The voice of the prophets

Front matter

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Preface

The Revelation of Jesus Christ is the most wonderful Book in the World ! It is in the highest sense the Book of Books : God's last and best Book to man ! Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this Prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein ; for the time is at hand. This is the last Epistle sent by Him, who has taken his journey into a far country, with the most positive assurance, that He will return, and reckon with his servants, and reward every one, according as his works shall be. He addresses himself to the colony of his subjects dwelling on earth, with a godlike grandeur, to show unto his servants, things which must shortly come to pass. In this sublime Book, the Divine, Eternal, and Infinitely wise Author, follows no previous model ; confines himself to no rules which might seem fit for the guidance of finite minds ; stops not to make explanations to please idle, foolish, or wicked men : But with a glory, wisdom and diction, evincing that he is the possessor of all things, whose appliances and resources are immense and immeasureable ; peering back in the infinite past; beholding all things present; and scanning in the light of heaven's own pure day, the grand armies of men and angels, moving on in countless myriads, at his command, to fulfill his will throughout the innumerable ages of Eternity.

After his departure from among mortals, according to his promise, he sent the Holy Spirit to instruct, comfort, establish, and guide them until He come again, to reign with them in his glorious person on the earth, in righteousness, peace, and heavenly joy for a thousand years. And that they might have a memento, a visible, tangible instructor, whose teaching should agree with the invisible, internal, and immutable teachings of the Spirit of Truth, so that all might be prepared unto every good thought, word, and work ; He gave them this Revelation, with the most solemn injunction, that nothing should be added to, or taken away from the words of the Book of this Prophecy. Therefore, this Book of Revelation is a most beautiful compendium of Christian theology ; containing in miniature, its doctrines to be believed ; its duties to be performed ; its precepts, promises and prophecies. Precepts to guide the deportment ; promises to encourage the hopes ; prophecies to unfold the future destiny of the Church of Christ, amidst her conflicts on earth, and to foretell her eternal joys in Heaven.

John, the beloved disciple and faithful Apostle, is chosen as the holy prophet, to communicate the words of this Prophecy to the seven churches in Asia, and through them, to all his servants in all times and ages. How highly favored is John ! Chosen to close up the Gospel history, by writing many things in full, which the other Apostles merely hinted ; and merely v i PREFACE.

hinting at many things, which the other historians and prophets have fully written aforetime for our learning.

And in writing the Revelation of Jesus Christ, as the great Christian Prophet, he makes plain what many of the prophets show as it were through a glass darkly : but he speaking face to face with his great Revealer, unfolds the future as in the cloudless noonday, and with the precision of the most carefully recorded history. Prophecy is God's history ! Man speaks of things that were accomplished at a precise time ! God speaks of things that shall be done at a precise time, and "it is done!" And when these things come to their full time, they are done, and pass into man's history; and hence are said to "come to pass!" Christ the head of the Church, addresses himself to the seven churches in Asia, under the authority of his seven attributes or perfections : charges them with seven sins ; reproves them for their delinquences ; exhorts them to repentance ; approves all that have been obedient; and comforts all who overcome the sins with which they are accused, with seven exceeding great and precious promises.

John is caried away in the spirit, and permitted to behold the glorious throne of Him who dwells in light, unto whom no mortal can approach, and there enjoys the enrapturing vision of that innumerable company, which dwell in the presence of the ever blessed God, and hasten at His command, to do His will in heaven and in earth. He saw that in all the affairs of men, angels went forth unseen by mortal eye, to walk the earth or seas, or fly through the midst of heaven to minister to the heirs of salvation.

The wonderful changes produced in the course of time by the providence of God, are represented by a Book, in the right hand of Him that sitteth on the throne, written on the outside, and within, and sealed with seven seals. The Lion of the Tribe of Juda prevails to open the seven seals, and reveal the import of the Book.

