Revelation 19

AND after these thing After the pouring out of the fifth Vial upon the Seat of the Beast, ch. 16.19. (for ch. 17, and 18. as we have formerly hinted, is but a Parenthesis to the History). God in this Chapter more fully describes the Effects of the pouring out that Vial. I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying It may be understood either of the third Heavens, or the Heaven upon Earth, the Church of God; for the Church Triumphant and Militant both will concur in praising God for the ruine of Antichrist's Power., Alleluja Allelujah is an Hebrew word, and signifies, Praise ye the Lord.; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God All these are but terms of Honour and Praise given unto God, acknowledging that the Churches Salvation is from him, the Effect of his Power; and that to him upon that account all Honour and Glory imaginable is due, as having shown himself his Peoples God.:

For true and righteous are his judgments The Lord's Judgments in holy Writ, sometimes signifie his Precepts, sometimes his Dispensations of Providence, either more generally, or more specially; in which last sense it signifies (as here) his Punishment of Sinners. These are just and righteous, and therefore called Judgments;, for he has judged the great whore for he has punished the Papacy, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication which corrupted a great part of the Earth with its Idolatry., and has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand And by these judicial Dispensations God has also taken Vengeance on them for the Blood of his Saints shed by them. It is remarkable, that all along this Book Idolatry and Persecution are made the Beast's provoking Sins..

And again they said, Alleluja. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever As the Church proceeded in her Praises, so God proceeded in her Judgments upon the great Whore, until she was ruined past recovery..

And the four and twenty elders, and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sate on the throne, saying Amen; Allelujah k See the Notes on chap. 4. All the heavenly Quire praise God upon this account, desiring that the Lord would fulfill what he had begun.

And a voice came out of the throne, saying From Christ., Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great Declaring it the Will of God, that all holy Ones should praise him upon this account..

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thundrings, saying, Allelujah: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth By this Multitude most understand the Church; some understand the Jews as well as the Gentiles, supposing that they shall be before this time converted and added to the Church. Others think their Conversion is the Marriage spoken of in the next Verse. The Saints do not rejoyce in the Ruine of their Adversaries, but in the Glory of God advanced by it, and as his Kingdom is by it promoted..

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made her self ready p. A late reverend Author tells us, That as there is a threefold Resurrection mentioned in Scripture, 1. A rising to a Newness of Life, Ephes. 5.14. 2. The Conversion of the Jews, called Life from the Dead, Rom. 11.15. 3. In the end of the World: So there is a threefold Marriage of the Lamb, 1. To particular Souls, when by Faith they are united to Christ. 2, To his Church compleated, when the Jews shall e called. 3 When all his Elect shall be made one with him in Glory, after the general Resurrection. He seemeth to understand it of all these. Probably the Conversion of the Jews stayeth for the Fall of the Papacy, whose Worship and Persecution are great Scandals to them. Probably also upon the Fall of it, many will be converted besides the Jews, and the general Resurrection will not be far off. The learned Dr. More seems to restrain it to the Jews Conversion; I had rather understand it more generally.

And to her That is, to the Lamb's Wife, whether Jews or Gentiles, or both. was granted, that she should be arrayed in fine linnen, clean and white That she should be cloathed with the Righteousness of Christ, reckoned to her for Righteousness.: For the fine linnen is the righteousness of the saints This is the Righteousness of the Saints, called the Righteousness of God, Rom. 1.17. a Righteousness through the Faith of Christ, Phil. 3. 9. called Righteousness in the Greek, because there are many Saints to be cloathed with it; and because it is imputed both for Justification and Sanctification, not to excuse us from Holiness, but to make up our Defects..

And he says unto me, Write Write it, as a Business of Moment, of which a Record is fit to be kept. Blessed are they which are called to the marriage-supper of the Lamb That is, (say those who understand by the Marriage of the Lamb the Jews Conversion) who live in this happy Period of Time when the Jews shall be converted, and with the Gentiles make one Gospel-Church. But this seems to me not sufficient. The Marriage is one thing, the Supper another, and (ordinarily) consequential to the Marriage it self. The Kingdom of Glory seems to me rather intended, and those are called to it, who are made meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light.: And he says unto me, These are the true sayings of God That is, these are the undoubted Truths of God, and therefore to be called into question by none..

