Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc06/v07700

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 10KB | 167 lines

07709
 #13-21 The sixth angel sounded, and here the power of the Turks
 seems the subject. Their time is limited. They not only slew in
 war, but brought a poisonous and ruinous religion. The
 antichristian generation repented not under these dreadful
 judgments. From this sixth trumpet learn that God can make one
 enemy of the church a scourge and a plague to another. The
 idolatry in the remains of the eastern church and elsewhere, and
 the sins of professed Christians, render this prophecy and its
 fulfilment more wonderful. And the attentive reader of Scripture
 and history, may find his faith and hope strengthened by events,
 which in other respects fill his heart with anguish and his eyes
 with tears, while he sees that men who escape these plagues,
 repent not of their evil works, but go on with idolatries,
 wickedness, and cruelty, till wrath comes upon them to the
 utmost.
07718
 * The Angel of the covenant presents a little open book, which
 is followed with seven thunders. (1-4) At the end of the
 following prophecies, time should be no more. (5-7) A voice
 directs the apostle to eat the book; (8-10) and tells him he
 must prophesy further. (11)

 #1-7 The apostle saw another representation. The person
 communicating this discovery probably was our Lord and Saviour
 Jesus Christ, or it was to show his glory. He veils his glory,
 which is too great for mortal eyes to behold; and throws a veil
 upon his dispensations. A rainbow was upon his head; our Lord is
 always mindful of his covenant. His awful voice was echoed by
 seven thunders; solemn and terrible ways of discovering the mind
 of God. We know not the subjects of the seven thunders, nor the
 reasons for suppressing them. There are great events in history,
 perhaps relating to the Christian church, which are not noticed
 in open prophecy. The final salvation of the righteous, and the
 final success of true religion on earth, are engaged for by the
 unfailing word of the Lord. Though the time may not be yet, it
 cannot be far distant. Very soon, as to us, time will be no
 more; but if we are believers, a happy eternity will follow: we
 shall from heaven behold and rejoice in the triumphs of Christ,
 and his cause on earth.

07725
 #8-11 Most men feel pleasure in looking into future events, and
 all good men like to receive a word from God. But when this book
 of prophecy was thoroughly digested by the apostle, the contents
 would be bitter; there were things so awful and terrible, such
 grievous persecutions of the people of God, such desolations in
 the earth, that the foresight and foreknowledge of them would be
 painful to his mind. Let us seek to be taught by Christ, and to
 obey his orders; daily meditating on his word, that it may
 nourish our souls; and then declaring it according to our
 several stations. The sweetness of such contemplations will
 often be mingled with bitterness, while we compare the
 Scriptures with the state of the world and the church, or even
 with that of our own hearts.
07729
 * The state of the church is represented under the figure of a
 temple measured. (1,2) Two witnesses prophesy is sackcloth.
 (3-6) They are slain, after which they arise and ascend to
 heaven. (7-13) Under the seventh trumpet, all antichristian
 powers are to be destroyed and there will be a glorious state of
 Christ's kingdom upon earth. (14-19)

 #1,2 This prophetical passage about measuring the temple seems
 to refer to Ezekiel's vision. The design of this measuring seems
 to be the preservation of the church in times of public danger;
 or for its trial, or for its reformation. The worshippers must
 be measured; whether they make God's glory their end, and his
 word their rule, in all their acts of worship. Those in the
 outer court, worship in a false manner, or with dissembling
 hearts, and will be found among his enemies. God will have a
 temple and an altar in the world, till the end of time. He looks
 strictly to his temple. The holy city, the visible church, is
 trodden under foot; is filled with idolaters, infidels, and
 hypocrites. But the desolations of the church are limited, and
 she shall be delivered out of all her troubles.

