For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the
throne
See ( Revelation
5:6 ) ; not before the throne, as the great multitude are
said to be, ( Revelation
7:9 ) ; nor round about it, as the angels in ( Revelation
7:11 ) ; but in the midst of it, being equal to him that sits
upon it; sitting on the same throne with him, and having the same
power and authority, he
shall feed them
as a shepherd his flock; for this Lamb is a Shepherd, and this
great multitude are his flock; whom he will feed in this state,
not by his ministers, word, and ordinances, as now; but in
person, and with the rich discoveries of himself, and of his
love, signified by a feast, by new wine in his Father's kingdom,
and his own, and by eating and drinking at his table, in the
kingdom appointed by him to his followers; and hence it is they
shall never hunger more: or "shall rule them", as the Vulgate
Latin version renders it; for the same word signifies "to feed",
and "to rule", as a king rules his subjects; Christ will now be
visibly King of saints, and King over all the earth, and will
reign before his ancients gloriously; and, in these days of his,
Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely under his
power and protection:
and shall lead them unto living fountains of
water;
by "water" is meant the grace, love, and free favour of God in
Christ, that pure river of water of life, which proceeds from the
throne of God, and of the Lamb, from divine sovereignty; and with
which the saints in this state shall be sweetly and fully solaced
and refreshed; and hence they shall never thirst more: and this
is said to be "living", because not only refreshing and reviving,
but because it will last for ever; the love of God is from
everlasting to everlasting; and it is signified by "fountains",
to denote the abundance of it, even as it will be perceived and
enjoyed by the saints now; for these waters will not be only up
to the ankles, and knees, but a broad river to swim in, which
cannot be passed over; and hither will Christ lead his people,
which is, one branch of his office as a Shepherd; and which shows
his care of them, and affection for them.
And God shall wipe away all tear, from their
eyes;
or "out of their eyes", as the Alexandrian copy reads; see (
Isaiah 25:8 )
. The sense is, that that which is now the occasion of tears will
cease, as the sin and corruptions of God's people, which now are
the cause of many tears; as also Satan's temptations, the hidings
of God's face, and the various afflictions of this life, and the
persecutions of the men of the world; there will be no more of
either of these; all will be made to cease; see ( Revelation
21:4 ) ; and in the room of them full and everlasting joy
will take place, ( Isaiah 35:10
) . Mr. Daubuz thinks, that the whole of this chapter belongs to
the sixth seal, and that the promises in it are such as were to
be accomplished at the opening of the seventh, and do not belong
to the millennium state; but had their fulfilment in the times of
Constantine, who he supposes is the angel that came from the
east, who restrained the persecutors of the church, and
introduced a general peace in church and state; and as he came
with the seal of the living God, which he understands of the
cross of Christ, he put upon his standard, and on the shields of
his soldiers, so he sealed the servants of God on their foreheads
with it, by allowing them to make a public profession of a
crucified Christ, and by protecting them in that profession, even
men of all nations, Jews and Gentiles; and particularly he thinks
the innumerable palm bearing company may design the council of
Nice, gathered by him, which consisted of the representatives of
the whole Christian church in the several nations of the world,
who had great honour, freedom, and immunities conferred upon
them; and that the angels are the Christian magistrates,
submitting to the Christian religion, and defending the church,
which was now come out of the great tribulation of Heathen
persecution, and had temples and places of public worship opened
for them; in which they had full liberty to serve the Lord
continually, without interruption; and were secure from all
affliction and persecution, and were filled with joy and
gladness; and the Lamb, by the means of Constantine, as Christ's
vicar and servant, he declared himself to be, fed and protected
the church in peace and quietness; all which are accomplished
during the rest, or "silence", under the next seal; and which I
should very readily agree to, since this interpretation carries
on the thread of the prophetic history without any interruption,
were it not for the description of the palm bearing company, both
as to quantity and quality, and the declaration of the happy
state of those come out of great tribulation, which I think
cannot be made to suit with any imperfect state of the church on
earth, without greatly lowering the sense of the expressions
used; however, if anyone prefers this exposition to what is
given, I am not much averse unto it.