CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Revelation 19 Meyer's NT Commentary</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/commentaries/meyer/revelation/191.htm" /><link href='//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Cardo&subset=greek-ext' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'><link rel="stylesheet" href="/5001com.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 4800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 4800px)" href="/4801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1550px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1550px)" href="/1551.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1250px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1250px)" href="/1251.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1050px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1050px)" href="/1051.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 900px), only screen and (max-device-width: 900px)" href="/901.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 800px)" href="/801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 575px), only screen and (max-device-width: 575px)" href="/501.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-height: 450px), only screen and (max-device-height: 450px)" href="/h451.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/revelation/19.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcom/revelation/19-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="/commentaries/">Commentary</a> > <a href="../">Meyer</a> > <a href="../revelation/">Revelation</a></div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../revelation/18.htm" title="Revelation 18">◄</a> Revelation 19 <a href="../revelation/20.htm" title="Revelation 20">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Meyer's NT Commentary</div><div class="chap">CHAPTER 19 <a href="/revelation/19-1.htm" title="And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, to the Lord our God:">Revelation 19:1</a>. ὡς φωνὴν μεγάλην ὄχλου πολλοῦ. So already Beng., Griesb., according to decisive witnesses. So also λεγόντων (Elz.: λέγοντος). The reading τοῦ θεοῦ ἠμῶν (Elz.: κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ ἡμ.) is also indisputable (Griesb., Lach., Tisch.). <a href="/revelation/19-5.htm" title="And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all you his servants, and you that fear him, both small and great.">Revelation 19:5</a>. τῷ θεῷ. So A, B, C, א, Beng., Lach., Tisch. [W. and H.]. The accus. (Rec.) is a modification. <a href="/revelation/19-6.htm" title="And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunder, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns.">Revelation 19:6</a>. The Rec. λεγόντων (Lach., Tisch. IX.) [bracketed by W. and H.] has, indeed A and other witnesses in its favor, but is subject to suspicion as a modification (א: λεγούσων). More probable is the reading λέγοντας (2, 12, 16, al., Beng.); but what commends itself to most, just because of its incorrectness, is the nom. λέγοντες (B, 4, 7, 8, Tich., Tisch.); cf. the δώσωμεν in 11 (Wetst.). <a href="/revelation/19-9.htm" title="And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God.">Revelation 19:9</a>. The art. οἱ before ἀληθινοὶ (A, Beng., Lach., Tisch.) is probable; certainly the εἰσιν belongs to the close. א1 has οὖτ. οἱ λόγ. μον ἀληθ. εἰσ. τ. θ., but corr. λόγ. τ. θ. ἀλ. εἰς; so Tisch. IX. <a href="/revelation/19-12.htm" title="His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.">Revelation 19:12</a>. The ὡς before φλοξ (Elz., Lach.) is indorsed by A, al., Vulg., but may have been interpolated as a modification; cf. <a href="/revelation/1-14.htm" title="His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;">Revelation 1:14</a>. It is wanting in B, א, al. (Beng., Tisch. [W. and H.]). The addition between ἕχων and ὅνομα of ὀνόματα γεγραμμένα καὶ, adopted by Tisch. 1859, and not by IX., has too little authorization from B, min., Syr. (against A, min., Vulg., Orig., al.). The plural alone also occurs (א corr.; cf. also Wetst.). Why it has sometimes been regarded more suitable, is to be seen in Andr., who presupposes the sing, (τὸ ἄγνωστον τοῦ ὀνόματος), and remarks: Christ has many names if the subject be with respect to his various revelations; but, as to his nature, he is ineffable (ταῖς γὰρ οἰκονομῖαις ὢν πολυώνυμος, ὡς ἀγαθὸς, ὡς ποιμὴν, ὡς ἤλιος, κ.τ.λ.; τῇ ουσίᾳ ἐστὶν ἀνώνυμος καὶ ἀνέφικτος. [For being in his administrations many-named, as Good, Shepherd, Sun, etc., but in essence without name and beyond reach]). <a href="/revelation/19-13.htm" title="And he was clothed with a clothing dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.">Revelation 19:13</a>. Instead of καλεῖται (Elz., Beng.), read κέκληται (A, B, א, al., Lach., Tisch. [W. and H.]). <a href="/revelation/19-19.htm" title="And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.">Revelation 19:19</a>. Before πόλεμον, the art. τὸν is to be inserted in the Rec. (A, B, א, Lach., Tisch. [W. and H.]). The judgment over the great harlot, i.e., the great city, is now actually fulfilled.[4021] But just as the casting of the arch-enemy from heaven, the first proof of the Divine victory over antichrist, was celebrated with a loud song of praise,[4022] so now also heavenly hallelujahs resound, since the first act of the final judgment over the antichristian powers in the service of Satan has been accomplished (<a href="/context/revelation/19-1.htm" title="And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, to the Lord our God:...">Revelation 19:1-8</a>). A direct reference to the blessed fulfilment of the mystery of God,[4023] the glory prepared for believers, is immediately connected with this (<a href="/revelation/19-9.htm" title="And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God.">Revelation 19:9</a> sq., cf. <a href="/revelation/19-7.htm" title="Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready.">Revelation 19:7</a>); for the pre-requisite for the entrance of that glory, the conquest of the antichristian enemies, is comprised already in the fulfilment. The development of a catastrophe so long prepared, once begun, now, however, proceeds quickly to a still greater extent: the Lord himself, a just Judge and almighty Victor, goes forth with his heavenly hosts to the annihilation of the entire antichristian empire, besides all kings and nations belonging thereto; the beast from the sea, and the false prophet, are cast alive into the lake of fire, and the inhabitants of the earth are slain with the sword which proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord, and serve as food for fowls. [4021] Cf. the preliminary remarks on ch.18 [4022] <a href="/revelation/12-10.htm" title="And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brothers is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.">Revelation 12:10</a>. [4023] Cf. <a href="/revelation/10-7.htm" title="But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets.">Revelation 10:7</a>. <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-1.htm">Revelation 19:1</a></div><div class="verse">And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:</div><a href="/context/revelation/19-1.htm" title="And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, to the Lord our God:...">Revelation 19:1-2</a>. ἤκουσα ὦς φωνὴν μεγάλην ὄχλου πολλοῦ. “I heard” (something) “like a great voice of a large multitude,” The ὡς, κ.τ.λ.,[4025] states, by way of comparison, that the sound perceived by John became as loud as though a great multitude of men had made their voice sound powerfully (cf. <a href="/revelation/19-6.htm" title="And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunder, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns.">Revelation 19:6</a>). Incorrectly, Beng., Hengstenb., etc., who by the ὌΧΛ. ΠΟΛΛ. wish those named in <a href="/revelation/18-20.htm" title="Rejoice over her, you heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets; for God has avenged you on her.">Revelation 18:20</a> to be recognized. Ew. ii. refers it, just as <a href="/context/revelation/12-10.htm" title="And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brothers is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night....">Revelation 12:10-12</a>, to the glorified martyrs. ʼΑΛΛΗΛΟΎΪΑ. The leading tone of this song, resounding repeatedly (<a href="/context/revelation/19-3.htm" title="And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever....">Revelation 19:3-4</a>; <a href="/revelation/19-6.htm" title="And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunder, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns.">Revelation 19:6</a>), is marked from the very beginning as that of an exalted ascription of praise. It is certainly not unintentional, that just here, after the complete judgment upon the enemies of God and of his believers has already begun, the express hallelujah is found, which does not occur elsewhere in the Apoc.[4026] The fourfold repetition, however, is not to be pressed, at least in the sense of Hengstenb.,[4027] because it is not the victory over the earth, but that over the harlot, that is celebrated. Ἡ ΣΩΤΗΡΊΑ, Κ.Τ.Λ. Cf. <a href="/revelation/7-10.htm" title="And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.">Revelation 7:10</a>, <a href="/revelation/12-10.htm" title="And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brothers is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.">Revelation 12:10</a>. ὌΤΙ ἈΛΗΘ., Κ.Τ.Λ. Foundation of the praise in the righteousńess of the Divine judgments in general;[4028] there follows[4029] the concrete foundation in the judgment just fulfilled, whose justice is expressly emphasized.[4030] [4025] Cf. <a href="/revelation/4-6.htm" title="And before the throne there was a sea of glass like to crystal: and in the middle of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.">Revelation 4:6</a>. [4026] Nor does it occur in the rest of the N. T. [4027] With reference to the victory of God over the earth, whose sign is four. [4028] Cf. <a href="/revelation/16-7.htm" title="And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments.">Revelation 16:7</a>. [4029] Cf. <a href="/revelation/18-23.htm" title="And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in you; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in you: for your merchants were the great men of the earth; for by your sorceries were all nations deceived.">Revelation 18:23</a>, where there are also two co-ordinated clauses with οτι. [4030] ἥτις, κ.τ.