VERSE 14. And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of Man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

VERSE 15. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and reap; for the time is come for thee to reap: for the harvest of the earth is ripe.*

VERSE 16. And he that sat on the cloud thrust his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

VERSE 17. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

VERSE 18. And another angel came out of the altar, which had power over fire: and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

VERSE 19. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine-press of the wrath of God.

VERSE 20. And the wine-press was trodden (emblematical of great affliction) without the city, and blood came out of the wine-press even unto the horses' bridles, by the space of a thou

*Or the passage may be read: For the time is come for thee to reap, for the wicked of the earth must be cut off.' See nearly the same expression in the 13th verse of the 13th chapter of Joel, for the wickedness of the people in his time.

I

sand and six hundred furlongs* (two hundred miles" without," around, or at a distance from the city).

In the latter part of the foregoing chapter, the sickle must be taken as an emblem of death, and being sharp to denote its great execution. In the former verses the sickle being in the hand of him who had on the "golden crown" its destroying power must proceed from thence. In the latter verses the sharp sickle appears to proceed from the "altar," (church) and the destroying power of course to be from thence; which by the last verses seems more bloody than the former. Compare these calamities with the third vial, (16th chapter, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th verses) and they must appear to an accurate observer the same. The dreadful afflictions proceeds from the crown," the "temple," and the "altar," it is therefore religious animosities and internal commotions,

CHAPTER XV.

VERSE 1. And I saw another sign in heaven (or proceeding from heaven) great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues:

The scripture measure of a stadium or furlong, as given by the Bishop of Peterborough, contains the tenth of a mile of 2432 yards, 1600 of these tenths or stadia make nearly 221 miles English measure. The passage probably means to comprehend or include England.

(an intimation of, or introduction to the vials) for in them (the vials) is filled up (is completed, or finished) the wrath of God (or the displeasure of the Supreme).

VERSE 2. And I saw as it were a sea of glass (I should apprehend this to mean a sea of ice) mingled (mixed, joined or connected) with fire; and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, (arms and superscription-first beast) and over the number of his name, (second beast) stand on the sea of glass (standing upon the ice), having the harps of God.*

The passage evidently means warlike operations, or appearances, and religious rejoicing; particularly by the latter, from singing the song of Moses and of the Lamb, as mentioned in the two succeeding verses. This second yerse

* Mr. Wakefield's translation of this verse is as follows: And I saw as it were a sea of crystal mingled with fire; and them that escaped unconquered by the beast and by his image, and by his mark (the effects of the image and mark) and by the number of his name, standing on the crystal sea, with the harps of God.'

Reflecting upon the words "escaped unconquered" in Mr. Wakefield's translation, and that “ by the beast and by his image, and by his mark, and by the number of his name:" (it is well know where the number is; see the note to the 17th verse of the 13th chapter) I judge the passages may be taken as alluding to a particular people.

How literally the words "escaped unconquered" have so far been fulfilled: but I should suppose the passage, and the song of Moses and the Lamb, is an after effect, or an operation immediately antecedent to the "seven last plagues" see the first verse.

has another perfect reference to the thirteen chapter.

VERSE 3. And they (that were rejoicing) sung the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, being the song, (or saying) of Moses and of the Lamb, they of course as servants of the Most High, had the same end in view-the glory of God), saying, Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy ways, thou King of Saints.

VERSE 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.

VERSE 5. And after that I looked, and behold (I afterwards looked, or beheld the circumstance as a corroboration of the vials) the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in (or preceeding from) heaven was opened:

A manifestation of the divine power from heaven; alluding to the testimony of the witnesses in the 11th chapter, to the after part of this, and to the different vials in the succeeding

one.

VERSE 6. And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white Imen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

VERSE 7. And one of the four beasts (refer to the first beast in the 6th chapter) gave unto (or caused to be given unto) the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath (displeasure) of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

VERSE 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. *

CHAPTER XVI.

VERSE 1. And I heard a voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go your ways and pour out the vials of the wrath (displeasure) of God upon the earth.

VERSE 2. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; † (probably a

* Since my reflections on Daniel's visions it appears to me that this verse has a reference to the restoration of the Jews that they (the Jews) are not to enter into the temple (or synagogue) till the events mentioned have taken place.

In the manuscript that was sent to Mr. Addington, I had an opinion that the first vial had commenced, in consequence of the earth's not having yielded its increase, and the "noisome and grievous sore" (the dreadful sickness) that then prevailed; but from further reflections upon these chapters and various parts of Sacred Writ, I am satisfied the then calamities must be taken as warnings, or signs of the vials, which vials will be in execution during the awful three years and a half Remember the brown bread Act, and take that as a "sign" but then we imported large quantities of wheat, oats, and flour; but now the Orders of Council announces that " no man must buy and sell" but ourselves, therefore "the nations were angry." (Rev. xi. 18. Reflect well upon the text and context) of course quarrel with us, and we shall be deprived of receiving provisions from them. See here cause and effect.