1 Chronicles 20
1599 Geneva Bible
20 1 Rabbah destroyed. 3 The Ammonites tormented. 4 The Philistines are thrice overcome with their giants.
1 And (A)when the year was expired, in the time that kings go out a warfare, Joab carried out the strength of the army, and destroyed the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged [a]Rabbah (but David tarried at Jerusalem) and Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.
2 (B)Then David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it the weight of a [b]talent of gold with precious stones in it: and it was set on David’s head, and he brought away the spoil of the city exceeding much.
3 And he carried away the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes: even thus did David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. Then David and all the people came again to Jerusalem.
4 ¶ (C)And after this also there arose war at [c]Gezer with the Philistines: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew [d]Sippai of the children of [e]Haraphah, and they were subdued.
5 And there was yet another battle with the Philistines: and Elhanan the son of Jair slew [f]Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver’s beam.
6 And yet again there was a battle at Gath, where was a man of a great stature, and his fingers were by [g]sixes, even four and twenty, and was also the son of Haraphah.
7 And when he reviled Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother did slay him.
8 These were born unto Haraphah at Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hands of his servants.
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 20:1 Which was the chief city of the Ammonites.
- 1 Chronicles 20:2 Which mounteth about the value of seven thousand and seventy crowns, which is about threescore pound weight.
- 1 Chronicles 20:4 Or, Gob, 2 Sam. 21:18.
- 1 Chronicles 20:4 Or, Saph.
- 1 Chronicles 20:4 Or, Raphaim, or the giants.
- 1 Chronicles 20:5 Read 2 Sam. 21:19.
- 1 Chronicles 20:6 Meaning, that he had six apiece on hands and feet.
1 Chronicles 21
1599 Geneva Bible
21 1 David causeth the people to be numbered, 14 and there dieth seventy thousand men of the pestilence.
1 And [a]Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
2 Therefore David said to Joab, and to the rulers of the people, Go, and number Israel from [b]Beersheba even to Dan, and bring it to me, that I may know the number of them.
3 And Joab answered, The Lord increased his people an hundred times so many as they be, O my lord the king: are they not all my lord’s servants? wherefore doeth my lord require this thing? why should he be a cause of [c]trespass to Israel?
4 Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. And Joab departed and went through all Israel, and returned to Jerusalem.
5 And Joab gave the number and sum of the people unto David: and all Israel were [d]eleven hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was [e]four hundred and seventy thousand men that drew sword.
6 But the Levites and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the King’s word was abominable to Joab.
7 ¶ And God was displeased with this thing: therefore he smote Israel.
8 Then David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, remove the iniquity of thy servant: for I have done very foolishly.
9 And the Lord spake unto Gad David’s [f]Seer, saying,
10 Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
11 So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Take to thee,
12 Either three years famine, or three months to be destroyed before thine adversaries, and the sword of thine enemies [g]to take thee, or else the sword of the Lord and pestilence in the land three days, that the Angel of the Lord may destroy throughout all the coasts of Israel: now therefore advise thee, what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.
13 And David said unto Gad, I am in a wonderful strait, let me now fall into the hand of the Lord: for his mercies are exceedingly great, and let me not fall into the hand of man.
14 So the Lord sent a pestilence in Israel, and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.
15 ¶ And God sent the Angel into Jerusalem to destroy it. And [h]as he was destroying, the Lord beheld, and [i]repented of the evil, and said to the Angel that destroyed, It is now enough, let thine hand cease. Then the Angel of the Lord stood by the threshing floor of [j]Ornan the Jebusite.
16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the Angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, with his sword drawn in his hand and stretched out toward Jerusalem. Then David and the Elders of Israel which were clothed in sack, fell upon their faces.
17 And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded to number the people? It is even I that have sinned and have committed evil, but these sheep, what have they done? O Lord my God, I beseech thee, let thine hand be on me and on my father’s house, and not on [k]thy people for their destruction.
18 ¶ Then the Angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the Lord in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
19 So David went up according to the saying of Gad, which he had spoken in the Name of the Lord.
20 And Ornan turned about and saw the Angel, and his four sons that were with him, [l]hid themselves, and Ornan threshed wheat.