λ. Cf. <a href="/revelation/12-13.htm" title="And when the dragon saw that he was cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.">Revelation 12:13</a>. On the subject, cf. <a href="/revelation/18-23.htm" title="And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in you; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in you: for your merchants were the great men of the earth; for by your sorceries were all nations deceived.">Revelation 18:23</a> sq., also <a href="/revelation/11-18.htm" title="And the nations were angry, and your wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should give reward to your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth.">Revelation 11:18</a>, <a href="/revelation/6-10.htm" title="And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?">Revelation 6:10</a>. <a href="/context/revelation/19-1.htm" title="And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, to the Lord our God:...">Revelation 19:1-8</a>. The ascription of praise to God on the part of those who dwell in heaven is made in songs, which properly now change to a far richer fulness (<a href="/revelation/19-1.htm" title="And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, to the Lord our God:">Revelation 19:1</a> sq., <a href="/revelation/19-3.htm" title="And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.">Revelation 19:3</a>, <a href="/revelation/19-4.htm" title="And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.">Revelation 19:4</a>, <a href="/revelation/19-5.htm" title="And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all you his servants, and you that fear him, both small and great.">Revelation 19:5</a>, <a href="/revelation/19-6.htm" title="And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunder, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns.">Revelation 19:6</a> sq.) than previously.[4024] [4024] Cf. <a href="/revelation/4-8.htm" title="And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.">Revelation 4:8</a> sqq., <a href="/revelation/5-9.htm" title="And they sung a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;">Revelation 5:9</a> sqq., <a href="/revelation/11-15.htm" title="And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.">Revelation 11:15</a> sqq., <a href="/revelation/15-3.htm" title="And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are your ways, you King of saints.">Revelation 15:3</a>, <a href="/revelation/16-5.htm" title="And I heard the angel of the waters say, You are righteous, O Lord, which are, and were, and shall be, because you have judged thus.">Revelation 16:5</a> sqq. <A name="2"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-2.htm">Revelation 19:2</a></div><div class="verse">For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.</div><A name="3"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-3.htm">Revelation 19:3</a></div><div class="verse">And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.</div><a href="/revelation/19-3.htm" title="And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.">Revelation 19:3</a>. Further raising of the song of praise on the part of those who have sung in <a href="/revelation/19-1.htm" title="And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, to the Lord our God:">Revelation 19:1</a> sqq., a sort of antistrophe to the preceding strophe.[4031] ΚΑῚ Ὁ ΚΆΠΝΟς, Κ.Τ.Λ. The point in the ascription of praise, referring to <a href="/revelation/18-8.htm" title="Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her.">Revelation 18:8</a> (ΚΑΤΑΚΑΥΘ., cf. <a href="/revelation/18-9.htm" title="And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall mourn her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,">Revelation 18:9</a>; <a href="/revelation/18-18.htm" title="And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like to this great city!">Revelation 18:18</a>), may accordingly enter in the form of the connective (ΚΑῚ), because the song, <a href="/revelation/19-3.htm" title="And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.">Revelation 19:3</a>, is an amplification of the ascription of praise, <a href="/revelation/19-1.htm" title="And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, to the Lord our God:">Revelation 19:1</a> sq. [4031] De Wette, who is right in rejecting the arbitrary assumption of Ewald, to connect <a href="/revelation/19-3.htm" title="And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.">Revelation 19:3</a> to <a href="/revelation/19-2.htm" title="For true and righteous are his judgments: for he has judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.">Revelation 19:2</a>. <A name="4"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-4.htm">Revelation 19:4</a></div><div class="verse">And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.</div><a href="/revelation/19-4.htm" title="And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.">Revelation 19:4</a>. The twenty-four elders and the four beings, responding first of all by the ʼΑμήν, confirming the ascription of praise just proclaimed, then also, on their part, expressly continue the same: ἀλληλ.[4032] [4032] Cf. <a href="/revelation/5-8.htm" title="And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.">Revelation 5:8</a>; <a href="/revelation/5-14.htm" title="And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that lives for ever and ever.">Revelation 5:14</a>, <a href="/revelation/4-11.htm" title="You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.">Revelation 4:11</a>. <A name="5"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-5.htm">Revelation 19:5</a></div><div class="verse">And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.</div><a href="/revelation/19-5.htm" title="And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all you his servants, and you that fear him, both small and great.">Revelation 19:5</a>. ἀπὸ τοῦ θρόνου. “Out of the throne.” It does not follow that the voice is that of Christ who sits upon the throne.[4033] Beng. writes that it belongs to the four beasts; Züll. and De Wette, to one of them. It may be referred also to the elders, because of the form of the summons (Τ. Θ. ἩΜῶΝ).[4034] Τῷ ΘΕῷ. The dat. with ΑἸΝΕῖΝ, which is regarded as though it were ΔΙΔΌΝΑΙ ΑῚΝΟΝ,[4035] occurs also in the LXX.[4036] Comparison with the Hebrew text shows not only that the expression ΑἸΝΕῖΤΕ Τῷ ΘΕῷ says precisely the same as the ἉΛΛΗΛΟΥΪΆ retained in the Hebrew form,[4037] but also that the construction of αἰνεῖν with the dat. has occurred where the הַלֵּל was combined with כְ. In <a href="/jeremiah/20-13.htm" title="Sing to the LORD, praise you the LORD: for he has delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.">Jeremiah 20:13</a>, a clause so construed at any rate precedes. πἀντες οἱ δοῦλοι αὐτοῦ. Cf. <a href="/psalms/135-1.htm" title="Praise you the LORD. Praise you the name of the LORD; praise him, O you servants of the LORD.">Psalm 135:1</a>. οἱ φοβούμενοι, κ.τ.λ. Cf. <a href="/psalms/115-13.htm" title="He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.">Psalm 115:13</a>. [4033] Against Ewald, Hengstenb. [4034] Cf. also <a href="/revelation/5-9.htm" title="And they sung a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;">Revelation 5:9</a>. [4035] <a href="/luke/18-43.htm" title="And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.">Luke 18:43</a>. [4036] <a href="/1_chronicles/16-36.htm" title="Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.">1 Chronicles 16:36</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/23-5.htm" title="Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.">1 Chronicles 23:5</a>; <a href="/2_chronicles/20-19.htm" title="And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.">2 Chronicles 20:19</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/20-13.htm" title="Sing to the LORD, praise you the LORD: for he has delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.">Jeremiah 20:13</a>. [4037] Cf. Hesych., who very accurately explains ἀλληλ.: αἶνος τῷ ὅντι θεῷ, αἰνεῖτε τὸν κυριον [“Praise to him that is God, praise ye the Lord”]. <A name="6"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-6.htm">Revelation 19:6</a></div><div class="verse">And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.</div><a href="/context/revelation/19-6.htm" title="And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunder, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns....">Revelation 19:6-8</a>. The final chorus, which is likewise opened with hallelujah, passing by the judgment in which already the adorable glory of God has been occupied, points forward especially to the marriage of the Lamb, and, therefore, to the revelation of the glory of God, whereby—after all enemies have been judged—believers are to be beatified. Thus, therefore, the point carried to the full end appears in the pause in the Apocalyptic development marked by the ascriptions of praise (<a href="/revelation/19-1.htm" title="And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, to the Lord our God:">Revelation 19:1</a> sqq.). ὡς φωνὴν, κ.τ.λ. The explanation given at <a href="/revelation/19-1.htm" title="And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, to the Lord our God:">Revelation 19:1</a> is here established by the fact that the comparison is satisfied not with the ὄχλ. πολλ., but introduces still other things in the same sense.[4038] λέγοντες. The nom. stands still more out of construction than the ace. See Critical Notes, and cf. <a href="/revelation/4-1.htm" title="After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up here, and I will show you things which must be hereafter.">Revelation 4:1</a>, <a href="/revelation/5-13.htm" title="And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be to him that sits on the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever.">Revelation 5:13</a>. ὅτι ἐβασίλευσεν. The ὅτι specifying the reason as in <a href="/revelation/19-2.htm" title="For true and righteous are his judgments: for he has judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.">Revelation 19:2</a>. On the conception ἐβασίλ., cf. <a href="/revelation/11-17.htm" title="Saying, We give you thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which are, and were, and are to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned.">Revelation 11:17</a>. ὅτι ἧλθεν ὁ γάμος του ἀρνίου. As the foundation of the present joy, this is likewise to be understood proleptically, like the ἡλθεν, <a href="/revelation/11-18.htm" title="And the nations were angry, and your wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should give reward to your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth.">Revelation 11:18</a>.[4039] So, correctly, De Wette.[4040] Vitr. is mistaken in his opinion of the state of affairs described, as he even states that the expression ὁ γάμος τοῦ ἀρνίου is synonymous with τὸ δεῖπνον τοῦ γάμου τ. ἀρν., in order that both may in the same way[4041] refer to the glorious state of the Church still to be expected within this temporal life. In the directly opposite interest, Züll. reaches the statement that ὁ γάμος τοῦ ἀρνίου is like τὸ δεῖπν. τ. γάμ. τ. ἀρν., and that both expressions designate, not the future marriage itself,[4042] but “the preliminary festival of the Messiah’s marriage,” i.e., the one thousand years’ reign.