The opening of these seven seals, have a deep, double, if not triple meaning, foreshadawing the great changes which were to transpire in church and state ; in the religious and political condition of mankind, and also the great discoveries which were to be developed in nature, science, arts, and philosophy.

Among the great changes symbolized by the opening of the seven seals, are those produced in the dreadful and long continued conflict of ages, between right and wrong ; light and darkness ; truth and error ; the kingdom of Heaven, and the kingdom of Satan. This conflict was to continue for more than a thousand years twice told, of war, and blood, and death. How awful ! The most terrible conflict among mortals, has scarcely continued a tithe of this time ? This belligerent conflict is carried on from age to age, under the command of the two great powers — Right and Wrong. The former is called the Lion of the Tribe of Juda ; the latter, the beast of Seven Heads and Ten Horns.

The great principles by which these two powers have carried on the conflict, and which each endeavored to establish as the rule of action in his kingdom may be briefly stated. Right, contended for whatsoever things are true and pure; honest and lovely; just, and of good report. Wrong contended for whatsoever things are false and faithless, corrupt and cruel, wrong and ruinous. This conflict of principles has called into action the combined powers of heaven, earth, and hell. The seven trumpets are sounded to call the mighty warriors to action ; the seven vials are poured out to anoint kings and priests as captains of the host of the Lord.

TREFACE. v ii

At the outset of the conflict, the two witnesses, Reason and Religion, are clothed in sackcloth — overcome — killed. Three dreadful woes curse the earth. Three unclean spirits, like frogs, go forth on the side of Wrong, to gather the armies of Gog and Magog, to the last battle of that great day of God Almighty. The day comes ; the armies meet ; the battle is fought ; the conflict is past: the Prince of the kings of the earth has conquered, and his is the victory; for he is King of kings and Lord of lords. Amen. Alleluia. The mighty angel stands upon the land and sea, and swears by him that liveth forever, that time shall be no longer. Babylon is utterly overthrown. The beast and the false prophet are cast into the sea of fire. Right has triumphed gloriously over Wrong. The conflict beginning at the old Jerusalem is ended : the wicked go away to everlasting punishment j and the righteous enter into the glorious New Jerusalem, where the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth forever and ever. Amen. And again they said, Alleluia.

THE AUTHOR.

Introduction

God has raised up good men in every age of the Christian Church, who have, in some manner, given their views on the Book of Revelation. This volume, however, is presented on a plan quite different from any work on the same subject, which has yet appeared before the public. But its chief merit will be found to consist, especially, in a laborious selection and. arrangement of paragraphs from all the Books of the Bible, in which it has been faithfully attempted to exhibit the Scripture as its own expositor, by comparing Scripture with Scripture, by bringing paragraphs and texts, of the same or similar signification, face to face on the same page.

This plan has unspeakable advantages which must accrue to every sincere and diligent reader of this book of books, by having constantly before him similar and illustrative paragraphs, carefully investigated and suitably applied ; and this advantage has been well understood by pious and able men, whose diligent and faithful labors have greatly blessed the world.

In referring to several relations of the same facts by different writers of the sacred volume, the corresponding chapter or parts of chapters, if each have been once noted, at the first time the subject is introduced, is not again referred to, except where something very important is to be observed. Thus, when reference is once made to the collateral prophecies of the Old and New Testaments, and also to the doctrines and duties, precepts and promises of the same, they are not again referred to. Neither are passages of a similar import in the book of this prophecy referred to, as it was the object to let' the sayings of this book be sustained by the direct and collateral testimony brought forward from the other books of the Old and New Testaments.

Where a great many passages contain the same words, or their equivalent, a few of these only have been selected, as illustration, and not repetition, is the object contemplated. The references, therefore, which fill the collateral columns have all been considered and applied with a special attention to this desirable end, so that nothing superfluous might be introduced, while the most material purpose to be answered by references might be effectually secured, and the reader saved from the loss of time and perplexing labor consequent upon searching out these references from all the books of the Bible.

