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 ]