21 And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.
22 And David said to Ornan, Give me the place of thy threshing floor, that I may build an [m]altar therein unto the Lord: give it me for sufficient money, that the plague may be stayed from the people.
23 Then Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which seemeth him good: lo, I give thee bullocks for burnt offerings, and threshing instruments for wood, and wheat for meat offering, I give it all.
24 And King David said to Ornan, Not so: but I will buy it for sufficient [n]money: for I will not take that which is thine for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.
25 So David gave to Ornan for that place [o]six hundred shekels of gold by weight.
26 And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings, and peace offerings, and called upon the Lord, and he [p]answered him by fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering.
27 And when the Lord had spoken to the Angel, he put up his sword again into his sheath.
28 At that time when David saw that the Lord had heard him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.
29 (But the Tabernacle of the Lord which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that season in the high place at Gibeon.
30 And David could not go before it to ask counsel at God: for he was afraid of the sword of the Angel of the Lord.)
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 21:1 He tempted David, in setting before his eyes his excellency and glory, his power and victories, read 2 Sam. 24:1.
- 1 Chronicles 21:2 That is, from South to North.
- 1 Chronicles 21:3 It was a thing indifferent and usual to number the people, but because he did it of an ambitious mind, as though his strength stood in his people, God punished him.
- 1 Chronicles 21:5 Joab partly for grief, and partly through negligence, gathered not the whole sum as it is here declared.
- 1 Chronicles 21:5 In Samuel is mention of thirty thousand more, which was either by joining to them some of the Benjamites which were mixed with Judah, or as the Hebrews write, here the chief and princes are left out.
- 1 Chronicles 21:9 Or, Prophet.
- 1 Chronicles 21:12 Or, smite thee.
- 1 Chronicles 21:15 Read 2 Sam. 24:16.
- 1 Chronicles 21:15 When God draweth back his plagues, he seemeth to repent, read Gen. 6:6.
- 1 Chronicles 21:15 Or, Araunah.
- 1 Chronicles 21:17 Thus he both showeth a true repentance and a fatherly care toward his people, which desireth God to spare them, and to punish him and his.
- 1 Chronicles 21:20 If man hide himself at the sight of an Angel which is a creature, how much as a sinner able to appear before the face of God?
- 1 Chronicles 21:22 Thus he did by the commandment of God, as verse 18, for else it had been abominable, except he had either God’s word, or revelation.
- 1 Chronicles 21:24 That is, as much as it is worth: for having enough of his own, and yet to have taken of another man’s goods to offer unto the Lord, it had been theft and not acceptable to God.
- 1 Chronicles 21:25 Read 2 Sam. 24:24.
- 1 Chronicles 21:26 God declared that he heard his request, in that he sent down fire from heaven, for else they might use no fire in sacrifice, but of that which was reserved still upon the altar, Lev. 6:13, and came down from heaven, Lev. 9:24, as appeared by the punishment of Nadab and Abihu, Lev. 10:1.
Revelation 4
1599 Geneva Bible
4 1 Another vision containing the glory of God’s Majesty: 3 which is magnified of the four beasts, 10 and the four and twenty Elders.
1 After [a]this I looked, and behold, a door was open in heaven, and the first voice which I heard, was as it were of a trumpet talking with me, saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be done hereafter.
2 And [b]immediately I was ravished [c]in the spirit, [d]and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat upon the throne.
3 [e]And he that sat, was to look upon, like unto a Jasper stone, and a sardine, and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like to an emerald.
4 [f]And round about the throne were four and twenty seats, and upon the seats I saw four and twenty Elders sitting, clothed in white raiment, and had on their heads crowns of gold.
5 [g]And out of the throne proceeded lightnings, and thunderings and voices, and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.
6 [h]And before the throne there was a Sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne were four beasts, full of eyes before and behind.
7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying Eagle.
8 And the [i]four beasts had each one of them six wings about him, and they were full of eyes within, and they ceased not [j]day nor night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Which was, and which is, and which is to come.
