1NachG3326 diesemG5023 hörteG191 ich wie eine lauteG3173 StimmeG5456 einer großenG4183 VolksmengeG3793 inG1722 dem HimmelG3772, welche sprachG3004: HallelujaG239! das HeilG4991 undG2532 die HerrlichkeitG1391 undG2532 die MachtG1411 unseresG2257 GottesG2316! 2dennG3754 wahrhaftigG228 undG2532 gerechtG1342 sind seineG846 GerichteG2920; dennG3754 er hatG2919 die großeG3173 HureG4204 gerichtetG2919, welcheG3748 die ErdeG1093 mitG1722 ihrerG846 HurereiG4202 verderbteG5351, undG2532 hatG1556 das BlutG129 seinerG846 KnechteG1401 gerächtG1556 anG1537 ihrerG846 HandG5495. 3UndG2532 zum anderen MaleG1208 sprachenG2046 sie: HallelujaG239! UndG2532 ihrG846 RauchG2586 steigt aufG305 inG1519 die ZeitalterG165 der ZeitalterG165. 4UndG2532 die vierundzwanzigG5064 G2532 G1501 ÄltestenG4245 undG2532 die vierG5064 lebendigen WesenG2226 fielen niederG4098 undG2532 betetenG4352 GottG2316 anG4352, der aufG1909 dem ThroneG2362 sitztG2521, und sagtenG3004: AmenG281, HallelujaG239! 5UndG2532 eine StimmeG5456 kamG1831 ausG1537 dem ThroneG2362 hervorG1831, welche sprachG3004: LobetG134 unserenG2257 GottG2316, alleG3956 seineG846 KnechteG1401, [und]G2532 die ihr ihnG846 fürchtetG5399, die KleinenG3398 undG2532 die GroßenG3173! 6UndG2532 ich hörteG191 wieG5613 eine StimmeG5456 einer großenG4183 VolksmengeG3793 undG2532 wieG5613 ein RauschenG5456 vielerG4183 WasserG5204 undG2532 wieG5613 ein RollenG5456 starkerG2478 DonnerG1027, welche sprachenG3004: HallelujaG239! dennG3754 der HerrG2962, unser GottG2316, der AllmächtigeG3841, hat die Herrschaft angetretenG936. 7Laßt uns fröhlich seinG5463 undG2532 frohlockenG21 undG2532 ihmG846 EhreG1391 gebenG1325; dennG3754 die HochzeitG1062 des LammesG721 ist gekommenG2064, undG2532 seinG846 WeibG1135 hatG2090 sichG1438 bereitetG2090. 8UndG2532 es wardG1325 ihrG846 gegebenG1325, daßG2443 sie sich kleideG4016 in feine LeinwandG1039, glänzendG2986 [und]G2532 reinG2513; dennG1063 die feine LeinwandG1039 sindG2076 die GerechtigkeitenG1345 der HeiligenG40. 9UndG2532 er sprichtG3004 zu mirG3427: SchreibeG1125: GlückseligG3107, die geladenG2564 sind zumG1519 HochzeitsmahleG1062 G1173 des LammesG721! UndG2532 er sprichtG3004 zu mirG3427: DiesG3778 sindG1526 die wahrhaftigenG228 WorteG3056 GottesG2316. 10UndG2532 ich fielG4098 zuG1715 seinenG846 FüßenG4228 niederG4098, ihnG846 anzubetenG4352 . UndG2532 er sprichtG3004 zu mirG3427: Siehe zuG3708, tue es nichtG3361. Ich binG1510 deinG4675 MitknechtG4889 undG2532 der deinerG4675 BrüderG80, die das ZeugnisG3141 JesuG2424 habenG2192; beteG4352 GottG2316 anG4352. DennG1063 der GeistG4151 der WeissagungG4394 istG2076 das ZeugnisG3141 JesuG2424. 11UndG2532 ich sahG1492 den HimmelG3772 geöffnetG455, undG2532 sieheG2400, ein weißesG3022 PferdG2462, undG2532 der daraufG1909 G846 saßG2521, [genannt]G2564 TreuG4103 undG2532 WahrhaftigG228, undG2532 er richtetG2919 undG2532 führt KriegG4170 inG1722 GerechtigkeitG1343. 12SeineG846 AugenG3788 aberG5613 sind eine FeuerflammeG5395 G4442, undG2532 aufG1909 seinemG846 HaupteG2776 sind vieleG4183 DiademeG1238, und er trägtG2192 einen NamenG3686 geschriebenG1125, denG3739 niemandG3762 kenntG1492, als nurG1508 er selbstG846; 13undG2532 er ist bekleidetG4016 mit einem in BlutG129 getauchtenG911 GewandeG2440, undG2532 seinG846 NameG3686 heißtG2564: Das WortG3056 GottesG2316. 