PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation
Alfred Plummer [1841-1926] · 535,750 words · 528 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 301
unle1111 they &eknowledge and worship the first. Now, when we thus carefully set in order the two descriptions, who ca.n help seeing symbolic sketches of precisely the two great adverse forces which have been the plague of the world and of the Church- even an ungodly world-power, and a false religions teaching in al…
894 wordsSECTION 302The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 302
Vers.1-18.-77ie two '1Dl7d kallts; or, the world cmd ,ts wisdom. There are few chapters in the Bible which ha.ve been entirely pa.ssed over by Christia.n preachers as containing nothing tha.t would edify and instruct men living in circumsta.nces like our own. But this chapter seems to have been so dealt with. We ha.ve…
1,760 wordsSECTION 303The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 303
it may we know its real character. Does the stamp oC the God-despising world become visible in our daily conduct, bearing, and words? Do these things show the '' mark uf the beut. "? If so, what loud call comes t.o us t.o have done with all such BO-called wisdom, lllld to give heed to our Saviour's words, "Beware of fa…
866 wordsSECTION 304The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 304
chat cometh down from above ? It has elements of the world, for it is of the beast; it has elements of the fiend, for it partakes of the quality of the dragon; it is a spirit of error, for it ia a false prophet But it is not merely error, for it is animated by an evil spirit. It i1 worldly wisdom, the tongue set on fi…
837 wordsSECTION 305The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 305
L IT HAB A KA~D DBVBLOPIIEN'l', The huge and monstrona forms that seem to pass before the imagination of the lonely prisoner on Patmos, u here recorded, are full of fol'DlB, grotesque, huge, and hideous. Here-is a huge beast rising out of the aea, the .-ne of tumults, His power is great-he has "ten home;" his intellige…
949 wordsSECTION 306The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 306
enemies.'" 5. His m(ssion wlll ultimately p,'0116 seTJ-rulnou,. "He that leadeth into [if any man is for] captivity shall go into captivitr [into captivity he goeth]" (ver, 10). Here is the principle of retribution attested by al human experience and philosophy, and felt to be juet. .. He that killeth [if any man shall…
836 wordsSECTION 307The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 307
eecketh his life shall lose it, and he that loseth it shall find it." Self-oblivious benevo- lence is the fountain of human joy. This eternal principle of self-sacrificing love we must have in 118 before we can be saved; it is, in fact, salvation. " Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of God.and drink his blood, ye have…
864 wordsSECTION 308The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 308
the heavenly J erUPalem "). The a_ppro- forty and four thousand, which were re- priaten881! of the position is seen (l) rn ita deemed from the earth; even they tliat had strength (of. the position of the beast, rising been yurchased out of the earth- (Revhied from the sea, perhaps standing on the sand, Versrnn). These …
990 wordsSECTION 309The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 309
ship of the first bi>e.st-the world. Alford noting tl1e universal nature of the assertion •ery appropriately refers to Ps. xv. I, 2, ( of. on ver. 6). •• Lord, who shall a.bide in thy tabernacle? Ver 8.-And there followed another who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that angel, se.ying ; and aMther, a second angel, wal…
1,008 wordsSECTION 310The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 310
Ver. 10.-The 11&1118 ■ball drink of len, i, the pati61Ule of the saints, they that the wine of the wrath of God, which is keep, eto. The patience of the saints is poured out without mixture into the cup exhibited in believing in, and waiting for, of hi■ indignation; he also . • • tohieh i, the due retribution which w…
1,015 wordsSECTION 311The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 311
Luke n:i. 27, "They shall eee the Son of opposite fares in store for the f1.1ithful and man coming in a cloud "); (2) the expres- the wioked. The description thus cor• sion, "Son of man" (of. John v. 22, "For responds with the account of tho end of the the Father judgeth no man, but hath com- world given in eh. vii., w…
1,053 wordsSECTION 312The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 312
Wordsworth, however, accounts ror the mlLI!• hundred furlongs ; a, Jar a, ehuen hundred culine form of the adjective by eupposing Btadia. The Greek stadium is rather less that the writer wiehes to give a stronger than an English furlong, being about llix for&le to the word, and to emphasize the hundred and six Engli…
