Revelation 14

AND I looked, and so a lamb stood on the mount Sion God in this part of the Vision, shows his Servant Iohn, that during the whole Reign of Antichrist, till the Voice mentioned v. 8. Babylon is fallen, should be heard, notwithstanding all his Rage; he would preserve his Church, tho it would be but a small number, bearing no better proportion to the whole World then 144000 (the number of those sealed of each Tribe of Israel, chap. 7.) bare to whole Israel, which were above 600000 upon both their numbrings, Numb. chap. 1. chap. 26. The Lamb here signifieth Christ, chap. 5.6. Mount Sion signifieth the Church of the Gospel, typified by Mount Zion amongst the Iews where the Temple stood., and with him, an hundred forty and four thousand 144000 is the same number that was sealed ch. 7. of all the Tribes of Israel; not that there was just so many which made up the Church under Antichrist's Persecution; but it signifies 1. A small number in comparison of such as should be of another stamp. 2. It is a number made up of twelve times twelve, by which is signified that they were a People that should answer the Israelites indeed of the Old Testament, that remnant of the 12 Tribes whom God had chosen, who adhere to the Doctrine and Precepts of the twelve Apostles., having his Fathers name written in their foreheads Making an open Profession of being the Children and Servants of God; as those Servants and Soldiers did that had anciently the Names of their Masters and Generals in their foreheads (It being an ancient custom for Masters to brand their Servants, and Captains their Soldiers, as we do our Beasts at this day.).

And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder A loud Voice, and terrible also to the followers of Antichrist.: and I heard the voice of harpers, harping with their harps A Musical melodious Voice, as of persons rejoicing. Mr. M de rather thinks, that the voice of many waters, signifies no more than a great multitude, and indeed it is so expounded chap. 19.6..

And they sung as it were a new song before the throne By the Throne here is meant the Throne of God in Glory. The new Song here spoken of, is probably the same with that we met with before, chap. 5.11, 12. sang by the voice of many Angels round about the Throne, and the Beasts and the Elders: called new, either for the excellency of it; or, because sung unto God after Christ was manifested in the Flesh; the design of it was to declare the worthiness of Christ, to receive Power, and Riches, and Wisdom, and Strength, and Honour, and Glory, and Blessing; see chap. 5.12. Mr. Mede says thus of it,—If God shall at any time make me fully to derstand it, I will happily more largely explain it, for it is deeply settled in my mind, that the whole mystery of Evangelical Worship is in it contained. And quite through the Scripture generaly, a new Song signifies a Song which praiseth God for some new benefits received from him., and before the four beasts and the elders The Throne, Beasts, and Elders, described before chap. 4.: and no man could learn that song, but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the earth During the Reign of Antichrist none could learn this new Song, viz. To give Glory to Jesus Christ alone, ascribing to him Power, Riches, Wisdom, Strength, Honour, Glory and Blessing; but a small number redeemed through the Blood of Christ, from that vain conversation received by Tradition from their Fathers, 1 Pet. 1.18. All the other part of the World gave Christ's Hono r and Glory to the Virgin Mary, Angels and Saints, &c..

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins That is, that would not comply with Antichristian Idolatry and Superstition; for Idolatry is all along in Holy Writ compared to Whoredom and Fornication. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth That follow the Lord Christ fully, in all things keeping close to the rules of Worship and Life which he has given: These were redeemed from among men That show themselves to be redeemed by the Blood of Christ from the vain conversation of Men, whether towards God, in matters of Worship, or towards Men, being the first fruits unto God, and to the Lamb.

And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God Not that any liveth, and sinneth not against God, but it is to be understood comparatively; they are without Fault, in comparison of the rest of the World; they have not in them the Guile of Hypocrisie; they are sincere. Or, possibly by Guile, is here understood, a Lie. All Idolaters are Liers, Rom. 1.25. and Idols are called Lies, Ier. 16.19. Amos 2.4. Mr Mede expoundeth this Text by Zeph. 3.13. The words may either more generally signifie the Holiness of these Persons, in opposition to Profaneness and Hypocrisie: Or more particularly their Freedom and Purity from Antichristian Superstitions, and Idolatry..

