Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadHeinrich Meyer Commentary - Revelation 19:11 - 19:16
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Rev_19:11-16. The going forth of Christ and his followers from heaven to the judgment.
τὸν οὐρανὸν ἠνεῳγμένον , cf. Rev_4:1. The seer, at Rev_17:3, in spirit was carried to the earth.[4091]
ΚΑῚ ἸΔΟῪ ἼΠΠΟς ΛΕΥΚῸς , cf. Rev_4:2.
ΚΑΛΟΎΜΕΝΟς ΠΙΣΤῸς ΚΑῚ ἈΛΗΘΙΝῸς . The construction of the individual expressions is also entirely similar to that of Rev_6:2. The ΚΑΛΟΎΜΕΝΟς placed without ἘΣΤΊΝ in a kind of apposition to Ὁ ΚΑΘΉΜ . ἘΠʼ ΑὐΤΟΝ effects a transition to the description in the finite tense ( ΚΑῚ ἘΝ ΔΙΚ . ΚΡΊΝΕΙ , Κ . Τ . Λ .). Concerning the idea of ΠΙΣΤΌς and of ἈΛΗΘΙΝΌς , cf. Rev_3:7; Rev_3:14. There is a significant prominence given to the circumstance that the one now going forth to most complete final victory is called not only “faithful,” with respect to his promises to his believers now to be fulfilled by himself, but also “true;” for it is just by his present triumphal march against his enemies, that he proves himself to be the Messiah announced from olden time. Hence the entire description is filled with tones harmonizing with the O. T. prophecies; the Lord now manifests himself as the One who was truly meant in all those prophecies.
ΚΑῚ ἘΝ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΣΎΝῌ ΚΡΊΝΕΙ . Cf. Isa_11:3 sqq. The ΚΑῚ ΠΟΛΕΜΕῖ added in this passage expresses the meaning of the ΚΡΊΝΕΙ in a way corresponding to the nature of the description here presented.[4092]
ΟἹ ΔῈ ΟΦΘΑΛΜΟῚ ΑὐΤ ., Κ . Τ . Λ . Cf. Rev_1:14.
ΔΙΑΔΉΜΑΤΑ ΠΟΛΛΆ . If the many diadems upon his head are to be regarded trophies of victories already won,[4093] the kings, possibly the ten kings of ch. 17,[4094] must at all events be regarded as vanquished. But the judgment upon these is not yet fulfilled. It might also be said that the Lord, going forth as triumphant victor, who also (Rev_6:2) receives from the very beginning a victor’s garland, appears here already adorned with the crowns of the kings to be judged by him. But the reference to Rev_19:16, where Christ is called the ΒΑΣΙΛΕῪς ΒΑΣΙΛΈΩΝ , is more probable.[4095] The explanation of Andr., that the dominion of Christ over all who are in heaven and on earth is indicated, is too indefinite.
ἜΧΩΝ ὌΝΟΜΑ
ΑὐΤΌς . Either the name mentioned in Rev_19:13 is meant,[4096] or although it was “written,”—possibly on the Lord’s forehead,[4097] but not, indeed, upon his vesture,[4098] or on the many diadems,[4099]—and therefore was visible to John, the name remained, nevertheless, unknown to him, because it was inscrutable[4100] To think of any definite name besides that designated (Rev_19:13), and to attempt to conjecture it, is an undertaking in violation of the context.[4101] The second of the two possible views is the more probable; for even if the Ὃ ΟὐΔΕῚς ΕἸΔΕΝ , Κ . Τ . Λ ., be explained by the mystery lying in the name Ὁ ΛΌΓΟς ΤΟῦ ΘΕΟῪ ,[4102] yet the context makes the impression, particularly as the assertion ΚΑῚ ΚΈΚΛΗΤΑΙ ΤῸ ὌΝΟΜΑ ΑὐΤΟῪ , Κ . Τ . Λ ., is separated from Rev_19:12 by a special item of the description ( Κ . ΠΕΡΙΒ ., Κ . Τ . Λ .), that a name is intended to be indicated, which is known only to the Lord himself, since He alone has and knows what is designated in the name.[4103] But in accordance with Rev_3:12, it may be thought that the complete blessedness of believers in immediate communion with the Lord (Rev_19:9) will disclose also the mystery of this name.[4104]
καὶ περιβεβλημένος ἱμάτιον βεβαμμένον αἵματι . After the manner of the victor, Isa_63:1 sqq.,[4105] whose prophetic description finds its true fulfilment in the Lord.[4106]
καὶ κέκληται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ . The form of the expression κέκληται τ . ὄν . αὐτ . shows that here[4107] the definite name, familiar to believers, which the Lord has received as a significant proper name,[4108] and continues to bear, is intended to be designated. The name corresponds to the position of the Lord as Mediator, as described Rev_1:1 sqq.[4109] Cf. also Introduction, p. 66.
τὰ στρατεύματα , κ . τ . λ . The armies of the Lord[4110] are not only the hosts of angels who appear elsewhere as attendants of the Lord coming to judgment,[4111] but departed believers are also to be regarded as referred to.[4112] This is indicated not only by the comprehensive expression τὰ στρατ . τὰ ἐν τῷ οὐρ ., but also by the vesture ( βύσσ . λευκ . καθ .; cf. Rev_19:8).
