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Smyrna and Pergamos, and at Thyatira and Sardis, and at Phila- delphia and Laodicea, to prepare themselves in a befitting manner for His coming, promising future blessings “ To him that over- cometh.” .... Ch. ii. iii.
n. The shewing of those things which shall come to pass. Here in one continued vision is set forth :
1. Generally and universally, all power
in heaven and in earth, given by Him that sits on the throne to the Lamb, on the opening of the seven seals of the sealed book, ch. iv. v.
In the first four seals are comprised visible things, towards the east, and west, and south, and north : ch. vi. 1— 8 : in the remaining three, invisible things ; ch. vi. 9. etc.
The seventh, as being of greatest moment,
a . has a special preparation, . vii.
b. contains silence in heaven,
seven angels with trumpets, and a great burning of in- cense, . . . viii. 1-6
2. A particular judgment, by which,
under the seven angels and their trumpets, the kingdom of the world is convulsed, until it be- comes the kingdom of God and of Christ.
Here are to be considered,
A. The first four angels, with their
trumpets, . . . viii. 7-12
B. The three remaining angels, with
their trumpets ; and the three woes, by means of the locusts., the horsemen, and the beast, viii. 13, ix. l,etc,
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The trumpet of the seventh angel is the most ample : from which is to be noted,
a. The oath of the angel concern- ing the consummation of the Divine mystery under the trumpet of the seventh angel ; and the approaching change of the great city,
Ch. x. xi.
b. The trumpet itself, and under it, I. A summary and setting forth of events, .
xi. 15
II. A previous giving of thanks on the part of the elders for the judgment,
16-18
III. The judgment itself,
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Here are related — a . The birth of the man-child, and the casting out of the original enemy from HEAVEN,
xii. 1-12
b. A delay on the earth, the third horrible woe : in which,
1. The woe itself is stirred up : 1. by the dragon, .
xii. 12
2. by the two beasts,
xiii.
2. In the meantime men 1. are admonished by three angels,
xiv. 6
2. are gathered together by the harvest and vintage,
14
3. are afflicted by seven plagues or vials, and invited to repentance, .
xv. xvi.
3. The great whore, together with the beast, suffers ac- cumulated calamity,
xvii.
c. A royal victory, in which those enemies are removed out of the way, in inverted order. For,
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