is

way

to

sin,

the holiest of

made

possible for

world.

from slavery, from Satan and the Zohar on Gen. fol. 13 2

:

both

Jew and

Gentile.

126

4.*

12. Finally, there

orders of the ministry, priests and

vites,

were but two Le-

14. Laodicea.

city of

Phrygia,
truth. Is.

near Collosse.

with the high priest as their

The Amen. The God of

65
:

overseer.

There are but two orders

15.

in the ministry in the church of Christ,

promises
Ptiessiah,

senior and junior preachers, deacons

The confirmer of all the made to the fathers the who is the life, the truth,
;

and

elders,

with Christ as their over-

and the way.

seer and high priest.

The

faithful

and

true

Witness.

The
vil,

city has been besieged a thou-

Amen
truth.

has two meanings, faith and

It is the

sand times by the world and the de-

word used

in the Bi-

but has never yielded as yet no, nor never shall while the world lasts.
:

ble for faith, belief, truth, confirmation.

'

See chap. 2 1. The Rabbins say the third time Jerusalem shall be built will be in Messiah's day, and then it shall descend from heaven, and shall be free from
:

The heginning of the creation of God. The person who laid the foundation of it when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. He drew the plan,

It

13

called a
;

new

city

because every thing belonging to

it is

new, when compared with

the old one

to

but the

word new, here and elsewhere

in the Scripture,
'jn

must be understood
:

mean a

transformation, or a change.

Hence a new man,

2 Cor. 5
again, a

17, signifies
is

man whose
Ghost.

heart has been changed from nature to grace.

is

And

man who

crea-

ted anew in Christ Jesus,

man who

has been born again of the water and of the Holy

See Eph. 2

10,

and John, 3:5.

So that the new Jerusalem means a

;

city that

has been transformed from an old to a new city

is

and that

it

alludes to the church of Christ

very evident, for St. Paul

tells

the Jews, to

whom

he was then writing, that they had

;

already

come

to the heavenly Jerusalem,

and

to

an innumerable company of angels

which

may mean either guardian angels or the ministers of the gospel. 1. The high priesthood was changed from a finite to an
priesthood.
2.

infinite

and unchangeable

See Heb. 7
sacrifices also

17, 24.

Their

changed from a beastly

to

a human

sacrifice,

wherein the hu-

64

NOTES ON THE
15
1 I

know thy

works, that thou art neither cold nor

hot.

hot

would thou wert cold or

16 So, then, because thou

art

lukewarm, and neither

cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of

my

mouth.

raised

the superstructure, and com-

pleted

the whole building

himself.
in this

The Rabbins
sense.

understood
the

it

Hence

beginning of the

creation

is a title of the Messiah, because he laid the foundation of the

weak, his love cold, and his soul unhappy. The cares of life and the deceitfulnessof riches had nearly choked the good seed. He retained the form but lost the life and power of religion, Oh, how many thousands are in the

world.

'

Zohar on Gen.

fol.

77

1.

same

situation

15 Neither cold nor hot. Neither dead in sin nor alive in righteousness.

/
of

will spue thee out of my mouth.

He was

neither

fit

for the land

nor

the dunghill, the church nor the world.

from the bowels and compassion, as a sick stomach lukewarm water. This is an
I will discharge thee

my mercy

16 Lukewarm. twixt and between.

Milkwarm beHe was neither

; ;

awful warning
sors,

to

lukewarm

profes-

but especially to ministers

who

dead

in

formality nor alive in religion

his zeal

had abated,

his faith

become

have the form of godliness without the life and power of religion. May the

manity and the divinity of the Savior were both united together to make a
tion
3. 4.

sufificient

obla-

and

sacrifice for the sins of the world,

Heb. 9:14.
law of
liberty

The

Levitical law

was transformed

into the

from

sin.

See Heb. 7

12.

Their Sabbath has been changed from the

1
:

last to the first

day of the week.

See

chapter
5.

10.

The The

light of the

law was blended with the

light of the glorious gospel of

God our

Savior.
6.

light of the sun

:

became transformed
and chap. 21
:

into that of the glorious

Sun of Righteous-

ness.
7.

See chap. 12

1,

13.
to the substance of the

Their faith changed from the shadow

body and blood of

Christ.
8.

See Heb. 10:9,

10.
literal

Their temple was transformed from a

to

a spiritual temj)le.

See chap. 13

14, and
9.

11:

1.

Their altar changed into Christ our golden

altar,

and the
:

fire

of the altar into the

fire

of the Holy Ghost, which proceeds from him. Sec chap. 8

10.

3-5.

The

holiest of holies referred to

heaven

itself.

11. Part of their dead

members became

lively

members

of Christ's church.

12. Their paved streets were changed into the golden streets of the heavenly Jerusa-

lem.

See chap. 21
:

and for the wall, and the gates, and the foundation of the

city,

see chap. 21

12-14.

REVELATION.

65

17 Because thou sayest, I

goods,

and have need of nothing

thou art

and increased with and knowest not that wretched, and miserable, and poor, and bUnd,
rich,
;

am

and naked.
18
I

counsel thee to

buy of me gold

tried in the

fire,

Lord

stir

you up

to duty,

and a sense

was with him

ing moments.

of your responsibility.

17 Rich,

and have need of nothing.

full,

His house was

his heart

empty.

and his dyThis was better to him than thousands of silver and gold. The Rabbins say no man is poor
in his last
it

He

could not love

God and mammon

serve two masters, without esteeming the one and despising the other.

who
to

who

has the law, and walks according and surely no christian is poor has his Bible and Jesus with him.
:

He must now

determine without de-

lay whether he should serve Christ or the world. He was hesitating whether to return to his merchandise, or

Rich in pocket, poor in Paul was poor, and yet he made many rich. This minister was
Poor.
grace.

give himself
the ministry.

up

entirely to

The

love of

God and money is

its

the root of

all evil,

and has slain

thousands, pierced

them through with

!

many
love
souls

sorrows.

What

a minister to

money more than Jesus and

which he hath bought with
?

the
his

own blood
Thou

God

forbid

made many poor, because weak believers. Blind. To his own interest and God did not now, that of the church. as formerly, answer him by Urim'and Thummim by divine light and inspiratio)!. His eye was not single, and therefore his whole body was full of darkness. His lamp was almost exrich,

yet he

a stumbling block to

art wretched

and

miserable.

God, his word, and his conscience condemned him. Here, then, is the end of wealth to make men perfectly miserable. I seldom or ever met with a rich man a good man. How hardly shall they that have riches enter the

want of oil. Naked. Stripped of holiness. Probably he was formerly sanctified he

tinguished for
;

needs

now

to

be justified

to lay the

foundation

again of repentance from

kingdom of heaven.
I before observed,
;

The

beggar, as
his

dead works toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He sought wealth and obtained it he neglected
;

was taken from

his gifts and graces,

and nearly

lost

barrow to heaven the rich man from The one a bed of down to perdition. had every thing but the grace of God, the other had nothing but Jesus he
;

them, and finally incurred the displeasure of God.

18 Buy.
faith

That

is,

seek, obtain

by

and prayer.*

This

is

a proverbial mode of expression, 9

to

show

that

no person need expect pardon

66

NOTES ON THE
;

that thou mayest be rich

and white raiment, that thou

eye-salve, that

mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness

do not appear

and anoint thine eyes with

thou mayest see.

tion,

Gold tried in the jire. which has been tried

My salvain the fire

discover thy filthiness of flesh and

I screened thy nakedness by throwing the mantle of charity over thy infirmities but now, if thou dost
spirit.
;

and the furnace, and has not been consumed, but rather refined and improved.

not repent, I will expose thy naked-

That thou mayest he rich.

In faith

ness to the world, will take

my

holy

and good works, and an heir of the

Spirit from thee, and leave thee to

kingdom

give

sake, as he gave
for thy sake.
for

up up

all

for

Christ's

perish in thy sins.

his life a

ransom
rich,

"He

that

was

your sakes became

poor, that ye,

Anoint thine eyes. Try, prove, examine thyself by my word and Spirit, and know and feel of a truth that it is
a bitter and grievous thing to depart from God and the path of duty.

through his poverty, might be rich."

Hence

rniti^ ^^TZi^ a-shir betho-rah,

rich in the

law or divine
fol,

things.

Yal-

That thou inayest

thou hast wandered

see.

How

far

kot Simeone,
ding garment.

106

2.

away from

the

White raiment. Holiness, the wed-

path of duty.

You have

neglected

This will admit you

supper of the Lamb.
this

family and secret prayer, fasting and

abstinence, reading and searching the

into the marriage

Be clothed. Covered with

head
to foot, in soul, body,

from

Scriptures, instructing your children

and

spirit.

and servants

in religion.

The

sheep

Holiness becomes the Lord's house,

especially his ministers.

That thy nakedness do not appear. That the church and the world do not

have not been fed, the lambs are devoured by wolves, the ordinances of my house. Baptism and the Lord's
Supper, and visiting the poor from

from God without repentance and

not this justification by works
of his Spirit
;

faith in

our Lord Jesus Christ.

;

But some may ask,

God, and conviction

is

By no means
is

faith is the gift of

is

and repentance

the effect of conviction.

So

that

God
all

is

the author of
will say that
;

these talents, and

we

are to improve

them

to his glory.

For instance, we
as well as for

one degree of

faith is

a belief; that Christ died for

me

men

that he

is

able and willing to save

me; and

that I now, even at this

moment, need

his salvation, or

else I shall bo eternally miserable.

Now if we allow this to be faith, we must admit that God knew this through eternity. But his knowledge of the fact will not save us we must know it for ourselves before we can be happy. And again God cannot repent of sin, for he
; :

never has committed

to repent of
it.

it

consequently,

it is

on his part

to

convince us of

sin, tuid

our part

REVELATION.

67
;

19 As

many as

I love I

rebuke and chasten

be zealous

therefore,

and repent.
I stand at the door,

20 Behold,

and knock

if

any

house to house neglected.

the Lord of hosts.
or to discharge

Have
?

I re-

quired these things at thy hand

saith

Did

put thee
I will

them to repent and if they do not, I cut them off as rotten branches. 20 Island at the door. That is,
;

into the ministry to neglect thy duty,

it ?

the front door of the heart.

(devil) enters

The

thief

Therefore

by the back
;

door,

by

require the blood of the slain at thy

fraud and flattery

front door,

the Savior, the

hand.
for

Reader, take warning by

this,

by

faith

and repentance.
there-

thou art the

tree,

man

and

now the axe

He

stands a friend to save, not an

to plunder

is laid to

the root of the tree, and eve-

enemy

and destroy

ry

minister and

member, who
fruit, shall

bringeth not forth good

be

hewn down and 19 As many

Scourge
]oss

cast into the fire.

as

love

I chasten.
the
parents,
as a

must be opened freely, not forcibly. The back door must be bolted and barred against the enemy, the front door opened wide to receive
fore the door

them with
property,

afflictions,

the Savior.

Son, daughter, give

me

of

children,

thy heart.
" "

Let your reply

'tis all

be,

wife, husband.

I correct

them

father a child

but

it is

in
:

mercy, that
and "

Take

my heart,

my

store
I

they may not go astray if we are without chastisement, whereof all

are partakers, then are

More

should'st thou have if

had more."

we

aliens to

And
Spirit
;

knock.

By my Word

and

the commonwealth of Israel, and not

citizens of the household of faith."

bers

by my ministers and memby my judgments and mercies

* Rebuke.

Openly,

to their face, I

reprove, blame,

threaten,

admonish

they all cry aloud, open the door of thy heart and let in Jesus. He is not

The Jewish law

;

inflicted

a punishment of thirty-nine stripes on persons guilty of petty

St.

crimes

but sometimes they punished the innocent as well as the guilty.

five
:

Paul was
:

punished
Deut. 25

times in this manner, and that unjustly. See 2 Cor. 11

24

Luke, 23

22

3.

There

is

a punishment nearly the same as this

inflicted

on soldiers in

the army of Great Britain

striking their officers,

who have been

latter is

guilty of drunkenness,

desertion, stealing,

&c.

But the

more severe than the former.

;

The poor
inflicted in

criminal

is

sometimes sentenced

to receive

one hundred lashes

and these are

the most severe manner, until the victim frequently faints before he receives the whole of
his

punishment

and the

flesh is cut so

deep on his back that

it

requires
!

weeks

to heal the to deal so

wound.

Cruel and unmerciful proceedings in a christian land

in

If

God were

with us, instead of being

existence at present

we

should be

now

suffering the ven-

geance of eternal

fire.


68

NOTES ON THE
hear

man

my

voice,

and open the door,

I will

come

in to

him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, 1* him hear what the Spirit
in
saith unto the churches.

an enemy, nor an
a brother.
It is a

infidel,

but a friend,

night. It his

is now his duty as master of own house to open the door, and

custom

in the East,

among
goes to
letter

say ba-rach-a-bo, come

the Jews,
visit

when

a stranger

another to

whom

he has a
till

of introduction, to knock at the front

door, and not to enter

the master
the

in thou blessed of the Lord, and take free and full possession of my heart, and let us eat and drink with each other once more. If any man hear my voice. Obey

comes.
usual

He

addresses

him with

my
ty,

shalom lachem peace be unto thee. The compliment is returned by saying, shalom sholem. He then welcomes him with ba-rach-a-bo, come in, thou blessed of the Lord. He then prepares a good

mode

of salutation

commands, submit to my authoriand runs and opens the door. See

verse 4.

21

To him

that overcometh.
:

That

endures to the end

Sit on

who

is

determin-

ed to conquer, though he die.

my

supper and a bed

finds out

for his guest.

He

signed to
ful heir.

by

this

time he

is

a brother

throne. That I have rehim as Prince Regent lawI have placed him in the

beloved, and not an infidel. This minister

high and holy office of the ministry

in the

had heretofore shut the door against his Divine Redeemer. After some time he returns in peace, stands and knocks for admission until his locks are wet with the dew of the

church,

till

time shall be no
I

more.

Even as I
the devil.

also overcame.

have
and

conquered the world, the

flesh,

Go

thou and do likewise.

REVELATION,

69

CHAPTER
After this I looked,
in

IV.

heaven

and the
I will

first

and behold, a door was opened voice which I hea^, was as it

were
after.

of a trumpet talking with

me which
;

hither,

and

shew thee

things

said, Come up which must be here-

After

this.

He now commences

of heaven, also the heavenly Jerusalem. Matt. 3

is
:

a series of explanations of the Old Testament prophecies which remained at

that time to be fulfilled
:

2, 4

17

11, "12.

This

title

given to the Jewish church.

the three for-

Hear,

heavens

that
:

is,

listen, at-

mer chapters
into

pointed out the corrup-

tend, obey.

Deut. 32
distinct

1.

Isa. 1

2.

tions andbackslidings

which had crept

of Asia,

the

seven

churches

some of the prophecies were no doubt revealed to John before his banishment to the Isle of Patmos, and some after
this
;

heavens mentioned in this book, the church on earth and the church in glory and to understand the Revelation this distinction must be kept in view the one
; ;

There are two

but

all

probably written and

is

the church militant, the other the

:

compiled there.

church triumphant. See chap. 15

A door was opened.

velation,

That

is

of re-

Isa. 60

22.*
voice.

or an

exposition

given of

The first

That

is

of the pro-

these prophecies.

phet or his prophecy, which seems to

refer particularly to Isaiah.

In heaven. In the church, the heaven on earth, paradise of God, the abode of the blessed or happy. See It is called the kingdom chap. 2:7.

Ch. 6

2,

Loud, alarming. This seems

trumpet.
of a prophet

clear,

solemn,

to be the voice

who was

a spiritual priest

* In chap. 14

6, St.

John saw an angel

fly in

the midst of heaven, having the everlast:

ing Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth

edly

so that heaven here

it

must undoubtin

mean

the church, and this

is

the sense in which

we must understand God

chap. 15

5,

for the seven apostles of the seven churches of

Asia are represented as coming out of the

;

temple of the tabernacle to accomplish

the service of

and the throne here

is

the

same

as the throne
it is

spoken of

in the first clause of the

21st verse of the former chapter,

that throne to his
successoi-s,

and there
eat

said that Christ a

had overcome and

left

and

down upon

more honorable one

in glory with his heavenly Father.

70

XOTES ON THE
:

2 And immediately I was in the Spirit and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
3

And he

that sat
:

was

to look
icas

upon

like a jasper

and

a sardine stone

and

there

a rainbow round about

the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

also,

and whose business

it

was

to

this throne in his church,

sits

but

now he

sound the trumpet to prepare the people for their morning and evening devotions.

on his great white throne in glory.

his successors to the

His ministers are

throne until time shall be no more.

lure.

Come up
a
full

And

I will give

you

May

the Great

Head

of the church

explanation of
8.

my

prophecy.
In a few

help them to give a faithful account

of their stewardship.

See chap. 22:

Which

will he hereafter.

3 Like a jasper.

Pure and white,

years, and also at the expiration of the

without spot or blemish.

thousand years.
2
In, ike

A
Of prophecy and
of-

sardine stone.

Spirit.

blood red color, an

Of a beautiful emblem of Him

devotion,

A throne.

The high and holy

:

who came from Bozrah with his garments dyed red in the blood of the
atonement, as well as that of his enemies.

fice of the gosgel ministry

David's

spiritual throne in the

heavenly Jeru-

salem, (Psalm 122

5,)

where justice

A
Israel

rainhow.

The

glory

of

God

and mercy can be mingled, and " God

be
just,

and the

juslifier of

him who
to

which surrounded the throne. The glory at this time had departed from
and rested on the church of
Christ.

believeth in Jesus."

This refers

the mercy-seat over which the cheru-

God

forbid that
it
;

it

should ever

bim (an emblem of the ministry)

spread their golden wings.

depart from

it

vnW

not,

from any

Was
last

set.

Fixed,
;

settled, establish-

branch of it, as long as the ministers and people are humble and faithful.

ed in the church
last for ever.

as the

kingdom

is to

The rainbow was an

plentiful spiritual

indication of a

for ever, the

throne must also

shower which was

" Justice and judgment

now

about to be poured

down on

the

are the habitation of thy throne,

God,

for

ever and ever." Ps. 89

14.

church and the world, or a second penThis is the light, no doubt, tecost.
in

Solomon, but a far greater personage than the king of Israel. He formerly sat on
sat.

One

Our

spiritual

which the church viewed

it

in

John's day.*

An

emerald.

stone of a beauti-

In Judea the early rain

fell

in the

month of November, the time of sowing the seed

April,

and the

latter rain fell in the

month of

when

the corn was beginning to get

full

in

REVELATION.

71

4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders
;

sitting,

clothed in white raiment

and they had on their

heads crowns of gold.

ful

grass green color

an

emblem

of

couch.

Our Lord and

Matt. 5
: :

his

apostles

great prosperity to the church.

is

This

were
14
:

also in a sitting posture

1
;

when

the Lord's garden, which he greatly

bless.

preaching.
;

see chap,
Seniors,

dehghts to water and

4

And
in

round about

the

throne.

18 1 Tim. 5 Four and twenty

17.
elders.

Here and
and
Seats.

there, in every direction,

irgatr/SuTEgour, or fathers

of the church;
;

every church.

ministers and
offices in the
it,

members

overseers of

Of judgment,
is

who had been with

our Lord from

ministry and the church for the spiritual Sanhedrin, that

to

the beginning, and were eye witnesses of his miracles, death, sufferings, resurrection, and

administer
It

justice to

all,

saint

and sinner.
sit

was
try-

ascension
still

to

glory,

customary

for magistrates,

when

Some

of

them were

living,

and

ing civil cases, to

on a mat or a

ornaments of the church.

what

the ear.

These showers came but seldom, and when they did come, produced great plenty
These elders are comin the

of rain, and generally their coming was signified by a rainbow.

pared to a rainbow because they were

world before the Holy Spirit was poured

down upon the church at the day of Pentecost, and this when the seed of salvation was sown among both Jews and Gentiles and these elders still sitting round about the throne
;

upon the four and twenty

that

seats,

brought to the mind of St. John the showers of latter rain

in

were now about

the

to

be poured out upon the church and the world

general

and

this

when
14
:

Jews were

ripe for destruction, and the Gentiles ripe for salvation.

in the

See chap.

15, 20.

The rainbow,

days of Noah, was a token or sign of the everlasting

the world. Gen. 9
:

covenant which

God made with him and

;

four and twenty elders

they were a representation of the

17. And so it was with these new and everlasting covenant

made between

Christ and the whole world on

mount Calvary.
itself.
it is

Some
there

are of opinion these elders were in heaven

This cannot be, unless

Rom. 5:10; Heb. 8 13. we suppose

:

were no more than

this

number

there

but

more probable there were four and

not only so, but a conversation

twenty thousand there at

this time. If they

were

in

heaven what reason could John have for

saying he saw so few out of such a vast number?

is

And

said to have taken place on earth between the apostle himself and one of these elders,
:

see chap. 5

5.

And we know

that the four beasts and the four and twenty elders

must
midst

have been

in Asia, for St.

John saw the

Lamb

in the

midst of the throne, and

in the

of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders. See chap.
to chapter 1
:

5:6;

here he has reference

13,

where he says he saw our Savior

in the midst of the seven golden

candlesticks.

12

NOTES ON THE
5

And

out of the throne proceeded Hghtnings, and

thunderings,
fire

and

voices.

And

there ivere seven

lamps of

burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits

of God.
6

And

before the throne there teas a sea of glass, like

blessed, holy,

happy men

men who
1 Peter,
:

had seen Jesus, and known him personally from the beginning.

5:1;
28.

James, 5 14 ; Acts, 20 17, Five hundred brethren of this

:

description

were living when Paul

;

and obeyed them, as a child would a parent. Isa. 62 : 3. Hence the Rabbins speak of two crowns the crown of law to him who keeps it, and a crown of glory in heaven.
ed, reverenced,

wrote his epistle to the Corinthians some of the number, however, had
fallen asleep in Christ;

istry

5 Out of the throne. From the minand the spiritual Sanhedrin of

but in Asia,
there were the

four and twenty elders.

They were
difficulties

among the seven churches,

twenty-four of them.

now

in session,

deliberating on the

They were

present

dangers

and

of

council or senate of the church,

whom

all

ecclesiastical

by disputes were
refers here

the church.

Thunderings.

to be adjusted.

St.

John

to the council of the Jews,

of twenty-four elders; they

composed were the

law and the gospel, that ritual mount Sinai, j

Admonitions of the is, from spiConvictions and

these cease in

And

lightnings.
;

most wise, learned, and judicious men Luke, 22 26 Acts, in the nation. 5 21. The number in small towns was twenty -three, with the chief Rabbi or ruler of the synagogue as president, which made the even num:

conversions

when

any

part of the church the glory will as-

suredly depart from

it.

"Give me

children," says Rachel, " or I die."

And
vival.

voices.

That of weeping and

rejoicing, as in the time of a great re-

ber of twenty-four
elders.

but in Jerusalem
disciples

the Sanhedrin consisted of seventy

Seven lamias of fire. Trimmed and

burning,

Our Lord's seventy

waiting
to

for

the

spiritual

referred to this council.

White garments. Holy garments they were justified and sanctified, prepared or ready to step into glory to be with Jesus for ever. God grant
that

come to the marriage supper of the Lamb, viz. the minisbridegroom

ters of the

seven churches of Asia.

Which are the seveii spirits of God. That is, the ministering spirits of the
seven churches.

we may be prepared to follow them. Crowns of gold. Of honor and gloEvery person who beheld
their
fear-

They

are Ezckiel's
act, think,

seven living champions who

speak, and live for God.
6

ry.

A sea

of glass.

The

sea of sal-

heavenly and angelic appearance

vation, the gospel sea, because free

REVELATION.
unto crystal
:

73

And

in the midst of the throne,

and round

for all to
is

wash

in.

Chap. 22

1.

It

18.

The

brazen sea makes no sense

because so clear, pure, perfect, simple, that a wayfarto glass

fool,

compared

whatever.
2;
1

The

christians stood
faith.

this crystal sea

by

on Chap. 16
:

ing man, though a

therein. It
is

need not err

Cor. 15: 1.*

beasts.

we

see our

own
is

God's mirror, by which heart and that of

a
discerner

Four

Four

of the twelve

others.

"It

of

the

These were the spiritual oxen who sustained the whole burden
apostles.

thoughts and intents of the heart."

It is like the portrait

on the wall, the

eye follows you wherever you go.

and weight of the gospel on their 3, 4. Probably Paul, ApoUos, Cephas and John.
shoulders. 2 Chron. 4
:

Hence

Htli'lSl i<'n^

ya-ma do-re-tha,
priests

Ezekiel

calls

them

tT^'^ti

che-yoth,

the sea of the

law in which the

called

living cherubs,

who defended
Phil. 1
:

the

purify themselves,

such beequity,

of the tree of

life.

17.

way They

cause of

its

purity, justice,

are distinguished as living,

flaming

simplicity.

has

left

Targum. The Ethiopean glass out of the text the Sy;

cherubs, from the cherubims in Solo-

riac has, as a sea of glass.

John evi:

mon's temple, which were without life, The prophet explains or inanimate.
his

dently
p2'^>2

alludes to
B'j;

Kings, 7
the

23,

meaning

in chap.

10

20.

"

The

yam

moo-zak,

solid

living creatures,"

he observes, " are

transparent sea, in reference to the

frozen ocean, called mare glaciale.
Poetically, the glass sea so celebrated

the cherubs which I

saw

in the vision
:

by the
3, 5.

river

Chebar."
are called

They
man,
for

See chap. 1 such because

ox, for la-

among Jews and Gentiles. Hence, ya-zook ke-mo a-ven, as hard as a stone.
Job, 41
:

they combine various characters, such

as a

wisdom; an
;

24, and

is

called

pr^?2

iJi^'l

the clear transparent mirror. Job, 37

an eagle, for swiftness, (zeal.) These cherubs were

bor
;

a lion, for courage

"

This

is
it

only comparatively speaking.

The Gospel

is

compared
do the

to the sea.

1.

Be-

cause by

knowledge was
:

to cover the earth as the waters

sea. Isa.
its

11:9; Rom.
depth of wisit

10:18;
dom.
3.

Col. 1
It

23.

2.

It is

probably compared to the sea because of

to the

may be compared
it

sea because of the rich blessings which

it.

brings to

every nation that receives

glorious Gospel of
stones, or

and

lives according to

Were

it

not for the light of the

God our

Savior,

we would be
calf, or

heathens, bowing

down
fire to
?

to stocks

and

worshipping an ox, or a

perhaps a dog, as the Indians, instead of the

first

only true
sins.

God;

or be like others, burning our

born alive in the

atone for our

Certainly
so clear
it is

How

shall
4.

we

escape, therefore, if
is

we

neglect so great salvation

impossible.

The Gospel

compared

to glass or to crystal,

because
:

it is

and

easy to be understood, and so free from impurity and error. Isa. 35

especially,
this verse.

8.

5.

The

reason,

why

it is

compared

to the sea,

you will

find

when

come

to the last clause of

10


74

NOTES ON THE
full

about the throne, were four beasts

behind.

of eyes before

and

the fathers of spiritual

life to

a world

fixed

on the throne.
steadfast,

The

apostles

dead
in

in

trespasses and sins.

Hence,
1

were

Christ Jesus (says Paul) I have

15.

immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord

;

begotten you through the gospel.

Cor. 4
:

One was

the shadow,

and the ministry is perpetual, to continue in the church for ever. Amen.

the other the substance, and the re-

This
Eve,

is

the root from which

Wn

semblance is very striking indeed, 1. Solomon's cherubim were made out

of the

is

derived, because the mother

wood of the olive

of all living.
ti^rt

The church
:

is

called

tree.

Kings,

23.

Christ's ministers are

made

che-yath, in Ps. 68

10,

because

out of himself, the good olive tree

are bone of his bone, and flesh of his
flesh.
2.

the mother of spiritual

lievers; and St.

life

to all be-

Paul

calls the

church

They were covered

all

over
are

the mother of us

all,

in allusion to
:

with

gold.

Christ's ministers

Eve. Gal.
is

26

chap. 12

1.

nT^n

clothed with salvation as with a gar-

evidently a distinguishing and pretitle

ment
gold.
seat.

their raiment
3.

is

of wrought

eminent

which cannot be render-

They stood above the mercy The apostles ruled the church
absence
;

ed livvig creatures, as brutes and in-

in

Christ's

they were the

13
7.

These four apostles were the only sur^^vors of the whole

sects are such.

crown which adorned the woman's

head. Chap.

twelve, and in a short time after this

all

12:1; Heb.
The

4.

of

them died martyrs

all

for Jesus;

They
mercy

spread their wings over

seat.

the

they
their

sealed their testimony with

blood.

apostles spread their

own

Blessed, holy, and

rest

wings of protection over the ministry, to prevent improper persons from entering into
it.

happy men, you now

But how many
lowed Christ ? deed. Ezek. 1

from your

labors and your works do follow you. of your children in the

fol-

5.

Their eyes were

looking on the

congregation.

The

ministry are following you as you

eyes of the apostles were watching over the church for good, and not for
evil,
6.

We
:

fear but

few

in-

8.*

Their feet were permanently

Eyes

before.

May mean scrutiniz-

There was

in

Solomon's temple a crystal sea, which was borne up by twelve brazen

;

images, representing oxen

their hinder parts

were inward and

their faces

outward

three

of them looked towards the north, and three towards the south, and three towards the
east,

and three towards the west. 2 Chron. 4

4.

The

crystal sea

was a representation
Their faces

of the Gospel, and the twelve oxen a representation of the twelve apostles.

towards the four eiuarters of the globe indicated that through the twelve apostles the gospel should be carried into the east, the west, the north, and the south
;

and having

their

REVELATION.
7

75
lion,

And

the

first

beast was like a

and the second

as a

beast like a

calf,

and the third beast had a face

loas like a

man,

and the fourth beast

%ing

eagle.

ing eyes, which they exerted in the government and the affairs of the

7 Like a lion. He had the prominent features of the lion fierce,

;

church.

bold, undaunted, majestic.

before

He was
He was

a
a

Eyes
isters

and

behind.

Or

look-

terror to evil-doers, and for the praise

ing every way,

may mean young minto

of

them

that did

well.

whom

they had sent before

boanerges, or son of thunder.

lion

The
;

prepare the
chap. 5

of the gospel.
:

way for the introduction They are called eyes

and Psalm 104
:

was the standard of Judah, from which we have the word Jew and
as Peter

6,

and

those behind

may mean

the ministers

the lion

was the apostle of the Jews, was therefore a fit emblem of

lion is

they

left in

charge of the churches

:

him.

The

king of the forest,

;

during their absence.

Chap, 1 14. They apprised the apostles by letter

Acts,

and a terror
fit

to all other animals

emblem

of boldness, majesty,
;

pow-

of the affairs of the church.

20

8.

The Rabbins say

;

the oxen in Solo-

er, zeal, dominion these were prominent features in Peter's character as a minister of Christ.

mon's temple had eyes looking every way some looking on the congregaThese tion and some on the world.
four spiritual oxen had

Like a
labors,

calf.

More properly an

ox,

strong, laborious, indefatigable in his

he worked while the day

last-

eyes before

ed, as the night

was
;

at

hand

in Avhich

and behind in

this respect also,

some

looking forward to the conversion of

the whole world, others looking behind

on the welfare of the congregation, or watching over them for good. Wise and learned Rabbins among the Jews were said to have eyes before and behind, that is, they knew every thing. The apostles had suthey were inspired pernatural light
;

man could work his labors ended with his life. Probably St. John is here represented under the emblem of an ox. The ox was the standard of
no

Ephraim.
fect,

It is the

most pure, per-

powerful, patient and laborious

animals.
in

of

all

These were promiJohn's

character.

nent features

The cherub of Ezekiel and here mean t"he same thing.

the ox

to

see into the past, present, and fu-

ture.

Hence
3.

'b'Sllir:

"ipj

a-nehash-Hl-

The face of a man. A soldier, a wise, warlike man, bold, courageous, zealous, active, energetic, faithful.

The
119

eyes of wisdom. Zohar on Deut.

:

may

allude to Apollos,

This whose name

hinder parts inward, and their faces outward, signified that the apostles should have to
turn their backs on their relations, and face the world with the everlasting Gospel.
St.

Paul compares the apostles

to

oxen in

Cor. 9

10; Acts, 20

38.

76

NOTES ON THE
8

And
;

the four beasts

full

him

and they were

of eyes within

had each of them six wings about and they rest not
:

implies this, and

who was

a brave

of the world, even places inaccessible

to the
it

soldier of the captain of our salvation.

He was
people.

of Alexandria, a place fasoldiers,

to

mous for sailors and

a warlike

He

Roman army. " He preached every creature under heaven." went into Asia, Africa, and Eu;

On

the standard of
;

Reuben

rope

also into

Italy,

Gaul, Spain,
;

was

the face of a
tribe.

man he may have

Swift, powerful,

been of that

England, Ireland, and Scotland was absent fourteen years from his native
land.

A flying
Christ and

eagle.
;

The

eagle, therefore, the stan-

learned, majestic

a real missionary,

dard of his country, the

pire,

who went every where

him

preaching

crucified, the

Lord

working with him and confirming his word by signs and wonders following.

Roman emwas a fit emblem of him. 8 Each had six wings.* 1. AVings may mean gifts and graces, or spiritual
endowments, such as love, zeal, faith, prayer, wisdom, power. 2. They may mean the prominent features in each
of the four beasts, as described above.
3.

The
and

eagle
is

is

the king of the feather-

ed race,

lofty in flight than

more wise and sagacious, any other bird.

The

majestic flight of the eagle has

Wings may mean

the gifts bestow-

been the song of the sage as well as

that of the poet.

ed on the church, such as that of pro-

the eagle in this

Paul resembled respect he was the

St.
;

phecy,

teaching, miracles,

healing,

helps in the government of the church,

most wise, learned, active, zealous, and energetic in his movements, of any he soared aloft as it of the apostles were on eagles' wings, and carried the gospel into the most remote parts
;

and diversities of tongues.

These
with
4,

were

auxiliaries to spread the gospel

throughout the world.

into foreign

Men

these gifts accompanied the apostles

countries.

Acts, 20

Wings

in the Scripture are

used

to represent various things.

Sometimes the wind

and Hosea, 4
:

is

said to have wings, because of

its

rising

and

falling. Ps.

104

3,

19.

And
like

again, riches are said to have wrings, because they are uncertain, always on the

move

a bird. Prov. 23
wings-

5.
:

The power and

:

protection of the Almighty are

compared

to eagles'

Ex

il.

19

4; Psalm 17

8.

And

in

chapter 9

9 of this book, they have refer-

ence to the wings of an army.

So that wings
meaning
lion,

in Scripture

seldom

signify the

same

thing,

and the only way

to find out their

to.

is to

consider

they have reference

inconsistent
;

To

say that a

an ox,

how they will apply to the idea or a man had wings, literally, would be
God had bestowed
soldier,
lion,

but to suppose that through the gifts and graces which

at the

on these apostles
eagle,
i.

day of Pentecost, they resembled a

an ox, a

and an

e. in their spiritual

endowments, would be no way

inconsistent.

REVELATION.

77

day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9 And when those beasts give glory, and honor, and
thanks to him that sat on the throne,

who

liveth for ever

and

ever,

10

The

four

and twenty elders

fall

down

before

him

that sat on the throne,

and worship him that

liveth for

ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne,

4.

As wings simply mean

ornament

a covering,

They cry
whether
in

holy, holy, holy.

;

Superall

and body, and are metaphorical, probably St. Paul alludes to Isaiah's wings in
protection,
for the soul

latively such

holy above

beings

heaven or earth.

The

his epistle to the Ephesians, and calls

Savior is holy in his human nature, holy in his divine nature, and holy in
his ministry.

them armor,
tion
:

or the wings of proteche exhorts them to take the sword of the Spirit in the right hand

The Father

is

holy,
is

the Son
holy.

is

holy, and

the Spirit

and the shield of

the
feet,

faith in the left, the

preparation of the gospel of peace for

the helmet of salvation for

Lord God Almighty. The Jehovah which is, which was, and which shall be. Here then is a proof beyond
doubt of the divinity of our blessed
Savior.

the head, the girdle of truth to adorn

the body, and the breast plate of right-

^31^ A-do-ne, the ruler of

S'^ribs
all things.

eousness to protect the heart.

6
:

Eph.

the whole universe.

E-lo^"Iia

14-17.

him, the Creator of

Eyes within.

Their minds were

80 thoroughly illuminated
Spirit as to be able to

by the Holy comprehend with all saints the length and breadth, the depth and height of the love of

Sha-dy, the upholder of all things, the Almighty. nirr; Ye-ho-wah,

the
self-existent,

independent,

and
pre-

unoriginated Jehovah.
past, present,

The

eternity,
all

and future are

God

they could see into the past,

rest not

sent with

present, and future.

They

talk of Jesus

day and night. They by day and dream of

they begin the day in
it

him now. As our high priest. Honor. As our king. Thanks. As our prophet, Savior,
9
Glory.

him by

night

Redeemer.
10

his fear and end

in his favor.

They

And

worship him.

Fear, reveis,

meditate in his law day and night,

rence, serve,

obey him, that

Christ,

and nothing shall harm them, because they rest beneath the shadow of his
wings.

They fell prostrate at his feet as their God and Savior. We are commanded to kiss the Son, submit to him, love,

78

NOTES ON THE
11

Thou

art worthy,

Lord,

to

receive glory, and

all

honor, and

power

for

thou hast created

things,

and

for thy pleasure they are

and were created.

serve, obey him.

The word 12

bar,

son, essence, germ, is Chaldee.

^a
iii

11 Thou art worthy to receive honor. As our Creator, Preserver, Redeemer.

hen, is the

word used by the Jews

is

Advocate, Judge, King.

equivocal in its meaning it is applied sometimes to the offspring of animals as well as man.
;

general for son, but

If

ia was used here, the Jews might

hesitate and say, if

the son,

but

if

we worship ben, we may be guilty of idolatry we worship bar, the real es-

For thy pleasure they are and were created. That is, to glorify him here and to enjoy him for ever hereafter. This then is the end for which every son and daughter of Adam was created, that
is,

for his (God's)

good pleadeath of
live."

sure.

Glory

to

God

in the highest,
in the

sence, Son of God, a person of the same natue and duration with him,

he has " no pleasure

from
*'

the wicked, but rather that he turn

his

then

we

are safe and sure,

we need

wicked

way

and

not hesitate.
will do

All genuine christians

Turn

ye, turn ye," says he, "for

worship him as Jehovah himself, and it while the world shall last. See chap. 2:17.

why
"
are
will

will

ye

die,

O
all

house of Israel."

Come

unto

me

ye that labor and

sin, "and Here then

Cast their crowns before the throne. Stripped themselves of all honor and
glory, and conferred all the honor and

heavy laden" with

give

I
is

you

rest."

encouragement, poor sinner, and

this

glory of their salvation on Jesus.

from the

lips of

Deity himself.

CHAPTER
And
I

V.

saw

in the

right

hand of him

that sat on the

side, seal-

throne a book written within and on the back

ed with seven

seals.

1 In power,

his riglit
control,

hand.

Under
it.

his

spired the prophets to write

it,

and

influence.

the author and finisher of

He was He in-

John

to publish
;

it

to both

Jew and

Gentile

and none but the Lion of

REVELATION.
2

79

And

voice,

Who

saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud is worthy to open the book, and to loose the
1

seals thereof

And no man

in heaven, nor in earth, neither

to

under

the earth,
thereon.

was able

open the book, neither

to look

4
to

And I wept much, because no man was

to

found worthy

open, and

read the book, neither to look thereon.

the tribe of Judali could illustrate

it.

to open, reveal the mysteries of the

book.

parchment

roll,

con-

book

Surely none but the King of

taining seven remarkable prophecies

kings and Lord of lords,

nite in

who

is infi-

which remained
kiel,

at that time to be

fulfilled, viz. Isaiah,

Jeremiah, Eze-

knowledge and unlimited in power. He, of course, who inspired

can explain
it.

Daniel,

Joel,

Zachariah,
all

and

it,

Micah.

They were

written in

To open
plain
is to
it.

the book.

Hebrew, on 'one parchment, and concealed from the world until the present time.
fulfilment,
first,

To seal,
make
:

1:11. Read and examong the Rabbins,

1 Pet.
;

shut up, conceal

32.

to open, is to

And when

on the eve of

illustrate,

clear,

manifest.

they were revealed to John and through him to the seven

Luke, 24
3

No man in heaven.

In the church

churches of Asia.
lamentations,

They

contained

militant nor in the church triumphant,

mourning

and

woes.
not rebeIs.

neither

man

nor angel, wise nor un-

Ez. 2

9, 10.

wise, learned nor unlearned, could inter-

Sealed.
vealed, and

Hid,

concealed,

pret

it,

because they know but in part

1

were sure, certain of 24 ing fulfilled. See Dan. 9

:
;

and prophecy but in|part.

4

Cor. 13

9.

I rvept much.

Was

deeply

soli-

29

11

chap, 22 10. mighty angel.

:

citous to

A
9.

heavenly

ing of these predictions

to

have a correct understandwhich refer

nation as well as to that of

messenger, the prophet Isaiah,

is

who

my own

called

by

the Rabbins the prince of

:

the Gentiles. I wept, fasted, prayed,

prophets.

See chap. 22

He was

interceded with God, to reveal these

things to me.

sent at this time with a special

sage to John in the Isle

mesof Patmos, to

He

heard and answer-

announce
prophecy.

to

him

the fulfilment of his

prayer, and sent his angel to show unto his servant John the things

ed

my

These heavenly messengers are always ready and willing to fulfil God's will to man.

which must shortly come to pass. Chap. 1 1. This is the only way to arrive at a correct knowledge of the
:

Who

is

worthy.

Who

is able,

has

holy scriptures, because " he has hid

these things from the wise and learn-

sufficient

wisdom and understanding,


80

NOTES ON THE
5

And one

of the elders saith unto me,

tribe of Juda, the

Weep not

be-

hold, the

Lion of the

Root of David,

hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven

seals thereof.

And

beheld, and

lo,

in the midst of the throne,

and

of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders stood a

ed, and revealed

them unto babes."

Unless

we

read and search the scrip-

The Root of David. David's Lord as well as David's Son. Ps. 110 1.
:

tures for ourselves,

and prayer,
of

we

and this by faith shall remain ignorant

them as long as we live. One of the 5 One of the elders.

:

Lord according to his divine nature his Son according to his human nature he was of the house Luke, 2:4; Is. 11 10. of David.
his
;

He was

four and twenty venerable fathers of

4. the church. Chap. 4 The Lion. Prince, leader, head of
it.

The lion

is

an

emblem

of majesty,

power, dominion, terror, dread. Of Judali. This is the tribe from

This is the reason why he is called the King of the Jews, because both God and man. God was their king spiritually, and David their king literally he ruled in the church and God
;

in
is

which our Lord descended.

to

It

was

heaven head of

but Christ rules in both

his church,

God over

all,

remain distinct
lost.

until

Shiloh came,

and then
ever

all distinction

was

to

be for

and blessed for ever. Amen. lamb. Mild, gentle, humble, 6

And

this

distinction has

patient, harmless,
perfect, spotless,

inoffensive, pure,
sin,

been

lost for

the last eighteen hun-

without guile or

dred years; therefore Shiloh must have come, and Jesus of Nazareth

The Lamb away the sin

"
der,

of

God which

taketh

of the world."

Rea-

must be the very person,

for the pro-

phet declares that " unto him shall the gathering of the people be."

pray that he may take away all your sins, for no other person can do
it.*

There

is

a beautiful analogy between the Jewish lamb which was sacrificed for their

passover, and Jesus, the

1.

Lamb

of God,

who was

slain for our passover.

all

See Ex. 12, &c,

It licks

The lamb

is

the most innocent and inoffensive of

the animal creation.

it

the butcher's hand

when about

to

shed

its

blood.

And

so

was with the Lan)b

of

God

being that ever appeared in human shape. he was the most innocent, inoffensive, lovely He even prayed for his butchers when they were going to shed liis most precious blood
*'

Father, (says he,) forgive them, for they

2.

know
;

not

what they do." Luke, 23

is

34.

A lamb is

the moat useful of

all

animals

its flesh

food for the most delicate ap-

REVELATION.

81

Lamb

as

it

had been

slain,

having seven horns, and seven

Slain.

From

the foundation of the

die for sin.

The

blood of bulls and

world.

When Adam
for sin.

his soul, in

Eve sinned, anticipation, was then made

and

of goats, and the ashes of an heifer,

all

pointed to his blood

for

which was

to

an offering

This was shadow-

be shed
sins,

many

for the remission

of

ed forth from one generation to another until he appeared in the flesh to

but could never take

away

the

guilt or

dominion of sin as pertaining

petite
is

its

wool

is

excellent for clothing.

And
is

so

it is

with the

Lamb of God

his

body

food for both saint and sinner; his blood

drink indeed for the soul that hungers and

thirsts after righteousness.

filthy rags,

And

not only

this,

but he strips the poor penitent sinner of his

and clothes him from head

to be

to foot

with the garment of holiness.

so
13.
it is

3. free
4.

The lamb was

without blemish.
sin.

And
:

with the

Lamb
And

of

God he was
;

from actual and original

See chap. 1

The lamb had

it

to be killed in the evening before sun-down.

Jesus, the
it,

Lamb

of Godj the same night in which he

was betrayed, took bread, and

Take, eat
;

blessed

and brake,
broken for
all

and gave
you.
it
:

to his disciples,

and

said.

this is
it

my

body which

is

And

he took the cup and gave thanks, and gave

to them, saying,

Drink ye

of

for this is

my

blood of the
:

new
1

testament, which

is

shed for many for the remission of

sins.

See Matt. 26

26-28, and

Cor. 11
fire,

24.

5.

The lamb had

Jesus, the

to

be roasted with
of God,
;

and eaten with

through the

bitter herbs
fire

and unleavened

bread.

Lamb

had
if

to pass

of persecution before
it

we

<;ould feast

on him by

faith

and

we

ever eat this passover,

must be with the

bitter

herbs of repentance, and with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

A man who
purge out

comes

to Christ for pardon, if

he expects

to obtain

it,

must be as
into

free
;

from hypocrisy and

insiicerity as flour is

from leaven before mixed and baked

a

bread

we must

the old leaven, that

us.
6.

we ny become
7,

new lump,

as Christ our passover is sacrificed for

See

Cor. 5

and chap. 2

17 of this book.

The blood

of the lamb

had

to

be sprinkled upon the two side posts and on the upper

their houses, that

all

door posts of the houses wherein they had esten it. This was for a token or sign upon when the Lord passed through the land of Egypt that night to destroy
the
first

born, (both

severe judgments.

man and beast,) he And so it is with the

is

might pass over them and save them from his

blood of the Lord Jesus Christ;
it
;

must be
so that

sprinkled upon our souls and bodies, for a token that

we

are the children of

God

when
7.

the

Most High

going to pour out his wrath upon the world, at the day of judgit.

ment, he

may

pass over us, or save us from

of the

The bones
crucified

lamb were not

soldiers
;

to

be broken. See Ex. 12 : 46.

A bone of him was not

broken, for the

Roman

came

first

and brake the legs of the two malefactors that

to Jesus,

were

with him

but

when

they

came
:

and saw that he was dead already,

they brake not his legs.

See John, 19

33.

This was done that the scripture might

be

fulfilled,

which

said,

"

A bone

of

him

shall not be broken."

Num.

12.

11

NOTES ON THE
eyes,
all

which are the seven

Spirits of

God

sent forth into

the earth.

to the conscience.

Wherefore, when he (Messiah) cometh into the world, he saith " in sacrifices and ofierings, and burnt ofTerings for sin, thou hast had no pleasure a human body (for
;

kings,

who were
1
:

born of the royal

blood and heirs to their father's throne.

Chap.

G.

Eyes,

Through whom

the great

the divine Shekinah) hast thou prepared for me :" then said he, " Lo, I

come, in
(Genesis)

the beginning of the

it is

roll

head of the church viewed the actions of all men, saint and sinner. Chap. 1 14 Zech. 3 9. The seven Spirits of God. Minis: ; :

written of me, I delight

tering spirits to the heirs of salvation,

viz. in

to do thy will,

O my
:

God

yea, thy

the seven churches of Asia.

law

is

engraven on the table of

Ps. 40

my

heart."

up

of Isaac on

The offering 6, 7. Mount Moriah prefi-

They were Ezekiel's chariots of salvation, who carried the Savior with
them
into

every

])art

of the world.
to

gured the offering up of Jesus on Mount Calvary. He was then led to Pontius Pilate's bar " as a lamb to
the slaughter, (to be killed,) and as a

The

various

titles

applied

them

here and elsewhere in this book are

designed to point out the nature and
great

importance

of

their

offices,

sheep before her shearers is dumb, (with silence,) so he opened not his

and the duty which God requires of

them.
Sent forth. As missionaries, heralds
of salvation, ambassadors to the heathen.

mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who shall trace out his generation, for he was
cut
off'

The whole

world was their

it

from the land of the

living.

parish, and all the inhabitants of

their parishioners.

For the transgression of my people he was smitten to death, and he delivered himself up to the wicked, but

They were comto

manded by

their

Lord and Master

made

his sepulchre

with the rich

(just)

preach the |;ospel to every creature, young and old, rich and poor, black

in his death, because

he had done no violence, neither was any deceit found in his mouth." Is. 53 6-9.
:

and white, bond and

peasant.

free, prince
(if

and

Go, thou,

called to the

ministry,) and do likewise, and great

shall be thy

Seven

horns.

Young

princes

or

reward

in

heaven.*

8.

The passovcr was

was with
the

to be slain without the gates of the city.

See Dent. IG

5.

And

so

it

Lamb

of

God "^ he was

to sanctify the

slain for

our

sins,

and his blood poured out on

See John, 19
:

Mount Calvary,

a place outside of the city of Jerusalem.

20.

So that

my

dear friends, as Jesus,

people with his

own

blood, sufl'crcJ witliout the

his reproach, for here

gate, let us

go

forth therefore unto

city,

him without the camp, bearing

seek one to come.
Ilcb. 13
:

we have

no continuing
lias

but

wo

12.

This

reference to the last clause of the tenth verse of the fourth chapter of Zech-

REVELATION.
7

83

And he came and

took the book out of the right hand

of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.

He

took the hook.

The

messen-

twenty elders.

ger of the sanctum sanctorum, who*

Harps.
praise.

See chap. 4 4, 6. That is of salvation and

:

was waiting on the

apostle and high

Faith
:

is

the instrument to
it is

priest of our profession,

who was about

with a

tune the harp

without this

im-

to return out of the holy place

possible to please God.

revelation from heaven, viz. of the

Old Testament prophecies which remained at this time to be fulfilled and he sent his angel with it to his servant John, in the Isle of Patmos. 8 The four beasts and the four and
;

hearts full of love to

Pure and precious God and the whole human family. Prayer and
vials.

Golden

praise

ascended from these to the

throne of God, like sweet incense from the altar.f

ariah,

and we have no authority from the scripture even

to

suppose that these seven spirits

are either qualities or attributes of the Deity. There are three that bear record in heaven,
the Father, the

Word, and

the Holy Ghost,

and these are one.

(the

Our Savior promised

" and when he
;" but did not
is

his

disciples that he would send

them the Comforter,

sin, of righteousness,

Holy

Spirit,)

come

he

will reprove the

world of

and of judgment

promise
spirits,

to send seven spirits to reprove the world of sin, &c.

Because they are called

spirits

and are said

to be of

God, they are supposed to be seven

which belong

to the Deity.

But men are

called spirits in 1 Pet. 3:19. See the reference at the last clause of the 6th verse.
it is

And
60
tion,

believers are called children of God, but

only by adoption and regeneration

and

it is

with these ministers, they are the seven spirits of

God by

adoption and regenera-

and not because in unity with the Godhead through

eternity.

John now represents him as

fulfilling his kingly, priestly,

and prophetic

office.

The
and

high priest under the law was the only person allowed to enter into the holiest of holies.

Here he consulted with God

whatever mystery

to

know

his will concerning himself

and the people

it.

God made
know

manifest to him, he was their prophet to reveal

St.

John,

in the former verse, represents our Savior as being

upon earth, and now he represents him

as going into heaven to

t

the will of God, and to

make

it

manifest to the people.

Their love, like a mighty overflowing stream, poured

it

itself into

a wider channel, and

from thence

emptied

itself into the

boundless ocean of divine love.

it

The members blesswas through him they

ed their ministers, and the ministers blessed their Master, because

were enabled

to bless the people.

84

NOTES ON THE
9

And
slain,

they sung a

new
to

song, saying,

Thou

art

worthy
thou
out

to take the book,

and

open the

seals thereof; for

wast

and hast redeemed us

to

God by thy blood

of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation

A netv song.

Of redeeming

grace

blood.

and dying love, which none but the redeemed of the Lord can sing, and this when on their way to Zion with
their faces thitherward.

Not with corruptible things, such as silver and gold, that perish, Lord
Jesus, as a

but with the precious blood of our

lamb without spot or

of his blood is

blemish.

One drop

Thou
To

art worthy.

worth ten thousand worlds like this. Oceans of blood was shed under the
old

receive honor and power divine,

blessings

And

testament
.

dispensation to
,,

more than we can

take
...

give

Be, Lord, for ever thine.

^way
it
;

Sin,

but could never accomplish

sin.
..

The whole

creation join in one,

but the blood of JeSUS Christ, the

all

To

bless the sacred

name

of

Him
and Amen.

Who sits upon

And
to

Son of God, cleanseth from

the throne,

adore the Lamb.

Amen
to

^"^^

-r,

dinner,

vi .u v Without the application

..

of this to your guilty soul

you cannot

Hast redeemed us

God by

thy

be saved.*

*
.

To redeem, means

to recover

something which has been

his

lost.

The

price our blessed

Savior paid to ransom the world

was

own
of

precious blood, and without this salvation

could never be accomplished.

The law

God
to

required blood for blood

:

he who shed

man's blood, by man should

his blood

be shed. Gen. 9
be the
life

G.

And

blood, under the law,

:

was not permitted

to be eaten,
is

because said
of both

of the creature. Lev. 17

10, 11.

As

blood, therefore,

the

life

man and

beast,

God
all

required that the blood of the

their posterity,
us, that

Lord Jesus should be shed

death.

to save

Adam

and Eve, and

from eternal
life

As

I before

remarked, Christ laid down his

life for

we might have
a ransom for

through him.

Adam

and Eve, by transgression, became self-murderers, and must have

been

lost for

ever and ever had not the

Lamb

of

God

offered his

life

theirs,,

to save

them from eternal death.

:

Silver and gold could never accomplish this.

See

Peter, 1

18, 19, and

Heb. 9

22.

The poet has touched on

Sinner.

this in his beautiful

poem on

Jesus, Justice, and the Sinner.

:

Nothing but mercy, mercy. Lord

poor and desjierate

my

state

Is miserable,
I

quite renounce myself, the world,

to Jesus,

and

flee

From Lord
Justice.

from myself
;

to thee.

Cease vain hopes

my

angry God has

;

voWd

Shall

Abused mercy must have blood I yet strike the blow f

for blood

Jctus. Stay, Jualice, hold.

REVELATION.
10

85

and

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests we shall reign on the earth. 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels
:

round about the throne, and the beasts, and the elders and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands

12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy

is

the

Lamb
for

that

Out of every kindred, and tongue,

Christ, and

he shall reign
!

ever and

and people, and

promised seed, in
lies

nation.

He
all

is

the

ever. Hallelujah

Amen.

whom

the fami-

11 Thevoiceof many angels. Min-

of the earth shall be blessed,

made

rich,

happy, joyful.

He

is

the pro-

pitiation for our sins,

and not for ours

only, but also for the sins of the

whole

world. 1 John, 2

2.

heaven and on earth without number, and yet they all worshipped Christ as their God, Woe to the person who will not worship him it would be better for such an one if they had
istering spirits in

They were

innumerable,

For all thou hast a ransom paid,

died before they

saw

the light of
voice.

life.

For

all,

for all a full

atonement made.

12 Saying

xvith

a loud

They

" Abraham," says Christ, " rejoiced

to see

their King, Savior,

ator.
It

were shouting aloud his praises as Redeemer, Medi-

my

day, and he

saw

it,

and

was glad." 10 Kings and priests.

1
:

See chap.

6.

And we shall reign

on the earth. In

not the maidens alone, days of David, who sang his praise. O no It was young and old, rich and poor, bond and free, prince and people, who celebrated the
as in the
!

was

a few years more the kingdom shall be taken from the beast and given to
the saints of the most high.

The king-

doms of

this

world shall then become

our Lord and his

the kingdoms of

Jehovah Jesus. To receive power. All power in heaven and on earth might, majesty, dominion, and power belong to him alone.
praises of
;

My bowels yearn, my
To view the

fainting blood
:

grows cold
I

trembling wretch

methinks

spy

My

Father's image in the prisoner's eye.

Justice. I

cannot hold.
Jesus.

Into

my side

there let the

soul,

Then turn thythiraty wound be made

:

blade

Cheer up, dear

thy

life's

redeem'd by mine

My soul shall Sinner. O

smart, this heart shall bleed for thine.

boundless grace

love

beyond degree
'.

Th' otfended dies to set the offender free

Quarle's

Poen&

86

NOTES ON THE
slain to receive

was

power, and riches, and wisdom, and

glory,

strength,

and honor, and

and
is

blessing. in heaven,

13
earth,
all

And

every creature which

eartli,

and on the

and under the

and such

as are in the sea,

and

that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor,

glory,

and

and power,

he

unto him that sitteth upon the

for

throne, and unto the

Lamb,

ever and ever.

14 And the four beasts

twenty elders
for ever
fell

And the four aiicl down and worshipped him that liveth
said.

Amen.

and ever.

Riches.

Honor^ power,
;

wisdom,

creator

and upholder of

all things.

glory, happiness

but the cattle upon

;

Arians and Unitarians

are, in their

a thousand

hills are his

the fish of
air,

own conceit, wiser than

light.

the children of

the sea, the fowls of the

the sun,

Yes, they know more about

all

moon, and
the sea

stars, the

animal and vege;

the character of Christ than

angels in heaven, and
all

the

table world, the mines and minerals

the patri-

is his and he made it, and his hands have formed the dry land the
;

archs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, and

ministers

earth

is

his and the fulness thereof

all

they

all

who ever lived on earth, for worshipped Jesus ; but accord-

the world and

that dwell in

it.

ing to the opinion of these men, they

Let us
fall

therefore

come

into his pre-

sence with thanksgiving and praise

must have all been idolators, who worshipped and served the creature,
and not the Creator
;

down and
Lord
is

kneel and worship be(Jesus) our maker, for

consequently not

fore the

one of them can ever be admitted into

heaven, for no idolator hath any
heritance in the kingdom of
in-

he

a great God, and a great King,

all

above

gods.

Ps. 24

95

6.

God.

IZ Every creature in heaven. In the church above and the church below. And on the earth. All nations, kindreds, and tongues, and people, who
shall be converted to Christianity.

Eph.
vior,

5.

Blessing.

As our Redeemer, Sa-

Advocate. Honor. As our Prophet, Priest,

and King.
Potrcr.

And

under

the earth.

Those who

As our

Creator, Preserver,

have died in the Lord in all ages, the martyrs especially. In (on) the sea. Sailors, soldiers, captains of ships, who see the wonders of the

Benefactor.

Be
true

vnto him.

King Jesus, the

all

cre-

ator and upholder of

worlds
in

the

God and
all

eternal

life,

whom
God-

Lord

in the great deep,

;

dwcllcth

the fulness of the

(fully, entirely,)

and adore his name many of thorn loved, served, and obeyed Christ the

head bodily,

without

any

limitation.

; ;

REVELATION.

87

CHAPTER
xjLND
and
I

VI.

saw when the Lamb ojDened one of the seals, it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts, saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold, a white horse and he that sat on him had a bow and a crown was given unto him
I

heard as

and he went
3
the

forth conquering,

and

to conquer.

And when he had opened second beast say. Come and

the second seal, I heard

see.

1 Opened one of the seals. Explained one of the seven prophecies, that of

Savior had

now mounted
all

his chariot
to

of salvation, and

was going

march
his

Zechariah.

through Jerusalem and

a triumphant conqueror,

Judea, as

The voice of thunder. Loud, solemn, alarming a warning voice, an

;

subdue

enemies and save his people.

The
this

indication of God's displeasure.

Joel, 2
:

See

white horse

may more
;

particularly

1.

refer to his holy gosjjel

with

he
all

A white horse.
5.

His white throne

Ps. 47
:

rode on triumphantly from conquering

of holiness and justice, like that in

and to conquer, until he subdued

to himself.*

Solomon's temple.

chap.

21

Messiah was

first

anointed

He

that sat on him.

king of Israel, and then he took his

seat on his great white throne to ad-

kings and

Lord of
ever,

lords

The King he who

;

of
is

head of

his church,

God

over

all,

and
all

minister justice and judgment to

justice to the poor

all

blessed for

and

who

has

and the oppressed,

and judgment to his enemies

who

heaven and on earth. He formerly came meek and lowly, and

power

in

would not submit to his authority nor have him to reign over them. The Rabbins assert that white horses denote conquest, victory over enemies

riding on an ass into Jerusalem

now he

; but appears as a king and a conqueror, and every eye shall see him,

and they also which pierced him, and

all

the

Roman

conquerors rode through

kindreds of the earth shall wail be-

the city in a chariot

drawn by
;

four

cause of him.
Ps. 9 :4; 45:

Even
4, 5.

so,

Amen.

See
the

white horses. See chap. 19: 11

5
:

Jud.

10

10:4; Zech.

2, 3.

The

how.

1.

This

may mean

The Jews would not have the Lord Jesus

to reign over

them ; hence he gave tbem

88

NOTES ON THE

4 And there went out another horse

power was given
to

that ivas red

and

him

that sat thereon to take peace from

kill

the earth, and that they should

there was given unto

one another: and

him a

great sword.

two-edged sword of the

Spirit,

with
2.

The

gospel

was

first

preached in

all

which he

slays his

enemies.

It

the world, for a witness to

all nations,

may mean the gospel bow, by which he has conquered the world. 3. It may mean the Roman army, the weapons of his indignation, with which he cut off the Jews as a nation. See Kemkie on Zech. 9 13.
:

and then the end came of the Jewish 2. dispensation. Zech. 6 He that sat on him. The head man, general of the army, who conducted
:

the war.

Sitting

means

ruling, con-

ducting, managing.

The

rider

had

crown.

dazzling,

brilliant,

power
that

to take

peace from the earth

sparkling crown of glory, which none

is,

but the King of kings and Lord of lords can wear. He went forth conquering, and to He subdued the Jews by conquer. the sword of the Roman army, and the Gentiles by his own two-edged sword. He rode on triumphantly from
conquering and to conquer, until he
finally

earth, the land of

from the inhabitants of the Judea especially,

called such.

that

was
9.

See

Isaiah,

30:
their

Shall

kill

one another. That is, with

own

sword, in preference to that

of their enemies

whom

they abhored.

In the siege of Jerusalem a vast multitude put an end to their

own

lives to

subdued

all to

himself.]

prevent being slain by the

;

Roman
city
fac-

A red horse. War and bloodshed.

of the

The sword
going
to

enemy was now

:

army and not only so, but the was divided into three different
tions,

be bathed in the blood of the

14,)

who

fought

desperately

with

rebellious nation, (Ez. 21

and

each other, and

their swords.

killed

thousands with

the bloody and dreadful battle of Har-

mageddon

to

be fought, in which the

A great sword. May mean a great

army, or great power and authority, to wield the sword against the rebellious nation, and tospare neither

blood of the slain

was to come up to the horses' bridles. See Lam. 2 21. The white horse was first sent out,
:

young

and then

all

the others followed

after.

nor old, rich nor poor, bond nor free.

over to blindness of mind, hardness of heart, pride, presumption, vain glory.

These
life,

are directly opposite to the way of holiness, and, reader,

will swear in his wrath that

if

you despise the way of

he

you

shall never enter into his rest. to

And you
'the

that profess to
is

be the followers of the Lamb, remember that you are

holy,

be holy as
is

Lord your God

and that every person that nameth the name of Christ

to

depart from iniquity.

REVELATION.
5

89

And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the And I beheld, and lo, a third beast say, Come and see.
black horse
in his hand.
I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts measure of w^heat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny and see thou hurt not the oil and
;

and he that

sat

on him had a pair of balances

And

say,

the wine.
7

voice of the fourth beast say. 8

And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the Come and see. And I looked, and behold, a pale horse and his name
:

Hack

horse.

The

black fa-

nor nourishing.
for

Judea was famous

mine which swept off thousands daily, and made the people black and shrivelled up,
It
like cinders.
all

both wheat and barley, and a large

quantity of each
siege of

was

stored

up

in

Lam.
famines

8.

Jerusalem a short time before the

it

exceeded

the

ever

by Titus.
the
oil

known, since or before, in the world. Women had to eat their own children to sustain nature. This had been predicted by Moses two thousand years previous. See Deut. 28 57 Lam. 4:10; Josephus, War, book 6 3, 4. pair of balances. Justice and judgment, the law and the gospel.
: ;
:

Hurt

not

and

the

wine.

Touch

not

my

anointed, and do
;

my

prophets no

harm

they are

all

sprin-

kled with the blood of the paschal lamb, have made the Most High their
refuge.

When

the famine swept off

thousands daily in Jerusalem, the christians had bread enough and to

spare
;

She was weighed

wanting.
6

in both

and found

God

fed

them

in the wilder-

ness of Judea three years

measure.

quart measure

months.

See chap. 12

6.

and six Hence,

and

this sold for a

penny, about eight

ye-nah shol

pence

pound sterling per bushel an enormous price indeed, especially as the penny was
sterling, at the rate of one
;

to-rah, the oil and the wine of the law. Zohar on Pxod. fol, See Ps. 91 4-10. 51 3.
:
:

pale horse.

The

pestilence

all

the poor laborer got for his day's

which followed the famine, and made

all faces ghastly and pale as death. .Josephus declares that more perished by the pestilence and famine than by

work.
six in

And

the quart divided

among

family would leave but a very

small portion to each.

ny.

Three measures of barley for a penThis was two-thirds cheaper than wheat, but was not so profitable

the sword.

His name
Death.
Tliat

that
is,

sat

on him was

the angel of death,

12

90
that sat on liim

NOTES ON THE

And power was

the earth, to
death,

was Death, and hell followed with him. given unto them over the fourth part of kill with sword, and with hunger, and with
earth.

and with the beasts of the

the devil himself,

thor of
all

who was

the aulet

earth.

They had

at this time

domi;

their misery.

He was
:

nion over every part of the earth

had
it

loose at this time to utterly destroy

conquered the whole world

and

the nation.

See chap. 20

2.

was

predicted

by Daniel

that

when

And

hell

followed with him.

The
:

the

Romans had dominion

off',

over the

Roman army, the hell upon earth who are elsewhere called the pit of
perdition, the sons of the destroyer of

earth that the Messiah should then be

cut

but not for his

own sins, but for

the Gentiles, the most cruel, barbarous

ed

and inhuman set of men that ever livthey spared neither men, women
;

nor children, young nor old, rich nor

poor.

women
gold,

ripped open the and strewed their very bowels about the street, and this in search of

They even

This proves, beyond doubt, that Messiah has come, for the Roman empire has fallen, and can never be restored again. Therefore the Messiah has come, and Jesus of Nazareth is the very person beyond
the sins of the people.

a shadow of doubt.

of the earth, however,

their contjuest over the

The fourth part may refer to

whole land of
be laid waste

which they heard had been swallowed by them. They also had
brimstone, and other combustible

Judea, which

was

to

fire,

and utterly destroyed by them.

See

materials with

and

cities

burn uphouses and this and fortifications

to
:

them

Ez. G

11.

may

be another reason

why

John

calls

To kill ivith sword. To destroy by war and bloodshed.*

them the pit of perdition. Power over the fourth

And
jyart of the

tvith

hunger.

Famine,

star-

vation.!

This

was a just

retaliation, for they

bad shed the blood of the Lamb of God

See chap. IG
literally for
:

also the

blood of his zealous apostles, and innocent followers.

i

6.

They

refused to eat the bread of

life,

and they died

want of bread

and

the famine was so great that

women had
e.at

to cat their

own

children, as

had been foretold by

Moses

nearly two thousand years previous.

But

this

was not

the only instance of their

ofl'

misery, for others were obliged to

their girdles,

and the very shoes

their feet,

and

the leather that belonged to their shields they pulled off and
of old hay

gnawed

and the very wisps

fulfilled.

became food
Their

for

some.

How

exactly

was the prophecy of Ezokiel

Chap. 4

if), Ifi.

own

historian says that they staggered round the city like

mad

dogs, and reeled to and fro against the houses like drunken men.

See Jcr. 5

17.

REVELATION.
9

91
fifdi seal,

And when he had opened

them
that

the

saw under

the altar the souls of

were

slain for the

word of

God, and for the testimony which they held

And
And

with death.

The

pestilence as

the city, and others at the very altar

well as the famine.*

with the beasts of the
earth.

Wild, lawless, and savage nations. Ez. 14: 21; Is. 56: 9.\
9

some were stoned to death, and others sawn asunder outside the walls of it. But a prophet, as our Lord declares,
could not perish out of Jerusalem.

Opened

the fifth seal.

Explainis,

ed the

fifth prediction,
:

that

of Je-

The soids of them that were slain. Ministers and martyrs of Jesus, who
were offered up on the Jewish
(not on

remiah. Chap. 2

34

19

4.
is,

I saw under
;

the altar.

That

the

the heathen) altar.

tiles

Oh

no
to

the

Genfor.

sacred spot where their innocent blood was shed some were slain in one
place and some in another, but
all in

have not

this sin

answer

Even

the crucifixion of Christ cannot

be charged on them.

Pontius Pilate

Jerusalem, and not in

Rome,

unless

washed

his

hands out of his innocent

Paul, and this was at the instigation

of the wicked and malicious Jews.

blood, and the

Jews exclaimed, " His

on them
to this day.

blood be on us and on our children!"

Some were

slain in the

temple and in

and

this curse is

They

closed their eyes on the light of the glorious gospel, and

when
;

expiring, fixed

their eyes on their temple,

and died with

grief,

their

mouths and eyes open

were

many of them died

and others by the

with hunger, and others with

pestilence, while

and some by the sword and by

;

fire,

some were

their

own murderers

others

crucified on crosses outside

of their owii walls, and others were torn to pieces by the wild beasts spoken of in the next clause of this verse.
persecuting Jews.
It is

This was the miserable and unhappy end of these wicked and
fall

a fearful thing to

into the
if

hands of the living God.

Sinner,

take warning by

this,

your end

may
is

be miserable
a consuming

you harden your heart and

out of Christ, to
all

stiffen

your

neck against reproof.

iniquity.

The Lord
the

fire,

the workers of

Our Lord compares

and
in

Roman army to
to

a flock of eagles, and the Jewish nation to a

dead carcass, which was now going

here,

be devoured by them.

See Matt. 24

28.

But

Ezek. 32

4,

they are compared to the most wild and terrible beasts of the
tear in pieces

forest,

which had been collected together to

and devour those miserable Jews.

;

Titus gave orders to his army to encompass Jerusalem with a wall

in thousands

after

which they died

to the

by the famine, and others swallowed down pieces of gold, and deserted
it,

Romans

and these unmerciful and cruel beasts heard of

and without any regard to

humanity, or any fear of punishment from their commanders, in one night they murdered

two thousand

of these deserters, and ripped

them open, and searched

5,

their stomachs for

4.

the gold they had swallowed down.

See Josephus, War, book

13

92

NOTES ON THE
10

And

they cried with a loud voice, saying,

How long,

Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge

our blood on them that dwell on the earth ? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them

and

it

was

said unto them, that they should rest yet for a

little

season, until their fellow servants also,

loere,

and

their brethfulfilled.

ren, that should be killed as they

should be

Hence, nash-me-tliin da-Tca-loo-le, the souls of them that were slain. Zohar
on Exod,
fol.

that generation,

and that a prophet

could not perish out of Jerusalem.

79

4.

See Matt. 23
gospel of

35-37
59
:

2 Kings, 21

The Ward of God. The our Lord Jesus Clmst.

16

24

Is.

7.*

And for the testimony which they held.

The
doctrines

which they believed

to

and preached
the

the world

that

is,

the divinity of Christ, inspiration of

On them that dwell on the earth. On the proud, haughty, imperious nation, who has spiritual dominion over the earth, who professes to love God, but in works denies him. " They
killed the

Holy

Scriptures, repentance and

Lord Jesus," says Paul,

remission of sins through his name,

the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, and the
lasting.
life

" and their

own

prophets, and have

persecuted us, and they please not

than)

ever-

10 Cried with a loud voice. For vengeance on their murderers and

persecutors.

God, and are contrary to (more vile all men." 1 Thes. 1 15, 16. White robes. 11 Pure, spotless
:

garments.

They had washed them

rest yet

The

city

had now be-

white in the blood of the Lamb.

as famous for murder, robbery, and martyrdom, as it formerly was Hence, "How celebrated for piety.

come

Should

for a

little

season.
;

That

is,

three years and six months

the measure of their iniquity would

has the faithful city become a harlot righteousIt was full of judgment but now murderness lodged in it 21. Our Savior declares Is. 1 ers." that all the innocent blood shed upon

then be

full,

and their
;

final destruction

accomplished
faith be raised

and

all

the ministers
died in the

and martyrs of Jesus

who

from the dead, and reign with Christ a thousand years in Paradise.

the earth, from the foundation of the

world

to this time,

should come on

Chap. 20 4. Should be fulfilled. In the general

:

If a

man

be guilty of murder, and the crime cannot be proved against

it,

liim,

and he

is

not willing to acknowledge

yet the vengeance of

life

God

will pursue him,

and the punish-

ment that

He

will inflict

on him inthis

will be

more severe than

the death of the gallows.

REVELATION.
12

93

And

and

lo,

there

black as

when he had opened the sixth seal, was a great earthquake and the sun became sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood:
1

beheld

13

And

the stars of heaven

fell
figs,

unto the earth, even as

a fig-tree casteth her untimely a mighty wind.

when

she

is

shaken of

14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when

it is roll-

persecution raised against the church

to an end.

Our Lord's

prediction, as

Chap. 12 7. When these blessed and holy men shall have sealed their testimony with their own blood, then all the martyrs
:

by

the emperor Nero.

well as that of Daniel, were

now on
:
:

the very eve of fulfilment. Matt. 24

7,

22

Isaiah, 29
:

Hagai, 2

6,

Joel, 3

16.

shall be raised to glory, immortality,

The sun became black

as sackcloth.

and eternal

life.

have sealed

The Jews their own final

it.

will then

Was
ple.*

turned into deep mourning, be-

destruc-

cause of the wickedness of the peo-

tion in this persecution, as they

were

the instigators of

And
The prophecy
shaking, trem-

the

moon became as

blood.

To

12 The sixth

seal.

indicate that the blood

of the nation
of the

of Joel. See Joel, 2: 31.

should

now be shed because

An

earthquake.

murder of her own prophets and King

Messiah.
bright

bling of the nations.

at this time

The

calamities

were

so great, dark, dis-

mal, dreadful, that Jews and Gentiles

believed that the world

^3 The stars of heaven fell. The luminaries of the Jewish

was coming

church.

The

prophets, priests, kings,

1.

This

may mean

the glory of the nation, namely, the temple.

14,

It

became

entirely

eclipsed by
2. It

fire.

See verse

and 21

23.

may have
7.

reference to the glorious

Sun of Righteousness, who was shining upon

veiled his light from the

them

until the thick cloud of the

:

Roman army

minds of the Jews.

Ezek. 32
3.

St.

John may allude

to the time of the great darkness

which took place prior

to our

Savior's crucifixion,

which continued over the whole land from the sixth

this

to the ninth hour.

Matt. 27

45.

At

time he might have perceived more clearly to what this darkness

alluded, namely, that as the

Jews had

crucified the glorious

Sun of Righteousness, and

So, in like
their

the natural sun refused to reflect

its light,

because of the guilt of their crime.

manner, when the

Roman

soldiers should

come

to crucify

them

for the

murder of

Messiah and prophets, the Sun of Righteousness would be as black with wrath as the land
of Judea was with darkness

when

they had crucified the Lord of Glory.

94

NOTES OX THE
;

ed together and every mountain and

out of their places.

island

were moved

15

And

the kings of the earth, and the great men, and

the rich men,

and the chief captains, and the mighty men,

&c.

These were extinguished

for

ever by the pestilence and famine, by war and bloodshed. Stars, among
the Rabbins,
kings,

brought down the high and lofty looks of man low in the dust, and he alone

was exalted

in that day.

Hence every
filled

mean
;

prophets, priests,

valley (poor person) shall be

(exalted,) and every

up,

and rulers.
:

Zech. 15
15, 19.

Is.

See Kimkie on 24 23 Lam. 1

:
;

mountain (noble

man) and

hill (rich,

popular man) shall

The 14 The heaven departed. Jewish heaven, the church it vanished for ever. This title (heaven) is
;

be brought low, (humbled, subdued,) and the rough places (barbarous nations)
less,)
est,

become smooth,

(mild,

harm-

and the crooked places (dishon-

frequently applied in the Rabbinical

writings to the Jewish nation, because

once a holy, happy people. See

Is. 1
il-

13

13.

The
more

following clause
fully.*

lustrates this

Every mountain.
noble, princely.

The

rich, great,

drunken men) become straight, and all flesh (Jew and Gentile) shall see the Matt. 3 5, 6. salvation of God. Hence, " every poor person shall be exalted, and every rich and proud per(even, sober, upright, just,)
:

Hence

we-el a-ze-lai

be-nai yis ra-el. children of

On

the nobles of the

:

just,

son be humbled the dishonest become upright and the barbarians mild,
; ;

Israel.
:

Ez. 6
6
:

36

6.

Exod. 24 11 Kimkie and Mich.

;

gentle."

Is.

40

4.

The wolf
lie

shall

then,

(in

Messiah's day,)

down

1.

Island.
ed,

Ez. 6 3. Learnpopular, exalted, men. The Lord

Or

hill.

with the lamb, and a little child shall lead them. Is. 11 6. Were removed out of their places.
:

* This

is

title

given to the Jewish

Jer. 2
:

nation, because

God

himself formerly resided

among them. See

the

12.

They are here represented

stars, at the

as departing, or passing

away

same as the
all

sun, the

moon, and the

day of judgment.

Their sacrifices

were

done away in Christ : their priests were

army. Lam. 4
:

destroyed, partly by themselv.-s and partly

:

by the

Roman

16,

and 5

burnt to ashes, and not one stone

left

The ten,,.le was 12, &c. and chap. 9 21. upon another which was not thrown down, as our
:

belonging to the temple, with Lord predicted. Luke, 21 : 5, 6. And the golden vessels were all carried to IJome by Titus ; and the priest's garments, and the book of the law, foundation of it ploughed up like a field, by the city itself was burnt toasl.es, and the very See chap. 3 : 12. This officer Terentius Rufus, as had been foretold by the prophet Micah.

was

left in

care of the city after Titus had

left it for

Rome.

REVELATIOIV.

95

in the

and every bond-man, and every free-man, hid diemselves dens and in the rocks of the momitains
;

16

And

said to the mountains

and rocks, Fall on

us,

and hide us from the face of him

and from the wrath of the

that sitteth

on the throne,

Lamb

Either destroyed or carried captives

into

Egypt. 15 The kings of

is

tracts
the earth.
:

made such by law, for all civil conamong the Jews extended to the
;

The
This

year of Jubilee, and no farther

they

rulers of the people. Ps. 2

2.

were then
18
:

null

and void.

See chap.
if

text evidently

an illustration of the
13th and 14th
20,

13.

metaphors
verses.
1

in the 12th,
Is.

Hid

themselves.
hills

Surely

the

See
:

24

21

43

28

mountains and

had been
;

literally

Cor. 2

8.

The great men.

mountains.

The

nobility, or

removed the people could not hide themselves in them and it is a well known fact that there were more caves
and hiding places in the mountains about Jerusalem than in any other part of the world. See Is. 2 19 ;
:

The

rich men.

Men

of wealth,

learning, and high birth, called hills.

Chief captains.
ficers of the

Generals and

of-

army

as well as of the

29

4.*
the

church.

To
In learning,
talent,

mountains and rocks.

In

Mighty men.

and round about Jerusalem.

and eloquence. And every hond-man. servant, and laborer.

Fall on us.

Hide, protect, screen,

Poor man,

us from the wrath of the Lamb,

who

Free-man.

Who

had now been

has now become a lion to tear in pieces and utterly destroy. He is nowseat-

land of Judea.

There were a vast many subterraneous caverns about Jerusalem, and round about the It was in one of these that Josephus and forty persons of eminence were

found after the city of Jotapata was taken.

And

there

were also twelve hundred

women

and children found concealed

gan

in

them.

After the city was taken, the

fled there for refuge,

Eoman

soldiers be-

to search these cells for the

Jews who had

and they found a vast

number
cells
ly

of old and young men,

whom

they destroyed.

And

there were also found in these

about two thousand persons,

who were destroyed,

It

partly by their

own hands and

part-

by one another, but chiefly by famine.

was

in

one of these that Simon, the tyrant,

and John, the commander of the Idumeans. were found.

the

But

falling short of provisions,

and hoping to obtain pardon from Titus, they delivered themselves up into the hands of

Romans

but Simon was afterwards destroyed, and John condemned to perpetual

imprisonment.

See Josephus, War, book, 6

9, 4, 4.

Ezek. 33

27, and Judg. 6

2.

96

NOTES ON THE
17 For the great day of his wrath
is

come; and who

shall

be able

to

stand

ed on his great white throne of justice

and judgment, to punish the wicked

nation

no nation, therefore, but the Jews, have been threatened in the Bible with
these plagues, and our Lord declares
that no other nation shall be punished
in the

who

declared that he should

not reign over them.f

17 For the great day of his wrath. These be the days of vengeance, says the Savior, in which all things written in the law and the prophets shall be fulfilled. Luke, 21 22. Again,
:

same way, we must conclude

that these events have already transpired.