9 And when those beasts [k]gave glory, and honor, and thanks to him that sat on the throne, which liveth forever and ever,
10 [l]The four and twenty Elders fell down before him that sat on the throne, and worshipped him that liveth for evermore, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 [m]Thou art (A)worthy, O Lord, [n]to receive glory, and honor, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy will’s sake they are, and have been created.
Footnotes
- Revelation 4:1 Hereafter followeth the second part of this book, altogether prophetical, foretelling those things which were to come, as was said before, Rev. 1:19. This is divided into two histories: one common unto the whole world, unto Chapter 9: and another singular of the Church of God, thence unto chapter 22. And these histories are said to be described in several books, Rev. 5:1 and 10:2. Now this verse is as it were a passage from the former part unto this second: where it is said, that the heaven was opened, that is, that heavenly things were unlocked, and that a voice as of a trumpet sounded in heaven to stir up the Apostle, and call him to the understanding of things to come. The first history hath two parts: one the causes of things done, and of this whole Revelation, in that and the next chapter. Another of the acts done, in the next 4 chapters. The principal causes according to the distinction of persons in the vanity of divine essence, and according to the economy or dispensation thereof, are two. One the beginning, which none can approach unto, that is, God the Father, of whom is spoken in this chapter. The other, the Son, who is the mean cause, easy to be approached unto us, in respect that he is God and man in one person: of whom, Rev. 5.
- Revelation 4:2 The manner of revelation, as before, 1:10.
- Revelation 4:2 See Rev. 1:12.
- Revelation 4:2 A description of God the Father, and of his glory in the heavens, framed unto the manner of men, by his office, nature, company, attending, effect, instruments and events that follow afterwards. In this verse, he is presented in office a judge, as Abraham said, Gen. 18, which is declared by his throne, as an ensign of judgment, and his sitting thereupon.
- Revelation 4:3 By his nature, in that he is the Father, most glorious in his own person, and with his glory overshining all other things.
- Revelation 4:4 By the company attending about him in that, as that most high Judge, he is accompanied with the most honorable attendance of Prophets and Apostles, both of the old and new Church, whom Christ hath made to be Priests and Kings, Rev. 1:6 and 5:10.
- Revelation 4:5 By effects, in that most mightily he speaketh all things by his voice and word, as Ps. 29:3, and with the light of his spirit and providence peruseth and passes through all.
- Revelation 4:6 By instruments used, in that he both hath a most ready treasury, and as it were a workhouse excellently furnished with all things, unto the executing of his will, which things flow from his commandment, as is repeated, Rev.15:2. And hath also the Angels most ready administers of his counsels and pleasure unto all parts of the world, continually watching (in this verse) working by reason otherwise than the instruments, without life last mentioned, courageous as lions, mighty as bulls, wise as men, swift as eagles, verse 7, most apt unto all purposes, as furnished with wings on every part, most piercing of sight, and finally pure and perfect Spirits, always in continual motion, verse 8.
- Revelation 4:8 Every beast had six wings.
- Revelation 4:8 By events, in that for all the causes before mentioned God is glorified both of Angels, as holy, Judge, omnipotent, eternal and immutable, verse 8, and also after their example he is glorified of holy men (verse 9) in sign and in speech, verses 10, 11.
- Revelation 4:9 God is said to have glory, honor, kingdom, and such like given unto him, when we godly and reverently set forth that which is properly and only his.
- Revelation 4:10 Three signs of divine honor given unto God, prostration or falling down, adoration and casting their crowns before God, in which the godly, though made kings by Christ, do willingly empty themselves of all glory, moved with a religious respect for the majesty of God.
- Revelation 4:11 The sum of their speech: that all glory must be given unto God: the reason, because he is the eternal beginning of all things, from whose only will they have their being and are governed: and finally in all respects are that which they are.
- Revelation 4:11 That is, that thou shouldest challenge the same to thyself alone. But as for us, we are unworthy, that even by thy goodness we should be made partakers of this glory. And hitherto hath been handled the principal cause unapproachable, which is God.
