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tion of the New Testament Babylon; because she has corrupted the states and kingdoms in Europe, by her seducing influence, and shed the blood of the servants of Christ. She is the principal obstacle to the marriage of the Lamb, the coming of the kingdom of God, and to the blessed dawn of Millennian day; wherefore this immense choir shout a second Hallelujah in regard to the duration of her doom, which they express in the words, And her smoke, avaßaive, ascendeth up for ever and ever, or through all ages of the world. See chap. 1, 18. This multitude is not termed a people in the original, as Dr. Gill inadvertently argues from our common version; St. John only says, ηκουςα ως φωνην οχλό πολλου μεγάλην Γ have heard as the great voice of a manifold multitude, which words only refer to the voice and not directly to the persons composing this heavenly choir. They are probably the innumerable company of angels, and the Church triumphant, who now anticipate the glory and prosperity of Zion on earth, and rejoice in comtemplating the marvellous achievements of of the Redeemer's administration; from which here result Salvation to the Church from the corruptions and tyrranny of the great whore, and a manifestation of glory, honour,* and power unto the Lord our God. And of all this they add the following reasons: for the distinguishing characteristics of his administration are truth, & righteousness. His judgments are true, i. e. a completion of those threatnings, formerly pronounced against such transgressors; they are righteous. i. e. strictly adjusted to the degree of guilt, which the whore treasured up by her fornication, and the slaughter of the servants of the Lord. The word Hallelujah is Hebrew, and signifies praise ye the Jah, and the word Jah signifies, he who is. Jah appears to be the

* S. R. Griesb. pro λεγοντος habet λεγοντων, και η τιμη omisit, et pro κοριω τω θεω in textum recepit τ8 θεδο

most appropriate name of God. It was customary among the Jews in ancient time, to sing those six Psalms, from the CXIII to CXVIII, on days of solemn festivals, and especially on the feast of tabernacle, which therefore were termed the great Hallelujah. The Jewish Rabbins have long remarked that the word Hallelu-Jah is mentioned 24 times in the Psalms, but occurs for the first time, where it is said: Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul, Hallelu-Jah, Ps. cIv, 35. This triumphal Hellelujah here, perhaps, is an allusion to the great Hallelujah in the Jewish Church, indicating a whole, distinct series of blessings, crowned by the destruction of the whore; and probably even marking the time of her final destiny, by a reference to the time of the feast of tabernacle, and the approach of a new epoch.

Verse 4. And the four and twenty elders, and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Allelujah.

Here St. John again beheld the four Zooa, or Beings of lives, and the twenty four elders. They have remained for a long time behind the veil in the sanctuary, as they do not appear in this prophecy, except where the whole New Testament-Economy is generally, and essentially interested; either when a new system of measures is commenced, or a new Economy to be established. This last is the case here. These four Zooa represent the general Church of God on earth, as she has been already advanced through three different Economies, and is now upon the eve of being promoted to the fourth, symbolized by the Zooa like a flying eagle. And the elders are the representatives of the witnesses and martyrs of the Lord, during the New Testament dispensation; who though

†Synopses Biblioth. Exeg. in Nov, Test. in loco. Vide Bengelius's Commentary on the Revelation in loco.

for a chronos under the altar, yet are still more immediately connected with the Church of Christ on earth, on account of their future appointment, to reign with Christ during the Millennium.

As, no doubt, those heavenly hosts of the first choir, verse 1. were upon this occasion advanced to a higher degree of felicity and knowledge, by obtaining a more enlarged view of the government, measures, purposes and kingdom of the Messiah, which fitted them to obey the invitation to rejoice, in a rational manner; so this worship of the Church militant, surely indicates more than a mere excitement, or divine impulse to prayer, to enliven those whose hearts should be open to the divine influence.. It seems to imply a general season of grace throughout the whole Church of Christ on earth, in which she participates in the blessings of the Church triumphant, by a union in spirit with her. This glorious revival at that time, will be marked by the following characteristics; 1. A spirit of most Christian humiliation and self-abasement at the feet of Jesus; 2. A spirit of prayer, distinguished by ardour and fervency; 3. A renewed acknowledgment of her allegiance to him who sits on the throne, and administers the government of this world, as having proven himself by the judgment of the whore, to be the only head of the Church, and alone worthy of that station. It deserves particular observation, that the general Church is not called upon to rejoice, like heaven chap. XVIII, 20. or to praise, as the servants of God in the following verse, but it is said, the Zooa and elders #gosexv

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sav, fell down and worshipped God; which may indicate that the Church will be struck with awe by the judgment of Babylon, and that immediately upon that destruction, there will be no time of particular rejoicing on earth as yet, but a time of prayer and submission. She, however, expresses her assent to the righteous judgment of God, by a glad Amen, Hallelujah.

Verse 5. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise, our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

6. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

7. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready,

Of all that is yet to be accomplished, the contents of the triumphal song of this third choir, deserve the particular attention of those now living; because this portion refers immediately to the first foundation of the personal kingdom of Christ on earth, and to the manifestation of the Manly Son, chap. x11, 5. at least in so far, as to discover the nation which he represents to the people of God. Here is the precise point of transition in this prophecy, from the preceding order of things in the Church, to the commencement of that far more glorious Economy, represented by the fourth Zooa like a flying eagle, chap. IV, 7. For this triumphal song in three parts, does not only exhibit the joyful effusions of these choirs, in regard to the judgments of God on Babylon; but should also be considered as a continuation of the series of this prophecy, composed in this form of style.

The persons constituting this choir, are evidently divided into three different numbers, and according to their station in the Church, into two classes. The first number are the servants of God, and St. John heard them, as the voice of a great multitude; the second number are termed the small, and their voice was as that of many waters; and the third are the great, whom he heard as the voice of mighty thunderings. Of these, the servants of God are, no doubt, the faithful ministers of the Gospel throughout all Christendom; and those who fear the Lord, both small and great, are the children of God in the high

er and inferior classes of civil society in the world. Moreover, this expression, both small and great, seems to prove, that men on earth are to be understood in this place, as this division is never used of the inhabitants of heaven.

This choir then consists of a select number of Christians, from all denominations in all parts of the world; who have been tried in the fiery ordeal of temptation and affiiction, and by the influence of divine grace are far advanced in holiness; these are now counted worthy materials and instruments, to lay the first foundation of the personal kingdom of Christ on earth. To this end they receive a special call from heaven, and an extraordinary out pouring of the spirit of Christ, by which they are animated and encouraged, to proclaim the commencement of his Millennian reign, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent Basiλevse, has assumed the government. Dan. II, 34. 35. 44. VII, 27. Though he has reigned as the second person of the Godhead from all eternity, and as the Redeemer and head of the human family, under the Old Testament dispensations, and more immediately and exclusively since his ascension into heaven ; yet will he now take possession of the throne of the world in a more visible and evident manner to us on earth, than ever before, and display his power in a new and glorious way from pole to pole. What a glorious and extraordinary season of grace will this be, for all the true followers of the Lamb! Though my heart is cast down within me, when I contemplate the great apostacy, and corruption of this unchristian Christendom; yet I here see, the Lord will find a great multitude of his servants, and still greater numbers who fear God, worthy of his kingdom, when he comes. The institution of redeeming

†This is Bengelius's translation. Hypomn. in Nov. Test. a Kuettner this word is rendered, sese regem esse, magnifice declaravit,

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