And I saw another angel flie God having in a Vision showed unto his Servant Iohn the Reign and Rag of Antichrist, ch. 13. and in this Chapter the care he would extend toward his Church for the Preservation of a godly Seed during his Reign, he now cometh by further V ions to instruct him in what should be done during Antichrist's Reign of 42 Months. 1. The Gospel should be preached This I take to be the Substance of this verse. This Angel seems to me to represent faithful Ministers Speed and Diligence to preach the Gospel in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people in all parts of the World. It is called the everlasting Gospel, either with Reference to the time past, as much as to say, the old Gospel; or to the time to come, i being that Doctrine of Salvation, besides which, there neither i, nor ever shall be revealed any other while the World endureth, Acts 4.12..

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters These Angels, or Ministers of God, whether Civil or Ecclesiastical Witnesses, cried aloud against the Papal Idolatry, in worshipping Saints and Images, admonishing all Men to give divine Adoration only to the true and living God, who was the Creator of all things. The worshipping of Images began soon after Antichrist began to reign: We find it decreed in a Synod held at London about 710, but it was abolished by a Synod at Constantinople, 712. In 723. it was again established by a Synod at M tz. By a Synod in Syria it was defended, Anno 725, and the Emperor Leo Isaurus was excommunicated for opposing it; but in 730, a Synod at Constantinople decreed for Leo against it: another Synod held there 755, under the Emperor Constantinus Copronymus decreed against it: but two other Synods held in Bavaria, 765, 766 again decreed for it. In 786 the second Synod of Nice established it; since which time it has constantly obtained amongst the Papists: but as from the first broaching of this Idolatry, it was opposed by five Emperors of Constantinople, so it has all along been declaimed against by the faithful Ministers of Christ, preaching the everlasting Gospel, and calling upon Men to perform Divine Adoration only to him who made Heaven and Earth..

And there followed another angel, saying The Apostle is shown, that other Messengers of God should come forth, during the Reign of Antichrist, that should declare his ruine as certainly as if it were already effected., Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city These words are taken from Isaiah 21.9. Babylon is fallen, Babylon is fallen, and all the graven Images of her Gods, he has broken unto the ground. So Ier. 51.8. Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed. There is no doubt, but both the Prophets spake of that Babylon into which the Iews were carried captive; but that Babylon was typical of another Babylon, called here the great City, and great Babylon, ch. 16.19. & 17.5. & 18.10, 22. and the Mother of Harlots, ch. 17.5. There neither is, nor ever was any City in the World, to whom these things could agree, but to Rome, rightly enough called the Mother of Harlots, and the Abominations of the Earth, chap. 17.5. both in respect of carnal Filthiness there tolerated to make the Bishop of Rome a Revenue, and spiritual Whoredom, which is Idolatry: called also Sodom and Egypt, ch. 11.8. the former of which was famous for beastly Lusts, the latter for Idolatry, and Oppression of God's Israel. The of old Babylon is denounced by the Prophet, Isa. 21.9. because of her Idolatry in Image-worship, for which the new Babylon is every whit as famous. The word translated Wrath (tho it oft so signifies) yet should rather be here, Poison, as we translate it, Deut. 32.33. Iob 20.16. The LXX in those Texts use the same word that is here used,; so the Sense is [with the poisonous Wine of her Idolatry] intimating to us the venemous Condition of Romish Superstitions and Idolatries, to intice ignorant People to be in love with them, as arlots use with their Philters, or poisoned Cups, to make Men in love with them. If we better approve of our Translation of the term Wrath, The Wine of the Wrath of her Fornication, signifieth her Fornication which brings Wrath upon them that join with her in it., because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication t.

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 God letteth his Servant Iohn know, That during the Reign and Rage of Antichrist, as he would have Ministers of the Gospel that should preach the Truth, and mind Men to keep themselves from Idols, worshipping God alone; and others that should assure them the Papacy should go down, mystical Babylon should fall; so he would have others that should give warning to Men and Women of those dreadful Plagues that should come upon them that entred themselves in this great City, either worshipping the Devil after the Pagan manner, or the Image of the Beast, i. e. committing Idolatry after the Antichristian Popish Fashion, or that should either be subject to this idolatrous Head, or be a Soldier to fight for it. What those Judgments should be, God shows in v. 10. and possibly there is not a more severe Denunciation of Judgment in the whole Book of God.,

The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God Those that do yield a Subjection to him, and profess his Faith, shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God; that is, shall feel the Severity of God's judicial Dispensations, which in Scripture are expressed by the Wine Cup of his Fury, Jer. 25.15. See also Iob 21.20. Psalm 75.8. Isa. 51.17. either from the intoxicating quality of Wine, or the stupifying quality of it, when mixed with Myrrh, or other stupifying things., which is poured out without mixture, into the cup of his indignation But here it is said without Mixture, which signifies their sensible feeling of the Effects of Divine Wrath., and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of his holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb That is, in short, he shall go to Hell at last; the exquisiteness of which Torments, as to the Pain of sense, is se out by Fire and Brimst ne; Brimstone being a material in which Fire holds longest to torment any Flesh put into it..

