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VERSE 11. And blasphemed (spoke wickedly of) the God of heaven, because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

Repentance was not effected though they suffered such extreme misery, they still remained callous and incorrigible, "their consciences seared with a hot iron." (1 Tim. 4th chapter, 2d verse, read the first and second verses, and apply them).

VERSE 12. And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up; that the way of the kings of the east (east from where the scene of this serious drama is taken-Great Britain) might be prepared.

If possession is obtained of European and Asiatic Turkey, or a firm league is made with the Grand Seignior, then the East Indies will be their great aim, and a march of twelve or fourteen hundred miles (through Persia *) will be of little consequence when the object is of such a magnitude as the dispossessing us of a country from which our great treasures are obtained. Then will this vial be fulfilling for they must cross the Euphrates, and perhaps at a time" of great heat" when its waters will be dried up, "for the kings of the east to march over." Can we prevent them?

I have no doubt but that Persia is one of the four powers mentioned in the 14th and 15th verses of the 9th chapter; circumstances do but too strongly evince it. See likewise part of the 8th chapter of Daniel.

VERSE 13. And I saw three unclean (foul, or wicked) spirits (meaning the spirits of three particular individuals, see the preceding verse) like frogs (at the period growling, grumbling, and snarling croakers, in the strict sense of the words) come out of the mouth of the dragon, (second part of the Constitution), and out of the mouth of the beast (the metaphorical one) and out of the mouth of the false prophet,* (third part of the Constitution).

VERSE 14. For they are the spirits of devils, ("The devil is the principal of moral evil personified,") working miracles, (or performing great wonders) which go forth † unto the kings

* I take the three spirits to be the three organic powers of the three parts of the Constitution: one preceding for each, or coming" out of the mouth of each."

The Lord Chancellor for the time being presides, or sits upon the Woolsack in the House of LORDS.

There can be no mistake of who it is that presides, sits for, represents, or is the "mouth of" the

How far the present organ of the third part deserves the appellation of" false," I leave my readers to judge. Mr. Wakefield has him a "false teacher;" they are two very emphatical and explanatory words, that of a teacher, and being false. Remember he is the head or the mouth, of the "FEET of IT."

+ Mr. Wakefield has it "shewing signs and going forth unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world." A tremendous sign was that of going forth to Copenhagen, the capital of one of the ten horns, (or kingdoms). A sign to gather (or unite) the "kings of the earth to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." The beginning of the next verse says behold I come as a THIEF, the passage therefore may have two meanings.

of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.*

DREADFUL JUDGMENTS ARE AT HAND.

PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD.

VERSE 15. Behold I come as a thief (meaning the calamities would arrive suddenly, unexpectedly, and with violence), Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Happiness in consequence of virtue-no disguise, but a lover of truth, in a very corrupt and deceptious age.

VERSE 16. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue (denoting comparison) Armageddon.†

Refer to preceding verses. Combine the sign, the time, and the consequences: and be not "void of understanding" that "Righteousness exalteth a nation: and that sin is a reproach to any people."

*For this dreadful day (or time) I refer my readers to the 8th chapter of Daniel, where there is evidently an intermediate time in the vision; the afterpart of which so strongly describes the "last end of the indignation :" which indignation is the battle of that great day (or time) of God Almighty.

+ Mr. Wakefield has this verse "And the spirits (the three mentioned in the 13th verse) gathered the kings together (or caused them to be gathered together) at a placed called in Hebrew, Armageddon."

These are the four angels (or powers) mentioned in the 14th and 15th verses of the 9th chapter (see the latter part of the 8th verse of the 8th chapter of Daniel) who will meet at Armageddon, and which probably may have a reference to the restoration of the Jews. See the 12th chapter of Zachariah, particularly the 11th verse. Megiddon may be. Armageddon.

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VERSE 17. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, it is done..

Meaning the decree of the Almighty is gone forth and now finishing, an emphatical expression for the afflictions of the last vial: that preparation may be made for the dreadful calamities mentioned in the four subsequent verses of the chapter.

VERSE 18. And there were voices and thunders and lightnings: and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake and so great.*

O THOU JUST JEHOVAH!

*This earthquake may be supposed to be the same as that mentioned in the 13th verse of the 11th chapter : but. observe, the first takes place at the conclusion of the second Woe, and during the sounding of the sixth angel (see the 14th and 15th verses, where the third Woe commences, and the seventh angel sounds): the 19th verse of the same 11th chapter, strongly describes the latter earthquake, and the earthquake is the effect of the power given to the seventh angel in the operation of the third Woe. In the former the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand; in the latter there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake and so great; and the cities of the nations fell. In the former the earthquake was upon the reanimation and ascension of the witnesses, in the latter no mention is made respecting them. The seven angels with the seven trumpets commences at the beginning of the 8th chapter, and the three Woes immediately preceding the 9th.

Commentators have generally supposed that the earth

VERSE 19. And the great city was divided (and of course at the time when the prophecy was fulfilling) into three parts, (L——

Wand S), and the cities* (they have each their separate jurisdiction) of the nations (E-S and I-) FELL; and Great Babylon (G- B-) came in remembrance before God, to give unto HER the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

VERSE 20. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

VERSE 21. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent; (Mr. Wakefield has it above a hundred pounds weight) and men blasphemed God (spoke wickedly) because of the plague of the hail for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

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quakes meant great revolutions or commotions; but I am of a different opinion, and believe them to be as literally mentioned; for revolutions or commotions could not be effected in a moment (Mr. Wakefield has it" and in that moment") of time or in the space of an " hour."

Philosophers say that "earthquakes are generally preceded by long draughts," and it must be recollected by those who have read the account of the dreadful one at Lisbon, that there was a long series of hot and scorching weather. The fourth vial is " poured out upon the sun;" connect that therefore with the last, where the vial is poured into the air," and it will be found that the two elements are combined. "Terrible art thou in thy works, Lord God Almighty."

* The passage may have a double meaning and perhaps includes the cities of the different nations.

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