Whether the latitude or the limits of such a work be considered, it is proper that the principles on which it has been conducted should be so far explained, that the reader may be apprised of what he is to expect from it, and in what branches of religious inquiry it may mostly assist him. We are told in that grand and beautiful enunciation of the dignity and 2 (ix)

x INTRODUCTION.

design of the sacred volume, which is given by St. Paul to Timothy, that " All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." But it must be evident that the things written by holy men of old, who wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, could not be effectually profitable to these great ends, nor make the man of God perfect, if it were not perfect itself. If, notwithstanding, all the variety of matter and multiplicity of detail which such a book required, the doctrines revealed and the moral duties enjoined, the precepts established, and the promises gifen, were not substantially and essentially the same throughout, and if all the parts did not harmonize in the plan of the whole, this great end could not be accomplished. To present, then, the harmony of this book with the sacred writers, on the subjects of which they severally treat, has been the primary design of this selection of collateral paragraphs, and critical and practical notes on the teachings of the Book of Revelation. And as there are some subjects of leading importance in the inspired pages, in which all the rest are included, and by means of which the harmony and perfection of the whole system may be contemplated as in the light of perfect day, to collate these, especial care and attention have been devoted in the prosecution of the present work.

I. To have constantly before the mind of the reader the connection of all the divine attributes, and the holy uniformity of God in his government of both his Church and the world, has appeared an object of the first magnitude ; and therefore the reader of this book is assisted by references constantly in view on the same page of the text for this important purpose. One of the chief designs of the inspired writings is, without doubt, to display the true character and perfections of God. In this book, as in Isaiah's glorious vision, Jehovah may be seen sitting upon a throne high and lifted up ; his train fills the temple, and the sacred writers, like the seraphim, cover themselves with the robes of salvation, and cry one to another, " Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts ; the whole earth is full of his glory." It is this w r hich gives the Scripture its superlative grandeur, and the internal evidence of its heavenly origin. By it God is known ; his will is manifest ; his law promulgated ; his purposes are revealed ; his promises are given ; his mercy is announced ; and he is everywhere represented as worthy of the supreme adoration, love, service, and praise of all his rational creatures. Little do those who neglect their Bibles, think what refined delight they lose by thus turning away their minds from the most sublime and glorious object of contemplation in the whole universe I

II. But this grand manifestation of the divine character and government is not presented as matter of mere speculation, in which we have no immediate and personal interest. God has an individual right in every soul, and every soul has an individual right in God, through the merits and mediation of the Redeemer. The Holy Scriptures are designed to promote the glory of God by the salvation of man. The peculiar purpose of the whole is to turn men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God ; to raise them from the ruins of the fall, and to put them into the possession of the promise of eternal life again, on the condition of their repentance, faith, and obedience ; and, if faithful to the end, to put them into the enjoyment of the promised inheritance, through the redemption of Jesus Christ. To lead them from sin to holiness ; to conduct them through a state of conflict and trial on

INTEODTJCTION. xi

earth to a state of rest and felicity in heaven ; and so to assist and direct them in all possible conditions in life, that they may not fail of these great ends, except by their own willful rejection of the counsel of God against themselves. The salvation of his own soul, as it is subject to his own will, should therefore be the grand concern of every reader of Scripture, that he may become wise unto salvation, and obtain eternal life.

III. Here the promise of eternal life, which man lost by disobedience in Paradise, is fully restored, and the immortality of the soul is again brought to light, and supported by the most unquestionable and satisfactory evidence. Here its departure from original righteousness is clearly demonstrated ; the means of its restoration are set forth, and its future destiny declared accordingly as it has willed to do right or wrong. It is an awful responsibility which they incur who willfully neglect this holy book, and devote their time and powers of mind to terrestrial objects, and the reading of those works which are only fit to be read by those who are resolved to live mere animal lives. Such despise the pearl of greatest price, which is nowhere else to be found, and seem as if they were determined to frustrate, as far as it relates to themselves or their influence, all that divine wisdom and goodness has done to rescue the immortal mind of man from spiritual ignorance, vanity, pollution, and eternal ruin.

