Verse 14. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

15. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod

:

of iron and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name writ

ten, KING of kings, and LORD of lords.

These armies are not the angels or saints in heaven, but those combatants mentioned chap. XVII, 14. and chap. XIX, 6. with whom Christ has now laid the first foundation of his kingdom on earth. They are all dressed in garments of byssus like the bride of the Lamb, which are the statutes, rights and ordinances of the saints, and point them out as citizens, heroes and warriors of Christ's kingdom. They ride white horses, because they have proved conquerors in many a battle against Satan, sin, the world and the enemies of Christ's kingdom. However, on this occasion they are not to fight; they are only called forth to behold, and to grace the triumph of their king, who will manifest his single power against a world of rebels in arms Isa. LXIII, 3. This army, verse 19. is probably marched out by the iron sceptre of the manly-son, his viceroy, and not by the Lord in person; but informed previously, by divine intimation, of the glorious triumph. St. John beheld the Lord at their head, during their march; whether the army will see him, before the day of his wrath, when he will manifest himself even to all his enemies, is at least doubtful.

Verse 15. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations. The Vulgate has, gladius ex utraque parte acutus, a two-edged sword. See chap 1, 16. chap. 11, 12. This is evidently no temporal sword, nor does it signify the word of God, which in regard to its threatenings, is sometimes called a sword in scriptures, Ephes. VI, 17, Hebrews Iv, 12; but indicates, according to an ancient custom among the Romans,.

the judiciary power of Christ, and his fierce anger a gainst his enemies.. It would appear from a comparison of parallel prophecies, relating to this same judgment here, that the object of the coalition of the beast from the bottomless pit and his associates, is chiefly to oppose the introduction of the personal kingdom of Christ. On this account the nations are angry, chap. x1, 18. Ps. 11, 1—5. and their rulers set themselves against the Lord and his Anointed. It is very probable that the manly-son will, by a divine intimation, effect an establishment in Palestine under the auspices of the Lord; the attempt and success of which, may in a great measure operate on the jarring interests of many cabinets, and thus kindle the rage of kings. But matters will then be in such a train in the world, and this establishment effected in such a Christian spirit of wisdom, prudence, and generosity, that none, except infidels, will find courage to head their armies, or enlist under their banners, and continue to assist in accomplishing their infernal designs.

He shall rule them with a rod of iron. See chap 11, 27. and chap. x11, 5. where the signification of this phrase is explained, which is originally taken from Ps. 11, 9. This eminent privilege of ruling the nations, is promised the conquerors at Thyatira, who are the ancient witnesses and their posterity, now incorporated with the Philadelphian Church; and chap. xu, 5, the nation is indicated by the birth of the manly-son, in which this gaßdos sidngεoss iron sceptre, or government shall be first established. As far as I can see, this government of the kingdom of Christ will be a pure Theocracy, with a body of men at its head, who are under the immediate direction of the Lord in all matters of importance. This government will prove an iron sceptre, firm, strong and invincible to all the nations on earth, & rigorously just & righteous in all its laws & judgments against Pagan, or disobedient nations. This government is the stone in Dan. 11, 34. which became a great mountain.

e treadeth the wine-press. See chap. xiv, 19. 20, where this figure has been explained. It is the most dreadful of all the judgments of God, during the New Testament dispensation. Every Economy of God on earth, is terminated by some dreadful catastrophe against the wicked and disobedient. The Patriarchal economy was closed by the thraldom of Israel in Egypt, and the total overthrow of Pharaoh and his host in the red sea; The Mosaic-economy was brought to an end by the destruction of Jerusalem, and the dispersion of the Jewish nation. while the followers of Christ were persecuted, and under great oppression. The Christian-economy will be terminated by the harvest, and the dreadful judgment of God on the whore, and that of the vintage. And after the Millennian reign, Gog and Magog are destroyed by fire from heaven. Thus every economy commences by a severe trial, and closes by a signal judgment on guilty rebels, in which the Lord arms the four elements against his enemics. Pharaoh and his host, were destroyed by water ; Jerusalem by an exterminating war on land; the coalition at Armageddon, will meet their final doom, probably, by a hideous tempest; and Gog and Magog, will be devoured by fire from heaven, Rev.xx, 9.

Verse 16. On his vesture and on his thigh a name. Dignified characters among the ancient orientals, used to wear their titles of office embroidered on their robes of state. This permission was an acknowledgment of their cminence and merit from the throne, and served as a signal, that all should pay them due respect. In allusion to this custom, Jehovah says, Jer. xi, 11. the house of Israel, and the house of Judah upon his loins; that they might be unto him for a people, a name, a praise and a glory" These name here, King of kings,

that he woke

+Sollemne fuit olim victoribus orientalibus gestare nomina sua in zonis acu pictis. N. Test. a. S. V. Koernero perpetua annotations illustratum.

and Lord of lords, on the vesture and thigh of Christ, denotes that the final issue of this great conflict at the battle of Armageddon, will manifest him in this character to the world, and establish his power and dominion among the nations of the earth, as decreed in Heaven. See. Dan. vi, 13. 14. This title expresses the aggregate sum of his power, and the boundaries of his kingdom on earth. The Father assisted in the government of the world until this time, but now Christ will manifest himself to the world as having acquired additional authority.

Verse 17- And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God,

18. That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of cap. tains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men both free and bond, both small and great.

This bold figure represents to our mind, the dreadful consequences of a tremendous and terrible slaughter of an immense army, in which the overthow is final beyond recovery, and the destruction complete. The bodies of the dead cover the whole field of battle in such numbers, that they remain unburied, and become a prey for ravenous birds. These are strong ideas, and a great warmth of expression. The slain are kings and their subjects, generals and inferior officers, warriours of renown, and common soldiers, horsemen and their horses; all lying promiscuously, worms feeding on their entrails, and birds devouring their flesh. Such a frightful scene of blood is described by the prophet Ezekiel, chap. XXXIX, 17-20, to which this is an evident allusion. The angel standing in the sun, and crying with a loud voice, may represent a body of gospel ministers, who raise their warning voice at the time when the beast and his kings shall assemble their armics; and the sun may denote the German em-:

pire, as in chap. xi, 1. and chap. xv1, 8; which also was termed the midst of heaven at the commencement of the three Woes, chap. vin, 13, and at the flight of the angel having an everlasting Gospel, chap. XIV, 6. So certain is the Lord's victory over the whole Antichistian coalition, that the fowls are invited, even before the engagement has taken place. This dreadful slaughter is called the supper of the great God, who has been all along described in his second advent; or as the Vulgate and some versions read, the great supper of God.

Verse 19. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth. and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

20. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

21. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Here St. John in the course of this prophecy, has come to the opening of the great and tremendous day of God Almighty;-the day which never had, and never will have its equal, so long as the earth continues ;-the day of final decision and deliverance, so long desired by all the people of God in former ages; when the Son of God shall meet the powers of darkness for the last time, in open conflict, and decide the crown of the world for ever. Upon the approach of morning, all heaven and earth will assume a strange and menacing appearance. The prophet Zechariah informs us, chap. xiv, 6. 7. "that there will be no light, but chilling frost: a day only known to the Lord, neither day nor night: but at evening-time it shall be light." At no time will be the followers of Christ find it more necessary, to exercise faith in the promises of the