Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadHeinrich Meyer Commentary - Revelation 6:12 - 6:17
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Rev_6:12-17. The sixth seal-vision. As the visions portrayed, Rev_6:3-8, have presented the signs of his coming, announced by the Lord himself in his eschatological discourse (Mat_24:6 sqq.), and as, also, the fifth seal-vision stands in close connection with Mat_24:9, so the sixth vision brings what is found in Mat_24:7 ( σεισμοὶ κατὰ τόπους ), and especially the signs predicted in Mat_6:29, which[2154] refer to the immediate entrance of the day of judgment itself.[2155] Incorrect, therefore, because of the connection with what precedes, not only does that explanation appear to be, according to which the entire description, Rev_6:12-17, refers to the Jewish-Roman war, and the “great day of wrath,” Rev_6:17, is regarded as nothing else than the destruction of Jerusalem;[2156] but, also, that which seems to be directly the opposite, yet which actually depends upon a similarly arbitrary treatment, as well as also, in many particular interpretations, the harmonious exposition of allegorizing expositors from Victorin. to Hengstenberg,[2157] who in the earthquake, the darkening of the sun, etc., find figurative prophecies of certain events pertaining to the development of the Church, etc. If the reference of the entire vision be limited to the destruction of Jerusalem, it is, of course, more natural in Rev_6:12 ( ὁ ἥλ . ἐγ . μελ ., κ . τ . λ .) to think of an eclipse of the sun and moon at the time of Claudius,[2158] than, with Böhmer, to interpret sun and moon as prophecy and the law; but even Grot. cannot adequately represent the context, since he refers to the falling of the stars, Rev_6:13, as a prognostic of terrible events derived from the notions of the time, and on ὁ οὐρανὸς ἀπεχ ., κ . τ . λ ., he has to remark: “Because of thick clouds, the heavens cannot be seen.”[2159] In arbitrariness of allegorical interpretation, Böhmer[2160] vies with Victorin., Beda, Vitr., Hengstenb., etc. The earthquake, Rev_6:12, is made to signify “great revolutions in political or ecclesiastical spheres;”[2161] the sun becoming black is intended to be “the blasphemed Christ,”[2162] “prophecy,”[2163] “worldly emperors and kings;”[2164] the blood-red moon, “the Church reddened by the blood of martyrs,”[2165] “the law,”[2166] “spiritual princes;”[2167] the fallen stars, “the fallen, exalted church-teachers,”[2168] the “Jews who desert the true Church for corrupt Judaism, which is signified by the earth;”[2169] the mountains and islands are “prophets and philosophical pursuits,”[2170] etc. The whole refers, according to Vitr., to the destruction of the papal dominion, and the fearful disturbances in the political governments of Europe which were attached to the Papacy.[2171] Hengstenb. is distinguished from these interpreters only by indecision. The earthquake, the eclipse of sun and moon, the falling of the stars, etc., are to him figurative of “grievous and disturbed times,” which impend by God’s judgment over his enemies. “Heaven,” e.g., he says on Rev_6:13, “is the heaven of princes, the entire magisterial and sovereign estate. The stars are individual princes and nobles.” This figurative explanation is regarded as necessary “because the falling from heaven of the stars, generally so called, would destroy every thing, while, in what follows, the races of the earth appear as still existing;” to which Ebrard objects: “The shaking down is only from the standpoint of the appearance to human vision; while the human eye sees the stars sinking as stars to earth, yet must they in reality sink, and pass far from the earth in the void expanse.”
[2154] Cf. Rev_6:16-17, with Mat_24:30 sqq.; Luk_23:30.
[2155] Cf. Ew., De Wette, Ebrard.
[2156] Grot., Wetst., Alcas., Herd., Böhmer.
[2157] Cf. Beda, N. de Lyra, Aret., Zeger, Vitr., etc.
[2158] Grot.
[2159] Cf. also Eich.
[2160] Cf. Alcas., etc.
[2161] Böhm., Vitr.
