And after these things
The vision of the woman on the scarlet coloured beast, and the
interpretation of both by the angel:
I saw another angel;
not the Lord Jesus Christ, though the several things said of this
angel agree with him; nor one of the ministering spirits, though
the characters of him will also suit with one of them, but rather
a minister of the Gospel, or a set of Gospel ministers, who will
arise a little before the downfall of Babylon, in the spiritual
reign of Christ; though not the same with the angel of fire, (
Revelation 14:18 ) as
some have thought, because of his illustrious appearance, and the
loudness of his voice; but the same with the angel, or third
thundering voice in ( Revelation
14:6 ) for not only the times of both agree, but the selfsame
words are expressed by one as by the other; and this angel is
distinct from him that showed John the preceding vision, and gave
him the interpretation of it, and from all the seven angels that
had the vials, and is described as follows: and first by the
place from whence he came, John saw him
come down from heaven;
denoting the suddenness of his appearance and cry; he came down
at once, and cried out immediately; the subject of his cry, the
destruction of Babylon, being what will be at an unawares; and
also the commission and authority of the ministers signified by
him, who will have their warrant from heaven to say what they
will deliver; so that this likewise expresses the truth of their
message, since both that and they come from heaven:
having great power;
to do great work, to declare the fall of Babylon the great: or
"having great authority"; being sent from the King of kings, in
his name, as his ambassador, to proclaim what shortly will come
to pass; an event of the greatest importance to the glory of God,
the interest of Christ, and the comfort of his people:
and the earth was lightened with his glory;
see ( Ezekiel
43:2 ) by which is meant the glorious Gospel of Christ, the
light of which will at this then be very great: these ministers
will run to and fro the earth, and knowledge will be increased,
and the earth will be filled with it: the Arabic version reads,
"with the splendour of his countenance"; and the Ethiopic
version, "with the splendour of his countenance, and his glory";
see ( Isaiah
60:1-3 ) .