And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever That is, their Torments shall be everlasting, as well as most exquisite, and causing the most acute Pain.; And they have no rest day nor night This is but the same thing in other words: their Torments shall be such as shall give them no rest at any time., who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name The Sense of these two Verses, is no more than this, That all Idolaters shall fall under the Vengeance of God in this Life, and at last shall be thrown to Hell not only such as worship the Beast, committing Paganish Idolatry, worshipping Stocks and Stones, and Devils, as the term of their Worship, but such as worship the Image of that Beast set up by Antichrist, worshipping of Angels and Saints, or their Images. From hence an easie Answer may be given to that Question; Whether a Man can be saved in that which at this day is called the Roman Catholick Religion? If they either worship the Beast, or the Image of the Beast, they cannot: whether they do or no, let the Reader judge from what has been before-said..

Here is the patience of the saints God having in the former Chapter shown his Servant Iohn the Reign and Rage of Antichrist in his time of 42 Months, and in this Chapter, what shall be the end both of him, and all his Adherents, here concludeth with telling him, This is a Period of time wherein the Patience of his holy Ones will be tried, both in waiting for their Deliverance, and also in their patient induring Antichrists Oppression and Tyranny.: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus And here will be the trial of Men, whether they will keep to the Faith of Christ, and Obedience of God's Commandments, by comming out, or keeping in this spiritual Babylon: Those that come out of her will show both; those that keep in that idolatrous Communion, will show neither..

And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write These words denote the Excellency of the following Saying. It is a Voice from Heaven, therefore worthy of our Attention. Iohn is commanded to write it to be kept in memory for the Comfort and Encouragement of God's People, who might be discouraged at the hearing of those calamitous times which they were like to meet with, during the Reign of Antichrist, in which many of them were like to be put to death., Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth There is some little difference amongst Interpreters about the Sense of this Particular: certain it is, it is not to be understood of the time following this Revelation exclusively, as to those who before died to Christ; for they also were blessed, they also rested from their Labours, &c. yet the Particle seems to refer to the time to come. The Emphasis of the Particle seems to be, to obviate the Doubts of those who should happen to dy under Antichrist's Rage, because they died not by the Hands of Pagans, and avowed Enemies of the Gospel, but of such as should call themselves Christians; such, says God, die for the Lord, and are blessed, and shall be blessed.: Yea, says the Spirit The Spirit of Truth affirms it., that they may rest from their labours They shall be at rest from the Troubles of this Life,; and their works do follow them and their good Deeds, and patient Sufferings shall follow them as Witnesses for them, before the Judge of the quick and the dead..

And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sate, like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle The Description here can agree to none but Christ, sitting, as it were, upon Clouds, and coming out in his judicial Dispensations of Providence, to execute Judgment upon his Enemies, to which purpose he is said to have in his Hand a sharp Sickle.. Have follow two Visions, the one of an Harvest, the other of a Vintage; there is no great Difficulty in determining, that they both signifie some judicial Dispensations of God, that he would bring upon the World, or some part of it; the latter of which should be greater than the former: Yet Dr. Moor, and Mr. Mede have another Notion of them. But there is some doubt amongst Interpreters, whether they signifie God's general Iudgment in the last day, or some particular Iudgments before that day, mentioned, ch. 15, and 16. and belongs to the Vials which we there read of. Those who think that the last Iudgment is here showed to John, are led to it from the Representation of the Day of Iudgment, under the Notion of an Harvest, Mat. 3.12. & 13.39. But I rather agree with them who think that the Harvest here mentioned, is a Representation of some judicial Dispensations of God before that time, particularly God's Vengeance upon the Beast more fully exprest, ch. 16. For, 1. the last Iudgment is fully described afterward, ch. 19, 20. 2. To express that, there needed not two Types, the one of an Harvest, the other of a Vintage. 3 Here is no mention of the Resurrection which must go before the last Iudgment. Mr. Mede has noted, that there are three things belonging to an Harvest; 1. Cutting down of Corn. 2. Gathering it into the Barn. 3. Threshing it. Whence, in Scripture, it signifieth either cutting and destroying, or safety and preserving, (which is the end of gathering Corn into the Barn) We have Examples of the former, Isa. 17.3, 5. Jer. 51.33. but of the latter, we have only Examples in the New-Testament, Luke 10.2. It is his Opinion, that the Conversion of the Jews, going before the great Slaughter mentioned, ch. 19. is that which is here meant; but I rather agree with those who think, that by this Parable is signified God's Iudgments upon Antichrist, and that the general Scope of both the Parables is to declare, That God would grievously punish Antichrist, first by lesser, then by greater Iudgments, as is more particularly expressed in the two next Chapters, to which this, to me, seemeth Pr fatory. Let us now come to the Text it self.

