Charles D. Alexander
Herbert W. Armstrong
William Barclay
Gregory K. Beale
James B. Coffman
John Darby
A. C. Gaebelein
George Gifford
David Guzik
E. W. Hengstenberg
H. A. Ironside
B. W. Johnson
Alonso T. Jones
Jack Kelley
William Kelly
Don Koenig
Gordon E. Ladd
Clarence Larkin
Francis Nigel Lee
David B. Loughran
John MacArthur
Henry Madison Morris
Robert H. Mounce
John H. Ogwyn
David C. Pack
Jon Paulien
J. Dwight Pentecost
Peter Pett
Bob Pickle
Vern S. Poythress
John H. Pratt & Edward B. Elliott
Ken Raggio
James Stuart Russell
Tyconius
John Walvoord
Ronald Weinland
James White
|
1st trumpet |
The
first Angel blew the trumpet, and there was hail and blood mingled with
fire, & they were cast upon the earth, and a third part of the
trees were burnt, and all green grass was burnt. We may not take these
things literally, of hail and blood, and fire mingled together, nor of
the very trees and green grass burnt up: for such a thing hath not been
heard of since Christ. But under these there are spiritual plagues
figured: as we may consider in particular: for hail is a thing that
doth beat down corn, & destroy the fruits of the earth, and so
hurteth many ways. Blood doth cause to corrupt & putrify. Fire
doth consume and waste. As these three should be mingled together in
some horrible tempest, and cast upon the earth: so upon men, yea even
in the visible Church, a tempest of spiritual hail, blood and fire,
that is, of errors, lies, and strong delusions, is cast down,
overspreadeth and wasteth grievously. Thus much may suffice for the
sounding of the first trumpet. |
|
2nd trumpet |
The
second Angel soundeth the trumpet, and this apostate by Antichrist's
kingdom first figured by such a terrible tempest, is represented by a
great mountain burning with fire, and cast into the sea. A thing most
horrible to look upon: but such as the world has justly deserved, by
refusing to receive the love of the truth. This burning mountain doth
corrupt and destroy: for the third part of the sea is turned into
blood: the third part of the creatures which had life in the sea died,
and the third part of the ships were destroyed. The people indeed are
as a huge sea of many waters: and this mountain is very great which
falleth upon them. |
|
3rd trumpet |
The
third Angel both blow the trumpet, and there fell a great star from
heaven burning like a torch, and it fell into the third part of the
rivers, the fountains of waters. And the name of the star is called
Wormwood, therefore the third part of the waters became wormwood, and
many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. This doth
most fitly set forth the fall and declining of the pastors of the
Church. It is evident that the stars in this book be pastors, Chap. 1.
This is a great star, representing very many pastors and teachers. For
many did decline and corrupt the pure doctrine: or at the least it did
represent some special great one which drew many down with him. And
when some pastor of great account and authority declineth, many drop
down with him. This great star doth fall from heaven, when those
Bishops which succeeded the former did degenerate, were lifted up with
pride, and instead of shining with the light of pure doctrine of the
heavenly word, did set up and maintain their own inventions, and lived
vitious lies. This star falleth into the rivers and fountains of
waters, which men do drink of. The doctrine of God's word is in the
waters, even the most pure waters which are given to the Church
continually to drink of. These waters are most sweet, comfortable, and
wholesome of themselves. This star falleth into them, and infecteth
them: for little by little the teachers mixed their own devices with
the word: they infected with false expositions, mingled and poisoned
the waters making them bitter: and hereupon it followeth that many did
die and perish. But seeing the corrupt doctrine, which is agreeable to
the sinful nature of man, is so sweet and delightsome unto the blind
superstitious people, that they greedily suck it in, and are never
filled; how can it be said that the waters become bitter? I answer to
this that the pure doctrine of God's word is sweet and comfortable,
because it worketh peace in the conscience, and joy in the holy Ghost.