[2162] N. de Lyra, Aret.
[2163] Böhm.
[2164] Vitr.
[2165] N. de Lyra, Aret.
[2166] Böhm.
[2167] Vitr.
[2168] N. de Lyra, Aret., Vitr.
[2169] Böhm.
[2170] Aret.
[2171] Cf. Rev_16:17 sq.
The context itself should have been a sufficient protection from all these aberrations; for here, just as in the preceding seal-visions, the simple admonition is entirely valid, that every thing portrayed in Rev_6:12-17 is the subject of a vision, and not something objectively real. In the vision, John beholds as the stars fall to the earth ( εἰς τ . γην , not “in the expanse”). The consideration, how after such an event men can still live upon earth, is here utterly strange, and contrary to the context. For the sixth seal-vision concludes with the express testimony, that—as also its entire contents, in harmony with Mat_24:27 sqq., indicate—the day of final judgment has come, and is now present.[2172] 1 There is, therefore, actually,—i.e., if that which was shown in Rev_6:12-17 in vision to the gazing prophet occurred at the end of days,—no further life of the human race on this earth any longer possible, as, with the destruction of the world (Rev_6:12 sqq.), the day of the Lord begins. The signs are made known: ὍΤΙ ἘΓΓΎς ἘΣΤΙΝ ἘΠῚ ΘΎΡΑΙς .[2173] Already also the unbelieving note that the day of wrath has come (Rev_6:15 sqq.). It may accordingly be expected that the seventh seal is opened immediately after Rev_6:17; and thus to the seer is shown the judgment itself, with its condemning and its beatifying influence. That this does not happen now,[2174] but that first of all ch. 7 is still placed before the seventh seal, and that then, again, the last seal itself brings an entire series of visions, can interfere with the clear meaning of the sixth seal-vision the less, as the further development has the correct meaning just as it has been given.[2175]
[2172] ἦλθεν , v. 17.
[2173] Mat_24:33.
[2174] Although in fact from the seventh seal, the entire rest of the prophecy, even that of the final judgment corresponding to the fundamental plan of Rev_5:1 sqq., proceeds.
[2175] Cf. Introd., sec. 1, and on ch. Rev_7:8.
σεισμός . As Rev_11:13, Rev_16:18, Rev_8:5.[2176] Earthquake;[2177] not indefinitely, “trembling,”[2178] for it is not at all said that by this ΣΕΙΣΜΌς the heavens shall be shaken.
Ὡς ΣΆΚΚΟς ΤΡΊΧΙΝΟς . Cf. Isa_50:3.
Ὡς ΑἸΜΑ . Cf. Joe_3:4.
Τ . ὈΛΎΝΘΟΥς . Hesych: ὌΛΥΝΘΟς , ΤῸ ΜῊ ΠΕΠΑΜΜΈΝΟΝ ΣΥΚΟΝ .[2179] Cf. Son_2:13. ôÇðÌÄéí Winer, Rwb., B. I., 429.
Ὁ ΟὐΡΑΝῸς ΑΠΕΧΩΡΊΣΘΗ Ὡς ΒΙΒΛΊΟΝ ἙΛΙΣΣΌΜΕΝΟΝ . Cf. Isa_34:4. The idea that the firmament itself, from which the stars fall,[2180] gradually vanishes,[2181] is illustrated by the rolling-together of a book, since the heaven, the firmament, appears stretched out like tent-canvas.[2182]
πᾶν ὄρος , κ . τ . λ . As in Rev_16:20, a quaking is indicated, overthrowing the foundations of the earth, and therefore final: no mountain, no island, remains on its old place. The destruction is complete.
Also, thereby, that terror now seizes (Rev_6:15) all, without exception, who have to fear the judgment; and by the way in which they make known their amazement (Rev_6:16 sqq.), especially by the express words on ὃτι ἠλθεν , κ . τ . λ ., it is clearly indicated that the subject from Rev_6:12 is the opening of the final judgment.
