CONTENTS
The Church, having been prepared in the preceding Chapter, by seeing her Safety in Christ, is in this Chapter taught concerning the Ministry of the seven Angels, with the seven last Plagues. The Song of Moses and the Lamb. The seven Angels come forth from the Temple.
And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
This is a short, but sweet Chapter. It seems in its contents, principally designed to fortify the Church with the assurance of victory, that the Lord's people, in the worst of times, might feel no fear from any outward exercises, being strengthened with inward grace. It opens with a sign, which John calls, great and marvellous. And great and marvellous it always is, when the worm Jacob is made to thresh the mountains. And great and marvellous also upon another account, when grace is so blessedly shown to the Church, in the same moment, the wrath of God is poured out on the ungodly. There is nothing so affecting to a child of God, as when, in the time he feels: some new token of God's love, is conscious, when receiving it, he merits God's displeasure; and beholds that displeasure poured out on others, no more undeserving than himself. The words, upon such occasions, burst involuntarily from the heart, overwhelmed under a sense of distinguishing grace: Lord! how is it that thou dost manifest thyself unto me, and not unto the world, John 14:22.