There remains but one great

fulfilled,

event yet to be
destruction of
Is come.
in reality;

namely, the
but

Gog and Magog.

in

"

for

then shall be great tribulation,

Not
it

anticipation,

such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever
shall be." Matt. 24
:

has

now commenced.
See Zech.
1
:

Daniel's seventy years since Messiah's

21. Here, then,

this

day are

at hand.

12.

we have
the great
est

an assurance that

was

The

last

twelve hundred and

sixty

day of his wrath, the greatday of the kind that ever came on

days have began, and the calamities

predicted by our Lord, and which are

the world, and that no such calamities shall ever come on the world again
until the final destruction of all things.

have now commenced. Nation is rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom
to precede this event,

We

assert, therefore,

that if the sein this

wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes

in divers places,

ven plagues contained

book

re-

pestilences and fa-

main

to be fulfilled, then

there

is

mines, are

all

indications
is

that
;

the

nation as great and as powerful as the

to be destroyed, and to be punished in precisely the same manner and with the very same plagues,

great day of his wrath

come

and

Jews yet

none shall be able

to stand but those

who have washed

made them white Lamb. Amen.

their

robes and

in the blood of the

viz. the seven plagues of

Egypt.

As

The Lord

their

God

formerly had delivered them from the hands of their enemies,

but they crucified their Savior, and the only refuge they

now have

is

the rocks and the

mountains

but these could not save them from his wrath, nor from the hands of their enecould find out
all their

miesJehovah

hiding-places.

REVELATION.

97

CHAPTER
jtVND
after these things I

VII.

saw four angels standing on the

earth, nor

four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the

earth, that the

wind should not blow on the

on

the sea, nor on any tree.

And

after these things.

See note

Targ. on

Kings, 19

11.

Also,

below.*

a-re-mar-ba roo
of the earth.

che, the four

winds
fol.

Heavenly messenguardian angels of the seven churches of Asia.

F'our angels.
gers,

Zohar on Exod.

100:1.

Standing on (at) the four corners of the earth. They were placed as sentinels

wind should not Mow on That the hostile armies should not commence operations in That
the

the

earth.

over the hostile armies, there to

watch their movements, and prevent them from marching into Judea until the servants of God were sealed. Each of them had his particular station and duty assigned him. One was
stationed in the east, the other in the

Judea Earth
Is. 1

until the time appointed of God.'

is

title

frequently applied to

the land of Palestine.

:

Deut. 32

2; chap. 13:

7.

nesaret,

Nor on the sea. The lake of Genwhere a vast multitude of the Jews had fled in ships, and were deRomans.

west, one in the north, and the oUier

in the south.

termined to defend themselves to the

last against the
tle

A bloody bat-

Holding the four winds of the earth.

Restraining the hostile armies in the
four quarters of the earth.

parties, in

purely Rabbinical
roo-ach,

hence,
of
the

This is mai-che
winds.

between the which about six thousand perished, and all the Jews were cut
finally fought here
off'

was

who

did not previously submit.

east.

the

angels

2 Ascending from the

That

* In the

first

chapter he has given us a

full

proof of the divinity of Christ, and in the

of Asia, with duto the

two next he has been describing the backslidings of the seven churches
ties

which our Lord had enjoined on them,

in order that they

might be restored
;

favor of God.

In the fourth chapter he describes the throne of

;

God

in the fifth, the

book

with the seven seals

and

in the sixth, the

mysteries of the book after the seven seals

were broken open

and now,

in this chapter,

he describes the merciful providence of God

over his church, in preserving them from the power of their enemies, and from the severe
calamities which were coming upon
all

the world, to try

them that dwell on the

earth.

13


98

NOTES ON THE
2

And

saw another angel ascending from the

east,

having the seal of the living

God

and he cried

v^^ith

loud voice to the four angels, to

the earth

whom it was given

to hurt

and the

sea,

3 Saying,
trees,
till

Hurt not the

earthy neither the sea, nor the

we have
I

sealed the servants of our

God

in their

foreheads.

4 And

heard the number of them which were sealed

the tribes of the children of Israel.

and

there loere sealed

all

an hundred and forty and {onr thou-

sand of

is,

from Jerusalem.

This was

also a

Jewish dispensation was

1
:

at

hand. Col.
to

heavenly messenger.

2,

Matt. 24

14.

And now,

Having
authority,

the seal.

The
to

King's seal,

carry out our Lord's views in refer-

power

protect.

The

ence to his church, a messenger

serve his people from the

was

people were sealed with the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption ; and
this angel

sent from heaven to protect and pre-

power of the
life

was sent to provide a place of security for them in the wilderness

of Judea.

destroyer of the Gentiles.

In
forth

their foreheads.

In their of

and

The
the

destroying angel

was
both

conduct.
in

The image
their

God beamed was

either

just going to ])ass through

Egypt, and
in
it,

very

countenance.

destroy

ail

first
;

born
all

The mark
heathen
;

of the beast

man

and beast
in

but

who were

on the hand or in the forehead of the

but salvation by faith

washed

the blood of Christ from

was

their sins

were exempt, were graciously preserved by the power of God. Hence hoo thaiii chy-yim ma welh, the seal of life and of death, power to save and power to destroy. Targum. One

imprinted on the heart of the believer,

and then visible

4

in his life.

I heard the number. That is, they

like the sands

were innumerable,
tain

on

the sea shore, a certain for an uncer-

was

sealed, set apart to live, the other

to die.

of spiritual warriors,

number. They were a vast army who were now

3 Sealed the servants of our God.

about returning from the contjuest of

their enemies, and to cross over Jor-

Put

the seal of salvation on them.

;

This was their badge of security without this star in their crown they

dan

into the

promised land,

to the

hea-

venly Jerusalem.
thousand.

were
ed in

all

to

be destroyed.

About

this time the gosjiel

all

had been preachThis was a wit-

One hundred and forty and four These were all converted
Galilee,

the world.

by the twelve fishermen of

ness lo the church that the end of the

averaging twelve thousand each.

And

REVELATION.
5

99

Of

the tribe of Juda icere sealed

twelve thousand.

now in heaven one hundred and forty-four millions, instead of this number, who were indiOne rectly converted through them. faithful man may be the instrument
probably there are

call

you

blessed because the honored

;

instrument of their conversion

and

how many will in that day reprobate infidels who have been the cause of
their damnation. If there be a hotter
infi-

hands of God of the conversion and a of hundreds during his life

in the
;

place in hell than any other, the

del
is

sure to have

it,

and he richly

faithful minister that of thousands.

is really

It

astonishing

what great good

is

merits it. 5 The tribe of Judah.

offspring of Judah.

The

spiritual

may

result

from the labors of one holy

Il'l^n'^

ye hoo

and zealous man. to sow his seed

life,)

He

commanded
morning, (of

dah, he shall
the

bless, praise,

invoke, in
"'"IW^

in the

name

of Jehovah.

Hence
^^ji

and

to

withhold not his hand in

life,) for

ye hoo de, a
true

Jew who worshipped

worships

the

the evening, (of

he knoweth
Infidels are

God

in opposition to

goe, a
idols,
;

not which shall prosper.

Gentile

who

dumb

more zealous
in the world
establish

to establish their

cause

which can neither see nor hear

he
is

but

than some ministers to

in
it.

not a
is

Christianity
I

few

but he

Jew who is one outwardly, Jew who is one inwardly,

life,

saw one of these champions in infidelity hang on the gallows for murder, and two of his brethren were busy at the same moment disyears since
tributing
infidel

in heart

and

in the spirit
is

and not

in the letter.

One

born after the

flesh, the other after the spirit

created

anew

in Christ Jesus,

he is and has
;

tracts

round about

his fruit unto holiness,

and the end

among the will rise up

spectators.
in the

How many
eternity and

everlasting life.*

day of

This verse seems

to refer to

Psalms

Judah was designed of

old to represent this spiritual tribe.

;

It is said in
:

Gen. 49

9,

that "

Judah

is

a lion's whelp
lion,

from the prey,

lion
;

my son,
and

thou art gone up

he stooped down,

he couched as a
priest

and as an old

who
;

shall rouse
all

him up ?"

The Jewish high

oflScial

was compared

to a lion in the scripture

:

those

who were
:

men under
is

him, to whelps. Isa. 35

Ezek. 22

25

Ps.

91:13; Zeph. 3
:

3.

Our Savior

said

to be the Lion of the tribe of Judah, (see chap. 5

5,) because

he

is

our great high priest;

and

all

those

whom
till

he has called
is

to officiate

under him, are

his whelps, (disciples.)

But
refer

Judah going up, as

step by step,

expressed above,

may have
;

reference to his gradually ascending,

at length

he arrived to the throne

and his couching as a

this

lion,

may

to his zeal for the salvation of sinners.

tre shall not depart

But

to

make

more

plain,

it is

said, " the scep-

from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between

people be."

his feet, until Shiloh

literally

come

and unto him

shall the gathering of the

!

And how

was

this fulfilled

in the person of Christ

gether, and said.

At one time the chief priests and pharisees held a council toWhat do we ? for this man doeth many miracles if we let him thus alone
;

100

NOTES ON THE
the tribe of

Of

the tribe of

Reuben loere sealed twelve thousand, Gad ivere sealed twelve thousand.

Of

68 17. The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of ministers the Lord is among them in
:
;

his holy tabernacle, as in Sinai.

The

and surely they are not feTalent in either male or female should not be buried, but improved to the glory of God there is
;

of

God

males.

Lord gave the word, (the gospel,) and great was the host (of ministers) who
published
it,

plenty of work in the

Lord's vine-

yard
isters

for

or proclaimed

it,

to the
is

tribe of

world. Verse 11.

n'ilffiiJpn

ren-

dered by some " the female publishers

of it." This would of course exclude
all

tion

both male and female. The Judah spiritually means minof the gospel of Jewish extracthey were the sanctuary of the

Most High, the progenitors of salvation to a perishing

the apostles from either part or lot

;

world of sinners.

in the ministry

but they were the

carried

See Ps. 114

It
is

2.

missionaries

who

the

gospel
it

very probable that Judah,

into all the world, and preached

to

Jews and Gentiles. The commission was certainly given to them, but under their direction some holy and good women did preach Christ and him crucified,

w^ere northern conand Simeon, Levi and Issochar southern converts Asher, Nephthalim and Manasseh western converts Joverts,
;

Reuben and Gad

seph, Zebulon and Benjamin eastern

as

had been predicted by the

prophet Joel. Chap. 2:28. See Acts, 21 19. The participle is masculine
:

and south-eastern converts. See Ez. 48 31-34. The Jewish tribes were
:

settled

in
:

Judea

in

the

following

with a feminine termination, which

frequently the
case in the

is

places
of

Hebrew
it is

Reuben in the southern part Perea, Ashur in Libanus, upper

Nephthalim
in the northern

language.

In the next verse

ap-

Galilee,

plied to the heavenly host, the angels

part of Gennesareth, Manasseh in

Dor

all

men

will believe on him,

:

and the Romans

shall

come and take away both our

their

place and

nation. John, 11
fallen

47, 48.

At

this

time they had spoken the truth, for the crown had

from their head.

Shiloh had

now come, and

power

to read

and expound the

holy scriptures was taken from them, and the crown put on the head of
it

Him whose

right
:

was

to reign

he taught as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

the muhitudes that followed

See Matt. 7

29.

At one time

him

for instruction

were so numerous that

Matt. 13
:

he was obliged

to get

a ship and to row a short distance from the shore.

2.

And
him
him
this

at another time,

about

five

thousand people, besides

:

women and
45.

children, followed

into the wilderness.

in the wilderness

Matt. 14

21.

And

again

it is

said that the people

came

to

from every quarters.

See Mark,

So
is

that a .Jew

who

reads

prophecy without prejudice must easily perceive that Jesus

the Christ, for seventy

years after his birth the twelve tribes were destroyed, as well as the priests and prophets,

and they never have been found as

yet.

REVELATION,
6

101

Of the

tribe of

Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of

the tribe of Nephthalim icere sealed twelve thousand. the tribe of Manasses ivere sealed twelve thousand.

Of

and CaBsarea, Simeon

in

the south-

church immediately after the day of

Pentecost. See chap. 14
:

west of Judea, Issachar in the valley of Esdraelon, Zabuloninthewest part

of Gennesareth,

4.

Gad,
truth
;

strong,

mighty, valiant for the

Gad

in

Decapolis,
in Joppa,

spiritual

champions who were

Benjamin

in

Jericho,
in

Dan
all

willing to die for the

name

of Jesus.

and Ephraim

Samaria.

They conquered by
not

their blood,
;

and

These

tribes

were

the descend-

ants of the twelve patriarchs of the

Jewish church, and the christian tribes were the spiritual offspring of the twelve apostles, or the fathers of the
christian church.

sword one could chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight. The blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church, and
their

by

these

men were
:

willing to seal their

The woman

is

re-

testimonywith their
1

own

blood.

See

presented as being crowned with these

Chron. 12
6 Asher.

8.*

heavenly luminaries. Chap. 12 1. And it is not improbable that our Lord chose several of his apostles from each of the twelve Jewish tribes, so that the literal became finally blended with the spiritual, and the shadow swallowed up in the substance.
:

tribe.

heirs

The blessed happy, rich They were rich in faith, and but it may be of the kingdom
;

Reuben was

the

first

born among
it

This tribe may wealthy throughout the general church. A vast many wealthy men embraced Christianity even at this See Ps. early period of the church.
understood
literally.

refer to the

the Jewish tribes, and here or the early and

seems

to refer to all the first-bom spiritually,

all
first

45: 12; Is. 66 20.t Nephthalim. The wrestling Jacobs

:

converts to

Christianity,

who were

united to the

prevailed

and the prevailing Israelites. They by faith and prayer with the

According to the law of Moses, the

father possessed.

first

born son had a right to a double portion of

all his

See Deut. 21

17.

And

so

it

will be with the first born spiritu-

ally

if faithful

unto death, they shall have a double degree of honor and glory in heaven.
tribe that received

There was no

than this tribe.

And

so
in

it

ward

to

exceed theirs

a larger and a better portion in the promised land be with the spiritual tribe of Asher there will be no rethe spiritual inheritance, namely, heaven. And if this is the case,
will
;

who would be
after.

than justification so unwise as to seek after no higher attainments in this hfe

or pardon of sins,

when we can be more

holy here and more happy and glorious here-

102

NOTES ON THE

7 Of the tribe of Simeon icere sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the
tribe of Issachar ivere sealed twelve thousand.

angel

of

the everlasting

covenant

7 Simeon.

Mighty

in

faith

and

they seized his garment and would not let him go until he blest them, and
others also, with a sense of pardon. It

prayer, praying

men and women, who

converted
faith

thousands by their zeal,

and

prayers.:]:

means

to wrestle, struggle,

agonise,

Levi,

Means
two

to unite, blend, join distinct things,

with God.*

together as

and

Manassch. All those who had given up houses and lands, parents and children, freedom, friends, and fame the
;

seems

to refer particularly to Gentile

ministers,

a vast

number

of

were
in

called into the office of the

which min-

riches, honors,

and pleasures of the and thousands

give up,

istry at this time to assist the apostles

world, for Christ's sake and the gospel,

the great

work of the conversion

See Isaiah,
It
(',6
:

were of
It

this tribe

of the world.

21

had done
tles.

this in the

days of the apos-

Ez. 44
to
all

10,

11.

may

here refer

means

to forget,

the official characters in the

abandon, as the world, &c. &c.

conversion of one sinner
is

The

the wealth of the universe

worth all and he

;

church such as exhorters, teachers, stewards, leaders, deacons, &c. &c. See 1 Chron. 24 28.
:

who

cannot freely give up

all

for

Issachar.

The

poor

and needy,

Christ's sake cannot be his disciple.

servants, slaves,

and laboring men,

See Acts, 2

45

Ps. 45

lO.f

who

earned their living by the sweat

From what

is

said of Nephthaliiri, that he

is

a hind

let loose,

who

giveth goodly

words, I
let loose

am

inclined to think St.

John had reference

to Gentile believers,

who were

just

from the bondage of sin and Satan into the glorious

to

liberty of the children

of

God, and whose mouths were now opened

t

speak forth the praises of the most high God.

first

Manasseh

is

a name Joseph gave to his

born son, (Gen. 41

51,) and

it

may be
is

interpreted forgetfulness, because God, in the gift of this son,

made Joseph

to forget all his

former misfortunes.
so great as to
t

The tribe of Manasseh must mean those whose present happiness make them forget their former persecution, disgrace, and affliction.

Simeon may be interpreted the answer of prayer, because the Lord looked on Leah's

affliction,

when he had seen

in

that she

was

less loved than

:

Rachel,

i.

e.

by Jacob, and he
in

gave her this son

answer to prayer.

Gen. 29

33.

All those

who were converted

answer to the
Simeon.
$ Levi
son,

faithful

fervent prayers of the righteous belonged to the spiritual tribe of

may be

interpreted, united or joined together, because God, in the gift of this

in

had united the husband and wife together

matrimonial love.

Genesis, 29

REVELATION.

103

Of the
of their brow.
ten

tribe of

Zabulon

ivere sealed

twelve thousand.

by

Christ.

They were not forgotA vast many of the

poor embraced the gospel because it proved to be the power of God unto
the salvation of their souls.
is

world its very essence is love and pure benevolence. The moment a man's heart is open to receive the Sa;

vior

by

faith, his

house will be open

Issachar

to entertain his people.

miser

ia

said to be

like a strong ass, laboring

neither
getful,

fit

to live nor die.

Be

not for-

under two burdens, poverty and per-

says

St.

Paul, to entertain

Gen. 49 13.* Means a tabernacle, 8 Zabulon. also a house, temporary residence

secution.
: ;

strangers, for thereby

tertained

liabitation,

probably

for

ministers

and members, rich and poor, bond and free. The truly benevolent,

some have enunawares. Heb. Zabulon 2. As is represented as dwelhng at the sea, and sucking the abundance of treasure hid in the sand,
angels

13

it

may
;

allude to

christian

converts

who

fed the hungry, clothed the na-

along the coast of the Mediterranean

ked, visited the sick, of the

was the husband widow and the father of the fatherless. The rehgion of Jesus is
the most pure and lovely system in the

sea

or to sailors, soldiers and captains,

a vast multitude of which embraced

Christianity.

See chap. 5
shall add,

13.

Joseph.

He

God

did add.

34.

It

was from

this

person that the Levites descended,

who were
upon the

appointed to do the
altar
i.
;

service of the tabernacle,

this,

and

to oifer

whole burnt

sacrifices

and not only

particular

but they were to teach Jacob his judgments, and Israel his law,
:

e. at

times, and on particular occasions. See Deut. 3

that

10.

It

was from
it

Levi, the son of Leah,

Moses and Aaron descended.

Exod. 6

20.

And

is

not

improbable that the

Levites derived their

name from

the nature of their office, for they were afterwards united

or joined together, with the priests in the office of the ministry. * Issachar
that rest
is

said to be a strong ass, couching

it

down between two burdens

;

And he saw
to an ass

was

good, and the land that

tribute.

was'pleasant
:

and bowed his shoulder to bear,

and became a servant unto

See Gen. 49

14, 15.

He

is

compared
left.

heavy loaded with two sacks, one on the right side and the other on the
the spiritual tribe of Issachar, no doubt

St.

John, by

means

all

those
It

who had

to labor for the support of

a large family, as well as

should
sell all their

for that of the gospeif.

was absolutely necessary

:

that

some

possessions for sake of the gospel, (Acts, 4

36, 37,)

and that some of

the apostles should leave their wives and families for a season, for the sake of the gospel.

Luke, 14

26.

And
Cor. 9

on the other hand,

it

was necessary
family,

others in the church should labor

for their support, as well as for their

own
:

and

for the spread of the gospel.

See

Acts, 6
t

1
is

13, 14

Tim. 5

8.

Zabulon

interpreted to signify dwelling, because

life;

Leah

believed that in the gift of this

it

son Jacob would dwell with her for

and others interpret

a pledge of benevolence.
in his tents,
:

Zabulon

is

represented as sending out ships, and Issachar as remaining

be-

cause he had to be at

home

to

provide for his family. See Deut. 33

18

Judges, 5

14.

104

NOTES ON THE
tribe of

Of the

Joseph were sealed twelve thousand,

ivere

Of

tribe of

Benjamin

sealed twelve thousand.

riches and honor to

him who was

from

se-

fer to the different orders

and classes
senior
el-

parated (by
brethren.

persecution)

his

in the christian church.

God

exalted Joseph from

Judah and Levi may mean

ders

a slave

to a sovereign, a prisoner to a

and junior preachers, deacons and

;

prince, and from poverty and degre-

both were to teach Jacob his

dation to honor and glory.

This

may

therefore refer to rulers and governors

judgments and Israel his law. Deut. 33:10; 1 Chron. 16: 2; 24: 28.

who had embraced

sus, or to believers

the religion of Je-

Reuben and Benjamin, young and

old believers.

who were
: ;

separa-

ted from their brethren

tion.

by persecu:

Asher and Issachar, the

poor members.

rich

and

See chap. 21 24 Is. 60 11. Benjamin. The son of my old age. The young and tender lambs of the

Manasseh and Nephthalim, missionaries and exhorters,

is

&c.

The
;

former

flock,

who

should be fed with milk,

;

represented as itenerating, and giv-

and not with strong meat to be led, and not drove by arbitrary men or means. It is a very difficult matter
to get converts into the church, but a
to drive them out of would be better (says our Lord) that a mill-stone were hanged about your neck, and you drowned in the

ing

up

all for

the gospel

the latter

is

said to produce

goodly words or ex-

hortations, and also to be seated in a

portion of the law.

very easy matter

it.

Joseph

may

refer to rulers, gover;

It

nors and overseers of the church

the

one was a ruler

ruler spiritually.

literally,

the other a

midst of the sea, than

these
little

to offend

one of

Zabulon

may mean

the deacons,

ones that believeth in me.

Is.

stewards and leaders of the church,

Matt. 18: 6;

40:11.*

who

attended to the wants of the poor

the noble

Finally, another view

of the spiritual tribes.

may be taken They may re-

and support of the gospel.

And Gad,

army

of mar-

+ Benjamin

is

called Ben-oni, or the son of

my

sorrow, by Rachel, because she liad

suffered great pain in bringing this child into the world.

The circumstances

that

accom-

panied his birth are very remarkable.

Deep

affliction

and death were what gave birth to

It is verj'

Benjamin.
St.

This was the only son of the whole

John, by the spiritual tribe of Benjamin, meant

who had two names. all those who were

probable

converted to Christhis at

tianity

through the patience and sufferings of the martyrs of Christ; and

very far advanced in years.

a period

when he was
triumphed

Doctor Gillie says, the christians gained many

proselytes by their patience and constancy in their sufferings.

in the

They died

rejoicing,

and

midst of the greatest tortures.

This continuing for some ages, convinced

their enemies that they

were supported by Divine power.

REVELATION.
9 After this I beheld, and
lo,

105

a great multitude, which

no

man

could number, of

all

nations,

and kindreds, and

people, and tongues, stood before the throne,

and before
in their

the

Lamb, clothed with white

robes,

and palms

hands
10

And

cried with a loud voice, saying. Salvation to our

sitteth

<jod which

upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

tyrs

their

who sealed own blood.

their testimony

with

Christ.

Also

the

Sarmatians, the
obscure countries

Dacians, the Germans, and the Scythians,

flnH

Simeon, praying men and women, "who had the gifts of prophecy, healing,

with
to us,

many

provinr.fiR, islands

and of miracles.

known

and places unwhich, says he, I can;

great multitude.

rable array of spiritual soldiers,

An innumewho
in

not reckon up
reigns, because

in all

which Christ

he

is

now come." See

were subduing the enemy

country, and
their crowns.

every

his writings against the Jews, chap,

7,

adding

new

laurels to

page 98.
Ajid 2)alms in their hands.

-downfall

of

Immediately after tlio Babylon Christianity

That

is

of victory, through the blood of the

spread with a rapidity like lightning

Tertullian, throughout the world. when speaking of the progress of Christianity between the first and second centuries, says that " Parthians,

Lamb.
even our

This

is

the victory, St. John

observes, that overcometh the world,

faith.

The palm branches

and captivity

are designed to point out their deliv-

erance from bondage

Medes, Elamites, the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Armenia, Phrygia, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, and Pamphyha, and those who dwelt in Egypt,
and the region of Africa. Also Jews, strangers, and citizens of Rome, with many of the Getuli, and the borders of the Moors, and to the utmost
bounds of Spain. And also divers nations in Gaul, and places of Britain

among both Jews and Gentiles. Neh. 8 5. They were now returning from
:

captivity in spiritual Babylon, and had

the palms of victory in their hands.

10 Salvation

to

our God.

To

Christ, the author and

finisher of it;

he

is

the christian's God, not that of

the Jews nor of the Gentiles,

who dis-

believe in his divinity and his doctrines.

He

will tear all

such

in pieces,

inaccessible

to

the

Roman

ar-

mies,

have

yielded

subjection

to

and a great ransom cannot deliver them.*

And

if

they said Salvation to Christ, as their God, ought not

we

to say,

Amen,

bless-

ing and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto
Christ,

who

is

our

God

also,

and unto the Lamb,

for ever.

14

106

NOTES ON THE

11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and
:

thanksgiving, and honor, and power, af!d might, he unto

our

God

for

ever and ever.

Amen.
?

13

And one

of the elders answered, saying unto me,

What
14

are these which are arrayed in white robes

?

and

whence came they

And

said unto him. Sir, thou know^est.

And he

1 1

All the angels.

ciders.

In lieaveu and
ancient and ven-

and

this in the

midst of the very flames.

on earth.

The

The

erable fathers of the church, -who have

been with Jesus from the beginning, and were eye witnesses of his ministry, miracles, death, sufferings, resur-

His miracles demonstrated his divinity he healed the sick, cleansed the lepers, and raised the dead to life had all power in heaven and on earth
:

laid

down his

life

and no

man

took

it

and restored from him.

it

again,

He

is

rection, and ascension to glory.

the First and the Last, the creator and

And

the four beasts.

Generals of

his array, spiritual warriors,

who had
sul)jec-

brought the whole world into

tion to Christianity

probably

Paul,

upholder of all things, the Savior, Redeemer, Mediator, and final Judge of all men, who will reward and punish every man according to the deeds done
in the

Apollos, Cephas, and John.

body, whether they be good or

Fell before the throne.

fear, obey,

Fell pros-

bad.
1,3

trate at his feet, to worship, reverence,

One of the

elders answered. In-

and serve him as the king immortal, invisible, the only wise God. And worshipped God. Our Savior,

quired, asked.

Whence came they?

country,
kindred,

From what
nation.

people,

the true

God and
all

eternal

life, in

whom
God,
in

Why,
tion.

dwelleth

the fullness of the GodIf Christ be not

you know all about them. 14 They came out of great tnhvlasir,

head bodily.
then

The

dcej) waters of allliftion,

we

assert there

can be no God
;

])crsccution, poverty, distress.

They

heaven nor on earth for he declared himself to be God, was worshipped as such by all the angels in heaven, and all the pious on earth, by patriarchs,
prophets,
priests,

were in perils by sea and by land, by day and by night, in the city and the
wilderness,

among

false

brethren,

Jews and

Gentiles, in weariness and

kings,

apostles,

painfulness, in hunger and thirst, in

and by

all

the noble

army

of martyrs,

watchings and fastings, in cold and

REVELATION.
said to me,
bulation,

107

white in

These are they which came out of great tritheir robes, and made them the blood of the Lamb.
and have washed

15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and

him day and night in his temple and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. o 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
serve
:

nakedness, in stripes

ments
pel.

and imprisonbut none of these things have

the hope of the goschristians, then,

diligent in business, fervent in spirit^

moved them from

Will

always serving the Lord they pray both in public and in private, in their
;

we

ask,

family, closet, and church.

lives

He

that

of the present generation,

who

live at ease in Zion,

to

murmur who have

?

without family prayer and secret prayer lives without God and without
Christ in the world.

none of these evils

contend with

Oh ye
faith,

of

little faith,

or rather of no

Shall dwell
shall

among them.

Until time
:

be no more.

Matt. 28

20.
is

Who live
And

When
on flowery beds of ease,
t j

the old earthly tabernacle

shall then take

While others fought

win the

prize.

taken

down he

up

his

sailed through bloody seas.

final residence in the

new and heaven:

ly Jerusalem. 2 Cor. 6

16.

Wake

up,

wake up

to a sense of

your

16 They

shall

hunger no more.
all,

danger as well as duty.*

Their spiritual Joseph shall feed them.

Have washed their rohes. Their sins, all away in the blood of the L amb. " Being made free from sin, they have
their fruit unto holiness,
will be everlasting life."

He

has enough for

enough

for

each, and enough for evermore.

will preserve soul
lasting
life.

He

and body unto ever-

and the end

Thirst any more.

15

And

serve

him

daij

and night

lead
ter,

in his temple.

Morning, noon, and

For he shall them unto fountains of living waand all tears shall be wiped away
the

evening they praise him in his spiritual

from their eyes.

temple

they pray without ceasing,

;

Nor

sun smite them.

For they
go no

and

in

every thing give thanks

are

shall be pillars in his church, to

to ask, Were not these in eternity at this time ? This is we suppose day and night to exist there; and this cannot be, for day and night belong to time, and not to eternity, where there is no change. And aga'n, we read in the second verse that the angel who had the seal of the living God, came to earth to

But perhaps you are ready

impossible, unless

108

NOTES ON THE

17 For the
of waters
eyes.

Lamb which
and
shall

is

in the midst of the throne

shall feed them,

:

shall lead

them unto
all

living fountains

and God

wipe away

tears from their

more out for ever. The persecution under Nero exposed them to severe Bufferings by night and by day, but their deliverance was at hand. Matt.

perous, great, glorious, that like

nassah, they shall forget
all

Ma-

their for;

mer

24:9.
17 Shall lead them
tains.
to living

foun-

To

living,

zealous, evangeliare like

and persecutions they have joy without grief, ease without pain, light without darkness, day without night, heaven without any interruption of their happiness.
afflictions

shall

cal ministers,

whose hearts

The ransomed

of the

Lord

shall

now

the pure and vivid stream, love to God and the whole

filled

with

return to Zion with songs, (of deliverance,) and everlasting joy shall be on
their

human faand their

mily

their

eye

is

single,

heads

thej' shall obtain

joy and

whole body

is full

of light.*

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Shall abundantly
compensate them
ing.
for all their suffer-

gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall

flee

away.

Is.

51

11.

This day
your

is

this scripture fulfilled in

ears.

They

shall be so

happy, pros-

Amen.

seal these Bervants of the

Lord

in

their foreheads.

So

that, if they

were

in heaven, they

occasion for were sealed already, and there would have been no See 2 Esdras, in the Apocrjpha, 2 : 38-48. to seal them.

this angel to

come

to earth

to clear fountains That is, the living ministers of the living God ; they are compared sound faith and doctrine, and overflowing of water, because of their depth of wisdom, corrupt minister, who is dry in his preachSee Ia: 12 : 3. sense of the love of God. to lead his wisdom, is not a fountain fitfor the Shepherd of Israel

ing,

and shallow

in

flock to.

REVELATION,

109

CHAPTER
And when he had opened the
silence in

VIII.

seventh

seal,

there was

heaven about the space of half an hour.

And
to

and

I saw the seven angels which stood before God them were given seven trumpets.

The seventh seal. This is the last which is to be opened, and it will fill up the calendar of the prophecies which remained as yet to be
1

rusalem, to take into consideration our

seal

Lord's prediction, (Matt. 24

16, 17, 18,)
at

7, 8, 9,

the fulfilment of
it

was

hand, and

which was necessary the

provide
for her

fulfilled, viz.

that of Daniel.

This,

church should

now

recollect, is
seals,

only the opening of the

own
Is.

security during the war.

:

See

but

it

was some time

after this

26

20, 21.*

before the fulfilment of them.

Half an

hour.

short period, a

There was silence in heaven. A solemn pause in the church and in the ministry. The abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet

week, a month.
2 Seven angels.
salvation.

From
were

heaven,
Je-

sent forth to minister to the heirs of

These
Ezekiel,

Isaiah,

was now on its way, (viz. when this was fulfilled,) to Judea, and it was
high time that both ministers members should think of their
safety,

remiah,

Daniel, Joel,

Zesent

chariah, and Micah.

to earth to

They were

and

own

and a place of security from the Roman army, who made no distinction between Jews and christians. Perhaps the church might at this time
be in solemn counsel together at Je-

announce to the churches the fulfilment of each and all of their prophecies. This announcement may have been the cause of the solemn silence in the churches.
notified that the

time had

They were now come

for their departure into the wilderness

1.

The

silence spoken of

may have

reference to the sudden surprise

which had come

2.

on the church when they heard of the approach of the

It

Roman army

into the holy land.

may mean
they

that they should be deprived of religious instruction and christian

communion
all

for a short time. 3. It

may have

reference to the deep solemnity that rested upon

minds

when

things in

had heard of the utter destruction of Jerusalem. St. John had only seen these the vision at different times, but the plagues were not poured out for two or three

years after this.

The seven

angels had

first to

sound with their trumpets, and the locusts to

no
3

NOTES ON THE

And

another angel
;

came and
offer
it

stood at the altar, hav-

ing a golden censer

incense, that he
saints

and there was given unto him nmch

with the jorayers of
all

should

upon the golden

altar

which was before the throne.

of Judea, from

tlie

face of the serpent

to

and the calamities which were coming on the world. Seven trumpets. Gospel trumpets,
gospel truths, to sound the alarm that

the

which they have been scattered by Roman army. See Matt. 24 31. 3 Another angel. That is, a dif:

ferent one

one

of

the angels from

heaven,

death and destruction were at hand,

and that

all

the prophecies were

fulfilled.

now

who had power over fire. See verse 5. The Rabbins say the angel sal-dal-plion is appointed of God
to offer

about to be

Joel,

2:1.

Twenty-one
to devotion,
ing.

trumpets

were blown

daily in the temple to call the people

up the prayers of the saints. Zohar on Gens. fol. 97 2. The altar. Christ, the golden altar.
:

morning, noon, and evenpriest,

This
is

altar the

Jews,

who
to

served the
off".

Another

when

the sun

sanctuary, had no right to cat

It

had set on the last day of the week, went round the city and blew a trumpet to let the people know that the sun

on

this

we offer up

God our souls,

bodies, and spirits, as a living sacrifice,

holy, acceptable, and well pleasis

had set, and the Sabbath had now commenced, and that all labor must These angels or ministers cease. sounded the gospel trumpet to let the
people

ing in his sight, which

ble service.

our reasona-

The Rabbins

say there

will be no need of sacrifices

when

know

that the glorious

Sun

of

Righteousness had
the church

now

set to rise

no

more on the Jewish nation, and that must prepare to depart into some place of security, and that
labor
in

Messiah comes. Having a golden censer. MPn^ a fire pan to receive coals from the altar. Here it means a pure heart,
that received the fire of divine love

from Christ, our golden

altar.*

spiritual

the

gospel

must

Much
filling

incense.

The

love of
It

cease until the

war was over, and God

beloved people
in-

the whole soul.

God was from

shall again collect his

this that the

from the four quarters of the earth

sweet perfumes of prayer and praise ascended up as a memorial

be

let

loose,

and the two witnesses to prophecy a thousand two hundred and threescore
;

days, clothed in sackcloth

also the

woman had

to

fly

into the wilderness with eagles'

wings, from the face of the serpent.

*

A holy heart this

is

the golden cup which

in

made

the iiircnse send up n sweet per-

fume before God.

There was a golden censer

See Heb. 9
:

the holiest of holies, in which the high

priest offered the incense.

4.

REVELATION.

Ill

And

the

smoke of the
saints,

incense, which came with the

prayers of the
angel's hand.
'

ascended up before God out of the

with

And

the angel took the censer, and

filled it

fire

before God.

The

angel

is

here re-

ing, praying, and alms-giving will be

presented as presenting their prayers

before God, as did

of no benefit to us unless they are of

faith, for
sin.

the priest the inAll

whatsoever

is

not of faith

is

cense in the temple.

were

to

be

We have
and

been praying for years,

uncharitableness and

presented through Christ, the golden

altar,

"From
venge,

envy, malice, hatred, and reall

which

is

before the throne of

glory.*

unrighteousness of men,

good Lord
?

The 4 The smoke of the inceyise. glory of God filled the house and the
hearts of
all

deliver us ;" but has he delivered us

Are we not

getting worse and worse,

1

present.

See chap. 15
saints.

8.

instead of better and better

There

With

the

prayers of the

The

can be no doubt of
so far departed

faithful, fervent,

effectual prayers of
;

Have we not from God as to become

it.

the righteous avail

much God hears and answers them. The angel presented them to God through Christ,
altar,

rank papists instead of good old protestants

?

and malice

Are we not full of envy Our prayer is not heard

faith,

our

for

an immediate answer. and

dif-

because not of

and therefore
approach

They were
ficulty,

in doubt, danger,

and

now

is

the awful

moment

must be with our

sinful.

We

God
far

lips

while our heart

is

to exercise faith

and prayer.f

We

may have
gregations,

elegant churches, rich con-

from him. Instead of loving each other we are hating and devouring each
other.

a learned

and eloquent

ministry, delightful singing and music,

fine

5 Fire from the altar.

ual and holy
fire

The

spirit-

prayers and preaching, but what

of divine love,

which
de-

will all these benefit us in the

hour of

enlivens, animates, and gives

life,

danger and of death

All our preach-

votion, and action to all our exercises.

* That

is,

much

faith
it

and
in

love.

Our Savior had given him a double portion of

this

grace, in order to offer

behalf of himself and others, and

when

these were united

savor.

together they sent

up a sweet perfume, from which the Almighty smelt a sweet

t Every sacrifice
to our prayer
;

we offer must be on this altar, or else we shall never receive an answer and if we offer one either lame, halt, blind, leprous, or in any degree filthy
and leave ourselves exposed
to the displeasure of

or sinful,
if

we

pollute the altar,

God

for

we

regard iniquity in our heart

is

He

will not hear our prayer.

And

again, the sacrifice

lives in wilful

of the wicked

an abomination

in the sight of

God

so that a

man who

112

NOTES ON THE
altar,

of the
voices,

and cast z^ into the earth: and there were and thunderings, and hghtnings, and an earthquake.

Without
mal,

this

we

are dead, dull, for-

be read}^

lifeless,
all

a burden to ourselves

knew
and
all

not the

and

that hear us.*

The

preacher

this

for in such an hour as they Son of Man would come, with power and great glory,

who

converts the most souls will final-

to take

vengeance on the wicked, and

not his holy

ly have the greatest reward in heaven,

them who obeyed

and he

who
cast

converts none, will

have

gospel.

no reward.

And

it

into the earth.

That is,

Thunderings. Of the law and the gospel from Sinai.

the church, the salt of the earth.

priest scattered the sparks of fire

The
and

And

lightnings.

Convictions and

conversions.

the

people in the temple.

smoke of the incense among the Earth is a ti-

And an earthquake.

A great
;

sha-

tle given to the Jewish nation, and here it is applied to the church of

king among the dry bones they had been once more reanimated. God no doubt had now revived his work in a
peculiar manner; this

Christ, because

they were

in

the

was

a second

Messiah's day to inherit the earth.

It

pentecost, to prepare the church for

their departure from each other.

ein

was formerly his, but he lost it by now he has regained it by suffer;

God

always metes out his mercies

to the

ing for

sin,

the just for the unjust, to

exigencies of the case. His judgments

bring us to God.f

And

there

were
is,

voices.

Weeping,

were now abroad in the land, and the heathen, through them, had become
wise unto salvation, and had learned
righteousness.

praying, and shouting to

liverance
;

God

for de-

that

because of the awvoices

But

all

this

may

be

ful calamities

which were coming on

understood

literally,

as fearful signs

the

world.

But

may mean

loud warnings from the ministers, to

and wonders had taken place in Judea a short time before the destruction

in regards iniquity in his heart

and

let

him

offer

up what

sacrifice

he may, whether

in

prayer, praise, exhortation, or preaching,

* That
is,

it is all

an abomination
oldest and

in

His

sight.
is

the

fire

of the

Holy Ghost.

Here the

most holy apostle

repre-

sented as

filling

the

same

office,

under the gospel, as the high priest under the law, namely,
altar,

offering sacrifices

and burnt offerings on the

and interceding with God on behalf of

the people.

minister of the blessed Savior has not only to pray to

God

in his

own be-

half, but to intercede

with

God

in

behalf of the church, that neither the shepherd nor the

sheep may be
t

finally cast

away.
This
is

He cast

it
it

on both ministers and members.

will not be consistent with the

what we must understand by the

earfh, or else

beginning of the verse, and with the remain:

der of the chapter.

For

voices,

and thunderings, and lightnings, see chap. 4

5.

REVELATION.

113

6 And the seven angels w^hich had the seven trumpets

prepared themselves
7
fire

to sound.

The
:

first

angel sounded, and there followed hail and

vt^ith

mingled

blood, and they

trees

were cast upon the

earth

and the third part of

was burnt

up,

and

all

green grass was burnt up.

of Jerusalem.
25, 26
;

Is.

29

Ex. 19:16; 20
to

Luke, 21 18 Ezek.
: ;

searchable and past

fin(ring out.

May

we

38

22.

6 Prepare

sound.

The

alarm.

keep thy commandments, for we need to take heed lest, as God spared not the natural branches
fear thee and

This was a
sound
7
;

certain, not

an uncertain,

because of disobedience, he spare not

us
also,

therefore the people

must preprophet

who

are Gentiles, wild olive

pare for the battle.

branches, grafted into the good olive

The

first

angel.

The
9.

tree, Christ.

Isaiah,

whom

the

Jews had sawn

cause of unbelief;

They were cut off bewe stand by faith.

minded, but

asunder. Chap. 15:6,

May we
fear.*

not be high

mingled with Mood. The seven plagues of Egypt, which were now about to be poured out on
fire

Hail and

The

third part of the trees were

burnt vp.

That
for

is,

in Judea, to raise

spiritual
crucified.

Egypt where our Lord was

fortifications

the

Roman

army.

They had

at this

time re-

turned back to the flesh pots of Egypt, and deserved this punishment. These plagues were formerly the cause of
their salvation and deliverance
;

but
:

These fortifications, after the war was But over, were burnt up as useless. the trees may mean the head men and the flower of the nation, who were all destroyed, young and old, rich
and poor.f

now

of their destruction.

Ez, 13

13.

Merciful Father, thy ways are un-

And

all

green grass.

Their vege-

This did not take place immediately, or dse the other apostles could not make known

their mission.

The

hail has reference to the

Roman

army, who had

fire

with them

to

burn

the city of Jerusalem, and

men

of the most blood thirsty dispositions.

As

these are the

seven plagues of Egypt with which the

ses,

Jews were punished,

hail,"
it

as had been foretold by

Mothat

Deut. 28
:

GO,

it

is

necessary to pay attention to the original text.

fire

The former reads

:

thus

" there was

hail,

and

mingled with the

&c.

See Exod. 9

24.

So

our text should read the same as the original, and

t

would be easier understood.

where the camp stood, they had
or-

When the Roman army were

all

levelling the ground

all

ders from their general to burn down they cut down

the shrubs round about

them

and not only this, but

the hedges, and threw

down

all

the walls which the inhabitants had

made

15

114

NOTES ON THE

And

the second angel sounded, and as

fire

it

were a great
:

mountain burning with

third

was cast part of the sea became blood

into the sea

and the

tables,

grass, ornamental

trees,

beautiful

flower gardens
all

and and vineis,

and burning with fury against their

enemies.

yards, were

destroyed, that

by

Was
vast

cast into the sea.

To destroy

the pestilence, famine, drought, and

the horses and soldiers of the

their enemies and their shipping.

Roman

many Jews

fled

there for safety

is,

army.
siege.*

The young
fell

and tender plants

i" ships

and boats, that

the third

the sea of

of the nation

victims also in the

Gennesaret.

See chap. 9:18.

part of the sea be-

And
came
: ; :
:

8 The second angel. Ezekiel. See

chap. 32

6 13 13; 14 19. great mountain. A vast mul-

Because of the vast multitudes who were killed on both

blood.

sides in
battle

the bloody sea fight.

The

titude of soldiers, fierce and terrible,

was fought with desperation on

about their gardens, and destroyed

the walls of the
city.

all

the groves and fruit trees between the gardens and

And

their banks,

which they had

first

made, being burnt down by

the Jews, they were obliged to go ninety furlongs for materials to rebuild them.

And

if it

had been necessary

former banks,
it

to cut

down

the trees to the distance of ninety furlongs to raise the

necessarily follows that, as the latter

were as extensive as the former,

up may have reference to
See chap. 9
:

they had to cut

down

the trees ninety furlongs farther to raise them again. See Josephus,
trees being burnt

War, book 5
some may

12.

But the third part of the

the third part of the nation, which

object to this, and say
it

was destroyed by

the

Romans.

]3.

But

could not have reference to either the Jews or the trees,

fire
:

for the latter

were cut and not burnt down, and the former were partly destroyed by
Slc.

and partly by famine,

that if

To

this objection I

would make the following

reply,

namely

we interpret the text literally we shall see effects produced by a shower of hail which we have never seen nor heard of since the beginning of the world and if we apply it to an army, we must easily perceive that they would not burn up trees which were ne;

cessary to raise their banks and to fortify their

camp

more

especially

when

there

was no

occasion for

it.

But

that St.

John meant no more by the

third part of the trees being

is

burnt up than
fl :

this, that

they were destroyed or broken down,

very evident from Exodus,

25, from which he has quoted this passage.

* This includes vegetables as well as grass.

feet,

The
tlie

latter

was partly burnt up by

their

but chiefly devoured by their bessts, and

former partly devoured by the Jews

themselves, in consequence of the famine

t

but
is

chiefly by the

Komans.

The most

valiant

men from among

it

the Ronr.an soldiers.

The reader

will easily per:

ceive, from the

words as

were, that this

only a comparison.

See chap. C

14.

EEVELATIOX.
9

115

And

the third part of the creatures which were in

life,

the sea, and

had were destroyed.

10

died

and the third part of the ships

fell

And

the third angel sounded, and there

it

a great
it

star

from heaven, burning as

were a lamp, and

fell

upon the
of waters

third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains

both sides.
9 died.
it

Six thousand Jews were

third part of the creatures

part of those

who

fought in them
quarters,

destroyed in this battle.*

the

Romans asked no
;

The

gave none
against

those

who

and took up arms

may mean the fish, or may mean those who had fled there
This

One third part was spared who laid down their weapons and refused to fight against the Romans. The dead bodies of the slain, howfor refuge.

them were indiscriminately put to death. See Exod. 7 20, 21. 10 The third angel. The prophet Jeremiah, called by the Rabbins the
:

hitter,

the weeping prophet, because

ever,

were so numerous, and the

stench from them so great, that nearly

all the fish in the delightful and sweet waters of this lake died. See Ez. 32 :

he had drank the wormwood and the Lam. 3:19. And he is here gall. represented as descending from heaven to retaliate on the Jews who had

made
soned

his life

bitter,

and

to punish

6;

Is.

19:8.
the third

them with the

part of the ships were consequently the third
all

pestilence,

which

poi-

And

the waters and fountains.

destroyed.

And

A star fromheaven.

The

pestilence

"

This refers to the tremendous and bloody sea fight which took place between the
the sea of Gennesaret.
fish.

Jews and Romans on

because
breadth
it

This lake

is

said to be a vein of the Nile,

its

produces the Coracin

Its length is

one hundred and forty furlongs, and

forty.

After

this battle

was

fought, the lake, as far as you could see,

fled there in ships for safety

was red

with the blood of the miserable Jews who had

from the Ro-

mans.
Bels,

Take

the words of Josephus here

he says, the

Romans leaped

out of their vef^

and destroyed a great many more upon the land, besides those

whom

they destroyed

on the sea. escaped

;

The

lake

was seen

all

bloody and

full

of dead bodies, for not one of

them had

and a

terrible stench

and sad sight were endured upon the succeeding days over
all

the country, for the shores were covered with shipwrecks and dead bodies,
putrefied in the sun, they corrupted the very air
;

swelled and

insomuch that the misery was not only

the object of commiseration to the Jews, but to those

who

hated them, and had been the

authors of that misery.

Such was the upshot of the sea

fight.

The number

of the slain,

including a few that had been killed in the city of Taricbea, amounted to six thousand.

See Josephus, War, book

3,

10

9.

116

NOTES ON THE
1

And

the

name

of the star

is

called

Wormwood
;

and the third part of the waters became wormwood

and

many men
bitter.

died of the waters, because they were

made

12

And

the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of

smitten,

the sun

was

and the third part of the moon, and

;

the third part of the stars

so

as the third part of

for

them

was darkened, and

it,

the

day shone not

a third part o^

and the night likewise.

sent from thence, wasting
it.

which was

and destroying every thing before

to death

because they had crucified and put the Sun of Righteousness,

life

The

air,

the water, the animal and

fish

the Lord of

and glory.

But
;

it

vegetable world, the

the fowls of the
air,

of the sea,

may

be understood spiritually
their

the

man
it.*

and beast,

bright luminaries of the church

had
to

were swept away by

11

withdrawn
shine on
bit-

light,

refused

And

the third part of the waters

became wrrmwood. They became

ter,

grievous, polluted, poisonous, beinto

cause changed

blood,

polluted

them any more for ever. He that made them will not have pity upon them, and He that formed them will show them no favor,
Isaiah, 27
:

with
Jer. 9

the
:

blood
:

of the slain. f
15.

See

11.

The
The

glorious

Sun

of

15; 23

Righteousness had

now

hid his face

12 The fourth angel.

The

prophet
sig-

from them.
of the

gospel,
to

the

moon
minis-

Micah. See ch. 3

6.

His name

church, refused

shine on

nifies to smite, strike, or

cause to smite.

them, for ever.

their light

The

stars, the

The

third part of the sun

was

smit-

ters of the churches,

tcn^ or eclipsed.

It refused to shine

had withdrawn and influence, and there-

Christ, at ihe time this plagun

was poured

out, reflected

no

light on either
pillar of

Jews

or

Gentiles, but

upon

his church only.

He

went before them as a

cloud by day,

and a
light
t

pillar of fire

by night.

The
God.

cloud blindfolded the spiritual Egyptians, but reflected

upon the

real Israel of

See Exod. IC
in their

2.3

14

20.

Chap. 6

12.
bitter

Nothing which came upon the Jews,

war with the Romans, was more

than to have to drink water defiled with human blood.

that afforded
tiie

And
all

as Genncsaret

was a lake

most sweet and wholesome waters of

in

the lakes or fountains in the

holy land, the .lews resorted thither for water

only
this,

preference to any other place.

And

not

but their fountains of water were

all

dried up, so that

many

of them died with

thirst,

while the
:

Remans had plenty

and
9.

of water for themselves and for iheir cattle.

See Je-

remiah, 8

14,

REVELATION".

117

13

And

beheld, and heard an angel flymg through

v^^ith

the midst of heaven, saying

a loud voice,

Wo,

m^o,

wo, to the inhabiters of the earth, by reason of the other

voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet
to

sound

fore the national luminaries

were

left

Through the midst of the general

church, the heaven on earth.
is

in complete spiritual darkness.

God

This

gave them over

believe a
lie,

to strong delusions, to

the

same

angel, no doubt,

who had
See

(viz. that Jesus is not the

the

everlasting gospel to preach to

earth.

Christ,) that they all

might be damn-

them who dwell on the

chap. 14
:

who had pleasure in unrighteousness, and who obeyed not the truth. The Rabbins say when the sun, moon
ed

6.

Saying with a loud

wo.
It is

voice,

Wo, wo,

and

stars are smitten,

it is

and refuse to

very remarkable that this was precisely the language of a pious

shine,

a very bad omen.*

man named
ed, he

Jesus, in Jerusalem.

day shone not for a third part of it. The day of their calamity did not appear until it was at the very door but when their temple was destroyed they knew their security was
the
;

And

short time before the city

was

destroycried
to the

went round the

city and

aloud,
city,

Wo to
and
St.

the temple,
to

wo
!

wo

me

also

and was

struck dead with a stone.

This

may

for

ever gone, and that

God had aban-

mean

John himself.

dreadful

doned them to their enemies, and the deadly night of their spiritual blindness, stupidity, and apathy they did
not discover until their enemies were
in the possession of their city.

wo was to
The

follow the sounding of each

of these ministers.
voices of three angels which are

yet to sound.

When they have

camp

soundit

ed the alarm in the

of Israel,

13
one,

An
who

angel flying. An earthly was preaching through the

will be high time for the people to

move

forward, for the

at.

enemy

will

different

churches

probably
midst
of

St.

John

then be

their heels.

In three years

himself, as he

was then
the

released from

more the mystery of God

Jewish nation.

Patmos.

will be finished in the final destruction of the

Through

heaven.

The

thick cloud of the

Roman army bad

make
its
:

eclipsed the sun, the

in

moon, and

stars.

But

when

this cloud first

began

to

appearance
16, 17.

Judea
this

it

was a

sign to the christians

still

to escape for their lives.

See Matt. Q4

At

time the sun stood

upon Gi-

beon, and the

moon

in the valley of Ajalon, until the

fire,

enemies of the Lord were destroyed

by the hailstones, the

and the sword.

118

NOTES ON THE

CHAPTER
i\.ND
the
fifth

IX.'
fall

angel sounded, and I saw a star

:

from

heaven unto the earth

the bottomless
pit.

and

to

him was given

the

key of

And he opened

the bottomless pit

as the

a smoke out of the

pit,

and the sun and the

air

and there arose smoke of a great furnace were darkened by reason of the
:

smoke

of the

pit.

1 The fifth angel sounded. A heavenly angel, the prophet Joel, who is
called a star in the next verse.

locusts from their

camp, hiding place.

full liberty

He

gave the

Roman army

He

to tear, slay,

and utterly consume the

came
his

to announce to the church that prophecy was now on the very eve of fulfilment. See ch. 2 1, 20.
:

rebellious nation. This was in the year of our Lord sixty-five, the very

time when Nero declared war against

Christ and his church, as well as the

The
prophet
is

key.

Full power to
is

let loose

the symbolic locusts, as he

the only
;

Jews. Chap. 12:7. Our Lord's predictions

who

prophesied of them

he

were now about

:

to be fulfill-

represented as letting them loose

ed. Matt. 24

39.

And he

declares

from the camps to devour their enemies, and devastate the land of Judea.
Bottomless pit.
tion,

that " this

(present)

generation (of

men)
this

shall not pass

away

until all

The

pit of destruc-

these things shall be fulfilled,"

And
his

name given (by

the Jews) to

was

the case with

some of

the
try,

Roman

army, because of its idolasuperstitions, and abominable

: ;

apostles.

a literal

Peter and John lived to see accomplishment of them.*

pit.

wickedness.

See chap. 13 14 Job, 31:12; Is. 14:9. 2 He opened the pit. Let loose the

smoke out of the

Out of the

camp which the soldiers set on fire when going to meet the enemy. This

This angel

let loose

the

army out

of

llieir

camps, that were raised

in

the four quar-

ters of the eartli.

See chap. 7:1.

The

other four angels had power to keep them consealed in their foreheads; but this angel had

fined there until the servants of

God were

power

to let

them loose

to destroy the

Jews.

They are compared

to hell,

because of their

unfathomable wickedness, abominable idolatry, and savage barbarity.

REVELATION.
3

119

And
:

there

came out

of the

smoke

locusts

upon the

earth

and unto them was given power,

as the scorpion s

of the earth have power.

was

superstitious

custom among

structive army,

who

devastated and
;

them, to indicate that in like manner they should consume their enemies,
as well
as
all

devoured every thing before them

took

The moment
fire

the

who opposed them. camp was set on

loud, tremenJer.

away life, property, and They made a wilderness of a

it

liberty.
fruitful

land, stripped

of

its
its

cattle,

pro-

they gave

three

duce, property, and

inhabitants,

dous cheers.

See

50

42.

This

They swept every

and
like

thing before them,

evidently shows that they were not

a hoard of eastern locusts,

only hostile, but also heathens. 3

made
28
:

the

And

there

came out of the smoke

try bare and desolate.

42.*

whole face of the counSee Deut.

locusts.

barbarous, cruel, and de-

"

1.

The Roman army may be compared

come
in

to locusts,

because of their vast swarms, and

continual reinforcements.
April, the locusts

In Barbary, in the latter part of March and the beginning of

such vast swarms that they are like a succession of thick clouds
2. 6,
;

the sun and the sky become darkened by them.

They may be compared

and the note on the

to such be-

cause of their ravenous disposition.

8th verse.
light

See chap.

last clause

of the

quotation from Baron de Tot's account of the locusts will help to throw some

upon

this subject.

He

says that clouds of locusts frequently light on the plains of

the Tartars, and giving preference to their fields of millet, ravage

them

in

an instant

their

approach darkens the horizon, and so enormous

of the sun
;

is

their multitude, that they hide the light

;

they alight on the

fields,

and there form a bed of six or seven inches thick

to the noise of their flight succeeds that of their devouring actively,

rattling of hailstones, but its consequences

which resembles the

;

are infinitely

more

destructive

fire itself

eats

not so
flight

fast,

nor

is

there any appearance of vegetation to be found after they take their

3.

and go elsewhere to produce new disasters.

They may be compared

;

to these in-

sects because of their

undaunted and persevering

spirit

they surmounted every difficulty,

and even climbed up the walls of houses, and crept

enemies.
that the

in at the

windows, and destroyed their

:

See Joel's prophecy respecting the Roman army, chap. 2

locusts

9.

Dr. Shaw says

young brood of

make

their

appearance in the month of June; that they

form themselves into a compact body of more than a furlong square, and marching directly
forward, they climb over trees, and walls, and bouses, devouring every plant in their way.

They

entered, he observes, into our very houses and bedchambers, like so

4.

many

thieves.

See Shaw's travels, page 187.

They may be compared

to

them

in

another instance.

When

they

came

to battle, the

whole army was brought against the enemy in one entire

verj'

body; their ranks were well coupled together, their turnings

sudden, their attention


120

NOTES ON THE

And

it

was commanded them

but
onl}'-

that they should not

hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree
seal of
;

those

men which have

not the

God

in their foreheads.

On

the earth.

To

fight the

bloody

II

was commanded them. By the

to,

Harmageddon, and cause human blood to come up to the horses'

battle of
bridles.

guardian angel alluded

not to in-

jure (destroy) the grass, the church of

Christ, which, like grass,

was young,
See

was given power. Limited, restricted power was given unto them by the angel to destroy
unto them
their enemies, but not to touch their
friends, that
is,

And

green,
Is.

flourishing,
:

prosperous.

40

7.

the christians

who
per-

ISor any green thing. Any young and tender plant in the Lord's vineyard, no matter whether rich or poor,

were

striving to save

them from

young
sons

or old, black or white, bond or

dition.

The one

rebelled against the

free, for
;

God

is

no respecter of per-

government and were destroyed, the

other rendered unto
all

but in every nation and every

their dues,

place he that feareth

him and worketh

is,

"tribute to

whom

tribute,
to

honor to
fear;"

righteousness shall be accepted of him.

whom

honor, fear

whom

Nor any

tree.

That

any

fruitful

they were innocent, inofTensive, and submissive to " the powers that be ;"
"feared
in a

tree, (of the

Lord's right hand plant-

ing,) minister of Jesus,

who

is living,

God and honored

pious christians

the king."

laboring, and preaching for eternity.

The more

we have
less danreli-

Men which have not the seal of God.

The
this

kingdom or country the

ger of rebellion.
sanctioned

Therefore the
governments.
infidelity

gion of Jesus should be i)atronised and

my

salvation of the gospel without they were insecure, and the enehad full jiower over them, that is,
;

by

all

Dis-

to utterly destroy

them.

This

is

the

regard this and law will become a

only security
in time

we have
eternity.

in life or death,

mere rope of sand. If

should

or

The
to pass

angel of

gain the ascendency in this or any

other nation, the government and aris-

tocracy are sure to be the

first to fall.

This was the case

five years since.

in

France

fifty-

through Egypt, and to destroy all the first born in it, whether man or benst but he was forbid to touch any of the persons who were sprinkled with the
spiritual

death

was now going

to

tlie

word

of

command
it

quick, nnd their hands nimble

whfn

set to

work

and

if

they had

to suffer triey bore

with great patience.

Joseplius observes that there

was hardly an
to

instance

known wherein

they have been conquered in battle,

when

they

came

a close
difficul-

fight, either

by the multitudes of their enemies, or by their stratagems, or by the

ties in the places they

were

in.

Sec War, book, 3, 5

7.

REVELATION.
5

121

And

to

them

it

was given

that they should not kill

five

them, but that they should be tormented

their

months

and

torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he

striketh a

man.

blood of the paschal

Lamb

of God.

besieged the city until

it

was

laid in

5 Should not kill them. They tormented them first by the sight of the army and engines, and then encompassed them on every side with a wall.

ashes, and the inhabitants utterly de-

stroyed.

He
it

began the siege

in the following

in

April

and ended
bar.

Septem-

See Josephus.
the torment

And finally,

the pestilence, famine and

As

of a scorpion.

As

sword followed after.* Five months. This is a most remarkable prediction, and was literally and exactly fulfilled. It was precisely five months from the time that Titus

the poisonous and deadly sting of a

venemous
ness.

serpent, ending in delerium

tremens, the very worst kind of mad-

Deuteronomy, 22

28

Zech.

12

4.t

When
it

Vespasian marched his army against the city of Jotapata, to destroy

to stai-ve

it,

he

deemed

more prudent
ai-ms, as he
;

them

into a surrender than force

them
for

to

it

by the

power of his
of provisions

supposed they would be forced to petition him

till

mercy by want would per-

or if they should have the courage to hold out

the last, they

ish by the famine.

if

And he concluded he
fell

could conquer them the more easily in fighting

he gave them an interval, and then

upon them when they were weakened by the

his

famine.

And when

Titus, his son,

marched

army against Jerusalem, he held a conto

sultation with his officers, to determine

which was the best method

if

pursue in order to

conquer their enemies.

Titus gave his opinion, that

they aimed at quickness, joined

city,

with security, they must build a wall round about the whole

which was, he thought,

the only thing to prevent escape any way, and then they would either entirely despair of

saving the

city,

and so would surrender

it

up

to him, or

be

still

the

more

easily

conquered
effect,

when

the famine had further weakened them.

This resolution was carried into

and

the wall was built round about the whole city. +

1.

See Josephus, War, book

5, 12.

They were tormented

at the sight of the ensigns

which the Romans carried

at the

head of every legion,

his

2. Titus, in order to frighten

full
;

them

into a surrender, brought out

whole army of horse and foot in their

armor, before the walls of the city, and the

full

north side of the temple, and the okl wall

at this sight of the

and the houses were

of spectators.

And
Jews
'.

army a great consternation had

seized upon the hardiest of the

but
3.
4.

making them surrender, was only a means of greater torment. Their engines threw showers of darts and stones in upon them in vast quantities.
this,

instead of

They

cut the flesh off their backs with whips and cords. See chap. 6
thirst,

14, 5.

They

tor-

mented them with hunger and

and

this

had the same

effect as if bitten

by a soor-

16

122-

NOTES ON THE

And

in
it:

those days shall

men seek'

death, and shall

shall flee-

not find

and

shall desire to die,

and death

from them.
7

And

the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses,

;

prepared unto battle

and on their heads were

as

it

were
men.

crowns

like sold,

and

their faces icere as the faces of

6 Shall seek death and shall not Shall earnestly desire it, in Jind it. order to put an end to their misery in
this life,
til

the hair refer more

particularly to

the brilliant brass helmet which the

but shall not be gratified un-

cut off

by the sword
their

of the enemy.

They

desired most anxiously to die

by the hands of
ther than
cruel

own

people, ra-

horseman Avore, which was ornamented with horse hair that came down over the neck and back. See Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, edited by Chas. Anthon, 1843..

perish

by the hands of a

Faces of men.
fierce,
terrible,

Bold, courageous,
dreadful,

and barbarous enemy. This, Josephus observes, the citizens requested repeatedly; but
this

barbarous.

They showed no mercy

is

to the

young
This

favor

or the old, the rich or the poor.

was denied them even by among the people.*

the robbers

the character which

Moses gave of

7 Like horses prepared for battle.

That is, more properly like horsemen armed and equipped for battle. They had plenty of money, provisions and provender to carry on an extensive war. See Joel, 2:4; Jer. 50 42. Crowns. Of honor, glory, fame, &c.
:

them two thousand years previous, and this before they became a nation. Hence, " the Lord shall bring against you a nation from afar, swift as the eagle that flieth, and whose language
thou shalt not understand a nation of fierce countenance, who shall not re;

See Ps. 8:5.

But

th,e

crown and

gard either young or old." Deut. 28 See Dan. 8 : 28. 49, 50.

pion

tbeir misery

was

so great that

some of them died

for

want of water, and others with

hunger; while some, through means of the famine, became swelled up like bladders when

blown with wind, others wasted away

until they

became mere shadows, and

;

at last drop-

ped down dead

and others
Josephus,

in the streets

through perfect weakness

while some

fell

by the sword,

perislied in the flames.

See Amos, 9

3.

when speaking

of the barbarous conduct of the robbers at Jerusalem, says,

that in order to prove what metal their swords were

made

of,

they thrust

some

of the people,

through
to lend

who were
them

just dying by

means of
them

the famine.

But

for those that entreated

them

their right

hands and their swords

to dispatch them, they

were too obdurate

See. Jcr. 8 :3-,

,0 grant

them

their requests,

and

left

to be

consumed by

the famine.

51EVELATI0N.

123

S 9

And

they had hair as the hair of women, and their

as the teeth of lions.
it

teeth were

And
;

they had breast-plates, as

their

were breast-plates

of iron

and the sound of

wings was as the sound of

unto scorpions, and there
their

chariots of

many

horses running to battle.

tails

10

And
five

they had

like
;

were

stings in their tails

and

power was

to hurt

men

months.

8 As the hair of women. horse hair suspended from the

diers'

The
sol-

sisted the dart

That reBreast-plates of iron. and the spear.

their

heknets must liave appeared

like the hair of

The sound of
rattling noise of

wings.

very much
especially

women,

the cavalry

The when
cut-

movements.
bins, is an

when going through rapid Hair, among the Rabemblem of strength. Hence,
is to

pursuing the enemy, and especially

their loud and savage yells

when

ting

down

the enemy.

to pluck off the hair

take off the

:

10 Tails like unto scorpions.

vants, slaves, and feeble soldiers,

Ser-

covering or garments.
Jer. 7
:

Isaiah, 50

who

29.

As the teeth of lions. Long, sharp, and powerful weapons of defence, such
as darts, arrows, swords, spears, &c.

followed the main body of the army, and fought most desperately in the
siege of Jerusalem.

The head. Among the Jews, means

the master the
;

an emblem of terror, dread, majesty, power, domiJoel, 1

:

6.

The

lion is

tail,

the servant, slave.

full ac-

nion, and the teeth are his

weapons

Deut. 28 count of

13.
this

For a more
see

Josephus,

War,
re-

of warfare, with which he tears his

book

5, 2.

enemies in pieces.
pons of warfare.*

The

lion

means

Stings.

Envy, malice, hatred,

the general, and his teeth the wea-

were combined to utterly destroy the rebellious city and nation.

venge
all

*
ral

The men who were chosen

;

out from

among

the rest of the soldiers to be about the gene-

had a lance and a buckler

but the rest of the foot soldiers carried a spear, and a long

buckler, besides a saw, a basket, a pickaxe, and an axe, also a thong of leather and a hook,

with provisions

sufficient to

support them for three days

;

so that a foot soldier had no need

their right sides,

of a mule to carry his burdens

and the horsemen carried a long sword on

and a long pole

in

their

hand, a shield also lay obliquely on one side of their horses,

with three or more darts that were borne in their quiver, having broad points, and not
smaller than spears.

Josephus.

124

NOTES ON THE

11

And

they had a king over them, ivhichis the angel

pit,

of the bottomless
is

whose name

in the

Abaddon, but
12 One

in the

Greek tongue hath

Hebrew tongue his name

Apollyon.

wo

is

past

and behold, there come two woes

more

hereafter.

She first abandoned God, and then he abandoned her, and gave her up to vile affections, and then to utter
ruin.*

identical one prophesied of

by Daniel,

who
ever.

cast

down the

sanctuary, and

caused the daily sacrifice to cease for

11-4 king over them.

head man,

a chief, a general of the army. Josephus calls Titus a king, when but a
general.

laus

is

called such
:

War, book 5, 2 when

22
;

2.

Arche-

The destroyer, desolawho was to make Judea like a wilderness. The army under his command are called by our
Abaddon.
ter of the world,

only tetrach.

Lord the abomination of

because detested by God

desolation,

And here Vespasian is styled such when only general of the army. This mode of
Matt. 2
Acts, 4
:

26.

and man,

and hated especially by- the Jews for their abominable idolatry. John calls
the
hell

expression

is

frequently to be found

army

I'i'^?*^

the pit of perdition,

vile,

in the Rabbinical writings.

But he

on earth, because so

wickJere-

was such

prospectively,

was on the

ed, barbarous,

inhuman.
king of
it

And

eve of being crowned such. The angel of the hotlomless pit. The general of the Roman army, minister of

miah

calls the

mash-gith

go-yim, the destroyer of the heathen.

Chap. 4
lu-on.

7.

Greek hroxwav a polverb means

to kill, slay,

war.

See below.

The

In the Hebrew tongue. In which no doubt John wrote his book of Revelations.

cut

off,

destroy with the sword.

The
name

general, therefore, derived his

If he wrote

it

in

Greek he
It is evi-

would have named

it first.

dent, therefore, that this beast is the

from the pit, or the army, itself, f 12 One wo is past. That is, the first one, namely, the loosing the lo-

^ *

The poison

of envy and malice

was

in their heart against the

Jews

the

same

as that

of the officers and soldiers. Josephus farther observes, that the army which Titus brought
to Ptolemais

amounted
;

to sixty thousand, besides the servants that followed after

in the

them

in

vast numbers

because they had been trained up

war with

tlie

rest of the soldiers,

they ought not to be distinguished from the rest of the fighting men, for as they were in
their masters' service in the times of peace, so did they undergo the like dangers with

them

in the

times of war, insomuch that they were inferior to none either in

3, 5.

skill or in

strength.

See War, book

t This

name

is

more applicable

to Vespasian than to any other officer or general in the

KEVELATION.
13

125

And

the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice

is

from the four horns of the golden altar which

before God,

which had the trumpet, which are bound in the great river angels Loose the four
14 Saying
to the

sixth angel

Euphrates.

15

And

the four angels

were

loosed,

which were pre-

custs from their camps.

The army
for

first,

and then

to the

churches after-

had now
Judea.

set out

on their march

wards.

They were

also

admonishing

the people to be ready for the Lord's

13 The sixth angel.

The

prophet

coming

to this special

judgment.

Zechariah, a heavenly ambassador, ministering spirit to the church. I

14 Loose the four angels.

destroying
angels
;

The four
full

give

them

have no doubt that all the heavenly host were sent to earth at this time
to protect the general church in every

part of the world.

power and authority to unite their forces with the main body of the army, and march with them against the enemy of God and man. These were
the four generals or governors of the
east,

Sounded. Proclaimed aloud to the churches of Asia that this prophecy

who headed
command.
5, 1
:

the legions under

was just about

to

be

fulfilled, that

the

their

See Josephus, "War,

four symbolic horses

pared, and on their

were now premarch into Judea.

admonition,

book

6.

In the great river Euphrates. This

Chap. 6
alarm.

2-6.

army was
warning,
1
:

raised in that part of the

A voice. A
Zech.
altar.

country to carry on the Parthean war

18.

but as peace was now restored, the ar-

-FVom the four horns of the golden

my

From

the four chief apostles,

to the seat of

who were
bably

priests

and the Father.

and kings unto God Chap. 4 7. Pro:

was ordered from there by Nero war in Judea. 15 Prepared. Armed, equipped,
S^'c.

and disciplined.

Zechariah appeared

to

them

For an hour.,

That

is for

a short

Roman empire.
many, and by
jection to the

In the reign of Claudius he was sent as a

lieutenant, of a legion into

Ger-

his great courage

and good success

in this

war he brought

the west into sub-

Romans
St.

and

it

was by

his

means

that Claudius triumphed over Britain,

where Vespasian had fought

in Vespasian.

thirty battles before he

had conquered them.

See Suetonius

John has reference

to the 4th chapter

and 7th verse of Jeremiah, the

only place in the scripture, that I

tioned.

the very
at the

know of, where the destroyer of the Gentiles is menThe prophet evidently saw, and this many hundred years previous, that he was He was to come person who was to destroy Jerusalem. See verses 13 and 14.
See
v. 6.

head of the northern nation, which undoubtedly means the Romans.

126

NOTES ON THE
fof

pared
16

an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for

to slay the third part of

men.
of the

And

the

number

army
:

of the horsemen were

I

two hundred thousand thousand

of them.

and

heard the number

17

And

thus I saw the horses in the vision, and

fire,

them
ja-

that sat on them, having breast-plates of

and of

time, one campaign, or

during

the

millions of angels before the throne of

war.
or six

It

may mean

the twelve hun-

God.
is

similar

mode
:

of expression
:

dred and sixty days, or only the five

used in John, 21

25

"I suppose

months which they served un-

that the world itself could not contain

der Titus.

the books that

should be written."

To slay. With the sword, or by war and bloodshed. The third part of men. That is,
the third part of the rebellious nation

We

Gentiles frequently say a vast

army, they were without number when probably they were not more than sixty thousand men.*
17 Breast-plates.
Rabbinical, for
hearts full of fire, fury, anger; jacinth,
brimstone, envy, maBut they had fire, faggot, and brimstone with them in abundance, to burn up and consume cizeal,

one third,

who

submitted and laid

down

their arms,

were spared

the

others destroyed.

The

third part of

revenge

men, since then, have never been cut off as yet, and never will be, by a special judgment, until the world is
finally destroyed at the general judg-

lice,

hatred.

ties,

See Joel, 3 3. 16 The number of the army. They were innumerable, a vast, a very great army. In Yalkot Simeoni it speaks of nine hundred and sixty thousand
ment.
:

towns, houses, and fortifications. This is no doubt the reason why John compares them to the pit of hell.

As

the

heads of lions.
dreadful
to

Bold, fierce,

terrible,

their

enemies.

The heads mean

the generals and of-

This

is

a certain number to signify an uncertain.

He saw the army in

;

the revelation,

but there was no necessity to

know

the

number of them
probability

it

was enough

to

know

that

it

was

sufficient to destroy the

Jews.

But the

is,

that he

had reference

to all the
:

army

of the

Roman

empire, for nearly the same terms arc

made

use of in chap. 5

11, to

represent the church of Christ throughout the world.

But some may object

is

to this,

and

say that St. John had heard the number of them

but the number, as

expressed in the

next clause of
vision,

this verse,

has reference to the sight of the army that he had een in the
them.

and not

to the extent of

See the same expression made use of

in the last

chapter and verse quoted.

REVELATION,
cinth,

127

and brimstone
;

the heads of lions

and the heads of the horses ivei'e as and out of their mouths issued fire,
:

and smoke, and brimstone.

18
the

By

these three

was the

third part of

men

killed,

by

fire,

and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which

in their mouth,

issued out of their mouths.

19 For their power

is

for their tails were like unto serpents,

and in their tails and had heads, and

with them they do hurt.

20 And the

rest of the

men which were

not killed by

these plagues yet repented not of the

works of their hands,

ficers of

the army, chief head men. Out of their mouths issued fire. Fury, anger, revenge. This may refer

The
diers

tails.

Servants,

slaves,

sol-

which

proves that the army

rob-

to the inflammatory speeches of the

was heathen, and not christian. 20 The rest of the men. The
bers and murderers in

generals and head men, with which

the city, Si-

they infuriated the soldiers with madness

against
their

mon, John, Elezer

and their parties

enemies.

The

speeches of the flabbins are said to be

fire

repented not, did not renounce the hidden works of dishonesty, and' turn
to
is,

proceeding out of their mouths.

fol. 1.37
:

God with

all

their hearts.

The

fact

Tal. Bab. Cholen,

2.

19 Their power is in their mouth. In the speaker, omlor. Titus and his
father Vespasian

they would in a short time have destroyed the city had not Titus marched against it and besieged it

were famous for inflammatory speeches; they excited the soldiers to madness when about to attack the enemy.

with his army.* Should not \oorship devils and idols of gold. They sacrificed unto devils,
not to

God

to gods

whom they knew

* Josepbus says that Simon, the tyrant, with his engines of war, had thrown darts at

John and

his party

from the upper part of the

city,

which he had

in his possession
all

and

some of the darts came with such

were about the sacred
zeal,

force that they

itself,

went over

the buildings, and

reached as far as the altar of the temple

offices,

and

fell

upon the priests and those that

which was esaltar,

insomuch that many persons who came thither with great

offer sacrifices at this celebrated place,

from the ends of the earth, to

fell

teemed holy by all mankind,

which was venerable among

down

before their

own

sacrifices,

and sprinkled that

their

all

men, both Greeks and barbarians, with

own

blood.

12S

NOTES ON THE

that they should not worship devils,

silver,

and

idols of gold,
:

and

brass,

and

stone,

and of wood

and which neither

can

see,

nor hear, nor walk

nor of their

21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their

sorceries, nor of their fornication,
thefts.

not,

new

gods that
(Christ)

came newly
;

up,

had

slain in the

temple and at the very

offering

whom

their fathers feared not

and of

altar,

when they were

up

the rock

who
;

begat them

their daily sacrifices to

they were unmindful, and forgot God who had formed them and when the Lord saw it he abhored them, and gave them over into the hands of a
cruel enemy,

who showed them no

mercy.

Deut. 32:17, 18.

21 Neither repented they of their murders. The thousands which they

God. Sodom and Gomorrah, Josephus declares, never produced a worse generation of men. The fact is, they had become a nation of atheists the very filth and Jerusalem oflTscouring of the world. at this time was more vile and wicked than even France in the reign of
;

terror, or in the

time of Robespierre.

till

the dead bodies of strangers were mingled together with those of their
priests.

own

countryall sorts

men, and those of profane persons with those of the

And

the blood of

of dead carcasses stood in lakes in the holy courts themselves.

5, 1
:

See Josephus, War, book

his pious fol-

3.

And

not only this, but the

Jews murdered
it,

their

own Messiah and

lowers, and they have never repented of

even

to the present time.

CHAPTER
ven, clothed with a cloud
:

X.

And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaand a rainbow was upon
his
1

Another mighty angel.

That

is,

Gabriel,

who appeared

to

Daniel to

reveal the mystery of God, but told

him to seal it up, or keep it secret from the world until the end, that is, Daniel, 12 : 4, 7. of its fulfilment.

REVELATION.
head, and his face was as
pillars of fire
it

129

were the
little

sun,

and

his feet as

And he had

in his

hand a
sea,

book open

and he
on the

set his right foot

upon the

and

his left foot

earth,

And

cried with a loud voice, as

ivlien

a lion roareth

And now he appears in the end of the Jewish world to St. John, when in the Island of Patmos, to let him know that the book of Daniel is unsealed,
revealed to the church, and will be

niel, like pillars

of brass, (Dan. 10:5,)

See chap. 20 1. Clothed with a clouds This may mean power and authority to destroy
8oon
to

the world.

which shone and glistened like gold. His feet may mean angels who accompanied or came before him, to announce his appearance they were his messengers to carry the news to the
;

people

probably the seven angels

:

named
2
that

in chap. 16
little

1.

the world.

Gabriel

is

God's prime

A
is,

look open.

A little

roll,

minister, and has

any other angel in he came on a mission of mercy, now on a mission of justice. He came then
to save the Jews,

more power than heaven. Formerly

the prophecy of Daniel,

which

was now

unsealed, or revealed to the

church, and would be to the world

very soon.

now to destroy them.

;

Dan. 12:9. His right foot on the sea, and

his left

See Luke

19

9.

Daniel,

how-

foot on the earth.

To

denote the de-

ever, states that he was clothed in Knen but the linen and cloud mean the same thing, justice, holiness. He
;

struction of Christ's enemies

by sea

and by land.
3

He
is

cried with a loud voice.

So
land.

came
godly.

to

execute justice on the un-

as to be heard

by

sea and

by

He
The
glory of God,
to

now sent on

a particular mission

rainbow.

that shone round about hira

when the
our

shepherds saw him

at the birth of

Savior; his face or appearance was

so luminous, glorious,
majestic, that
fell

announce a special judgment; but at the last day he will be sent in the same way to announce the general judgment, and declare to the whole
world that time shall be no longer. Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son
of

they were
earth.

terrified,
:

and

to the

See Luke, 2 9. His feet like pillars offire.

In

Da-

Man

will

come.*

This

is
;

the very angel that

God

will send to

swear that time sball be no longer with

it

as Gentiles

and then woe to a world of unbelievers,

would be good for them

fall

if

they had

never been born-, they will be calling for the rocks and the mountains to

on them, and

17

ISO

NOTES ON THE
cried,

and when he had

voices.

seven thunders uttered

thei:f

And when

the seven thunders

to write:

had uttered

their

voices, I

was about

and

heard a voice from

heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the

seven thunders uttered, and write them not,
I saw stand upon the sea and up his hand to heaven,. 6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, wha

And

the angel which

upon the

earth, lifted

Seven

tliiunders uttered their voices.

should be eommunioated privately to

the churches.

Fromtheboanerges or sons of thunder

But
1.

this

the ministers of the seven churches

of Asia; each of

may

allude

to the voices of the

heavenly messen-

them

sou^nded the

gers.

Chap. 16:

trumpet of alarm to his congregation, that Gabriel, God's prime minister^,

4 Seal up
secret
let

those things.

