Commentators on the Second Woe

James Gray. A dissertation on the book of Revelation (1818). pp. 99-108.

Verses 12, 13. "And the fourth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar, which is before God, saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels, which are bound in the great river Euphrates." The sound of this trumpet begins with the papal reign, when the power of the clergy was established, after the dissolution of the western empire. Being now on a firm basis, "the voice," which the prophet heard, "came from the four horns of the golden altar, which is before God," which deserves a serious consideration. First, it is called a "golden altar," whereby we may see, that earthly gain was the principal object of those who lived by it. Secondly, popery has its altar in reality, as well as a figurative one. Thirdly, it had four horns, which are, the pope, the cardinals, the bishops, and the priests. Fourthly, these four powers form one body, or anti-spiritual altar. Fifthly, it was before God, or in prophetic phrase, in opposition to him. Sixthly, it produced a voice, even such a voice as made Europe tremble, and its inhabitants to quake and fear. This voice from the four horns gave its commands also, first, by saying to the sixth angel, who now sounded the papal trumpets, "Loose the four angels, which are bound in the great river Euphrates." Secondly, these four angels are the numerous hordes of the monastic orders, who were, in A. D. 1272, formed into four grand divisions. Thirdly, these are, 1st, Franciscans, or grey friars; 2d, Augustines, or black friars; Dominicans, the founders of the inquisition; 4th, Carmelites, or white friars. The monks had rules peculiar to themselves, before the above date, but they were much limited by the holy see; but it appears that the higher clergy wanted their assistance at this time, and granted them more extensive privileges than they before enjoyed, and formed them into the four orders above mentioned, and then set them loose among mankind. See further concerning Euphrates, in the remarks on chapter xvi, verse 12.

Verses 15, 16. "And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand; and I heard the number of them." In these two verses we find, first, that those creatures who, at their first institution, lived a life of solitude and poverty, conformable to their vows, were now loosed, and called into action. Secondly, they are now to mix with mankind, and teach them the lesson which they received from their superiors. Thirdly, that they "were prepared for an hour, a day, a month, and a year;" that is, always active, and ready to propagate their doctrines. Fourthly, that they were to be always ready to give information against those whom they suspected of heresy. Fifthly, that these creatures made it their business, to glide into all consciences, and to spy into the secrets of families. Sixthly, that under the appearance of sanctity, they led captive the ignorant multitude, into their errors. Seventhly, that they were to slay the third part of men. When we consult the histories of those times, we find, that not only Europe, but many of other parts of the earth, became proselytes, by their means to the doctrines of Rome; and if we could make out the number, there is every reason to believe, that the third part of men were slain by their deadly religion. Eighthly, the prophet informs us, that their number amounted to two hundred millions. I would suppose, that he means the number of them from their first establishment, to their nonexistence, because all Europe could not support such a number at one time. Ninthly, they are called an "army of horsemen;" that is, they were all actuated by one principle — they were guided by one and the same impulse. From some accounts that I have seen, the number of those who live a monastic life, in Portugal, Spain, and the Spanish dominions in America, is truly astonishing.

Verse 17. "And I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat thereon, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone; and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions, and out of their mouths issued fire, and smoke, and brimstone." In this verse, the prophet, as was revealed to him in the vision, "saw the horses, and them that sat on them." Here he includes the whole of the papal powers, from the pope to the meanest monk. He saw their horses, which are their evil principles; he saw them that sat on them, which is the papal hierarchy. These riders had a "breastplate of fire, jacinth, and brimstone." Dreadful composition! Blind zeal, hearts of stone, and infernal rage! "And the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions." In this sentence is shewn, the amazing power of those who maintained and supported these principles. The heads of those principles are the councils who gave them birth. When one council decreed any matter of faith, the next confirmed it, and so on, to the last general council of Trent, who con fumed all the diabolical errors, or evil principles, that had crept into that apostate church, since the days of Constantine. "And out of their mouths issued fire, and smoke, and brimstone." Strange to relate, that out of the mouths of these learned teachers of mankind, should issue blind zeal, wilful ignorance, and hellish cruelty!

