Robertson Word Pictures - Revelation 17:8 - 17:8

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Robertson Word Pictures - Revelation 17:8 - 17:8


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Was and is not (ēn kai ouk estin). Imperfect and present of eimi, an apparent antithesis to ho ēn kai ho ōn of Rev 1:4. This is a picture of the beast of Rev 13:1. which the woman is riding, but no longer just the empire, but one of the emperors who died (ouk estin, is not).

And is about to come up out of the abyss (kai mellei anabainein ek tēs abussou). That is, he is going to come to life again.

And to go into perdition (kai eis apōleian hupagei). So (and he goes into perdition) the best MSS. read rather than the infinitive hupagein. Most interpreters see here an allusion to the “Nero redivivus” expectancy realized in Domitian, who was ruling when John wrote and who was called Nero redivivus.

Shall wonder (thaumasthēsontai). First future passive (deponent) of thaumazō, with which compare ethaumasthē in Rev 13:3. John had wondered (ethaumasa) in Rev 17:6 “with the amazement of a horrible surprise; the world will wonder and admire” (Swete).

Whose name (hōn onoma). Singular onoma, like ptōma in Rev 11:8. See Rev 13:8 for the same description of those who worship the beast, and see note for discussion of details.

When they behold (blepontōn). Genitive plural of the present active participle of blepō, agreeing with hōn (genitive relative) rather than with hoi katoikountes (nominative just before hōn).

How that (hoti). “Namely that.”

He was, and is not, and shall come (ēn kai ouk estin kai parestai). Repetition of what is in Rev 17:7 with parestai (future of pareimi, from which parousia comes) in place of mellei, “parody of the divine name” (Charles) in Rev 1:4, Rev 1:8; Rev 4:8, “as the hellish antitype of Christ.” The Neronic Antichrist has also a parousia.