[4043] But the marriage of the Lamb with his bride, i.e., the entire assembly of believers,[4044] is, in fact, nothing else than the distribution of the eternal reward of grace on the part of the coming Lord to his believers, who then enter with Him into the full glory of the heavenly life.[4045] What the final promises of the epistles, chs. 2 and 3, proclaim under various figures with respect to individuals,[4046] is represented as pertaining to the entire Church as the bride of the coming Lord, under the figure of the marriage of the Lamb, and, therefore, as the most intimate and eternally uninterrupted fellowship with Him who has redeemed the Church with his own blood.[4047] An application to individuals follows also in <a href="/revelation/19-9.htm" title="And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God.">Revelation 19:9</a>. The proleptical (ὴλθεν, ἡτοίμασεν, ἐδόθη) allusion to the blessed fulfilment of the mystery of God,[4048] that has now not yet, in fact, occurred, is here the more suitable in the mouths of the heavenly beings, since, in fact, an act already of the final judgment—viz., the destruction of the great harlot—has been executed, and, consequently, the actual beginning of that fulfilment has been made. ἠ γννὴ αὐτ. The expression is entirely appropriate to the bride,[4049] so that the alteration ἡ νύμφη αὐτ.[4050] appears groundless. ἡτοίμασεν ἑαυτήν. As becomes the bride who with joy awaits the coming of her bridegroom.[4051] An important part of her is expressly emphasized in <a href="/revelation/19-8.htm" title="And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.">Revelation 19:8</a>, in conformity with the figure ΚΑῚ ἘΔΌΘΗ ΑὙΤῇ, Κ.Τ.Λ., and then interpreted by John, ΤῸ ΓᾺΡ ΒΎΣΣΙΝΟΝ, Κ.Τ.Λ. On ἘΔΌΘΗ ΑὐΤῆ ἽΝΑ, cf. <a href="/revelation/6-4.htm" title="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 to him a great sword.">Revelation 6:4</a>. ΒΎΣΣ. ΛΑΜΠΡῸΝ ΚΑΘΑΡΌΝ. Excellently, Grot.: “You see here the dignified garb, as that of a matron, not ostentatious, like that of the harlot previously described.” That really distinct references are intended by ΛΑΜΠΡΌΝ and ΚΑΘΑΡΌΝ,[4052] is not to be inferred at all events from the interpretation that follows. Cf. also <a href="/revelation/7-14.htm" title="And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.">Revelation 7:14</a>. Meanwhile, it is in itself correct to distinguish the negative innocency of the life from the positive practice of virtue. ΤᾺ ΔΙΚΑΙΏΜΑΤΑ ΤῶΝ ἉΓΊΩΝ ἘΣΤΊΝ. Cf. a similar interpretation, <a href="/revelation/5-8.htm" title="And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.">Revelation 5:8</a>. The form of the expression,[4053] and the real parallel,[4054] suggest only just deeds in which the saints have maintained their fidelity. On the contrary, Ew. ii.: declaration of righteousness; also Meyer, on <a href="/romans/5-16.htm" title="And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses to justification.">Romans 5:16</a> : the divine sentence of justification which the saints have received. But the plural form resists this mode of exposition, which, so far as the subject itself is concerned, refers to the writer of the Apocalypse a thought of so peculiarly a Pauline stamp as does not occur elsewhere in the Apoc. Of course, an allusion to the grace bestowed by God, as the ground and source of the δικαιώματα belonging to the saints, is contained in a delicate way in the ἘΔΌΘΗ ΑὐΤῇ ἽΝΑ, Κ.Τ.Λ.; but just this reference to the Divine giving prevents us, on the other hand, from defining the ΔΙΚΑΙὩΜΑΤΑ as a Divine activity, but allows us to think only of the just deeds of saints.[4055] In this result Gebhardt[4056] and Klief. also harmonize. [See Note LXXXIV., p. 461.] [4038] Cf. <a href="/revelation/1-15.htm" title="And his feet like to fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.">Revelation 1:15</a>. [4039] Cf. <a href="/revelation/14-7.htm" title="Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.">Revelation 14:7</a>. [4040] Cf. also Hengstenb. [4041] Cf. <a href="/revelation/21-9.htm" title="And there came to me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.">Revelation 21:9</a> sqq. [4042] <a href="/revelation/21-9.htm" title="And there came to me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.">Revelation 21:9</a> sqq. [4043] <a href="/revelation/20-4.htm" title="And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark on their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.">Revelation 20:4</a> sqq. [4044] <a href="/revelation/21-9.htm" title="And there came to me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.">Revelation 21:9</a>. <a href="/revelation/22-17.htm" title="And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And whoever will, let him take the water of life freely.">Revelation 22:17</a>. Cf. <a href="/revelation/12-1.htm" title="And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars:">Revelation 12:1</a>; <a href="/isaiah/54-1.htm" title="Sing, O barren, you that did not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you that did not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, said the LORD.">Isaiah 54:1</a> sqq.; <a href="/hosea/2-19.htm" title="And I will betroth you to me for ever; yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies.">Hosea 2:19</a> sq.; <a href="/ezekiel/16-7.htm" title="I have caused you to multiply as the bud of the field, and you have increased and waxen great, and you are come to excellent ornaments: your breasts are fashioned, and your hair is grown, whereas you were naked and bore.">Ezekiel 16:7</a> sqq.; <a href="/ephesians/5-25.htm" title="Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;">Ephesians 5:25</a>. [4045] Cf. <a href="/revelation/11-18.htm" title="And the nations were angry, and your wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should give reward to your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth.">Revelation 11:18</a>, <a href="/revelation/22-12.htm" title="And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.">Revelation 22:12</a>. [4046] Cf. especially <a href="/revelation/3-20.htm" title="Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.">Revelation 3:20</a>. [4047] Cf. <a href="/revelation/5-6.htm" title="And I beheld, and, see, in the middle of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the middle of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.">Revelation 5:6</a>; <a href="/revelation/5-9.htm" title="And they sung a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;">Revelation 5:9</a>, <a href="/revelation/7-17.htm" title="For the Lamb which is in the middle of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.">Revelation 7:17</a>, <a href="/revelation/14-1.htm" title="And I looked, and, see, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.">Revelation 14:1</a>. [4048] Cf. <a href="/revelation/10-7.htm" title="But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets.">Revelation 10:7</a>. [4049] <a href="/genesis/29-20.htm" title="And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had to her.">Genesis 29:20</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/22-24.htm" title="Then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he has humbled his neighbor's wife: so you shall put away evil from among you.">Deuteronomy 22:24</a>; <a href="/matthew/1-20.htm" title="But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, you son of David, fear not to take to you Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.">Matthew 1:20</a>. [4050] א. Cf. <a href="/revelation/21-9.htm" title="And there came to me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.">Revelation 21:9</a>. [4051] Cf. <a href="/revelation/22-17.htm" title="And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And whoever will, let him take the water of life freely.">Revelation 22:17</a>, <a href="/revelation/21-2.htm" title="And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.">Revelation 21:2</a>; <a href="/matthew/25-10.htm" title="And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.">Matthew 25:10</a> : αἱ ἔτοιμοι. [4052] Hengstenb.: “The brilliant glory of a virtuous life, and spotless purity from sins.” [4053] Cf. <a href="/revelation/15-4.htm" title="Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? for you only are holy: for all nations shall come and worship before you; for your judgments are made manifest.">Revelation 15:4</a>. [4054] Cf. <a href="/revelation/14-4.htm" title="These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits to God and to the Lamb.">Revelation 14:4</a> sq. [4055] Cf. the ἀδικήματα, <a href="/revelation/18-5.htm" title="For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.">Revelation 18:5</a>. [4056] p. 176. NOTES BY THE AMERICAN EDITOR LXXXIV. <a href="/revelation/19-8.htm" title="And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.">Revelation 19:8</a>. τὰ δικαιώματα τῶν ἁγίων Some of the older Protestant interpreters explain the plural δικαιώματα, as determined by the fact that it comprises the two righteousnesses of the believer, the imputed righteousness of Christ and his own inherent righteousness. So Forbes in Poole’s Synopsis. Calov. also, upon the ground that the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to the believer will never cease. Others, like Cluverus, maintain that each saint has a δικαίωμα; and, therefore, there are δικαιώματα, because there are many saints. So Alford: “The plural is probably distributive, implying not many δικαιώματα to each one, as if they were merely good deeds, but one δικαίωμα to each of the saints, enveloping him as in a pure white robe of righteousness.” John Gerhard (L. C., viii. 167) also adopts the distributive use of the plural, although referring it to imputed righteousness. Philippi (Kirch. Glaubenslehre, v. 1, 252), however, concurs with Düsterdieck: “The right deeds of the saints are the robe of fine linen, to be clothed in which is granted them (<a href="/revelation/19-8.htm" title="And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.">Revelation 19:8</a>).” <A name="7"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-7.htm">Revelation 19:7</a></div><div class="verse">Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.</div><A name="8"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-8.htm">Revelation 19:8</a></div><div class="verse">And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.</div><A name="9"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-9.htm">Revelation 19:9</a></div><div class="verse">And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.