Revelation 5
1599 Geneva Bible
5 1 The book sealed with seven seals, 3 which none could open. 6 That Lamb of God, 9 is thought worthy to open, 12 even by the consent of all the company of heaven.
1 [a]And I saw in the [b]right hand of him that sat upon the throne, [c]a book written within, and on the backside sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong Angel which preached with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 [d]And no man in heaven nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 Then I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open, and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5 [e]And one of the Elders said unto me, Weep not: behold, that (A)[f]Lion which is of the tribe of Judah, that root of David, hath obtained to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6 Then I beheld, and lo, [g]in the midst of the throne, and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the Elders stood a Lamb, as though he had been killed, which had seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent into all the world.
7 [h]And he came, and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8 [i]And when he hath taken the book, the four beasts, and the four and twenty Elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one [j]harps and golden vials full of odors, which are the [k]prayers of the Saints,
9 And they sung a [l]new [m]song, saying, [n]Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof, because thou wast killed, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.
10 And hast made us unto our God (B)Kings, and Priests, and we shall reign on the earth.
11 [o]Then I beheld, and I heard the voice of many Angels round about the throne, and about the beasts and the Elders, [p]and there were (C)[q]ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousand thousands,
12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was killed, to [r]receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and praise.
13 [s]And all the creatures which are in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Praise, and honor, and glory, and power be unto him, that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for evermore.
14 [t]And the four beasts said, Amen, and the four and twenty Elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for evermore.
Footnotes
- Revelation 5:1 A passing unto the second principal cause, which is the Son of God, God and man, the mediator of all, as the eternal word of God the Father manifested in the flesh. This chapter hath two parts: one that prepareth the way unto the Revelation, by rehearsal of the occasions that did occur in the first four verses. Another, the history of the Revelation of Christ, thence unto the end of the chapter.
- Revelation 5:1 That is, in the very right hand of God.
- Revelation 5:1 Here are showed the occasions for which this principal cause, and this Revelation was also necessary: the same are three, the first a present vision of the book of the counsels of God, concerning the government of this whole world, which book is said to be laid up with the Father as it were in his hand: but shut and unknown unto all creatures, in this verse. The second is a religious desire of the Angels of God to understand the mysteries of this book, verse 2, whereof see 1 Pet. 1:12. The third is a lamentation of Saint John and all the godly, moved by the same desire, verse 4, when they saw that it was a thing impossible for any creature to effect: which is declared in the third verse.
- Revelation 5:3 Thus neither of them that are in heaven, nor of them which are in the earth, etc. And this I like better. Now this enumeration of parts is sufficient to the denying of the whole. For of the creatures one sort is in heaven above the earth: another in the earth: and another under the earth in the sea, as is after declared, verse 13.
- Revelation 5:5 The second part of this chapter, in which is set down the Revelation of the Son, as before was said. This part containeth first an history of the manner how God prepared S. John to understand this Revelation in this verse. Secondly, the Revelation of the Son himself unto verse 7. Thirdly, the accidents of this Revelation, in the rest of the chapter. The manner now, is here described in two sorts, one from without him, by speech in this verse. Another within, by opening the eyes of S. John (which before were held) that he might see, in the verse following.
- Revelation 5:5 That is, the most mighty and most approved Prince: according to the use of the Hebrew speech.
- Revelation 5:6 The sum of this Revelation: Christ the mediator taketh and openeth the book, verses 6, 7. Therefore in his Revelation is described the person of Christ, in this verse. His fact, in the next verse. The person is thus described, Christ, the mediator between God, Angels and men, as the eternal word of God, and our redeemer: as the Lamb of God, standing as slain, and making intercession for us by the virtue and merit of his everlasting sacrifice, is armed with the Spirit of God, in his own person, that is, with the power and wisdom of God essentially unto the government of this whole world.
- Revelation 5:7 The fact of Christ the Mediator, that he cometh unto the throne of the Father, of which Rev. 4, and taketh the book out of his hand to open it. For that he opened it, it is first expressed, Rev. 6:1, etc.
