therefore likewise that the seventh trumpet and the seventh vial commence together: and consequently, since this is the case, that the six first vials must necessarily precede the seventh trumpet, and ought to be arranged under the sixth trumpet *. His se The first of Mr. Mede's arguments is built on the assumption, that the battle of Armageddon is exclusively the third woe. But this we are not bound to allow; for all the seven vials are jointly called the last plagues: therefore we are equally at liberty to suppose, that they jointly (though as so many component parts) constitute the last woe. cond argument is built on another assumption, namely that the mystery of God is actually finished as soon as the seventh angel begins to sound his trumpet. Were this assumption well founded, his point would indeed be most amply proved; because, if the mystery were alike finished at the first sounding of the seventh trumpet and at the first effusion of the seventh vial, the first sounding of that trumpet and the first effusion of that cial must undoubtedly be synchronical. But it is not well founded. The great angel does not swear, that the mystery of God should be finished when the seventh angel should begin to sound his trumpet; but that the mystery of God should be finished in Mede's Works. B. iii. C. 2. p. 585. Ibid. C. 8. p. 595. Comment. Apoc. in Vindem, p. 521, 522. Ibid. in Tub. vii. B. 5. p. 910. Ibid. p. 920. Clav. Apoc. Pars ii. Synchron. 3. B. iii. C. 6. p. 592. the the days of the voice of the seventh angel, in the course of the period during which he should be sounding his trumpet. The whole passage ought to be translated in the following manner." And "the angel sware by him that liveth for ever and "ever, that the time should not be yet, but that "the mystery of God should be even finished in "the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when "it is about to be that he should sound." It appears therefore, that the mystery of God was to be finished during the time that the seventh angel was sounding,-"in the days of the voice of the seventh "angel;"-but, in what particular part of this period the mystery was to be finished, whether at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end, of it, is left wholly undetermined in the present passage. We are afterwards taught, that it is finished at the first effusion of the seventh vial: whence indeed it follows, that the seventh vial must synchronize with some part of the days of the voice of the seventh angel; but it does not follow, that it must synchronize with the very beginning of those days; it does not follow, that, because the mystery is finished at the first effusion of the seventh vial, it must likewise be finished at the first sounding of the seventh trumpet *. The When it is afterwards proved, as it will be proved, that all the seven rials are posterior to the commencement of the seventh trumpet; it will then follow, that the mystery, which is Anished in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, must be finished The arrangement adopted by several writers in Mr. Mede's time and more recently by Bp. Newton and many other commentators, appears to me to be far preferable to that of Mr. Mede. These authors maintain, that, as the seventh seal comprehends all the seven trumpets, so the seventh trumpet comprehends all the seven vials. finished towards the end of those days, not at their beginning, because it is likewise said to be finished at the first effusion of the seventh vial. This argument is Mr. Brightman's, who interprets the finishing of the mystery in the same manner as myself; and it appears to me to be perfectly conclusive. He justly observes, that the opinion that the mystery is actually finished at the first sounding of the seventh trumpet seems to have arisen from translating όταν μελλη σαλπίζειν when he shall begin to sound, instead of when it is about to be that he should sound, "Tempus describitur consummationis. Illud autem quod "sequitur, quum futurum est ut clangat, vulgata non rectè, quum eœperit tuba canere. Quod quidem aliquibus interpre"tibus imposuit, ita ut existimarent hanc consummationem "mysterii referendam esse ad primum clangorem septimi an geli. Sed luce clarius apparebit infra, non expectandum "hunc finem ad initium clangoris, sed post longum aliquoa "tempus. Non exiguum erit intervallum phialarum ; quarum ne prima quidem ante fundenda est, quam septima tuba ce. "cinerit." Apoc. Apoc. in Rev.. x. 7. "Vox facta est yeyon fuit-Hoc fuit relationem habet ad illud cap. x. 7, in "diebus vocis septimi angeli quum futurum est ut clangat, con"summabitur mysterium Dei-Consensio vero septimæ phialæ cum septima tuba est: quod in hac inchoatum sit regnum "Christi, hostibus ex parte deletis; in illa consummatur regnum Christi, penitus sublatis omnibus inimicis, quocirca vox hujus est yɛyou." Ibid. in Rev. xvi. 17. 66 The The propriety of such an arrangement is manifest from the following considerations-1. The seventh trumpet is styled the last of the three great woes ; and all the seven vials are jointly styled the last plagues, nothing peculiar being said to distinguish the last vial from its predecessors, but all being jointly designated the last. There cannot however be two last periods; nor can the six first vials, no less than the seventh vial, be justly denominated the last plagues, if they precede the third and last woe. Consequently the last wore must necessarily synchronize with the last plagues. But, if the last woe synchronize with the last plagues, it must comprehend them as forming so many parts of one grand whole*.-2. This arrangement moreover is requisite to the concinnity and regularity of the whole prophecy. Since the Apocalypse is divided into the three septenaries of the seals, the trumpets, and the vials; and since all the seven trumpets are plainly comprehended under the seventh seal: it seems much more natural to place all the seven vials, in a similar manner, under the seventh trumpet, than to assign sir of them to the sixth trumpet, and the seventh to the seventh trumpet.→ 3. But there is another argument, perhaps yet more decisive than either of the foregoing ones, which was urged against Mr. Mede by Mr. Wood, and * Laweni strict. in Mede's Works. p. 546. Wood's 1st argument. Ibid. B. iii. C. 6, p. 592. Bp. Newton's Dissert. on Rev. xv. 6 has has since been stated afresh with much force of evidence by Mr. Fraser. It is said by St. John, that one of the effects produced by the sounding of the seventh trumpet was the opening of the temple of God in heaven, which therefore was previously shut *. And it is likewise said by him, that out of the temple thus opened the seven angels came, who were appointed to pour out the seven vials. This being the case, since the temple opens at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, and since the angels come out of the temple after it is thus opened to pour out the seven vials; it necessarily follows, that the sounding of the seventh trumpet must precede and introduce the effusion of all the seven cials + To this last argument the only answer, that Mr. Mede returns, is a denial of the premises on which it is founded. He allows that the temple is not opened in heaven until the seventh trumpet sounds;. but he asserts, that it likewise is not opened until the plagues of the seven vials are fulfilled, because it is said, that the temple was filled with smoke, and that no man could enter into it until after the accomplishment of the seven plagues ||. Such a reply however by no means meets the objection. The Apostle only says, that the temple * Rev. xi. 15, 19. + Rev. xv. 5, 6. Wood's 2d argument in Mede's Works. B, iii. to the Prophecies. F. 54, 35. p. 598. C. 6. p. 592. Fraser's Key wus |