</div><a href="/context/revelation/19-9.htm" title="And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God....">Revelation 19:9-10</a>. The significance of the short interlude lies in what the angel says to John (<a href="/revelation/19-9.htm" title="And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God.">Revelation 19:9</a>), by applying in express exhortation,[4057] the reference contained already in the ascription of praise of the heavenly beings, to the goal of all the hopes of believers, and emphatically confirming the consolatory certainty of the hope thus set before believers, by the assurance that this word of God is true. Also to the prophetical declaration of this glorious hope by John, an attestation is given in <a href="/revelation/19-10.htm" title="And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See you do it not: I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.">Revelation 19:10</a>, which must confirm believers[4058] receiving the testimony of the prophet in the hope and patience upon which their victory depends. λέγει-g0- μοι-g0-. The one speaking is, at all events, according to <a href="/revelation/19-10.htm" title="And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See you do it not: I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.">Revelation 19:10</a>, an angel; but not “an interpreting angel,” such as Ewald and Ebrard think was the constant attendant of John,[4059] but the angel who from <a href="/revelation/17-1.htm" title="And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying to me, Come here; I will show to you the judgment of the great whore that sits on many waters:">Revelation 17:1</a> on serves John as the communicator of the revelation.[4060] To this points also the immediately succeeding declaration of the same angel (οὖτοι οἱ λόγοι, κ.τ.λ.). Γράψον μακάριοι, κ.τ.λ.). Cf. <a href="/revelation/14-3.htm" title="And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.">Revelation 14:3</a>. τὸ δεῖπνον τοῦ γάμ. τ. ἀρν. In a still more concrete way than <a href="/revelation/19-7.htm" title="Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready.">Revelation 19:7</a> (ὁ γάμος τ. ἀρν.) is the final blessed communion with the Lord illustrated. Moreover the paracletic pertinence of the discourse brings with it also the fact that it is not the idea of the Church as the bride of the Lamb, but that of individual believers as wedding guests, which enters here.[4061] By the repetition of the formula καὶ λέγει μοι, the succeeding speech of the angel is especially separated from his preceding words, and thus receives a peculiar importance. If we suppose that the art. is to be read before ἀληθινοὶ,[4062]—which certainly does not serve to facilitate the construction,[4063]—we must translate with Beng., Ebrard, Bleek, and Ew. ii.: “These are the true words of God.” The ingenious explanation of Hengstenb. (“These words are true, they are words of God”), even apart from the art. before ἀληθ., is refuted by the fact that the εἰσίν, in any case, belongs not before, but after, the τοῦ θεοῦ. De Wette, who translates: “These words are the true (words) of God,”[4064] appeals, in opposition to Beng., to the parallel, <a href="/revelation/21-5.htm" title="And he that sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said to me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.">Revelation 21:5</a>. But there the construction of the sentence is extremely simple, since to the subj. οὗτοι οἱ λόγοι the definition of the predicate is added, πιστοὶ καὶ ἀληθινοί εἰσιν; but here not only the τοῦ θεοῦ, but especially the art. before ἀληθ., effects another relation in the entire statement. By means of this art., it becomes far simpler to bring together οἱ λόγοι οἱ ἀληθινοὶ, and to understand these words combined with τοῦ θεοῦ as a predicate to the subject οὖτοι.[4065] But the sense is by no means that which Bengel’s explanation suggests to De Wette,[4066] but after the angel has afforded John the revelation of the judgment upon the harlot, and, from this beginning of the final judgment, has given an intimation concerning the blessed mystery of God, which lies back of the entire judgment, he reviews all the words of revelation, of which he had served as the interpreter to the prophet from <a href="/revelation/17-1.htm" title="And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying to me, Come here; I will show to you the judgment of the great whore that sits on many waters:">Revelation 17:1</a> on. These, he says, are the true, i.e., the genuine and right, words of God. The ἀληθινοί here mentions not the truth or the correctness of the contents, but the reality of the correlated statement: τοῦ θεοῦ. This explanation is afforded, on the one hand, by the plural οἱ λόγοι alone,—which Hengstenb., as well as Klief., refers to 5–8, Ebrard to 6–8 and 9, but the most do not take into further consideration,—and, on the other hand, also by what is reported in <a href="/revelation/19-10.htm" title="And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See you do it not: I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.">Revelation 19:10</a>. Ebrard was on the right track when he alluded to the expression οἱ λόγοι τοῦ θεοῦ, <a href="/revelation/17-17.htm" title="For God has put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.">Revelation 17:17</a>; but he wanders from it again, when, just as he understands those λόγοι τοῦ θεοῦ as promises concerning the final redemption of the Church, so, in this passage, he limits the λόγοι οἱ ἀληθ. τ. θ. to <a href="/context/revelation/19-6.htm" title="And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunder, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns....">Revelation 19:6-9</a>. The latter is not entirely correct; for there is no reason for excluding the songs of <a href="/context/revelation/19-1.htm" title="And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, to the Lord our God:...">Revelation 19:1-5</a>, which also refer to the goal presented in <a href="/revelation/19-9.htm" title="And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God.">Revelation 19:9</a>, in a manner precisely identical with <a href="/context/revelation/19-6.htm" title="And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunder, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns....">Revelation 19:6-8</a>. But what is said from <a href="/revelation/19-1.htm" title="And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, to the Lord our God:">Revelation 19:1</a> on, concerning the now-impending glorification of the Church, has to do with but one side of the subject, with only one part of the λόγοι τοῦ θεοῦ (<a href="/revelation/17-17.htm" title="For God has put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.">Revelation 17:17</a>), or of the mystery of God, announced by the ancient prophets.[4067] This one point is made prominent also in the songs from <a href="/revelation/19-1.htm" title="And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, to the Lord our God:">Revelation 19:1</a> on, only upon the ground of the judgment lying before the same, which is now already fulfilled in an act. As now (<a href="/revelation/17-17.htm" title="For God has put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.">Revelation 17:17</a>) the λόγοι τ. θεοῦ contain both, viz., the proclamation of the Divine judgment against every thing antichristian,—the kings of the world, with the beast of the world, are to rule only until the words of God, which proclaim the destruction of these same powers, shall find their fulfilment, i.e., until the dominion of those antichristian powers shall be annihilated according to God’s declaration,—and the promise; the λόγοι οἱ ἀληθ. τ. θ., in this passage, refer to all the revelations which the prophet has received, as the fulfilment of the promise (<a href="/revelation/17-1.htm" title="And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying to me, Come here; I will show to you the judgment of the great whore that sits on many waters:">Revelation 17:1</a>) of the angel even now also speaking with him (δεἰξω σοι τὸ κρίμα τῆς πόρνης τ. μεγ.), i.e., they refer to <a href="/revelation/18-1.htm" title="And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.">Revelation 18:1</a> to <a href="/revelation/19-9.htm" title="And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God.">Revelation 19:9</a>. By the expression οὐτοι οἱ λόγοι οἱ ἀληθ., a review is made of that entire section—in which the expressions referring to the glorification of believers, <a href="/context/revelation/19-1.htm" title="And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, to the Lord our God:...">Revelation 19:1-9</a>, are represented in most immediate combination with judgment upon the antichristian powers already fulfilled in one act—in a way precisely analogous to that of <a href="/revelation/22-6.htm" title="And he said to me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show to his servants the things which must shortly be done.">Revelation 22:6</a>, where, at the conclusion of the entire revelation, a confirmatory reference is made to all that was disclosed to the gazing prophet, from <a href="/revelation/4-1.htm" title="After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up here, and I will show you things which must be hereafter.">Revelation 4:1</a> on, as about to happen. But in this passage, also, such a conclusion is entirely justified, because here an important part of what was to happen had already happened, viz., the judgment upon the great harlot; and therewith the fulfilment of the words,[4068] or of the mystery,[4069] of God, had already begun. Now also there is given to the prophet the direct pledge of the certainty of what he has beheld; that these words which he has received are the actual and true words of God himself. From this the explanation follows as to why it is that John (<a href="/revelation/19-10.htm" title="And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See you do it not: I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.">Revelation 19:10</a>)[4070] falls down before the angel in order “to worship” him. Ebrard is wrong in his attempt to attach a prophetic significance to this occurrence; viz., that the children of God are to be warned against the temptation of worshipping angels, “who have brought about the victory over antichrist.” The last is here entirely foreign. Grot., Vitr., Beng., etc., recognize in the adoring prostration an excessive token of gratitude, and therefore forbidden also by the angel.[4071] De Wette, in accordance with his exposition of 9b, finds here an expression of joyful astonishment at prophecies so confirmed (?). But partly from what precedes (λόγ. οἱ ἀληθ. τοῦ θεοῦ), and partly from the manner in which the angel rejects the adoration as not due him, as a fellow-servant of John, it may be first of all inferred that John regarded the angel thus addressing him, not as a fellow-servant, but as the Lord himself.[4072] At first,[4073] John had a proper estimate of the angel; but just by what was said (<a href="/revelation/19-9.htm" title="And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God.">Revelation 19:9</a> b), John could attain the supposition that the Lord himself spoke to him. ὅρα μη. The aposiopesis[4074] is self-evident from what precedes: “See that thou dost it not!” Ay, do it not! σύνδουλος. Because the angel serves the same Lord[4075] as John and all his brethren, “who have the testimony of Jesus,” i.e., all believers.