ページの画像
PDF
ePub

hear the cry of blood, more than he will the cry of the faints before his blood was fhed. For the very deed of murder for religion fake, hath the reward of vengeance in it.

3

So that God, the righteous judge, muft needs do right to reward every one according to his works; fo that the fuffering of perfecution and death for truth's fake, as thefe faints did, as John fpeaketh of, fhall have a bleffed reward, as is faid in verfe 11. Those that were under the altar for the word of God, and the teftimony they held, they had white robes given unto every one of them; and it was faid to them, Reft yet for a little season, until their fellow fervants also and their bretheren that should be killed as they were, fhould be fulfiled.

So that you the feed of faith may know that thefe fouls that were flain under the altar, were not yet in heaven, neither are thofe white robes yet put upon them, notwithstanding it is faid, there were white robes given them. For furely if those fouls had been in the heaven of glory with their white robes of the righteousness of faith upon them, God would never have bid them reft a little feafon until their fellow fervants, and brethren were killed, as they were.

So that it may be clear to you that have faith in the death of the foul, and of a refurrection, that there are no fouls go to heaven without bodies. So that fouls cannot go to heaven, and put on white robes to stand in the presence of God, without bodies.

So that these fouls which cried for vengeance muft lie ftill in the earth and rest a feason, untill the rest of the feed of faith hath paffed from death, as you have. So that God may raise you all together, and cloath you all with white robes of righteoufnefs and immortality, and glory, at the refurrection at the end of the world. So that you may all be rewarded and cloathed with white robes together, and not fome ferved this year, and other fome the next, but you shall all be happy together.

So that you must reft yet a little feafon, untill all things are accomplished, and then I will blefs you with an everlasting crown of life, because you fuffered death for my name, in witneffing to me, and I will avenge your blood upon mine and your enemies, that perfecuted and put me and you to death.

They fhall have their reward alfo; which reward of their deeds will amount to no less than to eternal damnation, where the black and dark fire of hell fhall burn in their fouls to eternity which fhall cause them to cry, Oh the eternity, the eternity, with forrow, pain and fhame.

And when you faints fhall receive your eternal joys, then fhall your enemies receive their eternal forrows; which is not yet, neither will it be until all things be fulfilled which the fcriptures have foretold of, which cannot be long, as men do vainly imagine, because the true witnefs of the fpirit is now extant in the world, who hath declared and made manifeft the mystery of the true God becoming flesh, and what the right devil is, with many other heavenly mysteries. So that you that have faith in this commiffion of the fpirit, fhall at the end of the world receive, with the rest of the faints, white robes with them, and you will not think it long; for faith doth look upon eternity as real, as if it were in prefent being. So that John might fay by his revelation in his vifion, that he

Jaw

Jaw under the altar the fouls of them that were flain for the word of God, &c. and the white robes that were given unto them. Because he by faith knew that God will give thofe that are cloathed with the white robes of the righteoufnefs of faith, a crown of everlasting joy and glory, at the end of the world, which is as fure as if it were in prefent being Therefore by faith he may fay he faw the faints that suffered for the teftimony of Jefus, to have white robes given them, as if the thing were already done; for when things are certain to be done, and nothing can prevent it, a man may fay it is done.

So it is with faith, it knowing that nothing can prevent God's defign and purpose, in that he hath determined to fave and blefs those the feed of Adam, and to deftroy and curfe thofe the feed of the Serpent, to eternity.

So that eternity is looked upon by the feed of faith to be in prefent being. 'And this was John's revelation in the vision which he faw in the opening of the fifth feal.

CHA P. XX.

N%

OW in verse 12. John faw when he opened the fixth feal, He beheld, and lo there was a great earthquake, and the fun became black as fackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood.

I have opened the meaning of the earthquake, and of the fun being as black as fackcloth of hair, and the moon like blood: these things I have opened already in the Interpretation of the eleventh chapter of the Revelatinon, fo that I fhall fay no more of it here.

And as for the latter part of this chapter, it is only a prophecy of the end of the world. Only this, I fhall give you a word or two, to fhew what is meant by the heavens being departed as a fcroll when it is rolled together, as it is faid in verfe 14. and Ifaiah xxxiv. 4.

