Revelation 19

Hallelujah is sung in heaven for the judgment the great whore 5 another voice out of the throne exhorteth all the servants of God to rejoice because the marriage of the lamb is come and his bride has made herself with bright linen 9 they pronounced blessed that are called to his marriage 10 the apostle falleth down before the angels feet but is reproved for it and commaned to worship God 11 John seeth in new vision a white horse and one seeth thereon and whose justice, flame eyes, blood died garments, hidden name, train, sword and iron rod are described 15 this same treadeth the wine press of Gods wrath and is the king of kings 17 another angel calleth of God all the birds to come and eat the flesh of the commanders and of all others in great slaughter of God 19 who were gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse 20 but the beast with the false prophets are cast into the lake of fire 21 and all their adherents are slain with the swords.

1. And after these things [that is after the Romish Babylon was now at last by special judgment of God burnt and destroyed as was related in the former chapter] I heard as it were great voice of the great multitude in heaven [namely of those that triumph with Christ in heaven and compassed hi throne about chapter 7.9 as they are exhorted in the former chapter verse 20 by the angels of this song of phrase mentioned in the words following]saying Hallelujah[that is praise god an Hebrew word that occurred in many psalms which hath also been retained in the Greek and other churches because it was very similar and know and is also Amen Hosanna Abba etc.]salvation and glory and honor and power be unto the lord our God [these properties are not here wished unto God sith he had always possessed he same but are acknowledged extolled in him because he had now actually made them manifest in the sight of the every one see the like expression before chapter 5.12 and 7.12 and elsewhere.]

2. for the judgments are true and righteous [that is the executed according to his truth and righteousness sith he had promised before unto his people and had had threatened the same unto the enemies f the church see Psalms 9:9] because he hath judged the great whore [see before chapter 17.1] which did corrupt the earth with her fornication and he had avenged the blood of his servant at her hand.

3. They said the second time namely to shew with how great earnestness they did it ] Hallelujah and her smock ascended forever more [Gr into Eternity of eternities.]

4. And four twenty elders [namely with the four beast were about the throne of God whereof see further chapter 4.4,6 above chapter 5.8] and the four beast fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne saying Amen Hallelujah.

5. And a voice came forth out of the throne [namely of heaven whereof frequently spoken before] saying praise our God all ye his servants namely not only believers in heaven on earth but also angels who acknowledge themselves to be fellow servants of the faithful below verse 10 and chapter 22.9 ] and ye that fear him both small and great [this voice tendeth thereunto to exhort all the servants of God in heaven and on earth to sing a new song of praise for the mercies which God will shew unto his church at the last coming of Christ to judgment as by the exposition will plainly appear .]

6. And I heard as it were a voice of great[Greek much] multitude and as a voice of many waters and as a voice of strong thunder saying Hallelujah for the Lord of the almighty god hath reigned as king [that is the time cometh now that he having subdued all his enemies under his feet and having abolished the kingdom of the antichrist of Satan and of the world will reign alone and will make it appear before all the world 1Corinthians 15.24 for though he always reigned as king and the kingdom hath been much darkened among many by reason of the tyranny of these others and by the reason of the patience and forbearance in all these things according to the judgment of the world.]

7. Let us be glad and rejoice and give glory to him for the marriage of the lamb is come [that is the nearer union and full glorification of the church of Christ in heaven with the bridegroom Christ is at land which comparison is also continually used elsewhere see mark 2 verse 19,20 John 3:29 2 Corinthians 11:2 Ephesians 5:23 etc.] and his wife hath made herself ready [namely for this nearer union and full glorification which preparation proceedeth not from her natural abilities but from free grace which was given unto her by hr bride groom as the next verse sheweth see also Ezekiel 16:3 etc. 2 Corinthians 3:5 Ephesians 5:26 Philippians 1:29.]

8. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed with pure and bright fine linen are [that is signified as before chapter 1.20 and 17.15,18.]the justification [or righteousness] of saints [namely not whereby we are righteous in our own selves but where we are righteous before God which is righteous of Christ which is imputed unto us by faith 2 Corinthians 5.21and is as a pure white garment whereby our nakedness is covered before the face of God see Romans 13:14 1 Corinthians 1:30 Galatians 3:27 and above chapter 7.13 from whence the sanctification of the spirit ariseth which shall also hereafter be perfected in us.]