And I fell at his feet to worship him Prostration, or falling at the feet of Superiors, to pay them an Homage in consideration of their Superiority, was ordinarily used in those Eastern Countries, Gen. 44.14. 1 Sam. 25.24. 2 Kings 4.37. Esther 8.3. To worship him therefore, here must be understood of Prayer or Praise, which are pieces of Divine Adoration, which it is not probable this great Apostle would have offered, had he not mistaken him, and thought him an uncreated Angel.. And he said unto me, See thou do it not But the Angel does not only refuse it, but with some indignation,, have a care you do it not. From whence we may observe, what a Figleaf they have made to cover the Papists Idolatry, in worshipping the Bread in the Eucharist, who (to show us their great Skill in Divinity) think they may be excused from Idolatry in it, because they think the Bread is turn'd into the Body of Christ; Idolatry is not to be excused by Think so's.: I am thy f llow-servant The Angel gives him a reason why there was no Adoration due to him, because he was his Equal in Office, tho not in Nature; he was both his and all their Brethrens Fellow-Servant, who by preaching the Gospel give a Testimony to Christ. Well therefore, chap. 2. & chap. 3. may the Mini ters of Churches be called Angels., and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: Worship God There is no Prayer, no Praise due but to the Creator.: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy There are divers Sences given of the last Phrase; but of all given, there are two which seem to me most probable: either, 1. The Spirit of this Prophecy, by which I have revealed these things to thee, is no mine, it is the Testimony of Jesus; he therefore is to be adored, not 1. Or, 2. Thy preaching the Gospel, which is thy Testimony to Christ, is as much from the Spirit of God, as my Spirit of Prophecy: We are therefore Equals, and I am not to be worshipped more than thou art. We have the same, chap. 22.8, 9. to let us know that even good Men may twice run into the same Error; and to let us know, that by the mouth of these two Witnesses this Truth ought to have been established, so that Papists should not after this have paid any Divine Adoration to Angels, much less to Saints; and if Invocation be no Divine Adoration, nothing is. This deserveth the Consideration of them, who think it so easy to excuse the Popish Religion from Idolatry..

And I saw heaven opened The remaining part of this Chapter is conceived more fully to open what shall come to pass under the Sixth and Seventh Vials, mentioned chap. 16.12. more especially the Battel in Armageddon, mentioned there v. 16. There mention was made only of the Armies being gathered together; here it is more fully described. At the beginning of the Gospel, (says a late learned Annotator) Iohn saw only a Door opened, chap. 4.1. At the Resurrection of the Witnesses, he saw the Temple opened, chap. 11.19. Here after the Ruine of Babylon, he seeth Heaven opened. Iohn saw such an Horse, chap. 6.2. Dr. More observes, that the Horse with his Rider signifies Rule; and the white Colour, Prosperity and Success., and behold a white horse, and he that late upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judg and make war. It appears that the Rider was Christ, because he is called Faithful and True, which agrees with chap. 1.5. and by the Names in the following v. 13, & 16. given to him.

His eyes were as a flame of fire See chap. 1.14. chap. 2.18. This denoted either his piercing Knowledg, or his infinite Wisdom and Understanding., and on his head were many crowns And there needs must be so; for, v. 16. he is said to be the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords., and he had a name written that no man knew but he himself This denoted the Incomprehensibleness of his Divine Essence and Perfections..

And he was cloathed with a vesture di t in blood Either to denote that he was he who redeemed us by his Blood, or rather to signify that he was now coming forth to shed the Blood of his Enemies, both i vindication of his own Honour and Glory, or of his People; in which Notion it also agrees with Isaiah's Vision of him, chap. 63.1, 2, 3. Vers. 3. Their Blood shall be sprinkled upon my Garments, and I will stain all my Raiment., and his name is called the Word of God See the Notes on John 1.1. He is also called the Word, chap. 1.2. a Name given him hardly by any except this Apostle..

And the armie wh ch were in heaven followed him The glorious Angels, 2 Thess. 1.7. and ten thousands of his Saints, Jude 14. who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. upon white horses, cloathed in fine linnen, white and clean. To prophesy Success and Victory.

And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword I can easily agree that this two-edged Sword is the Word of Christ coming out of his mouth, but not the Gospel, (the Time was past for that, it was the Time of the Sacrifice in Bozrah) but his Word of Command, calling out his People to take Vengeance upon the Remainder of his Enemies. The Sword was both the Sword of the Lord, commanding it to be drawn, and the Sword of his People whose hands were to wield it., that with it he should smite the nations With this he now smites the Remainder of his Enemies, and: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God His Enemies were the Grapes, that now were put into the Wine-press of God's watchful Providence; Christ trode them there. See Isa. 63.3.. breaks them to pieces.

And he has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS The same Name as in chap. 17.14. 1 Tim. 6.15. (See the Notes on those two Texts) denoting the Sovereign Power and Authority which he had. This he always had, but he now comes forth openly to manifest it; therefore this Name is said to be written upon his Vesture, and upon his Thigh, that all might take notice of it..

