The third Woe, or the seventh Trumpet, came to an end with chap. 11; and, as the seven Trumpets followed immediately after the seven Seals, we might now have expected that these, in their turn, would be followed by the seven Bowls. The pouring out of these Bowls, however, does not begin until we rea... [ Continue Reading ]
The twelfth chapter has set before us the first great enemy of the Church. This chapter introduces us to other two by means of whom the devil or Satan carries on his warfare against the truth. The first is described in Revelation 13:1-10; the second in Revelation 13:11-17.... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 13:1. A BEAST IS SEEN COMING UP OUT OF THE SEA. The word of the original translated ‘beast' has occurred only once before (at chap. Revelation 6:8), and is wholly different from that which, to say nothing of many other passages, meets us no fewer than seven times in chap. 4 alone; and whi... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 13:2. The description of the ‘beast' is continued. The three animals, the leopard, the bear, and the lion, some of whose parts it possessed, are the first three ‘great beasts' of Daniel 7:4-6, although they are here introduced in a different order, and are combined into one. The qualities... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 13:3. AND I SAW ONE OF HIS HEADS AS THOUGH IT HAD BEEN SLAIN UNTO DEATH; AND HIS DEATH-STROKE WAS HEALED. The rendering alike in the Authorised and Revised Versions of the Greek word which we have translated ‘slain' (in the one ‘wounded,' in the other ‘smitten') is peculiarly unfortunate... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 13:4. This verse contains a parody of the ascriptions of praise given to the true God in many passages of the Old Testament (Isaiah 40:18; Isaiah 40:25; Isaiah 46:5; Psalms 113:5, etc.). If the words apply to Nero they must apply to Nero _redux,_ for it is unnecessary to spend time in sho... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 13:5. AND THERE WAS GIVEN HIM A MONTH SPEAKING GREAT THINGS AND BLASPHEMIES. This is the first of three things spoken of (Revelation 13:5-7) as ‘given,' _i.e_ given by God to whom in its utmost might the beast is subject. The description is taken from Daniel 8:8; Daniel 8:20; Daniel 8:25,... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 13:6. In this verse the blasphemies of Revelation 13:5 are more particularly described.... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 13:7. The third thing is ‘given;' and the AUTHORITY is universal, the whole world being marked out by the four departments into which it is divided.... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 13:8. AND ALL THAT DWELL UPON THE EARTH SHALL WORSHIP HIM. These dwellers upon the earth are in contrast with those who ‘tabernacle in heaven.' They are the ungodly as distinguished from the godly; and again they are not confined to the Roman Empire, but include all who anywhere worship t... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 13:10. IF ANY ONE IS FOR CAPTIVITY, INTO CAPTIVITY HE GOETH: IF ANY ONE SHALL KILL WITH THE SWORD, WITH THE SWORD MUST HE BE KILLED. In a climax of two clauses consolation is afforded to the righteous amidst all their trials. There is a _lex talionis_ in the dealings of God. They who lead... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 13:11. AND I SAW ANOTHER BEAST COMING UP OUT OF THE EARTH. This is the third great enemy of the saints, the second ‘beast.' It is characterized by the same general term as the second enemy or the first beast; and although therefore, as afterwards mentioned, it resembles a lamb, this in no... [ Continue Reading ]
The passage upon which we now enter describes the third great enemy of God's people, and closes with the mysterious indication of the number of the beast.... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 13:12. AND HE EXERCISETH ALL THE AUTHORITY OF THE FIRST BEAST BEFORE HIM. The words ‘before him' are to be connected with ‘exerciseth;' and they are again a travesty of that ‘before God' which we find predicated of the Son, of the Spirit, and of the saints (chaps, Revelation 3:5; Revelati... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 13:13. AND HE DOETH GREAT SIGNS THAT HE SHOULD EVEN MAKE FIRE TO COME DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN INTO THE EARTH BEFORE MEN. The ‘great signs' are again a symbol of what is done _by false prophetical and priestly_ power. The ‘fire out of heaven' is explained by the function of this beast. He is to... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 13:14. AND HE DECEIVETH, etc. The word ‘deceiveth' again leads us to the thought of false teaching (Matthew 24:24, etc.). SAYING TO THEM THAT DWELL ON THE EARTH THAT THEY SHOULD MAKE AN IMAGE TO THE BEAST WHICH HATH THE STROKE OF THE SWORD, AND ROSE TO LIFE. The difficult expression ‘ima... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 13:15. In the words of this verse the second beast is still further characterized as giving breath TO THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST, THAT THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST SHOULD BOTH SPEAK, AND CAUSE THAT AS MANY AS SHOULD NOT WORSHIP THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST SHOULD BE KILLED. These words are commonly under... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 13:16. The mark is originated by ‘the beast,' that is, by the first beast, but is imposed at the instigation of the second. At the same time, however, it must be noticed that it is freely accepted by those who receive it (comp. chap. Revelation 14:9), and that, probably for the purpose of... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 13:17. The meaning of this verse can only be that the second beast aimed at denying a part in the intercourse of life, or the rights of citizenship, to every one who refused to acknowledge the supremacy of the first. Having considered the particulars mentioned in these verses, we have now... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 13:18. At this point the Seer pauses, and we meet those words which have been so great a puzzle to the Church of Christ in all ages of her history. HERE IS WISDOM. The test of wisdom is then set forth in the following clause: HE THAT HATH UNDERSTANDING, LET HIM COUNT THE NUMBER OF THE BEA... [ Continue Reading ]