897 wordsSECTION 313The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 313
even .any sinfulness of nature out of which aught that is corrupt can arise, . Not one inferior motive mars their actions; not one waste by-thought intrudes into their devotion. Nor is there the least wish or thought but such as is perfectly in harmony with the will of him who sits upon the throne. 2. The-re ar8 no …
912 wordsSECTION 314The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 314
something to inspire one in tlie thought of the race rising to any such greatness after evolution has had time enough to work out to such an issue. But when the deduction has to be made of the extinction of individuals in the race-process, the heart is taken :mt of us the moment our hope sets to work. The redeeming gra…
885 wordsSECTION 315The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 315
age for which it is intended. To the end of the age there will beno other. No advance in natural knowledge can ever put men beyond the need of it, and no philosophy of man can ever be any substitute for it. (4) For what purpose P To proclaim it. It is to be heralded far and wide. Not merely as a witness, to condemn the…
896 wordsSECTION 316The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 316
position to which we a.re shut up in Scripture is thili: God has not shown us a• end to future punishment. Ws dare not affirm ehat it never will end ; but if any OM doe, that, he does it entirely at his own risk. Objection: "But this phrase is .the.very strongest which iii employed in the Word of God to denote absolute…
913 wordsSECTION 317The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 317
llF.ATHB. "The dead which die in the Lord." The dead which are dying. The believet'II in Obrist under the present di~pmsation, who are, one by one, passing away, are evidently intended. " Dying in the Lord " is no vague expression. It defines. It includ88. It. limits. Otherwise were there no meaning in the phrase. It i…
902 wordsSECTION 318The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 318
works have been those of faith and love, which,-though in many caial-Iorgotten.. by the worker, shall be remembered by the great Saviour-Judge. IV. A COMMAND m GIVEN TO PUT THIS ON BEOOBD. The t.tuth contained ln ib.is verse is-too precious a one to be left to the uncertainty of a merely verbal tradition, We know- not…
874 wordsSECTION 319The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 319
"He • • • osst his sickle upon the earth.• The final reaping is under the superintend• ence of the Son of man. Ver. 17, "Another angel ••• he slso having a sharp sickle.• ~he ministry of angels will be employed by our Lord in gathering in the harvest (Matt. xiii.). Ver. 18, "Another ••• he that hath power over fire.,. …
891 wordsSECTION 320The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 320
•m1 TO GR~ TOGETBJm SIDE DY sm:s. The good have t.o conrrpnt the evil and keep it in check. The evil is permitted to counterplot the good and to retard.its spread. But we must not speak only in the ahstrn.ct. Rather let us say, good mffl, evil .men. For when we bring human nature, with all it.q powera of willing and…
861 wordsSECTION 321The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 321
alwa)'i behold,• etc. And when: hie opponents murmurea, as was their wont. at h1a receiving sinners and eating with them, he· rebuked them by the reminder that in baa.ten there· is not murmuring, but joy, even over " one sinner that repenteth." And hate in these veraes we who belong to the Church on eari.h have given t…
948 wordsSECTION 322The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 322
and when~ therefore, we read of the songs of heaven, it 11 proof ot ~e joys :~ that. blessed place. The worship of heaven· takes this. ,form, . H,;;re, prayer .and preacbmg form, and properly form, part of our worship; but there, praise alone is heard. Here, we wail our litanies and pour forth our eupplicationa; but …
984 wordsSECTION 323The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 323
foreheads" is expanded and explafned by the more definite declarations which we mu1l now. notice. It ls B&id "they are without fault;" or" blameless," as the Revised Version reads; and the apostle specifies Cour of the chief temptations to which they had been exposed, and which they had resisted and overcome. 1. And t…
855 wordsSECTION 324The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 324
For the Ratn9 imn. and all other nurturing forces which had ripened the firstfruits, were there ready to do tbe same kindly office for all the rest. And so we are told," The Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies." 'l'he same power is present for both the first and aft…