And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sate on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe Most Interpreters understand this of the Prayers of God's People, from the Church, solliciting the Lord Jesus Christ, (say some) to gather in the Iews, or the number of his Elect, the Fields being now white to that Harvest, (as Christ useth the Metaphor of the Samaritans, Joh. 4.35.) or, (as others say, with whom I rather agree) to execute Vengeance on Antichrist and his Adherents..

And he that sate on the cloud, thrust in his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped According to the afore mentioned different Notion of the Harvest, there is amongst them a different Interpretation of this Verse; some interpreting it of God's calling in the Iews, or his Elect, by the Peaching of the Gospel: others of his Vengeance upon Antichrist and his Adherents more fully expressed, ch. 15. and 16..

And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle This Angel some will have to be some Instrument God would make use of to cut down Antichrist: Others would have it to be the Word of God in the Mouth of his Ministers, which, Heb. 4.12. is sharper than a two-edged Sword, piercing to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit; and thus they judg this Angel to be the same with the Rider upon the white Horse, chap. 19. out of whose Mouth went a sharp Sword. v. 15..

And another angel came out from the altar The place of Sacrifices and Burnt-offerings. which had power over fire Which had Commission to execute God's Judgments compared to Fire, Psalm 11.6. and 21.9. and 50.3.; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying God's Holy Ones cry unto him who has a Power to execute Vengeance., Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth To put an end to the Rage of Antichrist, and gather those Clusters which grew upon this Vine of Sodom, and were as the Clusters of Gomorrah;: for here grapes are fully ripe for their Iniquities were come to the full, and they were now ripe for Judgment. Our learned Dr. Moor expounds this Ripeness, of a Readiness for Conversion, as well as for Destruction, and thinks the first is here rather intended: the last words of the next Verse incline me to judge otherwise..

And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine-press of the wrath of God Dr. Moor thinks the Sense of this is, That Men were pressed in Conscience upon the sharp Conviction of Christ's powerful Ministers, with sorrow for their Sins, and so felt the Wrath of God in them. But Mr. Mede, with whom (as to the sense of this Text) I rather agree, tells us, That the treading of the Vintage, in parabolical Scripture, constantly signifies a cruel, bloody, and deadly Slaughter; he thinks that it is the same Slaughter mentioned, ch. 19. v. 19, 20, 21. as to which, v. 15. much the same Metaphor is used, he treadeth the Wine-press of the Fierceness and Wrath of Almighty God..

And the wine-press was trodden without the city By the City, Dr. Moor thinks Babylon is here meant, and that the meaning is, That the powerful Convictions of the Word before-mentioned, shall not reach Babylon, the Romish Hierarchy and Polity, as being hardned against any such thing. But Mr. Mede and others think, that the City of Hierusalem is here meant, or the holy Land, which comprehends exactly 1600 Furlongs, that is, 200 Italian Miles, or 160 Grecian miles. But what that place shall be, where this Slaughter shall be, is a great Secret., and blood came out of the wine-press, even unto the horse-bridles It is plain, it shall be a great Slaughter, by the depth of the Blood mentioned, and the length of the Ground which it should to that depth overflow. It is very probable, that great Battel is meant, mentioned ch. 19.20, 21. in the place called Armageddon, upon the pouring out of the sixth Vial, ch. 16.16. In so difficult a business nothing can be positively determined., by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.