07731
 #3-13 In the time of treading down, God kept his faithful
 witnesses to attest the truth of his word and worship, and the
 excellence of his ways, The number of these witnesses is small,
 yet enough. They prophesy in sackcloth. It shows their
 afflicted, persecuted state, and deep sorrow for the
 abominations against which they protested. They are supported
 during their great and hard work, till it is done. When they had
 prophesied in sackcloth the greatest part of 1260 years,
 antichrist, the great instrument of the devil, would war against
 them, with force and violence for a time. Determined rebels
 against the light rejoice, as on some happy event, when they can
 silence, drive to a distance, or destroy the faithful servants
 of Christ, whose doctrine and conduct torment them. It does not
 appear that the term is yet expired, and the witnesses are not at
 present exposed to endure such terrible outward sufferings as in
 former times; but such things may again happen, and there is
 abundant cause to prophesy in sackcloth, on account of the state
 of religion. The depressed state of real Christianity may relate
 only to the western church. The Spirit of life from God,
 quickens dead souls, and shall quicken the dead bodies of his
 people, and his dying interest in the world. The revival of
 God's work and witnesses, will strike terror into the souls of
 his enemies. Where there is guilt, there is fear; and a
 persecuting spirit, though cruel, is a cowardly spirit. It will
 be no small part of the punishment of persecutors, both in this
 world, and at the great day, that they see the faithful servants
 of God honoured and advanced. The Lord's witnesses must not be
 weary of suffering and service, nor hastily grasp at the reward;
 but must stay till their Master calls them. The consequence of
 their being thus exalted was a mighty shock and convulsion in
 the antichristian empire. Events alone can show the meaning of
 this. But whenever God's work and witnesses revive, the devil's
 work and witnesses fall before him. And that the slaying of the
 witnesses is future, appears to be probable.

07742
 #14-19 Before the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet,
 there is the usual demand of attention. The saints and angels in
 heaven know the right of our God and Saviour to rule over all
 the world. But the nations met God's wrath with their own anger.
 It was a time in which he was beginning to reward his people's
 faithful services, and sufferings; and their enemies fretted
 against God, and so increased their guilt, and hastened their
 destruction. By the opening the temple of God in heaven, may be
 meant, that there was a more free communication between heaven
 and earth; prayer and praises more freely and frequently going
 up, graces and blessings plentifully coming down. But it rather
 seems to refer to the church of God on earth. In the reign of
 antichrist, God's law was laid aside, and made void by
 traditions and decrees; the Scriptures were locked up from the
 people, but now they are brought to the view of all. This, like
 the ark, is a token of the presence of God returned to his
 people, and his favour toward them in Jesus Christ, as the
 Propitiation for their sins. The great blessing of the
 Reformation was attended with very awful providences; as by
 terrible things in righteousness God answered the prayers
 presented in his holy temple now opened.
07748
 * A description of the church of Christ and of Satan, under the
 figures of a woman and of a great red dragon. (1-6) Michael and
 his angels fight against the devil and his angels, who are
 defeated. (7-12) The dragon persecutes the church. (13,14) His
 vain endeavours to destroy her, He renews his war against her
 seed. (14-17)

 #1-6 The church, under the emblem of a woman, the mother of
 believers, was seen by the apostle in vision, in heaven. She was
 clothed with the sun, justified, sanctified, and shining by
 union with Christ, the Sun of Righteousness. The moon was under
 her feet; she was superior to the reflected and feebler light of
 the revelation made by Moses. Having on her head a crown of
 twelve stars; the doctrine of the gospel, preached by the twelve
 apostles, is a crown of glory to all true believers. As in pain
 to bring forth a holy family; desirous that the conviction of
 sinners might end in their conversion. A dragon is a known
 emblem of Satan, and his chief agents, or those who govern for
 him on earth, at that time the pagan empire of Rome, the city
 built upon seven hills. As having ten horns, divided into ten
 kingdoms. Having seven crowns, representing seven forms of
 government. As drawing with his tail a third part of the stars
 in heaven, and casting them down to the earth; persecuting and
 seducing the ministers and teachers. As watchful to crush the
 Christian religion; but in spite of the opposition of enemies,
 the church brought forth a manly issue of true and faithful
 professors, in whom Christ was truly formed anew; even the
 mystery of Christ, that Son of God who should rule the nations,
 and in whose right his members partake the same glory. This
 blessed offspring was protected of God.