Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Revelation 19:14 - 19:14
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
14. τὰ στρατεύματα ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ. According to ordinary O.T. usage (e.g. 1Ki 22:19) this would mean the holy Angels exclusively, or at least primarily. But some think that the glorified Saints are at least included: it seems in harmony with the ideas of this Book to represent them, not indeed as executing Christ’s vengeance (which the Angels do, Rev 14:19, Mat 13:39-42), but as spectators of His triumph, which is all that these armies seem to be.
βύσσινον λευκὸν καὶ καθαρόν. The dress of Angels in St Matt, Mat 28:3 and parallels, Act 1:10; but of Saints in this Book, Rev 3:4, Rev 7:9, and probably Rev 4:4 : compare the almost exactly similar words of Rev 19:8. Here this costume contrasts with the blood-dyed one of their Leader. The contrast is plainly intentional (for the mention of the armies interrupts the description of the Leader). If we explain it by supposing that they have no need to take part in the work of slaughter, it will follow, since there is blood on His raiment, that He has already executed judgement on Jerusalem and trodden the winepress there, Rev 14:20, and is now to do the like to the kings of the earth. If the armies in heaven are Saints, as the ancients seem to suppose, we must understand that their robes are washed white in His Blood, Rev 7:14, which perhaps weakens the contrast which is expressed by pointing to another which is not. οὶ μετʼ αὐτοῦ, Rev 17:14, are most naturally explained as the faithful on earth. On the whole it seems simplest to take the heavenly armies for the Angels, the rather that the Saints who are to reign with Christ have not yet risen at this point of the vision.