The false doctrine though at the first taste of it seem sweet, yea
because it destroyeth the justification, and reconciliation through
faith in the blood of Christ, taking away all peace of conscience,
& spiritual joy, filling the heart with doubts, and tortures, it is
most bitter. For what can be more bitter, than instead of a lively
feeling through faith, that we are reconciled to God through the blood
of his son, and instead of the spirit of adoption by which we are
sanctified, which beareth witness to our spirits that we are the
children of God, to have doubts and tortures of conscience, which I say
do follow of superstitions and corrupt doctrine? The assurance of
faith, or full persuasion of the remission of sins, is condemned by the
Papists as high presumption: and to be in doubt, is deemed great
humility. |
|
4th trumpet |
This
darkening the third part of the sun, the moon and the stars, figureth
the darkness brought upon the Church by such teachers as did daily more
and more degenerate. The light of the holy Scriptures, the light of
heavenly doctrine was quenched and darkened. This tempest of hail,
blood, and fire, the great mountain burning, the star falling into the
rivers, and the darkening of the sun, the moon and the stars, are most
horrible plagues: but yet not to the utter destruction of the Church,
nor yet the full setting up of Antichrist: for in every one there is
mentioned but a third part destroyed, and more grievous things do
follow. This cursed kingdom began and proceeded by degrees, and the
fulness of it is set forth in the sounding of the fifth trumpet. And
that we might know the greatest plagues are yet behind at the sounding
of the three trumpets which remain, an Angel doth fly in the middle of
heaven, and with a loud voice proclaimeth woe, woe, woe, to the
inhabitants of the earth, for the sounds of the three trumpets which
remain. The woes indeed are denounced but upon the inhabitants of the
earth, that is, upon the children of this world: for no one of the
elect shall be hurt by them with spiritual hurt, so far as to destroy
them. As in the former, so in these the Lord preserveth his Church,
they were all sealed with the seal of God. But we must note, that
albeit great and terrible plagues have been already revealed, yet the
three that remain exceed them all. |
|
5th trumpet |
I
noted unto ye the last time, that the three woes to come are the three
last woes, and the three greatest woes revealed in this book, and
therefore proclaimed by an Angel flying in the middle of heaven with
his voice, woe, woe, woe, &c. And now we come at the sounding of
the fifth trumpet unto the first of them. It is a woe of darkness, yea
of most horrible spiritual darkness, & of deadly poison stinging
vermin, which come with the darkness. We will look upon it, as it lieth
in order. When the fifth Angel blew the trumpet, John saw a star fall
from heaven unto the earth. Here is a star falling from heaven, the
bringer in of this great woe. Some do take it that this is the star
which fell at the sounding of the third trumpet: because the participle
is of the time perfectly past. I cannot think so, unless S. John had
used the Greek participle, so that it might be said, I saw that star
which fell. I take this sufficient to prove it to be another star. Some
take this star for an Angel coming down speedily from heaven, sent of
God to open the bottomless pit. But how shall that be so, when stars in
this book do signify no other Angels, but the Angels of the Churches,
as Chap. 1, that is, the ministers of the Gospel? This star therefore
that falleth, is some great Minister, & of high estimation in the
Church, as his power given unto him may teach us to see. And if ye
demand who it was, I answer, the church of Rome was a right worthy and
famous Church. The Bishops of Rome were excellent men many of them
succeeding each other, and suffered martyrdom for the Gospel: they
declined and grew worse and worse, so far as to become the great
Antichrist. This star being of marvelous account, falling from the
heavenly brightness of the doctrine contained in God's word, and from
the true godliness, unto human inventions, and wicked life, retaineth
still an exceeding great power to do hurt. He hath given unto him the
key of the bottomless pit: Satan by him broacheth in all his hellish
doctrine. The Papists boast that the power which their Pope hath
exercised so long, is the keys of heaven, and that at his pleasure he
can send and let men in there: and so the Pope doth promise eternal
life at his pleasure. But the truth is, that his power is the key of
hell, that key is given unto him, to bring in devilish doctrine,
ignorance of the truth, darkness, idolatry, superstition, and all
wicked errors: for he openeth the bottomless pit, and the smoke
thereof, yea so dark a smoke cometh up, that the light of the sun and
of the air are darkened. We did see how at the sounding of the fourth
trumpet the third part of the sun, and the third part of the moon, and
the third part of the stars was striken, so that the third part did not
shine: this was a great diminishing of the light but nothing comparable
to the darkness here set forth. The course of the Gospel was stayed (as
we see the four Angels held the four winds) man's devices and
superstition greatly increased, the clear light of the most pure
doctrine was much dimmed, and so by little and little Antichrist was
exulted: and when he was come to his full strength, the pit of hell
being opened, that Satan might send forth what strong delusion he
would, the case is far more miserable than before. Mark what similtude
here is used. For like as the sun with his bright beams doth pierce
through and lighten the air, and so we have light unto our bodily eyes
here upon the earth, and if a thick dark smoke arise, it darkeneth the
air, and keepeth the light of the sun black from us: so Christ Jesus
with his glorious gospel, shining upon the Church, the smoke from the