[4076] The Lord is God;[4077] to him, therefore, belongs the adoration which John intended to offer to the angel (τῷ θεῷ προσκύνησον). The entire repulse by the angel does not therefore sound “as tender as possible, almost having the tone of intercession,”[4078] but is throughout decided. The closing words of <a href="/revelation/19-10.htm" title="And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See you do it not: I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.">Revelation 19:10</a> belong not to the address of the angel, but are a remark of John, whereby he establishes and explains (γάρ) what has just been said by the angel. It is incorrect to explain the gen. τοῦ Ἰησοῦ as subjective, “the testimony proceeding from Jesus;”[4079] for if, on the one hand, reference to the expression ἐχόντων τὴν μαρτ. τοῦ Ἰησοῦ require this explanation,[4080] on the other hand the declaration is intelligible only by defining the μαρτυρία τοῦ Ἰησ. as τὸ πνευμα τῆς προφητείας. This cannot mean: “He who confesses Christ as thou dost has also the spirit of prophecy,”[4081] but designates, in the sense of <a href="/1_peter/1-11.htm" title="Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.">1 Peter 1:11</a>, and in thorough agreement with what is indicated in <a href="/revelation/1-1.htm" title="The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show to his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John:">Revelation 1:1</a> and <a href="/revelation/22-6.htm" title="And he said to me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show to his servants the things which must shortly be done.">Revelation 22:6</a>; <a href="/revelation/22-16.htm" title="I Jesus have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.">Revelation 22:16</a>, concerning the nature and the origin of prophecy, that Christ, by himself imparting his testimony of revelation to a man, fills him[4082] with the spirit of prophecy,—who now speaks from and through the prophets.[4083] As Christ, the coming One, is the goal of all Christian prophecy,[4084] so is He also its author. From the closing words of the verse, it might be inferred,[4085] that “they who have the testimony of Jesus” are not believers in general, but only the prophets, so that the angel would call himself a fellow-servant only of the prophets; as Hengstenb. also (<a href="/revelation/22-6.htm" title="And he said to me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show to his servants the things which must shortly be done.">Revelation 22:6</a>) understands by the ΔΟΎΛΟΙς ΑὐΤΟῦ only prophets. But as (<a href="/revelation/22-6.htm" title="And he said to me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show to his servants the things which must shortly be done.">Revelation 22:6</a>), on the contrary, the servants of God[4086] are distinguished from the prophets, and considered as the believers for whose instruction the prophets receive their revelations,[4087] so also in this passage.[4088] Believers do not have the testimony proceeding from Jesus without the service of the prophets, as John himself is one; but they are prophets because of the testimony communicated to them by the Lord, which testimony in them is the spirit of prophecy. Thus there is in <a href="/revelation/19-10.htm" title="And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See you do it not: I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.">Revelation 19:10</a> b an attestation to the prophetical book of John, similar to that which was emphatically maintained in the beginning[4089] and at the close.[4090] [Note LXXXV., p. 461.] [4057] Cf. <a href="/revelation/14-13.htm" title="And I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from now on: Yes, said the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.">Revelation 14:13</a>. [4058] Cf. <a href="/revelation/1-3.htm" title="Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.">Revelation 1:3</a>, <a href="/revelation/22-18.htm" title="For I testify to every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add to these things, God shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book:">Revelation 22:18</a> sqq. [4059] Cf. <a href="/revelation/1-1.htm" title="The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show to his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John:">Revelation 1:1</a>. [4060] Beng., Züll., De Wette, Hengstenb. [4061] Cf. <a href="/revelation/3-20.htm" title="Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.">Revelation 3:20</a>; <a href="/matthew/22-1.htm" title="And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables, and said,">Matthew 22:1</a> sqq., <a href="/matthew/25-1.htm" title="Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.">Matthew 25:1</a> sqq. Beng., Hengstenb. [4062] See Critical Notes. [4063] Against Hengstenb. [4064] Cf. Züll.: “These true words are God’s words.” [4065] Cf. <a href="/revelation/20-5.htm" title="But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.">Revelation 20:5</a>; <a href="/luke/24-44.htm" title="And he said to them, These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.">Luke 24:44</a>. [4066] Now the truth of God’s word manifests itself, viz., in its immediate results. [4067] <a href="/revelation/10-7.htm" title="But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets.">Revelation 10:7</a>. [4068] <a href="/revelation/17-17.htm" title="For God has put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.">Revelation 17:17</a>. [4069] <a href="/revelation/10-7.htm" title="But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets.">Revelation 10:7</a>. [4070] As also <a href="/revelation/22-8.htm" title="And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things.">Revelation 22:8</a>. [4071] Cf. also Hengstenb., who, however, praises the humility of John as well as of the angel. [4072] Cf. Laun. [4073] <a href="/revelation/17-1.htm" title="And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying to me, Come here; I will show to you the judgment of the great whore that sits on many waters:">Revelation 17:1</a>, <a href="/revelation/15-6.htm" title="And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.">Revelation 15:6</a>, <a href="/revelation/16-1.htm" title="And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God on the earth.">Revelation 16:1</a> sqq. [4074] Cf. Winer, p. 558. [4075] Cf. <a href="/revelation/6-11.htm" title="And white robes were given to every one of them; and it was said to them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brothers, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.">Revelation 6:11</a>. [4076] Cf. <a href="/revelation/6-9.htm" title="And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:">Revelation 6:9</a>. [4077] <a href="/revelation/22-6.htm" title="And he said to me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show to his servants the things which must shortly be done.">Revelation 22:6</a>. [4078] Züll. [4079] Against Ewald: “If any one with constancy maintain faith in Christ;” De Wette; Hengstenb., Ebrard, not clear. [4080] Cf. <a href="/revelation/6-9.htm" title="And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:">Revelation 6:9</a>, <a href="/revelation/12-17.htm" title="And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.">Revelation 12:17</a>. [4081] De Wette, Ewald. [4082] Vitr. paraphrases: “The same Spirit who speaks and acts through those who proclaim the testimony of Christ (which the apostles did), is the very one who speaks through me, who am sent by the Lord to declare to thee the things of the time to come. Thy affairs, therefore, are as important as my dignity, and we are accordingly called, as fellow-servants, to offices of not unequal honor.” But it would be impossible for the concluding words of <a href="/revelation/19-10.htm" title="And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See you do it not: I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.">Revelation 19:10</a> to belong to the angel (cf. <a href="/revelation/19-8.htm" title="And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.">Revelation 19:8</a>; <a href="/revelation/5-8.htm" title="And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.">Revelation 5:8</a>); and the explanation of τ. ἐχόντων τὴν μαρτυρίαν τ. Ἰησ., which forms its basis, is false. [4083] Cf. <a href="/revelation/2-7.htm" title="He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the middle of the paradise of God.">Revelation 2:7</a>; <a href="/revelation/2-11.htm" title="He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.">Revelation 2:11</a>; <a href="/revelation/2-17.htm" title="He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it.">Revelation 2:17</a>, <a href="/revelation/3-22.htm" title="He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches.">Revelation 3:22</a>, with <a href="/revelation/2-1.htm" title="To the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things said he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the middle of the seven golden candlesticks;">Revelation 2:1</a>; <a href="/revelation/2-8.htm" title="And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things said the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;">Revelation 2:8</a>; <a href="/revelation/2-12.htm" title="And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things said he which has the sharp sword with two edges;">Revelation 2:12</a>, <a href="/revelation/3-14.htm" title="And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things said the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;">Revelation 3:14</a>. [4084] Also of that of O. T., <a href="/revelation/10-7.htm" title="But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets.">Revelation 10:7</a>. [4085] Hengstenb.; cf. Vitr. [4086] Cf. <a href="/revelation/1-1.htm" title="The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show to his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John:">Revelation 1:1</a>. [4087] Cf. <a href="/revelation/22-16.htm" title="I Jesus have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.">Revelation 22:16</a>. [4088] Cf., besides, <a href="/revelation/22-9.htm" title="Then said he to me, See you do it not: for I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.">Revelation 22:9</a>. [4089] <a href="/revelation/1-1.htm" title="The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show to his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John:">Revelation 1:1</a> sqq. [4090] <a href="/revelation/22-6.htm" title="And he said to me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show to his servants the things which must shortly be done.">Revelation 22:6</a> sqq. NOTES BY THE AMERICAN EDITOR