Those, however, who are seeking to enjoy the blessings which the gospel reveals, will, as they are able, search the Scriptures ; for their delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law do they meditate day and night ; and such persons will receive great help from having references at hand to assist their inquiries.

" It were to be wished," says Bishop Horsley, in his sermons, " that no Bibles were printed without references. Particular diligence should be used in comparing parallel texts of the Old and New Testaments. It is incredible to any one, who has not made the experiment, what proficiency may be made in that knowledge which maketh wise unto salvation by the study of the Scriptures in this manner, iviiliout any other commentary or expositor than what the different parts of the sacred volume mutually furnish for each other."

IV. The harmony and perfection of the Holy Scriptures are rendered more peculiarly evident and distinct by the constant reference of all its writers to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him gave all the prophets witness. The things which are written in the law of Moses, and in all the Prophets, and the Psalms concerning him, would all come to nothing, if he were excluded from them. He is the bright and morning star beaming through the clawn of time : the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. It has therefore been a chief design of this work to connect and to exhibit the testimony, which all the sacred penmen bear to the adorable Immanuel ; the proper and unequivocal divinity of his nature; the necessity of his mediation; the reality and design of his incarnation; his spotless and exemplary life ; his vicarious sufferings and death ; the verity of his resurrection and ascension into heaven ; the sufficency of his salvation ; the prevalence of his intercession ; the spirituality of his kingdom ; his sovereignty in the Church ; his constant love and care of his people; his supreme government of the Universe; the certainty of his second coming to raise the dead, to judge the world in righteousness, to punish the wicked, and reward the righteous — grand and sublime truths, in which every individual of the human race is deeply and eternally interested !

X ii INTRODUCTION.

V. The inspired instruction diffused through the Scriptures, respecting the gracious and indispensable operations of the Holy Ghost, the sanctifier and comforter of His people, has not been forgotten, and the references on this subject will show, that it is to his sacred influences on the minds of the inspired penman, we are indebted for all the truths they have taught us. So to his influence on the minds of those who will receive and regard them, must such persons be indebted for all they have or can learn profitably of them. His work completes the great design of the whole system of human salvation, and his assistance and blessing are distinctly and freely offered to all who sincerely ask them. The Scriptures, through the influence of the Holy Spirit, are not merely intended to lead men to godliness ; but are designed also to exemplify it. Repentance, Faith, Hope, Charity, and Devotion, are here exhibited in the most perfect models. And it has therefore entered into the design of this work to show the corresponding emotions and conduct of the Saints, both of the Old and New Testaments ; and hence whole paragraphs have been introduced for the sake of complete illustrations. Religion is thus known by its fruits ; not as a thing merely of times and circumstances, rites and ceremonies : true religion, under the former dispensations, was always the same, essentially, as true religion under this dispensation. For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly ; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. For in every nation, he that feareth God, and worketh righteousness, is accepted of him. Therefore, true religion is a living principle in the mind, implanted by the Spirit of Life, producing the fruits of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, which times and circumstances only call into action and tend to display.

VI. Therefore the agreement of the Revelation of Jesus Christ with the sacred writers, and these with each other, will be found to exist not only in the subjects on which they treat, but to extend to their individual characters. It is evident that they were all animated by tha same spirit : that they were all holy men ; speaking as they were moved by the Holy Ghost ; calling men to lives of purity and righteousness, as the indispensable requisite to the enjoyment of eternal happiness. To be more explicit, they were men fearing God ; loving God ; loving his character, his laws, his will ; admiring his great and wonderful purposes ; and voluntarily, deliberately, and determinedly devoting themselves to his service, whatever ii might cost them, and to whatever it might expose them in this world. On all these account^ they are held forth as examples, whose faith, patience, and practice Christians are to follow^ remembering the end of their conversation — Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and forever.

