With the beginning of this chapter we enter upon the fifth great section of the Apocalypse, which extends to chap. Revelation 20:6. The object of the section is to bring before us the triumph and rest of the faithful disciples of Jesus after their conflict is over. They have had to contend alike wit... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:1. The heavenly hosts are the first to sing. Their keynote is Hallelujah, a word meaning ‘Praise the Lord,' and found in the New Testament only here and in Revelation 19:3-4; Revelation 19:6 of this chapter. So in one song of heaven which has no termination closes the Book of Psalms, t... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:2. The word true of this verse again expresses what is real; not merely that God has fulfilled His words, but that His judgments correspond to the reality and propriety of things. For he hath judged the great harlot, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and he hath avenged... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:3. And a second time they said, Hallelujah. The thought of a ‘second' time has peculiar importance in the eyes of St. John (comp. John 4:54). It confirms with a singular degree of emphasis the idea with which it is connected. And her smoke goeth up for ever and ever. It went up as the... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:4. THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS AND THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES respond to the song of the heavenly host. The Elders we heard last at chap. Revelation 11:16, at the moment when the seventh trumpet had sounded, and the ‘great voices in heaven' had declared, ‘The kingdom of the world is beco... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:5. A voice is next heard from the throne calling upon all God's people to GIVE PRAISE TO HIM. The voice is immediately answered.... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:6. AND I HEARD AS IT WERE A VOICE OF A GREAT MULTITUDE, AND AS A VOICE OF MANY WATERS, AND AS A VOICE OF MIGHTY THUNDERS, SAYING, HALLELUJAH, FOR THE LORD HATH TAKEN TO HIM HIS KINGDOM, EVEN OUR GOD, THE ALMIGHTY. The song is new, celebrating something greater and higher than the last,... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:7. LET US REJOICE, AND BE EXCEEDING GLAD, AND LET US GIVE THE GLORY TO HIM, FOR THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB IS COME, AND HIS WIFE HATH MADE HERSELF READY. Up to this time the actual marriage of the Redeemer to His people has not taken place. The two patties have only been betrothed to one... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:8. AND IT WAS GIVEN TO HER THAT SHE SHOULD ARRAY HERSELF IN FINE LINEN BRIGHT AND PURE, FOR THE FINE LINEN IS THE RIGHTEOUS ACTS OF THE SAINTS. The bride arrays herself in her garments of beauty, that she may go forth to meet the Bridegroom, may enter in with Him to the marriage ceremo... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:9. AND HE SAITH UNTO ME, WRITE, BLESSED ARE THEY THAT ARE BIDDEN UNTO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB. We are not distinctly informed who the person here spoken of is; but, inasmuch as we seem to be still dealing with the ‘strong angel' of chap. Revelation 18:21, we are probably to thi... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:10. AND I FELL DOWN BEFORE HIS FEET TO WORSHIP HIM, fell overwhelmed with astonishment and delight. AND HE SAITH UNTO ME, SEE THOU DO IT NOT: I AM THY FELLOW-SERVANT AND THE FELLOW-SERVANT OF THY BRETHREN THAT HAVE THE WITNESS OF JESUS: WORSHIP GOD. The angel reminds the Apostle that... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:11-17 a. These verses contain the lamentation of the MERCHANTS OF THE EARTH, as they mourn over the fate of a city which presented such a gorgeous picture of worldly riches and extravagance. The expression at the close of Revelation 19:13, SOULS OF MEN, is difficult to understand. A gl... [ Continue Reading ]
The Victory and Rest of God's people are further described. The Lord Himself comes forth to be married to His Church, and to lead her in to the marriage supper.... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:11. AND I SAW THE HEAVEN OPENED, AND BEHOLD A WHITE HONE, AND HE THAT SAT UPON HIM, CALLED FAITHFUL AND TRUE, AND IN RIGHTEOUSNESS HE DOTH JUDGE AND MAKE WAR. It is the Lord Himself who comes to wind up the history of the world, to bring salvation to His own, and destruction to His ene... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:12. The description of the Lord given in this verse sums up various characteristics of Him mentioned in earlier parts of the book; and the MANY DIADEMS are in token of His rule over the many nations of the world. AND HE HATH A NAME WRITTEN WHICH NO ONE KNOWETH, BUT HE HIMSELF (comp. ch... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:13. AND HE IS ARRAYED IN A GARMENT SPRINKLED WITH BLOOD, AND HIS NAME IS CALLED THE WORD OF GOD. The idea is taken from Isaiah 63:2-3, and is therefore that of a garment sprinkled not with the Warrior's own blood, but with the blood of His enemies. ‘Is called,' _i.e_ is, and has been a... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:14. AND THE ARMIES WHICH WERE IN HEAVEN FOLLOWED HIM UPON WHITE HORSES, CLOTHED IN FINE LINEN, WHITE AND PURE. These armies comprise in all probability both the angels and the saints (comp. chap. Revelation 17:14). All triumph with their triumphant Head and King. But no blood is sprink... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:15. On the SHARP SWORD mentioned in this verse comp. chaps. Revelation 1:16; Revelation 2:12; Revelation 2:16. On the tending as a shepherd comp. Revelation 2:27; Revelation 12:5. The heaping up of words of judgment in the last clause is very striking, THE WINEPRESS OF THE WINE OF THE... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:16. AND HE HATH ON HIS GARMENT AND ON HIS THIGH A NAME WRITTEN, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. The name mentioned in Revelation 19:12 was probably written on the forehead. The place of this name is different. It seems to have been written on the garment where it covers the thigh to... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:17. AND I SAW ONE ANGEL STANDING IN THE SUN, AND HE CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE, SAYING TO ALL THE BIRDS THAT FLY IN MID-HEAVEN, COME, BE GATHERED TOGETHER UNTO THE GREAT SUPPER OF GOD. For the angel's standing ‘in' the sun comp. what was said on the thrones of the twenty-four elders at ch... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:18. The idea of Revelation 19:17 is expanded in this verse, the enemies of Christ being grouped under the various classes mentioned in it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:19. 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 HONE AND AGAINST HIS ARMY. No doubt the ‘war' is that of chap. Revelation 16:14. It is the final war waged by the beast and his ten kings and their armies again... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:20. The description given in this verse can leave no doubt that we have here the two enemies of chap. 13, the beast and the lamb-like beast with the two horns. The ‘lake of fire' is again mentioned in chaps. Revelation 20:10; Revelation 20:14, and Revelation 21:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 19:21. And the rest were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, even the sword that went out of his month, and all the birds were filled with their flesh. By ‘the rest' here spoken of it seems probable that we are to understand all who have imbibed the principles of the beas... [ Continue Reading ]