fome Preparations or Difpofitions for the place,) 4 J place,) and discomfited them at the Waters of Megiddo in the Hilly and Mountainous Parts of that Place, as Grotius upon the Place conjectures. It was alfo famous for the Death of Abaziah, 2 Kings 9. 27. but efpecially of Jofiah, who received his deadly Wound with a great flaughter in the Vally of Megiddo, 2 Kings. 23. 29, 30. z Chron. 35. 20-27 where he was bewailed with fo great a Lamentation, that the mournings of that Valley is ufed by way of a Proverbial Speech by the Prophet Zechariah, Chap. 12. 11. and Megiddo is interpreted by the LXXII. the Valley of the Slain, or cut off, as if it fignified a Place of great Grief and Slaughter; and Megiddo may be chofen to be a Type and Symbol of the Place of this Valley of Decifion, to fhew that as the Nation of the Jews did yearly bewail the Death of Jofiah in that Place, fo they fhould likewife bemoan him whofe Type Jofiah was, and was flain near that Place juft when he had prepared the Temple of God, which was the Emblem of Chrift's Kingdom. See Zech. 12. 11. It may be alfo fignifie (2dly) that God, who overrules Evil Designs for Good, and who declares, Judg. 4. 7. (the Place here alluded to) that he drew Sifera and his Multitude together, had ordained that thefe Kings fhould be totally overthrown as the Kings of Canaan were at Megiddo and that the Lamb and his Companyfhould triumph over them and bless God for the great Victory, as Febofaphat and the Ifraelites did in the Valley "t J The Greas Earth Valley of Beracha for the defeat of that great Multitude of wicked People that confederated againft Ifrael, 2 Chron. zo. 26. W ban sinted to mada VAVII. AND now the Seventh Angel pours out bis Vial, v. 17. into the Air, and there came a quake ungreat Voice out of the Temple of Heaven Jaying, der the It is done. ie. This is the laft compleat Seventh ing Act of Vengeance upon the Antichri Vial ftian World, in order to make way for the Kingdom of Chrift. Under this Vial are comprized and effected Two notable Events. The Firft is the Destruction of Babylon, 1.e. the Antichriftian City Rome; and of the great City Jerufalem. The Second is the Destruction of the Great Antichriftian Army at Armageddon, enf aj 18 ITHAT the Great City, the Deftructi on whereof is fo pompously defcribed, Chap. 1718, 19. is Rome, has been (I think) plainly and fully proved by Dr. More, Mr. Mede and all the Reformed Commentators. And this City is to be deftroyed under this Vial, upon the Effufion whereof, Chap. 16. V. 18. There were Voices and Thunders, and Lightnings, and a Great Earthquake, fuch as was not fince Men were upon the Earth; fo mighty and fo Great. Upon which the Great City (viz. Jerufalem) was divided into three parts, and the Cities of the Nations fell, and Great Babylon came into remembrance before God, to give unto her the Cup of the Wine of the Fierceness of his Wrath. And the Iflands, and the Mountains fled away, and a Great Hail fell from Heaven upon the Men that furvived, which 0 3 Hail Hail was exceeding Great. It may poffibly be this Hail that Job means by the treasures of Hail, which God hath referved for the Time of Trouble, against the Day of Battle and War, Job, 38. 22. This being indeed the Great Day of Battle and Destruction of the Antichri ftian Powers out of the whole Earth, to which that Ancient Writer frequently refers. 2023 C II. THE Second Great Tranfaction, and which more immediately concerns this difcourfe is the Deftruction of Antichrift and his Great Army at the Battle of Armageddon, It is the Opinion of fome, that the Prophe cy of Ezekiel, Chap. 39. concerning Gog and Magog is to be understood of Antichrift and his Army; though all know very well that by Gog and Magog, Rev. 20. is to be underftood that vaft Diabolical Multitude that fhall encompass the Holy City after the Millennium. How true this Opinion may be I fhall not prefume to fay, but must acknowledge, that it seems to be favoured by feveral Circumftances of that Prophecy. 1. The fame Invitation is made to the Fowls of Heaven, Ezek. 39. v. 17-21. as is made, Rev. 19. v. 17, 18. for the Slain of the Battle of Armageddon. 2. The Gag and Magog mentioned in the Revelations are to be devoured by Fire, and confequently not left to be eaten by the Fowls of Heaven. 3. The Deftruction of the laft Gog by Fire in the Revelations is faid to be immediately followed by the Great and laft Judgment. Whereas in Ezekiel, the destruction of Gog 1 i is mention'd with no fuch Confequences, but rather with a happy Succeffion of Peace and Repofe to the Church in the very fame Earth; mention being made of burying they Dead, burning, the Weapons, and a Duration of Seven Years of Strangers travelling that way, and of the Heathens glorifying God upon the Account of his Judgments, which may be underftood of their Converfion, even as we believe that the Millennial Glory will follow after the Deftruction of Antichrift. Before this Battle of Armageddon, there is an Invitation to the Fowls of Heaven made by an Angel standing in the Sun, Rev. Chap. 19. V. 17, 18. faying, Come and gather your felves together to the Supper of the Great God, that ye may eat the Flesh of Kings, and the Flesh of Captains, and the Flesh of Mighty Men, and the Flesh of Horfes, and of them that fit thereon, and the Flesh of all Men (ie. all forts of Men) both free and bond, both small and great. As it is alfo Ezek. 39. -17, 18, 19. Many different Opinions there are about this Place among the Commentators. Thofe of them who interpret it in an Allegorical and Myftical Senfe, infift upon the Incongruity of fetting an Angel in the Literal Senfe to invite all the Fowls of the Air to a Banquet. But fuppofe we fhould grant that this part may be nothing more than an Oriental form of Speech; who attributed every thing, efpecially in Prophetical Writings, to the Miniftry of Angels, yet I fee no reafon why we may not understand the other Part literally, that is, 0 4 (4 " |
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