---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Revelation 19:1. I heard a great voice of much people in heaven — The idolatrous city being destroyed, and the blood of the martyred saints being av"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/revelation/19"
---

Verse [Revelation 19:1](../../../kjv/revelation/19/1). ***I heard a great voice of much people in heaven*** — The idolatrous city being destroyed, and the blood of the martyred saints being avenged, there is a universal joy among the redeemed of the Lord, which they commence with the word הללו יה Hallelu-Yah, *praise ye Jah* or *Jehovah*; which the *Septuagint*, and St. John from them, put into Greek letters thus: αλληλουια, *Allelou-ia*, a form of praise which the heathens appear to have borrowed from the Jews, as is evident from their *paeans*, or hymns in honour of Apollo, which began and ended with ελελευ ιη, *eleleu* *ie*; a mere corruption of the Hebrew words. It is worthy of remark that the *Indians* of *North America* have the same word in their religious worship, and use it in the same sense. "In their places of worship, or *beloved square*, they dance sometimes for a whole night always in a bowing posture, and frequently singing *halleluyah Ye ho wah*; praise ye Yah, Ye ho vah:" probably the true pronunciation of the Hebrew יהוה, which we call *Jehovah*. See Adair's History of the American Indians.
***Salvation*** — He is the sole author of *deliverance from sin*; the *glory* of this belongs to him, the *honour* should be ascribed to him, and his *power* is that alone by which it is effected.

Verse [Revelation 19:2](../../../kjv/revelation/19/2). ***For true and righteous*** — His judgments displayed in supporting his followers, and punishing his enemies, are *true*-according to his *predictions*; and *righteous*, being all according to infinite *justice* and *equity*.

Verse [Revelation 19:3](../../../kjv/revelation/19/3). ***Her smoke rose up*** — There was, and shall be, a *continual* *evidence* of God's judgments executed on this *great whore* or *idolatrous city*; nor shall it ever be restored.

Verse [Revelation 19:4](../../../kjv/revelation/19/4). ***The four and twenty elders*** — The true Church of the Lord Jesus converted from among the Jews. See [Revelation 4:10](../../../kjv/revelation/4/10); [Revelation 5:14](../../../kjv/revelation/5/14).

Verse [Revelation 19:5](../../../kjv/revelation/19/5). ***Praise our God***, &c.] Let all, whether redeemed from among *Jews* or *Gentiles*, give glory to God.

Verse [Revelation 19:6](../../../kjv/revelation/19/6). ***The voice of a great multitude*** — This is the catholic or universal Church of God gathered from among the *Gentiles*.
***The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.*** — Εβασιλευσε Κυριος ὁ Θεος ὁ παντοκρατωρ. Many excellent MSS., most of the *versions*, with *Andreas* and *Arethas*, the two most ancient commentators on this book, add ημων, *our*, after ο θεος and according to this the text reads emphatically thus: OUR *Lord God, the Almighty,* *reigneth*. What consolation to every genuine Christian that *HIS* *Lord* and *God* is the *Almighty*, and that this Almighty never trusts the reins of the government of the universe out of his hands! What therefore has his Church to fear?

Verse [Revelation 19:7](../../../kjv/revelation/19/7). ***The marriage of the Lamb is come*** — The meaning of these figurative expressions appears to be this: After this overthrow of idolatry and superstition, and the discomfiture of antichrist, there will be a more glorious state of Christianity than ever was before.

Verse [Revelation 19:8](../../../kjv/revelation/19/8). ***Arrayed in fine linen*** — A prediction that the Church should become more *pure* in her *doctrines*, more *pious* in her *experience*, and more *righteous* in her *conduct*, than she had ever been from her formation.
*The fine linen* here spoken of is not the *righteousness of Christ* *imputed to believers*, for it is here called *the righteousness of* *the saints*-that which the grace and Spirit of Christ has wrought in them.

Verse [Revelation 19:9](../../../kjv/revelation/19/9). ***Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage*** *supper*] This is an evident allusion to the *marriage of the king's* *son*, [Matthew 22:2](../../../kjv/matthew/22/2), &c., where the incarnation of our Lord, and the calling of Jews and Gentiles, are particularly pointed out. See the notes there. *Blessed* are all they who hear the Gospel, and are thus invited to lay hold on everlasting life.

