INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 15 This chapter is a preparation to the pouring out of the seven vials, and contains a vision of the seven angels in heaven that should do this work, of a chorus of harpers on this occasion, and of the same seven angels coming out of the temple, and receiving the vials, i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAW ANOTHER SIGN IN HEAVEN, GREAT AND MARVELLOUS,.... This chapter is a preparation to the pouring out of the seven vials, as Revelation 16:1 is to the sending of the seven epistles, and Revelation 2:1 to the seven seals and seven trumpets: the vision is called a "sign", because what was seen... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAW, AS IT WERE, A SEA OF GLASS MINGLED WITH FIRE,.... Not baptism, but rather the blood of Christ, which may be compared to a sea, for its abundant virtue and efficacy in cleansing from all sin; and to a sea "of glass", since in it are clearly seen free justification, full pardon, peace and r... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SING THE SONG OF MOSES THE SERVANT OF GOD,.... Not that in Deuteronomy 32:1 but that in Exodus 15:1 and the sense is, either that they observed the law of Moses, which he as a servant in the Lord's house faithfully delivered, and kept it distinct from the Gospel, and did not blend them toge... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SHALL NOT FEAR THEE, O LORD,.... At this time the people of the Jews shall seek after Christ, and fear him and his goodness; the forces of the Gentiles shall be brought into Zion, whose heart shall then fear, and be enlarged; the fear of the Lord will be in all places, and in all men, both Jews... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER THAT I LOOKED,.... That is, after John had seen the above vision, he looked again, and saw what follows: AND BEHOLD, THE TEMPLE OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE TESTIMONY IN HEAVEN WAS OPENED; this does not refer to heaven itself, the antitype of the holy of holies, which is opened by the blood o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SEVEN ANGELS CAME OUT OF THE TEMPLE,.... By which it appears, that they are such who are of, or belong to the church of Christ; and are either ministers, or members of churches, who will be the executioners of God's wrath upon the beast, and his followers; some copies, and the Complutensian... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ONE OF THE FOUR BEASTS,.... Or living creatures: now we hear of them, as of the four and twenty elders, under the blowing of the seventh trumpet, Revelation 11:16 with which this vision is contemporary; these living creatures are the ministers of the Gospel; Revelation 4:6 and this was one, or... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE TEMPLE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE,.... Not with the smoke of false doctrine and superstition; that comes out of the bottomless pit, this from God, Revelation 9:2 and besides, Gospel churches will grow purer and purer, while the seven angels are pouring out the vials: but rather this may be unders... [ Continue Reading ]