920 wordsSECTION 325The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 325
-" any man." . Very f&T removed, then, is this gospel from that which we commonly understand ·by the word" gospel." • IL BU'f IT 18 A GOSP&L. Any me~sage that announces the destmotion or a power that .I.a cursing the human race, and spreading misery and despair on all sides, must be a gospel. Like the news that a f…
1,131 wordsSECTION 326The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 326
Ver. 8.-Thuoice of the -.«.ond angel.: thejuagm,ml of BabyTrm. I. WBATJB KBANT BY " BABYl.ON"? '!'here can be scarce any doubt that the name poiRts to : l, Persecuting Rome. She is spoken of under this pseudonym because it waa not safe to write, or in any way openly utter, words which might be construed as treasonable …
681 wordsSECTION 327The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 327
It was alnady decreed. The sentence had gone forth, and was but awaiting execution. 8. 1' had begun. An empire that had become the prey and prize of one successful general after another; that might be won and lost any day at the ea.price of bribed band11 of soldiers, had lost all stability, and was already "as a bowing…
912 wordsSECTION 328The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 328
S--14) i "The smoke thereof shall go up for ever.'' The temporal judgments that came upon Edom are thus described. And so, in eh. xviii., we have word for word th, fulfilment on earth, not in Gehenna, of the threatenings we a.re now considering (cf, vers. 9, 15, 18). Why, then, may not temporal judgments be what are m…
883 wordsSECTION 329The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 329
marked contrast with those who in this life have borne the mark of the beast, which i~ the world., in their forehead and upon their hand. How glad are we, for ourselves and fQr thQSe dear to ns, when it comes to the last solemn moment, to forget that there is any dilltinction between the death of the righteous and of t…
1,313 wordsSECTION 330The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 330
Vera. 1~0.-Ths han,ut antl tM vintage. It i• held by many that both these refer to the same fact of God's judgment against sin and sinners. And no doubt, _at times, the" harvest," does mean such judgment (cf. Joel iii. 13; Jer. Ii. 33), In Matt. xiii. both harvests-that of good and evil alike-are told of. " Let both gr…
512 wordsSECTION 331The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 331
judgee when it is time to thrust in the sickle ? I will tell you. All the time the com waa growing, those hollow stems served as ducts that drew up nourishment from the soil. At length the proceBB of vegetation is fulfilled. The fibres of the plant become rigid; they cease their office; down below there has been a fai…
896 wordsSECTION 332The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 332
trial, word.a of Cflll!!Olation and assura.nee mingle. And out of the midst of the contem- plation of the most virulent opposition to the truth, the holy seer is called to lift up hit eyes on high, and behold the :lfount Zion and the host of the pure and faithful surround- ing the Lemb. The hundred and forty-four thous…
1,172 wordsSECTION 333The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 333
Vers. 9-12.-Puniahment. The punishment threatened upon the worsblppers of "the beast and his image" is represented by imagery of the most truly awful character. What that "beast." is, what is " his image," and what his "worship," are points not to be left in uncertainty; while the terrible denunciations of wrath mns…
422 wordsSECTION 334The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 334
" Yea, saith the Spirit." It is (3) promised to them who e.re spiritual : •• i» the Lord.11 It is (4) the reward of fidelity maintained to the end of life: they" die in the Lord." The reward is (1) a state of felicity: "blessed" e.re they. (2) It consists in a state o/ repoae after toil, danger, and e;i;poBure: "They r…
839 wordsSECTION 335The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 335
lation In the days of John, and they have been mnltiplying ever llince. !. The f'OP11'" lation w divinely distinguiahed. "His Father'• name written in their foreheads., (ver. 1). Men glory in things that are supposed to distinguish them advantageouslJ from their fellow-men-the attractions of phyaical beauty, the gli…
947 wordsSECTION 336The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 336
Ver. 3.-Man training for th6 SUP6f'881lSUOUB heaven. "No man could leam that aonl but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. The subject of these words· is man training for th6 supersensuous hetiven. N otioe-- L IIJu.VEN REQUIRES HIS TRAINING. "No man could learn that song." Man c…
