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: Ver. 1. _I heard a great voice_] In obedience to that exhortation, Revelation 18:20, Rejoice over her, thou heaven, &c. _ Saying, Alleluia_]... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 2. _Which did corrupt the earth_] I read of one, who journeying to Rome, as soon as he came within the city... [ Continue Reading ]
And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. Ver. 3. _And again they said, Alleluia_] As unsatisfiable in performing so divine a duty. Some think that the Hebrew word is retained to import that after Rome is ruined, the Churches of the Gentiles shall by their incessant pr... [ Continue Reading ]
And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. Ver. 4. _And the four and twenty elders_] The former Alleluiah was more private; every good heart being lifted up with joy and thankfulness, when first they hear the good... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 5. _And a voice came out_] This is the Lamb's voice, his all quickening voice, which shall rouse and raise the dead and dedolent Jews; powerfully pulling the veil from t... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 6. _And I heard as it were the voice_] See how morigerous the saints are, and ready-hearted to obey God. No so... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 7. _Hath made herself ready_] Being first made ready by the grace of Christ. _Certain est nos facere quod facimus; sed ille facit ut faciamus._ (Aug.) The bowls of th... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 8. _And to her was granted_] It is here clear (saith Bernard) that there shall be as great difference between the state of God's Church now, and that which is to... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 9. _Write_] To wit, this ensuing sentence, for the use of posterity, worthy to be written in letters of gold. _ Blessed are they that... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 10. _And I fell at his feet_] So taken he was with the joyful tidin... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 11. _And I saw heaven opened_] _i.e._ He saw things done before his eyes, as it were; so do not we, but are left to conjectures. Here is... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 12. _His eyes were as a flame of fire_] A quick sighted Judge, an intelligent warrior. "Counsel and strength are for the war," 2 Kings 18:20 . _ And on his head... [ Continue Reading ]
And he _was_ clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. Ver. 13. _Dipped in blood_] In the blood of his enemies, as a victor returning from a huge slaughter. Caesar is said to have taken prisoner one million of men, and to have slain as many; Mahomet I (emperor... [ Continue Reading ]
And the armies _which were_ in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. Ver. 14. _And the armies which were in heaven_] The heavenly minded heroes that fight his battles, are all in his livery, horsed and habited as he, in whom they are more than conquerors, be... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 15. _A sharp sword_] The word, Ephesians 6:17; the rod wherewith he smiteth the earth, Isaia... [ Continue Reading ]
And he hath on _his_ vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Ver. 16. _And on his thigh_] Where his sword hangs,Psalms 45:3, to show that he will keep what he hath gained (_Vincere scis Hannibal, victoria uti nescis, _ said one), _a_ or "on his thigh," _qui filiab... [ Continue Reading ]
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; Ver. 17. _Standing in the sun_] Where he might best be heard, as a herald. And he well types out suc... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 18. _That ye may eat_] He alludes to Ezekiel 39:4; Ezekiel 39:17. Gog and Mag... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 19. _And I saw the beast_] The Church's enemies are even ambitious of destruction. Judgments need not go to find them out; they run to meet... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 20. _And the beast was taken... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 21. _Slain with the sword_] Not so deeply damned, and yet so slain as to be made a prey to the infernal vultures; and then the fat... [ Continue Reading ]