14UndG2532 die KriegsheereG4753, dieG3588 inG1722 dem HimmelG3772 sind, folgtenG190 ihmG846 aufG1909 weißenG3022 PferdenG2462, angetanG1746 mit weißerG3022, reinerG2513 LeinwandG1039. 15UndG2532 ausG1537 seinemG846 MundeG4750 geht hervorG1607 ein scharfesG3691, [zweischneidiges] SchwertG4501, auf daßG2443 er damitG1722 G846 die NationenG1484 schlageG3960; undG2532 er wirdG4165 sieG846 weidenG4165 mitG1722 eisernerG4603 RuteG4464, undG2532 er trittG3961 die KelterG3025 des WeinesG3631 des GrimmesG2372 des ZornesG3709 GottesG2316, des AllmächtigenG3841. 16UndG2532 er trägtG2192 aufG1909 seinem GewandeG2440 undG2532 aufG1909 seinerG846 HüfteG3382 einen NamenG3686 geschriebenG1125: KönigG935 der KönigeG935 undG2532 HerrG2962 der HerrenG2962. 17UndG2532 ich sahG1492 einenG1520 EngelG32 inG1722 der SonneG2246 stehenG2476, undG2532 er riefG2896 mit lauterG3173 StimmeG5456 und sprachG3004 zu allenG3956 VögelnG3732, die inmittenG1722 des HimmelsG3321 fliegenG4072: Kommet herG1205, versammelt euchG4863 zuG1519 dem großenG3173 MahleG1173 GottesG2316! 18auf daßG2443 ihr FleischG4561 von KönigenG935 fressetG5035 undG2532 FleischG4561 von OberstenG5506 undG2532 FleischG4561 von StarkenG2478 undG2532 FleischG4561 von PferdenG2462 undG2532 von denen, die daraufG1909 G846 sitzenG2521, undG2532 FleischG4561 von allenG3956, sowohl von FreienG1658 alsG2532 SklavenG1401, sowohlG2532 von KleinenG3398 alsG2532 GroßenG3173. 19UndG2532 ich sahG1492 das TierG2342 undG2532 die KönigeG935 der ErdeG1093 undG2532 ihreG846 HeereG4753 versammeltG4863 KriegG4171 zu führenG4160 mitG3326 dem, der aufG1909 dem PferdeG2462 saßG2521 undG2532 mitG3326 seinemG846 HeereG4753. 20UndG2532 es wurde ergriffenG4084 das TierG2342 undG2532 der falsche ProphetG5578, der mitG3326 ihmG5127 war, der die ZeichenG4592 vorG1799 ihmG846 tatG4160, durchG1722 welcheG3739 er die verführteG4105, welche das MalzeichenG5480 des TieresG2342 annahmenG2983 undG2532 die seinG846 BildG1504 anbetetenG4352, - lebendigG2198 wurdenG906 die zweiG1417 inG1519 den FeuerseeG4442 G3041 geworfenG906, der mitG1722 SchwefelG2303 brenntG2545. 21UndG2532 die übrigenG3062 wurden getötetG615 mitG1722 dem SchwerteG4501 dessen, der aufG1909 dem PferdeG2462 saßG2521, welchesG3588 Schwert ausG1537 seinemG846 MundeG4750 hervorgingG1607; undG2532 alleG3956 VögelG3732 wurdenG5526 vonG1537 ihremG846 FleischeG4561 gesättigtG5526.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 The fall of Babylon being fixed, finished, and declared to be irrecoverable in the foregoing chapter, this begins with a holy triumph over her, in pursuance of the order given forth:
Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, Revel 18:20. They now gladly answer the call; and here you have, 1. The form of their thanksgiving, in that heavenly and most comprehensive word,
Alleluia, praise you the Lord: with this they begin, with this they go on, and with this they end (
Revel 19:4); their prayers are now turned into praises, their hosannas end in halleluias. 2. The matter of their thanksgiving: they praise him for the truth of his word, and the righteousness of his providential conduct, especially in this great event - the ruin of Babylon, which had been a mother, nurse, and nest of idolatry, lewdness, and cruelty (
