the primeval source of all civil authority over the whole earth, Acts 1, 26. During the present reign, the kingdoms of this world are made the kingdom of God Almighty in his divine character, and his existance & providence is positively acknowledged by every civil constitution in Christendom, and even by the Mahommedan nations. But during the Millennian reign, they will also become the kingdom of his Christ, in his mediatorial and human character; he being the first-born, and having the birthright of the whole human family by his resurrection from the dead. It is however necessary to remark, that the throne of God in this book does not refer to his physical, but to his moral government over the world; in which that part, administered by the Father at present, seems to have a more particular reference to the nations of the world generally, Ps. cx. Math. xx, 44. Acts II, 34, 35. I-Cor. xv, 27. and that of the Son, more immediately to the Christian Church. For he sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool, Hebrews x, 12. But we do not yet see all things put under him, Hebrews 11, 8. The time will however soon arrive, when all shall be drawn by the father to the Son, and when the kings of the earth will bring their glory and honour into the Church of Christ.

Which art and was. He was the object of worship among the faithful from the beginning of the world, and the God of Israel; and he now rules the nations by his providence, dispensing blessings and judgments in righteousness and mercy on all. S. R. Griesb. et Bengel. ka! o agroμevos posto omittunt. Nunquam vero fre-. quentiores sunt ecclesiasticæ interpolationes, quam in doxologiis S. quas memoria tenebant scribæ.

Thou hast taken to thee thy great power. These words surely refer to a remarkable change of measures in the government of the Most High over the kingdoms of this

.

world; particularly those Pagan kingdoms, which would now oppose the propagation of the Gospel. For wise purposes beyond the reach of our discovery, he hitherto permitted those Gentile nations to go their own ways, and curbed them, only when their measures interfered with his divine decrees, formed for universal good. But during the sound of the seventh trumpet, he will exert hissuperintending power more openly and extensively, to frustrate the machinations of Satan, and check the counsels of Pagan rulers against the Anointed of the Lord and his Church. History has recorded the effects of this great power of the Lord, in the conversion of all the European kings and rulers to Christianity after the commencement of this period, which were all gradually effected, even the rulers of the mighty Russias not excepted; as I shall show more fully and explicitly in my explanation of the woman. These effects prove that he has reigned.

Verse 18. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come. Here the elders refer us to the prophecies, Ps. II, and XCIX. which should meet their full completion under this trumpet. Both Psalms speak of the counsels and rage of the Gentile rulers against the Lord, and against his Anointed One; but also of the wrath and judgments of God against them, for their violent opposition, by which they are humbled to worship at his footstool. This wrath of the Pagan rulers has shown itself during the whole time of the sound of the seventh trumpet, with great impetuosity and fierceness against the Christian Church and her missionaries, until lately; but its most furious crisis is yet to come, in conjunction with the beast from the bottomless pit, when the Son of God will deliver his Church in a wonderful manner.

And the time of the dead. This verse contains an additional proof, that these elders are the representatives of all the holy martyrs; for their praise and thanksgiving, totally refer to the case of those, who have died in the

cause of Christ and his Gospel. The dead here mentioned, are not only those who had then already died; this expression also comprises the martyrs who were yet to seal the Gospel with their blood. The elders rejoice, first, that during this trumpet the Lord will judge the enemies of the Christian Church, and avenge the blood which they have spilled, in their rage against the propagation of the Gospel and the prosperity of Zion; and secondly, that now, at the termination of this period, the martyrs shall meet their glorious reward. This verse, therefore, refers to national judgments, on whole nations and governments, for blood-guiltiness, and not to judgments on single persons or families. The dead here intended are specified to be those of the following description, not under the Old, but under the New Testament dispensation. The proph ets are the ministers of the Gospel, and the expounders of the scripture prophecies; the saints are persons separated from the world, and sanctified by the blood of Christ and the Spirit of God; they that fear his name, small and great, are the proselytes from among the Heathen, Acts XIII, 16. who have not come to the complete fruition of Gospel grace, and yet live in reverence of God and his word, for which they would rather lay down their lives, than return again to Pagan idolatry, against their better knowledge, and with compunction of conscience. All these descriptions of martyrs, shall rise at the commencement of the Millennium, and reign with Christ a thousand years, as an equivalent for their sufferings, ch. XX. Blessed is he that participates in the first resurection: on him the second death hath no power.

Destroy them which destroy the earth. The Greek word Stag is used both by the LXX, and in the New Testament, to signify to destroy by devastating wars, and to corrupt the minds of men. Jer. LI, 1. I Tim. vI, 5. We are therefore informed by these words, that during the time of the seventh trumpet great warriours should arise

H

in the kingdoms connected with the Church, who strangers to justice, would thirst only for military glory, and sacrifice the lives and property of thousands, and of millions, for the empty bubble of worldly honour. This Alas! has been too much the character of all the wars in Christendom. But these words predict great exertions of false teachers in the Church, who from purposes of self-interest, and self-aggrandizement successfully corrupt the minds and hearts of the multitude, by a counterfeit worship and damnable heresy. The Lord will destroy these murderers of men and of men's souls, by heroes of their own stamp, and by the vials of his wrath to come. Isa. XXXIII, 1. I Cor. III, 17. I Kings XIII, 34. Glorious retaliation!

1

Verse 19. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

This verse commences a new subject. It is not a continuation of the preceding proposition of the seventh trumpet, as some authors have imagined, who accordingly explain it as referring to that great reformation, which will take place at the begining of the Millennium. It opens a new theatre of visions, & actually commences the seventh trumpet itself, (See chap. IV, 1. chap. xv, 5.) and the preceding verses should be considered as an introduction.

The word heaven has two significations in this prophecy, which deserve particular notice. It signifies the Church, when used in opposition to the Pagan world; and then the firmament affords a most comprehensive idea, conveying a variety of objects by a single expression. But when it is used in opposition to the Church of Christ, or to all mankind, then it denotes the particular presence of the Lord in his Church triumphant, within his militant Church on earth. It is worthy of remark, that neither

this prophecy, nor other books of the scriptures, nor even the most ancient oriental sages, place heaven beyond the limits of this material world, and never exclude its inhabitants from the Church on earth; as we are now led to do by the suggestions of a presumptuous philosophy. Presumptuous I say, for the material world is the only field of philosophy, and its objects the utmost limits of reason, beyond which it should neither attempt to affirm, nor deny; that being a subject of pure revelation. St. Paul considered heaven and earth united in the Church of Christ, and in the assemblies of his Hebrews, chap. XII, 22-24. "Ye are not come unto the terrible sight of Sinai: ye are come to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first born, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to God the judge of all, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant," who is the centre of your union, and the fountain of your life, light and felicity. These are your brethren, members of your society, and your assistants; you join with this splendid assembly, when you meet to worship, they are your spectators, and join with you when you pray. Thus he considered heaven opened by the prayers of the Christians; and in such an illustrious assembly of angels in glory, the apostle recommends modesty and decent behaviour to women, I Cor. XI, 10. And who could enter the house of a worshiping congregation with lively conception of these ideas, without an impression of profound reverence and awe. The attentive reader will be surprised at the accordance, if after a perusal of numerous passages like these in scripture concerning heaven, he reads the ideas of the most ancient Asiatic sages on this subject. Zoroaster according to the Zend-Avesta, when engaged in prayer or divine worship, is always in this splendid assembly of immortals, the hosts and powers of heaven, the undefiled souls of just men, among which he