Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc06/v07850

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 9KB | 162 lines

07850
 * Another angel from heaven proclaims the fall of mystical
 Babylon. (1-3) A voice from heaven admonishes the people of God,
 lest they partake of her plagues. (4-8) The lamentations over
 her. (9-19) The church called upon to rejoice in her utter ruin.
 (20-24)

 #1-8 The downfall and destruction of the mystical Babylon are
 determined in the counsels of God. Another angel comes from
 heaven. This seems to be Christ himself, coming to destroy his
 enemies, and to shed abroad the light of his gospel through all
 nations. The wickedness of this Babylon was very great; she had
 forsaken the true God, and set up idols, and had drawn all sorts
 of men into spiritual adultery, and by her wealth and luxury
 kept them in her interest. The spiritual merchandise, by which
 multitudes have wickedly lived in wealth, by the sins and
 follies of mankind, seems principally intended. Fair warning is
 given to all that expect mercy from God, that they should not
 only come out of this Babylon, but assist in her destruction.
 God may have a people even in Babylon. But God's people shall be
 called out of Babylon, and called effectually, while those that
 partake with wicked men in their sins, must receive of their
 plagues.

07858
 #9-19 The mourners had shared Babylon's sensual pleasures, and
 gained by her wealth and trade. The kings of the earth, whom she
 flattered into idolatry, allowing them to be tyrannical over
 their subjects, while obedient to her; and the merchants, those
 who trafficked for her indulgences, pardons, and honours; these
 mourn. Babylon's friends partook her sinful pleasures and
 profits, but are not willing to share her plagues. The spirit of
 antichrist is a worldly spirit, and that sorrow is a mere
 worldly sorrow; they do not lament for the anger of God, but for
 the loss of outward comforts. The magnificence and riches of the
 ungodly will avail them nothing, but will render the vengeance
 harder to be borne. The spiritual merchandise is here alluded
 to, when not only slaves, but the souls of men, are mentioned as
 articles of commerce, to the destroying the souls of millions.
 Nor has this been peculiar to the Roman antichrist, and only her
 guilt. But let prosperous traders learn, with all their gains,
 to get the unsearchable riches of Christ; otherwise; even in
 this life, they may have to mourn that riches make to themselves
 wings and fly away, and that all the fruits their souls lusted
 after, are departed from them. Death, at any rate, will soon end
 their commerce, and all the riches of the ungodly will be
 exchanged, not only for the coffin and the worm, but for the
 fire that cannot be quenched.

07869
 #20-24 That which is matter of rejoicing to the servants of God
 on earth, is matter of rejoicing to the angels in heaven. The
 apostles, who are honoured and daily worshipped at Rome in an
 idolatrous manner, will rejoice in her fall. The fall of Babylon
 was an act of God's justice. And because it was a final ruin,
 this enemy should never molest them any more; of this they were
 assured by a sign. Let us take warning from the things which
 brought others to destruction, and let us set our affections on
 things above, when we consider the changeable nature of earthly
 things.
07874
 * The church in heaven and that on earth triumph, and praise the
 Lord for his righteous judgments. (1-10) A vision of Christ
 going forth to destroy the beast and his armies. (11-21)

 #1-10 Praising God for what we have, is praying for what is yet
 further to be done for us. There is harmony between the angels
 and the saints in this triumphant song. Christ is the Bridegroom
 of his ransomed church. This second union will be completed in
 heaven; but the beginning of the glorious millennium (by which
 is meant a reign of Christ, or a state of happiness, for a
 thousand years on earth) may be considered as the celebration of
 his espousals on earth. Then the church of Christ, being
 purified from errors, divisions, and corruptions, in doctrine,
 discipline, worship, and practice, will be made ready to be
 publicly owned by him as his delight and his beloved. The church
 appeared; not in the gay, gaudy dress of the mother of harlots,
 but in fine linen, clean and white. In the robes of Christ's
 righteousness, imputed for justification, and imparted for
 sanctification. The promises of the gospel, the true sayings of
 God, opened, applied, and sealed by the Spirit of God, in holy
 ordinances, are the marriage-feast. This seems to refer to the
 abundant grace and consolation Christians will receive in the
 happy days which are to come. The apostle offered honour to the
 angel. The angel refused it. He directed the apostle to the true
 and only object of religious worship; to worship God, and him
 alone. This plainly condemns the practice of those who worship
 the elements of bread and wine, and saints, and angels; and of
 those who do not believe that Christ is truly and by nature God,
 yet pay him a sort of worship. They stand convicted of idolatry
 by a messenger from heaven. These are the true sayings of God;
 of Him who is to be worshipped, as one with the Father and the
 Holy Spirit.

