Rev. xiv, 9.If any man worship the beast and his image. Here I would refer the pious reader to what has been said concerning the worship of the beast, his image and his mark, in chap. xiii. For at the time of this angel, this stupid and superstitious worship will have reached its most heinous state of guilt and criminality. We will not venture conjectures about its true nature; the third angel will point it out in all its features of malignity. May the Lord give us ears to hear, and eyes to see when he shall appear; and may we then remember, and reflect on this prophecy, when he raises his warning voice.
Verse 12.Here is the patience of the saints, &c. Hitherto it would appear self-defense was yet in some measure allowable, though always attended with evil consequences, as with the Hussites in Bohemia, and with the Hugonots in France; but now a season of trial and persecution commences, in which opposition would be highly imprudent, and the Lord recommends patience to his saints. In these days of apostasy, when wickedness and the power of the beast seem again to sweep all before them, and the Lord seems to delay his promised advent, the patience of the saints will be severely exercised. But those who keep the commandments of God, and reject the inventions and traditions of the beast; and those who keep the grace and doctrine of faith which was in Jesus, which he taught, and by which they abide in him; these only shall be able to persevere to the end. Thus far runs the message of the third angel.
Chap. xv, 5. 6.And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened, &c.
Here the great and tremendous scene itself commences. This temple is the original and prototype according to which Moses was to direct the construction of the tabernacle, which, it would seem by this expression, was a more correct pattern than the temple of Solomon. It is called the tabernacle of the testimony, because the tables of the law, and God's covenant with his people were preserved in it, which contained threatenings to the transgressor, and promises to the obedient. This temple was now opened, and the seven angels came forth for the purpose of manifesting the judgments of God against those rebels, who would not be instructed by the experience of near six thousand years, but always resisted the spirit of truth, and followed their own devices. These were declared out-laws, and excluded from further enjoyment of the benefits of Christ's kingdom, as obdurate sinners, whom the Lord had forsaken, and pointed out as objects of his vengeance, by these ministers of divine justice.