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Notes on the New Testament: Revelation.
Notes on the New Testament: Revelation.
Transcriber’s Notes The cover image was provided by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain. Punctuation, including Greek accents, have been standardized. Most abbreviations have been expanded in tool-tips for screen-readers and may be seen by hovering the mouse over the abbreviation. This book was written in a period when many words had not become standardized in their spelling. Words and abbreviations may have multiple spelling variations or inconsistent hyphenation in the text. The
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LIST OF ENGRAVINGS.
LIST OF ENGRAVINGS.
Patmos—the Port of Scala, and Town of Patino. The Site of Ephesus, from the Theatre. The Castle and Port of Smyrna. Ruins of the Church of St. John, Pergamos. Thyatira—General View. Sardis—Remains of Ancient Temple, &c. Philadelphia—General View. Petrified Cascades at Hierapolis. The Ruins of Laodicea. Map of N. Italy, 4to—Scene of the Third Trumpet and Third Vial. Engravings Printed in the Text. Egyptian Calf-idol. Human-headed Winged Lion; from the Nineveh Sculptures. Eagle-headed Win
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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
When I began the preparation of these “Notes” on the New Testament, now more than twenty years ago, I did not design to extend the work beyond the Gospels, and contemplated only simple and brief explanations of that portion of the New Testament, for the use of Sunday-school teachers and Bible classes. The work originated in the belief that Notes of that character were greatly needed, and that the older commentaries, having been written for a different purpose, and being, on account of their size
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EDITOR’S PREFACE.
EDITOR’S PREFACE.
YEAR-DAY PRINCIPLE. Professor Bush, in the Hierophant for January, 1845, at the close of a review of Barnes on the Hebrews, thus wrote:—“We sincerely hope Mr. Barnes may be enabled to accomplish his plan to its very ultimatum, and furnish a commentary of equal merit on the remaining books of the New Testament; with the exception, however, of the Apocalypse, to which, we think, his rigid Calvinian austerity of reason is not so well adapted; and which, we presume to think, would fare better under
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§ I.— The Writer of the Book of Revelation.
§ I.— The Writer of the Book of Revelation.
Hermas , about A.D. 100.—In the Shepherd or Pastor , ascribed to this writer, there are several allusions which are supposed to refer to this book, and which resemble it so much as to make it probable that the author was acquainted with it. Dr. Lardner thus expresses the result of his examination of this point: “ It is probable that Hermas had read the book of Revelation, and imitated it. He has many things resembling it” ( vol. ii. pp. 69 – 72). There is no direct testimony, however, in this
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§ II.—The Time of Writing the Apocalypse.
§ II.—The Time of Writing the Apocalypse.
This testimony of Irenæus is confirmed by that of Clement of Alexandria. Relating the well-known story of John and the robber, he speaks of the event as having occurred on his return from exile in Patmos “ after the death of the tyrant ,” and represents him as then an infirm old man . The testimony in the book itself ( chap. i. 9) is clear, that John was on the island of Patmos when these visions were seen. The “ tyrant ” whose death is here referred to must necessarily be either Nero or Domiti
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§ III.—The Place where the Book was Written.
§ III.—The Place where the Book was Written.
The book itself purports ( chap. i. 9) to have been written in the island of Patmos, where the writer says he was “for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ;” that is, clearly, where he had been banished for his attachment to the Saviour. For an account of this island, see Notes on chap. i. 9 . The only question that has ever been raised on this point is, whether this was a reality , or a poetical fiction —that is, whether the writer in his visions merely seemed to have been t
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§ IV.—The Nature and Design of the Book.
§ IV.—The Nature and Design of the Book.
This must be learned from an examination of the book itself, and the views entertained on this point will be determined, in a great measure, by the principles which are adopted in interpreting it. From the examination which I have given of the book, and the methods of interpretation which I have adopted, it seems to me that the matter and design of the book may be expressed in the following specifications:— 1. It was composed in a time of persecution, and in view of the persecutions and hostilit
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§ V.—The Plan of the Apocalypse.
§ V.—The Plan of the Apocalypse.
The book of Revelation may be regarded as divided into seven portions, embracing the following general points:—The introduction, chap. i. ; the epistles to the seven churches, chap. ii., iii. ; the preparatory vision, chap. iv. ; the relation of the church to the external world, embracing the outward or secular aspect of things as bearing on the church, chap. v.–xi. 1 – 18; the internal state of the church, embracing the rise and destiny of Antichrist—or, the internal history of the church unti
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ANALYSIS OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION OF ST. JOHN.
ANALYSIS OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION OF ST. JOHN.
