Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
The Fall of the City Babylon. REVELATION XIV. The Harvest of the Wwrld.
ous summary, amplified in detail in the rest of the book.
a little season," their eternal rest, or cessation from tolls (3 Thessalonians 1. 7, Greek anesis, relaxation after hardships. Hebrews 4. 9, 10, 4a66ato>no/ rest; and Greek catapausis, akin to the Greek here), is close at hand now. They are blessed in being about to sit down to the marriage' supper of the Lamb (ch. 19. 9), and in having pai-t n the
7. Fear God—the forerunner to embracing the love of God manifested in the Gospel. Repentance accompanies faith, give glory to him—and not to the beast (cf. ch. 13.
4; Jeremiah 13. 16). the hour of his judgment—"Tlie hour" implies the definite time. "Judgment," not the general judgment, but that upon Babylon, the beast, and his worshippers (v. 8-12). worship him that made heaven—not Antichrist—who"sitteth in the temple of God, showing Himself that He is God" (cf. Acts H. 15). Bca . . fountains—Distinguished also in ch. 8. 8, 10. 8. another—So Vulgate. But A, B, Syriac, and Andreas add, "a second;" "another, a second angel." Babylon Here first mentioned ; identical with the harlot, the apostate Church; distinct from the beast, and judged separately. Is fallen—Anticipation of ch. 18. 2. A, Vulgate, Syriac, and Axdreas support the second " is fallen." But B, C, and Coptic omit it. that great city—A, B, C, Vulfirst resurrection (ch. 20. 6), and in having right lo the treec life (ch. 22. 14). In v. 14-16 follows the explanation o'" whj they are pronounced " blessed" now iu particular. Jz., tJu Son of man on thecloud is just coming to gather them in as the harvest ripe for His garner. Write—to put it on jf.cord for ever. Yea, salth *the Spirit—Tho words of G >1 the Father (the " voice from heaven") are echoed back ana confirmed by the Spirit (speaking in the Word, ct A 7; 22.17; and in the saints, 2 Corinthians 5. 5; 1 Peter 4 14). All "God's promises in Christ are yea" (2 Corinthians I.
20). unto me—Omitted in A, B, C, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic, that they may—The Greek includes also the idea. They are blessed, in that they shall rest from their toils (so the Greek), and—So B and Andreas read. But A. C, Vulgate, and Syriac read "for." They rest from their gate, Syriac, and Coptic omit "city." Then translate, "Babylon the great." The ulterior and exhaustive fulfilment of Isaiah 21. 9. because—So Andreas. But A, C, Vulgate, and Syriac read, "which." B and Coptic omit it. Even reading "which," we must understand it as giving the reason of her fall, all nations—A, B, C read, "all tlie nations." the wine of the wrath of her fornication toils, because their time for toil Is past ; they enter on the blessed rest, because of their faith evinced by their works which, therefore, "follow with (so the Greek) them.'- Tlieir works are specified because respect is had to the coming judgment, wherein every man shall be "judged according to his works." His works do not go before the believer, nor even go by his side, but follow him at th« sam« time that they go with him as a proof that he is Clirist's. 14r. croivn Greek (stephanon), garland of victory; not His diadem as a king. The victory is described in detail, ch. 19. 11-21. one sat.—"one sitting" (Greek cathemenon homoion) is the reading of A, B, C, Vulgate, and the wine of the wrath of God, the consequence of her fornication. As she made the nations drunk with the wine of her fornication, so she herself shall be made drunk with the wine of God's wrath. 9. A, B, C, and Andreas read, "another, a third angel." Cf. with this verse ch. 13. 15, 16. 10. The same Greek, "he also," as the just and inevitable retribution, wine of . . . wrath of God—(Psalm
75. 8.) wlthortt mixture—whereas wine was so commonly mixed with water tliat to mix wine is used in Greek for to pour oiti wine; this wine of God's wrath is undiluted; there is no drop of water to cool Its heat. Naught of grace or hope is blended with it. This terrible threat may well raise us above the fear of man's threats. This unmixed cup is already mingled and prepared for Satan and the beast's followers, indignation Greek (orges), "abiding wrath." But the Groek for "wrath" above (.Greek thumou) is boiling indignation, from (Greek thuo) a root meaning to 6oi7,- this is temporary ebullition of anger; tliat Is lasting [Ammonius], and accompanied with a purpose of vengeance [Origkn on Psalm 2. 5J. tormented ... In the presence of the . . . angels-(Psalm J'J. 14; 58. 10; 139.