784 wordsSECTION 337The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 337
tbey speed their flight. through mid-heaven bearing its blessed message. 3. The go,pel In ib univeraality ia good. "Having ihe everlasting [ eternal] gospel to preach [pro- claim] unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred [tribe], and tongue, and people" (ver. 6). It overleaps all geographical…
883 wordsSECTION 338The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 338
character. (1) It is a necessity to all man 'kind, It is the supreme neceSllity of unregene- rate mankind the world over and the ages through. If a man is to be happy, he must have it. It is not merely adapted to him, it is essential to him. (2) It is equal to all mankind. It is not like a feast, prepared for so man…
875 wordsSECTION 339The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 339
a law or mind, the object or the eonl'■ devotion transfigures it Into It■ own chamcter, Hence the human spirit gets buried in fie fleshly, absorbed in the selfish and the worldly. Th111 everywhere we find mind■ that should expand into sempha linking into grubs, wonhipping the " beast;" ■ordid ■ycophants, not soaring Mi…
806 wordsSECTION 340The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 340
"'Be patient, oh be patient I Go and wAteh the wbeAt-ean grow, So imperceptibly that ye ean mark nor change nor throe, Day after day, day after day, till the ear ia fully grown, And then again, day after day, till the ripened field is brown. " Be patient, oh be patient I Though yet ymir hopes are green, The h111'V…
826 wordsSECTION 341The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 341
that I am I wh9 shall deliver me from the body of this death?" N-0t so yonder, (4) Rest from all trying labour to benefit our fellow-men, To do good here is a trying work. The ignorance, the callousness, the ingratitude of men whom we seek to help, often distract and pain the heart. Not BO yonder. Rest 1 What a cheerin…
780 wordsSECTION 342The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 342
pleMes; he kills and he makes alive. Snch is the Being that presides over ov histories, our lives, and destinies. Our world is not left to chanee or fate, blind force or arbitrary despotism. There is an intelligent Being over it, all-glorious, yet hnn;um, royal and absolute. He presides over the ripening season. Months…
848 wordsSECTION 343The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 343
ably merely means h a eonspfonons post. Testament Ohurch01 are one, Saying, tioD {ef, eh, xii. 1). Great and marvellous, G1·ea.t and marvelloua are thy worka, Lord On account of the terrible nature of the God Almighty (cf. Exod. xv. 7, "And in the events depicted. Seven angels having the greatness of Chine excellency t…
1,011 wordsSECTION 344The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 344
eharacteristio eommenooment of a new unto ihe seven angel■ ; /our limng being.. vision or portion of a vision (see on ob. iv. These, aa re11resenting life on the earth I, etc.). The temple of the tabemacle of (see on eh. iv. 6; v. 9), are appropriat.ely the testimony in heaven was opened. The chosen as the medium fo…
950 wordsSECTION 345The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 345
will be noted in subsequent homilies. The song of the l!econn i~ before uii now. If we ask and answer four questions; we shall know !Is much about the song and the singers 88 it is possible to do in this state. 'l'he four queries are : (1) Who are singing the song? (2) At what time? (3) What are the contents or it? (4)…
1,091 wordsSECTION 346The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 346
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1---8.-" ~ torath qf God." Such is the subject of this and the following chapter& , I. WHAT IS IT? "The wrath of God" is simply that will of God which fOl' evs baa linked together sin and su:lfering; that will by which woe follows wickedness every.- where and alway& It is calm, not …
834 wordsSECTION 347The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 347
Ven. 3, 4.-Tlui prelude of the plagues-the 'beginning of tJie end. It seemed as if all was ended with the harvest and the vintage, of which we are told in the close of the previous chapter. What can come after the ingathering of the saints and the final judgment? And, indeed, nothing can. Bnt what is here given in th…
742 wordsSECTION 348The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 348
words, whereby the deeper feelings and thoughts of the heart are uttered. Music is especially animated with joy, and the fact that the heavenly company " sing," tells of their,., joy of heart." · 2. It is a BOng wherein all tM g'lory '8 given to God. Moses doe, not say one word of himself, but bids the people "sing …