The pale horse. —The reign of death, in the form of famine, pestilence, disease; fulfilled in the Roman empire in the bloodshed, famine, and pestilence that prevailed in the time of Decius, Gallus, Æmilianus, Valerian, and Gallianus, A.D. 243 – 268. The martyrs. —Fulfilled in the Roman empire in the persecutions, particularly in the time of Diocletian, A.D. 284 – 304; the last of the efforts in the Pagan world to extinguish the Christian name. Consternation and alarm as if the world was coming
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CHAPTER I. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER I. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
In the scene represented in this chapter, there is some imagery which would be suggested by the arrangements in the temple at Jerusalem, and it has been supposed (Elliott, i. 72, 73) that the vision was laid there, and that Christ is represented as walking among the seven lamps “habited as the ancient high-priest.” But the vision is not such an one as would have been presented in the holy place in the temple. In that place there was but one lamp-stand, with seven sconces; here, there were seven
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CHAPTER II. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER II. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
THE EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS. The contents of the epistle to the church at Ephesus—the first addressed—are these: (1) The attribute of the Saviour referred to is, that he “holds the stars in his right hand, and walks in the midst of the golden candlesticks,” ch. ii. 1. (2) He commends them for their patience, and for their opposition to those who are evil, and for their zeal and fidelity in carefully examining into the character of some who claimed to be apostles, but who were, in fact,
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CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER III. A ND unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the 140 seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; 141 I know thy works, that thou hast 142 a name that thou livest, and art dead. 1. And unto the angel of the church in Sardis. Notes on ch. i. 20 . ¶ These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God. See Notes on ch. i. 4 . If the phrase, “the seven Spirits of God,” as there supposed, refers to the Holy Spirit, there is great propriety in s
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CHAPTER IV. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER IV. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER IV. A FTER this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven; and the first 175 voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, 176 Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. 1. After this. Gr. , “After these things;” that is, after what he had seen, and after what he had been directed to record in the preceding chapters. How long after these things this occurred, he does not say—whether on the same day, or at some subsequent t
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CHAPTER V. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER V. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER V. A ND I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a 194 book written within and on the back side, 195 sealed with seven seals. 1. And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne. Of God, ch. iv. 3, 4. His form is not described there, nor is there any intimation of it here except the mention of his “right hand.” The book or roll seems to have been so held in his hand that John could see its shape, and see distinctly how it was written and sealed. ¶ A book — βιβλίον
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CHAPTER VI. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER VI. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
(5) It may be assumed that new light will be thrown upon the prophecies by time, and by the progress of events. It cannot be supposed that the investigations of the meaning of the prophetic symbols will all be in vain. Difficulties, it is reasonable to hope, may be cleared up; errors may be detected in regard to the application of the prophecies to particular events; and juster views on the prophecies, as on all other subjects, will prevail as the world grows older. We become wiser by seeing the
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CHAPTER VII. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER VII. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
In the exposition it will be proper ( ver. 1 – 8) to inquire into the fair meaning of the language employed in the symbols; and then to inquire whether there are any known facts to which the description is applicable. The first inquiry may and should be pursued independently of the other; and it may be added, that the explanation offered on this may be correct, even if the other should be erroneous. The same remark, also, is applicable to the remainder of the chapter ( ver. 9 – 17), and indeed
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CHAPTER VIII. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER VIII. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER VIII. A ND when he had opened the 259 seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. 1. And when he had opened the seventh seal. See Notes on ch. v. 1 . ¶ There was silence in heaven. The whole scene of the vision is laid in heaven ( ch. iv. ), and John represents things as they seem to be passing there. The meaning here is, that on the opening of this seal, instead of voices, thunderings, tempests, as perhaps was expected from the character of the sixth sea
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CHAPTER IX. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER IX. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER IX. A ND the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a 281 star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the 282 bottomless pit. 1. And the fifth angel sounded. See Notes on ch. viii. 6 , 7 . ¶ And I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth. This denotes, as was shown in the Notes on ch. viii. 10 , a leader, a military chieftain, a warrior. In the fulfilment of this, as in the former case, we look for the appearance of some mighty prince and warrior, to whom is given
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CHAPTER X. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER X. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
With this general view of what we should naturally anticipate in this chapter, from the course of exposition in the preceding chapters, we are prepared for a more particular exposition and application of the symbols in this new vision. It will be the most convenient course, keeping in mind the general views presented here, to explain the symbols, and to consider their application as we go along. CHAPTER X. A ND I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud; and a 317 rai
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CHAPTER XI. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER XI. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER XI. A ND there was given me a 329 reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and 330 measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 1. And there was given me. He does not say by whom, but the connection would seem to imply that it was by the angel. All this is of course to be regarded as symbolical. The representation undoubtedly pertains to a future age, but the language is such as would be properly addressed to one who had been a Jew, and the ima
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CHAPTER XII. ANALYSIS OF CH. XI. 19, XII.
CHAPTER XII. ANALYSIS OF CH. XI. 19, XII.
