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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadHeinrich Meyer Commentary - Revelation 10
Verse Commentaries:
Chapter Level Commentary:
Rev_10:2. καὶ ἔχων . Thus, already, Griesb. in accordance with decisive witnesses, instead of the modification καὶ εἱχεν (Elz.).
Rev_10:4. The interpretation ὅσα in à (quae, Primas), instead of ὅτε , concurs in testimony against the addition τὰς φωνὰς ἑαυτῶν in Elz.
αὐτὰ : A, C, à , Lach., Tisch. [W. and H.]. Without witnesses: ταῦτα (Elz.).
Rev_10:6. The omission of the words καὶ τ . θάλ . κ . τὰ ἐν αὐτῃ in A, ×à , depends upon an easily explained oversight. They belong to the completeness of the formal discourse, and are sufficiently defended by C, Vulg., etc. Lach. has parenthesized them, οὐκέτι ἔσται . So A, C, al., Griesb., etc. Incorrectly, Elz.: οὐκ ἔσται ἔτι .
Rev_10:7. τοὺς ἑαυτ . δούλους προφ . A, C, à , al. (Matth., Lach., Tisch. [W. and H.]) assure the acc. The dat. (Elz., Beng.) is a modification.
Rev_10:8. λαλοῦσαν
λέγουσαν . A, C, à , 7, 14, Vulg., Lach., Tisch. [W. and H.]. The unauthorized nom. is a modification (Elz., Beng., Griesb., Matth.). τοῦ ἁγγε . The art. is received already by Griesb., according to decisive witnesses in the Elz. text.
Rev_10:11. καὶ λέγουσῖν μοι . A, 8, 9, 13, al., Areth. (cf. also Vulg.), Matth., Lach., Tisch. [W. and H.]. The sing. λέγει (Elz., Beng., Griesb.) is modifying. à has, besides the plural, several interpretations.
It is manifest that in ch. 10 an interlude begins, which occurs here between the sixth (finished in Rev_9:21) and seventh (beginning in Rev_11:15) trumpet-visions, just as the scene interposed in ch. 7 between the sixth and seventh seal-visions. But in this passage the relation is the more difficult, especially from the fact that the interlude, not so definitely circumscribed as that of ch. 7, proceeds from the continuous course of the proper main visions, since, at any rate, one part of what is described from Rev_10:1 to Rev_11:13 belongs to the second woe, whose conclusion is marked in Rev_11:14, but whose first part was contained in the sixth trumpet-vision.[2684] This must be firmly maintained, as a matter of course, against De Wette, etc., who find the second woe in Rev_9:13-21, yet without supporting further false consequences upon this error contrary to the context, but especially against Hengstenb., according to whom the entire conception of the section, Rev_10:1 to Rev_11:14 (and still further of Rev_11:15 sqq.), coincides with the view that the episode extends from Rev_10:1 to Rev_11:13, and that Rev_11:14 immediately joins Rev_9:21. But if something were not contained within this episode that belongs to the second woe, Rev_11:14 could not stand in its place, but must immediately follow Rev_9:21.
Ebrard commits an error opposite to that of Hengstenb., since he[2685] finds the second woe only within the episode,[2686] and so conceals the entrance of the episode into the course of the trumpet-visions, that he does not reckon the sixth trumpet-plague in the second woe. Cf., besides, Vitr., who, on the other hand, identifies the sixth trumpet-vision with the second woe, and reckons it as continuing until Rev_11:16.[2687]
In another form, the question recurs to the relation of the interlude to the main course of the visions, if the subject considered be how far the prophecy (Rev_10:11) extends, which John is to proclaim as a consequence of having eaten the book offered him by the angel (Rev_10:2; Rev_10:8 sqq.). Prior to the exposition of the details, it may be remarked concerning the meaning of the entire section, Rev_10:1 to Rev_11:14 : (1) The essential reference of the interlude in which an angel from heaven brings John a little book, in order that he may eat it and then prophesy anew, is determined by a formal address of the angel himself, confirmed by an oath (Rev_10:7), viz., that forthwith at the seventh sound of the trumpet, as also the entire course of the visions hitherto leads us to expect, the end is to come. (2) Immediately with the sounding of the seventh trumpet, coincides the speedy approach of the third woe (Rev_11:14). If it were conceded that the part of the second woe described in ch. 11 referred to the destruction of Jerusalem (cf. Rev_10:8), it would be obvious how precisely John distinguishes the proper final catastrophe, to which the chief course of the visions extends, from that act of judgment still falling in the second woe, but at the same time also preserves the inner connection between this special act of judgment and that final fulfilment,[2688] i.e., the eschatological character of the judgment on Jerusalem, by representing both in the one consequence of the woe.
[2684] Cf. Rev_9:12.
[2685] p. 348 sqq.
[2686] Viz., Rev_11:13.
[2687] “The calamities (Rev_9:13 to Rev_11:14) pertain to the second woe; i.e., to the sixth trumpet.”
[2688] Cf. Matthew 24.