XII. We now enter upon the third group of visions (or, the fourth section of the book, if we include the epistles to the seven churches), which occupy Chapter s 12, 13, and 14, and close with the solemn scene of the harvest and the vintage (Revelation 14:14). The close of each series of visions is i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE APPEARED... — Better, _And a great sign was seen in the heaven._ The word _sign_ is preferable to “wonder,” both in this verse and in Revelation 12:3. It is the same word which is rendered sign in Revelation 15:1. It is a sign which is seen: not a mere wonder, but something which has a mea... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE... — Better, _And being with child, she crieth, travailing, and tormented to bring forth._ All life dawns in anguish, according to the ancient fiat (Genesis 3:16); but this is not all. There is an anguish of the Church which Christ laid upon her; it is the law of her life that she must bring... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE APPEARED... — Better, _And another sign was seen in the heaven; and behold a great red dragon._ This, too, is a sign, and has a meaning. The dragon stands for some dread and hostile power. “The dragon is that fabulous monster of whom ancient poets told, as large in size, coiled like a snak... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS TAIL... — Translate, _And his tail drags_ (or_, sweeps) away the third part of the stars of the heaven, and casts them to the earth._ The stars are the light- bearers, the illustrious of earth, who were given by God high place that they might be burning and shining lights for Him. A large pr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE BROUGHT FORTH... — Translate, _And she brought forth a man child, who is to shepherd all the nations with_ (it is, literally, _in) a rod of iron._ There can be no doubt that this man child is Christ. The combination of features is too distinct to admit of doubt, it is the one who will feed H... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE WOMAN FLED... — Translate, _And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath there a place prepared from God, that there they may nourish her for a thousand two hundred and sixty days._ The flight of the woman into the wilderness, and her fortunes there, are more fully described in Rev... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WAR IN HEAVEN. (7) AND THERE WAS WAR... — Translate, _And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels._ This is one of those passages which has ever been regarded as more or less perplexing. It has afforded material for many poetic... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PREVAILED NOT... — Better, _And their power failed them, and not even was place for them found any more in the heaven._ The result of the war was the dragon’s defeat. The whole power of the evil hosts failed them. There is an inherent weakness in evil: a spot which may be touched whereupon all i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE GREAT DRAGON... — Better, _And he was thrown down, the great dragon, the ancient serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan: he who deceives the whole world was thrown to the earth, and his angels were thrown with him._ Thus the victory of Christ is marked by the overthrow of the great a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I HEARD A LOUD VOICE... — Better, _And I heard a great voice in the heavens saying, Now is come the salvation, and the might, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ._ The definite article is placed before the words “salvation” and “might.” The words of this doxology are like an... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY OVERCAME HIM... — Better, _And they conquered him_ (not “by,” but) _on account of the blood of the Lamb, and on account of the word of their testimony,_ &c. They overcame him — _i.e.,_ the accuser, the devil: their victory over him is “owing to” the blood of the Lamb. Who is he that condemn... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE REJOICE... — Better, _For this cause rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that tabernacle in them._ The words “for this cause” must be taken to refer to the overthrow of the evil one. This is the cause of joy to the heavens, and to them that tabernacle (not “dwell”) in them. The word is (as in Reve... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE DRAGON... — The wrath of the defeated dragon is manifested in persecution of the woman. The present verse explains the reason of the flight into the wilderness mentioned in Revelation 12:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TO THE WOMAN... — Better, _And there were given to the woman_ (_the_)_ two wings of the great eagle_ (the definite article is used before “great eagle”), _that she might fly into the wilderness, unto her place, where she is nourished there for a season, and seasons, and half a season, from the f... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SERPENT... — Translate, _And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might make her to be carried away by the river._ The foe of the woman was described as a dragon for his cruelty and fierceness — as a serpent for his subtlety. The first attack on the wom... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE EARTH... — Translate, _And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and drank up the river, &c._ This is generally understood of some earthly power which is raised up to protect the Church against persecution. Just as Persia was raised up to aid Israel after they had been... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE DRAGON... — Translate, _And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and departed_ (not merely “went,” but _departed,_ as one baffled in his attempt to carry the woman away by the river) _to make war with the rest of her seed, who Keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus._ O... [ Continue Reading ]