[1] And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
I heard a loud voice of a great multitude — Whose blood the great whore had shed.
Saying, Hallelujah — This Hebrew word signifies, Praise ye Jah, or Him that is. God named himself to Moses, EHEIEH, that is, I will be, Revelation 16:5; and not "He that is to come;" because his long-expected coming is under this trumpet actually present. At length he is styled, "Jah," "He that is;" the past together with the future being swallowed up in the present, the former things being no more mentioned, for the greatness of those that now are. This title is of all others the most peculiar to the everlasting God.
The salvation — Is opposed to the destruction which the great whore had brought upon the earth.
His power and glory — Appear from the judgment executed on her, and from the setting up his kingdom to endure through all ages.
Verse 2
[2] For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
For true and righteous are his judgments — Thus is the cry of the souls under the altar changed into a song of praise.
Verse 4
[4] And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
And the four and twenty elders, and the four living creatures felt down — The living creatures are nearer the throne than the elders. Accordingly they are mentioned before them, with the praise they render to God, 5:8,14; inasmuch as there the praise moves from the centre to the circumference. But here, when God's judgments are fulfilled, it moves back from the circumference to the centre. Here, therefore, the four and twenty elders are named before the living creatures.
Verse 5
[5] And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
And a voice came forth from the throne — Probably from the four living creatures, saying, Praise our God - The occasion and matter of this song of praise follow immediately after, verses 6, Revelation 19:1-4 Now for that which follows it: for that the Lord God, the Almighty, takes the kingdom to himself, and avenges himself on the rest of his enemies. Were all these inhabitants of heaven mistaken? If not, there is real, yea, and terrible anger in God.
Verse 6
[6] And I heard 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.
And I heard the voice of a great multitude. So all his servants did praise him.
The Almighty reigneth — More eminently and gloriously than ever before.
Verse 7
[7] Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
The marriage of the Lamb is come — Is near at hand, to be solemnized speedily. What this implies, none of "the spirits of just men," even in paradise, yet know. O what things are those which are yet behind! And what purity of heart should there be, to meditate upon them! And his wife hath made herself ready - Even upon earth; but in a far higher sense, in that world. After a time allowed for this, the new Jerusalem comes down, both made ready and adorned, Revelation 21:2.
Verse 8
[8] And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
And it is given to her — By God. The bride is all holy men, the whole invisible church.
To be arrayed in fine linen, white and clean — This is an emblem of the righteousness of the saints - Both of their justification and sanctification.
Verse 9
[9] 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.
And he — The angel, saith to me, Write - St. John seems to have been so amazed at these glorious sights, that he needeth to be reminded of this.
Happy are they who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb — Called to glory.
And he saith — After a little pause.
Verse 10
[10] 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 testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
And I fell before his feet to worship him — It seems, mistaking him for the angel of the covenant. But he saith, See thou do it not|-In the original, it is only, See not|, with a beautiful abruptness. To pray to or worship the highest creature is flat idolatry.
I am thy fellowservant and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus — I am now employed as your fellowservant, to testify of the Lord Jesus, by the same Spirit which inspired the prophets of old.
Verse 11
[11] And I saw 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.
And I saw the heaven opened — This is a new and peculiar opening of it, in order to show the magnificent expedition of Christ and his attendants, against his great adversary.
And behold a white horse — Many little regarded Christ, when he came meek, "riding upon an ass;" but what will they say, when he goes forth upon his white horse, with the sword of his mouth? White - Such as generals use in solemn triumph.
And he that sitteth on him, called Faithful — In performing all his promises.
And True — In executing all his threatenings.
And in righteousness — With the utmost justice.
He judgeth and maketh war — Often the sentence and execution go together.
Verse 12
[12] His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
And his eyes are a flame of fire — They were said to be as or like a flame of fire, before, Revelation 1:14; an emblem of his omniscience.
And upon his head are many diadems — For he is king of all nations.
And he hath a name written, which none knoweth but himself — As God he is incomprehensible to every creature.
Verse 13
[13] And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
And he is clothed in a vesture dipped in blood — The blood of the enemies he hath already conquered. Isaiah 63:1, etc.
Verse 15
[15] 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.
And he shall rule them — Who are not slain by his sword.
With a rod of iron — That is, if they will not submit to his golden sceptre.