The meaning is this, that the clouds of heaven, and the air, and the influence of the ftars of heaven, fhall be rolled up as a scroll; for the clouds and air have fpread themselves over the face of the fky, fo they may be called the heavens; for were it not for the clouds to scatter the rain on the earth, and the air to blow upon the creatures here on earth, all creatures would die. So that man and beafts, and all creatures do poffefs a heaven in themselves, even from the influence of the clouds and the air. So that the clouds and the air is that heaven that God will at the end of the world roll up like a fcroll.

Alfo God will take away the fun, moon, and ftars, fo that they fhall not penetrate their light and heat through the air and clouds of heaven, not to give any refreshment to the feed of the ferpent, who fhall be left here in this earth in utter darkness. For this earth fhall be the place of hell for the reprobate feed to be in to eternity; fo that they fhall cry unto the mountains and rocks to fall upon them, to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. That is they could wish that the mountains and rocks would crush them to pieces, fo that they might be hid as to have no being at all; seeing the clouds and the air which overfpread the heaven which did refresh our lives, which made our lives to live in heaven alfo;

bur

but now this is rolled up like a fcroll, there is nothing but black darknets, with out air or wind, which makes us burn like fire and brimftone, we having no refreshings from the heavens; fo that it would be happy for us if the mountains and rocks would fall upon us, that we might be hid, or have no fenfible being for ever.

And this well be the ftate of the reprobate feed at the end of the world: and this is the true meaning of the heaven being rolled up like a fcroll, and not the fixed element; for the fixed element hath an earth standing upon it, which shall ftand to eternity. Only this, the fun, moon and ftars that gave light on this fide the sky, fhall be taken from the heaven, so that nothing but darkness shall remain for ever and ever.

But the element which we called heaven, fhall ftand to eternity; but that heaven as must be rolled up like a fcroll, it is the air and clouds of heaven, as aforefaid. So much concerning the interpretation of the chief things in chap. vi.

Ν

IN

CHA P. XXI.

chap. vii. 1. it is faid, And after thefe things I faw four angels ftanding on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind fhould not blow on the earth, nor on the fea, nor on any tree.

These four angels that John faw in the vifion, which had power to hold the four winds, that the wind might not blow, they were four angels of pure reafon, who had a commiffion from God to hold the four winds, that they should not blow upon the earth, nor upon the fea, nor upon any tree; for if God should but take away the four winds from blowing upon the earth, fea, and trees, all creatures would immediately perifh and die. So that these four angels which John faw in the vifion, who had fuch power over the four winds, it was only to fignify what fhall be at the end of the world. Then fhall these four angels execute their office, fo that the four winds fhall not blow.

But there is something else to be done in the interim, for though the four angels have their commiffion from God to do that work, yet they must stay till fuch time as another work must be done; as you may fee in verse 2. And John Saw another angel afcending from the east, having the feal of the living God, and he cryed with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth, and the fea,

Now this angel that afcended from the east, it was Chrift himself, he having the feal of the living God: he must needs have the feal of the living God, he being the living God himfelf. He gave order to the other four angels, that they should not put their commiffion in execution until he had fealed the fervants of God in their foreheads. For it is Chrift that fealed every fervant of his in their foreheads in that they do receive the holy spirit of promife, whereby they are fealed up unto the day of redemption. And when the foul is fealed, and can witness in his fpirit the affurance of his falvation, he may be faid to be fealed in his forehead.

And as for John's faying, this angel that had the feal of the living God, he

afcended

afcended from the eaft, it is fpoken with relation of Chrift's coming out of the cast at his birth, to work the redemption for those that he now doth feal, with the feal of the living God. That is, with his own holy fpirit, witnessing to their fpirits the affurance of eternal life by his death; which they by faith do fet to their feal, fo that they by faith do feal to the truth of the thing, and he doth feal the affurance of everlafting life unto their confciences; and this is the feal of the living God in their foreheads.

And in verfe 4. John heard the number of them which were fealed, and there were fealed an hundred and forty and four thousand, of all the tribes of the children of Ifrael.

