eharacteristio eommenooment of a new unto ihe seven angel■ ; /our limng being.. vision or portion of a vision (see on ob. iv. These, aa re11resenting life on the earth I, etc.). The temple of the tabemacle of (see on eh. iv. 6; v. 9), are appropriat.ely the testimony in heaven was opened. The chosen as the medium for conveying to the tabernacle bad its counterpart in heaven angels the plagues about to be inflicted on (Heb. viiL 5). In Exod. xxv. 16, 21 we men. This description is very like what is have the reason of the title "tabernacle of related of the cherubim-from which the the testimony"-& name which is common idea of the living beings is evolved (see on in the Bible (see Exod. xxxviii. 21; Numb. oh. iv. 6)-in Ezek. x. 7, "A.nd one cherub i 50, 53; ix. 15; x. 11), '.rhe "temple" is stretched forth his band from between the the 11«&s, the inner shrine, the holy of cherubims unto the fire that was between holies which contained the ark of the testi- the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it mony, which in eh. xi. 19 is seen in con- into the hands of him that was clothed with nection with the judgments of God. Thence linen: who took it, and went out." (On the now proceed the angels bearing the plagues "seven1mgels," see on ver. l.) Seven golden for men. via.ls full of the wrath of God, who liveth for Ver. 6.-And the seven angels came out ever and ever. SeTJtm; as showing the of the temple, having the seven plagues ; complete nature of the wrath of God (ef, tl,ere came out the sei,en angels that had, etc. ver. 1," In them is fulfilled," etc.). Golden; 'l'hese angels are distinguished from the the characteristic of the heavenly t!Jin.,,<>a other angels only by the fact that they bore and places (cf. eh. iv. 4; :ul. 18, etc.}, and the Beven plagues. These they have not which i1 also sometimes used of other yet, but they receive them directly after. things to indicate gorgeousneBS and un. The phrase is added here to distinguish tlie usual splendour (cf. oh. xviii. 16). (On angels meant. These angels have once "vials," see on eh. v. 8, anrl compare with before (ver. I) been de~cribed in the aame oh . .xiv. 10, "the cup of bis indignation.") manner. Clothed in pure and white linen, Compare the expression, " who liveth for and having their breasts girded with golden ever and ever," with the possible reading of girdles. A!i,o,,, "linen," is found iu N, B, P, ver. 8, " thou King of the ages." 7, 14, 97, Andreas, P,imasius. /1.leov, [pre-1 Ver. 8.-And ihe temple was filled with cious] " stone," is read in A., C, 38 (margin), smoke from the glory of -God, and from hi.II 48, 90, Vulgate. It seems more probable power. The " smoke" suggests (1) the that JJeov is the correct word : for in no oloud, or Shechinah, the symbol of God's other place in the New Testament is 11.£110• presence aud glory (of. Exod. xvi.10; xxiv. found except in Matt. xii. 20, where it 16); (2) the sign of God's active operation signifies " flax;" while the ordinary word (Exod. xix. 18); (3) the token of jndgment for linen, viz. {J6,nros or f36<1'<1'UJos, is found in arnl calamity (Isa. xiv. SI: Ps. xviii. 8; oh. eh. xviii. 12, 16, and xix. 8, 14, as well as in xiv. 11). A.11 three significations receive Luke xvi. 19. If Alvov be the correct read- their fulfilment in this place, And no man ing, the image ie perhaps suggested by the was able to enier into the temple, till the priestly garments (cf. Exod. xxviii. 42, and seven plagues of the aeven angels were ful. cick infra). For the idea of "clothed in filled; should be fin4hed (Revised Version). precious stone," the LXX. reading of Ezek. Just as when God manifested his presenee • n:viii. 13 is UBually quoted. We may refer on Sinai the people were not allowed to also to the stones of the high priel!t's breast- approach, so here no one is allowed to ap- plate, and to the description in eh. xvii 4. proach the Pews, the dwelling-place of God. And hacing their brdastii girded with golden while he is manifesting his judgmeuts. The girdlea ( cf. the vision of our Lord in eh. i.. 18, description is intended to convey an im- and the priestly attire described in Exod. pression of the awful sao1·edness of God's :nviii. 8). presence. (For the explanation of the pane Ver. 7.-And one of the four beasts gava of this verae, see on previo118 verses.)
HOMILETICS. Vers, 1--8.-The trlctors' SQtlfl. The visions of this book are drawing to a close. Those immediately before us are meant to indicate the last judgments which must fall on the world, ere out of the ruin and from it there shall emerge the new heavens and the new earth. But another break in the gloom is permitted to us here. The apostle casts his eyes, not downward, but upward. He beholds two groups of beings in the upper realm. The first is composed of seven angels who have seven pla,,"lles, which are the last. The second is composed of great multitudes-of those who, while the struggle was going on below, soared out of it, and were victorious. 'l'he work of the first group 884 THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN 'l'HE DIVINE. [mr. xv.1-8.