A37035:1927
A commentary upon the book of the Revelation Wherein the text is explained, the…A commentarie upon the book of the Revelation Wherein the text is explained, the…
A commentary upon the book of the Revelation Wherein the text is explained, the series of the several prophecies contained in that book, deduced according to their order and dependence on each other; the periods and succession of times, at, or about which, these prophecies, that are already fulfilled, began to be, and were more fully accomplished, fixed and applied according to history; and those that are yet to be fulfilled, modestly, and so far as is warrantable, enquired into. Together with some practical observations, and several digressions, necessary for vindicating, clearing, and confirming many weighty and important truths. Delivered in several lectures, by that learned, laborious, and faithful servant of Jesus Christ, James Durham, late Minister of the Gospel in Glasgow. To which is affixed a brief summary of the whole book, with a twofold index, one of the several digressions, another of the chief and principal purposes and words contained in this treatise.A commentarie upon the book of the Revelation Wherein the text is explained, the series of the several prophecies contained in that book, deduced according to their order and dependance on each other; the periods and succession of times, at, or about which, these prophecies, that are already fulfilled, began to be, and were more fully accomplished, fixed and applied according to history; and those that are yet to be fulfilled, modestly, and so far as is warrantable, enquired into. Together with some practical observations, and several digressions, necessary for vindicating, clearing, and confirming many weighty and important truths. Delivered in several lectures, by that learned, laborious, and faithfull servant of Jesus Christ, James Durham, late Minister of the Gospel in Glasgow. To which is affixed a brief summary of the whole book, with a twofold index, one of the several digressions, another of the chief and principall purposes and words contained in this treatise.
Edinburgh: printed by Christopher Higgins, 1658
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Vers. 13. The first thing John mentioneth, is, a voice, I heard a voice from the four horns of the Golden altar, &c. which setteth forth the voice of God. or of Jesus Christ, as supreme overruler of this plague, with allusion to Gods giving answers in His Temple under the Old Testament. This voice giveth orders to the sixth Angel, the subordinate overseer of this plague, to loose, &c. by which is holden forth Gods sovereignty over, and His making use of Angels in the ordering of, the most fearful plagues that come upon the Church.
Vers. 13. The first thing Iohn mentioneth, is, a voice, I heard a voice from the four horns of the Golden altar, &c. which setteth forth the voice of God. or of Jesus Christ, as supream overruler of this plague, with allusion to Gods giving answers in His Temple under the Old Testament. This voice giveth orders to the sixth Angel, the subordinate overseer of this plague, to loose, &c. by which is holden forth Gods soveraignty over, and His making use of Angels in the ordering of, the most fearfull plagues that come upon the Church.
Secondly, The actors are touched at in this order which the Angel getteth, vers. 14. Loose the four Angels, which are bound in the great river Euphrates. Where we have these particulars, 1. Their nature, they are Angels, not properly to be understood; for, the thing which followeth is Armies of horsemen: but they are here called Angels, to signify their being subservient to God in His design, and their being fitted with agility, promptitude, &c. for this work, which He was to employ them in (it being ordinary in all this prophecy to compare instruments good or bad to Angels and Spirits, as, Chap. 9. vers. 11. Chap. 12. vers. 7. and 16. vers. 13, &c. 2. They are called four, not precisely to determine a number; But either, 1. to signify the spreading of this plague to all the corners of the earth, That as (Chap. 7.1.) there were four Angels holding the four winds, that they should not blow; so there are here as many instruments to hurt the Church, as were there to prevent it. Or, 2. it may be to point out a fourfold difference either in respect of government, place, nature or ceremonies, which should be amongst these who should be actors in this plague, which we will find agreeable to the Turks in this sense also. 3. These four Angels are said to be at the great river Euphrates. This river in Syria, is famous in many respects, 1. Upon it the great city Babylon stood. 2. It was the march of David and Solomon's Kingdom that was from the sea to the river. 3. It was the great fatal bound of the Roman Empire, beyond which they could never extend their dominion. 4. Because of the footing that the Turkish dominion took first beside it; for, the first Turkish government being by four Soldans, all of them for a considerable time had their residence near and about this river, to wit, in Asia, Aleppo, Damascus, and Antioch, which were the places whereby these governors were designed. We conceive this river to be here mentioned, to show, that such should be instrumental in this plague, as were neither within the Church, nor the Roman Empire, but should have their residence beside this river Euphrates, as the Turks are observed to have had before their dominion spread. 4.