Verse [Revelation 19:10](../../../kjv/revelation/19/10). ***I fell at his feet to worship him.*** — Great as this angel was, St. John could not mistake him either for Jesus Christ, or for God the Father; nor was his prostration intended as an act of *religious worship*. It was merely an act of that sort of reverence which any *Asiatic* would pay to a *superior*. His mistake was, the considering that he was under obligation to the angel for the information which he had now received. This mistake the angel very properly corrects, showing him that it was from God alone this intelligence came, and that to him alone the praise was due.
***I am thy fellow servant*** — No higher in dignity than thyself; employed by the same God, on the same errand, and with the same testimony; and therefore not entitled to thy prostration: *worship* *God*-prostrate thyself to him, and to him give thanks.
***The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.*** — As this is a *reason* given by the angel why he should not worship him, the meaning must be this: I, who have received this *spirit of* *prophecy*, am not superior to thee who hast received the *testimony of Christ*, to preach him among the Gentiles; for the *commission* containing such a testimony is equal to the *gift of* *the spirit of prophecy*. Or, the spirit of prophecy is a general testimony concerning Jesus, for he is the *scope* and *design* of the whole *Scripture; to him gave all the prophets witness*. Take Jesus, his grace, Spirit, and religion out of the Bible, and it has neither *scope, design, object*, nor *end*.

Verse [Revelation 19:11](../../../kjv/revelation/19/11). ***A white horse*** — This is an exhibition of the triumph of Christ after the destruction of his enemies. The white horse is the emblem of this, and FAITHFUL and TRUE are characters of Christ. See [Revelation 3:14](../../../kjv/revelation/3/14).
***In righteousness he doth judge and make war.*** — The wars which *he* wages are from no principle of ambition, lust of power, or extension of conquest and dominion; they are *righteous* in their *principle* and in their *object*. And this is perhaps what no earthly potentate could ever say.

Verse [Revelation 19:12](../../../kjv/revelation/19/12). ***His eyes*****were*****as a flame of fire*** — To denote the piercing and all-penetrating nature of his wisdom.
***On his head*****were*****many crowns*** — To denote the multitude of his conquests, and the extent of his dominion.
***A name written, that no man knew*** — This is a reference to what the rabbins call the *shem hammephorash*, or *tetragrammaton*, יהוה YHVH; or what we call *Jehovah*. This name the Jews never attempt to pronounce: when they meet with it in the Bible, they read אדני *Adonai* for it; but, to a man, they all declare that *no man can* *pronounce it*; and that the *true pronunciation* has *been lost*, at least since the Babylonish captivity; and that *God alone knows its* *true interpretation and pronunciation*. This, therefore, is *the* *name which no man knew but he himself*.

Verse [Revelation 19:13](../../../kjv/revelation/19/13). ***He*****was*****clothed with a vesture dipped in blood*** — To show that he was just come from recent slaughter. The description is taken from [Isaiah 63:2-3](../../../kjv/isaiah/63/2-3), where Judas Maccabaeus, or some other conqueror, is described.
***The Word of God.*** — Written in the Targum, and in other Jewish writings, מימרא דיי *meimera daiya*, "the word of Jehovah;" by which they always mean a *person*, and not a *word spoken*. [John 1:1](../../../kjv/john/1/1), &c.

Verse [Revelation 19:14](../../../kjv/revelation/19/14). ***The armies*****which were*****in heaven*** — Angels and saints over whom Jesus Christ is *Captain*,
***Clothed in fine linen*** — All holy, pure, and righteous.

Verse [Revelation 19:15](../../../kjv/revelation/19/15). ***Out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword*** — [Revelation 1:16](../../../kjv/revelation/1/16); [Revelation 1:16](../../../kjv/revelation/1/16). This appears to mean the word of the Gospel, by which his enemies are confounded, and his friends supported and comforted.
***With a rod of iron*** — He shall execute the severest judgment on the opposers of his truth.
***He treaded the winepress*** — As the grapes are trodden to express the juice, so his enemies shall be bruised and beaten, so that their life's blood shall be poured out.