pit of hell, even the illusions of the devil, the inventions of men,
idolatry, errors, and superstition, do darken, or keep back the bright
beams thereof from men. We may plainly see by this place, that in the
kingdom of Antichrist, gross and palpable darkness doth overspread all:
and that men are ignorant of the truth, and covered in blindness, by
reason of the thick smoke arising out of the bottomless pit. The
doctrine & worship of devils is now set up: this being one proper
and infallable not of that horrible kingdom, it is requisite that I
should stay a little upon it. And if any man will object that it is not
certain, that this is a description of the kingdom of Antichrist; I say
it is most undoubtedly certain, and without all controvery, a
description of Antichrist's full exultation: and if men be not wilfully
blind, they can not but see and confess so much. For is it not certain,
yea so certain that the most impudent adversaries cannot deny, that
amongst other plagues the great plague upon the world by Antichrist, is
revealed in this book? Is it not also manifest that in the opening of
the seven seals all things are revealed which should happen, even to
the end of the world? and therefore at the sounding of the seventh
trumpet is the day of judgment, as we see in the latter end of the
eleventh Chapter: & as the Angel in the next Chapter doth swear
that there shall be no more time when the seventh Angel shall begin to
sound the trumpet, and that the mystery of God shall be finished. For
all that followeth from the beginning of the twelfth Chapter is but
larger descriptions & plainer, of some things gone before in the
opening of the seals. Moreover, is it not out of doubt, that the
kingdom of Antichrist is one of the greatest plagues? And will ye call
into question whether the three woes denounced by the Angel, be the
three greatest? The last of the three is the dreadful day of judgment:
the last saving one, is the horrible kingdom (as we shall see) of the
Turk: and the first of the three (which is this that we are now in hand
withall, is the wicked kingdom of Antichrist. A star fallen, a great
minister of the Gospel still in title, to whom the key of the
bottomless pit is given, is the head of this kingdom next under the
devil. This one point ye see, is most evident by the words of the text,
whereby we come to a second point: namely, that the Popery is this
kingdom, which indeed is more fully declared in the Chapters following:
but yet to be proved by this. For what kingdom of such power, as to
agree with the description here following can be found, that hath a
star fallen to be the head thereof, but the papacy? let it be shewed if
they can through the universal world. And now to come further, and to
prove it by the darkness which ariseth by the smoke of thepit, is any
so senseless as not to take it of a spiritual darkenss? Is it meant
that a smoke shall arise out of the pit of hell, and darken the air
which we draw in, and the sun in the firmament, which shineth to our
bodily eyes? No, let the most obstinate and rankest Papist in the world
deny if he can, that this darkening is not the darkening of the Gospel,
in which Christ shineth to the Church, as the sun to the world. Let
such an one also if he can deny, that this smoke is not the darkness of
Satan's kingdom, ignorance of the mysteries of Christ's Gospel, through
men's inventions and blind errors. And doth not this fitly agree to the
Popery? was not the Gospel buried among them? were not all manner of
human traditions, errors, lies, superstition, and idolatry set up
instead thereof? were not the people kept in such exceeding darkness,
as that they received and were fed with all manner of lies, yea so
gross, as their Legends and festivals do witness, that children do
wonder how men could be brought to believe them? Have not the Papists
always, & do not the Jesuits as far as they dare for shame still
maintain, that ignorance is the mother of devotion? God gave his word
in old time to his people by Moses and the prophets in their own
language, willing all to read it, and to meditate in it night and day,
as ye may read in many places. The holy Apostles delivered to the
Churches the whole doctrine of the Gospel, and taught them all the
counsels of God in the tongue which they understood, exhorting all
pastors to be dilligent in teaching, and all people to let the word
dwell plenteously among them: which is clean contrary to that doctrine
and practice of the Papists. For they keep the Scriptures from the
people, they will have them kept blind without any light, lest they
should spy their treacheries and falsehood, and so refuse to sup up
those filthy stinking poisoned dregs which they do give them. And who
hath brought in all this darkness or smoke of hell, but that star
fallen from heaven, which hath the key to the bottomless pit? Beloved,
if the word of God be true (which I trust no man here is so wicked to
doubt of) the Popery is this dark kingdom, and the Pope that star which
hath opened the pit of hell, and brought in such horrible darkness and
confusion. If they can shew likelihood in any other, let them, that it
may be discussed. Then next he saith, There came out of the smoke
Locusts upon the earth, and unto them was given power, as the scorpions
of the earth have power. Here is a further misery, for beside the
plague of darkness, there cometh from the smoke another plague of the
Locusts: For as the smoke of the bottomless pit doth darken the sun, so
of the same smoke the Locusts are bred. Let us see what this
representeth. Locusts are but a vile vermin, but yet great swarms of
them do eat up and destroy the green things and fruits of the earth,
and make a fruitful land waste: as ye may read the description of them,
Joel 2. These which are here spoken of be not common Locusts, but have
also the deadly poison and power of Scorpions, to sting and torment men
to death. This is a most pestilent vermin: who are represented by them?
