Chapter 14:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGee
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Jude Genesis
Revelation 14
Verse 1. And I saw on mount Sion - The heavenly Sion. An hundred
forty-four thousand - Either those out of all mankind who had
been the most eminently holy, or the most holy out of the twelve
tribes of Israel the same that were mentioned, chap. vii, 4, and
perhaps also, chap. xvi, 2. But they were then in the world, and
were sealed in their foreheads, to preserve them from the plagues
that were to follow. They are now in safety, and have the name of
the Lamb and of his Father written on their foreheads, as being the
redeemed of God and of the Lamb, his now unalienable property.
This prophecy often introduces the inhabitants of heaven as a kind
of chorus with great propriety and elegance. The church above,
making suitable reflections on the grand events which are foretold
in this book, greatly serves to raise the attention of real Christians,
and to teach the high concern they have in them. Thus is the
church on earth instructed, animated, and encouraged, by the
sentiments temper, and devotion of the church in heaven.
Verse
2. And I heard a sound out of heaven - Sounding clearer and
clearer: first, at a distance, as the sound of many waters or
thunders; and afterwards, being nearer, it was as of harpers
harping on their harps. It sounded vocally and instrumentally at
once.
Verse
3. And they - The hundred forty-four thousand-Sing a new song -
and none could learn that song - To sing and play it in the same
manner. But the hundred forty-four thousand who were redeemed
from the earth - From among men; from all sin.
Verse
4. These are they who had not been defiled with women - It seems
that the deepest defilement, and the most alluring temptation, is
put for every other. They are virgins - Unspotted souls; such as
have preserved universal purity. These are they who follow the
Lamb - Who are nearest to him. This is not their character, but
their reward Firstfruits - Of the glorified spirits. Who is ambitious
to be of this number?
Verse
5. And in their mouth there was found no guile - Part for the
whole. Nothing untrue, unkind, unholy. They are without fault -
Having preserved inviolate a virgin purity both of soul and body.
Verse
6. And I saw another angel - A second is mentioned, verse 8; a
third, verse 9. chap. xiv, 8, 9 These three denote great messengers
of God with their assistants; three men who bring messages from
God to men. The first exhorts to the fear and worship of God; the
second proclaims the fall of Babylon; the third gives warning
concerning the beast. Happy are they who make the right use of
these divine messages! Flying - Going on swiftly. In the midst of
heaven - Breadthways. Having an everlasting gospel - Not the
gospel, properly so called; but a gospel, or joyful message, which
was to have an influence on all ages. To preach to every nation,
and tribe, and tongue, and people - Both to Jew and gentile, even
as far as the authority of the beast had extended.
Verse
7. Fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is
come - The joyful message is properly this, that the hour of God's
judgment is come. And hence is that admonition drawn, Fear God
and give glory to him. They who do this will not worship the
beast, neither any image or idol whatsoever. And worship him
that made - Whereby he is absolutely distinguished from idols of
every kind. The heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and fountains
of water - And they who worship him shall be delivered when the
angels pour out their phials on the earth, sea, fountains of water,
on the sun, and in the air.
Verse
8. And another angel followed, saying, Babylon is fallen - With
the overthrow of Babylon, that of all the enemies of Christ, and,
consequently, happier times, are connected. Babylon the great -
So the city of Rome is called upon many accounts. Babylon was
magnificent, strong, proud, powerful. So is Rome also. Babylon
was first, Rome afterwards, the residence of the emperors of the
world. What Babylon was to Israel of old, Roman hath been both
to the literal and spiritual "Israel of God." Hence the liberty of the
ancient Jews was connected with the overthrow of the Babylonish
empire. And when Rome is finally overthrown, then the people of
God will be at liberty. Whenever Babylon is mentioned in this
book, the great is added, to teach us that Rome then commenced
Babylon, when it commenced the great city; when it swallowed
up the Grecian monarchy and its fragments, Syria in particular;
and, in consequence of this, obtained dominion over Jerusalem
about sixty years before the birth of Christ. Then it began, but it
will not cease to be Babylon till it is finally destroyed. Its spiritual
greatness began in the fifth century, and increased from age to
age. It seems it will come to its utmost height just before its final
overthrow. Her fornication is her idolatry; invocation of saints and
angels; worship of images; human traditions; with all that outward
pomp, yea, and that fierce and bloody zeal, wherewith she
pretends to serve God. But with spiritual fornication, as
elsewhere, so in Rome, fleshly fornication is joined abundantly.
