The Fifteenth Chapter

The Holy Ghost having thus first of all shewed how the Reformation from Popery was to be brought about, and churches erected, here begins to lay before us the uniform state of believers, in this temple, and the several degrees of their ruining the false church by several vials: and this, as set together in one continued view throughout all these times, since the first separation from Popery until Christ’s kingdom. Concerning which in general, I shall premise three things: First, The difference of their condition here, and of the churches under the dark times of Popery, as is uniformly described c. xiv. 1 — 5. 1st, Those in c. xiv. were virgins, but not separate; but these stand here alone in a temple by themselves, washing themselves from the defilements of Popery, as separated therefrom. 2dly, Those sung a new song confusedly, but these sing “the song of Moses and the Lamb,” (law and gospel,) distinctly. 3dly, Those there stood naked on the hill of Zion ere a temple was reared thereon; but these here are gathered into a temple, and roofed over their heads. 4thly, Those sung their song in Egypt; but these are come out of Egypt, and so sing Moses’ song. Secondly, These seven angels and their vials, and this company here, are called in the preface to their general description, v. 1, “Another sign great and marvellous.” 1st, It is a sign, which always fore-runs something to come, as here v. 5, “After (these vials) the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony was opened in heaven;” these vials then are the sign of that glorious Holy of holies to come after, or of the new Jerusalem and of Christ’s coming; as “the sign of the Son of man,” spoken of in Matt. xxiv. 30; the prophets also describing his progress with plagues and pestilence preceding; and therefore at the approach of the last vial, c. xvi. J5, warning is given, “Behold, I come as a thief.” 2dly, It is another sign; that in c. xii. 3, being the devil’s expulsion from Heathenism, this from Popery at Christ’s coming to set up his kingdom: so that we of this ago stand in the midst of the times

of those vials, and so may see how much of Christ’s train is gone before, and what is to come after, himself being to come in the rear of all. Thirdly, They are all called “The last plagues:” Christ had three sorts of enemies to subdue by three several sorts of plagues; 1st, Satan and his false worship, together with the Heathenish empire; despatched by the six seals, c. vi. 2dly, The Roman empire, ruined by the six trumpets. 3dly, The Pope in the west, and the Turk in the east, who succeed in the place of the eastern and western empires: for whom he hath prepared seven vials, or last plagues on these last enemies.

To descend more particularly to the several contents of this chapter, There are two things here eminently presented to our view: The church, or company of believers standing in the temple, described v. 2, 3, 4, 8; and The angels, who are executioners of the vials out of that temple, described v. 6, 7. First, For the company from among whom the angels come: 1st, They have a temple over their heads, continually “filled with smoke,” as in 1 Kings viii. 10, 1 1; Ex. xl. 34, 35; to shew that during the vials there should be new editions and erections and reformations of this temple; unto all which God still gives the testimony of his presence: as 1, In the first separation from Popery, when true churches were set up by the Waldenses; and smoke rilled their temples. 2, In the Reformation under Luther and Calvin, when there was a further edition of the temple; and smoke filled it afresh. 3, In that after Reformation and casting away the out ward court, in c. xi. 1, when smoke will afresh fill these new measured temples also; God still giving new testimonies of his presence, as there come forth new editions of purer churches. 2dly, They are stationed in the temple “upon a sea of glass,” (v. 2, with c. iv. 6,) in allusion to Solomon’s brazen sea for the priests; shewing, That this company of believers whence the vials issue, should more and more purify themselves in their several ages from Antichristian defilements of doctrine and worship: and as they discover many and further defilements in their several successions, they are still presented as coming forth out of the sea of glass from the washing, afresh and anew, purer and purer, until they become a bride fully prepared for their Lord and King. 3dly, They become victors through pouring forth these vials, and in the end shall fully prevail “over the beast, and his image, and his mark, and over the number of his name” (v. 2,) these being the more gross or refined degrees of Popery and Autichristianism; all which also they gradually and successively go on to discover and to overcome, until they have got a full and perfect conquest over all by the time these vials are all poured out. Mr. Brightman understands it not of this company getting a complete victory over all those before the vials began, but only successively and conjunctively, as generally descriptive of what they should effect by the expiration of their whole time, being

