CHAPTER XIX. _The whole heavenly host give glory to God, because he has_ _judged the great whore, and avenged the blood of his saints_, 1-6. _The marriage of the Lamb and his bride_, 7-9. _John offers to worship the angel, but is prevented_, 10. _Heaven is opened, and Jesus the Word of God app... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:2. _FOR TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS_] His judgments displayed in supporting his followers, and punishing his enemies, are _true_-according to his _predictions_; and _righteous_, being all according to infinite _justice_ and _equity_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:3. _HER SMOKE ROSE UP_] There was, and shall be, a _continual_ _evidence_ of God's judgments executed on this _great whore_ or _idolatrous city_; nor shall it ever be restored.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:4. _THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS_] The true Church of the Lord Jesus converted from among the Jews. See Revelation 4:10; Revelation 5:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:5. _PRAISE OUR GOD_, c.] Let all, whether redeemed from among _Jews_ or _Gentiles_, give glory to God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:6. _THE VOICE OF A GREAT MULTITUDE_] This is the catholic or universal Church of God gathered from among the _Gentiles_. _THE LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT REIGNETH._] Εβασιλευσε Κυριος ὁ Θεος ὁ παντοκρατωρ. Many excellent MSS., most of the _versions_, with _Andreas_ and _Arethas_, the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:7. _THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB IS COME_] The meaning of these figurative expressions appears to be this: After this overthrow of idolatry and superstition, and the discomfiture of antichrist, there will be a more glorious state of Christianity than ever was before.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:8. _ARRAYED IN FINE LINEN_] A prediction that the Church should become more _pure_ in her _doctrines_, more _pious_ in her _experience_, and more _righteous_ in her _conduct_, than she had ever been from her formation. _The fine linen_ here spoken of is not the _righteousness of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:9. _BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE CALLED UNTO THE MARRIAGE_ _supper_] This is an evident allusion to the _marriage of the king's_ _son_, Matthew 22:2, c., where the incarnation of our Lord, and the calling of Jews and Gentiles, are particularly pointed out. See the notes there. _Ble... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:10. _I FELL AT HIS FEET TO WORSHIP HIM._] Great as this angel was, St. John could not mistake him either for Jesus Christ, or for God the Father; nor was his prostration intended as an act of _religious worship_. It was merely an act of that sort of reverence which any _Asiatic_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:11. _A WHITE HORSE_] This is an exhibition of the triumph of Christ after the destruction of his enemies. The white horse is the emblem of this, and FAITHFUL and TRUE are characters of Christ. See Revelation 3:14. _IN RIGHTEOUSNESS HE DOTH JUDGE AND MAKE WAR._] The wars which _h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:12. _HIS EYES_ WERE _AS A FLAME OF FIRE_] To denote the piercing and all-penetrating nature of his wisdom. _ON HIS HEAD_ WERE _MANY CROWNS_] To denote the multitude of his conquests, and the extent of his dominion. _A NAME WRITTEN, THAT NO MAN KNEW_] This is a reference to wha... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:13. _HE_ WAS _CLOTHED WITH A VESTURE DIPPED IN BLOOD_] To show that he was just come from recent slaughter. The description is taken from Isaiah 63:2, where Judas Maccabaeus, or some other conqueror, is described. _THE WORD OF GOD._] Written in the Targum, and in other Jewish wr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:14. _THE ARMIES_ WHICH WERE _IN HEAVEN_] Angels and saints over whom Jesus Christ is _Captain_, _CLOTHED IN FINE LINEN_] All holy, pure, and righteous.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:15. _OUT OF HIS MOUTH GOETH A SHARP SWORD_] Revelation 1:16, Revelation 1:16. This appears to mean the word of the Gospel, by which his enemies are confounded, and his friends supported and comforted. _WITH A ROD OF IRON_] He shall execute the severest judgment on the opposers o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:16. _ON HIS VESTURE AND ON HIS THIGH A NAME WRITTEN_] Dr. Dodd has well observed on this passage, that "it appears to have been an ancient custom among several nations to adorn the images of their deities, princes, victors at public games, and other eminent persons, with _inscrip... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:17. _AN ANGEL STANDING IN THE SUN_] Exceedingly luminous; every part of him emitting rays of light. From this representation, Milton has taken his description of _Uriel_, the angel of the sun. Paradise Lost, b. iii. l. 648:- "The Archangel Uriel, one of the _seven_ Who, in God'... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:18. _THAT YE MAY EAT THE FLESH OF KINGS_] There shall be a universal destruction; the kings, generals, captains, and all their host, shall be slain.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:19. _I SAW THE BEAST_] See the notes on chapters xii., xiii., and xvii. Revelation 12:1; Revelation 17:1... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:20. _AND THE BEAST WAS TAKEN, AND-THE FALSE PROPHET_] Revelation 17:8, c. _THAT WORSHIPPED HIS IMAGE._] The _beast_ has been represented as the _Latin empire_ the _image of the beast_, the _popes of Rome_; and the _false prophet_, the _papal clergy_. _WERE CAST ALIVE INTO A LAK... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 19:21. _WITH THE SWORD OF HIM THAT SAT UPON THE HORSE_] He who sat on the white horse is Christ; and his _sword_ is his _word_-the unadulterated _Gospel_.... [ Continue Reading ]