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Rev_1:16. καὶ ἔχων , κ . τ . λ . Not for καὶ είχε , κ . τ . λ .;[794] but the participle occurs in violation of syntax, while John with a few strong touches of his pencil[795] portrays the sublime manifestation.[796] Christ appears, having seven stars[797] in his right hand.[798] The stars are neither to be changed into precious stones which shine like stars, and to be sought in a ring, or seven rings, on Christ’s fingers,[799] nor is it to be said that “the stars soar so easily, freely, and steadily, on or over his right hand, that he might confidently place them[800] upon John’s head.”[801] To ask at all where these stars in Rev_1:17 must be regarded, is a question both paltry and unpoetic. That Christ has the stars in his right hand, shows that they are his property. This is presented for the consolation of believers,[802] but not in the sense as though the power of Christ over the churches, from which no one can deliver, should he wish to punish,[803] were portrayed. This is entirely foreign to the present passage, and even in Rev_2:1 sqq. is conceivable only as Christ, who graciously rules and defensively walks in the midst of the candlesticks, can cast a faithless church from its candlestick,[804] or even reject a star.
ΚΑῚ ἘΚ ΤΟῦ ΣΤΌΜΑΤΟς
ἘΚΠΟΡΕΥΟΜΈΝΗ . Again, a new feature of the sublime picture is stated in an asyntactical way. “Who can portray this form? And yet it has occurred, alas! a thousand times, and the form of the God-man is represented as the most miserable cripple.” Thus Herder; while Eichh.,[805] just in the present feature of the description, would find an offence against the laws of painting. The sharp two-edged sword which proceeds from the mouth of the Lord is, in a way similar to the feet like brass, a plastic representation of the divine power of Christ, in complete accordance with the image of the vision according to which he “slays the godless with the rod of his mouth.”[806] Of the power of the word of God, preached by Christ’s ministers, striking the conscience and otherwise divinely efficacious,[807] there is nothing said here. The entire description is purely personal. The sword from the mouth[808] of Christ is directed against his enemies both within[809] and without[810] the Church.[811] What a consolation for those whom he holds in his hands!
ΚΑῚ Ἡ ὌΨΙς ΑὐΤΟῦ designates not the countenance,[812] as ὌΨΙς is used in Joh_11:44 but not in Joh_7:24, but[813] the appearance in general. The description is not concluded by a single feature, but so that the entire form appears as surrounded with the brilliancy of the sun. We are forbidden to take ὌΨΙς in the sense of ΠΡΌΣΩΠΟΝ by the comparison of Rev_10:1, where this word, frequently found in the Apoc.,[814] is regularly used; also Dan_10:6, where ΠΡΌΣΩΠΟΝ occurs, and that, too, in the beginning of the detailed description, is throughout against Hengstenberg’s opinion. In like manner, in the description, Dan_10:6, ΤῸ ΣῶΜΑ ΑὐΤΟῦ ὩΣΕΙ ΘΑΡΣΊς , the entire form of the Lord is to be regarded: ῶς Ὁ ἭΛΙΟς ΦΑΊΝΕΙ ἘΝ Τῇ ΔΥΝΆΜΕΙ . The additional designation,[815] of course, is not necessarily to be referred to the noonday brilliancy[816] of the sun, but is correctly paraphrased by De Wette: “when its light is at the strongest.”[817] The sun shines in its strength when neither mist nor clouds intercept its rays.[818]
[794] Eichh.
[795] De Wette.
[796] Cf. Rev_19:12, Rev_21:12; where, as here, the turning aside from the original construction is facilitated by the preceding features of the description.
[797] Cf. v. 20.
[798] Holding them, Rev_2:1.
[799] Eichh., Heinr.
[800] v. 17.
[801] Ebrard.
[802] Cf. Joh_10:28 sq.; Herder, Ebrard.
[803] Hengstenb.; also Ew. ii.
[804] Rev_2:5.
[805] Cf., also, De Wette.
[806] Isa_11:4; cf. Isa_49:2; Wis_18:15 sqq.; 2Th_2:8.
[807] Heb_4:12; Eph_6:17; Tichon., Primas., Arethas, Vitr., Calov., Stern; cf., also, De Wette, etc.
[808] The graphic idea lying at the foundation (cf., besides, Psa_55:22; Psa_57:5; Psa_59:8, etc.) is frequently expressed in the rabbins. Pirke Elies.: “Moses removed him with the sword of his lips.—Dathan said to him, ‘Do you seek to slay me with the sword which is in thy mouth?’ ” Wetst., Schöttg., also on 2Th_2:8.
[809] Rev_2:12; Rev_2:16.
[810] Rev_19:15; Rev_19:21.
[811] Ebrard.
[812] Vulg., Luth., Calov., Herd., Hengstenb., Ebrard, De Wette.
[813] Valla, Erasm., Eichh., Ew., Züll.
[814] Cf. Rev_4:7, Rev_9:7, Rev_22:4, Rev_6:16, Rev_12:14, Rev_20:11.
[815] Cf. Jdg_5:31; LXX.: ὥς ἔξοδος ἡλίου ἐν δυνάμοι αὐτοῦ .
[816] Eichh., Heinr.
[817] Against Ebrard.
[818] Hengstenb.