Observe here, 1. The angel's invitation to the subsequent vision, ONE OF THE ANGELS, TALKED WITH ME, SAYING, COME HITHER,. WILL SHOW THEE, &C. Where we see the readiness of those ministering spirits, the holy angels, to do any good office for the saints, and with what cheerfulness they are employed... [ Continue Reading ]
Babylon was charged with committing whoredom in the former verse; in this the persons are declared WHOM she committed whoredom with, VIZ. with KINGS, and the INHABITANTS of the earth; that is, with all sorts of persons, small and great, rich and poor. Where note, That she is, 1. catholic whore, com... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. That St. John was not in one continued ecstasy, but at several times IN THE SPIRIT, that is, in an ecstasy or rapture of mind, wherein his outward senses being bound up, his understanding was fixed and raised up to the contemplation of divine objects, represented to him in the visio... [ Continue Reading ]
St. John porceeds in the description of this woman; he declared her to be. filthy and common whore in the foregoing verse; in this he represents her as. cruel and bloody whore; she is said to be DRUNK, drunk WITH BLOOD, drunk with holy blood, drunk with the blood of SAINTS AND MARYTRS. Behold the bl... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the angel cometh directly to declare and unfold the mystery of the beast, premising first, that it requires heavenly wisdom in. person to understand it, and apply the marks accordingly. HERE IS THE MIND THAT HATH WISDOM, that is, the mind that hath wisdom may here exercise itself. THE SEVEN HE... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, the angel farther explains to St. John this great mystery of the beast; declaring that the TEN HORNS of the beast do signify ten kings, which should employ their power with the beast, and in conjunction with his established idolatry, to uphold his bloody religion; next their wicked uni... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the angel proceeds, and goes on farther in the explication of the vision. By the WATERS whereon the whore sat, he declares, are to be understood many and divers nations belonging to the Roman empire. Behold then of what church MULTITUDE is. note! Not of the church of Christ, his flock is. littl... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. How the infinitely wise and perfectly holy God can, and does, so order things, that all his judgments shall be executed by sinners, without his being the cause of any one of their sins; though by the permissive will of God, these kings gave their power for. time to the beast, yet th... [ Continue Reading ]
This is so clear. description of Rome, that the church of Rome herself acknowledges it: for if that be the city built upon seven hills, the city that allures the inhabitants of the earth to idolatry; if her idolatries be. lively image of the old Pagan idolatries; if to her many kings have given thei... [ Continue Reading ]