The former chapter acquainted us with Christ's receiving of the sealed book; this with the opening of it seal by seal. Christ reveals unto St. John the deep counsels of God, which were hidden and secret: the only-begotten Son, that lay in the bosom of the Father, he hath revealed them; he only recei... [ Continue Reading ]
The second seal opened did represent to St. John's visionary view. RED HORSE, of. bloody colour; denoting first the dreadful execution of God's wrath upon the Jews, embroiling the land with wars, divisions, bloodshed, unpeaceable tumults, killing and ruining one another, to which purpose he apprehen... [ Continue Reading ]
The third seal opened, sets forth the great calamity which should befall the church by famine, which some understand literally, others figuratively and mystically. 1. literal famine in Judea, seems here to be prefigured by. person riding on. black horse, with. balance to weigh food in his hand: fam... [ Continue Reading ]
The fourth seal opened represents. pale horse, (pestilence,) with DEATH riding upon it; and HELL, that is, the grave, followed it: denoting, say some, all the calamities of sword, pestilence, and famine, which Christ Mark 13 foretold should come upon the Jews, and cause an universal devastation of t... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have the fifth seal opened; under which Christ represents to St. John the condition of those precious souls of the holy martyrs who died for the testimony of Christ, by the bloody hands of tyrants; the design whereof is to support and encourage all that were to come after in the same bloody... [ Continue Reading ]
A threefold interpretation is given relating to this sixth seal, and the opening of it. 1. Some apply it altogether to the Jews, and that their destruction in Judea and at Jerusalem was so dismal, that it was represented to St. John as the darkening of the sun, and the moon looking like blood, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, That if this was meant of the Jews at the destruction of Jerusalem, it was exceeding dreadful, and bespake all sorts of men, from the highest to the lowest, to be under. most dreadful consternation, when they saw an inevitable vengeance coming upon them for crucifying Christ, and perse... [ Continue Reading ]