[1] And I heard a great
voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour
out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
Pour out the seven phials - The epistles to the seven
churches are divided into three and four: the seven seals, and so the trumpets
and phials, into four and three. The trumpets gradually, and in a long
tract of time, overthrow the kingdom of the world: the phials destroy chiefly
the beast and his followers, with a swift and impetuous force. The four
first affect the earth, the sea, the rivers, the sun; the rest fall elsewhere,
and are much more terrible.
[2] And the first went, and
poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous
sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which
worshipped his image.
And the first went - So the second, third, &c., without
adding angel, to denote the utmost swiftness; of which this also is a token,
that there is no period of time mentioned in the pouring out of each phial.
They have a great resemblance to the plagues of Egypt, which the Hebrews
generally suppose to have been a month distant from each other. Perhaps
so may the phials; but they are all yet to come. And poured out his phial
upon the earth - Literally taken. And there came a grievous ulcer - As
in Egypt, Exodus 9:10,11.
On the men who had the mark of the wild beast - All of
them, and them only. All those plagues seem to be described in proper,
not figurative, words.
[3] And the second angel poured
out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and
every living soul died in the sea.
The second poured out his phial upon the sea - As opposed
to the dry land. And it become blood, as of a dead man - Thick, congealed,
and putrid. And every living soul - Men, beasts, and fishes, whether on
or in the sea, died.
[4] And the third angel poured
out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
The third poured out his phial on the rivers and fountains
of water - Which were over all the earth. And they became blood - So that
none could drink thereof.
[5] And I heard the angel of
the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt
be, because thou hast judged thus.
The Gracious one - So he is styled when his judgments
are abroad, and that with a peculiar propriety. In the beginning of the
book he is termed "The Almighty." In the time of his patience, he is praised
for his power, which otherwise might then be less regarded. In the time
of his taking vengeance, for his mercy. Of his power there could then be
no doubt.
[6] For they have shed the blood
of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they
are worthy.
Thou host given then, blood to drink - Men do not drink
out of the sea, but out of fountains and rivers. Therefore this is fitly
added here. They are worthy - Is subjoined with a beautiful abruptness.
|