And a great sign was seen in heaven — Not only by St. John, but many heavenly spectators represented in the vision. A sign means something that has an uncommon appearance, and from which we infer that some unusual thing will follow. A woman — The emblem of the church of Christ, as she is originally... [ Continue Reading ]
And being with child she crieth, travailing in birth — The very pain, without any outward opposition, would constrain a woman in travail to cry out. These cries, throes, and pains to be delivered, were the painful longings, the sighs, and prayers of the saints for the coming of the kingdom of God. T... [ Continue Reading ]
And behold a great red dragon — His fiery — red colour denoting his disposition. Having seven heads — Implying vast wisdom. And ten horns — Perhaps on the seventh head; emblems of mighty power and strength, which he still retained. And seven diadems on his heads — Not properly crowns, but costly bin... [ Continue Reading ]
And his tail — His falsehood and subtilty. Draweth — As a train. The third part — A very large number. Of the stars of heaven — The Christians and their teachers, who before sat in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. And casteth them to the earth — Utterly deprives them of all those heavenly blessing... [ Continue Reading ]
And she brought forth a man child — Even Christ, considered not in his person, but in his kingdom. In the ninth age, many nations with their princes were added to the Christian church. Who was to rule all nations — When his time is come. And her child — Which was already in heaven, as were the woman... [ Continue Reading ]
And the woman fled into the wilderness — This wilderness is undoubtedly on earth, where the woman also herself is now supposed to be. It betokens that part of the earth where, after having brought forth, she found a new abode. And this must be in Europe; as Asia and Afric were wholly in the hands of... [ Continue Reading ]
And there was war in heaven — Here Satan makes his grand opposition to the kingdom of God; but an end is now put to his accusing the saints before God. The cause goes against him, Revelation 12:10, and Michael executes the sentence. That Michael is a created angel, appears from his not daring, in di... [ Continue Reading ]
And he prevailed not — The dragon himself is principally mentioned; but his angels, likewise, are to be understood. Neither was this place found any more in heaven — So till now he had a place in heaven. How deep a mystery is this! One may compare this with Luke 10:18; Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 4:8;... [ Continue Reading ]
And the great dragon was cast out — It is not yet said, unto the earth — He was cast out of heaven; and at this the inhabitants of heaven rejoice. He is termed the great dragon, as appearing here in that shape, to intimate his poisonous and cruel disposition. The ancient serpent — In allusion to his... [ Continue Reading ]
Now is come — Hence it is evident that all this chapter belongs to the trumpet of the seventh angel. In Revelation 11:15, are proposed the contents of this extensive trumpet; the execution of which is copiously described in this and the following chapters. The salvation — Of the saints. The might —... [ Continue Reading ]
And they have overcome him — Carried the cause against him. By the blood of the Lamb — Which cleanses the soul from all sin, and so leaves no room for accusing. And by the word of their testimony — The word of God, which they believed and testified, even unto death. So, for instance, died Olam, king... [ Continue Reading ]
Woe to the earth and the sea — This is the fourth and last denunciation of the third woe, the most grievous of all. The first was only, the second chiefly, on the earth, Asia; the third, both on the earth and the sea, Europe. The earth is mentioned first, because it began in Asia, before the beast b... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the dragon saw — That be could no longer accuse the saints in heaven, he turned his wrath to do all possible mischief on earth. He persecuted the woman — The ancient persecutions of the church were mentioned, Revelation 1:9, Revelation 2:10, Revelation 7:14; but this persecution came after... [ Continue Reading ]
And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place — Eagles are the usual symbols of great potentates. So Ezekiel 17:3, by "a great eagle', means the king of Babylon. Here the great eagle is the Roman empire; the two wings, the eas... [ Continue Reading ]