616 THE SONG OF THE REDEEMED. [REV. XV. 3 — 7.

victorious after the efl’usion of their vials: so in v. 1, “In them is Jilted up, (fulfilled) the wrath of God,” meaning, that when they are all emptied, God’s wrath will be thoroughly exercised and fulfilled through them and by them: so here is not a full victory previously, but in and through the pourings out of these vials obtained ere their expiration; themselves being the means of their conquest; for each degree of which victory they sing a triumphant song: for, 4thly, “They sing the song of Moses,” (Ex. xv.) after drowning the Egyptians, (Papists,) in the Red Sea, when the fifth vial comes; the former vials being in allusion to the plagues of Egypt: but after that they will sing the marriage-song of the Lamb, (c. xix. 6, 7,) coming in after Rome’s funeral-song under the fifth vial, c. xviii. Or, Moses’ song, (Deut. xxxii.) being doctrinal, it may refer to the doctrine of the gospel now beginning to be more clearly taught; which is here therefore still called a song; and though in the dark ages of Popery, God’s elect “sung as it were a new song, differing from Popish doc trine: yet was it so confusedly” that none could learn that song: but now that they have “the everlasting gospel to preach,” (see c. xiv. 3, 6,) they sing Moses’ song and the Lamb’s, distinctly, preaching the law and the gospel clearly and rightly; “for thy judgments, (or justifications, DICAIOOMATA, as Rom. viii. 4,) are made manifest”. 4; (justification by Christ, and the work of redemption, being eminently revealed and made known in the time of these vials:) These do besides set up Christ both in himself and in relation to his church, as “The Lord Almighty,” and thus her only ruler; “The King of Saints,” and thus her only law-giver; “The only Holy One,” and thus the fountain of all her grace, at once to be believed in and worshipped: They magnify, nor saints, nor temples, nor the Pope, nor any else; but say, (as Jer. x. 7, in opposition also to false gods, “Who will not fear thee,”? worshipping after God’s own ways in his own word, and not after men’s inventions and superstitions; for “just and true are thy ways” see v. 3, 4. Secondly, For the description of these angels and their preparation to pour out the vials, v. 6, 7, (see c. xvi.) They are “cloathed in white” as priests, and “girt with golden girdles” of alacrity, strength, sincerity, and truth: and “one of the four beasts,” (church-officers,) is said to give to the angels these vials, filled up, in their several successions, by theirs and the church’s prayers, (c. v. 8;) the plagues executed being in the vials; (as in Ps. lxxv. 8, “there is a cup in the hand of the Lord,” as Rome’s sin is “a cup of abominations,” c. xvii. 4;) and the vials being “full of the wrath of God that liveth for ever and ever;” for that these plagues being spiritual as well as corporal, (as I shall shew,) are but the beginnings of an everlasting wrath, as Sodom’s is called by Jude, “an everlasting fire.” Again, These vials “come out of the temple,” or Christian churches, which some have mistaken for

KEV. XV. 8.] THE TEMPLE FILLED WITH GLORY. 617

“the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony,” (v. 5,) which is the Holy of holies, and the opening of which relates only to the discovery of the ark therein, the vials having been previously poured out, as in c. xi. 5, 6, 19; the fifth being after the rising of the witnesses; and the sixth is the passing away of the second woe; the seventh also being the same as the seventh trumpet; and then, The most holy place is unvailecl: So here this taberna cle is opened “after these things” (or vials;) META TAUTA in this book always shewing successive performances and different visions, as in c. iv. 1; vii. 9; and the mention of it comes in here only to shew the event of these vials. This temple of the priests whence the angels issue, being “filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power” betokens God’s special, glorious, and powerful presence in and wyith the church during the times of the vials: and this smoke, (of which that at the dedication of the temple was a sign,) signifies 1st, The divine presence in Christian assemblies, (as foreshown in Isa. iv. 5,) and God’s glory, as in Isa. vi. 1; making together “his glorious presence.” 2dly, The divine defence and protection “from the power of the Lord” as in Isa. iv. 5, 6. 3dly,The divine offence, as in Ps. xviii. 8: and so one probable meaning of “No man was able to enter into the temple” is, That whereas God poured forth and rained abroad upon the enemies of his church plague-vials of wrath, (against which this temple and the horns of its altar, were the only refuge and covert,) he so hardens his Popish enemies, (as we read in the vials,) that they are kept from joining his temple, and so perish by the plagues, not entering in “till the seven plagues were fulfilled”. e. never; for so “until” signifies also in Gen. viii. 7; 1 Sam. xv. 35; Ps. cxii. 8; Matt. i. 25; Acts iii. 21.