Keep them,
them
pri-

from the world at present, but

had made

his

appearance

the Island of

to John Patmos; announced

in to

the chiircb

know

of

vately.*"

him the
phecy,
should

fulfilment of

I^aniel's pro-

viz,

that the

daily sacrifice

5 Lifted uj) his hand to heaven. He appealed to the chief magistrate of

now cease for ever, the temple and the holy city be destroyed, and the abomination of desolation set up; that the twelve hundred and sixty
dayshad.commenced; and these things

heaven, the highest authority there,

the
J^esus,

Judge of all the earth, the Lord<. could swear by no for he

gfeater^f

6 Sievar by him that liveth for ever

hide them from the face of

Him

that) sitteth

upon the throne, and from the wrath of

the"

Lamb

but their cries will be

all useless,

the

Lord

will ha.ve
is

no pity on them.

What

these seven apostles uttered at this time

;

not easy to determine, but they Lo-

gan to sound as soon as they heard Gabrier's voice

to the Jews,
it

and as they had finished their missioj*

This was

could not have reference to what they liad declared to them.

already.
It

made manifest

must, therefore, have reference to the churcli

and very proorder to he

bably they had been giving the people directions where they must

flee to in

preserved from the power of the

Roman

army, and

this

was necessary

to

be kept secreB
the-

from the world, as the Romans would no doubt pursue and destroy them as well as
Jtvvs.

t It

was an ancient
hand
if

practice
ix

among both Jews and Romans

an appeal to mailer of
f.ict.

to raise

up or stretch forth
;,1.

ihe right

going

inal<e

See Acts, 26

WU<u

REVELATION.

131

created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the
earth,

and the things that therein

are,

and the

sea,

and

the things which are therein, that there should be time

no longer:

<ind ever.
alive,

who

He that was dead and is and liveth for evermore, and hath the keys of hell and of
:

spirits

of

the

just

And
it.

all the earth.

made perfect, The whole terall

raqueous globe, with

over

on

it,

and

in

death. Chap. 1

18.*

This was not

Therefore Christ must be

ail,

God

an oath, but simply an appeal to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

and blessed for ever.

Who

created heaven.

The abode

Thai time should he no longer. That is, no longer than the time, times, and
half a time, twelve hundred and sixty

of the blessed.

And

the

things that are therein.

all

days. Chap. 11

3.f

Angels and arch- angels, and

the

When

he shall

begin

to

sound.

the

Roman

soldiers

were ready

to

march against

their enemies,

the crier stood at the

if

general's right hand,

and asked them three times,

;

in their

own
all
is

language,

they were

now

ready to go out to war, or not

voice, saying,

to

which they replied as

to confirm
this,

often, with
lifted

a loud and cheerful

their right bands.

We
lifts

are ready

and

they

up

And we know
person either
'*

that no oath, at present,

among

Christians,
it

considered lawful unless the

up

his right

hand to

heSiven, or lays
is
:

on the Bible.

This

is

an appeal to out Savior, which

is

evident from what follows, where the powet

;

of creation

ascribed to him. See chap.

to

1 1.

And

if this

wise, perfect,
it is

and holy
for us to

angel

made such a solemn appeal

God,
in

it

necessarily follows that

;

no sin
is

lake an oath on a particular occasion

alluded
t

a court of justice

and

if

our Savior

the person

to,

then no christian magistrate has a right to administer an oath unless in his name.

This

is

a qiiotation from the 12th chap, and 7th verse of Daniel; he said he " heard

the

man

clothed in linen, which

his left

was upon the waters of the

id svvare

river,

when he held up

his
it

riglit

hand and

hand unto heaven, a

by him that

liveth for ever, that

shall

be for a time, times, and a half; and

all

when he

shall

have accomplished to scatter the

power of the holy people,

these things shall be finished."

The man clothed in

ed

linen.

That

is,

Gabriel

he

calls

him a man, because he appear^

human Which was upon

to

him

in

form.

The

linen

was an emblem

of his holiness.
2.
It is

the waters of the river.

See verse

rendered in our transla-

tion sea; but

ter 8
,

it

means no more than a

river, or

a lake, according to this verse.

See chap-

8.

That it
Times.

That

shall be for
is,

a time.

That

is,

one year,

Chaldee.

two years.

132

NOTES ON THE

7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel,

when he
be
phets.

shall

begin to sound, the mystery of

God should
the pro-

finished, as

he hath declared

to his servants

And

the voice
again^

which
said,

heard from heaven spake

little

unto

me
is

and

Go, and take the

book

which

open in the hand of the angel which standeth

upon the sea and upon the earth. 9 And I went unto the anojel, and said unto him, Give

That
7

is,

at the

commencement of

the

twelve hundred and sixty days.

The
is,

That

voice of the seventh angel. Daniel. His voice means

kingdom against kingdom, &;c. &c. But all these are only the commencement of the troubles.
8 The voice froin heaven said. Go. This was the voice and command of

the fulfilment of his prophecy.

this took place the

When

whole mystery of

Christ himself, not of Gabriel.

God was

revealed, and the calendar

Take

the little

book which

is

open.
is

of prophecy ended.

The mystery of God

laill

be finish-

The prophecy of Daniel, which now clear and manifest.

Take
it
it.

ed. All things, written in the

law and
to

As thy

portion, and

keep

the prophets, shall then be fulfilled. See Luke, 21 : 23. The signs of the

in

thy possession until called upon announce it to the world. See chap,
:

times indicate this

wars and rumors

15

16.*

of wars, nation rising against nation,

And

eat.

Receive

it

by

faith

And an

half.

That

is,

a half year

in all three

years and a

half, exactly

answering to

twelve hundred and sixty days.

And when
the

he shall have accomplished.

That

is, fulfilled is,

the time allotted him.

TV) scatter the

power of

the holy people.

That

to deliver

them

into the

hands

ot

Romans
:

to destroy them,

and lead them

into captivity.

For holy people,

see chap-

ter 11

2.
&;c.

.Snd these things shall be finished. All the prophecies of Daniel,

fulfilled in the extent.

shall then

be

This

is

an express

command
to seal

given to John himself, and not to any other apostle, be;

fore he

was commanded

up the things which the seven thunders uttered

John himself

and now

he

is

commanded

the second time to go and lake the book out of the angel's hand, that
it

he might read the contents of

to the

Jews.
is

If

is

not the person that took

forbid to seal

the book out of the angel's hand, then he

not the person

who was
not.

up the

things which the seven thunders uttered, and to write

them

REVELATION.

133
it,

me
eat

the
it

little
;

book.
it

up

and
I

shall

And he said unto me, Take make thy belly bitter, but
little

and
shall

it

be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

10

And
it

took the
it

and
and

ate

up; and

was

in
it

book out of the angel's hand, my mouth sweet as honey:

as soon as I

had eaten

my

belly

was

bitter.

11

And he

said unto me.

Thou must prophecy

again

and prayer, and with great power and authority announce it See Ez. 3 2.*
:

sion, to

to the world.

inform him of the will of his Lord and Master, that is, that he must

prepare for the

last great conflict

with

And I (John)
lowed

took

it.

Eat

it,

swal-

his

John speaks it up by faith. here of himself, personally, and not of

another person or thing.

countrymen at Jerusalem, to die a martyr for Jesus. Thou must prophecy again. Thou,
thyself, in person, (not by proxy,) must preach Christ and him crucified

Therefore

he must have been one of the two witnesses spoken of in chap, 11 3. have no authority whatever to interpret it of any other person or thing. And the whole chapter will bear no other construction. It was \Q It was sweet as honey. sweet to me to do my blessed Mas:

again to the Jews.

"

Show my
They may

peo-

We

ple their transgressions, and the house

of Israel their sin."

yet

repent, obtain mercy, and finally put

themselves under the protection of

been

ter's will

but

bitter, grievous, indeed,

my own beloved nation God was now going to utterly destroy them by the Roman army and it is bitter, especially, as I know
to announce to

that

Happy would it have them if they had done this the city would never have been deBut stroyed by the Roman army. the world must perceive that God was wiUing to save them even at the
King Messiah.
for
;

I shall lose

my

life

in the discharge of

eleventh hour, if they had repented. " O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, (says he,)

my

duty

they did

my

they will murder me as Lord and Master before

will,

thou that
stonest

killest

the prophets, and

me. But thy be done.

11

Lord, not mine,

them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy
children together under

my wings,

(of

And

he said unto me.

That is,

protection,) as a

to John.

This was part of his mis-

hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye

"

It will

prove a blessing instead of a curse

all

knowing that

then you shall be clear of

th blood of

men, and nothing can hinder your happy

soul from entering into the abode

of the blessed.

134

'

KOTES ON THE

before

many

peoples, and nations,

and tongues, and

kings.

would not come

but

now these things

;

And
in

nations.

Who will

be present
in their

view and thou shalt see me no more until ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." Luke,
are for ever hid from thy

Judea to assist the Romans war with the Jews.

And

tongues.
to

Foreigners.

You

can preach
conferred on
tecost.

them

in foreign langift

13

34, 35.

guages, as you had the

of tongues

Before
feast of

many people. At the yearly the passover, when the Jews

you

at the

day of Pen-

and Gentiles will be present from every part of the world. Remember, John, this will be the very last passover which they shall ever eat in Jerusalem, until the city and temple
shall

Kings.
all

Generals, princes, gover;

nors of different provinces

they will

be present with the

in Judea.

But

this

Roman army clause may refer

and
to

to the various nations, characters

be destroyed, and the blood of the people be mingled with the blood

distinguished personages

who came

Jerusalem
passover.

yearly to

celebrate the

of their sacrifices at the altar.

CHAPTER
xVND
there
the angel stood, saying. Rise,

XI.

was given me a reed like unto a rod: and and measure the temple of
and them that worship
therein.

God, and the

altar,

A reed.

Precious faith, the subfor,

;

by
is

stance of things hoped

the evilooks into

tion of

dence of things not seen

futurity and

it

comprehends the length and breadth, the depth and height of the new and heavenly Jerusalem. John is the prophetic Z erubbabel, master-builder of the tabernacle, which he the Lord pitched and not man
;

and prayer laid the foundaand by faith and prayer he now called upon to measure it. Like a rod. Like Aaron's rod that
faith
it,

budded, blossomed, and brought forth

the fruits of holiness.

works

is

dead,

Faith without and works without

faith are equally so.

Rise and measure the temple, the


REVELATION.
2 But the court which
is

135

without the temple, leave out,

given unto the Gentiles: and

and measure

it

not; for

it is

church of the living God. Zech. 2:2. You laid the foundation and helped to
complete, establish, and raise up the
building;

now examine and prayer, and know

all is
fit

it

by

faith

they are not included in the ; temple of God ; they are outside the pale of Christ's church the door of mercy js shut against them, because
;

thens

of a surety
final resi-

of unbelief and rejection of the

siah.

Mes-

whether
of lords.

for the

Therefore leave them to pe-

dence of the King of kings and Lord

rish in their sins.f

Measure
altar.

it not.

Because unholy,

And the
the church

The

ministers of

unrighteous, they cannot be measured

who

are in Christ's stead

by
all

faith,

and should be condemned by

all

on earth, find out whether ministers and members are holy

holiness no
all shall
;

the Judge of
infidels
;

the earth.

They are
have

for

without

they acknowledge not

by

man shall see the Lord now be proved and purified fiery ordeal. The ministers are
to
offer

the Son of God, and therefore

neither the Father nor the Son, and

are anti-Christ.
It is

Christ's altar on earth,

up

spiritual sacrifices on behalf of the

Roman army.
destroy them.

The given unto the Gentiles. As Christ cannot connow

people
in

and Jesus

is

our golden altar

vert them, their enemies must

heaven, on which the sacrifices of the whole world are offered up daily.
for

And

the holy city.

Blessed be his name

ever and ever.

rusalem.

title

That is of Jeby which it had

people.
It
is

Amen.*
A7id them that worship therein.
true Israel of
in spirit

long been designated, because former-

The

ly a holy place and

still

God who worship Christ

called

by the Jews, the holy

and in truth.

city.

But the glory has departed,

a city of murderers and See Neh. 11:1; Is. 48:2; Jer. 11 ; 1 ; Dan. 9 24 Matt,
:

2 The court without the temple leave out. That is the Jews, they have now become Gentiles, complete hea-

and 52

it is

now

robbers.
:

That

is,

Christ

is

the golden altar that sanctified their gifts

to sanctify the gifts

they were altars of

earth, ordained of

God

and

offerings of the church.

At

this

lime

there

was no person

in the

church better calculated to measure the holiness that each

minister and

member had

arrived to than St. John, for he

was

the oldest and

most holy

apostle of any then living.

t

The Jews

in this verse are

compared

to the outer court of the Gentiles that

was ad-

joining to the Jewish temple, to

show

that,

according to their faith and

vile

conduct, they

could no more be admitted into the church of Christ than a heathen into their
ple.

wn tem-

See chap. 21

27.

136

NOTES ON THE

the holy city shall they tread under foot forty

and two

months.

4':

27

53.

Joseptus, Chrysoscall
it

Daniel's 1260 days are not prophetic,

trura and
city.

Jerome

the

holy

nor can they be understood as such

for Gabriel is pointing out to

him the

Shall they tread under foot. If another text in the Revelation to prove that Jerusalem
there were not

precise time

when

the city and tem-

ple should be destroyed, and the daily

sacrifice taken

away; and he
should

assures

was
lipse

not destroyed before the apoca-

Daniel that

it

be just three

was

written, this

is

sufficient.

years and a half from the time the

abomination of desolation was set up
or the

For

this is the

very expression which

in reference

our Lord and Daniel use

Roman army
The

pitch their tents,

to the destruction of that city.

And

plant their standard in Judea.

Luke,
justi-

Jerusalem (says Christ)

trodden

"shall be

21

20.

event
;

itself

down
:

of the Gentiles until the

fies the prediction

for it

was exactly

times of

the Gentiles

be fulfilled."

three years and six months from the

Luke 21 24; Dan. 9:24.* Forty and two months.

years and a half
the Jewish
;

time Vespasian pitched his tent in

Three

Judea, until the Jews were subdued

precisely the time

It

and the war ended.

Again,

See Josephus.
intend a

began in the year of our Lord 66, and ended Six months after this A. D. 70. time the army lay still on account of the death of the emperor Nero,
lasted.

war

when
:

the prophets

A. D. 69.
half a time,

Daniel's time, times, and

mean

precisely the same.

time one year, times two years,

half a time six months.

The

Chal-

day for a year, they always name it. See Ez. 4 6. But we would inquire here, if Elijah's three years and Oh, you a half mean 1260 years? will say no. Well, then, we must admit John's forty and two months to mean precisely the same time for he <vas to prophecy three years and a
;

dees reckoned time by the annual revolution of the heavenly bodies round
the earth.

half, clothed in sackcloth,

and during

this

time the two witnesses had powElijah, to shut heaven, that

it

er|^like

And
him.

seven

times

That

is

pass over seven years. Daniel

shall

should not rain on the earth.

the

The

4:16.

For

a time, times,

and half a

time.

two witnesses began their mission to Jews A. D. 66, and ended it in three years and six months then Je;

Some have
temple of

tliougbt the city

must menn

the church of Christ, hut

tliis is

impossible,

for the

God
is

in the first verse has reference to the

church of Christ, and the holy

city in this verse

distinct from the former;

it,

and as the treading under foot has reference

if this

to the utter desolation of

it

necessarily follows,

be true, that
Is.

tlie

churcii of Christ

will be utterly destroyed by her

enemies hereafter.

See

48

2.

REVELATION.
3

137

And

I will

give power unto

my

two witnesses, and

rusalem was besieged by the Roman army. So that John must have been
recalled from the
Islaii-'

of

Patmos
:

and rose again from the dead, and ascended into heaven, in the presence of hundreds of men, women and children.

before that period.

See chapt. 12

16.*

power
are

to

See V. work

9,

11.

4.

miracles, v. 6. 5.

They had They

branches,
4.

Two of my 3 My two witnesses. chosen witnesses, apostles, because they have been with me from the beginning of

called the

two

olive

Joshua and Zerubbabel. Zech. ch.

From

these facts, therefore,

it is

evi-

my

ministry,

and they

dent they must be

men and

ministers,

have had
cles,

to

bear personal and public

testimony to the world, of

death,
sufferings,

my

mira-

resurrection

and not things, such as the Old and New Testaments. And again, the New Testament was not completed
until after the

and ascension to glory. The fact is, they were eye and ear witnesses of all that they have written and published to the world in their gospels

Revelation was finish-

ed

the epistles and letters of the

collected for years Therefore the Old and Testaments are not the two
;

apostles

were not

after this.

and

epistles.

The

title

witness, is

New

confined

exclusively

to

our Lord's

witnesses
properties

as

personal

actions

twelve apostles. He commanded them " to preach repentance and remission

of sins, in his name, -among
tions,
all

are

ascribed to

and each of
things.
to

them, that
St.

na-

is, as men, and not Paul applies this title

the

beginning at Jerusalem.

And

ye are (says he) my witnesses of these Luke, 24 48. See Acts, 8. The case is still more clear 1 from Acts, 1 22, where one who had been an eye-witness of his ministry and miracles was chosen (no other would do) to supply the place of Judas who fell by transgression. 1. The two witnesses, then, were men and
things."
: : :

twelve apostles, and does not include As he did not consider himhimself. self a competent witness. Acts, 18:11.

He was

a witness of his resurrection,

but not of his death and sufferings. He saw the Savior in glory, but did
John, not see him die on the cross. no doubt, was one of these witnesses.

He

is

the person

who

took the

little

preachers of

the

gospel.

2.

They

book out of the angel's hand. He ate it, and it made him feel bitter.

were prophets, they prophecied. See below. 3. They had souls and bodies, were murdered, put to death.

And

the angel said unto him, thou

(John) must prophecy again.

Chap.

10:9-11.

And he was commanded

And

never was the providence of

behalf of his church; for Vespasian

was on

God more clearly manifest than at this time, in his way to destroy Jerusalem, after he had
his designs

subdued the Jews

frustrated,

in every other part,

and hearing of the death of Nero,

to

were

and the christians had an opportunity

if

make

their escape

from Jerusalem,
on to the
city.

which they could not have done

the

Roman army had marched

18

directly

NOTES ON THE
fliey shall pro[)hesy

a lliousand two liundred and

tiirce'

score

(lays,

clothed in sackcloth.

to

llie

measure the temple, was one of two witnesses who prophesied twelve hundred and sixty days. Peter may have been the other, as he wasliving at this time.

of age

that

is,

allowing they entered

thirty or thirty-

the ministry
five,

when

the time

fixed

by the law of

Moses.
tles,

Lactantis mentions two aposPeter,,

The

idea of his

Paul and

who were
the

put
of

suffering

culous.

martyrdom at Rome is ridiHe was the apostle of the

and not the apostle of

to death in the

siege of Jerusalem,,

and

when

dying for
the

name

Jews

in Judea,

Jesus,

predicted

downfall and

the Gentiles,, as

was Paul; Peter nebut no

to

utter destruction of Jerusalem

by the

ver had his foot in Rome,

tloubt

Roman army

but he no doubt mis-

he was put

death in Jerusa-

took Paiil for John.

Paul evidently

lem

Lord observes, cannot perish out of it. These two blessed men must each of them, at this time, have been 70 or 75 years
;

for a prophet, as our

was condemned to death by Nero at Rome. See 2 Tim. 4:6, 7. See

Lactantis Divine Institutes, Lib. 4,

chap. 21.*

There are so many and various opinions

in the

world respceting who these two witin their

nesses are, that there are scarcely any two

who

agree

opinion on this point.

the

Some
But
killed,,

have not scrupled to say that the Old and

Jhis is impossible, for

New

Testaments

arre

two witnesses.

how could

it

be said that the Old and

New Testaments were

and their dead bodies lay and that

in the streets of the great city, &c., for three

days and a

half,

after this their souls returned to their bodies,

and then they stood on their feet, and

ascended to heaven in the sight of their enemies.

without any change
;

We

know

the gospel

is to

abide for ever,.

;

but these two witnesses were killed, and did not abide for ever
is

and

we know

that the moral law

as binding on us as on the Jews, and that by

;

it,

as well as
until

the gospel,

we

shall

be judged

and consequently

it

must abide, without change,

the day of judgment.

Neither could the two witnesses mean a general succession of

gospel ministers
ties ascribed to

for they v/cre

two

distinct beings,

who had

personal actions and proper-

each of them, applicable to themselves alone.

of,

And' how could

ivi-o

be a

representation

perhaps, one million

I believe that St.

John himself was one of these

witnesses, and one of the four beasts spoken of in chapter

4:6

the other; for

no proof that he survived the destruction of Jerusalem, but mere conjecture.

other hand,
it is

we have On the

clear,

from

this chapter, that

he was killed before that period. But every

reasonable

man must allow

to

that the person lo

whom
is

Gabriel gave the

little

book, and who'

was appointed

measure the temple of God,

St. .rohn himself
aiid that

one of these witnesses; this no persor

identical person

can deny; and certainly

was the very

upon
to

who

took

tlia

book out of Gabriel's hand,

10
:

was

called

measure the
it

temiile.

Chapter

10,

and the

first

verse of this chapter.

And

would,

not be improper for St. John,

UEVELATION.

139

4 These are the two

ohve-trees,

and the two candle-

sticks standing before the

God

of the earth.

They shall prophecy. Preach Christ and him crucified once more to the
'unbelieving Jews.

thousand two hundred and sixty.

days.

That

is

three years and a half,

Even
1
:

at the ele-

ordinary Jewish years; for surely a

venth hour they

tain mercy.
it

may

repent and ob6, 7.

prophet cannot live 1260 years, and

be
still

See Acts,
It
is

But

prophecying in the holy city

means

also to predict their final de-

of Jerusalem.
is ridiculous.f

Such an

idea as this

struction.

evident enough that

:

the prophet Ezekiel, chap. 3

is

1, 2, 3,

here predicting events which should

:

take place in 3Iesiah's day. Chap. 5

10, 11, 12, puts this

That is a rough This was worn by Jewish prophets, and not by Gentile
In sackcloth.
hairy garment.
priests. It was a token of deep mourning and humility. Lam. 2 10, Ez. 7 18, Zech. 13 4, Dan. 9 3. 4 The two olive trees. Spoken of by Zechariah, chap. 4 3. The two anointed Cherubs from which the
:
: : :

then follows

that

beyond doubt. his prophecy

It
is

now

on the eve of fulfilment, and that it referred to the house of Israel, and that the witnesses were Jews, and not
<xentiles.*

to call any

two individuals our Savior's witnesses, when,

any of his transactions on earth
?

at the

same time, they never had

told the

been

eye- witnesses of

But Peter

Jews

that St.

John and himself were eye-witnesses of

Acts, 3
:

the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

See

15.

* This proves to a demonstration that St,

told

John was one of the witnesses,

for the angel

him

that he should have to prophecy again before

many

peoples, and nations,

to foretell the

and

tongues, and kings.

Verse

of the former chapter.

their city

He was

Jews the

miseries which were

now coming upon

and nation, and also to measure the

is

temple of God.
evident from

That John was a

prophet, as well as an apostle and an evangelist,

many memorable
literally

events which he foretold should

fulfilled.

come

to pass,

and which

were afterwards

and wonderfully

One was
6

the tremendous and bloody

the sea of Gennesaret.

sea fight which took place between the

Jews and Romans on

:

Another remarkable prophecy

the

is

contained in chapter 9

5,

and the third was that of

murder of the two witnesses, the time of

lie

their prophecy,

and the number of days their

dead bodies should

in

in the streets of the great city,

:

&c.

And
was

another one

is

contained
verse IG
;

chapter 11

13

also one in chapter 13

:

3, 5,

and a very remarkable one

in

also one in chapter IC

16,

and another

in verse 19, that

literally fulfilled.

But the

most remarkable of
at the expiration of

all
it.

was that of the thousand years, and the things which took place

And we know

that he had no foundation for these prophecies in

this

the scripture

and though there are a great many quotations in

book from the Old

there.

Testament prophecies, yet he has not quoted any of these prophecies from
t

From what

period could

we

date the twelve hundred and sixty days but from the

140

NOTES ON THE

And

if

any man

will hurt tliem, fire

proceedeth out
if

of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: und

any

man

will hurt

them, he must

in this

manner be
it

killed.

6 These have power to shut heaven, that

the days of their prophecy
:

rain not in

and have power over wa-

pure
into

oil

(holy unction)

was

pressed

The
shall

flaming sword of God's

word

the tubes of the

candlesticks,
brilliant

which

seven golden produced such

consume them

and cut them

and glorious light in the Sethe two

candleslicJcs.

down, as persecutors of the innocent Christians. This is a Rabbinical mode

of expression, to

ven Churches of Asia.*

show

that if their

And

From

which Christ
kingdom
heart.

the
oil

good olive tree

and wine of the
into the believer's

pours in the pure

;

they would prove " a savor of death unto death." See chapter 9-17, Num. 16 : 2, 2
doctrines

were

rejected,

that

is,

Kings, 1: lO.f

Standing

before.

To

minister in

holy things, as the priests did at the altar. These were the genuine priests

He must in this manner he killed. Destroyed by fire, sword and famine, given to the burning flame ; for with fire and sword God shall plead with
all flesh.

with Urim and Thummim, and were clothed with holy garments, and full
of light,
life,

liberty,

and love.
to kill, de-

6 Hurt them.
isters of Jesus.

Attempt

stroy, or hurt their influence as

min-

These have power to shut heaven. and prayer, as did Elijah. Here, then, are the spiritual Elijahs, whose God answers by fire. But our
6

By

faith

Fire proceedeth out of their mouth.

this

Lord gave them greater power than power to heal the sick, cleanse
;

time

when

the Revelation
that

therefore

is,

was written, or else immediately after ? So that the conclusion when Gabriel declared that time should bo no longer, he meant with the

Jews, and not with the Gentiles.

St.

John was the person prophesied of under the name of Zerubbabel

and the other

apostle the person prophesied of under the

tles that helped our

name Joshua.

St. Jolin

was one of the apos-

Lord

to lay the foundation of the temple,

to

and he was the person our

Lord had now appointed

measure

it,

to

saints, the length and breadth, depth and height, and to

know whether they could comprehend, with all know the love of Christ, which
with
all

passeth knowledge, that they might be

t

filled

the fulness of God.

This

is

a figurative mode of expression, to show that the wrath of God should conIt is

sume
it

their persecutors.

a blessed thing to suffer for righteousness sake, and to bear

soul to

patiently, to
is

commit the keeping of our

God, as unto a

faithful

Creator

" ven-

geance

mine, saith the Lord, I will repay."

REVELATION.
ters to turn

141

them

to blood,

and

to smite the earth

with

all

plagues, as often as they will.

And when they

shall

have finished their testimony,

the lepers, cast out devils, and raise

sending them back again to

slaves for
life.

Egypt
7
:

as

the dead to

life.

See Exodus,

19.

In

the

days of

their projjhecying.

The
7

plagues of the East are the ter-

That is jduring the twelve hundred and

sixty days, or three and a half years,

ror of the people to this day.

And when they

it,

shall have finish-

the precise time of Elijah's prophecyihg,

ed their testimony.
finished
viz.

That

is,

finally

and of the great drought in

:

preached Christ and

Judea. See James, 5

17.*

And
To

haiie poiver over water.

Over
tinge

the rivers and the lakes.

turn them
to

blood.

To
slain.

which was a stumbling Jews and foolishness to the Greeks, but Christ the power of God and wisdom of God to all them
crucified,

him

block to the

them with the blood of the

But
then

who
sion

believe.

When

John's last mis-

this could not take place until the lime

of their prophecyingwas ended

was ended, then their destruction was sealed, and the day of their merciful visitation for

the angel of the

pit of

destruction

ever gone.
identify this beast

was

to

be
to

let loose.

The
Spiritual
is

beast.

To

And

smite the earth.

Egypt, where our Lord was crucified, and also the seat of the beast.

With all plagues. That is, the seven plagues of Egypt, which were formerly sent for the deliverance of
the Jews from Egyptian bondage, but
are now sent to punish them for their wickedness, and to be the means of

because he was cotemporary with the dragon, false prophet, and the beast that rose up out of the earth. Chap. 13 11. He is said by some authors to be the Pope, by others to be Mahomed, and by some to be the Roman Empire, and by a late writer to be Napoleon
to identify all the others,
:

Bonaparte

but, in

my

opinion, not

* Elijah prayed to

God

that

it

might not rain on the earth

See
1

for three years

:

and a

half,
:

and the Lord answered the prophet's prayer.

Kings, 17

also James, 5

17.

And from

this

we may

learn that St. John, by the days of their prophecy,

meant three
if

years and a half; for this

terpret the twelve

was

the space of time that Elijah prophecied.

to

And

we

in-

hundred and sixty days

mean twelve hundred and

months
to signify the

sixty years,

must

also interpret Elijah's three years

this

and

six

same time.

we But we

have no authority whatever from

phetically.

book nor the word of God to interpret them pro-

Moses and Aaron had the same power.

this.

See Exod. 7
:

\i

But these two apostles

had greater power than

See Matt. 10

8.

142

NOTES ON THE
sliall

the beast that asccndctli out of the bottomless pit

one of tliem

is

the identical person in-

tended by cither John or Daniel. 1. It cannot refer to the Roman

by death, and one of them still survived, was then alive, and is the sixth
head, and
is

also called the seventh

Empire* because the beast is called a man, a king, an emperor, or a person superior to a king. See chap. 13 1,
:

and eighth head, which is very remarkable indeed, and will apply to no individual under heaven but the Emperor Nero. (Chap. 17
:

V. 18.

10.)

Galba

This king was to destroy the mighty and holy people, to cast down the Jewish sanctuary, and cause the
2.

was declared emperor while Nero was yet alive, a thing which never
took place before in the empire.

And

daily sacrifice to cease for ever.

And

Pompey was

the other head of the

the captives taken in the siege of the

city

nation; so that he

was

the sixth and

he was

to carry

back

into

and there

to sell

them

for

Egypt, bond-men

eighth head of the empire.

eighth head
himself.
5.

But the
Vespasian

may

refer to

and bond-women.

Has
say, no.

the

Pope

or

either of the persons alluded to, ever

Three kings were

or
to

to

be subdued
for

done

this

We

in his time,
roots,

plucked up by the
the

This took
beast to

prepare

jilace in the year of our Lord 70, under Nero, and by Vespasian, the Roman Emperor. 3. He had seven heads and ten horns, and is called one of these heads

way

this

come

to the empire.

These

were Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, who were all declared emperors, and were subdued and dethroned in less than
and Vespasian declared emperor by the legions under his command. This was another very remarkable event, which went to fulfil
one year,
the prophecies of Daniel.
6.

John asserts 1. were crowned heads they were crowned such literally by the seAnd the ten 3. nate. Chap. 12
himself.

Cha-p. 13

that these

horns to be ten
prospectively.

kings or governors

They

Daniel

calls

him a king of
This was

fierce

all

belonged to

countenance,
cious.

bold,
:

undaunted, fero])re-

and were under the dominion of the dragon, and after this became identified with the kingdom of the beast, which proves that the emi)ire was transferred to this very ask then, how this can beast.
the one empire,

Dan. 8
the

23.

cisely

character of

Vespasian.

See chap. 13:14.

7.

He

is

designated the King of the

invariably called

We

North.
the

be applied to the Pope, Mahomed Surely it cannot be. or Bonaparte. Kor all wore Cirsar's who " would never admit an
ccjual."

The Jews Romans the

Jer. G
:

northern
1.

nation.

Dan. 8:11,
8.

See underthe
the

last section of this note.

them, at any lime, rors and seven kings associat(;d with them in the government. 4. Five of these heads had fallen

Not one of had seven empe-

He was

to

wage war with

is,

king of the south. That

ral of the

the gene-

Jewish armyin Judoa, which

lay south of

the descendants of

Rome. The Jews were Shcm, and settled

REVELATION,

143

make war
kill

against them,

and

shall

overcome them, and

them,

in

that
9.

country.
to

Genesis,
at the to

10

21.

16.

Daniel declares, that this beast

He was
in

march

head of

the

army himself and

person,

conduct the

war

The Pope
army
10.

and never has been from the

not

by proxy.

to the fourth kingdom on earth. This was the Roman empire beyond a doubt, (Dan. 7 19,) which destroyed the kingdoms of the Medes,
:

belonged

See of Rome, nor never headed an

in person. to be wounded literally and to recover of his wound, which was the case with Vespasian in the siege of Jotapata. The Pope nor Mahomed never were wounded in

He was

Persians and Grecians. 17. To prove that he was heathen, he says that "he beheld until the
beast

in battle,

was destroyed (by death) and his

to the

body given consumed

burning pile

to
:

be
11,

to

ashes.

Chap. 7

The
luded

vile

battle.

to here, of

and barbarous practice alburning instead of

11. In this

war he was

to

subdue

the mighty and the holy people, that

is

the Jews, beyond doubt.

No other

burying the dead, continued among the Romans until the empire became Christian. It then ceased for ever.

nation

was ever distinguished as such. The number of his name 6G6, 1 2. can never be traced out in the names
of any of the three persons alluded to.
13.

So

that the beast could not refer to

rose

any king or emperor that

:

up

in

the empire from that time to the present. See chap. 20 10.
to come into power when the transgressions had come to the full, or the Jews had become a nation of robbers and murderers. Dan. 8 : 23. This was the very time when he was declared emperor.

Daniel
S^^T^n

calls

him
ilia,

heathen

18.

This king was

beast

hai ue

a lawless

wild beast, because not governed by Divine law. The Pope, Mohamed

and Bonaparte
ed by
14.
it.

all

believed in the Di-

vine law, and professed to be govern-

The Rabbins called Herod

a fox,

a devil.
of the

Vespasian a lawless beast, and Nero Hence, "all ye wild beasts

field,

(Roman

empire,) and

all

ye beasts of the forest, (barbarous nations,) come ye and devour the dead
carcasses,"
15.
i.

His power, though great, was by a higher power, viz, that of Nero, under whom he acted as general of the army. Dan. 8 24. The soldiers worshipped the dragon who gave his power to the beast.
19.

restricted

20.

This king declared war

literally

e.

of the Jews.
calls

Is.

56

9,

against Prince Messiah,

which none

Jeremiah

him

'

The

lion

of the forest," the destroyer of the

Gentiles, or

of the other three princes have ever done.

21.

he that made the world

He was
.

to

come
:

into

power

desolate, and

was

to desolate Judea,

and make 4:7.

it

like a wilderness.

Jer.

immediately afier the death of the Messiah. Dan. 9 26. And after
this to cast

down

the sanctuary, and

144
cause
22.

NOTES ON THE
the
daily sacrifice
to

cease

27. Daniel puts the matter beyond

for ever.

doubt or dispute.
to cast

He

states that the

up a mount around Jerusalem, and to hem up the people on every side, which he and no other prince or person ever did before or since.

He was

beast should
pitch his

plant his

standard or

camp on

the holy mount,

(Moriah,) and then declarewar against

the Prince of princes, (Messiah,) and
at that time

Michael (Christ) should

defend his people.
:

23.

He was

an

atheist.

He
24.

ridi-

stand

up
;

to

Dan.

culed,

despised,

contemned,
:

blas-

11

45

12

1.

The

time, therefore,

phemed God.

Dan. 7

The

that the

Roman

standard was planted

same Word occurs

Is. 37 6. Surely this cannot be charged on any of the

:

three persons alluded

24. In his

to.

day the saints were to take the kingdom from the beast, and
to possess
it

is the very time rewhich was in the year of our Lord G6. This was the exact time that Michael stood up to defend

by him

in Judea,

ferred to,

his

church and people (chap. 12

general
persecution

7)

for ever

and ever.

The

against the

of

Roman

empire became Christian immediately after the destruction of Je-

Nero.
28. Finally, Noah had three sons, Shcm, Ham, and Japheth. Shem

was then that the kingdoms of this world became in a great degree the kingdoms of our Lord and
rusalem.
It

has three meanings:

1. It signifies

of his Christ.
to be the fact.

This Tertullian

asserts

25.

The

dragon was the sixth sucthe

cessor to

throne of the

Roman
ask, can

name, memorial, because through him the name and religion of Jehovah should be handed down to posterity. Eber was his son, and the father of the Hebrews, and from him Abraham
(the father of the faithful) descended.

empire, and resigned the empire to

this beast.

How

then,

we

He

this be applied to

Mahomed, who was

the

first

and only head of his nation,

or to Bonaparte,

who was
the

the

first

and his family settled in Canaan, country. Gen. 11:31; 12 5. 2d. It means pleasant, happy, delightful. Hence Judea, tliat was seta southern
:

and only emperor of France, and to

Hildebrand,

tled

by

his posterity,

was

called the

who was

first

prince

and pope of Rome ; and not only so, but one in the succession of popes

was
2(J.

dominion
for

woman, and three popes had at the same time. These heads could not be hills,

happy, pleasant, delightful land, and sometimes the heavenly land, and the See city, the heavenly Jerusalem. 3d. The Rabbins say Dan. 8:9.
that

td
and

is

contraction of t;?pC5

the sun, because of a brilliant red color,

they were crowned heads, and

this is the

complexion of

all

could not be the seven hills of

lived, and the other

Rome;
still

his posterity to the present.

The Inof

because five had fallen and one

dians of America, therefore, must be

of the posterity of
ish origin.

had not yet come

it)

Shem, and

Jew-

and when he (not

to go into
hell

did come,

was

to continue but a short time,

and then with the beast and

Ham

means

sons jjcopled
the latter

the false prophet.

Chapter 17

10.

black, sun-burnt. His Egypt and Africa, and was named after him, the

REVELATION,
land of

145

10

6.

black

Ham. Ps. 105:27; Gen. The beast, then, was not a man nor a red man, but a white

offered to

Him,

to cease for ever,

and

then destroyed the mighty and holy Therefore, people, viz. the Jews.
Vespasian, the
identical beast,

man, and therefore a descendant of Japheth, which means fair, beautiful. His sons, Gomer and Magog, settled in the north, that is, in Europe. The complexion of the people of that
country

Roman

emperor,

is

the

with the seven heads and ten horns. Here, then, are arguments, clear and incontrovertible, and

and beautiful to this day. This, then, is the country from which the beast came, and the people and prince of that country were
is fair

which prove beyond doubt that Jerusalem was not destroyed when this book was written.*
That ascended out of
pit.

the bottomless

Out

of

the

Roman army,
13:14.)
step,

or

called

Gog and Magog.

among
the Jews,

Asia and

Rome

itself.

(Chap.

He

Africa,

was

called

rose gradually, step

by

from the

the south, Italy and Britain the north,

ranks of

Arabia and India the East, the Mediterranean sea and Spain the west. This beast was from the north, and
declared

common soldier to the chief command of the army, and finally to be emperor of Rome. The reason why Daniel calls him a little (sina

war
;

against the

people and

who worshipped the true God for he cast down His holy
prince of the south,

mean) horn, is because of the meanness of his birth. He was in

gle,

early

life

a horse doctor, his family

temple, and caused the daily sacrifice

low and poor; he was not bom of

1.

Vespasian

may be compared

to a beast because

he had destroyed so many of his

3. St.

fellow

men.

2.

He may

be compared to such because ignorant of the true God.

4.

John may have called him a beast because Daniel called him such.

He may

be

compared

to a beast because of his decided, firm

and undaunted

disposition.

" In the

taking of the city of Gamaliel a vast number of his soldiers were destroyed by the

houses falling on them

and striving to save some of them, he forgot

to

take care of his

own

preservation, and unguardedly got into the midst of the city, amongst his enemies,

namely, the Jews, when he had but few of his soldiers to protect him.
thought
it

However, he

not safe to

make

his escape

from the

city,

but calling to mind the actions which

if

he had done from his youth, and recollecting by a demoniacal

fury,

his

former courage, as

he had been excited

covered himself and those that were with him with their shields, and

formed a tustudo (the back of a tortoise) over their bodies and their armor, and bore up
against their enemies' attack,

who came

running

out showing any dread of the multitude of the

down from the top of the city and withmen or their darts, he endured all until the
;

enemy took

notice of his great courage,

and

left off their

attack.

And when

they had

pressed less zealously upon him, he retired until he had gotten outside of the walls of the
city."

Sec Josephus, War, book

is

4, 1

5.

And
show

as I have before remarked, that the

:

Roman army

compared

to the bottomless pit, see chap. 9

pit, to

1, so

here the destroyer

is

represented as ascending out of this

that he

was

still,

while

among

the army,

ascending higher and higher,

till

at length

he arrived to the throne.

So

that St. John, as

well as Josephus, had seen from the prophecies of Daniel that Vespasian should arrive
to the empire before Jerusalem

was destroyed. 19

See Josephus, War, book

4,

10

7.

146

NOTES ON THE

8 Arid their

dead bodies

shall

lie

in the street of the

royal ancestry, but obtained the kingdom by flattery, fawning on the soldiers.

beast.

But he
St.

is

reserved in the

chains of blackness and darkness for

ever.
shall yet be destroyed

As

a general he stood very

in the estimation of

high indeed
soldiers.
It

his

was through

their influ-

John declares that Rome by fire from heaven. See chap. ^0 9.

:

ence he crept into power, and finally succeeded to the throne of the empire.

Now we

affirm that there

was civil

The Roman army

by
St. John, in chap. 6
pit,

is
:

called

and religious liberty in Rome in the time of St. Paul, but it is not so at
present.
If Peter

hell

8.

And

and Paul were to

Missionaries, to

here the bottomless

but more properly the pit of destruction, because Rome had utterly destroyed all the

go there in disguise, say in the character of

Wesleyan

kingdoms on the earth. As there is a heaven on earth, there is also a hell on earth. See chap. 3:9; the church of Christ and the church of the devil, and Rome is this very hell on
earth.

preach Christ and him crucified, they would both be thrust (without judge
or jury)
into

the

inner

prison,

and
;

their feet be

made

fast in the stocks

and
if

finally

they would be banished,

Is

not crucified and put to death.

The Rabbins
is

affirm

that

not this, therefore, the height of intolerance?

Mount Vesuvius
hell,

the very

mouth

of

And why

does Christen-

and

this

for calling

may be John's reason Rome the pit of hell. His

still

dom
it

suffer such despotism

on the one

hand, while they have almost crushed

successors, the spiritual beast and the

false prophet, are

there to this day,

and will be

iintil

God consumes them

on the other. See Rom. 1 15, Shall malce war against them, as well as the other Jews. He liad or:

by

the brightness of his coming, and

ders from

Nero

to include the Chris-

the glory of his person.

The

beast has
;

tians in the

changed his name but not his nature False miracles, he chart gcth not.
false worship, false doctrines, false titles,

the desecration of the Sabbath, worship of images, mass for the dead, penance, and absolution by the priest,
transubstantiation, purgatory, perse-

as well as the Jews. Here, then, is the Edict itself, to Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus, Chief Pontifl", for purging the province of robbers (the Jews) and of Christians,

war

who inculcate a new superstition to the human race. Lardner 7. p. 248.

A7id
8
kill

them.

That

is

in

the

cution of Protestants, the inquisition,

discarding the
prohibition of

siege of Jerusalem.

Holy
civil

Scriptures, the

And

their

dead bodies

shall lie

and religious

li-

in the streets of the great city.

is,

That
were

berty,

all

prove, beyond doubt, that

is

three days and a half they

papal

Rome

more
filth

intolerant than
is

to lie there

without burial.

The RoIt is

pagan Rome, and that there

of the slime and

more

mans

killed

them, the Jews despised

of sin about the

them, and refused them burial.

papal beast

than about the pagan

called the great city, because the city

REVELATION.
great city, which spiritually
is

147

called

Sodom and Egypt,

where
9

also

our Lord was crucified.

And

they of the people, and kindreds, and tongues

of the great King; but

large also.

it

was

very-

ished with the seven plagues of Egypt,

A million

of persons could

be accommodated

there

during the

feast of the Passover.

and her children were sent thither as life. See Ez. 22 29 23 7, 8.*
slaves for
:
:

SpirUually

called

Sodom

and

Where
Africa,

our

Lord was
crucified

crucified. in

Egypt.

By

the

Prophet

Isaiah,

Where was he
answer, in Asia.
rusalem.
dea.

Asia,

1:10; also by Joel, chap. 3:19. Sodom, because of its corruption. It was famous for bigam\-, adultery, whoredom, murder and robbery exceeding Sodom in these respects. See
;

Europe, or America?
In what city In
the
?

We
Je-

When ?

reign of

Pontius Pilate, the Governor of Ju-

Therefore the city of Jerusais

5:1. Egypt, because of oppression, and as the mother country from whence she came. The children had become more vile, wicked and corJer.

lem

the very city,

and of course

was

not destroyed, nor were the

two

rupt, in the sight of

God and man,

than the parent. She protested against

the slavery and oppression, idolatry,
persecutions and murders of

Egypt

and the very things which she condemned in another she allowed in
herself.

book was written by John in the Isle of Patmos and it follows that John was banished there by Nero, and not by Domitian, and Jeremiah calls Jerusalem the daughter of Egypt. Jeremiah, 46:24.
witnesses killed,
this
;

when

9.

The

people

Of

the city of Je-

And

as a just retaliation for

rusalem, f

her departure from God, she was pun-

And

kindreds. Their brethren from

Josephus says, that had the Komans made any longer delay
city,

in

coming against the

Jews, the

he supposed, would have been swallowed up by the ground opening upon them, or been overflowed by water, or else destroyed by such thunder as the country of

Sodom

perished by

for

it

had brought

forth a generation of

men more
5,

atheistical than

were those that suffered such punishments.

See Josephus, War, book

13

6.

See Jer.

23: 14;

Is.

1:10; Ez. 16:46,47.

must have been here the two witnesses were
of these two
killed,

t It certainly

and

in the streets

of

this city that fhe bodies

men had

lain for three days

and a
field,

half.

And

if

de-

stroyed by the

Romans, and the

streets of it

ploughed up like a

and the city never

it

has been rebuilt in the same place as yet, nor called by the same name,

necessarily fol-

lows that

this

book was written and the two witnesses

killed before

Jerusalem was de-

stroyed bv the Romans.

148

NOTES ON THE
nations, shall see their

and
half,

dead bodies three days and a

and

shall

not suffer their dead bodies to be put in

graves.

10

And

they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice

every part of the world, who had at that time come up to the city to celebrate the yearly passover. And tongues.. Foreigners, proselytes of different countries, or nations.

shall

be exposed there during that

time by

way

of ridicule

ber that, in three

but remem; years and a half

from

this

time your dead and putrid

bodies shall

be thrown outside the

And
nation,

nations.

Persons of every
there to trade in the
bodies. Literal-

walls of Jerusalem,

without burial,
earth

who came

and given
voured.

to the beasts of the

season of business.
Shall see their
ly the
last

and the fowls of heaven to be de-

dead

murdered martyrs of Jesus, the

And
The
Jews

not suffer them

to

he buried.

two, the best two, and the hohest men that ever perished in Jerusalem.

Gentiles murdered them, and the

refused to bury them, because

be that a prophet should perish out of that vile city ; but the measure of her iniquity was now full, the carcass dead and ready to be
It could not

Christians.

But

God

retaliated

a just and merciful and denied them burial

moment with them. See

Jer.l6:4.*

with their fathers, a matter of great Is. 14 : 20 ;

devoured by the wild bore of Rome. Christ intimated to both Peter and
John, that they should live to see Jerusalem destroyed, but no longer and
;

10 They that dwell on the earth. Jews and Gentiles for they were hat;

ed of

all

men

for

Christ's sake, and

they
there

finally died as witnesses for hira

;

they sealed the truths orthe Gospel with their own blood. Blessed men of God we hope soon to meet you in glory. Reader, prepare to
!

"whosoever killeth you (says Jesus,) for my name's sake, will think that he
doeth

God

service."

Shall

rejoice.

Over you, but

will

soon weep and mourn over themselves,,

meet thy God; death

is

at the

door;

because of the miseries that are coming

God
thou

is

holy,

Heaven

is

holy, and if

upon the world.

See how de-

unholy thou art not fit to enter there. See Luke, 9 27 John,
art
:

lighted

Herod's daughter was

the head of the murdered Baptist

his life because

when was

21:22.
Three days and a
half.

presented to her in a charger. John lost

They

he protested against

Viz. at the lawful time of burying the dead, namely, before sun-down.

This was

done because of the hatred the Jews bore

that the vast

to these

two apostles of Christ; and we know

for the

burnt their dead instead of burying them.

number of people spoken of here must mean Jews, See chap. 2:10.

Romans always

REVELATIOX.
over them, and
another
;

149
shall

make merry, and

send

gifts

one to

because these two prophets tormented them that

after three

dwelt on the earth.

11

And

days and a half the Spirit of

life

from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
;

12

And

they heard a great voice from heaven, saying

her mother's adultery

and these

vile

conceals
for the

it

shall die

without mercy

men

rejoiced over the dead bodies of

mouth of

the

Lord hath spoand acknow-

two holy men of God because they openly and fearlessly rebuked
these

ken

it.

The

thief on the cross open-

ly confessed his guilt,

them
&c.*
11.

for

their

murders, robberies,
of

ledged the innocence of Jesus.

repented, believed,

He

obtained

mercy

And the spirit

life

from God

re-entered. Soul and body, after a se-

and died happy, and went to heaven. Go thou and do likewise, and you too
shall be saved.

days and a half, Master ascended to glory, to be with Jesus The Rabbins say that the for ever.
paration of three

If

were

re-united, and like their

cence before the court

you plead innowhen guilty,

spirit of life is only in

the Holy Land.

And great fearfell

them.j
fear
;

on them that saw

your condemnation will be the greater. Confess your guilt openly, honestly, and candidly, and God and man will pity you. You may, poor creature,

Innocence

guilt,

has nothing to every thing to fear mur-

der will out.

It is the

fire of hell

shut up in the
out on every side.

human

heart,
will

and
burst

sooner or later the flame

He

that confesses

his guilt shall obtain

mercy; he that

have been led astray in an unguarded moment, and sent a poor soul into eternity, unprepared. This crime you never can atone for it is a heinous one, but God has promised you pardon if you repent of your sins. 12 A voice from heaven. From
;

Perhaps they rejoiced over them by feasting and dancing.

to himself!

What a

blindfolded crea-

ture

man is when left killed, who were their

from the torments of
t

These men rejoiced

to see these

two holy apostles

best friends,

and who had

lost their lives in striving to save

them

hell.

This was evidently the power of God, which had raised these
terror

men

to life again,

and

it

must have excited both

and astonishment
little

in their

minds to think that the two

dead men they had been rejoicing over a

while ago had

now come

to life again.

Compare Luke, 9 7 with

:

this verse,

and you will find that the people were greatly afraid

of ghosts, and

more

especially if they

had committed murder themselves, or even had

been the cause of such.

150

NOTES ON THE

unto then),

Come up
cloud
;

hither.

And they ascended up

enemies beheld them.

to

heaven
13

in a

and

their

same hour was there a great earthquake, fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second wo is past and behold, the third wo
the

And

and the tenth part of the city

cometh quickly.

.Tesus,

his Lord and Master, whom he had not seen in the flesh for forty

13 The

mean

the

same hour. This same month or year.

It

may

years.

He now What

calls

mansions of glory,
for ever.

to live

him home to with him

A
a

great earthquake.

may mean

great shaking,

trembling of the

a happy, glorious,
!

triumphant
vant, ever.

meeting
to

The

loving

Jews, or it may mean the shock of an earthquake literally, as there were

earthquakes very period
in divers places at this
;

Master, the obedient and humble ser-

now meet
;

part no more for

it

and at or about

this

John considered
and
little

an honor to
perhaps,

time several thousands perished either

die for Jesus ligh

we

consider a very
loss,

by the earthquake or the Roman

army.
glorified

affliction,

say the

of a child, a

property, or

some

friend, a great trial.

it.

We cannot bear
trial for
it is

It

may

be too great a
to sustain,

human
grace,

nature

but

not

remnant were terrified, and God. They praised and adored him, because he did not cut them off also. But they soon forgot
the

And

too great for grace

to sustain.

My

his goodness,

"forsook

God who made

thee

says Jesus, is sufficient for in the midst of thy weakness

is

them, and lightly esteemed the rock of their salvation. They provoked

my

grace

made

perfect strength.
still

him

to

jealousy with
sacrificed

strange

gods.

But martyrdom would be a

er trial.

great-

They

unto devils, not to

God, but to new gods

they ascended

whom

their fa-

And

up

to

heaven.

thers feared not.

And when

the

Lord

The two

witnesses, not the Old and

as-

saw

New

Testaments; they will not

cend there until the general judgment. It was the souls and bodies of these

he abhorred them, and gave them over into the hands of their enemies." See Deut. 32 16.*
it
:

14

The second wo

is
is

past.

The

two holy

apostles that

went

there.

tenth part of the city

destroyed.

It

was not long

after this until they

were consumed by
lie

fire

nnd famine.

How many
t)io

peront give glory to iho

God

of lieuven because

hag saved iheni from

jaw of

REVELATION. 15

151

And

the seventh angel sounded

in

and there were

of this

great voices

heaven, saying,

The kingdoms

world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever.
;

16

And

the four and twenty elders, which sat before

fell

God on
God,

their seats,

upon

their faces,

and worshipped

17 Saying,
ty,

We give thee

thanks,
to

which

art,

and wast, and art

Lord God Almighcome because thou

;

hast taken to thee thy great power,

and hast reigned.

18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the pro-

And when
it

the third

wo

will be destroyed and

comes, then ploughed up

16 17

The four and twenty elders. See

8.

chap, 4:4,

like a field.

The
it.*

tenth part means a

Thou

hast

exerted thy great

greater part of

]}ower.

15 The seventh angel sounded. One

of the ministers of the seven churches

Conquered the whole world, Jews and Gentiles, without drawing a sword or using any carnal weapon.
18 The nations were angry. Enraged against the Lord and against his
anointed.
cords, his

of Asia.

They sounded

the

joyful

news that the kingdoms of this world had now, when he was living, become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his
Christ,

Ps. 2

2.

They

cast his

and he shall reign over

all

nations for ever and ever.

Amen, and
fell

commandments, away from them, and declared they would not have this man to reign over them.

Amen.
fall

The moment

the one

the

But "

I will

laugh (says he) at their

other rose into a mighty empire.

of Jerusalem

The

calamity, and

mock when

their fear

was the enriching of

every part

Cometh."
mit, and

He

compelled them to sub-

the Gentile world, and the cause of

Christianity spreading into

gave them into the hands of

time
to

their enemies.

of

it.

And the

judge

the

dead has

death
ia

But

it is

not from a sense of his pardoning love, but because he has spared them

little

longer to satisfy their earthly desires, and take some more pleasure to themselves.
St.

Let us remember
in the vision,

John as yet

is

only describing to the church the things that he

for

saw

and we need not look

a fulfilment of them until

we come

to the ]6th

clmptor.

152

NOTES ON THE

phets,

and

to

the saints, and

;

small and great

stroy the earth.

them that fear thy name, and shouldest destroy them which de-

there

And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and was seen in his temple the ark of his testament and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
19
:

come.

Daniel's

seventy years

are

For Ark,
below.*

see chap. 2:1, and note

now

up, that is,since Messiah's birth

the city and temple will nowbe destroyed,

and the Jews judged ac-

cording to the deeds done in the body.

There was lightnings. Flashes of from the engines, and from the flames of the houses which were on
fire
fire.

They
dead

are

now

ripe for destruction,

in trespasses

and

in sins

would be

injustice to the

and it church and

;

And

voices.

Shouts of victory and

of rejoicing over a conquered enemy.

the world to continue

them

as a nation

An
told

earthquake.

As had been

fore-

any longer. Should destroy them that destroy She corrupted the whole the earth. world by her fornication and wickedness,

by our Lord. The earthquakes may mean the terror, dread, trembling
of the people because of the misery

which was coming on them and

nation.!

their

and persecuted and destroyed

the church of Christ, and

trary to
all

was

con-

And

great hail.

Showers of darts
in

men.

and stones which were thrown

on

19 The temple of
Accessible
to
all.

God was

opened.

them by

the engines of the

Roman

Its doors

were

thrown wide open,

to

admit the whole

human race by repentance and faith. The moment the old temple was destroyed the new one was opened
for
all

army. They had raised embankments for the engines sixty feet high. See chap. 16 :2l.t She was stoned to death, as the law directs, because
she had played the harlot with many lovers, and became a backslider in
heart and
life.

nations

to

enter in

and be

saved.

Ez. 16:40, 41.

The

for the rule of our

in the t It

also a law gospel contains not only the death of the testator, namely, Christ, but namely, life and conduct. This ark was deposited in the tabernacle,

hands of the holy apostles.

See Mark, 16

15

Tim.

1
:

12.

may mean

a mighty shaking of the empire of Satan; his kingdom, after the defell

struction of Jerusalem,

like lightning

from heaven.
;

X This

may mean

a great ingathering of souls to the church

or perhaps

it

refers to

great showers of darts

and

stones which the engines of

the

Roman army threw

into

Jerusalem.

REVELATION.

153

HAPTER

XII.

And there
man

appeared a great wonder

in

heaven

a wofeet,

clothed with the sun, and the

moon under her

stars

and upon her head a crown of twelve

wonder.

A marvellous,''mysteThe heaven
on earth, God, the

rious tiling.

and the world with healing in his wings.

In heaven.
the spiritual

paradise of

abode of the happy, pious, blessed. woman. The church of Christ,

The moon under her feet. The goswhich is a light to her feet, and lamp to her path, to guide her in the way of peace. The world was also
pel,

the mother and mistress of the world.

under her feet

it

she had dominion over

Hence,
is

b>^'1'i:>T
all.

])2.

Zion, the
:

ther of us

Tar. on Cant. 8

5.

moShe
:

Ps. 119
:

105; Matt. 4

16

Cor. 4

4, 6.

by St. Paul. Gal. 4 compared to a woman because always travailing in birth for
called such

A crown of twelve stars.

apostles,

The twelve

26.

She

is

(chap.

16,)

who were

shining and

burning lights in a be-

the salvation of a

perishing world,

nighted land.

and
8, 9.

is

in

pain to be delivered, and

Is.

builders of the
ple,

bring forth a nation in a day.

65

They were the masternew and spiritual temmade without hands. The whole

Two

great nations,

Jew and

of these figures are borrowed from

Gentile (Jacob and Esau) were in her

womb
ed
it

at this time

the latter lost his

sun,

birth-right

by

unbelief, the other seiz-

Gen. 37:10. Joseph dreamed that the moon and eleven stars bowed down' to him. The sun meant his

by

faith in the

promised Messiah.

father, the

The
gel,

Gentiles gladly received the gos-

which the others rejected, and have now become heirs to the spiritual inheritance.

head of the Jewish church ; and the moon, his mother, an emblem the eleven stars, his of the church
;

God

grant that they

eleven brethren, the patriarchs of the Jewish church. These no doubt represented the twelve apostles.
Jo-

may walk worthy

tion.

of their high voca-

Clothed with the sun.

The

glory of

seph was sold by one of his brethren for a slave. Judas sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, and he was crucified in spiritual

God, or the glorious Sun of Righteousness he had now risen upon her
;

Egypt but
;

after this,

20

154

NOTES ON THE

And And

she, being with child, cried, travaihng in birth,

to

and pained
3

be delivered.
;

there appeared another wonder in heaven

and

like Joseph,

was exalted
to give

to

be a prince
Acts,

a brute in
his

human

shape.

He

killed

and a Savior,

repentance and

own

mother, his brother, and his

remission of sins unto Israel.

:

wife, and finally,

5 30. Christ is the head and husband of this holy woman, and all his children are the very image of the father,

when abandoned by God and man, he killed himself. He waged war with and put to death
and sinner.

the innocent and the guilty, the saint

and are named after him, that

is

more

vile,

wicked, and

Oiristiaus, because Christ-like.

barbarous

man never lived. Hence,

2 Being with child.

Of both Jew
Their mothers crew.
Nero, Orestea, and Alemsean slew Nero the most vile of the
:

and Gentile, (Jacob and Esau.) Esau sold his birth-right Jacob by faith
;

StutoniuB.

and praj'er inherited

in possession of
it

it,

and has been

nearly two thousand

at the

The

character given here of the dra-

years.

But Esau,
in

end of the

gon can never be interpreted of any

other person but him, because a great warrior ; a a horn, a king
;

appointed time,

may regain it by faith.

him
off,

among
;

Unbelief
but he
sake.
repent,

the Messiah cut

the Rabbins a least means a general,

little

is still

beloved for the father's

horn, a prince

God

grant that he

may

yet

a dragon, an emperor.
interpret
it

believe, and obtain mercy. " Seeing (says Paul) ye count yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles." Acts, 13 46
: ;

The Rabbins
^'S^

by

"^i!:)?

mal-kai goi, kings ofche Gentiles,

field.

the beasts of the

Jer. 3

12

is

rendered by the

Targum
2.

the same.
:

Jer.

49
22.*

10;
to

Is.

26

17, 18;

Lam.

The

dragon

is

identified here

By

his insignia scarlet.

By

his cha-

In pain

be delivered.

persecuting child.

Of the dead As soon as she was

See Gen.

racter and disposition, savage, cruel,

blood-thirsty; v. 4.
sixth and seventh
V. 3.
4.

3.

By being

the
;

delivered of this child she brought

forth a nation in a day.

emperor of

Rome

By

being a vile persecutor

25:22;
3

26:18. red dragon. The emperor Nero, the very monster of manIs.

of the church of

hrist; v. 11. 5.
it

By
;

A great

his losing the empire because of

9.

v.

6.

By

his destroying, putting to

kind, a wholesale murderer, a beast,

death four out of the twelve apostles

She earnestly desired and anxiously sought the solvation of

?

all

men.

"Who

hath

heard such a thing

in one

Who

hath seen such things

?

Shall the earth be

made

to bring forth

day

Or

shall

a nation be born at once

Isa,iah,

For as soon as Zion travailed she brought

forth her children.

CC

8.

REVELATION.

155

behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten

horns,

and seven crowns upon

his heads.

V. 4.

7.

By his declaring war against

verse 7.

both Jews and Christians;

8.

Seven heads. Seven crowned heads, seven kings, who had been crowned
such.

By

his nick name, the Old Ser;

pent, &c. &c.

V. 9.

9.

By

his re10.

signing his seat to the beast.

his

By

Chap. 17 10. Five had fallen by death, one is, that is Nero himself, and the other will be crowned within
:

soldiers because he

image being worshipped by the gave his power to

:

three years, that could

it

is,

Vespasian.
fallen, that

How
of
is,

be said of the seven

five

hills

the beast, chap. 13

4.

All his ser-

Rome that

had

one

vants, one thousand in number,

when

traveUing with him, rode on mules shod with silver, and were dressed in
scarlet.

and another hill has yet to come, and be crowned a king ? Some of ray
predecessors have really brought very
curious and far-fetched arguments to
try to illustrate John's book of
lation.

But he was

naturally big,
;

red, and bloated with intemperance and his garments were stained with

^-^^

rosh, invariably,

Reveamong

the blood of a vast multitude of pi-

ous and innocent Christians whom he put to death for having, as he asserted, set the city of Rome on fire but
;

it

was ascertained afterwards that he was the author of it himself. Take

;

means a head man, and not a hill. See Numb. 17:3; Deut. 28:13; Is. 1 5 1 Eel. 11 3 Col. 2:10. If John meant mountains, he would have called them ti'^'IH ha rim.
the Rabbins and Arabs,
:

the words of Tacitus here

that

he says

Ten

horns.

"Nero sometimes, when singing, would raise himself up on his toes, in

a vain endeavor to

nors, or kings,

Ten princes, goverwho had received no

expand the

notes,

to

kingdoms or provinces as yet, but were have them immediately. Horns

and straining his organs, till a face, naturally red, was so inflamed as to
vie with the deepest scarlet."

invariably
generals,

mean rulers, who were next

man.*

governors,
in

power
not

to

See
ano-

the king or head

Tacitus, vol.
ther reason
called

2,

page 384.

But

Seven croums.
glory.

Of

honor,

of

may be

given for his being

They

all

red dragon.

See chapter

except the ten

little

were crowned kings horns. Chapter

17

8.

17:12.

is

That

is,

ten kings,

who had

received no kingdoms as yet. See chap. 17

in this

12.

This
in

the sense in

which we must understand heads and horns

it

book,

when applied
;

the singular, to the head of an army,

has reference to the general of the army

but

when

applied to the head of a nation,

in this book,

it

has reference to the chief ruler, or emperor.

in

And horns,
is,

and

in the

book of Daniel, mean the next

honor

to the head, that

of the

nation, or else the

head of the army.

156

NOTES ON THE

And

his tail

ven, and did cast

drew the third part of the stars of heathem to the earth and the dragon stood
:

before the
to

woman which was ready

it

to

be deUvered, for

devour her child as soon as

was born.

4 His
trates,

tail.

His servants, magisto

and faggot.
ed, or

Has

the pope,

Mahom-

ministers, governors, officers.

Drew.
and
ven.

Dragged them

prison

to the stake.

The

The

third part of the stars of heathird part of the spiritual

Napoleon Bonaparte ever done this? We say no. It would be unjust, impious, and cruel to charge them with it, especially as they cannot
speak
holy
for themselves.

We

say these

church with which the woman was crowned, viz. the third part of the twelve apostles. See c. 1
stars of the

men

perished by the hands of

;

Nero, and no other

therefore he is

the great red dragon with the seven

20.

James the

just

was

ki-lied

shortly

heads and ten horns.

after

our Lord's resurrection.

James,
by-

And
woman.
eye.

the

dragon stood

before the

the brother of John,

was

killed

Herod.
Patrae

Andrew died a martyr in by order of the Pro-consul.

Watched her with a jealous He was greatly alarmed at the

empire; he was afraid the

rapid spread of Christianity through-

Philip died such in Phrygia in Asia.

out the

Paul died such shortly after this in Rome and Peter and John died martyrs in Jerusalem and all by order of
; ;

christians should gain the ascendancy,

deprive him of his power, and finally

declare Christ to be king in his stead.

So that seven out of the twelve apostles were put to death by order of this vile, wicked and heathen emISero.

So

blind and stupid

was

this

man

that

he could not discover the difference between a spiritual and secuactually

lar

Ananias, who was high priest under Nero about the fifth year of his reign, formed an accusation against James, the brother of our Lord, and
peror.

kingdom.
is, every every Chrisrenounced paganism, and

To devour her
tian

child.

That

believer in Christ,

or

who

several other christians, as being bra-

embraced the
child,

religion of Jesus.

Her

kers of the law of Moses.

He sum-

moned them
hedrin,

to

appear before the San-

be taken in the singular and plural it is a national noun, the

;

may

and had them condemned, and then delivered to be stoned to

same
to the
is

as Israel.

nation

was bom

Church

in

a day, and the child

death.
tail

And

the second star that his

put here for every child born into

was James, the brother of John, (who wrote the Revelation,) who had been killed by Heto the earth

drew

the kingdom of our Immanuel.

it

But
is

may mean
first

Christ himself,

who

the

born

among many
by
flight,

brethren.

rod with a sword.

Josephus.

He was
Defire

carried

when an
wrath

And
stroyed

cast them to the earth.

infant, into

Egypt,

to avoid the

them by the sword, by

of

Herod the

king,

who

thought to

REVELATION.
5
all

157

And

she brought forth a man-child,

:

who was

to rule

nations with a rod of iron

and her child was caught

up unto God, and

6

to his throne.

And

the

woman

fled into the wilderness,

where she

hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her

a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

slay the young Prince Messiah, and

prevent him from becoming a rival in

the government.

mised land. See Exod. 1 16. explains himself in verse 14.

:

John

See Matt. 2

13.*
child.

6
tains

A place

prepared.

The mounarmy, or

5 She broughl forth a

man

and desolate places of Judea,

spiritual
is

Jacob,

an Israelite in

inaccessible to the

Roman

whom

no guile.

He was

not born,

more properly the wilderness of Judea.

though begotten,

until after the

death

Matt. 24

16.

of Esau, or the dead Jew.

But Christ
whole

and Christianity was

world,

to rule the

and that immediately. This 2-10 3 10. refers to Exod. 2 Who should rule all nations ivith a
:
; :

rod of iron.
authority.

With power and great His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion that and which shall not pass away all kingdoms, and nations, and people, and tongues, shall serve him. See
;

That he should feed her. Sustain soul and body feed them with heavenly manna. Our spiritual Joseph was now ruler over all Egypt, and had plenty of provisions for all his brethren. He had placed them in Goshen, to remain there until the famine should be over. See Exodus.
;

16: 15.

chap. 2

27.

Her child was caught up to God and his throne. He bore them aloft
carried on eagles' wings as it were them through the Red Sea into the
;

Twelve hundred and sixty days. is, three years and a half; the precise time of the Jewish war. But can any person believe, or suppose for

That

wilderness of Judea, where Phar.ioh

and

all

his host, the

spiritual

Egyp-

moment, that ever the Church of was twelve hundred and sixty years in the wilderness of Judea ? We presume not. The Israelites were forty years in the wilderness
a

Christ

tians,

were drowned.
is in

All

this,

we

before
land,

perceive,

allusion to the flight of

they reached the promised and the Christians were forty

the Israelites from

Egypt

to the pro-

years after the death of Christ in the

To

destroy every believer in Christ, as soon as he renounced heathenism, idolatry and

superstition,

and embraced the religion of Jesus, that

is,

the spiritual seed of the

woman,

which has reference to Isaac.

158

NOTES ON THE

And

there was

war

in

heaven

Michael and

his an-

wilderness of this world, before they entered the heavenly Jerusalem, and

became heirs of the spiritual inheritance, which is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away.
7

Michael shall stand up, the great which standeth for the children of thy people, and there shall
Prince,

be a time of trouble, such

as

never

was

since there
;

was

a nation, even to

War

in heaven.

In the church.
all

that time

and

at that time

thy peo-

Pharaoh, (Nero,)
declared

and

his

host,

ple shall be delivered, every one that

shall be found written in the book."

war

against Christ and His

say,

kingdom.

The Rabbins
and
all his

that

And
tle

at that time.

Namely, a

lit-

when Pharaoh
war in heaven.
gels fought.

host purthere

before

the

destruction of Jeru-

sued Israel to the

Red Sea

was

salem.

Michael and See Ora. fol. 26

his

his an4.

Shall Michael stand up.

To defend

his church, and destroy his enemies.

Michael and

angels fought.
;

Michael
Savior;

signifies

also,

Christ and his ministers fought

sim-

God, and none was so

like

who is like Him as our

ply contended for the' faith and the innocence of the Christians, and the injustice of the persecutions raised

He was

the

brightness of

His Father's glory, and the express image of His person. Heb. 1 3.
:

them by Nero. Michael, means Prince Messiah, Kimkie. Rabb Buchae asserts, that Michael is the Redeemer, the Mesagainst
siah
;

The
,

great Pince.
Is.

That
:

is,

of

peace.

Acts, 3

15;

and

chap. 1:5.

Which
thy people.

for

he

calls

himself the

God

of

standeth for the children of To contend for them, as

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In Berasheth, Michael is called Prince Messiah, the glory of the Shekinah
and
this is the

their counsellor,
as their king.

and

to defend

them

And
Of

there shall he a time of trouble.

angel, they say,

who

great tribulation; such

as

wars

delivered the Israelites from Egyptian

bondage. And here he appears a second time to deliver his people from
the bondage of spiritual Egypt, bi^^i^p
literally, the smitten, stricken of

and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom,
and earthquakes in
diffe-

rent places; also pestilence, and

fa-

God

from

n:3"i>a ma chah, and bi* aie, the very expression that Isaiah uses in reference to Christ, chap. G3 4. So that this is the very Redeemer who
:

mine, and a great persecution shall be raised against the people of the

was
12th

stricken,

smitten

to

death for

our transgressions.
chap, and

At

this time the

Most High. Such as there never was since there was a nation, even to that time. That is, the tribulation shall be greater then than ever it was before, viz.
the destruction of Jerusalem.
It is

1st verse of
fulfilled
;

was now

literally

Daniel " and

at that time (says the angel to Daniel)

very remarkable that our Lord quoted tliese very words from Daniel, and

REVELATION,
gels fought against the

159

dragon

and the dragon fought and

hi^ angels,

applies

them

particularly to the ca-

him understand
fer to

that these things re-

lamities that took place before that

city

the destruction of Jerusalem,

to

was

destroyed.

" For then

and not

shall be great tribulation, such as

was

Then
flee
into

let

Babylon. them which be in Judea

mountains.
Into

not since the beginning of the world to this time " and then our Savior

the

the

place St. John calls the wilderness.

adds,

"

no, nor ever

:

shall be."

See

See verse

14.

But

the angel farther

Matt. 24
this, to

21.

And

our Lord quoted

observes to Daniel, that at that time

the people shall

another passage from

Daniel before

be delivered, every

show

that the prophet had re-

one that

is

found and Avritten in the

life.

ference to the destruction of Jerusa-

book, viz. of

lem.
see

He
the

says, "

when ye

therefore

And

his angels.

Ministers,

civil

abomination of desolation,

and military.
edict, that
is,

They

carried out his

spoken of by Daniel the prophet,

stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth let

to persecute

and put to

death
fought

all

Jews and

Christians.

They

him understand,) then

in

let

them

which be

Judea

flee

unto the

with carnal weapons, but Christ and his people with spiritual.

mountains," &c.

The
the

latter

were mighty

to the pulling

When
tion.

ye therefore see the abominais,

That

Roman army

they were abominable to both Jews and Christians, because of their idolatry and superstition ; they carried their ensigns at the head of every le^ gion, and sacrificed to them, as their gods, and even wors hipped them^ as
such.
\r.

down of the strong holds of Satan. " They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb," v. 11. This undoubtedly refers to the persecution raised
against the Christians
ror

by the Empetyrant,

Nero.

This

miserable

whom some of his own writers scruple

not to call a beast in

human

shape,

the very monster of mankind, set the

desolation.

Of

That

is,

the nation

city of

Rome

on

fire, in

the year of

that

made the world desolate, and was to desolate Jerusalem, and to make Judea like a wilderness.
that

our Lord 65, and

when he had
was
in

seen

the people so provoked at his wicked

conduct, and that he

of losing his
life

danger

Spoken of by Daniel the 2^'''ophet. See chap. 9:27. Stand in the holy j^lacc. This may

if

the truth of the

matter were found out, he wickedly

and maliciously imputed the burning

of the city
raised
to

mean

either Judea, or the place

Titus pitchedJhis

camp

where which place

the

Christians

this

most
;

bloody

persecution

was considered

holy, because so near

against

them

they were treated with

to the holy city.

the most cruel deaths that could be

inflicted

Whoso readelh let him understand. That is, the prophecies of Daniel, let

on them he had some of them sewed up in the skins of wild

;

160

NOTES ON THE

And

prevailed not
in heaven.

neither

was

their place found

any more

beasts, and then worried to death

dogs, and others he

shirts

made

stiff

by had dressed in with wax, and fixed

into

subjection

to

idolatry.

The
the

Christians

were sprinkled with the

blood of the Paschal

Lamb, and

to axletrees in his

own

garden, and

destroying angel passed over them.*

then set

fire to

them, that they might

;

Neither was their lAace found any

serve for torches

while some were

more in heaven.

The Church was

persecution.

and others beheaded, and some burnt alive at the

crucified on crosses,

now
the

scattered into every quarter of

world

by

There

stake

this

persecution

was

general

throughout the empire.

the
first

This was

general

persecution raised

against the Christians,

and the one

in

alluded to

by our Lord

Matthew,
conquered

24

9, 10.

8 Prevailed not.

They
the

no place where they could meet together for public worship. War in Judea, and persecution in the Roman Empire, scattered them into every part of the world. They obeyed our Lord's command When they persein this respect

was

therefore

and subdued

all

nations of the

cute you in one city,

other.f

flee

into

an-

earth, but could not bring Christianity

He
had
11
:

did not conquer them, or utterly destroy them, as he intended

there were a few

fallen to

purge and purify others, and

to

make them

stronger in the faith.

See Dan.

33.

Such a thing never was seen

or heard of before in the world, as for a few inno-

cent followers of Jesus, without sword or spear, or any other

vail over a nation that

weapon

of defence, to prethis ?

had conquered the world.

But how did they do

They over-

came them by

the blood of the

Lamb.

See verse 11.

How

true are the words of Moses,

to flight.

that one should chase a thousand,

t

and two put ten thousand

afraid of a rival in the

See Deut. 32
if

30.

The emporor Nero was

so

much

government that

he heard

of a few people assembling themselves together, even for amusement, he thought they

were

forming a conspiracy against him, and had them either destroyed or banished.
doubt,

This, no

was the cause why the

christians dare not assemble together for religions worship,

to death, as plotters against the to the time
this

for fear that

Nero should have them put

that the

government. But
the devil and

some may think

his angels

war spoken of here had reference

But

when

had sinned and were cast out of heaven.

;

cannot be, for the contest

was on

earth

see verse 9

and the victory was obtained by the blood of the Lamb, and
until

we know
gained.

that this

was not shed

A. D. 33

and

it

was

after this that the victory

was

Again,

it is

said that these faithful followers of the

it

Lamb

loved not their lives

unto the death.

So that

cannot have reference to angelic

spirits, for they

cannot die

and not only

so,

but the effects that were immediately to follow the conquest were these

the kingdoms of this world were to

become the kingdoms of our Lord and

of his Christ.
the part of

See verse 10.

The

contest began A. D. 65, and the victory

was completed on

Christ and his church, A. D. 70.

REVELATION.
9

161

And

the great dragon

was

cast out, that old serpent,

called the Devil, and Satan, w^hich deceiveth the Vi^hole

9 And the great dragon was cast out. From the throne of the Caesars. The
persecution of the Christians was the

his pillow,

ing his

life.

pared

to

and he barely escaped losHe is probably corna serpent because he was

the

very
el

first

step

which

led to this, and

so long permitted to diffuse his poi-

his ministers

who

assisted in this cru-

son upon

innocent followers of

persecution were put out of office

Christ, without being destroyed.

But
that

by Vespasian.* The old serpent, called the and satan. He was only called
also

how
devil

true

is

the

old

proverb,

such,

" wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one." It may
well be said to

because a complete model of his father the devil.

slanderer,

be the rottenness of

He was
is

a deceiver,

&c. which meaning of devil and

the

the

very

satan.

He

is

he had reigned nearly fourteen years, and shamefully abused his power in the government,
the bones
:

after

called

accuser of the brethren, and the deceiver of the world, v. 11.

He was

called

serpent, as a nick-

name, from the story that when an infant, a serpent crept out from under

he committed the management of affairs to two vile wretches, Nimphidas and Tigillimus, his unworthy freedmen and they afterwards laid a plot to destroy him. And when
;

* It

is

very remai-kablc that the

of great

first

conspiracy which WTis

made

against

him was by

Piso, a

man

power and

integrity,

and

this for his cruelty to the christians, in

punishing them for the burning of Rome, a crime which he had been guilty of himself;

and though he was not destroyed by

this conspiracy,
life.

^et

it

was the main cause of

his los-

ing the empire and putting an end to his

t

See verse 16.

We

see from this that he

was only

called the devil,

and
is

that,

in

reality,

he was

not such.

Mark

the distinction between the dragon,

who

called

such in this verse,

is

and the

real devil himself in verse 12.

:

And though

the devil himself

called the dra-

gon, and the old serpent, in chapter 20

3, yet there is

a distinctiou.

It is said in the last

chapter and verse quoted, which

said,

is

the devil and satan, that

satan, but in reality
to
is

is in reality.

And

here

it is

which

is

called the devil

and and
is

not.

See chapter 2: JO.

But
devil

to

make

the matter

more

plain,

show

clearly that St.

John did not mean the

himself, the dragon in this verse

the

same person

that

is
;

called the dragon in verse 3,

and

there

it is

said that he
:

had seven heads and

ten horns

and these seven heads, ac-

cording to chapter 17

10, are seven kings,

who had

received kingdoms, and

who had been

crowned

kings.

And

the ten horns were ten kings

who had

received no kingdoms at this

lime, but had received

power

as kings one hour with the beast.

So that the heads and

horns here could not belong to satan, nor to his empire.

This the reader will clearly see

when

come

to chapter 17.

See chapter 16

14,

21

leg

NOTES ON THE
:

world

he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were

cast out with him.

had dehe was in danger of his life, for every door was shut against him, he fled into the
all

he saw that

his guards

killed

himself,

was

after his

death

serted h'lm, and that

6uburbs of Rome,
see, that

where he slew

himself with a sword.

the justice of
this vile

And thus we God pursued

shed so 27
:

wretch,

who had
See

much
John

innocent blood.

Isa.

1.

nicknamed The city of the serpent, and this in derision of Nero. He was condemned by the Senate, and sentenced to be dragged naked through the streets of Rome, and whipped to death, and his body to be thrown down and dashed to pieces from the Tarpean rock. But to prevent this he
killed himself.

B ut this is not the only reason why St.

him an old serpent for another more plausible one may be given. Suetonius says that it was commonly reported that some assassins were employed by Messalina, Claudius's wife, to strangle him in
calls
;

Here then was

then,
is

the

end of the vile persecutor.

How
is

uncertain,

human
world
will

greatness and grandeur.

The

nothing but a bubble, which

soon burst.

Haman
is

is

premier to-day,

to-morrow
decai
is

hanged on a gallows as

taking his usual

nap

at noon, as the

a traitor to his king and queen.

a beggar to-day,
state.

Mor-

rival of Britannicus.
too,

This addition
to the

the next

he observes,

was made

a prince of

Nebuchadnezzar
is

story, that they

were frightened by a
pil-

to-day

is

king of great Babylon and

a compastall,

serpent that crept from under his

of the earth, to-morrow

eating out of the

low and ran away.

Which
by the

tale

was

nion of the herds of the

and

occasioned by the finding the skin of

that animal in his bed
bolster;

same manger with

them.
until
liis

"He

ate grass with the oxen,

which, by his mother's order, he wore for some time on his right arm,
enclosed in a bracelet of gold,
at last, from an aversion
to her

body was wet with the dew of heaven, and his hairgrown long and
coarse
like

which mein

eagles' feathers,

nails like birds'

claws

and his and not till

mory, he

laid
6.

aside.

See Suet,

Nero, sect.

