VII. (1) _AND AFTER THESE THINGS_.. Better, And after this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding fast the four winds of the earth, that there might not blow a wind upon the earth, nor upon the sea, nor upon any tree. In the sixth seal the winds had blown, and had shake... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAW ANOTHER ANGEL... — Translate, _And I saw another angel going up from the rising of the sun, having a seal of the living God, and he was crying with a great voice to the four angels to whom it was given to injure the earth and the sea, saying, Injure ye not the earth, nor the sea, nor the t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I HEARD THE NUMBER OF THEM... Translate, _And I heard the number of the sealed: there were a hundred and forty and four thousand sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel._ There are two or three questions which these verses suggest. What are we to understand by the number twelve thousand... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THIS I BEHELD... — Better, _After these things I saw, and behold! a great multitude which no one was able to number, out of every nation, and (all) tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches in their hands. “_A g... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE... — Better, _And they cry with a loud voice, saying, The salvation to our God who sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb._ Their cry, littered with a loud voice, is the acknowledgment that their salvation — the salvation which they now taste — is due not to themselves,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THE ANGELS... — Translate, _And all the angels were standing round the throne, and the elders, and the four living beings_... _saying, Amen._ The great concourse of angels — those among whom there has been joy in heaven when a sinner has repented — now add their “Amen” to the cry of the rede... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ONE OF THE ELDERS ANSWERED, SAYING UNTO ME. — The seer had asked no question, but the elder answers the wondering thoughts and questionings which fill his mind. Perhaps this scene was in Dante’s mind when he described himself in Paradise: _“_Silent was I, yet desire Was painted in my looks; an... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAID UNTO HIM... — The form in which the answer of the seer is given shows how completely the elder had anticipated his thoughts; for he describes his reply as instantaneous. _And I have said, My Lord_ — the language is that of reverent regard, but not of worship (see Revelation 19:10; Revelat... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE ARE THEY BEFORE THE THRONE... — Better, _On this account are they before the throne of God_ — _i.e.,_ because they so washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Comp. Revelation 22:14, where a well-supported reading is, “Blessed are they that wash their robes, that... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL HUNGER NO MORE... — Better, _They shall not hunger any more, nor yet thirst any more; neither at all shall the sun light upon them, nor any heat._ The negatives are emphatic, and rise in force as the verse proceeds. None of the privations which they have endured for Christ’s sake shall tr... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LAMB... — Translate, _Because the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall tend them, and shall lead them to fountains of waters of life_ (or, _life-springs of waters); and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes._ The Lamb is described as “the Lamb in the midst of the throne.”... [ Continue Reading ]