Verse 18. The prophet is very particular in his description of the papal hierarchy, for again in this verse he informs us, that "by these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths." Here it is plain, that it is a spiritual, or eternal death, that is alluded to; because these infernal weapons for man's destruction, was to issue out of their mouths. Even to this day, the miserable laity are filled with false zeal, for the honor and interest of their religion; they are suffocated by that smoke of ignorance which surrounds them, as they must believe what their church commands. If they should doubt the power of the church for salvation, they are given over to the devil, to be tormented with fire and brimstone, which is hellish cruelty, in the extreme. It is one of the articles in their catechism, to believe the doctrines of the church, and he that doubteth is damned. As was observed before, it is probable, that the third part of men had embraced the doctrines of this apostate church, and were slain thereby.

Verse 19. "For their power is in their mouth, and ill their tails; for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt." In this verse, the prophet even enforces his description of these seducers, as if to guard us against them; "for," says he, "their power is in their mouth, and in their tails." This language is easy to be understood; for out of the mouths of the bishops, in council, issued their canons, or decrees: These descended to the tails, who are the executive power; and whether these canons are agreeable to the gospel, or not, the poor laity must believe them, under pain of damnation. These formidable tails are compared to serpents. John, who was well acquainted with gospel purity, pays the clergy, of these dark times, the same compliment that his Lord and Master did the scribes and pharisees. "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers! how can you escape the damnation of hell?" Matt. xxiii. 33. To complete the description, the prophet informs us, that this serpent tribe had "heads, and with them they do hurt;" this is also plain. The pope creates the bishop, — the bishop the priest, &c. and all these act in conjunction to do hurt; and even in their bloody persecutions, they drew in the regal powers, as subordinate heads to do hurt, and destroy those whom they call heretics. Thus they all have combined to do hurt.

Mankind may, if they please, be delighted with church power, and pageantry; but it never was intended, by an All Wise and Bounteous Creator, who delights in the happiness of his creatures, that gain, and filthy lucre, should be the object of those, who undertake their spiritual improvement; the old and new testaments afford undeniable proofs to the contrary. But what is the language of the present day? Such a one is promoted to the see of —. Mr. — has got a good living. Our friend — is raised to the rectorage, or vicarage of —; he can keep a curate, and live easy. But it is never enquired, what any of these characters has done for the glory of God, or the edification of his fellow creatures.

Verses 20, 21. Redeeming love, and the conversion of mankind, being the great object of the covenant of grace, it is the bounden duty of those, who undertake the work of the ministry, to be careful, and diligent, and to do all that in them lieth, to promote the interest, and enlarge the boundaries, of the Messiah's kingdom. It is just the contrary with those, whom the prophet has so elegantly described, under the sound of this trumpet. To close the scene, he says, "And the rest of the men, which were not killed by these plagues, yet repented not of the work of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold and silver, and brass, and stone, and wood, which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk; neither repented they [of the papacy] of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornications, nor of their thefts." From these words it is plain, that the conversion of the heathen was neglected by them; and the fact is, they were incapable of doing it.

It is truly lamentable, to reflect on the dismal state of (what is called,) the christian world, these fifteen hundred years. The promise of a Messiah was, in mercy, early given; "the seed of the woman was to bruise the Serpent's head;" this promise was revived by almost all the Prophets, for near four thousand years, and they "through faith saw this precious promise afar off." Heb. xi. 13. When the appointed time came, the Redeemer appeared; he taught publicly, he proved his Divine mission, by many great and undeniable works; he formed a plan for man's happiness in this life, that even the greatest enemies of the christian scheme cannot gainsay, nor resist; "he brought life and immortality to light, by his death, resurrection, and ascension." He is now enthroned in Majesty, as King over his church; he is the great High Priest, Advocate, and Intercessor, for all those who humbly come to God through him. When fallen man could not appear before Divine Justice, he ransomed us, and he, who bare our infirmities, is appointed our final Judge. His precepts are plain, and simple, and easy to be understood. He informed us, "that the first and great commandment is. To love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, soul, and mind, and the second is like unto it; Thou shall love thy neighbour, as thy self: That on these two commandments, hang all the law, and the prophets." Matt. xxii. 37-40. These commands he obeyed in himself, and set the example to his followers; and promised to be with them to the end of the world. By his mediation with the eternal Father, he sends the Comforter to support, and assist us, and seal the earnest of our eternal inheritance. These are a few of the leading features of true Christianity.