And

not only this,

then did he remember that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom among

but Agrippina, his mother, poisoned

Claudius, Nero's step-father, which

was
ces,

the cause of

his

coming

to the

men, and giveth it to whom he thinks proper." Dan. 4 33. Napoleon is an emperor to-day, and
:

empire.
it is

So

that,

from these circum-

not improbable that he

was

called the serpent,

by the people of

Rome, as a nickname, and the old serpent by St. .John, because he wore
the skin of this animal on his arm

when on the pinnacle of honor, his whole army cry out, vive /' cmpereur long live the eiiiperor; to-morrow he is chained as a prisoner of state to a rock in the ocean and now it is down

with the emperor, and up with the

king
:

from youth

to

manhood.
Phain, where

vive la roi

long
is

live the king.

The

village of

he

One moment Paul

a murderer,

REVELATION.
10

163
in heaven,

And

heard a loud voice saying

his Christ

Now

is

come
ren
is

salvation,

and strength, and the kingdom of our God,

:

and the power of

cast

for the accuser of

our breth-

down, which accused them before God day

and

night.

but

it

is

in the

eye of a barbarian
is

the next

moment he

a god.

We

enemy, power

serpent,
his fangs

is

deprived of

his

are taken out, and

see then that

man

is

a mere creature

he cannot diffuse his poison

again

of circumstances,
thing

actuated in every
or selfish motives.

among
Glory

the
to

poor

pious

Christians.

by prejudice

God
is

in the highest,

our re-

"He

never looks beyond the smoke

demption

now

complete.

King

of his

own chimney."
is

Jesus has put to flight the armies of

the aliens, and we are victorious through the blood of the Lamb. Salvation. A great and glori-

"Blessed

the

who maketh

the

man, therefore, Lord his defence,

and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies." Amen.

ous victory over our

est

He was
was
city of

cast out into the earth.

He

enemy.

cast out of office, and out of the

in birth for

last and greatZion has now travailed the salvation of the whole

Rome.*
angels.. Senators, magistrates,

world.
in a day.

Her

first-born is destroyed;

His

therefore a nation shall be born to her

ministers to foreign courts.f

10 ISow

is

come.
shall

The

time.

Yea,

The now go up and

land, and possess

seed of
inherit
it

Jacob will
the goodly

the set time to favor Zion has come.

for
is

ever and ever.

strength.

The heathen

now be

given to

Strength.

Union

The

Christ for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth to him for
his possession.

Our old

TUriS

na

chash,

world will now be united with us, and one shall chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight ; the

gels

Some have supposed

that this
;

had reference

to the

time when the devil and his an-

were cast out of heaven

but this cannot be St. John's meaning, for the devil and his

angels were cast out of heaven before the world

earth they

had an existence

and

it

was not

into the

were

cast, but into hell.

So

that, if

by the earth here

we understand
it

the dry

land, the world, or

the people of the world,

we must

easily perceive that

could not
-v

have reference to the time when the devil and his angels were banished out of heaven,

t Josephus observes, that after Vespasian had arrived to the throne, in order to secure
his success and establish his government,

he distributed

his

offi

|and places on the fool

best fitted for

of justice, and bestowed them on such as best deserved

them and were

in

them. See Josephus, War, book

be an example to
pocrisy.
all

4,

11:1.

This wise conduct,

a mere heathen, should

kings and rulers, viz. to do every thing without partiality and hy-


NOTES ON THE
11

164

And

they overcame him by the blood of the

their testimony
;

Lamb

and by the word, of

and they loved not

their lives unto the death.

armies of the aliens will

direction

flee in

every
shall
it

soon murder himself.

of
all

This

is

the end

when no man

pursueth.

The
now

saints of the

Most High

take the kingdom and possess

for ever

and ever. Amen and Amen. And let the people say, Amen. The kingdom of our GOD. The
Christian religion.
all

impious monarchs who have ever persecuted Christ and his followers. Let men in power, and infidels in particular, beware how they touch
the

Lord and
severely.

his anointed

for

so

surely as they do,

God

will punish

This shall prevail It shall be like the stone taken out of the mount, rolling onward until all kindreds, and
over the world.
tongues,
to it.*

them

He
At
all

accused them day and night.

times, and under
all

circum-

stances,

and

nations

shall

submit

he vented his spleen upon the Christians. But he lived too fast to

live

ong

envy

is

the rottenness of the

rests in the

The power of his Christ. He will now be King of nations as well as

that of saints.

bones, and anger

of fools.
fire

He was

bosom consumed by the

in his

He

will, blessed

be

of hell

which was raging

God, have dominion from the rivers to the ends of the earth, and all shall know King Jesus from the least even
unto the greatest.

own
11

bosom.

of the Lamb.

They overcame him by the blood The holiness and simlives,

plicity of their

and purity of
to

For

the

accuser of our brethren.

liar,

their doctrines,

proved

the world
to death.

The

deceiver, slanderer,

serpent,

that they

were unjustly put

devil,

and satan the red dragon, the drunkard, gambler, glutton, murderer,
is

"

The

blood of the martyrs

was the

seed of the Church."!

dethroned, and as he cannot

now

And

the

word of

their

testimony.

destroy the pious Christians, he will

The Gospel of our Lord

Jesus Christ,

The emperor Nero and

the

Jews were the two most

that

bitter

enemies the followers of

Christ had to contend with.

So

when

the dragon had killed himself, and the

at full liberty to

Jews

were destroyed, the church had ease, and were

salvation throughout the whole world.

spread the glad tidings of

t According to the doctrines of Christianity,

to have set the city of

it

was impossible

for the followers of Christ

fellow men.
It
it

Rome on fire, or even be guilty of the least But again, it may mean the testimony of Jesus, vi?..
want of
it

act of injustice to their

that he

was the

Christ.
;

was
was

for the for

this testimony that the

Jews were destroyed by

the

Romans

and

having

that the christians

were preserved.

REVELATION.

16 5

12 Therefore rejoice ye heavens, and ye that dwell in

them.

Wo

to the inhabiters of the earth,

and of the sea

for the devil is

come dow^n unto

you, having great w^rath,

because he knoweth he hath but a short time.

name

which declares that there is no other given among men, by which

in these

regions

for

they shall not

escape.

we

Jesus.

can be saved, but the name of This they affirmed in the

fire

For

the devil is

The

real devil, the

come down to you. very dialolushixnfrom the bottom-

midst of the

and flames.

self, is

now

let loose

And
death.

they loved not their lives unto

less pit, to utterly destroy.

The

ene-

and die

They were willing to suffer for the name of Jesus, and

it

my

they did do
cheerfully.
ble,
del,

faithfully,

manfully and

God and man. The Jews sold themselves to him to work all manner of wickedness, and he came
of

Can

the boasting, misera-

now

to take

his captives to himself

cold-hearted,

uncharitable

infi-

produce an instance of thousands

and into Egypt, and sell them there He is for bondmen and bondwomen.
the only slave-dealer
the Bible.

of martyrs dying at the stake for the

truth of infidelity?
to die

we

read of in

They

are afraid

He

is

the

Alpha and

even a natural death, much

to

Omega

of the vile traffic.

more
and

die a martyr's

death.

The
the

Having great

wrath.

He

is is

come

Christians
this

triumphed

in the flames,

as a roaring lion, his

mouth

through the

blood of

and ready to tear

terly destroy
all

in pieces,

open and ut-

Lamb.*
12 Rejoice ye heavens

whom

he can lay

Ye

holy,

hold upon.

happy

people.

The Church

of Christ

every where.

Wo

to the

inhabitants of the earth.

in every part your destruction is at

He hath but a short time. That is twelve hundred and sixty days. Then he will be remanded to his prison,
chained
again,
until

The Jews every where,

of the earth
;

the

thousand
will be

years are expired,

loosed again for a

when he
little

hand.

season, to de-

And

the sea.

About the sea

coast

ceive

and on the lakes, and the inhabitants

Gog and Magog. Having great wrath.

Infuriated,

life

Would

to

God

the christians of the present age were, like them, regardless of their
life.

80 that they

might but win Christ and obtain eternal

B<it instead of being zeal-

ous for the spread of the gospel, and the salvation of poor perishing sinners, they are like
wolves, biting and devouring each other, either privately or publicly, from the press. But

men
was

of this character

know

little

or nothing about the mild spirit of Christ, for

when he

reviled he reviled not again.

166

NOTES ON THE

13

And when

the dragon

saw

that he

was

cast unto

the earth, he persecuted the

woman which

brought forth

the man-child.

14

And

to the

woman were
fly into

given two wings of a great

eaole, that she

might

the wilderness, into her place,

where she

is

nourished for a time, and times, and half a

time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his

mouth water
Which
:

as a

mad with wrath,

seeking

like

a roaring lion

Into the place.

the Savior

whom

he

may

devour
all

he

prepared for her before His death on

the Cross. Matt. 24
16.

will scatter, tear,

and slay
the

before

him.*
13
is

A time, one year

He persecuted
to

times,

two years;

in a private, not in

woman. That a public way.

to de-

and half a time, six months. The same as the twelve hundred and sixty days; chap. 11:6.
prophetically

He

gave orders

Vespasian

We
?

ask, on
inter-

clare

war

against

the Christians as

what authority then do some

pret this

well as the Jews, to

tion

make no

distinc-

We

say,

between them. See verse 17, where John calls this persecution war with the remnant of her seed. See chap. 11:7. 14 Two %omgs of a great eagle. They soared aloft on the wings of
faith

without any authority.

From
not see,

the face of the serpent.

From

his power and influence

where he could nor hear from, nor have accast out of his

cess to her.

15

He

mouth water
slander.
in

and love
Deut. 32

faith

on her

part,

as a flood.
this

Abuse and

But
a pri-

love on Christ's part.

is

The

allusion

may mean

persecution

to

12,

where wings mean

vate way, as he could not do

licly.

it

pub-

his

power and

jirotection.

With

these

He
;

ordered his

civil

and mili-

the wilderness,

he conducted the Israelites safe into from the power of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.

tary officers not to countenance Christianity

to

well as the Jews.

the

punish the Christians as But the Chris-

Fly into
tains

the wilderness.

The moun-

tians were like the Israelites in

Egypt,

and desolate places in Judea, where she was perfectly safe from

the

power

of the

enemy.

more they were oppressed and afflicted, the more they grew and prospered, until they became a great

Viz.
city of
it

when he saw

that he

was

likely to be dethroned

and killed

for letting fire to the

Rome, he persecuted the woman.

this,

Who

that read:* the former ver.e,

and compares

with

but muiit perceive that the devil in the former verse, and the dragon in the
distinct beings.

latter, are

two

REVELATION.
flood, after the

16T

woman,

that he might cause her to be car-

ried

away 16 And

of the flood.
the earth helped the

woman

and the earth

flood

opened her mouth, and swallowed up the dragon cast out of his mouth.
17

which the

And

the drao^on

was wroth with the woman, and

and mighty nation.

How true

is

our

(referring to

the persecution raised

Lord's saying, "the world will love " but ye are not of the its own

world, "therefore the world

hateth
of the

you,

because

ye

are

not

by Nero) filled every breast with compassion humanity relented in favor of the Christians the manners of that people, no
against the Christians
; ;

world.*

doubt,

were of a pernicious tendenit

l6A7id the earthhelped the woman. That is, the people of the earth,
viz. of the

cy, but
fell

was very
not

evident that they

for

a sacrifice,

the

public

Roman

empire.

They
Nero
on
it

good, but to glut the rage and cruelty of one

were now
fire,

fully convinced that

citj'

man

only," (the emperor

2.

himself had set the

to the Christians.

of

Rome

Nero.) See vol.

17

page 294.

and imputed the burning of

He went to make war with the rem-

They, therefore, condemned the malicious and wicked

emperor, and justified the poor
nocent
public
Christians;
in-

nant of her seed. In Jerusalem and Judea, Vespasian had orders from

Nero

to

put the Christians to death

and

finally the

as well as the Jews.

Chap.
is

11:7.
of

sentiment became

so

strong

prophecy, recollect,
parts, the
It
is

made up

in favor of
tion

pire

them that the persecuceased, and Nero lost the emby it. Tacitus, though a vile
to Christ

two
ture.

present

and the fuand fuIf

present in the mind of

him who
keep

foretells the event,

it.

enemy
on
the

and his church, has

length, (says he,)

ture as to the fulfilment of

this in

we

given us a most excellent comment

this text.

mind,

we

shall not

have

At
of

much

difficulty in understanding St.

cruelty

these

proceedings

John's meaning.!

That

is,

he threw the blame on the christians, instead of himself, and by this means
St.

had them persecuted throughout the empire.

John, in the seventh verse, makes use

of the words of Daniel, and calls the persecution

war

in

heaven

and now he explains

what the prophet meant by war

of Christ.
t

in

heaven, namely, a great persecution against the church

Her

seed has reference to her child spoken of

in

verse 5

and as John has mentioned

168

NOTES ON THE

went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony
of Jesas Christ.

but one child,

it

necessarily follows that he had reference to either our Savior, or else to

;

her children in general

saved, as
forth,
is

and as there was part of her seed destroyed, and part of them
it

expressed above,

follows of course that by the man-child the

woman

brought

we

are to understand her children in general.

literally, it

And

again, if her child or children

for

were caught up unto God,

would have been impossible

him or them

to

have

been destroyed by the dragon.

CHAPTER
xtlND
I

XI

II.

beast rise

stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten

sea.

stood on the sand of the As the sea, among the Rabbins, means hostile armies and nations,
1

And I

out of the

Rise up out of the sea. That is, Roman empire, or the Ro-

man army.
by
step,

He

rose gradually, step

standing here on the sand of the sea

may mean

in sight of the

Rome, or withcamp and hostile army, which were prepared to march into Judea. Here, no doubt, he saw the
standing in

from a poor private soldier in the ranks, to be commander-in-chief of the whole army, and from there to the throne of the Ca'sars. He was, like Napoleon Bonaparte, raised from
the lower ranks of
peror.
life

beast personally, and his two sons,

to be an

em-

Titus and Domitian.

tion,

See introducbeast alluded

The

sea,

among

the Rabbins,

where
beast.

this subject is referred to.

means

nations, kingdoms, empires, ar-

The same
11:7.

mies, multitudes of people.

nations arc

to in chapter

compared

to seas,

Hencei and Is-

REVELATION.
horns,

169

and upon

his horns ten

crowns, and upon his heads

the

name

of blasphemy.

rael to the sand of tlie sea shore, be-

cause innumerable.
tbl.

Yalkot Simeone,
:

44

4.

See chap. 17

15.*

Having seven heads and ten horns. Having the same power and authority as the dragon, and the very same princes at his command to carry on The heads here mean the the war.
This demonstrates that he was the successor of the great red dragon. John includes

princes, and were not in possession of their provinces or kingdoms yet, but would be very soon they were crowned prospectively. On his heads the names ofblasjjhemy. They were called gods, and

tuted, appointed kings,

governors, but

same

as in chap. 12

3.

worshipped as such. This distinction and honor all the Roman emperors sought after. It is the highest degree
of blasphemy for a

creature to asfeared, hon-

the beast himself as one of the heads,

sume

the

name

of God, and be woris,

because an emperor in anticipation the time of his coronation was at

;

shipped as such, that

ored, obeyed, served, worshipped as

9, and note beSurely these heads must be heathens, and not Christians.
:

He knew well, from the prophecy of Daniel, that he would be emperor in Nero's place. Ten crowns. They were constihand.

God.

See chap 14

low. :t

leojmrd.

Fierce, cruel, artful,

The sea

here, and the bottomless pit in chap. 9

2,

mean

the

same

thing,

and have

reference to the

Roman army.

And

llie

beast rising up out of the sea, and ascending up

out of the bottomless pit, are synonymous terms.

t
is

The

only distinction between the heads and the horns in the former chapter and this,

that the seven heads are said to have had seven crowns,
;

and the ten horns are represaid to

sented as not being crowned as yet

and here the ten horns are

have ten crowns.

after

So

that if the latter be

the

same

as the former, they

must have been crowned

Ves-

pasian had arrived to the throne.

As

have before observed that a king, among the Jews,

else

meant no more than a general of the army, or

shall
t

a governor of a particular province, I

avoid saying any more on this subject at the present.

Each of

these heads had

assumed the blasphemous

is

title

of God, and wished to be

it is

worshipped as such.
with us.
In chapter 2

The word
:

used

in

a more limited sense in this book than

it is

said,

" 1 know the blasphemy of them which say they are

Jews and
So

are not, but are the synagogue of satan."

Here we

see that

it

was blasphemy

for a person to
it

assume the name of a Jew when,

rulers
;

in

a spiritual sense, he was not a Jew.

title

was with each of these

they assumed the

of God,

when

devils in dispo*

sition.

In the reign of Caius Caligula, about the year of our

Lord

40, he ordered a

tem-

ple to be built and dedicated to his

own

divinity, in

which his statue of gold was placed,

:

and every day dressed

in robes similar to those

which he himself wore

it

was worshipped

22

170

NOTES ON THE

saw was Uke unto a leopard, were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a hon and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
2

And

the beast which I

and

his feet

swift, subtle,

bloodthirsty

and his
the

were men of great courage,

firmness.

zeal,

and

garments
carcass
is

all

spotted and stained with

the blood of the saints.

"

Where

there will the eagles be gath-

ered together also."

Isaiah,

See Dan. 7:6;

11:6;

Jer.

5:6; Heb.

8.

His mouth as the mouth of a lion. His spirit was commanding, powerful, eloquent, furious, full of wrath and venom, and was the mouth-piece of
Nero,

This is a title given to none by the Rabbins but great generals and warriors of the Gentile nation.

who

is

called a lion.

The

dra-

2 His feet as the feet of a bear. Firm, fixed, resolute; determined to conquer or die in the conflict. His
feet

gon gave the beast unlimited power and authority to destroy all the Jews and all the Christians in Judea and
Jerusalem; and finally had
his seat to
to resign
is,

him

in the

empire, that
:

seem

to

mean

his soldiers,

who

three years hence.

See Dan. 8

24.*

by crowfls of adorers, and his

priests

were numerous, and the

of the

sacrifices
p.

made

to

him the

most exquisite and

not think strange of

delicious.

See Goldsmith's History of Rome,

200.

And we need
all

this, for the entire religion

Roman camp
we
see that

consisted in worship-

ping their ensigns and sacrificing to them, and even preferring them above

other gods.
in the

Compare
sight of

Acts, 12
for

22, 23, with this verse.

to

From

this

it is

blasphemy,

God,

a creature

assume the name of

his Creator.

And we know,

that the
to be

pope has assumed the name of God, and professes

styled our lord, god, the pope, another his divine majesty, the virtuous

to be infallible,

and scruples not

god upon

earth, king of kings, and lord of lords,

god

a man in his

see of

Rome, whose power

is

greater

than

all

created power, extending itself to things celestial, terrestrial, and infernal.

See
for

Faber on the prophecies.

assuming such
the
title

And

there are others

who

detest the pope, and ridicule

for tliey

him

titles,

and yet they are but one step bphind him themselves,
,

assume
and

of arch-bishop, the lord bisl op of

.

and scruple not

to

be styled

my

lord,

his lordship the bishop of

These are

titles

that belong to the Ruler of the univei-se,

and not

to

a sinful, and corrupt

worm

of the earth.
not, it
in

And

if it

was blasphemy

for a

to call himself such

when

in leality

he was

musi be equally such

reality

for a

Jew man to
d one

assume the name of a

there are m)ny

lord, or a bishop,

when
See

he

is

neither.
is

" But though

ai

who

are called gods and lords, yet with us there

but one God,

Lord, even J

-sus Christ the

Righteous."
title

Cor. 8

5,

fi.

And

not only so, but any

call-

person who assumes even the

of minister of the gospel,

when he has never been

ed by the Holy Spirit

to this office,

comes under

this

head.

There was no general in the whole

Roman empire whom Nero

thought better ralca-

REVELATION,
3

171

And
;

saw one of
his

his

heads as

it

death

and

deadly wound was healed

after the beast.

were wounded to and all the

:

world wondered
unto the beast

4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power and they worshipped the beast, saying,
:

Who

is

like unto the beast

?

who

is

able to

make war

with him

3 One of his heads wounded.

rors,) that is,

One

And

they.

The Roman army

of the dragon's seven heads, (empe-

included

by John
:

chapter 12
chapter.

Vespasian himself; he is as one of the heads, 3, and verse 12 of this

general

The

was severely
and
that

and people of the empire, except the Christians, who were an obstinate, unyielding set of men the heathen emperor did not know what to do with them, so he concluded in the end it
:

wounded

at the siege of Jotapata,

was

best

to

let

them

alone.

The

a report went through the

army

Christians were by the

of mankind."

Romans de-

his

he was killed. He recovered from wound, however, but lost a good deal of blood by it. See v. 12.* All ike world. The whole Roman empire were anxious to hear of
his health, as well as the progress of

nominated "superstitious, the haters

the war.

a more popular
pire.

There certainly was not man in the whole em-

Worshipped the dragon. That is, they highly commended him, spoke well of him, and worshipped him, sacrificed to his image as a mark of respect. They done this because he placed Vespasian at the head of the army. Here then are two emperors

lated to take the

was growing an
his youth up, he
pire,

old

command of the army, and to carry on the war, than Vespasian for he man already in the camp and as he had been exercised in war from
; ;

must have been a general of more experience than any other

and 11 :7.

in the

em-

and of course better able to bear the burden of so mighty a war as that with the
See Josephus, War, book
siege
3, I.

Jews.
*

See chap. 9

11,

At the

and taking of Jotapata, a certain Jew shot a dart

at Vespasian,

and

wounded him
those

in the foot.

This caused the greatest disorder among the Romans, for when
his blood, they

who

stood near

him saw

were greatly alarmed, and a report went

abroad throughout the army that the general was dangerously wounded, while the greatest
part of the army
eral,
left

the siege, and

came running

together with surprise to see their genin his death.

and some were afraid that the wound would terminate

Also Titus, his

in

son, out of the concern

he had

for his father,

came

to

see him, and

was

very great

agony to

find his father in

such distress, for his

wound was

dangerous.

Josephus,

l72

NOTES ON THE

And
to

there was given unto him a mouth speaking

;

great things and blasphemies

and power was given unto

him

continue forty and two months.

living at the

same time, and both wor-

5 There loas given unto him

shipped alike, and surely these could not be popes.

They ivorshipped
tolled

the beast.

They

feared, reverenced, admired, and ex-

Great power and authority to enact civil and military laws and regulations for the government of his arm3% and those nations which he
mouth.
brought into subjection to the erapire.*

him

as the greatest general in

the world,

which no nation could con-

quer

and also sacrificed oxen and

And

sheep to him as a god.

continue forty

power was given unto him to and two montlis. That

This

is

the person spoken of by Daniel under the character of the

little

horn.

See

chap. 7:7.

" After this," says he, "

saw

in the night visions,

it

and behold a fourth beast,

iron teeth
:

dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and

bad great
feet of
it
:

it

devoured

and brake
all

in pieces,

and stamped the residue with the

it
;

and

it

was diverse from

the beasts that

were before
is,

and

it

had ten horns."

After

this.

That
emblem

after

he had seen the vision of the other three kingdoms spoken

4, 5, C,)

of under the

of a lion, a bear, and a leopard, (see verges

namely, the

kingdoms of Media, Persia, and Greece.

In the night'vision.

See chap. 8

20, 21.

In
to

his

dream.

See verse

1.

And behold a fourth beast. That is, the fourth kingdom Roman empire or it may mean Vespasian. This is sufficiently
;

on the earth, namely, the

plain from the
it

23d verso
brake
it

for this

kingdom was

devour the whole earth, and

to

tread

down, and

to

in

pieces; and

we know

that this has been the case with

Rome,

for her

dominion extended

throughout the world.

Dreadful.

To their enemies.

'

And And
And
It

terrible. To tear in pieces, and to devour every nation that opposed them.

strong exceedingly.

Because of
this

its

wealth and vast number of inhabitants and

soldiers.
it

had great iron

devoured.

This may have reference the power of arms. zeal and courage by the force of arms, Their enemies, and
teeth.

to

their

tlie

of

their soldiers.

And brake in pieces. Subdued and conquered every nation that opposed them. But this may allude to the power and force of their battering rams, which broke down the
thickest walls and strongest houses that

camo

before them.

Kzekiel bad previously pre-

dicted that the

Romans would

destroy the walls of Jerusalem with their battering rams.

See Ezekiel, 4:2.

^

And stamped

(he retiduc with the feet of it.~J\\e feet refer to the soldiers

and the

REVELATION.
6

173

And

lie

opened

his

mouth

in

blasphemy against God,

is, three years and a be the time fixed by

half.

This

may

fore John's

God

himself, or

by the government, to finish the war. But surely it cannot mean that he should continue the war 1260 years.
This would be impossible.

twelve hundred and sixty days must be interpreted literally, and not prophetically. The Jewish

month was but 30 days, and the year

300 days.

There-

He

opened his mouth in blasphemy

residue, to the remainder part of their enemies,

which were not yet conquered by them,

and must undoubtedly mean the Jews.

And it was

diverse

from

all the beasts that

were before

it.

The laws, customs, and

sliall

dispositions of the people of this empire, as well as the general himself,

be different

from that of the other three kingdoms which were before

it.

And
chap. 8

it
:

had ten horns.

At
was

the time

when

the transgressors had

come

to the full, (see

23,) namely, the Jews,

when

the measure of their iniquity had

come
:

to the full,

then the ten horns were to rise out of the

I beheld
sian at

till

the beast

slain.

Roman empire. By death. An inward

See chap. 17

12.

complaint had seized Vespafatal

;

Campania, which, from the beginning, he declared would prove

and seeing

his dissolution

drawing near, as he was just going to expire, he cried out that an emperor
feet,

ought to die standing, and raising himself upon his

supported him.

he died in the hands of those that

:

See Prov. 7

26

Hos. 6:5; Ezek. 37

no doubt refers

9.

And

his

body destroyed.

This

to the
pile.

manner

in

which the Romans

mangled dead bodies before they burnt them on the

And

given

to the

burning flame.

To be consumed to ashes, and

their

the ashes carefully

it

preserved.

This was done through respect, for the Romans considered

an honorable

thing to burn their dead, and dishonorable to bury them.

for this,

Tacitus reflects on the Jews

and says the Jews have derived

;

custom of burying, instead of burning their

See
his

dead, from the Egyptians

history of the Jews,

they have also the same care of the dead with them.
5, chap. 5.

book

After Christianity became the established religion

of the empire, the custom of burning dead bodies ceased, and from that time to this they

have continued

to

bury their dead.

This, therefore, could not have reference to the pope,

or to any beast belonging to the empire from that time to the present. See chap.

20

10.

Verse

8.

" I considered the horns, and behold there

came up among them another

;

little

horn, before
in this horn

whom

there were three of the

like the eyes of a

first

horns plucked up by the roots

and behold,

were eyes

man, and a mouth speaking great things."

And
ing up

behold there came up

among

them, another little horn.

That

is,

Vespasian com-

among them

signifies that
till

he was gradually ascending, step by step, from one de-

gree of honor to another,

at length he arrived to the throne.

is this,

But

the reason
;

why
little

Daniel calls him the

in

little

horn

because of the meanness of his birth

in this respect.

he was

comparison

to the rest of the

horns

His grandfather had been a

pri-

174
to

NOTES ON THE
his

blaspheme
7

name, and

his tabernacle,

and them that

the

dwell in heaven.

And

it

was given unto him

to

make war with

against God.

He

declared himself a

His tabernacle.

The

holy apostles
in

God, and Christ to be no God. He treated Him with contempt and ridicule, and charged him with being
" a malefactor
tree

and ministers of Christ. And them that dwell

heaven.

The

followers

of

Christ,

who

are

by

his

who was hanged on a own nation." Hence,

D'lbiii

members

of his church

militant,

and

heirs of the church triumphant. 7 And he had power to make war unth ike saints. With the Christians.

ni!*b&3

ia-17

bx
is,

He

shall

predict wonderful

things against the

God
the

of Elohim.

That

King Jesus,
the

The war was waged

well as the Jews.
not bring his

Messiah.
Israel.

He

predicted

against them as But Titus could

downfall of his kingdom, as well as

that of

But the Christians

for

into the mountains and wilderness of Judea, to seize the

army

were

too

mighty
39.

him.

They took
the beast.

Christians, as he did the

Jews
is,

at Je-

the kingdom

away from

rusalem.*

Dan. 11

To overcome them.

That

few

vate soldier, and his father a petty officer in the revenue.

See Gibbon's History of Rome.

Before whom.

SfC.

In

his time,

and

to

open the way

for himself to arrive at the throne.

There were three of the first horns plucked up by

throned and subdued.

the roots.

That
all

is,

they were de-

The

three horns

obtained the crown, but the whole of

mean Galba, Otho, and VitelUus, who had all them did not maintain it much more than one year.
belonged
to the

But

let

us remember that Daniel has said that these ten horns

one

kingdom.

And

behold, in this horn tnere eyes like the eyes of

;

a man. That

is,

he was a person

of deep penetration in the affairs of war

experience had taught

him

this.

For the remain-

der of this verse see verse 16 of this chapter.

And Arthur Murphy

who

observes, in his notes on the persecution raised against the

the

Christians by Nero, that

all

when

Jews were ordered by Claudius

to depart

from Rome,

of that nation

professed themselves followers of Christ were, without distinction,

;

included in the
tians.

number

but the edict of the emperor was not pointed against the Chris-

See Acts, 18 :2.

So

that, as the

dragon could not persecute the church of Christ

in general,

he took a particular method

to destroy those of her children

;

who were born

Jews

but, thanks be to

God, he did not prevail

all his

designs were frustrated, and the

innocent followers of Christ

came

off

more than conquerors through him who loved them

and gave himself

for

them.

REVELATION,
saints

175

and

to

overcome them
that dwell

and power was given him

shall

over
8

all

kindreds^ and tongues, and nations.

all

And

upon the earth

in the

worship him,
life

whose names are not written

book of
hear.

of the

Lamb

slain

from the foundation of the world.

9 If any

man have an
who
it.

ear, let

him

of the old and feeble,

could not

scattered into every part of the world,

escape very readily from Judea and

yet the pope never had spiritual dominion over every part of
it.

Jerusalem
11 :33.

in the siege of

See Dan.

But

this

may

refer to the

8 All that dwell on the earth shall

persecution under Nero.*

worship him.
all

Shall fear, reverence,

alle-

And power was

kindreds.

given him over

obey and serve him, and swear

minion or

That is, he had now dopower over the Jews. Kindreds invariably refer to the Jewcivil

giance to him, except Christians, who are invincible. One shall chase a

ish tribes.

thousand heathen, and two put ten thousand to flight, without powder or
ball,

And
nation.

tongues.

Foreigners of every

sword or

pistol

and

this

with

the rams' horns of faith and prayer.

nations.

And
sians,

Greeks, and the whole

The Medes, PerRoman

Christians would rather die than de-

ny

their

Lord and Master, and

sacri-

empire, which

extended into every

fice to a

dumb

idol.f

part of the world.

The pope

has

The Lamb
tion

slain

from

the

founda-

never had either

civil or religious do-

of the world.

The moment Adam

life

minion over the whole world. The Jews, Turks, Mahomedans, Chinese,
Hindostanese, have never put themselves under the wings of the See of

sinned, Christ suffered prospectively.

He
all,

then offered his

to

be

testified

in

a ransom for due time. He

guilty, to

died, the innocent for the

Rome.
day,

They
to-day,

are the

same yesterever.

bring us to God.

and

for

And
are

though the

Roman

Catholics

His blood was then shed in the shadow, but afterwards in substance, on Mount Calvary.

This does not

mean

that he should subdue

them by the power of

his

arms, but merely

that he should

wear out some of the

saints of the

Most High through

fatigue

and hunger.

See Dan. 7
t

25.

They

shall

be compelled to honor him, and to pay their addresses to him in as huas they

miliating a
foretold the

manner

would

to the

King

of kings

and Lord of
if

lords.

Moses had

Jews long

before this that this should be the case

:

they did not obey the

Lord

their

God.

Deut. 28

64.

The

Christians,

when asked

to

swear by the genius of

Caesar,

and

sacrifice to the gods, refused to

do

it,

preferring to suffer the most cruel death

that could be inflicted, rather than deny their King and their Redeemer, and be guilty of
idolatry.

176

NOTES ON THE

10
ty
:

He

that leadeth into cajDtivity shall

go into capti^^faith of the

he that killeth with the sword, must be killed with

the sword.
saints.

Here
I

is

the patience

and the

11

And

beheld another beast coming up out of the

Without the shedding

of this there

did do

it.

Hence

captivity

came on

It is could be no remission of sins. this blood alone, and not water baptism, " which cleanseth from all sin."

the Jews, because of idolatry, murder,

10

He

that Leadeth into

cajHivity.

and lasciviousness. Pirke Alot, ch. 5, They worshipped and served the creature more than they served
sec. 9.

The wicked Jews who

all

led Christ and

the Creator, (Christ,)

all,

his followers

in

every age of the

the
for

and blessed for ever.

who is God over And he sold

world, into prison, bondage, and death,

shall

now be taken captives by Roman army, and sold as slaves

life,

redemption.

without the most distant hojjc of Moses and Aaron can-

them into Egypt, where they had to worship wocJd and stone, the gods of the heathen, which they nor their fathers never knew. They murdered their Messiah, shed his innocent blood
in Jerusalem,

not redeem them, and He that made them will not have pity on them. See

and God caused the

It

blood of the whole nation to be shed

as a just retaliation.

chap.

6:16;
:

Deut. 28

68

Jere-

ran

down the
tor-

miah, 34

11.

streets of the city like a

mighty
houses

He

that killeth with the sivord,

must

rent, until the fire of the

was

heldlled with the sword.

The Jews
against

brought

an

unjust

charge

quenched by it. They were guilty of whoredom, adultery, fornication, and

all

Christ of being an enemy of the government, and now Rome has discovered that the Jews themselves are the most inveterate enemies of the

manner

of

lasciviousness,
alive, as

and

they were burnt

ishment.

a just punTitus,

11 Another beast.

That
and

is

government;

for

they had revolted

Vespasian's son.

Beasts in general
emperors.

They and taken up arms against it. drew the sword, and finally perished by it were cut off' by war and

mean heathen
Coming up

kings

out of the earth. Rising

gradually, step by step, out of the

Ro-

blood-shed.

Here

is

They had

the faith of the saints. strong confidence in God,

empire; creeping up slowly into power like his father, until he became

man

general of the army, and finally

em-

that as they had kept his

command-

peror of

Rome.
It

15 ut

the earth

may
his

ments, and walked in his ordinances

blameless, he would, according to his

mean Judea.
victories)

was here (by

he raised himself
This

to honor.

promise, deliver them from the hands

of
all

Two
self

hums.

their enemies;

and he

finally

and his

may mean himbrother Domitcan, who

REVELATION.-.
earth,

177

and he had two horns hke a Jamb, and he spake

as

a dragon.

12

And he

exerciseth

all

the

before him, and causeth the earth and

power of the first beast them which dwell

whose deadly wound
fire

therein to worship the

first

beast,

was healed.
13

And

he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh

were both kings prospectively, or it may mean his two generals, aid-decamps in the war.* Like a lamb. Mild, conciliating, they were desirous of ending the war,
if possible,

serve, honor, and obey his father, and

even sacrifice

to him as a god. Whose deadly wound was

healed.

See

V. 3.

This shows that the beast

blood.

"He

without shedding human (Titus) was mild in peace,

that was wounded is the same one named in the 2d verse.

powerful in war."

Suetonius.
With great much so as
the

13 And he doeth great wonders. Great mihtary exploits. His father

trained

He

spake as a dragon.
authority, as

him in

military tactics from his

power and
12

the emperor himself.

power of he took the place of his father in the army, and

exerciseth all
the first beast.

He

may be pretended miracles, for which his father was so famous. His father and
youth.
the wonders here

But

That

is,

himself tried to imitate

all

Christ's

miracles, because so highly applaud-

the father took the place of Nero in the empire, so that he had
limited

power

to

carry

now unon the war

was

ed throughout the empire. His object to ridicule Christ, and bring his

in Judea.

And

whole Koraan empire,

he causeth the earth. The to worship,

rehgion into disrepute. He was well versed in the art of magic. His grand-son, the pope, understands this well also.f

Who

these two horns were

is

not easy to determine

but they were either two go-

vernors, or else

two generals of the army, who were

in authority

under him

and no doubt

Tiberias Alexander,

who had been

formerly governor of Alexandria, was one of the horns.

;

This man was a general of the army under Titus

and Josephus observes that he also

followed Titus as a counsellor, and was very useful to him in this war, both by his age and
skill in

such

affairs.

See War, book

it is

5,

1:6.

Very probable Titus

is

considered as one

of the horns himself; or

not improbable that John, by the other horn, meant Agrippa.

See Acts, 26
t

28.

The

first

wonderful work that he determined to accomplish was to raise a wall round

about the city of Jerusalem, which was completed in three days.

And

this wall, as Jo-

S3

178

NOTES ON THE
the earth in the sight of men.

come down from heaven on

This

is

the very person called

by
i.

Rome."
doubt,

Titus

Vespasian,
such,

beyond

St. Paul the

man

of

sin,

or the vile
e.

who was

man. Arab, rasa. The slanderer,

of our Savior.

The Rabbins
t^g.

invariably call
vile,

him
Tishall

Daniel

calls

him

the

Titus ra-sha, the

St.

wicked
the

son of the king of the north.

Chap.

Paul

calls

him

same.

11:11. Hence, with the rod of his mouth, and breath of his ( Messiah's) lips, he shall consume yen the vile
or wicked

The

wicked,

whom

the Lord

man.

See

Isaiah,

11

4.

on this passage is perfectly clear and explicit. The "wicked

Armilius,

The Targum

subdue by the brightness of his coming. 2 fhes. 2:8. He was called such, because an idolater and enemy of God and his people the destroyer of his temple and the holy city. St.

the tenth

emperor of

Paul quotes the very words of Da-

sephus observes, was thirty-nine furlongs

forts,

in length,

and was strengthened with thirteen

5, 12.

at proper distances

from each other.

See Josephus, War, book

And

the

next work was to batter down the three walls which nearly surrounded the whole

city.

He

began by battering down the

;

first,

which, after

much

fatigue

and danger, he accom-

plished

and

five

days after the commencement of the siege he broke through the second
preparations for battering

wall, and then

made

down

the third wall, which he effected,

but not without great labor, for he had to raise several batteries for the engines, which

were no sooner

built than

thrown down by the Jews

city.

till

at

length he resolved to raise

of the whole, and

banks round about the new

After which he

made himself master

then completed the victory on the part of the Romans.

Dr. Lardner remarks, that Titus,

by

his father's directions

and counsels, had subdued the Jewish nation and destroyed Je-

rusalem, which had never been destroyed by any generals, kings, or people, before. Tacitus, speaking of Vespasian, says, " that a certain

man of

the vulgar sort, at

known because of the loss of his sight, kneeled down by him, and groaned and begged of him the cure of his blindness, by the admonition of Serapis, the
Alexandria, well

god that that nation worshipped

put some of his spittle upon the balls of his eyes.

he also desired that the emperor would be pleased to The emperor complied with his re-

quest, and it is said he cured the man of his blindness. Another man in the same place, who was lame of his hand, prayed him, as by the same god's suggestion, to trode upon him with his foot. Vespasian at first began to laugh at him, but afterward tread upon
his foot, and
it is

said he cured the man.

See Tacitus, vol.

3, p. 10.

And though
I

there

are

many who

afiirm this to be true, yet if there were double the number,

should not

credit them.

Suetonius observes, that Vespasian returned to

Rome

with the advantage

But opening his mouth in for the miraculous cures he had wrought. blasphemy against God may mean that he spake blasphemously against our Savior, for Daniel said that he should speak words against the Most High. Sec chap. 7 25. Some have endeavored to prove that the beast here has reference to the pope but they are
:

of a mighty fame

^nistaken, for

it

never was designed lo represent the pope

and though he

is

bad enougl^,

REVELATIOX.
14

179

And

deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by

Hence he shall become great, and distinguish himself above every other god, (heathen,) and shall speak wonderful (blasphemous) things
niel.

Christ,

The man
is

by any genuine Christian, of sin, therefore, must have

been a heathen, and Titus Vespasian that very person. The Romans

against the

God

(Christ) of Elohim.

styled

him and
maketh
that

his brother

"our

lord,

He was
away

to cast

down

the sanctuary,

god, the divine Titus."

Suetonius,
soldiers be-

destroy the holy

people,

and take

He
lieve

fire

come down from

his

the daily sacrifice for ever, and

heaven.

He made

then to be worshipped as

very temple.

God in that Mahomed, the pope,

were never
church of
in the

or Napoleon Bonaparte,

worshipped there nor

Deity to consume the city of Jerusalem.* li He deceiveth them that dwell on

he could command the send fire from heaven to

is.

evident

and takes too much upon him, yet we ought not to make him out worse than he really That he professes to be endowed with supernatural power, to work miracles, is but that he never has attempted a miracle in his own name, is equally evident,
;

but in the

name of
:

the Father, the Son, and the

Holy Ghost.
it

And

our Savior has said

that " he that doeth a miracle in

my name,
if

cannot speak lightly, blasphemously, of me."

See Mark, 9
in the

3, 9.

But Vespasian,
;

he did a miracle,

was

in his
to

own name, and not

to

name

of our Savior
I

and of course the glory was ascribed

to think, if he

him, and not

Jesus

Christ.

But

am inclined

attempted

it, it

was with an intention

to lessea

the glory of Christ, and

make him more contemptible

in the eyes of the world.

life,

But

we

never have heard that the emperor raised the dead to

the

caused the deaf to hear, and

dumb

to speak

neither did he

ever cast out devils, nor cleanse lepers. But Daniel

puts the matter beyond dispute, and shows clearly that the beast was a heathen, and

not the pope, for he says, "

beheld even

till

the beast

was
:

slain,

and his body destroyed

and given to the burning flame."

*

See chap. 7:11; 20

10.

He
we

professed to be endued with supernatural

are to understand the wrath of God.

power

to

consume the Jewg.

That he was

By

fire

here

Luke, 9: 54.

assisted

by

God
down

himself, to conquer and utterly destroy the Jews, no

person of reason will deny.

Take the words of Titus

the
first

here, in the speech he

:

wall of the city

"

As

to

made to his soldiers after he had battered our misfortunes," says he, " they have been owing
have been owing to your valor and to have been
in,

to the

madness of the Jews, while

their sufferings
;

the assistance

God hath

afforded you

for as to the seditions they

fall

and the

famine they are under, and the siege they now endure, and the
our engines

of their walls, without

what can they

all

be but demonstrations of God's anger against them, and

of his assistance afforded us."

See Josejihus, War, book

6, 1

5.

Before they went to

difficul-

war with
night.

the

Romans, the eastern gate of the temple, which had been with great

ty shut by twenty men,

was seen

to

open of

its

own

accord about the sixth hour of the

;

This gate wag made of solid brass, and very heavy

it

rested on a basis

armed

'

180
the

NOTES ON THE
means of those miracles which he had power to do

the earth.

The more

ignorant, the

more

superstitious the people will be,

and pompous appearances. But she never has wrought a true miratrines,
cle,

and the more credulous and easy to

be imposed on.

why

This is the reason papal Rome has managed to

lasts;

and never will while the world because she has not the miracle-working power, even in the conversion of sinners.

keep her people together so long.

The

glory

has

She keeps them in profound ignorance

jn order to
viz,

departed 1000 years since, and she

by

false miracles,

impose on their credulity, and false doc-

now

glories in the

shame of her na-

kedness.*

with

iron,

and had bolts fastened very deep

entire stone.

in the floor,

and the

floor in the place

where

the bolts

went down was one

This denoted, as some of themselves allowed,

that their security

was gone, and

that God, by his mighty power,

had opened

their gate

to let their enemies in.

This nation was the greatest enemy the Christians had to combat

with.

It
;

was by

their

means, and through their influence, that they were so much perse-

cuted

so that our Savior, by his mighty power, permitted

them

to

proceed no farther.

The many powerful victories he had gained, and the many dangers he had passed And not only this, but through unhurt, made bis soldiers think him a god, and not man.
he made his soldiers believe that
on the other hand,
here.
all

He

says,

all who died in the field of battle would be happy. While, who died a natural death must be miserable. Take his own words what man of virtue is there who does not know, that those souls which

re severed from their fleshly bodies in battle, by the

that purest of elements, and joined to that that they

sword, are received by the ether,

the stars
as such to

company which are placed among

souls that

become good demons and propitious heroes, and show themselves

their posterity afterwards.

While upon those

wear away

in,

and with, their

distempered bodies, comes a subterraneous night, to dissolve them to nothing, and a deep
oblivion to take

away

all

the

remembrance of them, and

this,

notwithstanding they

may be
this

clean from
is

all

the spots and defilements of this world.

There can be no doubt that

the very person St. Paul calls the

this

man

of sin, in 2 Thess. chap.

2:3.

few remarks

on

important chapter will not be amiss.

1.

Verso

" Now we beseech you, brethren, by the

coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and by our gathering together unto him."

Now we beseech you, brethren. We exhort you, brethren, or earnestly intreat you. By the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is, to judge the Jews at the present.
This epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians
is

allowed to have been written before Jerusait is

lem was destroyed; and from what

is

said in verses 11, 12, of this chapter,

beyond

doubt, that the coming of Christ here had reference to his

the present, and not the world in general at the last day.
will

coming

to

judge the Jews at

the Messiah
:

The Rabbins say

;

appear three times

3.

in the

world

: 1. To

save the world

2.

To

destroy Jerusalem

and

To

destroy the world in general.

REVELATION.
in the sight

181

of

the beast;

saying to them that dwell

Those miracles which he had power

do ill presence of the least. He had every thing necessary to carry
to

Should make an image

In order to have
it

to the beast,

placed

gods, and constitute his father a

among the Ro-

on the war, and to

torious

make

himself vie-

wherever he went.

man deity. This was considered a mark of the highest respect, an ho-

And

by our gathering together unto him.

This may mean the gathering

it

noma

of the

twelve apostles themselves to Christ, after their dissolution; or

may mean

the gather-

ing together of the church to Christ himself, in order to be protected from the power of
the

Koman army. He
2.

bore them up on eagles' wings,

till

he carried them into the wilder-

ness,

where he protected them from the power of the

Verse

" That ye be not soon shaken

letter as

destroyer.
spirit,

in

mind, or be troubled, neither by

nor

by word, nor by

from

us, as that the

day of Christ
is,

is at

hand."

That

ye be not soon shaken in mind.

That

that your faith, hope,

and confidence

in

God, be not destroyed, neither by deceivers, nor by the heavy calamities which are now

coming on the world.

Or

be

troubled.~W ith

fear, lest that

you should be destroyed as well as the Jews.

Neither by spirit.

This may mean

;

their sorrow of heart, lest

what

is

expressed abov

should come upon them

Spirit, testifying to

or

it

may have

reference to the inward teachings of the Holy

to
it

them that the Jewish world was now coming

the ministry of
the word, or

an end.

Nor by word.
conversation.

This may mean

as from us.
viz.

may mean

private

Nor

by

letter

He earnestly

intreats

them not

to

be troubled nor affrighted

from any of these sources,

from any revelation which should hereafter be made to

them by

the Spirit of God, nor from any alarm they should receive from the preaching

of the gospel, nor from any private letters that they should hereafter receive
apostles, nor even
.4s that the

from the

from

this present epistle.

is

day of Christ
3.

at hand.

That

is,

the day in which he has promised to

judge the Jews

edness.

in righteousness,
:

and

to execute his severe

wrath on them

for their wickis

See Matt. 24

If

we suppose
it

that by the day of Christ here

meant the
;

general judgment,

we must
;

believe that St. Paul labored under a great mistake

for, at

hand means immediately

distant as

and of course

could not have reference to a period as far

it

two thousand

years.

Neither could

have reference

to the

day of popish apos-

tasy, for this, in

no sense, could be called the day of Christ,

for

he did not come then to

destroy popery.

And I would
;

ask what

effect could

popery have upon the present church

of the Thessalonians

for it

was not known

in the

world until seven hundred years hence,

to understand by our

and

this

when

the present church

was

in glory.
is

But what are we

first

gathering together unto him, (Christ,) as

expressed in the

verse?
;

Certainly

it

must mean either the

apostles, or else the church of the

Thessalonians

and we cannot

182

NOTES ON THE

on the earth, that they should

make an image

to

the

nor which could be conferred on none

foreign
to a
I

prince or potentate, but only

but on kings and conquerors. This favor could not be granted to even a

Roman citizen. have now before me

Roman

suppose that

Verse
there

3.

" Let no man deceive you by any means

falling

this

was the time when the apostles

or they
:

were gathered home

day
shall not

to Christ.

for that

come, except

come a

away

first,

and that man of

sin

be revealed, the son of perdition."

a quotation from Matt. 24
:

Let no
our Lord

man
in

deceive
fifth

you by any means.

This

is

4.

And

the
is,

verse told his disciples in

what manner

they were most likely to be

in

deceived, that
Christ.

by false Christs, or
if it

men who would come

The church was

his

name, saying, I

am

And

he said, that
all

were possible, they would deceive the very

in

elect, that is,

the church, for

others are the non-elect.

more danger

of being de-

ceived by false Christs and false prophets than by any other means.

And we know

that

there never were so

many

false

prophets and false Christs as a short time before the de-

struction of Jerusalem.

For that day

Except
there

shall not come.

The day of
See
1

his severe

wrath

it

shall not

come upon
be de-

you, for ye are all the children of light.

Thes. 5
is,

5.

come a falling away first.

first

That
God
is,

on your part.
;

You

shall not
this

stroyed unless you

be deceived by false Christs or false prophets

lost,

and by

means
So

your faith be overturned, your confidence in

jJnd that

and your hope

in Christ destroyed.

man of sin
had

be revealed.

That

Titus, the general of the

in

Roman

army.

that except they

fallen

away, and he had appeared

this

Judea, there was no possibility

easily perceive that

of their perishing.

From

and the above expression, we may

he

was

the minister of divine wrath, to execute the vengeance of

God on
?

backsliding Israel,

and backsliding Christians.

himself,
1.

But why

is

he called the

man

of sin

St.

Paul explains

this

and

this in the following

manner

2. 3.
4.

He was the son of perdition, or of the destroyer. He opposed and exalted himself above God. He suffered himself to be worshipped as God. He sat in the Jewish temple of God, where he ought
His coming was
after the
all

not to

get.

5.

working of satan.

5.
6.

He

has to come with

lastly,

power, and signs, and lying wonders.

all

And
4.

he was to come with

deceivableness of unrighteousness

in

them that

perish, viz. the

Verse

" Who opposeth and exalteth himself above

;

Jewish nation.

all

that is called

God, or that

is

worshipped

so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God,

showing himself that he

is

God."

Who
tle

opposeth and exalteth himself above all that

his opposition to the gospel during the

is

called

God. Whether

the apos-

means

Jewish war, or

his opposition to

God, or

REVELATION.
beast,

183

which had the wound by a sword, and did Hve.

medal of Vespasian, struck

off

by

the countenance open, candid, fixed,

firm, inflexible.

his son Titus shortly after his father

The whole

indicat-

became emperor.
the forehead
small,

The head
the

is

large,

ing a

person of deep thought, quick

projecting,

mouth
;

the

eye

sharp, penetrating

penetration, strong resolution or determination to carry out his plans.

his being

opposed to the Jews,

is

not easy to determine

inclined to think
it

but

it

was undoubtedly

the cause

of his exaltation.

So

that I

am

has reference to his opposition to the

Jews.

Tiie wonderful works which he accon-plished in the siege and taking of Jerusalem

was

the cause of his being so higl ly honored, and such high titles conferred on him, which

titles

ought to be conferred on God alone, and

n( t

upon a

sinful

worm

of the earth.

But

he undoubtedly must have been an opposer of the work of God, according to the character
given of him by the apostle
in this chapter.
is,

Or

that

is

worshipped.

That
i.

as God, or that

is

honored or adored as such.

So that

he, as

God, sitteth in the temple of God.

e.

The temple here must be understood

And
again, ye are
1

either literally or spiritually,

the temple of Jerusalem, or else the church of Christ.

The
6

apostle Paul says to the Corinthians, ye are the temple of God.

Christ's,
:

and Christ

is

God's, and your body

is

the temple of the

Holy Ghost. See

Cor.

19

chapter

11:1
is

of this book, and the reference there.

Therefore the temple of God, spiritually, means the church of Christ, not an apostate
church, for this
the church of the devil
;

but a congregation of believers,

among whom

Christ himself dwells, and in whose hearts he rules and reigis as the Lord

God

of every

motion.

Therefore, where he rules and reigns in the hea'-ts of any particular congrega-

tion, they are his church,

tion, neither will they

and the pope can never have any pre-eminence over that congrega-

worship him, nor suffer him to have a seat among them.

the temple literally, then the
ii

But
ple of

if

we understand
this

an of sin must have sat

in

the temthere as
:

God

at Jerusalem.

See Luke,

9.

And he must have been worshipped

case.

God himself; and And now, says he,

was undoubtedly the

Take

the

words of Josephus here

the Romans, upon the flight of the seditious into the city, and upon
itself,

the burning of the holy house

and of

all

the bi ildings round about

it,

brought their

ensigns to the temple, and set them over against the eastern gate, and there did they offer
sacrifices to

them, and there did they make Titus imperator, with the greatest acclama-

tions of joy.

See War, book

is

6, 6.

Showing himself that he

alone, and not to

God. By

sitting in the

temple of God, and being wor-

shipped there as God, and having div'ne honor conferred upon him, which was due to

God
his

man,

for the

Verse
time."

6.

" And now

ye knoiv

Almighty was the conqueror, and not Titus.

in

ye know what withholdeth, that he might be revealed

jlnd

now

what

xvithholdeth.

That
is

is,

you know the cause why he

full
;

is

kept

back, because the measure of their iniquity

not yet

this

he had explained to them

184

NOTES ON THE

15

And he had power

to give hfe unto the

image of

the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image

of the beast should be killed.

gentleman present observed to me, why, sir, he is the very image of Dean Swift. And probably he was just such another genius as the Dean.
15

Had power

to

give Ufe

to the

ly ^rr.age of image

the least.

That
^

is,

he was

swear by, and sacrifice to it literally. Should be killed. As dishonoring Daniel, the emperor and his idol. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, would not do it. Christ and Ins rnUhon of d.sc.ples would not do it and
;

authorized
it,

place
it

it

by law to give existence to among the other deities, and

be worshipped,
adored,

^^^ emperor dare not put them to The most in^^^^^^ ^^^ rdu^-yng it.
fl^ential

men

in the

empire had

now
them

cause

to

i^gcome favorable, and

many

of

reverenced.

Should speak.
mation.*

By

public

procla-

As many as should not worship the rma<reofthebeast.ThaUsM^v down,

worship, serve, obey, fear, reverence,

converted to Christianity. And as -^^^^ ]ost the empire becfiuse of his unjust persecution of the Christians, Vespasian was rather afraid to venture a second
it

game

of this kind;

for

might prove a losing one to h.m.f

in his

former epistle.
lie,

See chap. 2:16.

God

as yet had not sent

them a strong delusion

.s

to believe a

that they all might be

damned who

believed not the truth, (that Jesus

hght So now the reader has had some the Christ,) but had pleasure in unrighteousness. this chapter is unnecessary with farther any proceed to and sin, on the man of their gods. ' notions among the heathens respecting
those who conprotect, and communicate with speaking may mean that the law Mdted them. See verse 6. But the image of the beast There the image of the emperor. should compel the whole Roman empire to worship and Daniel 3 1-4. is a very near connection between this verse image, nor sacrifice to any not be compelled to worship a graven t A Christian could spoken the opinion that the beast other God but the living and true God. Some are of his of in the eleventh verse one of of in the first verse is the pope, and the beast spoken
:

There were many superstitious They thought they could hear, speak,

was a likeness or represenBut this cannot be, for the image of the beast An image was made and sacrificed while living but sometimes it did not to in honor of almost all the emperors, and this Suetonius for more on this subject see take place until after death. See verse 1. And placed in the golden house, forThis author says that there was in Vespasian, sec. 24. twenty and hundred an Nero himself, merly called Transitoria, a monstrous statue of m.le in length. See it had triple porticos a feet in height, and the extent of it such that his reign, sent hi. .tatue to Jerusalem, to his life of Nero, sec. 51. Caius Caligula, in
successors.
tation of the beast himself, and not that of another.
;

REVELATION.
16

185

And he

causeth

all,

both small and great, rich and a

poor, free

and bond,

to receive
;

mark

in their right hand,

or in their foreheads

16 Small and great.

old,

Young and
free,

must
ship.

all

swear allegiance

to

him.
a

rich

and poor, bond and

A mark. A token
mark
of the idol

of their citizen-

servants and slaves.

new emperor
the

The heathens always put

was now crowned, and

people

which they worship-

have

it

set

up

in the

temple

on which a tumultuous clamor took place among the Jews.

their faces,

They threw themselves down upon

tinued to do for forty days. the
tilling

and stretching out their necks, said they

This they conoff

would sooner suffer their throats to be cut than see their laws broken.

In the

mean time they broke

when
their

from

all their labors,

;

and

of the ground, and this at a time

seed had to be sown

until at last

the statue had to be removed.

And

again Herod, the son of Antipater, in his reign, or-

dered a golden eagle to be placed over the great gate of the Jewish temple, at which they

were greatly provoked, and a great number of young men having got together, some of

them

let

themselves
;

down with

ropes from the top of the temple, and cut the eagle

down

with an axe
their laws.

preferring to suffer the most cruel death rather than witness the violation of

And Herod,

hearing that the eagle had been cut down, was greatly enraged,
to

and ordered the young men, and the Rabbins who influenced them
alive.

do

it,

to

be burnt

Jew in heart was so far enlightened as to know that it was contrary to the word of God to worship any image that had reference to God, or to any created being, how much more enlightened were the angels of the seven churches, and
If an uncircumcised

the four and twenty elders, with the vast

number spoken of

in the

succeeding chapter,

(11th verse,) to know that when they worshipped Christ they worshipped him as God,

end not as man.

The

Christians,

when asked

to

swear by the genius of Ca?sar, and sa-

crifice to the gods, refused, preferring to

be burnt alive at the stake, or be thrown to wild

beasts to be devoured, sooner than be guilty of idolatry.

But

if

Christ be no more than

a created being, and they worshipped him as such, they were guilty of the most gross idolatry; and consequently,
all

who
some

died worshipping him must be

lost, for
:

no idolater hath

any inheritance

in the

kingdom of God.

See

Cor.

6:9;

Acts, 8

9.

We know
free

that there are

things prophecied of here that were not fulfilled until

all

A. D. 74 or 75, namely, that of Titus causing

the

Roman

empire, both rich and poor,

and bond,

to receive

a mark

in the right

hand, or in their foreheads, which must refer

to the above date,

when he began

to em-ol the

Roman
; ;

citizens.

Suetonius observes that

his father's colleague in-

he bore the

office of

censor together with his father

and he was also

in the tribunitian authority,

and seven consulships

letters,

and taking upon him the care and

spection of

all offices

whatever, he dictated

and wrote proclamations

the qurostor.

in his father's

name, and repeated

Titus.

his speeches in the senate in

St.

room of

See Suetonius in
six

But we need not think strange of

John making use of the number

hundred

24

186

NOTES ON THE

17

And

that

no man might buy or

sell,

save he that

had the mark, or the name of the

his

beast, or the

number

of

name.
is

18 Here

wisdom.

Let him that hath understanding

ped on some part of the body, either the hand or the face, where it could be visible. See Maimonides. That no man might buy or sell. That is, buy real estate, or convey it,
unless

days. This would bring him, at the

time when he was declared emperor,

between sixty-seven and sixty-eight years of age. Suetonius calls Vespasian

an old man. When declared emperor, he applied the same expression to Galba when 70. Titus died after a reign of two years and two months,
in

he had

this

evidence of his

citizenship.

the

Or the name of the beast. That is, name of a Roman citizen or solSoldiers

the

seventy-ninth

dier.

were

called the children

christian era.

year of the This would leave Vesdied

of Vespasian.*

pasian, his father, 76 years and eight

his

Or mean
65

the

number of

name.

May

months
then

old

when he

the age of the beast.

All over

nine years of his reign from

deduct the this, and

years of

age were exempt be-

cause unfit for service, and not likely

to injure the government.

at the time he was declared emperor he must have been sixtyseven. There is a typographical error to a certainty, in Suetonius, in saying

number of a man. And kingdom or empire, and therefore Daniel's beast must be a man, a king, and a conqueror.
18 It
is

the

not of

he was
died.
in

only

sixty-nine
as

when he
died
his father

If Titus,

he

asserts,

the year of

79, then

And
ty

his

and

six.

number is six hundred 1. This may mean

six'

his

age, sixty-six years and six

hundred

must have been sixty-seven when declared emperor for Titus reigned only a little better than two years.
;

and

sixty-six to re|)iesent tlie

age of the beast, for this was a usaal mode of reckoning

among

the Jews.

We

find pretty

represent the time of the

much the same language made use of by Daniel, to war between the Jews and Romans, or how long it should be

from the time that the war began under Floris until the daily sacrifice should be taken away, and the sanctuary and host trodden under foot. See Dan. 8:14.
This
is

the

same

as the

mark

of the beast in their forehead.

after him,

So

that those

who had

the

name

of the benst, or were

named

were his soldiers, who no doubt were

called the sons of Vespasian, as being trained up by

him

in

war.

Claudius, the

Roman

emperor,
liim,

is

styled the father of Vespnsian, and he

victories for him.

liis

son, becuuse
J'lspphu.',

he had fought under

3,

and had gained so many

in

See

War, book

1:2. and

Suetonius

Vespasian.

187

REVELATIOX.
count the

number

of the beast

for it

is

the

number

of a

2.

This

may

refer

to

the
;

number
for

of Nazareth had seven heads and ten

of Vespasian's image, 666

the

horns

seven

emperors and ten kings

heathen deities were all numbered and registered in a book. 3. It may more probably refer to the Rabbinical
ffl^^'^^a

in his

dominion?

He

replied, no.

asked him again, whether Christ or

Titus destroyed Jerusalem

plied, Titus.

name

of

the

beast

Ti'^?i!!<l

ha-a vad don be-ro-ma-nos

emperor of
I

? He reWas Christ the seventh Rome ? He answered, no.

the destroyer of

Rome,

or as Jere-

then inquired,

miah has
tiles.

it,

the destroyer of the Genbeast

or spiritual
plied.

The

who was

to desolate

and lay waste Jerusalem.

Hence

the

beast

he was a temporal Spiritual, he reThen he could not be this for he was a king literally.
if

king?

numerals of his name.

^^

This, therefore, not only

1
6

shows the

blindness of their minds, but the en-

n n
4 2

>t
I

n
8

000

60

40

200

60

mity of their hearts, Redeemer.

to our beloved

learned Rabbi called to see

me

lately,

who heard

that I

was writing

Titus,

triumphal ark was erected to in honor of his conquest of

notes on the Revelations.

He wished,
to

Jerusalem, on which was inscribed

he observed,

to help

me

a better

understanding of the mystical

ber of the beast. the
in

num-

He

assured

me

SENATUS POPULUSqUE ROMAN us

DIVO TITO DIVI VESPASIAJfiE

number could not be traced out any other name but that of 3>d'^
Jesus of

VESPASIANO AUGUSTUS.*

""i^n

Nazareth.

When

The

senate and people of

Rome
the

showed him the above name, and the exact number 666, he was astonished. Besides, these letters

to the divine Titus, son of the divine

Vespasian,
emperor.

and

to

Vespasian

make
if

only

the

number 647.

I asked

him

Jesus

This very clearly shows that the

That the beast was a man, and not an empire, as some suppose.
literally or spiritually, for

And

if

a man, he

must have been a king,

and
St.

Daniel calls him a horn, and both he

John explain horns

this in the

to be kings

and

all

these horns are said to belong to the one

kingdom, and
of Daniel

time of the

little

horn.

And

as heads in this book

and the book

mean kings who had

first

received kingdoms, and horns, kings

kingdoms as

yet, it necessarily follows that the

heads could not

who had received no mean popes. And if the

is

beast spoken of in the

verse,

which Daniel

calls the little horn,

all

the pope, then the

at the

other nine horns must also

mean

nine popes, and must

first

have reigned

same

time,

and

this

when

the beast spoken of in the

verse had been living.

And

not only so, but

three of these popes must have been dethroned and subdued in the time of the beast spo-

18S

NOTES ON THE
;

man

and

his

number

is six

hundred threescore and

that

six.

people of
perors.
lord god.

Rome deified all their emHe was styled also Titus, our
See Suet,
of a
in

is base, vile, perfidious, and every vice that can debase the dignity of

Domitian.

human

nature.

So

that

it

is

utterly

The name

Roman, says Bi-

impossible to apply this chapter, or

shop Liutprand, includes every thing

any of the preceding parts of

this

ken of above.

See Dan.

7:8;
?

see verse 3 of this chapter. But

what are we
is

to understand'

by the number of his name

not the

Certainly the

name

of the beast, which

it.

Vespasian, canit

mean 666; neither does

the

name

of any of the popes signify

Nor could

mean

Roman empire, for the beast was a man and not an empire, and the name was that of But some have the man himself, and not the name of the empire to which he belonged. gone so far as to give him three names: Romith, a Roman; but St. Paul was a Roman, and we know that he was not the beast and Lateinos, the Latin man but as every Roman was a Latin man, it is as applicable to the Romans in general as to one individual. Augustus and Tiberius were Latin men, and men better versed in this language than the
; ;

pope, and yet neither of them was the beast.

is

But the
;

third

name

or title given to
in

him
any
the-

Vicarius Filii Dei, Vicar of the Son of

is

God

but as every minister stationed

particular parish

the vicar of

it, it

is

as applicable to

him

as to the pope.

And

Mumber

of the beast, according to the following system,

may

be sought for and found in any

of the above characters, as well as in the pope.

Hebrew

REVELATION.
book, to the
is

189

Pope

of

Rome. That he
;

bad enough we all admit but that he is a heathen idolater, we cannot

admit. Christian charity would forbid
this;

But the generality of them were wicked men, who neither feared God nor regarded man. But the character
here is peculiar and personal, and can be found in no single individual but Titus and his father Vespasian.

and besides, some of the popes

were moral men that feared God.

360 days.

And

that this

was

the

number of days

in

their year is suflSciently plain

from

the twelve hundred and sixty days spoken of in chapter 11:3, which signify three years

and a

half.

John, in the chapter and verse quoted, uses pretty

much

the

same

languag-e

to represent the space of lime that the

two witnesses should have But the most

likely

to prophesy, as he does
is

here to represent the age of the beast.

and safe method

the inter-

pretation given to his name, viz. the destroyer of

Rome,

or destroyer of the Gentiles.

HAP TER XIV

and

And I looked, and lo a lamb stood on mount Sion,

Father's

with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his

name

written in their foreheads.

Mount

Sion.

The church
from

of
to

the living God.

protect,

^\'^'2

V?

from the hand of their enemies. Zion literally was going to be plowed up
as a field,

defend,

save.

Hence

the

and the temple utterly de-

mount of
Christ,

protection

now

stood at

and salvation, the head of his

church, to protect and save his people

Yet the spiritual Zion was preserved and protected from her most vile enemy. They were
stroyed.

190

NOTES ON THE
a voice from heaven, as the voice of
as the voice of a great
:

2 And I heard many waters, and

thunder and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps 3 And they sung as it were a new song before the
:

throne,

and before the four

beasts,

and the elders

and no

sealed

or made safe and secure.* One hundred and forty-four thou4.

fying to her enemies.

general, in this book,

The waters, in mean nations

sand. See chap. 7:

Their Father^s
their foreheads.

name written

in

and multitudes of people, who, no doubt, had now renounced idolatry and embraced Christianity.

Holiness to

the Lord

was

visible in their
life,

countenance, con-

Of

great thunder.

Shouts of vic-

duct,

conversation.

They were

tory through the blood of the

Lamb.

Christ-like in appearance.

voice from heaven.

From

the

heaven on earth. They were singing, shouting, and praising God and the

Singing praises to God and the Lamb, because of their great deliverance. They had

Harpers harping.

now
and
3
is,

passed through

the

Eed
other

Sea,
side

Lamb. They were all on the wing for glory. The dragon was now dead,
and the
time of their deliverance
waters. Loud, solemn, terri-

were

.safe

on

the

Jordan, and within sight of Pisgah.

They sung a new song.

neither.

That

from spiritual bondage at han^.

redeeming grace and dying love.

Many

They. were sure that

Part of this chapter has reference to about the year of our Lord 76,

when peace was

established throughout the world,

and when

all

the commotions and disasters throughout

the world had nearly

come

to an end.

At

this period the

church of Christ had been collected

it

together from the different parts of the world into which

was scattered by

the

war

be-

tween the Jews and Romans.

Mount

Sion, spiritually, derived

its

of Jerusalem, which

was

called by this name.

name from Mount Zion literally, i. e. the upper city The city itself was built on two hills, and
hill

one was higher and more direct than the other; the highest

was

called

mount Zion,

and the lowest

hill

was

called Acra.

The former contained

in the

the strongest and most elegant

city, I'hasaelus,

buildings of the two.

There were three towers

upper

Hippicus,

and Mariamne, which were so strong that they never could be destroyed by an engine.
See Josephus, War, book 6,8:4.
her
faith, holiness, strength,

St.

John compares the church

See Heb. 12

to

Mount Zion because

Matt. 5:14.

and

stability,

exceeded that of the Jews much more than the

:

upper

city of

Jerusalem did that of the lower.

is

22

And
is

our Savior standing on mount Zion

the head of the church
;

a figurative mode of expression, to show that he

his divinity

was

in

heaven and his humanity on the earth at this

REVELATION.

191

and which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not defiled with women for they are virgins. These are they which follow the
four thousand,
;

man could

learn that song but the hundred and forty

Jordan's streams

Nor

death's cold flood,

fright

Should

ihem

hom

the ehore.

See chap. 5
the Lord had

9.

The redeemed of
returned to Zion

See verse 8, These hundred and forty-four thousand Christians were not corrupted by the world, the flesh,
chap. 2
:

and corrupt churches.

20.

now

with songs of deliverance, and everlasting joy was on their heads, and sorrow and sighing had for ever fled

for they are virgins. Pure, unspotted, holy, they walked in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless, were
;

nor the devil

away.

Israelites in

whom

is

no guile.

They

No man
None but

could

learn

that

song.

the redeemed of the Lord,

were without fault before God, v. 5. Pure in his eyes, though vile in the
eyes of the world.
highly esteemed
" That which is among men, is an

children of the spiritual and heavenly

kingdom, can sing redeeming grace and dying love. The formalist may
try to imitate
it,

abomination in his sight."

therefore, will be so
to

but

it

will prove a

What man, presumptuous as

justifies.

failure in the end.

Neither the choir

it,

condemn what God

Shall

nor the chorister can do

sing with the spirit

unless they

and undertandwith

we say these Christians were impure, when God himself declares

them
to

ing also.*
4

be without fault

Virgin

is

Were

not

defiled

women.

title

applied to the Jewish church,

it

With

idolatrous nations and heathen-

and here St. John applies

Christian church. Isa. 27
:

to the

ish practices.

Women,

in this book,
fallen

22. f

frequently represent nations,

Being

the first fruits unto

God and

None could

learn to sing

tliis

song but those

who
it

had found redemption

in

the blood

of the
art,

Lamb, even

the forgiveness of all their sins.

;

This song never can be learned by

be sung by note, nor by nature
;

philosophy, mathematics, astronomy

nor can

the

tune cannot be played on any other instrument but the harp of salvation. t This text by no means prohibits marriage, which
is

honorable in

all,

minister and

member
and long
church

but second marriages were not allowed to ministers in the days of the apostles,
after their decease.
St.

Paul would not allow Timothy to take a widow

in
:

the

list

but those

who had
is

been the wife of one husband only.

See

Tim. 5

9, 1 1.

And
book

that this is the sense in

which the primitive fathers of the church have understood

very evident from Mr. Whiston's note on Josephus, Antifi.
this

the above texts of scripture

18, C
:

and note, says he, that Tertullian owns

law against second marriaoes

192

NOTES ON THE
withersoever he
goeth.
first

Lamb
the
5

These were redeemed

fruits

from among men, being the

unto

God and
for

to

Lamb.

And
And

in their

mouth was found no

fly in

guile

they are

without fault before the throne of God.

6
I

saw another angel

the midst of heaven,

the

Lamb. They were

the

first fruits

by

signs

and

wonders

following.

of the Apostle's labors in the ministrv, and

day
but

of Pentecost.

were converted to God at the This was only a

there
is

They were holy, zealous, devoted men, who were willing not only to suffer, but to die for the name of
Jesus.
at present

particular out-pouring of the Spirit

now

going to be a gene-

See Acts, 3:6. Missionaries are more afraid of dying

ral out-pouring of it, to prepare the church and the ministers for the conThe version of the whole world.

name

through hunger, than of dying for the of Jesus. One holy minister

will convert

more
:

souls than
It

all

the

time

is

at hand,

when

the wolf, the

the lamb;

wealth of the Universe.

is

not

fierce, ferocious,

persecuting heathen

money we want

it

is

evangelical
Christ,
their

king shall

lie

down with

missionaries of the cross of

be so humble, so teachable, as to sit at the feet of the most poor and despised

who

are

willing

to

lay

down

lives for

his sake.

God

grant that

follower of

Jesus.

It

is

we may

soon have a host of such

most painful thing

tian to hear so

to the pious Chris-

holy men.
5 For this verse, see verse
der virgins.
6 Another angel. Missionary mes4,

much said about the conversion of the world, and see so very little done to accomplish it.
make ple believe that money is But how thing needful.

un-

Some

ministers try to

the peothe one

did

senger of the
either St.

church,
St.

John or

an apostle, Paul, who

to

the

were
of the

general

missionaries

the

twelve

poor

fishermen

of

Galilee

church and the world.

The

ministers

convert the world

money;

for

nor gold.

Surely not by ? they had neither silver IJut they had the Lord
confirming
their

stationed there for a season.

Seven Churches of Asia were But the

Savior to the to preach the

commission of our
twelve apostles was

with them,

word

of the clergy had been once, nt least, executed

I'n

his time.

And Jerome,

speaking of

the

ill

clergy in his days;

clea^r

per.^on could be chosen into the reputation of marrying twice, says that no such and for Epiphanius, rather earlier, is testifies also

which Augustine

and

full

to the

same purpose, and

snys that law ol.tainrd over the

whole catholic

church

in his

days.

REVELATION.

193

having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that

gospel to every creature, and this before

To
top.

preach. Proclaim on the house-

Jerusalem was destroyed. St. Paul was not put to death as yet by Nero, and was attending to his mis-

To preach, does not mean to read other men's sermons, talk fluently, eloquently, scream aloud as
some do, shout or to be silent in the meeting as others. Oh no! But it means, '* To raise your voice like a trumpet, and show the people their transgressions, and the house of Israel their sins," (all of them;) and then
directly to Jesus for a free, and a present salvation a salvation from all sin. If you do this,

sion.

The preaching

alluded to here
fell,

took place before Babylon

v. 8. at the

And judgement had now begun

Peter. Chap. 4:17.

house of God, as predicted by St.

See

v. 7.

followed the downfal of spiritual

Then Bafinal

bylon

her ruin, destruction, and

the

point

them

overthrow.*

a
everlasting
gospel.

full,

Having

The
in

glad tidings of salvation through

sinners will be converted

if

not,

Christ, to a perishing world, viz. that

soul will never be converted to

God
the

him

all

the nations of the earth

under

your

ministry.

Peter,

shall be
is

made happy.

Indeed, there

fisherman, without money, learning,

influence, the bishop's hands, or the

salvation in no other. For "there is no other name given under heaven, among men, whereby we can be

bishop's parchment, converted thou-

saved, but the

other gospel

name
is

of Jesus."

Any
but of

not of God,

man. And
ference to
lost.

if

you believe man in preGod, you are sure to be

converted one whole of your ministry ? Poor anatoth, what will become of you in the day of judgment?
sands.
soul during the

Have you ever

What
then

Therefore, poor sinner, go direct

render of

an awful account will you your stewardship?

Jesus, in faith and prayer, and he will pardon all your sins. For, without this blessing you cannot be
to

out the different

Mr. Hill has very accurately pointed modes of preaching

:

in the following order

saved.

Bold

manner

The

man

who

* When Christ sent out his apostles to preach, he told them to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature and to qualify them, he endued them with power from on high to speak sixteen different languages, that every nation might hear the gospel preached in their own tongue. And this apostle must have been qualified ia
;

same manner, or else he could not preach the gospel to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, throughout the world. These qualifications have never been found in any other minister of the gosfml at least since the second century. And though there
the

have been instances of ministers who have acquired different languages, yet it was through study and long application, and not through a supernatural power, without any
study or application to them.
in different languages, yet they

But

if

these ministers have learned to preach the gospel

have not extended their labors so far as personally to

preach the gospel to every nation, &c.

25

194

NOTES

oar

THE

dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and

tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice,

Fear God, and give glory

preaches what he feels without fear

or diffidence.
Self-conjiclent
in

Noisy
it.

man who

goes

Genteel

A loud The

roar,

and nothing
fool

vain

that is

by nobody's judgment but his own. Rash A preacher who says what comes uppermost without any con-

fond of dressing

up words without

meaning.

To

every nation,

sideration.

tongue,

and people.

and kindred, and That is, to eve-

Rambling
connexion.

man

that

says

all

ry individual on the habitable globe,

to every son and daughter of

that pops in his

mind without any

Adam.
preach

gtiff One who pins himself down to think and speak by rule, without

Wherever you find a Jesus to him as his Lord's last command,

fixion,

sinner,

Savior.

Our

after his cruci-

any deviation. Powerful The man

(and he has not given a

new

who

preaches

one since,) was,

into all

"go

ye,

therefore,

from the bottom of his heart the truths of the gospel, with energy to
the conscience of his hearers.

the

world,

and

preach the

gospel to every creature, baptizing

them
words

in the

name

of the holy Trinity,

Finical

Minces

out

fine

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and

lo! (says he,) I

with nothing in them. Sober The man

who

lulls

you

am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

Tell them
I

fast asleep.

have died
all,

for all, rose for

I will final-

Elegant
all

The

man who employs

all,

and plead for

all at

and

his brains

upon dressing words,

ly judge

the last day, the righ-

without even aiming at the heart. Vainly aims at every Conceited

thing, and says nothing.

teous

and the wicked.

Therefore

preach the gospel to every man, that

every man in the day of eternity may be without excuse. 7 Fear God. Who, after he hath
killed,

Affectionate
feels

The happy man who

tenderly,

for

souls

preaches

Christ affectionately, and yearns over souls in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

hath power

to

send both soul

Dogmatic
his

man who

goes by
into

own

brains, right or

wrong.
pricks

Peevish

One

who

and body to hell. I say unto you, fear him, and not man, who can only kill the body, but cannot touch the soul. And give glory to him. Adore, fear,
reverence, serve, and obey him, and
not

every body's thoughts, and thinks no

one right but himself. Fanciful One who instead of being led by wisdom, runs into a thousand visionary whimsies and conceits. Self-important T\\m\isnohodyVike
himself.

a 'poor, ignorant,

superstitious

priest, or a

heathen idolater.
his

The hour of

judgment
is

is

come.

The
to

time has

now come

to

judge
fit

the dead nation,

live nor
fit

who

neither

to die,

and also

for

REVELATION'.
to

195

ship

him for the hour of his judgment is come and worhim that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and
;

the fountains of waters. 8

And

there followed another angel, saying, Babylon

that great city, because she

is fallen, is fallen,

made

all

judgment God,

to

begin

at the

house of

prophecies,
fulfilled, are

which remained to be applied by our Lord and

And
is

worship

him.

Christ,

who
all

his apostles to the destruction of Je-

the Creator

things, visible

and upholder of and invisible.

Another angel. church in Asia.

8

That
fallen,
first,

is,

of

the

The fact is, they were deeply interested in this awful event, and they did every thing they could to save their countrj'men. See Deut.
rusalem.

Babylon
fell

is

is

fallen.

28

49-53, 57, 61-68

Luke, 21 22
:

and then into the hands of the Roman army, and they burned her with fire, because of her spiritual whoredoms. She is spiritually

She

from God

Rev. 1:7; 11:8.

o.

2.

Isaiah

calls

Jerusalem Babel, and not Rome. Jerusalem was the stumbling-block

in the

way
(Mai.

of the spread of the gos-

Babylon as well as Sodom, and Egypt by way of contempt. The Jews abhorred Egypt and Babylon, and to humble their
called
pride,

pel,

2:8,)

Rome was
far

not.

The Romans were

ble
to

more favoraChristianity than the Jews.

is,

The
tians

fact

they protected the Christhe

and bring their cruel bondage to their recollection, the prophets frequently applied these detestable epithets to them, because applicable as a
nation.

from

persecution

of the

Jews.
the

They viewed

the religion of

Jesus as a lovely and pure system

From

her long captivity

in

Babylon she acquired not only

dialect, but all their
tices
;

their

idolatrous pracis

Jews hated and detested it, and used their influence, both in public and in private, in church and state, to have it rooted out of the earth.

therefore she

called Babylon,

The

persecution of the Christians

instigated

by
his

from bna
traction.

confusion,

disorder,

dis-

Nero was

by the Jews

Isaiah calls Jerusalem the

:

about his court,

mistress Poppcea,
4.

especially

by

city of confusion, chap. 24

10, viz.

who was
all

a Jewess.

of tongues, languages, tribes, interests,

In Jerusalem, not in
the righteous

Rome, was
prophets,
slain
5.

murders, robberies, factions, and

found the blood of

the

fightings.

But Ezekiel
this

calls it

Chal-

and

all

men
:

upon
Jeru-

dee.

As

cannot refer to Babylon

fell

the earth.

Matt. 23
return
fall
it

35.

literally,

which
it

not

by conquest

salem
after

was
John's

destroyed

but rather by decay, 290 years before Christ,

immediately from Patmos.