ῥομφαία ὀξεῖα . The sharp sword proceeding from the mouth of the Lord designates here, where, besides, it is attached to statements recalling ancient prophetical descriptions ( ἵυα ἐν αὐτ . πατάξῃ τὰ ἔθνη ),[4113] still more clearly than Rev_1:16, the Lord thus appearing as the true and real One who is to come (Rev_19:11).
ΚΑῚ ΑὐΤῸς ΠΑΤΕῖ , Κ . Τ . Λ . Cf. also, on this definitive and, therefore, so full-toned description, which gives assurance[4114] of the certainty of the threat by Τ . ΘΩΟῦ Τ . ΠΑΝΤΟΚΡ ., Isa_63:2 sq. with Rev_14:10; Rev_14:19. The expression ΤῊΝ ΛΗΝῸΝ ΤΟῦ ΟἼΝΟΥ , Hengstenb. explains, not, indeed, accurately, by saying that the wine-press is the wrath of God, and the wine flowing from it is the blood of enemies. The form of the idea in which the two figures of the wine-press[4115] and the cup of wrath[4116] are combined,[4117] affirms, however, that from the wine-press trodden by the Lord, the wine of God’s anger flows, with which his enemies are to be made drunk.
The name, which (Rev_19:16) is written on the vesture and on the thigh, ΒΑΣΙΛΕῪς ΒΑΣΙΛΈΩΝ ΚΑῚ ΚΎΡΙΟς ΚΥΡΊΩΝ , gives—as is made prominent at the conclusion of this entire description, Rev_19:11 sqq.—the express pledge of that which is distinctly marked already in the entire appearance of the Lord; viz., that the Lord who now goes forth to the conflict with the kings of the earth, will show himself to be the King of all kings.
ΚΑῚ ἘΠῚ ΤῸΝ ΜΗΡῸΝ ΑὐΤ . The meaning cannot be that the name stood not only on the vesture, but also on the actual thigh, so that, after laying aside the bloody garment, the name could appear in the same place.[4118] But the explanation of Wetst., Eichh., De Wette, Bleek, etc., who allude to the fact that, e.g., sculptors are accustomed to fix the stamp of their name on the body of the statue in the region of the thighs, is opposed by the preceding ἘΠῚ ΤῸ ἹΜΆΤΙΟΝ , in connection with which the ΚΑῚ ἘΠῚ ΤῸΝ ΜΗΡῸΝ ΑὐΤ . has the force, that the name, at all events, must be regarded as on the vesture, and that, too, where the thigh is. The name is, therefore, not to be sought upon an imaginary[4119] sword-handle,[4120] but we must regard it as being upon the girdle, although this, however, does not come into consideration as the sword-belt,[4121] but as a girdle which holds the tucked-up vesture of one advancing to battle.[4122] In violation of the context, Ew. ii.: “From the shoulders to the thighs.”
[4091] De Wette. Cf. Rev_22:10.
[4092] Rev_19:14 : στρατεύματα ; Rev_19:19 : τ . πόλεμον .
[4093] Cf. 2Sa_12:13; 1Ma_11:13. Grot., Wetst., Beng.; cf. also Vitr.
[4094] Züllig.
[4095] Ewald, De Wette, Hengstenb., Bleek, Volkm., Luthardt.
[4096] Calov., Vitr., etc.
[4097] Ewald, Bleek, Hengstenb.
[4098] Calov.
[4099] Eichh.
[4100] Grot., Beng., De Wette, Hengstenb., Ebrard.
[4101] Against Ewald, Volkmar, etc., who understand the name éäåä .
[4102] Vitr.
[4103] Cf. Rev_2:17.
[4104] The several names indicated in the at least uncertain reading (see Critical Notes) give no clear idea. Perhaps also the plural διαδ . πολλ . has had much to do with the origin of the reading.
[4105] Beng., Züll., De Wette, Hengstenb., etc.
[4106] Cf. Rev_19:11.
[4107] Cf., on the other hand, Rev_19:12.
[4108] Cf., on the other hand, the several appellative designations of Rev_19:11; Rev_19:16.
[4109] Cf. also Rev_19:10, Rev_3:14.
[4110] Cf., on the other hand, Rev_19:19.
[4111] Mat_16:27; Mat_25:31; 2Th_1:7. De Wette, Hengstenb., Bleek, Luthardt.
[4112] Cf. also Ew. ii. Incorrectly, Volkm.: The earthly.
[4113] Cf. Isa_11:4. λκ . αὐτ . ποιμανεῖ , κ . τ . λ . Cf. Rev_2:27, Rev_12:5.
[4114] Cf. Rev_1:8, Rev_11:17, Rev_15:3.
[4115] Rev_14:19.
[4116] Rev_14:10.
[4117] De Wette
[4118] Against Beng.
[4119] And that, too, against Rev_19:15.
[4120] Grot.
[4121] Against Vitr., also against Hengstenb., who, on account of Rev_19:15, explains that the name appears here in the place of the engirded sword; cf. Psa_45:4 sq.
[4122] Züll., Volkm.