The two Visions in this Chapter, 1 8, 9 17, each introduced by the same phrase "After this" extend the opening of the Sixth Seal very considerably beyond that of the others; but are really episodical.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Vision of the Four Angels of the Four Winds. Chap. 7 Revelation 7:1-3 1. _four angels_ Presumably the Angels of the four winds, as we have other elemental Angels in Revelation 14:18; Revelation 16:5. Cf. Psalms 104:4, of which the probable sense is, "Who maketh His Angels winds," i.e. sends the... [ Continue Reading ]
_ascending_ Probably the Heaven from which St John looks down on the earth formed a vault over it, or at least rested on walls surrounding the earth; cf. Enoch xviii. 8, "I saw, from the end of the earth, the firmament of the heaven which rests upon it." This Angel, then, mounted up the eastern side... [ Continue Reading ]
_till we have sealed_ The object of the sealing is twofold. (1) to mark them as God's own, beyond the risk of loss; we may almost certainly infer, from this chapter compared with Revelation 14:1, that the inscription of the seal is the Name of God and of the Lamb; and (2) to mark them as to be saved... [ Continue Reading ]
The Sealing of the 144,000, Revelation 7:4-8 4. _an hundred_and _forty_and _four thousand_ As there are twelve tribes, so in each tribe there are to be twelve thousands: possibly with a reminiscence of the primitive political and military organisation, when a "thousand" was a recognised subdivision... [ Continue Reading ]
_Were sealed_is not genuine except in the first and last clauses: and even then it is strictly a participle, not a verb: read " OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, 12,000 SEALED, OF THE TRIBE OF REUBEN, 12,000, OF THE TRIBE OF GAD, 12,000, &C.… OF THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN 12,000 SEALED." It is a question whether th... [ Continue Reading ]
The Praise of the Great Multitude of the Redeemed, Revelation 7:9-17 9. _of all nations, and kindreds_, &c. Lit. OUT OF EVERY NATION, AND TRIBES, AND PEOPLES, AND TONGUES. _white robes_ Cf. Revelation 3:5; Revelation 6:11. _palms_ Opinions differ as to the meaning of this image, whether we are to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Salvation to our God_ The word "salvation" has the article, according to Hebrew usage, as, e.g. Psalms 3:8 [Hebrews 9], where the article may denote either "the promised salvation" or the salvation in all its fulness including _victory_. We must remember that "salvation" is in the Bible a positive... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessing, and glory_&c. The seven words of praise have each the article: see on ch. Revelation 5:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
_one of the elders_ See on Revelation 5:5. We have similarly "one (no matter which) of the seven Angels" in Revelation 17:1; Revelation 21:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sir_ Read, MY LORD: cf. Daniel 10:16-17; Zechariah 4:5; Zechariah 4:13. In the latter place we have, as here, the heavenly interlocutor apparently assuming that the Seer ought to understand the vision without explanation. _thou knowest_ Cf. Ezekiel 37:3. _which came_ More accurately, WHICH COME.... [ Continue Reading ]
_before the throne_ Perhaps in a more favoured position than is given to _all_, even among Saints: as we have similar language about the most favoured Angels, Matthew 18:10; Luke 1:19. _serve Him_ Cf. Revelation 22:3. The sense would be clearer if the word were rendered "worship:" it does not mean... [ Continue Reading ]
Taken from Isaiah 49:10. We have again the solemn paradox, that the Lamb is Shepherd (of course we are reminded of St John 10, but we ought to remember Psalms 23 as well, and its many O. T. imitations, including Is. l.c., in all of which the Shepherd is the Lord God of Israel), and the men are His f... [ Continue Reading ]