700 years
a
fall,

must

refer either to Je1.

Rome

did not
;

until

rusalem or Rome.
prdictioas

Then, all the of the Old Testament

afterwards

and

was not

but

jsimply a change from a mouarchial

19B

NOTES ON THE

nations drink of the

wine of the wrath

of

her fornication.

to a republican government.

6.

The

city

by the engines of the Roman

great

calamities

predicted

by our

Lord, which should precede the fall of the one, did not precede the fall of
21 : 10-12, &c. under the reign of the seventh emperor of Rome. Rome
the
other.
7.

army, weighing sixty pounds each. But no such stones were ever thrown into Rome by her own army. Chaj).
16:21.
12. Finally, the city
its fall,

Luke,
fell

was not

Jerusalem

divided, before
ferent factions,

into three dif-

which fought despe-

did not fall for several hundred years

after the Caesars

rately with each other, but Jerusalem

were

extinct.

Chap.

was, and this according to the prediction of

17 10.
:

8.

The

battle of
in

Harmaged-

Dan. 11
of

14.

Therefore Jeruis

den was not fought

Italy, but in

salem, and not

Rome,
the

the mystical

Judea, a province 200 miles in length

Babylon

Revelations.

To

and the battle was fought outside the

walls of the great city called

conclude, the Syrian hypothesis that

Sodom

Peter wrote his epistle from Jerusait Babylon, and in the very room where the apostles re-

and Egypt, where our Lord was crucified.

9.

lem, and calls

general persecution did

not

precede the downfal of Rome,

ceived the

gift

of the

Holy Ghost,

but the persecution of Nero did precede the destruction of Jerusalem.

Matt. 24
:

doubt both Peter and John called Jerusalem Bathink highly probable.

No

chap. 12

7-10. 10. Ga-

bylon, from
clearly, that
this time.

Is.

24

1 0.

And

this

shows
at

briel did not

then swear that time

he was not

in

Rome

should be no longer with us Gentiles, but he certainly did do it with the

Had

not Titus destroyed the city,

Jews, a short time before the downfal

the robbers
5.*

themselves would
it.

in

Chap. 9:6. 11. In the siege of Jerusalem, tremendous larae stones were thrown into the
of

Jerusalem.

short time have done

Isaiah

13:1;

34

That great

city.

That

large, well-

The prophet explains

Jews.

the former chapter by the latter.

In the fourth and

fifth

verses

of the former chapter he prophesied

that the

Roman army
;

should come and besiege the

;

He

calls

them the weapons of the Lord's indignation

and

in the sixth verse

he

calls this

day of vengeance the day of the Lord

and we know that the day of the Lord

else the

in general

means either the destruction of Jerusalem or

day of judgment.

And

in the tenth verse he says, that " the sun should be darkened,

and the moon should not

give her light."

Our Lord has quoted

tiie

very words from this chapter and verse, and

has applied them to the destruction of Jerusalem. it is aaid that " the Lord should punish the world

Matt. 24

29.

And
So

in

the

1th verso

for their evil."

that

when Babylon

there must

was destroyed, the world must have been destroyed with her, or else the world spoken of mean the Jews, who are called such in Matt. 24 3. And again in the day that
:

Babylon was

to.

be destroyed, " the heavens were to be shaken, and the earth removed out

REVELATION,
9

197

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,

fortified,

wealthy, populous
it

city. Jo-

fore,

means her
equipage,

pride,

pomp, splen-

sephus
book, 7

calls
:

a great city. See

War,

dor,

worldly-mindedness.

5, 2.

call it the great city.

David and Jeremiah Ps. 60:9; Jer.

calls
it

Indeed, she neither feared

God nor
"
I sit as

regarded man.

She

said,

22

St.

John

the great city.

a queen, and shall see

no sorrow."
all

Chap. 11:8. So that Babylon is the very city that is spiritually called Sodom and E gypt, whei-e our Lond

But God soon brought her pomp down

in the dust; for in

one night
her,

her

glory departed from

and now,
:

was

crucified.

where
9

is

she

See James, 4

4.*

The wine of her fornication. The world was spiritually intoxicated with
her wealth, grandeur, splendid palaces, and especially her temple, which
the most elegant, costly, superb, and splendid building in the world. The merchants of the earth became rich through her vast wealth and expenditures.

The

third angel.

The

minister,

was

no doubt, of the Church of Pergaraos. Christ, on this occasion, assigns a work to each of them, and they are brought forward here in regular succession.

A loud voice-

Proclaimed

it

aloud

Her

fornication,

there-

by word, and privately by letter. He warned them of their danger.

of her place." Verse 13.

So

that if

we

understand this
its

literally, the

heavens must have

destroyed, or

been shaken, and the earth removed out of

else
it

place, viz.

when Babylon was

in this

must mean the Jews, who are called the heavens and the earth
See chap. 6
:

book, and in

different parts of the scripture.

12, 13.
:

But

as

Babylon comes from Babel,

And

never was there a city that this

:
:

Gen. 10 10. it must mean the city of confusion. name was more applicable to than Jerusalem. See

chap. 16 19, and Isaiah, 24 13. But the prophet puts the matter beyond dispute, for he calls Jerusalem Babel, or the city of confusion. But the character given of it in this book would be applicable to no other city but Jerusalem. See chap. 18 24. It is beyond
:

all doubt, that either

Jerusalem or

Rome was
if

called Babylon by the prophets, and this

by both Isaiah and Jeremiah.

to Babylon, so

So that

the thirteenth chapter of Isaiah had reference

had chap. 14:8 of Revelation.

* She polluted or corrupted all nations by her spiritual whoredoms. Her backslidings were not only the cause of her own destruction, but also of many others, who stumbled over her into hell. She professed to be the real Israel of God, and her religion to be the only true religion on earth and yet her wickedness far exceeded that of the heathen
;

nations round about her

so that her unholy example

was

sufficient to corrupt the world.

198

NOTES ON THE

10

The same
is
;

shall

drink of the wine of the wrath of

into the

God, which

poured out without mixture

cup of
and

his indignation

and he

shall

be tormented with

fire

brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the

presence of the

Lamb

If any man.
Christian.*

Who
beast.

calls himself a

with him
vessel that

is

giveness for such

the

Worship
emperor.

The heathen

There is no foraman. Hence, every has the image of the sun,

past.

Adore, reverence, submit,

obey, swear allegiance to him, be-

come

a citizen, sacrifice to his image,

moon, or dragon on it, shall be cast into the sea. Tal. Bab. Zara, fol. 422. Hence, '^'1'^-? "T^J false heathen
worship,
10
is

or be branded with his mark, or the

idolatry.

name

of his idol, he shall be cut

oflT,

destroyed. He has now trampled under foot the Son of God, done despite to the spirit of grace, and counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy Therefore the day of grace thing.

Which is poured out without mixture. That is, of mercy. He that

has publicly denied Christ, sacrificed to an idol, and preferred idolatry to
Christianity, deserves to die without

mercy

Jnto the

cup of his indignation.

But as fornication, in the scripture, means either actual or spiritual adultery,

it

must be

understood either literally or spiritually

sistent with both reason

and

to

understand
it

it

literally

would be incon-

and scripture

so that

must mean

spiritual adultery.

And
That

no nation can be guilty of this but those

who once

loved God and his ways, and after-

wards placed their affections on money and the world more than on their Maker. this was the case with backsliding Israel is very evident. See chap. 18 7.
:

This must mean any believer in Christ, for

it is

said in chapter 13:8, that all that

are not written in the book of life,

dwell upon the earth shall worship

him whose names

to those

&c.

If this, therefore,

had reference

who

actually did worship the beast and

to the

his image, there

would have been no possibility of them being saved, according

tenth verse.
t

The Greek word

for

worship means no more than august or venerable, which

emperors.
See Bishop Newton on the

title

the Greeks gave to the

Homan

Man

of Sin.

So

that if any believer in Christ renounced his religion, and worshipped the beast in the

above manner, or even received his mark in his forehead or in his hand, he had completely excluded himself from the kingdom of grace and glory. This is sufficiently clear from

what follows.
X

The

Christian

to a heathen
suffer the

vengeance of eternal
:

who has renounced his religion, and now pays that honor and respect emperor that he formerly paid to his King and his Savior, shall have to fire, and this according to the law of the Lord. See Ex.
1-5.

22

20

Num. 23

REVELATION,
11

199

And

the
:

smoke
and

of their torment ascendeth

rest

up

for

ever and ever

and they have no

his image,

day nor

night, w^ho

w^or&hip the beast

and whosoever receiveth

the

mark

of his name.

That
his

is,

the apostate

who

has denied
a

power and authority

with
all

to

punish them

Lord and Master before

heathen

the torments of the impenirest day nor night. from a guilty conscience

Therefore God is indignant, and the church indignant with such There were but few, howa man.
world.
ever, of this

tent in perdition.!

They have no
In this
life,

stamp

to

be found in

the church of Christ.

Paul mentions

fire

who made shipwreck of faith, and put away a good conscience, and returned
two, Alexander and Hymenius,
to

worm shall never die, their never be quenched, in the life to come. He that believes to the conand their
trary
is

an unbeliever in Divine

Re-

velation, and can

have no claim what-

heathenism.

He

finally

gave them
blaspheme.

over to their father the devil, that

they might not learn

1

to

Let him, if he has any moral honesty about him or in him, come out in his true characever to Christianity.

Tim.
11

20.*
shall

They

he tormented with

fire

and

brimstone.

They shall

be de-

livered over to their father the devil.

They

are his children, and he has full

world what he See chap. 20 10. The mark of his name. The mark of his image, either on his hand or on his forehead. See chap. 13 16 +
ter,

and declare
is,

to the

really

an

infidel.

This is a figurative mode of expression, to show that the wrath of God should be poured out in the extent upon the person that worshipped the beast or his image, for it is beyond doubt that the cup of his indignation is the person guilty of the above crime.

As

his heart is full of idolatry

and iniquity, the wrath of God

is

equally

filled

up

to the

brim, as a just punishment for his guilt.

f

Our bodies,

in their present state, are neither

fit

for

heaven nor hell

but at the morn-

ing of the resurrection they shall undergo a change from corruption to incorruption, and from mortal to immortality and then every seed shall have its own body the seed of
:

evil-doers shall have bodies capable of bearing the torments of hell without being dis-

solved, while, on the other hand, the righteous shall have glorious bodies like that of
their

Lord and Master^

sinner, cease
is

from man whose breath

is in his nostrils

if
:

he

asserts that the punishment of hell

for if

not eternal, believe

is

him

not, (see chapter 6

15,)

you never can come. And if any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ, or denies him or his holy word, let him he anathama
maranatha.
$ If any believer worshipped the beast or his image, or received his mark, he was to be punished in the follov.'ing manner I. He was to drink of the wine of the wrath of
:

you die in your sins, where God and Christ

200

NOTES ON THE
is

12 Here
that

the patience of the saints

here are they

faith of

keep the commandments of God, and the

Jesus.

13

And

heard a voice from heaven, savino unto me,

12 Here
sitints.

is

the

patience of the
is

earth,

beholding

the

evil

and

the

In this the patience as well as

of the
saints

good.
Write. It in your book, that
all

the

faith

manifest.

We fearlessly
itself,

assert,

they will suffer

life

succeeding generations
that
I

may know,

the loss of propert)', liberty, and

will never leave nor forsake

rather than deny the Lord

who

them

that put their trust in me.

bought them with his blood, and bring swift destruction on themselves.
13
sus,

Blessed.

Happy,

peaceful, glorious,

Are
to sin

the

dead. Those

who

are dead
to

A voice from heaven.

From

Je-

and the world,

and alive

who

neither slumbers nor sleeps,

God, or those
in Jesus.

who have

fallen asleep

but whose eyes are abroad in the

God.

2. It

was
4.

indignation.
lioly angels.

5.

to be poured out without mixture of mercy. 3. He was the cup of God's He was to be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the He was to have no rest day nor night in this life, and tlie smoke of his
for ever

torment was to ascend Up

and ever

in the life to

come.

So that

if the

beast

is

the ppe, and the image of the beast the images that are adored in the church of

Rome,

and his mark the mark of the cross of Christ,

in Christ in the

it

necessarily follows that if any believer

worshipped the pope

in the

church of Kome, or even to

manner described, or paid adoration to the images the above cross, which was originally designed to re-

present the cross of Christ, he had excluded himself from the mercy of

God

for ever,
to

and the Most High, according

neither in this
life

to the

above statement, could extend no mercy

is to

him,

nor in that which

come, because his wrath was

to

be poured out

upon such offenders without mixture.

According

to this interpretation, the

church of

Rome, from

the time of the first

pope
;

to the present, never could

if
it

have produced a betlie

liever in Christ, in the

above sense

and

did, they could not enjoy

favorof God,

and yet continue in that church. But Thomas-a-Kempis, the ]\Iarquis De Kenty, and and others, would be proof against this. And again, if a Roman Catholic, after he had
experienced the love of God, had embraced the protesfaiit faith and doctrine, and after
this turned

to him. to

papist again, he must, according to this interpretation, have excluded himself from any jmssibility of being saved the second time: God could extend no mercy But he that had tasted of the good word of God, and tlie powers of the world

deny Christ and

fii-or

come, and was made partaker of the Holy Ghost, if he had fallen away so far as to sacrifice to an idol, and pay that honor and adoration to the beast that
to his

ho formerly paid

Lord and Master,

it

was impossible

for

him

to he restored to the

of God again, because he had crucified the Son of God afresh, and put him to an

oj)en

shame.

SeeHeb. 6:4.

REVELATION.

201

Write, Blessed arc the dead which die in the Lord from

IVIio shall

die in the Lord.

In the

last office of the

Holy

Spirit, to seal

faith of the gospel of

our Lord Jesus.

to be united to
inti-

To

be in the Lord,
faith,

is

him, by

as

closely and
to the vine.
-will

mately as the branch

a living branch, you
lasting

If

bear fruit be ever-

unto holiness, and the end

life.

If

a dead

branch, you

are

fit

for nothing

but to be plucked
be burneil up.

day of eternal redemption. He has been their comforter and guide through life, and now he goes with them through the valley and shadow of death, and then carries them on his wings to glory, to present them to Jesus. That they may rest from their labors.
the

them unto

up by

the roots, and cast into the unfire to

From

persecution, affliction, hunger,

quenchable
dies in him,

The

cold, nakedness,

poverty, distress of

believer lives in him, walks in him,

rises

in him,
in glory.

and fives
Hallelu-

body and mind, losses and crosses, trials and temptations of the devil,
allurements of the world, infirmities
of the flesh, backbitings, slanders and

with him for ever jah Amen.

!

From
now
be

henceforth.

From

this

time

reproaches of wicked men.

Wc shall

forth and for ever.

Their deaths will easy, happy, holy, triumwill fall asleep in Christ
little,

preach no more, pray no more, exhort no more, nor weep bitterly between
the porch and the altar.

phant.

They

We

shall

juht like a
in
its

simple, lovely babe,

affectionate

mother's arms.*

Our body wiih our charge lay down, And coasc at once to work and live.

Yea, sailh the S2nrit.

This

is

the

From

tliis

time forward, namely, from the downfal of Babylon.

it is

See verse

3.

From

henceforth must refer to that period, for

allude to the

used here

in

the present tense, and could not

commencement
fulfilled,

or conclusion of the prophecy, but to a period

it

when part of
was the

the prophecy was

and part of

remained to be such.

And

as Babylon

main cause of
a
little

their persecution
is it

and oppression, and the downfal of

that

this city

u mentioned
any other
?

before,
it is.

not

more probable

John referred

to that period than to

Certainly

The same expression occurs

to

in the 4th chapter

and 8th verso of the

se-

cond epistle of Paul

ence to the time

Timothy, and there

it is

used

in the

present tense, and had refer-

when he had

finished his christian course.

See verse

7.

Before Jeru-

salem was destroyed, the poor innocent followers of Christ had two of the most powerful
nations in the world to contend with,
viz.

the

Jews and Romans

but

when Nero was

;

dethroned, and the

those

Jews subdued,

their present miseries

had come to an end

so that

who now died in the Lord died a blessed or a happy death, in comparison to others. But it may mean all those that died martyrs for Jesus. When Babylon had fallen, the
Christians had no nation to oppose them but the

Romans

and

if

they died martyrs for

the
first

Christ, they were

more particularly blessed or happy, because they were

See chap. 20
:

to

be

raised to glory and he with their Savior.

6.

26

NOTES ON THE

202

hencefortli
tlicir

Yea,
;

saitli

the Spirit, that they

may

rest

from

labors

and their works do follow them.

And
For

their

their linul

works do follow Oiem.* and eternal reward,

liuth not seen, nor ear
it

royal family of heaven

is

there

the
17,)

King and the Queen, (chap. 22:

they will now liavo an eternal weight

of glory.

Eye

with their ministers and ambassadors from every part of the world.

heard, nor limit

entered into the

They
Jews
viz.

all

shall speak the

same lan-

heart of

man to conceive the things which God huth jjreparcd for them
that love him.

guage, viz. of Canaan. Hebrew, the

Whatsoever things are

things
are
love-

They

pure,
ly,

whatsoever

See Acts, ^G 14. wear the same clothing, pure white linen. Chap. 44 7-9.
say.
:

shall

whatsoever things arc delightful,

Ttiry
nil

charming, desirable in this life, we shnll have them more abundantly in

the
life to

nro robed in Bpotless white,

Ami

coiKiuering piUms they Ueur.

come. Here
shall be at

we

arc exiles;
in

They
into

shall eat the

same

food.

The

there
ther's

we
;

home

our Faare pil-

good Shepherd shall lead his flock

green jmstures, to cool shades, and where the cooling and refreshing
life

kingdom.
there

Here we
shall be at

grims

we
;

our jourstrangers

ney's end.

Here we
there

are

waters of
nions

flow.

and sojourners
our

we

shall

be

in

They shall have

;

the

Chnp. 7 17. same compa:

own

country, and

among our own

;

angels, areh-angels, and all the

kindred.

Here we
shall

are persecuted

spirits of tiie just

made

jierfect;

pa-

there

we

be

rewarded

w^illi

crowns of glory and palms of victory.

The
No

climate
cliillin^

is

delightful
jioisniious l)renth,
pliorc
;

and kings the ministers and martyrs of Jesus; the general assembly and church of
triarchs, prophets,
j)riests

winds nnr

the lirst-born, whose

names

are writ-

.'Slmll roiu-li lliiitliculllilul

ten in heaven, and Jesus Christ, the

Ficloiepg

Are

felt

imd gnrrow, jHiiii niid nnd fcurcd no more.

dcntli,

the Judge of
:

Mediator of the new covenant, and all men.

The society is delightful

the whole

They

shall

have the same com-

Tli.>

r-wnrd of

tlioir

holy and pimis labors slmll follow them to the bor of Gocl
full

it

is

tlioro tliclr woik^i slmll

receive their

rownrd, or tbeir
iis

foil

wcig:bt of glory.

That there

arc (lillVrent tlosrces of glory in heaven,

hell, is cvi(l(>nt

well ns difTerent degrees of puiiisbment in

Sec John, 14:2, nnd clmp. 21 : S of this book. Our blesseil Siivior will reward the ri-lileoud nceording to liis worku, and punish the wicked in proportion to his wickedness. They thot have done p""d ulinll rise to the resurrecfrom the word of God.
tion of
life,

nnd they tlmt

liave dorje evil

to the resurrection of

dnmnaiion.

The wise
let Uioir

virgins shall have iho gntes of glory opened to

them

but the foolish virgins,

who

lamps go out

fur

waul of

oil, hull

havo them

iliul ns"i>ist

dicm.


REVELATION.
203

14

And

looked, and behold, a wliitc cloud, and

the cloud one sat like unto the

head a golden crown, and in 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in

upon Son of man, having on his his hand a sharp sickle.

l)lexion.
lilcc

Glorious, brilliant, angelic,

1

sitting in the

church
and

to tell the
in

people

Jesus.

John, 3
is

2.

Color, cast,
there.
feel-

the harvest of the wicked

viras

and distinction,

not

known

now

ripe,

fit

to be cut

Judea down,
depart

They
ings.

shall possess the

same

and that
ing angel

the

people

must

Love, joy, happiness. They shall have the same employment, viz. praise and adoration "unto Him that hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath inado us unto Cod and his Father [iriests and kings to him be glory."
;

from spiritual Egypt,

for the destroy-

was

to

pass through there

immediately, and destroy all the lirstborn, both man and beast. When the
harvest was cut
there

down

in

Judea, then

was

time of great rejoicing,

feasting,

mirth,

and thanksgiving

They
ness.

shall enjoy the

same happi-

the harp, tabret, and viol, were heard

in
is

troubling, there the

There the wicked cease from weary are at rest. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The Lord

every part of
represented
also

it.

The church
rejoicing
in

as

and
is

])raising

God, with harps

and

their

God omnipotent
14

reigneth.

hands, because the spiritual harvest

rea])ed,

nesses.

That is, of witThe four and twenty ciders,

white cloud.

their inveterate

enemy
har-

cut down.

She sung

the song of de-

who
in

are Jesus' witnesses.

his spiritual sanhedrin.

They are He sits now

condemn
sit-

liverance from her enemies.

vest

The

jndgmmcnt with

tiiem, to

the great spiritual whore which

teth on

was cut down in May, and this month that Titus and his soldiers began to cut down the Jews in

was

the

many

waters.

Jerusalem.

A
or
it

sharp

sickle.

The Roman army,

Another
ister

artfrcl.

Prol)ably the minof

Tiiyatira.

may mean
in,

the sickle of justice

of

the

church

and judgment. This was

be thrust
vest of the

now going to and to cut down the harwicked. The sanhcdrin

;

Chap. 2:18.
Thrust, in the sicldc.
forth the reapers

T\b^

Send

are called sha-loo-sha hai-ilh-din

the

Judea;

for the

(Roman army) into fields are now white

ministers or messengers of the house

and ready to harvest. Joel, 2:13.

of judgment.

They

sat in the time of

tell

harvest in

a semi-circle, to

the

For the time has come. It has been announced by Christ and the Sanhcdrin, that the set time

messenger of the
the harvest was

sanctuary " that

ripe,

has

now come.

now
are

and time
four and
as

The
ting

robbers and murderers are cut-

to put in the sickle."

The

down

the ripe sheaves, and filling

twenty

ciders

represented

the temple with the dead bodies, be-

204

XOTES ON THE
:

thy sickle, and reap

for the

time

is

come for thoc

to

reap

for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

16
17
is

And he
;

that sat

on the cloud thrust

in his sickle

on

the earth

and the earth was reaped.

another angel

And And

came
came

out of the temple which out from the altar, which

in heaven,

he

also

having a sharp sickle.

18

another angel

cause the harvest of the earth is ripe, Daniel's 70 years fit for destruction.
are

One

from

heaven,
sent to

probably
to

Joel,

who was

announce

the

now

ended, viz. since the time

;

Messiah came
the harvest.*

therefore

cut

down

church that the following part of his prophecy was now going to be literally fulfilled in Judea. See Joel,

2:13;

The
stroyed,

earth

is

reaped.

Judea and

Is.

63

2,

2-7.

Jerusalem are utterly ruined and decut

;

down

as

cumberers of

Having a sharp sickle. The Roman army. To punish them for the
murder of
all

the ground

the people and the grass,

the holy prophets

whom
I

the gardens and the grain, the cattle, the herds, and the horses, are all cut
off and destroyed.
desolate wilderness.

they slew at different times.

have

Judea

is

now

"The

daughter

no doubt but the murdered ghosts of these holy men, as well as those of the saints which they put to death,

of Zion

is left

as a solitary cottage in

had now appeared

indication that

in

Jerusalem as an
to re-

a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. The country is desolate, the cities burnt

God was about

quire their blood at the hands of that

with
gers,

fire,

the land devoured

cities

by

stran-

and the

desolated and
Isaiah,

wicked city. 18 Another angel. Probably the minister of the church of Sardis.

overthrown
1
:

by

foreigners."

Which had
the spiritual

potver over fire.

fire

7, 8.

of the

altar.

Over See

17 Another ami; cl.

A different one.

chap. 16 :5.t

*
vest

The Jews are now

is

ripe for destruction,

and the Gentile*

to

for salvation

but the har-

title

more applicab'e to the Jews than

:

any other nation.

See Joel,

3:13;

Jeremiah, 51
\

33, 31.
fire

Thetw was a

the unquenchable

fire.

kept perpetually burning on the Jewish altar, and was called by them wood for the altar, that It was customary for every one to bring
fire

there might never be a want of fael, nor the

go out.

One

of the priests had the

altar,

charge of

this,

while the lot of others was to burn incense on the

when they went

into the temple of the Lord.

See Luke,

1:9;

chapter 8

3, 4.

And

others had to slay

REVELATION.

205

had power over

that

fire; and cried with a loud cry to him had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth

for

her grapes are

fully ripe.

19

And

the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth,

The
life.

grapes.

The sour The backsliders in heart and The Lord brought this vine out
cluster of the vine.

the wild boar of the forest, the hea-

then emperor, destroyed

it.

Psalms,

80: 13.*

of Egypt,
soil,)

(a barren,
it

unproductive

Her grapes
people are
tion.
is full, all

are fully ripe.

The

and planted

in the delightful

now

ripe for destruc-

and
non,
its

fertile

land of Judea, and

when

it

The measure

of their iniquity

grew up
its

like the tall cedars of

Leba-

top reached to heaven, and

and the cup running over; therefore put them into the great wine
press of God's wrath, that their blood

branches spread throughout the

world.

Yet

it

produced the most

to

vile

may

be poured out as a libation for

and vicious

fruit,

poisonous grapes;
it

their sins.

and God commanded

be cut
;

19 The great icine-press.

down, and torn up root and branch

man army,

(see

Lam.

1:15,)

The Rowho took

the sacrifice, and pour out the blood on the altar, to

make atonement
God was
it

for the sins of the

people.

This

fire

was only the shadow

and

but John in this verse has given us to see the

still

substance.

This apostle was

if

to see that the love of

fire

burning on the main

altar of their hearts,

fuel.

the

was

likely to

go out,

was

his
i.

duty to put on more

e.

It

was

for this

purpose that he had been placed at the

altar,
fire

that he might

still

keep the flame increasing higher and higher.

said to be unquenchable, yet
to work,
it

But though the

in

one sense may be

if

the minister ceases to be watchful, and the

for

members

refuse

will very soon

go out

want of

fuel.

See Levit. 9
is

24.

Isaiah asserts that the vineyard of the

Lord of hosts
:

the house of Israel.

:

Chap.

5:7.

So that they were the vine

all
all

Ps. 80

Hosea, 10

and the clusters of the

or proselytes
;

vine were
scattered

that pertained to the house of Israel, whether

Jews

and being

over the world, something like grapes on a vine, this angel was sent to col-

lect the clusters of the vine together to

Judea and Jerusalem, that they might be thrown

into the great wine-press of the

wrath of God.

And we know

that this

is

title

peculiar

to the Jews,

and no other nation.

And
And

not only so, but a very large golden vine, of great

a great height,

value, with branches hanging

down from
:

was placed

in their

temple.

See
vine,

Josephus, Antiq. book 15, 11

3.

if

we admit

that the house of Israel

was the

and

all

that pertained unto her the clusters of this vine, then

in verse

we must
spiritual

allow that the wine

spoken of
salem.

8 was the juice of these grapes, and that

Babylon was Jeru-

20G

NOTES ON THE
it

and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast

great wine-press of the wrath of God.

into the

20

And

the wine-press

was trodden without the

city,

their station

outside

the

walls

of

the city, on

Mount Calvary, where Christ's blood was shed, and there they commenced their operations in cutting down the vine, and squeesout
the

of the houses
Joel, cha]).

been immense, when the fire of many was put out by it. See

A
And

3: 11-14. thousand and six hundred fur-

longs.

That

is,

two hundred
St.
3.

miles.

ing

grapes.

This

is

the

this is precisely

the length of the

wine press of God's wrath, which he had appointed to slaughter the Jews in every part of Judea.* 20 And blood came out of the press
even
to the

land of Palestine.

here to Isaiah 14:

John alludes Hence, *' Howl

city,
is

gate,

cry aloud

for

the

whole land of Palestine

destroyed;
for

consumed,
coifie

horse-hridles.

The The
to the

effu-

there

shall

sion of blood

was

so great as almost
bri-

cloud, a vast

army from

the

north,

to reach the horse-bridles.

(Rome,) and they

shall assemble at

dles

were very low

horse.

came

knee
a

the appointed time."

That is,

in three

of the

We

frequently say,

score and ten years from the birth of

the blood

was knee deep.

This

is

the Messiah.
lotted to

Rabbinical mode of expression for a

great effusion of blood. It must have

man

This is the time alon the earth, and to the

Jews

to

repent of their wickedness.^

* It

was outside
all

the walls the

Romans pitched

their

camp, and

it

was here

that they

accomplished
side of the

their designs in the destruction of this people.

The Jews who

fought out-

walls were either taken prisoners and put to death, or else put to the sword.

And

if

they attempted to escape, the cavalry pursued them and trod them down, or else
their swords.

killed

them with

While those that

in

staid

inside of the walls

were either

crushed to death by the large stones thrown

else killed

upon them by

their enemies' engines, or

in this

by their darts
fire

and those who were not destroyed See chap. 16

:

manner were

atter-

wards consumed by
t

and famine.

21.

We

need not think strange of

this expression, for J)sr'phus declares that after the

Romans

got possession of the upper city,

(Mount Zion,)

they ran everv person through

whom
whole

they

met with, and obstructed

the very lanes

with the dead bodies, and

fire

made

the

city run

down with blood

to

such a degree that the

of

many of
:

the houses

was

quenched or put out with the blood.

See Joscphus, War, book

it

G, 8

and as Mr. Wbis-

ton remarks, that in the nature of thing,

to be collected together

was almost impossible

for

such a vast number

from any other nation as now perished

all

in the city of

Jerusalem

nor have

we an

instance of the above statement in

to the present, viz. that the fire of

the cities that have been destroyed

the bouses

from that time

tho torrent of
t

muny of

was quenched with

human

blood.

The

city sjiokcn

of above must have rcf.'renco to ibc cnpiiol of Juden,

for

was

to

REVELATION.

207

and blood came out of the wine-press, even unto the

horse-bridles, b^^ the space of a thousand

and

six

hundred

furlongs.

this city that the clusters of the vine

were

to be gathered together,

and

it

was

outside of

this city that the wine-press

was trodden.

And to

suppose that there ever should be such

in

a vast number of Jews collected together again, and destroyed at Jerusalem, and
dea, as that the blood should be so deep as to
ble.

Ju-

come up

to

the horse-bridles,
;

is

improba-

This slaughter extended throughout the whole land of Palestine

in

there

were

slain

at

Askelon 10,000, and

an ambuscade near the same place, 8,000.

At Japha 15,000.
At Joppa

And
sides

of the Samaritans, on

mount Gerizim,

11, GOO.

At Jotapata 40,000.

4,200.

At Tarichea 6,500. And after the city was taken, 1,200. At Gamala 4,000, be5,000 who threw themselves down a precipice. Of those who fled with John of Gis-

chala, 6,800.

On

the lake of Gennessaret 6,000.

Of
At

the Gadarenes 15,000.

I\Iacha5rus 1,700.

In the

vil-

lage of

Idumea above lO.OQO.

At Gerasa

1,000.

In the woods

of Jardes 3,000.
8,000.

In the castle of

Masada

960.

In Cyrene, by Cattullns, the governor,

And

11,000 perished during the siege of Jerusalem.

So that during the entire

97,000

war, before

this,

and to

this period, there perished 1,957,660, beside

fall

who were
have

taken captives.

But some may think that the

of Babylon, and the harvest and vintage

distinct things, for one is said to

spoken of

in the latter part of this chapter, are

two

fallen before the

other had taken place.

in the vision

To

this I

would

reply,-

namely, that St. John

had only seen these things

which ends

in the next chapter;

and Babylon had

not actually fallen until the time

when

the IGth chapter and 19th verse

was

fulfilled.

So
de-

that those texts which he quoted from the prophets

struction of Jerusalem, and their

had immediate reference

to

to the

meaning was not made manifest

him

until

now.

CHAPTER
xjLND
I

XV.

saw another sim

in

heaven, great and marvel-

1 The seven last plagues. These were not seven new ones, but the old ones alluded to before. They were

only referred to by John, but now they are going to be accomplished on

epiritual

Pharaoh and

all

the host of

NOTES ON THE
lous,

seven angels having the seven

is filled

last

plagues

for in

them
2

And

up the wrath of God. saw as it were a sea of

glass

mingled with

Egyptians. judgments,

They
which
In

are seven severe

the

church;

either

cause them to
life.

the

nation most

backslide in heart or in

Surely
at his

them is the wrath of God filled up. His justice will now ibe satisfied, and his mercy clearly made manifest to the world. His mercy was manifest in their salvation;
justly deserve.
his justice in their destruction for re-

God

will require

their

blood

hands in the day of eternity. See Ezek. 3:18; Is. 6 6, 7. The people are daubed with untempered mortar,
:

but
ger.

not admonished of their dan" The prophets prophecy smooth

jecting

it.

Reader, he

is

the

same

things, and the people love to

yesterday, to-day, and for ever

he
sins

so."
to

The word
in

of

God

is
:

have it compared

changethnot; and the soul that

shall die eternally.

fire

Jeremiah, 23

29, and the

For the mouth of

ministers of the gospel to a flame of

Lord hath spoken it. All the which he had denounced against them in the law and in the were contained in these gospel,
the
curses

plagues

and as soon as these vials

of the wrath of

God were poured

out on the Jews, then these curses

See chap. 1 :14. who had gotten the victory over the beast. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, conquered him by faith and prayer not the papal beast, but the pagan beast. They got the victory over the latter, but
fire.
Tliei}i

were

fulfilled in the extent.

we
The

have not gotten the victory over

;

sea of glass. The gospel sea. 2 Fair as the sun, clear as the moon,

the former yet

but

we

soon

will.
;

set time for this is at

is

hand
for

pofi-

and
In

terrible as

an army with banners.

pery

now

tottering,

and will soon

you can see the end from the beginning. A fool, though a way-faring man, need not err therein. The Rabbins called the law the sea of glass,
it

nally fall to rise no

more

ever.

The seventh and last viol is to be poured out on the seat of the spiritual
beast.

because pure and perfect,

and St.

His image.
tinction,

John

calls the gospel such, in allusion

the emperor, as a

to the law.

made in honor of mark of great diswhich showed the ignorance

Idol
after
this

Mingled with fire. The

vine love.
there
is

fire
is

of Difire,

of the people as well as the prince.

Where

there

no

But soon
idols to the

the religion of
to

no food

for the soul,

and connot in-

Jesus caused

them

throw their

sequently the sheep cannot be fed.

The
altar,

minister

whose heart
fire

is

moles and the bats, and to worship God in spirit and in truth.

flamed with love and

may
the

from off the feed himself, but he cannot

The emperor commanded, but could

not compel the disciples of Christ to
idol,

feed

flock.

Such

men

either

worship his
see,

that

could neither

preach the people asleep, or out of

hear,

nor

speak.

They

loved

REVELATION.
fire
:

209
beast,

and them

that

had gotten the victory over the

and over
his

and over

his image,

mark, and over the numglass,

ber of his name, stand on the sea of

harps of God.

having the

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

saints.

just

and true are thy

ways, thou King of

Who

shall not fear thee,

Lord, and glorify thy

Jesus, and

would

die cheerfully at the

stake rather than deny hira.

But

if

a creature, and not the Creator, (and they worshipped him as such,) they
all lived

and died idolaters, equally and must,

Harps. Of praise and of salvation. this the church sung the new song of redeeming grace and dying love. See chap. 1 4. 3 The song of Moses and the Lamb.

On

such with the heathen,

therefore,

The
was

spiritual

song of

deliverance
It

have all finally perished, angels and men; for both worshipped him as God and not as man. His mark. His brand mark of his
;

through the blood of the Lamb.

the washing

sprinkled on their conscience, to

away

of

all

their sins,

idol,

or seal of citizenship.

The

lat-

and therefore the destroying angel had no dominion over them. It was not
their houses but their hearts which were sprinkled with the blood of the paschal lamb. This anthem was sung in shadow by Israel, when Pharaoh and all his host was drowned in the Red Sea but now it is sung ih substance by the true Israel of God, because God had conducted them safely through the Red Sea of human blood, in which spiritual Pharaoh and all his host was overwhelmed. See Ex. 15:1; Deut. 31:30.
;

ter

was on parchment,
hand

the former on

either the

or the forehead.

The number of his name. The number of his idol 666. This was worn on a medal as a badge of honor,
and a token of submission to idolatry. Stand on a sea of glass. By faith and prayer. They stood on this as the foundation of Christianity. Hence,
says Paul, " thou standest by faith;
therefore
fear."

be

not

high-minded, but
1

Rom. 11:20;

Cor. 15

1.

The

battle

was fought on

earth, and

Lord God Almighty.

4:8.
4

See chap.
come and
shall

the victory obtained here through the

blood of the
pel sea

Lamb, and
by

it

was here
were on

For

all nations shall

thee.

the people stood,

;

faith,

on the gos-

worship before

They

come

therefore the people

earth, and not in heaven, at this time.

from the East, from the West, from the North and from the South; from

27

210

NOTES ON THE
?

name

for tlwu only art lioly

for all nations shall

and worship before thee;

manifest.

for

thy judgments are

come made

And

after that I looked,

the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven

and behold, the temjDle of was opened

:

Asia, Africa,

Europe and America,

and worship thee
in the

heaven, and the other on earth," em-

by

faith and prayer,

in spirit

and in truth,

new and
all

heavenly Jerusalem. he born to thee in

A
a the

nation shall

blems of the church militant and of the church triumphant, of the holiest of holies, (the ministry,) and the holiest

day, and

know

Jesus, from

least to the

tles are

greatest.

Knowledge

shall

cover the
all

heaven itself. The aposcompared to the inner court of the Jewish temple, into which
of
all in

earth as the waters the sea, and

shall

none but the

priests alone could enter.

:

submit to the mild and easy yoke

See chap. 9

19.

John, in the next

of

King Immanuel. Amen. Thy judgments are made manifest. That is, on the nation that would not serve and obey thee. They were punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power for ever. The old city was pulled down to the very foundation, and the new built upon the ruins thereof, and the wealth and
influence of
all

verse, represents

them

as

coming out
accomplish-

of the holiest of holies,

ing the service of

God

the
;

same

as

the priests under the law

presents

and he re-

them as being dressed in the same kind of garments. See Yarchie

on Gen. 28 17.
:

Of the

testimony.

Of the

life,

death,

sufferings, miracles,

resurrection and
glory.

ascension of Christ to
apostles

The

nations flowed into

it.

had

this

heavenly treasure

Kings became nursing fathers, and queens nursing mothers in it, and the people were all taught of the Lord, and great was the peace of his
people.

deposited in earthen vessels, that the

glory

man.

might be of God and not of See John 15 27. They are

:

called the tabernacle of the testimo-

ny, because in their hands and in their

The

The
built

of the tahernacle. church of Christ which has been

temple

hearts were deposited the stance of

very subin the

what was contained

up on the foundation of the

prophets, Christ Jesus

tabernacle under the law, viz. the ark

apostles and

himself being the chief corner stone,

in

of the covenant, (see chap. 9:19,) wherein were the golden pot that had

whom
in

all

the building, fitly framed

manna,

(see chap. 2

17,) and Aaron's

together, groweth
ple

up

into a holy

tem-

rod that budded, and the

of the covenant.

Eph. 2:20, 21. The Rabbins speak of two tabernacles and two sanctuaries, " one in
the

Lord.

Was
all

two tables See Hcb. 9: 3, 4. now opened. Wide, to admit

nations through the twelve gates

REVELATION.
6

211

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 an-

gels seven golden vials full of the

wrath of God,

who

liv-

eth for ever and ever.

And

the temple

was

filled

with smoke from the glo-

into the city of the

Jerusalem.
prodigals

new and heavenly The repenting, returning were now invited to return
where there But it

law were not allowed

woollen garments
cular suit
sion
; :

to officiate in

made

to

was a partiwear on this occathere

to their Father's house,

is

the dress consisted of a mitre of

bread enough and to spare.

refer
to

fine linen for the head,

and a coat of

may
war.

the

departure of the
until after the

the same for the body, with embroi-

ministers and

members

dered work, with a girdle of needle-

6 Seven angels.

The seven

earthly

work were

to tie

round the body

obliged
to

and they
linen

also

wear

messengers of the churches in Asia.

breeches,

when they

ministered in

They

are

now

represented as sepa-

rating from their different churches

holy things. See Exod. 28: 39-41. Golden girdles. The pure and precious doctrines of Christianity. These

because of the war and persecution. The people were scattered into the
four quarters of the earth.

were entwined around

like the ivy nifest in their lives.

their hearts

But
elect

after

around the wall, and ma-

the

war was ended,

the

Lord

sent his
(his

angel

and collected
31.

his

And

church) from the four winds of heaven. Matt. 24

tles
:

of the cherubs.

one of the four beasts. One Spiritual and holy fa;

These seven aposas

holiest of

thers of the church

either Peter or

are

figuratively represented

John

himself.

One

of our Lord's
to
:

coming out of the

this
is

holies
;

witnesses,

who had power

turn

into the spiritual temple of

God

but

only to show that these priests

water into blood. Chap. 11 6. Seven vials. The seven last plagues

and kings of the living God could not enter into the high and holy office of
the ministry until

which were now going

out, without

to be

poured

mixture of mercy, on

the seven plagues

8.

the

people

who showed
God

no mercy,

were

fulfilled.
in,

See verse

neither feared

nor regarded man.

Clothed

white.

Spiritual and ho-

The

ministers of the seven churches

ly garments,

not the linen garments

priests

are represented here as having these

worn by the

under the law, but

plagues in their hands, and just ready

to

purity of heart and Hfe, experienced

pour them out on the rebellious and

8

by both

ministers and

members under
under the

sinful nation.

the gospel.

The

priests

The temple was filled with smoke.

212

NOTES ON THE
;

ry of God, and from his power

enter into the temple,
ano^els
till

and no man was able

to

the seven plagues of the seven

were

fulfilled.

With
is

the glory of God. If the church

filled

able to enter the temple.

That

is,

to

not

is filled

with the glory of God, it with the glory of man. 1 Cor.

meet with the church

ship.
in the

for

Divine wor-

War

in Judea, and persecution

3:21.

This was a second pentecost,

Spirit

or general outpouring of the

on the churches, to prepare them for their final departure from each other. That is, during the war, which continued three years and six months.

was the cause of this. Our Savior commanded them forty years previous, that when they saw
church,
the

Roman

standard planted in Judea,

or in the holy place near the city of

Jerusalem, to escape into the wilderness of Judea, This

God always
den, and

fits

the back for the bur-

prepares his people to pass

ludes to here.

is what John alThey had their shoes

through the fire and the water to the kingdom. In the midst of our weakness,

on their

feet,

and their

staff in their

hand, and were

now

going to eat their

in spiritual
;

his

strength.

grace is made perfect To Paul he said, "my

sufficient
for

Lord's

last

passover

Egypt
is,

where he was
from
his

crucified

that

grace
could
'

is

thee."

He

before they took their final departure

it.

then gladly exclaim and say,

will glory in
I

my
then

infirmities, for

The

destroying angel

was on

when
ber,

am weak
no man.

am

I strong,"

way

thither,

with his weapon in

all

And

Minister or

memwas

his hand, to destroy

in
it,

the first-born

young

or old, rich or poor,

both

man and

beast.

CHAPTER
And I heard
1

XVI.

a great voice out of the temple, saying,

voice out of the temple.

The
to

voice of Christ himself to his ministering spirit, that

is,

Go your ways. Into every part of Judea and the Roman empire. The
day of vengeance is now which all things written
at hand, in
in the

his

command

him.

law

REVELATION.
to the seven angels,

213

of the wrath of

Go your ways, and pour God upon the earth.

out the vials

And

the

first

went, and poured out his vial upon the

and the prophets

shall be fulfilled.
all

and men's hearts trembling because

of the terrible and dreadful calamities

The Jews

shall be

destroyed beGentiles shall

cause of unbelief.

The

be punished severely because of idolatry.

which were now coming on the world. John's vision seems to commence at
about the above date, and then continues on to

Vials of wrath.

Heavy judgments,
before, and never
lasts.

the year of our

Lord

severe calamities, such as never have

seventy-four or five, and then

to

down
this

come on the world

shall

the

expiration

of

the

thousand
rendered

again
vials

while the world

years.

See chapter

20.

About

The

here have reference to the

21.

time a violent
the country of
desolation
;

hurricane

seven great and dreadful plagues of

Campania a scene of
villages

Egypt.

Ez. 14

whole

were over-

2 The first angel.

Heavenly mes-

senger, probably the prophet Isaiah.

As he was
he
is

the greatest in sufferings,

;

honor and glory he was sawn asunder by Manassah, king He of Jerusalem. See chap. 8:4.
the
first in

and plantations torn up by the very roots, and the hopes of the year destroyed and the fury of the storm was felt in the neighborhood of
thrown,
;

Rome, and without any apparent

cause in the atmosphere.

contagi-

was

the guardian angel of the church

ous distemper broke out, and swept

of Ephesus.

Two

distinct classes of

away
tants
;

a vast number of the inhabi-

angels are mentioned in this book,

earthly and heavenly.

the houses were filled with dead bodies, and the streets with fuprocessions
;

A noisome and grievous sore.

Per-

neral

neither

sex

nor

haps a hurricane or earthquake, or some severe calamity, which the emAbout the pire felt very sensibly. year of our Lord 65 or 66, the whole
world was agitated
and disturbed
nation rising against nation, and king-

age escaped, slaves and

birth
tion,

men

of high

were

carried off without distinc-

amidst the shrieks and lamenta-

tions of their wives

and children. See

p.

Tacit, vol.

2,

book 16,
but
it

342.

And

not only

this,

dom

against kingdom, and earthquakes

65 that the

was about A. D. war between the Jews

in different parts of the world, pesti-

lences, famines,
ries,

murders and robbewars and rumors of wars. The

and Romans began under Florius. See chap. 8:7.

The Jews

rebelled against the

Ro-

Jews looking for their Messiah, whom they had crucified and put to death, and were now deceived by false messiahs and false prophets
;

mans, and they were afterwards divided among themselves, and formed themselves into three different factions,

and
in

all

the

and fought against each other.

Gentile nations

were
;

up

arms

See verse 19.

And

the

Romans

af-

against each other

the sea roaring

terwards took up arms against each

'

J?u
earth
;

NOTES ON THE

and there

fell

a noisome and grievous sore upon

the

men which had

And
;

the

mark

of the beast, and upon

them

which worshipped
3

his image.

the second angel poured out his vial upon the

it

sea

and

became

as the blood of a

dead man ; and eve-

ry living soul died in the sea.

other,

until battles

and commotions

Hierapolis and Collosse, and one at

were frequent
empire,
i.

in different parts of the

Campania, mentioned by Seneca, and

one
at

e. at

the time

when

Galba,

Rome

in the reign of in

Galba,
little

Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian were

and a dreadful one

Judea a

contending for the empire.

says that there were slain at

Josephus

before the destruction of Jerusalem,

Cremona

by Antonius Primus, thirty thousand and two hundred of Vitellus' army,

and a great

which was accompanied by strong winds and large showers of rain, with
continual lightnings and terrible thun-

many
;

of the people of

that country, and

many

others

who

were strangers
five

and four thousand

hundred of Antonius' army were

These things, as Josephus were a manifest indication that destruction was coming upon man when the system of the world was
derings.

observes,

killed in this battle.

And

if I

under-

him right, there were fifty thousand more of Vitellius' army slain afterwards by Antonius at Rome. See
stand

put into such disorder. War, b. 4,4:5. The mark of the beast and worship his image. This seems to refer more
particularly to the

army and
his

soldiers,

War, book

4, 11

3, 4.

And

as for

pestilences and famines,

we

need not
read

who were who wore

called

children,

and

touch on these,

for

any

who have

Josephus' history of the Jews must

know that this part of the prophecy was fulfilled and if by earthquakes
;

same uniform as the general. These were the men who first deified him and then worshipped his image. See chap. 13 16. But
the
:

the punishment extended to citizens

our Lord meant popular commotions,

or earthquakes literally,

and
3

soldiers.

we

see

how
both
in

The second

angel.

The prophet
angel of the

wonderfully this was

respects, for

fulfilled in

EzekieJ, the guardian

there were

several

church of Smyrna.

different places before the destruction

Poured out

his vial on. the sea.

:

Of

of Jerusalem.

There was one

in

Genessaret. See chap. 8

Everij living soul died.

9.

Crete, in the reign of Claudius, and

The men
and the

one
tus,

at

Smyrna, and another

at Mile-

may have

all

been cut

off,

and one at Rome, mentioned by

third part of the fish also,

by reason
mere-

Tacitus, and another at Laodinea, in

of the stench from the dead bodies.

the reign of Nero, in which the city

Sec chap, 8

10.

The

vials are

was overthrown,

as

were likewise

ly referred to or described in the other

REVELATION.
4

215

And And

the third angel poured out his vial

:

rivers

and fountains of waters

I

upon the and they became blood.

say,

heard the angel of the waters

Lord, which
art,

Thou

art

righteous,

and wast, and

shalt be, be-

cause thou hast judged thus.

6

For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,

to drink
;

and thou hast given them blood

worthy.

for

they are

7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. 8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun and power was given unto him to scorch men with
;

fire.

chapters, but here they are represent-

shed

since

the

foundation of

the

ed as
4

if

actually poured out.

third angel.

world came on that generation.

city
tion

The

The

The prophet

was
it

so notorious for the persecu-

Jeremiah, the guardian angel of the

and murder of her own prophets

church of Pergamos.

that
to

was

not possible for a prophet

And the waters

is,

hecame hlood. That

perish out of Jerusalem.

:

Luke,
to

red with the blood of the slain.

13

33, 34.

See chap. 8:11. 5 The angel of the waters. He that had power over the rivers and
fountains of water, but not over the

Thou
drink.

hast

given them hlood

As a

just retaliation for all

the innocent blood which they shed

in Jerusalem.

sea

this

belonged to another angel.

Lord God Almighty. See chap.

The fourth angel.

The Rabbins
ter,

speak of angels of wafire,

4 :8.
8

angels of

angels of the sea,

That

is,

the

and angels of the land, and that Gabriel is sar shal ish, the prince of fire.

prophet Mich ah, the guardian over the church in Thyatira.

tlngel

O
finite

Lord.

The Lord
was, and

Jesus, the in-

Poured

out his vial

it

and eternal Jehovah himself,

is,

To

cover
it

who
6

who

who

shall be
1
:

to put

in

vpon the sun. were with sackcloth, mourning for the wickedas
it

for ever

and ever. See chap.

8.

ness of the people.

to

For they have shed the hlood of prophets and saints. That is, the
blood of their

He also caused it produce such intense heat as not

but to
all

only to destroy the people,

wither, dry up, and consume

own

blessed prophets

the

and

saints.

All

the innocent blood

grass and vegetables throughout the

216

NOTES ON THE
blas-

9 And men were scorched with great heat, and phemed the name of God, which hath power over

these

plagues

and they repented not

the
fifth
;

to give

him
full

glory.

10

And

angel poured out his vial upon the

his

seat of the beast

and

kingdom was

of darkness

and they gnawed

their tongues for pain.

land,

which was the cause of the

vere and heavy calamities which

came

famine.
9 Great heat.

upon

Rome when

the three emperors,

The

thermonaeter in

Galba, Otho, and_ VitelHus, were contending for the crown

to refer

the

shade, at times in the

heat of

summer, stood
the open
air.

as high as 108, and in

120.

This, of course,
fire,

but it seems more particularly to the war between the armies of Vitellius and
;

and the immense multitude of people who were penned up there like cattle in a stall, must have been sufficient, with the pestilence, to sweep away thousands
daily.

with the city on

Vespasian.

And
Roman

the

kingdom of the
kingdom
it.

beast.

The

empire.

This shows evidentis

ly that the

not the beast,

nor the beast the kingdom, but sim-

ply the king of

And
cursed

blaspheme God.

Called him

And his kingdom

ness.
ror,

cruel, tyrannical, unmerciful.

They

War, bloodshed,

u-asfull of darkconfusion, hor-

God and then

died

but they

did not call to mind the cruel persecutions of our

also their

dismay, dreadful calamities which were now coming on the world. By

the darkness here
stand that produced

Lord and
8
21.

his apostles,

we

are to under-

own
Is.

prophets, priests, and

:

by the clouds of
until the hills

kings."

See

the

Roman army

pouring themselves

They repented not to God with

not.
all

They

returned

into the city of

Rome,

their heart.

Oh

no! but continued impenitent, cursing

Christ and his followers to the last

and houses, and the very streets were crowded with them, i. e. when the two above armies were fighting with
each other
;

moment.
\0
Joel.

and

if

we add
were

to this the

The

fifth

angel.

The

prophet

many houses

that

set

on

fire,

double portion of the work

together with the vast

number that

was

assigned to

him

Rome
his

and the

Roman army were risdiction. He had

punish Pharaoh and

all

under his ju-

ful

perished on both sides, and the dreadhorror that had come over the

it in

power

to

minds of the people, then

easily perceive
to the

we must
is

all

the spiritual

how

applicable this

host of the Egyptians.

afiairs of
:

Rome

at that time.

On
itself,

the seat of the beast.

On Rome
to the se-

the

scat

of universal empire.

See chap. 9 2. Gnaiccd their tongues.

Like the
has
al-

This must have reference

damned

in perdition.

Rome

REVELATION.
11

217

And blasphemed
and their

the

God

of heaven, because of
their

their pains

sores,

and repented not of

deeds.

12

And

the sixth angel poured out his vial

great river Euphrates; and the water thereof

up, that the

upon the was dried

way

of the kings of the east might be pre-

pared.

ways been the

strongliold of the devil.

it

He

has had possession of

from the

beginning, and will never give

up

his

claim

he has had more faithful infidel disciples there than in all the other
;

cities of the universe.

its

And
:

it

has spread
hole

That is, the difficulties in the way of army marching into Judea were now removed the contending parties were reconciled hostilities had ceased, and the way was now prepared to unite with the Roman army in Juthe
; ;

corruptions into every

and
in-

dea against the Jews.

corner of the world

laces,

churches, paconfes-

courts,

kingdoms, prisons,
closets,

([uisitions,

cloisters,

sionals,

nunneries,

and monasteries,

will all bear testimony to this fact.

11 Blasphemed the God of heaven. Reproached, charged him with injustice.

That the way of the kings of the might he prepared. The war between the Parthians and Romans had come to a final conclusion all the commotions in the east had now ceased, and there was no more for the
east
;

Roman army
that

to

do in these parts

so

They

could not sustain these

lately persecuted

miseries.

They had
it,

now the way was paved for the army of the Euphrates to come and

the poor innocent Christians, and re-

destroy the Jews.

We

never had an
it

pented not of
tice

and

now God
;

in jus-

instance as yet of the water of this

river being dried up, and
likely
is

punishes them severely.

is

VenI will

most

geance
repay.
\2

mine, saith Jehovah

sixth

we

never

shall.

But we know

The

angel.

Zechariah,

the guardian angel of the church of

St. John has represented the envy and wrath of the dragon under See chapter the emblem of water.

that

Philadelphia. See chap. 9:13.

Oft the great river Euphrates.

12

15, 16.

And no doubt

this is the

This

sense in

which he uses
;

this expression

angel had power over that particular

river,

and the army stationed there.

He
the

is now commissioned to prepare way for the army to march into

Judea, and for this purpose Nero had

a bridge thrown over
it.

that is, to show that the at present envy and wrath of the two above nations had now ended, and that they were at this time perfectly reconciled to each other, which is very evident from the words of Suetonius, for he

The water

thereof

was dried

nj}-

observes, in his

life

of Vespasian, that

28

218

NOTES ON THE

13
of the
beast,

And

I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the

and out of the mouth of the

false projihet

Volgesus, king of the Parthians, offered to send Vespasian forty thou-

words, and actions

selves to

they sold themall

him

to

work

manner

of

Band bow-men to
Vitellius.

assist

him

against

wickedness; and
services,

now

to secure their

he sent three of his most

sj^irits.

That the way of the kings of the east, &c. The war being now over was what prepared the way for the kings of the east. But who were these kings, which St. John elsewhere calls angels ? Chap. 9:15. 1 think
the words of Tacitus sufficient to
lustrate
this
il-

faithful ministers to take full posses-

sion of their souls, bodies, and

2.

of

As the evil spirits proceeded out the mouth of the dragon, they may
Vespasian and
to his

refer to

two

sons.

The

general

and his son were the

dragon's mouth-piece; during the

war

point.

He

says,

that

he spoke and acted through them.

while the different opinions kept the

public mind in agitation,

They
to the

are represented here as going

Nero

order-

about collecting the armies together

battle of

ed levies to be
nations, and

made

in

the eastern

time, that Agrippa

he desired, at the same and Antiochus,

seems

to indicate

Ilarmageddon, and th^y were vile, fil-

thy heathen men, and not real devils.

frogs

two

oriental kings, should hold their

forces in readiness to enter the terri-

tory of the Parthians; and

for

the

convenience of his armies, bridges were thrown over the Euphrates: the
lesser

more likely that by the three John meant Galba, Otho, anil Vitellius. The comparison is most excellent, for they were filthy, lazy,
3. It is

gluttonous, dissipated,

and diabolic.
the senate, the

Armenia was
to

committed

to

The mouth may mean

Aristobulus, and

the country called

:

Sophenes,

Sohemus
to

both princes

mouth-piece of the nation, who constituted kings and emperors; they are
represented as proceeding out of their

were allowed

assume the ensigns But circumstances gave of royalty. a sudden turn in favor of Rome Vardanis, the son of Vologeses, became competitor for the crown in opposition
;

mouth, or being constituted emperors by them. The Rabbins called the Sanhedrin the mouth of Israel. As
these three frogs are represented as

to his father.

The

Parthians were",
to recall their

going out to collect the armies together

to fight the l)attlo of Jrlarmageddon,

by

this

means, obliged

armies, under color of deferring, and

not abandoning, the

war

so that Ar-

rals of the

they must therefore have been genearmy. Galba, in Gaulic,

a reptile
;

menia was evacuated.

13 Three unclean
spirils.
1.

means
This
lent.

also fat, lazy, indo-

He was

fond

of

retirement,

may mean
influenced

evil

demons, with which

;

sometimes on land, sometimes on the

water.

each of them were possessed the devil

For months he could not be

them

in all their thoughts,

scon, for fear of Nero,

who

tried to

REVELATION.
14 For they are the
spirits of devils,

119

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.

him and then again he would appear in public and therefore resembled a frog in this respect, and in
kill
; ;

as foretelling future events.

Every

person
tus'

who

is

acquainted with Taci-

history of

Rome

will find that

his

moral character
Vitellius

also.

Otho was
of the most

Vespasian, the father of the false prophet, spent no small share of his time
in

lazy, filthy, dissolute, and bloodthirsty.

vile,

was one

studying to foretell future events.

his son,

wicked, and beastly

;

men
if

that

And

who was

so anxious to

ever lived
(dragon) in

he was worse,

any

imitate his father in every other respect, no doubt

this.

thing, than Nero,

who was human shape.

a monster

endeavored

to

do

it

in

Nothing

delighted Vitellius more than to

wade

14 The spirits of devils.

rits

The

spi-

through the blood, and pass over the

of three diabolical and vicious

men
false

dead and putrid bodies of his enemies on the field of battle. He declared that the stench of such was sweet to
him.

as ever lived.

Working
ones,
in the

miracles.

That

is,

such a notorious glutton and drunkard that Suetonius asserts that all

He was

by magic,

as did the

Egyptians

time of Moses and Aaron,

their

They

Rome was

scarcely suf-

are of their father the devil, and the

ficient to satisfy his appetite.

He ate
much
it

works of

father they will do.

four meals each day, and so

at

Neither the devil nor his agents have

ever wrought a true miracle as yet.

one meal that he had to vomit

to prepare his

up

one.

stomach for the next Here then we have a fair pic-

Rome
ment.
racle

has always been famous for

false ones

from the very commence-

ture of the three symbolic frogs.

The false prophet. That is, Titus. He was called a prophet in the camp and among the people. He told his soldiers before he marched against a nation what he should accomplish, and he was invariably successful. From this the soldiers styled him a
prophet, but St. John,

pope cannot work a miby the power of Christ, he is sure to work a false one by the head, finger, foot, toe, or thigh bone of some
If the

dead person

whom

he sainted because

a false one.

money to the church. The pope, when a prisoner in France, offered to make one of Napoleon's family a saint. The emperor declined
he
left
all his

Suetonius observes that Titus took

this honor, stating that his friend

had

upon him the

defiled.

oflftce

of the high-priest-

died

a sinner, and the public might

hood, in order to have his hands un-

And

in the

same

section the

tives.

impute the honor to improper moPagan Rome had the art of

;

same author actually represents him

roagic

papal

Rome

has retained

it

220

NOTES ON THE
I

15 Behold,
eth,

come

as a thief. Blessed

is

he that watch-

and keepeth

his garments, lest.

he walk naked, and

into a place called

they see his shame.

IG
in the

And he gathered them together Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

ever since, and she will hold

it

fast to

mageddon.

the end, because a great source of re-

cles

venue to the holy see. These mirahave been a fruitful source of inand atheism through
Bible, and the
all

should have been writGreek aspirate HarmO' geddon, the mountain of slaughter,
It

ten with the

of desolation, destruction.
is

But where

fidelity

Italy

and

all

the catholic countries in which

religion, the

Sabbath

mountain ? This is a question which has been asked a thousand times, and never as yet satisfactorily
this

are disregarded.

answered.

It certainly

must be some-

The great day of God Almighty. The great day of his wrath it is now
;

where

either in Asia, Africa, Europe,

or America.

come, and
15
at the

who

shall be able to stand.

As a

thief.

In the night, and

I will

But as the name is purely Hebrew, it must be in some part of the Holy Land.
1.

back door.

come sudto

Then, the place where the great

denly, powerfully, unexpectedl3%

tear in pieces and utterly destroy

my

wine-press of God's wrath was trodden is the very spot where the battle
of

enemies.

Harmageddon was
armies met.
It

fought, for in

Blessed
the

is

he that ivatcheth.

Like

this place the

tile

whole force of the hosthat the blood

it

watchmen on Jerusalem's walls, awake night and day on his post the enemy cannot take him by surprise,
;

2.

was here

was

shed which came up, as

the horse-bridles.
3.

were, to

unless asleep or

off"

his guard.

Keepeth his garments. he repeats

the stains
or
this again

From

being

This

battle

was fought
Chap. 14

outside

spotted, polluted, stained with sin. If

the walls of a large, populous, and

and backslides,

well
4.

fortified city.

20.

may

be too deep to purge

Stript of hoit,

wash out with hyssop.

Lest he walk naked.

This city was the capital of the country where the battle was fought,
for
it is

called a great, a rich city.

liness,

and God and the world see

5.

The country was

south of

Rome,
it.

and the prison or the scaffold be the end of it. The backslider in heart and life shall be filled with the evil of Remember poor Dodd his ways.

for

Rome
The

lay directly north of length of the land

G.

was two
hundred

hundred miles, or sixteen

furlongs.
7.

pray that the Most High

may
fall

give
into

The
that

slaughter
is, it

was
to

you grace
temptation.

daily, lest

you

ral

was

to bo geneextend through

the length and lireadth of the land.

8.

16 Called in the Hebrew tonmie Ar-

laaiah declares this land to be

REVELATION.
Palestine, and
it

221
them with
all

answers the exact

thereof.

terwards tormented

description given

Judea

is

sorts of tortures before

they expired.

the land, and Jerusalem the capital

They were

crucified before the walls

Moriah the very place where the battle of Harmageddon was fought and no battle to equal
of
it,
;

and Mount

of the city; and the soldiers, out of

the hatred they bore the Jews, nailed

those they caught, one after one

way
the

it,

thank God
21.

shall ever be fought

and another
crosses,

after

another,
till

to

again until time shall be no more.

by way

of jest,

at length

Matt. 24

This was the very mountain where

Abraham

offered

up

his beloved son

became so great that room was wanting for the crosses, and crosses for the bodies. See chap. 8
their multitude
:

Isaac, and the very spot on

which the
offered

Lamb
up
world
;

of

God was afterward

as a sacrifice for the sins of the

and

when on

his

way

to the

fatal spot, the

women

broke out into

the ground wherehad stood could no where be seen on account of the vast number of dead bodies that lay in heaps upon

And Josephus temple was burnt,

11.
it

says that after the

on

bitter lamentations, but

he turned to " Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for

each other

beside

the

multitudes

them and

said,

which had died by famine in the city, and were thrown down into a valley,
outside of the walls, in heaps.

the miseries which are coming on you

And

and the nation, for the time will soon come when ye shall say, blessed are
the barren, and the

those that escaped death were

together, and sent to

bound Egypt to work in

thousand

wombs which
:

ne-

the mines for

life,

as

had been predict-

ver bear, and the paps which never gave suck." Luke, 23 28, 29. The
"his blood be on us and on our children ;" and on the very spot where they uttered this terrible imsaid,

ed by Moses nearly two years previous, and

filled.

Jews

Deut. 28

68.

now literally fulAnd for a real

see the

fulfilment of this prophecy

above quotation from Josephus.

precation, the blood of a great portion

of the nation

was

spilt.

The

multi-

tudes that were put to death there

were

so great that

room was wanting

of the Jews war with the

for the crosses, and crosses to crucify

them

on.

The number

word in monntain of destruction. The Greek version has it, the mount of the Most High. But John evidently has made
written the

John

may have

Chaldee,

l^n^nsJC-nn

the

that perished during the

this quotation

from Zach. 12
it.

11,

and
of

.Romans and

in the siege of Jerusa;

added

^n

to

Hence,
the

'^'i'l^;^in

lem was almost innumerable no less than 1,957,660 were destroyed during the entire war. See chap. 14
:

har-ma-gid-don^

mountain

slaughter, of desolation, a pure

He-

20.

After

Titus

had

raised

his

hanks

destroy, cutoff', as

brew name, from Tl^ to lay waste, by an hostile army.

Hence,

nearly round about the whole entire city, the Roman soldiers detected a
vast

TH^

a troop, an host, army,

number

of Jews,

who were

go-

hostile armies met and fought desperately on both sides.

the place

where the
:

ing outside of the walls, looking for

provisions, the

See Dan. 4
designates
ter.

1 1

Is.

25

7.

Jeremiah

famine

being great
af-

it

the mountain of slaugh:

some of them they whipped, and

Chap. 51

25

and Ezekiel de-

;;

222

NOTES ON THE

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

air

nings

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

18

And

and

so great.

clares that this slaughter shall be in

It is

done.

Finished, ended, final-

the mountains of Israel.

18, 23.
It

Ez. 39

17,

ly and utterly destroyed.

is

Her
all

ruin

can therefore refer to no

now

accomplished, and

the pre-

other place but mount Moriah, where

dictions of the

human
hill in fire

blood ran

down

the face of the

cies literally fulfilled

tion.
" Her
" "

Old Testament prophein her desola-

such torrents as to put out the

of

many

of the houses.

The
n"i>3

original

name

n^'l?2

mo-re.

tale

of splendor

now

is

done

yah, the bitterness of Jehovah, from

to

be bitter, grievous, because

called

here
fer

Abraham was

upon
;

Her wine cup of festivity is spilt And all is o'er, her grandeur and her guilt. "Her gold is dim, and mute her music's voice " The heathen o'er her perished pomp rejoice.
;

to of-

''Her streets are rased, her maidens sold for

slaves

up

his only son Isaac

but

God
" "
"

promised that a lamb should be substituted in his stead, that

is,

Her

gates

thrown down, her elders

in their

the

Lamb

f,'raves

of God, that taketh

the world.
substitute
;

away

the sin of

Her feasts are holden 'mid Gentile scorn By stealth her priesthood's holy garments worn.

Hence, Arab, mara, to therefore the mountain of

"

Oh

long foretold, though long accomplished

late
is left

substitution,

where God substituted

"Her house

unto her desolate."

a divine for a

human

sacrifice.

18

Voices.

May mean
The

shouts of

17 TJie seventh angel. Daniel, the

victory.

guardian angel of the church at Laodacea. This

ed, and
is

Lightnings.
houses

flames of

the

the last minister namto

;

when

the city

was on

fire.

out, the seventh this

he had the last plague and last vial

pour

Earthquake.
nation

A tremendous
up of the

shak-

when

ing and swallowing

city

and

was poured out then the mystery of God was finished, and the great
city,

by the Roman army.

Such a

destruction of a city, nation, and people never

Babylon, destroyed.
voice
to

A
vior,

seems
"

from the be a command

Verse 19. This throne.

of our Salest

was known

since the world

began, and the like will never take

place while the world lasts, for have the authority of our Savior
it.

we
for

my

people come out of her,

thou be partaker of her plagues;" abandon her as a sinking ship in the

time of a etorm.

The

noise of the

Roman army
for

was

so great

when they shouted

victory,

that

Josephus ordered his

REVELATION.
19

223
into three parts,

And
in

the great city

was divided
fell
:

and the

cities of

the nations

and great Babylon

to give

came

remembrance before God,

unto her the

cup of the wine of the fierceness of

his wrath.

men

to stop their ears.

This was done

being distre-

phus, in like manner observes, that

there were three treacherous factions
in the city, the

to prevent his

men from

couraged when they heard such

mendous
19
salem.

shouts.
the great city.

other.

one parted from the Eleazar and his party, that

first' fruits,

And
8.

Of
6
;

Jeru-

kept the sacred

See

Isaiah, 29

chapter
parts-

against John in his cups.

came Those that

14

Was

divided

into

three

There never was

prophecy more

were with John plundered the populace, and went out with zeal against Simon. This Simon had his supply
of provisions from the city, in opposition to the seditious.
5, 1
:

exactly and literally fulfilled than this.

And

indeed the whole book seems to

See War, book

fell.

be made up of prophecies which in a

4,

chap, 9 :21.
city

few years after they were delivered were all literally fulfilled. And this
very fact proves the book beyond all doubt to be an inspired book, for the
Spirit of

And
That
is,

the

of the nations
great.

Babylon the

She was

feared,

sorted

to

reverenced, adored, and reby all the nations of the

Christ

is

the gift of pro-

earth as the city of the Great King

that
is,

phecy.

Hence

the city

was divided

of heaven.

into three parts as predicted, and go-

his final departure from

gerned by three distinct factions, and

But when he took it, it became

headed by three
and
Eleazar,

leaders,

Simon, John,

a den of thieves, a city of murderers

who

fought furiously

with each other, i. e. in the third year Simon had the remotest of the war.

and robbers, which was the cause of the nations of the earth detesting and abhorring it, and they all combined to
utterly destroy and tear
it

up, root

and largest parts of the walls under

John had the middle parts of and Eleazar had John and fortified the temple itself.
;

bim

the city imder him

and branch. See chap. 14:8, 17, 18. Came in remembrance before God. Her murders, persecutions, frauds,
oppressions, contempt of God and his holy ordinances, her adulteries, divorces between man and wife for the

Simon

Avere superior in multitude and

strength of

arms; but Eleazar was

his situation
;

superior

by
all

while bat-

most

tles, factions,

and burnings were comand a vast quantity of fire through SeJose-

mon

to

trifling offence, her worldly grandeur and glory, her high and lofty, her haughty and contemptuous looks

corn was consumed by

towards

the

poor,

the

oppressed,

the seditious, which brought on a tre-

mendous famine among them.

Tacit. book 5, chap. 12.

and the needy, came before Him in judgment, and he is now determined
to

And

put her wickedness in one scale and

224

NOTES ON THE
lied

20 And every island

away, and the mountains

were not found.

21

And

there

fell

upon men a great

hail out of hea:

ven, every stone about the weight of a talent

and men

his justice in the other, and to punish

her
is

in

proportion to her crime.

:

This
15, 16,

a quotation from Jer. 25

and proves beyond doubt that Babel means Jerusalem. 20 Every Island.
G
:

See

chapter

14.

21 Great hail out of heaven.

Tre-

mendous showers of

darts,

missiles,

and large stones of the weight of a talent, that is, sixty pounds each fifty or sixty of these were thrown at a lime
;

were two furlongs and farther the blow they gave was no way to be sustained, not only by those that stood first in the way, but by those that were beyond them for a great space. See War, book 5, G: 3. And he farther observes, that any one may learn the force of these engines by what happened this very night, for as one
of the weight of a talent, and
carried
;

of those
self

who

stood round about

wall, his head

was near the

mywas

into their city and against their houses.

The

engines threw

force that

them with such they were like the broad-

away by such a stone, and his was flung as far as three furlongs. See War, book 3, 7: 23. Tacarried
skull citus likewise agrees
in this respect.

side of a seventy-four; and I have no

with Josephus

doubt but broadsides from such vessels originated in

He

says that no boso strong as not

last rank,

some measure from

dy of men could be
to be

these engines, and the vast quantities of stones which they threw into the
city.

overthrown, to the

by
tlie

the largeness of these stones. For

nine.

This was exactly the weight

remaining part of this verse see verse

of the stones thrown upon the

Jews

by the engines of
i.

the

e.

about sixty pounds.

Roman army, The words

says that the

of Josephus, I think, are sufficient to

prove this point.

engines that
all

He

prepared

for

constructed,

the legions had ready them were admirably but still more extraordito the tenth ledarts,

And men blasphemed God. They were deceived by false Christs, who promised them deliverance and as there was no hope of deliverance from the Romans, they continued to die
;

as they lived, cursing Christ and his

holy

religion.

Christ had threatened

nary ones belonged

gion.

them with

this

punishment
tlieir

Those that threw

and

did not repent, and in

if they dying mo-

those that threw stones, were

forcible and larger than the rest,

more by

ments they recollected his

on the cross him. Sec
Is.

i)rodictions
to crucify

when about
8
:

which they not only repelled the excursions of the Jews, but drove those

21.

away

that were on the walls also.

In conclusion, we say that the events set Ibrlh' in this chapter have

Now

the stones that were cast were

been

literally

and wonderfully

fulfill-

REVELATION.

2Sd
hail
for

blasphemed God because of the plague of the

the plague thereof

was exceeding

great.

ed in Judea and upon the city of Jerusalem, and can never be applied to

any other
world.

city

or

country in the

CHAPTER
A.ND
hither
;

XVII

there

came one of

the seven angels which

had

the seven

vials,

and talked with me, saying unto me, Come

I will

whore

that sitteth

shew unto thee the judgment of the great upon many waters

This chapter is a comment on the whole of this book, a key to unlock the whole mystery of the book of
Revelation.
1 One of the angels. churches of Asia.

of the world.

obtained

it,

She sought wealth and and finally lost her soul

is

by

it.

Her husband

now

legally

divorced from her, and she therefore

Of the
is

seven

could claim no mercy from him the law pointed out her punishment, viz.
;

The great whore.

bylon,

That

of

Ba-

that she should be burned with

fire.

has broken her marriage covenant, abandoned her devoted husband, and
is

who

This text explains the whole mystery of who this abandoned woman is, for
Ezekiel calls Jerusalem (Chaldee) the

now

playing the harlot

with many lovers. She was married to Jehovah, broke her marriage vows, backslid in heart and life, and then joined affinity with the riches, honors,
pleasures, amusements, and vanities

mother of

harlots,

and abominations
:

of the earth. Chap. 16

18, 28, 29, 45.
Hi'^T

3, 15, 16, 17,

:

in Isaiah, 1

21,

means an
and
life.

apostate, backslider in heart

The

harlot, therefore,

was

29

226

NOTES ON THE

fornication,

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

With whom

Jerusalem, a fallen church and peo-

of the world, even to Sheba, for gold,

silver,
ivor}-,
is,

See Lam. 1 17.* That sitteth on. many waters. That hath spiritual dominion over many nations they were all tributary to her. Waters, in a symbolic sense, means nations.f 2 The kings of the earth have compie.
:

blue and purple, &c.

The

fact

she

that thousands

was made
:

so rich

herself

large fortunes

through her pride and worldly grandeur. See Ez. 16 33.:^

Have been made drunk.

ted

Enrap-

tured, delighted, spiritually intoxica-

mitled fornication.
their gifts, wealth

They

lavished

with her wealth and princely

and ornaments on
rich through
w.as

equipage.

her, in order to

become
it

The wine of her fornication.

ness, avariciousness.

Love

her commerce, for

sive.

very exten-

of wealth, worldly honor, covetous-

She

sent ships into every part

The
and

spiritual

whore

is

that great city, namely, Jerusalem.

See verse 18.

She

is

called great because she

1, 2,
Is.

had corrupted the whole world by her

5.

fornications.

See Jer. 3

1:21; 24:

The waters

signify multitudes of people,

and nations, and tongues- Verse

15.

And

Bitting

means dominion.

Chapter 13:7.

Before she broke her marriage covenant, and

played the harlot with many lovers, her husband, the Lord of glory, had made her mistress of tne world.

Jerusalem, formerly, was honored above every other city on a

reli-

gious account; but she broke the everlasting covenant, transgressed the law, and defiled

the whole world by her whoredoms.

for her backslidings.
its

The Lord,

therefore, had her burnt alive with fire,

its

Verse 16.

Josephus observes, that neither

all

great antiquity, nor

vast riches, nor the diffusion of its nation over

it

the habitable earth, nor the greatness

it

of the veneration paid to

being destroyed.
t

on a religious account, had been sufficient to preserve

6, 10.

from

See Josepiius, War, book

Shf^

was the cause that produced the

efl'cct

of their defilement

but they

first

disco-

vered her hatred to her husband, and then sought means of seducing her.
of Balaam, chap.
herself',

See the case

2:14.

The world drank

in so

much of her

pernicious spirit that, liko

.Jer.

they became insensible to every thing that was good. See

.M

7.

Chris-

tian, take

warning by

this.

The
if botii

exes of the world are on you

they are watching over

your

life

and conduct, and

do not correspond

wiiii

the gospel, they will reproach

th' CP'se of
Bidves in sin.

God through

you, and they will mtiUe your conduct n plea to justify iliemif

But remember,

your example
in the

is

the

means of the

loss of

one

soul, hi

blood will be refiuired at your hands

day of judgment.

REVELATION.
3
ness:
full

2231*

So he carried
and
I

me away
sit

in the spirit into the wilder-

saw a woman

upon a scarlet-colored

beast,

of

names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten

horns.

4 And the
color,
pearls,

woman was

arrayed

in

purple and scarlet-

and decked with gold and precious stones and

having a golden cup
filthiness of
in

her hand

full

of abomina-

tions

and

her fornication

3 Carried

me

into the wilderness.

Israel passed to the

Seven heads and ten horns.

verses 10-12, and chap. 12
4
:

See

Through which
promised land.
derness

3.

John knew by

this

that the church which

the harlot in Judea.

was in

the wil-

stones.

Arrayed in purple and 'precious She was ornamented with

was the church

sit.

that played

I saw a woman

She was

ruled

very valuable stones, and her temples and houses were built of the most costThis was part of ly white marble.
her princely equipage. Their temple,
houses and persons were adorned with
these precious stones, as well as
all

and governed by the scarlet-colored beast, that is, the great red dragon.

Chap. 12:3. Full of names of blasphemy. That is, the beast was full of these names, viz. titles of the Deity, which were
applied
to

the

other costly ornaments

text.

named

in the

Compare

Ezekiel, chapter 16,

with this verse, and you will find the

idols of
:

wood and

stone.

prophet applies the whole

lem.f

to

Jerusa-

See chap. 13

18.*

It

is

blasphemy

for a creature to

assume any name of Deity.

This was the case with

the principal part of the

first

Roman emperors

until the reign of Constantine,

who was

the

emperor that embraced the Christian

religion.

Josephus, when speaking of the tomple, observes, that there were nine of the gates of

the temple on every side covered over with gold and silver, as were the jaml)s of their

doors and their

lintels.

The
;

first

gate of the inner court was seventy cubits high and

twenty-four cubits broad

its front

was covered
it,

all

over with gold, as was

its

whole wall
tall

about

it

it

had

also a golden vine about

from which clusters of grapes hung as

fifty-five

as

a man's height.

He

also observes that

it

had golden doors of

cubits altitude,

and

sixteen in breadth.
doors.
It

But before these doors there was a

curtain, embroidered

veil of equal largeness

with the
scarlet, 5,

was a Babylonian
a

with

blue,

and

fine

linen,

and

and purple, and of

contexture that was truly wonderful.

;

See Josephus, War, book

5:4.

See J^r. 4:30; Ezek. 16: 13

further observes,

and Exod. 25

26

31.

The same author

when speaking

of the stonei with which the towers

228

NOTES ON THE

And upon

her forehead ims a

name

written,

MYS-

MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE

TERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE

EARTH.
A golden
cup in her hand.

The
over

ing in the mire

her

last state -was

temple, which

was covered

all

worse than her beginning.!

with large plates of gold, and built on a hill that resembled a bowl. It was called by all nations a house of prayer, but they had, by their vile
traffic,

Babylon.

The

city of confusion,

of idolatry, impiety, disregard of

God

made
:

it

a den of thieves. See

and his ordinances. The fact is they became worse than the heathen; they came from Babylon imbued with her
principles, language,

Matt. 21

12.*

and

vile habits.

5 Mystery.

Of

iniquity.

Her cup
over.
It

See chap. 14 84
:

was now full and running was a mystery to John and

The

great.

The notorious
is.
:

city for

the world

impiety, far worse than the country

how

a church

so famous for piety

vile,

from whence she came, that

Ion, literally.

Baby-

should become so

infamous, and

See chap. 16
is

19.

The

impure.

But, like the sow that was washed, she returned to her wallow-

same expression
lem. Chap. 10
:

applied to Jerusa-

8.

were

built, that their largeness

was wonderful,

for they

were not made of common small

were of white marble, cut
five in

stones, nor of such large ones only n

mph could

carry, but they

out of the rock

depth.
tire

each stone was twenty cubits

in length,

and ten in breadth, and

They were

so exactly united to one another that each tower looked like one ens.i

rock of stone, growing

it

naturally.

