Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
Flie Church's Thanksgiving in Heaven REVELATION XIX. for the Judgment on the Harlot.
(A.D. 1300)200,000 pilgrims were counted in Rome [D'AuBiGNE, Reformation]: a source of gain, not only to tlie Papal see, but to shipmasters, merchants, pilots, &c. Tliese latter, however, are not restricted to those literally "shipmisters," &c., but mainly refer, in the mystical sense, to
Rome, between a. d. L5J0 and 1580, slew more than 900,000 Protestants. Three reasons for the harlot's downfall are given: (1.) The worldly greatne.ts of her merchants, which was due to unholy traffic In spiritual things. (2.) Her .lorceries, or juggling tricks, in whicli the false prophet that ministers to the beast In its last form shall exceed her; all who share in the spiritual traffic of apostate ChristendoL:i, 18. when they saw— Crreefc, horontes. But A, B, C, and Andreas read, Greek, blepontes, " looking at." Greek, blepo, is to use the eyes, to look: the act of seeing without thought of the objectseen. Greek, horao, refers to the thing «een or presented to the ej'e. [Tittmann.] smoke—So B, C. j?ut A reads "place." What city Is like—cf. the similar boast as to the beast, ch. 13. 4: so closely do the harlot and beast approximate one another. Contrast tlie attribution of this praise to God, to wliom alone it is due, by His servants (Exodus 15. 11). Martial says of Rome, " Nothing cf. "sorcerers" (ch.21.8; 22. 15), specially mentioned among those doomed to the lake of fire. (3.) Her persecution of (Old Testament) "prophets" and (New Testament) "saints."
CHAPTEE XIX.
Ver. 1-21. The Church's Thanksgiving in Heaven FOR THE Judgment on the Harlot. The Marriage op THE Lamb: the Supper: the Bride's Preparation: John is Forbidden to Worship the Angel: The Lord and His Hosts Come forth for War: the Beast and the False Prophet Cast into the Lake of Fire : the Kings and their Followers Slain by the Sword out OF Christ's Mouth. 1. As in the case of the opening of the prophecy, cli. 4.S; 3. 9, &c. ; so now, at one of the great closing events seen in vision, tlie judgment on the harlot (described In ch. IS.l, there is a song of praise in heaven to Giid: cf. ch. 7. 10, &c., toward the close of the seals, and ch. 11. 15-18, at the close of the trumpets: ch. 15.
Is equal to her ;" and Athenus, " She is the epitome of the world." 19. wailing—" mourning." costliness—her costly treasures : abstract for concrete, that had sliips A, B, and C read, " that had their ships :" lit., " the ships." 20. holy apostles—So C reads. But A, B, Vulgate, Syriac,
Coptic, and Andheas read, "Ye saints and ye apostles." avenge<l you on tier— Greek, "judged your judgment on (lit., exacting it from) her." "Tltere is more joy In heaven at the harlot's downfall than at that of the two beasts. For the most heinous of all sin is the Bin of those wiio know God"s word of grace, and keep it not. The worldllness of the Church is the most worldly of all worldllness. Hence, Babylon, in Revelation, has not only Israel's sins, but also the sins of the heatlien
3, at the saints' victory over the Ijeast. And—So Andreas. But A, B, C, Vulgate, Syriac, a,nd Coj>tic omit, a great voice—A, B, C, Vulgate, Coptic, and Andreas read, " as ii were a great voice.'' What a contrast to the lamentations ch. 18.! Cf. Jeremiah 51. -IS. The great manifestation of God's power in destroying Baliyloii calls fortli a greatvoice of praise in heaven, people Grecfc, "multitude." Alleluia—//e&?-ei«, "Praise ye Jah," or Jehovah: here first used in Revelation, whence Elliott Inlei-s the Jcu's.hea,r a prominent part in this thanksgiving. Jah is not a contraction of Jehovah, as It sometimes occurs jointly with the lalter. It means " He who is:" whereas Jehovah and John dwells longer on the abominations and Judgmentsof the harlot than on those of the beast. The term