07884
 #11-21 Christ, the glorious Head of the church, is described as
 on a white horse, the emblem of justice and holiness. He has
 many crowns, for he is King of kings, and Lord of lords. He is
 arrayed in a vesture dipped in his own blood, by which he
 purchased his power as Mediator; and in the blood of his
 enemies, over whom he always prevails. His name is "The Word of
 God;" a name none fully knows but himself; only this we know,
 that this Word was God manifest in the flesh; but his
 perfections cannot be fully understood by any creature. Angels
 and saints follow, and are like Christ in their armour of purity
 and righteousness. The threatenings of the written word he is
 going to execute on his enemies. The ensigns of his authority
 are his name; asserting his authority and power, warning the
 most powerful princes to submit, or they must fall before him.
 The powers of earth and hell make their utmost effort. These
 verses declare important events, foretold by the prophets. These
 persons were not excused because they did what their leaders
 bade them. How vain will be the plea of many sinners at the
 great day! We followed our guides; we did as we saw others do!
 God has given a rule to walk by, in his word; neither the
 example of the most, nor of the chief, must influence us
 contrary thereto: if we do as the most do, we must go where the
 most go, even into the burning lake.
07895
 * Satan is bound for a thousand years. (1-3) The first
 resurrection; those are blessed that have part therein. (4-6)
 Satan loosed, Gog and Magog. (7-10) The last and general
 resurrection. (11-15)

 #1-3 Here is a vision, showing by a figure the restraints laid
 on Satan himself. Christ, with Almighty power, will keep the
 devil from deceiving mankind as he has hitherto done. He never
 wants power and instruments to break the power of Satan. Christ
 shuts by his power, and seals by his authority. The church shall
 have a time of peace and prosperity, but all her trials are not
 yet over.

07898
 #4-6 Here is an account of the reign of the saints, for the same
 space of time as Satan is bound. Those who suffer with Christ,
 shall reign with him in his spiritual and heavenly kingdom, in
 conformity to him in his wisdom, righteousness, and holiness:
 this is called the first resurrection, with which none but those
 who serve Christ, and suffer for him, shall be favoured. The
 happiness of these servants of God is declared. None can be
 blessed but those that are holy; and all that are holy shall be
 blessed. We know something thing of what the first death is, and
 it is very awful; but we know not what this second death is. It
 must be much more dreadful; it is the death of the soul, eternal
 separation from God. May we never know what it is: those who
 have been made partakers of a spiritual resurrection, are saved
 from the power of the second death. We may expect that a
 thousand years will follow the destruction of the antichristian,
 idolatrous, persecuting powers, during which pure Christianity,
 in doctrine, worship, and holiness, will be made known over all
 the earth. By the all-powerful working of the Holy Spirit,
 fallen man will be new-created; and faith and holiness will as
 certainly prevail, as unbelief and unholiness now do. We may
 easily perceive what a variety of dreadful pains, diseases, and
 other calamities would cease, if all men were true and
 consistent Christians. All the evils of public and private
 contests would be ended, and happiness of every kind largely
 increased. Every man would try to lighten suffering, instead of
 adding to the sorrows around him. It is our duty to pray for the
 promised glorious days, and to do every thing in our public and
 private stations which can prepare for them.