Revel 19:2), for which signal example of divine justice they ascribe
salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto our God. 3. The effect of these their praises: when the angels and saints cried
Alleluia, her fire burned more fiercely and
her smoke ascended for ever and ever, Revel 19:3. The surest way to have our deliverances continued and completed is to give God the glory of what he has done for us. Praising God for what we have is praying in the most effectual manner for what is yet further to be done for us; the praises of the saints blow up the fire of God's wrath against the common enemy. 4. The blessed harmony between the angels and the saints in this triumphant song,
Revel 19:4. The churches and their ministers take the melodious sound from the angels, and repeat it; falling down, and worshipping God, they cry,
Amen, Alleluia. 5 The triumphant song being ended, and epithalamium, or marriage-song, begins,
Revel 19:6. Here observe,
I. The concert of heavenly music. The chorus was large and loud,
as the voice of many waters and of mighty thunderings. God is fearful in praises. There is no discord in heaven; the morning stars sing together; no jarring string, nor key untuned, but pure and perfect melody.
II. The occasion of this song; and that is the reign and dominion of that omnipotent God who has
redeemed his church by his own blood, and is now in a more public manner betrothing her to himself:
The marriage of the Lamb has come, Revel 19:7. Some think this refers to the conversion of the Jews, which they suppose will succeed the fall of Babylon; others, to the general resurrection: the former seems more probable. Now, 1. You have here a description of the bride, how she appeared; not in the gay and gaudy dress of the mother of harlots, but
in fine linen, clean and white, which
is the righteousness of saints; in the robes of Christ's righteousness, both imputed for justification and imparted for sanctification - the
stola, the
white robe of absolution, adoption, and enfranchisement, and the white robe of purity and universal holiness. She had
washed her robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; and these her nuptial ornaments she did not purchase by any price of her own, but received them as the gift and grant of her blessed Lord. 2. The marriage-feast, which, though not particularly described (as
Matt 22:4), yet is declared to be such as would make all those happy who were called to it, so called as to accept the invitation, a feast made up of the promises of the gospel,
the true sayings of God, Revel 19:9. These promises, opened, applied, sealed, and earnested by
the Spirit of God, in holy eucharistical ordinances, are the marriage-feast; and the whole collective body of all those who partake of this feast is the bride,
the Lamb's wife; they eat into one body, and drink into one Spirit, and are not mere spectators or guests, but coalesce into the espoused party, the mystical body of Christ. 3. The transport of joy which the apostle felt in himself at this vision.