LXXXV. <a href="/revelation/19-10.htm" title="And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See you do it not: I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.">Revelation 19:10</a>. ἡ γὰρ μαρτυρία Ἰησοῦ Luthardt paraphrases this clause: “He who has this testimony of Jesus participates also in the Spirit who works prophecy, and teaches how it is to be understood, because all prophecy has Jesus Christ as its contents; and, therefore, the knowledge and confession of Jesus Christ is the key of the future.” Cremer accordingly infers that ἔχειν τὴν μαρτ. Ἰησοῦ (<a href="/revelation/12-17.htm" title="And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.">Revelation 12:17</a>, <a href="/revelation/19-10.htm" title="And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See you do it not: I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.">Revelation 19:10</a>, <a href="/revelation/6-9.htm" title="And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:">Revelation 6:9</a>) is synonymous with ἔχειν τὸ πν. τῆς προφ. Gebhard also insists on the subjective meaning of Ἰησοῦ here, and says that wherever “the testimony of Jesus” occurs, it is synonymous with “the word of God.” Alford, dissenting from Düsterdieck’s construction of Ἰησοῦ as subjective, says: “What the angel says is this: ‘Thou, and I, and our brethren are all ἔχοντες τὴν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ; and the way in which we bear this witness, the substance and essence of this testimony, is the spirit of prophecy; ἓν πνεῦμα ἐποτίσθημεν. This spirit, given to me in that I show thee these things, given to thee in that thou seest and art to write them, is the token that we are fellow-servants and brethren.’ ” <A name="10"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-10.htm">Revelation 19:10</a></div><div class="verse">And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.</div><A name="11"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-11.htm">Revelation 19:11</a></div><div class="verse">And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.</div><a href="/context/revelation/19-11.htm" title="And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war....">Revelation 19:11-16</a>. The going forth of Christ and his followers from heaven to the judgment. τὸν οὐρανὸν ἠνεῳγμένον, cf. <a href="/revelation/4-1.htm" title="After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up here, and I will show you things which must be hereafter.">Revelation 4:1</a>. The seer, at <a href="/revelation/17-3.htm" title="So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit on a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.">Revelation 17:3</a>, in spirit was carried to the earth.[4091] ΚΑῚ ἸΔΟῪ ἼΠΠΟς ΛΕΥΚῸς, cf. <a href="/revelation/4-2.htm" title="And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.">Revelation 4:2</a>. ΚΑΛΟΎΜΕΝΟς ΠΙΣΤῸς ΚΑῚ ἈΛΗΘΙΝῸς. The construction of the individual expressions is also entirely similar to that of <a href="/revelation/6-2.htm" title="And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given to him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.">Revelation 6:2</a>. The ΚΑΛΟΎΜΕΝΟς placed without ἘΣΤΊΝ in a kind of apposition to Ὁ ΚΑΘΉΜ. ἘΠʼ ΑὐΤΟΝ effects a transition to the description in the finite tense (ΚΑῚ ἘΝ ΔΙΚ. ΚΡΊΝΕΙ, Κ.Τ.Λ.). Concerning the idea of ΠΙΣΤΌς and of ἈΛΗΘΙΝΌς, cf. <a href="/revelation/3-7.htm" title="And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things said he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens;">Revelation 3:7</a>; <a href="/revelation/3-14.htm" title="And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things said the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;">Revelation 3:14</a>. There is a significant prominence given to the circumstance that the one now going forth to most complete final victory is called not only “faithful,” with respect to his promises to his believers now to be fulfilled by himself, but also “true;” for it is just by his present triumphal march against his enemies, that he proves himself to be the Messiah announced from olden time. Hence the entire description is filled with tones harmonizing with the O. T. prophecies; the Lord now manifests himself as the One who was truly meant in all those prophecies. ΚΑῚ ἘΝ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΣΎΝῌ ΚΡΊΝΕΙ. Cf. <a href="/isaiah/11-3.htm" title="And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:">Isaiah 11:3</a> sqq. The ΚΑῚ ΠΟΛΕΜΕῖ added in this passage expresses the meaning of the ΚΡΊΝΕΙ in a way corresponding to the nature of the description here presented.[4092] ΟἹ ΔῈ ΟΦΘΑΛΜΟῚ ΑὐΤ., Κ.Τ.Λ. Cf. <a href="/revelation/1-14.htm" title="His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;">Revelation 1:14</a>. ΔΙΑΔΉΜΑΤΑ ΠΟΛΛΆ. If the many diadems upon his head are to be regarded trophies of victories already won,[4093] the kings, possibly the ten kings of ch. 17,[4094] must at all events be regarded as vanquished. But the judgment upon these is not yet fulfilled. It might also be said that the Lord, going forth as triumphant victor, who also (<a href="/revelation/6-2.htm" title="And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given to him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.">Revelation 6:2</a>) receives from the very beginning a victor’s garland, appears here already adorned with the crowns of the kings to be judged by him. But the reference to <a href="/revelation/19-16.htm" title="And he has on his clothing and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.">Revelation 19:16</a>, where Christ is called the ΒΑΣΙΛΕῪς ΒΑΣΙΛΈΩΝ, is more probable.[4095] The explanation of Andr., that the dominion of Christ over all who are in heaven and on earth is indicated, is too indefinite. ἜΧΩΝ ὌΝΟΜΑ ΑὐΤΌς. Either the name mentioned in <a href="/revelation/19-13.htm" title="And he was clothed with a clothing dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.">Revelation 19:13</a> is meant,[4096] or although it was “written,”—possibly on the Lord’s forehead,[4097] but not, indeed, upon his vesture,[4098] or on the many diadems,[4099]—and therefore was visible to John, the name remained, nevertheless, unknown to him, because it was inscrutable[4100] To think of any definite name besides that designated (<a href="/revelation/19-13.htm" title="And he was clothed with a clothing dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.">Revelation 19:13</a>), and to attempt to conjecture it, is an undertaking in violation of the context.[4101] The second of the two possible views is the more probable; for even if the Ὃ ΟὐΔΕῚς ΕἸΔΕΝ, Κ.Τ.Λ., be explained by the mystery lying in the name Ὁ ΛΌΓΟς ΤΟῦ ΘΕΟῪ,[4102] yet the context makes the impression, particularly as the assertion ΚΑῚ ΚΈΚΛΗΤΑΙ ΤῸ ὌΝΟΜΑ ΑὐΤΟῪ, Κ.Τ.Λ., is separated from <a href="/revelation/19-12.htm" title="His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.">Revelation 19:12</a> by a special item of the description (Κ. ΠΕΡΙΒ., Κ.Τ.Λ.), that a name is intended to be indicated, which is known only to the Lord himself, since He alone has and knows what is designated in the name.[4103] But in accordance with <a href="/revelation/3-12.htm" title="Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write on him my new name.">Revelation 3:12</a>, it may be thought that the complete blessedness of believers in immediate communion with the Lord (<a href="/revelation/19-9.htm" title="And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God.">Revelation 19:9</a>) will disclose also the mystery of this name.[4104] καὶ περιβεβλημένος ἱμάτιον βεβαμμένον αἵματι. After the manner of the victor, <a href="/isaiah/63-1.htm" title="Who is this that comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.">Isaiah 63:1</a> sqq.,[4105] whose prophetic description finds its true fulfilment in the Lord.[4106] καὶ κέκληται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ. The form of the expression κέκληται τ. ὄν. αὐτ. shows that here[4107] the definite name, familiar to believers, which the Lord has received as a significant proper name,[4108] and continues to bear, is intended to be designated. The name corresponds to the position of the Lord as Mediator, as described <a href="/revelation/1-1.htm" title="The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show to his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John:">Revelation 1:1</a> sqq.[4109] Cf. also Introduction, p. 66. τὰ στρατεύματα, κ.τ.λ. The armies of the Lord[4110] are not only the hosts of angels who appear elsewhere as attendants of the Lord coming to judgment,[4111] but departed believers are also to be regarded as referred to.[4112] This is indicated not only by the comprehensive expression τὰ στρατ. τὰ ἐν τῷ οὐρ., but also by the vesture (βύσσ. λευκ. καθ.; cf. <a href="/revelation/19-8.htm" title="And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.">Revelation 19:8</a>). ῥομφαία ὀξεῖα. The sharp sword proceeding from the mouth of the Lord designates here, where, besides, it is attached to statements recalling ancient prophetical descriptions (ἵυα ἐν αὐτ. πατάξῃ τὰ ἔθνη),[4113] still more clearly than <a href="/revelation/1-16.htm" title="And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shines in his strength.">Revelation 1:16</a>, the Lord thus appearing as the true and real One who is to come (<a href="/revelation/19-11.htm" title="And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war.">Revelation 19:11</a>). ΚΑῚ ΑὐΤῸς ΠΑΤΕῖ, Κ.Τ.Λ. Cf. also, on this definitive and, therefore, so full-toned description, which gives assurance[4114] of the certainty of the threat by Τ. ΘΩΟῦ Τ. ΠΑΝΤΟΚΡ., <a href="/isaiah/63-2.htm" title="Why are you red in your apparel, and your garments like him that treads in the winefat?">Isaiah 63:2</a> sq. with <a href="/revelation/14-10.htm" title="The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:">Revelation 14:10</a>; <a href="/revelation/14-19.htm" title="And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine press of the wrath of God.">Revelation 14:19</a>. The expression ΤῊΝ ΛΗΝῸΝ ΤΟῦ ΟἼΝΟΥ, Hengstenb. explains, not, indeed, accurately, by saying that the wine-press is the wrath of God, and the wine flowing from it is the blood of enemies. The form of the idea in which the two figures of the wine-press[4115] and the cup of wrath[4116] are combined,[4117] affirms, however, that from the wine-press trodden by the Lord, the wine of God’s anger flows, with which his enemies are to be made drunk. The name, which (<a href="/revelation/19-16.htm" title="And he has on his clothing and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.">Revelation 19:16</a>) is written on the vesture and on the thigh, ΒΑΣΙΛΕῪς ΒΑΣΙΛΈΩΝ ΚΑῚ ΚΎΡΙΟς ΚΥΡΊΩΝ, gives—as is made prominent at the conclusion of this entire description, <a href="/revelation/19-11.htm" title="And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war.">Revelation 19:11</a> sqq.