Revelation 11:15-18

The seventh angel sounded, &c.— At the sounding of the seventh trumpet, the third woe commences; which is rather implied than expressed, as it will be described more fully hereafter. The third woe brought on the inhabitants of the earth, is the ruin and downfal ofthe antichristian kingdom; and then, and not till then, according to the heavenly chorus, the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of the Lord, &c. St. John is rapt and hurried away, as it were, to a view of the happy millennium, without considering the steps preceding and concluding to it. At the same time the four and twenty elders, or the ministers of the church, Revelation 11:16 are represented as praising and glorifying God, for manifesting his power and kingdom more than he had done before: they give likewise an intimation of some succeeding events; as, the anger of the nations, Gog and Magog, ch. Revelation 20:8 and the wrath of God, displayed in their destruction, ch. Revelation 20:9 and the rewarding of all the good, as well as punishing of the wicked, Revelation 11:12, &c. Here we have only a summary account of the circumstances and occurrences of the seventh trumpet; but the particulars will be dilated and enlarged upon hereafter. Thus are we arrived at the consummation of all things, through a series of prophesies, extending from the apostle's days to the end of the world. It is this series which has been our clue, to conduct us in our interpretation of these prophesies; and though some of them are dark and obscure, considered in themselves, yet they receive light from others, preceding and following. Altogether they are, as it were, a chain of prophesies, whereof one link depends on and supports another. If any parts remain yet obscure and unsatisfactory, they may perhaps be cleared up by what the apostle himself has added by way of explanation. See the Appendix for other views of this subject