Josephus, War, book

5, 4

5.

She polluted

by her spiritual whoredoms. Formerly, when

faithful to

her husband,

she was also faithful to his business, and very particular that his house should be kept in
order, and that unholy persons should not be permitted to tread in its sacred courts.

But

now

she has played the whore, forsaken her husband, and

left bis

house

to

be defiled and

his property to be devoured by strangers.

See Ezek. IC
this

35-38.

t Mystery of Iniquity.

St.

Paul declares

abounded already on the part of the

Jews.
craft,

See 2 Thess. 2

7.

Drunkenness, deception, fornication, adultery, sorcery, witch-

murder, robbery, lying, Sabbath breaking, swearing, swindling, idolatry, envy, anto

ger,

and revenge, began

abound more and more on her part.

About the time

this

book

was
\

written the measure of their iniquity

was

full to

the brim,

The Mother of Hnrh

ts.

The children trod

in the
life,

very same stops of their whorish

mother.

She had backslidden from the way of

and so had they.

She had forsaken

blood,

her husband and played the whore, and so did they. her children.

She shed innocent

and so did

REVELATION.
6

22

And

saw the woman drunken with the blood of saw her

I

the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus

wondered with great admiration. Wherefore didst thou marvel 1 I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads
I

and when
7

And

the angel said unto me,

and ten

horns.

The mother of
harlot, and

harlots.
all

The

old

The Mood of the

tles

saints.

The

apos-

the worst of

harlots.

She brought

forth a brood of serpents,

and prophets, and the blood of all the righteous slain from the foundation of the world.
It

a generation of vipers,

who were

fit

was

all to

come
chris-

fuel for eternal burnings.

If a city,

on that very generation.

she certainly must be a spiritual harlot,

The martyrs
tian believers

of Jesus.

The

and an apostate from God and reand must refer

for it
to

whom

she put to death

ligion,

Jerusalem,

for asserting that

is

Jesus of Nazareth

and no other,

was
put

crucified,
to death.

was here our Lord and the two witnesses See Is. 1 21 Ezek.
: :

16:36;

106:39. Abominations of the

Ps.
all

earth.

She was
inter-

She was the Alpha and Omega of all the persecution that came on the church. I wondered with great admiration. That is, he wondered exceedingly,
the
true Messiah.
viz.

hated, detested, despised, ridiculed,

who

this

woman

could be.

But

and abhored by course with her.

to depart

who had

the angel explained the whole myste-

It is a fearful thing

from the living God.

but can

He
Lord

ry to him. She is the national church, which has apostatised from God.
7

pities poor sinners,

make no

allowance for the backslider.

Why
it?

Wherefore didst thou marvel 1 be in doubt or difficulty about

Surely, John, I will explain
all

teach us to number our days that

we

may

apply our hearts unto wisdom. 6 Drunken. Blind, stupid, and insensible to her wickedness and her punishment.*

about her.f

The

beast that carries her.

The

emperor or king that rules and governs her.

She had shed so much innocent blood that

it

threw her into a state of spiritual intox.

ication.

She was both blind and

stupid, entirely insensible to every thing that

was good.

Chap. 11:8.
t

I will give

you a perfect understanding of who they both are.

spiritually.

The one

is

a king
is

lite-

rally,

and the other a queen

emperor.

The woman

is

Jerusalem, and the beast

Nero,

the

Roman

230

NOTES ON THE

8
shall

The
:

beast that thou sawest, was, and

pit,

is

not

and

ascend out of the bottomless

and go

into perdi-

tion

and they that dwell on the earth

in the

shall

wonder,

(whose names were not written

foundation of the world,)
was, and
9
is

book of life from the

the beast that

when they behold

not,

and yet
the

is,

And

here

is

mind which hath wisdom. The seven

That
peror who, ten years since, could com-

8 Theheast thou sawest.

is,

the great red dragon already alluded

to.

Chap. 12: 3. Was. Emperor.

mand the wealth of the universe, and now is so far reduced, degraded, and
detested

by
a

all

as not to be able to

And is not. He is not emperor. He is now dethroned. And yet is. That is, alive after
losing the empire, a thing seldom or

cup of cold water or a morsel of bread. God had marked

command

him

out as an object of his eternal dis-

pleasure.

He

refused

the suffering
at the

ever known before.

This was about

Christians the smallest favor, of even

A. D. 69.*
Shall ascend out of the bottomless
pit.

a glass of water out of

when dying

stake, as innocent victims of his rage

That

is,

Rome,

to

go into

perdition, to be
devil, for

with his father, the

Shall be astonished

and malignity and God, in his dying moments, refused him a cup of cold
;

ever and ever.

water.
9

Shall wonder.
at his degradation

and

fall.

An em-

kings, emperors.

The seven heads. Mean seven See chap. 12: 3, 4.

When Nero

heard that Galba hud declared against him, he cried out that he was
to comfort liim, told

ruined.-

His nurse, endeavoring

him
all

that the like things

happened
lost

to other princes bpfore

him

he replied, he was beyond

in

example miserable, who

an

empire while yet

t

living.

See Suet,

Nero. 42.

This emperor had arrived to such a high degree of wealth and honor as to be able to
;

shoe his horses with silver

Viimself, or

but afterwards became so far reduced as to be without shoes

oven decent clothes to wear.

And
it

not only this, but a

little

before he killed

himself he asked Phaon, his freed man, at whose house he was concealed, to give him

something
the sight
;

to eat;

he offered him bread, but

was was

so black that his

foul,

stomach sickened at

and the water he gave him

to drink

but thirst obliged him to swallow

the nauseous draught.

See Murphy's Appendix to the ICih book of Tacitus, page 418*

Suetonius observes that he never travelled with less than a thousand carts attending him

with his bngga2;e; the mules being

clothes of the finest

all

shod with

silver,

and the drivers dressed

St.

in scarlet

wool.

Thii may be another reason why

John

calls

him a red

dragon.

He was

a second Nebuchadnezzar.

REVELATION. heads are seven mountains, on which the

10
is,

231

woman

sitteth.

And

there are seven kings

is

five
;

are fallen, and one

and the other

11

not yet

come

and when he cometh

not,

he must continue a short space.

And
and

the
is

beast that was, and

is

even he

is

the

eighth,

of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

Seven 7nounlains.
lers,

Seven kings, ru-

ligula, Claudius,

and Nero

and the

or head

men

of the nation.

The
See

other, Galba, has not yet come,

but

Indians generally call the king father,

will immediately come, and will con-

head of the family or nation.

chap. 6
:

tinue only a very

short

time.

He

14.

was

declared emperor A. D. 69, and

On which the woman sitteth. By whom she is ruled, governed, and

kept in subjection.

beheaded A. D.70.
11

He

reigned only

three monihs, according to Dio.

She

is

said to sit
3,)

He

is

the eighth.
if

That is, Nero.

reckon

on the scarlet-colored beast, (verse

He
the

is

the eighth,

we

Pom-

and

this beast is called the great red

pey,

who was

the

first

that brought

dragon,

with his seven heads, and himself one of them. Chap. 12 3.

:

Jews

into subjection, and acted as

emperor a short time.

So

that the

So beyond a shadow of doubt. See chap. 13:7.*

10 Seven kings.
explains
tains, that

that the mountains are the ueads

woman was
all

ruled and governed

these emperors.

by But John may

include Vespasian himself as one of the heads, as he

ly.

Here, then, he

was one prospective-

what he means by mounis,

kings or emperors, viz.

This therefore must refer to the Roman empire, and not to any other

Julius Cffisar, Augustus, Tiberius, Ca-

nation under heaven.

This

is

only a figurative

which she was governed.

which

mode of expression, to show that Some interpret the seven mountains

this interpretation could to the city of

they were the kings by

to be
tlie

seven

hills

on

Rome was
if it

built.
so, it

But

have no connection with the text.

Jerusalem as
to

But even

were

would be as applicable

Rome,

for

she was under the dominion of the Romans, and

t

Rome was
St.

the seat of government.

He was

the eighth emperor, if

we

take

Pompey

into the

number, who was the

call
;

first

that brought the

Jews

into subjection to the

Romans.

John does not

him a king,

as he does the other seven heads, because he never

was declared emperor

affairs,

yet he reckons

him among the others because he was

at the

head of

and acted as an emperor for

assert that Verginius

some
fus,

time, until he

was subdued by Julius Ctesar.

But some

Rube

who

at that time

commanded on

the

Upper Rhine, was declared emperor by the

if

legions under his

true, then

command.

See Appendix to the 16th book of Tacitus; and

the eighth emperor.

this

Nero must have been

232

NOTES ON THE

12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 13 These have one mind, and shall give their power

and strength unto the

14 These
shall shall

beast.

with the Lamb, and the overcome them for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

make war
:

Lamb

And,

is

of the seven.

Is reckoned

alike

they are of opinion that the

among the seven emperors. 12 The ten horns. Of the

Chap. 12:3. Are ten kings.
rals,

war
dragon.

in

Judea

is

a just one, and that

the mother of harlots deserves punish-

ment.f
Governors, gene-

And
strength

shall
to the

give their jmoer

beast.

and
all

who

are only acting as such for

Shall send

a short time under the dragon, until

the

army money and

provisions under

war in Judea is ended. One hour. A very short time this may mean the short time of the dragon's reign, which among other things was revealed to John in Patmos.* 13 They have one mind. They all
the
;

their control to Nero, to assist

him

in

carrying on the
lious

war against
the

the rebel-

Jews4

14
clare

Make war with

war
Israel.

Lamb. De-

against his kingdom as well

as that of

But king Jesus

see and feel alike, and will

now

act

need but send out one of his minis-

the

We
fall

see from this that the

;

of Babylon
first

so that

Roman empire was not divided into kingdoms until after Rome could not be the city intended by Babylon, for the emSee chap. 12:3.
?

pire

was

divided into kingdoms, and the kings had actually received their kingdoms'

before the downfal of

t

Rome.

But who are these ten kings or governors

This

is difficult

to determine.

The

text

does not say they never had kingdoms before, but they had received no kingdoms as yet

from the

beast.

They had received power

I

as kings from him, but this

was

to continue

very short time.

Aristobiilus,

am

inclined to think that Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Agrippn, Antiochus,

Sohemus, Vespasian, Tiberius Alexander, and Cestius Gallus, arc the ten
to.

horns alluded
X

Josephus observes, there were a considerable number of auxiliaries got together, to

the main body of the army, that

came from
2

the kings Antiochus, and Agrippa, and Sohe-

mus, each of them contributing one thousand footmen, that were archers, and a thousand
horsemen.

Sec War, book

3,

and

for

more on

ih s subject sec

book

3,

3.

REVELATION.

233

15
est,

And he

saith unto

me, the waters whicli thou saware peoples, and multitudes,

where the whore

nations,

sitteth,

and

and tongues.
whore, and
her
shall
flesh,

16

And

the ten horns which thou sawest upon the

beast, these shall hate the

make her

de-

solate

and naked, and

shall eat

and burn her

with

fire.

tering spirits and in one night lie shall

you now
bors,

rest

from your arduous

persecutions,

la-

destroy 185,000 men.

When he com-

afflictions,

and

stroy the Jews, he controls

mands them on the one hand to dethem on the other; so that they have no power to hurt the christians.

your works do follow you. You are now happy with your master in glory.
15 The waters lohich thou sawest. Are people, and tongues, and nations. See verse 1. She had spiritual dominion over the earth until she played the harlot and exposed her nakedness
to the world.

See chap. His

offi-

11:7.* They
bers.!

tliat

are with him.

cers and soldiers, ministers and

mem-

They

then abandoned

Are

called.
it

To

obtain salvation,

her, and

and to preach

to the world.

And

chosen.

Selected

from

the

were determined to utterly destroy her. The Jewish church was the only true church on earth until
she apostatised. |:
16 Shall hate the whore.
abhor, abandon, give her
carcass.

church and the world, to preach Christ and him crucified to Jews and 16. Gentiles. See John, 15
:

Despise,
as a

up
;

dead

And

faithful.

In the discharge of

She
is

is

diseased

from the

every duty, and to the interest of their

very crown
her feet

of her head to the soles of

Lord and Master.

Blessed servants,

nothing but wounds, bruis-

That

is,

with the followei-s of the Lamb, namely, the Christians; they shall use their

endeavor to destroy the superstitious Christians, as well as the wicked Jews.

13
:

See chap.
;

7.

But, thanks be to God, they did not prevail, the

fire.

Lamb

of

God overcame them

14.

they eat the flesh off the whore, and burnt her with

Bat the prudent, pious woman,

See chap. 12
:

the Lamb's wife, flew from her enemies into the wilderness.
t

His successors

in the ministry,

namely, his apostles,

1
:

who were made

his

priests

and kings

for the service of

God.

See chap.
to

6.

They were formerly

companions

colleagues

when on
upon
re-

earth,
t

and he promised

make them

his

in glory, if faithful

unto death.
sitting

Here we have a
waters.

clear understanding of
city

what

is

meant by the woman

many

The woman was the

spoken of in the 18th verse, and the waters

See Jer. 51
:

presented a vast multitude of people and nations.

13.

30

NOTES ON THE
17 For God hath put
in their hearts to fulfil his will,

and
the

to agree,

and give
shall

their

kingdom unto the

thou sawest

beast, until

words of God

be

fulfilled.
is

18
city,

And

the

woman which

that great

which reigneth over the kings of the

earth.

es,

and putrifying

sores,

which have
so interwo-

then spread

into

every part of the

fall

not been bound tip nor molified with

ointment.

universe, and her

be the enrich-

Her
;

disease

is

ing of the Gentiles.

Until the

ven with her whole system that she

is

words of God shall be

is,

incurable

no medicine can restore

fulfdled.

That

the prophecies of

her to soundness of body or mind.

Will

make her desolate. Leave her

home,
lands, children,

without house,

money,

or friends.

all accomSee Luke, 21 22. She may then look on him whom she has pierced, and mourn as a wo-

God our Savior

shall be

plished on her.

And
and

naked.

Strip her of

all

her

man

for her only child.

In the end of
believe,

ornaments of

silver and gold, purple

the world she

may

repent,

scarlet, elegant

embroidery, nee-

and be restored
14

to the favor
citi/.

of God.

dle-work, and princely equipage.*

18 That great
:

See chapter
kings of the
is

Eat her fiesh. Consume it off her bones by fire and faggot, famine, pestilence,

B.

IVJiich reigneth over the

and the sword. Ez. 24

hath put

9, 10.

earth.

She has them

;
J

in spiritual sub-

Jer.

7:33.t

jection
it

but he kingdom

now

going

17
to

God
it

into their hearts

to be

taken from her

antl

given to a
possess

do

his will.

He commanded them
She
certainly

nation that will bring forth the fruits

thereof.

to do

as an act of strict justice to the

The
:

saints shall

now

church and the world.

is

the kingdom for ever and ever.

See

not
is

fit

to live

any longer.

When
shall

chap. 21

24, 2.5.$
is

she

destroved

Christianity

Here, then,

a most remarkable

They plundered the

citj',

and carried

off tlio spoil,

and stripped

their

temple and

houses of every thing that was valuable or worth carrying away.

Terse last quoted, and Ezek. 16
:

See the chapter and

39.

Josephus

sjiys that after

the temple

was burnt

tho
in

soldier* had such vast quantities of the spoils,

which they had goUen by plunder, that

its

Syria a pound weight of gold was sold for half

t Tlii.H

former value.

was

punishment the law of Moses

punished

inflicted

on prostitutes literally; and the

Lord,

in strict justice,

this spiritual prostitute in tho

same manner.

See Ezek.

16
t

33.

That

is,

spiritually.

This

is

evident from the 2d verse, where

it is

said she corrupted

the kings of the earth, or they were corrupted through her means, or through her fornications.

Every nation under heaven respected Jerusalem on a religious account

the tem-

REVELATION.
chapter,
the

235

events of which

can

youth.
tiles

never be applied to any other city but Jerusalem. She is called by

Ezekiel
harlots,

The Jews were his only covenant and chosen people; the Genwere not
:

see verses 59, 60; and

and John,
also

the

mother
Babel,

of
or

his covenant people are called

by the

Sodom and

prophet, JerMsa/em, Ez. 16

2, 3.

Chaldee; and her punishment according to the Jewish law, as a spiritual

prostitute,
is

We
that
it

assert, therefore, in conclusion,

is

morally impossible to apply

clearly pointed out in

;

the events set forth in the preceding

chap. 16: 40, 41

and this for violat-

part of this book to any other nation

ing her covenant with

God

in

her

on earth but that of the Jews.

pie itself

was a building
it

that exceeded every other building in the world.

all

Their own
of,

hia-

torian says
its

was

tlie

most admirable of
its

the

works we had seen or heard

for the vast

both for
it,

curious structure and

magnitude, and also

it

wealth bestowed upon

well as for the glorious reputation

city of

had

for its holiness.

See War, book 6,4:8.

its

Tha
and

Jerusalem so attracted the kings of the earth, because of

it

great beauty

magnificence, that in fact

it

influenced

them

to

bestow a great part of their income upoa

to

adorn

it

and make

it

look more splendid.

Those who are acquainted with Josephu**

history of the Jews,

must know of the vast expenses that Herod, Agrippa, and othor^

had went to

in rebuilding their temple,

and

fortifying

and adorning

this city.

CHAPTER
And after these things
hghtened with
his glory.
I

XVIII.

saw another angel come down

from heaven, having great power; and the earth was

An angel came down from heaven.

a special mission.

now

going to be fulfilled on spiritual

On

The prophet

Babylon.

Isle of

came a second time to the Patmos to inform John that cbap. 13 8, 9, of bis prophecy was
Isaiah
:

The earth was lighted with

glory.

his

He

appeared

brilliant, glori-

ous, majestic, like his

Lord RDd dim-

2Z61

NOTES ON THE

And he

cried mightily with a strong voice, saying,

is

Babylon the great

habitation of devils,

fallen,

is

fallen,

and

is

and the hold of every

foul spirit,

become the and

a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

ter.

He was

formerly

when on

earth

he raised

his voice like a trumpet, to

their transgressions,
;

a shining and a burning light; but now his appearance is not human, but

show the people

angehc

so sublime and glorious that

for his master,

and the house of Israel their sins but he came not now as a messenger of

John mistook him

and

was going

to fall prostrate at his feet

and to worship him, but he forbid

mercy, but as a minister of justice, to execute wrath on Israel because of their wickedness and idolatry.

him: "See," says he, "thou do

not, for I

it

Babylon

the great

is

fallen.

It is

thy fellow servant, and worof thy Ibrethren the prophets

:

am

utterly ruined, destroyed, and razed

ship

God;"
9.*

that

is,

our Savior. Chap. himself a

a

stone

from the very foundation, not one is left on top of another ; and

22

How
we

any man who

calls

Zion is now ploughed up like a field, and left as a cottage in a vineyard, as

a besieged a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as 8; 21 city. See Isaiah, 1
:
:

christian can permit another to kiss

his foot, or worship him,

is

mystery
of

cannot fathom.

the pride, pre-

9; 13: 19.

Jer.

51

chap. 14: 9,

sumption,

ignorance,

depravity

of this book.

poor, fallen, and degraded

man

He

And

would,

if

he could, be

like

God, and

demons.

has become the halitation of That is, the residence of

take his throne, and wear his crown Gen. 3:5. " Ye are of your father
the devil," says our Lord, " and his

wild, lawless, and barbarous nations,

murderers and robbers. This

may

re-

fer to the city a short time before it

works ye
2

will do."

The

child resem-

was
first,

destroyed.

She

fell

from God

bles the parent in this respect,

and then,

finally, into the

hands
be-

He

nestly,

Loudly, earmajestically. When on earth.

cried mightily.

of her enemies.
as he did

God overthrew her

Sodom and Gomorrah,

Isaiah predicted the misery that should

come upon
;

their city

and nation,
literally

if

they

continued obstinate and rebellious against

God

and

his

prophecy was

fulfilled

upon them

in the

extent; and not only so, but his prophecy points out the death and sufclearly than any other

ferings of Christ, and the

Testament.
Isaiah
;

way of salvation, more The sum and substance of the four

name
itself signifies the

book

in

the Old

gospels

is

contained in the prophecy of

the very

salvation of God.

And

if

the world

was

for-

merly so

much

enlightened by his preaching,

how mucli more

glorious

must he have been

at this time.

REVELATION.
3

237

For

all

nations have

drunk of the wine of the wrath

of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have com-

mitted fornication with her, and the merchants of the

earth are
cacies.

waxed
I

rich through the

abundance of her

deli-

4 And

heard another voice from heaven, saying,

cause she brought forth a worse generation of

atry, covetousness, pride,

men and women. So

her

deur,

worldly-mindedness.

pomp, granChapter

own

historian asserts.*

cage of unclean hirds. A generation of vipers, a brood of serpents, a

city

17:2, 4 Another
admonition

voice from heaven.

The
pre-

of our

Savior

himself

of

Sodomites,

atheists,

deists,

which he uttered
of his disciples.

forty years

murderers, robbers, &c. &c.f 3 Have drunk of her xviiie.

vious in presence of John and the rest

Have

Matt. 24
:

16

Luke,

drank

in

her

spirit of

wickedness, idol-

21

21.

See

Jer. 51

25.

* It is not improbable, that

by devils and
St.

foul spirits here, are

meant barbarous and

fulfilment of the

wicked nations; and

if this

be

John's meaning,
it

we have

literal

prophecy from that time to the present:

was

first

in subjection

to the

Romans, and

afterwards to the Saracens, then to the Franks, and after this to the Mamelukes, and
it is

now

in the possession of the Turks, all barbarous

and savage nations.

The

13

21 and 22 verses of Isaiah are a

sufficient

comment on
lie

the whole of this

verse.

He

said that the wild beasts of the desert should

there,

and

their

house*

should be

full

of doleful creatures; and owls should dwell there, and satyrs dance there,
in their

and the wild beasts of the islands should cry

pleasant places.
in

desolate houses, and dragons in their

The prophet

gives us a

full

and clear explanation of the above chapter,

all

34:

6, 13, 14, 15.

After he had laid before the Jews

the miseries which should

come upon them and upon

their city if they did not turn to the

Lord again, he then exfor

horts them, in the 16th verse, to seek out of the book

of the Lord, to see

themselves

whether these things were so or

fore,

not.

If the destruction of their city

and nation, therein the

had not been

foretold by Moses,
it

and these things were not actually contained

for the

book of the Lord,

would be impossible
in
it.

Jews

to read things out of the

book of
:

the Lord which were not contained

The

idea which I wish to convey,

;

is this

that

the prophet Isaiah must have meant by Babylon, the city of Jerusalem
of the latter

for the

downfal

was predicted by Moses, but the downfal of the former never was.

And,

another thing: the Babylonians were heathens, and of coursewere without the book of
the Lord, and could not read these things in
it.

23S

NOTES ON THE
out of her,

Come
her

sins,

and

that

my people, that ye be not partakers of ye receive not of her plagues,

God
iniquities.

5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and

hath remembered her

6

Reward her even

filled,

as she

rewarded you, and double

:

unto her double, according to her works

in

the

cup

which she hath

fill

to

her double.

Come out of her my people. Abandon her as a sinking ship in the time of a storm; if not, you shall perish
for the

as a just retaliation. She shall have judgment without mercy, which showed no mercy. Some of the

with her. Flee, escape for your lives, avenger of blood is at your
:

christians

she

crucified

on crosses,
;

others she stoned to death

some she

very heels. Jer. 51 6. Thai ye be not partakers of her That is, the punishment due to sins.
her
sins,

drowned
to death

in the sea, at

and burned others

;

the

stake

and Isaiah

the prophet

that the innocent

;

may

not

suffer with the guilty

fore,

escape, there-

was sawn asunder; and, finally, she crucified her own Messiah, the Lord of life and glory, and
exclaimed, " His blood be on us and

into

the wilderness of Judea,

will

where you enemy.

5

be

safe

from the

on our children," and this curse rests on them and on their children to this
day.

Her sins have reached to heaven. Have been of the most vile and aggravating nature, and therefore merits the most severe punishment, both in
this

Lord give us grace, ihat we

never tread
in

may

her steps, nor

world and in that which

is

to

come under her awful curse. Amen. Double %inlo her double. Mete out to her a more severe and dreadful
punishment than she
inflicted

come.
6

on you,

Reward

her as she rewarded you.

that the world

may

take warning by

As she treated you in the most barbarous and cruel manner, she shall be
punished in the most severe manner.

her and never tread in her steps, lest they should be also punished in the

same way.*

For

riches

she shall have poverty

for idleness, slavery

in

for pride, hun-,ility

and

for conformity to the world,

and because she delighted

flesh

ornaments of gold and

silver,

she shall have to bo stripped naked, and the very

17
:

eaten off her bones.

See chap.

16.

As

she gave the

Lamb

of

of his extremity, she shall have to

God vinegar and gall to drink the wormwood and

of sin

drink, and this in the midst

the gall

and she

shall

have

to drink blood in retaliation for the blood she shed.

Sinner, take warnin)^ by this.

The
life,

Lord

is

a just Judge,

The wages

is

death, but the gift of

God

is

eternal

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

REVELATION.
7

289

How much

she hath glorified herself, and lived degive her: for she

liciously, so

much torment and sorrow

I sit

saith in
shall see

her heart,

a queen, and

am no widow, and

no sorrow.
The
tor-

In the cup she hath

filled.

a splendid table,

had every delicacy

pain, persecution, affliction

and

the country could produce.

fruit,
fish,
;

The

best

ments, with which she punished you,

beef,

mutton,

vegetables

punish her

still

more severely,

viz.

and wines
therefore
ble.

but she had not Jesus, and

with the plague, pestilence, famine, war, and bloodshed. Let all these

was wretched and miseraas

come upon her

earth.*

until she

is

utterly

sit

wasted and destroyed from off the

7 As she hath glorified herself. Boasted of her wealth, national honor,
glory,
fine

splendor,

a queen. In pomp and and have the wealth and

equipage of royalty.

But ah!

to-

morrow you
slave for
in
life,

shall be a

greatness,

magnificence

her
or-

and your doubt every moment

of food to

beggar and a life will hang

;

you

shall be

houses,

palaces,

gardens,

destitute

eat,

clothes to

chards, vineyards, lakes, lawns,

tains,

moun-

wear, a house to live

lie

valleys, synagogues,

temples,

on

in, or a bed to and you shall be marched na-

learning, people, refined, elegant, and

educated ministry,

splendid

singing

ked through the streets of Rome, and be ridiculed and abused, and

and music
lors,

also horses, chariots, saiofficers, generals,

all

soldiers,

&c.
for

your sons and daughters be sent to work in the mines of Egypt for life.
Isa. 47: 2, 3.

And what
ever
lost,

of

this

she

was

desti-

tute of vital religion, and

eternally
lost.

must be

I am no widow.
established church
;

am

the national
is

my Maker

my

Lived delicately. Deliciously,

tuously, every day.

She

sat

sumpdown to

husband.

head of the church, and not the Pope. Aye, but you are
is

He

As she has been seeking

after ease, honor, riches

this,

and pleasure, punish her with dis-

grace and poverty.

Moses had, long before

declared that this should be the case.

life

If they disobeyed the

Lord their God, he said their

shalt fear

should hang in doubt before them

liave
'

continually.

"Thou

day and night," said he, "and shall

'

none assurance
at even thou

of thy

life.
'

In the morning thou shalt say,

would God

it

were even

and

shalt say,
fear,

would God

it

were morning,'

for the fear of thine heart wherevi ith thou shalt

and
is

for

the sight of thine eyes which thou shale see."

;

See Deut. 23

G5,

0"6,

G7.

This

a wonderful chapter

it

deserves to be proclaimed on the house tops, and to be

published in the market-places.

infidel

This chapter

is

sufficient to confute the

most obstinate

on earth, and convince the most blindfolded

Jew

in the

world

for

when they read

cer-

these predictions, and find that they have been literally

tainly

fulfilled

upon themselves, they

to

must know that

their sins

have sold them, and sent them back

Egypt again.

240 8

NOTES ON THE
Therefore
shall

her plagues come in one day, death,

;

and mourning, and famine and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judgeth
her.

deceived; he was your husband, but he is not such now; he abandoned you forty years since, because of your whoredoms, and will soon marry another wife.*

on earth, he would expel every ber and minister, and pull them
to the

memdowa
!

very foundation.

What

to

make

his house a house of

merchan-

dise instead of a house of prayer

to

This

is

precisely the language of

;

build a palace for the rich, to the exclusion of the poor,

faith,

all fallen national churches proud, haughty, imperious, and oppressive. Sheboastsof her fine palaces (church-

who

are rich in

and heirs of the kingdom. This

do,

will not

especially

among men

es),
pits,

elegant seats, splendid altars, pul-

and

women who

profess to fear

God

ers,
ters,

windows, organs, choirs of singher learned and eloquent minisrich

and keep his commandments.

i>haU see no sorroxv.
Shall be rich,
all

and respectable congregabut what of

happy, prosperous, great, glorious,

tions,

her magnificent colleges, and

;

my
er

days.

have great wealth, powcan

theological seminaries
all

and influence over the nations.

therefore,

this?

God
you.

is

not with you, nor

What,

now mar
bitter?

my

among

Therefore,

you

are

peace or

make

my cup

Why,

and miserable, and poor, and bhnd, and naked, and knowest it
Avretched,
not.

"thou fool, this night thy soul shall be ref|uired of thee, and then whose
shall these things

be?"t

For whom, pray,

did

you

build

8 For strong
eth her.

is tlic

Lord

that judg-

such elegant and costly churches? Surely not for your Lord and Master, for he never has had his foot inside of

He
;

is

able but not willing to

punish her

but his mercy does not

all

destroy his justice, or else he would

one of your churches

and,

if

be unjust; a God

mercy,

is

God

My
It

luisband

lias

not yci forsaken

me
to

he

is

yet amon<r us as a people.

.Jcr.

And though

was a

fact that the

Lord was married

to

them, (sec

14,) yet their abominations

caused the Most High

him, yet he was
returned
agiiin,
still

depart from them.

And though

she was completely dead to

alive to her.

She had played

the harlot with

many

lovers, yet if slie

her merciful and compassionate husband promised to forgive her, to heal

her bnckslidings, and love her freely.

t Because slie did not lay these things to lieart, slinll these plagues come upon her. She would not believe God himself, nor her own prophets who were inspired by the Spirit of God. But to her sorrow, she had to experience the fulfilment of these prophecies upon herself. See Isaiali, 47 7, 8, 9.
:

REVELATION.
9

241

And

tlie

kiugs of the earth,

who have committed

her, shall bewail
shall see the

fornication
her,

and lived deUciously with

for her,

and lament

when they

smoke

of her burning.

10 Standing afar

off for the fear of

her torment, saying,

unjust.

judge may,

when

passing

Shall bewail her.

They

not only

on the criminal, shed the tear of pity over him, but

sentence of death
his pity cannot prevent the punish-

lamented her
for

loss,

but their

own

also,

her revenue was of vast import-

ment which the law demands, and the sentence must be carried into execution
;

ance to the empire. See chap. 17 : 2. Ez. 16: 26,27, 23, 29.* 10 Standing afar off. Here, then,
is

if not,

we

should very soon be-

a fair specimen of selfish,

fallen,

come a
bers.

nation of murderers and rob-

human
in

nature;

when

in

prosperity,
;

tion

A nation without law, is a nawithout God and religion, and could not exist as such one year. If God, therefore, punishes crime in one
it

every person applauded her

adversity,

when

How

true

is

they reprobated her. that saying, " the rich

friends,
if pious,

have many
none." Well,
for

the poor have

instance, he certainly must, as an impartial and unchangeable being, do

they have

their friend.

In prosperity

God men

in

every instance

therefore,

if

he

will smile on j'ou, in adversity

frown

sends one

man

to hell for sin,

he must

upon you and shun your

a favor should be asked.

society, lest

do it with every man that sins, if not, he would be partial and unjust. Luke, IG: 23.
9
rich,

Oh

how

very different with a christian ; he does not act from sordid and selfish
motives, but from a principle of pure

The kings of
great,

the

earth.

The

noble rulers, governors, kings, emperors.

benevolence, he seeks out the poor

from the cellar

plies

to the garret,

and sup-

Who committed fornication

icith her.

Who

were influenced and

to evil
;

instigated

by her

they loved, admired, cherished, applauded her pomp and splendor, and lavished their wealth on her.

His house, his hand, his purse, are all open to the cause of Christianity. When you discover a man, whether minister or
their

wants.

member,

selfish

and covetous, take

it

for granted that his Christianity is at

* It

would have been a matter of joy

to

them

to

have seen the Jews conquered

it

but

they were sorry to see the city burned to ashes, and even the very foundations of
up, and the place where
his
it

dug

stood ploughed like a

field.
all in

Titus used
vain.

all

the exertions in
fully rip"? for

power

to save the rity

and temple, but

it

was
to

They were
if

destruction,
city

and

it

would have been impossible

hive conquered them

the temple and

had not been burnt.

31

242

NOTES ON THE
!

Alas, alas
in

that great city Babylon, that mighty city

is

for

one hour
11

thy judgment come.

And
:

the merchants of the earth shall

for

weep and

mourn over her; any more

12

no

man buyeth

their merchandise

The merchandise

of gold, and silver, and precious

a low ebb, and that his

something like Judas's,

feelings are

a commercial point of view.

Yesterit is all

who
I

sold his

day
loss.

it

was

all

profit; to-day
fell

Master

for thirty pieces of silver.

When

she

many

rich

men
lost

minister with

whom

am

well

and merchants
all their

fell

with her, and

he preached the he gospel freely and fully all his life lost all his property by endorsements
acquainted, told
;

me

property by her.

silver.

12 The merchandise of gold and To adorn the city and tem-

for a

man

in

whom
a

he confided too

ple,

and

to

make

vessels
It

and utensils

much,
church.

because

member

of

the

for the sanctuary.

.shis,

came from Tarark

itself

When

reduced to poverty,

a place supposed to be in Spain.

:

he

measure of potatoes to his grocer, with whom he had dealt largely, and owed nothing this
sent for a small
;

Ezek. 27

12.

The

was

overlaid with pure gold, within and

without, and there

gold upon
it

was a crown of

small amount of credit

was

refused,

because he was known

to be

penniless.

The
ture.

poor

receiving

man burst into tears upon this new view of human na-

round about, and the four rings belonging to it were pure gold, and the staves on which it was borne
mercy-seat,

would not have defrauded any one, yet he was used in this manner because he was poor. Here, then,
is

He

were overlaid with gold; and the which was two cubits
and a cubit and of pure gold, and the two cherubims that covered the mercy-seat were made of such and there was a table in the temple and a half
in length,

a half in breadth,

was

a specimen of fallen and depraved man, so selfish as to be an enemy of God and man. See Lam. 1: 7, 8, 9. In one hour is thy judgment come.

Suddenly, unexpectedly, as a thief in the night ; " they cried out peace and
safety, but

of shittim-wood, two cubits in length and one in breadth, and a cubit

made

and a half in height, and

overlaid with gold, and
of gold, the
it

this

was

sudden destruction came upon them, and they did not escape." There is but one step between wealth
and poverty, honor and dishonor, life and death, time and eternity. See
chap. 12
1 1
:

had a crown

same

as that on the ark,

;

and rings and staves in like manner and the dishes, and the sj^oons, and
the
covers, and

the

bowls
;

for

this

9.

table, v/ere all

pure gold

as to the
:

Shall weep
is,

and mourn over

her.

golden candlestick,

see chap. 1

20.

That

because of their own

loss in

The

longs, the snuHcrs, and the dish-

REVELATION-.
Stones,

24;

and of pearls, and

fine linen,

and purple, and

all

silk,

and

scarlet,

and
all

all

tbyine wood, and

vessels of

manner

vessels

of ivory, and

manner
iron,

most precious wood,

and of brass, and

and marble,

03 for this candlestick

were

all

pure

priest,

with the long robes, and the

and Josephus says, that "Titus took a table out of the temple of pure
gold
;

oracle, and the precious stones,

were
:

a thousand.

gold, of the

weight of many talents." See War, book 7 5, 5. And for the vast quantities of gold that were la:

And And

See Ezek. 27 22. of pearls. See chap. 21

:

19.

fine linen.

Josephus farther
also

observes, that

Solomon

made

ten

vished on the temple, see

4
; :

cliaji.

17

and chap. 21 22, 23. See Exod. &c. and Num. 7, &c. And for the silver vessels and utensils, see
25,

thousand sacerdotal garments of fine linen for the priests, with purple girdles
;

and also two hundred thousand

fine linen for the singers,

garments of
that were

Exod. 26, &c.

The above

author

Levites.

See the above

silk,

says that there were in Solomon's

chapter and section quoted.

temple an hundred thousand golden

vials,

And purple, and

These were
to

and

scarlet.

and twice as

many silver
ofl'er

vials:

be interwoven in the

of golden dishes to
fine

kneaded and
there

curtains of the tabernacle and

flour on the

altar,

were

the priests' garments.

upon See Exod. 26

:

eighty thousand, and twice as

of silver
:

many
were

36; and 28:

5, 6.

and of the measures which

the
hin, gold,

Moses

called

there

And all thyine wood. This was a sweet smelling wood, generally used
in adorning magnificent buildings.

twenty thousand of

and twice as
to

All

many
in

of silver.

The

golden censers

these,

which they carried the incense

the altar, were twenty thousand.

The

namely, the precious stones, and the pearls, and the fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and
thyine wood, came from Syria and

other censers, in which they carried

fire

from the great altar to the little altar, were fifty thousand also, two hundred thousand silver trumpets for
:

Egypt.

See Ezek. 27:

all

7,

16;

Chron. 1:16.

And
Ivor}'- is

manner

vessels

of ivory.

the priests to sound with.

book 8

3, 8, 1.

And

if

See Antiq. we add to

the teeth of elephants, and

of this

vessels

made
all

must have been

vessels

this the golden altar,

and

many we
:

other

very

costly.

things that were in the temple, that

And
precions

manner
;

of most
is

were made of
find that

silver

and gold,

shall

tvood.

The ebony
it is

the

Jerusalem was the richest city in the world. See Lev. 7 85. And precious stones. The above
author, in the

same chapter and

sec-

tion quoted, says, that the sacerdotal

very hard, valuable, and of a black color, and very smooth. This came from Dedan, a place supposed to be in Arabia. See Ezek. 27: 15.

wood intended

garments which belonged

to the high-

And of

brass,

and of

iron.

The

244

NOTES ON THE
13

And

cinnamon, and odors,

and ointments, and

frankincense,

and wine, and

oil,

and

fine

flour,

and

vessels belonging to the altar of burnt

offering

of cinnamon, and the

of myrrh, and the
cassia,

same quantity

were

all

pan
sins,

to receive
;

made of brass the the ashes was made of

;

of calmus, with five hundred shekels

same quantity of
oil,

brass

also the

shovels, and the ba-

and one hin of

was

the

and the flesh-hooks,

;

and

fire

quantity necessaray, according to the

pans

and the laver,

in

which Aaron

and

his sons

washed

their feet before

law of Moses, to make the holy anointing oil. See Exod. 30: 23; and for
the composition of perfume, see verse
34.

they went into the tabernacle, were made of such. See Exod. 27 3 and 30: 18. Josephus observes, that the
: ;

Josephus says, that the treasu-

rer of the temple,

whose name was

girdles

brazen sea that was in Solomon's temple contained three thousand baths
:

Phineas, was seized on, and showed Titus the coats and
priests,

of the

and he farther observes, that Solomon made ten large, round vessels of brass,
Avhich were
the
lavers themselves,

with a great quantity of purple and scarlet, which were there deposited for the uses of the veil
also a great deal of
sia,
;

as

each of which contained forty baths. See Antiq. book 8: 3, 5, 6. And it is said in 2 Chron. 4: 18, that the quantity of

cinnamon and cas-

brass

was

so great that the

with a large quantity of other sweet spices, which were mixed together and offered as incense to God

weight of it could not be found out, and the vessels of iron were principally for the use of the citizens.

every day.

See "War, book 6:

8, 3.

And

wine,

and

oil,

and

fine fiour.

These were

all

used in the consecrathe

And

marble.

These

vessels

were

tion of the altar, before

people

for to hold the

waters of purification.

offered

their

daily

sacrifices.

The

See John, 2:
to be seen in

6.

And

these pots are

above author observes, that the law

required
sacrifices

Cana

of Galilee to this

that in public and private

Dr. E. Clarke, when walking through the ruins of a church, which

day.
is said

the finest flour should be

for a

brought

lamb, the measure of

to

have been

built over the

one-tenth deal; for a ram, two; and

for a bull,

where the marriage of Cana was saw a great many of these water pots among the ruins. Their original use seems to have been little known
spot
held,

three.

crate

upon the
oil
;

altar

This they consewhen it is minbrought

the third

gled with

for oil is also

by those

that sacrifice; for a bull the

among
from 18
13

the inhabitants.
to

They
odors,

held

half of a hin,

and
for a

for a

ram

20 gallons.
cinnainon,

part of the

same measure, and onelamb.

oil

And

and

and

quarter of
the

it

They

bring

ointments,

and franMncense. These were used in making the holy anointing

oil,

same quantity of
altar
;

that they do

of wine, and they pour the wine about

the

and

in the

composition of perfifty

fume.

Two

hundred and

shekels

offer a

but if any one does not complete sacrifice of animals,

REVELATION.

245

wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots,

and

slaves,

and

souls of

men.

but brings fine flour only for a vow, he throws a handful upon the altar as
its first fruits,

famine in the city; and they generally kept a large quantity of grain

while the priests take

and other provisions

vent a famine.
of
Israel

in store to pre-

the rest for their food.

See Antiq.
also
this

book 3
the

9,

and

Lev. 7:

19.

But

Num. 28:14; if we add to

Judah and the land supplied Jerusalem with

See Ezek. 27
17.

wheat, and pannag, and honey, and

oil,

vast quantity of fine flour that

in

and balm.
this

was used
for the

baking unleavened bread

And from

we may

learn

that

yearly passover, and for the

Ezekiel had been prophesying of Je-

use of the citizens,

we

shall find that

rusalem under the name of Tyrus, for

it

the city of Jerusalem had a greater

demand

for fine flour

than any other

In the year of
historian obless
is,

either to

city in the world at the celebration of

their yearly passover.

was contrary to Jewish customs buy or receive oil as a donation from the heathen nations. See
Josep. Antiq. 12
this

our Lord 65, their

serves that there

own

were no

than

three millions present, that

of

Jews

and proselytes,
casion.

who had come from

world on
:

different parts of the

this oc-

If we view 3, 1. prophecy as having reference to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman army, and suppose that by Tyrus Ezekiel meant Jerusalem, literally and by the city, called by that
: ;

See War, book 2

14, 3, 3.

name

And he
vessels

farther observes, in another

in the 26th chap, and 2d verse, he meant the new Jerusalem, namely,

place, that the seditious emptied the

the Church of Christ, then the difficulty ceases; and

if

of that sacred %ine and oil

priest kept to be poured on

we

allow that
of in the

which the

the northern

army spoken

the burnt offerings, which lay in the

inner court of the temple, and distri-

7th verse had reference to the

Ro-

mans, then
27th, and

we may

interpret the 26th,

buted

it

among

the multitude, who, in

28th chapters of Ezekiel

;

their anointing themselves and drinking,

without any contradiction

but those

used each of them above a hin.

5, 13, 6.

who

See War,

them hterally, will find some difficulties which they will neinterpret

And

wheat.

The Jews had

a vast

ver be

able

to

surmount

for until

quantity of grain and other provisions

in store at to

they can apply the 28th chap. 13th,

14th, 15th, 16th, 17t,h, 18th, apd 19th

Jerusalem before they went war with the Romans but it was afterwards consumed by the seditious, and this was the cause of so great a
;

verses to Tyrus, literally,

it

must be

allowed that Jerusalem

is

the city to

which the prophet had

reference.*

As

'i'^2

^"''i

Tyrus means the oppressor, persecutor,

;

it

cannot be referred to Tyre,

*

for she

was mild and peaceable

I. 5
t

but .Jerusalem 7
;

is
:

called the city of oppression in various

7.

parts of the Scriptures.

30

12

53

Jer.

6:6.

246

NOTES OX THK
beasts

And

and
to

sheep.

The

beasts

lated,

have reference
:

oxen and goats, and

verely for
17.

and God punished her most seit. Jer. 34 13, 14, 15, IG,
:

the sheep, to rams and lambs.

Ezekiel, 27 21. chased principally for their sacrifices.

See These were puryearly pass-

Two
named

distinct classes of servants

in the last verse,

are

Jew and
eh,

Gentile,

T^IlS*

a-chiv,

a brother, a

There were
over no
fifty-six

slain at their

Jew, Hebrew hy birth; W'J ra

a stranger,

less

than two hundred and

proselyte, friend, viz. of

thousand five hundred lambs;

this, bu,t

Judaism.
titled to all

The moment

a proselyte

and not only

crifices

there

were

sa-

became such, he then was by law enthe immunities of a

;

offered

daily, both

and evening.
that

So

that

morning between all

Hethe

brew servant

circumcision

was

were

slain for the use of the city

seal of his citizenship,

and changed

and for their sacrifices, they must have purchased a vast number of sheep, lambs, goats, and oxen. See Exod. 29 1, 2 and Lev. 8 14, 18. And horses and chariots. Solomon in his day built a vast number of
:

his relation in reference to his servi-

tude.

The Rabbins

assert

" that she

covenanted to hold no Hebrew servant longer than seven years, and no Gentile

longer than the year of Jubilee

all

then

civil

contracts,

they say,
void.

cities or places for horses

and chariots
in Judea.

ceased,

became null and

for

One

round about Jerusalem and

was bound
lee,

seven years, the other,

Perhaps these were

venience of those

built for the con-

probably, twenty-one, or to the jubi-

who came up

to

whether a longer or shorter pe-

Jerusalem from different parts of the world to celebrate the yearly passSee 2 Chron. 9: 24, 25; and over.
Isa. 2
:

riod.

But

this

was

all

voluntary on
If a

the part of buyer and seller."

Gentile wished to serve his master a

7.

These came from Togorto

second term,
this
for

it

was

voluntary, and

mah,

a place suppposed to lie in Asia

with the copsent of his family.

As

Minor.

Some have endeavored

prove that Jerusalem was not a commercial city; but that she traded in
all

was a peculiar by law, he had

;

case, and provided

to

appear in open

court with three witnesses, before the

these things
of God.

is

evident from the

:

judges
tion
it

when he

declared his intenrecord, and as an

word

See 2 Chron. 2

7.

was put on

Slaves

and souls of men. Souls and

and the other spirituin

evidence of the

fact, his car

was bored

bodies of men. She trafficked in both;

through with an awl,

er) for ever; that
lee.

and he was

one
ally.

literally,

then to serve his master (not his ownis,

She traded
at
;

slaves

abroad

to the next jubi-

and

astray

home she corrupted and led her own people because of filSee 2 Kings, 17:19;
:

We
ticular

see from this, then,

how

par-

thy lucre.

Isa.

God was

to

show

his disap-

50

Joel, 3

G.

probation of the vile sin of slavery.

Egyptian bondage she covenanted with God

delivered

When

from

He
of

has done this in every age and

nation

among every
it.

who was

guilty

never to tolerate slavery

tion,

in the na-

but to substitute servitude in the

it.

place of

This promise she

vio-

for the master and the servant, the black and

There was but one law

REVELATION.
the white

S4t
and

The

both were on equal footing. master did not make the law for
;

by
ly,

force and fraud from his wife

children, kindred, country, and fami-

the servant, nor the servant for the

master, but

God made

the
;

law that
if

governed both of them

and

the

and sold him into slavery for life. This was punishable with death by the law of Moses, and the receiver

master treated the servant with rigor or oppression, a complaint was made to the sanhedrin, and the master had
to

was considered
21: 16.
"I^N

as bad as the and punished in the same way.

thief,

Ex.

appear

in precisely the

same hind

a vad,

is

applied to patriarchs,

of garments as the servant, that both

prophets,

priests, kings, angels,

and

might stand before the judges on equal footing, as the law knows no distinction in
:

even
for a

to Christ himself;

and can

we

moment suppose

that they

were

the judges,

who were

acting

slaves 1

The

advocates of this vile

God's stead, wished to be, like him, no respecter of persons. The master was bound by law to feed,
clothe, educate, and correct him, (if

system would fain make the Bible apologise for it, and the Most High to be the author of it; but

and

sinful

this is a base subterfuge

for the

Bible

he did wrong,) the same as his own child. He had the whole Sabbath and several holy days to himself. He
attended divine worsliip twice every

(both the Old and

New

Testaments)

condemn

it.

The

Savior

came

to

proclaim liberbj to the captives, and has commanded us to ialie aicay every

his

Sabbath without a sentinel to watch movements. He ate at the same table and out of the same dish with and might in the end, if his master he conducted well, become a member
;

yoke from the neck

of the slave.

Isa.

58

01

1.

And he

literally

com-

pelled

Pharaoh by

his judgments,

signs and wonders, to liberate his peo-

ple from bondage.

of the family

that

is,

his son-in-law.

Again

Abraham's

warriors

are

Prov. 29: 21.

pressed into the service of slavery.

wife, child
sister,

Husband and
rent, brother

and pacan

They
slaves

are said
;

by
is

its

advocates to be
all

and

were never
a

but this

hke

the rest of

sold nor separated.

A man who

their imbecile arguments, without a

bring himself to such

practice
as this,
;

barbarous

shadow
truth
;

of truth.

Enochims means
champions
for the

is

not worthy the

divested him-

spiritual warriors,

name

of a

man he has

these were a superior order of

self of all those fine feelings

which

men

to the

avadims or laboring
if

class.

belong to a higher order of

beings.

human

The Most High has

word
^5!!*

discarded the

slave from the holy Scriptures;

Enoch himself, who walked with God many years, and was one of the first and best patriarchs, was also a slave, for both
Therefore,
slaves,

vad

found there
borer, hired

only word to be means a servant, laman, a bond man, an apis

the

it

names, in the original, are precisely the same. Great stress is laid by these ver}''
wise and learned
rature

prentice

but in no sense can

it

be in-

men
it

in Oriental lite-

terpreted to

mean

a slave.

on the word
but surely

n3|!3

ka nah,

to

The Jews

never took

away

man

hvy

does not

mean

to

248
steal, to

NOTES ON THE
defraud, oppress, persecute.
It

But while
hand,
slave.
ter
it

Christianity detests, ab-

Oh

no.

means

to obtain, procure,

hors and condemns slavery on the one

Exod. 21: 2; and also to receive by faith and prayer. Isa. 55 1 Rev. 3:17.
hire, get, contract, bargain for.
:

does not sanction violence nor

in

fraud on the other,

If he runs

liberating the
his

away from
:

masare

And we know make a bargain

not
sell,

that
;

it

takes two to

we

are solemnly bound not to re-

the buyer and seller,

store him.
to use
all

Deut. 23
the lawful

15.

We
in
;

master and servant.

The one

could

means

our

buy

unless the other consented to

power
doing
in

to liberate the

poor despised
but in

and this must be voluntary on but if the master the part of each
;

and persecuted African slave

this,

we

are not justified either

took him off by force and fraud, and enslaved

ask,
l)e

abusing the master or instigating

him

for life,

would

this,

we
fair

the slave to insurrection.

let

Therefore
in the spirit

buying him and paying a

every thing be done

compensation for his services for twenty-one years or more ? Surely Neither Walker nor Webster not. attach such a meaning as this to the

of Christ, according to the

gospel.

law and

The Egyptians

paid their slaves

word buy

but the law of the land

according to their labor, and never

separated husband and wife, child and
parent. Christianity banished slavery
for ever

defines slavery to be piracy, and pu-

nishable with death.

It also declares

" that no man," (and surely the slave

is

from the
it

Roman

empire, and

the

Roman

Catholic Church has dis-

man, especially

in the ballot-box,)
life,

" shall be deprived of

property, without a

carded
Shall

from the commencement.

then,

liberty, or

trial first

before
this

Protestant ministers,

a jury of his countrymen."

Let

law, then, be put in force, and slave-

throw the mantle of charity over this vile sin, and attempt to apologise for
it ?

ry

is for

ever abolished in the

all

U.

S.

God
the

forbid.

It is

now condemned by

Christen-

that

New

dom and by

the laws of nations, and

all

shall be free

The Rabbins assert Jerusalem (church) from sin, slavery, Satan,

Zohar on Gen.
power
folio

should be discarded by
If slavery

civil

and

and the world.

13, 2.

religious people and governments.

was

not sanctioned
it

by
the

Finally, as the

to liberate
is

the law of Moses, surely

cannot be
is

the poor oppressed slave

in

the

sanctioned by the gospel, which

hands of God alone, and as he delivered his people of old with a high

very essence of the law

and Christ

came
bor
is

not to destroy the law, but to

fulfil it.

Love

to

God and our neighlaw

;

the fulfilling of the whole

hand and an out-stretched arm from Egyptian bondage, he will deliver poor, down-trodden slaves of the

and he, therefore,

who

loves God, will

love his slave as himself will, without hesitation, liberate him and make

America by his judgments, as he canit by his mercies. The pestilence that walkcth in darkness, and
not do the destruction that wasteth at noon

a free
stand

man of him. I how a man can

cannot underbe a christian

in

day, will soon pass through our land

and hold a fellow creature and perpetual bondnge.

cruel

and sweep
until

the

away its thousands daily, Snufhorn States be left so-

REVELATION.

24r

14 And the

fruits that

thy soul lusted after are departthings

ed from
no more
15
rich

thee,

and

all

which were dainty and

goodly are departed from thee, and tho^ shalt find them
at
all.

The merchants

of these things which were

off,

made

by her, shall stand afar ment, weeping and wailing.

16

for the

fear of her tor-

And

saying, Alas, alas

that great city, that

was

clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked

with gold, and precious stones, and pearls

17 For in one hour so great riches

And every
sailors,

ship-master, and
as

all

the

come to nought. company in ships, and

is
off,

many as trade by 18 And cried when they saw

and

sea, stood afar

the

smoke of her burn!

ing, saying,

What

city is like unto this great city

19

And

they cast dust on their heads, and

cried,

weep-

litary and alone, and with scarcely an inhabitant to bury the dead.

17 For in one hour so great riches

is

come

to

nought.

That
in
it,

is,

this city,

14

And

the fruits that thy soul lust-

which was
nothing
ed,
it

so rich, and

had so much
has come to

ed
is,

after are

departed from

thee.

That

wealth deposited
;

those things described in the 12th

has been utterly destroywere, in a moment.

and 13th verses. These were the things on which they placed their affections, and not on God alone.

and

this, as it

And

every ship-master.

That

is,

sea captain.

And
at
all.

thou shalt find them no m,ore

And all
sengers.

the

company in ships. Pas-

city

never have such a and temple again ; such vast

shall

You

And
hired to

sailors.

Those who were

riches,

means of making money, as you have had neither shall you have such a vast
so

many

various

work

the ships.

And
verse
loss,

merchants.

supply of provisions. And this has all been fulfilled upon them to the
present period.

many as trade by sea. Ship They wept bitterly, (see 19,) but it was for their own
as
for the loss of the city

and not

and people.
19
heads.

15 Shall stand afar offfor the fear

And

they cast dust on

their

See the 10th and of her torment. 11th verses; and for the 16th verse,
see chap. 17: 4.

Casting dust on the head, and

rending the garment,

among

the Jews,

was

a token of great distress.

32

250

NOTES ON THE
!

ing and wailing, saying, Alas, alas

in

that great

citj^,

where-

were made

rich

all

that

had ships

in the sea,
is

by

rea-.

son of her costliness! for in one hour

late.

she

made

deso-

20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets for God hath avenged you on her. 21 And a mighty angel took up a stone, like a great
;

mill-stone,

and cast

it

into the sea, saying.

Thus with

vio-

lence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and

shall

be found no more at

all.

By
was

reason of her costliness.

IF there

This

the cause that produced the effect

has never required of us impossibilities, and more especially when there

is

of her riches.

had not been

no occasion

for

such things.

such a great demand for all the things described above, it would have been impossible for those merchants to have been made rich by her. For in one hour is she made desoThat is, by the abomination of late. desolations. See chap. 12: 7 and 17
; :

smaller stone would have sunk to the

bottom as soon as a mill-stone.

Saying,
doicn.
into

thus

u-ith

violence

shall

that great city

Babylon be thrown
stone has been cast

As
to

this

the

river Euphrates,

and has

sunk
the

the bottom, to rise no more,

16.

20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven.

That

is,

the

heaven

upon

earth,

Babylon be cast into power of the army of the Euphrates, and the army of the Roman
so shall spiritual

namely, the church of Christ.

empire, and they shall sink her to the

And

ye holy apostles
24.

and prophets.

very foundation.

See verse

And
Julian,
tate,) in

shall be

For God hath avenged you on her. God hath novi^ required your blood at
her hands.

found no more at all. (commonly called the aposhis reign gave the Jews leave
and retrieve
and

to rebuild their temple,

21

And

stone, like
it

into the

a mighty angel took vp a a great mill-stone, and cast sea. This text is a quota:

the customs of their ancestors,

worship God according to the rites of their religion, which prohibited them
from oHering
sacrilices in any other place but the temple at Jerusalem.

tion
it is

from Jeremiah 51 63, 64. There said a stone, and not a mill-stone,
to into the river Eiiphrates.
it

and the prophet was commanded

cast
it

If a

mill-stone,
sible for

would have been imposto cast it into the river

:

the news was circulated among the Jews, contributions were made by all hands the very women

And when

him

sold their

ornaments and jewels

to ad-

without supernatural aid

and

God

vance the work, and the deficiency

REVELATION.

251

22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of

pipers,

and trumpeters,

shall

be heard no more at

all

in

thee

and no craftsman, of whatsoever

;

craft he he, shall

be found any more in thee and the sound of a mill-stone

shall be

heard no more at

all in

thee

the emperor ordered to be taken from

his

ing of a trumpet

also, at the
;

begin-

own
;

treasury.
all

brought from

Tradesmen were parts, and the work

defeated their de-

begun
signs

but

God

and they were to blow with trumpets over their burnt offerings and peace offerings. And it
ning of every month

by thunder and lightning from heaven, and the work was stopped
and they have remained without either a city or temple from that time to the present. But had they succeeded in rebuilding their temple at this time, they positively declared that they would make the

was by

the sound of the trumpet that

the armies of Israel were to collect

together, and
their enemies.

from going on

march forward against See Num. 10: 3-10.

2 Chron. 5

39.

Shall be heard no more at all in

thee.
filled

This has

also

been

literally ful-

unto the present period.

in a strange land,

They

christians
their

feel

as as

terrible effects

of

are

now

and scat;

severity

ever they them-

tered

among

their enemies

they can
;

selves did

from the Romans.

the

See
It

sing the song of Zion no

more

they
;

Dr.

Gillies' Historical Collections.

have hung
ceased

their harps on the

willow

22

And

voice of harpers.

the sweet songsters of Israel have

was

the Levites

who were

appointed

they

are

no more.

Shiloh
fall-

to play on the harps.

See 2 Chron.

has

now come, and

the crown has

5:12.

en from their heads.

musicians.

And

This includes the

cry out,

They may well woe, woe unto us, for we

;

singers, as well as those that played

are spoiled

our enemies have de-

on musical instruments.

The

different

stroyed us.

instruments of music on which the

And

no craftsman.

An

artificer or

Jews played were

old psaltry, sackbut,

as

follows

the

mechanic of any kind.

Shall he found any more in thee.

flute,

trumpet,

horn,

bagpipe,

organ,

drum,

and

kettle-drum, besides cymbals, bells,

harps, &c.

Doctor Clarke, in his travels through the Holy Land, observes, that the
only produce of the Jerusalem manufactories,

That is, those that played on flutes. See 1 Kings, 1 40. And trumpeters. It was the priests that blew the trumpets. They were
Pipers.
:

at the present,
;

are beads,

crosses,

and shells

but they are not

but the

the produce of Jerusalem,

to be

blown on

different

occasions

the

commencement and

conclusion of

produce of a city called by us such, but not called so by the inhabitants; for it never can be called by this name
until
it

the sabbath were signified by the blow-

is

inhabited

by Jews

alone,


252

NOTES ON THE
light of a

23 And the
in thee
shall
;

candle shall shine no more at

all

and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride be heard no more at all in thee for thy merchants
:
;

were the great men of the earth

for

by thy

sorceries

were all nations deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

and the city

place where

built on the
it

very same

originally stood.

of j^rophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. If
there were not another passage in the book of Revelations but this, to prove that by spiritual Babylon is meant

And the
plough
still

sound of a mill-stone shall

continues to pass through
the place

he heard no more at all in thee. If the

Mount Zion,

where the upthere at

Jerusalem, this

is

sufficient; for

papal

per city stood, then the sound of the

mill-stone cannot be heard

Rome
before

never has shed the blood of the

prophets, but Jerusalem has, and this

the present.

23

And
shall

the light of

a candle shall

shine no more at all in thee.

Your
it

Rome had an xistence. Neither we prove from the word of God that Rome was ever accused of shede

can

lamp

now
lit

be put out, and

again.

nethe

ding the blood of the prophets

the Scripture has pronounced
Avoes
against

but

ver shall be

That

is,

many
having

ing in the temple.

:

lamp that was kept continually burnSee Levit. 24 2. Chap. 22 5.

:

Jerusalem

for

shed the blood of her

own

prophets,
;

&c.
19
:

See Ezek. 24
14
;

6, 7, 9
;

Kings

bridegroom and of the hride shall he heard no more at all in thee. This is a quotation from Jeremiah 7 34 and it
the

And

voice of the

serves as a

comment on
I

this chspter.

Then, saith Jehovah, (by the mouth

of the prophet,) will

52 1 Thess. 2: 15. And our blessed Savior has declared, that all the blood shed on the earth from the blood of righteous Abel, unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias, whom they slew between the
:

Acts 7

cause to cease

temple and the

altar,

should actually

from the

cities

of Judah, and from

come upon

that generation

that
:

is

the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of

mirth, and the voice of gladness

of the Jews.

See Zech.

1.

And

the voice of the bridegroom and the voice

;

then he cries out, "

rusalem,

Jerusalem, Jethe pro-

thou

that

killest

of the bride
solate.

for the land shall

it is

be de-

phets, and sent

stonest

But

not improbable that

is

unto thee,

them which are how often would I

together,

by

the bridegroom

meant our Sa-

have gathered thy children

vior,

and by the bride, his church. See chap. 19 7.

:

even as a hen galhereth her chickens

under her wings, and ye would not!"

24

And

in her rcas

found

(he

Hood

See Matt. 23:

34, 35,

3(J,

and 37;

REVELATION.
and
Isaiali
1
:

^5i

15.

And he has
it

de-

be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

clared in another place, that

cannot

See Luke 13

33.

CHAPTER
And after these

XIX.

things I heard a great voice of miicli

:

Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God 2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the
:

people in heaven, saying, Alleluia

earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood

of his servants at her hand.

fal of

The downAfter these things. Babylon, and destruction of her

land.

commerce by sea and

general.

Then

followed the rejoicing of the church in

was a
city.

This chapter proves, 1. That she national church as well as a

2,

That her destruction was at hand. That her final ruin was predicted by the prophets, our Savior, and his apostles. 8. That she not only came from Babylon, but was polluted, corrupted, and became an idolater there.
7.

national

That she was a religious 3. That she was a church.

9. Great prosperity attended the spread of the gospel after her downfal

persecuting and an oppressive church.

4.

That she had apostatised from God, and had backsliden from him in heart and life. 5. That she was the stumb-

but great apostacy followed the downfal of Rome. 10. In her was found the blood of all the prophets
;

and

all

the righteous ever slain on the

earth.

ling block in the

way

of the conver-

Chap. 18: 24. This was not the case with papal

sion of the world.

Isa.

57

14.

6.

Rome.

She

did not finally apostatise

254 3

NOTES ON THE

And

again they

said, Alleluia.

And

her smoke rose

up
fell

for ever

and

ever.

And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying. Praise our God all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both
4
small and great. 6

were the voice of a great multimany waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia for the Lord
I

And

heard as

it

tude,

and

as the voice of

God omnipotent
from God
1070,

reigneth.

until the
all

year of our Lord

in

ever.

when

the prophets, apostle?,

glory.

ed

in that

Her temporal punishment endThe moof her eternal.

city

and martyrs, were

This
it

ment the

was

the time

when

persecution began

the national body

was consumed by fire was committed to

in that church,

and not before; and

it

the burning flames of perdition.

4

has continued in
hour.

to

the

present

The
:

elders
4, 6.

and

(he

beasts.

See

Therefore, Babylon cannot be

chap. 4
only

papal Rome.
35;
Isa. 1
le
:

See Ezek. 16
yah.

2, 15,

Worshipped God.
potentate,

Our

Savior, the
kings,

21.

the King of
:

Ha
vah

loo

Praise ye Jeho1
:

Jesus.

See chap.
is

8.

Every
of praise

chapter in this book

over

full

and Lord of lords. Chap. 4 10. 6 Praise our God. Extol him above the heavens who tumeth the
;

and adoration of Him, because " God all, and blessed for ever." n^^bbn should not be rendered
without the Greek asperite, a
le loo

rivers into a wilderness, and the

ter springs into

wa-

dry ground

a fruitful

because of the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

land into barrenness,

yah, which makes no sense whatever.

Ps. 107
6

33, 34, 35.

Ha

le

loo

yak means the same

osov aineite
i.

as

AiviiT*

Toc

ton

Tkeon,
his ser-

Praise our God,

vants, verse 5.

e. all

ye

Christ, then, beyond doubt and dispute, is "the true God and eternal life ;" therefore, little children, keep yourselves from idols.

an innumerable multitude, of all kindreds, and people, tongues, and nations, who had now embraced Christianity Jews and Gentih s who had renounced Juda;

The That is,

voice of

a great multitude.

the

rejoicing of

ism, and hoarhenism, and had submitted to the mild and easy

Amen. 3 Her smoke

yoke of Je-

rose

vp for

ever

and

sus.

This part of the prophecy refers

REVELATION.
7

256
to

Let us be glad and

rejoice,

and give honor

him

no doubt to the year of our Lord seventy-five.*

Tlie voice of
is,

He

will

now

be united

in

holy wed-

lock to the Shulamite

woman

the

many

waters.

of nations, and people,

That who were

Gentile nation.

He

divorced his for-

shouting aloud the praises of

nual,

Imma-

mer wife for adultery, but did not marry again until she was dead and
buried.
Christ, therefore,
is

God

in our flesh.

nation at
in a

the pro-

this time

was born

Thunderings.
subdued
the
all

day.f Shouts of victory

to

him

mised seed, in
lies

whom

all

the famiblessed.

of the

earth

shall

be

on the part of King Jesus,

who

has

Amen.
His
the
wife.

our enemies, and brought and hath

More properly

his bride,

us out of spiritual Egypt, and through

Lamb's

wife, spouse; the

new
going

Red

sea as on dry land

Adam

and Eve,

who
:

are

now

conducted us safe through the wilderness of this world for forty years, and

to be united to

each other
1.

in spiritual

wedlock.
and pious

Chap. 12

This holy
is

over Jordan into the promised land of the new and heavenly Jerusalem.
7

woman

is

bone of his bone,

and flesh of his

husband,

flesh.

He
and

her head,

The marriage of

the

Lamb
Her

has
sons

protector,

preserver.

come.
set

The

time has come, yea, the

They
final

are both going to take up their

in the

time to favor Zion.

and future residence

pa-

shall

now come from

all

far,

and her
the

lace of the

new

and heavenly Jerusa-

daughters from the ends of the earth,

lem, the paradise of God, the abode

of the blessed, happy, pious, virtuous.

and

shall

know

Jesus, from

least to the greatest.

The bond wo-

Chap. 21: 3; Matt. 28: 20.

tree of
life
is

man

and her son shall be cast out, and

The

there, that bears

the son of the free

heir to the spiritual

woman become inheritance. The

to

twelve manner of
tree of the
evil.

fruits,

and also the

heathen shall now be given

his inheritance,

him

for

knowledge of good and Job, 1 6. The two-edged

:

and the

uttermost

sword,

to

defend

the

way

of the

parts of the earth for his possession.

tree of life,

with the cherubim and

* This

may mean

either the

hundred and

forty

and four thousand spoken of

in

chap.

4, or elr^e
t

th vast multitude spt ken of in the 9th verse of the

same chapter.
;

He now

has the dominion over

for their

all nations,

kindreds, tongues, and people

and they

have chosen Christ

King and
high over
!

their Savior,
Jesus, the

Jesus, the

name

all

name

to sinners dear,
I

In

hell,

or earth, or sky

The name
It scatters all
It

to sinners giv'n

Angels and

men

before

it fall,

their guilty fear,

And
St.

devils fear

and

fly.

turns their hell to heav'n.

John, in different parts of this book, represents the kingdom and reign of Christ as
after the fall of Babylon.

commencing immediately

See chap. 11

15.


256
for the

JVOTES ON

THE
is

marriage of the

Lamb

come, and

bis wife

hath

made

herself ready.

seraphim, are there; and also the golden birds of paradise. Chap. 4
:

Hath made
tions, to

herself ready.
life,

She has
and affecis
:

given her whole heart,

him.

14

3.

The

trees and flowers of

Her language

the garden are delightful, and bloom

"

summer and
river of
it,

winter.

Ps.

3.

The
It

life

runs through the midst of

it.

Take my soul and body's powers, Take my memory, mind, and will All my goods and all my hours,
All I know, and all I feel

and waters every plant in

divides itself into four different heads,

All I think, or speak, or do

and spreads out into the

city has twelve golden

east,

the

Take my

heart

but make

it

new

!"

west, the north, and the south.

gates,
to

The
which
admit

The

bride has on the

wedding gar-

ment of
oil in

holiness, and a lovely pair of

feet.
is

are

open night and day,

golden slippers on her

;

pious pilgrims.

But there

are twelve

her vessel her lamp

She has trimmed

porters standing at the gates continually, to

prevent the entrance of impro-

and burning, and she is now ready to meet the bridegroom in glory. She is
clothed with the sun, and the

per persons; such as sorcerers, whore-

moon

is

mongers, murderers, robbers, sabbathbreakers, liars, drunkards, swearers,

under her
and
her head.

feet,

brilliant

and she has a dazzling crown of twelve stars on

chariot
is

and swindlers,

&:c.

21: 21;
.spring)
tiles,

22:15.
shall

&c. Chapter Their seed (ofT-

Her

salvation,

and

is

drawn by twelve pure, milk-

now "inherit the Genmake the desolate places to be inhabited." " The wilderness and
and
solitary place shall be glad

written

white horses; and on their bells is holiness to the Lord. Ten

virgins robed in spotless white,

and

because

of them, and the desert shall rejoice

palms of victory in her attendants and

;

their hands, are

all

the heavenly
:

and blossom as the rose

and

and Sharon

host

accompany them
God

singing

shall be a fold for the herds to lie

in,

down

" All glory be to

on high,

shall

in the valley of Acher there be a door of hope to his people. Selah."

And to the earth be peace, Good will, henceforth, from heaven

Begin, and never cease."*

to

men,

The
filled
it

bride opened the door of her heart, and the King of glory
:

came

in

and
Re-

with joy and peace in believing

she could thea cry out,

:

l\Iy

Savior,

my

deemer,

my heaven, my all. H-r language was " O what hath Jesus bought for me I see a world of spirits bright, Before my ravished eyes, Who tate the pleasures there
!

Rivers of life divine

see,
!

And
Reader,
is

trees of paradise

They nil are rob'J in spotless white, And conquering palms they bear."
?

this

your experience

Have you

fallen

in love

w ith

the

blessed Jesus 7
ai.d

Have you

heartily and sincen-ly repented of \our sins?

Have you wept

mourned

REVELATION.
8

257

And

to lier

in iine

linen, clean

was granted that she should be arrayed and white for the fine linen is the
:

righteousness of saints. 9

And he

saith

unto

me, Write, Blessed are they

Hallelooyah; amen, praise our

all

God

sinner

repents, all
is

ye his people. 8 Fine linen. Purity of heart and

Clean and while.

"For there

heaven rejoices; more joy in heaven over

one sinner that repents, than over

ninety and nine just persons that need

life.*

Pure and

spot-

no repentance."
9 Blessed are they that are called.

made white Lamb. For *'it

less,

in the blood of the

cleanseth from

all

Happy

are they

who

are called

by
his

sin."

^race

And where sin hath abounded hath much more abounded.

lost
b}' sin,
it,

his gospel, his word, his Spirit,

ministers,

his mercies,

and his judgis

What Adam

Christ has
the just for

ments.
those

But

the blessing

only for
call.

regained by suflering for

the unjust, to bring us to God.

He

who Those who

obey. the heavenly

reject
it "will

be punished

hates the garment spotted with the

flesh.

with everlasting destruction from the

presence of the Lord and the glory of his power, for ever and ever.

He

cannot look on sin with the

least degree of allowance.

When
;

saint sins, all

heaven weeps

when

To

the

marriage sujjpcroflheLamb.

Iieloie

God

for the sins

you have committed

if

Do
to
?

you believe that Jusus

is

able and
iii

willing to save you now,

you give your heart

him

And have you

rely

confidence

him, that as he has promised, he will also perform

Do you

on his promises

for all

temporal and spiritual blessings

all

your ungodly companions

?

? Have you broken oft' from all your sinful practices, and And if you ha%'e renounced all outward sin, do you regard

iniquity in your heart

If so, the

Lord

will not

hear your prayer.

in
?

But, lastly, have yoxi

that God.
1

opened the door of your heart

for Christ's sake

to let the

King of glory
?

And do you now feel

effect

hath pardoned your sins

If so,

what

has

it

had on your heart

Did you

feel the Spirit itself to

bear witness with your

spirit, that

you were a child of

God

Were you

then saved from the fear of death,

in

hell,

and

the

day of judgment
and
in the

If not, you are of iniquity.

*

still

a slate of condemnation

in the gall of bitterness,

bonds

This
this,

is

ihc wedding garment,

i.

e. of

holiness

and every person who

foot,

is

not clothed

with

(though invited to the wedding,) shall be bound hand and

is

and cast into

outer darkness, where

weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth.

are called to the marriage supper of the

For many are called

but fnvv chosen,

.salvation,

i.

e.

many

Lamb, or

to obtain
this

but none are admitted into the guest's chamber but those

who have on

garmunt.

33

258

NOTES ON THE

which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of
God. 10 And
I fell at his feet to

worship him.

And he
:

said

unto me, See

tliou

do

it

not

am

thy fellow-servant, and

of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus

ship

wor-

God

for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of pro-

phecy.

That

is,

to obtain salvation

by

faith in

mistake, that he
not the Creator.

was
not.

a creature,

and

him, the

Lamb

of God, Avho taketh

It is

away

the sin of the world.

comlast

pared to a supper, because the

.dispensation of

See thou do it no honor, Christ

and glory
ship, and
ter, I
;

mercy which we

shall

I am worthy of worthy of all honor therefore love, serve, woris

ever receive from the hand of God. He has spread his table in the wilderness,

obey him.
his servant.

am

He is the masHe is God, I

head and lay
is

and invited the whole

human
and
this

am man;
it

a sinner saved by grace;

family to come and partake of this

spiritual

take the crown off

at the feet of

my

and heavenly
as

feast

him who

King of
is

freely, without price.

And

money, and without he has declared that

rejected his salvation,
it

kings and Lord of lords, for he only

worthy

to

wear

it.

Blessed humility!

the Jews,

who

one oHered to honor him, as he took

should not partake of his supper, so

will be with us Gentiles, if
light of the invitation.*

him

to be his

Savior
it,

the other, as a
it

we make

creature, refused

because

did not

belong to him.f

10

I fdl

at his feet to worsJajj him.

/ am
ministry.

thij

fellow servant.

In the

From

his glorious and majestic ap-

pearance I took him to be my Savior, but he very soon informed me of my

on earth

You are such in the church I am a ministering spirit in

AVe
are breth-

the church of heaven.

So blessed

is

he that

reatletli

the words of

itii-

prophecy of

lliis

book

but
in

il
it.

is

on

condition that he understands

it,

and

lives

according to the things written

We
See

know

that those

who were
blest,

formerly bidden to the marriage supper refused to come, and

i.

were curst instead of

c.

because of their disobedience to the heavenly

call.

Luke 14: 24.

f

Let us learn a lesson of humility from

this,

and

renieni'-er that pride gocth before

destruction,

and a haughty
abased,

spirit before

fall.

See

I'rov.

IG

18.

And he

tliat

fxalieih

himself shall be

but

lie

that

huniblelh himself shall be exalted.

See Luko

U:

11.

REVELATION.

259

11
horse

And
;

and he

saw heaven opened, 'and behold, a white diat sat upon him ivas called Faithful and

True, and in righteousness he doth judge and

make

\^'ar.

ren in the Lord

therefore

it

would

guilty, and defend the innocent.

He
His

be idolatry for either of us to worship the creature and not the Creator; we
are not " lords over God's heritage,"

has

to

punish the wicked in order to

not offensive, but defensive,
false pro-

protect and preserve his church.

war
phet,

is

but simply laborers in his vineyard.

Babylon, the beast, and the

all

Have
he
is

the tesihnony of Jesus.

That
all,

waged war

against

him and

the true Messiah,

God

over

his people,

and he must either sub-

and blessed for ever, in whom dwelleth " all the fulness of the Godhead
bodily." Col. 2
:

9,

Worship him.
and eternal
life;

As

the true

God

due them, or they would destroy Lis church. This was precisely the case with the Israelites under the Old Testament dispensation. Their wars were
defensive.

for all the angels of

Their

enemies

attacked

God are commanded Heb. 1 6.

:

to

worship him.
is

them
them.

first,

and would have extermi-

nated them, had not

God subdued

For
spirit

the testimony

of Jesus

the

Rams'
this.

horns, in the hands of

ofjnophecy.

All
is

testimony (that he

who have this God) are pro;

God's people, were sufficient to accomplish

The

heathen nations

phets, either literally or spiritually

were

all Atheists,

and defied the arfell

have either the

events.

gift

of prayer, exhor-

mies of

Israel,

and even

upon

tation, preaching, or foretelling future

The word
white

is

used

in all these

senses in the Scriptures.*

11-4

horse.

The

white
This
is

throne of purity and justice.

them and slew many of them, before God commanded them to march against them. Pharaoh asked, "who I is God, that / should obey him ? know him not, and will not let the
people go."

evidently John's meaning, from

follows.

what
and

He

held his chosen peo-

In righteousness.
gospel.

In justice

not let

equity, according to the

law and the

Punish the

Doth he make war.

would them go into the wilderness to but he very soon comserve him pelled him to do it, and destroyed all his army in the Red sea, and this
;

ple in bondage 400 years, and

* The apostle assures

us, tliat

no

man can

call

Jesus, Christ, but by the Spirit of God,

is

and

if

any

man have
10, 11.

not the Spirit of Christ, he

none of his

so that

if

he has the tes-

timony of Jesus, he has the very same Spirit which formerly inspired the yrophets.
1

See

Peter

And

this Spirit enables the ministers of the gospel at the present, if

requisite, to foretel future events, as well as to

preach the gospel effectually.

Prophesy-

ing spiritually, in the scripture sense, means no more than preaching the gospel, and at
other times prayer and exhortation.

260

NOTES ON THK
fire,

12 His eyes were as a flame of

were
;

nnd on

his

head

many crowns and he had a nnme written, tliat no man knew but he himself. 13 And he teas clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called the Word of God. 14 And the armies ichich wc?'e in heaven followed him
upon white
horses, clothed in fine linen, white

and clean.

when just
people.

going to utterly destroy his

Finally, the Egyptians soon

learned that he

was

superior to

Phain

King of kings and Lord of lords. His army of ministers and members, young and old, rich and poor, bond
and
free, prince

raoh and
the deep.

all

his host,

and that in a

and peasant,

all

en-

moment he

could

overwhelm them

listed

and fought under his pure white

banner of holiness.

See chap. 1:14. Many crowns. Because of his many and mighty victories over all his
12 His eyes.
enemies.

Of heaven. The
Followed him.
tion
;

church militant;
In the regenera-

the holy, happy, pure, people.

and

when he appeared they

Thrones of purity

13

A
is,

name

that no

man

knoweth.

also

appeared with him in glory.

horses.

That
to

nln;' 13-1

dcvar Ye ho vah.

White
4: 4.

The word
shield and

of Jehovah,
told

who appeared
his

Abraham, and
in

him he was

exceeding great reward;

and that

him

all

the families of the

:

earth should be blessed

ham
it

believed in

and Abrahim, (Messiah,) and

Chap. were all to sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Luke, 22 .30 1 Cor. 6 2. The church rode on triumphantly
and justice, like the sanhedrin.

The

saints

over

all

her enemies, and

now

she

was imputed

to

him

for justifica-

pardon of all his sins. And very person in whom he believed Rom. 5:1; Acts, is Jehovah, Jesus. 4: 12; 10: 43.*
tion, the

this

had gained the victory through the blood of the Lamb. Their cause was just, their lives pure, their manners
plain, simple,

and undisguised

their

character unspotted from the world,

14

The

armies.

Soldiers of the

and none, Jew or Gentile, could lay

His name

is

the

Word

of God; see the next verse

and no person, either

in

heaven

or on earth, knows the meaning of this mysterious

the apostles or evangelists attempted to explain
it

name but
;

Christ himself; not one of

to

it

was not revealed

is

them, and

therefore they did not wish to be wise above that which

spent no small share of time and labor in striving to

the

Commentators have explain the meaning of the Logos, or

written.

Word

but

it is all

labor in vain, they have only darkened roiinsei by the multitude of

wordi.

REVELATION.

261

15
with

And
it

out of his

mouth goeth a sharp sword,

:

that

he should smite the nations

iron
:

and he

shall rule

them with a rod of

16

and he treadeth the wine-press

of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

And he

hath on his vesture and on his thigh a

name

written,

KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

charge of God's elect

any thing

to the

(beloved) people.