9. And he said unto me write blessed are they which are called [namely with a calling according to Gods purpose from them he had justified and glorified Romans 8:30 otherwise there are some called to this marriage whereof in the sequel with the outward calling which shall be afterwards cast forth see Matthew 22:11 etc.] to the marriage super of the lamb [so called because marriages were wont to be kept by the ancient at the even tide Matthew 25.1and because it shall here begin in the end of the world or last day] and he said unto me these are the true words of God [namely whereby this salvation is promised to us which is therefore received with sure faith and fulfilling whereof we must exprest in due time.]

10. And I fell down before his feet to worship him [namely being moved thereunto through humane frailty as well by reason of the glory of the angel as by reason of the glorious which he made declaration which he made of the coming of the marriage of the lamb as the like was done by Cornelius unto Peter Acts 10:25] and he said unto me see thou do it not [though John held not this angel refused to take it both here and below chapter 22.9 as also the worshipping of the angels is forbidden by Paul Colossians 2:18] I am thy fellow of thine brethren that have the testimony of Jesus worship God [namely who this honor and true invocation only belongeth Matthew 4:10] for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of the prophecy and of the same worth whereby he sheweth they are both servants of Jesus Christ for as much as he had received the spirit prophecy to declare this unto John Revelations 1.1 and John likewise to testify this in the name of Christ unto the church.]

11. And I saw heaven open [namely to open way unto Christ as the supreme judge and ruler to come down with all his heavenly hosts for the redemption of his church and for the punishment of all his their enemies see Matthew 24:30 and 25.30 1 Thessalonians 4:16 2 Thessalonians 1:7 Jude verse 14 etc.] and behold a white horse [namely as a token of glory conquest as was shewed before chapter 6.2 but for another end whereof see the annotate there.]and he that sat upon it was called faithful and true [namely in persecuting and performing hi promises and threatening] and he judgeth and maketh war in righteousness [namely not only for the defense of his people but also for the just punishment of his enemies Romans 2 verse 5,6 in the eleventh verse begin the last part of this chapter wherein there is shewed unto John in a new vision the coming of Christ to redeem their church fully and perfectly and utterly to destroy the antichrist with all his adherents and all other enemies of the church as appeareth by consideration of this whole relation but some are of opinion that is here is described another coming of Christ and his spirit and power which should precede hi last coming wherein the Jews should be converted and the rest of the church here being united with the Jews should triumph over all the enemies and enjoy a quiet and peaceable kingdom but this opinion can not consist with that which is said verse 20 that in the coming of the beast and the false prophets were cast alive in the lake of fire which shall not be done till the last coming of Christ as the apostle also expressly testifieth 2Thessalonians 2.8 and also because in the coming of Christ whereof is spoken in the chapter the marriage of the lamb with the bride is said to be kept or solemnized which is uniting of the church of Christ as the last day with Christ her bridegroom Matthew 5. Verse 1 ,13 whereunto may be added that the state of the church of Christ before the last coming of is continually described in the scripture that it shall quiet otherwise on earth then these men conceive as is more largely noted chapter 20.1.]

12. And his eyes were as a flame of fire [namely as chapter 1.14 whereby he vieweth all things thoroughly and nothing is hid from him] and on his head were many royal diadems [namely folded together as a token of his dominion even above the dragon and the beasts of his manifold dominion even above the dragon and the beast with seven heads and ten crowned horns for he is the king of kings and Lord of Lord verse 16] and he had a name written that no man knew but himself [namely the only son of the infinite father whose nature no man fully understandeth but himself John 1:18 for though the same be also revealed unto us and his name be also declared verse 13 yet no creature is able to comprehend it perfectly because his generation is unalterable and eternal.]