- Revelation 5:8 Now follow in the end the accidents of the Revelation last spoken of that all the holy Angels, and men did sing unto him: both the chief, verses 9, 10, and common order of Angels, verses 11, 12, and of all things created, verse 13, the princes of both sorts agreeing thereunto, verse 14.
- Revelation 5:8 The symbols or signs of praise, sweet in savor, and acceptable unto God. See Rev. 8:3.
- Revelation 5:8 See Rev. 9:3.
- Revelation 5:9 No common song.
- Revelation 5:9 That is composed according to the present matter: the Lamb having received the book, as it were with his feet, and opened it with his horns, as is said in the Canticles.
- Revelation 5:9 The song of the Nobles or Princes standing by the throne, consisting of a publication of the praise of Christ, and a confirmation of the same from his benefits, both which we have received of himself (as are the suffering of his death, our redemption upon the cross by his blood in this verse: and our communion with him in Kingdom and Priesthood, which long ago he hath granted unto us with himself) and which we hereafter hope to obtain, as our kingdom to come in Christ, in the verse following.
- Revelation 5:11 The consent of the common order of Angels, answering in melody unto their Princes that stood by the throne.
- Revelation 5:11 A number finite, but almost infinite for one infinite indeed, as Dan. 7:10.
- Revelation 5:11 By this is meant a great number.
- Revelation 5:12 To have all praise given to him, as to the mightiest and wisest, etc.
- Revelation 5:13 The consent of all the common multitude of the creatures.
- Revelation 5:14 A confirmation of the praise beforegoing, from the contestation of the Nobles, expressed in word and signs, as once or twice before this.
Revelation 6
1599 Geneva Bible
6 1 The Lamb openeth the first seal of the book. 3 The second, 5 the third, 7 the fourth, 9 the fifth, 12 and the sixth, and then arise murders, famine, pestilence, outcries of Saints, earthquakes, and divers strange sights in heaven.
1 [a]After I beheld when the Lamb had opened one of the seals, and I heard one of the four beasts say, as it were the noise of thunder, Come and see.
2 Therefore [b]I beheld, and lo, there was a white horse, and he that sat on him, had a bow, and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering that he might overcome.
3 And [c]when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
4 And there went out another horse, that was red, and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another, and there was given unto him a great sword.
5 [d]And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. Then I beheld, and lo, a black horse, and he that sat on him, had balances in his hand.
6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A [e]measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny, [f]and oil, and wine hurt thou not.
7 [g]And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse, and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed after him, and power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with beasts of the earth.
9 [h]And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were killed for the word of God, and for the testimony which they maintained.
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, Lord, which art holy and true! dost not thou judge and avenge our blood on them, that dwell on the earth?
11 And long [i]white robes were given unto every one, and it was said unto them, that they should rest for a little season until their fellow servants, and their brethren that should be killed even as they were, were [j]fulfilled.
12 [k]And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake, and the Sun was as black as [l]sackcloth of hair, and the Moon was like blood.
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig-tree casteth her green figs, when it is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 And heaven departed away, as a scroll, when it is rolled, and every mountain and isle were moved out of their places.
15 [m]And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in dens, and among the rocks of the mountains,
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, [n](A)Fall on us, and hide us from the presence of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.
17 For the great day of his wrath is come, and who can stand?
Footnotes
- Revelation 6:1 This is the second part of this first history (which I said was common and of the whole world) of the works of God in the government of all things. Of this part there are generally 3 members, the foresignifying, the caution, and the execution of all the evils which God poureth out upon this world, which hath most hardly deserved of him. The foresignifying is set down in this chapter, the caution for preserving the Church, is in the next chapter, and the execution is described, Rev. 8:9. In every part of the foresignifying, there are three branches: the several and express calling of S. John, to prepare himself to take knowledge of the things that were to be showed unto him in the opening of the seals: the sign and the word expounding the sign: And albeit the express calling of S. John, be used only in four of the signs, yet the same is also to be understood in the rest that follow. The author of the foresignifying is the Lamb, as that word of the Father made the Mediator, opening the seals of the book. The instruments are the Angels in most of the visions, who expound the sign and words thereof. Now this first verse containeth an express calling of S. John to mark the opinion of the first seal.
