This verse represents to us. fresh vision which St. John had, in which several things are very observable, as, 1. What and whom St. John was,. LAMB, by whom Christ is to be understood. 2. The posture which this Lamb was found in, HE STOOD, showing thereby his readiness to deliver his church, and t... [ Continue Reading ]
St. John here describes the true worshippers of Christ in the midst of antichristian idolatry; where we have, 1. The acceptable worship they perform, prayer and praise, an heavenly exercise, which, like THUNDER, and the VOICE OF MANY WATERS, sounds loud in the ears of God, and is certainly heard by... [ Continue Reading ]
St. John proceeds here in describing the true worshippers of God, which would not comply with antichristian idolatry: 1. He styles them VIRGINS, thereby intimating that they are the chaste spouse of Christ, and the true church, who worship God alone with religious worship; AND THEY HAVE NOT DEFILED... [ Continue Reading ]
Here St. John closes the description of the fore-mentioned followers of the Lamb, 1. With the character of their integrity; like the Lamb, no guile is found in their mouth, as there was none in his, 1 Peter 2:22 they were free from that hypocrisy which was found amongst anti-christ's followers, who... [ Continue Reading ]
Here St. John has another vision of an angel flying in the midst of heaven with great swiftness, which interpreters apprehend to signify the faithful minister's zeal and diligence in preaching the glad tidings of the gospel to. lost world. Where note, 1. The title given to the gospel of Christ, it... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have the second angel's proclamation, denouncing the fall of BABYLON, whose fall is in the prophecy threatened, and in the threatening ingeminated, BABYLON IS FALLEN, IS FALLEN; to show the certainty of her downfall. And it is observable how this comes in immediately after the restoring of... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, the great and special care which Almighty God takes to warn men and women of those dreadful plagues which should most certainly come upon the heads of idolaters: A THIRD ANGEL FOLLOWED, CRYING WITH. LOUD VOICE. O how good is God in that he does always premonish before he punishes, war... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, here at this time will be exercised all the faith and patience of Christ's faithful servants, and this their exercise of these graces will make it appear that they were true, and not counterfeit Christians; it follows, HERE ARE THEY WHICH KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, AND THE FAITH OF JESUS... [ Continue Reading ]
These words in their original and primary intention were delivered by the Spirit, and commanded to be written by St. John, for the support and comfort of the church under that severe persecution which should befall it; and to declare the happy condition of martyrs particularly, and such as die for t... [ Continue Reading ]
In these verses. description is given of Christ as coming to judgment, to inflict punishment upon his stubborn enemies; and here we have the judge described, 1.By his form or shape, he was one like the Son of man. 2. By his place and posture of judgment, sitting on. white cloud, the cloud denoting... [ Continue Reading ]
In the fifteenth verse we have. manifestation of the church's fervent desire that Christ would make speed, and hasten his work, and come quickly to judgment, both for the consummation of their glory, and for the destruction of his own and their enemies: THRUST IN THY SICKLE, AND REAP, FOR THE HARVES... [ Continue Reading ]
In the sixteenth verse we have observable, 1. Christ's ready answering of, and complying with, the desire of his people, to thrust in the sickle of his judgment, and reap the earth: HE THAT SAT ON THE CLOUD DID THRUST IN HIS SICKLE. How ready is Christ to fulfill the desires of them that fear him,... [ Continue Reading ]
In the former verses we meet with the metaphor of an harvest, in these we meet with that of. vintage; there the wicked were compared to rice corn fit for the harvest, here to ripe grapes fit for the winepress; signifying by both, that the wicked, by filling up the measure of their sins, do make them... [ Continue Reading ]