(8) The persecution of the woman, ver. 13 – 15. She is constrained to fly, as on wings given her for that purpose, into the wilderness, where she is nourished for the time that the dragon is to exert his power—a “time, times, and half a time”—or for 1260 years. The dragon in rage pours out a flood of water, that he may cause her to be swept away by the flood: referring to the persecutions that would exist while the church was in the wilderness, and the efforts that would be made to destroy it e
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CHAPTER XIII. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER XIII. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
( c ) In its general form it resembles a leopard; its feet are like those of a bear; its mouth like that of a lion. Its connection with the great “dragon”—with Satan—is indicated by the statement that it derives its “power, and its seat, and its authority” from him ( ver. 2)—a striking representation of the fact that the civil or secular Roman power which supported the church of Rome through all its corrupt and bloody progress was the putting forth of the power of Satan on the earth. ( d ) One
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CHAPTER XIV. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER XIV. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
This whole chapter, therefore, is designed to relieve the gloom of the former representations. The action of the grand moving panorama is stayed that the mind may not be overwhelmed with gloomy thoughts, but that it may be cheered with the assurance of the final triumph of truth and righteousness. The chapter, viewed in this light, is introduced with great artistic skill, as well as great beauty of poetic illustration; and, in its place, it is adapted to set forth this great truth, that, to the
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CHAPTER XV. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER XV. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER XV. A ND I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the 459 wrath of God. 1. And I saw another sign in heaven. Another wonder or extraordinary symbol. The word sign here— σημεῖον —is the same which in ch. xii. 1, 3; xiii. 13, is rendered wonder and wonders , and in ch. xiii. 14; xvi. 14; xix. 20, miracles . The word is not elsewhere found in the book of Revelation, though it is of frequent occurrence in ot
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CHAPTER XVI. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER XVI. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
The sixth angel pours out his vial upon the great river Euphrates. The consequence is, that the waters of the river are dried up, so that the way of the kings of the East might be prepared. The writer sees also, in this connection, three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, that go forth into all the earth to gather all nations to the great day of the battle of God Almighty, ver. 12 – 16. Th
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CHAPTER XVII. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER XVII. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER XVII. A ND there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the 511 great whore that 512 sitteth upon many waters: 1. And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials. See Notes on ch. xv. 1 , 7 . Reference is again made to these angels in the same manner in ch. xxi. 9, where one of them says that he would show to John “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” No particular one is sp
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CHAPTER XVIII. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER XVIII. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
(5) The final destruction of the city, ver. 21 – 24. A mighty angel takes up a stone and casts it into the sea as an emblem of the destruction that is to come upon it. The voice of harpers, and musicians, and pipers would be heard no more in it; and no craftsmen would be there, and the sound of the millstone would be heard no more, and the light of a candle would shine no more there, and the voice of the bridegroom and bride would be heard no more. CHAPTER XVIII. A ND after these things I saw a
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CHAPTER XIX. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER XIX. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
III. John is so overcome with this representation, that in his transports of feeling he prostrates himself before the angel who shows him all this, ready to worship one who discloses such bright and glorious scenes, ver. 10. He is gently rebuked for allowing himself to be so overcome that he would render divine homage to any creature, and is told that he who communicates this to him is but a fellow-servant, and that God only is to be worshipped. IV. The final conquest over the beast and the fal
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CHAPTER XX. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
CHAPTER XX. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER.
In order to prepare the way for a proper understanding of this chapter, the following additional remarks may be here made:— ( a ) The design of this book did not demand a minute detail of the events which would occur in the consummation of human affairs. The main purpose was to trace the history of the church to the scene of the final triumph when all its enemies would be overthrown, and when religion would be permanently established upon the earth. Hence, though in the previous chapters we have
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CHAPTER XXI. ANALYSIS OF CHAP. XXI., XXII. 1‒5.
CHAPTER XXI. ANALYSIS OF CHAP. XXI., XXII. 1‒5.
(2) Its walls, ver. 12, 18. The walls are represented as “great and high,” and as composed of “jasper.” (3) Its gates, ver. 12, 13, 21. The gates are twelve in number, three on each side; and are each composed of a single pearl. (4) Its foundations, ver. 14, 18 – 20. There are twelve foundations, corresponding to the number of the apostles of the Lamb. They are all composed of precious stones—jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprasus, jac
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CHAPTER XXII.
CHAPTER XXII.
CHAPTER XXII. A ND he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 1. And he showed me a pure river of water of life. In the New Jerusalem; the happy abode of the redeemed. The phrase “water of life,” means living or running water, like a spring or fountain, as contrasted with a stagnant pool. See Notes on John iv. 14. The allusion here is doubtless to the first Eden, where a river watered the garden ( Gen. ii. 10, seq. ), and
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