—the express pledge of that which is distinctly marked already in the entire appearance of the Lord; viz., that the Lord who now goes forth to the conflict with the kings of the earth, will show himself to be the King of all kings. ΚΑῚ ἘΠῚ ΤῸΝ ΜΗΡῸΝ ΑὐΤ. The meaning cannot be that the name stood not only on the vesture, but also on the actual thigh, so that, after laying aside the bloody garment, the name could appear in the same place.[4118] But the explanation of Wetst., Eichh., De Wette, Bleek, etc., who allude to the fact that, e.g., sculptors are accustomed to fix the stamp of their name on the body of the statue in the region of the thighs, is opposed by the preceding ἘΠῚ ΤῸ ἹΜΆΤΙΟΝ, in connection with which the ΚΑῚ ἘΠῚ ΤῸΝ ΜΗΡῸΝ ΑὐΤ. has the force, that the name, at all events, must be regarded as on the vesture, and that, too, where the thigh is. The name is, therefore, not to be sought upon an imaginary[4119] sword-handle,[4120] but we must regard it as being upon the girdle, although this, however, does not come into consideration as the sword-belt,[4121] but as a girdle which holds the tucked-up vesture of one advancing to battle.[4122] In violation of the context, Ew. ii.: “From the shoulders to the thighs.” [4091] De Wette. Cf. <a href="/revelation/22-10.htm" title="And he said to me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.">Revelation 22:10</a>. [4092] <a href="/revelation/19-14.htm" title="And the armies which were in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.">Revelation 19:14</a> : στρατεύματα; <a href="/revelation/19-19.htm" title="And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.">Revelation 19:19</a> : τ. πόλεμον. [4093] Cf. <a href="/2_samuel/12-13.htm" title="And David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said to David, The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.">2 Samuel 12:13</a>; <a href="//apocrypha.org/1_maccabees/11-13.htm" title="Then Ptolemee entered into Antioch, where he set two crowns upon his head, the crown of Asia, and of Egypt.">1Ma 11:13</a>. Grot., Wetst., Beng.; cf. also Vitr. [4094] Züllig. [4095] Ewald, De Wette, Hengstenb., Bleek, Volkm., Luthardt. [4096] Calov., Vitr., etc. [4097] Ewald, Bleek, Hengstenb. [4098] Calov. [4099] Eichh. [4100] Grot., Beng., De Wette, Hengstenb., Ebrard. [4101] Against Ewald, Volkmar, etc., who understand the name יהוה. [4102] Vitr. [4103] Cf. <a href="/revelation/2-17.htm" title="He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it.">Revelation 2:17</a>. [4104] The several names indicated in the at least uncertain reading (see Critical Notes) give no clear idea. Perhaps also the plural διαδ. πολλ. has had much to do with the origin of the reading. [4105] Beng., Züll., De Wette, Hengstenb., etc. [4106] Cf. <a href="/revelation/19-11.htm" title="And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war.">Revelation 19:11</a>. [4107] Cf., on the other hand, <a href="/revelation/19-12.htm" title="His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.">Revelation 19:12</a>. [4108] Cf., on the other hand, the several appellative designations of <a href="/revelation/19-11.htm" title="And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war.">Revelation 19:11</a>; <a href="/revelation/19-16.htm" title="And he has on his clothing and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.">Revelation 19:16</a>. [4109] Cf. also <a href="/revelation/19-10.htm" title="And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See you do it not: I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.">Revelation 19:10</a>, <a href="/revelation/3-14.htm" title="And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things said the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;">Revelation 3:14</a>. [4110] Cf., on the other hand, <a href="/revelation/19-19.htm" title="And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.">Revelation 19:19</a>. [4111] <a href="/matthew/16-27.htm" title="For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.">Matthew 16:27</a>; <a href="/matthew/25-31.htm" title="When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory:">Matthew 25:31</a>; <a href="/2_thessalonians/1-7.htm" title="And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,">2 Thessalonians 1:7</a>. De Wette, Hengstenb., Bleek, Luthardt. [4112] Cf. also Ew. ii. Incorrectly, Volkm.: The earthly. [4113] Cf. <a href="/isaiah/11-4.htm" title="But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.">Isaiah 11:4</a>. λκ. αὐτ. ποιμανεῖ, κ.τ.λ. Cf. <a href="/revelation/2-27.htm" title="And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.">Revelation 2:27</a>, <a href="/revelation/12-5.htm" title="And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up to God, and to his throne.">Revelation 12:5</a>. [4114] Cf. <a href="/revelation/1-8.htm" title="I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, said the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.">Revelation 1:8</a>, <a href="/revelation/11-17.htm" title="Saying, We give you thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which are, and were, and are to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned.">Revelation 11:17</a>, <a href="/revelation/15-3.htm" title="And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are your ways, you King of saints.">Revelation 15:3</a>. [4115] <a href="/revelation/14-19.htm" title="And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine press of the wrath of God.">Revelation 14:19</a>. [4116] <a href="/revelation/14-10.htm" title="The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:">Revelation 14:10</a>. [4117] De Wette [4118] Against Beng. [4119] And that, too, against <a href="/revelation/19-15.htm" title="And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.">Revelation 19:15</a>. [4120] Grot. [4121] Against Vitr., also against Hengstenb., who, on account of <a href="/revelation/19-15.htm" title="And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.">Revelation 19:15</a>, explains that the name appears here in the place of the engirded sword; cf. <a href="/psalms/45-4.htm" title="And in your majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and your right hand shall teach you terrible things.">Psalm 45:4</a> sq. [4122] Züll., Volkm. <a href="/context/revelation/19-11.htm" title="And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war....">Revelation 19:11-21</a>. Christ himself, as the already triumphant victor, goes forth with his heavenly hosts to destroy the secular powers still remaining; viz., that of the beast and false prophet (<a href="/revelation/19-19.htm" title="And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.">Revelation 19:19</a> sq.), and the inhabitants of the earth rendering allegiance to the beast (<a href="/revelation/19-21.htm" title="And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat on the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.">Revelation 19:21</a>). <A name="12"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-12.htm">Revelation 19:12</a></div><div class="verse">His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.</div><A name="13"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-13.htm">Revelation 19:13</a></div><div class="verse">And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.</div><A name="14"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-14.htm">Revelation 19:14</a></div><div class="verse">And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.</div><A name="15"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-15.htm">Revelation 19:15</a></div><div class="verse">And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.</div><A name="16"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-16.htm">Revelation 19:16</a></div><div class="verse">And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.</div><A name="17"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-17.htm">Revelation 19:17</a></div><div class="verse">And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;</div><a href="/context/revelation/19-17.htm" title="And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the middle of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together to the supper of the great God;...">Revelation 19:17-18</a>. An angel standing in the sun summons all fowls to eat the bodies of kings, and of all the inhabitants of the earth, who are to be slain by the Lord.[4123] ἝΝΑ ἌΓΓ. Cf. <a href="/revelation/8-13.htm" title="And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the middle of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!">Revelation 8:13</a>, <a href="/revelation/18-21.htm" title="And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.">Revelation 18:21</a>. ἘΝ Τῷ ἩΛΙῷ, “in the sun,” because from this standpoint, and at the same time with the glory suitable to an angel, he can best call to the fowls flying ἘΝ ΜΕΣΟΥΡΑΝΉΜΑΤΙ.[4124] Δεῦτε συνάχθητε, κ.τ.λ. Cf. <a href="/ezekiel/39-17.htm" title="And, you son of man, thus said the Lord GOD; Speak to every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel, that you may eat flesh, and drink blood.">Ezekiel 39:17</a> sqq. The punishment is, as it corresponds to the idea of the final judgment, one that is absolutely relentless; since on the slaying, the consumption of the corpses by all the fowls under the heaven follows. ΣΆΡΚΑς ΒΑΣΙΛΈΩΝ, Κ.Τ.Λ. The exhaustive specification[4125] expressly declares, what is self-evident also from the connection, that the slain ΛΟΙΠΟΊ (<a href="/revelation/19-21.htm" title="And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat on the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.">Revelation 19:21</a>) are the entire mass of inhabitants of the earth.[4126] [4123] Cf. <a href="/revelation/19-21.htm" title="And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat on the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.">Revelation 19:21</a>. [4124] Ew. i., De Wette, Hengstenb., Ebrard, Volkm. Incorrectly, Ew. ii., p. 334: “by the sun.” [4125] Cf. <a href="/revelation/6-15.htm" title="And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every slave, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;">Revelation 6:15</a>. [4126] Cf. <a href="/revelation/13-4.htm" title="And they worshipped the dragon which gave power to the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like to the beast? who is able to make war with him?">Revelation 13:4</a>; <a href="/revelation/13-8.htm" title="And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.">Revelation 13:8</a>; <a href="/revelation/13-14.htm" title="And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.">Revelation 13:14</a>; <a href="/revelation/13-16.htm" title="And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:">Revelation 13:16</a>. <A name="18"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-18.htm">Revelation 19:18</a></div><div class="verse">That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.