19:1 And 1 after these things I heard a great voice of much
people in heaven, saying, a2 Alleluia; Salvation, and
glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
(1) This chapter has in summary two parts, one transitory or of
passage to the things that follow, to the tenth verse,
(Re 19:2-10), another historical of the victory of
Christ over both the beasts, to the end of the chapter
(Re 19:11-21), which I said was the second history of
this argument, (Re 17:1). The transition has two places,
one of praising God for the overthrow done to Babylon in
(Re 19:4): and another likewise of praise and prophecy,
for the coming of Christ to his kingdom, and his most royal
marriage with his Church, thence to the tenth verse
(Re 19:5-10). The former praise has three parts,
distinguished after the ancient manner of those that sing:
an invitation in (Re 19:1,2), a response or answer in
(Re 19:3), and a close or joining together in harmony
in (Re 19:4), all which I thought good of purpose to
distinguish in this place, lest any man should with
Porphyrius, or other like dogs, object to John, or the
heavenly Church, a childish and idle repetition of speech.
(a) Praise the Lord.
(2) The proposition of praise with exhortation in this verse,
and the cause of it in (Re 19:2).
19:3 And again they said, 3 Alleluia. And her smoke rose up
for ever and ever.
(3) 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, (Ge 19:1-38).
19:54 And a voice came out of the 5 throne, saying, Praise
our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both
small and great.
(4) 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, (Re 19:6) 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,
(Re 19:7-8). Therefore John is commanded to write in a
book the acclamation together with a divine testimony,
(Re 19:9).
(5) Out of the temple from God as in (Re 11:19).
19:6 And I heard 6 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.
(6) Outside the temple in heaven.
19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the
marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath 7 made
herself ready.
(7) 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.
19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in 8
fine linen, clean and white: for the fine 9 linen is the
b righteousness of saints.
(8) As an ensign of kingly and priestly dignity, which Christ
bestows on us in (Re 1:6).
(9) 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.
(b) Good works which are lively testimonies of faith.
19:910 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.
(10) Namely the angel, as it appears by the next verse.
19:1011 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 ctestimony of Jesus:
worship God: for the testimony of d Jesus is the spirit
of prophecy.
(11) 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 (Re 22:8).
(c) Who are commanded to bear witness of Jesus.
(d) For Jesus is the mark that all the prophecies shoot at.
19:1112 And I saw 13 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.
(12) 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 (Re 19:12-16),
then the battle is shown to begin, there to the eighteenth
verse (Re 19:17-18), lastly is set forth the victory,
to the end the chapter (Re 19:19-21). 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.
(13) 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,
(Re 19:12), the triumpher and in essence, the Word of
God, in (Re 19:13).
19:1414 And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him
upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
(14) The company or retinue of Christ, holy, innumerable,
heavenly, judicial, royal and pure.
19:1515 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.
(15) The effects of Christ prepared to fight, that with his
mouth he strikes the Gentiles, rules and destroys.
19:1616 And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name
written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
(16) The name agreeing to Christ according to the former
qualities, expressed after the manner of the Hebrews.
19:1717 And I saw an angel standing in the 18 sun; and he
cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly
in the 19 midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves
together unto the supper of the great God;
(17) 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.
(18) That is, openly, and in sight of all, as in
(Nu 25:4,2Sa 12:11).
(19) That is, through this inferior heaven, and which is
nearer to us: a Hebrew phrase.
19:1920 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.
(20) The third part (as was said in) (Re 19:11) 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.
19:20 And the beast 21 was taken, and with him 22 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.
(21) Namely, that beast with seven heads; (Re 13:1,17:3).
(22) That is, that beast with two heads; (Re 13:11,16:14).