He fell down at the feet of the angel, to worship him, supposing him to be more than a creature, or having his thoughts at the present overpowered by the vehemency of his affections. Here observe, (1.) What honour he offered to the angel:
He fell at his feet, to worship him; this prostration was a part of external worship, it was a posture of proper adoration. (2.) How the angel refused it, and this was with some resentment:
See thou do it not; have a care what thou doest, thou art doing a wrong thing. (3.) He gave a very good reason for his refusal:
I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren which have the testimony of Jesus - I am a creature, thine equal in office, though not in nature;
I, as an angel and messenger of God,
have the testimony of Jesus, a charge to be a witness for him and to testify concerning him, and thou, as an apostle, having
the Spirit of prophecy, hast the same testimony to give in; and therefore we are in this brethren and fellow-servants. (4.) He directs him to the true and only object of religious worship; namely, God:
Worship God, and him alone. This fully condemns both the practice of the papists in worshipping the elements of bread and wine, and saints, and angels, and the practice of those Socinians and Arians who do not believe that Christ is truly and by nature God, and yet pay him religious worship; and this shows what wretched fig-leaves all their evasions and excuses are which they offer in their own vindication: they stand hereby convicted of idolatry by a messenger from heaven.
11 No sooner was the marriage solemnized between Christ and his church by the conversion of the Jews than the glorious head and husband of the church is called out to a new expedition, which seems to be the great battle that was to be fought at Armageddon, foretold
Revel 16:16. And here observe,
I. The description of the great Commander, 1. By the seat of his empire; and that is
heaven; his throne is there, and his power and authority are heavenly and divine. 2. His equipage: he is again described as sitting
on a white horse, to show the equity of the cause, and certainty of success. 3. His attributes: he is
faithful and true to his covenant and promise, he is righteous in all his judicial and military proceedings, he has a penetrating insight into all the strength and stratagems of his enemies, he has a large and extensive dominion, many crowns, for he is
King of kings, and Lord of lords. 4. His armour; and that is
a vesture dipped in blood, either his own blood, by which he purchased this mediatorial power, or the blood of his enemies, over whom he has always prevailed. 5. His name:
The Word of God, a name that none fully knows but himself, only this we know, that this
Word was God manifest in the flesh; but his perfections are incomprehensible by any creature.
II. The army which he commands (
Revel 19:14), a very large one, made up of many armies; angels and saints followed his conduct, and resembled him in their equipage, and in their armour of purity and righteousness - chosen, and called, and faithful.
III. The weapons of his warfare -
A sharp sword proceeding from
his mouth (
Revel 19:15), with which
he smites the nations, either the threatenings of the written word, which now he is going to execute, or rather his word of command calling on his followers to take a just revenge on his and their enemies, who are now put into the wine-press of the wrath of God, to be trodden under foot by him.
IV. The ensigns of his authority, his coat of arms -
a name written on his vesture and thigh, King of kings, and Lord of lords, asserting his authority and power, and the cause of the quarrel,
Revel 19:16.
V. An invitation given
to the fowls of heaven, that they should come and see the battle, and share in the spoil and pillage of the field (
Revel 19:17,
Revel 19:18), intimating that this great decisive engagement should leave the enemies of the church a feast for the birds of prey, and that all the world should have cause to rejoice in the issue of it.
VI. The battle joined. The enemy falls on with great fury, headed by
the beast, and the kings of the earth; the powers of earth and hell gathered, to make their utmost effort,
Revel 19:19.
VII. The victory gained by the great and glorious head of the church:
The beast and the false prophet, the leaders of the army, are taken prisoners, both he who led them by power and he who led them by policy and falsehood; these are taken and
cast into the burning lake, made incapable of molesting the church of God any more; and their followers, whether officers or common soldiers, are given up to military execution, and made a feast for
the fowls of heaven. Though the divine vengeance will chiefly fall upon
the beast, and the false prophet, yet it will be no excuse to those who fight under their banner that they only followed their leaders and obeyed their command; since they would fight for them, they must fall and perish with them.
Be wise now therefore, O you kings, be instructed, you rulers of the earth; kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, Pss 2:10,
Pss 2:12.