Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary

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Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (1721)

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R E V E L A T I O N.

CHAP. XV.

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Hitherto, according to the judgment of very eminent expositors, God had

represented to his servant, John,

I. The state of the church under the pagan powers, in the six seals

opened; and then,

II. The state of the church under the papal powers, in the vision of

the six trumpets that began to sound upon the opening of the seventh

seal: and then is inserted.

III. A more general and brief account of the past, present, and future

state of the church, in the little book, &c. He now proceeds,

IV. To show him how antichrist should be destroyed, by what steps that

destruction should be accomplished, in the vision of the seven vials.

This chapter contains an awful introduction or preparation for the

pouring out of the vials, in which we have,

1. A sight of those angels in heaven who were to have the execution of

this great work, and with what acclamations of joy the heavenly hosts

applauded the great design,

ver. 1-4.

2. A sight of these angels coming out of heaven to receive those vials

which they were to pour out, and the great commotions this caused in

the world,

ver. 5,

&c.

The Seven Vials.	A. D. 95.

     

1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven

angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up

the wrath of God.

  2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and

them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his

image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name,

stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

  3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the

song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works,

Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of

saints.

  4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for

thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship

before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

     

Here we have the preparation of matters for the pouring out of the

seven vials, which was committed to seven angels; and observe how these

angels appeared to the apostle–in heaven; it was in a wonderful

manner, and that upon account,

1. Of the work they had to do, which was to finish the destruction of

antichrist. God was now about to pour out his seven last plagues upon

that interest; and, as the measure of Babylon’s sins was filled up,

they should now find the full measure of his vindictive wrath.

2. The spectators and witnesses of this their commission: all that

had gotten the victory over the beast, &c. These stood on a sea

of glass, representing this world, as some think, a brittle thing,

that shall be broken to pieces; or, as others, the gospel covenant,

alluding to the brazen sea in the temple, in which the priests were to

wash (the faithful servants of God stand upon the foundation of the

righteousness of Christ); or, as others, the Red Sea, that stood

as it were congealed while the Israelites went through; and, the pillar

of fire reflecting light upon the waters, they would seem to have fire

mingled with them; and this to show that the fire of God’s wrath

against Pharaoh and his horses should dissolve the congealed waters,

and destroy them thereby, to which there seems to be an allusion by

their singing the song of Moses, in which,

(1.) They extol the greatness of God’s works, and the justice and truth

of his ways, both in delivering his people and destroying their

enemies. They rejoiced in hope, and the near prospect they had of

this, though it was not yet accomplished.

(2.) They call upon all nations to render unto God the fear, glory, and

worship, due to such a discovery of his truth and justice: Who shall

not fear thee?
v. 4.

The Seven Vials.	A. D. 95.

     

5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the

tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

  6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven

plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their

breasts girded with golden girdles.

  7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven

golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and

ever.

  8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God,

and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple,

till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

     

Observe, I. How these angels appeared–coming out of heaven to execute

their commission: The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in

heaven was opened,
v. 5.

Here is an allusion to the holiest of all the tabernacle and temple,

where was the mercy-seat, covering the ark of the testimony,

where the high priest made intercession, and God communed with his

people, and heard their prayers. Now by this, as it is here mentioned,

we may understand,

1. That, in the judgments God was now about to execute upon the

antichristian interest, he was fulfilling the prophecies and promises

of his word and covenant, which were there always before him, and of

which he was ever mindful.

2. That in this work he was answering the prayers of the people, which

were offered to him by their great high priest.

3. That he was herein avenging the quarrel of his own Son, and our

Saviour Jesus Christ, whose offices and authority had been usurped, his

name dishonoured, and the great designs of his death opposed, by

antichrist and his adherents.

4. That he was opening a wider door of liberty for his people to

worship him in numerous solemn assemblies, without the fear of their

enemies.

     

II. How they were equipped and prepared for their work. Observe,

1. Their array: They were clothed with pure and white linen,

and had their breasts girded with golden girdles,
v. 6.

This was the habit of the high priests when they went in to enquire of

God, and came out with an answer from him. This showed that these

angels were acting in all things under the divine appointment and

direction, and that they were going to prepare a sacrifice to the Lord,

called the supper of the great God,
ch. xix. 17.

The angels are the ministers of divine justice, and they do every thing

in a pure and holy manner.

2. Their artillery, what it was, and whence they received it; their

artillery, by which they were to do this great execution, was seven

vials filled with the wrath of God; they were armed with the wrath

of God against his enemies. The meanest creature, when it comes armed

with the anger of God, will be too hard for any man in the world; but

much more an angel of God. This wrath of God was not to be poured out

all at once, but was divided into seven parts, which should

successively fall upon the antichristian party. Now from whom did they

receive these vials? From one of the four living creatures, one of the

ministers of the true church, that is, in answer to the prayers of the

ministers and people of God, and to avenge their cause, in which the

angels are willingly employed.

     

III. The impressions these things made upon all who stood near the

temple: they were all, as it were, wrapt up in clouds of smoke, which

filled the temple, from the glorious and powerful presence of God; so

that no man was able to enter into the temple, till the work was

finished. The interests of antichrist were so interwoven with the civil

interests of the nations that he could not be destroyed without giving

a great shock to all the world; and the people of God would have but

little rest and leisure to assemble themselves before him, while this

great work was a doing. For the present, their sabbaths would be

interrupted, ordinances of public worship intermitted, and all thrown

into a general confusion. God himself was now preaching to the church

and to all the world, by terrible things in righteousness; but, when

this work was done, then the churches would have rest, the temple would

be opened, and the solemn assemblies gathered, edified, and multiplied.

The greatest deliverances of the church are brought about by awful and

astonishing steps of Providence.

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Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (1721)

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