Fine

linen.

The

righteousness of

And he treadeth the wine-press. He empowered, authorised, commanded, the Roman army to work the
press,

the saints, through the blood of the

crush the sour grapes in Ju-

Lamb.

This, then,

is

the white horse

dea, and cause the blood to

to the horses bridles.

come up

on which the Saxaor sits in his church, for " without holiness no man shall
see the Lord."

15

A sharp
1
:

sword.

The word

of

The fierceness of the wrath. His wrath was then more severe and dreadful than ever known, since or
before.

God, which is more sharp and powerful than any two-edged sword. See
chap.
16.

No

nation, previous to this,

was ever punished

so severely,

and

nations.

That with it he should smite the Bring them into subjection

of the everlasting

no other nation ever shall be unto the end of the world. This assurance we have from our Lord himself.
16 His thigh.
of circumcision4

by the preaching
gospel.*

His hidden, holy,

sacred spot, on which

was

the

mark

Rule them with a rod of iron. With power and great authority.

And

on his vesture.

His garmect

That
of

is,

that he should conquer or subdue the nations with this sword, namely, the
;

Word

God

with this our Savior, (through the instrumentality of the apostles,) has

subdued

all

the nations of the earth, until the kingd jms of this world have
his

become the

kingdoms of our Lord and of

t

Ch

ist.

The Roman army

to

is

the press, and Christ the person

;

who

trod

it,

or

empowered

them

destroy "the

Jews

for

had not God, by

it

his

mighty power, thrown these sour

utterly impossible for the

grapes into the power of the wine-press,

would have been

Romans
mans, or
+

to

have destroyed them.

Titus declared that

God was on

the part of the

Ro-

else they never could

have conquered the Jews. on which the Jews circumcised their

chil-

The
;

thigh
this

was a sacred was a

seal, or

spot, the place

dren

and

a sign of the righteousness or justification which they were

afterwards to obtain by faith in the promised seed, namely, Christ.

See Rom. 4: 11.

Our blessed Savior had

vatioHj or iho

the

name

described below, visibly written on the garment of al-

work

of our redemption, as well as on his robe of righteousness.

262
1^^

NOTES ON THE

And

saw an angel standing

all

in the

sun

and

lie

cried with a loud voice, saying to

the fowls that

fly in

the midst of heaven, Come, and gather yourselves to-

gether unto the supper of the great

God

of salvation.

He is

therefore the king

immortal,

invisible,

the

only wise

earth, but he was much more so when he appeared to John in Pat-

God our
and glory
17

Savior, to
for ever

whom

be honor
either
is

mos.

No

prisoner, captive, or exile,

and ever.*

An

angel.

This was

Ezekiel or Isaiah.

What

follows

was ever so highly honored as was John when on this barren island. His revelations were all made to him
there, and

quoted from Ezekiel's prophecy.

a host of angels sent to

Standing in

the sun.

Clothed with

minister to him.
kiss the rod,

Therefore

let

us

the glory of God, encircled in a lu-

and bless the hand of

liant,

minous body of light. He was brilgreat, and glorious, while on

him who appointed it. The fowls that fly. The ravenous

1.

Then he
all

is

King of kings,

for the3' are only finite in

knowledge, but he
:

is infinite ;

he knows

things past, present, and to come.

" His wisdom's vast, and
"

See Jer. ]0

7.

knows no bound,

depth where

all

our thoughts ore drowned."

2.

He was
He

superior to

men and

angels in holiness; he was the end of the law, for

righteousness (justification) to every one that believeth.

3.

exceeded every man in meekness and humility

;

for

he that was

rich, for

our

sakes became poor, and had not where to lay his head
tion,

he made himself of no reputa-

but took upon him the form of a servant, and humbled himself untn death, even the

death of the cross, for us sinners.

4.

He was

superior to

all

drink to do the will of him

men in zeal and patience who sent him. He was led

;

it

was more than

lamb

his

meal and

like a

to the slnughter,

and

a sheep before her shearers, yet he never murmured

again
;

and when reviled, he reviled not

last

he endured the contradiction of sinners against himself, and at

wept, bled,

groaned, and gave up the ghost, until the rocks were rent, and the graves opened, and

many
5.

of the bodies of the saints which slept arose, after his resurrection, and went into

the holy city, and appeared unto many.

See Matt. 27

51.

His

love

exceeded that of

all

men.

Scarcely for a righteous

man would

one die,

yet peradventure, for a good man, some would even dare to die.

But God commended

:

his love to us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. See Horn. 5 7. And if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. See verse 10. 6. And lastly, he is a King, to reign in us, and rule over us, as the Lord God of every

motion.

REVELATION.
18 That ye
captains,
horses,

263

may

eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of

and the

flesh of

and of them that

sit

mighty men, and the flesh of on them, and the flesh of all and the
cf the earth,
against

men, hoth free and bond, both small and great.

19

And

saw the

beast,

king-;

and

their armies, gathered together to

make war
army.

him

that sat on the horse,

and against

his

20

And

the beast was taken, and with

him the

false

and destructive eagles, armies of the

Might]/

men.

Wealthy,

noble,
fact
is

Roman

empire which our Lord had commissioned to devour the dead carcasses of the

learned, eloquent men.

The

they were

all

destroyed, cut ofTin the

Jews

in Jerusalem. Jer.

war with

Titus.

The

prophet Eze-

16:

4,

5; Ez. 39:17.

Idel declares that this slaughter to be on the

was
de-

The supper of the great God. The

great and national slaughter of his

mountains of

Israel.

19 To 7nake war with him.

To

own chosen
vexed
his

people,

who

rebelled and

stroy Prince Messiah and his spiritual

Holy
;

Spirit.

the last nation that the

They were Roman army

army, but he put the armies of the

aliens all to flight.

destroyed
like wild
forest.

and are here represented

direction

They fled in every when no man pursued, one

as feasting on their flesh and blood,

genuine christian chased a thousand,

and lawless beasts of the

princes,

18 To eat the flesh of kings. The rulers, and leaders of the

and two put ten thousand to fJght; with the sword of the Spirit in one hand, and faith and prayer in the
other, they

subdued nations, wrought

life,

people of Israel.
the king,

The

sons of Isates,

miracles, raised the dead to

stop-

were among the captives and Simon and John were taken prisoners and led in triumph through the
streets of

ped the mouths of

the violence of
lire,

lions,

quenched

escaped the edge

of the sword, out of weakness

were

Rome, and then

torn to

made

strong,

waxed

valiant in fight,

pieces

by wild beasts at the forum. See Josephus, War, book 6, chap. 6, sec. 4. See Ez. 39: 17; Jer. 7: 33; Deut. 28 36.* Captains. Of fifties, which indi:

and finally caused the armies of the aliens to flee in every direction. Heb.

11:33,34.
13.

See chap. 13: 13; 16:

sat

Him

that

on the horse.

See

cate that kings also

mean

generals of

verse 11.

the army, head, chief men.

20 Cast

alive.

That

iy,

soul and

The

princes of Inracl

but

it

may

also refer to those

who

set themselves

up

for kings

before the war, such as Simon, John, &c.

864

NOTES ON THE

prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were
cast

aHve into a lake of

fire

burning with brimstone.

sword of him upon the horse, which f<icord proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
that sat

21

And

the remnant were slain with the

diatel}'.

body were sent to perdition imnieTheir bodies were first comsoul and

that they

were

slain

by the sword

of

him
horse

(Christ)
;

who
But

sat on the

white

mitted to the burning flames here, and

and this sword proceeded out

it

then both

body were sent

of his mouth.

may
sat

refer to the

right into the pit of perdition, to be

sword of him
horse.

who
:

on the red

tormented with

fire

and brimstone for

is

Chap, G
ail

4.

ever and ever.

This, then,

the

And

the fowls

were filled with

end of
tians.

all

persecutors of pious chris-

For the character of

phet, see chap. 13
:

tlie false

pro-

That is, they were torn to pieces by lawless and barbarous nations, as was predicted by the protheir flesh.

6,

14.*
to refer to

21

The remnant seems

the ten thousand captives that Titus

reserved to crown the victory at
these were
all

Rome

Chapter 39: 17, 18. can be no doubt of what nation John refers to here that is, the house of Israel.

phet Ezekieh

From

this chapter, there

by wild beasts in the forum. But the remnant may refer to the remnant of the heathen, who were not converted to
torn to pieces

The
air,

feast here, of the fowls of the

forest,
is

and wild beasts of the

ijrojjhet

the same precisely as predicted

the

by

Ezekiel.

He

declares

Christianity at

this time,

but after-

they should eat the flesh of the mighty,

ward embraced the religion of Jesus. This seems probable, from the fact

and drink the blood of the princes

:

of Israel

so that the house of Israel

The

lext does not say that they were cast

lltli verse of

body and soul

;

into bell

John alludes

here to the 7th chapter and

Daniel

there

it

is

said " his body should be

given to the burning flame."

The

plain

meaning seems
pile,

to be, that their bodies after

death should he consumed on the burning

the burning flames of hell.

and

their souls
flesh

immediately committed to

To suppose
but

that a

body of

and blood, bones and nerves,

should be cajiable of bearing the torments of

tal,

hell

without a change from mortal to immor-

would be inconsistent

it is

probable that the germs of these men's bodies, after

they were burnt, were quickened into futurity, and immediately reunited with their souls,

and then
13
:

tiie

iTimortal bodies and souls committed to the eternal burning.

Sae chapter

G.

REVELATIOK.
shall then

know

that I

am

the

Lord

and that
of their

gave them

into the

hands

God.

And

the heathen shall

know
into

enemies,

that the house of Israel

went

them

to fall

and they caused by the sword. Ezek. 39

:

captivity because of their wick

18, 19, 22, 23.

CHAPTER
And I saw an angel
the

XX.

come down from heaven, having key of the bottomless pit, and a great chain in his

hand.

heaven.

/ saw an angel come doivn from This was undoubtedly Ga-

perdition.

The

bottomless pit
;

no sense whatever
pit of perdition,

T^"!?^

makes means the

briel, God's prime minister; no other

and Diabolus has de-

angel has sufficient power to bind the

devil, who, very probably,

was an
fall.*

name from it. He is called Abaddon, as well as Apollyon, berived his

archangel himself before his

Having
The

the hey.

Power and

au-

body.

cause the destroyer of both soul and " A murderer from the begin-

thority to bind

him

a thousand years.

ning" of creation.f

bottomless pit.

The

pit of hell,

A great

chain.

God's chain, his

* It is

supposed that the devil himself was once an archangel, and that he held th
before his
fall

same

office

as Gabriel holds at present.

If this be true, he

must have been

the next in

power

to the

Almighty himself, and of course none but God, or an angel supe-

rior to himself, could bind

him
it,

but as his power was weakened through his

fall,

and

Gabriel's

power increased by

he was able

to bind

the destroyer, and to

keep him

bound a thousand years.

t There
is

a heaven and

hell in this life as well as in that

is

which

is

to

come

and
is

if

there be no hell but that

which

on earth, then there

is

no heaven but that which

on

34

266

NOTES ON THE

And he
is

laid

hold on the dragon, that old serpent,

which
years.

the Devil and Satan, and bound

him a thousand

divine

command

to

restrain
;

him,
did,

prison,

no doubt,

is

some place betire

which he dare not disobey if he Gabriel would shut him up in

prisoa for ever.

neath the surface of the earth, as

forth from

his

and brimstone are continually issuing

it.

He

is

God's ambas-

See Deut. 32

22.

sador, plenipotentiary, has full

power

^That

old serpent.

The

old

cm

and authority to do
of lords.

it,

and this under

9, instruction is
is

the seal of the King of kings and Lord

nachash, the very person who poisoned Adam and Eve,* and all their
posterity.

InProv.

He

has diffused his poison

called a chain; funishment

called

through the whole

well
as through

human

system, as

such.

Lam. 3:7; and

is

in

straint

called such.

Jude 6, reHence, ^"^2^

the whole

human
it.

family, and nothing but the application of Christ's blood

t=inb T^b

ijhil

loon la tath la.

spirits)

He
the

can eradicate

cast

them

(fallen

into

chains of blackness and darkness. Zo-

The whole head is sick, the whole heart faint we are wounds, bruises,
;

har on Gen. 2

fol.

27

3.

And

he seized the dragon.

By

and putrefying sores, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot

and bound him hand and foot, and then led him off in triumph, and thrust him down head foremost into the dungeon of hell, his dark and
the throat,

they have not been bound up nor mollified with ointment, and none can heal our diseases but Jesus, the Good
Physician of soul and body.

dismal place of abode. He is here called the dragon, because the prince and power of the air,

He
weaker

deceived
vessel
;

Eve,

because the

she was led into the

temptation,

found in the transgres-

who

ruleth in the hearts of the chil;

sion; nevertheless,

she shall be de-

dren of disobedience
propagator of
sin,

the author and

livered in child-birth: "

For the seed

the father of lies

of the

woman

shall

bruise the ser-

and of

all

manner of wickedness. His

pent's head, and he shall bruise his

earth

and

if

we

allow that ihere

is

a God,

wc must

allow

tliat

there

is

n devil also, for

there are two kinds of characters on earth

directly opposite to the former,

the righteous and the wicked.

war with each other;
;

The

latter

and are

at

so that there certainly

must be two fountains from which these two streams proceed

salt

a fountain cannot produce

water and sweet at the same time.

And

if

we admit

that

God
him
;

is

just and holy,

we

must allow
*
<jf

that nothing unjust or unholy can proceed from

and surely, murder,

robbery, aduk-try, drunkenness and debauchery, cannot bo of iiim, but of the devil.

How

old he

is,

we cannot determine

but in

all probability

he baa existed a million

vearu

niiice first

cieated


REVELATION.
(Messiah's) heel."

267
and

God

told her in

anointed,

do

my

prophets

no
oil

the day she partook of the tree of the

harm.
flesh,

See that you hurt not the

knowledge of good and

should surely
spiritually,
die,

evil, yielded

and the wine.

You may
;

touch Job'p
is

to the temptation of the

devil,

she

but not his bone

his life

in

both literally and

my

hands,

and not in yours.

The
provi-

the image of

become mortal, and lose God from her soul. The

(infinite in

righteous are under

my special

dence,

the wicked

under your do-

devil told her this could not be, but

minion.

she should be like Elohim,

knowledge,) knowing the difference

between good and evil, vice and virtue; pride prompted her to believe this, and she fell, and all her posterity fell with her, and this is the predominant passion of her offspring to this

came to seek and to save which was lost to destroy the works of the devil, viz his power
Christ
that
;

and dominion over men, and

is

direct-

ly opposite of him in every respect; in

humility, patience, resignation, longsuffering, gentleness,

meekness, good-

a desire to be rich, great, honorable, to be on the pinnacle of the temple, to be above all, and beneath
none.

day

ness, kindness, charity,

&c. &c.
" Prince and
ruleth in the

Satan

is

called the
air,

power of the

who

The

dear Redeemer

a different character,
in heart

was quite meek and lowly

heartsof the children of disobedience."

Eph. 2

2.

When

permitted, he poi-

and in life. He disregarded wealth, and sought not the honor of

sons and contaminates the whole at-

mosphere, and causes

it

to

produce

man.
of

He
;

was despised and forsaken

epidemic and inflammatory diseases,

men

man

of sorrows, and expe-

rienced in grief,

who had

not

where

to lay his head, nor even a friend to

which have swept away thousands in every country. Job, 2:7, As I have before observed, we are naturally as well as spiritually diseased;

administer a cup of cold water to

in his

him

dying moments.
of God,

O Lamb
Was

was ever
!

pain,

ever grief like thine

He made

himself of no reputation,

crown of the head to we are wounds, bruises, and putrefying sores, which have not been bound up, (healed,)
the

" from

the sole of the foot,

but took upon him the form of a servant, and became obedient unto death,

nor softened with ointment,"

Isaiah,

1:

6,

even the death of the

ners.

cross, for us sin-

"The
above
it?"
all

heart,"

says the

prophet,

May

we, as Christians, follow

"is deceitful, and desperately wicked

things,
:

his holy and pious example.

Amen.
truth.
in-

and

who can know

The

devil.

Deceiver, dissembler,

Jer, 17

9.

But

hypocrite, a disguiser of the

Jesus

is

a balm for every wound,

The
men
;

devil has great

power and

cordial for our fears.

fluence over the souls and bodies of

if

not limited or restricted he

certainly

would destroy the human

.a

" His name," says Gabriel, " shall be called Jesus, because he shall save his people from their sins." It comes
from sao, to save, deliver, restore, heal as diseases. He took on him our
nature,

family in

moment
"thus

the decree of

Heaven
and

is,

far shalt

thou go
not

no farther."

Touch

my

human

nature, not

angelic.

268

NOTES ON

Tin:
slain.

lie bore our sins in his own body on the tree, died in our stead, the just
for

with the blood of the

then, for a

Can wc,

moment

imogine, that a

the

unjust, to bring us to
is

God.

just and merciful (iod has

to

Whercforo he

iiblc to

save, to thu

any thing do with such barbarous and inhujirocec'dings

?

very uttermost, all tlicm that conic unto God by him. He juHlilios, sanctifies,

man
is

We
all

say no.

He
is

the author of

good, and the

and

;,'loriru'.s

the l)i;licvcr; so
aliounded, f^racc
;

devil the author of all evil.

Christ

tlint

where

sin

liulli

the J'rincc of Peace, and not of war.

hnth much innie iihinindcd

blond of Jesus Christ, the
cleanselii

for the

"

My

kingdom," soys he, "

if
it

is

not of

Son of
John,

(iod,
1
:

thi^

world,

were,
but

my

soldiers

from

all sin.

7.

wcnild light for are not

carnal,
to

me."
pulling

His wcajions
spiritual,

Ho

lias

power over

the

winds and

and
I

the weather, the

sudden cliangos from

mighty

the

down
liut

of the

heat to cold, and vice versa ; the tempest and the storms, hurricanes and
e(irl.h(|uakeH,

strong holds of Satan.

Again, "

say

unto you

resist

not evil,

whosoright

inundations and bursting;

ever shall smite thee on the

forth of iiioinit

Vesuvius; the i)urnin^

cheek, turn to hiin the other also."

I

heat of

the,

torrid /.one, the pieiein;^

'lit

up the sword

in its bheuth,

for

cold of the frigid zone, the pestilentiiil

they that use the sword shall

jjcrish

winds of the deserts of Arabia, the

})laguc3 of lCgy))t, famines of Kuni|)e,

by it. war is

We
the

therefore

conclude that
devil,;

work of the
sjiirit

and

is

the fevers of America, are

all

of

liini.

contrary to the
iind that

of Christianity

See Job,

1!).

of the gospel.

All that ever pr.rishrd by sra tind land, by war and bloodshed, in time

Jit: is ffoinfi;

about

to

and fro
seeking

in the

rarlli.,

as

a.

roarin/if Lion,
1

whom
1
:

him.
all

and eternity, have perished through He is a murderer from the beginning,

their
vi/,
:

ho
1().

may

devour.

Pet.

5:8;

Job,

He

and his emissaries are every

of

Adam

and Eve ond

1
:

where
daily,

jircsent.

He

visits his children

j)osterity.

See Job,

7.

weekly, monthly, and yearly,

to

He

destroyed the antedeluvian world,

and induces them

and popular
to
is

become
liy

rich

burnt down

Sodom and Gomorrah, swallowed up all the company of

Kora, Dathan, and Alii ram, drowned
the Egyptions in the
ruHiilem

in this life,

but the worlii

come

is

never named

him. Hell

Red

sea,

de-

such a vulgar expression that h<" dare not name it to liis polite and
delicate people, because they ore so
refined and elegontly educated as not
to be able to bear

stroyed three millions of

Jews

in Je-

by Titus, ond three millions more by his father in the Roiiuiii empire; and since then nine millions have perished by war and bloodshed that is in Asia, Africa, Europe, ond America. He has deand Judca
;

with

it.

It will

do,

he

asserts, for the poor

and

illiterate,

but not for the rich and the refined. The prison and the palace, the jiulpit

and the

closet, the class

meeting and

vastated

cities,

towns, countries, pro-

j)royer meeting, the

public and pri-

vinces, and

fields of the continent of

kingdoms; has mode the Eurojie white

bones, and

vote exercises of the church, he visits

regularly
;

he

is

at the oltor oiul

the

with

human

manured

tlicm

sacrament, he iiives the wine to the

REVEIiATJON.
priest

269
in

and

llio
tlie

wafer

to llu;

people.

of the ungodly, nor Ktnndclh

the

inounier to the allur, whispora in liis cars, " you have now
got religion, join the church, but kecj)
it to
it

lie helj)s

way

of .sinners, nor sittcth in the seat

of the scornful, but

who

dclighleth in
it

the law of the Lord, and in

ditates

he me-

yourself; the less

you suy about

talk

day and
i)rcsent
;

night.

Ps. 1:1,2.
really a singu-

the better;
it

men who

most
it."

The
lar
trol

age

is

about

enjoy the least share of

one

public opinion seems to con-

He

is

delighterl

with such revivals as

(;V(!ry thing.

Some

years since
vile sin in

alFect the passions but not the heart

slavery

was considered a
liipjors

a change of life is what lie wants, a change of heart he abhors, lie is

the church, and selling and drinking

s|)irituous

no sin

innocent,
But
pni)lic.

more
than

afraid of one converted incniber

all

and

rerpiisite

to health.

the learned and unconverted

opinion has (piitc changed; slavery

is

ministers in the world.

No man

can

now advocated, and drinking

S|)iriluou3 liquors

or selling

be a christian without a change of heart and life his sins must be for;

condemned..

Dan-

cing

was

tolerated in the church then,

given, his

God
his

reconciled, his nature

renewed, his soul made happy, his

and slavery condemned; now dancing is condemned and slavery tolerated.

Really, some of the
ministers

hope

sure,

prosjject

of heaven

churches and
to

clear and bright, hvJnn; he can die in

must think God either

be

peace.

asleej) or gon(! into a foreign

is

country,

He
John,

a
:

Liar (uul the father

of

il,

and will probably never return, but the

visible

44,

Perjury, false-swearpervertaltering

marks of

his disjjlcasure rests

ing, false

ing

vows and promises, the Holy Scriptures,

on

churches that are guided by public opinion and not by (Jod's unall

words, sentences and plirases, to meet

our

erring word.

own narrow and erroneous views;

the standard of

He
war,

is

the author of all the evils in

making public opinion

the world,

such as murder, robbery,

slavery,

piety, and not the IJiblo; disguising

bloodshed,

Sai)balh-

or concealing the truth, daubing the

])eople

breaking, swearing, lying, cheating,

gaini)ling, drunkeiniess, duelling, de-

with

untempored

mortar
tlierc

crying peace, peace,

;

when

is

bauchery, hunting, horse-racing, the

circtus, theatre,
all evil

no peace making the people believe from the pulpit that they are
christians,

opera, ball-room

also

passions, such as envy, malice,

when
to

in

reality they arc

hatred, revenge, backbiting,

slander,

not

permitting

them, through the

novels,

pride, witchcraft, fortune telling, and

all

ministry,

read

immoral

uncharitablenrss and unrighteous-

books and
of public

pai)ers,

and
in

to visit places

ness of men.

"

From

all

such, good

amusement which have not

the glory of
tlio

God

view; following
and of the

desires of the flesh

mind, and not warning them of their

danger.
trary,

Lord deliver us." See Jolt, 1:15. " ]{(!ing justified by faith," snys the apostle, "we have [leace with God through our Lord Jr'sus (Jhrist;"

The Scriptures, on the conpronounce a blessing on the

not in the c(juusel

"and

there

is,

therefore, now, no con-

ilemnation to

man who "walks

ihem who are in Christ Jesus, (by faith,) wjio walk not after

370
the
flesb,

NOTES ON THE
(follow the desires of
it,)

He
ral,

is

the author of death, tempo-

but after the Spirit,"

you

into

all

truth.

who will guide Rom. 5:1; 8: 1.

son
de-

spiritual,

and

eternal

when

Adam
tal

The moment the poor prodigal runs away from his master, (the
vil,)

sinned the soul died spiritually, and the body literally, it became mor-

and

corrupt
'

" dust thou

art,"

and crosses the boundary

line
is

and
then

says Jehovah,
thou return ;"

gets into

ImmanuaVs
to the

land, he

and unto dust shalt and he would have pe-

free and independent; the

enemy may

rished for ever,

had

pursue him
laugh,

very border, but he dare not cross over it; he may look,
grin,

the promise that the

it not been for " the seed (son) of

woman

(Virgin

Mary)

shall bruise

rage,

threaten,
is

intimi-

the serpent's head, (destroy the

pow-

date, but

all in

vain; he

under the

er and influence of the devil over the

protection of the

Prince of Peace,

souls and bodies of men,) and he shall

and

is

perfectly safe.
is

bruise his heel," (cause his

life

to

be

He
evils,

not only the author of all the

taken

away from
for
Is.

the earth,) or cause

but also of all the errors in the

;

him

to be cut off

from the land of the

transgression of
his

world

Atheism,

Deism,

Arianism,

living,

the

Unitarianism, Universalism,
ism,

Mormon-

people.
apostle

53

8.

" Death," the

"reigned over
not sinned
trans-

Romanism, Fourierism, &c. mass

assures
(infants,)

us,

for the dead, penance, purgatory, par-

them,

who had
dear
little

don, and celibacy of the priests, wor-

after the similitude of

Adam's

ship of images, saints and angels, false

gression."

The

creatures

miracles

and doctrines, transubstanburn-

have

to suffer a
life,

temporary punishment

tiation, the inquisition of Spain,

in this

but thank God, they have

ing of heretics, and the Bible, murder

without
civil

sin,

together with
of him.

denying
sir

no pain or punishment to pass through beyond the grave." " Of such," says
our Lord, "is the kingdom of heaven."

and religious liberty

are
all

to the peo!

ple,

What,

Mark, 10:

14.

Hence, the Savior

Catholic to murder a Protestant in

cold blood, or a Protestant to a Catholic,
christian,
is
it

came

into the world to destroy

him

murder
he

because such, and be a

is

utterly impossible

power of death, (that is the devil,) and to deliver them (sinners) who through fear of death were
the
all

who had

the

first

born of Satan, a child of

their lifetime subject to bondage.

:

the devil, a murderer, an

imp of hell,

Heb. 2

14. Again,

he came
life

to abo-

and though he may escape the gallows, he will not escape the wrath of God he will surely be punished. The
;

lish death,

and

to

bring

and im-

mortality to light through the preaching of the

gospel.
1

Tim.

10,

mild, peaceable religion of Jesus never

Though

the devil has no dominion

sanctions persecution, but on the contrary,

condemns

it

and commands us
to bless

over the righteous, yet he has power " for bloody and over the wicked
;

to "love our enemies,

them

deceitful

men

shall not live out half

is

that curse us, and pray for

them who

their days," Satan

permitted,

when
the

despitefuUy use and persecute us, and

there

is

no hope of their salvation, to

off.

say

all

manner

of evil against us, false-

cut them

Ps. 55

23.

On

ly, for Christ's

sake."

Matt. 4: 44.

other hand, the righteous live long,


REVELATION,
become
rify
for
old,

271

and die

full

of years and

and corrupt books, pictures, and pamphlets, instead of the

of blessings, because they live to glo-

Holy

Scriptures,

God on

earth,

and

to enjoy

him

which are able

unto salvation.

to

ever in heaven.

make them wise They poison their

vitiate

He excites, instigates, tempts to evil. He imperceptibly leads the simple

soul into
it.

young and tender minds, and

finally
dels,

their taste for spiritual things, until

The

riches, honors,

and

they becom econfirmed

infi-

pleasures of the world are held up to

his view, as a gilded bait, to lay fast

and live and die such, and their

blood in the day of eternity will be

required at the hands of their parents.

hold of his affections, until time, talents,

learning and influence, are

;

all

They
their

infuse pride and arrogance into

directed to the one object

finally,

he

young and tender minds, take

to places of fashionable

has attained

this,

and now, instead of

is

them

amuse-

being happy,

he

wretched,

and
and

ment, but wilfully neglect to bring

miserable, and poor,

and
not.

blind,

them up
become

in the nurture

and admonithey

naked, and knowest

4:
8.

it

See Matt.

tion of the
fit

Lord

until finally

fuel for the burning.

When
lost

writing

this,

a neighbor has
life,

He

has his seminaries and colleges,

all

just put an end to his

his property
;

because he

presidents, professors, tutors, teachers,

and a short time

rich,

and students,

of

which care no

since another

became

and de-

more

for the

Bible than for a ballad,

ranged by
life
;

it,

and put an end to his

last year,

and a third person,

rich,

who

was
tol

imagined he should become

at

he never permits it to be read nor taught in any of his institutions. The priests in France would not permit the
people to read the Scriptures, and the

poor, and to prevent this, took a pis-

and shot himself

is it
it

Hoboken.

consequence was, the nation became

infidel,
it
;

Here, then,
of wealth;

the miserable delusion

the priests being the cause of

infidels

happy, and

never has made a man never can do it, for

and when the

got

the

Search the whi.le creation round,

And

liappines3, out of Christ, cannot

be

government in their hands, they wreaked their vengeance, first on the wicked priests, and then on the people who adhered to them, until
reins of
finally, these

found.

barbarous butchers

made

"

How

hardly shall they that have

human

blood run

down

the streets

riches enter the

kingdom of heaven." " Charge them that are rich in this world, not to be high-minded nor trust
the living

of Paris in torrents.

God and man game with us

is

The enemy of playing the same

in uncertain riches, but in

God, who giveth us

enjoy."
shall
it

all

things richlj^ to

he did in France His emissariee have discarded the Bible from some of our
as

sixty years since.

Tim. 6:

17.
if

"And what
he gain the

republican schools, and denounced the

profit a

man

reading of

it

from the pulpit

finally,

the next

whole world and

lose his

own

soul."

step will be to seize the reins of go-

He

induces parents to put into the

vernment,
state will

and

church
throne

and
pf

hands of their children novels, newspapers, impure, immoral, indelicate,

become

united, and a foreign

prince

be

placed on the

272
America.
is

XOTES ON THE

As itwas in the beginning, now, and ever shall be, world with-

sorcerer, to

blind and pervert the

10.

understanding.
lure, attract,

tempter, to alevil,

out end.

induce to

lead the

Newton, Locke, Bacon, Bunyan, and many other great and good men, have read the Scriptures and written comments on them, and were highly commended for this by the church and
bishops; but behold, a greater than

soul astray from God.

11.

An

adver-

sary, an opposer of Christianity, an

antagonist, juggler, calumniator,

who

holds out false baits and false induce-

ments
mind.
of
lies

to deceive 12.

and bewilder the

prophet, teacher
13. Belze-

Solomon
glory
;

is

here

the Lord of
and
by
:

A false

life

and

and false doctrines.

lies.

he has commanded all men every where, Jew and Gentile, to

search the
Scriptures,
to

bub, the father of

14.

He

ap-

pears as an angel of
but
son,
full

light, is mild,

teach

peaceable, polite, pleasing, plausible,

of
first,

them
sides.

to

their children,
:

their fire7.

envy and malignity

he

Every man in the Jewish nation was not only commanded to search them as for hid treasure, but to have a copy of them in his house, and to read them
John, 5

39

Deut. G

charms
15.

and then dilluses his poi-

He
;

and finally destroys his victim. has two opinions, one public
;

and one private

one good, the other

bad
11

his

bad opinion he makes public,

16.

family

every morning and evening in his We, and to his children. therefore, challenge the pope and all the priests in the world to produce
tures

one single passage from the Scrip-

where the people

titles

are forbid to

he conceals. 2 Cor. a fallen angel, has two natures, angelic and diabolical he can never be restored to the favor of God again he sinned wilfully and maliciously, and therefore no sacrifice
his good opinion
:

14.

He is

read them.
Finally, the
to

could be

made

for

his

sin.

Had

and

epithets given

him

in the Bible point out in

some
1.

degree the extent of his power.

is

He
liar,

same way the Savior could not have atoned for his See Heb. 10 26. sins.

Adam

sinned in the

called the

Devil,* deceiver,
2.

And
tianity

yet, after all this, the devil is

all

dissembler.

Satan, the slanderer,

the brethren.

a believer in
;

the doctrines of Chris-

back-biter, accuser of
3.

dragon, because he utterly de4.

he knows them all to he just and true; he believes and trembles.

Jas.

vastates and destroys.

serpent,

2: 19; Mark,
])oor,

24.
sinner,

who
5.

has poisoned, polluted, and cor-

And now,
this is the

deluded

rupted

lion,

whole human family. murderer of mankind. G. A to tear in pieces and devour

the
7.

man.

The
all

prince of this world,

his vassals in perpetual

who

keeps

8. A seducer and cruel bondage. from the path of virtue and inety. 9.

wicked and diabolical master you have been serving all your days, and if you desert not his cause he will have you in the end under his dominion for ever which, may the "reat Head of the church prevent.
;

Amen.

'

"

This was not one of his

first

born sons,

who was

called aftor his fallirv the devil, see

chap. 12: 9, but the very devil himself.

REVELATION.
Bound
him.
Restrained, hindered,

273
for

beyond that period

an accomplish-

prevented him from deceiving the human family as he had done in all ages
of the world,
of Christ.
i.

ment of them,
then
If

especially as all the

e.

before the coming

events predicted in this book were can reason accufulfilled.

We

The

door of perdition

was

rately from the past to the present.

shut and bolted against him, so that

we

can ascertain

when

the pro-

he should not escape from his prison until the thousand years were ended,
then he was to be
deceive
let loose

again to

Gog and Magog.*

phecy was fulfilled, we can with the same degree of certainty tell when it began. There can be no doubt, then, that Gog and Magog of Ezekiel means

thousand years.
;

From
he was

the

i-e-

imgan Rome, and that Gog and Magog

of the Revelation

surrection of Christ

let loose

me&ns Papal Rome.

at this time to deceive and destroy

The kingdoms

of this world, during

he was let loose again in a thousand years from that time to deceive the Gentiles, i. e. Gog and Magog, as they are the deceiving and
the Jews
;

the thousand years, became the king-

doms of our Lord and his Christ paganism then fell, and Christianity

was

substituted in

its

stead

but at

ruling

power among the

Gentiles.

the expiration of the thousand years

the church of

The
a

E-abbins say that v/hen

Meslaw,

Rome

apostatised from

siah comes he will give a

new

Christianity and returned to idolatry,

new

altar

Sabbath, new sacrifices, a new and ministry, and that time will

begin anew.

seventh day holy in

tion.

The Jews kept the memory of creatirst

We

keep the
in

day of the

and now John in his predictions makes no distinction between papal and pagan Rome he considers one system equally as vile and wicked as the other. 1. Then Gog and Magog can be
;

week holy
more

memory

of the

new
not

interpreted of no other people but the

creation (redemption).

And

is it

people and church of

Rome
all

and not

likely that as the christian

Sab-

only so, but the Rabbins

it

understand

bath began on the first day of the week, that is the day when Christ rose from the dead, that the thousand years then commenced, and not with
the birth of the Savior
;

2. This people in the same way. were, at the expiration of that time, to have dominion (not absolute) in the

four quarters of the earth.

literally the case

This was
are repre-

especially as

with the prince and

3.

he did not confirm his mission as Messiah until he rose from the dead. This, therefore, would bring the end
of the thousand years to the year of

people of

Rome.

They

sented by John as a persecuting

er;

pow"they surrounded the camp of

all

the saints" to put to death

who

our Lord 1033

we

should not look

would not submit to popery

and this

The

last clause of the

21st verse of the former chapter ends with the

final destruc-

tion of Babylon,

and

this begins

with chaining the

devil,

and the shutting him up

;

in the

bottomless

pit.

He was

let loose to destroy this city

and people

and when he had aothis the reader

to.

omplished his work, he was inaraediately bound up again.

<?a3ily

From

may

perceive that the thousand yeajs

commenced about

the time alluded

d5

274

^r5Tfe6 dyf th-e

185:

has been the character of that church from that time to the ill every age, present. 4. They reduced the church
of Christ by persecution to a httle

sec.

5,

fol.

4.

From

this

we

may

clearly deduce the following in1.

ferences:

That

the thousand years

his

either began with

birth or

his

camp, who had

to flee into the wil-

derness to escape their fury. 5.

They
they
s

were
(and
6.

warhke pec^le

also, for

more properly, his resurrecbecause it was then he finished tion the work of Redemption, or the new
death, or,
;

fought furiously with their enemies

creation, and

was

declared, as before

Magog means

a prince literally.)

observed, to be the Son of God, with

Church and

.state,

the temporal and

7,

power, by his resurrection from the

dead. 2. It
is more likely that it commenced with the latter than the former, because the Sabbath began anew; and no doubt a new era of

spiritual

power, were then united.

Universal darkness, ignorance of God

and spiritual things, errors in docand laxity in morals had spread their sable mantle all over the world.
trines
8.

time began then also; and not only

so,

This was the time the church of

but

many

distinguished
rose

saints,

shook off Christianity and substituted in its stead a mongrel system of religion, made up of paganism, Judaism, and Christianity. " She became
all

Rome

(probably martyrs,)

from

the

dead with him, and went into the holv city, and appeared unto many, and
great fear
fell

on the people.
3.

Matt.
is

things to

all

men,"

in order to gain

27

52, 53.
is

This,

probably,

the more.

to

God, the be read by the people, and

The blessed book of Bible, was then prohibited

9.

what

denominated the
or the beginning
first

Jirst resur-

rection,

of

it.

4.

this in

During the
try

thousand years idola-

direct opposition to our Lord's express

was

utterly destroyed, and Chris-

(ommand. John, 5: 39. priests were forbidden

;

10.

The

tianity substituted in its place. tullian assures us that this

Ter-

to

marry,

while the Scriptures declare marriage and St. Peter, to be honorable in all their own patron saint, was a married

case.

He

observes,

was the " Christ has now

is

come, and his reign

earth."
Gentiles
5.

established on

The

conversion of the
the

man, and so were all the apostles, except Paul and Barnabas; and Paul
declares that
it

commenced on

day of
11

Pentecost, and not before.

18.
It

Acts,

was lawful

for

him,

was then

that they heard the

though not expedient as a missionary, to have a wife. Matt. 8:14; 1 Cor. 9 5. This, therefore, was the very time the devil was let loose to deceive the pope and people of Rome. The Rabbins say that when Messiah comes he will reign a Oiousand
:

apostles preach the gospel to

their

them

in

own

tongues wherein they were

born, Parthians, Modes, Elamites, etc.

Therefore, the reign of Christ here

must mean the predominant reign of Christianity over Judaism and heathenism, during the
alluded
to.

thousand years

years spiritualii/ on the earth, and that during that time he will utterly
destroy idolatry and renew and reno-

was during that time that a nation was born in a day, that " the heathen was given to Christ for
It

vate the world.

drin,
fol.

Tal. Bab. Sanhe2

;

his inheritance

and the uttermost parts

93

1,

and also Rabb,

of the earth for his possessiou,''

REVELATIOX.
What makes
clear, is this
raelites
:

275
the

still more day when the Iswere delivered from Egyptian

the matter

preach
Christ

unsearchable
the Jews.

riches
4.

of

the

among

lie will

bondage was, with them, the beginning of days and years. The first of
April

be the honored instrument in the hands of God of their conversion. 5.

Then Gabriel
liveth
for

shall

swear by him that

was

the beginning of the year,

to

ever and ever, that time

and the Passover was

2.

rial of their deliverance.

be a memoExod. 12
:

shall be

no longer.
of the
glorious gospel

The

light

Paul assures us this was but the shadow of good things to

apostle

The

shone with peculiar lustre on a benighted world until intercepted by the

come, and the substance is of Christ. This prefigured the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, a memorial of which is kept up in his church to the present time. " For as
often as ye eat this bread and drink this

darkness and errors of popery.

HUdc-

hrand, abishop of the church of Rome,

was then constituted both aprinceand

; had the temporal and spiritual power blended church and state was united, and the triple crown put on his head, and a drawn sword in his hand to slay his enemies. Then followed all the errors in doctrine and

a pope

cup ye show forth the Lord's death he come." 1 Cor. 11 26. And as the Jewish year then began anew, so the christian year and Sabbath began anew that is, when Christ finished our redemption and rose from the dead. And what is very remarkable, our Lord was crucified on the very day and hour when the Paschal Lamb was killed in Egypt. Accordtill
: ;

disci]3line,

the mysteries and

mum-

meries of papal
all

Rome. She discarded

the essential doctrines of Chris-

tianity,

mass

for the

and substituted in their stead dead, penance, purgato-

ry, the celibacy of the clergy, absolution of sin

by the

priest,

(who is a

sin-

ing to

my

calculation of time,

we

are

ner himself,) transubstantiation, indulgences, intercession of saints, worship

now
in

in 1880, instead of 1847, with-

120 years of the two thousand years alloted to the Gentiles. This

of images, burning of the Bible and

of heretics, the dreadful Inquisition,
infallibility of the

was
self

the precise time

Noah was

pre-

pope, works of su-

paring the ark for the security of him-

pererogation, justification

by works,
in

and family, before the general

;

and not by

faith,

church service

an

and this, no doubt, time allowed to us Gentiles pare to meet the Judge of
deluge
earth.

is

the

unknown

tongue,

(Latin,) fasts and

to preall

feasts forbidden in

God's holy word,

the

desecration of the christian Sabbath,

Therefore, great events are at

1.

hand.

The

sons of

Shem,

(the

commanding the people to keep no faith with heretics, and asserting the pope
had power
to absolve

Jews,) will be converted to Christianity

them from

their

and taken into Christ, the spiritual ark of safety. 2. Before this can take place the stumbling-block, Gog and Magog, is to be removed out of the way. 3.

allegiance to princes and potentates.

doctrines
into the

Here, then, are some of the absurd which were then introduced

church of

Rome

and sanc-

An
gifts

extraordinary person, or persons

(ministers)

endowed with supernatural and graces, shall be raised up to

by the pope himself. Hildehrand was one of the most vile and wicked men that ever lived more
tioned
:

276

NOTES ON THE

3
up,

And
and

cast

him

into the bottomless pit,

and shut him

set

a seal upon him, that he should deceive the

intolerant than even Nero.

His own
" a mon-

life

prelates denounce
ster in

him

as

like

they are of modern invention, steam boats. The Jews never sat

wickedness, a sorcerer, per-

jured itnan, a necromancer, usurper, devil and deist." To maintain his

power in church and state he shed more innocent blood than all the monarchs of Europe that is, during his war of sixty years. He was such a despot that the world was glad to get

on chairs, but on mats and cushions; and chairs are never named even in the Bible but Napoleon Bonaparte will solve the mystery of St. Peter's chair at Rome. He describes it as an
;

>

old

Mahomedan
is

inscription

one, with an Arabic on the back of it, viz :

" There
is

but one God, and

Mahomet
he obit it

rid of

him.
is the

his prophet."

This

chair,

This, then,

very pope through

St.

serves,

was

sent

by one

of the crusa-

whom
ter
;

the papists trace out their sucthe ministry to

is,

ders as a present to the pope, and

cession in

Pe-

was
St.

so curious that

he christened

through the most vile and wicked man that ever lived, a
that
devil

and a

deist.

They

certainly

*' Petefs chair. My soldiers," he observes, " took it from the see of Rome to France, but when the pope

have leaped over the fence here, and

landed in another man's
field
;

was

restored, this chair

was returned

but
all

to St. Peters."

there were three popes at one time,

claiming the see of Rome.

Surely,

Iwo of them must be usurpers ; and what is still more extraordinary, a

wicked

woman was
ask,
if

constituted pope

at another time.

then, w^e

man ? And
three

Did the succession, come through a woso, which of the other

This is not more singular than John the Baptist's head, his finger and foot, the very identical cross on which Christ was crucified eighteen hundred years since, and the very towel with which he wiped the sweat off his face and some drops of his blood which are preserved in a bot;

tle

all

of

which
day.
It
?

are to be seen in

was the
?

legal successor of St.

Rome

to this

Now,
really
it.

is

not this

Here, then, are four links broken in pieces in the chain of title, and all the tinkers in Europe and America can never weld them again. But
Peter

marvellous

requires

a
or

miracle to believe

3 Cast him into the botlotnless

pit of destruction.

pit,

He

when, pray, did Peter appoint a successor in the ministry

?

Where

did

he do
tical

it ?

and
?

man

v}lio was the very idenLet him be named, or let

head foremost, until over and over to the bottom of the pit. Shut him up, locked him up, secured and chained him
to the floor

him down he came rolling

cast

of

the

Romish church be silent for ever. As to the chair itself, it is a mere humbug, for St. Peter never sat in a chair, nor never saw one during his

perdition, as the old murderer.

The

same hand and key that opened the

door locked
it

again.

Set a seal.

The

King's seal of *c-

REVELATION.
nations no more,
filled
;

277

till

the thousand years should be ful-

and

after that

he must be loosed a

little

season.

curity, viz, that of

is

King

Jesus.

He
man

the worshij) of idols is the

worship of

the person to bind the strong

Gocl,t and that justification

is

by works

armed. The Rabbins say the Lord that of the universe, with she-tiyah

justification

by

faith,

Till the
fulfilled

is,

a stone sealed the pit of destruc-

or

thousand years should be ended. He could not

tion.

Targ.Jouath on Exodus 28: 30.* That he should deceive the nations no more, that is, of Jews and Genhe persuaded the Jews to believe that Jesus of Nazareth is not and the Gentiles, that the Messiah
tiles,
;

eclipse the light of the glorious gos-

pel from the minds of the people, at

least for the first

thousand years of
;

the

Messiah's reign

after

this

he

was

to be let loose to deceive the na-

tions of the earth.t

We

read in Matt. 27

66, that the chief priests

and pbarisees sealed the stone of

our Savior's sepulchre,

lest his disciples

should come by night and steal the body away.

;

This was done to make the door of the sepulchre more secure than before

so that the

above expression means no more than

to prevent his escape.
t

this, that

he made him more secure than before,

The Jews

elsewhere are called the nations or kindreds of the earth.

earth

Chap.

7.

Never was there a nation on

wicked agents, than
the laws of men,
they.

more blindfolded by the god of

this world,

and by his
all

Their own historian says that the seditious trampled upon

at the laws of

and laughed

God, and

for the oracles of the prophets,

4, 6, 3.

they ridiculed them as the tricks of jugglers, see War, book

citizens, they believed that

And

as for

some of the

God was

yet

among them, and

that their city and temple could

never be destroyed by the Romans.

And we

read, that the

coming of the man of

sin

was

to be after the working (the internal agency) of Satan, with all power, and signs, and

lying wonders, and with

all

deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. Chap.

13

14.

And

for this cause, says the apostle,

lie,

they should believe a

that they all might be

God shall send them strong damned who believed not

delusion, that,

the truth, but

had pleasure
X

in unrighteousness.

We

see from this, that he

was

to be restrained,
;

from deceiving the nations of the

let loose

earth until the expiration of the thousand years

and then to be

again to deceive

the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth; verse 8.

But

to suppose that

he

was restrained from tempting

believers and instigating the

to the present,

wicked

to evil, is inconsistent

from the foundation]of the world

he has never been deprived of this power.

to

Under the Old Testament dispensation he persuaded some of the wicked Jews
their

murder

own prophets and

righteous

men and under

;

the Gospel dispensation he has, in like

to death the innocent followers of

manner, influenced his agents

Christ
;

to persecute

and put

but that his kingdom was depopulated throughout the world during the thousand

years, every person

who has

read church history must admit.

Immediately after the de-

278

NOTES ON THE

And
that

saw

thrones,

and they

sat

upon them, and

souls of

judgment was given unto them: and

I saiv the

them
for

were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and the word of God, and which had not worshipped the

A
swift

little
it is

season.

If his 'race be
if

of the

murder and martyrdom of the

he had full liberty, he would no doubt destroy the whole world in one day.* 4 / saw thrones. Of judgment and
but short,
justice;

holy prophets and apostles. Her sins had reached to heaven, and went beforehand to judgment.f

And judgment was

them.

given unto
of death

same as the sanhedrin these spiritual among the Jews thrones were in the heavenly Jerusalem on earth as well as in heaven
the
;

The power of life and

hands of the twelve aposties they were our Savior's grand and special jury, and he the judge of

was

in the

itself;

this

may

allude to the special

all

the earth to pass sentence accord-

punishment which was about to be \n?i\ctQA on spiritual Babylon hec&ViSQ

ing to both law and gospel.

I saw

the souls.

The

real identi-

struction of Jerusalem, the

kingdom of

the devil

fell

throughout the' world, like lightning

built

from heaven

and the glorious kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was
thereof.
St.

upon the ruins

John had evidently seen

this in the vision,

when he

said

" the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ,

and he shall reign for ever and ever."

Never was there a prophecy more

until

literally fulfilled

than

this.

From

the year of our

Lord 70,
Sim
in its

A. D. 1033, the light of the glorious gospel shone upon the world like the
;

meridian

but about the above period the dar.iuess of popery began to over;

spread the whole universe

glory of
idolatry,

it

darkened the very horizon, and obstructed the

Gross ignorince,
the earth;

light of the

God from

the minds of the people.

to ovi

su] erstition, unbelief,

and

began once more

to this

rspread

and had not God, by his mighty

power, put a stop

spreading evil by raising up faithful

it

men

to protest against

it,

and the world

in

general,

would have been more ignorant and blindfolded by the

devil than before.

t

See verse

8.

Our Lord had promised

to his apostles, that

sit

when he should

sit in

the throne of his

glory,

tWt

they should mIso

with him uj on twelve thrones, judging thf tvelve tribes

this

of Israel.
verse 12.

Matt. 19

28.

And now

promise was
for

literally fulfilled, for the

twelve
;

tribes of the Je>vs

were destroyed, and the time

them

to be

judged had now come

Christ himself was to be their judge, and these twelve apostles the jury ; the " depart ye latter was to pronounce them guilty, and the former to pass the sentence,
cursed, into everlasting
lutely
fire,

prepared

for the devil

in

and his angels."

So

that

it

was abso-

necessary the twelve apostles should be

'

glory before the destruction of Jeru-

salem.

REVELATION.
beast, neither his image, neither

279

upon

their foreheads, or in their

had received his mark hands and they Hved

;

and reigned with Christ a thousand

years.

cal ^persons, their

souls and

bodies

giance to King Jesus, and this they

were re-uaited and

and honor. Souls,
is

raised to glory

would not do

for all

the silver and

a usual

mode

of

gold in the universe, therefore they

expression for persons, men, icomen,

chose rather to die than to deny their

and

children.

Gen. 12

.5.

Exod.

Lord and Master.

15, 16, 17.

See chapter 13

12:4. Acts, 2: 41. That were beheaded. The murdered martyrs and ministers of Jesus, men and women, young and old, rich and poor, bond and free, who laid

They

lived

a thousand years.

and reigned ^vith Christ That is, the marof Jesus,

it

tyrs of Jesus, the souls that were be-

headed for

the witness

down

their lives freely for the

It

name
of the

was

those exclusively and distinctly

of Jesus.
indeed,

was a very

serious thing,

that lived and reigned with Christ a

at this early period

;

church, to become a christian

at the

it

was

thousand years invisibly in Paradise. Earth is not in the text, nor is it possible, in

very

risk of a
all

man's

life, liber-

ty and estate,

were

at the

mercy

the nature of things, that Christ should reign as a king person-

of one man, viz. Nero,

who

abhorred

ally

on the earth.

He

is

not a temis

the christians, because opposed to his

poral but a spiritual king, nor

his

views.

kingdom of

this world.

It is righte-

For the witness of Jesus. was the Christ, the Son of

That he
the living

ousness, joy and peace in the

Holy

God, the King of Israel, and the only Savior of sinners.

a high priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedec. He

;

Ghost

he

is

is

The for the word of God. gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, embracing the whole history of his
death,
suffering,
life,

And

also our advocate with the Father, and will continue sucli until he had

miracles, resurrec-

tion and ascension to glory.

delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when all rule, all authority, and all power shall be put under his feet, then he will assume

And who had

image.
sian.

not worshipped his

That is, theimage of VespaIt was considered high treason

citizen not to worship the

the character of a judge, and after this he shall take his seat on his great

in a

Roman

image of the emperor, and was punishable with death. The christians would neither take the oath of allegiance to him, nor worship his image.

white throne in glory, which he resigned when he came into the world to save man. And again, " the heavens must
Acts, 3: 21.

receive

(continue)

him

until the final restitution of all things."

This they could not do, because it was gross idolatry if they did do it, they certainly had renounced their alle;

Finally, there are three reigns of Christ spoken of in this book 1, The
:

predominant reign of Cliristianitv over

2S0

NOTES ON THE

But the

rest of the

dead

lived not again until the

thousand years were finished.

tion.

This

is

the

first

resurrec-

Judaism and heathenism, during the

lirst

ments
reign,

one
when

is to

take place before his

thousand years of the christian

2,

the wicked shall all be

era.

The

invisible or spiritual reign

destroyed, and not an unrighteous

man

of Christ and his martyrs in Paradise, a thousand years after the first
resurrection. 3,

be

left

on the earth.
is

At
to
if

the expira-

tion of a thousand

years

a second
the whole

The

personal reign of

general judgment

take place.

Christ and hissaintsa thousand years

after the general resurrection.

Rev. 20:
world
is

12.
to

But

The

be righteous, and con-

world will then be refined and puriby fire, and be made fit for his at present it is impure, reception
fied
;

tinue such during the thousand years,

xmholy and utterly unfit

dence.
It

for his resi-

where then, we ask, did Gog and Magog come from 1 they are a powerful nation without number, with a
prince at their head, are a persecuting

now

belongs to the prince

and power of the air, the god of this world and Christ has to dispossess the strong man armed, and then take the kingdom from him and possess it
;

power and

will

surround

the

camp of the saints, and God shall destroy them with fire from heaven,
which proves that they had not yet
been destroyed,
after that time;
viz. before the thou-

and ever. But this point is titill more clear from the prayer of the penitent thief on the cross and our Lord's reply to him. He said,
for ever

sand years, nor during that time, nor

and

to

suppose they
raised

were

diabolical

spirits,

up

Lord remember me when thoucomest

(hast entered) into thy kingdom.

from the dead to persecute and destroy the church

And

would be absurd,

Jesus said unto him. Verily, I say unto thee, to-day shalt thou be with me
in Paradise, (that
is,

and not only

to

so,

but the devil came

earth to deceive

Gog and Magog.

church
differ

in

my

spiritual

The

fathers of the
in their opinion

kingdom.) Luke, 23: 42, 43.

widely
that

from the

chil-

To

suppose

for

a moment,

dren of this generation.

disembodied

spirits

can reign

visibly

5 The

on the earth, is not according to the order of God, Jesus is the king immortal, invisible, and cannot be
both
invisible

who

Those rest of the dead. died a natural death in the Lord,

in

they were not included

resurrection, as this

the

first

was

a sj>ecial and

and visible at

the

particular

resurrection of the

mar-

same

time, but the Pvabbins state dis-

tyrs of Jesus.

tinctly, that his reign is to be invisi-

Lived

not again.

Were

not raised

ble or spiritual
liund, if

but on the other

that

to life again, there

this kind to

we

believe

he

is

to

was no promise of them, it was made ex;

com(! and reign literally on the earth,

clusively to the martyrs of Jesus

it

is

then there must be

ttoo

general judg-

not curious, therefore, that

men who

REVELATION.
'

281
in the first

6 Blessed and holy

is

he that hath part

would not

sacrifice one dollar for Je-

the day and the hour he has never as

yet revealed to
will
till

sus, no, nor preach one gospel

sennon

any man, and never

It is

freely to perishing sinners, should lay

time shall be no more.

fix

claim to a part in the

tion ?
I to earth at present;

first

resurrec-

absurd, therefore, and contradictory

to his

wish the Savior would come

most holy word, to

a day

he certainly would expel all such men from the church. The devil deceived the Jews and persuaded them to believe in a Messiah to come, and not in a Messiah

or an hour for his coming.

This
is

is the first resurrection.

This

a particular resurrection of the

ministers and martyrs of Jesus

men

who

who has come, and he is operating on us Gentiles in the same way he

counted not their lives dear to them, so that they might be found in

is

persuading us to believe in an im-

mediate, personal and visible reign

of Christ, and not in a spiritual reign

The Christ and overcome at last. second resurrection will be general, the dead, small and gi'eat, shall stand
before

God

the young and the old,

of

him who has come.

The
is

general

the rich and the poor, the black and

Judgment,
it is

my

brethren,

the most
for,

the white, the bond and the free, the

saint

important thing to be looked

and

and the sinner, shall

all

appear
Christ

much

nearer, probably, than

we

before the judgment seat of

to

imagine, the signs of the times indicate that a great change

is

at hand,

the fields are wliite already to harvest, the world is getting worse and worse every year, instead of better and better, and is now fully ripe for

answer for the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or bad, and we that remain and are alive when he comes shall be caught up in the air, be translated in a moment, and be with Christ for ever.* Paul
alludes to the
first

watch and pray ye may be counted The Savior worthy to overcome. will come in an hour when we least expect him, and as a thief in the night, sudden and unexpected, but
destruction, therefore,

resurrection.
6|avto-Tstir/v.

Phil.

always, that

3:11, Hence, Twv

first

The*

or
1

extraordinary resurrection.
:

See
fi

Thes. 4

16.
glorious, honor-

Blessed.

Happy,

able.

* This
;?erieral

was a particular

resurrection of the martyrs of the blessed Jesus, and not a

;

resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked

and

if

a resurrection,

it

cer-

tainly

must have been that of the body, and not of the

to immortal,

soul,

and of course the body must

spiritual body.

have been changedYrom mortal

and the soul re-united to the

?

But was

it

a visible or an invisible reign of Christ and his martyrs

Certainly an invisito sappose that

ble one to the eye of the body, but a visible reign to the eye of faith

men

who were

beheaded, killed with the sword, and burnt alive at the stake, should return to

earth again, and visibly reign with Christ in their former personal appearance,' would-be

a very erroneous idea indeed.

3G

?88

NOTES ON THE
:

on such the second death hath no power, God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
resurrection

but they shall be priests of

7
shall

And when

the thousand years are expired Satan

his prison,

be loosed out of

And
glory.*

holy,

Pure, perfect and

fit

for

has no power over the righteous in

the world to

come

they shall neither

it

Hath part

in ike first resurrection.

see nor feel the eflects of

life to

in the

He

then be a companion of the King of glory, walk and talk with

will

come.f
shall he priests of

They
shall all

God. They
spirits to

by his side in his kingdom, eat and drink at his table, with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Jesus, sit Will range the blest
of the river,
fields,

become ministering
;

the heirs of salvation

every pious

man
gel,
lar

and

woman

on the banks

who

has a guardian anhas the special and particua glorious thought this

charge of them by night and by

And
"

sing Ilalleliiyah for ever and ever.

all

day.
is
!

What

The Jews

wished
first

to die in the

Blessed be our

God
:

for ever for

land of Israel, because they believed

his parental care over his poor helpless creatures.

they would be the

to rise

from

Ps. 36

7.

the dead and reign with the Messiah

When

the thousand years arc ex-

a thousand years in Paradise." On such the second death hath no 'power. The Rabbins frequently speak
of the second death, or the eternal

pired.

They

expired about the year

of our Lord 1033, dating the thou-

sand years from our Lord's resurrection, for it o-as

then he finished the

torments of the damned

they say

it

work of our redemption.

Those who died martyrs

for Christ,

from the commencement of

chri.^tianiry,
first
;

and
;

before this period, until the destruction of .Tenisaiem, had a part in the

resurrection

and

it

was

those, in particular,

who

reignod with Christ the thousand years

but

all

those

who pan

died martyrs for Christ after this period, and during the thousand years, had also a
or a share in this resurrection
;

and they were more particularly blessed than other

first

christians,

who

died a natural death, for they were the

that

were raised

to glory

and

that reigned with their Savior.

This was the very reason why such a vast number of the
i.

primitive christians gloried in dying martyrs for Christ,

e.

because they

knew

they

should have a part

in

the

first

resurrection.

Some

of the

Romqn emperors
them

perceived

that the christians gloried in martyrdom, and would not gratify

so far as to punish

them
t

in this

manner.
Ciirist

If

you prefer to be burnt alive at the stake rather than deny

sh'^11

and renounce

y(>ui

holy religion, you

bo ^aved from the

effccis of the

second death.

REVELATIOiV.
8

283

And

shall

go out

to

deceive the nations which are in

the four quarters of the earth,

them together
sand of the
sea.

to battle

the

Gog and Magog, to gather number of whom is as the

Satan
prison.

shall

The

be loosed out of his angel that locked the

it

Gog and Magog.

gan

Ezekiel

calls

pa-

door shall then open

again,
to

and

Rome such, and John calls papal Rome such, because she had apos;

permit him to come out,

deceive

tatized from Christianity and returned

to idolatry

Gog and Magog,* and

was the seat now the see
;

gather them

that

is

at the expiration

together once more to battle.

of the

Rome
beast,
it

of the thousand years.

Pagan

the son of Japeth,

kiel calls

is

of the papal beast,

who

north, that is Italy and

Magog was who peopled the Rome. Ezenation,

is

far more intolerant than the Pagan beast free toleration, liberty of

them the northern

and they were

always designated

conscience

is

not

known

there.

St.

among
is

Peter himself would not nowhe allowin the

Jews as Gog and Magog. See chap. 11:7. There this subject
the

ed to preach Christ and him crucified, Pope's dominions. Paul was

permitted to do
it

made so plain and simple that no man can doubt that Gog and Magog
of the Revelation

under Nero without The pope is directly the opposite of our Savior in every respect proud, haughty, imperious,
the imperial edict.

mean

the

Pope

of

Rome

and his people. The Rabbins declare that Gog and

is

Magog

the nation that shall de-

sordid, selfish, bigoted, superstitious,

stroy Jerusalem in the

days of the
Cant. 8
:

and

persecutor

of

pious

and

Messiah.

Targum on
9.)

4,

good men.
and in

Oh! how unlike him who was meek and lowly in heart
life,

(See verse
therefore,

It is perfectly clear,

that

Gog and Magog

is

ia

and

who gave
be

his life a

papal Rome, and that she

yet,

ransom
time.

for all, to

testified in

due
that

The Rabbins
is

believe

(for her idolatry and persecution of pious men,) to be destroyed by fire

mount Vesuvius
hell
;

the very gate of

is

from heaven, or probably by a volcanic eruption. The terms will apply to no other people or nation on
earth,
TJi

if so,

the devil

near his palpreside there

ace at

Rome, and can

morning and evening without much

inconvenience.

lofty,

proud,

haughty,
TOJ2

contemptuous, disdainful,

The

That is, those nations which had once been the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; ha shall go out to blindfold them, or shut their eyes against the light, and caus them to depart from tho truth ; he has various ways of working, and he uei yarioui methods to draw away the unstable soul from the path of holine.g.

J84

NOTES ON THE

And

they went up on the breadth of the earth, and

prince of Gog, the pope, and prince

of

Rome beyond
To

doubt.*
to battle.

sand of

The number of whom is as tlie. the sea. That is, they' are

gather them

To

fight

against Christ and his church, which she has done in all ages since the

without number, innumerable, found in every corner of the world, and

every man,
9

woman and

child of

them

year 1033.

The murder and martyrbut.

hostile to vital piety,

,

dom

of heretics with her is no sin,

And

they went.

Formerly when
papists.

rather a virtue.

pagans, and

now when

The Romans

are called

Gog and Magog,

in

Ezek.

cViap.

38

16, 17, 18.

They
to
;

were well known to the Jews by the name of the Northern nation, because
the north of Jerusalem.

Rome was

In the 15th verse the prophet distinguishes them by this

name

and

in the 16th verse

he declared that they should come up against the people of Israel,

(the Jews,) like a cloud, to cover the land.

But chap. 39

23, puts the n.atter beyond

doubt, for there they are called the heathens, and the very nation that was to destroy the
Tews,

and to lead

tlie

remainder into captivity.

They were
is

to destroy

them by the sword means the

or by war.

See the
:

last clause of the verse.

This

the very nation that St. John speaks

latter,

of in chap. 19

17,

and Ezekiel

in

30

2, 18.
;

Gog, according to the

:

land and people or dominion of

Magog

chap. 33

1.

And Magog,

the prince of

Gog
and

both these names signify high or exalted.

So that they were applicable

to both prince

people

for the

Romans had

the dominion over all nations, and their prince or emperor

presided over
their
is

all

other princes

and kings

and not only

so,

but they were exalted, in

Ii
;

own

opinion, above every other people, because they

had conquered the world.

said that the dominion of Gog

had already extended

to the

into the four quarters of the earth

o that these two

names were more applicable

Ezekiel calls heathen

Romans

than to any other nation

:

under heaven.
papal

Rome Gog and Magog

this

but St. John calls

Rome

such.

When

the

kingdoms of

world had become the kingdoms of

longer heathens, but christian*.

our Lord and of his Christ, then the

Romans were no

But

after they

had apostatized from the

faith of the gospel,

and embraced popery, they

truth.

were no longer the followers of Christ, but apostates from the

and his followers are Gog and Magog
it is
;

So

that the

pope

he

is

their prince,

and they are

his people.

And

well

known

that the

pope and

his

followers presided over the principal part of the

world, especially about the year

of

our Lord
;

000

and never was there a person

self-

more puffed up
conceited the church of

in

his

own

opinion than he

and never were there people more

than his followers.

They

believe that salvation cannot be obtained out of

Rome, and

that all

who do
it

not adhere to the pope must be

;

damned

and

they have got to be so wise as to become fools in religion

they

know

so

much

as not to

read the Bible at

all,

or even teach

to their children

nor can any

man

convince ihenj

that they are a deceived people.

Rome was

the place of their nativity,

and from

this

they ware called Romans, and afterwarda Catholici.

REVELATION.

285

compassed the camp of the

Surrounded
the camp of the saints. persecute and put to death, as
all

saints about,

and the beloved

same

tains and valleys for safety, the

To

as the christians in the days of our

heretics,

who

protested

against

their corruptions.

We

see from this

in the

the

Savior; so that the papal beast is same to-day that the heathen

that

when they had dominion

beast
since
:

was

eighteen hundred

j'ears

four quarters of the earth they had

reduced the church of Christ to a little camp, which to escape their fury, had to live in tents or huts in
the wilderness, to fly into the

Jerusalem was formerly called the camp of the saints, and now John calls the church of Christ [the spirilual Jerusalem,)
saints.

the

camp

of the

moun-

See Maimonide$.^

Here we have a prediction which was

read,

literally

and wonderfully

fulfilled.

The

devil,
it

we

was chained

in the

bottomless pit a thousand years, and at the expiration of

;

he was

to be let loose again to deceive the nations

and

this

was

actually the case.

For
in the

about A. D. 1033 he had deceived the world so far as to persuade them to believe
horrible doctrine of transubstantiation
;

also the adoration

of images, and justification by

works

and to accomplish this princes employed their authority to establish the

;

Roman
who,

Catholic religion
adoration

appointing for slaughter

all

those
the

who

denied transubstantiation and

of the host.

The

first

who opposed

doctrine

was Berengarius
it,

about the year of our Lord 1070, boldly and with success, for he had many pious followers,

faithfully

preached against

and that

twenty years after

this they

became very numerous.

who were called Berengarians. About The next who boldly and faithfully
and about A. D.
the

opposed the doctrine was Peter Brusus, who taught long and publicly at Toulouse,
under the protection of a nobleman of the name of Heldephonsus
;

1147 Henry of TouIluso began

to

preach against

it

and shortly

after this

Lord

raised up Peter Valdo, a citizen of Lyons, in France.

for the truths of the gospel.

He was

faithful, zealous

man
into

His followers and himself were afterwards banished out of

Lyons by order of Pope Alexander the Third.

different parts of the

They afterwards spread themselves

world

he went himself into

D lupheny,

and was a means

place.

in

the

hands of God of the conversion of many wicked people

in that

His followers
King Philip,

spread themselves into Picardy; and from this they were called Picards.

through the influence of the pope and his clergy, afterwards took up arms against them.

He

overthrew three hundred gentlemen's houses,

;

who were

followers of Valdo's party,

fled,

and destroyed several walled towns

pursuing them into Flanders, whither they had

and causing them

into

to be burnt to death.

By means

of this persecution

Germany and
alivo in

Alsatia

and shortly

after, the

bishops of

many of them fled Mayence and Strasburg:

Mayence
to

raised a great persecution against them, causing five and thirty citizens_of

be burnt

one

fire,

and eighty

in another.

And

at Strasburg eighty

more were

burnt alive.

And

through the faith and patience of those martyrs, in the year 1315 there

were

in

Pasgau and about Bohemia eighty thousand perioni who made profeiiipn of the

same

faith.

28G
city
:

NOTES ON THE

and

fire

came down from God

out of heaven, and

devoured them.

The

beloved city.
;

Jerusalem

This may mean they encompassed that

was

christian until the year of our

Lord 1000
tianity

city with a wall, and with their army as predicted by our Lord and by Daniel, and the people of the very same city and country surrounded the camp

she then renounced Chrisand returned to idolatry she

; ;

therefore
tian

cannot be called a chris;

church

and

if

there

was such a
it is

thing as a regular succession in the

of the saints one thousand years afterwards, and for the very
pose, that
is,

ministry from St. Peter,

impossible to trace
it

utterly

same pur-

out beyond the

;

to

exterminate or utterly

destroy them, but this the devil and

all

year of our Lord 1033 then the chain was broken in two, and a new church
formed, and a temporal
prince
in-

his emissaries cannot do, for Christ's

kingdom
is

shall never be destroyed,

it

stead of a pious minister of Christ

of

everlasting, and his dominion that

wliich shall never pass

to

away. Glory
Selah.*

appointed to be head of the church Rome. Had she continued to be

a christian churchshecertainly

God

in the highest.

would

down from God out of heaven and consume them. That

And fire

shall come

never have acknowledged any other

is,

heavy judgment which will utterly destroy the whole city, pope and people of Rome, by either
a severe and
a

head but Christ himself, and this is precisely the same view which the

Rabbins entertain of Rome.

tion has existed

A tradiwill nevuntil

volcanic

eruption

eruption

among them from time

Holy Land

pro-

immemorial that the "Jews

er be restored to the

ceeding out of the earth, or else by most terrible and dreadful lightning

the pope and people of

stroyed, or

Rome

are de-

and
then

thunder from heaven.

is

Here

consumed with

fire

from

a plain and positive prediction

that remains yet to be fulfilled on the

heaven." The time for this last vial to be poured out on the seat of the
papal beast
is

pope and city of Rome, (except they repent and renounce popery,) because
of her idolatry, wickedness, apostacy,

at hand, the fulness of

the Gentiles has

Israel shall be

now come, and

all

saved.

These long
a nation of

and persecution of pious and inoffensive protestants. The church of Rome

looked for and remarkable events are

at our

very doors.

As

This may mean thn new Jerusalem, the beloved

;

city of Go^l, or

the city

where he

chose to reside

it

was a

city during

the thousand years, but at the expiration of the

thousand years
loved
city,

it

became reduced

to a

camp.

But

it is

not improbable that, by the bethis city

he

meant Jerusalem.

When

heathens,

they compassed

round
of

about with a wall and their whole army, and when papists they compassed the
the lainti about, to percrit and put to death
all

camp

thoie

who would

not submit to the

pope.


REVELATION.
10
287

And

the devil that deceived

them was

cast into the

false

lake of

fire

and brimstone, where the beast and the

Gentiles

was

" born to

God

in

that

it

may
fire,

be heated through in the

day"

after

Jerusalem was destroyed,

hotest
it

but cannot be consumed

so in like

shall be born to

manner a nation of Jews him in a day when Gentile Rome, the old and inveterate
of the Jews, shall be destroy-

enemy
ed.

comes out of the flame and furit went in. This experiment I have tried repeatedly myself, and can vouch for
nace precisely the same as
the truth of this statement.

the great head of the church prepare us for the dreadful and heavy calamities which are com-

May

The Rothis

mans, when pagans, burned their dead

instead of burying

them

was
in a

ing on that people

done by wrapping the dead body

that

10

And the devil

dcceued them.

sheet

made

of the
it

The Rabbins say that when the holy and blessed God shall sit in Judgment, Satan shall be
let loose to

then placing
until the

mountain flax, and over the burning pile

;

body was consumed

after this

the

de-

ashes
in

ceive high and low, rich and poor.

taken and pieced an urn, and put either under ground

was

Tal. Bab. Zevachim,

therefore this

fol.

116; and

or in a vault, but the sheet

was not

must be a

special judg-

injured in the least degree

ment.
Cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. Some men who wish to be wise

An
is

urn of this

by the fire. description, with the

ashes of some distinguished person

now

to be seen in the

Museum

of
it

above what
possible.

is

written, say this

all

is

im-

the Missionary Society in Boston,

Wisdom declares
with God
!

things

to be possible

Christ and

was dug up near Beyrout by one of the missionaries. Now, then, if nature can produce a soft, phable sub-

his apostles,

about hell

we presume, knew more than we do, and they all

stance like this, indestructable by fire, surely God, the author of nature, can

have declared to the world that loth fire and brimstone are in hell ; there is enough of it, we presume, in mount Vesuvius to burn up a thousand worlds
like this,

and
it

if hell is

beneath the
are sure that

surface of the earth,

we
it,

change and fashion our vile bodies and make them immortal, so as to be able to bear with eternal fire without being destroyed or consumed. Beware sinner, how you trifle with sacred
things

plenty of

is

there.

heaven

is

free from

Thank God, though hell is

commonly
of a pure

full of it.

The Asbestos
called the

of Italy,
flax, is

God is not mocked whatsoman sovveth, the same in kind shall he also reap. If we sow to the flesh, we shall of the flesh reap cor; ;

ever a

mountain
it is

ruption, but if to the spirit,

lasting.

life

ever-

white

color, like cotton;

ed and dried,
fl.ax,

when preparvery much like our

very rsmarkable,

confirmed

drunkard, in

my hearing, in
in

the State of Michigan,

if

but rather more soft and silky in

;

asked a Universalist
hell fire

he believed

appearance

it

is

and lorment beyond the

28S

NOTES ON THE
are,

prophet
11

and

shall

be tormented day and night for

ever and ever.

And
;

saw a great

w^hite throne,

and him

that sat

on

it,

from whose face the earth and the heaven fled

away

and there was found no place

for them.

grave
there

the other replied, surely not,

11
rity,

great white throne.

;

Of puis

is

no hell hul conscience

the

equity and justice

there

no

drunkard again replied, that is belief, and I never knew until

my
this

bribery, corruption or bankrupt

law mo-

here

you cannot take the

full

benefit of

moment

my

religion

good Universalist
tippling, lying,

go on in the old course of drinking, gambling,

1

am now

the act with your pocket full of

shall

ney, your store

of goods, and

and I need not fear, I shall get to heaven at last. Now, then, , I thank Mr. you for explainto

your house full of fine furniture, your wife and children also decked off in the best of silks every day. Remember, therefore, that

the poor

widow
yoit

ing

me

the

nature

of

my

re-

and fatherless
against
swift

children

whom

ligion.

have defrauded will be brought up

the beast

Where
phet are.
prince

and

the false pro-

you

in the

day of

eternity, as

The

father and the son, the

and the pretended prophet.

add the greater weight to your guilt and punishment,

witnesses, to

See chap. 11: 7; 13-13.*

that
all

is,

unless

you make

restitution to

For ever and ever. Through

ceeding ages of eternity,
if

suc-

them

in this life.

a.itiivur

means
the

limited duration,

when
to the

applied

to the torments

of

hell, it

must mean
joys of

same when applied

;

heaven

and

if

the one shall finally

end, the other must finally end also,

and then both happiness and misery

shall cease for ever.

Why,

this is

perfect nonsense

the very

same ex-

pression

is

applied to both heaven and

hell in Matt.

25

46.

He that sat on it. King Jesus, the Judge of all the earth, who will reward every man according to his works, whether they be good or bad the wicked shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power for ever and ever. Hence, the chief men among the Ye hoo dim. Jews, will, with the blessed and holy God, sit to judge the whole universe.
;

Some men have gone

but

so far as to try to

make
;

out this beast to be the

false

Roman

empire,

which extended nearly throughout the world

cession of popes
;

and the

prophet to be a

i,'eneral suc-

if tliii

bo true, the whole

Roman empire must have

to be

been cast alive

into tlie lake of fire

and brimstone, and they are

tormented there for ever and ever.

But

St.

John

rails tlie beast

a man, and not an empire.

'i

See chap. 13

l.l,

18.

For th

nu'Uninj of " for evr and es'er," see chap,

H.

REVELATION.

289

saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book
12
I

And

Yalkot, Simionie par.

2,

fol.

41

4.

was
he

six

days in creating the world,

it.

See

also 1 Cor. 6

2.*

will at the expiration of six thou-

Before %vliom tlie earth and the heavens Jled away. That is, before the generalJudgment the world was
;

sand years destroy

chap.

Peter seems to

be of the same opinion.

tle,

See 2 EpisTherefore,

3:8;
;

13, 14.

once destroyed hy water, be destroyed by

fine,

it

will

now

great events, as before observed,

must

fire, in

order to reit

purify and prepare

for the

like parait

dise,

Savior

to

dwell in,
its

be at hand Rome is to be destroyed, and the Jews then to be restored. 12 Stand before God. Be called up
one
b)"-

will then

be restored to

original

one to receive their

all

final sen-

and pure element; small and great will he there, that is at the Judgment.
Christ and his ministers, his
before, reign

tence from the Judge of

viz. our Savior: this

the earth,

custom prevails
:

mem-

in the east to

the present
since

several

bers and martyrs will then, and not

Arabs not long

stealing
;

were brought up with down;

no doubt with him a personally on the earth ; the saints will be like Adam and Eve in paradise walk and talk
thousand
years

before the governor in Jerusalem for

they

all

stood

cast looks and pale faces

he examin-

ed

them one by one and found them

them over
to the
offi-

with God our Savior, but

put on
immortality

this cannot take place until this mortal shall have

guilty, and then pronounced the sen-

tence, and gave cer for

for

flesh

and

blood cannot inherit the kingdom of

God, neither doth corruption inherit

incorruption.

punishment ; the bastinado was then applied most powerfully to each of them. The Judge of all the
earth will proceed in the same
the criminals will
all

We shall

not

all sleep,

way

but be

all

changed, in a moment, in

stand before

him

the twinkling of an eye, at the sound

of the last trumpet.

The Rabbins

are

with downcast looks and guilty countenances. Satan will stand ready at
God's
left

of opinion that the world will last

six

hand

to execute the final

thousand years, and that during

sit

sentence, and

when

the Judge pro-

the seventh the Messiah will

his great white throne,
at his right hand, to

on

with his reward the

saints right-

nounces "Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and
his angels," he will then seize his victim,

eous and condemn the

assert that as one

eked.
is

They

and carry him

oflT

in a

moment

day

with the

to perdition.

Oh,

eternity, eternity,

Lord

as a

thousand years, and a thou-

who

can bear the thought of dwelling

sand years as one day, and that as he

in everlasting burnings.

It is called

a white throne, because

it

never has been polluted with unjust proceed-

ings against any one.

37

290

XOTES ON THE
vvliicli is iJie

was opened,

hook of

iudged out of those

thinors

life and the dead were which were written in the

:

books, according to their works.

13

And

the sea gave up the dead which were in

it

and death and hell delivered up the dead which were them: and they were judged every man according
their works.

in
to

14
This

And
is

death and hell were cast into the lake of

fire.

the second death.

And
tions

the books

were ojicned.

The

by war and bloodshed,

forth to

will be called

records of eternity,

where

all

the ac-

Judgment.
hell.

of the children of men, good, bad and indiflerent, shall be laid before the whole universe for adjustment. The Rabbins say there are three books, Sepharim Naphalim, one for the righteous, one for the wicked, and

Death and
hell

The
is,
;

grave

and

delivered
in

up the dead which

that
to

were

them

be finally

one for the unjust, dishonest person. Another hook. Probably the gospel, the book of life and of death by it we shall be judged, and be either
;

and eternally judged the soul when it departs this life has either a temporary reward or punishment, but now they are all called forth to hear their final and eternal sentence hence, nbisdb ti"^:?'^^. ^nnd^ The wicked
;

shall be returned into hell, with all

condemned
ral

or acquitted in the gene-

the nations that forget

vior.

Judgment.

The law among

the

Ps. 9

17.

God The Jews

utterly

our Sarejected

Rabbins was called the book of life. The dead were judged. This means the wicked who are dead in tresthe dead in Christ passes and in sins
;

him,

and

were

destroyed.

Atheists, Deists, Arians, Unitarians,

first, and receive their final and eternal reward, and then sit on the great white throne with Christ to judge the world ; the wicked shall then

shall rise

with Gog and Magog reject him, and will all be bound up in bundles like sheaves of corn, and be burned up

with unquenchable
is

fire.
fall

Reader,

it

a fearful thing to

into the

of the living
fire,

God

he

is

hands a consuming
the workers

be brought forward in the presence of the general assembly, an<l church

of the
first

out of Christ, to

all

of iniquity.
14

bom,
sit

whom

they have

This

is the

second death.

The

despised and persecuted on earth, and

who
13

shall

now

as a jury to bring

one eiFects the body only, the other both soul and body ; the one disunites,
the other re-unites soul and
final

in a 'sealed verdict of

condemnation.
the dead.

body

for

And

the sea

gave vp

All that perished

by sea and

land,

and eternal punishment ; both deserve to sutler alike, as both were

REVELATION.
15

291

And whosoever was

was

not found written in the book

fire.

of hfe,

cast into the lake of

companions in sin. The Rabbins have seven different names for hell.*
1

brimstone.

Josh. 15: 8.

Jer. 7

31.

She-ol.

The

eternal,

invisible

See verse 10 of this chapter. 15 Whosoever teas not found

rcrit-

state of the dead. Ps.

9> 17.
of perdition,

ten in the book of life. All those

who

A vaddon.

The pit
:

found not the gospel to be the power of God unto the salvation of their

destruction. Job, 26

6.

3 Tatk-tith.

The lower
:

regions of

the damned. Deut. 32

22.