I omit making any observations here, on the conduct of the heathen world; but since the time that Christianity obtained the ascendency, until now, what are the ravages, which avarice and ambition have made, in church and state? They are both linked together; though the Author of Christianity has expressly said, "My kingdom is not of this world." Church and state have acted in conjunction, to enslave mankind; though the gospel law is perfect freedom; freedom from sin, through the Redeemer, and freedom from the vices and crimes of an evil world, by obeying his commands. Christianity has often been reviled by its enemies, when in fact, it is the false, and avaricious teachers of it, that ought to bear the blame. All parties boast of their holy religion, but where are the genuine effects of it? When we hear of wars and commotions, we find the clergy of these ages, are very active instruments, in fomenting them. For upwards of a thousand years, what a sad spectacle has Europe presented, in point of human butchery! yet the pretence frequently is, that we are fighting for our holy religion; and so say all the contending parties: But the melancholy fact is, that it is not the religion of Jesus, but the want of it, that causes all the mischief. Chistianity recommends peace, love, good will, and universal charity. The religion of these days is the very opposite. Jesus Christ commands us "to love our enemies, to bless them that curse us, to do good to them that hate us, and to pray for them which despitefully use, and persecute us." Matt. v. 44. Which conduct proves us to be children of God. The clergy, since the days of Constantine, have taught us to hate our enemies, to destroy them by fire and sword, to burn and destroy heretics, to sing Te Deums for victories obtained, to rejoice for victories gained, to pray for the success of fleets and armies, by sea and land, and then to say the Lord's prayer. Can a just and holy God be pleased with such vile hypocrisy?

In ancient times, we read of three ways to punish a wicked, and impious world; to wit, the pestilence, sword, and famine. The Clergy have invented a fourth: They have created purgatorial fire, and taught man the use of gunpowder. Happy discovery! But that holy ardour and zeal, which Christianity requires, is extinguished by them. The laity have lost the harmonious sound, which the Gospel trumpet gave, in the first century; the notes they now hear, are shrill, harsh, and hard to be understood. They hear of saints' days, and holy days — of creeds and catechisms — of works of supererogation, or overplus merit — of transubstantiation, which far exceeds any of the Redeemer's miracles — of pardons, and absolutions — of masses for the living and dead — of tythes, and other church dues — of church ornaments, and Priests' vestments — of ceremonies instituted — And, to close the list, they hear of a mother of God! May the laity read the scriptures, and shun the fatal sound of the fifth and sixth trumpet, and fly from the wrath to come.

I shall now take a short view of these seven different sounds, and the consequences.

First. To the Jews, by the Redeemer, and his Apostles, Ceremonial law abolished.

Secondly. To the gentiles, by the apostles, and companions. Conversion great — Jerusalem destroyed.

Thirdly. To the gentiles, by the apostles' successors. Gospel truths made bitter, by false teachers.

Fourthly. Error increases — Gospel light, partly eclipsed — brotherly love abated.

Fifthly. Bottomless pit opened, clergy established. Gospel light, and reason, darkened, under christian emperors, for one hundred and fifty years; this period begins and ends the first woe.

Sixthly. The long reign of popery commences, with its many errors. It begins and ends the first woe.

Seventhly. Reformation (so called) begins, and with it begins the third woe.

The woes are doctrines established by man, in opposition to the truth; whereby those that adhere to them are guilty in this life, and in the next, have "weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth." Matt. xxiv. 51. "Come, ye blessed!" or "Go, ye cursed!" are what we may expect, by the gospel law.