Revelation 19
Verse 1
And 1 after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, 2 3 Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
This chapter has in summary two parts, one transitory or of passage to the things that follow, to the tenth verse, another historical of the victory of Christ over both the beasts, to the end of the chapter which I said was the second history of this argument, The transition has two places, one of praising God for the overthrow done to Babylon in
Verse 3
And again they said, 1 Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
The song of the Antiphony or response, containing an amplification of the praise of God, from the continuous and certain testimony of his divine judgment as was done at Sodom and Gomorrah,
Verse 5
1 And a voice came out of the 2 throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
The second place of praise, as I said see Geneva "Re 19:1" which first is commanded by God in this verse: and then is in most ample manner pronounced by the creatures, both because they see that kingdom of Christ to come, which they desire, and also because they see the Church is called forth to be brought home to the house of her husband by holy marriage, to the fellowship of his kingdom, Therefore John is commanded to write in a book the acclamation together with a divine testimony,
Out of the temple from God as in
Verse 6
And I heard 1 as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Outside the temple in heaven.
Verse 7
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath 1 made herself ready.
Namely, to that holy marriage, both herself in person in this verse, and also provided by her spouse with marriage gifts princely and divine, is adorned and prepared in the next verse.
Verse 8
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in 1 fine linen, clean and white: for the fine 2 linen is the 3 righteousness of saints.
As an ensign of kingly and priestly dignity, which Christ bestows on us in
This is a gift given by the husband for marriage sake, and a most choice ornament which Christ gave to us, as to his spouse.
Good works which are lively testimonies of faith.
Verse 9
1 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Namely the angel, as it appears by the next verse.
Verse 10
1 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the 2 testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of 3 Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
The particular history of this verse is brought in by occasion, and as it were besides the purpose that John might make a public example of his own infirmity and of the modest sanctimony of the angel, who both renounced for himself the divine honours, and recalled all the servants of God, to the worship of him alone: as also
Who are commanded to bear witness of Jesus.
For Jesus is the mark that all the prophecies shoot at.
Verse 11
1 And I saw 2 heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
The second part of this chapter (as I said in) see Geneva "Re 19:1" is of the victory gained by Christ against both the beasts: in which first Christ is described as one ready to fight, to the sixteenth verse then the battle is shown to begin, there to the eighteenth verse lastly is set forth the victory, to the end the chapter In this place the most excellent properties of Christ as our heavenly judge and avenger shine forth, according to his person, company, effects and names.
Properties belonging to his person, that he is heavenly, judge, faithful, true, just, in this verse, knowing all things, ruling over all, to be known by no one, the triumpher and in essence, the Word of God, in
Verse 14
1 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
The company or retinue of Christ, holy, innumerable, heavenly, judicial, royal and pure.
Verse 15
1 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
The effects of Christ prepared to fight, that with his mouth he strikes the Gentiles, rules and destroys.
Verse 16
1 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
The name agreeing to Christ according to the former qualities, expressed after the manner of the Hebrews.
Verse 17
1 And I saw an angel standing in the 2 sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the 3 midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
The second part, as I said in see Geneva "Re 19:11". A reproachful calling forth of his enemies into battle: in which not themselves (for why should they be called forth by the king of the world, or provoked being his subjects? for that is not comely) but in their hearing, the birds of the air are called to eat their carcasses.
That is, openly, and in sight of all, as in Sam. 12:11
That is, through this inferior heaven, and which is nearer to us: a Hebrew phrase.
Verse 19
1 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
The third part (as was said in) by the victory obtained by Christ. Two things pertain to this: his fighting with the beast and his forces, in this verse: and the event most magnificent, described after the manner of men, in the verses following. All these things are plain.
Verse 20
And the beast 1 was taken, and with him 2 the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Namely, that beast with seven heads; ,
That is, that beast with two heads; ,