VII. All parts of the sacred writings which were found to illustrate and sustain this revelation, have been collected into this book, as far at least as it was judged expedient, that the reader may have constantly before him and be constantly impressed with those momentous truths, and that sublime language with which they so richly abound, and which afford constant food for the best minds and finest emotions of the heart : at once furnishing materials for the most rational entertainment, and the most profitable instruction. " In this respect, this book will be found to resemble the Garden of Eden, in which the Lord God has made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for spiritual food. But no cherubim or flaming

INTRODUCTION.

xiii sword are permitted to prohibit access to the Tree of Life. The children of the second Adam may freely, and without fear of interruption, now put forth their hands to its life-giving, soulrenewing fruit, and take and eat, and grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, and live forever."

In the preparation of this work, and especially that of the annotations, historical and critical, more than three hundred authors, and over one thousand volumes have been consulted and examined ; fathers of the Church ; Catholic and Protestant historians, ecclesiastical and civil ; theologians ; commentaries ; annals ; councils ; travels ; dictionaries ; disputations ; controversies ; and encyclopedias, etc. These have not, however, all been quoted, as the limits of our work and the object we contemplated would not admit of it, or be promoted by it. We have avoided making any quotations in any language, except the English, as we are writing for English readers. Those persons, however, who are able to read the dead or foreign languages, can have an opportunity of examining our quotations in those languages by turning to those authors to whom we have referred the scholar.

Our quotations from " Pollock's Course of Time" have been so frequent, that we feel under obligation to state to our readers the reason for so doing. Among the harbingers of better days to come in the history of refined literature, we joyfully hail the " Course of Time." It has a relish of a cluster from the promised land, and is an earnest of Millennial poetry. It breathes out balmy air, like breezes from the celestial city. It echoes thrilling music, as if from the sainted choirs above, harping with their harps around the throne.

This poet drank not not at Pagan wells, but at the crystal spring where stood and drew the gifted seers and bards of Judah ; there he quaffed deep and long the living waters. His spirit had an eye to see the Sun of Righteousness, and went up to " feed upon his beams." Soaring to the mount of God, he caught of its altar fires. To himself may be applied, with as much justice as to the renowned poet of whom they are written, his own words :

The Bard, by God's own hand anointed, who To Virtue's all-delighting harmony His numbers tuned ; who from the fount of truth Poured melody, and beauty poured, and love, In holy stream, into the human heart.

To such inspiration the Millennial sons of genius and lovers of poetry and letters will not, we trust, be strangers, as we are. Under the regenerating and fortifying influences of such an inspiration we anticipate, in the reign of peace, a golden harvest of various literature. As a sort of first-fruits of this, we commend to every reader the poem which has occasioned our remarks. We dare offer it as a specimen of that, which will accord with the taste of a fastcoming age, in which the unsanctified productions of licentious, infidel, and impenitent genius will be impartially judged and correctly estimated ; and we dare urge its repeated perusal on every class of readers, until a regenerated age shall produce " A review of literature in all ages, designed to show that literature, law, and religion must stand or fall in proportion as it disagrees or harmonizes with Scripture Revelation."

I

THE

VOICE OF THE PROPHETS.

REVELATION OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE.

Chapter I

1. Introduction. 4. John writeth his revelation to the seven churches of Asia, signified by the seven golden candlesticks. 7. The coming of Christ. 14. .Ms glorious power and majesty.

1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass ; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John :

2. Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

3. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein : for the time is at hand.

4. John to the seven churches which are in Asia : Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, aud which is to come ; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne ;

5. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful Witness, and the First-begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kino-s of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

6. And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father ; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

7. Behold, he cometh with clouds ; and every eye shaU see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

COLLATERAL SCRIETORES.

(V. 1 and 2.) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him ; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life ; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name : Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me : for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time ; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. — John 1 : 1-18.

He that cometh from above is above all : he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the