XIX.
THE CHORUS OF THE HEAVENLY MULTITUDE REJOICING OVER HER FALL.
(1-3) AND AFTER THESE THINGS I HEARD... — Or, I _heard, as it were,
a mighty voice of a great multitude in the heaven, saying._ The saints
who were bidden in the last chapter to rejoice are now heard raising
their songs as in one gr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE FOUR AND TWENTY... — The twenty-four elders, the
representatives of the Church, and the four living beings, the
representatives of nature, fell down and worshipped God who sitteth
(not “sat,” as in the English version) on the throne. These, too,
join in the chorus of praise.... [ Continue Reading ]
(5-7) AND A VOICE CAME. — From the direction of the throne there
came a voice bidding all God’s servants rejoice. We are not told
whose voice it is. Some have assumed that it is Christ’s: it is
better to leave it indefinite. In response to the bidding, the voice
of praise is heard (like the voice sp... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TO HER WAS GRANTED... — Better, _And it was given to her that
she should be clothed in fine linen, bright, pure; for the fine linen
is the righteousness_ (or, _righteousnesses;_ the word is plural) _of
the saints._ This verse is not to be taken as part of the song. The
song closes with the annou... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAITH UNTO ME... — Who is the speaker? The general and
simplest opinion is that it is the angel mentioned in Revelation 17:1
who speaks. The speaker bids the seer _write: “_Blessed are they who
are bidden to the supper of the marriage of the Lamb.” This is one
of the six benedictions of the A... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I FELL AT HIS FEET... — The impulse to worship the messenger who
had unfolded such visions was not unnatural: the immediate checking of
it here and in Revelation 22:8, on the part of the angel, supplies an
indirect evidence of the genuineness of the whole book, and gives it a
moral tone immeasur... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAW HEAVEN OPENED... — Better, _And I saw the heaven opened_
(not “opening,” but set open, already opened, as in Revelation
4:1), _and behold a white horse, and_ (_behold_)_ one that sitteth
upon him called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judgeth and
warreth._ The description remind... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS EYES WERE AS A FLAME... — Or, rather, _And His eyes are_ (_as_)_
a flame of fire, and upon His head many diadems_ — (_He_)_ having
names written, and a name written which no one knows but He Himself_
— _and clothed in a vesture dipped in blood, and His name is called
The Word of God._ On the des... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ARMIES... — The words “which were” should be omitted.
_The armies in heaven followed Him._ Some would limit these to angels.
The apparel which they wear — the fine linen (_byssus_) “which is
the righteousness of saints” (see Revelation 19:8) — is conclusive
against this limited view. The sai... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OUT OF HIS MOUTH... — Translate, _And out of His mouth goeth a
sharp sword, that with_ (literally, _in_)_ it He may smite the
nations: and He_ (_Himself_)_ shall shepherd them with_ (literally,
_in_)_ a rod of iron: and He_ (_Himself_)_ treadeth the winepress of
the wine of the wrath of the ange... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE HATH ON HIS VESTURE... — The King rides at the head of His
host. On His robe, where it spreads out from the waist, His title is
inscribed; it proclaims Him to be the one who is the true supreme King
of all. Inscriptions on the outer garments were sometimes used by
distinguished personages. Th... [ Continue Reading ]