Revelation 19

Notes

Ver. 1, 4, 6. Perhaps the repeated use of the Hebrew word Allelujah hints that the newly-converted Jews will, in a peculiar manner, rejoice at the destruction of evil, whose idolatries had long filled them with prejudice against the Christian faith. 7, 9. This beginning of the glory of the latter days may be called the marriage and marriage-supper of the Lamb, because Jesus will then publicly avow his relation to his church, influence great multitudes of all nations to himself, and feast them in a spiritual manner upon his sacrificial life. 8. This robe of fine linen denotes Jesus' imparted sacrifice to entitle them to heaven; and the sanctification of their heart and life to render them meet for it; and represents their honour, favour, acceptance, purity, and holiness. 10. I am nothing but a mere creature like yourself, commissioned by Christ to make known the things relating to his person, cause, and government, and the revolutions he will make in the church and world; and the testimony which I have borne to him has been dictated to me by the same divine Spirit which inspired the ancient prophets. 11-14. The white horses, upon which Christ and his army ride to conquer evil, denote their high honour and certain success and triumph, and represent the glorious and everlasting gospel, which shall then prevail more extensively and successfully than ever before, with light and purity, speed and power, in its last promulgation through the earth. 12. His many crowns denote his natural and mediatorial authority and universal dominion over the church and all the world, in all spiritual and temporal concerns, and his subduing all nations and things to himself.—No creature knew anything of his name, as Son of God or mediator, till it was revealed, and none can ever fully and comprehensively understand it. 13. He is rendered distinguished and glorious by the blood of his vanquished and slaughtered enemies. 15. His sharp sword and iron rod denote his dreadful threatenings and righteous judgments on idolatrous, persecuting, and wicked nations. His treading the wine-press denotes his squeezing and crushing his enemies into death and ruin by the terrible impressions of his heavy, infinite, and irresistible wrath. 16. His having his name, KING of Kings and LORD of Lords, on his vesture and thigh, imports that, by his mighty acts, he effectually and illustriously proves himself Sovereign Lord and Ruler of all the potentates, princes, and nobles of the world, to govern, influence, restrain, save, or bless them, or to work by or upon them, according to love. 17-21. According to Christ's awful threatenings, and by his influence, the whole power of evil, civil and wicked, is totally ruined; and while the souls of its wicked supporters are cast into hell, because of their wilful and awful sins, and the saints of God saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ rejoice in their glorious inheritance, as it manifests the glory of God's perfections, and opens the way for the happiest and most glorious state of the church on earth.

Ver. 20. 'The beast and the false prophet' being 'cast alive' into the lake, it follows that they are not yet totally destroyed; but that, after this signal overthrow, the 'ten horns' that have hitherto supported, shall finally 'hate the whore, and make her desolate.' And this, it appears most probable, they will do in support of 'the beast'—their several royal prerogatives in opposition to the terrible domination of paganism. See ch. 17. 13, 16, 17. C.

Reflections.—High praises to God, and abundant happiness and honour to saints, attend his remarkable deliverances of his gospel church; and none more than his extirpation of pagan introduction of the latter-day glory! Yea, in a most awful manner, the calamities, and even the awful end of the wicked, comes in spite of all God in Christ could do to save them—Jesus' sacrifice imparted, and his grace implanted and exercised, are the great ornaments of his people; while their union to and fellowship with him, and his almighty power, unblemished faithfulness, sovereign and universal dominion, great salvation, and glorious triumph, gladden their hearts. But dreadful is their danger and certain their ruin who oppose him and his interests. In full hopes that all our tribulations will end, and all our sorrows for ever cease, let us, who fear and serve the Lord, praise his name, both small and great. Let us believe his infallible promises, worship him only, and follow him whithersoever he goes. Grace shall reign through righteousness to our eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.