Verse [Revelation 19:16](../../../kjv/revelation/19/16). ***On his vesture and on his thigh a name written*** — Dr. Dodd has well observed on this passage, that "it appears to have been an ancient custom among several nations to adorn the images of their deities, princes, victors at public games, and other eminent persons, with *inscriptions*, expressing either the character of the persons, their names, or some other circumstance which might contribute to their honour; and to that custom the description here given of Christ may possibly have some allusion.
"There are several such images yet extant, with an inscription written either on the *garment*, or on one of the *thighs*, or on that part of the garment which was over the thigh; and probably this is the meaning of the apostle. And as these inscriptions are placed on the *upper garment*, Grotius seems very justly to have explained the words επιτοιματιον, by *his imperial robe*, that his power in this victory might be conspicuous to all. But as a farther confirmation of this sense of the passage it may not be improper here to describe briefly several remarkable figures of this sort, which are still extant." This description I shall give from my own examination.
1. HERODOTUS, Euterpe, lib. ii. p. 127, edit. *Gale*, speaking of the actions of *Sesostris*, and of the images he set up in the countries which he conquered, has the following words: Εισι δε περι Ιωνιην δυο τυποι εν πετρῃσι εγκεκολαμμενοι τουτου του ανδρος, κ. τ. λ. "Two images likewise of this man are seen in Ionia, on the way that leads from Ephesus to Phocaea, and from Sardis to Smyrna. The figure is five palms in height; in his right hand he holds a *dart*, in his left a *bow*, armed after the manner of the Egyptians and Ethiopians. On a line drawn across the breast, from one shoulder to the other, are these words, written in Egyptian hieroglyphics: Εγω τηνδε την χωρην ωμοισι τοισι εμοισι εκτησαμην· 'I obtained this country by these my shoulders;'" i.e., by my own power.
2. In the *Etruria Regalis* of *Dempster*, in the appendix at the end of vol. ii., there is a beautiful female figure of brass, about twelve inches high, the hair gracefully plaited, and the head adorned with a diadem. She has a *tunic* without sleeves, and over that a sort of *pallium*. On the outside of the *right thigh*, close to the tunic, and probably *on* it, in the original, is an *inscription* in Etruscan characters. What these import I cannot say. Dempster has given a general explanation of the *image* in the appendix to the above volume, p. 108. The plate itself is the eighty-third of the work.
3. There are two other images found in the same author, vol. i., p. 91, tab. xxiv.; the first is *naked*, with the exception of a short loose jupe, or petticoat, which goes round the loins, and over the left arm. On the *left thigh* of this image there is an *inscription* in Etruscan characters. The second has a similar jupe, but much longer, which extends to the calf of the leg, and is supported over the bended left arm. Over the *right thigh*, on this vesture, there is an Etruscan *inscription* in two lines.
4. MONTFAUCON, *Antiquite Expliquee*, vol. iii., part 2, p. 268, has introduced an account of two fine images, which are represented tab. CLVII. The first is a warrior entirely naked, except a collar, one bracelet, and boots. On his *left thigh*, extending from the groin to a little below the knee, is an *inscription* in very ancient Etruscan characters, in two lines, but the import is unknown.
The second is a small figure of brass, about six inches long, with a loose tunic, which is suspended from the left shoulder down to the calf of the legs. On this tunic, *over the left thigh*, is an *inscription* (perhaps) in very ancient *Latin* characters, but in the *Etruscan* language, as the learned author conjectures. It is in one line, but what it means is equally unknown.
5. In the same work, p. 269, tab. CLVIII., another Etruscan *warrior* is represented entirely naked; on the *left thigh* is the following words in uncial Greek letters, ΚΑΦΙΣΟΔΩΡΟΣ, and on the *right thigh*, ΑΙΣΧΛΑΜΙΟΥ, i.e., "Kaphisodorus, the son of Aischlamius." All these inscriptions are written *longitudinally* on the thigh.
6. GRUTER, vol. iii., p. DCCCCLXXXIX, sub. tit. *Affectus* *Servorum et Libertinorum inter se, et in suos*, gives us the figure of a naked warrior, with his left hand on an axe, the end of whose helve rests on the ground, with the following *inscription* on the inside of his *left thigh*, longitudinally written, as in all other cases:-
In the latter tract, sec. 16, fol. 232, 3, and in *Rab. Tanchum*, fol. 66, mention is made of the *guardian angels* of the Israelites, who were *clothed with purple vestments*, on which was inscribed שם המפורש *shem hammephorash*, the ineffable name. See more in *Schoettgen*.
8. But what comes nearer to the point, in reference to the *title* given here to Christ, is what is related of *Sesostris* by DIODORUS *Siculus*, lib. i. c. 55, p. 166, edit. *Bipont*, of whom he says: "Having pushed his conquests as far as Thrace, he erected pillars, on which were the following words in Egyptian hieroglyphics: Τηνδε την χωραν ὁπλοις κατεστρεψατο τοις ἑαυτου Βασιλευς Βασιλεων, και Δεσποτης Δεσποτων, Σεσοωσις·" *This province, Sesoosis*, (Sesostris,) *KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, conquered by his own* *arms*. This inscription is conceived almost in the *words* of St. John. Now the Greek historian did not *borrow* the words from the apostle, as he died in the reign of Augustus, about the time of our Lord's incarnation. This cannot be the same inscription mentioned above by *Herodotus*, the one being in Ionia, the other in Thrace: but as he erected several of those pillars or images, probably a nearly similar inscription was found on each.
9. This custom seems to have been common among the ancient *Egyptians*. Inscriptions are frequently found on the images of *Isis, Osiris, Anubis*, c., at the *feet*, on the *head*, on the *back*, on the *girdle*, c., &c. Eight of those ancient images in my own collection abound with these inscriptions.
1. *Osiris*, four inches and a quarter high, standing on a thrones all covered over with *hieroglyphics* exquisitely engraved.
2. *Anubis*, six inches high, with a tiara, on the back of which is cut ΛΕΓΟΡΝΥΘ, in uncial Greek characters.
3. The *Cercopithecus*, seven inches long, sitting on a pedestal, and at his feet, in the same characters, ΧΑΔΕΟ.
4. An *Isis*, about eight inches high, on her back ΔΡΥΓΟ.
5. Ditto, seven inches, beautifully cut, standing, holding a serpent in her left hand, and at her feet ΕΤΑΠΥΓΙ.
6. Ditto, five inches and a quarter, round whose girdle is ΠΙΕΥΧΥΔΙ; but part of this inscription appears to be hidden under her-arms, which are extended by her side.
7. Ditto, five inches high, hooded, with a loose stola, down the *back* of which are seven lines of Greek uncial characters, but nearly obliterated.
8. Ditto, four inches high, with a *girdle* going round the back immediately under the arms, the front of which is hidden under a sort of a stomacher on the part that appears are these characters, ΧΕΝΛΑ. These may be all intended as a kind of *abrasaxas* or tutelary deities; and I give this notice of them, and the inscriptions upon them, partly in illustration of the text, and partly to engage my learned and antiquarian readers in attempts to decipher them. I would have given the *Etruscan* characters on the other images described above, but have no method of imitating them except by an engraving.
As these kinds of inscriptions on the *thigh*, the *garments*, and *different parts of the body*, were in use among different nations, to express character, conduct, qualities, and *conquests*, we may rest assured that to them St. John alludes when he represents our sovereign Lord with an *inscription upon his vesture* and *upon his thigh*; and had we not found it a custom among other nations, we should have been at a loss to account for its introduction and meaning here.