And I saw an Angel standing in the sun, and he cried with a loud voice The best Conjecture I can find at the sense of these Words, is, That they signify the Preachers of the Gospel bold and clear foretelling the Ruine of Antichrist., saying to all the fowls that flie in the midst of heaven There are divers kinds of Fowls, amongst others some that feed on Flesh. These are those Fowls here mentioned, such as feed upon dead Carcases., Come, and gather your selves together to the supper of the great God They are invited to the Supper of the Great God; called so, because it is made and prepared by the Power of him who is the great God, or because it is a Sacrifice to the Justice of God. See 1 Sam. 17.46. Isa. 8.16. Ier. 12.9. Ezek. 39.17. God's Justice upon his Enemies, is called a Sacrifice, Isa. 34.6. Jer. 46.10. Ezek. 39.17. Idolaters were wont upon their Sacrificing to have a Feast; God has also a Feast upon this his Sacrifice, but it is for the Fowls and Beasts, that feed on dead Carcases..

That ye may at the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both-free and bond, both small and great In the former Verse God invited all the ravenous-Fowls to a Supper, he here shows their Chear. The meaning is no more that this, That in the great Battel of Armageddon, which was for the destruction of all the Remainder of the Enemies of the Church, whether Papists, or Atheists, or Turks, Men of all Sorts and Orders should be slain, and their dead Bodies made Meat for the Fowls of Heaven, that feed on dead Flesh..

And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war against him that sate on the horse, and against his army The Beast, whether by it be understood the Dragon, or the Beast with seven Heads and ten Horns, or the Beast with two Horns, or all of them, shall before this Time be all destroyed, (that is, as to their Power and Dominion) but there will be Relicts left, both of Pagans, and Turks, and Papists, of whom it is probable that this is to be understood, viz. That after God, upon the pouring out of the Fifth Vial, shall have deprived the Papacy of their Dominion, and by the pouring out of the Sixth Vial, shall have deprived the Turk of his Dominion; that yet such Pagans, Turks, and Papists, as shall be left, shall be gathered together, and make one or more great Armies, with whom the Jews and Gentiles (now united in one Church) shall fight under the Conduct of Christ, as the Captain-General of his Church, by whom they shall be overcome; and that this shall be the great Battel in Armageddon; mentioned chap. 16.16..

And the beast was taken The Issue of this great Battel will be the total Ruine of all the Enemies of the Church, their Bodies being made Meat for the Fowls of the Heaven, their Souls cast into the Bottomless Pit of Hell. The Secular part of Antichrist is here meant by the Beast:, and with him the false 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 The Ecclesiastical Antichrist by the false Prophet, that had cheated credulous Princes, and credulous People, with his pretended Miracles, into an Idolatry, that was but the Image of the old Idolatry of the Heathens, in worshipping D mons, and the Images of such as were in great estimation amongst them while they were alive.. These both were cast alive into the lake of fire, burning with brimstone Both these, the Laick and Secular Popish Party, and all their Church-Party, that should be left to this day, shall all now be destroyed. In a matter of Fact, not likely to appear in the World yet of 200 Years or more, and thus darkly foretold, who can be positive and particular? But this seemeth the sense of it, upon the former Hypotheses: That the Beast with the seven Heads and ten Horns, mentioned chap. 13.1. and the Beast with two Horns, also there mentioned, v, 11. are Antichrist, beginning with those Roman Emperors, that favoured the Idolatry introduced by the Bishops of Rome, and ending in the Vniversal Bishop, or Popes of Rome, and their Clergy, who quickly wormed out the Emperor's Power, and for 1260 Years reigned, setting up Idolatry and Superstition, and corrupting the Doctrine of Faith, and for the latter six hundred Years of Time, persecuting the true Church of Christ more notoriously. After which God will begin to reckon with him, gradually pouring out five Vials upon him. I am very inclinable to think, that we in this Age are yet under the pouring out of the Second of these Vials, seeing little yet effected towards the Ruine of the Papacy, more than the exposing of their Idolatries and Cheats to several Princes and States, and to the Generality of thinking People; nor has the Providence of God proceeded far in that as yet. The three other Vials are yet to be poured out, upon the Papacy, besides that upon Euphrates, and then this last upon all the Enemies of the Church together: And who shall live when God shall do these Things?.

And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sate upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth In all Armies there are common Souldiers as well as Officers. What the Issue of this Battel shall be, as to the Leaders in it, the former Verse told us: This tells us how it shall fare with those under the Command of them. It seems they shall not be excused because they followed their Leaders, and did only what they bade them; Christ commands that they also should be slain., and all the fowls were filled with their flesh And this bloody Day (when ever it comes) will be a Day of great Slaughter; for the dead Bodies will be enough to sup and fill all the Fowls of Heaven..