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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - Revelation 12:8 - 12:8
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Rev 12:8. Οὐκ ἴσχυσεν-αὐτῷ) Others read, οὐκ ἴσχυσαν, οὐδὲ τόπος εὑρέθη αὐτῶν.[126] If the plural number were correct, it would be ΟὐΔῈ ΤΌΠΟς ΕὙΡΈΘΗ ΑὐΤΟῖς (not ΑΥΤῶΝ), as it is expressed in Rev 20:11; Dan 2:35, also Job 16:18. Victorinus also has, and there was not found FOR HIM (not, OF THEM) a place in heaven. And Cassiod. in his Complex., The Dragon being cast headlong to the earth, was overthrown, so that he no longer HAD the place of blessedness. The explanation of Andreas likewise speaks of the dragon only, and not of his angels. In which point of view almost all the testimonies for the plural are set aside. The style of the Apocalypse usually attributes the good which is done, or the adversity which happens to the prince or leading person concerned, in the singular number, rather than to those whom he has for his subjects. This is the case in this passage also; for in Rev 12:7, in the battle, the dragon is described at first alone, and then the same with his angels. Afterwards this book makes mention of the dragon only; wherefore the angels of the dragon, where occasion requires it, will have to be understood from this passage. The simple verb, ἰσχύειν, for which Pricæus would prefer ΚΑΤΙΣΧΎΕΙΝ, is used in this passage, as in the Septuagint, Psalms 13(12):5; Dan 7:21, ἸΣΧΎΕΙΝ ΠΡΌς ΤΙΝΑ.-ἘΝ Τῷ ΟὐΡΑΝῷ, in heaven) in which, all along from the triumph of Christ up to the time then present, he had accused the brethren of the dwellers in heaven, Rev 12:10. Comp. Rev 12:12. The earth is included in the heaven: not the opposite.
[126] A Memph. read ἴσχυσεν. But BC Vulg. Syr. ἴσχυσαν. ABC Vulg. Syr. read αὐτῶν; but Memph. αὐτῷ.-E.