The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 353

EXPOSITION. OHA.PTEB XVI. 7. VOIOBS in heaven; 7, Vc.rOE:S in heaven; In the judgmenta of the wialB, or botala, we the JUDGMENT ; the FALL of Baby- earthquake, etc., lon ; B.UITHQUAKB, have undoubtedly a recapitulation of what and llAlL. eto., and HAIL. Jiu been aireadJ foretold in the trumpet and seal vhri.ona. This recapitulation is We may from this comparison notic- llOt a mere repetition: but the idea. oon- (1) The via.ls form a .series of visiollll tained in the drat visious is strengthened denouncing God's judgments against the and set forth more forcibly, in oonformity wicked. with oh, :n, I, where we are told the wrath (2) The number seven as well as their of God is finished in these plaguea or the character indfoates the universal and com- vials. The following comparison will plete nature of these judgments. illustrate the pointa of resemblance and (3) The events portrayed occupy the contrast· between the visiona of Lhe Vlllll• same peri0tl in time as the sea.ls and trum- pets and of the vials. pets; that is to say, the period of the Tt'Ufflpet,. world's hMory termiuating with the last l. Bail,'fire, and blood 1. Vial P"ured ON judgment-day. onst tll'ON TUB THE EARTH ; sore (4) As in the oases of the seals and trum- BARTH ; one-third upon thB Jollo'Wfln trees, etc., burnt. of the beast. pets, they are general indications of God's Z, °"6-thi1'11 of BEA 2. The SBA made judgment&; and though particular even ta. made blood ; one- blood aa of II dead may be partial fulfilments, the complete third of oree.tures 71111H ;- ll1l6f'!I BOul fulfilment is in all time. · thezein and ofships therein destroyed. (5) In comparison with the seals and destroyed. trumpets, we may observe some points in 3. OM-tbif'd of the S. Rnm111 made BIVEBSmade bitter; blood; declared to common and aome in which the visions 1'111fl!f men de- be God's vengeance differ. (11) Like the former visions, these 1tl'oyed. upon [ALL] men. may be divided into two groups of four and '- One-tAinJ of the 4. SUN smitten ; men three (see on the vnmpets). (b) The n1f, etc. smitten; · soorohed; men blas- structure of the vial-visions ill almOllt exactly Gile-third of the day pheme, men repent darkened. not. parallel to *hat of the seals. (c) The a. Star from heaven 5. The THRONE . and visions all terminate with the Bame events · f&llllintotheABYS&; kingdom of the portrayed in similar language, though, as the he senda forth lo- beast smiUen; three sets of visions proceed, more stress iii cUBW; men -1il men, in pain, blaa- laid upon the judgmeut of the wicked, and deutl; Htlwew phBme God ; men name of their king repl1llt not. leBS on. the victory of the redeemed. (d) , iB Abad.don. An episode occurs after the sixth vial of 4i- Armies ~ the 6. The way prepared almost identical nature with, though much EUPlmATBSdestroy for kings beyond aborter than, that after the sixth trampei. ON6-third part of the Eul'HBATBS. (e) The severity of the nature of ihe vial- 'men; mcm n,peid ,d. judgments is eonapicuoua. Whereas under EJ)!l!Ode:- EpiBOde:- the seals one-fourth was afflicted, and undtll' Tbe two witneases 'l'hree unclean the trumpetB one-third, there is nothing to of God WITNl!lSS for 1pirits of the indicate any exemption in "he vial-visiona. him and work ID· dragon WITNESS (6) The reason oftheemploymentoftheterm BAOLBI; WAR for him and work "vial," or "bowl," is most likely to be found againet them by KIBAOLlllS; WAR by the beu1,. the worl<l. at (the in the expression, "cup or God' ■ anget," Helwev,) Anna- in oh. xiv, 10. It indicates the pouring out geddOII, of God's wrath in an overwhelming and aft. XVL 1-21.] THE REVELATION OF ST, JOHN THE DIVINE. 303