And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. Ver. 1. _One of the seals_] That is, the first of the seals, as Genesis 1:4; Mark 16:2. Under these seven seals falls Rome pagan (saith Mr Cotton), as under th... [ Continue Reading ]
And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. Ver. 2. _And behold a white horse_] The apostles and apostolic preachers of the primitive times, white for their purity of doctrine, discipline, and c... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. Ver. 3. _Come and see_] John's better attention is called for. How dull and drowsy are the best in perceiving and receiving heavenly mysteries! A sea coal fire, if not stirred up, will die of itself, so will our spa... [ Continue Reading ]
And there went out another horse _that was_ red: and _power_ was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. Ver. 4. _That was red_] Portending troubles and tragedies, bloody wars and terrible persecu... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. Ver. 5. _A black horse_] Famine discolours and denigrates, Lamentations 4:7,8. It accompanies war for the most part, and i... [ Continue Reading ]
And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and _see_ thou hurt not the oil and the wine. Ver. 6. _In the midst_] The voice of the Lamb, Revelation 5:6, who appoints and orders all; he cuts us out our several con... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. Ver. 7. _See Trapp on "_ Rev 6:3 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. Ver. 8. _A pale horse_] Fit for pestilen... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: Ver. 9. _Under the altar_] _i.e._ Under Christ, Hebrews 13:10, under his custody and safeguard; or, under the altar, that is, lying at the botto... [ Continue Reading ]
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? Ver. 10. _And they cried_] When God intends deliverance to his people, he poureth out upon them "the spirit of grace and supplication," Zechariah 12:9... [ Continue Reading ]
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 fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they _were_, should be fulfilled. Ver. 11. _And white robes_] Their innocence was cleared, and th... [ Continue Reading ]
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; Ver. 12. _There was a great earthquake_] Understand hereby those horrible commotions and confusions that occured in the Roman empire up... [ Continue Reading ]
And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. Ver. 13. _And the stars_] Rome's dunghill deities, together with their chemarims or chimney chaplains, the priests. ConferIsaiah 34:4; Daniel 8:10; Exodus 12:12; Numbers 3... [ Continue Reading ]
And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Ver. 14. _And every mountain_] _See Trapp on "_ Rev 6:12 _"_ _Cinis quidam noxius e Visuvio emissus, Romam venit (inquit Dio) ita ut incolae putare coeperunt omnia sursum de... [ Continue Reading ]
And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; Ver. 15. _And the kings of the earth_] Who came in to help their gods against the mighty,... [ Continue Reading ]
And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: Ver. 16. _And said to the mountains_] Which yet was but a poor shelter; for mountains melted and rocks rent at his presence. So that if wicked men cry to the... [ Continue Reading ]
For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Ver. 17. _Who shall be able to stand_] They could not stand before their own misgiving hearts and soul condemning consciences; how much less before God that was greater than their hearts! God sent his hornet, which drove out th... [ Continue Reading ]