Verse 7
7. One of the four beasts The four living creatures represent creation; and correspondently the first four plagues are poured out upon different parts of the created framework. It seems most obvious that these four plagues are in the order, not of chronological succession, but of the suitable occurrence of the objects. The attempt, therefore, to assign dates of year or month is illegitimate. And as the seven-series of the plagues does not, like those of the seals and trumpets, mount up to the scenes of the dissolution and final judgment, but images a judgment limited to the earth’s surface, so the whole seven vials are given by one of the four creational beasts.
Vials Rather, saucers; being, as Alford says, “a shallow bowl or cup, usually without a stand or foot, in which they drew [a liquid] out of the crater or goblet.” It is as if these angels drew from the “wine” of the divine justice in their saucers, or drinking cups, the measure of judgment for Babylon.
Full of the wrath As if the wrath were a condensed liquid.
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