13. And he was clothed with a garment died [Gr dipped in] with blood [namely in respect of the suffering of us and in respect of the blood of his enemies wherewith the garment was died in this slaughter see below verse 15 Isaiah 63:1 etc.] and his name is called the word of God [see here the annotate on John chapter 1 verse 1]

14. And the armies in heaven [that is the holy angel with whom that hall descend with him b again united with the bodies and to be taken also partakers of his triumph f Christ see 2 Corinthians 5 verse 8,9,10] followed him upon white horses clothed with white an pure fine linen[namely to signify their purity and glory when they shall to triumph with Christ their head whose garment alone is died with blood by reason of this slaughter and whom alone is armed with the sword and an iron rod because the honor of victory belongeth only to him see Isaiah 63 verse 1 etc. and hereafter verse 21.]

15. And out of his mouth went a sharp sword [see the exposition of the sword verse 21] that with it he should smite the heathen [or nations that is all the enemies of the church that shall side with the antichrist against Christ and his kingdom see before chapter 2.26 where this place of the second Psalms is applied to the members of the Christ] and he shall rule them with an iron rod [namely to break them in pieces like ear then vessels because they suffered not themselves to be laid then by the staff of his word] and he tread ed the wine press of the wine of the wrath and indignation of the almighty God [that is he treaded underfoot and bruiseth in pieces the enemies of God as grapes in a wine press are easily trodden underfoot and bruised in pieces by a strong man see before chapter 14.20 Isaiah 63:3 where this similitude is also used by Christ see also the like in the lamentation of Jeremy chapter 1.15.]

16. And he hath upon his garment and upon his thigh [that is upon his garment hanging upon his thigh that is openly in the sight of men as the garment upon the thigh of men that ride on horsebacks is most seen and in most manifest] this name written KING OF KINGS THE LORD OF LORDS [which title is by Paul given to the father 1Timothy 6.15 and before this book unto Christ Revelations 17.14 as he that hath not only received of God his father and a name above all names but was also from eternity equal with God see John 10 verse 29,30 Philippians 2:6.]

17. And I saw an angel standing in the sun [namely that he might be heard throughout the whole air as Herald are wont to proclaim the charge of their captain general in high and their open places the better to be heard by everyone] and he cried with a greater voice saying to all the fowls that flew in the midst of heaven come hither and gather yourself to the supper of the great God [that is which God in his wrath upon the enemies hath prepared for you a figurative phrase taken out of Jeremiah 12:9 and Ezekiel 39 verse 17 whereby is signified an exceeding overthrow of Gods enemies whose dead and slain bodies were left for a prey unto wild fowls and savage beasts but they shall hereafter his great slaughter of God in valley of Armageddon chapter 16 verse 16 being given for a prey unto the devil and hell as is declared verse 20.]

18. That ye may eat the flesh of the kings [namely which shall adhere unto and defend antichrist and shall side with him against antichrist as is shewed in the next verse for some of his kings shall also hate this whore and strip her naked and eat her flesh and burn her with fire chapter 17.16] and captains over thousands and the flesh of the mighty men and the flesh of the horses and of them that sit on them [that is of all sorts of soldiers of which a great army is wont consist] and the flesh of all free men and bond men and of small and great.

19. And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse and against his army [that is I saw antichrist that was the head of the army [and who had sent sent three unclean spirits to the kings of the earth to stir up this great to stir up to this great war against Christ and his church whereof see before chapter 16.113,14.]

20. And the beast was taken [namely by Christ power and that alive as is expressed in the sequel] and with it the false prophets that had wrought miracles in his presence whereby he had seduced them that had received the mark of the beast and that worshipped his image these two were cast alive into the like of fire that burneth with brimstone.

21. And the rest wee slain with sword of him that sat upon the horse [of the false prophet here mention see chapter 16.13 and by these two is meant the spiritual and temporal dominion of antichrist with all his mitered and armed which shall above all others and be punished by Christ with greatest forest punishments whereas others earthly and worldly man seduced by them shall also bear their punishment but lesser which is fitly expressed by these two sorts of killing by the lake of fire and by the sword se the like passage Matthew 5:22 that burneth with brimstone are added because brimstone giveth exceeding sharp and very piercing heat whereby the greatest torment of hell is represented] which went out of his mount [that is by sentence or judgment which shall pass upon them whereof the angels shall be executioners Matthew 13:14 which shall be also eternal as was testified before chapter 14.9,10,11 and is also testified of all cursed ones Matthew 25:41] and all the fowls were testified with their flesh.