οἱ βασιλεῖς , κ . τ . λ . The κατοικοῦντες ἐπι τῆς γῆς , in the sense of Rev_6:10, is here, as in Rev_19:18, so introduced, that they appear not only collectively,[2183] but that the significant classification, at the same time, proves how no kind of earthly greatness or power, the previous cause of insolent assurance, can afford any protection whatever.[2184] Kings share the anguish with the humblest slaves.[2185] In addition to ΒΑΣΙΛΕῖς Τ . Γ ., the proper rulers,[2186] ΟἹ ΜΕΓΙΣΤᾶΝΕς , are first mentioned. The expression, belonging to the later Greek,[2187] presents here[2188] high civil officers, especially courtiers,[2189] in distinction from chief commanders ( ΧΙΛΊΑΡΧΟΙ ). In addition to the ΠΛΟΎΣΙΟΙ , distinguished by wealth, are the ἸΣΧΥΡΟΙ ,[2190] not “the mighty of every kind,”[2191] but[2192] such as excel in physical strength[2193]
ἔκρυψαν
ὀρέων . Those alarmed, even unto despair, seek in the mountains and rocks not so much ineffectual protection,[2194] as rather, as their own words show,[2195] death through which to escape the impending judgment of wrath.[2196]
ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ καθ ., κ . τ . λ . The style is of such kind as to bear without doubt in Rev_6:16, as well as in Rev_6:17, traces of John’s own peculiar feeling. The ἀπὸ προσώπου [2197] is biblical; the τ . καθημ . ἐπὶ τ . θρ and the οργ . τ . ἀρνίου refer back to ch. Rev_4:5; the expression ἡ ἡμ . ἡ μεγ . τ . ὀ . αὐτ . depends upon Joe_3:4; Joe_1:15; Joe_2:2, Isa_63:4, etc.; and the question τἱς δυν . σταθῆναι , on Nah_1:6, Mal_3:2.[2198] Yet the entire discourse, even though Rev_6:17 be not regarded the words of John, has its truth in the mouth of unbelievers, since, just as they must recognize the Lord himself when he will appear,[2199] so also will they discern in the terrible signs (Rev_6:12 sqq.) the commencement of the day of judgment.
[2176] Cf. Isa_13:13.
[2177] Hengstenb.
[2178] De Wette.
[2179] ὁλυνθος , the fig not ripened.
[2180] Cf. Gen_1:14 sqq.
[2181] Departs: ἁπεχ . Vulg.: recessit. Incorrectly, Ew. ii.: “was rent in a place.”
[2182] Isa_40:22; Psa_104:2.
[2183] Cf. Mat_25:32 : πάντα τὰ ἔθνη .
[2184] Klief. understands from erroneous pre-suppositions (see on Rev_1:20) “no blind heathen, but the masses of baptized nations who have fallen into Laodicean feelings.”
[2185] Cf. also Bengel, Hengstenb., Ebrard.
[2186] Cf. Act_4:26.
[2187] Rev_18:23; Mar_6:21; cf. LXX. Jer_14:3; Neh_3:10; Isa_34:12; Dan_5:1.
[2188] Cf. Mar_6:51; Dan_5:1.
[2189] Ebrard, etc.
[2190] Var.: δυνατά .
[2191] Ebrard; “prevailing in influence,” Ewald.
[2192] Cf. Rev_19:18, Rev_5:2, Rev_10:1, Rev_18:8; Rev_18:21, also Rev_18:2; Rev_18:10, Rev_19:6.
[2193] Cf. Psa_33:16 sqq., Psa_147:10; Ew. ii.; warriors, according to Jos_10:2; 1Ki_11:28.
[2194] Cf. Isa_2:10 sqq.
[2195] Rev_6:16; cf. Hos_10:8; Luk_23:30.
[2196] Cf. Hengstenb., Ebrard.
[2197] Beng.: “The face against them that do evil,” Psa_34:17.
[2198] Cf. Ewald, etc.
[2199] Cf. Rev_1:7.