' harlot' describes the false Church's essential character. She retains her human shape as the woman, does not become a beast: slie has the form of godliness, but denies its power. Her rightful lord and husband, JehovahChrist, and the joys and goods of His house, are no longer her .ill in all, but she runs after the visible and vain things of the world, in Its manifold forms. The fullest form of her whoredom is, where the Church wislies to be itself a worldly power, uses politics and diplomacy, makes flesh her arm, uses unholj' means for holy ends, spreads her dominion by sword or money, fascinates men is "He who will be, is, and was." It imp Ues God experienced as a present help; so that "Hallelujah," says Kimchi in Bengel, Is found flrst In the Psalms on the destruction of the ungodly. " Kallelu-Jali" occurs four times in this passage. Cf. Psalm 119. 4-9, which is plainly parallel, and Indeed identical in many of the phrases, as well as the general idea. Israel, especially, will join In the Hallelujah, when "her warfare is accomplished" and her foe destroyed, salvation Greek, " The salvation . , by sensual ritualism, becomes ' mistress of ceremonies' to the dignitarleii of the world, flatters prince or people, and like Israel, seeks the help of one world-power against the danger threatening from another." [Auberlen.] Judgment, therefore, begins ivith the harlot, as in privileges the house of God. 21. a.— Greek, "one." millstone—Cf. tlie Judgment on tlie Egyptian liosts at the Red Sea, E;codus the glory . . . the power." and honour—So Coptic. But A, B, C, and Syriac omit, unto the Lord our God—So Andreas. But .\, B, C, and Coptic read, "(Is) of our God," i. e., belongs to Him. 2. witich did corrupt tlie earth— Greek, "used to corrupt" continually. "Instead of opposing and lessening, she promoteil the sinful life and decay of the world by her own earthllness, allowing the salt to lose Its savour." [Auberlen.] awngexl— Greek, "exacted In retribution." A particularapplicallon of the principle (Genesis 9. 5). blootl of liis servants—literally shed by the Old Testament adulterous Church, and by the New Testament apostate Church; also virtually, though not literally, by all who, though called C'hristi.ans, hate their brotlier, or love not the brethren of Christ, but slirink from the reproach of the cross, and show unklndness towjxrds those wlio bear It. .3. ngnin— Greek, "a second time." rose up— ffr(>e/c, "goeth up." for ever and ever— Greek, " to the ages of the ages." 4 . bc Hsts—rather, "living creatures." sat Greek, "sitteth." 5. out of— Greek, "out from the throne" In A, B, C. Praise our God—Cf. the solemn act of praise performed by the Levites I Chronicles 16. 36; 2!. 5, especially when the house of God was filled wllh the Divine glory (2 Chronicles 5,
15. 5, 10; Neheinlah 9. U, and the foretold doom of Balylon, the world-power, Jeremi.ah 51. 63, 64. with violence —Greek, "with impetus." This verse shows that this prophecy is regarded as still to be fulfilled. 23. pipers flute-players. "Musicians," painters and sculptors, have desecrated their art to lend fascination to the sensuous worship of corrupt Christendom, craftsman — artisan. 83. What a blessed contrast Is ch. 22. 5, respecting the city of God : " They need no candle (just as Babylon shall no more have the light of a candle, l)Ut for a widely difl'erent reason), for the Lord God giveth them lifjlit." For "candle," imn-vJa/e as Greek, "lamp." ltrl<l«-groom . . . bride, . . no more ... In thee-Contrast tlie heavenly city, with its Bridegroom, Bride, and blessed marriage-si'pper
(ch. 19. 7, 9; 21. 2, 9; Isaiah 62. 4, 5). thy mercitnnts were —So most of the best authorities read. But A omits the Greek article before "merchants," and then traii.ilntes, "The great men of, &c., were tliy merchants." sorceries Greek, "sorcery." 24. Applied by Christ (.Matthew 23. 3.5) to apostate Jerusalem, which proves that not merely the
13). botii—Omitted In A, B, C, Vulgate, Coptic, and Syriac Translate as Greek, "the small and the great." 0. many waters—Contrast the " many watei s" on whidi the whore ifteral city Rome, and the Church of Rome (though the chief representative of theapostiisy), but t he wnoj.Kof the faithless Church of both the Old and New Testament Is meant by Bal)ylon the harlot; just as tlie whole Church (Old and New Testament) Is meant by "the woman" (ch.
sittetli (ch. 17. 1). Tills verse is the hearty response to the stirring call "Alleluia! Praise our God," &c.. {v. 4, 5T. the Lord God omiiipoteiit Orce/c, "the Omnipotent." reighrth lit., reigned: hence reignelh once for all. His reign Is a fact already established. Babylon, the harlot, was one great hindrance to His reign being recognized.
12. 1). As to literal city, Akinghi:s in Bkngel says, P.-igan Rome was the general shambles for slaving the sheep of Jesus. Fbed. Seylek in Be.ngel calculates that I'apal