Verse [Revelation 19:17](../../../kjv/revelation/19/17). ***An angel standing in the sun*** — Exceedingly luminous; every part of him emitting rays of light. From this representation, Milton has taken his description of *Uriel*, the angel of the sun. Paradise Lost, b. iii. l. 648:-
Who, in God's presence, nearest to his throne
Stands ready at command and are his eyes
That run through all the heavens, or down to the earth
Bears his swift errands over moist and dry,
Over sea and land."

***All the fowls that fly*** — The carcasses of God's enemies shall be food for all the fowls of heaven. This is according to a Jewish tradition, *Synopsis Sohar*, p. 114, n. 25: "In the time when God shall execute vengeance for the people of Israel, he shall feed all the beasts of the earth for twelve months with their flesh and all the fowls for seven years." It is well known that both beasts and birds of prey are accustomed to frequent fields of battle, and live upon the slain.

Verse [Revelation 19:18](../../../kjv/revelation/19/18). ***That ye may eat the flesh of kings*** — There shall be a universal destruction; the kings, generals, captains, and all their host, shall be slain.

Verse [Revelation 19:19](../../../kjv/revelation/19/19). ***I saw the beast*** — See the notes on chapters xii., xiii., and xvii. [Revelation 12:1-18](../../../kjv/revelation/12/1-18); [Revelation 17:1-18](../../../kjv/revelation/17/1-18)

Verse [Revelation 19:20](../../../kjv/revelation/19/20). ***And the beast was taken, and-the false prophet*** — [Revelation 17:8](../../../kjv/revelation/17/8), c.
***That worshipped his image.*** — The *beast* has been represented as the *Latin empire* the *image of the beast*, the *popes of Rome*; and the *false prophet*, the *papal clergy*.
***Were cast alive into a lake of fire*** — Were discomfited when *alive*-in the zenith of their power, and destroyed with an utter destruction.

Verse [Revelation 19:21](../../../kjv/revelation/19/21). ***With the sword of him that sat upon the horse*** — He who sat on the white horse is Christ; and his *sword* is his *word*-the unadulterated *Gospel*.

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