924 wordsSECTION 349The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 349
Ver, 3.-TM praise of the Divine worka. It is most meet that all shonld praise the works of God-those works which themselves do praise him. But the Church of God is especially called upon to view the works of God in the world. There the Almighty Ruler displays his power and wisdom and goodness. There the thoughtful may …
836 wordsSECTION 350The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 350
Ven. 1--4.-Divins 1Je11erity cmd h'Uffllllt heroism. "And I saw another sign ln heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven la.et plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with tire : and them that had gotten the victory over the beast," etc. 'l'his …
657 wordsSECTION 351The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 351
time, his body, bis all, to slaughter bis fellow-men. Nor do· I feel acarcely a greater abhorrence for such a character than for those who, professing to be the ministers of Christ, rhetorically ext.ol such as heroes, and subscribe to monuments to perpetuate ,heir infamous history. I wonder greatly that the reports of …
906 wordsSECTION 352The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 352
Vers. 6-8.-Gen.uiM discipline of ,oul. "And after that I looked,-and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: and the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen," etc. I do not know that I cau turn these words to a more legitimate a…
925 wordsSECTION 353The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 353
EXPOSITION. OHA.PTEB XVI. 7. VOIOBS in heaven; 7, Vc.rOE:S in heaven; In the judgmenta of the wialB, or botala, we the JUDGMENT ; the FALL of Baby- earthquake, etc., lon ; B.UITHQUAKB, have undoubtedly a recapitulation of what and llAlL. eto., and HAIL. Jiu been aireadJ foretold in the trumpet and seal vhri.ona. Thi…
649 wordsSECTION 354The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 354
mesimble flood. It iB, thmifore, significant the first of thl' Egyptian plaguM. The last of retribution more dire than that eymbolizecl claulie intensifies the horrible nature of the by the trumpet, just as the trumpet. indicated judgment, and thllll in some degree in- - the &eTirity of this plague over thai greater e…
1,018 wordsSECTION 355The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 355
the idea is, no doubt, to E>Xpl'E'SS the etel'lllll or oonl'80, it is undel'!tood. 'For the fll'l!t nature of God. The same expre88ion OOOlUB time we have ,.,,, "upon," instead of e;s, in eh. :n. 8 (Revised Version) in almost "into" (see on ver, 2). Another p,,rt of exactly parallel connection; so also in eh. xi. creat…
1,999 wordsSECTION 356The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 356
tmalean 1pirita eo frequently cast ont by n1ture of the inl'e888nt hostility betwt'eD our Lord. while OD earth. Burger very God and the devil, and the power of th<t aptly refen to the coniraet aff'orded by the latter will be manifested only to be visibl1 dove-like form of the Holy Spirit of God. ahattered and finally d…
1,036 wordsSECTION 357The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 357
•nd lightnings which follow. An4 there before God ; and Bab11lon Oie !}1"Mt tMI re- came • great voioe out of the temple of tntmW<!f"ed in tlui sight of God (Revised Ver- heaven, from the throne, ■aying, It ii done. tion). Cf. the title of "great city" ('llide There. a.re alight variations in the text here. mpra). Cf. …
1,193 wordsSECTION 358The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 358
There is one feature common to all the bowls-they are "the bowls of the wrath of God." By" the wrath of God" we understand nothing like revenge, malice, or vindic- tiveness; but that pure and holy indignation against ein, which is a necessity of nature in a Being of perfect love. As, however, we have so freqnently foun…
480 wordsSECTION 359The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 359
m1my atTOws in his quiver, many forces stored-llp ready to be brought forth; as yet h& hol.deth them back. He waiteth. He is long-suffering. He hath furgotten neither bis· promises nor his threatenings. "He wai teth to be gracious." But he w1il not we.it always. The Lord is a jealous God, and will not suffer his peo…
1,003 wordsSECTION 360The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 360
Ven. 12-16.-TM mth bowl. In the prophetic parables of this book there ls, es ~e haYe ~fore remarked, a manifest moral progression, although the varied attempts to indicate in detail an exact historic progression, with datea assigned., has resulted, and must result, in repeated and disappointing failure. We should also …
736 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.