And he treadeth the wine press of the wrath of God — That is, he executes his judgments on the ungodly. This ruler of the nations was born (or appeared as such) immediately after the seventh angel began to sound. He now appears, not as a child, but as a victorious warrior. The nations have long ago felt his "iron rod," partly while the heathen Romans, after their savage persecution of the Christians, themselves groaned under numberless plagues and calamities, by his righteous vengeance; partly, while other heathens have been broken in pieces by those who bore the Christian name. For although the cruelty, for example, of the Spaniards in America, was unrighteous and detestable, yet did God therein execute his righteous judgment on the unbelieving nations; but they shall experience his iron rod as they never did yet, and then will they all return to their rightful Lord.
Verse 16
[16] And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh — That is, on the part of his vesture which is upon his thigh.
A name written — It was usual of old, for great personages in the eastern countries, to have magnificent titles affixed to their garments.
Verse 17
[17] And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Gather yourselves together to the great supper of God — As to a great feast, which the vengeance of God will soon provide; a strongly figurative expression, (taken from Ezekiel 39:17,) denoting the vastness of the ensuing slaughter.
Verse 19
[19] 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.
And I saw the kings of the earth — The ten kings mentioned Revelation 17:12; who had now drawn the other kings of the earth to them, whether Popish, Mahometan, or pagan.
Gathered together to make war with him that sat upon the horse — All beings, good and evil, visible and invisible, will be concerned in this grand contest. See Zechariah 14:1, etc.
Verse 20
[20] And the beast was taken, and with him 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.
The false prophet, who had wrought the miracles before him — And therefore shared in his punishment; these two ungodly men were cast alive - Without undergoing bodily death.
Into the lake of fire — And that before the devil himself, Revelation 20:9,10.
Verse 21
[21] And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Here is a most magnificent description of the overthrow of the beast and his adherents. It has, in particular, one exquisite beauty; that, after exhibiting the two opposite armies, and all the apparatus for a battle, verses 11-19; 19:20 the account of the victory, without one word of an engagement or fighting. Here is the most exact propriety; for what struggle can there be between omnipotence, and the power of all the creation united against it! Every description must have fallen short of this admirable silence.
Revelation 19 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 1
[1] And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
I heard a loud voice of a great multitude — Whose blood the great whore had shed.
Saying, Hallelujah — This Hebrew word signifies, Praise ye Jah, or Him that is. God named himself to Moses, EHEIEH, that is, I will be, Revelation 16:5; and not "He that is to come;" because his long-expected coming is under this trumpet actually present. At length he is styled, "Jah," "He that is;" the past together with the future being swallowed up in the present, the former things being no more mentioned, for the greatness of those that now are. This title is of all others the most peculiar to the everlasting God.
The salvation — Is opposed to the destruction which the great whore had brought upon the earth.
His power and glory — Appear from the judgment executed on her, and from the setting up his kingdom to endure through all ages.
Verse 2
[2] For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
For true and righteous are his judgments — Thus is the cry of the souls under the altar changed into a song of praise.
Verse 4
[4] And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
And the four and twenty elders, and the four living creatures felt down — The living creatures are nearer the throne than the elders. Accordingly they are mentioned before them, with the praise they render to God, 5:8,14; inasmuch as there the praise moves from the centre to the circumference. But here, when God's judgments are fulfilled, it moves back from the circumference to the centre. Here, therefore, the four and twenty elders are named before the living creatures.
Verse 5
[5] And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
And a voice came forth from the throne — Probably from the four living creatures, saying, Praise our God - The occasion and matter of this song of praise follow immediately after, verses 6, Revelation 19:1-4 Now for that which follows it: for that the Lord God, the Almighty, takes the kingdom to himself, and avenges himself on the rest of his enemies. Were all these inhabitants of heaven mistaken? If not, there is real, yea, and terrible anger in God.
Verse 6
[6] And I heard 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.
And I heard the voice of a great multitude. So all his servants did praise him.
The Almighty reigneth — More eminently and gloriously than ever before.
Verse 7
[7] Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
The marriage of the Lamb is come — Is near at hand, to be solemnized speedily. What this implies, none of "the spirits of just men," even in paradise, yet know. O what things are those which are yet behind! And what purity of heart should there be, to meditate upon them! And his wife hath made herself ready - Even upon earth; but in a far higher sense, in that world. After a time allowed for this, the new Jerusalem comes down, both made ready and adorned, Revelation 21:2.