Witness the stews there, licensed by the Pope, which are no
inconsiderable branch of his revenue. This is fitly compared, to
wine, because of its intoxicating nature. Of this wine she hath,
indeed, made all nations drink - More especially by her later
missions. We may observe, this making them drink is not ascribed
to the beast, but to Babylon. For Rome itself, the Roman
inquisitions, congregations, and Jesuits, continually propagate the
idolatrous doctrines and practices, with or without the consent of
this or that Pope, who himself is not secure from their censure.
Verse
9. And a third angel followed - At no great distance of time.
Saying, If any one worship the wild beast - This worship consists,
partly in an inward submission, a persuasion that all who are
subject to Christ must be subject to the beast or they cannot
receive the influences of divine grace, or, as their expression is,
there is no salvation out of their church; partly in a suitable
outward reverence to the beast himself, and consequently to his
image.
Verse
10. He shall drink - With Babylon, chap. xvi, 19. And shall be
tormented - With the beast, chap. xx, 10. In all the scripture there
is not another so terrible threatening as this. And God by this
greater fear arms his servants against the fear of the beast. The
wrath of God, which is poured unmixed - Without any mixture of
mercy; without hope. Into the cup of his indignation - And is no
real anger implied in all this? O what will not even wise men
assert, to serve an hypothesis!
Verse
11. And the smoke - From the fire and brimstone wherein they are
tormented. Ascendeth for ever and ever - God grant thou and I
may never try the strict, literal eternity of this torment!
Verse
12. Here is the patience of the saints - Seen, in suffering all things
rather than receive this mark. Who keep the commandments of
God - The character of all true saints; and particularly the great
command to believe in Jesus.
Verse
13. And I heard a voice - This is most seasonably heard when the
beast is in his highest power and fury. Out of heaven - Probably
from a departed saint. Write - He was at first commanded to write
the whole book. Whenever this is repeated it denotes something
peculiarly observable. Happy are the dead - From henceforth
particularly:
1. Because they escape the approaching calamities:
2. Because they already enjoy so near an approach to glory. Who
die in the Lord - In the faith of the Lord Jesus. For they rest - No
pain, no purgatory follows; but pure, unmixed happiness. From
their labours - And the more labourious their life was, the sweeter
is their rest. How different this state from that of those, verse 11,
chap. xiv, 11 who "have no rest day or night!" Reader, which wilt
thou choose? Their works - Each one's peculiar works. Follow - or
accompany them; that is, the fruit of their works. Their works do
not go before to procure them admittance into the mansions of
joy; but they follow them when admitted.
Verse
14. In the following verses, under the emblem of an harvest and a
vintage, are signified two general visitations; first, many good
men are taken from the earth by the harvest; then many sinners
during the vintage. The latter is altogether a penal visitation; the
former seems to be altogether gracious. Here is no reference in
either to the day of judgment, but to a season which cannot be far
off. And I saw a white cloud - An emblem of mercy. And on the
cloud sat one like a son of man - An angel in an human shape,
sent by Christ, the Lord both of the vintage and of the harvest.
Having a golden crown on his head - In token of his high dignity.
And a sharp sickle in his hand - The sharper the welcomer to the
righteous.
Verse
15. And another angel came out of the temple - "Which is in
heaven," verse 17. chap. xiv, 17 Out of which came the judgments
of God in the appointed seasons.
Verse
16. Crying - By the command of God. Thrust in thy sickle, for the
harvest is ripe - This implies an high degree of holiness in those
good men, and an earnest desire to be with God.
Verse
18. And another angel from the altar - Of burnt offering; from
whence the martyrs had cried for vengeance. Who had power over
fire - As "the angel of the waters," chap. xvi, 5, had over water.
Cried, saying, Lop off the clusters of the vine of the earth - All the
wicked are considered as constituting one body.
Verse
20. And the winepress was trodden - By the Son of God, chap.
xix, 15. Without the city - Jerusalem. They to whom St. John
writes, when a man said, "The city," immediately understood this.
And blood came out of the winepress, even to the horses' bridles -
So deep at its first flowing from the winepress! One thousand six
hundred furlongs - So far! at least two hundred miles, through the
whole land of Palestine.
Chapter 14:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGee
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Jude Genesis
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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