Revelation 16

Revelation 16:1

Already the Antichristians have had fearful earnests of these vials of Divine wrath poured out upon them. From A. D. 713 to 734, the Mahometan Saracens poured themselves into Spain, and the south of France, rendering much of those countries a comparative desert. From A. D. 830 to 980 the contentions among the descendants of Charles the Great, emperor of Germany and king of France, and the ravages of the Hungarians in Italy and Sicily, deluged those countries with human blood. From A. D. 1090 to 1290 not a few millions were cut off, and most of Europe reduced to the brink of ruin by the sacred, or rather Papal, war for the recovery of Canaan from the Mahometan Seijukian Turks and Saracens. From 1200 to 1370 the contentions of the Guelts and Gibellines, or Pope’s and Emperor’s parties, rendered Italy and Germany a scene of human carnage and blood. From 1370 to 1447 the repeated schisms of the Popes, and the oppression of the Bohemians, occasioned terrible wars in Spain, France, Germany, and Italy. Between 1486 and 1534 a sweating sickness, and other pestilential disorders, carried off prodigious multitudes in England, Germany, and France. From about 1370 to 1698 the Ottoman Turks proved a terrible scourge to the Papists in Hungary, Poland, Italy, Germany, Mediterranean isles, &c. But nothing has more tormented the Pope and his adherents, or more shaken their dominion, than the revolt of almost half their subjects in the Protestant Reformation, between A. D. 1517 and 1570, and the legal establishment thereof by the edict of Nantz, 1598, and treaty of Westphalia, 1648, &c. Nevertheless, the plagues chiefly intended in this chapter seem all to be still future, and will perhaps happen during the thirty years of fearful calamities, by which the glorious Millennium will probably be introduced. Without daring to be positive, under the first vial poured on the earth I expect the infallibility and supremacy of the Pope, the authority of traditions, the doctrine of human merits, and other earthly and carnal foundations of Popery;—or the Pope’s power in the inland countries of Germany, Poland, and Hungary, will, to his and his votaries’ shame and vexation, be quite overturned. Under the second, poured into the sea, v

Revelation 16:3

I expect the credit of the Romish religion will be remarkably blasted, and its damnable nature clearly manifested, or the maritime countries of Portugal, Spain, and Naples, plagued with famine, pestilence, earthquakes, and war. Under the third, poured on the rivers and fountains, v. 4—7, I expect the wickedness and deceit of the Popish doctors, and their defences of their religion, will be clearly exposed, their cardinals, bishops, priests, and monks, proved murderers of souls, and many of them cut off by untimely deaths; or the well watered countries of Switzerland, north of Italy, and south of France, where the Waldenses, Protestants, or others, were murdered for the sake of Christ, will be deluged with Antichristian blood. Under the fourth, poured on the sun, v. 8, 9, I hope that the instructive light and spiritual warmth of the gospel will draw off the German emperor, French king, or others, who have long been the Papists’ principal glory and support, to the Protestant side; and perhaps the natural sun may produce some very destructive plague. Under the fifth, poured on the seat of Antichrist, v. 10, 11, I expect the frame of the Papal kingdom will be broken to pieces, and filled with disorder and confusion; the whole system of Popery be made to appear abominable and devilish, and Rome itself be turned into an horrible desert;—which will occasion terrible grief, pain, and blasphemy, among the Papists, chiefly those who have enriched themselves by her idolatry and superstition. Under the sixth, poured into the river Euphrates, v. 12—16, I expect Mahometism will be abolished, and the conversion of the Eastern nations begun; the Papists and their adherents, assisted by their clerical missionaries, receive a terrible defeat at the battle of Armageddon; the Pope’s proper share of Italy be almost covered with carcasses, the rivers swelled with blood, the Protestant victories enriched with the spoil, and many, alarmed by the event, turned to the Lord. Under the seventh, poured into the air, v. 17—21, I expect the last remains of the Popish doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, monasteries and dignities, will be utterly abolished, and the obstinate adherents thereto, who had fled to the isles of Malta, Sicily, &c. be cut off by the fearful vengeance of God

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XVI.—Gradual, but terrible and righteous, are the judgments of God; which shall in due time be executed upon Popish idolaters and persecutors, and their ungodly companions in wickedness. Actuated by unclean, disbolical, spirits, and instigated by false teachers, they may for a little time gather themselves to contend with the Almighty Redeemer, obstinately persist in their abominable courses, and blaspheme God, as if he injured them. But quickly the vials of his wrath shall be poured out upon them, answerable to their guilt, till they be utterly and irrecoverably ruined. And unexpected, fearful, extensive, sudden, and destructive, shall be their punishment. Happy are they who shall be found clothed with Jesus’ imputed righteousness, adorned with his grace, and watchfully preparing to meet him! While others howl and blaspheme for vexation of spirit, these shall rejoice in the Lord, and applaud the truly righteous and faithful executions of his wrath