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κεκερασμένον,

383

of antiquity. But, secondly, it is
But, secondly, it is nexɛguoμevov, rendered
still stronger by the mixture of powerful, intoxica
ting ingredients. Compare Isaiah li. 17-23; Psalm
lxxv. 8. "The Hebrew idea of which Saint John ex-
presses in Greck, with the utmost precision, though
"with a seeming contradiction in terms, EXEQUσμEVOV

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ngalov, merum mixtum; pure wine made yet stronger by a mixture of powerful ingredients. In "the hand of Jehovah, (saith the Psalmist,) there is a cup, and the wine is turbid; it is full of mixed liquor, and he poureth out of it, (or rather he "poureth it out of one vessel into another, to mix it perfectly, according to the reading expressed by the "ancient versions,) all the ungodly shall wring them "out and drink them." The expression in the Septuagint, Psalm 1xxv. 8: wolnion-oive angals wanges "Hegacμalos, which in the Chaldee is called a cup malediction, throws additional light on this passage. Compare also Psalm xi. 6; lx. 3: Jer. xxv. "15, 16, &c. Lam. iv. 21: Ezek. xxiii. 32, &c.: "Hab. ii. 16: Zech. xii. 2: also Hom. Il. xxii. 597;

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Odyss. iv. 220*." Such terms were used to express the anger of God, terrible by temporal punishments, but most terrible by those torments beyond the grave, "where their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched;" which ideas are also forcibly expressed in the words now before us; "the smoke of their "torment ascendeth for ever and ever." Thus the terror of the greater evil is exhibited, to enable Christians to undergo the less with patient courage described in the twelfth verse.

* Bp. Lowth, on Isaiah li.

PART

PART V.

SECTION V.

The Blessedness of those who die in the Lord, pro

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The voices of the angels had pronounced the punishments of those who, for worldly purposes receiving the antichristian mark, deny their Lord. A voice from heaven, from the throne itself, confirms their denunciations, adding thereto this consolation; that if the fiery trial proceed to its last stage, even to temporal death, this death shall be blessed; shall introduce the martyr to an eternal freedom from pain and trouble; his sufferings on earth shall be recompensed with everlasting rest and glory.

These four proclamations are plain in their meaning, and of easy solution to those who are versed in Scriptural language. They seem intended to be so, in order that all Christians may be encouraged in time of trial to preserve their allegiance to their Lord, the Lamb; whose banner is unfolded in this chapter.

PART

PART V.

SECTION VI.

The Vision of the Harvest and of the Vintage.

14 Καὶ εἶδον, καὶ ἰδὲ νεφέλη λευκὴ, καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν νεφέλην καθημε τον ὅμοιον υἱῷ ανθρώ πε, ἔχων ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὑτε ςέφα νον χρυσῶν, καὶ ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὑτῷ δρέπανον 15 ὀξύ. Καὶ ἄλλος ἄγγελος ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ τῶ ταῦ, κράζων ἐν με γάλη φωνῇ τῷ και θημένῳ ἐπὶ τῆς νΦίλης Πέμψον τὸ δρέπανόν σε, καὶ Θέρισον· ὅτι ἦλθέ [σοι] ἡ ὥρα το περίσαι· ὅτι ἐξηράνθη ὁ θερισμὸς τῆς 16 γῆς. Καὶ ἔβαλεν ὁ καθήμενος ἐπὶ τὴν νεφέλην τὸ δρέπανον αὑτῷ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν· καὶ ἐθερίσθη ἡ γῆ 17 Καὶ ἄλλος ἄγγελος ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ τῶ ταῦ τῇ ἐν τῷ ἐρανῷ, ἔχων καὶ αὐτὸς δρέ18 πανον ὀξύ. Καὶ

ἄλλος ἄγγελος ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ τὰ θυσίας

CHAP. XIV. VER. 14—to the end.