</div><A name="19"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-19.htm">Revelation 19:19</a></div><div class="verse">And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.</div><a href="/context/revelation/19-19.htm" title="And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army....">Revelation 19:19-21</a>. The Lord’s judgment and war are accomplished. This act of judgment John beholds, as it proceeds not only from the καὶ εἰδον (<a href="/revelation/19-19.htm" title="And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.">Revelation 19:19</a>), but also from the mode of representation itself (ἐπιάσθη, <a href="/revelation/19-20.htm" title="And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that worked miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.">Revelation 19:20</a>; ἐχορτάσθησαν, <a href="/revelation/19-21.htm" title="And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat on the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.">Revelation 19:21</a>). Cf., on the other hand, ch. 18 τὸ θηρίον καὶ τούς βασιλεῖς, κ.τ.λ. With the beast, representing the secular power,[4127] his confederates appear, the kings of the earth,[4128] and their armies, consisting of the entire number of the dwellers on earth,[4129] who now carry into effect the conflict proclaimed already in <a href="/revelation/16-14.htm" title="For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.">Revelation 16:14</a>;[4130] its result, however, is described in <a href="/revelation/19-20.htm" title="And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that worked miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.">Revelation 19:20</a> sq., in such a way as to correspond to the significant name of <a href="/revelation/16-16.htm" title="And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.">Revelation 16:16</a>. For the conflict which is to be described is not one that is painful, or as to its issue possibly doubtful, but the result of an unconditional victory over enemies, won by the justice and omnipotence of the Lord. Κ. ΜΕΤᾺ ΤΟῦ ΣΤΡΑΤΕΎΜΑΤΟς ΑὐΤΟῦ. The sing. is chosen here,[4131] in order to mark the holy unity of the entire army of Christ, in contrast with the rent body of his enemies.[4132] ΚΑῚ Ὁ ΜΕΤʼ ΑὐΤΟῦ ΨΕΥΔΟΠΡΟΦΉΤΗς. The position of the false prophet as the auxiliary of the beast is designated in harmony with the description (<a href="/revelation/13-11.htm" title="And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.">Revelation 13:11</a> sqq.). The allusion also to the peculiar function of the false prophet (Ὁ ΠΟΙΉΣΑς, Κ.Τ.Λ.) points back to <a href="/revelation/13-13.htm" title="And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,">Revelation 13:13</a> sqq. The manner in which the judgment is fulfilled is in conformity with the nature of the enemies:[4133] the beast, together with the false prophet, “was taken, and both were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.” Who does this, is not said; but the act dare not be referred to Christ, for the reason that he does not execute his various acts of judgment by his own hand.[4134] It is evident that the victorious result of the war of judgment[4135] is determined by Christ’s power; but according to the analogy of <a href="/revelation/12-7.htm" title="And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,">Revelation 12:7</a> sqq., we must regard the ΣΤΡΑΤΕΎΜΑΤΑ of the Lord, as the executors of the judgment.[4136] ΖῶΝΤΕς. For only human enemies could suffer bodily death (<a href="/revelation/19-21.htm" title="And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat on the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.">Revelation 19:21</a>) before the eternally condemning judgment of the world.[4137] ΤῊΝ ΛΊΜΝΗΝ, Κ.Τ.Λ. Cf. <a href="/revelation/20-10.htm" title="And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.">Revelation 20:10</a>; <a href="/revelation/20-14.htm" title="And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.">Revelation 20:14</a> sq., <a href="/revelation/21-8.htm" title="But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.">Revelation 21:8</a>. ΟἹ ΛΟΙΠΟῚ. See on <a href="/revelation/19-17.htm" title="And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the middle of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together to the supper of the great God;">Revelation 19:17</a> sq. ἈΠΕΚΤΆΝΘΗΣΑΝ ἘΝ Τῇ ΡΟΜΦΑΊᾼ, Κ.Τ.Λ. To seize the enemies, and thus to cast them into hell (<a href="/revelation/19-20.htm" title="And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that worked miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.">Revelation 19:20</a>), is not befitting the Lord himself; but it is something else, when the sword which proceeds from his mouth slays the enemies. This gives the idea of the victory entirely without laborious effort, and presupposing no proper conflict of Him who, according to the prediction of the ancient prophets, destroys his enemies with the breath of his lips.[4138] Κ. ΠΆΝΤΑ ΤᾺ ὌΡΝΕΑ, Κ.Τ.Λ. Cf. <a href="/revelation/19-17.htm" title="And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the middle of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together to the supper of the great God;">Revelation 19:17</a> sq. [4127] <a href="/revelation/13-1.htm" title="And I stood on the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads the name of blasphemy.">Revelation 13:1</a> sqq. [4128] <a href="/revelation/16-12.htm" title="And the sixth angel poured out his vial on the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.">Revelation 16:12</a> sqq., <a href="/revelation/17-12.htm" title="And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.">Revelation 17:12</a> sqq. [4129] <a href="/revelation/13-4.htm" title="And they worshipped the dragon which gave power to the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like to the beast? who is able to make war with him?">Revelation 13:4</a>; <a href="/revelation/13-8.htm" title="And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.">Revelation 13:8</a>; <a href="/revelation/13-16.htm" title="And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:">Revelation 13:16</a>. [4130] Notice the art. τὸν πόλεμ.; also the συνηγμένα here repeated. [4131] Cf., on the other hand, <a href="/revelation/19-14.htm" title="And the armies which were in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.">Revelation 19:14</a>. [4132] Beng., Hengstenb. [4133] Cf. Beng., De Wette, Hengstenb. [4134] Cf. <a href="/revelation/20-2.htm" title="And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,">Revelation 20:2</a>. [4135] Cf. <a href="/revelation/19-11.htm" title="And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war.">Revelation 19:11</a>. [4136] Cf. <a href="/revelation/20-9.htm" title="And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.">Revelation 20:9</a> sqq., 14 sq. [4137] <a href="/revelation/20-14.htm" title="And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.">Revelation 20:14</a> sqq. [4138] Cf. <a href="/isaiah/11-4.htm" title="But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.">Isaiah 11:4</a>. The allegorical exposition, when applied with consistency to ch. 19, must be regarded untenable in the degree that it arrays itself against the context. The fowls (<a href="/revelation/19-17.htm" title="And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the middle of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together to the supper of the great God;">Revelation 19:17</a> sq., 21) are, according to Hammond, the Goths and Vandals, who desolated the Roman Empire; according to Coccejus, the Turks, who, after the capture of Constantinople, afflicted the Catholic West; according to Hengstenb., the Huns, who prepared grievous calamities for the Germanic nations, the destroyers of the Roman Empire. Wetst. found the prophecy fulfilled in the assassination of Domitian, the last of the Flavians,[4139] and in the conquest of his soldiers (<a href="/revelation/19-21.htm" title="And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat on the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.">Revelation 19:21</a>). Grot. understands by the ΒΑΣΙΛΕῖς (<a href="/revelation/19-19.htm" title="And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.">Revelation 19:19</a>), “Julian with his nobles,” and remarks on <a href="/revelation/19-20.htm" title="And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that worked miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.">Revelation 19:20</a> : “Theodosius the Great abolished the public sacrifices of the heathen,” and on <a href="/revelation/19-21.htm" title="And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat on the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.">Revelation 19:21</a> : “By the decree of Christ, who used Justinian for this purpose, to punish idolaters with death.” Others, as C. a Lap., have thought that the fulfiment of the prophecy could be shown by the horrible death and burial of many heretics. So C. a Lap. cites authors who report of Luther that he committed suicide, and that at his burial not only a multitude of ravens, but also the Devil, who had come from Holland, appeared. Luther, gloss on <a href="/revelation/19-11.htm" title="And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war.">Revelation 19:11</a> : “The word of God is opposed to the defenders of the Pope, and none of their defence is of any avail.” [4139] <a href="/revelation/19-20.htm" title="And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that worked miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.">Revelation 19:20</a>. <A name="20"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-20.htm">Revelation 19:20</a></div><div class="verse">And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.</div><A name="21"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/revelation/19-21.htm">Revelation 19:21</a></div><div class="verse">And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.</div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer's NT Commentary Text Courtesy of <a href="//biblesupport.com" target="_top">BibleSupport.com</a>. Used by Permission. <a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../revelation/18.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Revelation 18"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Revelation 18" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../revelation/20.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Revelation 20"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Revelation 20" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/revelation/19-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="/commentaries/ellicott/sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"> <div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchap.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></body></html>