INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 7 This chapter contains a vision seen at the end of the sixth, and at the opening of the seventh seal, which expresses the security of the saints in all ages following, the praises of angels and men on that account, and the happiness of all the people of God in the millen... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER THESE THINGS,.... After the opening of six of the seals of the sealed book, and after the demolition of Heathen deities, and of Heathen worship, and of Heathen magistrates, in the Roman empire, and the representation of these to John, he had the following vision; and which therefore does n... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAW ANOTHER ANGEL,.... Not Constantine, who came from the eastern parts to the empire, with the true knowledge of God, and the authority of God to propagate it; and who repressed the four angels, or evil spirits, contention, ambition, heresy, and war, from doing the mischief they otherwise wou... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYING, HURT NOT THE EARTH, NEITHER THE SEA, NOR THE TREES,.... That is, as yet, for their commission was not contradicted, nor taken away by Christ; and at the time appointed, at the blowing of the several trumpets, they let loose the winds, and let in the Goths, Hans, and Vandals, the Saracens and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I HEARD THE NUMBER OF THEM WHICH WERE SEALED,.... And therefore could be sure of the exact number, which did not depend upon his sight, and telling them, in which some mistake might have been made, but he heard the number expressed: [AND THERE WERE] SEALED AN HUNDRED [AND] FORTY, [AND] FOUR THO... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH [WERE] SEALED TWELVE THOUSAND,.... Judah is mentioned first, because Christ sprung from that tribe, and the pure worship of God was preserved in it; and that itself was preserved a distinct tribe until the coming of Shiloh; its name signifies "praise God", Genesis 29:35; and sh... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE TRIBE OF ASER [WERE] SEALED TWELVE THOUSAND,.... "Asher", which the Septuagint pronounce "Aser", as here, signifies "blessed", Genesis 30:13; as all the sealed ones are, blessed with all spiritual blessings, with grace here, and glory hereafter. OF THE TRIBE OF NEPHTHALIM [WERE] SEALED TWELV... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE TRIBE OF SIMEON [WERE] SEALED TWELVE THOUSAND,.... The name of this tribe signifies "hearing", Genesis 29:33; and such an hearing as is attended with obedience; and denotes the spiritual and practical hearing of the Gospel by those who hear, and understand, and believe, and practise what they... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE TRIBE OF ZABULON [WERE] SEALED TWELVE THOUSAND,.... Which signifies "dwelling", Genesis 30:20; and was the tribe in which Christ had his dwelling, and where he much conversed; and may denote his gracious inhabitation, as well as that of God the Father, md of the Spirit, among the saints and s... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THIS I BEHELD,.... What follows is a distinct vision from the preceding one, and is not a continuation of that, as if the sealing of the Jewish believers was designed by the former, and the sealing of the Gentiles in this latter; whereas in this vision there is no mention made of sealing, nor... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE,.... To show the strength of their affection, and the greatness of their joy, and how sensible they were of the favour they enjoyed, and how hearty they were in the following ascription of glory to God, and the Lamb. SAYING, SALVATION TO OUR GOD WHICH SITTETH UPON THE TH... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THE ANGELS STOOD ROUND ABOUT THE THRONE,.... The holy and elect angels, even all of them, the ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, the innumerable company of them, who are represented in the same position; Revelation 5:11; AND [ABOUT] THE ELDERS, AND THE FOUR BEASTS;... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYING, AMEN,.... As approving and confirming what the great multitude of men had said in Revelation 7:10; in ascribing the glory of salvation to God, and the Lamb: the angels, though they have no part in it themselves, yet highly approve of it as right and just, that men should give the glory of it... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ONE OF THE ELDERS ANSWERED, SAYING UNTO ME,.... This elder was not the Apostle Peter, as some Popish interpreters have thought; and still less Pope Silvester, who lived in the times of Constantine; be is much more likely, according to others, to be Constantine himself, the first of the elders, o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAID UNTO HIM, SIR, THOU KNOWEST,.... John replies in a very humble, modest, and respectful manner, to the elder, calling him "sir", according to the usage of the eastern people; and it is observable, that this word is much used in his Gospel, and more than in any other book; see John 4:11. So... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE ARE THEY BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD,.... Revelation 7:9; not because of their great tribulations, but because they were brought through them, and out of them, by the grace and power of God; nor because of their robes, or conversation garments, but because those were washed and made white in... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL HUNGER NO MORE, NOR THIRST ANY MORE,.... The words are taken out of Isaiah 49:10, and will be true in a literal and corporeal sense. Now the saints are often in hunger and thirst, then they shall be so no more; and in a mystical and spiritual sense, there will be no famine of the word; fo... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LAMB, WHICH IS IN THE MIDST OF THE THRONE,.... See Revelation 5:6; not before the throne, as the great multitude are said to be, Revelation 7:9; nor round about it, as the angels in Revelation 7:11; but in the midst of it, being equal to him that sits upon it; sitting on the same throne with... [ Continue Reading ]