1

Now it is not to be understood that John did mean exactly fuch a number and no more, that were fealed. But if the spirit of revelation will call a hundred hundred thousand, but a hundred and forty four thousand, who fhall gainsay it? But in regard there is an equal number fpoken of by John of every tribe, it is, according to reafon's account, no more than one hundred and forty and four thousand, that were fealed of the twelve tribes of Ifrael. Therefore whether they were more or less fealed with the feal of the living God, I fhall not difpute the thing; neither is it much material to know; fo that I fhall pass by the rehearsing of the tribes, and come to verfe 9. where it is faid, After this I beheld, and lo a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, cloathed in white robes, and palms in their hands.

This great multitude which no man could number, they were the Gentiles that were brought to the faith of the gospel in the time of the apostles commiffion, which did laft a matter of three hundred years, then were all tongues, nations, kindred, and people brought to the faith of Jefus. And these were that great multitude which John faw in the vifion, which no man could number. These were those that John faw stand before the throne, and before the Lamb; these were those he faw cloathed in white robes,

Now what these white robes are I have fhewed before; not but that there hath, and will be many thousands of the Gentiles, tongues, and nations fince that time, that will be faved. But these that John faw in the vision, it was chiefly those faints in the apoftles commiffion, and it was them that he faw, in verse 10. to cry with a loud voice, faying, Salvation to our God which fitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And in verfe 11. All the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders, and the four beafts, fo that all the holy angels, and the elders, and the four beafts fell on their faces and worshiped God.

So that the angels, and the elders, and the four beafts had faces, elfe they could not fall on their faces to worship God. For God hath a face of his own, and those that worship him must have faces alfo; elfe they cannot worship God; also they must have a tongue to fay, Bleffing, and glory, and wisdom, thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever, Amen. So that angels, elders, and thofe four beafts had tongues to praife the living God. Now John being in great amaze in the vifion to fee fuch innumerable multitudes which no man could number, to ftand before the throne of God, all in white robes,

[merged small][ocr errors]

he, in verfe 14. asketh one of the elders what these be that are arrayed in white robes? And he faid unto John, Thefe are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Now what is meant by the white robes, and being washed in the blood of the Lamb, I have fhewed before, and what is meant by the throne; fo that to the end of chap. vii. it is only to fignify the glory of the redeemed ones, were and are wafhed in their fouls here in this life in the blood of Chrift. They fhall ferve him day and night in his temple in heaven, and stand before his throne of glory where he is. Neither fhall there be any more hunger, nor thirft, neither shall the heat of perfecution light any more upon them; nor the natural fun to offend them any more by its extream heat; for in this kingdom of heaven where the Lamb is, in the midst of the throne, he shall feed them, and fhall lead them unto living fountains of water; and God fhall wipe away all tears from their eyes. that glorious and happy condition that all the faints fhall have, who have got those white robes of the righteousness of faith, being washed in the blood of the Lamb. And this will be at the end of time, yet faith doth look upon this condition immediately after the end of this natural life. Therefore faid by John, as if the thing was already done and accomplished to him; and to every one that is gone out of this world it is fo, but to us that are alive, it is not yet accomplished. So much for the interpretation of chap. vii.

CHA P. XXII.

This is

N chap. viii. 1. it is faid, And when he had opened the feventh Seal, there was

I Nence in heaven about the space of half an hour

Now I would have the reader to understand, that these seven feals which were opened in heaven, they were those seven seals that were on the back fide of the book of life, as I fhewed before; which were the feven churches of Afia. Likewife it is Chrift that doth open the feven feals; and at the opening of every feal John faw fome extraordinary fight in heaven, either deftruction upon the wicked, and perfecution upon the faints, or bleffings upon the faints. So that the opening of every feal produced fomething new to John in his vifion. But in the opening of the feventh feal, there was filence in heaven about the space of half an hour. That is, there was a little space of time between the opening of the other fix feals, before this seventh feal was opened. So that John had fome little space of time before the opening of the feventh feal was fhewed unto him. And this is that he calls filence in heaven about the space of half an hour. It might be forty hours for ought we know ; but if he faith half an hour, who fhall gainfay it? But fure I am, it was a little space of time between the opening of the other fix feals, before the seventh feal was opened unto his understanding, for he made no ftop in opening the fix feals before. And as there was something did follow upon the opening of every one of the fix feals, fo there doth follow fomething upon the opening of the feventh feal. For in verfe 2. John faw the feven angels which ftood before God, and to them were given feven trumpets.

These feven angels which John faw in the vifion, I declare they were the miniftry

« 前へ次へ »