By these are represented all the Popish Clergy, their Priests, their
swarms of Monks, Friars, and Nuns. For first, all this vermin is not
bred from the light, having no ground in God's word, but indeed from
the smoke of the pit. They are bred of ignorance, of error, and blind
superstition, they come from hell. Let any Jesuit shew, where under a
star fallen, there is any resemblance of the swarms of locusts bred of
error, of ignorance, and darkness but only under the Popes, in their
heaps and rabblements, yea even swarms of Friars, Monks, & such
like. Have not they overspread the earth, even to eat up and to lay
waste all green things in the Church? And have not they even as it were
with the poison of Scorpions, stung thousands thousands with their
damnable errors and devilish devices? who can declare the spiritual
miseries of those days, when together with the hellish darkness,
through the want of God's word which lay buried and hid, the venimous
locusts did overspread, which stung even as scorpions? Here is again a
doubt to be answered, which is this. When all was thus overwhelmed in
the darkness of the smoke, the earth every where crawling full of these
locusts, what became of the Church? this doubt I say might arise. And
ye know it is the question which every Papist propoundeth; where was
your church an hundred years past? This question is answered in the
next words. For as we have seen every danger prophecied before in this
book, special provision made to set the chosen in safety: so here these
locusts are restrained from hurting them which are sealed. Their power
is limited only upon the reprobates for we heard before how all the
servants of God were sealed in their foreheads, they are sealed with
the holy spirit of promise, which is the spirit of adoption. And here
is commandment given to the locusts that they shall not hurt the grass,
neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those men which
have not the seal of God in their foreheads. We see then they could not
touch the elect of God. Here is the glorious power, the providence and
wisdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, that in the middle of this darkness,
horrible to think upon, even the Antichrist reigneth in his full pride,
his elect among these scorpion locusts flying about their ears like
swarms of hornets, yet not one of them is stung to death: his flock is
defended. Then there is another commandment given to these locusts,
which is that they should not kill men, no not even the reprobate: but
that they should be vexed five months, and their pain should be as the
pain that cometh of a scorpion when he hath stung a man. This may seem
hard at the first, that they should not kill them: for doth not the
darkness, and the venom of these locusts bring utter destruction unto
men's souls? shall not the kingdom or power of Antichrist slay men with
the spiritual death? how then is it said they should not kill them? It
is to be answered, that they sould not kill them out right at once, but
torment them with a lingering death: and therefore they are compared to
scorpions. For it is said, that he which is stung by a scorpion is
tormented two or three days grievously before he die of it: he hath a
lingering pain. And unto that pain of such as lie in torment stung with
scorpions, is likened the pain of those which are stung by these
locusts. O miserable state of poor blind and superstitious Papists,
which drink in the poison of Antichrist's doctrine: what a sting doth
it leave behind? no tongue is able to express it to the full: they feel
and know that they be foul sinners, they are sure also that they must
come to judgment. They are told of the torments of hell by the
Scriptures, and of the fire of Purgatory by the Popish sort: the
doctrine of free justification in the blood of Christ is hid from them,
yea condemned as heresy: all assurance of God's favour, all peace of
conscience, all joy in the holy Ghost are quite destroyed: they are
sent to seek ease in the merit of their own works, in Pope's pardons
and indulgences, by running on pilgrimage to this Idol, and to that
Idol, by punishing their bodies with whippings, fastings, and a
thousand inventions: and when all is done, they are not satisfied, they
are not eased, but the horror of judgment, and the tortures of
conscience still remain: these scorpion locusts have stung them. For if
any man will doubt of the torments which they suffered in the blind
Popery that they were drowned in superstition, being trung with the
false doctrine and idolarty of these locusts, do mark their end: for
when they have run, run, run, every way to seek ease, when they have
spent their goods, and tormented their bodies with all the sharp