- Revelation 6:2 The first sign joined with declaration, is that God for the sins, and horrible rebellion of the world, will invade the same: and first of all as afar off, with his darts of pestilence most suddenly, mightily, and gloriously, bear down the same as judge, and triumph over it as conqueror.
- Revelation 6:3 The second sign joined with words of declaration (after the express calling of S. John as before) is that God being provoked unto wrath by the obstinacy and hardheartedness of the world not repenting for the former plague, as setting upon the same hand, will kindle the fire of debate amongst men, and will destroy the inhabitants of this world, one by the sword of another.
- Revelation 6:5 The third sign with declaration, is that God will destroy the world with famine, withdrawing all provision: which is by the figure Synecdoche comprehended in wheat, barley, wine and oil.
- Revelation 6:6 Hereby is signified what great scarcity of corn there was, for the word here used is a kind of measure of dry things, which is in quantity but the eighth part of a bushel, which was an ordinary portion to be given servants for their stint of meat for one day.
- Revelation 6:6 I had rather distinguish and read the words thus, and the wine and the oil thou shalt not deal unjustly. In this sense likewise the wine and the oil shall be sold a very little for a penny. Thou shalt not deal unjustly, namely, when thou shalt measure out a very little for a great price: so is the place evident: otherwise that is most true, which the wise man saith, that whoso withholdeth the corn shall be cursed of the people, Prov. 11:26.
- Revelation 6:7 The fourth sign joined with words of declaration, is, that God will addict the fourth part of the world indifferently, unto death and hell, or the grave by all those means at once, by which before severally and in order he had recalled their minds unto amendment. Unto these are also added the wild and cruel beasts of the earth, out of Lev. 26:22. Thus doth God according to his wisdom dispense the treasures of his power, justly towards all, mercifully towards the good, and with patience or longsufferance towards his enemies.
- Revelation 6:9 The fifth sign is that the holy martyrs which are under the altar, whereby they are sanctified, that is, received into the trust and tuition of Christ (into whose hands they are committed) shall cry out for the justice of God, in an holy zeal to advance his kingdom and not of any private perturbation of the mind, in this and the next verse, and that God will, in deed, sign and word comfort them, verse 11.
- Revelation 6:11 As before 3:4.
- Revelation 6:11 Until their number be fulfilled.
- Revelation 6:12 The sixth sign, the narration whereof hath two parts, the sign, and the event. The sign is, that the earth, heaven, and the things that are in them for the horror of the sins of the world upon those most heavy foretellings of God, and complaints of the Saints shall be shaken most vehemently, trembling in horrible manner, and losing their light in this verse: falling from on high, verse 13, withdrawing themselves and flying away for the greatness of the trouble, verse 14. So boldly do all creatures depend upon the will of God, and content themselves in his glory.
- Revelation 6:12 So they called in old time those woven works that were of hair.
- Revelation 6:15 The event of the sign aforegoing: that there is no man that shall not be astonished at that general commotion, fly away for fear and hide himself in this verse, and wish unto himself most bitter death for exceeding horror of the wrath of God, and of the Lamb, at which before he was astonished. Now this perplexity is not of the godly, but of the wicked, whose portion is in this life, as the Psalmist speaketh, Ps. 17:14. Not that sorrow which is according unto God, which worketh repentance unto salvation, whereof a man shall never repent him, but that worldly sorrow that bringeth death, 2 Cor. 7:9, as their wishings do declare: for this history is of the whole world, severed from the history of the Church, as I have showed before, Rev. 4:1.
- Revelation 6:16 These are words of such as despair of their escape: of which despair there are two arguments, the presence of God and the Lamb provoked to wrath against the world in this verse, and the conscience of their own weakness, whereby men feel that they are no way able to stand in the day of the wrath of God, verse 17, as it is said, Isa. 14:27.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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