Coptic. 15. Thrust In-^Greek, "Send." The angel does not command the "Sou of man" (v. 14), but is tlie mere messenger announcing to tlie Son the will of God the
in whose hands are kept the times and the seasons. thy sickle—Alluding to Mark 4.29, where also it is "sendthe sickle." The Son sends His sickle-bearing angel to reap the righteous when fully ripe, harvest — the harvest crop. By the AoiuesZ-reaplng the elect righteous are gathered out; by the vintage the Antichristian oll'enders are removed out of the earth, the scene of Christ's coming kingdom. The Son of man Himself, with a golden crown, is Introduced In the AaJi>es<-gathering of the elect, a mere angel in the t)i>!^«(;c (v. 18-20). Is ripe— lit., "is dried." Ripe for glory. 16. thrust in— Greek, "cast." 17. out of the temple ... in heaven—(Ch, 11.
21; Isaiah 66. 21.) God's enemies are regarded by the saints as their enemies, and when the day of probation
19.) 18. from the altar—upon which were oH'ered the incense-accompanied prayers of all saints, which bring down in answer God's fiery judgment on tlie Church's is past, their mind shall be so entirely one with God's, that they shall ri'joice in witnessing visibly the Judicial vindication of (iod's righteousness in sinners' punishment. 11. for ever and ever— GreeA:, " unto ages of ages." lie rest day nor night—Contrast the very dillerent sense In which the same Is said of the four living creatures in heaven, "They rest not day and night, saying. Holy, holy, holy,"&c.; yet they do "rest" in another sense; they rest from sin and sorrow, weariness and weakness, foes, the fire being taken from the altar and cast upon the earth, fully ripe Greek, "come to their acme;" ripe for punishment. 19. "The vine" is what is the sulyect of Judgment because its grapes are not what God looked for considering Its careful culture, but "wild grapes" (Isaiah
5). The apostate world of Christendom, not the world of heathendom, who have not heard of Christ, Is the object of judgment. Cf. the emblem, ch. 19. 15; Isaiah 63.2,3; Joel 3. 13. ao. without the city—Jerusalem. The scene of the blood-shedding of Christ and Ills people shall be also tho scene of God's vengeance on the .Vntlchi isllaa trial and temptation (v. 13); the lost have no rest from sin and Satan, terror, torment, and remorse. I'Z. Here, Ac. Resumed from cli. 13. 10, where see the Note. In the fiery ordeal of persecution which awaits all wlio will not worship the beast, tlie f<iith and palifincc of the followers of loo. Cf. the " horsemen," ch. 9. 16, 17. blood—answering
God and Jems shall be put to tho test, and proved, patience Greek {hupomene), patient, persevering endurance. The second "hero" Is omitted In A, B, C, Vulgate, Syriac, to tho red wine. The slaughter of the apostates Is what is hero spoken of, not their eternal punishment, even unto the horse-bridles— of the avenging "armies of heaven." by the space of a thousand . , , six hundred furlongs— "a thousnn<l six hundred lurlongs off." [W.Kelly.] Sixteen hundred Is a s(iuare number ; 4 by
Coptic, n.tu\ PuiMASUJS. Translate," Hvre Is the endurance of the saints, who keep," &c. the faltit of .Jesus—tho faith which has Jesus for Its object. 13. Kncouragcmcnt to cheer those persecuted under the beast, messedIn resting from i/ieir toils, and, in the case of tlie saints Just before alluded to as |>ersecuted by the beast. In resting from persecutions. TlieIr full blessedness is now "from iiencel'orlh," i. e., from tiii.stimb, when the Judgment on the beast, and the harvest-gatherings of the elect are Imminent. 'J'lie time so earnestly longed for by former martyrs Is now all but come; the full number of their fellowservants Is on the verge of completion; they have no looger to "rest (tho same Grtak as here, atiapausis) yet for
4 by 100. Tho /o«r quarters, north, south, east, and west, of the Holy Land, or else of the world (tho coiiipleioness and universality of tho world-wide destruction being hereby Indicated). It does not exactly answer to the length of Palestine as given by Jkkome, 160 Itomau miles. BicNfiEL thinks the valley of Kedroii. between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, Is meant, tho torrent In that valley being about to be discoloured with blood to the extent of 1600 furlongs. This view accords with Joel's
2%e Last Seveii Vials of Plagues. EEVELATION XV. The Song of 3Ioses and the Lamb, baptism In trials corresponds. The elect after their trials (especially those arising from tlie boast) shall be taken up before the vials of wrath be poured on tli" beast and his kingdom. So Noah and liis family were taken out of the doomed world before the deluge; Lot was taken out of Sodom before its destruction; the Christians escaped by a special interposition of Providence to Pella before the destruction of Jerusalem. As the pillar of cloud and prophecy t hat the valley of Jehoshaphat is to be the scene of the ovurthrow of the Autichristian foes.