pennances they can: yet at the last what do they do? They give great
gifts, they build Abbeys to have trentals of masses, and to be prayed
for. Then sing, sing, sing, ring, ring, ring, pour the pardons into the
grave: call the Friars: call the poor: let plentiful alms be given to
help the poor soul to some ease from the torments it was in: O filthy
cursed locusts, that thrust in such tormenting poison into the
consciences of miserable men! O blessed doctrine of reconciliation
through the blood of the Lamb, which bringeth sweet peace and joy unto
the wounded soul! It is said, they should have this power to torment
men five months. This is a comfort, yea a great comfort, that albeit
the displeasure of God was great, for the contempt and abuse of his
holy Gospel, and therefore as Saint Paul teacheth, 2 Thes. 2 he would
send strong delusion, even the darkness and these vile locusts: yet it
shall be but for a time, yea less than half a year. I will not stand
curiously about the number of years, but yet I take it that by these
five months, after the maner of the speech of the Prophets, some five
hundred years are to be understood. For the poperie hath been in the
power and sway to bring in this hellish darkness, about the space of
five hundred yeares, as we shall have occasion to note elsewhere. But
how is it to be taken that he saith, in those days men shall seek death
and shall not find it, & shall desire to die, but death shall flee
from them? This doth shew how fully their torment is like to those
which are stung with Scorpions: for they lie in grievous pain certain
days, & would fain be rid of it by death, & death lingereth.
Surely the superstitious papists void of all true peace of conscience,
tormented with the feeling of their sins, and fear of coming to
iudgment, in all their seeking for ease do but increase torment. For
that which they drink in as a medicine to ease them, is poison which
doth more and more increase paine. No doubt such as be in that case
wish to be dead, so that they might never come before the judge, and so
may be said to seek death. And thus having described the torment
wherewith the locusts should vex the inhabitants of the earth, in the
time of the great Antichrist, he returneth to describe the form of
them. He saith the form of the locusts was like unto horses prepared
unto battle, &c. here we have a marvelous description. What is a
pield locust to an horse? and yet these locusts are like strong horses
prepared unto battle. The popish clergy, though the inferior sort of
them were base in shew like paltry locusts, yet were strong and linked
together were strong and linked together with ready and prepared minds,
as horses to battle against all such as should any way but so much as
mutter against the usurped power and tyranny of their king the Romish
Antichrist. Who knoweth not this which either liveth among them now, or
that readeth the histories of the times past? they rush strongly like
horses to the battle. There have been great troups and armies of them,
and so bold as to bid battle against the mightiest Emperors & kings
in all Europe. Then next he saith, they had on their heads as it were
crowns of gold: they be but vile locusts, a devouring vermin, good for
nothing, and yet decked with honour as were with crownes of gold upon
their heads. To understand this, look what devices they had to be in
dignity and estimation: look what priviledges & immunities they
had, as not to be under the power of kings: finally, look what titles
of honour and pre-eminence every Locust did challenge, and ye must
needs confess that they had crowns upon their heads like crowns of
gold. Indeed it is not said that their crowns were of gold, but like
gold. For the honour which God hath ordained, and the majesty which he
giveth unto Princes, is set forth with crowns of pure gold. But those
devised titles and honours of the Romish Clergy, though they glitter,
and shew like gold, yet they be no crowns of gold, they be no honours
to them which know the truth. Their great Lord himself with his triple
crown, whose glory and magnificence was published and esteemed to excel
the majesty of Emperors, as far as the sun doth excel the moon in
brightness, is now covered with shame and ignominy, it is no crown
of`gold. For who doth not know, that it is no true magnificence
ordained by God, but given by the Dragon? What is then the crown of
their Monks & Friars? do not all men now see it is no gold? In the
dark they seemed to be gold, so long as the smoke of the bottomless pit
darkened the sun: but now the sun shineth, and we see the crowns were
but like gold. |
|
6th trumpet |
The
Turks |
|
7th trumpet |
Copyright © 2010 by Douglas E. Cox
All Rights Reserved.