z Upon the Turkiſh Empire, See the Notes on Chap. 9. 14. a Their Force, Power, and Strength ſhall be deſtroyed, 5 that a way may be prepared for the Convertion of the Fews. This I find to be the Senſe of the moſt Learned and Judictous Interpreters of this Myſterious Book, amongſt whom I count Mr. Mede, Dr. Mor, Pareus, Mr. Durham, &c. But it will be reaſonable to fay ſome- thing farther, to ſhew the probability of this Senſe. Euphrates was a great River that ran by Babylon, the Depth of it was (as Hiltort- ans tell us) about two Mens height. Waen Cyrus and Darius came to conquer Babylon, they diverted this River, 7er. $1. 32. 35. Here
is an Allufion to that Hiſtory. The Turks firſt took up their Habi- | kation about this great River, as was id in our Notes on chap. 9. 14. where the Providence of God reſtrained them ſor many Years, till the ſixth Trumpet ſounded. The Jews who are obſerved to be in great Numbers in the Eaſtern Countries, having had a Pro- miſe, Exod. 19. 6. to be a Kingdim of Priefts, may well be called here the Kings of the Eaſt. Two things hinder their embracing the Chriſtian Faith: 1. The Image-worſhip and Idolatry of the Papiſts. 2. The Power of tie 7iks, with the Succeſs they have had againſt Chriſtians ; but both theſe being taken away by the Full of Babylon, and the Ruine of the Turks, the way ſeems to be prepared for the Fews receivins of the Chriſtian Faith: In a caſe where nothing can be certainly determined, this ſeemeth a very probable Opi- nion, To which it contributes a little, that its probable; that the ſixth Vial anſwereth the fixth Trumpet; and that as they were the People firſt let looſe by Euphrates, where they were bcund, ſo they are the People to be deſtroyed under the Notion of drying up the Waters of Euphrates: and this ſeemeth to be a Work of Providence, brought forth atter the ruine of Rome, and the total breaking of the Power and Dominion of the Papacy. Thus we have foretold the breaking both of Pope and Turk, and all rheir Upholders ; but we muſt not imagine them ſo ruined, but that Par- ties of both ſhould be lett in the World, which combining, made up the Army to fight the Devil's laſt Battel in Armageddon, of which we ſhall read, v. 16.
13 And I ſaw three unclean ſpirits like frogs come
+ falſe prophet. 20, & 20, c God here ſheweth John, that after the Power and Strength both 10.
of the Pope and Turks ſhould be broken, the Devil would yet make
one puſh more ; to which purpoſe, he would intluence ſome, on the
behalf of the Antichriſtian Secular Power, others on the behait of
the Beaſt with two Horns, or the falſe Prophet.
14 For they are the ſpirits of devils * working mi- * 2 Thefl, racles d, which go forth unto the kings of the earth, 2 96 and of the whole world to gather them to the F batre! = 3el'JÞ
_ 8 ic. 20s
of that great day of God Almighty e. 2 + Gl tn d Which from the Influence of the Devil, e ſhould folicite the ja Kings of the Earth to join together in a Battel azzinit the Church, i9. & 20,
This is, undoubtedly, the Battel in Armageddon, v. 16, Y 15 Behold, I come as a thiet f. Blf{cd 75 he that watcheth g. and keepeth his garments Þ, * lett he walk *2Cor.s.3.
naked and they ſee his ſhame 7. | Ch. 3-4,18% f That is, I come ſuddenly and unexpeftedly. See Iatth. 24.
43, 44» Luke 12. 39. 1 Theſſ. 5. 2. Rev. 3.3. It may be_under-
ſtood either of Chriſt's coming to the laſt Judgment, or ot his co-
ming in his Vindicative Providence, to be revenged on his Enemies,
2 He is an happy Man that maketh it his butineſs to keep himſelf
trom Sin, in proſpe& of any ſuch Comings, þ and that perſevereth
in my VVays and Truth ; i for if he doth not, he will be found one
of thoſe that are not cloathed with my Righteouſneſs ; and his Hypo-
criſfie will appear to a!l Men.
F602: 16 And
out of the mouth * of the dragon, and our of the , . on ” *Ch.12.9, mouth of the beaſt c, and out of the mouth of rhe + c. 1g.
rd
Chap. XVII.
16 And he & gathered rhem together into a place,
called in the Hebrew-rongue Armageddon /.
k Either the Devil brought them together, or God by his Pro- vidence ordered, that they ſhould be gathered together into the place where God deſigned to deſtroy them and theig Armies (tor 10 the word Armageddon fignifieth, ſay ſome ; ) but others make it to fignifie che Mountain of the Goſpel, or to the Mountain of Apples, 0Y Fruits ; but the firſt Etimology in this place ſeems beſt. The word doth not ſignifie any particular place ; but here is an Allution, as ſome think, to that Megiddo, mentioned Fudges 5. 19. where Barac overcame Siſera with his great Army, and where Joſiah was flain, 2 Kings 23. 30. Of the iflue of this laſt Battel with the Enemies of the Church of Chriſt, we ſhall read more, chap. 19.
17 And the ſeventh angel poured out his vial into the air 7, and there came a voice our of the temple
* Ch.21.5. of heaven from the throne, ſaying, * It is done 7.
m 1 take this to be beſt interpreted as Mr. Mede doth it by the pouring into the Air, (of which Satan is called the Prince, Eph. 2.2.) that is, upon all the Children of the Devil, that had ſo long given diſturbance to the Church of Chriſt. n= That is, the Work of God is done, his Counſels for the Deſtrution of his Enemies, and the Deliverance of his People, are brought forth in the Ifſue of his Providence, not fully yet brought to an ifſue, but accompliſhing.
18 And there were voices, and thunders, and light- nings; and there was a great earthquake, ſuch as was por fince men were upon the earth, fo mighty an
earthquake, ard 1o great 0. : :
0 See ch. 4. 5. ch. 6, 12, ch. 11. 13, 19. cither declarative of the Majeſty and Power of God (as Exod. 19. 16. when God came torth to give his Law, the violation of which God here was coming out to puniſh) or of the great Stirs and Confuſions in that part of the World, where the Beaſts greateſt Intereſt lay, or the Voices, Thun- ders and Lightnings, may be underſtood as declarative of the former, and the great Earthquake, of the latter. 62 :
19 And * the great city p was divided into three parts 9, and the cities of the nations fell : and great Babylon * came in remembrance þefore God, || to g1ve
unto her the cup of the wine of the fiercenels ot his
* Ch.14.8.
* Ch.18. 5. \[Iſa.51.23.
Jer.25.15, I6, wrath. Ch.14.10. þ Rome, afterwards called great Babylon in this Verſe. g The