victory. They ascribe their Salvation to God and their Redeemer. And the heavenly angels close around them, and rejoicing at their redemption *, unite in a chorus of praise. Ver. 13. Who are they, and whence came they?] To assist us in answering this question, and in determining who are the persons composing this multitude of palmbearing Saints, we have an heavenly Interpreter; from whom we learn, that "they are come out of the "great tribulation,” ex tãs d↓ɛãs rūs μeyahus: not, as it is generally translated, "out of great tribulation," but out of the great tribulation, that particular tribalation, for which such preparation was made by the ministers of God's wrath, in the beginning of this chapter, and from which the sealed only are enabled to escape t. Yet it may be said, this multitude is not of the one-hundred-and-forty-four thousand, who alone are described as sealed. But, observe the remainder of the description. They are said by the elder to "have washed their robes, and made white "their robes in the blood of the Lamb." And what is this, when rendered by plain language, but that, through faith in their Redeemer, they are purified from sin? Which is only another mode of expressing that they are sealed as Christ's property. Therefore the whole body, taken together, first of the one-hundredand-forty-four thousand, then of the great multitude from all nations added to them, seems to express the whole Christian Church, from the time of Christ to the great and last day. It is the New Jerusalem, as described in ch. xxi, which has its foundation on the * Luke xv. 10. + So Tertullian appears to have read and understood it, in the second century; "ex illa pressurâ magnâ." Scorpiace, sect. 12. See note, ch. vii. 2. Twelve Apostles. So, to compose this assembly we have, first, the Judai-Christian Church, which was the first-fruits; then, the Gentile Churches which were received into it. And, as we are expressly informed by Saint Paul, that the pious Christians, who, previously to the last day, shall be buried in the sleep of death, will not be postponed to those who are caught up alive to meet their Lord, so we may properly suppose this great multitude to contain also those that sleep in Christ. And thus it is the complete collection of the redeemed from earth, of all ages and nations; who, adhering to their allegiance and duty, shall escape out of "the great "tribulation," which is the peculiar burthen of this prophecy. The terrible calamities of these latter days are by our Lord represented under the very same terms, θλίψις μεγάλη, great tribulation †," and after describing them he assures us, that he shall "send "forth his angels, and gather together his elect, from "the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth "to the uttermost part of heaven ." These four winds are in this prophecy described as devastating that earth, from which the sealed, in the words of this Prophecy, and the elect in those of our Saviour, are to be delivered, and collected unto his presence, as is here represented. It was from a justly founded expectation of this signal deliverance, that the Apostles (who appear not to have known the particular time and season of this visitation, concealed even from angels §) exhorted the faithful disciples, as their Lord had done before them, to lift up their heads, * 1 Thess. iv. 15. Matt. xxiv. 21. Mark xiii. 19. 24. 5 Matt. xxiv. 36. Acts i. 7. Mark xiii. 27. Luke xxi. 28. and and look with joyful expectation to these days of vengeance, knowing themselves not to be appointed to wrath, but to Salvation, whether they be found among the dead or among the living, at that aweful hour*. Ver. 15. Therefore, &c.] The remaining part of this chapter contains a figurative description, very simple and very interesting, of the future happiness of this redeemed multitude. But the interpretation of it is so obvious, to those who are in the least degree acquainted with the language of Scripture, that I shall content myself with referring to some of the principal passages of the Old and New Testament, where the same figurative language is applied in the same manner. Ib. Serve him, &c.] Ezek. xxxvii. 23. 28. Psalm xvi, cxl. 13. Is. xxxii. 17. lvii. 15, lxv. Ezra ix. 8. John xiv. 23. Eph. iii. 17. 2 Cor. iv. 16. 1 John Ver. 16. Hunger-thirst, &c.] Is. xxxii. 2. lxv. 13. xlix. 10. Ezek. xxxiv. 29. John vi. 14, 35. Ver. 17. Like a Shepherd.] Is. xl. 11. xlix. 10. Psalm xxiii. 1. lxxx. 1. Jer. xxxi. 10. And see note, ch. ii. 27. Ib. Tear.] Is. xxx. 19. xxv. 8. Let the reader now compare the happiness of this palm-bearing multitude, as here described, with that of the inhabitants of the heavenly Jerusalem, in ch. xxi. 14; and he will probably determine the two periods to be the same. Of none other but of happiness in heaven can it be affirmed, (as is affirmed of 1 Thess. v. 1. 12. 2 Thess. ii, 1. 17. James v. 7, 8. 1 Pet. iv. 13. 2 Pet, iii. 12, 13. both both these,) that pain, and sorrow, and hunger and thirst, shall then be no more, under the reign of the Lamb, who "shall wipe away every tear from "their eyes." Joseph Mede observed this synchronism *; but has applied it, as I am inclined to think, improperly, to an earthly millennium, or reign of Christ and his saints on earth. The expressions of perfect felicity in both passages are by much too exalted to bear application to any thing possible under the present constitution of things. They can be fulfilled only in heaven; or in an heaven upon earth (which is much the same thing) succeeding to the destruction and regeneration of the present globe t. Having thus formed, upon the scriptural grounds above stated, this notion of the application of this prophecy, I found myself, when I came to read the exposition of some eminent commentators, little disposed to subscribe to their opinions, which represent this seventh chapter of the Apocalypse as containing "a description of the state of the church in Constan"tine's time; of the peace and protection that it "should enjoy under the civil powers, and the great "accession which should be made to it both of Jews and "Gentiles." Now the history of this period, faithfully related, informs us, that although the Christian Church was delivered from persecution, and advanced in worldly consideration and power, yet did it acquire no real accession of worth, dignity, or exaltation, by its connexion with the imperial throne. Nay, from that very time, its degeneracy and cor * Clav. Apocalypt. pars ii. syn. vii. ↑ See notes, ch. xxi. ruption ruption are most indubitably to be dated. From that period, worldly power and riches became the objects of its leaders, not purity and virtue. Many entered the Christian Church, and obtained its honours and dignities, by base dissimulation of their principles, to please the emperor, and recommend themselves to his favour*. And the consequent extension of the Christian Religion among the heathen nations was, as Mosheim observes, in name, not in reality †. The worldly professors of Christianity in this century were so far from fulfilling the prophecy, by "wash"ing their robes white," and by being fed and.conducted by the Lamb, that they appear rather to have assumed the hue of another leader, the fire-coloured dragon, and to have greedily sought from him those worldly riches and that power, which their Lord had refused at his hands. This grand enemy of the Christian Church, the devil, had begun his attack upon her, first, by the terrors of persecution. He failed in this attempt: the blood of the Martyrs became the seed of the Church. He then changed his mode of operation. He beguiled the Christians with the promise of worldly power and splendour: and it was from this succesful mode of corruption, that he was at length enabled to produce Antichrist ; § Thus Satan sped, and fix'd his artful reign Where ten years' persecution rag'd in vain. The last great persecution under Dioclesian continued almost ten years. Quotations |