Verse 8
[8] And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
And it is given to her — By God. The bride is all holy men, the whole invisible church.
To be arrayed in fine linen, white and clean — This is an emblem of the righteousness of the saints - Both of their justification and sanctification.
Verse 9
[9] 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.
And he — The angel, saith to me, Write - St. John seems to have been so amazed at these glorious sights, that he needeth to be reminded of this.
Happy are they who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb — Called to glory.
And he saith — After a little pause.
Verse 10
[10] 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 testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
And I fell before his feet to worship him — It seems, mistaking him for the angel of the covenant. But he saith, See thou do it not|-In the original, it is only, See not|, with a beautiful abruptness. To pray to or worship the highest creature is flat idolatry.
I am thy fellowservant and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus — I am now employed as your fellowservant, to testify of the Lord Jesus, by the same Spirit which inspired the prophets of old.
Verse 11
[11] And I saw 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.
And I saw the heaven opened — This is a new and peculiar opening of it, in order to show the magnificent expedition of Christ and his attendants, against his great adversary.
And behold a white horse — Many little regarded Christ, when he came meek, "riding upon an ass;" but what will they say, when he goes forth upon his white horse, with the sword of his mouth? White - Such as generals use in solemn triumph.
And he that sitteth on him, called Faithful — In performing all his promises.
And True — In executing all his threatenings.
And in righteousness — With the utmost justice.
He judgeth and maketh war — Often the sentence and execution go together.
Verse 12
[12] His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
And his eyes are a flame of fire — They were said to be as or like a flame of fire, before, Revelation 1:14; an emblem of his omniscience.
And upon his head are many diadems — For he is king of all nations.
And he hath a name written, which none knoweth but himself — As God he is incomprehensible to every creature.
Verse 13
[13] And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
And he is clothed in a vesture dipped in blood — The blood of the enemies he hath already conquered. Isaiah 63:1, etc.
Verse 15
[15] 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.
And he shall rule them — Who are not slain by his sword.
With a rod of iron — That is, if they will not submit to his golden sceptre.
And he treadeth the wine press of the wrath of God — That is, he executes his judgments on the ungodly. This ruler of the nations was born (or appeared as such) immediately after the seventh angel began to sound. He now appears, not as a child, but as a victorious warrior. The nations have long ago felt his "iron rod," partly while the heathen Romans, after their savage persecution of the Christians, themselves groaned under numberless plagues and calamities, by his righteous vengeance; partly, while other heathens have been broken in pieces by those who bore the Christian name. For although the cruelty, for example, of the Spaniards in America, was unrighteous and detestable, yet did God therein execute his righteous judgment on the unbelieving nations; but they shall experience his iron rod as they never did yet, and then will they all return to their rightful Lord.
Verse 16
[16] And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh — That is, on the part of his vesture which is upon his thigh.
A name written — It was usual of old, for great personages in the eastern countries, to have magnificent titles affixed to their garments.
Verse 17
[17] And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Gather yourselves together to the great supper of God — As to a great feast, which the vengeance of God will soon provide; a strongly figurative expression, (taken from Ezekiel 39:17,) denoting the vastness of the ensuing slaughter.
Verse 19
[19] 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.
And I saw the kings of the earth — The ten kings mentioned Revelation 17:12; who had now drawn the other kings of the earth to them, whether Popish, Mahometan, or pagan.
Gathered together to make war with him that sat upon the horse — All beings, good and evil, visible and invisible, will be concerned in this grand contest. See Zechariah 14:1, etc.
Verse 20
[20] And the beast was taken, and with him 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.
The false prophet, who had wrought the miracles before him — And therefore shared in his punishment; these two ungodly men were cast alive - Without undergoing bodily death.
Into the lake of fire — And that before the devil himself, Revelation 20:9,10.
Verse 21
[21] And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Here is a most magnificent description of the overthrow of the beast and his adherents. It has, in particular, one exquisite beauty; that, after exhibiting the two opposite armies, and all the apparatus for a battle, verses 11-19; 19:20 the account of the victory, without one word of an engagement or fighting. Here is the most exact propriety; for what struggle can there be between omnipotence, and the power of all the creation united against it! Every description must have fallen short of this admirable silence.