CHAPTER XV.
Ver. 1-8. The Last Seven Vials of Plagues: Song OF THE Victors over the Beast. 1. tiic seven la«t pinguea Greek, "seven plagues which aie the last." Is filled up—ia., " was finished," or "consummated:" the prophetical past for the future, the future being to God as though it wei-e past, so sure of accomplishment is His word. This verse is the summary of tlie vision that follows: the angels do not actually receive the vials till v. 7; but here. In V. 1, by anticipation they are spoken of as having them. There are no more plagues after these until the Lord's coming in judgment. The destruction of Babylon (ch.l8.)
fire interposed between Israel and the Egyptian foe, so that Israel was safely landed on the opposite shore before the Egyptians were destroyed ; so the Lord, coming with clouds and in flamingyi?-e, shall first catch up his elect people " in the clouds to meet Him in the air," and then shall with fire destroy the enemy. The Lamb leads the song in honour of the Father amidst the great congregation. This is the "new song" mentioned ch. U. 3. The singing vic-
Is thfe last: then in ch. 19. He appears, a. sea of glass Anawf'ring to the molten sea or great brazen laver before the mercy-seat of tlie earthly temple, for the purification of the priests; typifying the baptism of water and the Spirit of all who are made kings and priests unto God. mingled w!tU Are—Answering to the baptism on earth uiUh fire, i. e., fiery trial, as well as with the Holy Ghost, which Clirist's people undergo to purify them, as gold is purified of its dross in the furnace. tUem tlint had gotten the victory ovev— Greek, "those (coming) off from fthe conflict with) the beast-conquerors." over the number of his name— A, B, C, Vulgate, dyriac, and Coptic, omit the words in English Version, " over his mark." 2Vie mark. In fact, is the number of his name which tiie faitliful refused to receive, and so were victorious over it. stand on the sea. of glass Alford and De Burgh explain "on (the shore of) the sea:" al the sea. So the preposition (Greek) epi, with t\ie accusative, is used for at, ch. 3. 20. It has a pregnant sense : "standing" implies rest, &reek epi with tlie accusktive implies motion towards. Thus tlie meaning is, Having come to the sea, and now standing at tors are the 144,000of Israel, " the first-fruits," and the general " harvest " of the Gentiles, servant of God—(Exodus 14. 31; Numbers 12. 7; Joshua 22 The Lamb is more: He is the Son. Great and marvellous are Thy works, &c.—Part of Moses' last song. The vindication of the justice of God that so He may be glorified, is the grand end of God's dealings. Hence his servants again and again dwell upon this in their praises (ch. 16. 7 ; 19. 2; Proverbs 16. 4 ; Jeremiah 10. 10; Daniel 4. 37). Especially at the Judgment (Psalm 50. 1-6; 145. 17). saints—There is no M.S. authority for this. A, B, Coptic and Cyprian read, " of the nations." C reads " of the ages," and so Vulgate and Syriac. The point at issue in the Lord's controversy with the earth is, whether He, or Satan's minion, the beast, is "the King of the nations ;" here at the eve of the Judgments descending on the kingdom of the beast, the transfigured saints hail Him as " the King of the nations "
(Ezekiel 21. 27). 4. Who shall not— Greek, " Who is there but must fear thee?" Cf. Moses' song, Exodus 15. 14-16, on the fear which God's Judgments strilce into the foe. theo —So Syriac. But A, H, C, Vulgate and CYPr.lAN reject "thee." all nations shall come—Alluding to Psalm 22,
It. In ftlalthewH. 26, where Christ walks on the sea, the Greek oldest MSS. have the genitive, not the accusative as here. Allusion is made to the Israelites standing on the shore al the Red <Sea, after having passed victoriously through it, and after the Lord had destroyed the Egyptian
27-31 ; cf. Isaiah 66.23; Jeremiah 16. 19. The conversion of all nations, therefore, shall be when Chi ist shall cnme, and not till then ; and the first moving cause will be Christ s manifested judgments preparing all hearts for receiving. Christ's mercy. He shall effect by His presence what wehave in vain tried to etfect in His absence. The present preaching of the Gospel is gathering out the elect remnant; meanwhile "the mystery of iniquity" is at work, and will at last come to its crisis, then shall Judgment descend on the apostates at the harvestend of this a/j<B (Greek, Matthew 13. 39, 40) when the tares shall be cleared) out of the earth, which thenceforward becomes Messiah's kingdom. The confederacy of the apostates against Christ becomes, when overthrown with fearful judgments, the very means In God's overruling providence of preparing the nations not joined in the Antichristian league to submit themselves to Him. are—/it., "were:'' the prophetical past for the immediate future, judgment— Greefc, "righteousness." 5. So ch. 11. 19; cf. cli. 16.
