The 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 will overtake the mingled unmixed (i.e. undiluted) in the wicked at the last, and in maintaining the cup of hi, angllf' (Revised yersion). The conflict against the dragon who goes to war waming is given to men whlle there is yet with those "who keep the commandments time; the fall of Babylon, which is pro- of God, and have the testimony of Jesus" phetically spoken of as having taken place (eh. xii. 17), the testimony which is the (ver. 8), being yet in the future; that is to outcome of faith (see also on ob. xiii. 10). say, at the enilofthe world. The lan?age Ver. 13.-And I heard a voice from in which the retribution is couchea cor- heaven saying unto me. It seems most responds to that in which the sin is de- natural to suppose that the voiee is that of ecribed (see on ver. 8). The verb 1t<pdvvuµ.1, tl¥, 11ngel who direct.II the visions of St, which originally signified "to mix," gradu- John (cf. eh. i. 1; iv. 1; xix. 9, 10), but ally ea.me to signify "to pour," from the there is no certainty in the matter. Omit ancient custom of mixing spices, etc., 11s "unto me," with~. A. B, C, P, and others. well as water, with the wine. The Autbo. Write, Blessed are the dead wl!.ioh die in the rized Version "pouted out," therefore, is Lord from henceforth. "Henceforth "should 11 correct translation. The pmwing is in probably stand thus, 11nd not in connection this case not accompanied by dilution with with the following sentence. We have just water; that is, God's wrath will not be had mentioned the necessity for patience ou tempered, but the wicked will feel the full the part of the saints; here we have an en- force of his anger. And he shall be tormented couragemeut and ineentive to that patience, with fire a.nd brimstone in the presence of inasmuch as they who die in the Lord are the holy angels, and in the presence of the henceforward blessed. In what their bless- Lamb. The figure which is here used to edness consists, the next sentence states. portray the punishment of the wicked is The full consummation of their bliss may common in the Dible. Isa. xxxiv. 9, 10, of. not occur until after the jndgment, but the with Gen. xix. 28, may supply the origin faithful have not to wait until then for of the simile. The punishment is in the peace; their conflict is, 11fter all, only for presence of the 11ngels aud of the Lamb; that this.life, and thus they may well be content is, probably, the purity and bliss of heaven to suffer for ilO short a period (comp. oh. vi. is visible to the wicked, and the sight of it, 11). Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may combined with the knowledge of its in- rest from their labours ; and their works do aooessibility to themselves, is part of their follow them ; that they shall rest • , • f Of' torment (cf. Luke xvi. 23). It is part of thefr works, etc. The first part explain& the the wrath of God described in the first part " blessedness" of the previous passage; in of the verse. this rest consists their blessedness. The last Ver. 11.-And the smoke of their torment clause, "for their works," etc.,explains why aecendetb. up for ever and ever. Compare the the blessedness consists in rest ; they h11ve wotding of the pa.ssager. quoted above on ver, henceforth no need of labours, for the e:il'ects 10. 118pecially Isa. xxxiv. 9, 10, " The Sllloke of their former works aooomp11ny them and thereof shall go up for ever." This state- permit them now complete rest. Contrast ment of the et.amity of punishment is also the opposite fate of the wicked, described in in agreement with Luke xvi. 26 and Mark ver. 11. St. Paul urges upon Christians the ix. 44. And they have no rest day nor night, same duty, and proffers the same encourage- who wonhip the beast and his image, 11nd ment : " Therefore, my beloved brethren. be whosoever r•ceiveth the mark of his name. ye steadfast, unmovable, always 11bounding in "No rest," in contrast with the blessed rest the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know of the saints (ver. 13). Wordsworth says, thllt your labour is not in vain in the Lord " "01 ,rpaaxvvauvTes -rb 6-qpfov is a stronger (1 Cor. xv. 58). expression than 'those who worship the Ver. 14.-.-And l looked, and behold a beast;• it means tliose whose distinguish- white oloud ; and I saw, introducing a. ing characteristic is that they ar8 wor- fresh phase of the vision (see on ver. l, ate.). shipping the beast, and persist in worship- White; the heavenly colour (eee on eh. iii. ping him, even to the end. This cht,tac- 18, etc.). Cloud is the symbol of Chrh.t's teristic Li so strongly marked that they are glory (Acts i. 9, 11 ; of. Matt. niv. 80, here represented as keeping it even aftor "And they sh11ll 886 the Son of man coming their death." (On the "mark," see on eh. on the clouds of heaven;" also eh. i. 7, siii. 16-18.) "Behold, he cometh with the clouds"). Ver. 12.-Rere is the patience of the And upon the cloud one sat like unto the saints : here are they that keep the com- Son of man ; one sitting. 'l'bat Christ is ui,.udments of God, and the faith of 1esua; here intended is shown by (1) the olond {of. 350 THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE. [err. nv. 1-20.