_After these things_ After the former discoveries made to me, which represented the providence of God toward his church and the world, till the downfall of the heathen Roman empire, the state of the church and the world immediately to succeed was also represented to me in the manner following: _I sa... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I saw another angel ascending from the east_ To intimate the progress which the gospel should make from the east to the west; _having_ in his hand _the seal of the living God_ In order to impress a mark upon those who should believe and obey the gospel, and dedicate themselves to his service. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I heard the number of them, a hundred and forty and four thousand_ This single passage, says the bishop of Meaux, may show the mistake of those who always expect the numbers in the Revelation to be precise and exact; for is it to be supposed, that there should be in each tribe twelve thousand b... [ Continue Reading ]
_After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude_ This first refers to the happy and prosperous state of the church at the end of so many grievous persecutions and sufferings: for an innumerable multitude of all nations and tongues embraced the gospel, and are here represented as clothed with white r... [ Continue Reading ]
_And cried with a loud voice_ In token of the intenseness of their devotion; _saying, Salvation to our God_ That is, Let the salvation which we have attained be ascribed to him; _which sitteth upon the throne_ And from thence has graciously regarded us, and exalted us to such dignity and happiness,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And one of the elders_, &c. What is here related, to Revelation 7:17, might have immediately followed the tenth verse; but that the praise of the angels, which was given at the same time with that of the great multitude, came in between: _answered_ That is, he answered St. John's desire to know, no... [ Continue Reading ]