foe (type of Antichrist) in it. Moses and llie Israt•lil»^s' Boug of triumph (Exodus 15. 1) has its antitype in tlio saints' "song of Moses and the Lamb " (v. 3). .Still English Version is consistent with good Greek, and the sense will then be. As the sea tj'pifles the troubled state out of which the beast arose, and which is to be no more in the blessed world to come (cli. 21. 1), so the victorious saints stand on it, having itunder their feet (as the woman had ther/ioo/i, ch.
12. 1, see Note); but it is now no longer treacherous wherein the feet sink, but solid like glass, as it was under the feet of Christ, whose triumph and power the saints now share. Firmness of footing amidst apparent instability
Is thus represented. They can stand, not merely as victorious Israel ai the Red Sea, and as John upon the sand of the shore, but upon the sea itself, now firm, and reflecting their glory as glass, their past conflict shedding the brighter lustre on their present triumph. Their happiness
17. "The tabernacle of the testimony" appropriately here comes to view, where God's faithfulness in avenging His people with judgments on their foes is about to be set is heightened by the retrospect of the dangers through which they have passed. Thus this corresponds to cli. 7.
forth. We need to get a. glimpse within the Holy place
14, 15. harps of God—In the hands of these heavenly virto "understand" the secret spring and' the end of God's Tlghteous dealings, behold—Omitted hy A, Syriac, gins, infinitely surpassing the timbrels of Miriam and the Israelitesses. 3. song of Moses . . . and , . . the Lamb —The New Testament song of the Lamb (i..e., the song which the Lamb shall lead, as being "the Captain of our salvation," just as Moses was leader of the Israelites, the song in which those who conquer through Him [Romans and Andreas. It is supported only by Vidgale, Coptic, and Primasius, but no MS. «. having—So B reads. But A,
C, read "who have:" not that they bad them yet (cf. v. 7), but they are by anticipation described according to their office, linen—So B reads. But A, C, and Vulgate, "a. stone." On the principle that the harder reading is the one least likely to be an Interpolation, we should read, "a stone pure(an(i Is omitted in A, B, 0, and Anukkas), brilliant" (so the Greek): probably the diamond. With En-
8. 37] shall Join, ch. 12. 11) Is the antitype to the triumphant Old Testament song of Moses and the Israelites at the Red Sea (Exodus 15). The churches of the Old and New Testament are essentially one in their conflicts and triumphs. Tlie two appear Joined In this phrase, as they are in the twenty-four elders. Similarly, Isaiah 12. foreglish Version, cf. Acts 1. 10; 10. 30. golden girdles—resemt)llng the Lord In this respect (ch. 1. 13j. 7. one of the fonr beasts— Grcc/c, " living creatures." The presentation of the vials to the angels by one of the living-, creatures, Implies the ministry of the Church as the medium for manifesting to -angel* the ijlories of redemp Uou tells the song of the redeemed (Israel foremost) after the econd antltyplcal exodus and deliverance at the Egyptian Sea. The passage through the Red Sea under the pillar of cloud was Israel's baptism, to which the believer's