14 And I looked, and lo! a white cloud; and upon the cloud one sitting, like the Son of Man; having upon his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp 15 sickle. And another angel came forth from the temple, crying with a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud; σε Send forth

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14 And I looked, and be

hold, a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat, like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden

crown, and in his hand 15 a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap for the time is come for

thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is 16 ripe. And he that sat on the cloud, thrust in his sickle on the earth;

and the earth was reap17 ed. And another angel

came out of the temple, which is in heaven, he also having a sharp 18 sickle. And another

angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the

βία, ἔχων ἐξεσίαν ἐπὶ τῇ πυρός· καὶ ἐφώνησε κραυγή με γάλη τῷ ἔχοντα τὸ δρέπανον τὸ ὀξὺ, λέγων· Πέμψου σε τὸ δρέπανον τὰ οξύ, καὶ τρύγησαν τὲς βύτρυας τῆς αμπέλι της γής, ὅτι ἔκμασαν αἱ ςα19 φυλαὶ αὐτῆς. Καὶ

ἔβαλεν ὁ ἄγγελος τὸ δρέπανον αὐτῇ εἰς τὴν γῆν, καὶ ἐτρύ γησε τὴν ἀμπελον τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἔβαλεν εἰς τὴν ληνὸν τῶ θυμῷ τῷ Θεῷ τὸν 20 μέγαν. Καὶ ἐπα

Than nanvas Eur τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν αἷμα ἐκ τῆς ληνᾶ ἔχει τῶν χα λινῶν τῶν ἵππων απο ςαδίων χιλίων ἑξακοσίων.

called out with a loud

ing;

voice to him who had the sharp sickle, say"Send forth thy "sharp sickle, and ga"ther the clusters of "the vine of the earth, "for her grapes are 19" fully ripe." And the

angel cast his sickle to the earth, and gathered the grapes of the vine of the earth, and cast them into the great wine-press of the wrath 20 of God. And the wine-press was trodden on the outside of the city; and there came forth blood from the wine-press, even unto the bridles of the horses, for the space of a thousand six hundred furlongs.

sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her

gripes are fully ripe. 19 And the angel thrust

in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine-press of the 20 wrath of God. And the wine-press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the wine-press,

even unto the horsebridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

Times of persecution, such as have been now represented under the antichristian powers, are times when: the faith and virtue of Christians are tried by the severest tests. Many are they, "who gladly receive "the word, but in time of persecution fall away." Now such methods of God's Providence separate the good seed from the tares *. But the time of harvest and vintage, represented also in the Old Testament †, is a

* Which our Lord and his Angels are represented as doing, in Matt. xiii. 41. Mark iv. 29; where the word pavov is also used.

↑ Jer. li. 33. Joel iii. 13. Is. lxiii. 1-7.

time not only of separation of the good from the
wicked, but also of the final punishment or destruction
of the latter, expressed by the act of burning the tares
and chaff; and also by the bloody and furious appear-
tread-
ance of him who, stained with the juice of grapes,
eth the wine-press*. The imagery of both harvest and
vintage are brought together in the prophecy of Joel;
which seems to give, in a short and abstracted form, the
"Put
same picture as this passage in the Revelation.

ye

in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe; come, get you down, for the press is full, the fats overflow:"for, their wickedness is great t." This final vengeance of the Almighty upon his enemies, is evidently not yet accomplished. But such a general view of "God's righteous judgments" was proper to accompany the warnings and encouragements delivered in this chapter; in which is also generally displayed the successful warfare of the Lamb and his followers. "What particular events are signified by this harvest "and vintage, it appears impossible for any man to "determine; time alone can with certainty discover: "for, these things are yet in futurity; only it may "observed, that these two signal judgments will certainly come, as harvest and vintage succeed in their "season, and, in the course of Providence the one will

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precede the other, as, in the course of nature, the "harvest is before the vintage; and the latter will greatly surpass the former, and be attended with a (6 more terrible destruction of God's enemies. It is said, ver. 20, that the blood came even unto the "'horses' bridles;' which is a strong hyperbolical way "of speaking, to express vast slaughter, and effusion

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* Gen. xlix. 11. Psalm lxiii. 1-7. Lam. i. 15.
† Joel iii. 13.

· ληνον ἐποίησε.

M M 2

" of.

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