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Rev_13:5-7. As the conception of the form of the beast in general (Rev_13:1-2) is conditioned by the Danielian prototype, so also the individual chief features which describe the activity of the beast are in conformity with what Daniel says of antichrist. Not only the schematical determination of time for the antichristian activity of the beast, forty-two months,[3302] is derived from Dan_7:25; Dan_12:7; but also the characteristic representation of the presumptuous, blasphemous speech,[3303] and of his conflict with the saints,[3304] makes the beast appear in the same way as the concretion of the antichristian world-power withstanding the N. T. communion of saints, as in Daniel’s view Antiochus Epiphanes arrayed himself against the O. T. Church. But Züll. finds incorrectly also in 7b an analogy with Dan_7:14, in that the sense that what is there ascribed to Christ, is here declared concerning the antichristian universal monarchy of the beast, as the contrary of the Messiah; for the ἐξουσία of the beast, i.e., the definite supreme power thereof, adapted to its position and task, corresponds neither to the kingly glory over all nations granted to the Son of man,[3305] nor to his peculiar ἐξουσία , which, as the βασιλεία itself, is marked as one that is eternal.[3306] The ἘΔΌΘΗ , Rev_13:5; Rev_13:7,[3307] which refers to the ultimate ground of divine authority, contains for believers a consolatory determination which belongs to the ἜΔΩΚΕΝ , Rev_13:2; for only in accordance with God’s order can the dragon equip his beast, and only within the limits fixed by God can the beast work in virtue of the ἘΞΟΥΣΊΑ ascribed to him.
ΣΤΌΜΑ ΛΑΛΟῦΝ ΜΕΓΆΛΑ ΚΑῚ ΒΛΑΣΦΗΜΊΑς . The supercilious speaking of great things is already in itself the testimony of an egotistic boasting of one despising the living God, and then becomes openly blasphemous when the presumptuous speeches have such definite reference to God as is expressed, e.g., in Rev_13:6; cf. also the declaration put, in Rev_13:4, into the mouth of the adherents of the beast. The historical foundation for the description, Rev_13:5 a, is formed by the declarations repeated in various ways, in which Roman insolence not only ascribed to itself absolute dominion over the world, but also expressly gave divine names and divine honor to the city, the empire, and the emperor.[3308]
ΠΟΙῆΣΑΙ . In the following accus., the express object to ΠΟΙῆΣΑΙ may be found,[3309] and with Luther, Ewald, etc., the explanation may be rendered: Power was given him to bring in forty-two months besides; viz., in the manner described in Rev_13:5 a. But this mere determination of time appears too circumstantial for the Apoc.; hence it is explained better by Vitr., Züll., De Wette, Hengstenb., etc., after the analogy of Dan_8:24; Dan_11:28; Dan_11:30; Dan_11:32; Psa_37:5, where the ποιεῖν likewise occurs without any express designation of the object: power was given him to work, to ply his business, for forty-two months. In connection with this it is to be observed,[3310] that thus the two parts of Rev_13:5 briefly designate what is more fully described in Rev_13:6 (cf. Rev_13:5 a) and Rev_13:7 (cf. Rev_13:5 b).
The prefixed βλασφημίας πρὸς τὸν θεόν (Rev_13:6) is more definitely specialized in a threefold way, to which already the plural ΒΛΑΣΦΗΜΊΑς ΠΡ . Τ . Θ ., which is here certain, points, viz., first, βλασφημῆσαι τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ , whereby is designated the calumniation directed immediately against God himself, which is especially fulfilled by the beast usurping for himself the divine names and honor; secondly, καὶ τὴν σκηνὴν αὐτοῦ , i.e., as it is also made manifest from the following words,[3311] heaven, which, as God’s tabernacle, is an object of the blasphemous speeches of the beast; and, finally, καὶ τοὺς ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ σκηνοῦντας , because it is God’s gracious work, that he has opened heaven as his tabernacle for those who now dwell with him therein. The two last kinds of blasphemy are mediate, but they have place just as certainly as the world-power, represented by the beast, speaks only with mockery of that which was to believers the home towards which their entire hope was directed; and accordingly the world-power stood in opposition to the inexhaustible source of their consolation and patience.
ΠΌΛΕΜΟΝ ΠΟΙῆΣΑΙ ΜΕΤᾺ Τ . ἉΓ . To the instrument of the dragon it is given—on God’s part—to fulfil what the dragon had in mind when he prepared the beast.[3312]
ΚΑῚ ΝΙΚῆΣΑΙ ΑὐΤΟΎς ; viz., in so far as the saints must succumb to the power of the beast, and suffer imprisonment, banishment, death, and all kinds of ΘΛῖΨΙς .[3313] Besides, it is just in this that the true victory of saints consists.[3314]
Κ . ἘΔ . ΑὐΤ . ἘΞΟΥΣΊΑ ἘΠῚ ΠᾶΣΑΝ ΦΥΛῊΝ ΚΑῚ
ἜΘΝΟς . Ewald, by determining the ἘΞΟΥΣΊΑ according to the measure of what immediately precedes,[3315] reaches the erroneous conception that the ἘΠῚ ΠᾶΣ . ΦΥΛῊΝ , Κ . Τ . Λ ., is to be referred to Christians[3316] But the expression designates, by its four specifications,[3317] the entire number of the inhabitants of the earth who easily appear in opposition to the saints; hence the ἘΞΟΥΣΊΑ ἘΠῚ ΠΑΣ . ΦΥΛῊΝ , Κ . Τ . Λ ., is the great and sovereign power[3318] which is granted to the beast with his empire. Because of this ἘΞΟΥΣΊΑ he is in a position to war victoriously against the saints. But as in Rev_13:5 a, so also here, where there is a definitive designation of the ἐξουσία on which the entire dreadful activity of the beast depends, the consolatory thought lies in the background, that even though the supreme power, which the dragon has given (Rev_13:2) to the beast, is so great that it extends over the whole world, yet it is at last only by the Divine bestowment, and therefore beneath the Divine order and limitation, that the beast possesses, and can exercise, his ἐξουσία .
[3302] Cf. Rev_11:2, Rev_12:14.
[3303] στόμα λαλοῦν μεγάλα κ . βλασφ . Cf. Dan_7:8; Dan_7:20; Dan_7:25.
[3304] Cf. Dan_7:21.
[3305] καἰ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ ἡ ἀρχὴ καὶ ἡ τιμὴ καὶ ἡ βασιλεια , καὶ πάντες οἱ λαοὶ φυλαὶ καὶ γλῶσσαι αὐτῷ δουλεύσουσιν .
[3306] ἡ ἐξ . αὐτοῦ ἐξουσία αἱώνιος , ἥτις οὑ παρελεύσεται , κ . τ . λ .
[3307] Cf. Rev_6:4; Rev_6:8, Rev_7:2, Rev_9:5.
[3308] Cf. Introduction, p. 51.
[3309] Cf. Act_15:33; 2Co_11:25; Jam_4:13.
[3310] Vitr., Hengstenb.
[3311] Cf. Rev_21:3.
[3312] Cf. Rev_12:17, Rev_13:2.
[3313] Cf. Rev_11:7.
[3314] Cf. Rev_12:11, Rev_2:10 sq.
[3315] “It is allowed to perpetrate this slaughter throughout all lands and nations.”
[3316] “From the nature of the topic and thought, it is apparent that only Christians dwelling everywhere throughout the world are to be here understood.”
[3317] Cf. Rev_5:9, Rev_11:9, Rev_14:6, Rev_17:15.
[3318] Also Ew. ii.