4 Ho-shech. Gross, thick darkness, or the blackness of darkness for ever

were cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. Reader, may the good Lord of the universe prevent you from being one of this number.
souls,

If

you do not

and ever. Jud. 13. Job. 10 5 Gal-zal-ma-weth.

the

21.

pel

obtain

repent, believe the gosall

the remission of
;

The

sins

from the hand of God

your you are

valley of

shadow of death,
:

or the shades of

perdition. Ps. 23

4.
Is-

for ever and ever. Hence, Rabb. Isaac says, " Wo to the wicked who are not written in

sure to perish

Tophet.
:

A.

flaming furnace.

the book of

life,

for

they shall perish

aiah, 30

33.

in the torments of hell for ever

and

7 Ge-chin-nom.

A lake
is

of

fire

and

ever."

As

the

first

death

final

and an eternal separation from

is

all

the pleasures and hap-

piness of this

life,

so the second death

the glory of his

final

and an eternal separation from the pre-

sence of

God and

power

for ever

and ever.

292

NOTES ON THE

CHAPTER
And
I

XXI.

saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea.
:

first

heaven and the

new heaven and a new

earth.

earth

the very meaning which the

A new
ple,

church and a new ministry, or a new church and a renewed peo-

who were

created
:

anew
This
:

in Christ
is

Jesus.

2 Pet. 3

13.

a quo-

Talmud attaches to it.* For the first Jieaven and the first earth had passed away. The Jewish heaven and earth had now vanished,
disappeared, and the golden Phcenix sprung up out of its ashes. As soon as the one disappeared the other ap-

tation from Isaiah, 65

17, and is ap-

plied
verse,

by the prophet, in the 18th to the new and heavenly Jeru-

salem, distinguished as such, from the

old and earthly Jerusalem.

peared

in its place.

The Jewish
;

ta-

The word

bernacle

new is used by John and the Rabbins to, mean regenerated, renovated, purified.

was called heaven, because God took up his residence there the
which

people were called the earth because

said to be the salt of the earth,

Therefore, the

regenerated
in the

church and ministry.

Hence,

preserved the world from dissolution.

Messiah's day, the earth and the heavens shall be renovated. Tal. Bab. Sanh. fol, 92, 2. Vi'VA ho-rai, in
Isaiah, is
literally

There was no more sea. Curse, war, plague, pestilence, famine, bloodshed, until the wars of
gog.

Gog and Mathe Rabbins,

present participle, and

The

sea,

among
armies,

means

He

(Messiah)

is

reno-

means
shed, f

hostile

war, blood-

vating, renewing the heavens and the

In the 11th verse of the former chapter

earth had fled

it

is said,

that the old heaven and the old

;

away from

before the face of

is

Him

that sat

upon the throne

its

and now a new

heaven and a new earth

than the
ated
t

represented as appearing in
or a

place

which means no more

people, or a people cre-

new and heavenly Jerusalem,

in

new church and a new

that

anew

Christ Jesus.
curse, see chap.

No more

22

3.

The curse

came upon

the

Jews

is

contained
last

in the

23lh chapter of Deuteronomy, commencing at the 16th and ending at the

REVELATION.

293

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3

And

heard a great voice out of heaven, saying,

Behold, the tabernacle of

God

is

with men, and he will

dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God
himself shall be with them, a?id be their God.

2 / saw the holy city. The pure church and pure ministry, in reality ;
not in shadow, but in substance.
St.

with men.
tabernacle

of residence.
;

His high and holy place His ministers are his

Here

John explains what he means by the new heaven and the new earth. See above. The new Jerusalem. See chapter
3: 12.

he has promised to be with them especially while the world shall last. The church is his temple,
the ministry the holy of holies
;

and

with them

who

are of an

humble and

contrite heart,

Prepared.

By

faith

and prayer,

his word, he has

Isa. 66
:

by purity

of heart and

life.

and that trembles at promised to dwell. 2; Ps. 114 2. Jesus, our

:

As a bride adorned for her husband. The church is the bride, Christ
the husband
to the
;

great

High

Priest,

is

holy, harmless,

undefiled, and separate from sinners

her garment

is

holiness

Lord.

She

is

clothed with the

glory of God, and the

her

feet.

Chap. 12:

1.

moon is under She is like

and holiness becomes his house and people. " If any man defile the temple of God, hira will God destroy."

And
said,

to his ministers especially

he has

all glorious within her garments are of wrought gold and needle work, and Prince Messiah is her spouse.

the king's daughter,

;

Be ye your God am
"

holy, for

the

Lord

holy."

The Rabbins
;

speak of two sanctuaries

earth.

one above

in heaven, the other below, viz. on

3 Behold the tabernacle of

God

is

verse.

The

blessing of the

New

Jerusalem

is

contained in Isaiah 65
roll is

commencing

at

the 21st and ending at the last verse.

to signify the curse

Zechariah's flying

interpreted by the angel

which was

to extend throughout the world.

;

See chap, 5

3.

This,
to

no doubt,
the sea,

is

the place St. John alludes to

:

and the reason why he compares the curse

is this

because

it

was

to cover the earth as the waters the great deep.

little

before the destruction of Jerusalem the world

was

like the troubled sea in the time of a

storm,

it

was

in

a stale of general commotion by means of the curse.

" Nation rising

against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, eartliquakes in divers places, pestilence

and famine, the sea roaring, and men's hearts

failing

them

for fear of those things

which

were then coming upon the world."

294

NOTES ON THE
shall

4 And God

wipe away

all

tears from their eyes

be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain for the
and there
shall
:

former things are passed away.

He

will dwell with them.

For ever

promises are not yea and nay, but

and ever. The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of tlie Lord is among them, ministers as in Sinai, in his holy place. Ps. 68 17. May he ever continue among them until time shall be uo more. Amen, and amen.*
;

yea and amen

4

in Christ Jesus.

He

shall wipe

auay

all

tears

from their eyes. He shall abundantly reward them for all their toil, labor, persecution, affliction, and dry up all
their tears.

They

shall

now be

so
as

happy, prosperous,
to forget all their

rich, glorious,

And

they shall he his

2'>'^oi)le.

He

former affliction and

Isa.

will call

not beloved, and

them beloved which were his people which

shall

persecution.

See

25

8.

There shall he no more death. That

is,

were not
bond

his people.

woman

and the son of the

The son of the now be cast out, free woman become

and that

by martyrdom
:

or general persecu-

tion, viz

until the reign of

Magog.
the curse

But

it

may mean,
to,

Gog and however,

See

heir to the spiritual inheritance, which

is

alluded

verse 1.

incorruptible, undefiled,

Introduction.

fadeth not away, reserved in heaven

for us.

Neither any more crying.

rejoicing, of great

Instead

See Gal. 4

28, 29, 30.

of weeping, there shall be a time of

God who

himself shall be with them.

peace and prosperi-

lie will never leave nor forsake

trust in
it,

them
His

ty to the church.

She

shall take the fly to

him by

faith;

he never
it.

wings of the morning and

the

has done

he never will do

uttermost parts of the earth.

The Jews were

of the opinion that

God himself perpetually

thought
but

resided in their temple

it

and ihey were so puffed up with

this opinion, that they

:

impossible their city

it

should bo takon, or the temple burnt by dieir enemies

when

they saw

burnt

down

by the Roman army, they gave up

all

hopes of being saved.

Had

the Almighty dwelt

nmong them

as a nation, they never could have been conquered by their enemies.

When
God
when

the king of Assyria

marched

his

numerous army

to destroy the city, the

Lord

their

sent his angel that night and destroyed in the

camp

of the Assyrians 105,000, and

:

they arose in the morning, behold they were

ria departed,

all

dead men

so Sennacherib king of Assy:

and returned and dwelt at Nineveh. 2 Kings, 19 35, 3fi. But God and his Holy Spirit had now departed from them, and loft their city and templo desolate. Matt. 23 : 38, 39; and ii was but a short lime after this until they were destroyed by the

Human

army.

REVELATION,

295

5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write for
:

these words are true and faithful.

Any more

pain.

From

the

fire,

He

that sat on the throne. Christ

furnace, faggot,

prison,

persecution,
foreign

himself.

Chap. 20:
all

11.

scourge, or banishment into

countries.*

I make

things new.

As

have

created the old world, I shall

now

For
awaxj.

the former things have passed

bruise the serpent's head, destroy his

the effect of

The cause which produced all your sufferings is now

kingdom, power, and influence over all men, and create the world anew.

removed, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth is dead, and your sufferings have died with her;
the wild beasts of the earth are satiated with her flesh
tired of war,
:

Will remodel, renew, regulate, and

set all the discordant elements in order

or in their proper place.

qualify,

Will

call,

appoint, and send forth mij

and

blood, are

oicn ambassadors into every part of

and wish to return to they will take the field private life no more against you or any other nation; the saints shall

the world to preach

shall

my

gospel.

now

take the

admit proper persons into my church, and exclude improper persons from it. My people shall become
a mighty and powerful nation,
shall

kingdom from the beast and possess it King Messiah for ever and ever.
shall reign in peace and prosperity a thousand years, and then Satan will

and be regulated by my law and gospel, and walk in all my commandshall

be loosed for a little season Gog and Magog, f

to deceive

ments and ordinances blameless. I have a faithful and spiritual ministry, and as to the membership.

* All believers

who were

born Jews, had to suffer more from their

all
;

own

nation than
to

from the heathen.

They used

their influence to persuade

them

to

deny Christ and

renounce the christian religion

and not only

so,

but they had them persecuted and

treated with the utmost contempt.

t

The cause

that produced the effect of all your pain is

;

now removed

death

is

swal-

lowed up
mind,
it

in victory
shall

it

has lost

its

sting,

and

hell

shall

produce no more pain to your

This clause of the verse has said, " the first heaven and

have no more power nor influence over you.

first

reference to the second clause of the

verse,

where

it is

the

first

earth had passed away," the heavens or the earth remaining, or even the thought

of being removed, could not effect the minds

of those holy christians so as to produce

St.

great pain, sorrow, and crying.

contradict

If this
;

were

John's meaning, he certainly would

:

what he has said elsewhere

for in chap. 12

11,

it is

said, that they " loved not

their lives unto death."

This plainly shows that they were saved from the fear of death
first

and of judgment; so that we must admit that the

understood
literally.

verse of this [chapter cannot be

296

NOTES ON THE

And he
is

said unto mc, It

is

done.

am Alpha and
give unto

Omega, the beginning and the end.

that
athirst of the fountain of the

I will

him

water of Ufe

freely.

all

my

children shall be taught of the

asks receives ; he that seeks finds; he

that knocks (by faith) at the door of

Lord, and great shall be the peace of my people finally every thing sha;

mercy

it

shall

be

opened

to

him.

dowed forth shall now be

in

in the

Jewish Church

Christ never has, nor never will cast

carried out in substance

out a poor penitent soul that comes to

John here to things which is referring should take place immediately after the fall of mystical Babylon, and not
after the

my

church. See chap. 2:1.

him

therefore put your trust in him.

You have begun well, be determined to end well. You have put your
hand
to the to the plough,

never look back

be determined to

expiration of the thousand

world again
soul,

years.*

save your
is

and get to heaven.

6 It

done.

troyed and the

ruins thereof.

The old city is desnew built up on the

:

Let

others do as they will, be thou

/ am
Chap.
is

See Chap. 16 Alpha and Omega.

11.

17.

See

side. Amen.f The water of life. The salvation which I have purchased with my own blood. I gave my life a ransom

on the Lord's

Iwill give him that

is athirst.

That
that

for\you,]ioor sinner; shall

in vain.

I die, then,

earnestly, anxiously seeking salva-

The Rabbins

call the

preachlife
;

tion

by

faith

and prayer.

He

ing of the projihets the water of

I shall

now

substitute a

new heaven and

new

earth, in the

room of the

old heaven
himself,

and the old earth.

Our

blessed Savior laid the foundation of the

new

creation

when on

earth

but after his death he committed the care of the whole building to hi
;

twelve apostle*

but

it

was not

actually completed until after the destruction of Jerusa-

lem by Titus

it

was

then, and only then, that the

his Christ.

kingdoms of this world had become the

kingdoms of our Lord and of

the

So

that as soon as the old city vanished away,

stead.
;

new Jerusalem immediately appeared

was pulled down.

in its

and part of the materials prepared

jileted until the old
it, is

for the building

but the
itself,

The workmen were employed, now city could not be comand every thing pertaining to

The

building

described at large from the 11th to the 27th verses of this chapter.

We

see from this, that our Savior does not squander his grace on every kind of per-

sons.

out Ps.

None can drink of the water of life but those who feel that they cannot live withit. They must pant after it, the same as the hart after the cooling water brook. See 42 1. The Lord giveth grace liberally to all who ask for it in a proper manner and
: ;

he upbraideth none who are sincere, whose

in their soul, body,

onl}' object, desire,

;

and aim
if

is,

to glorify

him

and

spirit,
;

which are

his

but

wc must
if

ask,

we expect
it

to receive

seek, if

wc wish

to find

knock

at the dooi' of

merry,

we expect

to be

opened unto

REVELATION.
'

297

He
be

that overcometli shall inherit all things

and

will

his

God, and he shall be

my

son.

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and

the Savior compares his salvation to

death, or things present, or things to

a river of water springing

erlasting
life.

up

into ev-

come,
this.

all

are

yours,

and
to our

ye are

No person

can form an

Christ's.

Thanks be
he his

God

for

idea of the great joy which a

weary

traveller feels in the burning sands of

I shall
brother.

God.

A Father

and

the desert of Arabia

to a well
is

when he comes
Nothing
to

a friend that will stick closer than a

of living water.
is

pure, disinterested friend,

so cooling and refreshing as a bot-

who

is

not carried about with every

doctrine.

tle

of this;

it

of

more value

wind of

the thirsty
these

man

than silver or gold

And

he shall le

my

son.

My
As

heir

may

satisfy the

eye but can

;

to the spiritual inheritance.

a son

salvation of Christ

never sustain either body or soul the is like " the living
full

stream,

and
for

free,

enough

for all,

for each,

and

ever more."*

He

that overcometli.
afflictions

The

present

he shall fear, reverence, serve and obey me, walk in my commandments and ordinances blameless. As a father, I shall feed and clothe him, teach and instruct him, protect and
preserve

difficulties,

and

persecu-

him unto

eternal

life.

tions, as well

as the world, the flesh,

8 But the fearful.

The

coward,
life.

and the

devil.

traitor, backslider in heart and

Shall inherit all things.

the promise of the
life

He

has
is,

He who like
ter,
trifle

Judas, has sold his mas-

that
:

now

and of that which is to come all things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or

perhaps, for a httle wealth, or a of worldly enjoyment.

Unbelieving.
trines,

In his divinity, docdeath,

sufferings.

miracles,

The

salvation of

God

is

called the water of

life,

because
is like

it

springs from the eter-

nal fountain,
for all
;

which never can run dry.

it

This water

the boundless ocean, free

the rich cannot purchase

with money, and the poor

all

and without price.

take of
it.

There

is

a general invitation given to

may have it without money who wish to come and parcome ye

to the yea,

The prophet

Isaiah cries out, " Ho, every one that thirsteth,

waters, and he that hath no

money

come

ye,

buy and eat

come, buy wine and

for that

milk without money and without price.

not bread
?

Wherefore do ye spend money

satisfieth not
let
?

which

is

and your labor for that which and eat ye that which
1,2.
is

Hearken

diligently unto

me,

saith the Lord,

good, and

your soul delight

itself in fatness."

See chap. 55

38

298
idolaters,

NOTES ON THE
and
all
liars,

shall

have their part

;

in the
is

lake
the

which burnetii with

second death.

fire

and brimstone

which

atonement

for sin, resurrection of his

derer.
to

10.

She

that takes decoctions

is

identical body, intercession

Father, and his

day.

final

with the coming to judge

produce abortion,

equally such.

11.

He

or she that administers the

is

both the quick and the dead at the

last

dose to produce such

equally as
1'2.

guilty in the sight of God.

He

Abominable. Filthy, polluted, diseased by dissipation, unholy, profane,

haters of fathers, and haters of
thers
;

that by briber^', influence, or corruption,

screens the murderer from punis

moim-

ishment,

a murderer in the eye of

without natural
all

affection,

God, 2d Class.
1.

placable, unmerciful, haters of

God

and of

good men.

Atheists, deists,

He

that destroys his constitution

infidels, scofiers,

&c.

Fit fuel for the

eternal burning.
1st Class.

by eating too much, or drinking too much, by drunkenness, gluttony, and

debauchery,
is

a self-murderer.

2.

Murderers.

1.

He
is

that

kills

a
2.

He

or she that brings on disease,

by
is

man

intentionally,

a murderer.

dancing, frolicing and dissij)ation,

He
do

that swears
3,

away

life falsely, is

equally such.

3.

He

that brings on

such.
it,

He

that will

kill if

he can

premature death by dint of hard study

or too close application to business in

whether in a duel or not, is a murderer in his heart, and will be punished by the Judge of all the earth for the intention, the same as for
the act
itself.

order to be rich and popular, comes

under

this head.

3d Class.

4.

He
5.

that instigates

He

that hateth

his

brother,

(in

directly or indirectly to murder, be-

Christ,) whether minister or

member,
bond or

longs to this class. holds that

He

that withlife,

young, or
free,

old, rich or poor,

is

which

will save

takes

black or white,

a murderer in

away

life,

and will be condemned as a

his heart.

day of eternity. 6. He that destroys life by the improper use

murderer
in the

of medicines, or improper practice in the medical profession comes under

this head.
7.

For he that hates a man him if he could do it and malice aforethought is what constitutes murder in the first degree, in

would

kill

the eye of the law.

He
it

that takes poison,

Whoremongers.
cators,

Adulterers, forni-

or administers
life, is

to

another to take
8.

seducers

and

the

seduced.
the

a murderer.

He

that insti-

Spiritually,

lovers

of pleasure,

gates to

war and

bloodshed, treason,
9.

world, flesh, devil, more than of God,

are such.
Sorcerers.

arson, or insurrection, is such.

He

that

is

the cause, directly or indirect-

False

prophets,

false

ly, of the

death of his infant,

is

mur-

teachers, deceivers, fortune-tellers, se-

REVELATION.
ducers from the simplicity of the gospel men who preach for gain, and not
;

299

ber,

master and servant, prince and

people
their

for souls

the original meaning of the

deceive, disguise the truth,
false

and Deliah
;

to increase their misery,

or, idol,

on which they set

word

is to

their affections, will be placed before their view, and they will curse the

play the hypocrite, or act under

pretences; a
Spirit

day

man who
is

pretends to be

called to the ministry

by the Holy
is not,

they ever saw it and were led astray by it. The wine bottle and alehouse
will probably be before the eye of the

when he

sure he
is

and

whose only
under
sorcerer.

object

money, comes
is

drunkard

the card table and dice

;

this head,

and

a spiritual

before the gambler

silver

and gold

before the miser and covetous man.

Idolaters.

serve any thing

as

Those who love and more than God, such

flesh

See Luke, 16
voluptuous
fore the
lace,
;

25; luxury before the

splendor be;

pomp and

and the devil, the ball room, playhouse, circus,

money, the world, the

proud and haughty the paand beautiful lakes and lawns

;

horse race, wine bottle, card table

as

before the prince

the hounds and

;

well as those
host of heaven.

who

worship, adore,

and reverence graven images, or the

All
those
liars.

hunt before the sportsman the goddess of Reason before the infidels of France the guillotine before Robes;

slanderers; those

Deceivers, false teachers, who frame a lie and

it;

pierre

and Marat and the Age of Reason before Payne and all his deis;

who circulate
;

those

to declare the truth,

and those

who shun who deand

tical

companions.

The

fields of

Wa-

ny

it

those

who pervert the truth

and of Leipsic, the groans of the wounded and dying, will be conterloo

turn aside the stranger from his right, as well as false swearers, and those

stantly sounding in the

ears of the

who
fil,

promise, but never intend to ful-

all

come under

this head.

Europe; the burning of Moscow by Napoleon, and of Rome by Nero, and the vast multiAllied of

Powers

Shall have their part.

abode.
life,

Portion, in-

tudes of

men and women who

perishfor-

heritance, future and eternal place of

ed

in the flames, will

never be

They made

choice of

it

in this

gotten

by these misguided and ambi-

and it would be unjust in the Deity to exclude them from it in the

to

tious despots.
field,

The

flames of Smith-

life

come.

Their portion will be

divided to them according to their

works each class will have a separate and distinct place of residence in
;

and massacre of St. Bartholowill fall heavily on the pates of the popes of Rome. The assassin will be haunted night and day in hell

mew,

by
tim,

the

hell,

according to their various charac-

who

ghost of his murdered vicwill exclaim "you have

ters

sions

and dispositions men of like pasand pursuits will probably be

:

been the cause of

nation !"
:

my

ruin and

dam-

put together, and be punished alike and companions in wickedness will be companions in punishment. There will then be a final and eternal separation between husband and wife, child and parent, minister and mem;

and improves the taste and disposition of the righteous, so hell, on the contrary, vitiates the taste of the wicked, and makes them more vile and vicious than before, and disqualifies them
refines,
purifies,

As heaven

300

NOTES ON THE

And

there

came unto me one

of the seven angels,

which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show
thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

more and more every day

ciety of the

for tlie so-

There

is

no intercourse between the

and as they were vionomaniacs through life, they will remain so through eternity, cursing God and the Lamb for ever and
blessed
;

living and the

dead ; the dead cannot be sent here to warn the living of his danger. They have the law and the

ever.

In

the lake that hurnelh with fire

and

brimstone.
fire

That

is,

the liquid

and these are sufficient to admonish them of their danger, and if they do not beheve them, neither would they believe though one rose
gospel,

and brimstone, which is constantly sending forth columns of smoke and flames of liquid fire. 1.
lake of

from the dead

ly, if there

verse 31.
hell,

13. Final-

be no
for

there can be

no heaven,
Bible, that

we have

the same evi-

Then
ing

hell is called here a lake of fire

2.

dence precisely of the one, in the

and brimstone.

In

it

there

is

weep-

we have

of the other, for

and

waihng, and
3.

gnashing of

teeth.

Matt. 8:12.

The smoke

one and

is as

clearly proved as the other;

is

if

there be no devil, 'there

no

of their torment ascendeth up for ever

God,
is,

for the

one

is

as clearly and dis-

and ever. Rev. 20 10. 4. They have no rest day nor night that worship the beast and his image. Rev. 14:11. 5. Their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched. Mark,
:

tinctly identified as the other

in the Scriptures of truth.

that
in too

You may now be

that I

ready to conclude

have painted

my picture

high colors.
friend; I
either
it

You

are mistaken,

my

43, 44.

6.

They

are reserved in

the chains of blackness and darkness

forever. Jude, 13. 7.
suffering the

my

have not touched it with paint or pencil you have

:

They are (now)

from the pure fountain of divine

vengeance of eternal fire. There is no intercourse between the righteous and the wick9. The anxiety ed. Luke, 16 26. of the wicked is very great indeed in
Jude, 7.
8.
:

truth, just as
ple,

God

sent

it,

plain, sim-

behalf of their relatives, lest they

ment.

should come into this place of torLuke, IG :27. 10. They are
pires in this life

and unadorned. I have this day set before you life and death, heaven and hell, a blesstherefore, in the ing and a curse name of God, choose life, that ye may live for ever. Amen, and Amen.
;

conscious of every thing that trans;

verse 28.

11.

There
and

9 One of the seven angels. That is, Ezekiel; chap. 16 1, and 40 2, 3, 4. The bride. The new church, the
: :

is

not the slightest mitigation of their

;

heavenly Jerusalem.
spiritual wedlock.

Christ

is

now

punishment

it is

to be perpetual
;

going to be united to her in holy and

never-ending torments

verse 24. 12.

He

first

espoused

REVELATION.
'

301

10 And he carried me away and high mountain, and showed

in the spirit to a great

me

that great city, the

holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

his life a

he so loved the world as to give ransom for all, to be testified She promised on her in due time. part in the marriage covenant, " to her
;

The great
and breadth,

city.

That

is,

in length,

renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wick-

depth and height. It extends into Asia, Africa, Europe, and America. It is as high as heaven, as deep as the ocean, as broad and wide
in

as the whole universe.

like the stars of

The

people are

ed world, and

all

the sinful lusts of

heaven, without num-

the flesh, to live a

new

life,

and have

ber.

It is the city of the

Great

Kmg

a lively faith in his mercy^and promises."

Messiah.
all

The

temple, the tabernacle,

the sacrifices, laws, and ordinances are

10 Carried
Rabbinical,

me away in the Spirit. for "he gave me new and

:

great and glorious.

The
is

old city

was
the

great in a particular sense, but

lem."

exalted views of the spiritual JerusaSee Ezek. 43 5.*

new and heavenly city

great in

a general sense.

* This
culties,

is

a figurative

mode

of expression, to

show

that he had surmounted great

diffi-

and at length got on the mountain top, where he could behold every thing belong-

ing to the heavenly Jerusalem.

t

1. It is

great in length, and breadth, in depth, and height

;

it

extends from east to

its

west, from north to south

its

height

is

above the fixed

stars,

and
it

foundation no

man
great

knows.

See

Cor. 3

11.

2. It is great in

power and glory;

is fair
:

as the moon,
3. It is

clear as the sun,

in strength

and

terrible as

an army with banners.

See Canti. 6

10.

and
;

stability.
it

The wall

of this city has often been attacked by atheists, deists,

its

and

infidels

but

never has fallen as yet, nor even one stone been moved out of

place.

See verse 12.

And

as for the city

it,

itself, it

has been besieged by

it

all

the world,
!

and yet they never have conquered

nor starved

into a surrender

Glory to God

He

that

is

for us is

more than

all

that are against us.

shall

He

that spared not his

freely give us

own

Son,
?

but delivered him up for us

all,

how

he not, with him,

exceeds
all

all

things

And as
gates
east,
;

for the
;

beauty and excellence of

wall
is

this city, it

that ever has been seen in

the world

its

great and high, and hath twelve foundations and twelve golden

three of the gates opened to the north, and three to the south, and three to the
to the west.

and three

The
is

city itself lieth four square,

and the building of the wall

of

it is

of jasper, and the city

made

of pure gold, and even the very streets paved with

all

pure gold, and the foundations of the walls of the city are garnished with
precious stones.

manner of

river runs

through the midst of the

it

city,

which proceeds from the

boundless ocean and waters the whole world,

ally full,

keeps

all tlie

cisterns of the city continu-

and conveys a vast quantity of v;ater

to every believing family, through pipes

302

NOTES ON THE

11 Having the glory of

God

and her

light

was like

unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper-stone, clear

as crystal

12

And had

a wall great and high, and had twelve

The holy Jerusalem.

In reality,
;

be born again, become a

new

creature

not in name, like the old city pure, perfect, upright, holy.

it is

in Christ Jesus, or perish for ever.

Descending from heaven.

city originated on earth
;

The
all

old

11 Having the glory of God. glory departed from Israel, and it

rested

The now
;

this, in

heaits

ven, in the

bosom of Jesus;

May
He

it

on the true Church of God. never depart from her it

till

members are

true believers, born from

never shall

she departs from God.

above, and not from beneath, are not

natural, but spiritual
birth, but

never will dwell with a people of

lips,

members; not

unclean

or

new

birth members, and they

wink

at evil, or
it.

impure life, or that throws the mantle of

clear
fair

know the very time, when, and place where God converted them. They have the faith that brings assuranc of
Reader, hast thou experienced a change of heart ? if not, thou must
pardon.

charity over

Her

light

as

as

crystal.

Clear as the sun,

terrible as an

as the

moon,

12

army with banners. Of salvation, great wall.*

under ground
burst, or else

and they are sure

to

have a

frosli

supply daily, unless some of the pipes

become stopped with mire and

this

dirt.

The water

is

clear, pure,

and wholethe midst of

some;

it

washes white as snow, and

it,

without any ingredient.

is

And

in

the street of

and on every side of the

river

there the tree of

life,

which bears twelve

this tree are for the

manner

of fruits, and yields her frait every

all

month; and the leaves of

healing of

disorders:

it

heals the sick, cleanses the lepers, raises the

dead to

life,

causes the deaf to hear, the blind to see, the

dumb

to speak, and the

lame

man

to leap as

a hart.

This

is

the city of the great King, and none but the redeemed of the Lord shall

be allowed to dwell there; and none but those have power to walk through the golden
streets of this holy city
:

this is the King's

highway of
:

holiness,

and a way the vulture's

it,

eye never saw, nor the

is for

lion's

whelp ever trod

the unclean shall not pass over

for

it

the pure in heart, and way-faring men, though fools, (in the eyes of the world,) shall

not err therein.

No
:

lion shall be there, nor

any ravenous beast,

shall

go up therron,

it

shall

not be found there

shall return

but the redeemed shall walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord
to

and come

Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads

See
Isa.

they shall
8, 9, 10.

obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

35:

There

is

a beautiful analogy between the new Jerusalem and the old

in the

remain-

ing part of this chapter and the beginning of the next, so that every thing belonging to the old city and temple
tilit'd

was

only a type of Christ and his church.

Tiie old city was for-

with three walls on such parts as were not encompassed with imjmssable valleys,

REVELATION.
gates,

303

and

at the gates

twelve angels, and names written

thereon,

which are

the

names of the twelve tribes of the

children of Israel.

and high; a strong tower whereunto

the righteous

may

resort continually.
1.

See

Is.

26:1; 60: 18; Ps. 14:

of equal
4.

The
and
V.

wall surrounds the whole city,

is
:

magnitude with

it.

10

whole world was to be converted. They were appointed by Christ to admit proper persons into his church, and to exclude improper persons from it. See chap. 22 15.* Having the names of the twelve
:

Twelve gates. The twelve aposthese were the doors by which the people entered into the Holy City. There were three for the north, three
tles
:

tribes of the children of Israel written

thereon.

They were engraven on the

very tables of their hearts, and the people were their epistle, known and
all men. Each member knew which of the apostles were the honored instrument, in the hand of God Three thousand of his conversion. were converted under the preaching

for the south, three for the east,

and

read of

three

for

the

west.

The

Savior

designed

that every quarter of the

globe should be fairly and impartially

represented, viz.

by

his tioclve

bassadors,

and

through

amthem the

of Peter in

one day,

and perhaps

for in

such places
city.

it

had but one wall

so
it is

so that there
city
:

was but one

entire wall that

encom-

passed the
people
;

And

with the new

Christ himself is the only Savior of his

he encompasses them from cast

to west,

from north

to south

he

is

round about
that

them

as a wall of fire,
city of
is

and

the glory in the midst of them.

But

this wall
;

encomwith

passed the

Jerusalem was the oldest and strongest of the three

eternal in duration, before
all

and so

it is

our Savior, he

things,

and by him

all

things consist: he
;

came
power

out from God, with

in

whom

he had glory before the world began

he can protect
his

and he has

all

heaven and

in earth, so that in the life to

is

church from external injuries in

it, its

this life,

and save them

its

come.

And

as for the height of

;

top reaches

to heaven, and

foundation
it, it is

deeper than the sea

if all

its

length

is

described above, and

it,

as for the breadth of

such that
it

the artillery of hell was to play on

and

all

the deists upon earth to batter

it,

with their greatest battering rams, they cannot destroy

its

nor even

move one

stone out of

place.

* This has reference to the power and authority that our Savior had given to the

twelve Apostles, to admit proper persons into the church, and to shut out improper persons from the church
;

and he has promised

See] Malt. 28

to
:

be with his ministers in this respect even

unto the end of the world.

20.

The

wall of the temple of Jerusalem

had twelve gates

temple
;

for the twelve tribes of the children of Israel to pass

in his beautiful description

through into the

and Ezekiel,
it

of the

new and heavenly Jerusalem,

represents

as having twelve gates also.

See

Isa.

60

11.

]04

NOTES ON THE

13

On

the east, three gates

;

on the north, three gates

and on the west, three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the

on the south, three gates

Lamb.

fifty

thousand more during his

life,

13.

and this fifty thousand might have converted three hundred thousand. The standard of Judah, Issachar

On the

cast three gales,

fit!)?.

kc-dem, Arabia, India, China, Job, 1:3; Matt. 2:1. See Ez. 44:11,

and Zabulon, were at the east gate of the standard of Ephraim, ; Manassah and Benjamin, at the west gate Reuben, Simeon and Gad, at
the temple
;

On

the

west

three

gates,

fi"^

yam, the Mediterranean Sea, and Spain beyond it.

On

the

north three gates.

^iCS

the

South gate

Dan, Asher and

their standards.

zaphon, the remote cold region, because, at a distance from the sun, and

Naphtali, at the north gate, with their

names written on

means Rome,

Italy, Britain.

At

the gates twelve angels.

Minisare

On
coos/i,

the

south

three
;

gates,

c^'s

ters of justice, spiritual magistrates,

viz. the

Ethiopia or Africa

and

fi'^t!?'?
:

twelve apostles.

Thev

mitz ra yaini, Egypt.

Gen. 12

here represented as sentinels standing

at the gates of the temple, the

same

13:14.t 14. Twelve foundations.

the doctrines of

as the Levites in the old city.*

That is, Christianity which

* Tliis

is

only comparatively speaking, to

show
their

that the Apostles

were accountable

to

God

for the
in

manner

in

which they exercised

power

if

an unholy person or uncir-

cumcised
office of

heart entered into the holy temple of the Lord, or

it

was admitted
to

into the
for
it.

the ministry,

must be through them, and they were accountable

God

It is his will that

no improper person should be admitted either into the church or into

the office of the' ministry.

See verse 27.

The

priests under the law

it

were stationed
aliens.

at

the gates of the temple, for the purpose of preserving

from being defiled by

Sec

Ezek. 44:9, 11.

temple; so that
ple, they
t It if

And

it

was death by
tlie

their law for any foreigner to enter into

their

any of

priests or Levites admitted an unholy person into the tem-

were as

liable to

be put to death as the person himself.

was through

the

instrumentality and the preaching of the twelve Apostles that

the hundred and forty and four thousand were admitted through the golden gates into the

holy temple

so that every
St.

member could

tell

what minister was the means

of his ov

her conversion.
vrillen, but
it is

John, in different parts of this book, makes use of the expression

;

generally in a figurative sense

this, that it

and the reader must perceive that he

understanding that the thing

means no more than

was

visible or plain to tlie

was

so.

See chap. 14:1.

REVELATION.

305

15

And he

that talked with

city,

me had

a golden reed

to

measure the
thereof.

and the gates

thereof,

and the wall

were planted by the twelve

in

apostles

Britain,

Spain,

England,

Ireland,

every part of the world.

the foundation, let

They
;

Scotland and France.

Peter's comto the

laid

others take

mission

was

to the

Jews, Paul's

heed

how

man

they build thereon if any build on this, wood, hay or

Gentiles.

Therefore

Peter

never

was
15

in

Rome.*

stuhhle, false doctrines or false hopes,

himself and his works shall be burned

up with

fire.

We

see there

is

no

that talked loith me. prophet Ezekiel, chap. 40 3. The golden reed. Precious
:

He

The
faith,

preference given here to one apostle

more precious than gold

fire.

tried in the

over another.

Peter laid the founItaly and Europe,

dation of Christianity in Judea, and

To measure

the city.

To examine

Paul

in

Rome,

the church by faith and prayer, and

On the east And on the

three gates.

One

for Joseph, one for

Benjamin, and one

for

for

ZebUlon.
for

north three gates.

One

for

Judah, one

Reuben and one

Gad.

And on the south three gates. One for Simeon, one for Levi, and one for Issachar. And on the west three gates. One for Asher, one for Naphthalem, and one for Manasses.

See chap. 7:5.

it

I have before

remarked that there was

in

Solomon's temple a

molten sea, and that

their faces
south,

was borne up by twelve oxen,

their hinder parts

were inward, and

outward

three of them were looking toward the north, and three toward the
east,

and three toward the

:

and three toward the west

the twelve oxen represented

the twelve Apostles

and three of them looking toward the north, and three toward the

south, &c. denoted that the twelve Apostles should be divided into four classes, and that

three of

them should carry the gospel

and three
into the

into the north,

:

and three

into the south,

and three

into the east,

west

so that the heavenly Jerusalem

had three golden

gates in every quarter of the globe.

And

twelve angels stood at these gates to admit

it.

proper persons into the

city,

and

to

keep improper persons out of

See Gal. 2

9.

They were the wise

under heaven.

master-builders,
:

who had planted

:

these doctrines in every nation

See 1 Cor. 3

6, 10,

and Eph. 2

20.

Before the destruction of Jerusa-

lem the gospel had been preached

23.
It

in all the

world by the twelve apostles.

See Col.

was not only preached

in Lesser Asia, Greece,

and

Italy,

but

it

was likewise pro-

pagated as far north as Scythia, and as far south as Ethiopia, and as far east as Parthia

and India, and as

far

west as Spain and Britain.

That

is,

the city

and gates. See verse 12.

find out

He was

to try
it

how

far the

new

ministers

extended their authority, and to

destruction of the church,

whether they used

to the edification or to the

39

306

NOTES ON THE
16

And

the city lieth lour-square, and the length

:

is

as

large as the breadth

and he measured the

city with the

reed, twelve thousand furlongs.

The

length.

and the

breadth, and the height of it, are equal.

17

And he measured
of

the wall thereof, an hundred and

ibrty ajid ibur cubits, according to the

measure of a man,

that

is,

the angel.

see that
hers

all

the ministers and

tit

mem-

were holy, and kingdom of heaven.

16

to enter the

for

The

city lieth four square.

Ex-

tends into every quarter of the universe.

and the uttermost parts of the earth his possession, and his church extend from the rivers to the ends of the earth. Shall be general and not particular, like the Jewish church.*
Tkvelve thousand furlongs. tain for

The world shall now be filled with the glory of God. Knowledge shall cover the earth, the same as
the waters cover the sea, and
all shall

A cerIt

an

uncertain number.

may mean,
sand
miles,
rence, f

however,
that
is,

twelve thouin

circumfe-

know

the Lord, from the least to the

greatest.

The heathen

shall

now be

The wall
faith|:

thereof.

It

is

only by

given to Christ for his inheritance.

we

can form any correct idea

And the city lieth four square. This was exactly the shape of the .Tewisli temple. Take the words of Josephus here he says, that it was written in their sacred oracles, that when their temple should become four square, that then their city and temple should he taken. See War, book 6, 5, 4. And from this we may learn that their temple was
:

the shadow, and the church of Christ, the temple of the living God, the substance.

t That

is,

about 1500 miles; but this was not the measure of the city in circum-

ference, but the

measure of
;

it

on each of the four sides.

Jerusalem was but thirty-three

scattered
all

furlongs in circumference

but the

Jews themselves were

over the habitable

in the

earth
ple,

and as their law forbid

sacrilices to bo oil'ured in

any other place but

tem-

and the yearly passover

to be celebrated in

no other place but Jerusalem, thoy had

to assemblo together to this city yearly for this purpose.

But

after the old city

was de-

on the ruins thereof, the true temple of God was not so confined to ono particular place or city, but it extended into every part of the world that spiritual sacrifices may now be offered up to God in every city, village, and house,
stroyed, and the

new Jerusalem

built

throughout the world, and the true followers of the

Lamb may

feast

on Christ, their

spiritual passover, in their closet as w^ell as in the church.

t

By

the eye of faith, through the

medium

of the gospel glass.

If a person without

tho assistance of a telescope can see a planet at nine hundred millions of miles distance,

how much

farther can an enlightened minister of Christ sec through the

naked eye of

REVELATION.
18

307
it

And And

the building of the wall of

was ^jasper:
glass.

and the
19

city

ims pure gold, like unto clear

the foundations of the wall of the city were

all

garnished with

manner
;

of precious stones.
;

The

first

foundation ims jasper

the second, sapphire

;

the third, a

chalcedony

the fourth, an emerald

of the plan of salvation, of

its

length

Were garnished
of precious
believers,
stones.

and breadth, See Ezek. 42

18.

its
:

depth and height,

jasper.
perfect,

16, 20.

who are

willi all manner That is, precious built up a spiritual

The wall was

pure, white,

jasper,
plete.

Like com-

house, a holy temple, unto the Lord,

The
in

apostles

Purity and justice were written on the very gates of it. Like pure gold. Refined gold,

lished with
their

these

were adorned, embelthey were stars

;

crown of

rejoicing.

The

brilliant, glorious, precious, valuable.

foundation of the temple in Jerusalem was adorned with the different

kinds of stones described below.

The

city

was

2^ure

gold.

Like

See

unto pure gold, rich, valuable, glorious, desirable to the believing soul;

2 Chron.
4
:

3:6;

Isa.

54
of

11
a

Lam.

20.

and treasure is there, his abiding home while sojourning

his heart

Jasper.

stone

beautiful

white

here.

19
14.*

The foundations.

See verse

an emblem of purity, Sapphire. This is of a sky-blue color, speckled with gold, an emblem
color,

of a precious, valuable believer.

faith

and

if

an astronomer, through the assistance of a telescope, can see some millions

of miles farther than with the naked eye,

how much greater

distance can a minister of the

blessed Jesus see,

when he has

the gospel telescope to the eye of his faith; certainly he

must be able

to

comprehend

in

some good degree the

length,

and breadth, depth and

height, of the wall of salvation.

That

is,

spiritually such

it

was

as pure and as precious as the

most

fine gold.

The

citizens themselves

were the

city, or the

temple of God

the Jewish temple

first

was covered
it

over with large plates of gold of great weight, and at the

flected

rising of the sun

it it

re-

back a very

fiery splendor,

and

it

made
;

those

who looked upon

to turn

away

their eyes the

same

as from the rays of the sun

but as to those parts of

that were not

it

covered with gold, they were exceedingly white, so that a stranger at a distance from

would take
ple

it

to be a

mountain of snow.

See Josephus, War, book

5, 5, C.

This tem-

was an emblem of the temple

for
it is

of the living
;

God

but the latter far exceeds the forit

mer,

not gold in part, but in whole

light of the

it is

gold outwardly and inwardly, and

has

no need of the

sun nor the

light,
it.

of the

moon

to shine

upon

it

by night and by

day, for the glory of

God

is

the light of

308

NOTES ON THE
fifth,
;

20 The
chrysolite
tenth,

sardonyx the
;

sixth, sardius
;

the seventh,
;

the eighth, beryl

;

the ninth, a topaz

the

a chrysoprasus an amethyst.

the

eleventh,

a jacinth

the

twelfth,

21

And

the twelve gates icere twelve pearls

every

Chalcedony. Is of the color of fire, an emblem of flaming zeal. Emerald, This is a beautiful grassgreen color, an emblem of spiritual
prosperity, a

color,

like the blossom of the flax, an emblem of love and humility. topaz. Of a pale yellow color, an emblem of old age, purity and

growth

in grace,

and

in

piety.

the knowledge of
Christ.

our

Lord Jesus
a

A
lence.

chrysoprasus.

Of a

beautiful

green color, speckled with gold, an

20

Sardonyx.

Of

blood-red

emblem

of piety, purity and benevo-

color, like the

Sardius, mixed with

pure white, an emblem of him

who

A
like

jacinth.

Of

red purple

color,

had washed

his

robes,

and

them white
because
it

in the blood of the

made Lamb.

the amethyst,

an

emblem of
See

Chrysolite. Called the golden stone,

power and princely dominion. Chap. 1 6.

:

resembles gold, an

emblem
Ps.

of a pure and precious believer.

68: 13.
Beryl.

Twelve pearls. The twelve The church was embellished and beautified with these.*
21
apostles.

Of a

bright, bluish

green

And

the street of the

city.

The

duce.

They were more valuable than the most precious stones which the world could proThe great Mogul had a topaz in his possession of an immense value, its weight
carats,

was about 137

which the high

200,300
wore on

sterling.

And Josephus
3, 7, 4.

observes that the twelve stones

priest

his garments

were of such an immense value that they

could not be purchased by man.

See Antiq. book

is

That

St.

John meant by the

twelve precious stones the twelve apostles,

evident, for the twelve stones described

below are the same as the high priest wore on

stones

his garment; and upon every one of these was engraven the name of one of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, and

these being placed upon his garment, he felt the weight of the whole nation resting upon

him every time he ministered

in holy things, see

is

Exod. 28

30

aiid so it is

with Jesus,

our glorious high priest and king, he

clothed with the garment of stdvation, and the

:

twelve apostles were united to him by

of the spiritual Israel of

faith

and one of the names of the twelve tribes

of these apostles' hearts
;

God was engraven upon every one

so

that our blessed Savior had to bear the weight of these twelve stones on his

own

body, as

well as the burden of the whole church,

when ho entered

into the holiest of holies tu

make

intercession for us with

God.


REVELATION.
several gate
loas
;

309

was of one pearl and the street of the city it were transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the
pure gold, as
:

moon, to shine

in
is

it

for the glory of

God

did lighten

it,

and the

Lamb

the light thereof.

shall

24 And the nations of them which are saved

walk

in the light of

it

and the kings of the earth do

it.

bring their glory and honor into

King's highway of holiness, the nar-

24

The nations
sin, its

that are saved.

row and

way, which leads to life. The one way, the only way, by which we can enter into life. See Luke, 1:6; Isa. 35 8. Pure gold. More precious than
straight
:

From
tions.

pollutions and corrupis,

That

the

Gentiles

who

embraced Christianity.
faith

Shall walk in the light of it. By and not by sight. They shall

the gold that perisheth.*

willingly
literal one;

walk

in all his

commandto

22 No temple.
but
it

That

is,

has a spiritual and glorious

ments and ordinances blameless. (That is, after their conversion

Christianity.)

temple.

The Lord God and

it.

the

Touch

not, taste not,

Lamb
23
It

are the temple of

It

has no need of the sun, Sj'c. shines beautifully and gloriously

it,

handle not the unclean thing. Hence the new Jerusalem will be a lamp to enlighten the whole world, and the
nations shall

without
light

for the

Lord God

is

the

walk

in the light of

it.

and glory of

it.

Yalkot Simeoni,

fol.

56, S.f

They were

as precious, and of as

much

vahie in the ej^es of a believer, as the most

precious and costly diamond would be in the eye of a jeweller.

the grace of

Our Savior compares

found, he went and
:

God

to a pearl of great price, which,

it
:

when
:

man hath

sold all that he had and bought

see Matt. 13

46,

and Acts, 4

34.

And

St.

Paul

counted

all things
:

but loss for the excellency of the

:

knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord.

See Phil. 3
t

8,

and Prov. 20

15.

The commandments and

ordinances of the Lord are all pure, making wise the sim-

ple

and strengthening the weak.

They

are not grievous but joyous to the believer.

He

delights in the

required us to keep all his

law of the Lord, and therein doth he meditate day and night. If God commandments, and to walk in all his ordinances blameless, when at the same time it is impossible to do so, then might he not be called a hard master, reaping where he hath not sown ?

310

NOTES
it

Ox\

THE
be shut at
all

25 And the gates of

for there shall

shall not

by day

be no night there.
shall bring the glory

26 And they
nations into
it.

and honor of the

it

27 And there

shall in

no wise enter into

any thing

And
rich
ors.*

The the kings of the earth. men, princes, rulers and governand honor
wealth

be

all

light

and glory
for

in the

Lord.

The
light

divine

Shekina shall
it

be the

and glory of

ever and for

Shall bring their glory

into
it.

ever.

Amen.

Shall lavish
it,

their

26

And

they shall bring the glory

the

more
city.

freely on

than on the old

reverence, obey

and honor of

nations

into

it.

Shall

fear,

and serve the church of the living God, the pillar and groundwork of the
truth.

Kings shall be their nursing fathers, and queens their nursing mothers, and the people shall all follow their
example,

They

shall cast their idols to

;

be righteous, and support

the moles and the bats

in

follow Christ

the pure, perfect, and holy religion

of the blessed Savior.

the regeneration, that

when he
appear

shall appear, they also

may

with him in glory, f 25 Its gates shall not be shut by day. They shall be open night and day for ever. God shall always have
earth

27 There shall not enter into it. According to God's command, as ministers or members, knowingly or willingly. See Ezek. 44 8, 9; Isa.
:

35:

9.

a spiritual church and ministry on shall be no more till time

ritual darkness there, but

and there shall be no night of spithey shall

A dead dead in trespasses and in sins: he would defile Not one of them. the whole body.
Any
tiling that defilcth.

sinner,

or he

who

is

18

but

of the gospel.

Formerly they lavished their wealth on the old city of Jerusalem. See chap. 17: now they do it on the new city, and this for the relief of the poor and the spread This was literally fulfilled in the reign of Constantine, if not before,
this
;

and every person who reads

must easily perceive

for

tliat

the

New

Jerusalem had

reference to the church of Christ

how

could

it

be said that the kings of the eartli

do bring their glory and honor into heaven itself?

t

The

ministers of the gospel shall bring the donations of the brethren into
all

it,

and
:

this

from

parts of the world.

See

Cor. IC
in

There were a great many treasury chambers

posited an

and 2 Cor. 8:4; also Isa. 60 9. the Jewish temple, iu which were de:

2, 3,

precious things.

immense quantity of money, and a vast number of garments, and many other It was in those chambers that the tythes and olfcrings of the cliildren
tlie

of Israel were deposited, part of which were to be applied to the use of the poor, and
the remainder to defray the expenses of and Josh. 6:19; also Jer. 38:11.
city

and nation.

See 2 Chron. 31

10, 11

REVELATION.
that defileth, neither whatsoever

311

worketh abomination, or

maketh a he

but they which are written in the Lamb's

book of

Ufe.

or one of the characters described in 15, shall verse 8 or in chapter 22 enter the church militant, nor the
:

the power of
is

God unto

salvation
that

it

these,

and

these only,
life.

are
!

written in the book of

for

Reader

church triumphant.*

But those who are ivritten in the Lamb's book of life. Those who have their names inserted as genuine
believers, in the records of eternity,

God's sake, for Christ's sake, for your soul's sake, do not stop short of
a

knowledge

of
all

salvation
sins
;

by^ the
then, and
state to

remission of

your

only then, are you in a

die.f

fit

or

who have

found the gospel to be

That

is,

any person who

lives in wilful transgression of the

law of God

he shall

not be permitted to enter into the holy temple.

The angel who stands

at the gate shall

keep him out

but there always have crept into the church unawares Avolves dressed in

the apostles found out such

and lambs of the flock but as soon as them off from communion with the church, and so ought every minister of Christ. The Jews considered the Gentiles to be dogs or filthy persons, and on this account had it in Greek and Roman letters on the pillars of
sheep's clothing,
to devour the sheep
:

who come

men they

cut

the sanctuary, that no foreigner should enter place defiled, and according to their

it

if

they did, they considered the holy

See Josep. War, book 5,2,4.

except they agree
t

How

own law had a right to put such a person to death. much more so must the temple of the living God be
it ?

defiled if unholy persons be permitted to enter

?

For how can two walk together

That

is,

and what fellowship hath light with darkness ? those who are saved from sin, see verse 24. From this we see that no
full

unconverted persons ought to be taken into

communion with

the church, whether

moral men or penitent sinners, they should be kept

verted.

in a probationary state until con-

of the

The church of Christ means all those who have found redemption in the blood Lamb, even the forgiveness of their sins, and all others belong to the synagogue

of Satan.

And

as the church itself

is

only the shadow, and heaven the substance, the

former should resemble the

latter, for

we know

that nothing unholy can enter there.

312

NOTES ON THE

CHAPTER
x\.ND he showed me
the

XXII.

a pure river of water

ol"

hfe, clear

as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of

God and

of

Lamb.

pure river of
and
full

ivater of

life.

in allusion

to this, calls the gospel

life,

free

salvation by faith in

the river of
ness,

because of

its free-

our Lord Jesus Christ.

This was to

cover the earth the same as waters cover the sea. It is a great, glorious, pure and perfect salvation.
is

and healing It revives, animates and qualities. invigorates the soul that hungers and
fulness,
])urity,

This

thirsts after righteousness.

Our Lord

the fountain opened in the house

of

David

for sin

and uncleanness to

compares his salvation to a well of water, springing up into everlasting

life.

the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

The

John, 4:14.*
crystal.

law and preaching of the prophets are called by the Rabbins the river of life, and the water of life. John,

Clear as
transparent.

Pure,
"

perfect,

In

it

you can see the

end from the beginning.

fool,

was
and

This has reference to the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins, which to cover the earth the same as the waters the great deep, and all nations were to
the Lord, from the least even unto the greatest.

know

This refers to the 47th chapter

1st verse

of Ezekiel.

deemer's kingdom.

The prophet here has reference to the spread of the ReHe represents the angel who had the measuring line, as measuring
first rise until
it

became so deep that it could not be was only up to the ankles, the second time it was up to the knees, but the third time it was up to the loins when he naeasured it the fourth time it was so deep that it was impassable. Now, if we view this as having reference to the spread of the gospel, we see how literally this was fulfilled:
the depth of the water from its

passed over.

First

when he measured

the water

it

for in the time of

the time of our Savior's ministry their

tecost their

John the Baptist's ministry there were but very few converts, but in number greatly increased after the day of Pen:

number

still

increased more and more

but after the destruction of Jerusa-

lem the kingdoms of

this

that in the time of John the Baptist's ministry the water

world became the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. So was only up to the ankles in
:

the time of our Savior's ministry

it

was

risen to the knees

and after the day of Penteit

cost

it

was up

to the loins

but after the destruction of Jerusalem

became impassable.

S chap. 7:

9.

The prophet

observes, in the 9th verse, that every tiling that liveth.

REVELATION.
tliougli

313
this.

a wayfaring man, need not

death for asserting

71.
tile,

err therein."
ritual

And

again

The

spi-

That whosoever.
barbarian,

Luke 22 : Jew or Genbond

or

man judgerh

all

things, yea, the

Scythian,
old,

or

deep things of God. Proceeding eut of the throne of God. Issuing forth from under the
golden altar
ry,
viz.,

free,

young or

rich

poor,

prince or peasant.

Believeth in him.

Not
all,

as a creature, (this is blind

unbe-

in the spiritual sanctua-

lief;)

but as the Creator,

for ever
;

in

the

New

and heavenly

and blessed

God over God manithem who

"

Jerusalem.

living stream literally

fest in the flesh,

who

is

able to save

proceeded from under the altar in the Jewish temple to wash and cleanse
(the

to the

very uttermost

all

come unto God by him.

the true

He

is

daily sacrifices.*
in

was planned
shall

This salvation heaven, and propa-

God and
all

eternal life,"

in

whom dwelleth

the fullness of the

gated by his apostles on earth. quote

We

one

text

of

scripture

which contains the whole plan of salvation. John 3 16. For God
:

so loved.

In

an extraordinary, in-

comprehensible manner, the world of ungodly men and women, rebels

against his government
;

Godhead bodily. A Christian does not want proof that the Bible is true, because he knows it to be such. He does not want proof that Payne's Age of Reason is false, for he is sure it is such. He does not want evidence thatUnitarianis.m or Universalism
'

a world of

is

true, for

he knows them (by ex-

both Jews and Gentiles, the natural

perience and the Bible) to be untrue.

and moral world, including every son and daughter of Adam. As to give.
Freely and not
forcibly, voluntary, as

He knows

that he has passed from

death unto
brethren."

life,

because he loves the Should not perish. In

a sin-offering, his only begotten Son.

the ocean of perdition, the lake that

His Isaac, Greek, the Son of himself, of the same nature and This is duration with the Father. the identical meaning attached to it
is.

That

burneth

The
had

idea

with fire and brimstone. is taken from a sailor who

fallen overboard.

given by the

man
all

at the helm.

The alarm is The

by the Rabbins, and he was put

to

captain orders

hands on deck, the

which moveth. whithersoever the

great multitude of
ehall
fish,

rivers shall

come,

shall live.

And

there shall be a verythither: for they

(converts,) because these waters shall

shall live whither the river

come

be healed

and every thing

cometh.

Here we have a
river.

beautiful representation of the spread of the gospel, under the

fish

emblem -of a

The

spoken of here has reference to men, and the fishermen spoken of in the next verse, to

the apostles.
for

This

is

the very place our Lord alluded to

when he
was

told Peter to fear not,

from henceforth he should catch

fishes.

men

i.

e. in

as great multitudes as he had

now

caught

Luke, 5

10; and Mark,

17.

And

this

all

literally fulfilled in

one day, under

his prea liing.

That

is, it

flowed from the place where he reigned and ruled

in his spirtual

presence.

See chap, 21:3.

The prophet

Ezekiel represents the river as proceeding out of the

:

new Jerusalem

see the above chapter quoted from there, and chap. 4

6.

40

314

NOTES ON THE
it,

2 la the midst of the street of

and on either side of

the river ivas there the tree of

life,

which bare twelve

ship to be laid

to,

ready

the poor
for

and a plank got drowning man is

,

this side

help; the plank is with a rope attached to it the man seizes it with a deadly grip, and is rescued from a watery grave to the joy of all on board. The poor sinner is overboard, out of the

screaming

thrown
;

out,

either side of the river. On and on that side of it. As inEzekiel, (see below.) That is, in time and in eternity, in the church militant,

And on

and in the church triumphant, " wherever two or ihree are met to-

gether in the

name

of Jesus, there
St.

is

he

Ark

of safety, floating upon the bois-

terous ocean of time, and the gulf of

eternal misery beneath

John " There alludes here to Ps. 46 4 is a river, the streams of which shall
them."*
:
;

in the midst of

him

the next

make

moment may be
Save me, Jesus, or

his last.
is.

The cry of

glad the city of our God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the
'^'i'lpy

the penitent sinner

el-yon.

The

unoriginated ones,

I yield, I sink
!

" the three

viz., the

in one,"

and one
the

in three,

save me, or I die

into hell.

Save me, or I sink

three divine persons, in the

one nature, "

the Son, and

and crew, minister and members, are all on the alert to save the perishing sinner the plank
captain
;

The

God God

Father,

God
and

the

Holy Ghost,"

of equal power, wisdom, glory,

endless

duration, without beginning

by faith and prayer, and the poor sinner lays hold of the only hope set before him, and is rescued from perishing in hell. And all hands rejoice, the church on earth, and the church in heaven.
;

(the Savior) is thrown out

and without end. Pelagar means the streams of the river, or heralds of
salvation to a perishing world,
i.

e.

the

twelve
9
:

apostles.

They

are in

Prov.

10,

called the

tabernacles

of the holy ones, because the Elo-

Have

everlasting

life.

An

eternal
:

hims were
ever
in

to abide

with them
:

for

weight of glory.

See chap. 14

13.
it.

the ministry. Matt. 28

20.

2 In the midst of the street of

The

King's highway of holiness, the

narrow and strait way, that leads to life. This the vulture's eye never saw, nor the lion's whelp ever trod. The ransomed of the Lord shall walk in it when they return to
Zion again.

These living fountains or streams were to make glad the city (church) of God, were to be the joy and rejoicing of it. In anticipation of this, David exclaims, "Elohim, our Savior, has gone up to (Zion) with a shout of
victory, with the sound of the (gospel) trumpet.

See

v. 14.

For God

is

king over

This may mean the

east, west, north,

;

and south sides of the

river.

It

spread

itself

into every part of the

world

or, again, it

may more

properly

mean time and

eternity.

REVELATION.
?nanner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every

315

month

and

the leaves of the tree

i(^ere

for the healing

of the nations.

all

the earth.
;

He

reigneth over the

new

fruit,

(converts.)

He was

the

heathen

he

sitteth

on the throne of
:

vine, his twelve apostles the branches, who had different gifts and graces work of the ministry. These were the Father's of the church, who had begotton the hundred and

47 5, 6, 7, Again, " Beautiful for situation,

his holiness," Ps.

8.
is

for the

mount Zion,
earth,

the joy of the whole

the

city

of the great king,

(Messiah,) in the sides of the fiorth."

forty-four thousand converts,

in chap. 7
:

named

The

tree

of
life

life.

The

Savior,

4.*

who

is

the

of the whole world,

life

And
That

yielded her fruit every month.

is,

literally,

and the

of all true be-

was

continually producing
it,

lievers, spiritually.

He

is

the true

new
its

fruit.

Ezekiel has

"fruit in

vine, that diflfuses life and animation

season," bringing forth sons and

through
faith

all

the various branches of

It is

daughters daily to the Lord.f

minister

The

the Christian church.

only by

who

labors faithfully, will

to this tree,

and prayer we can have access i. e. union and communion

labor effectually, and see the fruit of

his labor

every Sabbath
or

and he
is

who

with God the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. This Adam and Eve lost in Paradise through unbelief.

has no fruit of his labor,

a dead branch,

either

has never been

united to the living vine

by

faith.

And what
the

shall
if

it

profit

a man, (in

That

That hears twelve manner offruits. sustains and supports twelve

branches (ministers) that are

ministry)

he should gain the

lose

whole world and

or
his

his

own

soul,
for
to

diflferent

what

shall he give in
St.

exchange
here

continually producing or bringing forth

soul.

John

refers

Christ compares himself to a vine, and the twelve apostles to the branches of the

Tine, because they

were grafted into him by

faith.
is

John, 15

5.

There was as near a

;

union between him and their souls as there

without him they could do nothing.
life,

between the branch and the vine

spiritual sustenance

for

They derived

from the tree of

and by
This

it

they were able to bear fruit unto perfection.

to Gennesaret, a place in the

John, 17

23.
his

may aUude

Holy Land, where our Lord and

apostles often resoited.

trees, but
figs

Matt. 14

34, 35.

It

was famoii*
and

for almost all sorts of fruitful

more especially
for ten

for fig trees,

and

olive trees,

vines.

This place afforded

and grapes

months

in the year.

But

yet, after all, it

was not

as fruitfnl as

the paradise of

God
:

for in this

garden there were trees of

all sorts,

pleasant to the eye,

and good
bore
fruit

for food

and these

trees of the Lord's planting exceeded all others, for they

every month in the year, both winter and

little

summer

so that if one tree

ripe fruit,

left off
fit

oearing for a

season, another one

was loaded with precious

which was

for present use.

316

XOTES ON THE

And

there shall be no more curse

but the throne

Ezek. 47 12. Hence, on this side and on that side of the river of life, shall grow every fruitful tree, (minis:

brings the poor prodigal back again

to his Father's house.

Faith opens
and sanctihis
spiri-

the door of mercy.

stores

Justification re-

ter,)

wither,

and their leaf (faith)* (fail,) nor their

shall
fruit,

shall not
fruit

him

to his favor;
all

be

fication

heals him of

destroyed
(apostles)

(by persecution.)
continually

They
bring

tual diseases,

washes him from the

and
spirit,

filthiness of flesh

and pre-

forth

new

(converts.) because
life

of the water of
tion)

(gospel of salvaissue
forth

pares him for glory, immortality, and eternal life, at God's right hand.

which

shall

from

Hence

SiY.U'^,

'^'^'Wl

naph-she

ye-

the holy place, (church,) and his (the

Savior's) fruit
shall
;

shoo-vaiv.
reinstates
it

He
in
2.

restoreth

my

soul

be

for

food to

the likeness of God.

sustain the people

(doctrines)

and his leaves

Ps.

23

There were

trees

iu

shall be for the restora-

tion of the soul.

John, 21

14

See Zech. 14:8; Tim. 4 16.

:

Were for

the

healing of the nations.

to the
vi^hich

Judea whose leaves and bark were famous for healing different diseases, and were resorted to from every part of the country. See Jer. 8 22. And
:

To

restore

them
in

likeness of God,

image and Adam and

but which

the doctrines of Christianity,

when
the

faithfully preached, will heal all our

spiritual

Eve

lost

Paradise,
his

maladies, and

restore

Christ regained by

death and

believing soul to the image of God.

sufferings on the cross.

Repentance

There shall be no more curse.

The

leaves of the tree

may have

reference to the promises of the gospel.

all

Oh

how

precious a medicine are these to the believer, and to

the salvation of their souls
!

who

are earnestly seeking after

is

How

precious to
;

know

that Jesus Christ

the Savior of all

to the
if

men,
vilest

specially of

them
;

that believe

and that he has promised pardon and peace

in

of the vile
all

and he that cometh to him he will

his heart, he shall find

no wise cast

out,

and that
heal

he
hi

seek him with

him

These are a medicine

to

all

But when Jesus applies the \vounds, and a cordial to disperse all his doubts and fears. promises to his guilty soul, and says to him " thy sins, which are many, are all forgiven
thee
is
:

go

in peace,

and

sin

no more

!"

Oh

how

truly

happy and joyful he

his

feels

He

not afraid to die and go to judgment, because he

knows

peace

and that

God

is

now

reconciled to him.

And what
and that

a consolation to

made with God, know that God has

is

promised to withhold no good thing from those that walk uprightly, and he
leave nor forsake

will

never
in the

them

that trust in

him

his

grace

is

sufficient for
!

them

hour of

trial

and temptation.

Surely these arc a precious medicine

Sinner, believe in
price.

the promises of God, for they arc yours without

money and without

and
if

Jesus love*

you and wishes you to recover of your disease

bottom,
it is

he does

[n-ohe tiie

wound

to the

to

pour the

oil

and the wine of

his

grace into your wounded heart.

REVELATION.
of

317
it

God and

of

tlie

Lamb

shall

be in

and

his servants

shall serve him.

4 And they
5

shall see his face

and

his

name

shall he

in their foreheads.

And

there shall be no night there

and they need

War, bloodsliefl, pestilence, famine. As was predicted by Moses two

thousand years since.

weary in the work

the work, hut not

;

weary of

Deut

"28

45.

is not a burden, but a delight, they can cheer-

duty with them

We shall now
for

have a time of general peace and prosperity in the church. We, therefore, have nothing to fear,
he that
is for

fully sing

"Joyful thus

my

faith to

show,

"I

find

his service

us

is

more than
the

my reward;

all

" Every work I do below,

" I do
it

that are against us.

to the

Lord."

The
tuary.

throne of
it.

God and
rule

Lamb
4

shall he in

In the spiritual sancshall

They

shall see his face.

Behold

They
;

over

the
all

his glory

beaming

forth in his holy

church, and rule in the hearts of

true believers
shall take

temple.

The

divine glory shall shine

up

their

abode in the temple of the new and heavenly Jerusalem. The Jews believed their temple could never be destroyed by the heathen, because

God

continually resided there

but

between the mercy-seat over the cherubim, and upon the whole congregation of the true Israel of God. They shall see him daily by faith, which is the same to the soul as the eye is to the body the
forth from
:

he took his departure from it while and in forty years after on earth and this it was utterly destroyed,
;

one sees things

part this

visible,

the

other

things invisible; and

life,

when they

de-

faith shall be

swallowed

not one stone

ther.
last

left

upon top of anotemple is to never to be deI am with you

up

in sight,
is.

and they shall see God

be in their fore-

But the
for

spiritual
is
!

as he

stroyed.

ever; " Lo

Amen. His name shall

head.
visible

Holiness to the Lord shall be

(says Jesus) always, even unto the

end of the world." Hence, " Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne,
ever."

O God

for

ever

and

Amen.
Like

in their very countenance. This alludes to the mitre which the high priest wore on his forehead, and on which was inscribed Holiness to the Lord. One was the shadow, the

His servants shall serve him.

shall serve
fully,

other the substance.

the Levites in his holy temple, they

5 There shall be no night there.

Spiritual darkness,
blindness,

God and

his people faith-

igno-

zealously, patiently and perall

rance of

severingly, be the servants of

and

For the

God and Lord God

his holy religion.

shall be the light

masters

of

none.

They may

be

and glory of his people for ever and

318

\OTES ON THE
light of the sim
;

no candle, neither
oiveth

for the

them

light

and

they shall reign for ever

Lord God and ever.

And he said unto nie, These And the Lord God of the true.
G

sayings are faithful and

holy prophets sent his

anoel to

show unto

his servants the things

which must

shortly be done. 7 Behold, I

come quickly

blessed

is

he that keepeth

the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 8

And

John saw these

things,

and heard

thejn.

And

over.

the

This may, however, refer to and dreadful calamities which came oil the world a short
dark

ministers

of the seven churches of

title

Asia.

Blessed

indeed, servants

of Jesus.
tage.

Not
be

lords over God's heri-

lem.

time before the destruction of JerusaChapter 16 :10.

6 These
are

Shortly

sayings.

These predicand warnand true, be-

within three years and

tions, doctrines, threatenings

The
vest
;

fields

Immediately, six months. are now white to hardone.

ings,

all

faithful

therefore,

the

reapers

will
it

cause dictated by the inspiration of God, and will be literally and exactly fulfilled in a

soon

be sent into Judea to cut

time e xcept the

years.

few years from this predictions which

of the 1,000

refer to the expiration

down. To exe7 Behold I come quickly. cute judgment on all the ungodly, and to make my church free and independent, a holy, happy, and honorable people.
Blessed.

The Lord God of

phets.

the

holy pro-

He who

protected, preserved

Happy,
of
this

pious, glorious.

and inspired them to act, think, speak and live for him. Sent his angel. Messenger, ambassador,
to

Is he that keepeth the

sayings and

prophecies

hook.

That

not

only believes in

them,

but walks

teach

.Tohn

and

the

according to them, because given by

the inspiration of God.

churches things which must shortly come to pass. This angel, no doubt, was the prophet Isaiah, for he was
so great, glorious and

/ saw

these things.

In the vi-

sion, revelation,

made by

the Savior

majestic, that

through
1
:

this

angel.

See

chapter
before

John mistook him for his Lord and Master until he was told to the contrary, viz. that he was simply a ministering spirit from heaven. To show unto his servants. The

1.

fell

down.

Prostrate

him, as an act of adoration, because I believed him to be my Master

but

he

soon informed

me

he was

REVELATION.

319
to

when

had heard and

seen, I fell

down

worship before

showed me these thinos. 9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not for I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book worship
the feet of the ano^el which
: :

God.

10
11

And he

saith unto

me, Seal not the sayings of the

for the time is at hand.

prophecy of

this
is

book

He

that

unjust, let

him be
still
:

unjust

still

and he
is

which

is filthy, let

him be

filthy

and he that

right-

but a servant, a guardian angel of

the church, a brother in the ministry.

under their
tear

feet,

and turn again and

See Dan. 10

8, 9.
it

you in pieces. The publicity of them to the world may raise another
general
persecution against you. Therefore let them be communicated to the church privately.

9 See thou do

not.

For

am

neither a pope nor a prince, but a

mere creature, therefore worship not me, but Christ, who is the Creator and upholder of all things. God has

The
reach,

time
at

is

at

your

hand. Within very door. The

commanded
Father,

all

men everywhere,

to

signs of the times indicate this.

The
the

reverence the Son the same

as the

trees are in

blossom, therefore

summer
God.

is at

hand.
is

Worship
for

Worship
all

Christ,

11

He

that

unjust.

Towards

the Christian's God,

and no other,
the an-

God, himself, his family, the church,

and his creditors.

God hath commanded

heaven
to

gels in

worship him.

Heb.

1:6.

To

adore, reverence, worship

Let him be unjust still. If Christ and his gospel, and his Holy Spirit,
cannot convert him or them, certainly

a creature, the

any thing
the earth,

in

image or likeness of heaven above, or in the

or the waters under

you cannot do
salvation
to

it.

Therefore, preach

earth beneath,
is

them

no more

they

and will exclude us from the kingdom of heaven.

idolatry,

are given over to a reprobate mind, and to a hard heart.

See verse
10 Seal

15.
not.

He

that

is

jilthy.

Polluted by

Conceal not, keep them not hid from the church, as they will soon be revealed to the world by a literal fulfilment of them.

murder, adultery, fornication, drunkenness, dissipation,

also, atheists,

theft,

robbery

You need not cast your pearls before swine, lest they should trample them

Turks, &c. &c. Let him be filthy still. Preach my gospel to such vile men no more,

deists, infidels,

320
eous, let

NOTES ON THE
still
:

him be righteous him be holy still.

12

and he that

is

holy, let

And
me,

behold, I
to

come quickly

and

my

reward

'is

with

give

every

man

according as his work

the beginning and the

shall be.

13

am Alpha and Omega,

first

end, the

and the

last.

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that

as they are reprobates concerning the

faith.

in the

depth of the sea.

transgression that
in
is

For every and disobedience shall

See chap.

He
faith

righteous.

Justified

our Lord Jesus.

by Let him

receive a just recompense of reward.

13 Alpha and Otnega.

1
:

hold fast the beginning of his confi-

11.

dence, firm to the end

be rooted,

14.

Blessed.

Happy, prosperous,

grounded, established,
on his most holy
ffjith.

and built up

gracious, glorious.

He
and
fast

thai
in

is

hohj.

Pure

in

heart

life,

sanctified
spirit.

ihroiighuut,

Are they. All true behevers who worship God in spirit and in truth, and in the beauty of holiness.
king's
all,

soul, body,

and

Let him hold

whereunto he hath attained, that no man take his crown. Here then are two distinct and ditierent degrees
ofhohness, justification and
catioii.

The Keep his commandments. commandments. Observe them

small and great;
not to put a

part for the whole.

Keeping some

sanctifi-

God help

us

to

seek after

both of tht-m.

and neglecting others. Tithing mint and cummin, and neglecting the weightier matters of the law, such
as justice,

12 My reward is uiik me. A crown of glory is in my right hand, for the rlghleous; a sword of justice
in

There
to love

is a

judgment and mercy. 1. duty we owe to our God,

all

him with

our heart, ouI,

my left hand, topuni'ihihe wicked, my enemies, who would not that

t

mind and strength.

to

2.

A duty we owe
and
.--erve

oar neighbor,
ourselves,

to love

him

should

rc'igu

over them.
his

According as

He
to

that giveih even a

work shall be. cup of water

shall
in

one of

my

disciples,

no
the

wise lose his reward.

other
these
it

And on

by him in all things as we should wish him to do to us. 3. A duty we owe to our chiU dren, to bring them up in the fear, nurture, and admonition of the Lord.
as
to do
4.

hand, he
little

that

injures one of

duty

we owe

to

our rulers,

to

ones that believe in me,

render unto Caesar the things (tribute

tied round his neck, and he

would be better he had a millstone drowned

and respect,) that are Csesar's, and to

God

the things that are his, in keep-

REVELATION.
they

321
life,

may have

right to the tree of

and may enter

in through the gates into the city.

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever
loveth

16

I Jesus

and maketh a lie. have sent mine angel

his

to testify unto

you

ino-

his

law and walking

in

all

commandments and ordinances blame5. A duty we owe to the minless.

istry,

may have right to the Access to it ; union and communion with God, the Father,
That they
of
life.

tree

we

are to fear, reverence,

and
over

obey them

who have

the rule

life

and his Son, Jesus Christ, who is the This Adam and of the world.

s, as they watch for our souls, as they that must give an account. 6. A duty of children to parents, to fear reverence, serve and obey them, to

Eve
it

lost by disobedience, we regain by obedience to his holy command-

law

take care of them in old age,

when

not able to take care of themselves,

Hence, he that keeps the be delivered from the sufferings of the Messiah, the wars of Gog and Magog, and the torments of hell,
ments.
shall

what they have done for you in infancy you are to do for them in old age. 7. A duty we owe to the church, we
are not to forget^the assembling of
ourselves together, (every Sabbath,)
as the

Tal. Bab. San.

into the city.
into the

fol.

98, 2.

And may enter in

through the gates

That they be admitted

church militant, through the

ministers of the gospel, for they

manner of some

is

but

Ijo

ex-

the

have power to admit proper persons into

it.

hort, encourage

and help each other

the church and to exclude improper

daily, especially as the

day of
8.

final

persons from

May

they always

retribution

is

at hand.

We
all

owe
men,

use this power to the glory of

God

a duty

to the

world,

we

are to provide

things honest in the sight of

and the good of man. And from the church militant you shall be transmitted to the church triumphant.

and

if possible

to

owe no man any

and if we have wronged or defrauded any man, to make full resthing,

titution, as far as

15 Without
tors,

are dogs.

Persecu-

oppressors of the poor and desti-

we

can, or, accord-

tute; also heathens, idolaters, liars, deceivers, and all such characters as are They are described in chap. 21": 8.

ing to our ability.

his

Here then

are

commandments and

blessed and

holy are they that do them, their re-

ward

will be great in heaven.

The

excluded from the church on earth, and will be finally excluded from the

law, the Rabbins say, required four duties: 1. The study of the law. 2.

church in heaven.
16

Jesus.

Your Savior and

Good works, Deut. 28

er. 4.

13.

3.

Pray-

To be

diligent in business so

Redeemer. Sent mine angel.

churches and

To show

the

as to provide for the family.

my ministers my

pecu-

322

NOTES ON THE
I

these things in the churches

am

the root and the

off-

spring of David, and the bright and morning-star.

17

And

him

that heareth say,

-come.

and the bride say, Come. And let Come. And let him that is athirst And whosoever will, let him take the water of
the Spirit

life freely.

liar regard for

them, I have sent

to iiifonn

my

our Lord Jesus Christ so as to obey

it

Ambassador

them

of the

and live^in
it.

all

things according

severe calamities which are just coming on the world.

to

Him
the
:

tJiatis athirst.
it

That

earnestly

I am
David.
17

the root

and

offspring of

seeks and desires

by prayer, the
in the de-

See chap. 2
spirit.

8,

5.

same m'^

as the

weary traveller
not only

The

The

tl'^nb^^

serts of Arabia, the cooling spring of

The

spirit of

Elohim, a person of the

water.

He

earnestly and

same nature and duration with God called by St. Paul the eternal Sjnrif.

anxiously desires the refreshing water

brook, but believes and hopes he shall

He

is

the third

person of the holy

he
(ex.^ivc;) is

soon obtain

it.

Only

believe

my
and

brofeel

Trinity,

when

come he
sin,

ther, and thou shalt soon see

will convince

the world

of

of

the salvation of God.

righteousness and of judgment.

John

And
tile,

whosoever

will.

Amen. Jew or Genor

IG
i<;

Therefore he is omniscient, he omnipotent also and he is styled

:

8.

bond or

free,

black or white,

young

or old, rich or poor, sailor

&('os,

God, Acts, 5: 4. Here, then, is proof beyond doubt of the divinity and eternity of the holy spirit. Hence nva?a ^)J2 ^^n the spirit
of

soldier, prince or peasant,

master or
all

servant, minister or

member,
life

are

welcome, you
not forcibly
before
will
; ;

may have it
God sets

freely,

but

and death

King
The

Messsiah.

Targ.

on

you and says choose which you

Chronicles 2.
bride.

The Lamb's

wife, the

pure and perfect virgin, Avho has been united to h^r living- head by
faith.

he persuades, but never comhe knocks at the door, but never the power tocr)iiforces an entrance vince and convert is on his part, the power to repent and believe on your
pels;
;

Say
to

come.
to the

Tlioy both cordially,

l)art,

and as you cannot do his work

aflectionately and earnestly invite

you

come

water of
will

life freely, to

neither will he do yonrs. that sins shall die, the soul

lieves shall be saved,

The
that
in

soul
be-

obtain

salvation without
])rice,

without

money and you come iny

so that

the

dear friend now, this day, hour, mo-

ment:

may God

IJ'im that hearclli.

help you to do it. The Gospel of

day of eternity you will not be condemned for a talent which you liave not, but for tlie talent you have, and
whiidi vou have buried in the earth.

REVELATION.
18 For
I testify

323

unto every

man

that heareth the

words

'

of the prophecy of this book, If any

man

shall

add unto
that are

these things,

God

shall
:

add unto him the plagues

shall take

written in this book

19

And

if

any man

the book of this prophecy,

out of the book of
life,

God

and out

away from the words of take away his part of the holy city, and /rem
shall

the things which are written in this book.

20

He

which
:

testifieth

these

things saith,

Surely

come

Even so, come. Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of our Lord Jesiis Christ he with you Amen.
quickly

Amen.

all.

18 I
the
last,

tcstifii.

Jesus the

first

and

the great I am.

righteousness,

It is I that
is

hook of
glory.

Shall take aivay his part out of the Shall excommunicate life.
the kingdom of grace and
that denies the authority

speak

ill

who

mighty

him from

to save.

He

man that heareth. Minister or member, Jew or Gentile. The words of this prophecy. The
To
every
doctrines,

and inspiration of the book, is an infidel, and has denied the faith, is a heretic, and deserves to have his name
erased from the records of eternity,

duties and predictions, of

it

this inspired book, the fact is

can-

and also

all

the precious promises con-

not be a prophecy without inspiration,

therefore
dictated
it is

tained in this book.

a real canonical

book,

20

He
is

that testifieth

these things.
;

by the

spirit of Christ,
it

who

influenced

John to write seven churches of Asia.

Shall add
to

to the

and not John he wrote them as they were revealed to him by his Lord and Master thereChrist,
:

That

^ihem.

In order to

fore

show
to

that they are deficient in truth,

in equity, in language, or, inspiration

they are the revelations of Jesus, and not of John the very first cha])ter and verse of the book demonstrates
;

endeavor to prove that they are

19 Diminisli from them. Endeavor

this.

not of God, but of man.

Surely I come quickly. Immediately,

without delay, to take vengeance

all

to lessen or destroy their force or in-

on the wicked and

not
it
;

fluence on the minds of the people

by
of

my
may

holy gospel.

them that obey Amen: So be

denying the whole or any part

thy

will,

and not mine, be

them, or even misapplying them, God shall punish him with the plagues of
this book, either in this life or in the
life to

done.

21 The grace. Love, mercy, blessing, of

our Lord Jesus Christ be with

come.

Deut.

3.

you

all,

Amen

and

let all

the people

G24
say Amensent

NOTES
This
is

0.\

THE KEVELATIOX,
and
will,

the last epistle

no doubt, be

my

last

admo-

by the beloved John to the church, it^ fills up and completes the New Testament of our Lord Jesus
Christ.

nition to you,

my

dear friends and

the blessing

brethren.

And now, may

of the Triune God, Father, Son, and

And probably

this will

be the

Holy

Spirit, rest
all

and abide with you

last time I shall

ever take up

my

pen

and with

the Israel of

to vindicate

God's most holy word

forth and for ever.

God henceAmen.

THE EMD.

BS2825 .R888
A new and
original exposition of the
Princeton Theological Semmary-Speer Library

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